Hic incipit paruus Catho — Catonis disticha. English and Latin.

Hic incipit paruus Catho — Catonis disticha. English and Latin.

Table of contents

Hic incipit paruus Chato

Hic incipit magnus Chato

1

Incipit secundus liber

Incipit liber tercius

Incipit liber quartus

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Hic incipit paruus Chato

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[...]Vm aīa aduerterē quam hoīes grauiter errare

whan I aduerte in my remembraunce

And see how fele folkes erren greuously

In the wey of vertuous gouernaunce

I haue supposyd in myn herte that I

Ought to supporte and counceyl prudently

Them to be vertuous in lyuyng

And how they shal them self in honour bryng

Igitur fili carissime docebo te quo pacto mores

Therfore my leue chyld I shal now telle the

Herken me wel the maner and the guyse

How thy sowle inward shal acqueynted be

With thewes good and vertues in al wyse

Rede and conceyue for he is to dyspyse

That redyth ay and wote not what it ment

[Page]Suche redyng is no thyng but wynde myspent

Itaque deo supplica / parentes ama

Pray thy god and prayse hym with al thyn herte

Fader and moder haue ay in reuerence

Loue hem wel and be thou neuer to smerte

To here mennys counceyl but kepe the thens

Til thou be cleped be clene withoute offence

Salewe gladly to hym that is more digne

Than art thy self▪ thy place to hym resigne

Magistrum metue / Rem tuam custodi

Drede thy mayster thy thynge loke thou kepe

Take hede to thy houshold ay loue thy wyf

Pleasaunt wordes out of thy mouth shold crepe

Be not I rous kepe thy behestis as thy lyf

Be temporat wyth wyn & be not excessyf

Thy wyfis wordes take in noon auctorite

In foly slepe no more than nedyth the

Libros lege libros disce quod legeris memento

In goodly bookes whylom shalt thou rede

And that thou redest in thy mynde thou shyt

Stere no wyght to wrath. lye not I the rede

Do wel to god and be wol the efte quyte

Be not wicked nor to the wycked knyt

Stonde in the place of pletyng excercise

Deme the right and be counceyled of the wyse

Troco lude / aleas fuge / pactum serua

Play with the toppe the dises loke thou eschewe

Dispyse no man kepe euer thy behest

Scorne neuer wretche than shalt thou neuer [...]we

[Page]Coueyte no mannys good s [...]e fewe atte feste

Loke thy vengeaunce be alwey with the leest

Who hath doon the good haue in remembraunce

Loue euery wyght and this shal the auaunce

Beholde my mayster this litil tretise

Whiche is ful of wyt and sapyence

Enforce the this matere taccomplise

Thynke it is translated at your reuerence

Enrolle hit therfore in your aduertence

And desyre for to knowe what catho [...] mente

Whan ye it rede let not your herte be thence

But doth as this sayth with al your entente

Hic finis parui cathonis

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Hic incipit magnus Chato

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1

sI deus est animus nobis vt carmina ditunt

Hic tibi precipue sit pura mente colendus

For thy that god is inwardly the wyt

Of man and geuyth hym vnderstondyng

As dytees sayen therfore shalt thou vnshyt

Thyn herte to thy souerayn lord & kyng

And pryncipally aboue al other thyng

Geuyng hym laude / honour a reuerence

Which hath the endowed wyth excellence

Plus vigila semper ne sompno deditus esto

Nam diuturna quies vicus alimenta ministrat

A wake my chylde and loue no slogardye

In moche slept loke thou neuer delite

Yf thou purpose to worshyp for to stye

Longe slepe and slouthe to vyce doon men excite

It maketh men dul it mak [...]th hem vnperfite

It fosterith vp filthes of the flessh

It palleth also and wasteth bloodes fressh

Virtutem primam puta esse compescere linguam

Proximus ille deo qui scit ratione tacere

Trusteth wel also the first of vertues allo

Is to be stylle and kepe thy tonge in mewe

Of tonge vntied moche harme may falle

Loue me wel this is as the gospel trewe

Who that can delauyaunce of wordes eschewe

And reste with reason this is verrey text

To god aboue that man is alder next

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Sperne repugnando tibi tu coutrarius esse

