University of Virginia Library

Primus Philosophus
Attempt nothyng surmountyng your myght,
Ne that to finissh that passeth your power;
ffor than ye stand foule in your owne lyght,
And whoso doth, hymsylf shall foule a-dere
With shame, and therfore thys wysdom ye lere:
That hyt ys foly a man suche to begyn
Which to performe hys wyttes be to thyn.

Secundus
Whan that tyme ys of grete and large expence,
Beware of waste and spende ay by mesure;
Who at suche tyme can fynde no dyfference,
Hys goodes may nat with hym long endure;
The olde ys that ‘Mesure ys tresure’,
ffor in short tyme the good may slyp away
That was gotyn in many a sondry day.

Tercius.
Of elther men ye shall your myrrour make,
Conforme yow to that that may most yow auayle,
What ye shall do and what shall forsake;
A bettyr thyng ne may ye not contryue
Than to other mennys dedys to releue;
To all that perteyneth yow eny thyng,
Make other men rule of your leuyng.

Quartus.
Take good hede to youre owne estate:
To rule your body with a good diete;
loke with tyme ye be nat at debate,
Though thurgh youre owne mysrule and surfete
Sekenes or sorow haue yeuyn yow an hete,
The tyme ys good, and no dissemble there ys,
But men hit make for they do amys.

Quintus.
To preue youre-sylf take deliberacion
Be lycly coniectour what may betyde;
Aduertyse and here thys informacion
How soone owre lord can set a state asyde;
ffolowe hym, therfore, and let hym be your gyde
That all thyng hath in hys regement,
ffuture and past and your estate present.

Sextus.
Into a gret age when ye be crept,
Hauyng gret ryches and habundaunce,
Be lyberall of the good that ye haue kept;
Thynke that ye haue y-nough and suffisaunce;
let nat youre good of yow haue gouernaunce,
But gouerne hit and part hit with your frende;
When ye go hens hit may nat with yow wende.

Septimus.
Who that lakketh rest may nat long endure;
Therefore among take your ease and dysport,
Delyte yow neuer in besynes ne cure
But that other wyle ye may eft resort
To play, recreacion, and comfort;
Ye may the better labour at the long,
When ye haue myrthe your besynes among.

Nuncius.
Lo, noble prince, ye here the counseyll
Of all the vij phylosophyrs sage,
Whyche to aduertyse hit may hap to avayle
To let these wysdomes grow vp in your age,
And in your presence afore her passage,
They purpose all afore yow for to syng,
Yef to your hyghnes hit myght be plesyng.