¶ Here beginneth the book of Cato both in latin and english.  

SI deus est animus nobis ut carmina dicunt.  
Hic tibi praecipue sit pura ment colendus.   

¶ For thy that god is inwardly the wit  
Of man, and giveth him understanding  
As dite is sayne, therefore shall thou unshitte  
Thine heart to thy sovereign lord and king  
Principally above all other thing:  
giving him laud honour and reverence,  
Which hath endowed the with exulence.   

Plus vigila semper nec somno deditus esto,  
Nam diuturna quies vicijs alimenta ministrat.   

A wake my child, and love no slogardie:  
In long sleep and look thou never delight,  
If thou purpose, to worship for to sty.  
Long sleep and sloth, to vices men exite,  
It maketh dull, it maketh inperfite  
It fosterich up the filths of the flesh,  
It wastith eke, and pallith bloods fresh.   

Virtutem primam puta, esse, compescere linguam.  
Proximus ille deo, qui sit ratione tacere.   

Trust well also, the first of virtues all,  
As to be still, and keep thy tongue in mewe:  
Of tongue untied much harm may fall:  
Leave me well, this is as gospel true,  
Who can dalians of tongue esshewe,  
And rest with reason, this is the vray text  
To god above that man is alder next.   

Sperne repugnando tibi tu contrarius esse.  
Conueniet nulli, qui secum decidet ipse.   

advise the well, that thou never traverse  
Thine own sentence, for thereof cometh shame.  
Say not one & eft contrary rehearse,  
such repugnance, will make thy honourlame  
Where steadfastness, will cause the good fame.  
For he shall never accord with man alive:  
That with himself, will ay repugn & strive.   

Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores.  
Cum culpas alios, nemo sine crimine vivit.   

If thou advertise and behold about,  
The life of men, and the manners also,  
Both of thyself, and other there without  
In middle earth, thou shalt find, who  
That in some part, is to vertu fo.  
Blame no man therefore, if thou do right:  
Sith in earth lacles, liveth no wight.   

Quae no citura tenes, quamuis sint chara relinque.  
Vtilitas opibus, praeponi tempore debet.   

If y● suppose things shall annoy & grieve,  
Though they be dear & of right great price,  
Such as suffereth not thy profit  
If the lust to be ruled, as the wise  
Abstain the from such things in all wise.  
For it is more wisdom in soothfastness,  
To prefer profit, than such richesse.   

Constans & levis, ut res expostulat esto.  
Temporibus mores, sapiens sine crimine mutat.   

It is a good lesson for the nonce,  
A wight now to be tempered with conffaunce,  
And to be merry and glad eftsoons:  
Not always sad, ne light of countenance.  
A man's cheer may full oft advance:  
For at each time, as the thing requireth,  
So the wise man visageth and cheereth.   

Nil timere uxori de servis crede querenti.  
Soepe etenim mulier, quem coniunx diligit odit.   

give not credence always to thy wife,  
That for her ire, and her unpacience  
With sharper tongue, than is sword or knife,  
plaineth on thy servant, though no offence  
Thou find in him: learn well this sentence  
The wife will hate, & cause for to smart  
Ofttimes him, her husband loveth with heart.   

Cumque mones aliquem, nec sevelit esse moveri.  
Si tibi sit charus, noli desistere coeptis,   

And if thou warn a wight of his forfeit:  
Although he grudge which frowning countenance  
And in his language; menace the & thrate:  
Yet forbear not for all such displeasance.  
To teach him to amend his governance  
As thou began, corecte that is amiss,  
And that is a friendly touch iwis.   

Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis.  
Sermo datur cunctis animi sapiencia paucis.   

Against the wordy folk ay full of wind,  
Strive not at all, it may the not profit:  
Such jayissh people, been in conceits blind  
The witless word, availeth not a mite.  
In many words, is wisdom oft full light.  
For to every wight, is given speech,  
And yet the wise full oft been to seche.   

Dilige sic alios, ut sis tibi charus amicus.  
Sic bonus esto bonis, ne te mala damna sequantur.   

Love other men, and have them so in cheer  
That to thyself, thy love may moste extend:  
Let no person, be to the more dear  
Than thy estate, for them shalt thou offend.  
And hurt thyself and other folk amend.  
But ay love other and cherish them foe,  
That to thyself thou be not founden foo.   

Rumores fuge, ne incipias novus autor haberi.  
Nam nulli tacuisse nocet, nocet esse locutum.   

Rumours new that flyen as the wind,  
Eschew my child with all thy diligence:  
Be never busy, new tidings to find,  
Such novelty, causeth oft offence,  
It is no wit it is no sapience.  
It hurteth not a man to be in peace,  
But it doth harm, to put his tongue in press   

Rem tibi promissam, certain promittere noli.  
Rara fides ideo, quia multi multa loquuntur.   

