 | The ship of fools |  |
The shyppe of fooles.
Of bookes inutyle. capitulo. primo.
The fyrste foole of the shyppt I am certayneThat with my handes dresse the sayles all
For to haue bookes I do all my besy payne
Whiche I loue not to rede in specyall
Nor them to se also in generall
Wherfore it is a prouerbe all aboute
Suche thynketh to knowe yt standeth in doubte.
Of good counseyle. ca. ii.
His owne estate and grete affynyte
And frome others hurte doth not his dyscerne
Is well worthy to haue aduersyte
And to be deiecte frome prosperyte
For he bryngeth the hogge vnto the pyt
And afterwarde reuerseth hym in it.
Of auaryce and prodygalyte. capitulo. iii.
Of the folysshe shyppe there dothe occupyethe seconde parte/the auarycyous
That wyll not gyue a poore man one peny
He is so harde and so malycyous
Beynge on his rychesse so curyous
That is lente hym for a small ceason
The poore at nede to defende by reason.
Of newe customes and gyses. ca. iiii.
He that desyreth our thynges neweFor to begynne amonge poore mem all
Parauenture he maye it ones sore rewe
Whan he cometh before god eternall
There to be Iuged in sentence fynall
Where after his deserte he shall haue mede
Yf he haue done well/ryght well he shall spede.
Of auncyent fooles. ca. v.
Alas for all that euer I enclyneTo my sepulture both by houre and daye
Yet can I not leue the folysshe ruyne
That I haue contynued in alwaye
And of olde fooles euer haue kepte the laye
Wherfore of olde fooles I maye be the chefe
For all that is vyce hathe ben to me lefe
Of the document of chyldren. ca. vi.
He that forgyueth the crymes ryght vycyousOf his chyldren without correctynge
And them enduceth not in vertuous gloryous
Is well worthy to haue grete tormentynge
And eke anguysshe by longe contynuynge
For why he seketh all the wayes he can
To lyue in sorowe as a folysshe man.
Of reportoures and detractoures. ca. vii.
Who that maketh bate and also stryfeBy fals enuy and double retortynge
And he whiche synfully ledeth his lyfe
Euer in vyce and synne contynuynge
Without remors of inwarde repentynge
Bytwene two mylstones his body doth bere
There to haue guerdon as ye may se here.
Of them that ensueth not good counseyle capitulo. ix.
He is reputed a naturall fooleThat can nothynge dyscerne at no ceason
Of his werkes for all he wente to to scoole
And that he is so grounded on reason
Yet it may happen at some encheason
Whan he ploweth the mountaynes and the rockes
For his foly to haue many grete mockes.
Of folysshe meurs & condycyons, ca. ix.
And all his gestes nothynge semely
With fyers regarde and not shamefaste
Lyght and mouable without curtesy
And dysdeynous answerynge proudly
He serchet wayes a foole to be
Drawynge the hode as ye maye se.
Of the hurtynge of amyte. ca. x.
Who that doth Iustyce and greuaunceAgaynst vertue and equyte
And excercyseth his puyssaunce
Upon a man with cruelte
By his euyll inyquyte
Dothe the pyt of his tombe compose
For of vertues he hathe no lose.
Of the contēnynge of scrypture. ca. xi.
Who wyll byleue eloquacyteOf fooles seynge the scrypture
Shewynge our grete felycyte
And wyll not in vertues endure
Is a grete foole without mesure
Wherfore as fooles makynge dyscordes
Of our grete shyp they dresse the cordes.
xii
Who fastneth not the sadle wellUpon his horse whan he shall
Unto some towne his ware to sell
Thynkynge all sure on euery syde
Yf he fall in some dyche syde
They that passe by maye to hym saye
There lyeth a foole without delaye
Of vayne and trāsytory loue. ca. xiii.
I drawe in to myne excellent toures
Bycause that they to me accorde
In seruynge me well at all houres
As true louers and paramoures
For whome that I smyte feruently
Can haue no salue but theyr lady
Of thē that syn on the mercy of god. xiiii.
Unto mercy and grete pyte
And that of synnes approued
He wyll not ones auenged be
He is a foole in certaynte
For he must Iuge the synnes all
And gyue on them sentence egall.
Of fooles makynge edyfyces. ca. xv.
He that wyll castelles edyfyeOr buylde houses with lyme and stone
Must not trust in his owne folye
Lest he repente or it done
For the thyage that is done anone
Oftentymes they do repente
Whan that theyr monye is all spente
xvi
Of pouerte the dede and chargeCan no lecherous man eshewe
That nyght and daye in metes large
Euer in one dothe contynewe
The daye shall come they shall it rewe
For they dampne theyr soules in dede
That etcth more than they haue nede.
Of rychesse inutyle. ca. xvii.
Who that loketh vp his rychsseIn chestes alwaye there to lye
And helpeth no man in dystresse
Thoughe the poore man therfore sholde dye
And be destroyed vtterly
He is a foole at eche deuyse
The poore men so for to dyspyse.
Of the seruynge of two maysters. xviii.
He that wyll take two hares at onesWith one sole grehounde alonely
Renneth throughe busshes for the nones
Is a foole I you certyfye
Shewynge by dede his grete foly
For one can not two maysters serue
At ones truely thoughe he wolde sterue.
xix
Who that can well his tongue refrayneBothe ferre and nere in euery place
And another mannes cousayll layne
Is replynysshed with grete grace
But he the whiche clatereth a pace
Doth his propre counsall bewrye
As with chatterynge dothe the pye.
For to fynde other men̄es goodes and not to yelde them agayne. ca. xxi.
He the whiche fyndeth ony thynge.And employeth it to his vsage
Alwaye of the same dyspendynge
Is a grete fole and nothynge sage
For the deuyll at eche passage
Holdeth hym fast in a bande
Go he by water or by lande.
Of conscyon of sapyence. ca. xxii.
Who delyteth in sapyenceThat is worthy of grete praysynge
Shall growe to moche magnyfycence
In the courte of some grete kynge
And shall haue heuen at his endynge
Where he shall lyue eternally
With bryght aungelles gloryously.
Of iactaunce and confydence of fortune. ca. xxiii.
Who sayth he is well fortunedBothe of body and of rychesse
And that he was neuer greued
Of fortunes whele full of rudenesse
That casteth many in dystresse
And brenneth houses all aboute
Whan the poore fooles stande lest in doubte.
xxiiii
He that procureth by gre payneThe werkes of his seruauntes all
And leueth his by grete dysdayne
Undone and nought yet therwithall
A veraye foole men maye hym call
For he wyll take mo werkes on hande
Than he and his men may withstande
Of them that taketh a truste. ca. xxv.
He is a foole deuoyde of reasonAnd ones shall be myserable
That wyll borowe at eche ceason
Golde and syluer transmutable
And for to paye is not able
Without he shold sell coote and gowne
And after go begge in to the towne
Of petytycyods and vowes inutyle. xxvi.
Who that on handes and fete dothe prayeBy false dyssymulacyon
Cryenge on god bothe nyght and daye
That he wolde graunte vnto hym pardon
And gyue them clene remyssyon
They be fooles that with cryenge
Thynketh to opteyne ony thynge
xxvii
Who wyll not excercyse studyeBut renne aboute from place to place
Is replysshed with foly
And is deiecte from all grace
For no scyence he wyll purchace
Wherfore he shall repente hym sore
Bycause he wolde not lerne nomore
Of them that speke folysshly agaynst god capitulo. xxviii.
If god wolde here fooles prayerAfter theyr wyll and theyr peasure
They wole make it ryght synguler
With wepynge eyen ye may be sure
Yf that they myght it so procure
But god wyll not to them assente
Seynge theyr vnhappy entente
To gyue iugement on an other. xxix.
Some thynketh that they be ryght IusteAnd Iugeth other mennes vyse
Saynge that to hell go they muste
And neuer come in paradyse
He is a foole at eche deuyse
To Iuge an other mannes mysdede
And wyll not of his owne take hede.
Of theym that charge theym with benefyces. ca. xxx.
Who some euer dothe apppetyteBenefyces by grete plenty
And taketh in them no delyte
Saue for the rentes alonely
He is not wyse I you certyfye
For and he bere more than he maye
He is lykly to fall by the waye
Of them that desyre for to amende them frome daye to daye. ca. xxxi.
Who dothe ensue the rauens songeSayenge I shall amende to morowe
And contynueth in it longe
Is lyke to fall in to moche sorowe
But yf our lorde wyll be his borowe
For and he euer that songe synge
It shall hym streyght vnto helle brynge
Of them that wyll kepe wyues. xxxii.
Of this foole sore I meruayllThat casteth water in the well
And of one withouten say I
Wyll kepe the fleen with his mell
In the sonne and by them dwell
But he is the moost foole of all
That wyll kepe his owne wyfe in thrall
Of aduoutrye. ca. xxxiii.
The man is folysshe and ryght obstynateThat seeth his wyse in a dyssolute place
Frequentynge mysrule/but her vnclene fate
He wyll not se but couereth his face
With his hande thorughe his fyngers space
He toteth as he wolde playe bo pepe
As cat for a mouse faynynge to slepe
Of hym that is alwayes folysshe. xxxiiii.
The peruers foole is lunatykeThat thynketh to haue grete rychesse
And that euery man wyll stryke
Without a cause in his madnesse
He is a foole without sagenesse
And hathe ben one all his longe dayes
And shall abyde styll so alwayes.
Of angre that proceeeth of a lytell thynge. ca. xxxv.
Who beteth his asse without mesureAnd wyll neuer be sacyate
He is a folysshe creature
To demeane hym in suche astate
Upon a beest that can not prate
For this foole is dystraught for wo
Bycause his asse wyll not fast wo.
Of the mutabylyte of fortune. ca. xxxvi.
He that thynketh to mount on hyeOn fortunes whele that is so peruerse
He is replete with grete foly
Seynge that she is so dyuerse
For she wyll lyghtly hym reuerse
Up so downe vnder the whele
And take hym from his hertes wele.
Of the impacyence in sykenes. Ca. xxxvii.
yf the syke man be oppressedWith maladye full anguysshous
And wyll not be well counsaylled
By the medecyne gracyous
He is a foole vylependyous
Wherfore yf he haue aduersyte
He is the cause therof truely
Of consultacyons to openly. ca. xxxviii.
Who dothe openly his wyll sheweAnd setteth his gynnes to appertly
One maye the daunger soone eschewe
Be it a man or byrde truely
For whan they knowe it they go by
As who sayth we be all puruayed
Wherfore the foole is euyll appayed
How one ought for to be wyse/by experyence of the euylles that they se fooles commyte. ca. xxxix.
Who seeth of fooles the grete ruyneAnd theyr fallynge downe so dadayne
And wyll vnto vyces enclyne
Is worthy helle for to obtayne
With deuylles alwaye to remayne
For he wyll not his synne amende
Untyll the tyme that he must wende.
Not for to haue cure of detraccyons & vayne wordes of euery body. ca. xl.
The whiche wyll gyue faythe and credence
Unto euery mannes fable
Whiche are folysshe without sence
And knowe they be voyde of prudence
Euer reportynge false tydynges
Bothe at morowe and at euynnynges.
Of subsannatoures/calomnyatours and detractoures. ca. xli.
The foole that casteth stones ferreAfter the wyse man fleenge a pace
And doothe euer in that synne erre
Is deuoyde clene frome all good grace
For in synne resteth his solace
Wherfore he wyll not ruled be
By ryght reason and equyte.
Of the dyspraysynge of the Ioye eternall. ca. xlii.
O god how our mynde is mouableDyshonest false and not loyall
For to dysprayse god permanable
Withall the courte celestyall
And sette at nought his syege royall
For he is a foole nothynge wyse
The Ioyes of heuen for to dyspryse.
Of tumulte and iangelynge ī the chyrche Capitulum. xliii.
Who bereth a hauke on his handeIn the chyrche walkynge vp and downe
And ledeth houndes in a bande
That with theyr belles make grete sowne
He were better be in the towne
For he letteth without delaye
Bothe men and women for to praye.
Of them that enclyne them voluntaryly to suffre dethe. ca. xliiii.
Who that of his owne propre wyllDothe hange hymselfe by ygnoraunce
Or with a guysarme dothe hym kyll
Withouten shryfte or repentaunce
He is a foole at eche dystaunce
So to purchase dethe eternall
And so to be in tormentes fynall.
Of the felycyte and payne to come/and of the delytes perpetuall. ca. xlv.
Dyuers fooles do drawe the carteFull of vyces bothe daye and houre
And wyll not ones to god reuerte
The be so hote on theyr laboure
Dommagynge euer theyr neyghboure
That it is pyte for to se
How enuyous they to them be.
Of the euyll example of the most byggest Capitulum. xlv.
If the fader do ony thyngeThat is euyll and vycyous
Before his sone in the mornynge
Be it neuer so daungerous
Nor vnto hym so odyous
yet he wyll put it in assaye
To do the same yf that he maye.
Of the voluptuousnes corporall. xlvii.
Dyurs by voluptuousnesOf women the whiche be presente
Be brought in to full grete dystres
Forgetynge vertues excellente
Of god the whiche is permanente
And suffreth themselfe to be bounde
In cordes as it were a hounde.
Of thē that cānot hyde theyr secretes. xlviii.
He that in hym hathe some secreteLet hym kepe it well in his herte
And tell it no man vndyscrete
Lest he of his payne be coherte
And dwell euer in anguysshe smerte
He is a foole for afterwarde
He shall haue dolours fyerse and harde
Of hym that weddeth a wyfe for to haue her rychesses. ca. xlix.
The man the whiche dothe wedde a wyfeFor her treasour and her rychesse
And not for lygnage femynatyfe
Procureth dolour and dystresse
With infynyte payne and heuynesse
For she wyll do hym moche sorowe
Bothe at euen and at morowe
Of enuye. ca. l.
The dartes ryght cursed of enuyeHathe reygned syth the worlde began
Whiche bryngeth one euedently
In to the bandes of sathan
Wherfore he is a dyscrete man
That can eschewe that euyll synne
Where body and soule is loste ynne
Of impacyence in correccyon. ca. li.
He that cheseth an instrumeneThe whiche is vyle and dyshonest
And that fooles playe on verament
Leuynge the other whiche be best
He is a foole for without ren
He playeth theron incessyuely
Without musyke or melody.
Of folysshe physycyens. ca. lii.
Who that vseth the arte of medycyneTakynge his knowlege in the felde
He is a foole full of ruyne
So to take herbes for his shelde
Wenynge theyr vertue for to welde
Whiche is not possyble for to knowe
All theyr vertues bothe hye and lowe
Of thy dolorous departynge of the puyssaūce of heuen. liii.
Neuer man yet was so pussauntOf goodes or of parentage
But that mortall dethe dyde hym daunt
Byt processe at some strayte passage
ye were he neuer of suche aege
For he spareth not yonge nor olde
Fayre nor foule fyerse nor also bolde.
Of predestynacyon. Ca. l.iiii.
He the whiche demaundeth the pryceThat he dyde neuer well deserue
He is a foole peuerse and nyse
So to aske for thoughe he sholde sterue
And be loste he wyll not obserue
The byddynges and commaundementes
Haue he neuer so many rentes
To forgete hymselfe. ca. lv.
Of an other mannes house of fyre
And letteth his owne brenne god wote
He is a foole so to conspyre
His owne hurte by folysshe desyre
For he is dygne to haue dommage
That wyll not do after the sage
Of his owne pleasaunce. Ca. l.vii.
Approche you nere all the hole routeAnd beholde this foole full of rage
The whiche doth stere all rounde aboute
And myrreth his vgly vysage
In a fayre glasse ouer the fyre
For his pleasaunce and his desyre.
Of daunces and dysportes. ca. lviii.
Who reioyseth hym for to daunceWith men and women Iouslye
And syngeth by contynuaunce
Foule songes full of rybaudre
He is a peruers foole truely
For therby is moche sorowe wrought
Bothe in dedes and also thought
Of players of instrumentes. lix.
