One and Thyrtye Epigrammes wherein are briefly touched so many Abuses, that maye and ought to be put away. Compiled and Imprinted by Robert Crowley |
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Of Foles. |
 | One and Thyrtye Epigrammes |  |
Of Foles.
The preachar sayeth thus,a pore wytty ladde,
is better then an olde Kynge
whose wytie is but badde.
The wyse man in pouertie
is ryght honourable,
Whan the fole in his ryches
is worthy a Bable.
that vnderstande nought,
Some other vnderstand thynges,
but haue euer in theyr thought,
That they them selues be wysest,
whych folly passeth all,
And doeth soneste appeare,
as well in greate as small.
These foles wyll not heare
any mans reade or counsell,
And whatsoeuer they thē selfe do,
is excedyng well.
But other mens doynges
they wyll euer dyprease,
For other can do nought
that may theyr mynde please.
And further, they thyncke
it becometh them well,
in euery mans matter,
them selfe to entermel.
And when they come in place
where is any talke,
No mā shal fynde a tyme to speake
so faste theyr tonges that walke.
they wyll bragge and boaste.
And declare all theyr mishaps,
and what they haue loste.
If ye tell them of theyr fautes,
then wyll they nedes fyght,
Ye must saye as they saye,
be it wrounge or ryght.
Infine, ye must prayse them
and sette forth theyr fame,
And what soeuer they do,
you may them not blame.
If ye tell them of knowledge,
they saye they lacke none,
And wyshe they had lesse,
and then they make mone,
For the losse of vayne toyes,
wherin they delyte.
And then if ye reasone farre,
beware, they wyll fyght.
All wise men take hede,
and shunne theyr companye,
For of all other men,
they are most vngodly.
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