 | R. Coplande to the translatour |  |
R. Coplande to the translatour.
Thynflammate desyre/of your good intent
Newes to compyle/eschewynge ydelnesse
Cometh of grace/& of wysdome excellent
To occupy suche/as haue no besynesse
Whiche vtu of doynge/moche harme doth oppresse
For surely ydelnesse/is portresse of all synne
Euery vyce/redy to lette in
Newes to compyle/eschewynge ydelnesse
Cometh of grace/& of wysdome excellent
To occupy suche/as haue no besynesse
Whiche vtu of doynge/moche harme doth oppresse
For surely ydelnesse/is portresse of all synne
Euery vyce/redy to lette in
The wretched lyfe/of osyosyte
Engendreth slouth/pouerte and payne
It is nouryce/of voluptuosyte
And setteth the mynde on all thynges vayne
It sleeth the body/and troubleth the brayne
Unstedyeth the wyt/and wasteth good dede
And letteth vertu/and goodnesse to procede
Engendreth slouth/pouerte and payne
It is nouryce/of voluptuosyte
And setteth the mynde on all thynges vayne
It sleeth the body/and troubleth the brayne
Unstedyeth the wyt/and wasteth good dede
And letteth vertu/and goodnesse to procede
Example playne/of ydle Sygysmonde
Fedde deyntely/no maner werke to vse
Whiche caused ydelnesse/for to habonde
And vnto pleasure/set onely for to muse
Daunce/songe/and play/she dyd not refuse
Whiche thynges assembled/engendred delyte
Of naturall lust/to do her appetyte
Fedde deyntely/no maner werke to vse
Whiche caused ydelnesse/for to habonde
And vnto pleasure/set onely for to muse
Daunce/songe/and play/she dyd not refuse
Whiche thynges assembled/engendred delyte
Of naturall lust/to do her appetyte
Here lacketh besynesse/and good pastyme
Grace of good doynge/was from her exyled
Caught as a byrde/tangled with lyme
Fyrst by one feder/and than with all begyled
Ryght so who with this vyce is fyled
Take with one synne/all other dothe ensue
Ergo/good besynesse/is gate of vertue
Grace of good doynge/was from her exyled
Caught as a byrde/tangled with lyme
Fyrst by one feder/and than with all begyled
Ryght so who with this vyce is fyled
Take with one synne/all other dothe ensue
Ergo/good besynesse/is gate of vertue
Thus endeth the prologue.
| R. Coplande to the translatour | |