University of Virginia Library

The Prologe.

Aristophones as Valerius doth tell,
Introduceth Pericles in a Commedie,
That he being reduced, againe out of Hell,
Unto Thathenienses did thus prophesie.
Bringe vp no Lyons in your Cities wantonly,
For as you bring them vp in actes pernicious,
So in the same you must be to them obsequious.
By this saith Valerius he doth admonish,
That rich men sonnes be from euell manners refrained
Least that with profuse fondnes we do them norish,
Uertue of them euer after be disdained:
So that when authoritie, they haue obtained,
They them selues being giuen to inconuenience,
Oppresse their subiects vnder their obedience,
Oh how noble a thing is good education,
For all estates profitable: but for them chiefely
Which by birth are like to haue gubernation,
In publikque weales, that they may rule euer iustly:
For while the Romanes did forsee this matter wisely,
They had a wise Senate which preuailed alway,
And that being neglected, they fell soone to decay.
To be a good man it is also expedient,
Of good Parents to be begotten and borne,
In deede to all men it is most euident,
That a pleasaunt Rose springeth of a sharpe Thorne,
But commonly of good Seed procedeth good Corne,
Good Parents in good manners do instruct their childe,
Correcting him when he beginneth to grow wilde:
The bringing vp of a childe from his tender age,
In vertue, is a great helpe to be an honest man,
But when youth is suffred to haue his owne rage,
It falleth to much calamity now and than:
I would wish Parents and Masters to do what they can
Both to teach and correct their youth with reason,
That it may profit the publique weale an other season.
To helpe hereto good Schoole Masters are necessarie,
Sage, sober, expert, learned, gentle and prudent,
Under such Masters youth can neuer miscarie,
For either they refraine euils with good aduisement,
Or to occupy the minde good lessons do inuent:
To youth nothing in the world is so pernicious:
As to be conuersant, with masters laciuious,
Bringing vp is a great thing, so is dilligence,
But nothing, God except, is so strong of Nature,
For neither councell, learninge nor sapience,
Can an euill nature to honest manners allure:
Do we not see at these daies so many past cure,
That nothing can their crokednes rectefie,
Till they haue destroied them vtterly?
The Image of such persons we shall introduce,
Represented by one whom Moros we do call,
By him we shall declare the vnthriftie abuse,
Of such as had leuer to Folly and Idlenes fall,
Then to herken to Sapience when he doth call:
There processe, how their whole life they do spende,
And what shame they com to at the last ende:
Wherfore this our matter we entitle and name,
The longer thou liuest the more Foole thou arte.
Are there not many which do verefie the same?
Yes I warrant you, and naturally play that parte,
Yea, euen from the Iudgment seat vnto the Carte:
But truly we meane no person perticularly,
But only to specifie of such generally:
Holsom lessons now and than we shall enterlace,
Good for the ignorant, not hurtfull to the wise,
Honest mirth shall com in, and appeare in place,
Not to thaduauncement, but to the shame of vice,
To extoll Uertue without faile is our deuise,
A season we shall desier you of pacience,
And to make you mery we will do our dilligence.