Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners conteynynge the .iiii. vertues callyd cardynall compyled in latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe at the desyre of syr Gyles Alyngton knyght by Alexander Bercley [i.e. Barclay] |
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Of the fyrste Cardynall vertue named prudence. |
 | Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners |  |
Of the fyrste Cardynall vertue named prudence.
The
fyrste place/and party longynge to honeste
Is the noble vertue/which called is prudence
This techyth for to serche/the clere dyuersyte
Bytwene good and euyl/or vertue and offence
Bytwene treuth and falshed/it serchyth dyfference
And this inquisicion/to man is naturall
And more conuenient/than other thynges all
Is the noble vertue/which called is prudence
This techyth for to serche/the clere dyuersyte
Bytwene good and euyl/or vertue and offence
Bytwene treuth and falshed/it serchyth dyfference
And this inquisicion/to man is naturall
And more conuenient/than other thynges all
No thinge is more propre/nor apter to mankynde
Than to haue clere knowlege/of thinges naturall
For of euery man/this is the wyll and mynde
To loue to haue knowlege/and perceyue thynges all
Except some blynde wretches/nat humayn but brutall
Onely in the womme/as bestys delytynge
Man wold haue vnknowyn/to hym playn lyue thinge
Than to haue clere knowlege/of thinges naturall
For of euery man/this is the wyll and mynde
To loue to haue knowlege/and perceyue thynges all
Except some blynde wretches/nat humayn but brutall
Onely in the womme/as bestys delytynge
Man wold haue vnknowyn/to hym playn lyue thinge
Al thynges he serchyth/all thynge consyderyth he
In mynde them reuoluynge/with perfyte dylygence
For he countith it fowle: yl/and dyshonest
To erre/as ouersene: in wronge: by negligence
But that man is callyd/a man of true prudence
Which tryeth forth the trouth/dyscerninge good frō yll
Honest from dyshonest: and doth the best fulfyll
In mynde them reuoluynge/with perfyte dylygence
For he countith it fowle: yl/and dyshonest
To erre/as ouersene: in wronge: by negligence
But that man is callyd/a man of true prudence
Which tryeth forth the trouth/dyscerninge good frō yll
Honest from dyshonest: and doth the best fulfyll
But no man is abyl/this perfytely to trye
Nor dyscerne thinge honest: from bad & dyshonest
Except he it mesure and ponder perfytely
By naturall reason/iugynge within his brest
Nor the parfyte wyseman: allowith nat that best
Which moste is cōmendyd/of people imprudent
Or vnstable comons/of wylful Iugement
Nor dyscerne thinge honest: from bad & dyshonest
Except he it mesure and ponder perfytely
By naturall reason/iugynge within his brest
Nor the parfyte wyseman: allowith nat that best
Which moste is cōmendyd/of people imprudent
Or vnstable comons/of wylful Iugement
But that thynge he demyth/honest and cōmendhble
Which he hym selfe iugith/in his intencion
But this same iugement/may nat be deseyuable
Nor wanderynge at pleasour/but subiect to reason
To whome the appetyte/in lyke condycion
Must be obedient/and wyll/as seruitour
Reason alway regent: chefe gyde and gouernour
Which he hym selfe iugith/in his intencion
But this same iugement/may nat be deseyuable
Nor wanderynge at pleasour/but subiect to reason
To whome the appetyte/in lyke condycion
Must be obedient/and wyll/as seruitour
Reason alway regent: chefe gyde and gouernour
As the chylde obeyth/his mayster hym techynge
And as pylgrymes folowe/theyr gyde to flye daungere
So wyll and appetyte/to reason: in all thynge
Must obey/and folowe/than iugement is dere
But that this same vertue/more playnly may apere
And lyghter to knowlege/here/reder/thou shalt fynde
Eche party dyscrybyd/distynctly in his kynde
And as pylgrymes folowe/theyr gyde to flye daungere
So wyll and appetyte/to reason: in all thynge
Must obey/and folowe/than iugement is dere
But that this same vertue/more playnly may apere
And lyghter to knowlege/here/reder/thou shalt fynde
Eche party dyscrybyd/distynctly in his kynde
Two fawtys to be exchued in prudence.
Therfore who requyreth to purchase honeste
And lawdable lyfe/by dertue of prudence
Ware of two thyngys/in lyuynge/most he be
One is that he count nat/hymselfe to haue scyence
Of thynge wherof he hath/playne none experience
Nor knowlege/as cleuynge to his owne fantasy
And pryuat opynion/mentaynynge hardely
And lawdable lyfe/by dertue of prudence
Ware of two thyngys/in lyuynge/most he be
One is that he count nat/hymselfe to haue scyence
Of thynge wherof he hath/playne none experience
Nor knowlege/as cleuynge to his owne fantasy
And pryuat opynion/mentaynynge hardely
Hymselfe countynge certayne/of thyngys incertayn
And lyhgtly beleuynge/what fallyth to hys mynde
For many thyngys be hyd/and nat clere nor playne
But with obscure knowlege/obumbred of theyr kynde
Which of a wyse persone/ar nat easy to fynde
Wherfore beware/rasshely to these sone to consent
Lyst thy hasty dedys/sone cause the to repent
And lyhgtly beleuynge/what fallyth to hys mynde
For many thyngys be hyd/and nat clere nor playne
But with obscure knowlege/obumbred of theyr kynde
Which of a wyse persone/ar nat easy to fynde
Wherfore beware/rasshely to these sone to consent
Lyst thy hasty dedys/sone cause the to repent
In soche obscure thyngys/requyryth great stody
Great cure and compasynge/longe tyme and dylygence
And here parauenture/man most hym nede apply
To call for a mayster/experter in scyence
Of soche secrete thynges/hauynge experyence
And in suche hye thynges/doth profyte farthermore
Experience/and profe/of thynges done before
Great cure and compasynge/longe tyme and dylygence
And here parauenture/man most hym nede apply
To call for a mayster/experter in scyence
Of soche secrete thynges/hauynge experyence
And in suche hye thynges/doth profyte farthermore
Experience/and profe/of thynges done before
And the faythfull hertes/of fryndes sure counsell
In soche dowtfull thinges (if thou to them resort)
Shall greatly/the profyte/and trouth vnto the tell
But in soche thinges dowtfull/it is to man confort
To serche both partyes/To reason to resort
Both wysely dyscussynge/by serche dyligent
That what so euer fall/come nat vnpreuydent
In soche dowtfull thinges (if thou to them resort)
Shall greatly/the profyte/and trouth vnto the tell
But in soche thinges dowtfull/it is to man confort
To serche both partyes/To reason to resort
Both wysely dyscussynge/by serche dyligent
That what so euer fall/come nat vnpreuydent
As wele as for the good/prouyde thou for the yll
As wele one as the other/may fortune for to fall
To prouyde one partye/it is nat parfayte skyll
Thou moste before daunger ymagyne daungers all
And than for them puruay/by wyt substancyall
One party prouyded/an other neglygent
And lame/this nat semyth/a wyse man and prudent
As wele one as the other/may fortune for to fall
To prouyde one partye/it is nat parfayte skyll
Thou moste before daunger ymagyne daungers all
And than for them puruay/by wyt substancyall
One party prouyded/an other neglygent
And lame/this nat semyth/a wyse man and prudent
It is nat full/ynowghe/whan serpentys men assayle
Allelonely for theyr mouthes/to make prouision
Man most in lyke be ware/both of the toth and tayle
For thoughe the toth trenchyth/the tayle beryth poyson
Wherfore so behaue the/in euery season
That thou say nat after/I thought this shuld nat fall
For without dysworshyp/thus sayth no man at all
Allelonely for theyr mouthes/to make prouision
Man most in lyke be ware/both of the toth and tayle
For thoughe the toth trenchyth/the tayle beryth poyson
Wherfore so behaue the/in euery season
That thou say nat after/I thought this shuld nat fall
For without dysworshyp/thus sayth no man at all
Nor suffer nat this thynge/also/the/to dysceyue
Which many hath dysceyuyd/debowtynge from honour
In theyr owne cōceytes/whyle they chefe plesour haue
Led blyndly as beastes/in brydyll of errour
All thinge countynge honest/whiche is to them pleasour
Whose luste is theyr lawe/from soche thou moste declyne
Lyst thou/them ensuynge/fall hedlynge to ruyne
Which many hath dysceyuyd/debowtynge from honour
In theyr owne cōceytes/whyle they chefe plesour haue
Led blyndly as beastes/in brydyll of errour
All thinge countynge honest/whiche is to them pleasour
Whose luste is theyr lawe/from soche thou moste declyne
Lyst thou/them ensuynge/fall hedlynge to ruyne
Soche/onely Insuynge/theyr pryuat iugement
To theyr own errours/as vyle seruantys subiecte
By leue/nought aboue them/can be more excellent
And nought can them alter/nor moue to good effect
No counsell/nor reason: theyr myndys can correct
Aboue all good reason/reignyth there iugement
And obstynate purpose/as assys imprudent
To theyr own errours/as vyle seruantys subiecte
By leue/nought aboue them/can be more excellent
And nought can them alter/nor moue to good effect
No counsell/nor reason: theyr myndys can correct
Aboue all good reason/reignyth there iugement
And obstynate purpose/as assys imprudent
As fathers haue/custom oft tymes to cōmende
The vyce of theyr chyldren/product in errour blynde
Redy in all crymys/theyr fawtys to defende
As paynters/& grauers/or poetys hauynge mynde
In payntynge or grauynge/or fresshe meter to fynde
Cōmendith theyr werkys/and thynketh them plesant
So ioyeth in foly/blynde folys ignorant
The vyce of theyr chyldren/product in errour blynde
Redy in all crymys/theyr fawtys to defende
As paynters/& grauers/or poetys hauynge mynde
In payntynge or grauynge/or fresshe meter to fynde
Cōmendith theyr werkys/and thynketh them plesant
So ioyeth in foly/blynde folys ignorant
An ouersene poet/dare great Maro despyse
His owne art delytynge/indytyd folyshely
The paynter despysyth/apelles in lyke wyse
And phedias/despysyth the grauer semblably
So some dotynge folys/in errour led blyndly
Cōmende theyr owne maners/& prayse aboue al thynge
All other mennes warke/extremely deprayuinge
His owne art delytynge/indytyd folyshely
The paynter despysyth/apelles in lyke wyse
And phedias/despysyth the grauer semblably
So some dotynge folys/in errour led blyndly
Cōmende theyr owne maners/& prayse aboue al thynge
All other mennes warke/extremely deprayuinge
What causyth suche foly? What moueth this errour?
