63 TOO strange (perhaps) it seemes to some,

64That I Ari stippus, a Courtier am become:

65A Philosopher of late, not of the meani st name,

66But now to the Courtly behauiour my lyfe I frame,

67Muse he that ly st, to you of good skill,

68I say that I am a Philosopher styll:

69Louers of Wisdom, are termed Philosophie,

70Then who is a Philosopher so rightly as I?

71For in louyng or wisdom, proofe doth this trie,

72That Fru stra sapit, qui non sapit sibi:

73I am wyse for my selfe, then tell me of troth,

74Is not that great Wisdom as the world goth?

75Some Philosophers in the streete go ragged and torne,

76And feedes on vyle Rootes, whom Boyes laugh to scorne:

77But I in fine Silkes haunt Diony sius Pallace,

78Wherin with dayntie fare my selfe I do solace:

79I can talke of Philosophie as well as the best,

80But the strayte kynde of lyfe I leaue to the re st:

81And I profe s s e now the Courtly Philosophie,

82To crouche, to speake fayre, my selfe I applie,

83To feede the Kings humour with pleasant deuises,

84For whiche I am called Regius Canis:

85But wot ye who named me fir st the Kinges Dogge?

86It was the Roage Diogenes that vile grunting Hogge:

87Let him rolle in his Tubbe to winne a vayne prayse,

88In the Courte pleasantly I wyll spende all my dayes:

89Wherin what to doo, I am not to learne,

90What wyll serue myne owne turne I can quickly discearne:

91All my tyme at Schoole I haue not spent vaynly,

92I can helpe one, is not that a good poinct of Philosophy?

94 P I be shrew your fine eares, since you came from Schoole,

95In the Court you haue made many a wiseman a foole:

96And though you paint out your fayned Philosophie,

97So God helpe me, it is but a playne kinde of flattery:

98Whiche you vse so finely in so pleasant a sorte,

99That none but Ari stppus, now makes the Kinge sporte,

100Ere you came hyther, poore I was sombody,

101The Kinge delighted in mee, now I am but a noddy.

103 P In faith Carisophus, you know your selfe be st,