❧ An hundred Epigrams. Invented and made by John Heywood.  
Anno Christi. M. D. L.   

¶ To the reader.  

Rhyme without reason, and reason without rhyme  
In this conversion deep difference doth fall.  
In first part whereof where I am fallen this time,  
The folly I grant, which granted (readers all)  
Your grant, to grant this request require I shall,  
Ere ye full reject these trifles following here  
Perceive (I pray you) of the words thintents clear.   

¶ In which (may ye like to look) ye shall espy  
Some words, show one sense, another to disclose,  
Some words themselves sundry senses signify:  
Some words, somewhat from common sense, I dispose,  
To seem one sense in text, another in gloze.  
These words in this work, thus wrought your working tool,  
May work me to seem (at least) the less a fool.   

¶ Than in rough rude terms of homely honesty,  
(For unhonest term (I trust) there none here sounds)  
Wherein fine tender ears shall offended be,  
Those follies, being searched in reasons bounds,  
Reason may be surgin in salving those wounds,  
Turning those sores to salves: for reason doth guess,  
Homely matters, homely terms do best express.   

¶ But where all defence standth in exemption  
To defend me her in out of follies bands,  
So that to redeem me thereno redemption.  
granting and submitting folly, that so stands,  
This last refuge I crave to have, at your hands,  
Those follies standing clear from intent of ill.  
In am or lack of good wit, accept good will,    

¶ The table of this book.  

¶ The preface to the reder.  
An epigram on this book of epigrams. i.  
Of three sages. two.  
Questions answered. iii.  
Of water wine and ale. iiii.  
To much or to little. v.  
Of the senses. vi.  
Of talking. seven.  
Of hears and wits. viii.  
A drunkard ix,  
The fox and the maid. x.  
Of an ill governor called Jude xi.  
Upon giving an alms. xii.  
Of a surfeit. xiii.  
Repugnancy in appearance. xiiii.  
The ape and the ass. xv.  
A fool and a wise man. xvi.  
Of sight xvii.  
Feigned news. xviii.  
Two arm in arm nineteen.  
Of hearing and speaking. xx.  
Of wit, will, and wisdom xxi.  
The wren and her birds. xxii.  
The master and his man xxiii.  
Upon penance. xxiiii.  
jacke and his father. xxv.  
Of a daw. xxvi.  
Of asking and showing the way. xxvii.  
A quiet neighbour. xxviii.  
Of dogs and thieves. xxix.  
A keeper of the commandments. thirty.  
Of a nose. xxxi.  
Letting of a farm. xxxii.  
Age and youth. xxxiii.  
A rose and a nettill. xxxiiii.  
Of the wives and her husbands waist. xxxv.  
An old wives boon. xxxvi.  
A talk of two coneys. xxxvii.  
A prisoner. xxxviii.  
Two blind men. xxxix  
Debilitee of senses. xl.  
A foolish husband. xli.  
A witty wife. xlii.  
handsome handling. xliii.  
A saying of Patch, my lord Cardinal's fool. xliiii.  
Certain follies. xlv.  
Of two students. xlvi.  
A merry woman. xlvii.  
A louse and a flea. xlviii.  
Of him that forgot his Pater noster in Latin. xlix.  
Of him that could not learn his Pater noster in english. l.  
Of the fist and the heart. li.  
Of this word, enough, lii.  
Of table play. liii.  
The cock and the hen. liv.  
Chepening a face of fur. lv.  
buying of shoes. lvi.  
A suspicion cleared. lvii.  
Of spite. lviii.  
Of the letter H. lix.  
Ill fleeing of Idilnesse. lx.  
A tongue and a clock. lxi.  
A hearer of a sermon. lxii.  
A man without wit, strength, and cunning. lxiii.  
How to wish. lxiiii.  
A doubtful demand of choice. lxv.  
An old widower, and a young maid. lxvi.  
Gaping oysters. lxvii.  
The judge and the juggler. lxviii.  
Of looking. lxix.  
Of constancy. lxx.  
Of a face and a wit. lxxi.  
Of blowing. lxxii.  
To the flatterer. lxxiii.  
Of contentation. lxxiiii.  
Of waiting. lxxv.  
Of foreknowlage. lxxvi.  
The same impugned without change of words, except. iiii. or five.  
Mistaking an errand. lxxvii.  
Of keeping an Inn. lxxviii.  
A wives defence of her betill brow. lxxix.  
The shrewd wives tongue. lxxx.  
A fools tongue. lxxxi.  
Of glass and lattice. lxxxii.  
Tow wishes for two manner of mouths. lxxxiii.  
Of dispraise. lxxxiiii.  
A discharge from hypocrisy. lxxxv.  
Of the fool and the gentilmans nose. lxxxvi.  
A fool taken for wise. lxxxvii.  
Things to forbear. lxxxviii.  
Of meddlers. lxxxix.  
Of dwelling. xc.  
Of the milner and the sexton. xci.  
Of books and cheese. xcii.  
Of heads. xciii.  
The woodcock and the daw. xciiii.  
Of few words. xcv.  
Woting and weening. xcvi.  
The same otherwise.  
A much like matter. xcvii.  
wisdom and folly. xcviii.  
Of lack. xcix.  
The whethercock, the reed, and the wind. C.   
The end of the table.   

An Epigram on this book  
of Epigrams. I.  

THis book may seem, as it sorteth in suit,  
A thin trim trencher to serve folk at fruit:  
But carver or reader can no way win,  
To cut fruit thereon, or count fruit therein.    

Of three sages. II.  

¶ Three manner sages nature doth devise,  
The sage herb, the sage fool, and the sage wise,  
And who for most wile himself doth accept,  
May match any sage, the sage wise except.    

Questions answered. III.  

¶ Trust thet any,  
That trust not many?  ye. 
Please they any,  
That serve many?  Nay. 
Help they any,  
That help not many?  ye. 
Friend they any,  
That flatter many?  Nay. 
Fear they any,  
That do fray many?  ye. 
Keep they any,  
That keep to many?  Nay.   

Of water, wine, and ase. FOUR  

¶ Water under a boat, wine in a bottle,  
The tone I can bear, tother birth me well:  
And where as neither boats nor botels be,  
Nother can I bear wine, nor water bear me.  
But above all liquor welfare ale (I say)  
For I with ale, and ale with me wag away.    

To much or to little. V  

¶ If that I drink to much, than am I dry,  
If I drink to little, more dry am I:  
If I drink no whit, than am I driest,  
To much, to little, no whit, nought is the best.  
Thus drink we no whit, or drink till we burst,  
Yet poor dry souls we be ever a thirst,    

Of the senses. VI  

Speak not to much, lest speech make the speechless,  
Go not to much, for fear thou go behind,  
Here not to much, lest hearing bring deafness.  
Look not to much, lest looking make the blind.  
Smell not to much, lest smelling lose his kind.  
Taste not to much, lest taste mistast thy chaps.  
touch not to much, for fear of after claps.    

Of talking VII  

¶ Thy tail can talk, and knoweth no letter.  
Thy tongue can talk, and talkth much sweiter  
But except wisdom were the greater,  
Of tongue and tail thy tail talkth better.    

Of hears and wits. VIII.  

¶ Thynne hears and thick wits be deyntee.  
Thick hears, and thin wits be plenty.  
Thick hears and thick wits be scant,  
Thin hears and thin wits none want.    

A drunkard. IX.  

¶ A goose is harnessed in her white feathers,  
A drunkard in drink against all weathers,  
A fool in his fools hood, put all togethers.    

The fox and the maid. X.  

¶ Although that foxes have been seen there seld,  
Yet was there lately in Fynsbery field  
A fox sat in sight of certain people  
Nodding, and blessing, staring on poulis steeple.  
A maid toward market with hens in a band  
Came by, and with the fox she fell in hand.   

What thing is it Rainard in your brain plodding,  
That bringth this busy blessing and nodding?  
I neither nod for sleep sweet heart the fox said,  
Nor bliss for spirit, except the devil be a maid.  
My nodding and blessing breedth of wonder  
Of the wit of Paul's weathercock yonder.  
There is more wit in that cocks only head,  
Than hath been in all men's heads that be dead.  
As thus; by common report this we find,  
All that be dead, did die for lack of wind.  
But that weathercocks wit is not so weak  
To lack wind: the wind is ever in his beak.  
So that while any wind blowth in the sky,  
For lack of wind that weathercock will not die.  
She cast down her hens, and now did she bliss.  
jesus (quoth she) In nomine patris,  
Who hath ever heard at any season  
Of a foxes forging so ●eat a reason?  
And while she praised the fox's wit so,  
He got by'r hens in his neck, and to go.  
Whither away with my hen's fox (quoth she?)  
To Poulis pig as fast as I can (quoth he.)  
Between these hens, and yonder weathercock  
I will assay to have chickens a flock.  
Which if I may get, this tale is made good,  
In all Christendom not so wise a brood.  
Maiden (quoth he) these hens be foreboden  
Your sight, till that weathercock hath trodden.  
woe worth (quoth she) all crafty inventions,  
And all inventors, that by false intentions,  
Invent with intent to blind or blear blunt eyes,  
In case as this fox to me doth devise.    

Of an ill governor called jude. XI.  

¶ A ruler there was in countreie a far,  
And of the people a great extortioner:  
Who by name (as I understand) was called Jude,  
One gave him an as, which geft when he had veude,  
He asked the giver, for what intent  
He brought to him that as. For a present  
I bring master Jude (quoth he) this as hither,  
To join master Jude and this as together.  
Which two joined in one this is brought to pass,  
I may bid you good even master judas.  
Macabe or Iscariot thou knave (quoth he?)  
Whom it please your master ship, him let it be.    

Upon giving an alms. XII  

¶ Into a beggars hand, that alms did crave,  
In stead of one penny, two pennies one give.  
Which done he said beggar happy thou art,  
For to thee, my hand is better than my heart.  
That is (quoth the beggar) as it chanceth now,  
The better for me, and the worse for you.    

Of a surfeit. XIII.  

¶ A man from a fever recovered new,  
His greedy appetite would not eschew.  
From meat contagious, whereto he had a lust,  
But one morsel one evening, needs eat he must.  
Which forthwith after brought good approbation,  
Of his return into residivation.  
What cause causeth this (quoth the physician?)  
I know (quoth he) no cause of suspicion.  
How be it my wonder is great as can be,  
By what mean this fever attacheth me  
More, for caring a little this night last,  
Than for caring much more the night before past.  
I did eat a capon me every whit  
The last night: after which I felt no fit.  
And this night I eete but one bit of fresh beef,  
And yet am I shaken with the hourson thief.   

Now (quoth the physician) aperth the cause why  
Capon is wholesome, and the beef contrary.  
And a little ill meat giveth sickness more food,  
Than a little to much of meat that is good.   

Sir, I thank you much (quoth the patient)  
This lesson shall hensfoorth make me to consent,  
When I shall needs surfeit, by unruly will,  
Rather to surfeit on that is good, than ill.    

Repugnancy in appearance. XIIII  

¶ Much contrarietee may seem to stand  
Where none is. as by example, my son.  
In London is the best ale of all England:  
And yet as good ale in England as in London.    

The ape and the ass. XV.  

¶ The ape and the ass stood, where they beheelde.  
A course with a greyhound at the hare in a field.  
They well perceiving, the greihound great gronnd wan  
As long as the hare and he foorthright ran.  
And like advantage they saw in the hare,  
When she list lightly to turn here and there.  
The ape to know whether the assis talking,  
Were any quicker than his asshiss stalking,  
Asked the ass: If thou shouldest choose one of both,  
To ren as swiftly as the greyhound yonder goeth,  
Or turn as light as the hare: which one of twain  
Wouldst thou in thy choosing by choice obtain?   

I (quoth the ass) being at liberty,  
Will choose none of both feats, I may say to thee.  
What winneth the dog by his swift footemanship?  
When the bare at pinch turneth from him at a whip.  
And what wynth the hare in her turns so lightly?  
The dog outrenning her again by and by?  
running or turning so, ren or turn who will.  
I will go softly, or else stand even still.  
Howbete to assoil thy question (quoth he)  
If I should choose one, like the hare would I be.  
For where the dog runneth the hare for to kill,  
She turneth for defence, offering the dog none ill.  
And better is this part in this case brother,  
Myself to defend, than offend an other.    

A fool and a wise man. XVI.  

¶ A fool and a wise man riding one espied.  
He asked the horse, that the wise man did ride,  
Whither ghost thou horse? whither go I (quoth he?)  
Ask him that guideth the bridle, ask not me.  
Whither ridest thou fool (ꝙ he) with look so fell?  
Ask my horse knave (said he) what can I tell.  
When fools ride (ꝙ he) that can not rule the rain:  
Their horses be their herbengers, I see plain.  
And when wise men ride, I right well espy,  
themself, not their horse, appoint where they shall lie.    

