Pastime With Good Company

[tune: Pastime with good company]

Pastime with good company I love, and shall until I die;
Grudge who lill but none deny so this live will I
For my pastance, hunt sing and dance; My heart is set,
All goodly sport, to my comfort, who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance, of good or ill some pastance;
Company me thinketh best allthoughts and fancies to digest;
For idleness is chief mistress of vices all:
Then who can say but mirth and play is best of all?

Company with honesty is virtue sure; and vice to flee,
Company is good or ill, but every man has his free will.
The best I sue, the worst eschew; My mind shall be
Virtue to use, vice to refuse, I shall use me.

Written by Henry VIII, (1491-1547). Frequently sung at renaissance faires.
WBO
oct97