Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe [by Benedict Burgh] |
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| 3. | Here folowed the third booke of Cato. |
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 | Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe |  |
Here folowed the third booke of Cato.
Beholde what wyght, that lust for to rede
In this my diete, somewhat shall he fynde,
where wt, his soule he shall foustre and fede,
with the wyse good, and it frō vices bynde.
Come nere my child therfore & haue in mīd,
Suche doctrine to bere away and lere,
As to thy lyfe shalbe full good and dere.
In this my diete, somewhat shall he fynde,
where wt, his soule he shall foustre and fede,
with the wyse good, and it frō vices bynde.
Come nere my child therfore & haue in mīd,
Suche doctrine to bere away and lere,
As to thy lyfe shalbe full good and dere.
Thy soule resembleth, a newe playne table,
In the whiche, as yet apperith no picture,
The philosophie saith without fable:
So is the soule but a dedly figure,
Till tyme she be reclaymed with the lure
Of doctrine, and so get her a good habite
To be expert in conyng and parfite.
In the whiche, as yet apperith no picture,
The philosophie saith without fable:
So is the soule but a dedly figure,
Till tyme she be reclaymed with the lure
Of doctrine, and so get her a good habite
To be expert in conyng and parfite.
Enprynte my teching, in thy soule stedfast,
And full profitable thou shalt it fynde
Forsake it not, ne from thyn hert it cast
For if thou do exclude out of thy mynde
This lesson, thou art full bareyn and blinde
From vertu, and therfore wyte not me,
Sith the faute my sonne, is then in the,
Forsake it not, ne from thyn hert it cast
For if thou do exclude out of thy mynde
This lesson, thou art full bareyn and blinde
From vertu, and therfore wyte not me,
Sith the faute my sonne, is then in the,
Yf thou lyue Iustly, keping the vpright
Neuer declining for nede ne fauoure,
Than standest thou in a full holsom plight,
Though mē malingne wt wordes of rigour
Yf thou liue thus, thy good lyfe is thy toure
We may not let, the people to gare & crye:
But doo we wel, if they say misse they lye.
Neuer declining for nede ne fauoure,
Than standest thou in a full holsom plight,
Though mē malingne wt wordes of rigour
Yf thou liue thus, thy good lyfe is thy toure
We may not let, the people to gare & crye:
But doo we wel, if they say misse they lye.
Yf thou be called the soth to testifie
Ay sauing thy worship and honestie
Thy frendes trespas be not about to wrie,
Wher as no shame therof mai growe to the
This requireth ay frendlines pardie,
In well and woo the treue beniuolence,
Betwix folke is frendship in existence.
Ay sauing thy worship and honestie
Thy frendes trespas be not about to wrie,
Wher as no shame therof mai growe to the
This requireth ay frendlines pardie,
In well and woo the treue beniuolence,
Betwix folke is frendship in existence.
Make besy watche, & kepe thy soule algats
Beholde aboute, espye the couert trayne
Whē that false fauel knokkith at thy gates,
He menyth gile though outward he tayne.
He can anoynte softly thy eres twayne,
With oyle of plesaunce plente and foison.
Yet vnder that, kepe the from his poyson.
Beholde aboute, espye the couert trayne
Whē that false fauel knokkith at thy gates,
He menyth gile though outward he tayne.
He can anoynte softly thy eres twayne,
With oyle of plesaunce plente and foison.
Yet vnder that, kepe the from his poyson.
Slouth, slogardy, and dulle ydulnesse,
And lachesse, that causith to be necligente,
Eschue my child with all thy besynesse:
For ydull body, makith the soul shente.
There is in erth no greater argumente,
For to conclude the body vnapte:
Than that the soule in ydelnesse be wrapte.
And lachesse, that causith to be necligente,
Eschue my child with all thy besynesse:
For ydull body, makith the soul shente.
There is in erth no greater argumente,
For to conclude the body vnapte:
Than that the soule in ydelnesse be wrapte.
Who so lackith rest, may not long endure:
Therfore among take thin ease and disport.
Delite the neuer in besinesse and cure,
But yet at sumtyme thou maist resort
To play, recreacion, and comforte,
Thou shalte the better laboure at the long,
Whan thou hast mirth, thi besinesse amōg,
Therfore among take thin ease and disport.
Delite the neuer in besinesse and cure,
To play, recreacion, and comforte,
Thou shalte the better laboure at the long,
Whan thou hast mirth, thi besinesse amōg,
It is ful hard, to plese euery wight,
Despreyse no mānes dedes, nor them lacke,
Ne wordys, for euen so right,
As thou dispraisist them behind thy backe
Right so wil mē make yu a moppe & a knacke
The contrary, though men had it sworne,
The scorner shall alwaye haue a scorne.
Despreyse no mānes dedes, nor them lacke,
Ne wordys, for euen so right,
As thou dispraisist them behind thy backe
Right so wil mē make yu a moppe & a knacke
The contrary, though men had it sworne,
The scorner shall alwaye haue a scorne.
