University of Virginia Library

A-gainste the vice of filthy talkynge.

Cap. xii.

No filthy taulke
in no wise vse,
Thy tonge therby
for to abuse.
Of euery idell worde
an accumpte we shall render;—
All men I woulde
this sayinge to remember;—
To god for it
at the generall daie
In earnest or sporte
we shall speake or saie;
whiche daye to the iuste
shalbe most ioyfull,
And to the wicked
againe as wofull.
As we here doe,
so shall we receaue,
Vnles we repente
and mercy of god craue.
If god wyll deale
with vs so straight
For thinges that be
of so small waight,
Then haue we cause
to feare and dreade,
Our lyues lewdly
if we haue leade.
Thy tonge take hede
thou doe refrayne
From speakyng wordes
that are moste vayne;
Thy wyll and witte
to goodnes applie,
Thy mynde exercise
in vertuous studie.