University of Virginia Library

Howe to behaue thy selfe in going by the streate and in the schoole

[Capitulo] .ii.

In goynge by the way
and passynge the strete,
Thy cappe put of,
Salute those ye mete;
In geuynge the way
to suche as passe by,
It is a poynte
of siuilitie.
And thy way fortune
so for to fall,
Let it not greue thee
thy felowes to call.
when to the schole
thou shalte resort,
This rule note well
I do the exhort:
Thy master there beynge,
Salute with all reuerence,
Declarynge thereby
thy dutye and obedience;
Thy felowes salute
In token of loue,
Lest of inhumanitie
they shall thee reproue.
Vnto thy place
appoynted for to syt,
Streight go thou to,
and thy setchel vnknyt,
Thy bokes take out,
thy lesson then learne
Humbly thy selfe
Behaue and gouerne.
Therein takynge payne,
with all thyne industry
Learnynge to get
thy boke well applye:
All thynges seme harde
when we do begyn,
But labour and diligence
yet both them wyn;
we ought not to recken
and coumpt the thyng harde
That bryngeth ioye
and pleasure afterwarde;
Leaue of then laboure,
and the lacke rue,
Lament and repent
when age doth insue.
Deades that deserued
Fame and greate prayse,
Buried had ben,
we se in olde dayes;
If letters had not then
brought them to lyght
The truth of suche thynges
who coulde nowe resyght?
Applye thy minde
to learnynge and scyence,
For learnynge in nede
wyll be thy defence.
Nothinge to science
compare we may well,
The swetenes wherof
all thynges doth excell.
And Cato the wyse
this worthy sayinge hath,
That man wantinge learnynge
is as the image of death.
The rootes of learnynge
most bytter we deme;
The fruites at last
Moste pleasaunt doth seme.
Then labour for learnynge
whyle here thou shalt lyue,
The ignoraunt to teache,
and good example geue;
So shalte thou be thought
A membre most worthy
The common welth to serue
In tyme of necessitie.
Experience doth teache
And shewe to thee playne
That many to honour
By learninge attayne
That were of byrthe
But symple and bace,—
Suche is the goodnes
Of Gods speciall grace,—
For he that to honour
by vertue doth ryse,
Is double happy,
and counted most wyse.
If doubte thou doest,
Desyre to be toulde,
No shame is to learne,
Beinge neuer so oulde;
Ignoraunce doth cause
Great errors in vs
For wantynge of knowledge
Doubts to discusse;
Then learne to discerne
the good from the yll,
And suche as thee warne,
Bere them good will.
when from the schoole
ye shall take your waye,
Or orderly then go ye,
twoo in aray,
your selues matchynge
So equall as ye may,
That men it seynge
May well of you saye
In commendynge this
your laudable wayes,
whiche must nedes sounde
to your great prayse,
Not runnynge on heapes
as a swarme of bees,
As at this day
Euery man it nowe sees;
Not vsynge, but refusynge,
Suche foolyshe toyes
As commonly are vsed
In these dayes of boyes,
As hoopynge and halowynge
as in huntynge the foxe,
That men it hearynge
Deryde them with mockes.
This foolyshnes forsake,
this folly exchewynge,
And learne to followe
this order insuynge.
In goynge by the way
Neyther talke nor iangle,
Gape not nor gase not
at euery newe fangle,
But soberly go ye
with countinaunce graue;
Humblye your selues
towarde all men behaue;
Be free of cappe
and full of curtesye;
Greate loue of al men
you shall wyn therby.
Be lowly and gentyll
and of meke moode;
Then men con not
but of you say good.
In passynge the strete
Do no man no harme;
Vse thou fewe wordes,
and thy tounge charme,
Then men shal see
that grace in the groweth
From whom vertues
So aboundantly floweth.
when thou arte come
where thy parentes do dwell,
Thy leaue then takynge
Byd thy felowes farewell;
The house then entrynge,
In thy parence presence
Humbly salute them
with all reuerence.