The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

by Stephen Hawes

For alway mesure is grounde of excellence.

Mesure mesureth mesure in effecte;

Mesure mesureth every quantyte;

Mesure mesureth all waye the aspecte;

Mesure mesureth all in certayne;

Mesure mesureth in the stabilitie;

Mesure mesuryth in every doutful case;

And mesure is the lodesterre of all grace.

Affycte of mesure is long continuaunce,

Quantite without mesure is nought;