Couneniet nulli qui secum dissidet ipse

Aduyse the wel that thou neuer trauerse

Thyn owne sentence for therof sueth shame

Sey not one & ofte the contrarye reherce

Suche repugnaunce wol make thy worshyp lame

Where stedfastnes wol cause thy good fame

For he shal neuer accorde with man on lyue

That with hym self wyl ay repugne and stryue

Si vitam inspicias ho [...]m si denique mores

Cum culpas alios nemo sine crimiue viuit

Yf thou aduertise and beholde aboute

The lyues of men and maners also

Bothe of thy self and other the withoute

In myddel erthe thou shalt fynde who

That in sōme part nys to vertue foo

Blame no man therfore yf ye doo a right

Sithe in erthe lakles lyueth no wyght

Que nocitura tenes quamuis sint cara relinque

Vtilitas opibus preponi tempore debet

Yf thou suppose thyng that shal noye and groue

Though they be dere and right grete of price

Suche as suffreth not thy proffyt acheue

Yf thou lyst to be rewled as the wyse

Absteyne the from suche thyng in al wyse

For it is more wysedom in sothfastnesse

To preferre prouffyt than suche richesse

Constans et leuis vt res expostulat esto

Temporibus mores sapiens fine crimine mutat

[Page]It is a good lesson for the nones

A wyght to be tempryd with constance

And to be glad and mery eftsones

Not alwey sad ne light of coūtenaūce

A mānis chere may hym ful oft auaūce

For at eche tyme as ye thyng requyreth

So the wise man visageth & chereth

Nil temere vxori de seruis crede querenti

Sepe etent mulier quē cōiunx diligit odit

Gyf no credence alwey to thy wyf

That for hir Ire & vnpacience

With sharper tonge than is swerde or knyf

Playneth on thy seruaunt though none offence

Thou fynde in hym lerne wele this sentence

The wyf wol hate and cause to smerte

Often hym that her husbond loueth in herte

Cumque mones aliquem nec se velit ipse moueri

Si tibi sit carus noli desistere ceptis

And yf thou warne a wight of his forfete

Al though he grutcheth with frownyng countenaūce

And in his langage manace the and threte

Yet forbere thou not for al suche dysplesaunce

To teche hym to amende his gouernaunce

As thou began corecte that is a mysse

And that is a frendly tache I wysse

Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis

Sermo datur cuntis animi sapiencia paucis

Ayenst wordy folke ay ful of wynde

Stryue not at all it may not the profite

[Page]Suche rasshe folkis ben in conceytis blynde

The wytles worde auaylith not a myte

In fele wordes is often wisedam ful lyte

For vnto euery wyght is gyuen speche

And yet the wyse ful ofte ben to seche

Dilige sic alios vt fit tibi carus amicus

Sic bonus esto bonis ne te mala dampna sequātur

Loue other men & haue them so in chere

That to thy self thy loue most extende

Loke no persone be to the more dere

Than thyn estate for thenne thou shalt offende

And hurte thy self and other folke amende

But euer cherisshe other and loue hem so

That to thy self thou be founden no foo

Rumores fuge ne incipias nouus auctor haberi

Nam nulli tacuisse nocet nocet esse locutum

Tydynges newe that fleen as the wynde

Eschewe my chylde wyth al thy dylygence

Be neuer besy newe tydynges to fynde

Suche nouelte causeth ofte offence

It is no wyt it is no sapience

It hurteth not a man to be in pees

But it doth harme to put his tonge in prees

Rem tibi promissam certam promittere noli

Rara fides ideo qr multi multa loquntur

Make no promyse of other mennys heste

Remembre wel that promyse is vnsure

But yf thou kepe thyn thy name sleest

To serue thy behest do thy besy cure

[Page]Trust not the word of euery creature

Sum mannys feyth is esy to breke

For many folkes thynke not as they speke

Cum te aliquis laudat iudex tuūs esse memento

Plus aliis de te qnā tu tibi credere noli

With wordes fayr when fauel fedith the

Be thou not blynde for his fals flaterye

Lete thyn owne reason alwey thy Iuge be

And in effect yf thyn astate be hye

Though fauel with his crafte wyl blynde thyn eye

In al thy lyf thou neuer gyf credence

More to thy self than to thy conscience

Officium alterius multis narrare memento

Atque alijs cum tu benefeceris ipse sileto

Whan thou seest another mans desert

As for his good dedes cōmendable

In euery place preuy or a pert

Suche a wyght with thy good word enable

And though he haue ben by the auaylable

Yet of thy good dede make thou no bobanuce

And than shal other men thyn name enhaunce

Multo (rum) cum facta senex et dicta resensus

Fac tibi succurrant iuuenis que feceris ipse

And yf thou lyue long an olde man shalt thou be

Age wol approche maugre who sayth nay

Than perseyue beholde about and see

How aged folk ben tretyd wyth all day

And so pouruey for thy self asay

In to stoupyng age when thou art crept

[Page]Thyng may the helpe that in thyn youthe was kept

Ne cures si quis tacito sermone loquatur

Conscius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici

Charge not al though thou see men speke softe

Ne chaunge no chere for ofte it is ful bet

In secret wyse to s [...]ke than crye on lofte

A man shold see alwey where he were set

And after that so shold he speke or let

But to the suspect of harme it semeth

Men speke of hym he none other demeth

Cum fueris felix que sunt aduersa caueto

Non eodem cursu respondent vltima primis

Whan fortune hath yeuen the felicite

And set the on hygh than beware of a falle

Than sueth ofte suche sharpe aduersite

Fals fortune tourneth as doth a balle

In her trust haue thou no sikernes at alle

Hyr perilous playe turneth whylom to grame

For the ende is woo that began that game

Cum dubia et fragilis sit nobis vita tributa

In mortem alterius spem tu tibi ponere noli

Our brotel lyf is here so ful of doute

That in very surete no wyght may stonde

So sodenly crepen the sowles oute

Al aboute this world in euery londe

Of yonge and olde for euery wyght is bonde

To deth therfore set not thyn affiaunce

In deth of hym that may the suruyue perchaunce

Exiguum munus cum det tibi pauper amicus

[Page]Accipito placide plene laudare memento

A lityl yefte geuen wyth good entente

Of thy frende that lyueth in pouerte

With right good chere suche yefte take and hente

Supposyng ay that as good wylle hath he

And more than many men that richer be

Peyse not the yefte ne pondre not the pryse

Thentent is good and that shal the suffyse

Infantem nudum cum te natura creauit

Paupertatis onus pacienter berre memento

Sith nature that is thy first norice

Hath brought the hyder al nakyd and bare

Though thou neuer can richesse accomplice

But thou art holde alwey in pouertis snare

Yet no force make neuer to moche care

Take paciently pouerte for the best

Riches is not of nature but of erthe encrest

Ne timeas illam que vite est vltima finis

Qui mortem metuit quod viuit perdit id [...]sum

Though deth be the fyn of euery creature

And no wyght on lyue shal from hym escape

Yet drede not deth with ouer besy cure

To lyue on erthe it is but a Iape

Yf thou shalt alwey after deth so gape

Thynk wel to dye but modefye thy thought

Or ellis to lyue auaylith the right nought

Si tibi pro meritis nemo respondet amicus

Accusare deum noli sed tripse coherce

For thy desert yf no frende thanke the

[Page]I mene whan thou hast doon thy force and payn

To other folkes frendly for to be

Yf they can not gramercy to the sayn

Withdrawe thyn hond & so thy self refrayne

Blame not thy god for theyr vnfrendlynesse

But for suche men do afterward the lesse

Ne tibi quid desit quesitis vtere parce

Vt que quod est serues semper tibi deesse putato

Sith no ryche man that leuyth ony where

Yf he consume his goodes al and waste

But that pouerte shal greue sore and dere

Therfore my chyld suche goodes as thou hast

Let not to sone out of thy hond beraste

Lest than thy good hereafter wol the fayle

Holde that thou hast it may the efte auayle

Quod prestare potes ne bis pro miseris vlli

Ne sis ventosus dum vis bonus esse videri

Be [...]ote no man a thyng to lene hym twyse

And fayle hym onys that is but vilanye

Yf thou may lene do hit in frendly wyse

Suche cheuysaunce a frende loth to be wrye

Of thy good dedes clamour thou not ne crye

Be not wyndy ner of wordes breme

Yf a good man thou liste appere and seme

Qui similat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus

Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte

And yf thou fynde the sone of doublenesse

The fals dissymylour yf thou espye

With peynted wordes and herte ful of falsnesse

[Page]Thou maist in no wyse better blere his eye

Than to serue hym wyth his owne trecherye

With wordes fayr and frendly to departe

Ment thou the same & arte begyle by arte

Noli hoīes blando nimium sermone probare

Fistula dulce cauit volucrem dum decipit auceps

Preue thou neuer a man by ouer paynted speche

For vnder fayr wordes is ofte annexid gyle

The word is gay but frendeshyp is to seche

As it is sayd suche crafte is in this Ile

Yet sōme thynke ylle whan they their tunges fyle

The whistelyng fouler makyth mery songe

And so the byrdes begyleth he amonge

Cum tibi sint nati nee opes tunt artibus illos

Instrue quo possint mopem deffendere vitam

Whan so is that thou hast goten chyldren

Loke in her yongth than enforme hem so

In sōme craft & mister that they may therin

Lerne to gete her lyuyng and to deffende also

Her lyf whiche euer nedeth & that they vnto

Vertu may atteyne for that he no craft can

Ofte tyme nedyth & is in daunger of euery man

Quod vile est carum quod carum vile putato

Sic tibi nec cupidus nec auarus nosceris vlli

Haue thys conceyte for it is ofte sene

Thyng dere bought ful ofte bate of price

And thynges that litel of value ben

In tyme comyng may to grete derth aryse

Remembre wel this and ay it aduertise

[Page]Thus shalt thou best the name of chyncherye fleme

And other men shal the no nygard deme

Que culpare soles ea tu ne feceris ipse

Turpi est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum

Aduyse the wel let reason be thy guyde

Whan other folkes thou art aboute to blame

That suche defaulte in the be not espyed

For yf it be than shalt thou haue the shame

A mannys honour suche thyng wol reclame

It is ful foul when a man wol teche

Yf that his dedes ageynst his wordes preche

Quod iustum est petito vel quod videatur honestum

Nam stultum est petere quod possit iure negari

Loke thy desyre be groundyd of right

And than that it neuer trauerse honeste

For as often tymes as ony worldly wyght

Desireth more than right or equyte

Than may his request sone replied be

And it is cleped uycete and grete folye

To aske ofte that right wol ay denye

Ignotum tibi tu noli preponere notis

Cognita iudicio constant incognita casu

Chaunge not a frende that thou knowest of olde

For ony newe in trust that thou shalt fynde

A better than he but in thy handes thou holde

Hym that hath ben to the frendely and kynde

For suche eschaunges ben ofte ful blynde

The semeth thou knowest neuer a dele

To knowe a trusty frende it is casuele

[Page]Cum dubia in certis versetur vita periculis

Pro lucro tibi pone diem quicun (que) laboras

Sith that mannys lyf is ofte ful of myserie

Whilom in myrthe and after in myschyef

Now in the valey & now in the hylle on hye

Now is man pour and after by riches in relieue

The shynyng morowe hath ofte a stormy eue

To this polecie take hede at the last ende

Haue lucre for thy labour or that thou wende

Vnicere cum possis interdum cede sodali

Obsequio quin dulces retinentur amici

Though thou may ouercome and haue the victorye

Of thy frende or felowe yet ay forbere

Refrayne thy self and be not haute or hye

Irous handes ful euyl doo greue and dere

Where easy softenesse frendes may conquere

For by good dedes set in lowlynesse

Men ben to gyder knyt in frendlynesse

Ne dubites cum magna petas inpendere parua

Hijs etenim rebus coniungit gracia caros

The lymytour that vysiteth the wyues

Is wyse ynough of hym a man may lere

To yeue nedlis pynnes girdeles and knyues

The craft is good thus doth the wyse frere

Yeueth thyng smale for thynge that be dere

Yf thou receyue euer yeue thou sumwhat ageyn

And that wol ay norisshe loue in certeyn

Litem inferre caue cum quo tibi gracia iuncta est

Ira odium generat concordia nutrit amorem

[Page]Toyle not ne stryue wyth hym that is thy frende

Bewaar of that make neuer thy frende thy foo

A toylous man may frendshyp breke and shende

Thise baratours that ben mysrewled so

Interupte hem self and wrappen in moche woo

For wycked wrath engendreth but hate

Where as good accorde norisshe loue algate

Seruorū ob culpam cum te dolor vrget in iram

Ipse tibi moderare tuis vt parcere possis

whan thy seruaunt thou takest in defaut

Though he can not his negligence excuse

Yet in thyn yre make not to fiers a saute

But wyth thy male talent take treuse

So shalt thou fynde ease this fete yf thou vse

Reule thy passyon and ay by suche mesure

That thou saue hem that ben vnder thy cure

Quem superare potes interdum vince ferendo

Maxima etenim morum semper paciencia virtus

Sufferaunce doth ease was sayd long a goo

Suffre thou and haue al thyn entent

Thaugh al thou mayst ouer yet do thou not so

Conquere by sufferaunce and be pacient

But for to folowe cruelte neuer consent

For it is clepyd a vertue wyth excellence

A wyght to lyue in humble pacience

Conserua pocius que sūt iam parta labore

Cum labor in dampno crescit mortalis egestas

Be not to skant nor be not to prodygal

Conserue thy thynges goten wyth trew labour

[Page]It is ful fayr to be called liberal

But ay eschewe wast and be not surfetour

Consume not al thy tresour in one hour

Whan of thy labour riseth none auayle

Nedes pouerte must the in haste assayle

Dapsilis interdum notis caris et amicis

Cum fueris felix sēper tibi proximus esto

Be thou not like senola for he wold ete

With euery man and at his feste hym fede

But neuer no man myght taste of his mete

Nor no wight to hym come but he to al men yede

Be fre of thy mete but look that largesse lede

The no ferther than thou may easly ateyne

Be euer thyn owne frende thus caton sayth certeyne

Take hede sir and see how holsomly this clerk

Entreteth men wyth vertuous doctryne

The first parte of thys compendious werke

In worshyp how they shal ful clerely shyne

Guydyng to renewe streight as a lyne

Whos preceptis to obserue yf that ye lyst

And to his counceyl your hertes to enclyne

Right in your age ful wele it shal be wyst

The vertuous forme that men shal forth conuey

Lo in this lyf as bridel doth a best

That man do not erre here in thys perilous wey

Stablisshyng hym as doth a stedfast arest

And as siker guydes that men worthyest

Mannys leuyng here to set in gouernaunce

This sage cathon putteth in remembraunce

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Incipit secundus liber

tElluris si forte relis cognoscere cultus

Virgilium legito quod si mage nosce laboras

Herbarum vires macer tibi carmine dicet

Yf thou lust my chyld set thy hertly decit

Of erthe to knowe the tylthe and the culture

And yf thou wolt be of knowleche parfit

Why sōme is erable & sōme eke pasture

Why sōme is fresshe lyke floures of picture

I counceyl the to studye sadly for a whyle

In the laureat poete grete virgile

Si romana cupis et punica noscere bella

Lucanum queras qui martis prelia dicit

And thou haue desirous fressh corage

To here of romayns nobyl worthynes

How they veynquysshed them of cartage

And many other thrugh manly prowesse

Than rede lucan ful wel can he expresse

Who bare hym best in toun and also in felde

And who dyd merueyles vnder martes shylde

Si quis amare libet rel discere amare legendo

Nasonem petito sin autem cura tibi hec est

And who that lust eke of louers for to rede

And in what wyst hem self for to auaunce

As in that craft naso can teche hym for to spede

For sōme loue song. harpe / pipe / and daunce

Sōme in redyng and other thyng of plesaunce

[Page]Sōme louen couertly eke and lust not be espyed

And sōme wold be knowen thus writeth ouyde

Vt sapiens viuas audi que dissere possis

Per que semotum vicijs deducitur euum

But yet my lef chyld yf that in auenture

Thyn herte be yeuen to noon suche maner thyng

Or that it be not vnto thy plesure

That virgyl macer lucan / or naso doth brynge

Yet that thou may be wyse after in thy lyuyng

Yf thou lust to me to yeue audyence

I shal shewe the doctryne of sapyence

Ergo ades que sit sapiencia disce legendo

Therfore my chylde come nere to me and lere

And I shal the shewe the verray tresure

Of sapyence yf the lyst to herken and here

And eke how thou shalt in good estat endure

And lede thy lyf holy after goddis plesure

