Humfrey Gifford

1550-1600 / England

To Certaine Questions And Riddles Ensuing: Xvii

Fayre art thou and red, deseruing great praise,
And all men thee reuerence, and honour alwayes,
Whiles that thy white banner abrode still is spread,
For then thou doest comfort both liuing and dead,
But if thy blacke banner bee spread foorth in vew,
All honour farewell, all gladnesse adew.
Such woe then thou bringest to more and to lesse,
As pen cannot write it, nor tongue may expresse.
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