Manly

You see now
what the friendship
of the world is

What all ceremony
embraces
and plentiful professions come to

You are no more
to believe a professing friend
than an enemy
who threatens you

And as no man hurts you
that tells you
he'll do you mischief

No man you see
is your servant
who says
he is


"The Plain Dealer" by William Wycherley 1676

"Drama in Performance" by Raymond Williams 1921-1988
Open University Press 1991 (p.89)