Therfore aproche and lere thys redyng

To ben a man ay vertuous of leuyng

Si potes ignotis etiam prodesse memento

Vtilius est regno meritis adquirere amicos

Ther is no wyght that ferther may reporte

Of thy good dedes than the straunger may

Make hym ay good chere & shewe hym disporte

And be shal wyth honour vtter the this no nay

For the vnknowen it proffyteth sumtyme tassay

Frendes y nowe to haue it is a better thyng

Th [...]n is frendles ony man to be a kyng

Mitte [...]cana dei celum inquirere quid sit

[Page]Cum sis mortalis que sunt mortalia cura

Of goddis mysterye ande eke of his worchyng

Make neuer my chyld to fer inquyraunce

It is foly ony man to muse on suche thyng

Dispute thou neuer vpon thy goddes purueaunce

For al thyng must be vnder his gouernaunce

And sith thou art man clad in mortalite

Dispute thou of thyng suche as mortal be

Linque metum lete nam stultum ē tēpore in euum

Qui mortem metuit amitit gaudia vite

The drede of deth that is inordynate

I mene to drede it ay and neuer to cese

Beware of that I counceyl the algate

For this is trewe as the gospel doutles

Who that dredeth deth is alwey myrthles

Whan drede of deth ony man so agrudgeth

He wasteth his tyme & ay his lyf abredgeth

Iratus de re incerta contendere noli

Impedit ira animum ne possit cernere verum

For thyng that is to the vncerteyn

Whan thou art wroth loke neuer that thou stryue

But first thou oughtest to knowe the mater playn

For there is no persone onely on erthe alyue

But that he fro hym self is also blyue

As besy wrath hath kyndled hym on fyre

And than can he not deme the trouth for Ire

Fac sumptū propere cū res desiderat ipsa

Dandum etenī ē aliquid cū tempus postulat aut res

As tyme requyreth so make ay thyn expence

[Page]Mesure thyn hand eke after the prophecee

Of thyng of tyme and also of the precence

So that thou spende nomore than nedyth the

And that spende look that thyn herte be fre

A man shold doo cost and make his spendyng

Consyderyng the tyme & eke of his costis rewardyng

Quod nimium est fugito paruo gaudere memento

Tuta magis puppis modico que flumine fertur

To moche is nought of ony maner thyng

The mene is good and most comendable

That man standeth surest here in this lyuyng

With mene astate that holdeth hym greable

Plente and pouerte to gadre be not suffrable

For than is the shyp in the see moost surest

What tyme the flood is moost demurest

Quod pudiat socios prudens celare memento

Ne plures culpant id quod tibi displicet vni

Yf thou knowe ought that may turne in to shame

Kepe it secret and for no thynge it bewrye

Be neuer to besy suche thyng to proclame

Or publisshe as thou knowest wol reprye

Make not allo men to gauren on it and crye

Lest that men dampne the to other folkes vnknowe

For suche fals demers thou mayst fynde y nowe

Nolo putes prauos [...]es peccata lucrari

Temporibus peccata latent et tempore patent

Yf thou espye and see or perceyue a forfaiture

And eke a shrewe of mysgouernaunce

Trust wel that sumtyme shal come an cure

[Page]Whan for his dedes he shal suffre penaunce

A cursed dede axeth wreche and vengeaunce

Though wyckydnesse for the tyme be kept secre

Yet atte last it wol dyscouered be

Corporis exigin vires contempnere noli

Consilio pollet cui vim natura negauit

Though sumtyme nature hath ben vnkynde

And geuyth a man to be of smal stature

Yet remembre my chyld and haue in thy mynde

That thou neuer dispyse that creature

For god may sende hym fortune and bone vre

And ofte they be wyth good counceyl alied

To whom nature hath grete strengthe denyed

Quem scieris non esse parem tibi tempore cede

Victorem a victo superari sepe videmus

Whan thy hap is to trauerse and haue a do

With hym that is nought egal to thy myght

Thyn vttermest power shewe not suche vnto

Lest that eftesones he haue the in lyke plight

For it is often seen in batayl and in fyght

Fortune chaungyth ofte wythin one our

And he is scomfyted that was erst victour

Aduersus notum noli contendere verbis

Lis minimis verbis interdum maxima crescit

Of brondes smale be made fyres grete

Withdrawe the brondes the fyre shal decrece

Ageyn the hyer loke thou not plete

With wordes fele for wordes dyscorde thy pece

The man is wyse that can of wordes cece

[Page]For this is as verily soth as god gaf lyf

That wordes smale breden ful moche stryf

Quod deus intendit noli prequirere sorte

Quod statuit de te sine te deliberat ipse

Dele not wyth magyke nor wyth sorcerye

In goddes hande is al fortune and fate

Be not about to calke by destenye

Whether thou be myserous or fortunate

Let god alone in hym is al thyn estate

For what hym lyst of the to purpose

Withouten the he can ful wel dyspose

Iuuidiam nimio cultu vitare memento

Que si non ledat tamen hanc sufferre molestum

Beware ay of enuye wyth tatches felle

Within thyn herte look ay that she ne rest

For it is one of the chyef paynes of helle

Whan she soiourneth wythin a mannys brest

Than brennyth fenyx in her owne nest

And than she may none other man myscheue

Yet ethna cesith not her self to greue

Esto forti animo cum sis dampuatus inique

Nemo diu gaudet qui iudice vincit iniquo

Enforce thyn hert wyth manly sufferance

Though that fals Iugement ageyn the procede

Be thou not abasshed in word ne countenaunce

For ofte tymes the fals oppressour may reule & lede

The lawe but truste me wel wythouten drede

Longe to reioyse acheue he may not

Whiche by menes vntrewe his goodes so gat

[Page]Nec te collandes nec te culpaueris ipse

Hoc faciunt stulti quos gloria vexat īanis

Thy self also loke thou not preyse

Nor dispreyse but let thou other men alone

Alwey after prudence thy wordes peise

For thyn auaunt honour shalt thou gete none

But haue a mok as sone as thou art gone

A man to preyse hym self as sayth the scole

Or dispreyse moche is token of a fole

Litis preterite noli maledicta referre

Post inimicitias iram meminisse malouim est

Wrath of olde that shold be kepte out of mynde

Be thou not about to make it on lyue

But the enuyous hath ay a tatche of kynde

Suche malyce my chyld loke thou neuer reuyue

For suche malyce of olde wrath maketh a stryue

And who remembreth olde enemyte

A wycked man forsothe is he

Vtere quesitis modice cum sumptus habundat

Labitur exiguo quod partum est tempore longo

Whan it is tyme of cost and grete expence

Bewaar of waste & spende ay by mesure

Who that to kepe or spende hath no difference

Maketh his goodes may not longe endure

For the olde prouerbe sayth mesure is tresure

Remembre that sone thy goodes may slippe a way

That before were goten in many a sondry day

Incipiens esto cum tempus postulat aut res

Stulticiam similare loco prudencia sūma est

[Page]It is no wysdom a man alwey to be sage

But somtyme to be nyce and feyn folye

Who that hath this fete shal fynde avauntage

Whan tyme and thyng desireth that espye

And than dyssymyle that is grete polecie

For sumtyme to be vnwyse by apparence

Amonge the wyse is clepyd hye prudence

Luxuriam fugito simul et vitare memento

Crimen auaricie nam sunt contraria fame

The fylthy flessh meuyng the bestyal

That fyghteth ay ageyn the sowle wythin

By force of hyr attise [...]ent liberal

Eschewe my chyld and kepe the from her gynne

That art and grace ben set ful fer a twyn

And eschewe ay of auarice the wicked fame

Thise two they ben that causen euyl name

Noli tu quedam referenti credere semper

Exigua ē tribuenda fides q [...] multi multa loquntut

Beleue thou not lightly in euery wyghtis sawe

For sōme reporten thynge al other wyse

Than it was euer thought or don or sawe

And sōme haue it also of custume and of guyse

To fede follie with flateryng and lyes

Therfore geue lytel trust to suche feyr spekyng

For many folkes speke vntrewe thyng

Quod potu peccas ignoscere tu tibi noli

Nam nullum crimen vini set culpa libentis

Yf thou surfete in drynk forgete thou not that

Auyse the wel efte thou come not in that snare

[Page]Withdrawe thyn honde fede not thy throte to fat

Drynke that suffyseth the & ellys loke thou spare

To moche drynke makyth men of wyt ful bare

And yet the wyn therof is not to blame

To blame is the drynker that makyth hym lame

Concilium archanum tacito cōmitte sodali

Corporis auxilium medico cōmitte fideli

To thy trusty frende that is secret to the

Shewe thy counceyl and thy nede bewrye

For a trusty frende is the chest of pryuyte

But it is grete hap suche frendes to espye

Trye out one among al a companye

And of thy body betake thou al the cure

Vnto suche a leche that is trusty and sure

Successus indignos noli tu ferre moleste

Indulget fortuna malis vt ledere possit

W [...]h thy self agreue the neuer to sore

Though thyng amys sumtyme betyde

Dismay the not in besy wyse therfore

For thyn aduenture nedes thou must abyde

Fortune may not alwey be on thy syde

With harmes to greue ay in wayte lieth she

To reue men welthe honour and prosperite

Prospice qui veniunt hos casus esse ferendos

Nam leuius ledit quicquid preuidimus ante

In thyn owne self compasse aboute ay before

Thyng to perceyue that after wol falle

It noyeth not [...] greueth half so sore

That is afore seen as other thyng shalle

[Page]Sodeyn chaunces diseasith most of al

It hurteth ay lesse and is in better plight

Where a man prudently can haue a fore sight

Rebus in aduersis animum submittere noli

Spem retinere spes vna animum non morte reliquet

Whan dyuerse thynges trauerse thyn entent

And thou art wrapped in aduersite

For wanhope look thou be not lost ne shent

Lete neuer dyspayr thy wyt bereue the

But abyde the tyme that better shal be

Hope is she that shal make the a seth

Hope leueth not a man tyl man leue the breth

Rem tibi quam noscis aptam dimittere noli

Fronte capillata post hec occasio calua

Whan men profre than is tyme to reteyne

Take ay thyng whyle they ben in season

Many profre now that after wol refreyne

For that is plente now wol afterward be geson

Therfore take ay in tyme for so counceyleth reson

For the [...]lled [...] was sumtyme ful of herys

Whiche is now [...] wythout r [...]su [...] or sherys

Quod sequitur specta quod īminet ante videto

Illum imitare deum qui partem spectat vtramqr

Prouyde thy self and haue delyberaunce

By likly coniecture what may betyde

Aduertise my chylde in thy remembraunce

Afore and after aboute on euery syde

Folowe that god wol and lete hym be thy guyde

Whiche hath al thyng oonly in his gouernement

[Page]Fortune feture & pouste & al that is presente

Forcior vt valeas interdum parcior esto

Pauca voluptati debentur plura saluti

It is a tatche of a deuouryng honde

To receyue superfluyte and do eke excesse

Tyl his receyt ageyn from hym rebonde

Contente thy nature and fle ay from gredynesse

Foule lustes kepe ay vnder fote and represse

Fede not thy lust wyth al that she wol craue

Yf that in helth the list thy lyf to haue

Sic tibi precipue quod primum est cura salutis

Tempora ne culpes cum sint tibi causa doloris

Take good hede eke of thyn owne astate

To rewle thy body wel wyth good dyete

In tyme but loke thou be not at debate

Thrugh thyn owne reule and surfete

Though sekenes and sorowe haue yeue the an hete

The tyme is good and no diesmale ther is

But yf men it make for that they doon a mys

Sompnia ne cures nam meus humana qd optat

Dum vigilat sperat per sompnum cernit idipsū

Drede thou no dremes so seyth deutronomye

For ofte they be caused of dyuers complexion

Sōme of ymagynacions & many a nyce fantasie

Or ellis of blood or of superflue replexion

For dremes ben ofte deceit and fals illusion

Whan they be wakyng they desyre and thynke

Vpon that thyng they dreme whan they wynke

Iudicium populi nunquam contempseris vnus

[Page]Ne nulli placeas dum vis contempnere multos

Whan that a multitude hath yeue a decree

Or concluded ought ageyn thyn entent

Trauerse yet neuer ageynst the coment [...]e

For yf thou doo thou shalt be sore shent

Dispise thou not alone the peoples Iugement

In aduenture thou please of hem not oon

Whiles thou woldest trauerse hem euerichoon

Museth a whyle what al thyse maters mene

Abydeth si [...] and goo no ferther yet

For to rede theym vaileth not a bene

To no man but he the kernel vnknet

Therfore al your herte and al your mynde vnshet

And loke what lieth vnder the boystous rynde

And I dar say of wysdam and of wyt

Plente and foyson therin shal ye fynde

Refressheth your spyrites with this holsom diete

That fostreth vertues and kepith a lyue

To your persone me thynketh ful mete

For to receyue suche a ioyful nutretyf

Whiche your astate shal ay preserue in lyf

In grete honour and kepe you from noyaunce

Out of the daunger of vices infectif

Yf ye wyrche after thys ordenaunce

And in especial look that your dede

May bere trewe wytnes and testefye

The maters that ye beholde and rede

Loke hem with your hert as wel as wyth your eye

And than dar I sey sum what ye shal espye

[Page]In thys werk that shal meue your corage

Wherfore your herte your eye and your spirite applie

Your self ay to rewle after thyse dedes sage

Incipit liber tercius

hOc quicūque velis carmen cognoscere lector

Hec precepta feres que sūt gratissima vite

Lo what wyght that lustyth hym for to rede

In this my dyte sum what shal he fynde

Wherwyth he may his sowle fostre and fede

With vertue and it from vyces vnbynde

Come nere my chyld therfore and haue in mynde

Suche doctryne in thyn herte to bere awey and lere

As to thy self here after shal be leef and dere

Instrue preceptis animum ne discere cesses

Nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis ymago

Mannys sowle resembleth a newe playn table

In whiche yet appereth to sight no picture

The philosophre sayth wythouten fable

Right so is mannys sowle but a dedly fygure

Vnto the tyme she be reclamed wyth the lure

Of doctryne & so gete hyr a good habyt

To be expert in cunnyng science and proffyt

Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis

Vt possis animo quemuis sufferre laborem

Who that lakketh rest may no whyle endure

Therfore amonge take ease and dysporte

Delite the neuer in grete besynesse and cure

[Page]But that whilom thou mayst also resort

To playes recreacions and al other comfort

Than shalt thou better labour a [...]te longe

Whan thou hast myrthe thy besynesse amonge

Cum recte viuas ne cures verba malorum

Arbitrij nostri non ē quod quisque loquatur

Yf thou lyue Iustly ay kepe vp right

Neuer declynyng for mede lucre drede or fauour

Treuly than standest thou in a ful holsom plight

Though men maligne the wyth wordes of rigour

Yf thou lyue thus thy good lyf is thy tour

We may not let the peple to gaure and crye

But do yet wel though they myssey or lye

Productus testis saluo tamen ante pudore

Quantumcunqr potes scelato crimen amici

Sone yf thou be called the soth to testefye

Euermore sauyng thy worshyp and honeste

Thy frendes trespas be not about to bewrye

Where as no shame therof may growe to the

This requyreth ay good frendshyp parde

In wele and the trewe beneuolence

Betwyx folkes is frendshyp in assistence

Sermones blandos blesos (que) cauere memento

Simplicitas viri fama est fraus ficta loquendi

Make besy watche kepe wel thy sowle algate

Behold wysely about & spye thy couert trayne

Whan that fals fauel knokketh at thy yate

He menyth gyle though outward he fayr feyn

For he can anoynte lothe thyn eres tweyn

[Page]With the oyle of plesaunce in ful grete foyson

But yet vnder that kepe th [...] wel from this poyson

Segniciem fugito que vite ignauia fertur

Nam cū aīmus languet consumit inercia corpus

Slouth slogardye and dul ydelnesse

And lachesse that causith to be negligent

Enforce the ay to eschewe wyth al thy besynesse

For ydel sowle makyth thy body shent

Treuly there is in erthe no gretter argument

For to conclude thy mortal body vnapte

Than the soule in ydelnes to be wrapte

Comoda multa feras sinautem spreueris illud

Non me scriptorem (sed) te neglexeris ipse

Enprynte my techyng in thy soule stedfast

And ful proffytable thou shalt it fynde

Forsake it not ner fro thyn herte it caste

For yf that thou exclude out of thy mynde

This lesson thou art ful bareyn and blynde

From vertues and therfore wyte not me

Sithen the defaulte my sone is than in the

Alterius dictum aut factū ne carpseris vnquam

Exemplo simili ne te derideat alter

It is ful hard to please euery wyght

Displese the of no maner dedes ner them lak

Nor theyr wordes neither for euen so right

As thou displesed them behynde thy bak

Right so wol men make the a mok and a knak

For the contrarie though men had it sworn

The scorner shal be guerdoned ay wyth scorn

[Page]

