 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
283
183. Counsels of Prudence and Patience
ffor þe bettur a-byde
I see A Rybane Ryche and newe,
Wyth stones and perles Ryally pyght,
Regalles, Rubies, Saffyres blewe;
The grownde was alle of brent gold bryght,
Wyth dyamandes full derely dyght;
Ryche Saladyneȝ sette on euery syde,
Wher-on was wrytyn A Resoun full Ryght,
And all was for the better A-byde.
Wyth stones and perles Ryally pyght,
Regalles, Rubies, Saffyres blewe;
The grownde was alle of brent gold bryght,
Wyth dyamandes full derely dyght;
Ryche Saladyneȝ sette on euery syde,
Wher-on was wrytyn A Resoun full Ryght,
And all was for the better A-byde.
Vppoun that Resoun I studyed þat tyde,
And ther-to toke I good entent,
How kynde wytte setteth sorow be-syde,
Wyth eche a mone ther he ys lent;
Good suffraunce ys full syldene schent,
Whene weyle and woo a-wey schun glyde;
Hasty mene often tymes harmes hent,
Whene they were bettere to A-byde.
And ther-to toke I good entent,
How kynde wytte setteth sorow be-syde,
Wyth eche a mone ther he ys lent;
Good suffraunce ys full syldene schent,
Whene weyle and woo a-wey schun glyde;
Hasty mene often tymes harmes hent,
Whene they were bettere to A-byde.
I haue harde sungone wyth a harpe,
That haste mene sholde wante no woo;
They kone notte shylde heme fro showres scharpe,
Nayther kene here freende frome here foo.
Sum mene says þat hyt ys soo,
Who-so kone suffer, heyle, and hyde,
May haue hys wyll ofte tyme y-doo,
And he wyll for the better A-byde.
That haste mene sholde wante no woo;
They kone notte shylde heme fro showres scharpe,
Nayther kene here freende frome here foo.
Sum mene says þat hyt ys soo,
Who-so kone suffer, heyle, and hyde,
May haue hys wyll ofte tyme y-doo,
And he wyll for the better A-byde.
He that wyll not drede no schame
Ys putte owte of mone & oneste place;
Let neuere thy tonge defowele thy name,
But be kynde and trewe in euery case;
And pray to god to gyffe the grace
In lond, where-sere thow goo or Ryde,
All wyked werdes A-way to chase,
And euer more for the better a-byde.
Ys putte owte of mone & oneste place;
Let neuere thy tonge defowele thy name,
But be kynde and trewe in euery case;
284
In lond, where-sere thow goo or Ryde,
All wyked werdes A-way to chase,
And euer more for the better a-byde.
And thy luffe be yn a place,
Haue hyt in mynde & holde þe styll;
A foles bolt ys sone schote in case,
Whoo speketh mykyll sum he most spylle;
Lette neuere þy luffe be on an hylle,
Ner thy councell at þe crosse be cryde;
Lette but fewe mene wytte þy wylle,
And euere more for þe better A-byde.
Haue hyt in mynde & holde þe styll;
A foles bolt ys sone schote in case,
Whoo speketh mykyll sum he most spylle;
Lette neuere þy luffe be on an hylle,
Ner thy councell at þe crosse be cryde;
Lette but fewe mene wytte þy wylle,
And euere more for þe better A-byde.
ffor the best þu holde the stylle
And for þe bettere þy spech þu spende;
Though þu haue not to-day þy wylle,
Thy wyll to-morowe god may þe sende;
Grucche not agayne hyme, y þe defende,
ffore pouerte or sekenes in any tyde;
Godde wyll see tyme and hyt amende,
And euer more for þe bettere A-byde.
And for þe bettere þy spech þu spende;
Though þu haue not to-day þy wylle,
Thy wyll to-morowe god may þe sende;
Grucche not agayne hyme, y þe defende,
ffore pouerte or sekenes in any tyde;
Godde wyll see tyme and hyt amende,
And euer more for þe bettere A-byde.
I haue wyste mene in prysoun be caste,
And lyve ther-in sex yere or seuene;
And ȝyt be holpene owte at þe laste,
ffor ofte mene mete at vn-sette steuene;
Wyth freend & foo god makes euene,
That for vs suffered woundes wyde;
And brynge vs to þe blysse of heuene,
ffor the better ther euer to A-byde.
And lyve ther-in sex yere or seuene;
And ȝyt be holpene owte at þe laste,
ffor ofte mene mete at vn-sette steuene;
Wyth freend & foo god makes euene,
That for vs suffered woundes wyde;
And brynge vs to þe blysse of heuene,
ffor the better ther euer to A-byde.
Explicit.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |