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 eyght booke entituled of vices, faultes, and corruptions, to be aduoided.
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 | A treatyce of Moral philosophy containing the sayinges of the wise |  |
[174]
The eyght booke entituled of vices, faultes, and corruptions, to be aduoided.
178
The summe of all.
[as the soule, which by vertue, is chiefly garnished]
as the soule, which by vertue, is chiefly garnisheddoth shewe and set forth, goddes eternal glory:
so the soule that with vice is replenished
forgeateth god, and sinneth most wickedly,
embrace then vertue, for vice is most filthy,
and vertue at no time, in man can shine clere,
while vice and wickednes in him shall appere.
[179]
The summe of all.
[there is to mankinde no greater enemy]
there is to mankinde no greater enemyand that more hindereth his estimacion
then the lothsome burden of bestly foly,
which plainly appeareth in eche condicion.
fooles are ouerthrowne with light affection.
and as corne vppon stones is all sowne in vaine,
euen so are good counsailes to a foolishe braine.
[180]
The summe of all.
[Ignoraunce of the soule, is very madnes]
Ignoraunce of the soule, is very madnes,which while it laboureth the truth to attaine,
Is confounded and wrapped in heauines,
through selfe knowledge, and feblenes of braine,
181
that as ignoraunce is bredde by idlenes:
euen so is errour by ignoraunce doubtlesse.
[183]
[By wyne bewty fadeth, and age is defaced]
By wyne bewty fadeth, and age is defacedwine maketh forgotten, that late was embraced.
184
The summe of all
[wrath, enuy, hatred, enmitie, and malice]
wrath, enuy, hatred, enmitie, and malice,are vices most cursed, hatefull and ougly
repugning peace, that swete vertue of Price,
which knitteth both god and man in amitie,
they be contrary also to humanitie
and as the godly and wise doth detest them,
so the wicked and foolish dooth embrace them.
[184]
The summe of all.
[the wyne freshly florisheth & yeldeth in his kinde]
the wyne freshly florisheth & yeldeth in his kinde,three sundry grapes, and of contrary condicion:
of pleasure, of drunkennes, and of sorow, thus we find
by daily experience, through our grosse affeccion,
wine inordinately taken troubleth mans reason,
and the filthynes of drunkerds, if thou see & remember,
shall sufficiently admonishe thee to kepe thee sober.
185
The summe of all.
[The soule with lying is often infected]
The soule with lying is often infectedas with a pestilent and hurtfull maladie.
the soule in that state is knowen to be wicked
wherof shame or reason is the onely remedy.
flye therfore and forsake all liers company.
and as great tellers of newes are seldome credited
so liers and bosters are alwaies dispysed.
187
The summe of all.
[fylthy lustes and lechery are most disobedient euils]
fylthy lustes and lechery are most disobedient euilswhich with violence hurteth where thei fasten on idlenes,
the stinking lothsome lecher with their idle pretēsed wils.
[187]
shame, euill ende & damnacion, foloweth their filthines,
flie from whordom loue dennies, & leaue to liue wantōly:
and seeke the praise of temperance sobernes & chastitie.
Of flatterie.
Diogenes.of slaunderers and flatterers take heede if ye will,
for neither time nor wilde beaste an byte vs so ill
for of wilde beastes, slaunderer is the worst biter,
and of the time most biteth a flatterer.
Theophra.
for a man muche better it is amonge rauenes
to fall, and be taken, then among flatterers
for rauens but of fleshe deade bodies do depriue.
but flatterers deuoure men while they be aliue.
189
The summe of all.
[flattery from friendship is hardly disseuered]
flattery from friendship is hardly disseueredbeing mutually knit, with the affects of the minde.
busy bodyes and picktbanks, are not to be trusted,
as wisemen their subtletie will quickly out fynde.
nobles by flattery are often made blynde.
and as wormes in softe woode do breade moste gladlye,
so gentle and noble wits, are hurt by flattery.
| A treatyce of Moral philosophy containing the sayinges of the wise | |