Quod tibi sors dederit tabulis supprema notato

Augendo serua ne sis quem fama sequatur

Whan thy last sort that men callen fate

Is good and plesaunt after thyn entent

This mene I lo whan thou art fortunate

Recorde al thy goodes that god hath the sent

And suffre hem not reklesly to be spent

For than of a wastour thou shalt haue the name

For grete riot wol cause thy feble fame

Cum tibi di [...]ie superant in fine senecte

Munificus facito viuas non parcus amicis

In to grete age what tyme that thou art crept

And hast richesse prosperite and grete habundaunce

Be liberal thā of the goodes that afore thou hast kept

Thenke wele thou hast ynogh & suffisaunce

Lete neuer thy good of the haue gouernaunce

But gouerne & departe it ay wyth thy frend

For whan thou goost hens it may not wyth the wende

Vtile consilium dominus ne despice serui

Nullius sensū si prodest contempseris vnquam

Grace is yeuen to man in many sondry wyse

Sōme haue wysedam & sōme haue eloquence

The poure folkes also sōme tyme be ful wyse

A seruaunt sumtyme may be eke of grete sapyence

Though al he be had in litel reuerence

Rewarde his wyt yf it be worth the whyle

For vertu is hyd vnder many an habit vyle

Rebus et in sensu si non est quod fuit ante

Fac viuas contentus co quod tempora prebent

[Page]This worldes welthe ebbyng and flowyng ay

At no certeyn is like as wankle apryle

Though thou haue losse thou shalt not the dysmay

Be content with that thou hast for the whyle

Sōme man there is that hath neither crosse ne pyle

Now in his warde & yet right good aduenture

Is hym ful nygh no man may knowe his vre

Vxorem fuge ne ducas sub noīe doctis

Nec retinere velis si cepit esse molesta

Wedde not a wyf for hyr enheritaunce

For she wol cast it often in thy berd

And yf she be noyaunt & ful of greuaunce

Constreyne hir neuer to abyde in thy yerd

Of chastysement it is a cursid swerd

To kepe suche one that wol ay a twyte

For he is at ease that of suche oon is quyte

Multorum disce exemplo que facta sequaris

Que fugias vita nobis est aliena magistra

Of other men thou shalt thy myrrour make

Confourme the to that / that most men appreue

What thou shalt do & what thou shalt forsake

A better fete maist thou not contreue

Than to other mennys dedes releue

In al that perteyneth to thy techyng

Make of other men a reule of thy leuyng

Quod potes id tempta operis ne pondere pressus

Succūbat labor et frustra temptata relinquas

Attempte no thyng that surmounteth thy myght

Ner that to finysshe thou mayst not acheue

[Page]For than standest thou foule in thyn owne fight

Ouer his power what man that lusteth meue

With shame his werke must nedes take leue

It is folye a man suche werkes to begynne

Whiche to perfourme his power is to thynne

Quod nosci factum non recte noli silere

Ne videare malos imitare velle tacendo

Lawe presumeth that what man kepyth stylle

The cryme of oon that hath doon grete offence

And dyscoueryd hit not he is than ille

As the crymynous for kepyng of his scilence

Therfore my sone brynge it in to audyence

That thou perceyuest not wele don is

Lest for silence men deme of the amys

Iudicis auxilium sub iniqua lege rogato

Ipse etenim leges cupiunt vt iure regantur

Whan the lawe is streyt and rigorous

Entrete ay the Iuge to do the fauour

Enclynyng hym for to be gracious

For an egal Iuge may thy cause ay socour

And yet the lawe shal be his gouernour

Whiche oweth sumtyme to modefye

As in cas he may a poynt espye

Quod merito pateris pacienter ferre memento

Cun (que) reus tibi sis ipsū te iudice dampna

What peyne thou suffrest for thy desert

Receyue it ay wele in gree and pacience

Al though thy trespas be preuy and couert

Yet whan thou weyes it in thyn aduertence

[Page]That thou art blemysshed in thy conscience

With in thy self make thou an arbytrement

Demyng thy self in thyn owne Iugement

Multa legas facito parlectis parlege multa

Nam miranda canunt sed non credenda poete

Myspende thou no tyme neuer for lachesse

But whylom rede in bookes olde and wyse

Rede and reporte eke wyth grete attentyfnesse

By redyng to cūnyng a man may ryse

Than rede my sone and cūnyng accomplise

Thyse poetes writen thynge of grete meruayle

And eke of smale credence ofte this is no fayle

Inter conuiuas fac sis sermone modestus

Ne dicare loquax dum vis vrbanus haberi

Euermore amonge frendes sittyng atte feste

Be thou curteys and demeure of thy langage

Who that speketh most is not counted wysest

For of flessh and bone nature hath made a cage

The tonge to kepe that she be not outrage

Than yf thou wyll be preferred of nature

Refrayne thy tonge wyth al thy besy cure

Coniugis irate noli tu verba timere

Nam lacrimas struit insidias dum femina plorat

Sōme women wepen of pure feminite

Whan otherwyse they can not theyr entent

Acheue but yet beware of suche nyce pyte

Thy manly reson for that be not blent

For suche wepyng thy herte ought neuer relent

Sōme wōmen of kynde be euer wepyng

[Page]And vnder that they can both prik and stynge

Vtere quesitis sed ne videaris abute

Qui sua consumunt cū deest aliena sequntur

Whan thou hast goten to thy worshyp vse

What auayleth richesse wythout honour

To spende ay good and worshyp to refuse

Is no poynt of proffyt nor of socour

Therfore that thou hast goten wyth trewe labour

Consume not in mysuse lest thou doo a mys

Ofte he nedyth of other that wasted hath his

Fac tibi pro penis mortem non esse timendam

Que bona si non est finis tamen illa [...]norum

Enprynte my child ay hertly in thy mynde

That thou be not of deth so sore a drad

Whiche shal the from wretchednes vnbynde

Where in thy lyf so longe thou hast forth lad

A lyf perauenture to god and man ful bad

The whiche though she be not to al proffytable

Ye [...] she maketh an ende bothe of bad and able

Vxoris linguam si frugi est ferre memento

Nam (que) malum nil velle pati nec posse taceri

Thy wyues wordes thou suffre and take in g [...]

Whan it auayleth for betyde it may

Ful ofte that of grete prudence is she

And most to be alowed this is no nay

Suffre her than and hyr conceyt assay

For it is hard when thou can not be stylle

Ner yet to suffre hir thou can eke haue wylle

Dilige non egra caros pietate parentes

[Page]Nec matrem offendas dum vis bonus esse parenti

Goodes that ben yeuen the of nature

They come to the of thy progenytours

Therfore my chyld wyth al thy force and cure

Look thou loue hem and cherisshe at al houris

Fer they fostrid the & kept in youth from shouris

Thy moder my dere chyld yet in especial

Yf thou doo wele neuer offende at al

Resorte resorte and hyderward the releue

My mayster now here is an holsome eyre

For your auayle to this place retreue

Where as for moralite spryngyng floures feyre

And sote ful plesantly do they repeyre

Gadre of hem and make a chaplet or a gay

And rest thou a whyle right in thys herbere

Behold wel and see what thyng is to your pay

Incipit liber quartus

sEcuram quicū (que) cupis deducere vitam

Nec vicijs herere aīm que moribus obsūt

What wyght that list to lyue in sykernesse

His lyf and his sowle to kepe froth encumbraūce

Of vyces the whiche & good thewes expresse

Be ay at stryf come nere & geue attendaunce

Thise preceptis kepe wele in remembraunce

Enrollyng hem and pryutyng in your mynde

And so to lyue the menes shal ye fynde

Despice diuicias si nis animo esse beatus

[Page]Quas qui suscipiunt mendicant semper auari

The foule talent of riches my chyld eschewe

And resemble thou neuer gredy tantalus

Whos etik in hunger is alwey newe

Amonge the feyr apples delicious

No water swete quenchith his thrust. right thus

To vilayns swalowe of couetyse

Loo al this world nought can ner suffyse

Comoda nature nullo tibi tempore deerunt

Si contentus es fueris quod postulat vsus

With resonable fedyng be thou content

As in diete a man shold neuer ouer charge

Hym self for wyth surfet many men ben shent

For theyr receytis ben to grete and large

Men seen al day that litel bote or barge

Wol drenche anon whan it is ouer freyght

Cherisshe euer nature wyth none ouer weyght

Cum sis incautus nec rem racione gubernas

Noli fortunam que non est dicere cecam

Yf thy thynge the happe to mysgouerne

Without reason or ony prouydence

Than myn owne chyld of me thys lesson lerne

Say not it was by fortune suche expence

To make but wyte it thyn owne negligence

For fortune may neuer compelle the

Thy good to spende but at thy liberte

Dilige denarium sed parce dilige formam

Quam nemo sanctus nec honestus captat habere

Loue thou the peny as for thy cheuesaunce

[Page]Not for the quoyne to horde it vpon hepe

For of the prynce was made the ordonaunce

Not for in cofres it shold be stylle and slepe

But that it shold ay shere amonge the peple & lepe

In theyr eschaunge & who that kepyth hit Inne

As for the fourme is ay subget to synne

Cum fueris locuples corpus curare memento

Eger diues habet nūmos (sed) non habet ipsum

Whan thou hast plente and art pecunyal

I mene whan thou hast grete suffysaunce

Of money foyson and helpe but smal

Than spende thy money and thy self auaunce

Kepe neuer the coyne and lyue in greuaunce

The sike hath siluer and ful grete excesse

But of hym self he hath no sikernesse

Verba cum tuleris discens aliquando magistri

Fer patris imperium cū verbis exit in iram

Though sumtyme thou suffre the grete sharpnes

Of betynge yet ay thy maysters chastisement

Take wel in gre wyth humble lowlines

Sith it is doon but al in good entente

In cause to lerne and wysedom for to hent

Al though his wordes sowne ful of Ire

Yet suffre thou the talent of that fyre

Res age que prosūt rursus vitare memento

In quibus error inest nec spes est certa laboris

Also my child thou shalt the ay ocupye

To werke thynges that ben proffytable

But look thou neuer thy wyttes applye

[Page]To thynges that may not be auaylable

To kepe a thynge that is not proffytable

By wyt or strengthe it is grete errour

Dispayrid hope is the ende of suche labour

Quod donare potes gratis concede roganti

Nam recte fecisse bonis in parte lucrosū est

Whan thou shalt yeue than yeue in frendly wyse

Frendly content thou a prayer or a request

For thynge yeuen by tyme is yeuen twise

Suche gladsom chere makith yeftes richest

Who that yeueth gladly & sone yeueth is best

Loo no thyng better may thyng conquere

Than a man to lene that he may forbere

Quod tibi suspectum est confestim discute quid sit

Nam (que) solent primo que sūt neglecta nocere

Whan vpon a thyng thou hast a coniecture

As in thy conceyt holdyng in suspect

To discoure that anon do thy cure

For at the first whan suche thynge is reiect

That shold sewe after his easy to correct

A thyng that at the first is nought set by

Is often tymes sene to greue fynally

Cum te detineat veneris dampnosa voluptas

Indulgere gule noli que ventris amica est

And whan thou art dysposed inwardly

To venus actes than expresse thy corage

Suffre not thy flessh than to lustelye

For grete dicte makyth thy flessh outrage

Where as mesure myght causen it to aswage

[Page]And glotenye is clepyd the chyef prometrice

Ledyng the flesshe ay to wantonesse and vice

Cum tibi proponas aīalia cuncta timere

Vnum precipue hoīem plus esse timendum

The rampant lyon and the tigre felle

The Irous boor the hounde ful of enuye

And many moo bestis than here nedeth to telle

Men dreden ful sore and eke theyr tyrannye

And wele they do but yet oon beest espye

That is a fore al other moost especial

Man is the beest that thou moost drede shal

Cum tibi preualide fuerint in corpore vires

Hac sapias aīo sic tu poteris vir fortis haberi

The vertue that is callyd fortitude

Stondeth al in the strengthe bodely

As to be Irous myghty stronge and rude

But in the soule it must be sikerly

Neuertheles yf thou wylt thy sowle fortefye

And hym wythin a queynte wyth sapyence

Treuly than shalt thou be stronge in existence

Auxilium a notis petito si forte laboras

Nec quisquā melior medicus quam fidus amicus

What thyng in erthe that thou shalt take on honde

And thy supporte shal be in frendlynesse

No straunge wyght on lyue so nygh the wol stonde

As thy knowen frende my chyld this is expresse

Of the straunger hast thou no sikernesse

For whan al other ben for to seche

The feithful knowen frend can best be thy leche

[Page]

