1The toad and spider once would try the might

2Of either’s poison in a single fight.

3The

lists were drawn,1

, spectators throng about;

4Long time the victory remained in doubt.

5By equal valor, the field was dyed in blood;

6The combat long in equilibrium stood.

7The people’s minds, a conflict had within,

8As not agreeing which they would have win.

9Some would

compose,2

, some made the difference wider,

10Some took the toad’s part, others took the spider’s.

11So when one

gallant3

hath

impeached4

the other

12Of highest treason, then in rage the other

13Calls him base traitor,

giving him the lie.5

.

14By single duel they, the truth, do

try,6

,

15Each vowing to prove innocent or die.

16The multitude in sundry passions shook;

17Some pray for

Mowbray, some for Bolingbroke:7

:

18So they in factions now divided be,

19The valiant spider and the toad to see.

20The toad first fainted and aside did go,

21And

plantain8

ate; then turned upon his foe

22With greater vigor, which, when the people spied,

23

They took the plaintain up; then straight he died.9

.

24So have I, in our English tiltyard, seen,

25Two courtiers running

’fore10

the king and queen.

26One, fearing to be

foiled,11

, made his address

27Unto his lady, who could do no less

28Than throw

a favor to her carpet knight.12

.

29Then, with new courage he returns to fight,

30But missing of his thrust, he comes again

31To sue to her; she, not being

in the vein,13

,

32Instead of throwing of a favor down,

33Answered his

supplications14

with a frown.

34He, troubled with the scorn of this proud flirt,

35Ran once again, but tumbled in the dirt.

36Who lives by th’influence of a lady’s eye

37Will like this

gallant15

fall and helpless lie.

38Then let these sad examples warn all those

39That do on worldly vanities

repose:16

:

40If on

subsolary17

toys18

they trust,

41They build a fabric of dry sand or dust.

42Like little children in their pretty plays,

43

High pigeon houses up of cards will raise;19

;

44But like our earthly hopes, they build in vain;

45If they but laugh, they blow them down again.

46Then let no man on human hopes repose,

47Lest like this toad their hopes and lives they lose.

48Then, O my soul, on Heaven alone rely;

49So shalt thou live, although thy body die.