Forsoth this is chefely/the grounde originall
In theyr owne conceytes/moste restyth theyr pleasour
And saue theyr owne myndes/they lone no thynge at all
Theyr own wysdome coūt they/moche clerer thā christal
Aboue precious stones/and prayse it aboue golde
As abyll for to teche/and gouerne yonge and olde
Forsoth this is chefely/the grounde originall
In theyr owne conceytes/moste restyth theyr pleasour
And saue theyr owne myndes/they lone no thynge at all
Theyr own wysdome coūt they/moche clerer thā christal
Aboue precious stones/and prayse it aboue golde
As abyll for to teche/and gouerne yonge and olde
But other mennys reason/they counte as fylthy clay
This namely doth assys/set in auctorite
From soche is all reason/and trouth dreuyn away
And prudence subdued/brought in captyuyte
Soche wretches in lyuynge/moche dyfferent nat be
From vyle brutall bestys/which lyuinge in theyr dēn
Cōtemneth vertu/maners/and cōnynge of all men
This namely doth assys/set in auctorite
From soche is all reason/and trouth dreuyn away
And prudence subdued/brought in captyuyte
Soche wretches in lyuynge/moche dyfferent nat be
From vyle brutall bestys/which lyuinge in theyr dēn
Cōtemneth vertu/maners/and cōnynge of all men
What man of thynge cōmune/belongynge to nature
Despyseth to departe/as reason doth requyre
Of his propre goodys/howe can a man be sure
To haue some small parcell/if none of nede desyre?
But if lyke blynde errour/do set thy mynde on fyre
To thyne owne opynion: to gyne to sore credence
Yet leaue this/and leane thou/to men of more prudence.
Despyseth to departe/as reason doth requyre
Of his propre goodys/howe can a man be sure
To haue some small parcell/if none of nede desyre?
But if lyke blynde errour/do set thy mynde on fyre
To thyne owne opynion: to gyne to sore credence
Yet leaue this/and leane thou/to men of more prudence.
And in mynde indeuoyr/to consyder and se
What wyse man ocseruyth/whome vertue dothe inflame
And what men obseruyth/of wyt and grauyte
Than thynke it necessary/for the to do the same
Thus mayst thou wyn wysdome lawyd/honour & good name
For dyuers iyen seeth/more clerely by day lyght
Thā an one iyed blyncarde/darke wāderynge by nyght
What wyse man ocseruyth/whome vertue dothe inflame
And what men obseruyth/of wyt and grauyte
Than thynke it necessary/for the to do the same
Thus mayst thou wyn wysdome lawyd/honour & good name
For dyuers iyen seeth/more clerely by day lyght
Thā an one iyed blyncarde/darke wāderynge by nyght
Thus fyrst in all dedys required is counsell
But whan all thynge standyth/determynyd certayne
Than all faynt delayinge/thou must from the repell
And sone do thy purpose/and dede/with hast sodayn
Whan counsell is takyn delaynge is but vayne
For oft man abydeth/tyme more conuenient
Whyle chaūcys/and causys/fall lesse expedyent
But whan all thynge standyth/determynyd certayne
Than all faynt delayinge/thou must from the repell
And sone do thy purpose/and dede/with hast sodayn
Whan counsell is takyn delaynge is but vayne
For oft man abydeth/tyme more conuenient
Whyle chaūcys/and causys/fall lesse expedyent
For many be whiche counsell before with perfyte hede
Prouydynge all chauncys/whiche may by fortune fall
And whan they at endynge shulde come vnto the dede
Than by slouggysshe slowth/they do no thynge at all
Soch count I nat prudent: none wyse/so wyll they call
For that part omyt thy/wherto they shulde procede
As chefe and pryncypall/that is the veray dede
Prouydynge all chauncys/whiche may by fortune fall
And whan they at endynge shulde come vnto the dede
Than by slouggysshe slowth/they do no thynge at all
Soch count I nat prudent: none wyse/so wyll they call
For that part omyt thy/wherto they shulde procede
As chefe and pryncypall/that is the veray dede
If nought be reduced/to purpose and effect
Without dede concludyd/what valour hath counsell?
Whan to faynt cowardyse/wyse counsell is subiecte
Than fere: from effect doth all prudence expell
What shulde the gardyner/with ymp[illeg.] graffyngemell
Or grene bowes burgyn/with leauys and blossom
If no fruit in season: shall on the trees com
Without dede concludyd/what valour hath counsell?
Whan to faynt cowardyse/wyse counsell is subiecte
Than fere: from effect doth all prudence expell
What shulde the gardyner/with ymp[illeg.] graffyngemell
Or grene bowes burgyn/with leauys and blossom
If no fruit in season: shall on the trees com
What shuld a man of warre/or subtyll capytayne
Assemble a great army/showynge his pompe and glory?
And moustre in the fylde/crakynge all day in wayne
Without wyse intrety/or fyghtynge for vyctory
What shulde the husbandeman/in londe or terrytory
Cōmyt sede/or labour his fyldes euyn or morne
Except he in season/may of the same/reape corne?
Assemble a great army/showynge his pompe and glory?
And moustre in the fylde/crakynge all day in wayne
Without wyse intrety/or fyghtynge for vyctory
What shulde the husbandeman/in londe or terrytory
Cōmyt sede/or labour his fyldes euyn or morne
Except he in season/may of the same/reape corne?
All thyngys ar vsyd/for profyte of the ende
The fruyt and auantage/is conford to labour
And in warke/all wysemen/vse vertu to commende
Thus counsell/without dede/is but of small valure
But this nat withstandynge: he deseruyth honour
Whome vertue: by counsel: to good dede doth inflame
Alyf he want power/for to perfourme the same
The fruyt and auantage/is conford to labour
And in warke/all wysemen/vse vertu to commende
Thus counsell/without dede/is but of small valure
But this nat withstandynge: he deseruyth honour
Whome vertue: by counsel: to good dede doth inflame
Alyf he want power/for to perfourme the same
For many haue wyse counsell/dyscrete and prouydent
But theyr wyll is lettyd/by faynt infyrmyte
Other some haue counsell/and fynde impedyment
By wantynge of ryches/and wayght of pouerte
But all soche as worthy/cōmendyd for to be
For alyf/theyr power/may nat the dede fulfyll
yet ought we thēto lawde/for theyr good mynde & wyll
But theyr wyll is lettyd/by faynt infyrmyte
Other some haue counsell/and fynde impedyment
By wantynge of ryches/and wayght of pouerte
But all soche as worthy/cōmendyd for to be
For alyf/theyr power/may nat the dede fulfyll
yet ought we thēto lawde/for theyr good mynde & wyll
Phylosophers also/and other of wysdom
Which haue by wyse wrytynge and endles memory
Infourmyd and clered/longe tyme for to com
And tawght vs blynde wretches/frō trowblys trāsitory
These also deserue nat/a lyttell lawde and glory
But clere fame immortall: syth by theyr good doctryne
Ryght many to good order/ar callyd ito ruyne
Which haue by wyse wrytynge and endles memory
Infourmyd and clered/longe tyme for to com
And tawght vs blynde wretches/frō trowblys trāsitory
These also deserue nat/a lyttell lawde and glory
But clere fame immortall: syth by theyr good doctryne
Ryght many to good order/ar callyd ito ruyne
The seconde faute to be excludyd from prudence.
There is yet in prudence/a nother fawte and cryme
And that is/whan peple agaynste good reason
Wastyth and spendith/in vayne stody/longe tyme
Serchynge thinge/excedynge/theyr dul dyscression
For some thyngys/hard be/in inquisicion
Requirynge great stody/longe season and respyte
yet graunte they no profyte/no plesour nor delyte
And that is/whan peple agaynste good reason
Wastyth and spendith/in vayne stody/longe tyme
Serchynge thinge/excedynge/theyr dul dyscression
For some thyngys/hard be/in inquisicion
Requirynge great stody/longe season and respyte
yet graunte they no profyte/no plesour nor delyte
For alyf they trowble/the myndys day and nyght
Of soche as them stody/yet this one thinge is true
Theyr endynge is fruytles/they knowyn: gyue no lyght
Theyr studentys to gyde/to maners nor vertue
Or if they cowde do profyte/yll maners to subdue
Or to purchase vertue/yet lesse/is theyr auayle
Than they gyue in serchynge/of laboure & trauayle
Of soche as them stody/yet this one thinge is true
Theyr endynge is fruytles/they knowyn: gyue no lyght
Theyr studentys to gyde/to maners nor vertue
Or if they cowde do profyte/yll maners to subdue
Or to purchase vertue/yet lesse/is theyr auayle
Than they gyue in serchynge/of laboure & trauayle
And plesour more they gyue/in serchynge them onely
Than profyte or plesour/procedyth consequent
What profytyth it man/to serche besely
The coursys of sterrys/hye in the fyrmament
What helpyth this stody: here is the tyme mysspent
Unwyse man: what wylt thou? bestowe thy dayly cure
Superflously to knowe/the secretys of nature
Than profyte or plesour/procedyth consequent
What profytyth it man/to serche besely
The coursys of sterrys/hye in the fyrmament
What helpyth this stody: here is the tyme mysspent
Unwyse man: what wylt thou? bestowe thy dayly cure
Superflously to knowe/the secretys of nature
Or causys of thyngys/aboue reason humayne
Whiche ar more laborious/and hard/than profitable
Wherto doste thou stody/to purchase and obtayne
The scientys of artys/or craftys innumerable
Or to recount the contrees/and londys varyable
Ouer all the world/where both the londe and nacion
Had theyr fyrst begynnynge/and situation
Whiche ar more laborious/and hard/than profitable
Wherto doste thou stody/to purchase and obtayne
The scientys of artys/or craftys innumerable
Or to recount the contrees/and londys varyable
Ouer all the world/where both the londe and nacion
Had theyr fyrst begynnynge/and situation
Wherto dost reioyce/thy wyttys to apply
To resolue/or argue with wordys superflue
The knottys intrycate/of bablynge sophystry
In subtyll conclusions/the wysest to subdue
All these/if thou wyse be/are scanly worth a kewe
What profityth to stody/in glosynge of the lawe
Syth lawe without good lyfe/is scātly worth a strawe
To resolue/or argue with wordys superflue
The knottys intrycate/of bablynge sophystry
In subtyll conclusions/the wysest to subdue
All these/if thou wyse be/are scanly worth a kewe
What profityth to stody/in glosynge of the lawe
Syth lawe without good lyfe/is scātly worth a strawe
If thou be wyse/of these/nought longyth vnto the
That thynge whiche to lerne/to man is more comely
Is greatly more easy/and of more symplycyte
That is/wel to lyue: and to dye ryghtfully
These longyth to mankynde: we lyue and we shall dye
These two wele to ordre: to goddys hye pleasour
And helth of our sowlys: we namely shuld labour.
That thynge whiche to lerne/to man is more comely
Is greatly more easy/and of more symplycyte
That is/wel to lyue: and to dye ryghtfully
These longyth to mankynde: we lyue and we shall dye
These two wele to ordre: to goddys hye pleasour
And helth of our sowlys: we namely shuld labour.
It is a playne stody/plesant and profytable
In these both/our stody/to exercyse and vse
And lyght is that lernynge/iocunde and delectable
Which sygnyth to vertue/and vices to refuse
Wherfore we shulde chefely/both stody thynke and muse
What may make vs happy/and to good endynge brynge
And certaynly this stody/is but a easy thynge
In these both/our stody/to exercyse and vse
And lyght is that lernynge/iocunde and delectable
Which sygnyth to vertue/and vices to refuse
Wherfore we shulde chefely/both stody thynke and muse
What may make vs happy/and to good endynge brynge
And certaynly this stody/is but a easy thynge
Than/on this poynt groūde the/heron prefixe thyne hert
And lerne the playne passage and way to this wysdom
But whan thou art entred/agayne do nat depart
But kepe it vntyll thou: to perfayte vertue come
Folowe nat the maner/of many/whose custom
Is all theyr lyfe dayes/contynually to spende
In lernynge of this way/vnto theyr latter ende
And lerne the playne passage and way to this wysdom
But whan thou art entred/agayne do nat depart
But kepe it vntyll thou: to perfayte vertue come
Folowe nat the maner/of many/whose custom
Is all theyr lyfe dayes/contynually to spende
In lernynge of this way/vnto theyr latter ende
But as myndles wretches neuer enter they the same
Usynge barayne labour/and frutles/sore trauayle
Alas man abusyd/howe moch art thou to blame?
In lernynge of this way/what profyte/or auayle
Fyndest thou/or pleasour/but great cause to bewayll
To lerne wele and lyue yll/of reason thou most graunt
Thou/for all thy cōnynge/art worse than ignoraunt
Usynge barayne labour/and frutles/sore trauayle
Alas man abusyd/howe moch art thou to blame?
In lernynge of this way/what profyte/or auayle
Fyndest thou/or pleasour/but great cause to bewayll
To lerne wele and lyue yll/of reason thou most graunt
Thou/for all thy cōnynge/art worse than ignoraunt
Some folys offendynge/ar somwhat excusable
By reason nat parfyte/and symple ignorance
But thou hauynge scyence/thyne errour is damnable
What lernest thou wysdome/by longe cōtynuance
Styll blyndly perseueringe/in thyne mysgouernance
Art thou callyd mayster/goest thou so longe to scole
To be in thyne lyuynge/moch lewder than a fole
By reason nat parfyte/and symple ignorance
But thou hauynge scyence/thyne errour is damnable
What lernest thou wysdome/by longe cōtynuance
Styll blyndly perseueringe/in thyne mysgouernance
Art thou callyd mayster/goest thou so longe to scole
To be in thyne lyuynge/moch lewder than a fole
What profytyth: to lerne/that way is so besely
Wherin/thy lewde costom nat suffreth the to go
Doest thou: to teche other::the path and way playnly
And thy selfe in errou/styll wanderyngr to and fro
Say is it nat a foly: and blynde furour also
The fayre way to heuyn: to men to preche and tell
Thy selfe wanderynge hedlynge: and wylfully to hell
Wherin/thy lewde costom nat suffreth the to go
Doest thou: to teche other::the path and way playnly
And thy selfe in errou/styll wanderyngr to and fro
Say is it nat a foly: and blynde furour also
The fayre way to heuyn: to men to preche and tell
Thy selfe wanderynge hedlynge: and wylfully to hell
What warnest thou other: that thou wylt neuer do
Alas howe great foly: is it: to take soche payne
Both nyght and day: watchynge: from stody nat to go
That at last thy labour: be frutles and barayne
Certaynly/in lernynge: we spende the tyme in vayne
Except the dede folowe: all: parfytely to bynde
Which we at begynnynge: cōceyuyd in our mynde
Alas howe great foly: is it: to take soche payne
Both nyght and day: watchynge: from stody nat to go
That at last thy labour: be frutles and barayne
Certaynly/in lernynge: we spende the tyme in vayne
Except the dede folowe: all: parfytely to bynde
Which we at begynnynge: cōceyuyd in our mynde
Syth doinge is the fruyt/and lernynge but the sede
And many/ioy the fruyt/whiche haue no sede at all
And also syth the ende/of lernynge/is the dede
Than seke to do wysely/mohe chefe and pryncypall
Rather than the scyence of artys lyberall
Better an ydyot/vntaught/and wele lyuynge
Than a vyceous doctour/yll manered and cōnynge
And many/ioy the fruyt/whiche haue no sede at all
And also syth the ende/of lernynge/is the dede
Than seke to do wysely/mohe chefe and pryncypall
Rather than the scyence of artys lyberall
Better an ydyot/vntaught/and wele lyuynge
Than a vyceous doctour/yll manered and cōnynge
Wherfore with good reason/and accordynge to ryght
The philosopher old/lowde in the scole cryinge
Was vnder this maner reprouyd of the knyght
Sayd he/worthely mayster: assure me of this thynge
What meanyth this clamour/what meanith this brawlinge
What mean al these wordes/al this dyscord & stryfe
As bytwene an husbond/and a fel froward wyfe
The philosopher old/lowde in the scole cryinge
Was vnder this maner reprouyd of the knyght
Sayd he/worthely mayster: assure me of this thynge
What meanyth this clamour/what meanith this brawlinge
What mean al these wordes/al this dyscord & stryfe
As bytwene an husbond/and a fel froward wyfe
Ye brawle and ye babyle/from mornynge vnto nyght
Dyscordynge/One affyrmeth/another doth deny
The sage phylosopher/than answered to the knyght
O son we indewyr and dayly vs apply
In sekynge of vertue/and trouth/thus besely
No man hath bene abyll/in tymes without mynde
I noughe these to serche/nor perfeytly to fynde
Dyscordynge/One affyrmeth/another doth deny
The sage phylosopher/than answered to the knyght
O son we indewyr and dayly vs apply
In sekynge of vertue/and trouth/thus besely
No man hath bene abyll/in tymes without mynde
I noughe these to serche/nor perfeytly to fynde
The knyght in scorne smylyd/and to the sage thus sayde
Nowe art thou gray hered/and tournyng to the groūde
And reddy for to dye/and as a man dysmayde
Haste thou nat yet/vertu/with all thy/stody founde
What tyme shalt thou vse it? to lyue as thou art bounde
What tyme shalt thy stody/the with the same indue
Syth nowe in latter age/thou sekeste for vertue
Nowe art thou gray hered/and tournyng to the groūde
And reddy for to dye/and as a man dysmayde
Haste thou nat yet/vertu/with all thy/stody founde
What tyme shalt thou vse it? to lyue as thou art bounde
What tyme shalt thy stody/the with the same indue
Syth nowe in latter age/thou sekeste for vertue
What thyng is thy purpose/what thynkest in thy mynde
In a nother worlde/this vertue for to vse
A strawe for thy stody/thy/reason is but blynde
To waste tyme in wordes/and on no dede to muse
But agayne to purpose: Therfore reder refuse
Superfluous stody/and care superflous
And tourne thy chefe stody/to dedys vertuous
In a nother worlde/this vertue for to vse
A strawe for thy stody/thy/reason is but blynde
To waste tyme in wordes/and on no dede to muse
But agayne to purpose: Therfore reder refuse
Superfluous stody/and care superflous
And tourne thy chefe stody/to dedys vertuous
This lernynge belongynge to gettynge of vertue
Is nat obscure/secrete/dyffuse nor pallyate
But clere/playne/and opyn: It selfe reddy to shewe
To soche as it serchyth/or wyll inuestygate
The tre of this scyence/with braunchys deaurate
Extendyth nat it selfe/in altytude so hye
But that man may gather/the fruyte ryght easely
Is nat obscure/secrete/dyffuse nor pallyate
But clere/playne/and opyn: It selfe reddy to shewe
To soche as it serchyth/or wyll inuestygate
The tre of this scyence/with braunchys deaurate
Extendyth nat it selfe/in altytude so hye
But that man may gather/the fruyte ryght easely
The order of thynges requisyte in prudence.
Ferthermore
this longyth vnto the man prudent
To ponder al/his dedys/and warkys in balance
Of reason: with due order/mete and conuenient
Endeuoyr fyrst thy selfe/to make chefe purueance
For moost weyghty thyngys: and greatest of substance
And than lyghter maters/of lesse dyfyculte
Prouyde in dwe order/as they ar in degre
To ponder al/his dedys/and warkys in balance
Of reason: with due order/mete and conuenient
Endeuoyr fyrst thy selfe/to make chefe purueance
For moost weyghty thyngys: and greatest of substance
And than lyghter maters/of lesse dyfyculte
Prouyde in dwe order/as they ar in degre
It is nat thynge lefull/from mynde to set a syde
Thy dere wyfe and chyldren: without ayde: cōfortles
And for thy frende folke/and seruantys to prouyde
And certayne that persone/wele may we call wytles
Whiche with to moche stody/faste sekynge vayne ryches
As a couetous wretche/commyttyth wylfully
His sowle/lyfe/and body/to mortall ieopardy
Thy dere wyfe and chyldren: without ayde: cōfortles
And for thy frende folke/and seruantys to prouyde
And certayne that persone/wele may we call wytles
Whiche with to moche stody/faste sekynge vayne ryches
As a couetous wretche/commyttyth wylfully
His sowle/lyfe/and body/to mortall ieopardy
Nor man sholde nat commyt/vnto perdicion
His sowle/whyle he sekyth/with mynde voluptuous
To pleas his frayle body/with delectacion
For more than the body/the sowle is precyous
What thinge shulde man repute/so dere or sūptuous
For loue therof/to lose/his sowle: whose great valour
Surmountyth and passyth/all temperall tresour
His sowle/whyle he sekyth/with mynde voluptuous
To pleas his frayle body/with delectacion
For more than the body/the sowle is precyous
What thinge shulde man repute/so dere or sūptuous
For loue therof/to lose/his sowle: whose great valour
Surmountyth and passyth/all temperall tresour
What profyte is to man/the worlde hole to wyn
And to suffer in sowle: sore dedely detryment
To hell payne adiugyd/for vyle pleasure of syn
What man shold be so mad/for this short lyfe present
Eternally to dye/and byde endles tourment
For nought but one moment/is thy short lyfe vnstable
If thou haue respect/to tyme intermynable
And to suffer in sowle: sore dedely detryment
To hell payne adiugyd/for vyle pleasure of syn
What man shold be so mad/for this short lyfe present
Eternally to dye/and byde endles tourment
For nought but one moment/is thy short lyfe vnstable
If thou haue respect/to tyme intermynable
A sone fadynge shodowe/is this lyfe temporall
Cōsumyd as a clowde/chasyd before the wynde
But after comyth lyfe/or deth perpetuall
After thy deseruynge/thy meryte shalt thou fynde
Wherfore prudence warnyth/man: this to call to mynde
And duely hym to gyde/in order and mensure:
Of sowle/than of body/hauynge more parfyte cure
Cōsumyd as a clowde/chasyd before the wynde
But after comyth lyfe/or deth perpetuall
After thy deseruynge/thy meryte shalt thou fynde
Wherfore prudence warnyth/man: this to call to mynde
And duely hym to gyde/in order and mensure:
Of sowle/than of body/hauynge more parfyte cure
Another poynt belongynge/to vertue of prudence
The/straytly cōmaundyth/and chargyth this to do
Hym chefely to regarde/with mekest dyligence
And for hym moste to do/whome thou art most bound to
And chefely beholdyn: reason commaundith so
But if thou be gentyll and kynde of thy dealynge
Than moste thou thy maker/prefer aboue all thynge
The/straytly cōmaundyth/and chargyth this to do
Hym chefely to regarde/with mekest dyligence
And for hym moste to do/whome thou art most bound to
And chefely beholdyn: reason commaundith so
But if thou be gentyll and kynde of thy dealynge
Than moste thou thy maker/prefer aboue all thynge
It is nat sufficient/to cal vnto thy mynde
To do thy full dutye/to euery man on grounde
And to chryst thy maker for to be founde vnkynde
To whome: thou by reason/moste specyally art bounde
For these caduke pleasours/nat onely shold be founde
Prouysion in lyfe/but this chargyth wysdom
To make prouision/for lyfe after to come
To do thy full dutye/to euery man on grounde
And to chryst thy maker for to be founde vnkynde
To whome: thou by reason/moste specyally art bounde
For these caduke pleasours/nat onely shold be founde
Prouysion in lyfe/but this chargyth wysdom
To make prouision/for lyfe after to come
What longyth more to man/than wyse and ware to be
And to reuolue in mynde/or oft before to caste
Al thinges for to come/that no perplexyte
Inuolue hym in troublys/or his wyt ouercaste
We knowe thinges cōmynge/by thynges gone and past
And men vs precedynge/abydyn haue no care
But soche may we suffer/than ought we to be ware
And to reuolue in mynde/or oft before to caste
Al thinges for to come/that no perplexyte
Inuolue hym in troublys/or his wyt ouercaste
We knowe thinges cōmynge/by thynges gone and past
And men vs precedynge/abydyn haue no care
But soche may we suffer/than ought we to be ware
As other haue dyed in lyke maner shal we
And outher lyfe/or deth/vs after doth remayne
To rewarde good lyuers/with great felicyte
Or synners to rewarde/with wo/and endles payne
This lyfe is transytory/but lyfe cōmynge certayne
Hath none ende nor mesure/but is interminable
Gyuynge endles pleasour/or paynes perdurable
And outher lyfe/or deth/vs after doth remayne
To rewarde good lyuers/with great felicyte
Or synners to rewarde/with wo/and endles payne
This lyfe is transytory/but lyfe cōmynge certayne
Hath none ende nor mesure/but is interminable
Gyuynge endles pleasour/or paynes perdurable
But this short lyfe present/as shadowe fugytyfe
And varienge as fanys/erect into the wynde
Hath no stable plesure/ioy/nor prerogatyfe
Nor permanent sorowe/but sone passynge mankynde
Here may man/of trespas/both grace and mercy fynde
And of syn remission/if he be penitent
But after is nought els/but ryght wyse iugement
And varienge as fanys/erect into the wynde
Hath no stable plesure/ioy/nor prerogatyfe
Nor permanent sorowe/but sone passynge mankynde
Here may man/of trespas/both grace and mercy fynde
And of syn remission/if he be penitent
But after is nought els/but ryght wyse iugement
Here/is it moche better: more lyght/and tollerable
For short tyme to suffre/lyght labour of penance
Than after to byde payne/of fyer intermynable
And tourment eternall/for our mysgouernance
A lyght wylful burthyn/is no payne/but plesaunce
Where a weyghty burthyn/to mānis mynde cōtrary
Is greuous sad/heuy/and tedyous to cary
For short tyme to suffre/lyght labour of penance
Than after to byde payne/of fyer intermynable
And tourment eternall/for our mysgouernance
A lyght wylful burthyn/is no payne/but plesaunce
Where a weyghty burthyn/to mānis mynde cōtrary
Is greuous sad/heuy/and tedyous to cary
Here chryste is a leche/meke and beneuolent
Redy for to comfort/al soche as them amende
Here/is he felician/to syke and pacyent
Redy: salue of grace/and mercy for to sende
But in a nother world/whan this lyfe shal haue ende
As a ryghtwyse iuge/he shal to man apere
Of sentence in flexyble/and reuerende of chere
Redy for to comfort/al soche as them amende
Here/is he felician/to syke and pacyent
Redy: salue of grace/and mercy for to sende
But in a nother world/whan this lyfe shal haue ende
As a ryghtwyse iuge/he shal to man apere
Of sentence in flexyble/and reuerende of chere
Terryble to synners/and dredefull of sentence
To ryghtwyse men ioyfull: all daunger set asyde
Wherfore man aduertyse/this counsellyth prudence
For this day moste dredefull/dyscretly to prouyde
Than of thy disordre/nought can thou close nor hyde
But thy selfe/heuyn/erth/and hel shall the accuse
Wherfore on this countis/man specially sholde muse
To ryghtwyse men ioyfull: all daunger set asyde
Wherfore man aduertyse/this counsellyth prudence
For this day moste dredefull/dyscretly to prouyde
Than of thy disordre/nought can thou close nor hyde
But thy selfe/heuyn/erth/and hel shall the accuse
Wherfore on this countis/man specially sholde muse
Count thou nothynge caduke/vayne/frayle/and tēporall
To be great in valour/or lyftynge man to glory
But seke that thynge namely/moste chefe and pryncipall
Which duryth eternall/nat vayne nor transitory
And prudence/the chargyth/to haue in thy memory
On transytory treasour/nat moche to set thy mynde
Whiche thou: without profyte/at last shall leue behynde
To be great in valour/or lyftynge man to glory
But seke that thynge namely/moste chefe and pryncipall
Which duryth eternall/nat vayne nor transitory
And prudence/the chargyth/to haue in thy memory
On transytory treasour/nat moche to set thy mynde
Whiche thou: without profyte/at last shall leue behynde
Use temporall treasour/whyle thou art lyuynge here
In charytable dedis/on pore people that fayle
Lyst after thy partynge/whan thou art layde on bere
Thy good superfluous/may lytyll the auayle
Prouyde for hard chauncis/whiche after may assayle
And make sure prouysion/in moste pleasour and rest
For after fayr season/oft fayleth sore tempest
In charytable dedis/on pore people that fayle
Lyst after thy partynge/whan thou art layde on bere
Thy good superfluous/may lytyll the auayle
Prouyde for hard chauncis/whiche after may assayle
And make sure prouysion/in moste pleasour and rest
For after fayr season/oft fayleth sore tempest
Loke alway that thou lyue/constant and ryghtwysly
Change nat thy lyuynge/from vertue tyll offence
All yf thou be tangled/with wretched company
But dresse the to suffer/all payne with pacience
For tyme/forbere folys/this counsellyth prudence
Whan obstynate wretches/by doctryne wyll nat amende
Agayne them/is foly: with wordes to contende
Change nat thy lyuynge/from vertue tyll offence
All yf thou be tangled/with wretched company
But dresse the to suffer/all payne with pacience
For tyme/forbere folys/this counsellyth prudence
Whan obstynate wretches/by doctryne wyll nat amende
Agayne them/is foly: with wordes to contende
But euer more be ware/and se thou namely fere
That their corrupte maners/nat alter thy lyuynge
Dyspose the: them rather/to suffer/and forbere
And parte to conforme the/as askyth theyr dealynge
As now full of sadnes/now mery comonynge
Uaryenge thy maners/to place/persone and tyme
But alway concludynge/on vertue: and nat cryme
That their corrupte maners/nat alter thy lyuynge
Dyspose the: them rather/to suffer/and forbere
And parte to conforme the/as askyth theyr dealynge
As now full of sadnes/now mery comonynge
Uaryenge thy maners/to place/persone and tyme
But alway concludynge/on vertue: and nat cryme
Thou seest dyuers wayes/oft leadynge to one place
Thone somtyme opyn/thother close and shyt
The hand is extendyd/somtyme vnder lyke case
And somtyme together/agayne closyd is it
But one maner of hande/styll it remayneth yet
And many other thynges/oft vary of fygure
Nat changynge in matter/in substaunce nor nature
Thone somtyme opyn/thother close and shyt
The hand is extendyd/somtyme vnder lyke case
And somtyme together/agayne closyd is it
But one maner of hande/styll it remayneth yet
And many other thynges/oft vary of fygure
Nat changynge in matter/in substaunce nor nature
Ryght vnder lyke maner/vsyth the prudent man
Perseuer in his goodnes/ryght and symplyce
But as tyme requireth/his chere vary he can
In fayr moderat wyse: to myrth or grauyte
A wyse man nat semyth/lyght as the wynde to be
Nowe in and nowe out/in certayne and vnstable
But as the case requireth: at certayne tyme mouable
Perseuer in his goodnes/ryght and symplyce
But as tyme requireth/his chere vary he can
In fayr moderat wyse: to myrth or grauyte
A wyse man nat semyth/lyght as the wynde to be
Nowe in and nowe out/in certayne and vnstable
But as the case requireth: at certayne tyme mouable
Be constant and stable/nat harde and obstinate
No wyseman hym she with/selfwylled intreatable
Nor in his opinion/all season indurate
A man of suche maners/vneth is tollerable
Thynke nat that all talys: ar iust and veritable
But wysely discusse thou/suche thynges as may vary
And from the fyrst report/proue/afterwarde contrary
No wyseman hym she with/selfwylled intreatable
Nor in his opinion/all season indurate
A man of suche maners/vneth is tollerable
Thynke nat that all talys: ar iust and veritable
But wysely discusse thou/suche thynges as may vary
And from the fyrst report/proue/afterwarde contrary
Oft is he disceyued/and oft dysceyueth he
Whiche to fleynge talys/to lyght/is: of credence
The wyse man nat semyth/a dysceyuer to be
And to be dysceyued/is sygne of necligence
Excludyd sholde be bothe: from man of clere prudence
O how many prynces/haue fallyn to ruyne
Whiche wolde to vayne talys/to lyght earys inclyne
Whiche to fleynge talys/to lyght/is: of credence
The wyse man nat semyth/a dysceyuer to be
And to be dysceyued/is sygne of necligence
Excludyd sholde be bothe: from man of clere prudence
O how many prynces/haue fallyn to ruyne
Whiche wolde to vayne talys/to lyght earys inclyne
Oft thynge semyd fayned/hath ben certeyne and true
And thynge true and certeyne/semyd vntrewe and fayned
Whose colour hath causyd/ryght many/sore to rewe
For theyr honour wastyd/theyr name and fame distayned
Let suche hasty credence: therfore be refrayned
And or thou gyue credence/all thynge wysely discusse
Prudence: for thy profyte: the straytly chargith thus
And thynge true and certeyne/semyd vntrewe and fayned
Whose colour hath causyd/ryght many/sore to rewe
For theyr honour wastyd/theyr name and fame distayned
Let suche hasty credence: therfore be refrayned
And or thou gyue credence/all thynge wysely discusse
Prudence: for thy profyte: the straytly chargith thus
O how oft hath hyd treuth/and symple veryte
Lurkyd vnder ymage/of falshode nubilate
And how oft hath falshode/semynge symplicite
Lurkyd vnderymage: of treuth: so palyat
Wherby symplicite/oft tyme is vyolate
Oft lyes ar clokyd/aperynge treuth somwhyle
And oft symplicite/beleuyd fraude and gyle
Lurkyd vnder ymage/of falshode nubilate
And how oft hath falshode/semynge symplicite
Lurkyd vnderymage: of treuth: so palyat
Wherby symplicite/oft tyme is vyolate
Oft lyes ar clokyd/aperynge treuth somwhyle
And oft symplicite/beleuyd fraude and gyle
As faynynge flaterer presentith outwardly
In worde and in vysage a frendis countenaunce
So somtyme a true frende: semyth an enmye
Whyle he sharpely blamyth: the/for mysgouernaunce
Yet wolde he by counsell/tyll honour the auaunce
Be circumspect and ware/for muche better it is
To byde a frendis anger/than a foes kysse
In worde and in vysage a frendis countenaunce
So somtyme a true frende: semyth an enmye
Whyle he sharpely blamyth: the/for mysgouernaunce
Yet wolde he by counsell/tyll honour the auaunce
Be circumspect and ware/for muche better it is
To byde a frendis anger/than a foes kysse
In hyd thynges doutfull/gyue nat sodeyne sentence
And certeyne Iugement/in thynges incerteyne
To callers importune: of wordes be suspence
Redowblynge delayes/tyll treuth he tryed playne
Better so/than Iuge/and than reuoke agayne
In sentence remyse/is lesser iniury
Than in headlynge sentence/pronounsyd hastely
And certeyne Iugement/in thynges incerteyne
To callers importune: of wordes be suspence
Redowblynge delayes/tyll treuth he tryed playne
Better so/than Iuge/and than reuoke agayne
In sentence remyse/is lesser iniury
Than in headlynge sentence/pronounsyd hastely
Whan thou shalte ought/do of vnexpert or newe
Fyrste ponder in thy mynde/reuoluynge besely
What maner: and how great/thynge/may therof insue
Attempt nothynge/weyghty/in haste nor sodaynly
If thynges may byde tary/begyn thou nat rasshely
For enterprysis rasshe/hasty/and repentyue
Ar chefe thynges/bryngynge/great warkes to ruyne
Fyrste ponder in thy mynde/reuoluynge besely
What maner: and how great/thynge/may therof insue
Attempt nothynge/weyghty/in haste nor sodaynly
If thynges may byde tary/begyn thou nat rasshely
For enterprysis rasshe/hasty/and repentyue
Ar chefe thynges/bryngynge/great warkes to ruyne
Therfore in all dowtis/vse moderate delay
And that is to be done/best is/a whyle refrayne
Inquirynge and serchynge/with wysdome: day by day
Tyll by contynuaunce: at last thou be certayne
And thynge nat well begon. leaue of/lyghtly agayne
For better is/be countyd/somwhat presumptuous
Than negligent/obstynate/wylfull iniurious
And that is to be done/best is/a whyle refrayne
Inquirynge and serchynge/with wysdome: day by day
Tyll by contynuaunce: at last thou be certayne
And thynge nat well begon. leaue of/lyghtly agayne
For better is/be countyd/somwhat presumptuous
Than negligent/obstynate/wylfull iniurious
Be nat to suspecyous/in all thynge misdemynge
And yf this fonde errour/within thyne hert aryse
Constrayne it for to cesse/for to mysdeme all thynge
Thou causest the fautles/oft fraudis to deuyse
And after thy sore damage/also the to dispyse
Thus fle thou suspeccion: yet gyde the by wysdome
To be ware and puruay/all thynges for to come
And yf this fonde errour/within thyne hert aryse
Constrayne it for to cesse/for to mysdeme all thynge
Thou causest the fautles/oft fraudis to deuyse
And after thy sore damage/also the to dispyse
Thus fle thou suspeccion: yet gyde the by wysdome
To be ware and puruay/all thynges for to come
Use in thy comonynge/other men to tell
What thynges be ryghtwyse/what way is most laudable
Them warnynge/and mouynge/to good/by thy counseyl
Or to thyne owne person se thou be profitable
Sekynge the way of trouth: as moche as thou art able
Whiche oftyn tyme is hyd: and nat lyght to dyscerne
Thus alway employ the/to teche or els to lerne
What thynges be ryghtwyse/what way is most laudable
Them warnynge/and mouynge/to good/by thy counseyl
Or to thyne owne person se thou be profitable
Sekynge the way of trouth: as moche as thou art able
Whiche oftyn tyme is hyd: and nat lyght to dyscerne
Thus alway employ the/to teche or els to lerne
To rude and vnlerned/endeuoyr the to shewe
With all maner mekenes/loue and benygnyte
Suche thynges moste honest: as they/before nat knewe
Cōmaunde to the good maners/suche as belonge to the
Cōmytted to thy cure: but yf thou lyst to be
A conforter to mourners/and wretches myserable
It is a great vertue/and labour cōmendable
With all maner mekenes/loue and benygnyte
Suche thynges moste honest: as they/before nat knewe
Cōmaunde to the good maners/suche as belonge to the
Cōmytted to thy cure: but yf thou lyst to be
A conforter to mourners/and wretches myserable
It is a great vertue/and labour cōmendable
Cōmende thou in mesure/hym whome thou doest byleue
Worthy to be praysed/and of lyuynge laudable
But moche more in mesure: and scarsly do repreue
Hym whome thou reputest/by myslyuynge culpable
Who laudyth ouer muche/though man be cōmendable
He semyth a flaterer/mayntayner of errour
And to sore a blamer: is lyke a detractour
Worthy to be praysed/and of lyuynge laudable
But moche more in mesure: and scarsly do repreue
Hym whome thou reputest/by myslyuynge culpable
Who laudyth ouer muche/though man be cōmendable
He semyth a flaterer/mayntayner of errour
And to sore a blamer: is lyke a detractour
Preferre thou veryte/and treuth before thy frende
Set more by supportynge/of treuth/than amyte
Kepe treuth in vyolate: as well in dede as mynde
Thy dere frende for sake thou: rather than veryte
Dyscusse/or thou promesse/yf thou mayst abyll be
To performe thy promesse: whan onys made is it
Endeuoyr to fulfyll: more than thou dyd promyt
Set more by supportynge/of treuth/than amyte
Kepe treuth in vyolate: as well in dede as mynde
Thy dere frende for sake thou: rather than veryte
Dyscusse/or thou promesse/yf thou mayst abyll be
To performe thy promesse: whan onys made is it
Endeuoyr to fulfyll: more than thou dyd promyt
Take hede to tyme passyd/consyder tyme to come
That thou mayst well order/thynge present as is best
To thy laude and honour/accordynge to wysdome
With dewe aduysement/consyder in thy brest
That all thy besynesses/conclude on one thynge honest
And what hurt may folowe/or thynges profitable
So what euer folowe/shall be more tollerable
That thou mayst well order/thynge present as is best
To thy laude and honour/accordynge to wysdome
With dewe aduysement/consyder in thy brest
That all thy besynesses/conclude on one thynge honest
And what hurt may folowe/or thynges profitable
So what euer folowe/shall be more tollerable
Be nat alway besy/in warkes corporall
But somtyme releas the/of worldly besynes
Than occupy thy mynde/musynge on thynge morall
Whyle thy body restith/and is at quyetnes
Some pastyme of body/is worse than ydelnes
As tables contynuall/the cardes/and the dyse
But leaue these/and stody: frequent and exercyse
But somtyme releas the/of worldly besynes
Than occupy thy mynde/musynge on thynge morall
Whyle thy body restith/and is at quyetnes
Some pastyme of body/is worse than ydelnes
As tables contynuall/the cardes/and the dyse
But leaue these/and stody: frequent and exercyse
Whyle the body pausyth/in stody and pastyme
Conuenient for myndes/as veray gostely fode
From mynde is expulsyd: blynde mocion to cryme
Whyle the mynde is musynge/on thynge honest and good
Beware slouth/though labour/hath sore chasyd thy blode
Though thou resort to rest/beware of ydelnes
In mynde alway muse thou/on goodly besynes
Conuenient for myndes/as veray gostely fode
From mynde is expulsyd: blynde mocion to cryme
Whyle the mynde is musynge/on thynge honest and good
Beware slouth/though labour/hath sore chasyd thy blode
Though thou resort to rest/beware of ydelnes
In mynde alway muse thou/on goodly besynes
Or cast in remembraunce/what labour doth remayne
What besynes restyth/or remayneth behynde
For as mannys shadowe/sheweth more clere and playne
In stremis nat troublyd/by mud grauel or wynde
So moste clere parceyuith/a cawme and quyet mynde
It hastyth a dullarde/hym mouynge to desyre
To do some good labour/whiche vertue doth requyre
What besynes restyth/or remayneth behynde
For as mannys shadowe/sheweth more clere and playne
In stremis nat troublyd/by mud grauel or wynde
So moste clere parceyuith/a cawme and quyet mynde
It hastyth a dullarde/hym mouynge to desyre
To do some good labour/whiche vertue doth requyre
A quiet mynde seyth/al dul perplexity
Determynynge do [illeg.]is/by wyt and reason clere
To lyght marke/it turnith: all harde dyfficulte
And makyth harde labours/plesant and playne appere
Mollefyenge hardnes/lyghtnynge the mynde and chere
And brefely/who thynketh all troubles to opppresse
Let hym his mynde reduce/to rest and quietnesse
Determynynge do [illeg.]is/by wyt and reason clere
To lyght marke/it turnith: all harde dyfficulte
And makyth harde labours/plesant and playne appere
Mollefyenge hardnes/lyghtnynge the mynde and chere
And brefely/who thynketh all troubles to opppresse
Let hym his mynde reduce/to rest and quietnesse
At no tyme/it semith/the mynde of man prudent
Unoccupyed to be/solute in ydelnes
Nor from meditacion: remys/or negligent
Though handes be vacant/from worldly besynes
Let others offence/nat muche thy mynde oppresse
And greatly regarde nat: anothers negligence
But ponder/and repent/thyne owne faute & defence
Unoccupyed to be/solute in ydelnes
Nor from meditacion: remys/or negligent
Though handes be vacant/from worldly besynes
Let others offence/nat muche thy mynde oppresse
And greatly regarde nat: anothers negligence
But ponder/and repent/thyne owne faute & defence
Loue thou alway to lerne/and pander thou/nothynge
Of what man thou lernest/do nat the person spare
Demannde nat his maners/so thou mayst haue cōnynge
Ensewe his doctryne/where ought doth swarue beware
Of other mennis warkys/to take counseyl haue care
And by their misfortune/take wysdome & doctryne
By small thynge knowen/great doth escape ruyne
Of what man thou lernest/do nat the person spare
Demannde nat his maners/so thou mayst haue cōnynge
Ensewe his doctryne/where ought doth swarue beware
Of other mennis warkys/to take counseyl haue care
And by their misfortune/take wysdome & doctryne
By small thynge knowen/great doth escape ruyne
Lerne by small thynges/greatter to prouyde
For oftyn by the small/the greatter shalt thou knowe
But yf thou lyft intende/youth prudently to gyde
Consyder fyrste in age/how nature doth vp growe
For: after/thoughe maners/oft alter/ebbe and flowe
Oft/ende and begynnynge/acordith without fayle
None makyth two hand swerde/of plyant cowis tayle
For oftyn by the small/the greatter shalt thou knowe
But yf thou lyft intende/youth prudently to gyde
Consyder fyrste in age/how nature doth vp growe
For: after/thoughe maners/oft alter/ebbe and flowe
Oft/ende and begynnynge/acordith without fayle
None makyth two hand swerde/of plyant cowis tayle
To make a streyght Iauelyn/of a crabbed tre
Theron must greate labour/trauayle and art be layde
Sone crokyth the same tre/that good camoke wylbe
As a comon prouerbe/in youth I harde this sayde
Wherfore ought our iuuent/be prudently conueyde
With sharpe byt of reason/refrayned from wylde rage
For soner breke/than bowe great trees of longe age
Theron must greate labour/trauayle and art be layde
Sone crokyth the same tre/that good camoke wylbe
As a comon prouerbe/in youth I harde this sayde
Wherfore ought our iuuent/be prudently conueyde
With sharpe byt of reason/refrayned from wylde rage
For soner breke/than bowe great trees of longe age
Whan custome and vse/is tournyd to nature
And whan yonge myndes/longe tyme rotyd is vice
It is no small labour: to leaue I the insure
Wherfore: begyn tymely/vertue to exercyse
And so: still perseuer/excludynge all malice
And to souerayne good: and lyfe perfite: contende
Remember that all thynges/ar praysed at good ende
And whan yonge myndes/longe tyme rotyd is vice
It is no small labour: to leaue I the insure
Wherfore: begyn tymely/vertue to exercyse
And so: still perseuer/excludynge all malice
And to souerayne good: and lyfe perfite: contende
Remember that all thynges/ar praysed at good ende
Regarde nat the doer/nor auctour of the dede
To say or do lyke hym/for his auctorite
But to the thynge it selfe/with good reason gyue hede
If it be laudable/and sounde to honeste
Than folowe thou the same/or els se thou itfle
Better sue a begger/in good thynge laudable
Than baron or burgays: in thynges reprouable
To say or do lyke hym/for his auctorite
But to the thynge it selfe/with good reason gyue hede
If it be laudable/and sounde to honeste
Than folowe thou the same/or els se thou itfle
Better sue a begger/in good thynge laudable
Than baron or burgays: in thynges reprouable
All yf thou pleas many: though many the cōmende
Stande in thyne owne conceyt: therfore nothynge the more
But what men thou pleasist: aduert and well intende
If they be laudable/than mayst thou ioy therfore
That good men/count the good/be they ryche or pore
If il men cōmende the: it is nothynge laudable
But euident tokyn: thou art to them semblable
Stande in thyne owne conceyt: therfore nothynge the more
But what men thou pleasist: aduert and well intende
If they be laudable/than mayst thou ioy therfore
That good men/count the good/be they ryche or pore
If il men cōmende the: it is nothynge laudable
But euident tokyn: thou art to them semblable
Of yll men: it is prayse/dispraysed for to be
For playne it aperith/by theyr malyce and yre
Theyr lyfe/and thy lyuynge/in one doth nat agre
But ar playne repugnāt/as water agayne fyre
Requyre thou/that cūnynge: and that knowlege desyre
Whiche is nat denyed/to knowlege of mankynde
And lerne that is lefull/and profite for mankynde
For playne it aperith/by theyr malyce and yre
Theyr lyfe/and thy lyuynge/in one doth nat agre
But ar playne repugnāt/as water agayne fyre
Requyre thou/that cūnynge: and that knowlege desyre
Whiche is nat denyed/to knowlege of mankynde
And lerne that is lefull/and profite for mankynde
Nor coueit nought/in mynde/in wysshynge secretly
But that: thou with reason: myght openly desyre
It is thynge dishonest/and folysshe certaynly
Thynges impossible/to coueyt or requyre
And than yf they come nat: to bren in wrath and yre
Of thynges ouer hye: se thou alway beware
Where vnstable standynge/oft troublyth with great care
But that: thou with reason: myght openly desyre
It is thynge dishonest/and folysshe certaynly
Thynges impossible/to coueyt or requyre
And than yf they come nat: to bren in wrath and yre
Of thynges ouer hye: se thou alway beware
Where vnstable standynge/oft troublyth with great care
The toppys of mountayns/with lyghtnynge arbrent
More oft than lowe valeys/small stremis ar moste pure
So hyest degrees: haue troubles and tourment
And myndes vnquiete/vexyd with dyuers cure
Where symple pouertie/is glad quyete and sure
Than coueit nat to hye/and to mynde se thou call
Muche is to be feryd/yf thou by fortune fall
More oft than lowe valeys/small stremis ar moste pure
So hyest degrees: haue troubles and tourment
And myndes vnquiete/vexyd with dyuers cure
Where symple pouertie/is glad quyete and sure
Than coueit nat to hye/and to mynde se thou call
Muche is to be feryd/yf thou by fortune fall
He slepith moste surely: whiche is nerest the grounde
But namely in tempest: whan stormy wyndes blowe
The formest in batayle: is nerest dedly wounde
The grounde is in quiete/whyle sees ebbe and flowe
Some troublyd with tempest/with wawes hye and lowe
But playnly for to speke/who wolde assende to hye
Is wery of welfare/and sekyth mysery
But namely in tempest: whan stormy wyndes blowe
The formest in batayle: is nerest dedly wounde
The grounde is in quiete/whyle sees ebbe and flowe
Some troublyd with tempest/with wawes hye and lowe
But playnly for to speke/who wolde assende to hye
Is wery of welfare/and sekyth mysery
Who wadith to power/or clymmith tyll honour
He clymmith to daunger/as blynde/led by a lyne
Of errour: vnto thought: drede/enuy and dolour
Hauynge for one pleasour/displeasours .viii. or nyne
Honour is a castell/styll manacynge ruyne
With smoke/sounde/& perill/hauynge more greuous fall
Than a symple lodge/or cotage pastorall
He clymmith to daunger/as blynde/led by a lyne
Of errour: vnto thought: drede/enuy and dolour
Hauynge for one pleasour/displeasours .viii. or nyne
Honour is a castell/styll manacynge ruyne
With smoke/sounde/& perill/hauynge more greuous fall
Than a symple lodge/or cotage pastorall
Wherfore on suffysance/set thy pleasour and ioy
And coueit nat to clyme/sith lowe rowmy's ar best
But all thy chefe stody/labour/and thought employ
To come to suche rowme/where thou mayst fynde sure rest
Some rowmys to purchace/may bē counted honest
For honour is dutye: of wysemen: and prudent
But measure is meane/whiche ought the to content
And coueit nat to clyme/sith lowe rowmy's ar best
But all thy chefe stody/labour/and thought employ
To come to suche rowme/where thou mayst fynde sure rest
Some rowmys to purchace/may bē counted honest
For honour is dutye: of wysemen: and prudent
But measure is meane/whiche ought the to content
Whan thou haste suffysaunce/cesse & with drawe thy hande
A man may ouerlade/a myghty stronge camell
That vnder suche burthyn/he shall nat go nor stande
Wherefore/in this matter/do thou by my counseyl
Whan thou haste sure substaunce/for lyfe prouyde well
By prudence in mesure/and nothynge excessyue
Than seke that: for whose sake: god gaue to the lyfe
A man may ouerlade/a myghty stronge camell
That vnder suche burthyn/he shall nat go nor stande
Wherefore/in this matter/do thou by my counseyl
Whan thou haste sure substaunce/for lyfe prouyde well
By prudence in mesure/and nothynge excessyue
Than seke that: for whose sake: god gaue to the lyfe
God haue the nat thy lyfe/to gather vayne ryches
To wyn/nor yet to waste/this treasour transytory
But to purchase vertue/fayre maners and goodnes
And by suche meryte/to come to ioy and glory
Than serue nat dome ryches/whiche blyndeth the memory
By couetyse/to ryches/se thou nat subiect be
But vse it in thy lyfe/as subiect vnto the
To wyn/nor yet to waste/this treasour transytory
But to purchase vertue/fayre maners and goodnes
And by suche meryte/to come to ioy and glory
Than serue nat dome ryches/whiche blyndeth the memory
By couetyse/to ryches/se thou nat subiect be
But vse it in thy lyfe/as subiect vnto the
Lyue thou vppon hyll: as thou wolde lyue in hall
What thou woldest nat do/in opyn company
That do thou nat alone/note that god seeth all
He syttith and seeth/whan thou thou art solytary
Wherfore: in all placis/fle euery vylany
Of dedis/of wordes/of small thougtes be pure
Tyll laudable costome/be tournyd to nature
What thou woldest nat do/in opyn company
That do thou nat alone/note that god seeth all
He syttith and seeth/whan thou thou art solytary
Wherfore: in all placis/fle euery vylany
Of dedis/of wordes/of small thougtes be pure
Tyll laudable costome/be tournyd to nature
Whan fortune shall flatter: with paynted countenance
And shewe the smylynge chere/by faynt prosperite
Than specially beware/make surest purueance
For next in cours/comyth care and aduersyte
Note fortune is volage: hauynge no certente
Men wyse/counte lowe fortune/more sure and tollerable
Than prosperous fortune/vnsure and variable
And shewe the smylynge chere/by faynt prosperite
Than specially beware/make surest purueance
For next in cours/comyth care and aduersyte
Note fortune is volage: hauynge no certente
Men wyse/counte lowe fortune/more sure and tollerable
Than prosperous fortune/vnsure and variable
As after harde fortune: succedith eas agayne
After payne is plesour/who can the same abyde
So after great pleasour succedith wo and peyne
As on a slypper grounde/oft/man doth fall or slyde
So prosperous fortune/is veray harde to gyde
Seldome where is welth/can vertue longe indure
Whan man is fortunate/oft losith he measure
After payne is plesour/who can the same abyde
So after great pleasour succedith wo and peyne
As on a slypper grounde/oft/man doth fall or slyde
So prosperous fortune/is veray harde to gyde
Seldome where is welth/can vertue longe indure
Whan man is fortunate/oft losith he measure
As a shyppe is tossyd/and dryuen in tempest
Out of cours and compase: from place where it shuld be
So tossyd is reason/from ryghtwyse cours and rest
By welth in habundaunce/and great prosperite
Therfore in cawme season: and sure tranquilyte
Apoynt the for tempest: nor wander nat at wyll
But drawe the to sure port/where wyndes ar more styll
Out of cours and compase: from place where it shuld be
So tossyd is reason/from ryghtwyse cours and rest
By welth in habundaunce/and great prosperite
Therfore in cawme season: and sure tranquilyte
Apoynt the for tempest: nor wander nat at wyll
But drawe the to sure port/where wyndes ar more styll
Oft vnder cawme seas/at perils many one
As swalons/quycksondis/and fordys perylous
Hyd bankes of grauell/and great rockis of stone
So luckyth great daungers/in fortune prosperous
Oft fall sodeyne stormis/and tempest ieperdous
Whyle vnder full sayle: in cawme wynde and plesant
The shyppe surely fletith/no daunger attendant
As swalons/quycksondis/and fordys perylous
Hyd bankes of grauell/and great rockis of stone
So luckyth great daungers/in fortune prosperous
Oft fall sodeyne stormis/and tempest ieperdous
Whyle vnder full sayle: in cawme wynde and plesant
The shyppe surely fletith/no daunger attendant
As the shippe is brusyd/by cours improuydent
By suche secrete daungers/in moste tranquilyte
So welth/oft man causith/to wander negligent
Foreseynge no peryls: nor none aduersyte
So great is the blyndnes/of vayne prosperyte
Wherfor man/aduyse the with wit substancy all
In welth to prouyde the/for peryll that may fall
By suche secrete daungers/in moste tranquilyte
So welth/oft man causith/to wander negligent
Foreseynge no peryls: nor none aduersyte
So great is the blyndnes/of vayne prosperyte
Wherfor man/aduyse the with wit substancy all
In welth to prouyde the/for peryll that may fall
One thretnyd (as is sayd) halfe armyd is and sure
And may make prouision: his enmy to defy
He wyll nat disceyue the: whiche is of that nature
With harde crakynge/wordes to threttyn opynly
But rather he warnyth/the to be ware therby
Fayre wordes vs disceyue: with smylynge countenaūce
Suche seke after season/and tyme of vengeaunce
And may make prouision: his enmy to defy
He wyll nat disceyue the: whiche is of that nature
With harde crakynge/wordes to threttyn opynly
But rather he warnyth/the to be ware therby
Fayre wordes vs disceyue: with smylynge countenaūce
Suche seke after season/and tyme of vengeaunce
A counterfayted frende/with paynted speche ornate
By fals fayned fauour/disceyueth worst of all
As man takyth poyson/with meatis delycate
And with drynke delicious/some venym and mortall
Ryght so/fortune smylynge/disceyuith vnder pall
And many one/she greuyth/in moste prosperyte
In whome she had myght/in harde aduersyte
By fals fayned fauour/disceyueth worst of all
As man takyth poyson/with meatis delycate
And with drynke delicious/some venym and mortall
Ryght so/fortune smylynge/disceyuith vnder pall
And many one/she greuyth/in moste prosperyte
In whome she had myght/in harde aduersyte
Seke after company/as moche as thou art able
After thy behauour/thy maners and degre
Oft stody and desyre/vnto thy selfe semblable
If thou suche frequent/thou hast tranqylyte
But for lacke of knowlege/yf the fortune to be
In compaoy of suche/as ar to the contrary
By malyce/or enuy/yet do nat shortly vary
After thy behauour/thy maners and degre
Oft stody and desyre/vnto thy selfe semblable
If thou suche frequent/thou hast tranqylyte
But for lacke of knowlege/yf the fortune to be
In compaoy of suche/as ar to the contrary
By malyce/or enuy/yet do nat shortly vary
Perseuer and assay/by longe contynuaunce
If thou mayst by doctryne/reduce them from malice
From bestiall excesse/and wylfull ignoraunce
To vertue and lernynge/from disorder and vyce
But after longe labours/yf suche the dispyse
And yf for thy doctryne/displesour thou doest wyn
Than fle and forsake them/inuoluyd in theyr syn
If thou mayst by doctryne/reduce them from malice
From bestiall excesse/and wylfull ignoraunce
To vertue and lernynge/from disorder and vyce
But after longe labours/yf suche the dispyse
And yf for thy doctryne/displesour thou doest wyn
Than fle and forsake them/inuoluyd in theyr syn
And rest nat tyll thou fynde/a place where as is rest
For where enuy reygnith/is no tranquilyte
By many ignoraunt/one lerned/is opprest
Proude and blynde ambicion: gapynge for dignyte
Suspectith a louer/of wylfull pouertie
And ydelnes contēnyth/stody and diligence
For lyke vnto lyke wyll/or ought so: by prudence
For where enuy reygnith/is no tranquilyte
By many ignoraunt/one lerned/is opprest
Proude and blynde ambicion: gapynge for dignyte
Suspectith a louer/of wylfull pouertie
And ydelnes contēnyth/stody and diligence
For lyke vnto lyke wyll/or ought so: by prudence
What shulde an hardy knyght be felowe tyll a knaue
Or with a tryflynge tyncarde/a clerke companyon
A mason with masons/moste sure pleasour shall haue
A paynter with paynters/is best comparyson
And of other craftis/in lyke condicion
A dyamant in donge/is nat fayre to beholde
It losyth the beawty/excepte it be in golde
Or with a tryflynge tyncarde/a clerke companyon
A mason with masons/moste sure pleasour shall haue
A paynter with paynters/is best comparyson
And of other craftis/in lyke condicion
A dyamant in donge/is nat fayre to beholde
It losyth the beawty/excepte it be in golde
Therfore nowe concludynge/suche man as thou wylt be
Endeuoyr thou thy slefe/with all thy dilygence
With suche to retort/to suche drawe thou the
Than shall thyne exercyse/haue laude and reuerence
Thus haue we discribyd/the parsone of prudence
Nowe wryte we of Iustice/and her gyftes plesant
By whome the worlde/in loue is ioyned constant
Endeuoyr thou thy slefe/with all thy dilygence
With suche to retort/to suche drawe thou the
Than shall thyne exercyse/haue laude and reuerence
Thus haue we discribyd/the parsone of prudence
Nowe wryte we of Iustice/and her gyftes plesant
By whome the worlde/in loue is ioyned constant
Thus endyth the discripcion of the fyrst Cardynall
vertue called Prudens: And begynneth to be treatyd of the Seconde Cardynall vertue na myd Iustyce.
| Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners | |