The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

by Stephen Hawes

Without mesure wo worth the purveyaunce;

Without mesure wo worth the sustenaunce;

Without mesure wo worth the sadnes;

And without mesure wo worth the gladnes.

Mesure mesuring mesurably taketh;

Mesure mesuring mesuratly dooth all;

Mesure mesuring mesuratly maketh;

Mesure mesuring mesuratly guyde shall;

Mesure mesuring mesuratly doth call;

Mesure mesuryng to right hye preemynence,