Cum sis ipse nocens moritur cur victima pro te

Stulticia est in mortem alterius sperare salutem

The deth of bestis that ben vnresonable

As by custume and right of sacrifise

To pourge the is no seth greable

Trust not also to gete thy repryse

For they that trusten so ben ful vnwyse

[...]y deth of bestis god wol not quemed be

And a man abyde stylle in his iniquyte

Cum tibi vel socium vel fidum queris amicum

Non tibi fortuna est hoīs (sed) vita petenda

whan thou wold chese a frende for trustynesse

Of his fortune make none enquyraunce

For fortune is moder of chaungeablenesse

But aske of his dedes and his gouernaunce

For that is proued of gretter suffisaunce

Than vre of fortune that is casuelle

For lyf of man his fortune doth excelle

Vtere quesitis opibus fuge nomen auari

Quid tibi di [...]ie prosūt si pauper habundas

Vse wel the richesse that thou hast of quest

Of auarice the wycked fame eschewe

Let not thy good lye ay stoppyd in thy chest

Kepe not thy tresour and stuf ay closed in mewe

Suche olde tresour wol make thy shame newe

What proffyteth plente and grete tresure

And in pouerte a wretche alwey to endure

Si famam seruare cupis dum viuis honestam

Hac fugias aīo que sūt mala gaudia vice

[Page]My sone yf thou desyre to reioyse thy fame

In honeste whyle thou lyuest here

Eschewe thynge that may causen thy shame

And lycorous lustes must be leyde on here

And eke thynges fele that ful ioyous appere

Thy worldes ioye is ofte ful defectyf

Be waar of ioye that lettith thy good lyf

Cum sapias aīo noli irridere senectam

Nam quoqun (que) sene puerilis sensus in ille est

And ay my chylde assay and aduertise

That thou neuer scorne the grete stoupyng age

Thy elder my soke for no thynge thou dispise

Though al in theyr wyttes they be not so sage

As in theyr yongth sithe age is outrage

Whan age cometh this is soth certeyn

A man begynneth than to be a chyld ageyn

Disce aliquid nam cū subito fortuna recedit

Ars remanet vitam (que) hoīs non deserit vnquam

Enforce thy wyttes sumwhat for to lere

Acqueynte the wyth cunnyng for it is sure

Yf fortune chaunge and pouerte appere

Who that is cunnyng is likly to recure

Cūnyng and crafte remayne euer and endure

And by theym a man may sone releue

Whan fortune hath cast hym to myschieue

Prospicito cūcta tacitus quod quis (que) loquatur

Sermo hoīm mores celat et iudicat idem

Be stille in scilence wyth good aduysydnesse

Tarye my chylde til other haue sayde

[Page]So shalt thou lerne sumwhat of stedfastnesse

Lete neuer thy tonge sodeynly be vnteyde

For that myght the of hastynesse abreyde

By mannys worde his maner wol be shewde

By worde eke is knowen the wyse from the lewde

Excerce studium quamuis parceperis artem

Vt cura ingenium sic et manus adiuuat vsum

Though of cunnyng thou haue ful grete

Enforce the ay my chylde yet to lerne more

The soule it is that must be thy receyt

Replenysshe here with vertues tresour and store

Vse makyth mastrie vse thou ay cūnyng therfore

Vse helpeth art and cure helpyth wyt

Than vse and cure to gedre must be knyt

Multum venturi ne cures tempora fati

Non metuit mortem qui scit contempnere vitam

The body from the soule shal haue disseueraunce

Deth is the ende comune of euery wyght

Charge not therfore of dethis chaunce

The tribute of deth must thou pay of right

But yet of deth shalt thou set but light

Yf by this lif thou set right nought expresse

The whiche is ay ful of woo and wretchidnesse

Disce sed a doctis indoctos ipse doceto

Propaganda est etenim re (rum) doctrina bonarum

Lerne ay of the wyse & teche the vncūnyng

For it is vertue and at al tyme cōmendable

To encrese doctryne thrugh suche cōmenyng

It is eke alwey a dede of god charitable

[Page]Bothe to lerne and to teche it is ful greable

Doctryne helpeth vertue euermore on lyue

Whiche ne were doctryne sone from vs wold slyue

Hoc bibe quod possis si tu vis viuere sanus

Morbi causa mali nam (que) est quecū (que) voluptas

Drynke not to moche more than thou may bere

Reule wel ay thy self wyth the bridel of mesure

To moche drynke wol thy body noye and dere

For surfet is euermore of helth vnsure

And mesure makith men in helth to endure

What man is reuled after lustes vile

In good astat he may abyde no whyle

Laudaris quodcū (que) palam quodcūque probaris

Hoc vide ne rursus leuitatis crimine dampnes

And yf it hap the my chylde in audience

A thyng to prayse be waar that thou not blame

Efte agayn right the same in presence

Yf thou dyspreyse cōmende not eke the same

Of suche trauerse must nedes rise shame

To preyse now and efte to blame expresse

It is a signe of grete vnstedfastnes

Tranquillis rebus que sūt aduersa caueto

Rursus in aduersis melius sperare memento

Whan thou lyuest here right at thyn owne ease

In al thyn hertes ioye rest and prosperite

Thynke yet parcas that prosperite may sese

For worldly welth standeth neuer in sikerte

And as sone whan pouerte or aduersite

Assauteth the yet falle thou neuer in dispayre

[Page]Thynke ay in thy self good fortune may repaire

Discere non cesses cura sapiencia crescit

Rara datur longo prudencia temporis vsu

It is ful fayr my chylde to be prudent

And wyse look that thou lerne fast therfore

To lerne ay my sone do thyn entente

For by cure and besynesse wysdam is the more

Wysdam is she that may not be forbore

The rare prudence that folkes nyce refuse

Can neuer be had but by processe and vse

Parce laudato nam quem tu sepe probaris

Vna dies qualis fuerit monstrabit amicus

Bewaar also that thou neuer enhaunce

In thy laude or praysyng a wyght to hye

For thou maist haue cause eft to disauaunce

Thy fame but ay thy praysyng modefye

For on a day thou shalt ful wel espye

Whether he be frende that frendly semyth

For al be no frendes that men demyth

Ne pudeat que nescieris te velle doceri

Scire aliquid laus est culpa est nil discere velle

Be not a shamyd also my chyld to lere

That thou canst not for it is but a tetche

Of folye nought to desyre doctryne to here

For wele is hym that to cūnyng may stretche

For cūnyngles a man is but a wretche

Therfore to cūne moche it is right cōmendable

And eke nought to cūne it is most repreuable

Cum venere et bacho lis est et iuncta voluptas

[Page]Quod iustum est animo complectere (sed) fuge lites

Venus is ay redy to al her actes vyle

Whan that bachus hath hyr in largesse

Thrugh the tresour of hir hete and feruent fire

Therfore my chyld thyn appetit thou represse

In wynes hote do thou neuer to grete excesse

Drynke nomore than for the soule is expedyent

Eschewe stryf and ay wyth mesure be content

Dimissos animo tacitos vitare memento

Quo flumen est placidum fursan latet alcior vnda

The soleyn styl man oft menyth fraude & gyle

Of suche a man eschewe ay the companyr

For the stille man compassyth other whyle

Within his deceyt falshede and trecherye

In flodes stylle is water depe and hye

For often tymes betyde vnhappy chaunce

In stremes softe semyng to thy plesaunce

Cum tua fortuna rerum tibi displicet vni

Alterius specta quo sis discrimine peior

With thy fortune whan thou art dyscontent

And canst not take in gre thyn aduenture

Behold about and fele in thyn aduysement

How they that whilom were of goodes more sure

Than thou and more likly in welth tendure

Bothe for bounte fauour and eke noblesse

And yet sodeynly they haue falle in to wretchydnesse

Quod potes id tempta nam litus carpere remis

Tucius est multo quam velū tendere in altum

Attempte the thyng so as thou mayst suffyse

[Page]Passe neuer thy myght bere neuer to hygh a sayle

For there is perel yf that the streme aryse

Certeyn my chylde this is wythout fayle

The vessel smal is at ful grete auayle

Whan that wyth oore to londe he may a reche

Whan the sayles hygh ful ofte goon to wreche

Contra hoīem iustum praue contendere uoli

Semper enī deus iniustas vlciscitur iras

