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A proper newe ballad sheweing that Philosophers Learnynges, are full of good warnynges.

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And songe to the tune of my Lorde Marques Galyardes or the firste traces of Que passa.

Philosophers learnings, are ful of good warnīgs,
in memorye yet lett, to scoole vs,
So be ther contayned, in Poietries fained
great Documentes, to rate and rule vs,
As well for continuance, of life helth and substance,
Whose vanities the world requireth,
As for the derection of life by correction
from lyberties that lust desireth.
Menander being asked what life was, he answered,
a miserie, that neuer ceaseth
Tormentīg minds worldly, for goods goton hardly
With contraries as time increaseth,
Wher in is no surance of hope nor in duraunce
but Ieoberdies as fortune sendyth,
Now sicklie now helthie now poorelie now welthy,
With casualties as life contendith.
Of Child thus reed we, whose councel most need we
no memorye ought more to moue vs,
Then for to know throwly, ourselues & our dewty,
to notifie what doth behoue vs,
And as we seeme faultie, reiecte folyes noughtie
With practesinge all waies to shone them,
So may we triumphīg, geue praise to ech good thīg,
Recomfortinge that we haue done them:
Excesse that delighteth as Plutarche well writeth
in greedines that life requireth,
In surfeitinge disshes ill workinge ill wishes
suche filthines as fleshe desyrethe,
Withdraw, wyth their pleasurs, dame natures dew measures,
Whose gouernaunce is so defaced,
What man can dispose them, when lust ouer throws them:
to temperaunce, that should be placed.
Periander of liuinge good counsell once geuinge,
said merilie looke well within thee,
If consience accuse thee, ill rest will abbuse thee
no libertie hath leaue to win thee,
Kepe cōcience then clearly, that life may liue chearly
as Socrates doth wiselie will thee,
No corzye shall greeue thee, sound sleepes shall reliue thee
Unquietnes, can no waye spill thee.
If fortune displease vs, whose wrackes may disease vs,
Let Sophacles his doctrine skoole vs,
Who writes that no suretie, on earth getteth victrye
But pacience in paines to rule vs,
In suche pointes presisely good counsel most wisely,
Exuperate blinde fortunes scourges,
As the Marriner steareth, the Ship when he feareth
The violence of salt Sea sourges.
Ten thousand and ten to, of thease & like men to,
Lyke Documentes haue left behinde them,
Methinks that these pagons, may coūsel good Christians,
With diligence to heare and mind them,
Sith life hath no suertie, nor longe time of puertie
Nor accedence that can preuaile vs,
Let wisdome now win vs, to plant vertue in vs,
With penitence eare life doth faile vs.
Finis.
quoth. W. Elderton.