Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe [by Benedict Burgh] |
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| 2. | Here foloweth the second booke of Cato. |
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 | Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe |  |
Here foloweth the second booke of Cato.
If thou my chylde sette thy delyte,
Of earth, to knowe the tilthe and culture,
And if thou wilt of knowledge be perfite.
Why some is areable, and some is pasture,
And why some is spreint wt floure picture,
I counsayle the to musen for a whyle,
In the laureat poete virgile.
Of earth, to knowe the tilthe and culture,
And if thou wilt of knowledge be perfite.
Why some is areable, and some is pasture,
And why some is spreint wt floure picture,
I counsayle the to musen for a whyle,
In the laureat poete virgile.
And further more my chylde, if that the list,
The vertue of herbes for to discriue:
It may neuer in earth better be wyst,
Whiche be cōsuming, whiche be nutritiue,
Whiche hote, whiche colde, whiche conseruatiue:
Thā rede Macer, in his olde dite,
Whiche telleth hem in proper qualite.
The vertue of herbes for to discriue:
It may neuer in earth better be wyst,
Whiche be cōsuming, whiche be nutritiue,
Whiche hote, whiche colde, whiche conseruatiue:
Thā rede Macer, in his olde dite,
Whiche telleth hem in proper qualite.
And if thou haue desirous fresh courage,
To here of noble Romains worthinesse,
How that thei vanquished theim of cartage,
And many other, through manly prowesse:
Than rede Lucan, full well can he expresse,
who bare him best in towne & eke in felde,
and who did marueiles vnder macers shelde
To here of noble Romains worthinesse,
How that thei vanquished theim of cartage,
And many other, through manly prowesse:
Than rede Lucan, full well can he expresse,
who bare him best in towne & eke in felde,
and who did marueiles vnder macers shelde
And he that lust of louers for to rede,
And in that wyse him selfe to auaunce,
As in yt craft, Naso can teache him spede.
Some loueth song, some harpe, lute & daūce
Some other thynges diuers of pleasaunce,
Some louen secretly & lust not to be spide,
Som wil be knowē for thus writeth Ouide
And in that wyse him selfe to auaunce,
As in yt craft, Naso can teache him spede.
Some loueth song, some harpe, lute & daūce
Some other thynges diuers of pleasaunce,
Some louen secretly & lust not to be spide,
Som wil be knowē for thus writeth Ouide
But yet my chylde if that in aduenture,
Thyne hert be set to no such maner thyng:
Or if it be not all to thy pleasure
That Uirgil, Macer, Lucan, & Naso bring,
yet that thou may be wyse in thy liuyng.
If the lust to geue me audience,
I shall the shewe doctrine of sapience.
Thyne hert be set to no such maner thyng:
Or if it be not all to thy pleasure
That Uirgil, Macer, Lucan, & Naso bring,
yet that thou may be wyse in thy liuyng.
If the lust to geue me audience,
I shall the shewe doctrine of sapience.
Therfore my chylde, come to me and lere,
And I shal the shew the veray treasure
Of sapience, if the lust to here.
And how thou shalt, in good estate endure,
And lede thy lyfe after goddes pleasure.
Therfore come nere, & {lern} by this reding,
To be a man vertuous in lyuyng.
And I shal the shew the veray treasure
Of sapience, if the lust to here.
And how thou shalt, in good estate endure,
And lede thy lyfe after goddes pleasure.
Therfore come nere, & {lern} by this reding,
To be a man vertuous in lyuyng.
There is no wight, that further may report
Of thy good dedes, than the straūger may.
Make him good chere, & shew hī thi disport:
And he shal vtter thy name, this is no nay,
For the vnknowen, sometime doth assay.
Frendes ynowe to haue, is better thyng,
Than is frendles, a man to be a kyng.
Of thy good dedes, than the straūger may.
Make him good chere, & shew hī thi disport:
And he shal vtter thy name, this is no nay,
For the vnknowen, sometime doth assay.
Frendes ynowe to haue, is better thyng,
Than is frendles, a man to be a kyng.
Of goddes misterie and his working,
Make neuer my chylde to far inquiraunce,
It is foly to muse vpon suche thyng.
Dispute neuer thy goddes pouruiaunce,
All thyng must be vnder his gouernaunce.
