[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
 |
|
The nynth chapiter of Ecclesiasticus:
or booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach. |
 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
The nynth chapiter of Ecclesiasticus: or booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach.
The argument
Of
ielousie who so wyll heare,
vnto my tune harke & drawe nere,
howe ye shall of the harlottes vyle
eschew the sleyght the fraude and guile.
vnto my tune harke & drawe nere,
howe ye shall of the harlottes vyle
eschew the sleyght the fraude and guile.
[38]
What mischiefe and what hurte they doe
To suche as harken them vnto,
Howe vayne and vyle adultrie is
Howe fonde they are that walke amys.
To suche as harken them vnto,
Howe vayne and vyle adultrie is
Howe fonde they are that walke amys.
Howe we shoulde kepe, an olde frend true
And neuer change hym for no newe,
Howe for to leade a godly lyfe,
In holynes without all stryfe.
And neuer change hym for no newe,
Howe for to leade a godly lyfe,
In holynes without all stryfe.
How that a kyng by wysdomes lore
Should rule and gouerne euermore,
Howe eche man should in his degree
Se that his worke well vsed be.
Should rule and gouerne euermore,
Howe eche man should in his degree
Se that his worke well vsed be.
And howe the folysh talkatyue
Are the moste wicked folke on lyue,
To Iesus Sirach geue good eare
Whiche telles his tale in this maner.
Are the moste wicked folke on lyue,
To Iesus Sirach geue good eare
Whiche telles his tale in this maner.
Ecclesiast. Cap. ix.
Be
not ouer thy wyfe Ielouse,
but without strife kepe wel thy house:
Lest that she shewe some point of ill,
Or wycked sleight the for to spyll.
but without strife kepe wel thy house:
Lest that she shewe some point of ill,
Or wycked sleight the for to spyll.
39
Nor tangle not thy powre nor lyfe:
With a false whore which maketh strife:
Lest she redounde within thy strength,
And so confounde thy soule at length.
With a false whore which maketh strife:
Lest she redounde within thy strength,
And so confounde thy soule at length.
Beholde not women vayne & nought,
Whiche vpon men set all their thought:
On suche I saye set not thy care,
Lest they betray thee in their snare.
Whiche vpon men set all their thought:
On suche I saye set not thy care,
Lest they betray thee in their snare.
Abstayne and flee hir wicked waye,
That loues to geste scoffe daunce & playe,
To hir consent not in no wyse,
Though she the tempte and ofte entyse.
That loues to geste scoffe daunce & playe,
To hir consent not in no wyse,
Though she the tempte and ofte entyse.
Loke not to longe vpon a mayde,
Least with hir forme thou be dismayde.
Muche lesse on harlotes then haue mynde
Nor on women of suche ill kynde:
Least with hir forme thou be dismayde.
Muche lesse on harlotes then haue mynde
Nor on women of suche ill kynde:
Least thou decaye before thyne age,
And so consume thyne heritage.
In townes and cities doe not gase,
As one whose wittes were in amase:
And so consume thyne heritage.
In townes and cities doe not gase,
As one whose wittes were in amase:
Nor wander not in euery strete,
Least with ill men perhappes thou mete.
Chiefly of all turne thy face fro,
The woman gaye whiche worketh wo.
Least with ill men perhappes thou mete.
Chiefly of all turne thy face fro,
The woman gaye whiche worketh wo.
Beholde not muche the great bewtie,
Of any one vnknowne to thee:
For in tyme past suche fooles haue bene,
Which with their fonde eyes as I wene.
Of any one vnknowne to thee:
For in tyme past suche fooles haue bene,
Which with their fonde eyes as I wene.
[39]
Did so regarde the beuty fayre
Of strangers where they did repayre:
That they decayd through their desire,
Whiche burned lyke the flaming fyre.
Of strangers where they did repayre:
That they decayd through their desire,
Whiche burned lyke the flaming fyre.
Wherfore women adulterous,
Should only be regarded thus,
As most vyle dounge durte myre & claye,
That eche man treads on in his waye.
Should only be regarded thus,
As most vyle dounge durte myre & claye,
That eche man treads on in his waye.
For suche as on them wonder had,
Were by their beutie tangled mad.
All wysdom they from them did caste:
So whot of fonde loue was the blast.
Were by their beutie tangled mad.
All wysdom they from them did caste:
So whot of fonde loue was the blast.
Lead thou therfore a godly lyfe:
Couet thou not thy neighbours wyfe.
Syt not with hir at any sted:
Lye not with hir vpon a bed.
Couet thou not thy neighbours wyfe.
Syt not with hir at any sted:
Lye not with hir vpon a bed.
No talke with hir make thou at wyne,
Least thy heart should to hir inclyne.
Therby makyng thy bloud to fall:
And so destroy thy lyfe and all.
Least thy heart should to hir inclyne.
Therby makyng thy bloud to fall:
And so destroy thy lyfe and all.
Forsake not thou a good olde friende:
For suche a newe is harde to fynde.
For a newe friende is lyke newe wyne:
Whiche is not good tyll it be fyne.
For suche a newe is harde to fynde.
For a newe friende is lyke newe wyne:
Whiche is not good tyll it be fyne.
But when the wyne is olde and pure,
Then mayst yu drynke hym with plesure,
Desyre not the honor therfore,
That synners gayne and kepe in store.
Then mayst yu drynke hym with plesure,
Desyre not the honor therfore,
That synners gayne and kepe in store.
40
If thou dydst their destruction knowe,
Whiche will them once all ouerflowe:
To suche honour thou wouldst not haste,
Nor of their vayne welth wysh to taste.
Whiche will them once all ouerflowe:
To suche honour thou wouldst not haste,
Nor of their vayne welth wysh to taste.
Of one thyng more warne thee I will,
Abstain frō such, whose powre may kill.
For if with suche thou makest stryfe,
He may sone take from thee thy lyfe.
Abstain frō such, whose powre may kill.
For if with suche thou makest stryfe,
He may sone take from thee thy lyfe.
Forsee and shurne eche casualtie:
So shalt thou scape all ieopardie.
Take good hede of an ill neighbour,
Least with some crafte he thee deuoure.
So shalt thou scape all ieopardie.
Take good hede of an ill neighbour,
Least with some crafte he thee deuoure.
With wyse men be in company,
So shalt thou gayne great honestie.
Let iust men be thy gestes alwayes,
Ioye in gods name and geue hym prayse.
So shalt thou gayne great honestie.
Let iust men be thy gestes alwayes,
Ioye in gods name and geue hym prayse.
Be courteous gentyll, good and kynde,
Haue gods feare euer in thy mynde.
Let all thy workes and talke be bent,
Upon the lordes commaundemente.
Haue gods feare euer in thy mynde.
Let all thy workes and talke be bent,
Upon the lordes commaundemente.
Eche good craftes mā shuld set his wil
His worke to frame by discrete skyll.
Whiche being set before mens eyes,
Shall cause hym to be counted wyse.
His worke to frame by discrete skyll.
Whiche being set before mens eyes,
Shall cause hym to be counted wyse.
For eche worke brought to gorgeous end,
Doth cause all men it to commende,
A prynce that rightly gouerne wyll,
Lyke wise of wisdom should haue skyll.
Doth cause all men it to commende,
A prynce that rightly gouerne wyll,
Lyke wise of wisdom should haue skyll.
[40]
So well he should wysdom decerne,
That at his talke others myght lerne.
Hym that doth many fonde wordes vse,
A wyse mans parte is to refuse.
That at his talke others myght lerne.
Hym that doth many fonde wordes vse,
A wyse mans parte is to refuse.
For suche in towne and in citie,
Doe kyndle stryfe and vylainy,
They neither weye cause, tyme, nor place:
In them is neither wytte nor grace.
They are past shame I saye, therfore
Refuse suche men and them abhorre.
Doe kyndle stryfe and vylainy,
They neither weye cause, tyme, nor place:
In them is neither wytte nor grace.
They are past shame I saye, therfore
Refuse suche men and them abhorre.
| [The Courte of Vertu | |