Of a Flatterer and a Backbiter.

THe tamest foule, and wildest beast,
that euery man maie knowe:
Is sure a subtill flattryng freende,
and sclandryng tong I trowe.
The one bit's sore behinde, thy backe,
the other blears thyne eyes:
And still deceiu's thee to thy face,
with nought but fained lyes.
The Doue is meeke and tame of kinde, but yet a Flattrar fine:
More tamer is, and shewes more arte, then all the Muses nine.
For he can so transforme hym self, you shall not see hym right:
Though through stone walls like Linx ye lock, or could haue Argos sight.
And he that bit's vnto the bones, is wilde as Bucke in chace:
And hides his hedde moste monster like, that dare not shewe his face.
The Colt that skipps before the dame, is not so light as he:
Malboche hath sutche a forked tong, it stingeth worse then Bee.
Malboche, doeth lodge the shamlesse clap, that goes as fast as Mill:
Malboche is like a common skolde, that must be chattyng still.
Malboche can creepe in credits grace, and Court it too some tyme:
And make a stale and snare to catche, the simple soule in Lyme.
The mightie Mastiue brought to Beare, bit's not like scolding tong
A Larum all the countrey cries, where that loude bell is rong.
And when it hath begonne a braule, awaie in haste it goes:
And will abide by nothyng sure, for feare of bobbs and bloes.
But though Malbouche do breede muche strief, the Flattrar passeth all:
For he lyes lullyng in the lapp, and like a painted wall.
Full faire and smothe he shoes to sight, when loe a rotten poste:
He prou's yet seems a holie sainct, and is a curssed ghoste.
Well twoo thei are, the wilde & tame, that works this world mutche woe.
The wilde he hinders honest name, the tame no freend but foe.
But how to spie these monsters out, in deede I can not tell:
Except with wisedomes iudgyng hed, ye marke them bothe so well.
That when thei speake and babble mutche, thei meane to lay abaite:
To take and trap the harmelesse harte, in netts of meere decaite.
Now here is taught you how to find, these twaine by outward vewe:
Though bothe of the begiles this worlde, with charms & nifles newe.