Of sight. XVII.  

¶ Who needs will look, and would not see,  
The sight once seen thou lokeste fore,  
Close up thine eyes For trust thou me,  
Much looking so, breedth much eye sore.    

Feigned news. XVIII.  

¶ From a field fought, one of the beaten side,  
Ran home, and victory on his part he cried.  
Whose prince by him thus informed of this,  
Made bonfires and banertꝭ as the use is.  
In short time after all which joy and cost,  
The king was ascertained, the field was lost.  
Wherewith he (in as great hast as great grief)  
Charged the first messenger to make proof,  
Where he had this lie, that the field wss wonue.  
Myself sir (quoth he) this lie first begun.  
Which for commodity unto your grace  
And all your subjects. I brought it in place.  
Where the truth should have brought watching & weeping  
My lie brought two days of laughing and sleeping.  
And if ye all this year took my lie for true,  
To keep you merry, what harm could ensue?  
Better is (quoth he) be it new or stolen,  
A harmless lie. than a harmful true tale.  
How his lie was allowed I know none that knoweth?  
But it was at least wink at, I heard of trowth.    

Two arm in arm. XIX  

¶ One said to another taking his arm,  
By licence friend, and take this for no harm.  
No sir (said the other) I give you leave  
To hang on mine arm, but not on my sleeve.    

Of hearing and speaking. XX.  

¶ Who heareth all  
And speaketh nought,  
Chance may so fall  
He is well taught.   

Who speaketh all  
And heareth nought,  
Fall what shall fall,  
He is ill taught.   

Who heareth all,  
And all babbleth,  
What ever fall  
He oft fableth.   

Who heareth nought,  
Nor nought can speak,  
May soon be thought  
A body peak.   

Say nought, here all,  
Say all, here nought,  
Both, none, these fall  
Extremely wrought.   

Who heareth oft  
And speaketh ceil,  
Be wit aloft  
He wynth the field.    

Of wit, will, and wisdom. XXI.  

¶ Where will is good, and wit is ill,  
There wisdom can no manner skill.  
Where wit is good, and will is ill,  
There wisdom sitth all silent still  
Where wit and will are both two ill,  
There wisdom no way meddill will.  
Where wit and will well ordered be,  
There wisdom maketh a trinity.    

The wren and her birds. XXII.  

¶ Of a nest of wrens late bred in a hedge,  
Which the dam forsaking, when they were fledge,  
One said: Alas mother, what is the why?  
That ye draw from us unnaturally.   

Child (quoth the dam) I do now unto thee,  
As my dam in my youth did unto me,  
Whereby I am blameless in that I do,  
Sens I do but as I have been done to,   

Mother (quoth he) to deal as ye be dealt with,  
Is not alway meet: but this is the pith:  
As ye would your dam should have dealt with you,  
So should ye our dam deal with your birds now.  
Why son (quoth she) thinkest thou me such a fool?  
That my child shall set his mother to school?  
Nay, adieu (quoth she) and away she is flown:  
This child for this check refusing for her own.  
Which done, the wren calth his brothers & sisters,  
And unto them this lesson he whisters.  
I see and ye may see (quoth he) by this case,  
The trial of taunts out of time and place.  
Where fair words haply my mother might have won,  
This taunt maketh her refuse me for her son.  
Which may teach us all, where ever we come  
Rather by silence alway to be mum,  
Than in aught at liberty, or forbidden,  
To taunt our betters, openly or hidden.    

The master and the man. XXIII.  

¶ A man, and his man, chanced late to be  
Nie where a crow stood crying in a tree.   

james (ꝙ the master) the crow hath spied thee.  
Nay by God, he looketh on you master (quoth he)  
Tauntꝭ (quoth the master) rebound sometime I see  
Where I thought to taunt thee, thou dost taunt me    

Upon penance. XXIIII.  

¶ Two men of one man were confessed but late,  
And both two had penance after one rate.  
Which was: each of them a penny should give  
To a peniles man, him to relieve.  
th'one of these twayve had one penny and no more.  
Tother, no penny nor farthing had in store.  
They disclosing each to other this case.  
This penny father drew his purse apace,  
saying: since thou art penniless, I will  
give the this penny, my penance to fulfil.   

God thank thee (quoth the t'other) and since thou  
Art now peniles, as I was even now,  
For penance I give this penny to thee,  
As freely as ever thou gavest it to me.  
Well done (quoth the other) bear may we boast,  
Penny dole dealt, without one penny cost.    

Jack and his father. XXV.  

¶ jacke (quoth his father) how shall I ease take?  
If I stand, my legs ache, and if I kneel,  
My knees ache, If I go, than my feet ache,  
If I lie, my back akthe, If I sit, I feel  
My hyps ache: and lean I never so we'll,  
Mine elbows ache. Sir (quoth jacke) pain to exile,  
Sens all these ease not, best ye hang a while.    

Of a daw. XXVI.  

¶ With a crossbow late in hand ready bend  
To shoot at a daw in a tree, I went.  
saying to one by: I will assay to hit  
Yonder I see a daw, if she will sit.   

She is, if she sit, a daw in deed (quoth he)  
But if she sit not, what is she than say ye?   

A daw also (said I.) Than said he, I see,  
Whether a daw sit, or whether a daw flee,  
Whether a daw stand, or whether a daw lie,  
Whether a daw croak, or whether a daw cry,  
In what case so ever a daw persever,  
A daw is a daw, and a daw shall be ever.    

Of she wing the way. XXVII.  

¶ Twain met in a high way, what, time they did go,  
Each one toward the place the t'other came fro.  
What is my way (said the tone) I pray thee?  
foul (quoth th' other.) That is ill tidings (quoth he.)  
I can tell thee better tidings than this:  
Thy way, both fair and smooth as a die is.  
My tidings (quoth he) is better than thine,  
But I think thy tidings truer than mine.  
This is (quoth the t'other) so well brought about,  
That it brought and shall bring me in doubt,  
Which one of these twain is most ill at view,  
Good tales that be false, or ill tales that be true.    

A quiet neighbour. XXVIII.  

¶ Accounted our commodities,  
Few more commodious reason sees,  
Than is this one commodity,  
Quietly neighboured to be.  
Which neighbourhood in thee aperes.  
For we two having ten whole years  
Dwelled wall to wall, so ioignynglie,  
That whispering soundeth through well nigh,  
I never heard thy servants brawl  
More than thou hadst had none at all:  
Nor I can no way make avaunt,  
That ever I heard the give them taunt.  
Thou art to them, and they to thee  
More mild than mute. mum ye be.  
I hear no noise mine ease to break:  
Thy buterie door I hear not creak.  
Thy kitchen 〈◊〉 cumbereth not by heat,  
Thy cook's chop neither herbs nor meat.  
I never heard thy fire once spark,  
I never heard thy dog once bark,  
I never heard once in thy house.  
So much as one peep of one mouse.  
I never herd thy cat once mew.  
These preises are not small nor few.  
I bear all water of thy soil,  
Whereof I feel no filthy foil,  
Save water, which doth wash thy hands:  
Wherein there none annoyance stands.  
Of all thy guests set at thy board  
I never heard one speak one word,  
I never here them cough nor hem,  
I think hence to jerusalem,  
For this neighbourly quietness  
Thou art the neighbour neighbourlesse.  
For ere thou wouldst neighbours annoy,  
These kinds of quiet to destroy,  
Thou rather wouldst to help that matter,  
At home alone fast bread and water.    

Of dogs and thieves. XXIX.  

¶ To keep thieves by night out of my house,  
I keep doggis to aid me in my yard,  
Whose barking at stur of every mouse.  
By lack of sleep kilth me in regard,  
thieves or dogs than, which may best be spared?  
Murder is the most mischief here to guess,  
thieves can do no more, and dogs will do no less.    

A keeper of the commandements. XXX.  

¶ If it be (as it is) much commendable  
To keep God's precepts, given Moses in table:  
In keeping the same (as thou hast pretended)  
Thou mayest well be marvelously commended.   

First for thy having any more gods but one,  
Thou keepest within that bound, For god thou hast nove.  
Having or worshipping of god false or true,  
Thou hast nor worshippest God old nor new.   

And as for the committing of Idolatry  
By graving to thyself any Imagery,  
This Twenty years day, in weather hot or cool,  
Thou handledst no carving nor working tool.   

The name of god in vain thou consent'st not till,  
Thou never swerst but for some purpose good or ill,   

And as for the holy day, thou dost break none.  
For thou wilt rather make twenty, than break one.   

Father and mother not dishonoured by thee:  
For thou never comest where any of them be.   

And where thou shalt not kill, to clear the of that,  
Thou never durst abide to fight with a gnat.   

Than all adultery or fornication  
chastity dischargeth, by this approbation.  
All women hardly can bear thee their favour,  
To abide thy sight: and in no wise thy savour.   

For stealing or their, what ever thou hast been  
Thy hands at this day are known to be clean.  
How caused thou steel ought in house, field, or street?  
Thou sittest in Newgate fast bound handis and feet?   

By false witness thou never hurtest man for why,  
Eury word thou speak'st, every man thinketh a lie.   

Now to covet in mind thy neighbour's ass,  
Or his house, when bondage will not let the pass  
To ride to the tone, or go to the t'other,  
Or in consented thought one way or other.  
For to covet thy neighbour's maid or his wife,  
Thou knowing, they can not love the for their life,  
Or of thy neighbour's things to covet any thing,  
When covetousness can no way bring winning,  
But that lack of credit, liberty, or love,  
Kepth thee from that coveting can move,  
Thou hast to shrewd a wit in desire to dwell,  
To have things, from which dispeite doth the expel.  
Thus in God's precepts, except thou clear appear,  
I know not who the devil can say he is clear.    

Of a nose. XXXI.  

¶ But for blemish of a face to look upon,  
I doubt which were best, to have a nose or none.  
Most of our savours are more sour than sweet.  
A nose or no nose, which is now most meet?    

Letting of a farm. XXXII.  

¶ By word without writing, one let out a farm,  
The covenauntꝭ wherein the lessee broke a main:  
Whereby the lessor, lacking writing, had harm.  
He said and swore, he would make promise plain,  
Without writing, never to let thing again.  
Husband, cried his wife, that oath again revert,  
Else, without writing, ye can not let a farte.    

Age and youth. XXXIII.  

¶ Though age and youth together can ceil agree,  
Yet once two young and two old folk did I see,  
agreed like lams together divers years.  
The story whereof forthwith appears  
A woman old, and a man young were led,  
She him for love, and he her for good, to wed.  
A young woman, and an old man, in like case,  
Were wed for like cause at the same time and place.  
Into one house these two couples wedded were,  
And during their lives, together must live there.  
And they once acquainted, and one month married,  
All their lives after they never varied.  
Company and condition these four folk hold,  
As nature naturally wylth young and old:  
Coupling themselves together thus every day  
Thold fools aldaie prate, the young fools aldaie play.    

A rose and a nettill XXXIIII.  

What time herbs & weeds, & such things could talk,  
A man in his garden one day did walk  
Spring a nettill green (as Themeraude) spread  
In a bed of roses like the Ruby red.  
Between which two colours, be thought by his eye,  
The green nettill did the red rose beautify.  
How be it he asked the nettill, what thing  
Made him so pert? so nigh the rose to spring.   

I plant me with these roses, said the nettill:  
Their mild properties in me to settill.  
And you, in laying unto me your nose,  
Shall smell, how a nettill may change to a rose.   

He did so: which done, his nostrils so pritcht  
That rashly he rubbed, where it no whit itched,  
To which smart mock, and wily beguiling,  
He the same smelling, said smoothly smiling,  
Roses convert nettils? Nay, they be to fell,  
Nettils will pervert roses rather, I smell.    

Of the wives and her husband's waste. XXXV.  

¶ Where am I least husband? quoth he, in the waste:  
Which cometh of this, thou art vengeable straight last.  
Where am I biggest wife? in the waste (quoth she)  
For all is waste in you, as far as I see.    

An old wives boon. XXXVI.  

¶ In old world, when old wives bitterly prayed,  
One devoutly, as by way of a boon,  
Axt vengeance on her husband, and to him said,  
Thou wouldst wed a young wife ere this week were done  
Were I dead, but thou shalt wed the devil as soon.   

I can not wed the devil (quoth he) why (quothshe?)  
For I have wedded his dam before (quoth he.)    

A talk of two coneys. XXXVII  

¶ In time, when dom beastis, as well as birdꝭ, spoke?  
Two coneys their minds in this matter brake.  
Were all coneys in such case (said the tone)  
That of two winters weathers we must choose one,  
Which were best choice, frost never, & snow ever?  
Or else to choose frost ever, and snow never.  
Frost (quoth the t'other) maketh us lusty and fat,  
And snow lameth us for leave. What (ꝙ he) for that?  
Forty fat coneys be oft killed in one night,  
When lean coneys with life scape away quite.  
Ye (quoth the t'other) but where snow to long lieth,  
Coneys by famine well nigh every one dieth.  
Better all be fat, though some die, as lots fall,  
Than linger in leanness, and thereby die all.    

A prisoner. XXXVIII.  

¶ In prison, a prisoner condemned to die,  
And for execution waiting daily,  
In his hands for worms looking on a day,  
Smiling unto himself these words did say:  
Sens my four quarters in four quarters shall stand,  
Why harm I these silly worms eating my hand?  
Nought else in this deed do I, but myself show,  
Enemy to the worm and friend to the crow.    

Two blind men. XXXIX.  

¶ One blind man to supper an other bad,  
Which twain sitting at such meat as they had,  
Me thinketh (ꝙ this blind host) this candle burnth dim.  
So thinketh me sir, said the blind guest to him.  
Wife (said the good man) with sorrow mend this light.  
She put out the candle, which burned very bright,  
And chopped down empty candelsticks two or three.  
So lo: now eat and welcome neighbour (quoth he)    

Debilitee of senses. XL.  

¶ Wife, my hands for feeling are oft very ill.  
And as th'one hand mendth, tother appeyrth still.   

Ye say so the (said she) th'one hand feelth evermore  
Worse the day present, than the day before.  
Thother hand feeleth by oynctmentes excellent  
Better the day before, than the day present.  
But how doth your eye sight? worse & worse (said he)  
For worse this day than yesterday, I see the.  
Though you were blind (ꝙ she) that should no love break,  
I would your eyes were out, so you could not speak.   

Take hearing to (ꝙ he) thou mak'st my ears such,  
That thou hast made them here enough, and to much.  
And going may go to. For where ever I am,  
I go not an inch from the devil or his dam.   

In faith if thou didst (quoth she) yet could I well  
find mean, to find out a fool even by the smell.  
And here may we here and see, how this tale fits  
With my good man's goodly limbs, and good wits,    

A foolish husband. XLI.  

Husband, two wits are better than one, clarks say,  
To debate mattiers: which seemeth true this way.  
When we two contend, whatmy wit without thine,  
To convince thyself, thy wit conducth mine.    

A witty wife. XLII.  

¶ jane (quoth Jame) to one short demand of mine  
Answer not with a lie, from that mouth of thine,  
And take this nobil Which when she had ta'en,  
Is thy husband (quoth he) a cockold jane?   

She stood still, and to this would no word speak.  
From which dumb dump when he could her not break,  
He axt his nobil again. Why (quoth she?)  
Made I any lie to thee? Nay (quoth he.)   

Than walk fool (ꝙ she) this wager I win clear,  
And thou of my counsel never the near.  
Gog's soul (swore he) and flung away amain,  
I will never talk with that woman again.  
For as she in speech can revile a man,  
So can she in silence beguile a man.    

handsome handling. XLIII.  

¶ Some wonder to see thy handling of things neat,  
But it is no wonder as the case stands.  
The toes of thy feet in handling of things feat,  
Are as handsome as the fingers of thy hands.    

A saying of patch my lord cardinals fool. XLIIII.  

¶ Master Sexton a parson of known wit,  
As he at my lord Cardinal's board did sit,  
greedily caught at a goblet of wine:  
Drink none (said my lord) for that sore leg of thine.  
I warrant your grace (quoth Sexton) I provide  
For my leg: For I drink on the other side.    

Certain follies. XLV.  

¶ To cast fair white salt into wise men's meat,  
To make them count salt sugar, when they eat,  a folly. 
To bear a man in hand he itchth in each part,  
When the man feeleth an universal smart,  a folly. 
To speak always well, and do alway ill,  
And tell men those deeds be done of good will,  a folly. 
Thy lusty limd horse to lead in thy hand,  
When on thy lame limbs thou canst scantly stand,  a folly. 
Of kyks for cage work to build thy house high,  
And cover it with lead, to keep thy house dry.  a folly.   

Of two students. XLVI.  

¶ Two scholars young in the university late  
Kept in thin diet, after scholar's rate,  
th'one being an eater greedy and great,  
Thother a weak feeder, said at his meat:  
Oh this smart small pittans, and hungry diet,  
Maketh us to study aptly in quiet.   

Sure (said the t'other) small meals are induction  
To th'increase of study, for deeper instruction,  
This dinner shall drive me to study anon,  
Where I may get more meat, when this is gone.    

A merry woman. XLVII.  

¶ There came by chance to a good company  
A lady, a wanton and a merry.  
And though every word of her own showed her light,  
Yet no man's words else to her might that recite:  
She had all the words, she babbled so fast,  
That they being weighed, one said at the last:  
Ma dame, ye make my heart light as a kix,  
To see you thus full of your meretrix.   

This trick thus well tricked in the latin phrase,  
Brought unto this tricker nother muse nor maze,  
She nought perceiving, was no whit offended:  
Nor her light demeanour no whit amended,  
But still her tongue was clapping like a paten.  
Well, said the said man, in language of latin  
I never told woman any fault before,  
Nor never in latin will tell them faute more.    

A louse and a flea. XLIII.  

¶ A louse and a flea, set in a man's neck,  
Began each other to taunt and to check.  
Disputing at length all extremities  
Of their pleasures, or discommoditees.  
Namely this I heard, and bare away well.   

If one (quoth the louse) scrat within an ell  
Of thy tail: than forthwith art thou skipping,  
Like jacke of bedlam in and out whipping.  
Half an hour after thou darest no where sit,  
To abide the biting of one good bit.  
And when any man herein shall prove me,  
His nails do (as a writ doth) remove me.  
Which nails once removed from the man's head,  
I am straight at feeding within a hear bread,  
Where I fed before in my dainty diet.   

Ye be hardy (quoth the flea) I deny not,  
But how many lise have abiden by it?  
When they would have done as fleas do, fly it.  
With this the man to his neck his hand caught,  
The flea skipped away, but the louse he caught.   

How now (quoth the flea) Alas (quoth the louse)  
My head is well served to serve for sowse:  
That thus like a sowse head, for saw not this grief,  
Till feeling hath put painful practice in proof.    

Of him that forgot his Pater noster in Latin. XLIX.  

¶ An old homely man at shrift commanded  
By his Curate, his Pater noster to bid  
After long study, he said: Master vicker,  
By jys I'm a shamed, my wit is no quicker.  
Ich said it within little more than fortnight.  
And now, like a beast, cha forgot it quite.  
Fie on age. In youth Ich had ever such wit,  
That what so ever Ich had had to do, yet  
At shrift chad my Pater noster ever more,  
When Ich said it not twice in the year before.    

Of him that could not learn his Pater noster in english. L.  

¶ A man of the country shriven in Lent late,  
(According to thinjunction) his curate  
Bade him, the Pater noster in english say,  
Ich can it not master (quoth he) by my say.  
Say a piece of it (quoth he) though ye the rest miss,  
Ich can not one word of it (quoth he) by jies.  
And yet master vicar, by god's sacrament,  
Cha 〈◊〉 about it ever seus last lent.  
And some of it Ich had in the cleansing week.  
But now when Ich should saee it, all is to seek.  
〈◊〉 (quoth the priest) if your wit be so far decayed,  
Say the Paternoster, ye have alway said.   

Nay by the mass (swore he) if you will have all told,  
Cha ●●●●rated on the new, cha forgot th'old.    

Of the fist and the heart. LI.  

¶ One cursed an others heart for a blow in a fume.  
Curse not his heart (quoth one by) curse his fist.  
〈◊〉 heart (quoth he) to mine ear did not presume,  
But his heart to mine ear did his fist assist.  
〈◊〉 each limb must frame in feat, as the heart list,  
〈◊〉 the heart wilth any limb in any fault to fall.  
No man blame any man, to blame the heart for all.    

Of this word, enough. LII.  

● 〈◊〉 merry man by his master at meet set.  
Me thinketh (ꝙ the master) thou canst no drink get.  
Here is enough, though there be none said he.  
Than art thou not dry. Yes so more I thee,  
And fain would drink. How be thy words true then?  
Thus this word enough two ways we may scan.  
Thone much enough, tother little enough.  
And here is little enough. His master lough,  
Calling in his wife to discant upon this.  
How sayst thou wife? our man in this case is  
Dry, and would drink, and drink nothing 〈…〉.  
And yet proveth he drink enough by him.  
Sens he (quoth she) proveth drink enough in store,  
More than enough were waste. He getth no more.    

Of table play. LIII.  

¶ Wife, I will no more play at tables with thee:  
When we come to bearing, thou begylest me,  
In bearing of thy men, while thou hast any,  
Each other cast thou bear'st one man to many.    

The cock and the hen. liv,  

¶ A cock and his hen perching in the night,  
The cock at his hour crode loud as he might.  
The hen heavy of sleep, prayed the cock that he  
Would leave of his crowing, but it would not be.  
The hen saw. the cock would stick to his tackling,  
In her triple voice, she fell so to cackling,  
That the cock prayed her, her cackling to seize,  
And he of his crowing would hold his pease.  
Nay churl (quoth she) be sure, that will I not.  
And for thy learning henceforth mark this knot.  
When ever thou wouldst seem, to over crow me,  
Than will I surely over cakyll the.    

Chepening a face of fur. LV.  

Into a skinner's shop, while his wife there wrought,  
In haste ran a gentleman to espy  
A fair face of fur, which he would have bought.  
What fur (quoth she) would your mastership buy?  
Harlot's wombs (quoth he) know ye any nigh?  
Harlot's wombs (forsooth) I have none (quoth she)  
But ye shall have knaves shanks meet as can be.    

buying of shoes. LVI.  

¶ When I at the shoemakers shall shoes assay,  
If they be to little, they will stretch (saith he)  
If they be to much, they will shrink straight way.  
To long, to short, how narrow or wide they be,  
All is one matter as he shapth them to me.  
For may he once get his shoes on my feet,  
Without last or lingel his words make them meet,    

A suspicion cleared. LVII.  

¶ One to his friend keendly,  
Gave monition friendly,  
That ill was reported  
By one, that resorted  
To him: whom (as they thought)  
enticed him to nought.   

He thanked him, and said:  
My friend, be not afraid.  
The hearing of that fool  
Setth me no whit to school.  
I hear him, when he list,  
And follow him when me list.    

Of spite. LVIII.  

¶ If there be any, as I hope there be none,  
That would lose both his eyes, to lose his foe one,  
Than fear I. there be many, as the world goeth,  
That would lose one eye, to lose their foes both.    

Of the letter H. LIX.  

¶ H, is worst among letters in the cross row,  
For if thou find him other in thine elbow,  
In thine arm, or leg, in any degree,  
In thy head, or teeth, in thy toe or knee,  
Into what place so ever H, may pike him,  
Where ever thou find ache, thou shalt not like him.    

Jll fleeing of Jdelnesse. LX.  

¶ If flight from idilnesse may be deemed  
Main mean to virtue being fled warily:  
How mayst thou than thereby be esteemed?  
Thou fleest that vice not meanly nor barely,  
But mainly: scrupulously, and so charyly,  
That in then ere idleness shallbe spied,  
Thou wilt yet rather be ill occupied.    

A tongue and a clock. LXI.  

Thy tongue should be a clock wife, had I gods power,  
For than would it strike but once in one hour.  
Yet it might ren (quoth she) and strike ere the time,  
And should that clock have (as my tongue hath) a chime?  
I being sexton, might set the clock forth soon,  
To strike and chime. xii. two hours before noon.    

A hearer of a sermon. LXII.  

What bringst thou from the sermon jack? declare that.  
Forsooth master (quoth he) your cloak and your hat.  
I can the good thank jacke: for thou art yet sped,  
Of somewhat in thy hand, though nought in thy head.    

A man without wit, strength, and cunning. LXIII.  

¶ Thou art a wight to wonder at.  
Thy head, for wit, showeth the a wat.  
Thy body for strength showeth the a gnat.  
Thy voice for tune showeth the a cat.  
Do, say, or sing, in any what,  
Thou art a minion marmsar.    

How to wish. LXIIII  

¶ How may I have the Gill, when I wish for thee?  
Wish not for me jack, but when thou mayst have me.   

This is a lesson Gill propre and pleasant.  
For by these words this winning jack may avaunt,  
Though jack be no near Gill then jack was before,  
Yet jack is near his wit, by gis, by ten score.    