Make no promise of other men's behelfe,  
Remebre the well, that promise is unsure:  
And but thou keep thine, thy name y● sleest,  
To serve thy behest do thy busy cure.  
Trust not the word of every creature,  
Some men's faith is easy to break:  
For many folk think not, as they speak.   

Cum te aliquis laudat, judex tuus esse memento.  
Plus alijs de te, quam tu tibi credere noli.   

With words fair, when Favel seedeth thee:  
Be thou not blind, for all his false flattery,  
Let thine own reason always, thy judge be.  
And in effect, if thine estate be high,  
though Favel with his craft, would blind thine eye,  
In all thy life, thou never geue credence,  
More to thyself, than to thy conscience.   

Officium alterius, multis narrare memento.  
Atque aliis cum tubenefeceris ipse sileto.   

When thou seest another man's desert,  
As for his good deeds commendable,  
In every place prsuie and part,  
Such a wight, which thy good word enable.  
And though thou have been right amiable,  
Of thy good deed, make thou none-avaunce:  
And than other men, shall thy name enhance.   

Multorum cum facta, senex & dicta recentes.  
Factibi succurrant, juvenis quae feceris ipse.   

And thou livelong, an old man shalt thou be,  
Age will approach, maugre in who say nay.  
Than aperceyve, behold about and see,  
How aged folk been entreated every day,  
And so to puruoye for thyself assay,  
Into stooping age when thou art crept,  
Thing may the help, that in youth was kept.   

Ne cures si quis tacito sermone loquatur.  
Concius ipse sibi, de se putat omnia dici.   

Care not, although some men speak soft,  
Ne change no cheer: for oft it is full bet  
In secret wise to speak, than cry on fit  
A man should s● always where he were set,  
And after that so should he speak or let.  
But to the suspect of harm it seemeth,  
Men speak of him, he none other deemeth.   

Cum fueris felix, quae sunt adversa caveto,  
Non eodem cursu, respondent ultima primis.   

When fortune, hath given them felicity,  
And set the on high, than ware of a fall,  
Than sueth oft, full sharp adversity,  
Falls fortune turneth as doth a ball,  
In her have thou no sekernes at all.  
Her perilous play, sometime turneth to gra me:  
Thend is woe, of that began with game.   

Cum dubia et fragilis, sit nobis vita tributa.  
In mortem alterius, spem tu tibi ponere noli.   

Our bretel life, is here so full of doubt,  
That in very surerye no wight may stand  
Lo suddenly creepeth the souls out,  
All abouts this world in every land  
Of young & old: for every wight is bound  
To death: therefore set not thine affiance  
In death of him, there may survive pchaunce.   

Exi guum munus cum det tibi pauper amicus.  
Accipito placide, plene et laudare memento.   

A little gift, given with good intent,  
Of thy friend that liveth in poverty,  
With right good cheer, such gifts take & hent,  
Supposing ay, that as good will hath he  
And more, than many men that rich be.  
Praise not the gift, ne ponder not the price  
Thintent is good and that shall the suffice.   

Infantem nudum, cum te natura creavit.  
Paupertatis onus, pacienter far memento.   

Sith nature, that was thy first norice,  
Hath brought the hither all naked & bare,  
Though thou can never richesse accomplice,  
But thou art hold, alway in poverties snare:  
Yet no force make never to much care,  
Take patiently poverty for the best,  
riches is not of nature, but of quest.   

Ne timeas illam, que vite est ultima finis.  
Qui mortem metuit, quod vivit perdit idipsum.   

Though death be fine of every creature,  
And no wight on live, may it escape,  
Yet dread not death with overbesy cure.  
To live in earth, than is it but a jape,  
If thou after death alway so gape.  
Think well to die, but modify thy thought  
Or else to live, availeth the right nought.   

Si tibi pro meritis, nemo rnndet amicus  
Incusare deum noli, sed te ipse coherce.   

For thy desert, if no wight thank thee,  
I mean, when thou hast done thy force & pain  
To other folk friendly for to be:  
If they can not to the gramercy sayne,  
Withdraw thyself, & so thy hand refrain  
Blame not thy god, for their unfrendlinesse:  
But for such folk, do afterward the less.   

Ne tibi quid desit, quaesitis utere parce  
Vtque quod est serves, semper tibi deesse putato.   

Sith y● no rich man, liveth there any where  
If he consume his goods all and waste,  
But y● poverty shall grieve him sore & dear:  
Therefore my child, such goods as y● hast,  
Let not to s●ne, out of thy hand be raft,  
Lest y● thy goods hereafter will the fail:  
Hold that thou hast, it may the oft avail.   

