Pastime With Good Company - Lesley Garrett

Pastime with good company,

I love, and shall until I die.

Grudge who will, but none deny,

So God be pleased, thus live will I.

For my pastance:

Hunt, sing, and dance,

My heart is set!

All goodly sport,

For my comfort.

Who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance,

Of good or ill some pastance.

Company methinks them best

All thoughts and fancies to digest.

For idleness

Is chief mistress

Of vices all.

Then who can say

But mirth and play

Is best of all?

Company with honesty

Is virtue, vice to flee.

Company is good and ill

But every man hath his free will.

The best ensue,

The worst eschew,

My mind shall be.

Virtue to use,

Vice to refuse,

I shall use me.