Agayn the trewe iust mā braule thou neuer ne stryue

For vnto god aboue that is grete displesaunce

Trust this trewly ther is no man here on lyue

That to the iust man doth dere or greuaunce

But at the last god wol take vengeaunce

Therfore herof it is reason eche man to take

For the rightwys man of god is neuer forsake

Ereptis opibus noli merere dolendo

Sed gaude pocius si te contingat habere

Yf extorcion or of ony mysauenture

Haue plukked at the and made the thredbare

Of richesse yet do thou ay thy force & cure

To be mery and eschewe thought and care

For fliteryng thought is a foule snare

Come not therin fortune is vnstable

After pouerte richesse is preignable

Est iactura grauis (que) sūt amittere dampnis

Sunt quedam (que) ferre decet pacienter amicum

It is harme thy goodes to forgoo

That ben in hand with force and violence

But yet my chyld thou must considere who

[Page]And what he is that doth suche offence

Betwene frende & foo haue ay a difference

For in sōme caas thou ought a frend forbere

And eke suffre hym though he noye and dere

Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vite

Quodcū (que) īgrederis sequitur mors corporis vmbrā

Be not sure that thou shalt lyue here longe

A wight shal dye al be it that he be loth or leef

And as the olde so doth the yonge eke amonge

Deth stelith ay on as doth a pryue theef

For ageyn deth men may fynde no releef

She is aboute ay to make a fynal dyuorse

And foloweth eche day the shadowe of thy corse

Thure deum placa vitulum siue crescat aratro

Net credas placare deum dum cede litatur

Worshyp god with al thy puyssaunce

With hert entier & swete smellyng ensence

Suche sacrifise is good to his pleasaunce

Of the calues smale that neuer dyd offence

Though thou hem sle the blood may not dyspence

With the lete hem growe & swynke in the plough

Thy trewe hert ay to god is suffisaunce is ynough

Cede locū lesus fortune cede potenti

Ledere qui potuit aliquando prodesse valebit

Yeue place to hym that excedyth thy myght

Though thou be hurt it may proffyte par chaunce

And selde auaylith ony man to fyght

Ageyn suche oon that passyth his puyssaunce

Though al it greue now [...]fte it may auaunce

[Page]For ofte is sene that after grete duresse

The myghty man is ful of gentillesse

Cum quid peccaris castiga te ipse subinde

Vulnera dum sanas dolor est medicina doloris

After thy surfet and thy grete offence

Chastise thy self correct that is amys

Redresse the to good reule amende thy negligence

And sorowe for synne a very medecyne is

Repente the sore than art thou sauf I wys

For physik seyth my sone I the ensure

A bytter drynke the sharpe seknesse may cure

Dāpnaris nunquam post longum tempus amicū

Mutauit mores (sed) pugnera prima memento

Yf thou haue founde good frendshyp in a wyght

Longe a goo & yet though he begyn to chaunge

Dispeyre hym not men abyde not in oon plight

For sumtyme was lordship ther now is graunge

The worldes cours is wonder queynt and straunge

But though as now the man is wer vnkynd

Yet is olde frendshyp remembred ay in mynde

Gracior offic [...]s quo sis mage carior esto

Ne nomen subeas quod dicitur officiperdi

Though [...] vre the in offyce to be set

Than be thou gentil and gracious to other men

That they may reporte a goodly is met

With offyce and so good name shal [...]

Aboute of the but assure the [...]st when

The officer [...] vnbounde than saith the prees

Now wold to god that this man were officeles

[Page]

Suspectus caueas ne sis miser omni (bus) horis

Nam timidis et suspectis aptissima mors est

Be not suspect that is a wycked teche

The suspect man wyth toward ferfulnesse

In his lyuyng is but a verry wretche

Mys is a mys but al he wold redresse

He demeth fals and fayleth hertlinesse

By fals conceyt set in malencolye

Sleth hym anon thus deth endeth his folye

Cum seruos fueris proprios mercatus in vsus

Et famulos dicas hoīes tamen esse memento

Yf thou haue men wythout fredom and liberte

Suche as ben cleped men of bondage

Notwithstandyng they be vnder thy captyuyte

Yet honour suche and ouer hem be not to outrage

Yf they be holden vnder thy worldly seruage

For al they be bound yet verrey men they be

That god hath made theym men yet ay remembre the

Quam primum rapienda tibi est occasio prima

Ne rursus queras que iam neglexeres ante

Thi first fortune receyue wyth redinesse

Refuse it not though it be skant & smal

It is wel better in gree to take the lesse

Than to refuse it and after fayle of al

Yeftes of fortune take hem ay as they fal

Refuse hem now and after thou shalt haue nede

Therfore it is to take whan me profre and bede

Morte repentina noli gaudere malorum

Felices obiunt quorum sine crimine vita

[Page]Reioyse the neuer my chyld in al thy lif

The sodeyn deth of a cursid man & wreche

Whan he is deed the soule may not relef

From payn to ioy the soule may not retche

The fendes holde ay sore that they may ketche

Therfore who that lyueth iustly ful wel doth he

For his soule is ay ful of felicite

Cum coniunx tibi sit nec res et fama laborat

Vitandum ducas inimicū nomen amici

Yf thou haue a wyf in assuraunce

Trust hyr wel and loue hyr inwardlye

With hert with thought wyth al thy affiaunce

And be thou neuer infect with suspect Ielosie

Yf no fault be in hir or that thou can espye

Yet yf thy frend tel the suche is the fame

He is a frende and she no thyng to blame

Cum tibi contigerit studio cognoscere multa

Hac discas multa vita nescire doceri

Whan thrugh studye and grete excersice

[...] knowest moche & hast grete kunnyng

Yet ay do thy diligence in the most besy wyse

To purchase more for it is an holsom thyng

For to grete honour cūnyng may the bryng

And eschewe thou neuer daily to be taught

For without techyng cūnyng may not be caught

Miraris verbis nudis me scribere versus

Hec breuitas sensus fecit coniungere binos

[...]f thou ought meruayl or lust to muse

In naked wordes why my versus thus I write

[Page]In no wyse trewly I may me better excuse

Than say my wyt so dul is and vnparfite

Whiche arteth me thus rudely for to endyte

By two and two my metre for to knyt

No thyng causeth me but symplenes of wyt

Now I haue gadered floures to your list

Tasteth theym for they be preseruatyf

Holdeth theym fast & bere them in your fist

For the pestylence eire whiche is infectif

I counceyl you & I ieparde my lyf

That ye shuld lede your lif in sikernesse

And eke ateyne to moche worthynesse

This mene I to you vnder protection

Of your good grace what tyme ye rede

Or ellis haue in this mater inspection

As it biddeth that ye wol do in dede

Than dar I afferme without drede

Ye shul acheue and be ful vertuous

Here haue I fond that shal ye guyde and lede

Streyght to good fame & leue you in hyr hous

Explicit Chato

Information about this book

Title statement

Hic incipit paruus CathoCatonis disticha. English and Latin.

Edition statement

1483

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A18232

ID [STC]

STC 4852

ID [STC]

ESTC S108753

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99844409

ID [PROQUEST]

99844409

ID [VID]

9219

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A18232)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 9219)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1:22)

Source

— Hic incipit paruus Catho, Catonis disticha. English and Latin., Cato, Marcus Porcius, 234-149 B.C., attributed name., Burgh, Benedict..

Extent

[56] p.

W. Caxton,. [Westminster :: 1483]. (A loose translation into English by Benedict Burgh, with the original Latin text, of selections from the "Parvus Cato" and of the whole of "Catnis disticha".) (Caption title.) (Imprint from STC.) (Signatures: a-c d⁴ (a1 blank).) (Reproduction of the original in British Library.)

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