[My freend, I saye, if thou be wise]
It chaunced not long after, that this
Gentleman happened to be in the company
of his very friend, which at Dyce
lost much money: and after his losse,
entreated him to write some despightfull
Ditty, to diswade him from Cards and
Dice: which with much intreaty he
graunted, & wrote as followeth.
My freend, I saye, if thou be wise,
Use not to much the Cardes and Dyce:
Least, setting all at sincke and syce,
Doe make thee know the cost:
Twill make thee weare a thinne light purse,
Twill make thee sweare, and ban, and curse:
Twill make thee doo all this and worse,
When once thy Coyne is lost.
Therefore, take heede in time, I say:
For time at Dice runnes fast away,
No time worse spent then at dyce-play,
I put thee out of doubt:
And say not, but it was thee tolde:
The nearer that thy purse is polde,
The more still friendship waxeth colde,
Yea, all the worlde throughout.
And then, when once thy coyne is gone,
And friends to helpe thee thou hast none,
Nor house nor Land to live vpon:
Oh then, what wilt thou say?
Well, once I might haue taken heede,
I had a trusty freend in deede,
That tould me true how I should speede,
If I did hold this way.
For who continues in this vaine
Of setting still, bothe bye and mayne,
But in the ende he shall be faine
To leaue it, will or nill:
And doe the thing that dooth despight
Most men, though some it dooth delight,
To them that play to holde the light,
Full ill against their will.
Leaue therefore (friend) while thou art well,
And marke the woordes that I thee tell:
If once thy lande thou fall to sell,
Thy credit will impaire:
And care not thou, though Gamsters say,—
(These Gamsters, Roysters call I may)
What, Dastard, darest thou not play?
Howe, reach this man a Chaire.
Well, if he bring it, sit thee downe,
Or else go out into the towne:
If not, then walke thee vp and downe,
And beare a time his scoffe:
And thou shalt see within a while,
How thou mayest finely at him smile:
When he would gladly wish a file,
To file his yrons off.
For commonly, such knaues as these
Doe ende their lyves vpon three trees:
Or lye in Prison for theyr fees,
For all their bragging out:
And though one yeare they goe full gaye,
And euery day play lusty play:
Yet with a Rope they make a fraye,
Ere seuen yeare goe about.
And therefore, say they what they list,
Take thou still heede of, had I wist:
And vse not too too much thy fist,
To shaking of the Dice:
For fyrst, thy gaine will be but small,
The credit lesse, thou gettest with all:
Thy estimation least of all,
Though deare thou buy the price.
Good Lorde, was not that man halfe madde,
That once a prety lyuing had:
And would not rest, but out must gadde,
To Cardes and Dyce in haste:
And vsed them so lustily,
Setting, and throwing carelesly:
Till in shorte space, full foolishly,
He spent euen all, at laste.
Euen so wilt thou, I promise thee,
If thou doe not giue eare to me,
And leaue thy trouling of a Dye,
And that with speede, my friend:
For they that vse so lustily
The Cardes and Dyce, most commonly
Are eyther brought to beggery,
Or hang else in the ende.
And now, farewell! since that I may,
As now, no longer with thee stay:
My counsaile, therefore, beare away,
And leaue that vaine delight,
That now thou hast in Cardes and Dyce:
And learne betimes for to be wise:
Once well warnde, is as good as twise:
And so, my freend, good night.
