Himself he stripp’d, the harder blow to hit,
Then boldly match’d his ribaldry with wit;
The poet’s conquest truth and time proclaim,
But yet the battle hurt his peace and fame.
“Strive not too much for favour; seem at ease.
And rather please thyself, than bent to please:
Upon thy lord with decent care attend,
But not too near; thou canst not be a friend;
And favourite be not, ’tis a dangerous post -
Is gain’d by labour, and by fortune lost: