Certayn chapters take[n] out of the Proverbs of Salomo[n] wyth other chapters of the holy Scripture; & certayne Psalmes of David, translated into English metre, by Iohn Hall. Whych Proverbes of late were set forth, Imprinted and untruely entituled, to be thee doynges of Mayster Thomas Sternhold ... as by thys Copye it may be perceaved |
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The prouerbes of Salomon, translated into Englyshe metre.
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| i. |
| ii. |
| iii. |
| iiii. |
| v. |
| vi. |
| vii. |
| ix. |
| x. |
| xi. |
 |
 | Certayn chapters take[n] out of the Proverbs of Salomo[n] |  |
The prouerbes of Salomon, translated into Englyshe metre.
[The wysdom of the Lord our God]
Argumentum. Cha. i.
The wysdom of the Lord our God,doth call vpon vs styll
That we fle farre from wycked men,
and folow not their wyll.
My
sonne thy father harke vnto
& to his lore enclyne
Forsake thou not thy mothers law
but sure let it be thyne
For that shal cause grace plentifull,
to lyght vpon thyne heade
And on the necke shalbe a chayne,
and stande the in good steade
Therfore (my sōne) take thou good hede
whē sinners do the tempte
For though that they do the entyce,
to them do not consente
Yf they shall saye, come thou wt vs,
let vs laye wayte for bloude
And causeles kyll the innocent,
and spoyle them of their good.
Let vs them swallow quycke and hole
let vs deuoure them al:
As those that slyde into a pyt,
so shall they take their fall.
And we shal costely ryches fynde,
to do therwyth our wyll:
And wt the spoyles that we shal get
we may our houses fyll.
Cast in thy lotte amonge vs now,
a man yf that thou arte:
And thē we wyl haue all one purse,
and thou shalte haue thy part.
But walk thou not wt thē (my sōne)
theyr pathes do thou refrayne:
Their fete are hasty bloude to shede
al yll they do retayne.
But al in vayne the nette is layde,
before the byrdes eyes:
Yet one an others bloude to spyl,
much yll they do deuise.
And thei thēselues their own deare bloud
this way do hurt and noye:
And theyr owne soules do quite depriue
of al eternal ioye.
This is the way of gredy men
and thys is al theyr feate:
For to beryue his brothers lyfe:
his ryches for to gette
Without therfore doth wysdō cal,
& putteth forth her voyce
Behold for in the open streates,
to you she maketh noyse
She calleth before the multytude,
that al men may her know
And in the towne gates openly,
her wordes she doth nowe shewe
Oh folysh men and fonde saith she,
how longe wyl ye delyte
In folysshe schole? and ye vnwyse,
to wysdom beare suche spyte
Oh turne to my correction,
I wyl my mynde expresse
And I wyll make you vnderstand,
my wordes both more and lesse
Sence then that I haue called you,
and ye refuse my name
And haue put forth mine hand also,
and ye forsake the same
And al my counsels ye haue hadde,
in mockynge and despite
And also my correction,
haue set at naught and lyght
Therfore wyll I laughe ioyfully,
in your destruction
And mock you whan the plage you feare
shal iustly on you come
And whā that whych you feare so much
ful sodaynly doeth fal
And troubles and great heuines,
shal come vpon yon all
Thē when you do vpon me craue,
I wyl not heare your minde
Though you seke me, & that earely
yet shal you not me fynde
And why? I say because that you,
my knowledge so abhorde
And cast away against my wyll,
the feare of god the Lorde
I sayd before they dyd refuse,
my counsels euery one
And dyd not cease, for to despyse,
my good correction
To eate the frute of their own way
the lord shal them constrayne
With the deuice he shal them fyll,
of theyr insensate brayne
And for the fal of the vnwyse,
he shal them slaye anon
And eke the wealth of foles shalbe,
theyr owne confusyon
But who to me that geueth eare,
shal dwell safely I saye
And haue ynough, & nede not feare
by nyght, nor yet by daye.
& to his lore enclyne
Forsake thou not thy mothers law
but sure let it be thyne
For that shal cause grace plentifull,
to lyght vpon thyne heade
And on the necke shalbe a chayne,
and stande the in good steade
Therfore (my sōne) take thou good hede
whē sinners do the tempte
For though that they do the entyce,
to them do not consente
Yf they shall saye, come thou wt vs,
let vs laye wayte for bloude
and spoyle them of their good.
Let vs them swallow quycke and hole
let vs deuoure them al:
As those that slyde into a pyt,
so shall they take their fall.
And we shal costely ryches fynde,
to do therwyth our wyll:
And wt the spoyles that we shal get
we may our houses fyll.
Cast in thy lotte amonge vs now,
a man yf that thou arte:
And thē we wyl haue all one purse,
and thou shalte haue thy part.
But walk thou not wt thē (my sōne)
theyr pathes do thou refrayne:
Their fete are hasty bloude to shede
al yll they do retayne.
But al in vayne the nette is layde,
before the byrdes eyes:
Yet one an others bloude to spyl,
much yll they do deuise.
And thei thēselues their own deare bloud
this way do hurt and noye:
of al eternal ioye.
This is the way of gredy men
and thys is al theyr feate:
For to beryue his brothers lyfe:
his ryches for to gette
Without therfore doth wysdō cal,
& putteth forth her voyce
Behold for in the open streates,
to you she maketh noyse
She calleth before the multytude,
that al men may her know
And in the towne gates openly,
her wordes she doth nowe shewe
Oh folysh men and fonde saith she,
how longe wyl ye delyte
In folysshe schole? and ye vnwyse,
to wysdom beare suche spyte
Oh turne to my correction,
I wyl my mynde expresse
And I wyll make you vnderstand,
my wordes both more and lesse
Sence then that I haue called you,
and ye refuse my name
and ye forsake the same
And al my counsels ye haue hadde,
in mockynge and despite
And also my correction,
haue set at naught and lyght
Therfore wyll I laughe ioyfully,
in your destruction
And mock you whan the plage you feare
shal iustly on you come
And whā that whych you feare so much
ful sodaynly doeth fal
And troubles and great heuines,
shal come vpon yon all
Thē when you do vpon me craue,
I wyl not heare your minde
Though you seke me, & that earely
yet shal you not me fynde
And why? I say because that you,
my knowledge so abhorde
And cast away against my wyll,
the feare of god the Lorde
I sayd before they dyd refuse,
my counsels euery one
my good correction
To eate the frute of their own way
the lord shal them constrayne
With the deuice he shal them fyll,
of theyr insensate brayne
And for the fal of the vnwyse,
he shal them slaye anon
And eke the wealth of foles shalbe,
theyr owne confusyon
But who to me that geueth eare,
shal dwell safely I saye
And haue ynough, & nede not feare
by nyght, nor yet by daye.
[It is hete taughte that we shulde learne]
Argumentum. Cha. ii.
It is hete taughte that we shulde learneGods wysdome to obtayne
The wealth also that cometh therof
Is here descrybed playne.
My
sōne receiue ye these my wordes
the which shalbe right wyse
And kepe thou my cōmaūdementes,
my sonne I the aduyse
So that thine eares may euermore
to wysdomes scholes encline
Applye thyne harte to vnderstand,
suche thinges as bee dyuyne
For yf thou after wysedome crye,
and styl vpon her craue
And callest on for knowledge gift,
because thou woldeste her haue
And seke for her as thou woldest seke
for mony in the dust
And dygge for her as treasure that
in earth is hydde and trust
Thē shalt thou right wel vnderstāde
the feare of god the Lord
And of his law the knowledg find,
accordyng to hys worde
For god alone doeth geue to vs,
his wysdom for to speake
Out of his mouth doth knowledg spring
and vnderstāding eke
The rightuous mē he doth preserue
in welfare through hys myghte.
He doth defende the innocent,
that walke his way aryght
He doth thē kepe straight in his pathes
that they go not astraye
He doth directe hys holy ones,
to walke ryght in his waye
Yf thou be soch, thou shalt thē lerne
by iustice for to deale
With euery man in equitye,
throughout the comen weale
In iudgemet right thou shalt lykewise
al other men excel
And euery good path vnto the,
the lord shal shewe ful well
Yf wysdom enter into thyne harte,
and knowledge in thy spirite
Thē vnderstandyng good counsel,
shal the preserue vpryght
That thou mayst so deliuered be
from euery wycked way
And frō those mē that froward thīges
do alwayes speake & saye
The which do leue the wai of light
and walke in darkenes styll
And whych reioyce most iocundly,
when they haue done full yll
Whych do delyte in wyckednes,
whose wayes are vyle & vaine
Whose croked pathes are sclaūderous
frō them do thou refraine
That also from the straūge woman
delyuered thou mayste be
And from her eke that is not thyne,
or was not wedde to the
Which speaketh faire, & doth forsake
the husbād of her youth
And doth forget the cōnaunt made,
of God and of hys trouth.
Take hede, her house enclineth fast
to death, as I the tell
Her pathes ar sure the ready way,
that leadeth downe to hell
And they also that go to her,
shal not come oute againe
Nor take hold of the waye of lyfe,
I tel the thys is playne
That thou mayst walke in the sure waye
wherof I do the tel
And kepe the pathes of ryghtuousnes
thē shalt thou do ryght wel
For why? thee iuste shall euer lyue,
in ioye that dothe not cease
The innocente remayne on earthe
in wealth, and eke in peace
But the vngodly shalbe pluct,
out of the lande I saye
And wicked men chased shalbe,
out of the same for aye.
the which shalbe right wyse
And kepe thou my cōmaūdementes,
my sonne I the aduyse
to wysdomes scholes encline
Applye thyne harte to vnderstand,
suche thinges as bee dyuyne
For yf thou after wysedome crye,
and styl vpon her craue
And callest on for knowledge gift,
because thou woldeste her haue
And seke for her as thou woldest seke
for mony in the dust
And dygge for her as treasure that
in earth is hydde and trust
Thē shalt thou right wel vnderstāde
the feare of god the Lord
And of his law the knowledg find,
accordyng to hys worde
For god alone doeth geue to vs,
his wysdom for to speake
Out of his mouth doth knowledg spring
and vnderstāding eke
The rightuous mē he doth preserue
in welfare through hys myghte.
He doth defende the innocent,
that walke his way aryght
that they go not astraye
He doth directe hys holy ones,
to walke ryght in his waye
Yf thou be soch, thou shalt thē lerne
by iustice for to deale
With euery man in equitye,
throughout the comen weale
In iudgemet right thou shalt lykewise
al other men excel
And euery good path vnto the,
the lord shal shewe ful well
Yf wysdom enter into thyne harte,
and knowledge in thy spirite
Thē vnderstandyng good counsel,
shal the preserue vpryght
That thou mayst so deliuered be
from euery wycked way
And frō those mē that froward thīges
do alwayes speake & saye
The which do leue the wai of light
and walke in darkenes styll
And whych reioyce most iocundly,
when they haue done full yll
whose wayes are vyle & vaine
Whose croked pathes are sclaūderous
frō them do thou refraine
That also from the straūge woman
delyuered thou mayste be
And from her eke that is not thyne,
or was not wedde to the
Which speaketh faire, & doth forsake
the husbād of her youth
And doth forget the cōnaunt made,
of God and of hys trouth.
Take hede, her house enclineth fast
to death, as I the tell
Her pathes ar sure the ready way,
that leadeth downe to hell
And they also that go to her,
shal not come oute againe
Nor take hold of the waye of lyfe,
I tel the thys is playne
That thou mayst walke in the sure waye
wherof I do the tel
And kepe the pathes of ryghtuousnes
thē shalt thou do ryght wel
in ioye that dothe not cease
The innocente remayne on earthe
in wealth, and eke in peace
But the vngodly shalbe pluct,
out of the lande I saye
And wicked men chased shalbe,
out of the same for aye.
[Sure trust in God ought all men to haue]
Argumentum. Cha. iii.
Sure trust in God ought all men to haueand not in theyr owne brayne
The wycked man thou shalte not feare,
ne yet the skorner vayne.
My
sōne, forget not thou my law
but haue it styl in syghte
And let thine hart obserue my wordes
so shalt thou walke aryght
For sure they shal prolōg thy dayes
thy yeres, and lyfe also
And bryng the peace and quietnes,
and rydde the out of wo
Let mercy nor yet faythfulnes,
henceforth from the departe
Bind thē about thy necke (my sōne)
and write them in thyne harte
And so shalt thou great fauor win,
of god and eke of men
In vnderstandyng perfectlye,
expert thou shalt be then
With al thine hart to god the lord
put confidence and trust
And leaue thou not in anye wyse,
to thyne owne wyt and luste
In al thy wayes haue thou respect
vnto the lyuing lorde
He shal thy doinges order wel
accordinge to his worde
Be not to wise in thy conceite,
but feare god in thine harte
In hast also from wickednes,
endeuoure to departe
So shal thy nauyl styll (my sonne)
continue hole and sounde
Thy bones also and bodye shall,
wyth lyuely strength abound
Honour the lorde, and to hym geue
the best of thy substaunce
And the fyrst frutes of thine encrease
hys glory to aduaunce
So shal thy barnes be fylled ful,
and that wyth plentuousnes
Thy presses all shal ouerflowe,
wyth wyne of great swetenes
The bitter scorge of God the Lord,
(my sonne) do not despyse
And when thou art rebukte of hym,
faynt not in any wyse
For loke whō ye the lorde doth loue,
hys rodde shall on hym lyght
Euē as the father whypes his sōne,
to know hym self a ryght
Yet doth the Lorde neuertheles,
loue hys afflicted styll
Euen as the father doth hys chylde,
when he hath bete hys fyll
Full well is he therfore I saye,
the which doth wysdom fynde
And vnderstanding to obteyne,
doth sette hys harte and mynde
For marchaūdice ther is none soch,
through out the worlde so rounde
There is no syluer nor yet golde,
wherin soch welth is founde
More worth thē al the gold on erth
let wysdom be to the
To hyr al thynge thou canst desyre,
compared maye not be.
On her ryght hand attendaunt is
longe lyfe, wyth coloure grene
And honour stādes on her left hand,
wyth ryches well besene
Her wayes also right pleasaunt are
whych pleasure doth not cease
Her pathes lykewyse ar nothing els
but vnitie and peace
She is a tree of lyfe to them,
that laye holde on her ryght
And blessed ar thei that kepe her fast
wyth all theyr power and myght
In wysdom eke the lyuinge Lorde
ful wel the earth dyd founde
And wt his worde ye heauēs he made
the earth to compasse rounde
And through the wysdō of the lord
the waters brake vp al
The cloudes also power downe the rayne
that on the erth doth fal
My son, let not these thinges depart
at no tyme from thyne eyes
But kepe my lawe and counsels all,
by the in any wyse
So shall it be eternall lyfe,
thy soule for to embrace
Thy mouth shall be replenished
wyth vertue and wyth grace
Thē shalte yu be right sure to walke
full boldely in the waye
Thy fete shall neuer slyppe from the
by nyght, nor yet by daye
Yf thou doest slepe at any tyme
thou nedest not be afrayed
But swetely slepe, and take thy rest,
for god wyl be thyne ayde
And thoughe that the vngodly men,
rushe in with vyolence
Thou shalt nor be afrayed at all,
for God is thy defence
The Lord wyl stād fast by thy syde,
and helpe the at thy nede
And kepe the safe, and suffer not,
thyne enemyes to procede
And soche as woulde to other men,
do good wyth all theyr harte
And haue therto sufficient,
to lette is not thy parte
And yf thy selfe thou able be,
thy neyghbour to releue
Helpe him wt soch as thou maist spare,
and gladly to him geue
Refuse not to do good to them,
to whom it dothe belonge
Whyle that thy ryght hand able is,
to do it them amonge
And yf thy frende do aske of the,
saye not, gette thou thy waye
To morowe come agayne to me,
or els some other daye
And thē wil I geue it ye (thou sayest)
where as thou mayste it nowe
Euen out of hand, and yf thou wilt,
thys God dothe not alowe
Intēde not to thy neyghbours hurt
where he no harme hath mente
And wher to lyue in reste and peace,
he settes hys whole entente
Stryue not (my sonne) with any mā,
where as he doeth no woo
Nor folowe thou the vniuste man,
but hye the faste hym froo
For why? the waye of scorners all,
the Lorde doth cleane deteste:
And for to talke wyth symple men,
the Lorde is pleased beste
Great scarcytie the Lord doth send
where wycked men abyde
But he doth blesse the godly men,
and shall for them prouyde
The lord shal laugh at skorneful mē
and mocke them to theyr face
But to the lowly he wyll geue
hys goodnes and hys grace
The wyse wyth theyr possessions,
in honour shall remayne
But shame is the promotion,
that folyshe men obtayne.
but haue it styl in syghte
And let thine hart obserue my wordes
so shalt thou walke aryght
For sure they shal prolōg thy dayes
thy yeres, and lyfe also
And bryng the peace and quietnes,
and rydde the out of wo
Let mercy nor yet faythfulnes,
henceforth from the departe
and write them in thyne harte
And so shalt thou great fauor win,
of god and eke of men
In vnderstandyng perfectlye,
expert thou shalt be then
With al thine hart to god the lord
put confidence and trust
And leaue thou not in anye wyse,
to thyne owne wyt and luste
In al thy wayes haue thou respect
vnto the lyuing lorde
He shal thy doinges order wel
accordinge to his worde
Be not to wise in thy conceite,
but feare god in thine harte
In hast also from wickednes,
endeuoure to departe
So shal thy nauyl styll (my sonne)
continue hole and sounde
Thy bones also and bodye shall,
wyth lyuely strength abound
Honour the lorde, and to hym geue
the best of thy substaunce
hys glory to aduaunce
So shal thy barnes be fylled ful,
and that wyth plentuousnes
Thy presses all shal ouerflowe,
wyth wyne of great swetenes
The bitter scorge of God the Lord,
(my sonne) do not despyse
And when thou art rebukte of hym,
faynt not in any wyse
For loke whō ye the lorde doth loue,
hys rodde shall on hym lyght
Euē as the father whypes his sōne,
to know hym self a ryght
Yet doth the Lorde neuertheles,
loue hys afflicted styll
Euen as the father doth hys chylde,
when he hath bete hys fyll
Full well is he therfore I saye,
the which doth wysdom fynde
And vnderstanding to obteyne,
doth sette hys harte and mynde
For marchaūdice ther is none soch,
through out the worlde so rounde
wherin soch welth is founde
More worth thē al the gold on erth
let wysdom be to the
To hyr al thynge thou canst desyre,
compared maye not be.
On her ryght hand attendaunt is
longe lyfe, wyth coloure grene
And honour stādes on her left hand,
wyth ryches well besene
Her wayes also right pleasaunt are
whych pleasure doth not cease
Her pathes lykewyse ar nothing els
but vnitie and peace
She is a tree of lyfe to them,
that laye holde on her ryght
And blessed ar thei that kepe her fast
wyth all theyr power and myght
In wysdom eke the lyuinge Lorde
ful wel the earth dyd founde
And wt his worde ye heauēs he made
the earth to compasse rounde
And through the wysdō of the lord
the waters brake vp al
that on the erth doth fal
My son, let not these thinges depart
at no tyme from thyne eyes
But kepe my lawe and counsels all,
by the in any wyse
So shall it be eternall lyfe,
thy soule for to embrace
Thy mouth shall be replenished
wyth vertue and wyth grace
Thē shalte yu be right sure to walke
full boldely in the waye
Thy fete shall neuer slyppe from the
by nyght, nor yet by daye
Yf thou doest slepe at any tyme
thou nedest not be afrayed
But swetely slepe, and take thy rest,
for god wyl be thyne ayde
And thoughe that the vngodly men,
rushe in with vyolence
Thou shalt nor be afrayed at all,
for God is thy defence
The Lord wyl stād fast by thy syde,
and helpe the at thy nede
thyne enemyes to procede
And soche as woulde to other men,
do good wyth all theyr harte
And haue therto sufficient,
to lette is not thy parte
And yf thy selfe thou able be,
thy neyghbour to releue
Helpe him wt soch as thou maist spare,
and gladly to him geue
Refuse not to do good to them,
to whom it dothe belonge
Whyle that thy ryght hand able is,
to do it them amonge
And yf thy frende do aske of the,
saye not, gette thou thy waye
To morowe come agayne to me,
or els some other daye
And thē wil I geue it ye (thou sayest)
where as thou mayste it nowe
Euen out of hand, and yf thou wilt,
thys God dothe not alowe
Intēde not to thy neyghbours hurt
where he no harme hath mente
he settes hys whole entente
Stryue not (my sonne) with any mā,
where as he doeth no woo
Nor folowe thou the vniuste man,
but hye the faste hym froo
For why? the waye of scorners all,
the Lorde doth cleane deteste:
And for to talke wyth symple men,
the Lorde is pleased beste
Great scarcytie the Lord doth send
where wycked men abyde
But he doth blesse the godly men,
and shall for them prouyde
The lord shal laugh at skorneful mē
and mocke them to theyr face
But to the lowly he wyll geue
hys goodnes and hys grace
The wyse wyth theyr possessions,
in honour shall remayne
But shame is the promotion,
that folyshe men obtayne.
[Howe sagely and howe fatherly]
Argumen, Chap. iiii.
Howe sagely and howe fatherly,he doeth vs here aduyse
That we from euyl our hertes refrayne,
and study to be wyse.
Ye
childrē heare your father nowe
how he doth you exhort
Take hede ye you do wisdō learne
whych shalbe your cōfort
And I wyl geue you good rewarde
and therwyth wyl you fyl
Yf you wyl not forsake my lawe
but study therein styl
for when I was the only sonne
of bothe my parentes dere
And tenderly beloued was,
of father and mothere
Then he taught me full louingly
and vnto me dyd preache
And thus he sayde full often tymes
as I wyl you nowe teache
Se that thou doest receaue (said he)
my wordes into thy breste
And kepe thē wel, so shalt thou lyue
in perfyte ioye and reste
In vnderstandinge buselye,
applye thy selfe alwaye
Lette not the same departe from the
by nyghte, nor yet by daye
And wysdom neuer suffer thou,
from the for to digresse
Yf thou loue her she shal preserue,
and kepe the from distress
The chiefeste poynte of wysdom is,
that thou do take in hande
Before al goodes wysdom to gette,
and learne to vnderstande
Make much of her and she shal the,
promote to power and myght
And yf thou her embrace, she shal
to honour brynge the ryghte
For she wyl make thyne head truly
both good and gracious
And with a crowne shal garnishe it,
that is ful glorious
My sōne, therfore embrace wt spede
the wordes I saye to the
So that thy yeres in ioye and peace
on earth prolonged be
The wayes of wysdom vnto the,
I shall make fayre and playne
And in the pathes of equitie,
shall leaue the to remayne
So that thou mayste walke well in them
& haue none hinderaunce
And whē yu rūnest, thou shalt not fal,
nor haue an euyl chaunce
Of wysdō thē sure holde take thou,
and do not let hyr goo
In kepinge hyr, thou shalte surely,
defended be from woo
And in the pathe come not (my sōne)
of the vngodly trayne
Nor walke thou in the wicked way,
of them whose lyfe is vayne
From the yll trade of naughty men,
departe thou cleane asyde
And se that thou go farre from thē,
and kepe the styll awyde
They cā not slepe tyl they haue done
some harme or els mischiefe
Nor take their rest tyl thei haue wrought
to some mā wo or griefe
For they do eate thee bytter breade
of wylful wyckednes
And drinke the wine of cōmē spoile
and al vngodlynes
The pleasaūt pathes of godly men
appeare both lyght and gaye
And to al men more bright do shine
then doeth the lyghtsome daye
But thee yll waye of wycked men,
to darkenes is comparde
Wherin men fal, or they beware,
or els do scape full harde
My sōne, mark wel my wordes therfore
that I do to the tel
And to the same thine eares encline,
and vnderstand them well
And se that frō thy faythful minde,
thou lettest them not depart
But kepe them styl ful stedfastly,
in the mydst of thy harte
For they are lyfe vnto al those
that chaunseth them to fynde
And health of body to al suche,
as beare them in theyr mynde
My sōne also kepe wel thyne hart,
for therin resteth lyfe
And put frō the a frowarde mouth,
and lyppes that caused stryfe
And let thyne eyes wyth dylygence,
behold that which is ryghte
And eke thine eye liddes loke before
dyrectly in the lyght
Mark wel thy pathes, lest that thy fete
happe sodenly to slyde
So shal thy gate be sure ynoughe,
whether thou go or ryde
Turne not asyde on the left hande,
nor yet vnto the ryghte
But kepe away from wickednes,
thy fete wyth all thy myght
The perfite pathes ye lord doth knowe
that lede the way of lyght
The wycked wayes the lorde also
consydereth aryght
But such as walke in godlines
the lorde wyl kepe and saue
And all their iourneyes prospere so
that they none harme shall haue.
how he doth you exhort
Take hede ye you do wisdō learne
whych shalbe your cōfort
And I wyl geue you good rewarde
and therwyth wyl you fyl
Yf you wyl not forsake my lawe
but study therein styl
for when I was the only sonne
of bothe my parentes dere
And tenderly beloued was,
of father and mothere
Then he taught me full louingly
and vnto me dyd preache
And thus he sayde full often tymes
as I wyl you nowe teache
Se that thou doest receaue (said he)
my wordes into thy breste
And kepe thē wel, so shalt thou lyue
in perfyte ioye and reste
applye thy selfe alwaye
Lette not the same departe from the
by nyghte, nor yet by daye
And wysdom neuer suffer thou,
from the for to digresse
Yf thou loue her she shal preserue,
and kepe the from distress
The chiefeste poynte of wysdom is,
that thou do take in hande
Before al goodes wysdom to gette,
and learne to vnderstande
Make much of her and she shal the,
promote to power and myght
And yf thou her embrace, she shal
to honour brynge the ryghte
For she wyl make thyne head truly
both good and gracious
And with a crowne shal garnishe it,
that is ful glorious
My sōne, therfore embrace wt spede
the wordes I saye to the
So that thy yeres in ioye and peace
on earth prolonged be
I shall make fayre and playne
And in the pathes of equitie,
shall leaue the to remayne
So that thou mayste walke well in them
& haue none hinderaunce
And whē yu rūnest, thou shalt not fal,
nor haue an euyl chaunce
Of wysdō thē sure holde take thou,
and do not let hyr goo
In kepinge hyr, thou shalte surely,
defended be from woo
And in the pathe come not (my sōne)
of the vngodly trayne
Nor walke thou in the wicked way,
of them whose lyfe is vayne
From the yll trade of naughty men,
departe thou cleane asyde
And se that thou go farre from thē,
and kepe the styll awyde
They cā not slepe tyl they haue done
some harme or els mischiefe
Nor take their rest tyl thei haue wrought
to some mā wo or griefe
of wylful wyckednes
And drinke the wine of cōmē spoile
and al vngodlynes
The pleasaūt pathes of godly men
appeare both lyght and gaye
And to al men more bright do shine
then doeth the lyghtsome daye
But thee yll waye of wycked men,
to darkenes is comparde
Wherin men fal, or they beware,
or els do scape full harde
My sōne, mark wel my wordes therfore
that I do to the tel
And to the same thine eares encline,
and vnderstand them well
And se that frō thy faythful minde,
thou lettest them not depart
But kepe them styl ful stedfastly,
in the mydst of thy harte
For they are lyfe vnto al those
that chaunseth them to fynde
And health of body to al suche,
as beare them in theyr mynde
for therin resteth lyfe
And put frō the a frowarde mouth,
and lyppes that caused stryfe
And let thyne eyes wyth dylygence,
behold that which is ryghte
And eke thine eye liddes loke before
dyrectly in the lyght
Mark wel thy pathes, lest that thy fete
happe sodenly to slyde
So shal thy gate be sure ynoughe,
whether thou go or ryde
Turne not asyde on the left hande,
nor yet vnto the ryghte
But kepe away from wickednes,
thy fete wyth all thy myght
The perfite pathes ye lord doth knowe
that lede the way of lyght
The wycked wayes the lorde also
consydereth aryght
But such as walke in godlines
the lorde wyl kepe and saue
And all their iourneyes prospere so
that they none harme shall haue.
[Al harlottes fle, thine honour saue]
Argumentum. Cha. v.
Al harlottes fle, thine honour sauethy yeres spende not in vayne
Of thine owne floure enioy the fruyte
straunge loue also refrayne.
My
sōne geue eare & that wt spede
my wisdō folow thou
With good pretēce to wysdōs scole
thine eares se ye thou bowe
So that thou doest regard alway,
my ryght and good counsell
And ye thy lyppes may nurtour kepe
lykewyse in speakinge wel
The flatterynge lyppes of wycked whores
may wel compared be
To hony combes whych do dystyll
as we do often see
Whose wordes appeare vnto thine eares
as smoth as any oyle
But thou art lyke wtout good hede,
to take the shame and foyle
And in the ende thee pleasure paste,
assured mayst thou be
The bitter tast of wormewood shal
more pleasaunt seme to the
And so lykewise more sharpe she is,
the swerde of stele wel wroughte
Which on both sides wt cuttīg edge
mans lyfe doth brynge to nought
Forsaken she hath the path of lyfe,
vnstedfast is her waye
So that thou shalt it neuer knowe
what euer she doeth saye
Her fete do leade the waye to death
her steppes do leade to hel
The same be alwayes wanderyng,
and in no place can dwell
Geue eare therfore my sōne alway,
and herke well vnto me
And on the wordes of my wise mouth
attendaunte se thou be
Estraunge thy self as farre frō her
as euer that thou maye
And come not nie her dores nor house
by nyght nor yet by day
And do thou not thine honor geue
vnto an other one
Nor yet the fruite of thy lōg yeres,
to suche as be thy fone
That wyth thy ryches other men,
theyr houses do not fyll
Nor wt thy paines a straūgers house
be stuft agaynst thy wyl
Leste that yu mourne, but all to late
vpon a wofull daye
Whē thou hast spēt both life & good
and be compelde to saye
Alas why did I nourtour hate
why did myne harte despyse
The learning pure yt I was taught
which wolde haue made me wyse
Why was I not obedient,
to them that dyd me teach
And harkened not to thē the which,
so much to me dyd preache.
Wherfore almost all care & griefe,
is casten me vpon
In the mydst of thy multitude,
and congregacyon
To vse the drinke of thine own wel
is sure a pleasaūt thynge
And of the brooke that floweth frō
the heade of thyne owne sprynge
Suffer the same to ouerflowe,
as ryuers to the bryncke
That water pure the neady may,
of them at al tymes dryncke
Yet let them be thyne owne onelye,
yf nede of them thou hast
And the straunge mā kepe well frō them
yf long they may not last
Likewise be glad of thine own wife
depart thou not her froo
A louing hynd thou shalt her haue,
yf frendely be thy Roo
The brestes of her se that alwayes,
suffisaunt be to the
And with her loue hold the contēte
so shal you best agre
Wherfore (my sōne) why wilt thou haue
in harlots such delite
And doest embrace thy neyghbours wyfe
and doest to him such spite
Remembre that of eche mans lyfe,
the trade in the lordes syght
Apereth playn, which he doth iudge
accordynge vnto ryghte
And of mans steppes wt watchfull eies
the nombre hath he told
And doth his wayes wt iudgemente ryght
cōsider and behold
The wickednes of an yll mā
shal catch hym selfe at last
And wt the snares of hys own sinne
he shalbe trapped fast
Because he woulde not learned be
death shal hym ouercome
And headlonge for hys folyshnes,
to Sathā shall he ronne
my wisdō folow thou
With good pretēce to wysdōs scole
thine eares se ye thou bowe
So that thou doest regard alway,
my ryght and good counsell
And ye thy lyppes may nurtour kepe
lykewyse in speakinge wel
The flatterynge lyppes of wycked whores
may wel compared be
To hony combes whych do dystyll
as we do often see
Whose wordes appeare vnto thine eares
as smoth as any oyle
But thou art lyke wtout good hede,
to take the shame and foyle
And in the ende thee pleasure paste,
assured mayst thou be
The bitter tast of wormewood shal
more pleasaunt seme to the
the swerde of stele wel wroughte
Which on both sides wt cuttīg edge
mans lyfe doth brynge to nought
Forsaken she hath the path of lyfe,
vnstedfast is her waye
So that thou shalt it neuer knowe
what euer she doeth saye
Her fete do leade the waye to death
her steppes do leade to hel
The same be alwayes wanderyng,
and in no place can dwell
Geue eare therfore my sōne alway,
and herke well vnto me
And on the wordes of my wise mouth
attendaunte se thou be
Estraunge thy self as farre frō her
as euer that thou maye
And come not nie her dores nor house
by nyght nor yet by day
And do thou not thine honor geue
vnto an other one
Nor yet the fruite of thy lōg yeres,
to suche as be thy fone
theyr houses do not fyll
Nor wt thy paines a straūgers house
be stuft agaynst thy wyl
Leste that yu mourne, but all to late
vpon a wofull daye
Whē thou hast spēt both life & good
and be compelde to saye
Alas why did I nourtour hate
why did myne harte despyse
The learning pure yt I was taught
which wolde haue made me wyse
Why was I not obedient,
to them that dyd me teach
And harkened not to thē the which,
so much to me dyd preache.
Wherfore almost all care & griefe,
is casten me vpon
In the mydst of thy multitude,
and congregacyon
To vse the drinke of thine own wel
is sure a pleasaūt thynge
And of the brooke that floweth frō
the heade of thyne owne sprynge
as ryuers to the bryncke
That water pure the neady may,
of them at al tymes dryncke
Yet let them be thyne owne onelye,
yf nede of them thou hast
And the straunge mā kepe well frō them
yf long they may not last
Likewise be glad of thine own wife
depart thou not her froo
A louing hynd thou shalt her haue,
yf frendely be thy Roo
The brestes of her se that alwayes,
suffisaunt be to the
And with her loue hold the contēte
so shal you best agre
Wherfore (my sōne) why wilt thou haue
in harlots such delite
And doest embrace thy neyghbours wyfe
and doest to him such spite
Remembre that of eche mans lyfe,
the trade in the lordes syght
Apereth playn, which he doth iudge
accordynge vnto ryghte
the nombre hath he told
And doth his wayes wt iudgemente ryght
cōsider and behold
The wickednes of an yll mā
shal catch hym selfe at last
And wt the snares of hys own sinne
he shalbe trapped fast
Because he woulde not learned be
death shal hym ouercome
And headlonge for hys folyshnes,
to Sathā shall he ronne
[Here art thou warned of suretishyp]
Argumentum. Chap. vi.
Here art thou warned of suretishyp,and slouthfulnes to fle
Of doctrine false beware the sleyghte,
and fle adulterye.
My
sonne yf thou a suretye be,
or promyse for thy frende
Thou haste thy hande so fastened
it wyl not be vntwind
And boūd yu art in thine owne wordes
as fast as thou mayste be
And takē art in thine owne speache,
tyll he acquytethe the
Discharge thy self for thou art come
into thy neighbours dette
Seke then al meanes, and se yf thou
thy neyghbour canste entreate
Refraine thine eies frō to much slepe
and to thy selfe beware
As doth ye doo the bloudy hoūdes,
or byrde the fowlers snare
The little ant (thou slouthful man)
to thyne example take
And learne of her for to be wyse,
and purueyaunce to make
For where she hath no gouernour,
nor maister her to learne
Nor wytty king vnder whose rule,
wel holden is the sterne
Yet nature doth in her thys worke
wythout any other gyde
In somer tyme wyth busy care,
for wynter to prouyde
How lōg wilt ye (oh slougishe man)
in ydlenes remayne
And geue the whole to rest & slepe,
and slackest to take paine
Go to, go to, slepe hardely,
and slumbre oute thy fyll
With folded armes lye down to rest
and take thou thyne owne wyl
As one that iourneth by the waye,
so pouertye shall come
And also lyke a weaponed man
on the shall fiercely ronne
But yf thou be industrious
and well thy labour plye
Thyne heruest shal be plentiful
and yelde abundauntly
And as the ryuers greate and depe,
encrease by rage of raygne
So shall thy barnes be stuffed full,
of corne, and eke of grayne
And thou shall stand nothing at all,
in feare of any lacke
The woful bagge of beggerye
shal neuer greue thy backe
A wycked man, and he that is
replenished wyth gyle
Doeth alwaye seke maliciouslye,
wyth lyes the to bewyle
He serueth to none vse at all,
he flereth wyth hys eyes
And wyth hys fyngers meneth craft
and geues hym selfe to lyes
And he doeth alwayes exercyse,
some mischiefe for hys parte
And causer is of moche discorde,
throughe malice of hys herte
Wyth haste therfore remedeies
some yll shall on hym fall
From hym hys lyfe shall taken be,
when he thynkes least of all
Sixe thīges ther be on erth (my son)
whych god doeth hate full sore
The seuenth aboue the other syxe
the lorde doeth moste abhore
A proude disdaynfull loke the lorde,
doeth vtterly refuse
A lying tongue wyth fyled wordes,
deceytfully doth vse
The hurtful handes whych hast do make
the giltles bloud to spyl
And can not els them selues refrayn
tyll they haue done some yll
An hart that doth his euyll thoughtes
to thys onely employe
Which way to worke most wyckednes
and other men to noye
The fete also whych ready be
greate synnes for to committe
And in one place can neuer stande
tyll they some mischiefe hitte
A wytnes false that doth hys lippes
deceytfully applye
And couertly his neyghbour greue,
wyth some new forged lye
The sower of discorde is worse,
when brethren doth agree
And he that doth cause louing frendes
great enemies for to be
But thou my sonne, my counsels all
print sure into thyne harte
Do not forsake thy mothers lawe
nor laye the same aparte
Commende them to thy memorie
bynde them thy necke aboute
And wher thou goest, lede thē wt thē
then slepe and haue no doute
And whē thou wakest out of thy slepe
in them se thou delyght
For my preceptes a lanterne are,
and to thy fete a lyghte
In which thou mayst without peril
passe safely on thy waye
For nurtoure is yf thou it take
to lyfe a ready staye
The same shal the preserue also
from her that lyueth amys
And also from the harlots tongue,
whych so deceytfull is
Let not her beautye the enflame,
her beckes are very hokes
To catche thyne hert into her snare,
through her deceytful workes
To bring a man to begge his bread,
it is an harlots guyse
But for the lyfe of honestye
the godly doeth deuyse
Maye any man the flamynge fyre,
in hys bare bosome bringe
But that it shall hys clothes burne,
and cause hys fleshe to wringe?
Or may a man on redde hote coles
barefote passe on hys waye
And yet the same hym neuer greue?
no, no, I dare well saye
Euen so I thincke that the same mā
that doth an harlotte see
And vseth hym to touche her oft
vngyltye can not be
The thefe is not despysed of all
that steales for very nede
His gredy wombe, & hongry guttes
in hongre for to fede
The vtmoost is, yf he be founde,
seuen tymes to yelde agayne
Or els to make amendes wythall,
hys goodes that do remayne
But yf thou be in whoredom foūde
wyth any neyghbours wyfe
Thou playest the fole, for that doth bring
destruction on thy lyfe
Thou gettest thy selfe rebuke & shame
wherof none can the rydde
Dishonour eke thou purchasest,
whych neuer shal be hydde
For why? her husbādes wrathful ire
entreated can not be
Though yu geue gyftes, amendes to make
as moch as is in the.
or promyse for thy frende
Thou haste thy hande so fastened
it wyl not be vntwind
And boūd yu art in thine owne wordes
as fast as thou mayste be
And takē art in thine owne speache,
tyll he acquytethe the
into thy neighbours dette
Seke then al meanes, and se yf thou
thy neyghbour canste entreate
Refraine thine eies frō to much slepe
and to thy selfe beware
As doth ye doo the bloudy hoūdes,
or byrde the fowlers snare
The little ant (thou slouthful man)
to thyne example take
And learne of her for to be wyse,
and purueyaunce to make
For where she hath no gouernour,
nor maister her to learne
Nor wytty king vnder whose rule,
wel holden is the sterne
Yet nature doth in her thys worke
wythout any other gyde
In somer tyme wyth busy care,
for wynter to prouyde
How lōg wilt ye (oh slougishe man)
in ydlenes remayne
And geue the whole to rest & slepe,
and slackest to take paine
and slumbre oute thy fyll
With folded armes lye down to rest
and take thou thyne owne wyl
As one that iourneth by the waye,
so pouertye shall come
And also lyke a weaponed man
on the shall fiercely ronne
But yf thou be industrious
and well thy labour plye
Thyne heruest shal be plentiful
and yelde abundauntly
And as the ryuers greate and depe,
encrease by rage of raygne
So shall thy barnes be stuffed full,
of corne, and eke of grayne
And thou shall stand nothing at all,
in feare of any lacke
The woful bagge of beggerye
shal neuer greue thy backe
A wycked man, and he that is
replenished wyth gyle
Doeth alwaye seke maliciouslye,
wyth lyes the to bewyle
he flereth wyth hys eyes
And wyth hys fyngers meneth craft
and geues hym selfe to lyes
And he doeth alwayes exercyse,
some mischiefe for hys parte
And causer is of moche discorde,
throughe malice of hys herte
Wyth haste therfore remedeies
some yll shall on hym fall
From hym hys lyfe shall taken be,
when he thynkes least of all
Sixe thīges ther be on erth (my son)
whych god doeth hate full sore
The seuenth aboue the other syxe
the lorde doeth moste abhore
A proude disdaynfull loke the lorde,
doeth vtterly refuse
A lying tongue wyth fyled wordes,
deceytfully doth vse
The hurtful handes whych hast do make
the giltles bloud to spyl
And can not els them selues refrayn
tyll they haue done some yll
to thys onely employe
Which way to worke most wyckednes
and other men to noye
The fete also whych ready be
greate synnes for to committe
And in one place can neuer stande
tyll they some mischiefe hitte
A wytnes false that doth hys lippes
deceytfully applye
And couertly his neyghbour greue,
wyth some new forged lye
The sower of discorde is worse,
when brethren doth agree
And he that doth cause louing frendes
great enemies for to be
But thou my sonne, my counsels all
print sure into thyne harte
Do not forsake thy mothers lawe
nor laye the same aparte
Commende them to thy memorie
bynde them thy necke aboute
And wher thou goest, lede thē wt thē
then slepe and haue no doute
in them se thou delyght
For my preceptes a lanterne are,
and to thy fete a lyghte
In which thou mayst without peril
passe safely on thy waye
For nurtoure is yf thou it take
to lyfe a ready staye
The same shal the preserue also
from her that lyueth amys
And also from the harlots tongue,
whych so deceytfull is
Let not her beautye the enflame,
her beckes are very hokes
To catche thyne hert into her snare,
through her deceytful workes
To bring a man to begge his bread,
it is an harlots guyse
But for the lyfe of honestye
the godly doeth deuyse
Maye any man the flamynge fyre,
in hys bare bosome bringe
But that it shall hys clothes burne,
and cause hys fleshe to wringe?
barefote passe on hys waye
And yet the same hym neuer greue?
no, no, I dare well saye
Euen so I thincke that the same mā
that doth an harlotte see
And vseth hym to touche her oft
vngyltye can not be
The thefe is not despysed of all
that steales for very nede
His gredy wombe, & hongry guttes
in hongre for to fede
The vtmoost is, yf he be founde,
seuen tymes to yelde agayne
Or els to make amendes wythall,
hys goodes that do remayne
But yf thou be in whoredom foūde
wyth any neyghbours wyfe
Thou playest the fole, for that doth bring
destruction on thy lyfe
Thou gettest thy selfe rebuke & shame
wherof none can the rydde
Dishonour eke thou purchasest,
whych neuer shal be hydde
entreated can not be
Though yu geue gyftes, amendes to make
as moch as is in the.
[In this he doeth all men exhort]
Argumen, Chap. vii.
In this he doeth all men exhortto wysdom for to cleaue
He sheweth eke the harlots trickes
wherwyth she doeth deceyue.
My
son marke well my coūsels all
& laye thē vp in store
Obserue wel my cōmaundementes
by the for euermore
And honour thou the lyuing Lorde
so shalte thou be ryghte sure
To raygne in ioyes celestiall,
whych euer shall endure
And other goddes feare not at all,
in men haue thou no truste
And thys doynge thou shalt be sure
to lyue amonge the iuste
Thē kepe thou my cōmaūdementes,
lo, once agayne I saye
Euen as the apple of thyne eye,
by whyche thou seest the daye
And eke about thy fyngers tenne,
se that thou do them bynde
And wryte thē in thine hert wt spede
and printe them wel in mynde
And se that thou to wysdom saye
thou arte my syster deare
And vnderstandinge call lykewyse
thy kynswoman full neare
For wysdom shal the safely kepe
from women that bryll
So that on harlots fyled wordes
thou shalt not set thy wyl
As I by chaunce sate downe to see
the folye of yonge men
And kepte me close wtin myne house
and pepte out nowe and then
Behold I saw a yonge fole passe
the corner of the strete
And hyed as fast as he myght goo,
an harlotte for to mete
And so towarde the harlotes house
he toke hys waye full ryght
Thynkyng to scape and not be sene,
when it was almost nyght
And sodaynly ther mette wyth him,
an harlot proude and bolde
Whych alwaye set her whole delite
to mocke both yonge and olde
For in her herte deceyte was hydde,
and wantonnes also
Whych she declared by her attyre,
and tokens other mo
Whose fete could not abyde wythin
the house, but ranne about
Now here, now ther, in eche blind lane
within and eke wythoute
She caught the yōg mā kissing him
and shamed not to saye
I made a vowe which to performe,
I purposed thys daye
Wherfore came I to mete the now,
and to beholde thy face
And thus I haue by happe the foūd
my waye as I dyd trace
My house is dect wt painted clothes
of Egypt the to please
My bedde doth smel of Sinamon,
of myrre and Aloes
Come on therfore and let vs lye
together al thys nyght
And let vs twaine our plesure take,
tyll it be broade day lyght
Mine husband is not now at home
he is gone farre away
With him he toke the money bagge
and comes not home to day
And thus wt man flatterīg wordes,
she dyd hym ouercome
And also through her lying lippes,
anon she had him wonne
Immediatly he folowed her,
much lyke vnto an oxe
Which led is to a slaughter house,
where he is kylde wythe knockes
Or lyke vnto the folysh lambe,
that skyppeth in the leese
Whē that the boucher fetcheth him
mens appetite to please
He thynketh not how shamefullye,
to pryson he is brought
My wysdom learne to vnderstāde,
and kepe it faythfully
Oh herkē wel, and geue good eare,
of wayghty thynges & wyse
My lippes shal speke, mine hart shal styll,
much godlynes deuyse
My talk shalbe on vertuous thīges
wherin I moste delyght
My lippes abhorre the wycked mā
for al his power and myght
My counsels all, and my preceptes,
be ryghtuous and strayght
There is in them no wyckednes,
nor any maner sleyght
To suche as do them vnderstande,
they be but very playne
And not to harde for them to kepe,
yf therof they be fayne
Before greate heapes of worldlye goodes
chose yu my dysciplyne
My doctryne is of greater pryce,
then is the golde so fyne
As lyghtsome dayes wt his bryghte beames
excelleth the dark night
Whē that the skies ar ful of sterres
or mone doth geue her lyght
Euen so truly doth wysdome passe,
and farre aboue excell
Al worldely wealth: to it nothynge,
maye be compared well
I which am the eternal worde,
and equall in al myght
To god, which al thinges hath made
and created aryght
Assystaunte am, from time to time,
in counsels that are iust
And likewise am of al good thoughtes
the geuer when I luste
And he which hath the feare of god
sure prynted in hys breaste
Doth hate al vyce, al pryde of hart,
and vtterly deteste
The wicked pathes in which to walke
yll mē haue their delight
The double tōgue his neyghbours hurte
which worketh wt despite
I onely geue vnto mans harte,
good counsell to deuyse
To deale vp right in equitye,
and iustice exercyse
Al wysdom doeth procede from me
as from the very springe
Al worldly strengthe and fortitude
to man alone I bryng
By me ye kīges theyr power do take
and rule the earth thereby
And holsome lawes are stablyshed,
and kept accordyngly
By me also all Magystrates
the people kepe in awe
And iudges geue theyr sentences
accordyng to the lawe
And suche as do vnfaynedly
loue me, I loue agayne
And whē thei cal great hast I make
to rydde them out of payne
Al worldly goodes be geuen to me
to do wyth them my wyll
And I haue power whō that I lyst
with ioye on earth to fyl
And I likewise of heauenly gyftes
haue plentye and great store
Wyth me doeth grace celestyall,
remayne for euermore
No treasure in the world so voyde,
comparde may iustely be
Unto the fruite and perfecte welth,
whych do procede from me
The tried golde and syluer fyne,
whych doeth on earth remayne
And stones of pryce vnto the same,
may well be compted vayne
And in the wayes of righteousnes,
to walke is my delyght
And in the place where iudges do,
accordyng vnto ryght
I do also the godly men,
throughe mercy to me call
And plentuouslye do them enryche,
wyth grace celestyall
With God I haue bene hetherto
and was eternally
Before the earth was created,
my father stode I by
I was begotte longe tyme before
the waters dyd surrounde
The earth, or that the mighti hilles
were setled on the grounde
I was likewise before the flouddes
had made them selues awaye
Or that thee earth or lyttle hylles,
were brought vnto theyr stay
And whē that god ye heauēs did make,
I was euē then at hand
And whē the depes he dyd cōmaūd
not to surrounde the land
And when also the firmament,
he made as we nowe see
And rūning springes of water pure
commaunded for to be
And when that he vnto the seas,
assygned a certayne place
And willed ye flouddes not to excede
theyr bondes in any case
And whē likewise the earth he made
immoueable to stande
I was with him, and to eche thing,
dyd put myne helpyng hand
I dyd reioyce, and day by day,
I dyd delyght in men
Great pleasure eke I had to be
in company of them
Wherfore my sonnes enclyne youre hertes
and herken vnto me
Most blessed he is that in my wayes
delyteth for to be
And doth the same kepe faythfully,
as I to hym haue taught
And spedely maketh haste to voyde,
the thinge whych semeth naughte
Geue eare, geue eare I say my sōnes
and learne for to be wyse
He is a foole and a wycked mā,
that doeth the same dispyse
And happy is the man that doeth,
heare me wyth good intent
And he also whose watchful eyes,
on me are al wayes bente
For he that hath obtayned me,
of perfyte blysse is sure,
And God to hym the lyfe wyll geue,
that euer shall endure
And who that doth against me sinne
doth bringe hys soule to care
Mine enemies shal of dredeful death
be wrapped in the snare.
& laye thē vp in store
Obserue wel my cōmaundementes
by the for euermore
And honour thou the lyuing Lorde
so shalte thou be ryghte sure
To raygne in ioyes celestiall,
whych euer shall endure
And other goddes feare not at all,
in men haue thou no truste
And thys doynge thou shalt be sure
to lyue amonge the iuste
Thē kepe thou my cōmaūdementes,
lo, once agayne I saye
by whyche thou seest the daye
And eke about thy fyngers tenne,
se that thou do them bynde
And wryte thē in thine hert wt spede
and printe them wel in mynde
And se that thou to wysdom saye
thou arte my syster deare
And vnderstandinge call lykewyse
thy kynswoman full neare
For wysdom shal the safely kepe
from women that bryll
So that on harlots fyled wordes
thou shalt not set thy wyl
As I by chaunce sate downe to see
the folye of yonge men
And kepte me close wtin myne house
and pepte out nowe and then
Behold I saw a yonge fole passe
the corner of the strete
And hyed as fast as he myght goo,
an harlotte for to mete
And so towarde the harlotes house
he toke hys waye full ryght
when it was almost nyght
And sodaynly ther mette wyth him,
an harlot proude and bolde
Whych alwaye set her whole delite
to mocke both yonge and olde
For in her herte deceyte was hydde,
and wantonnes also
Whych she declared by her attyre,
and tokens other mo
Whose fete could not abyde wythin
the house, but ranne about
Now here, now ther, in eche blind lane
within and eke wythoute
She caught the yōg mā kissing him
and shamed not to saye
I made a vowe which to performe,
I purposed thys daye
Wherfore came I to mete the now,
and to beholde thy face
And thus I haue by happe the foūd
my waye as I dyd trace
My house is dect wt painted clothes
of Egypt the to please
of myrre and Aloes
Come on therfore and let vs lye
together al thys nyght
And let vs twaine our plesure take,
tyll it be broade day lyght
Mine husband is not now at home
he is gone farre away
With him he toke the money bagge
and comes not home to day
And thus wt man flatterīg wordes,
she dyd hym ouercome
And also through her lying lippes,
anon she had him wonne
Immediatly he folowed her,
much lyke vnto an oxe
Which led is to a slaughter house,
where he is kylde wythe knockes
Or lyke vnto the folysh lambe,
that skyppeth in the leese
Whē that the boucher fetcheth him
mens appetite to please
He thynketh not how shamefullye,
to pryson he is brought
and kepe it faythfully
Oh herkē wel, and geue good eare,
of wayghty thynges & wyse
My lippes shal speke, mine hart shal styll,
much godlynes deuyse
My talk shalbe on vertuous thīges
wherin I moste delyght
My lippes abhorre the wycked mā
for al his power and myght
My counsels all, and my preceptes,
be ryghtuous and strayght
There is in them no wyckednes,
nor any maner sleyght
To suche as do them vnderstande,
they be but very playne
And not to harde for them to kepe,
yf therof they be fayne
Before greate heapes of worldlye goodes
chose yu my dysciplyne
My doctryne is of greater pryce,
then is the golde so fyne
As lyghtsome dayes wt his bryghte beames
excelleth the dark night
or mone doth geue her lyght
Euen so truly doth wysdome passe,
and farre aboue excell
Al worldely wealth: to it nothynge,
maye be compared well
I which am the eternal worde,
and equall in al myght
To god, which al thinges hath made
and created aryght
Assystaunte am, from time to time,
in counsels that are iust
And likewise am of al good thoughtes
the geuer when I luste
And he which hath the feare of god
sure prynted in hys breaste
Doth hate al vyce, al pryde of hart,
and vtterly deteste
The wicked pathes in which to walke
yll mē haue their delight
The double tōgue his neyghbours hurte
which worketh wt despite
I onely geue vnto mans harte,
good counsell to deuyse
and iustice exercyse
Al wysdom doeth procede from me
as from the very springe
Al worldly strengthe and fortitude
to man alone I bryng
By me ye kīges theyr power do take
and rule the earth thereby
And holsome lawes are stablyshed,
and kept accordyngly
By me also all Magystrates
the people kepe in awe
And iudges geue theyr sentences
accordyng to the lawe
And suche as do vnfaynedly
loue me, I loue agayne
And whē thei cal great hast I make
to rydde them out of payne
Al worldly goodes be geuen to me
to do wyth them my wyll
And I haue power whō that I lyst
with ioye on earth to fyl
And I likewise of heauenly gyftes
haue plentye and great store
remayne for euermore
No treasure in the world so voyde,
comparde may iustely be
Unto the fruite and perfecte welth,
whych do procede from me
The tried golde and syluer fyne,
whych doeth on earth remayne
And stones of pryce vnto the same,
may well be compted vayne
And in the wayes of righteousnes,
to walke is my delyght
And in the place where iudges do,
accordyng vnto ryght
I do also the godly men,
throughe mercy to me call
And plentuouslye do them enryche,
wyth grace celestyall
With God I haue bene hetherto
and was eternally
Before the earth was created,
my father stode I by
I was begotte longe tyme before
the waters dyd surrounde
were setled on the grounde
I was likewise before the flouddes
had made them selues awaye
Or that thee earth or lyttle hylles,
were brought vnto theyr stay
And whē that god ye heauēs did make,
I was euē then at hand
And whē the depes he dyd cōmaūd
not to surrounde the land
And when also the firmament,
he made as we nowe see
And rūning springes of water pure
commaunded for to be
And when that he vnto the seas,
assygned a certayne place
And willed ye flouddes not to excede
theyr bondes in any case
And whē likewise the earth he made
immoueable to stande
I was with him, and to eche thing,
dyd put myne helpyng hand
I dyd reioyce, and day by day,
I dyd delyght in men
in company of them
Wherfore my sonnes enclyne youre hertes
and herken vnto me
Most blessed he is that in my wayes
delyteth for to be
And doth the same kepe faythfully,
as I to hym haue taught
And spedely maketh haste to voyde,
the thinge whych semeth naughte
Geue eare, geue eare I say my sōnes
and learne for to be wyse
He is a foole and a wycked mā,
that doeth the same dispyse
And happy is the man that doeth,
heare me wyth good intent
And he also whose watchful eyes,
on me are al wayes bente
For he that hath obtayned me,
of perfyte blysse is sure,
And God to hym the lyfe wyll geue,
that euer shall endure
And who that doth against me sinne
doth bringe hys soule to care
be wrapped in the snare.
[From synfulnes the sonne of God]
Argumentum. Chap. ix.
From synfulnes the sonne of Goddoth call both yonge and olde
And sheweth playne the wyckednes
of harlottes proude and bolde
The
wisdō highe of god aboue,
equall wyth hym in myght
Which frō the fyrst beginninge was
from heauen descended ryght
And here on earth the shape of man
disdayned not to take
Whych being done, vnto hym selfe,
a princely house dyd make
Wher ī were wrought of marble fyne
pillers both large & wyde,
The same therby that he might cause
for euer to abyde
And then anone great quantitie,
of vitayles dyd he slaye
With wholsom meates, & pure good wyne
hys table dyd he laye
And thē sent forth his hādmaydes al
and gaue them to theyr charge
To bydde al men vnto hys house,
whych was so fayre and large
And sayde also full louinglye,
yf any fole there be
Let hym resorte vnto my house
and come streyght vnto me
To synful men he spake lykewyse
resorte to me wyth spede
And of my bread eate you your fyll
prepared for your nede
And drinke the wyne before you syt,
and leaue your ignoraunce
Walke in the trace among the good
where wysdō leadeth the daunce
Yf thā thou doest the skorneful man
admonishe to repent
Thou doest nothinge but worcke in vayne
for he wyl not relent
Ne yet amende hys wycked lyfe
whereby he doth prouoke
The iuste and euerlastinge God
to plage hym wyth hys stroke
And in the same iniuriouse,
vnto thy selfe thou arte
And winneth hate: for thy good wil,
he setteth not a farte
But yf thou doeste, yea bitterlye,
rebuke hym that is wyse
He wyll the loue, and at no tyme
thy good counsel despyse
The wyse man dothe aduertisment,
alwaye turne to the beste
And by the same more ready is,
all vice for to deteste
For who so doth ye righteous teache
of thys thynge maye be sure
He wyl make hast learninge to win,
and therin wyll endure
The feare of God the first poynt is,
hys wysdom to obtayne
Of wysdom he shall neuer mysse
in whom gods feare doth raygne
To soche wyl god send ioyful dayes
and wyl theyr yeares encrease
And al theyr good wyl multiplye,
that they maye lyue in peace
The wyse man doth all yll escape
and nothinge doeth he lacke
The skorning men great synne doth beare
vpon hys woful backe
Of pratyng whores and impudent,
it is the wonnted guyse
Wyth flattering wordes & whorishe trickes
to tyce in the vnwyse
A shameles whore of godlynes,
doeth knowe nothinge at all
In open stretes she sytteth downe,
that men she maye ther call
As they do passe from place to place,
theyr busynes to do
Yf any man do want hys wytte,
let hym go her vnto
To whom she wyl not stycke to say,
and boldely to hym tell
The water that by stealthe is gotte,
all other doeth excell
And so lykewyse the stollen bread,
all thoughe the same be sowre
Moch sweter is then other bread,
at large whyle men deuoure
But in thyne harte my louing sonne
print this my sayinge well,
Who so by her is ouercome
descendeth vnto hell
And who that doth contrary wyse,
her wycked waye denye
Unto his soule winneth quietnes,
and saued shalbe therby.
equall wyth hym in myght
Which frō the fyrst beginninge was
from heauen descended ryght
And here on earth the shape of man
disdayned not to take
Whych being done, vnto hym selfe,
a princely house dyd make
Wher ī were wrought of marble fyne
pillers both large & wyde,
The same therby that he might cause
for euer to abyde
And then anone great quantitie,
of vitayles dyd he slaye
With wholsom meates, & pure good wyne
hys table dyd he laye
and gaue them to theyr charge
To bydde al men vnto hys house,
whych was so fayre and large
And sayde also full louinglye,
yf any fole there be
Let hym resorte vnto my house
and come streyght vnto me
To synful men he spake lykewyse
resorte to me wyth spede
And of my bread eate you your fyll
prepared for your nede
And drinke the wyne before you syt,
and leaue your ignoraunce
Walke in the trace among the good
where wysdō leadeth the daunce
Yf thā thou doest the skorneful man
admonishe to repent
Thou doest nothinge but worcke in vayne
for he wyl not relent
Ne yet amende hys wycked lyfe
whereby he doth prouoke
The iuste and euerlastinge God
to plage hym wyth hys stroke
vnto thy selfe thou arte
And winneth hate: for thy good wil,
he setteth not a farte
But yf thou doeste, yea bitterlye,
rebuke hym that is wyse
He wyll the loue, and at no tyme
thy good counsel despyse
The wyse man dothe aduertisment,
alwaye turne to the beste
And by the same more ready is,
all vice for to deteste
For who so doth ye righteous teache
of thys thynge maye be sure
He wyl make hast learninge to win,
and therin wyll endure
The feare of God the first poynt is,
hys wysdom to obtayne
Of wysdom he shall neuer mysse
in whom gods feare doth raygne
To soche wyl god send ioyful dayes
and wyl theyr yeares encrease
And al theyr good wyl multiplye,
that they maye lyue in peace
and nothinge doeth he lacke
The skorning men great synne doth beare
vpon hys woful backe
Of pratyng whores and impudent,
it is the wonnted guyse
Wyth flattering wordes & whorishe trickes
to tyce in the vnwyse
A shameles whore of godlynes,
doeth knowe nothinge at all
In open stretes she sytteth downe,
that men she maye ther call
As they do passe from place to place,
theyr busynes to do
Yf any man do want hys wytte,
let hym go her vnto
To whom she wyl not stycke to say,
and boldely to hym tell
The water that by stealthe is gotte,
all other doeth excell
And so lykewyse the stollen bread,
all thoughe the same be sowre
Moch sweter is then other bread,
at large whyle men deuoure
print this my sayinge well,
Who so by her is ouercome
descendeth vnto hell
And who that doth contrary wyse,
her wycked waye denye
Unto his soule winneth quietnes,
and saued shalbe therby.
[The wyse man wyth the folyshe man]
Argumen. Chap. x.
The wyse man wyth the folyshe manis here compared playne
The feare of God commended is
and lyuing gotte wyth payne
The
wyse sonne doeth his father fyl
wt gladnes & wyth ioye
But the vnwyse wyth sorow doeth
hys mother hurte and noye
And treasure gotten wyckedly
shall profyte the nothynge
But wysdom shal delyuer the
from death and from his stringe
The lorde wyll not hys holy ones
in honger to abyde
But the vngodly kepe he wyll
from theyr desyre full wyde
And ydle hand the thrifty man,
doth make both poore & bare
But yet the hande in labour quicke
the neady cryeth from care
The wyse man doeth in somer tyme,
hys fruytes laye vp in store
That he thereby in wynter colde
may helpe hym selfe the more
But who so that in haruest tyme
a slouggardes parte doth playe
A fole him sheweth and is compelde,
to begge another daye
With beauty deckt is the bright face
of euery ryghteous one
But past all shame the wicked are,
wyth theyr presumption
Of wysdom eke the memory
shall haue a good reporte
Euen so the name of wycked men
shall sone to shame resorte
A wyse man wyll admonished be
and that is sygne of grace
A foole wyl rather then he so do,
be stricken on the face
Who so that leadeth a gyltles lyfe,
doth walke awaye ryght sure
Yf thou treadest in the wycked trace
thou shewest thy selfe vnpure
The wicked man beware my sonne,
least he do the same harme
Out of the mouth of folyshe men,
all wyckednes doth frame
The righteous mouth doeth make moch peace
& is the wel of lyfe
The wycked mouth contrary wyse,
doth alwaye sturre vp stryfe
And enuy eke the mother is,
of cursed wordes and fell
But loue doth hyde full gentilly
the wordes not spoken well
The lyppes of thē that vnderstande
of wysdom haue no lacke
But the scourge doth onely belong,
vnto a folysh backe
Wyse mē doth good knowledge kepe,
more surer then theyr loud
But nygh to theyr destruction,
drawe folysh men and fonde
The richmans goodes ar his strōg holde,
wherin hys trust is all
Yf pouerty oppresse the poore,
the rych mans helpe is smal
The good is wont to neadye men,
part of hys goodes to geue
And of hys store hys neyghboures lack
with plenty to releue
But to bestowe in vanities,
the wycked do not cease
Such goodes as he shulde wel employ
vnto his neighbours ease
Take hede therfore and chastysmēt
receyue wyth al thyne hart
Yf thou refuse aduertisement,
thou playest a folyshe part
Dissemblyng lippes are very cause,
of hatred and despyte
A fole he is whych slaunderouslye,
his neyghbours fame doeth byte
Of many wordes and ydle talcke,
offences do aryse
But well is he that can refrayne,
hys tongue from tellyng lyes
The tongue whych is al innocente
a noble treasure is
The cruell harte of wycked men
delyght to do amys
The rightuous doeth wt their faire speach
a multitude enflame
For to embrace much godlynes
and to eschue all shame
And so lykewyse thee folysshe men,
are lyghtly caught in snare
Of their own wordes, & trapped fast
or they therof beware
The blessynge of the lorde onely,
of ryches sendeth store
The trauayle is the instrument
wherby he geueth more
Yf God do not encrease thy corne,
and blesse it wyth hys hande
Thē shalt thou labour but in vayne
in tyllynge of thy lande
A fole in vyce reioyceth styll,
for why, he doth not care
Yet neuertheles, I the aduise,
of suche one to beware
For at the last wyth myserye,
the wycked peryshe shall
When godly mē shal prospere wel,
and dreade nothyng at all
Ungodly men shall vanyshe quyte,
and neuer turne agayne
Moch like vnto an hurling sterme,
myxed wyth haile and rayne
The ryghtuous shal continue styll,
and hereof be ryght sure
In reste and peace of conscyence
for euer to endure
As vinegre good wt his sharpe taste
doth set on edge the tethe
And the thyck smoke vnto the eyes,
is cause of payne and griefe
A slouthful mā and sluggysh beast,
the good doth so offende
Whē they in vayne wold haue hym thryue
and he wyl not amend
The feare of god doth blesse ye good
and the yeres doth prolonge
As for the yeres of wycked men,
shal not continue longe
The good doeth byde in pacyence
and shalbe glad therfore
The wycked shal for al theyr haste,
peryshe for euermore
The waies of god doth courage geue
vnto al godly men
But suche as lyue in wyckednes,
greate feare doeth fynde in theym
The ryghtuous shal at no time fal,
but stedfastly shall stande
The wycked men shall dwel in lyfe,
no longe tyme on the land
The mouth also of godly men,
in wysdom doeth delyght
The lying tongues of froward mē,
agaynste the trouth doeth fyghte
The rightuous lyppes are occupied
in wysdomes talke onely
Ungodly men abuse their tongues,
in shame and blasphemy.
wt gladnes & wyth ioye
But the vnwyse wyth sorow doeth
hys mother hurte and noye
And treasure gotten wyckedly
shall profyte the nothynge
But wysdom shal delyuer the
from death and from his stringe
The lorde wyll not hys holy ones
in honger to abyde
from theyr desyre full wyde
And ydle hand the thrifty man,
doth make both poore & bare
But yet the hande in labour quicke
the neady cryeth from care
The wyse man doeth in somer tyme,
hys fruytes laye vp in store
That he thereby in wynter colde
may helpe hym selfe the more
But who so that in haruest tyme
a slouggardes parte doth playe
A fole him sheweth and is compelde,
to begge another daye
With beauty deckt is the bright face
of euery ryghteous one
But past all shame the wicked are,
wyth theyr presumption
Of wysdom eke the memory
shall haue a good reporte
Euen so the name of wycked men
shall sone to shame resorte
A wyse man wyll admonished be
and that is sygne of grace
be stricken on the face
Who so that leadeth a gyltles lyfe,
doth walke awaye ryght sure
Yf thou treadest in the wycked trace
thou shewest thy selfe vnpure
The wicked man beware my sonne,
least he do the same harme
Out of the mouth of folyshe men,
all wyckednes doth frame
The righteous mouth doeth make moch peace
& is the wel of lyfe
The wycked mouth contrary wyse,
doth alwaye sturre vp stryfe
And enuy eke the mother is,
of cursed wordes and fell
But loue doth hyde full gentilly
the wordes not spoken well
The lyppes of thē that vnderstande
of wysdom haue no lacke
But the scourge doth onely belong,
vnto a folysh backe
Wyse mē doth good knowledge kepe,
more surer then theyr loud
drawe folysh men and fonde
The richmans goodes ar his strōg holde,
wherin hys trust is all
Yf pouerty oppresse the poore,
the rych mans helpe is smal
The good is wont to neadye men,
part of hys goodes to geue
And of hys store hys neyghboures lack
with plenty to releue
But to bestowe in vanities,
the wycked do not cease
Such goodes as he shulde wel employ
vnto his neighbours ease
Take hede therfore and chastysmēt
receyue wyth al thyne hart
Yf thou refuse aduertisement,
thou playest a folyshe part
Dissemblyng lippes are very cause,
of hatred and despyte
A fole he is whych slaunderouslye,
his neyghbours fame doeth byte
Of many wordes and ydle talcke,
offences do aryse
hys tongue from tellyng lyes
The tongue whych is al innocente
a noble treasure is
The cruell harte of wycked men
delyght to do amys
The rightuous doeth wt their faire speach
a multitude enflame
For to embrace much godlynes
and to eschue all shame
And so lykewyse thee folysshe men,
are lyghtly caught in snare
Of their own wordes, & trapped fast
or they therof beware
The blessynge of the lorde onely,
of ryches sendeth store
The trauayle is the instrument
wherby he geueth more
Yf God do not encrease thy corne,
and blesse it wyth hys hande
Thē shalt thou labour but in vayne
in tyllynge of thy lande
A fole in vyce reioyceth styll,
for why, he doth not care
of suche one to beware
For at the last wyth myserye,
the wycked peryshe shall
When godly mē shal prospere wel,
and dreade nothyng at all
Ungodly men shall vanyshe quyte,
and neuer turne agayne
Moch like vnto an hurling sterme,
myxed wyth haile and rayne
The ryghtuous shal continue styll,
and hereof be ryght sure
In reste and peace of conscyence
for euer to endure
As vinegre good wt his sharpe taste
doth set on edge the tethe
And the thyck smoke vnto the eyes,
is cause of payne and griefe
A slouthful mā and sluggysh beast,
the good doth so offende
Whē they in vayne wold haue hym thryue
and he wyl not amend
The feare of god doth blesse ye good
and the yeres doth prolonge
shal not continue longe
The good doeth byde in pacyence
and shalbe glad therfore
The wycked shal for al theyr haste,
peryshe for euermore
The waies of god doth courage geue
vnto al godly men
But suche as lyue in wyckednes,
greate feare doeth fynde in theym
The ryghtuous shal at no time fal,
but stedfastly shall stande
The wycked men shall dwel in lyfe,
no longe tyme on the land
The mouth also of godly men,
in wysdom doeth delyght
The lying tongues of froward mē,
agaynste the trouth doeth fyghte
The rightuous lyppes are occupied
in wysdomes talke onely
Ungodly men abuse their tongues,
in shame and blasphemy.
[To deale vpryght here are we taught]
Argumentum. Cha. xi.
To deale vpryght here are we taught,and humble for to be
And mercy eke commended is,
ioyned wyth symplicitye.
In
the lordes syght, & in his eye
it is a thynge moste vyle
With subtil weyght or mesure false
thy neyghbour to begyle
But god the lorde contrarye wyse,
in trouthe doeth moste delyghte
It is hys wyl that all men shoulde,
wyth other deale vpryghte
The equall weyght & balaūce iuste,
to god ryght pleasaunt be
When that thee same vnto all men,
do yelde wyth equitye
Rebuke and shame do folow pride,
in whome that it doethe raygne
But where ther is humylitye,
greate wysedome doeth remayne
Who doth not hate wil, hart, nor mīde
throughout ye world so wide
The fierce & proude disdaineful mā
whych is addicte to pryde
Who doeth not loue vnto theyr power
the man of hūble sprite
The way whych in doyng good
to other doeth delyght
The symplenes and meanyng true,
whych godly men assaye
Doth them directe in holynes
and in the perfyte waye
The wicked craft & wyly sleyghtes
whych in the yll are found
Do at ye laste cast downe thē selues,
and laye them on the grounde
The day that god in dome shall syt
to iudge both good and bad
What shal thē ye goodes vs preuayle
which in this world we had
The iustice yet and rightuousnesse,
whyche chryst to man dyd brynge
From death shal safe deliuer him,
and from hys deadly stynge
The meanynge true of simple men,
shal holde them styll vpryght
The wicked traine shal headlōg fal
for al their power and myghte
The godly folk through rightuousnes
delyuered be at last
The wycked in theyr owne deceyte,
shall trapped be full fast
Whē death arestes the wycked mā,
with his most dreadful darte
His hope is gone, for on his goodes
onely he set hys harte
The iust mā is, by the lordes helpe,
delyuered from yll
In stede of whom the wicked man,
tormented shall be styll
Beware also dyssemblinge men,
for they wyl sone betraye
Their faithful frēd through flattrīg wordes
what so their mouth doth saye
But yet the iust and faythfull men,
theyr knowledge shal defend
From al the snares of filed wordes
whyche wycked men intende
Yf that perchaunce an honest man,
to wealth aduaunced be
The hole citye wherin he dweleth,
reioyce as well as he
And yf so be a wycked man,
do happen to decaye
All men bee gladde that he so soone
is vanyshed awaye
And so lykewise thorow godly mē,
a cytye shal encrease
To which by their good gouernaūce
is brought both rest & peace
So that the same in noblenes,
all other shall excell
As in a ranke of ladyes fayre,
some one doth beare the bell
But through ye mouth of yu wycked
whych honestye do hate
Hole contryes and greate regyous
are set at stryfe and bate
Wherby at lēgth the same be broughte
to ruine and decay
And from a fall by no meanes can,
them selues vpholde and staye.
Who so that doth hys frend despyse
doth shewe but lyttle wytte
By thys it semes to lyue on earth
that he is nothinge fytte
The wyse man can euen whē he list,
from talke hys tonge refrayne
Wherby he scapes the daūgerous yl
of hatred and disdayne
The flatteringe man & famed frende
that doth nothinge but glose
Of hys deare frende vnfaythfully
the secretes doth disclose
But faythful frēdes whose doynges are
vpryght and also iuste
In no wyse wyl bewray the thinges
committed to theyr truste
And where ther lackes a gouernour
both politique and wyse
The people whych be vnder hym
shall fall and neuer ryse
But happye is that region,
whose ruler hath the grace
The talke of godly counselours
to folowe and embrace
Who so is boūd for straūgers dets,
doth bring him self to care
And is compeld the same to paye,
though he be poore and bare
But he shall lyue in quietnes,
and haue no feare at all
Whych taketh hede by surety shippe,
least he in daunger fall
A woman whych is gracious,
and doeth applye her mynde
To vertuous schole vpon the earth,
is sure great grace to fynde
An ydle hand can at no tyme,
to welthynes attayne
But he is sure the same to wyn,
that laboureth with payne
The mā in whose herte mercy workes
him self doth profite most
For mercy from infernall payne,
doth rydde hys symple ghost
The cruel man farre otherwyse,
wyth malice and debate
Euen soche as ought be nere to him
doeth persecute and hate
Of the vayne workes of wicked mē,
no profyte cometh at all
Theyr doynges are not permanent,
but sure to haue a fall
But who so doth seke righteousnes
and practyse her in dede
Is sure to haue eternall ioye
for hys rewarde and nede
And mercy doeth prepare the waye,
that leadeth vnto blysse
Yf thou be geuen to wyckednes,
of death thou shalte not mysse
The lyuing lord doth most abhorre,
the man whose herte is yll
And onely bente to wyckednes
wyth whole entent and wyll
But he doth moost reioyce in soche,
that in hys worde delyte
And leade theyr lyues accordingly,
in symplenes of spryte
A woman whych in beauty doth,
all other farre amende
And hath no good conditions,
her beautye to defende
Unto a ringe of pure good golde,
a man maye well compare
The which a sowe in her foule nose
continuallye doeth beare
The iuste men doo reioyce in god,
and holynes embrace
But bente vnto all fylthynes,
the wycked runne theyr race
And some ther be that wt their goodes
their neighbour doth releue
And yet the same do styll encrease
though they do largely geue
And some ther be contrary wyse,
that others robbe and pyll
Of ryches greate, yet for all that,
they be but beggers styll
The soule of hym most blessed is,
and neuer shall haue nede
Which in his store wt gladsome hert
the hongry men doeth fede
And so lykewyse he neuer shall,
for lacke of drinke decaye
That vnto him doth reache the cup,
that trauayleth by the waye.
The people cursse most bitterly
the tyller of the grounde
Whych in his barnes no corne at all
wyll suffer to be founde
In tyme of derth, although he haue
great plentye and great store
But kepes it close euen purposely,
to make the pryce the more
But blessed is he ī all mēs mouthes,
that when the corne is skant
Bringeth forth his graine, & suffreth not
the market for to want
He ryseth well, and in good tyme,
for good thinges that doth call
The naughti workes of wicked mē,
shal sone oppresse them all
Who so in hys vayne ryches dothe,
put confidence and truste
Is sure hereof whē he thynkes lest,
to fall into the duste
Wher as the iuste and faythfull mā,
shal prosper styll in peace
Euen as a tree in the springe tyme
doth budde forth and encrease
And who yt doth through foly bring
hys houshold out of frame
Shal washe his goodes, & in ye ende
susteyne rebuke and shame
And thē at length for lacke of wytt,
and spoylinge that was hys
Agaynst hys wyl the wyse mās nede
to serue he shall not mysse
The tree of lyfe or heauenly ioye
is euen the very gayne
A frute that iuste & righteous men,
shal repe for all theyr payne.
it is a thynge moste vyle
With subtil weyght or mesure false
thy neyghbour to begyle
But god the lorde contrarye wyse,
in trouthe doeth moste delyghte
It is hys wyl that all men shoulde,
wyth other deale vpryghte
The equall weyght & balaūce iuste,
to god ryght pleasaunt be
When that thee same vnto all men,
do yelde wyth equitye
Rebuke and shame do folow pride,
in whome that it doethe raygne
But where ther is humylitye,
greate wysedome doeth remayne
Who doth not hate wil, hart, nor mīde
throughout ye world so wide
whych is addicte to pryde
Who doeth not loue vnto theyr power
the man of hūble sprite
The way whych in doyng good
to other doeth delyght
The symplenes and meanyng true,
whych godly men assaye
Doth them directe in holynes
and in the perfyte waye
The wicked craft & wyly sleyghtes
whych in the yll are found
Do at ye laste cast downe thē selues,
and laye them on the grounde
The day that god in dome shall syt
to iudge both good and bad
What shal thē ye goodes vs preuayle
which in this world we had
The iustice yet and rightuousnesse,
whyche chryst to man dyd brynge
From death shal safe deliuer him,
and from hys deadly stynge
The meanynge true of simple men,
shal holde them styll vpryght
for al their power and myghte
The godly folk through rightuousnes
delyuered be at last
The wycked in theyr owne deceyte,
shall trapped be full fast
Whē death arestes the wycked mā,
with his most dreadful darte
His hope is gone, for on his goodes
onely he set hys harte
The iust mā is, by the lordes helpe,
delyuered from yll
In stede of whom the wicked man,
tormented shall be styll
Beware also dyssemblinge men,
for they wyl sone betraye
Their faithful frēd through flattrīg wordes
what so their mouth doth saye
But yet the iust and faythfull men,
theyr knowledge shal defend
From al the snares of filed wordes
whyche wycked men intende
to wealth aduaunced be
The hole citye wherin he dweleth,
reioyce as well as he
And yf so be a wycked man,
do happen to decaye
All men bee gladde that he so soone
is vanyshed awaye
And so lykewise thorow godly mē,
a cytye shal encrease
To which by their good gouernaūce
is brought both rest & peace
So that the same in noblenes,
all other shall excell
As in a ranke of ladyes fayre,
some one doth beare the bell
But through ye mouth of yu wycked
whych honestye do hate
Hole contryes and greate regyous
are set at stryfe and bate
Wherby at lēgth the same be broughte
to ruine and decay
And from a fall by no meanes can,
them selues vpholde and staye.
doth shewe but lyttle wytte
By thys it semes to lyue on earth
that he is nothinge fytte
The wyse man can euen whē he list,
from talke hys tonge refrayne
Wherby he scapes the daūgerous yl
of hatred and disdayne
The flatteringe man & famed frende
that doth nothinge but glose
Of hys deare frende vnfaythfully
the secretes doth disclose
But faythful frēdes whose doynges are
vpryght and also iuste
In no wyse wyl bewray the thinges
committed to theyr truste
And where ther lackes a gouernour
both politique and wyse
The people whych be vnder hym
shall fall and neuer ryse
But happye is that region,
whose ruler hath the grace
The talke of godly counselours
to folowe and embrace
doth bring him self to care
And is compeld the same to paye,
though he be poore and bare
But he shall lyue in quietnes,
and haue no feare at all
Whych taketh hede by surety shippe,
least he in daunger fall
A woman whych is gracious,
and doeth applye her mynde
To vertuous schole vpon the earth,
is sure great grace to fynde
An ydle hand can at no tyme,
to welthynes attayne
But he is sure the same to wyn,
that laboureth with payne
The mā in whose herte mercy workes
him self doth profite most
For mercy from infernall payne,
doth rydde hys symple ghost
The cruel man farre otherwyse,
wyth malice and debate
Euen soche as ought be nere to him
doeth persecute and hate
no profyte cometh at all
Theyr doynges are not permanent,
but sure to haue a fall
But who so doth seke righteousnes
and practyse her in dede
Is sure to haue eternall ioye
for hys rewarde and nede
And mercy doeth prepare the waye,
that leadeth vnto blysse
Yf thou be geuen to wyckednes,
of death thou shalte not mysse
The lyuing lord doth most abhorre,
the man whose herte is yll
And onely bente to wyckednes
wyth whole entent and wyll
But he doth moost reioyce in soche,
that in hys worde delyte
And leade theyr lyues accordingly,
in symplenes of spryte
A woman whych in beauty doth,
all other farre amende
And hath no good conditions,
her beautye to defende
a man maye well compare
The which a sowe in her foule nose
continuallye doeth beare
The iuste men doo reioyce in god,
and holynes embrace
But bente vnto all fylthynes,
the wycked runne theyr race
And some ther be that wt their goodes
their neighbour doth releue
And yet the same do styll encrease
though they do largely geue
And some ther be contrary wyse,
that others robbe and pyll
Of ryches greate, yet for all that,
they be but beggers styll
The soule of hym most blessed is,
and neuer shall haue nede
Which in his store wt gladsome hert
the hongry men doeth fede
And so lykewyse he neuer shall,
for lacke of drinke decaye
That vnto him doth reache the cup,
that trauayleth by the waye.
the tyller of the grounde
Whych in his barnes no corne at all
wyll suffer to be founde
In tyme of derth, although he haue
great plentye and great store
But kepes it close euen purposely,
to make the pryce the more
But blessed is he ī all mēs mouthes,
that when the corne is skant
Bringeth forth his graine, & suffreth not
the market for to want
He ryseth well, and in good tyme,
for good thinges that doth call
The naughti workes of wicked mē,
shal sone oppresse them all
Who so in hys vayne ryches dothe,
put confidence and truste
Is sure hereof whē he thynkes lest,
to fall into the duste
Wher as the iuste and faythfull mā,
shal prosper styll in peace
Euen as a tree in the springe tyme
doth budde forth and encrease
hys houshold out of frame
Shal washe his goodes, & in ye ende
susteyne rebuke and shame
And thē at length for lacke of wytt,
and spoylinge that was hys
Agaynst hys wyl the wyse mās nede
to serue he shall not mysse
The tree of lyfe or heauenly ioye
is euen the very gayne
A frute that iuste & righteous men,
shal repe for all theyr payne.
Here endeth the chapters of the Prouerbes of Salomō, and here after
foloweth the .vi. chapter of the boke of Wysdome.
| Certayn chapters take[n] out of the Proverbs of Salomo[n] | |