A doubtful demand of choice. LXV.  

¶ If thou must choose Hodge, touching cockoldry,  
Which wouldst thou choose, to know thyself commonly  
To be taken for one, and take thyself none,  
Or, to be taken for none, and take thyself one?  
The best or worst of these twain (Hue) tell me which  
Claw where it doth smart, or tikell, where it doth iche?   

I know small difference herein, Hodge brother,  
And I (Hugh) know as little in the t'other.    

An old widower and a young maid. LXVI.  

¶ A widower rich, with riveled face old,  
Wooing a fair young woman, his mind he told.  
Boasting what he had, as wowers do, that can,  
Wherein he boasted of a goodly young man,  
A soon of his own, whom god had him sent.  
Of conditions and qualities excellent,  
In this what wooing this old man's behaviour  
So far forth had won this young woman's favour,  
That in short tale, when his long tale was done,  
She prayed him to go home, and send her his soon.    

Gaping oysters. LXVII.  

¶ On whom gape thine oysters so wide, oyster-wife?  
〈…〉 oysters gape on you sir, god save your life.  
〈◊〉 gape they? Sir they gape for promotion.  
〈…〉 premote them) you have devotion.  
Nay 〈…〉 pernicious,  
To promote Oysters, that be ambitious.    

The judge and the juggler. LXVIII.  

¶ To a justicer a juggler did complain  
Of one, that dispraised his liger de main.   

Whatthy name (said the justice) Dauson said he.  
Is thy father alive? Nay, dead sir perdee.  
Than thou shalt no more be Daus soon, a clear case,  
Thou art Daw thyself now, in thy father's place.    

Of looking. LXIX.  

¶ To save mine head, when I upward cast mine eye,  
And look not to my feet: to the ground fall I.  
When I look downward to my feet, to take heed,  
A tile fallen from a house maketh my head bleed.  
And look I right forth, between my feet and head,  
Broken head, break neekee falls, of both I am sped.  
I think it as good, by aught I can devise,  
To be stark staring blind, as thus to have eyes▪    

Of constancy. LXX.  

¶ Some say, thou art inconstant, but I say nay.  
What though thy wit be wauring every way?  
Whose wit like the wind hath been wauring ever,  
And in unsteady wauring doth persever,  
A constant man I affirm him constantly,  
For he is constant in inconstancy.    

Of a face and wit. LXXI.  

¶ In thy youth and age these properties are sprung.  
In youth thy face was old, in age thy wit is young.    

Of blowing. LXXII.  

What wind can thire blow, that doth not some man please?  
A fart in the blowing doth the blower ease.    

To the flatterer. LXXIII.  

¶ Thy flattering of me, this followeth thereupon:  
Other thou art a fool, or else I am one.  
Where flattery aperth, at least: by wise men's school  
The flattrer, or the flattered, is a fool.    

Of contentation. LXXIIII.  

¶ Is not the poor man rich, that is contented?  
Yes, rich by his contentation consented.  
Is not the rich man poor, that is not content?  
Yes, poor by lack of contentation here meant.  
Than riches and poverty in men's minds lie.  
Ye, but we may far sooner learn (think I)  
To think ourselves rich, having much riches by,  
Than make ourselves rich, having no riches nigh.    

Of waiting. LXXV.  

¶ I would see a man wait to his masters mind,  
As the weathercock wauth on the wind.  
Blow it here or there, blow it low or high,  
The weathercocks beke is still in the wyndꝭ eye.    

Of fore knowledge. LXXVI.  

¶ Foreknowlage of things that must fall  
To man, I think it were not best.  
The foreknown ill to man, would call  
Before felt grief, of foreknown unrest.  
By foreknown good to man were cest  
Sweet sudden joy, which ever more  
Cometh, when joys come unknown before.   

The same impugned without change of words, except four or five.  

¶ Foreknowlage of things that must fall  
To man I think it were the best,  
The foreknown ill to man would call  
Digestion, of foreknown unrest  
By foreknown good to man, were cest  
Distemperate joy, which evermore  
Cometh, when joys come unknown before.     

Mistaking an errand. LXXVII.  

Feasting a friend, the feaster (whose man did weyte)  
Bade him ere the last course, fetch the clouted conceit.  
What bringst thou here knave (ꝙ he) what hast thou done?  
I have (ꝙ his man) brought here your clouted shone.  
Clouted shone carterly knave, what dost thou dream?  
Eat thou the clouted shone, fetch us the clouted cream.    

Of holding an Jn. LXXVIII.  

¶ Being holden in Newgate, thou canst not be  
An Inholder, for thine june holdeth thee.    

A wives defence of her bettill brow. LXXIX.  

¶ Were I to wed again wife, I make a vow.  
I would not wed a wife with a beetill brow.   

And I (ꝙ she) rather would a husband wed  
With a beetill brow, than with a beetill head.    

The shrewd wives tongue. LXXX.  

¶ A dog dame ruleth in degree  
Above a devil with thee:  
At lest sour wind a dog letth flee,  
Thy nose will stopped be:  
But no devils word may make decree  
To stop thy tongue I see.   

since thou appearst to be (quoth she)  
A dogged devil to me,  
To tame thy devilish property  
My tongue shall still be free.    

A fools tongue. LXXXI.  

¶ Upon a fools provocation  
A wise man will not talk:  
But every light instigation  
May make a fools tongue walk.    

Of glass and lattice. LXXXII.  

¶ Where glaziers and lattice makers work in sight,  
This one difference in their two feats we find:  
Glass keepeth out the wind and letth in the light,  
Lattice keepeth out the light, and letth in the wind.  
Of both sortis I wish, when I shall wish any,  
Lattice makers few, and glaziers many.    

Two wishes for two manner of mouths. LXXXIII.  

¶ I wissh thou hadst a little narrow mouth wife,  
little and little to drop out mords in strife.   

And I wish you sir, a wide mouth for the nonse,  
To speak all that ever you shall speak at onse,    

Of dispreyse. LXXXIIII.  

¶ All men must be blind and deaf ere thou praise win.  
For no man seeth or hearth ought to praise the in.    

A discharge from hypocrisy. LXXXV.  

¶ Thou art no bird of hipocricise brood.  
For thou fleest all things, that might show the good.    

Of the fool and the gentilmans nose. LXXXVI.  

¶ One gentleman having an other at meat,  
That guest having a nose deformed foul and great.  
The fool of that house, at this time standing by,  
Fell thus in hand with that nose suddenly.   

Nose autem, a great nose as ever I saw.  
His master was wroth, & cried, hence with that daw.  
One said: talk no more of great noses ye fool,  
Lest ye be talked with all in the whipping school.  
The fool warned of great noses no more to speak,  
To mend that fault, this way these words did break.   

Said I, this is a foul great spittle nose?  
By'r lady I lied, it is a fair little nose.  
Will not that fool be had hence (ꝙ the master?)  
Thou wilt fool (ꝙ one) be walked with a waster,  
If thou speak of any nose great or small.  
The fool at third warning, minding to mend all,  
Stepped to the board again crying as he goose,  
Before God and man, that man hath no nose.  
The fool was feakt for this: but what of that?  
The great raut here to note, he amended not:  
Which is this: Not the wise, but the fool ye see,  
In cluking of one fault, maketh faults two or three.    

A fool taken for wise. LXXXVII.  

¶ Wisdom and folly in thee (as men scene)  
Is as it were a thing by itself soole:  
Among fools thou art taken a mice man,  
And among wise men, thou art known a fool.    

Things to forbear. LXXXVIII.  

¶ Displeasures that fume and fret  
Good to forgive and forget  
All oaths, what, when, and where,  
Better forbear than forswear.  
Other men's livingꝭ all,  
As good forsteale as forstall,  
Not at bottom, but at brink,  
Better foresee, than forethink.    

Of meddlers. LXXXIX.  

¶ To feed of any fruit at any feast,  
Of all kyndis of meddlers, meddle with the least.  
Meddel not with great meddlers. For no question,  
meddling with great meddlers, maketh ill digestion.    

Of dwelling. XC.  

¶ Between Ludgate & newgate thou caused dwell never,  
For in Ludgate or Newgate thou must dwell ever.    

Of the milner and the sexton. XCI.  

¶ The milner tolth corn, the sexton tolth the bell,  
In which tolling, tollers thrive not a like well.  
Thone tolth with the claper, tother in the hoper.  
Thone saverth of silver, tother soundth of copper.    

Of looks and cheese. XCII.  

¶ No two things in all things can seem only one:  
Because two things so, must be one thing alone.  
How be it reading of books and eating of cheese.  
No●… things for some things, more like one than these.  
The talon of one cheese in mouths of ten men,  
Hath x. different tastꝭ in judgement most times when.  
He saith 'tis to salt, he saith 'tis to fresh,  
He saith 'tis to hard, he saith 'tis to nesh.  
It is to strong of the river, saith he.  
It is saith he, not strong enough for me.  
It is saith an other, well as can be.  
No two of any ten in one can agree.  
And as they judge of cheese, so judge they of books.  
On lookers on which, who that narrowly looks,  
May look for this: Seith he, that book is to long,  
'tis to short saith he. Nay, saith he, ye say wrong,  
'tis of meet length: and for fine phrase or fair style:  
The like of that book was not made this good while:  
And in touching the truth invincibly wrought.  
'tis all lies, saith an other, the book is nought.  
No book, no cheese, be it good, be it bad,  
But praise and dispraise it hath, and hath had.    

Of heads. XCIII.  

¶ Some heads have taken two heads better than one:  
But ten heads without wit, I ween as good none.    

The woodcock and the daw. XCIIII.  

¶ A woodcock and a daw set upon a plain,  
Both showed comparison each other to disdain.  
Back, ꝙ the woodcock: Straw for thee, ꝙ the daw.  
Shall wodcocks keep daws now in dreadful awe?  
None awe (quoth the woodcock) but in behaviour  
Ye ought to reverence woodcocks, by your favour.  
For what cause (quoth the daw?) For your long bills?  
Nay (ꝙ the woodcock) but lords will by their wills  
Rather have one woodcock, than a thousand dawse.  
Wodcocks are meat, daws are carrion, weigh this clause.  
In deed sir (said the daw) I must needs agree,  
Lords love to eat you, and not to eat me.  
cause of daws curteses, so, if wodcocks thus gather.  
Ye shall have curtsy: For thus I would rather  
Be a daw, and to wodcocks' courtesy make:  
Than be a woodcock, and of daws courtesy take.  
I were a double daw, had I not liefer,  
Birders should (in their birding endeavour)  
Take up gins, and let me go, when they get me,  
Than set gins to get me, for lord to eat me.    

Of few words. XCV.  

¶ Few words show men wise, wise men do devise,  
Which is oft time true, and oft other wise.  
In some case silence may as stiffly stand  
With folly, as with wisdom, wisely scanned.    

Wotting and weening. XCVI.  

¶ Wotting and weening, were those two things one,  
Who could wots himself wise like thee, I ween none.   

Other wise.  

¶ I would give the best farthel in my pack,  
To be as wise as thou weenest thou art jacke.  
And to be as wise as I wots thou art.  
What would I give trowest thou? wat? not a fart.     

A much like matter. XCVII.  

Tom, thou thinkest thyself wise ye what of that Hew?  
Thou thinkest thyself wiser than I Ye tom, true.  
It seemth (said a third man) by this devise,  
No mastery for fools, to ween themselves wise.    

Wisdom and folly. XCVIII.  

¶ Thy wisdom and folly both, nay no one  
Can be contained in volumes great nor small.  
Thy wisdom being none, occupieth place none,  
Thy folly being all, occupieth place all.    

Of lack. XCIX.  

¶ One lack of late in the saw we,  
Which lackth not now, for this we see,  
Thou hast lacked lack of honesty:  
But now that lack lackth not in thee.    

The weathercock, the read, and the wind. C.  

¶ The weathercock and the reed comparing late  
Their service done to the wind, fell at debate.  
The wind (ꝙ the weathercock) wyndth no where,  
But straight bolt upright I stand waiting there.  
Forsooth (said the reed) & where the wind is found,  
At every blast I bow down to the ground.  
Surely said the wind, the waiting of the tone,  
And courtesy of the t'other I take both one.  
And none of both good, but rather ill to me:  
For when I oft in corners secret would be,  
Other the crooked courtsy of the reed,  
Or weathercocks waiting, bewraith me with speed,  
As life is to me, in such serving pretence  
Single negligence, as double diligence.  
The weathercock and the reed, being both blank,  
Each told himself, much service may have small thank.    
FINIS.  

IMPRINTED AT LONDON IN FLETSTRETE IN THE HOUSE OF THOmas Berthelet.  
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.  
Anno dni. 1550.