Who gothe aboute euery nyghtPlayenge on instrumentes swetely
And syngynge songes by the lyght
Of the mone melodyously
Before his ladyes doore truely
He a foole endurynge colde
Whiche he shall fele whan he is olde
Of beggers and of theyr vanytees. ca. lx.
I whiche am a poore almes manHaue grete fere to encreace lygnage
Bycause that I nothynge get can
To helpe my selfe in myne olde aege
And my chyldren in theyr domage
Goynge aboute from doore to doore
gyue your good almesse to the poore.
Of condycyons/murmurygnes/& grete vnhappynes of wyues. Ca. lx.
Who that in his mynde doth compasseTo rule his wyfe after his wyll
He maye also soone make an asse
Renne a wallap ouer a hyll
For she always wyll haue good skyll
And also soone do after them
As dryue a snayle to Iherusalem
Of the puyssaunce of foles. ca. xlii.
The fooles saye they haue puyssaunceBycause theyr tentes is wyde and large
Hauynge goodes golde and cheuaunce
For to make warre at euery tyde
On lordes and knyghtes on eche syde
Be it for ryght or elles for wronge
They dystroye ech other amonge
Of the cure of astronomye. ca. lxiii.
He is holden a foole truelyThe whiche putteth his besy cure
To calke the sterres in the skye
And all theyr natures to procure
In pronostynge as he were sure
Of the tyme the whiche is to come
That he knoweth not all nor some
Of hym that wyll wryte/and enquyre of all regyons. ca. xliiii.
He the whiche mesureth the groundeThe heuens and the clymates all
With the planettes superyall
Dysspraysynge our lorde eternall
By comprysynge so folysshly
The maners of countrees truely
Of hym that wyll not be a foole. Ca. lxv.
Mercia the whiche with the sageDoet appollyne ones dysputed
Bycause he passed the passage
And in the same was poluted
For a foole he was reputed
But he wolde not therto agre
Wherfore he was flayne as ye maye se
Of them that can take no playe. lxvi.
They the whiche wyll with chyldren playeAnd fooles the whiche be of one sorte
Of mysfortune beware alwaye
Bycause ye maye haue good reporte
And frome all vyces you deporte
For one sholde euer perylles drede
And puruaye therfore at a nede
Of the impacyence of some that wyll not abyde/but wyll do euyll. lxvii.
He the whiche is so varyableHe that can not with none agre
And hathe his mynde so reasonable
In smytynge men of eche degre
He is o foole for certaynte
And yf he fall after in nede
He can blame none but his owne dede
Of vnpuruayenge for the tyme to come. ca. lxviii.
Who that spendeth his tyme in wastWithout lernynge of sapyence
To come to god he hathe no haste
Whiche is of so hyghe excellence
For but in yougthe he make prouydence
And in somer gadre and spare
In wynter he shall be full bare
Of pleaders in iugement. ca. lxix.
Who hathe aspecte to dame IustyceMakynge complayntes dolorous
Askynge her ryght whiche is propyce
Of all men beynge vertuous
Peruers cursed or malycyous
But the foole blyndeth her vysage
By false sentence full of outrage
Of foles abhomynable in wordes. lxx.
The vayne wordes dysordynateFoule vnclene and abhomynable
Reported by fooles approbate
Peruers and vnrensonable
Beynge therin insacyable
In deseruynge maladyccyons
For brekynge good constytucyons
Of the estate & abuse spyrytuall. ca. lxxi.
Some dothe the goodes spyrytuallCoueyte in aege not couenable
But whan they must doo the actuall
And with god dyne at his table
They be therto nothynge notable
For the worlde and his vanyte
Draweth them to perplexyte
Of players. ca. lxxiii.
The players take all theyr solaceTo playe by an ardaunt courage
Nyghte and daye without ony grace
Doynge eche other grete outrage
By takynge cotes and gownes to gage
Hauynge to god no garde at all
The whiche is aboue eternall
Of fooles surprysed. ca. lxxiiii.
I knowe in my booke is payntedA sorte of fooles without delaye
The whiche in our shyppe is acquaynted
And that theyr asses do with playe
Agaynste theyr wyll withouten naye
The whiche in laughynge doth conspyre
Many oppressyons for Ire
Of knyghtes/men of armes/scrybes/and practycyens. ca. lxxv.
If the rustykes be oppressedWith men of armes and practycyence
And be beten and dystressed
In dyuerse wyse by influence
Without reason or sapyence
In takynge more than theyr duyte
Of the poore men without pyte
Of folysshe legacyons and messengers. ca. lxxvi.
I messenger hathe ben full ferreIn dyuers londes and regyons
Bothe in tranquylyte and warre
Berynge worde of prouysyons
In castelles and in garnysons
Gyuynge my lettres and suche thynge
Of whome I haue hadde the wynnynge
Of caters and kepers of sellers in houses. ca. lxxvii.
Apparell you that ye were hereCaters of houses in the towne
And for all perylle drawe you nere
Our shyppe at the trompettes sowne
The whiche to sayle is redy bowne
For come on nowe we haue good wynde
Or elles ye must all byde behynde
Of the excessyue arrogaunce rustyke. lxviii.
Yf there be chorles or vyllaynesThe whiche dothe coueyte our cordes
Let them brynge with them they waynes
And they shall haue in them dyscordes
Ynouthe/but for good concordes
We haue not many for to spare
But yf we sholde leue ourselfe bare
Of the contempnpnge of pouerte. lxxix.
Pouerte gothe in this worlde roundeDecayed by monye and rychesse
And lyeth naked on the grounde
In paynes sorowes and dystresse
Frostes snowes wyndes raynes and coldenesse
For there is none wyll them socoure
Nor exalte vnto some honoure
Of hym that wyll not perseue in goodes. ca. lxxx.
Dyuers fooles wyll the carte draweBy whanhope and iniquyte
Without reason or ony lawe
Lyuynge in grete calamyte
Deuoyde of blysse and prosperyte
And all thrugh theyr folyswe bobaunce
Not folowynge perseueraunce
Of the dysprysynge of dethe. ca. lxxxi.
To destroye all thy humayne lygnage
And to sende them to heuen or hell
To dwell there with theyr parentage
Where ryche nor poore hathe no vauntage
For golde nor syluer in no manere
Saue of all good vertues in fere
Of the grete contempnynge and dyspraysynge of god. ca. lxxxii.
In thy body withouten fayle
He wyll in other thynges truely
Ryght sore the punysshe and assayle
In thy goodes or in catayle
Wherfore please hym daye and nyght
That he maye saue the in thy ryght
Of them that blaspheme our lorde Ihesu chryste. ca. lxxxiii.
O swerers by god omnypotenteMakynge hym smarte by othes cruell
In terynge his body all shente
By blasphemynge as I you tell
Leue your othes or ye shall dwell
In the tenebres funerall
With deuylles blacke in paynes fynall
Of the plage and indygnacyon of of god. ca. lxxxiiii.
This same foole here meruayleth soreSaynge it is agaynst nature
That god sholde put vs euermore
In paynes grete for to endure
For our synnes and worldly pleasure
Wherfore he that lyueth in synne
Beware that he fall not therin
Of the folysshe permutacyon. ca. lxxxv.
Who loueth yll conuersyonNot knowynge good from vycyous
And maketh perturbacyon
In a countree commodyous
He is a foole ryght daungerous
For he leseth for lytell thynge
The blysse of god euer lastynge
To honour fader and moder. ca. lxxxvi
The chyldren and eche creatourIs bounde by nature and reason
Fader and moder to honoure
And them to helpe at eche ceason
After theyr myght and encheason
And yf they bete them by rudenesse
They maye be sure of grete dystresse
Of the cauellacyon of preestes in the quere. ca. lxxxvii.
We se in this tyme nowe presentHow preestes serue god neglygently
Not praysynge hym as permanent
Doynge his seruyce deuoutly
For they do but clattre and crye
In the quere whyle they sholde synge
And gyue to god laude and praysynge
Of the grete demōstraūce of pryde. lxxxviii.
Folowynge the fende ryght cruell
Is worthy with hym to abyde
And for euermore with hym to dwell
In the horryble paynes of hell
There to be rewarded doubtelesse
And neuer come in heuens blesse
lxxxix
All you the whiche ben vsurersThat take of men theyr hole substaunce
And also you that be synners
Lyuynge euer in grete bobaunce
Leue your vyle synnes and perturbaunce
Or elles ye shall be put in thrall
And haue tormentes perpetuall
Of the vayne hope to haue & succede. ca. lxxxx.
Who trusteth to haue successyonOf others goodes and rychesse
Makynge therfore prouysyon
Not thynkynge on dethes hardynesse
He is a foole voyde of sagesse
For to desyre other mennes dethe
Eyther for rychesse londe or hethe
Of them that obserueth not the sondayes and other feestes. ca. lxxxxi.
Who that kepeth not the sondayesAnd holy festes canonysed
But occupyeth them in playes
Is a grete fole predestyned
And shall be frome god expulsed
But yf that he kepe them truely
In seruynge good god reuerently
To gyue his goodes & after repente hym. Capitulo. lxxxxii.
He that gyueth his goodes in hasteUnto some man of lowe degree
And afterwarde maketh suche wast
That he falleth in pouerte
Then yf for gyfte he sory be
He leseth meryte and guerdon
And hathe for his gyftes no pardon
Of the synne of slouthe. ca. lxxxxiii.
Slouthe hathe nowe the grete sygnoryeOf this wretched worlde rounde aboute
In oppressynge eche good body
Be they neuer so styffe nor stoute
By slouthe they be brought in grete doubte
And fere of foule dampnacyon
If they make longe contynuacyon
Of fooles infydeles. ca. lxxxxiiii.
I haue wylled for to put here
Bycause they adoure termagauntes
And wyll no holy scrypture lere
Nor worshyp chryst by no manere
Not withstonde they be not worthy
To be put in this booke truely
Of our holy faythe catholyke of oure moder holy chyrche. And the inclynacyon of the holy empyre Romayne. lxxxxv.
O you my barons of the chyrcheThat sholde me loue full tenderly
In good operacyons loke ye wyrche
And serue Ihesu chryste deuoutely
That he maye take you to mercy
And deiecte clene out of your thought
The vayne thynges the whiche is nought
Of blandysshees & flatrrers. ca. lxxxxvi.
Who blandyssheth a cruell stedeLyckynge the platers of ryche men
And faylleth his mayster at his nede
Is worthy punysshed [illeg.] to ben
In greuous tormentes nyne or ten
Bycause of his grete trechery
Blandysshynge and flatery
Of delayers/& vayne reporters. lxxxxvii.
Who byleueth eche mannes sayengeBothe fooles and men vndyscrete
Gyuynge to theyr folyes herynge
Is worthy to haue sorowes grete
The whiche maye his folysshe herte frete
For flaterers he wyll byleue
That seketh all wayes hym to greue
lxxxxviii
Alcumyne whiche is deceytfullMaketh the worlde golde in doctryne
But the deceyuer is all full
Of malyce rancour and ruyne
Neuer sacyate but as a swyne
Glouteth the poore folkes rychesse
By falsshode and by doublenesse
lxxxxix
Here maye ye se false antechrysteIn his estate tryumphauntlye
That counterfetteth Ihesu chryste
By his foule pryde and trechery
Wherfore he shall haue paynes truely
With his owne fader Lucyfere
And all that byleueth hym here
c
Who that for drede or for fauourDothe hyde the trouthe and veryte
Or who that for loue or lycour
Letteth the dede of charyte
He is a foole for certaynte
For they be of antechrystes lyne
That causeth suche thynges to take fyne
To withdrawe the good dede & what it is ca. C.i.
Who that wyll let a man prudentTo do werkes of honeste
Or put ony impesshement
Betwene folke of affynyte
He is a foole for certaynte
So thynkynge to let the good dede
The whiche he may not by no spede
Of the obmyssyon of good werkes. C.ii.
He the whiche hathe his lampe repleteWith oyle he maye the better se
Also he that hathe vertues grete
He lyueth in grete prosperyte
And he the whiche dothe here lyue well
Shall neuer come in fyre of hell
Of the praysynge of sapyence. ca. C.iii.
We nowe take with the ryght handeBothe palme and the ryche crowne abyde
Aud on the lefte syde there doth stande
The cap of fooles bothe large and wyde
Whiche is strowed on euery syde
Descended frome the hye essence
Of the dispraysynge of his vnfortune. C.iiii
He is a foole that fortune dothe seCome on hym whiche is transmutable
And maye resyste it in eche degre
With sapyence incomperable
Folowynge thynges prouffytable
And wyll not by no maner of waye
Tyll dethe hym take without delaye
Of the detraccyon of goodes. ca. C.v.
The wyse man that lyueth here wellWithout fraude or detraccyon
And afterwarde hangeth a bell
At his cattes necke by correccyon
Ho is a foole without dyscrecyon
Se at the last for to condyscennde
Unto foly and so make an ende
Of the immoderate turpytude of the table. ca. C.vi.
Now at this tyme we be mouedTo paynte the grete enormytes
Of dronkerdes the whiche is approued
In our booke of fragylytees
Touchynge theyr foule commodytees
Whiche they commyt in euery place
As folke that is deuoyde of grace
Of fooles dysfygured takynge straunge clothynges. ca. C.vii.
Democrytus the sapyentBy this that he sawe so grete foly
Of fooles that were neclygent
He laugheth fast and that on hye
Bycause they coude no polycye
And Cynycus wepeth ryght fast
Bycause that the worlde is not stedfast
cviii
The wyse man whiche is prudentDothe moche good where euer he go
Gyuynge examples excellent
Unto them the whiche are in wo
Techynge them in all vertues so
That they maye not in to synne fall
Yf that they hertly on god call
Of the recōmēdacyon of phylosophy. Cix.
At this tyme doctryne is decayedAnd nought set by in no place
For euery man is well appayed
To get good with grete solace
Not carynge how nor in what place
Puttynge tha fayre and dygne sophye
Under fete with phylosophye
Concertacyon of vertue with voluptuosyte. ca. C.x.
O you the whiche is here commysedBeholde beholde my frendes all
For I am vertue that is surmyseth
With voluptuosyte venyall
Thrrughe her demeanour bestyall
Wenynge me here for to oppresse
Whiche aboue all am empresse
Obieccyon of voluptuosyte blamynge vertues. ca. C.xi.
Am I not the grete enemyeOf vertues that I loue nothynge
Warrynge on her with grete maystry
Bycause from luste she wolde me brynge
The whiche is all my desyrȳge
In my gardyn full of pleasaunce
Where as I do bothe synge and daunce
Of the answere of vertu vnto voluptuosyte. ca. C.xii.
O voluptuosyte wherforeDoest thou me put in suche araye
Scoffynge with me so vengeable sore
Makynge on me so grete a fraye
And yet vyle best thou can not saye
But that thou arte trasmutable
Unchast and abhomynable
Of the shyp latyne/or barge socyale. C.xiii.
Withouten ende and euer furyous
We shall be to them euer aydable
Bothe in flodes and wawes tempesteous
Wherfore ye ought to be gladde and Ioyous
Seynge that you are of the myghty stocke
Of fooles peruerse whiche is so grete a flocke
Of the shyp socyale mecanycque. ca. C.xiiii.
As vnthryfty mecanykes with many mo
Playenge on organs by extremyte
Getynge theyr lyuynge with playenge to and fro
And without ony reason they call our shyppe so
That the shyppe redowndeth all of the sowme
Comynge in to it as they wolde cast all downe
Of the syngularyte of some newe fooles. Capitulo. C.xv.
Bycause that we sholde be besyIn our shyppe be it ferre or nere
And take in other fooles by and by
Whiche asprely brynge in theyr gere
Thynkynge with vs to go in fere
And helpe vs here for to gouerne
Bothe at the purse and at the sterne
Of thē that do all thynges contrary. C.xvii.
He the whiche dothe the contraryTo reason ryght and equyte
And that euer from them vary
Lyuynge in grete perplexyte
He is a fole for certaynte
For after the sayenge of the scrypture
Who lyueth here well of heuen is sure
| The ship of fools | |