Whan thy last sorte that sum men call fate,
Is good and pleasaunt after thyne entente:
This meane I loo, whā thou art fortunate,
Receiue the good that god hathe to the sente
Suffre it not rechelesly to be spent
For thā of a wastour, shalt thou haue ye nāe
For our great riot, wil cause a feble fame.
Is good and pleasaunt after thyne entente:
This meane I loo, whā thou art fortunate,
Receiue the good that god hathe to the sente
Suffre it not rechelesly to be spent
For thā of a wastour, shalt thou haue ye nāe
For our great riot, wil cause a feble fame.
Into great age when thou arte crepte,
And yu hast ryches, & great aboundaunce,
be liberall of good thou hast before kepte:
Thinke thou hast ynough and suffisaunce,
Let not thy good of the haue gouernaunce,
But gouerne it, and parte it wt thy frende:
when yu goest hēce, it may not wt the wende
be liberall of good thou hast before kepte:
Thinke thou hast ynough and suffisaunce,
Let not thy good of the haue gouernaunce,
But gouerne it, and parte it wt thy frende:
when yu goest hēce, it may not wt the wende
Grace is geuen to men in sundry wyse,
Sum haue wisdome, & sum haue eloquence,
Theis pouer folke, sumtyme bene ful wyse.
A seruaunte may be of great sapience,
Though he be had of smal reuerence,
Reward his wit among otherwhile,
For vertue is hid vnder an habite vile
Sum haue wisdome, & sum haue eloquence,
Theis pouer folke, sumtyme bene ful wyse.
A seruaunte may be of great sapience,
Though he be had of smal reuerence,
Reward his wit among otherwhile,
For vertue is hid vnder an habite vile
This worldli welth, ebbing and flowing ay
At no certaine, as doth wantan apryle,
Though yu haue lost it, make no dismay:
Be content wt that thou hast for the whyle.
Sū mē ther be, yt haue nother crosse ne pile.
Now in his warde, and yet good aduenture
Is him ful nere, no mā may knowe his vre.
At no certaine, as doth wantan apryle,
Though yu haue lost it, make no dismay:
Be content wt that thou hast for the whyle.
Sū mē ther be, yt haue nother crosse ne pile.
Now in his warde, and yet good aduenture
Is him ful nere, no mā may knowe his vre.
Wed not a wyfe for her inheritaunce,
For she will cast it ofte in thy berde.
And yf she be noyus and full of greuaunce,
Constrayne her not tabyde in thy yerde,
Of chastise ment she is a cursed wede,
To kepe one that will the ay atwite,
He is at ease, that of suche one is quyte.
For she will cast it ofte in thy berde.
And yf she be noyus and full of greuaunce,
Constrayne her not tabyde in thy yerde,
Of chastise ment she is a cursed wede,
To kepe one that will the ay atwite,
He is at ease, that of suche one is quyte.
Of other men thy mirrour thou shalt make
Conforme the to that, yt most men appreue,
What yu shalt do, & what thou shalt forsake,
A better lesson maist thou not contreue,
Than to other mennes dedes releue.
In all apperteyneth vnto thy teching,
Make other men a rule for thy lyuing.
Conforme the to that, yt most men appreue,
What yu shalt do, & what thou shalt forsake,
A better lesson maist thou not contreue,
Than to other mennes dedes releue.
In all apperteyneth vnto thy teching,
Make other men a rule for thy lyuing.
A tempte no thing, yt surmoūtith thy might
Ne that to finysshe, thou mayst not acheue
For thā, yu stādiste foule in thyn owne light
Ouer his power, what men lift to meue,
with shame, his warke, must nedes take (his leue
It is foly a mā such thing to begin:
Which to perfourme, his wittes be to thinne
Ne that to finysshe, thou mayst not acheue
For thā, yu stādiste foule in thyn owne light
Ouer his power, what men lift to meue,
with shame, his warke, must nedes take (his leue
It is foly a mā such thing to begin:
Which to perfourme, his wittes be to thinne
Lawe presumeth, that what mā kepith stille
The cryme of one that dothe greate offence,
And discouereth it not, he is as ille,
As is the crymous for his silence.
Therfore my sonne bring it in audience,
That thou apperceiuest not well done is:
Lest for thy silence men deme of the amys.
The cryme of one that dothe greate offence,
And discouereth it not, he is as ille,
As is the crymous for his silence.
Therfore my sonne bring it in audience,
That thou apperceiuest not well done is:
Lest for thy silence men deme of the amys.
Whan that the lawe is strayte & rigorous,
Entreate the iudge to shewe the fauoure,
Enclynyng him for to be gratious.
An egall iudge, may the parcas socoure,
And yet the lawe, shall be his gouernoure.
whiche he ought, sometime to modifie:
As in the case, he may a poynt espie.
Entreate the iudge to shewe the fauoure,
Enclynyng him for to be gratious.
An egall iudge, may the parcas socoure,
And yet the lawe, shall be his gouernoure.
whiche he ought, sometime to modifie:
As in the case, he may a poynt espie.
What paine thou souffrest for thy deserte,
Receiue it well in gree with pacience.
And though thy trespace be priuie couerte,
yet whan thou felest in thyne aduertence,
That thou art blemysshed in thy obscience,
within thy selfe than make arbitremente:
Demyng thy selfe in thyne owne iudgemēt.
Receiue it well in gree with pacience.
And though thy trespace be priuie couerte,
yet whan thou felest in thyne aduertence,
That thou art blemysshed in thy obscience,
within thy selfe than make arbitremente:
Demyng thy selfe in thyne owne iudgemēt.
Myspende no tyme, for stouth or for lachesse,
But sometyme rede in bokes olde and wyse,
Rede and reporte, with greate attentifnesse:
By redyng, to connyng men may aryse.
Than rede my sonne, & connyng accōplise.
These poetes write thīges of gret maruaile,
And of smale credence oft this is no faile.
But sometyme rede in bokes olde and wyse,
Rede and reporte, with greate attentifnesse:
By redyng, to connyng men may aryse.
Than rede my sonne, & connyng accōplise.
These poetes write thīges of gret maruaile,
And of smale credence oft this is no faile.
Among frendes sitting at feste,
Be curtes and demure of thy langage.
who speaketh moste, may not offende leste,
Of fleshe & boone nature hath made a cage,
The tonge to kepe, that she be not outrage.
Than if thou wilt be loued of nature,
Refrayne thy tonge, with all thy besy cure.
Be curtes and demure of thy langage.
who speaketh moste, may not offende leste,
Of fleshe & boone nature hath made a cage,
The tonge to kepe, that she be not outrage.
Than if thou wilt be loued of nature,
Refrayne thy tonge, with all thy besy cure.
Some women wepe of pure feminite,
whan otherwise they can not her entent
Acheue: but yet beware of nyce pitie,
That of thy manly reason thou be no[illeg.]
For such weping, thy heart ought not relēt
Some women of kynde ben euer wepynge:
And vnder that, they can bothe prik & sting.
whan otherwise they can not her entent
Acheue: but yet beware of nyce pitie,
That of thy manly reason thou be no[illeg.]
Some women of kynde ben euer wepynge:
And vnder that, they can bothe prik & sting.
That yu hast gotē to thyne owne worship vse
what auayleth ryches without honoure:
To spare good, and worship to refuse,
The nygarde ay with payne and laboure
Is besy, but I rede the not deuoure
without reason, thy good excessifly:
For than must thou of other begge hastely.
what auayleth ryches without honoure:
To spare good, and worship to refuse,
The nygarde ay with payne and laboure
Is besy, but I rede the not deuoure
without reason, thy good excessifly:
For than must thou of other begge hastely.
Enprent my chyld, ay sadly in thy mynde,
That thou be not of deth to sore adrade
That shal the from wrechidnesse vnbynde
wherin thy lyfe, so longe thou hast lad,
Til on thy corps, thy soule hath bene ful sad
For ryght as doth is syne of ferfulnes:
So is she the end of thy wrechidnes.
That thou be not of deth to sore adrade
That shal the from wrechidnesse vnbynde
wherin thy lyfe, so longe thou hast lad,
Til on thy corps, thy soule hath bene ful sad
For ryght as doth is syne of ferfulnes:
So is she the end of thy wrechidnes.
Thy wyfis word suffre and take in gree,
whan it auayleth, for betyde it may
[illeg.] that of full great prudence is she,
And must be alowed, this is noo nay.
Suffre her than and her consete assay,
For it is hard whan she can not be stille:
Yf yu wyl not suffre, yu can not haue thy will
whan it auayleth, for betyde it may
[illeg.] that of full great prudence is she,
Suffre her than and her consete assay,
For it is hard whan she can not be stille:
Yf yu wyl not suffre, yu can not haue thy will
Goodes that be geuen the of nature,
And comen also of thy progenitours,
Therfore my chylde with all thy besy cure,
Loue them well, and cheryshe at all houres.
Thei fostred ye, & kipte ye in youthes shoures
Thy moder my chyld in especialle,
Yf thou do wel neuer offend at alle.
And comen also of thy progenitours,
Therfore my chylde with all thy besy cure,
Loue them well, and cheryshe at all houres.
Thei fostred ye, & kipte ye in youthes shoures
Thy moder my chyld in especialle,
Yf thou do wel neuer offend at alle.
Lenuoye
Resoort resoort, and hiderward releue,My maister, now here is a holsume eyre
For your auayl, vnto this place retreue,
Where as of moralite floures fayre,
And so full plesauntly doth repare.
Gethrith therof, and make you agay,
And restith you here in this harbare.
Beholde and se what thing is to your pay,
whan you haue gethred floures to your list,
Take them, for they be ful preseruarit.
Holde them fast, and bere them in your fist,
For the pestilent heires infectit.
That ye shall lede your life in sekernesse,
Through vertue of this conseruatife:
And eke attayne to muche worthynesse.
Thus moue I you, vnder protection
Of your good grace, that what time ye rede,
Or in this mater haue inspection
As it biddeth you ye will do in dede.
Than dare I affirme without drede,
ye shall acheue and be ryght vertuous:
Here shall ye finde yt may you guyde & lede,
Streight to good fame, & brīg you to her hous
Tertia pars finita.
| Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe | |