A treatyce of Moral philosophy containing the sayinges of the wise Wherein you maye see the worthye and pithye sayinges of ye Philosophers, Emperors, kinges, and oratours, of their liues, their aunswers, of what lignage they came of, and of what cou[n]trey they were, whose worthy and notable preseptes, counsailes parables and semblables doth hereafter folow: First gathered and englished by Willia[m] Baldwin, after that, twise augmented by Thomas Paulfreyman ... & now once againe enlarged by the first aucthor |
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The seuenth booke entituled of haps and chaunces, and of contentment in any degree.
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 | A treatyce of Moral philosophy containing the sayinges of the wise |  |
The seuenth booke entituled of haps and chaunces, and of contentment in any degree.
[157]
[by nature all men be equall in dignitie]
by nature all men be equall in dignitie,by fortune one more then an other aduaunced:
this who considers in his supremitie,
ought loke to himselfe, and well be aduised,
by fortunes good fortune, who commeth in fauour,
by fortunes misfortune, may catche a displeasure.
158
The summe of all.
[fortune is a variable, and straunge maisters]
fortune is a variable, and straunge maisters,and vncertaine to trust to in all doinges,
for fortunes croked euils her nature doth expresse,
which daily are felt, with her hasty short turninges,
she quickenneth and destroieth her sharpe prefounde beinge,
and for this entent chiefly, misfortune should be suffred,
because that true friendes are best therby declared.
[160]
The summe of all.
[the honour and glory that worldlynges desire.]
the honour and glory that worldlynges desire.surmounting others in riches and dignitie,
can not long florish, but that with small hire,
shall ende their daies in woful miserie.
but vertue susteineth no such calamitie,
therefore or euer thou desire honour,
call for grace to be thy gouernour.
163
[the more that a man hath of aboundaunce]
Pithagoras.the more that a man hath of aboundaunce,
so much the lesse hath he of assuraunce.
[He is neither riche, happy, nor wise]
Solon.He is neither riche, happy, nor wise,
that is a bond man to his owne auarice.
[treasures, which falshode semeth to augment]
Hermes.treasures, which falshode semeth to augment
are euil gotten and worse are spent.
wherefore to be rich, who so doth entende,
ought truely to winne, and duly to spende.
164
[The hauing of riches, is not so commodiouse]
Aristotle.The hauing of riches, is not so commodiouse
as the departing from them is greuouse.
The summe of all
[Sith the perfect riches is suffisaunce]
Sith the perfect riches is suffisauncehe is more riche, content with pouertia
[164]
which no man may possesse well with suretye
Richest is be that can himselfe satisfie
with fewest thinges, whiche he both safe and sure,
where fortunes giftes, be doubtfull to endure.
[166]
[to the auariciouse is no suffisaunce]
Horace.to the auariciouse is no suffisaunce,
for couetouse encreaseth as fast as his substaunce.
[For couetouse people to dye is the best]
Seneca.For couetouse people to dye is the best,
for the longer they liue, the lesse is their rest:
167
where death them dischargeth of endles trouble.
The summe of all
[Inordinate desire, of welth and auctoritie]
Inordinate desire, of welth and auctoritie,is the very roote of all mischiefe and wickednes,
it subuerteth loue, credence, good name and honesty,
yea, and lost is that soule, that is rooted in couetousnes
Fortifie then thy soule, with the trade of godlines,
and couet not to spare, but right honestly spende,
for most wretched are niggardes vntill their liues ende.
[168]
The summe of all.
[Pouertie with pleasure or paine doth appeare]
Pouertie with pleasure or paine doth appeareIn all estates by sundry condicion
pouertie with ioy is more blessed and deare
before god (then riches) without exception
wretched pouertie is of beastly affection
and those sort of men that are poore and vertuous,
are more woorthy honouor then the riche and vicious.
[171]
The summe of all.
[so vertuously endeuour thy selfe to liue.]
so vertuously endeuour thy selfe to liue.that men, euen worthily thy lyfe may cōmend,
counterfait not vertue, for men will it repriue,
and praise thee for thy profit, if rightly thou entende,
bothe praise and dispraise in our liuing doth depende,
and as after the body there foloweth shadow,
euen so after vertue praise doth also folow.
172
The summe of all.
[although honoure, wealth, riches and dignitie]
although honoure, wealth, riches and dignitie,be deintie pleasures, that nature doth embrace,
yet libertye as writers doth testifie,
is the best thing, that man can purchace.
the poore man libertie, doth plainely deface,
the riche in pryson or bondslaue to riches,
whose liues are wasted in most wretched distres.
172
The summe of all.
[Diligence is a quickenes and liuelynes of mynde]
Diligence is a quickenes and liuelynes of myndewhereby all thinges are finished most aptly.
Diligence doth always this commoditie finde,
it neuer repenteth but endeth most gladly.
Careful diligence is the keye of certeintie.
and as with diligence men doe their busines,
what rewarde shall follow the ende wil so expresse.
[173]
[stoppe the beginning so shalte thou be sure]
Horas.stoppe the beginning so shalte thou be sure
all doubtfull diseases to swage and to cure.
but if thou be careles and suffer them brast
to late commeth plaistre when a cure is past.
174
The summe of all.
[God that is most glorious, was thalmighty beginner]
God that is most glorious, was thalmighty beginnerof all things that in heauen or in earth hath their beinge.
which was without beginning, he is the onely helper.
and furtherer of good workes to come to good ending.
without counsaile and aduisement begin not any thinge.
but consider well the ende and waie it discreetly,
for happely it preserueth bothe soule and bodye.
| A treatyce of Moral philosophy containing the sayinges of the wise | |