Sithe thou art man clad in mortalite,
Dispute thou thynges suche as mortal be.
Make neuer my chylde to far inquiraunce,
It is foly to muse vpon suche thyng.
Dispute neuer thy goddes pouruiaunce,
All thyng must be vnder his gouernaunce.
Dispute thou thynges suche as mortal be.
The drede of death, that is inordinate,
I meane to drede it ay, and neuer to cese.
Beware of that I counseyle the algate,
For this is as gospel doubtles
True, who dredeth so, is ay myrthles.
Whan drede of death a man so aggruggith,
It wasteth life, and his tyme abbruggith.
I meane to drede it ay, and neuer to cese.
Beware of that I counseyle the algate,
For this is as gospel doubtles
True, who dredeth so, is ay myrthles.
Whan drede of death a man so aggruggith,
It wasteth life, and his tyme abbruggith.
For thyng that is to the uncertayne,
Whan thou art wrath, loke yu neuer striue.
Thy pacience easely withdrawe & refrayne,
For there is no persone in earth on lyue,
But that all reasonlesse he is as blyue,
As besy wrath hath kyndled hym on fyre:
And than he can not deme the trouth for yre
Whan thou art wrath, loke yu neuer striue.
Thy pacience easely withdrawe & refrayne,
For there is no persone in earth on lyue,
But that all reasonlesse he is as blyue,
As besy wrath hath kyndled hym on fyre:
And than he can not deme the trouth for yre
As tyme requireth, so make thine expence,
Mesure thy hand, after thy properte
Of thyng, of tyme, and after the presence.
Se that thou spende no more than nedeth ye,
And that to spende, loke thyne hert be fre.
A man shuld do coste, & make his spending,
Considering time, & rewarding the thyng.
Mesure thy hand, after thy properte
Se that thou spende no more than nedeth ye,
And that to spende, loke thyne hert be fre.
A man shuld do coste, & make his spending,
Considering time, & rewarding the thyng.
To muche is nought of any maner thyng,
The meane is good and moost cōmendable,
Than mā standeth surest here in his liuing
with mene estate that halt him greable.
Plente and pouerte be not souffrable,
For than is the shippe in the sea moste sure,
whan that the flode excedith not mesure.
The meane is good and moost cōmendable,
Than mā standeth surest here in his liuing
with mene estate that halt him greable.
Plente and pouerte be not souffrable,
For than is the shippe in the sea moste sure,
whan that the flode excedith not mesure.
If yu know ought yt may turne one to shame,
Kepe it secrete for nothing it bewrye:
Be not to besy suche thynges to proclame
And publisshe, as thou knowest priue.
Make not all men, to gare on the and crye,
Lest mo depraue, whā yu word has sowe
that was before to other men vnknowe.
Kepe it secrete for nothing it bewrye:
Be not to besy suche thynges to proclame
And publisshe, as thou knowest priue.
Make not all men, to gare on the and crye,
Lest mo depraue, whā yu word has sowe
that was before to other men vnknowe.
Yf thou espse and see a surfetoure,
A thefe, a shrewe, of grete mysgouernaūce.
Trust well sumtyme, shal come an houre
whan for his dede, shall he suffre penaunce,
Cursed dede, askyth wreche and vengeance
Though wyckydnesse for time be kept secre
Yet at the last it wol discouerd bee.
A thefe, a shrewe, of grete mysgouernaūce.
Trust well sumtyme, shal come an houre
whan for his dede, shall he suffre penaunce,
Cursed dede, askyth wreche and vengeance
Though wyckydnesse for time be kept secre
Yet at the last it wol discouerd bee.
Though sum tyme nature haue ben vnkind
And yeuen a man to be of smale stature,
Yet my chylde Remembre, & haue in mynde
That thou neuer dispice that creature,
for god may send hym fortune and good our
As ofte as thay be wt good counsell allied,
To whō yt nature, hath great strēght denied
And yeuen a man to be of smale stature,
Yet my chylde Remembre, & haue in mynde
That thou neuer dispice that creature,
for god may send hym fortune and good our
As ofte as thay be wt good counsell allied,
To whō yt nature, hath great strēght denied
whan the hapenyth to trauerce or haue ado
wt him thou knowest not egal to thy myght,
Thyne vttrest power shew not such on vnto
lest that eftsones, he haue the in like plight
for it is synne in tournement and in sight.
fortune changith oftene in an hour
And he is discomfet, that erst was victoure.
wt him thou knowest not egal to thy myght,
Thyne vttrest power shew not such on vnto
lest that eftsones, he haue the in like plight
for it is synne in tournement and in sight.
fortune changith oftene in an hour
And he is discomfet, that erst was victoure.
Of brōdes smale, be made these fires grete,
withdrawe ye brand, the fire shal eke decrece
Agayne the knowen ayre loke yu neuer bete
with wordes fele, for word distourbeth pece.
The man is wyse, that can of wordes cese,
For this is soth as god gaf the lyfe,
Of wordes smale, is brad full muche stryfe.
withdrawe ye brand, the fire shal eke decrece
Agayne the knowen ayre loke yu neuer bete
with wordes fele, for word distourbeth pece.
The man is wyse, that can of wordes cese,
For this is soth as god gaf the lyfe,
Of wordes smale, is brad full muche stryfe.
Dele not with sorcery, ne with surquedry:
In goddes hand is all thy sorte and state,
Be not about to calcle thy destyny,
If thou be mysbrous or fortunate.
Let god alone, in him is all thy state,
And that hym list of the for to purpose:
without the, ful well can he dispose.
In goddes hand is all thy sorte and state,
Be not about to calcle thy destyny,
If thou be mysbrous or fortunate.
Let god alone, in him is all thy state,
And that hym list of the for to purpose:
without the, ful well can he dispose.
Beware of enuy, with her taches felle,
within thyne hert, loke that she not reste:
For it is one of the paynes of helle
whan she soiourneth in a mans breste,
Than brenneth fenix in his owne neste.
and though she may non other mā mischeue
Yet Ethua ceaseth not her selfe to greue.
within thyne hert, loke that she not reste:
whan she soiourneth in a mans breste,
Than brenneth fenix in his owne neste.
and though she may non other mā mischeue
Yet Ethua ceaseth not her selfe to greue.
Enforce thyne hert, with manly suffraūce,
Though iudgement agaynst the procede,
Be not abasshed in worde ne countenaūce.
For the oppressoure, fals may rule and lede,
The lawe, but trust me well without drede,
Long to reioyse acheueth he nat,
whiche by meanes vntrew, his goodes gat.
Though iudgement agaynst the procede,
Be not abasshed in worde ne countenaūce.
For the oppressoure, fals may rule and lede,
The lawe, but trust me well without drede,
Long to reioyse acheueth he nat,
whiche by meanes vntrew, his goodes gat.
Wrath of olde, that should be out of mynde,
Be not about to make eft alyue.
But the enuious hath that tache of kynde.
Such malice my child, loke yu neuer reuiue,
For yre of old, maketh men to stryue.
and who remembreth olde enemyte:
A wicked man, forsoth my chylde is he.
Be not about to make eft alyue.
But the enuious hath that tache of kynde.
Such malice my child, loke yu neuer reuiue,
For yre of old, maketh men to stryue.
and who remembreth olde enemyte:
A wicked man, forsoth my chylde is he.
Thy selfe also, loke that thou not preyse,
Ne dispreyse, but let other men alone.
Alway after prudence thy wordes yu peyse:
For thine own auaūt, honour getest yu none
But a mocke, anone as thou art gone.
A man to preyse him selfe as sayth the scole,
Or dispreyse muche, is token of a fole.
Alway after prudence thy wordes yu peyse:
For thine own auaūt, honour getest yu none
But a mocke, anone as thou art gone.
A man to preyse him selfe as sayth the scole,
Or dispreyse muche, is token of a fole.
Whan it is time of coste and gret expence,
Beware of waste and spend ay by mesure.
who that to kepe nor spende no difference
Maketh, his goodes may not long endure.
The olde sawe sayth, mesure is tresure:
For in short tyme, thy good may slyp away,
That was begotten in many a sondry day.
Beware of waste and spend ay by mesure.
who that to kepe nor spende no difference
Maketh, his goodes may not long endure.
The olde sawe sayth, mesure is tresure:
For in short tyme, thy good may slyp away,
That was begotten in many a sondry day.
It is no wisdome, alway to seme sage,
But sometyme to be nyce, and fayne folye:
who hath this feate shall fynde auauntage.
whan tyme and thyng requireth that espye,
And than to dissimyle it is pollicye:
Sometyme me to be vnwyse in apparance
Among the wyse, is called hygh prudence.
But sometyme to be nyce, and fayne folye:
who hath this feate shall fynde auauntage.
whan tyme and thyng requireth that espye,
And than to dissimyle it is pollicye:
Sometyme me to be vnwyse in apparance
Among the wyse, is called hygh prudence.
Thy filthy fleshe in mouyng bestial,
That fyghteth against the soule within
By force of her entycement sensuall,
Eschew my chyld, & kepe the from her gyn:
That acte, & grace, be set full ferre atwyne.
And fle of auarice the wicked fame,
This two it be, that causen euyll name.
That fyghteth against the soule within
By force of her entycement sensuall,
Eschew my chyld, & kepe the from her gyn:
That acte, & grace, be set full ferre atwyne.
And fle of auarice the wicked fame,
This two it be, that causen euyll name.
Beleue not euery wyghtes sawe,
For some reporte thynges all otherwyse
Than it was done, or any man it sawe.
And some haue it of custome and of gyse,
To fede folke with flatteryng and lyese.
Geue litle trust therfore to such spekynges:
For many folke speke many thynges.
For some reporte thynges all otherwyse
Than it was done, or any man it sawe.
And some haue it of custome and of gyse,
To fede folke with flatteryng and lyese.
Geue litle trust therfore to such spekynges:
For many folke speke many thynges.
If thou surfet in drynke, forget not that,
Auyse the oft thou come not in the snare.
withdraw thy hād, fede not thy throte so fat
Drinke that suffiseth, & otherwhile yu spare.
To muche drynke maketh men of wit bare,
And yet the wyne therof is not to blame.
But the drynker, maketh hym selfe lame.
Auyse the oft thou come not in the snare.
withdraw thy hād, fede not thy throte so fat
Drinke that suffiseth, & otherwhile yu spare.
And yet the wyne therof is not to blame.
But the drynker, maketh hym selfe lame.
To thy trusty frende that is ay seere,
Shewe thy coūsayl, to hym thy hert bewry,
A trusty frend is chefest of preuete.
But it is hard suche frendes to espie,
Trie out one among a companie,
And of thy body betake the cure:
To suche a leche, as is trusty and sure.
Shewe thy coūsayl, to hym thy hert bewry,
A trusty frend is chefest of preuete.
But it is hard suche frendes to espie,
Trie out one among a companie,
And of thy body betake the cure:
To suche a leche, as is trusty and sure.
Within thy selfe, agreue the not to sore,
Though thyng amys sumtyme the betyde.
Dismay the not in besy wyse therfore,
Thyne aduenture nedes thou must abyde,
Fortune may not alway be on thy syde.
with harmes to greue, in awayte lieth she,
To reue men of their felicite.
Though thyng amys sumtyme the betyde.
Dismay the not in besy wyse therfore,
Thyne aduenture nedes thou must abyde,
Fortune may not alway be on thy syde.
with harmes to greue, in awayte lieth she,
To reue men of their felicite.
In thy selfe compasse about before,
Thynge to perceyue, that after shall befall.
It noyeth not, ne greueth halfe so sore,
That is forsayne, as other thynges shall,
Sodeyne chaunces disseysen moste of all.
It hurteth lesse, and is better plyght:
wherof before a man can haue in syght.
Thynge to perceyue, that after shall befall.
It noyeth not, ne greueth halfe so sore,
That is forsayne, as other thynges shall,
Sodeyne chaunces disseysen moste of all.
It hurteth lesse, and is better plyght:
wherof before a man can haue in syght.
Whan diuers thinges trauers thyne entēt
And thou art wrapped in aduersite:
wayte for wāhope, thou be not lost ne shent.
Let not dispayre thy wyt bereue the,
Abyde the tyme it may better be.
Hope is she that shall make the a seth,
Hope leueth not man, though mā leue breth
And thou art wrapped in aduersite:
wayte for wāhope, thou be not lost ne shent.
Let not dispayre thy wyt bereue the,
Abyde the tyme it may better be.
Hope is she that shall make the a seth,
Hope leueth not man, though mā leue breth
Whan profer is than mekely it receyue,
Take thynges whyle they be in season.
They profre now, yt oft wil thinges weyne.
Plente now, wyl afterwarde be geason.
Take in tyme, for so commaundeth reason.
The balled head, sumtyme full of heres,
Now is made bare without knife or sheres.
Take thynges whyle they be in season.
They profre now, yt oft wil thinges weyne.
Plente now, wyl afterwarde be geason.
Take in tyme, for so commaundeth reason.
The balled head, sumtyme full of heres,
Now is made bare without knife or sheres.
Prouide thy selfe, and haue deliueraunce
By lykely coniecture what may betyde,
Aduertise my chyld in thy remembraunce
Afore and after about on euery syde.
Folowe that god, and let hym be thy guyde,
That all thyng hath in his gouernement,
Future passed and that is present.
By lykely coniecture what may betyde,
Aduertise my chyld in thy remembraunce
Afore and after about on euery syde.
Folowe that god, and let hym be thy guyde,
That all thyng hath in his gouernement,
Future passed and that is present.
It is a tache, of a deuouryng hounde
To receyue superflue and done excesse:
Till his receyte frō hym agayne rebounde.
Content thy nature, and fle gredynesse:
Foule lustes ay kepe vnder and represse.
Fede not thy lust withall that she wil craue
If in helth thou lust thy body to saue.
To receyue superflue and done excesse:
Till his receyte frō hym agayne rebounde.
Content thy nature, and fle gredynesse:
Foule lustes ay kepe vnder and represse.
Fede not thy lust withall that she wil craue
If in helth thou lust thy body to saue.
Whan a multitude hath geuen a decre,
Or concluded ought agaynst thyne entent,
Trauerse not against the communete:
For if thou do thou shalt lyghtly be shente.
Despyse not alone the peples iudgemente,
In aduenture thou please of them not one:
while thou wilt enpugne {them;} euerichone.
Or concluded ought agaynst thyne entent,
Trauerse not against the communete:
For if thou do thou shalt lyghtly be shente.
Despyse not alone the peples iudgemente,
In aduenture thou please of them not one:
Take good hede vnto thyne owne estate,
To rule thy body well with good diete.
But loke with tyme, thou be not at debate.
though through thin own misrule & surfete:
Sekenes & sorowe, haue geuen the an hete,
The tyme is good, and no dismale it is:
But man it maketh, for that he doth amys.
To rule thy body well with good diete.
But loke with tyme, thou be not at debate.
though through thin own misrule & surfete:
Sekenes & sorowe, haue geuen the an hete,
The tyme is good, and no dismale it is:
But man it maketh, for that he doth amys.
Drede no dremes, so saith Detronomye,
Though they be caused of complection,
Or els of any nyced fantasye,
Or of a superflue replection:
For dremes be but fals illusion.
whā men be wakyng, they desire & thinke,
And vpō suche thing, they dreme whan they wynke.
Though they be caused of complection,
Or els of any nyced fantasye,
Or of a superflue replection:
For dremes be but fals illusion.
whā men be wakyng, they desire & thinke,
And vpō suche thing, they dreme whan they wynke.
Lenuoye.
Museth a whyle, what al these maters meneAbyde my mayster and go no further yet,
To rede theim, auayleth not a bene:
But if a man the curnel wyll vnknit.
wherfore your hert, & al your mynd vnshit,
And I dare say, of wysdome and of wyt,
Plente and foyson, therin shall ye fynde.
Refressheth your selfe, wt this holsome diet
That fostereth and kepeth vertue on lyue.
To your parsone me thynketh it full mete:
For to receyue suche a nutritiue.
whiche youre estate, shal ay preserue alyue.
In great honour, & kepe you frō noyssaūce,
Out of daunger and vices infectiue:
If ye wyll worche, after this ordinaunce.
And in especiall, loke that your dede,
May bere true wytnesse and testifie.
The mater that ye beholde and rede.
Loke wt your herte, as wel as wt your eye,
Than dare I say, somewhat shal ye espie,
that to this worke shal moue your courage.
wherfore your hert, your eie, & al applie,
your selfe to rule, after this dietes sage.
Secunda pars finita.
| Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe | |