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INGHILFREDI SICILIANO Canzone He rebukes the Evil of that Time. Hard is it for a man to please all men: I therefore speak in doubt, And as one may that looketh to be chid. But who can hold his peace in these days ? when Guilt cunningly slips out And innocence atones for what he did ; When worth is crush'd, even if it be not hid ; When on crush'd worth, guile sets his foot to rise; And when the things wise men have counted wise Make fools to smile and stare and lift the lid. Let none who have not wisdom govern you : For he that was a fool At first shall scarce grow wise under the sun. And as it is, my whole heart bleeds anew To think how hard a school Young hope grows old at, as these seasons run. Behold, sirs, we have reach'd this thing for one : The lord before his servant bends the knee, And service puts on lordship suddenly. Ye speak o' the end ? Ye have not yet begun. I would not have ye without counsel ta'en Follow my words ; nor meant, If one should talk and act not, to praise him. But who, being much opposed, speaks not again, Confesseth himself shent And put to silence, by some loud-mouth'd mime, Perchance, for whom I speak not in this rhyme. Strive what ye can ; and if ye cannot all, Yet should not your hearts fall: The fruit commends the flower in God's good time. (For without fruit, the flower delights not God) : Wherefore let him whom Hope Puts off, remember time is not gone by. Let him say calmly : " Thus far on this road A foolish trust buoy'd up My soul, and made it like the butterfly Burn'd in the flame it seeks: even so was I : But now I'll aid myself; for still this trust, I find, falleth to dust: The fish gapes for thebait-hook, and doth die." And yet myself, who bid ye do this...
