 | Parvus and Magnus Cato |  |
[Parvus Cato]
I
Whan I aduertyse in my remembranceAnd see, how feele folk erre greuously
In the way of vertuose gouernance,
I haf supposyd in my self, that I
Aught to support and consell prudently
Them to be full gloriose in lyuynge
And how they shall hem self to honour brynge.
II
Therfore, my leef childe, I shall teche the,Herkyn me well, the maner and the gyse
How thyn soule inward shall acqueynted be
With thewys good and vertue in all wyse.
Rede and conceyue; for he is to dispise,
That redyth aye and wot not, what is ment.
Suche redyng is not elles but wynd dispent.
III
Pray thy God and prayse hym with all thyn hert.Fader and moder haf in reuerence;
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To here mennys counsell; but kepe the thens,
Till thow be clepyd. Be clene without offence.
Salue gladly. To hym, that is more digne
Than art thy-self, thow shalt thy place resigne.
IV
Drede thy maister. Thy thynges loke thow kepe.Take hede to thy household. Loue aye thy wyfe.
Plesaunt wordys out of thy mouthe shall crepe.
Be nat irouse. Kepe thy behest as lyfe.
Be tempred with wyne and not to excessiue.
Thy wyues word make non auctorite
In folye. Slepe no more than nedyth the.
V
In goodly bokys whilome shalt thow rede;And that thow redyst, in thyn mynd it shytt.
Styre no wyght to wrath. Lye not, I the rede,
Do well to good, and that will eft be quytt.
Be not wikkyd, ne to the wykkyd knytt.
Stond in the place of pletyng excersise.
Deme the ryght. Be counseld of the wyse.
VI
Play with a toppe; the dyse loke thow eschewe.Despise not women; kepe them thy behest.
Skorne neuer wreche; for than thow shalt it rewe.
Couette no mannys good. Spek few at fest.
Loke thy vengeance be alway with the lest.
Who hath done the good, haf in remembrance.
Love euery wyght, and thys shall the avaunce.
Lenvoye.
VII
Behold, my maister, thys lityll tretyse,What it is full of wytt and sapience,
Enforceth ȝow the mater to complise.
Thynk it is translate at ȝowr reuerence.
Enrolle it therfor in ȝowr aduertence.
Desyre to know, what thys Catoun ment.
Whan ȝe it rede, lat not ȝowr hert be thens.
Doth as thys saith with all ȝowr hoole entent.
Explicit liber parui Catonis
| Parvus and Magnus Cato | |