Like King, like People

Bows all daintily braced with horn,
Such have a swift rebound.
Kin by marriage and kin so born
Sundered should ne'er be found.

Let but thine own be sundered so,
So will thy people's be:
Since the example thou dost show,
All of them follow thee.

Here be brethren of noble mind,
Generous, ay to excess;
Others, that lack the noble mind,
Meet to their own distress.

Let bad men each other offend,
Obstinate all remain;
Placed in honour, they ne'er unbend.
Ruin is in their train!

Let the old horse be a colt again,
Nought of the morrow he thinks.
So with the feeding of well-fed men,
So with their deep-drawn drinks.

Teach not a monkey to climb a tree;
That were like soiling mire.
If in great men good manners be,
Smaller to such aspire.

Falls of snow, be deep as they may,
Melt at the sun's warm glance.
Who will not put the (vile) away
Sees but their pride advance.

Ay, let snow fall thick as it can,
Yet with the sun 'twill go.
Now are we like the Mau or the Man:
This is what grieves me so.