Classic Poem

To the sole fast friend of elbo-clokes, countnance of obsolete buskins; and grace of veluet day-capps; remarkable for mellowed wisedome, wisedome abounding in his priuate-publike printed poetry, and sententious apothegmes at meales: Maister W. Clarke attending without processe, the Starre chamber.

C LARKE , thou hast wit at will in thy staffs head,
Which siluer keepes against a raynic day;
Yea may interre thee too, when thou art dead;
And in distresse it is a staffe of stay.
Thy siluer-head's worne out with wisedomes cares;
But at a stay stands thy stafs siluer head:
Silke coyfes still couers thy heads siluer haires,
As thy stafs siluer head is couerèd:
 So, hide it (Clarke) with silke (as fit, as fine)
 Sith it showes all the hidden wit in thine.