Classic Poem

A courtier, which long time his time had spent
In Court, to learne what to the Court belongs;
Hearing young courtiers chat, his care he lent
To heare what matter issu'd from their tongues.
One ouer weening (as did all the rest)
Did make his braggs, he had a courtier bin
Not past a yeare, and yet he did protest
He in the Court knew euery way to win.
Another knew the factions, and could fit them;
A third, the humors, and could finely feede them;
A fourth, all offices, and how to get them;
A fift, all pollicies and who did neede them:
A sixt, could make the great men serue his turne,
Euen as he pleas'd by courtly obseruation:
A seauenth, would learne of no man to returne
Courtship for courtship, t' was his occupation:
An eight, could tell what suites might be obtain'd,
And nothing worth the suit from him was hid:
The nynth, knewe by the prince what might be gain'd:
The tenth, knewe more then all the others did.
When euery man his skill had thus bewrai'd,
The ancient courtier lifting vp his head
(As one from sleepe, yet heard well what they said)
I am (quoth he), a courtier borne and bred;
For from beyond my cradle haue I bin
In Court and Camp, and now am forty twice;
Yet trust me truly, now I doe begin
To learne, what all you learned with a trice
?Thus young-men scorne to learne in old-mens schooles,
?Yet olde-men knowe that young-men are but fooles.