Quod praestare potest, ne bis promiserisulli.  
Ne sis ventosus, dunvis bonus ipse videri   

Behete no man a thing, to lean him twice,  
And fail him, that is but villainy.  
If thou may leanly, do it in friendly wise,  
Such chevissaunce, will frendlynesse bewray.  
Of thy good deeds, clamour not necrie,  
Be not wordy ne of words breme,  
If a good man, the lust to apere and seem.   

Qui similar verbis, nec cord est fidus amicus.  
Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.   

And if thou find, the son of doubleness,  
The false flatterer, if thou espy,  
with painted word, & heart full of falseness:  
Thou mayest in no wise better blere his eye  
Than serve him with his own treachery.  
For words fair, & frendlynesse no part:  
give him the same, & art beguile with art.   

Noli homines blandos nimium sermone, probare.  
Fistula dulce canit, volucrem dum decipit auceps.   

prove not a man, with over painted speech,  
Under fair words, is oft covert guile.  
The word is gay, but friendship is to seche,  
And as men say, such craf is in this isle:  
some think harm, when they her tongues file  
The whistling fowler, maketh merry song  
And yet the birds, beguileth he among.   

Cum tibi sint nati, nec opes: tunc artibus illos.  
Instrue, quo possint inopem defendere vitam.   

When the god hath given the children feel,  
And riches small, than do you in this wise.  
teach thy children with crafts for to deal,  
That by their art, they may themself chevise.  
If thou do thus, than workest thou as the wise,  
Craft is good, and craft is lucratife,  
By craft, they may defend the needy life.   

Quod vile est, carum: quod carum est, vile putato.  
Sic tibi nec cupidus, nec avarus nosceris ulli.   

Have this conceit, for it is often sane,  
Things dear, shall oft abate of prise:  
And things that of little value been  
In time coming, may to dearth arise,  
Remember this, & it well advertise:  
Thus shall thou best, the name of chincherye phlegm  
And other men, shall y● no niggard dame.   

Quae culpare soles, ea tune feceris ipse.  
Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum.   

advise the well, let reason be thy guide  
When other men thou art about to blame,  
That such default be not in the espyede  
For if there be, than shall thou have the shame  
Amans honour such things will reclaim.  
It is full foul when y ●a man will teach  
If his own deeds, against his words preach   

Quod justum est, petito: vel quod videatur honestum  
Nam stultum est petere, quod possitiure negari.   

Look thy desire, be grounded in a right  
And that it never travers honest  
For as often times as wight  
Desireth more than right and equity  
Than may his request repealed be  
And it is clepud nycete and great folly  
To ask oft that men will ay deny▪   

Ignotum tibi, tu noli praeponere notis  
Cognita judicio constant, incognita casu.   

Change not thy friend, that thou knowest of old,  
For any new, in trust that thou shalt find  
Better than he: but in thy hands hold  
Him, that to that hath friendly been and kind:  
Such changes been full often blind  
Thou weenest to know, & yet knowest thou not a deal  
To know a friend, it is full casual   

Cum dubio incertis versetur vita periculis  
Pro lucro tibi pone diem, quicumque laboras.   

scythe man's life is full of misery,  
Some time in mirth, and after in mischief  
Now in the dale, Now in the mount on high  
Now man is poor, and oft riches relief  
The shining morrow, hath oft a stormy eve  
To this policy, take heed and intend:  
Look thou have lucre in thy labours end.   

Vincere cum possis, interdum sede sodali:  
Obsequeo qm dulces retinentur amici.   

Though thou may be venged, & have victory  
Of thy friend & fellow, yet thou must forbear,  
Refrain thyself, be not to haute ne high:  
Irous hastiness, full oft men doth dear,  
where easy softness, friends may conquer,  
For by good deeds set in holiness,  
Men been together knet in friendliness   

Ne dubites cum magna petas, impendere parva.  
Hiis etenim rebus coniungit gratia charos.   

The limitor that visiteth the wives,  
Is wise enough, of him a man may lere,  
To give pins, purses, and knives,  
This craft is good, so doth the silly frere.  
give things small for things that been dear  
If y● receive, give somewhat ay again,  
And that will nourish friends dear certain.   

Litem infer cave, cum quo tibi gratia juncta est.  
Ira odium generat, concordia nutrit amorem.   

Tovile not, ne strive with him that is thy friend▪  
Beware of y●, make not thy friend thy foo:  
A tovyllous man may friendship & shend.  
These baratours that been misruled so,  
Entryp themself and wrap in much woe.  
for Ire of kind, engendereth nought but hate,  
Where as accord, nourisheth love algate.   

servorum ob culpam cum te dolour v● get in iram:  
Ipse tibi moderare, tuis ut parcere possis.   

When thy servant thou takest in default,  
Though he can not his negligence excuse,  
Yet in thine ire, make not to ●yers assault:  
But with thy haste a while take truce,  
Thou shalt find ease, this feet if y● can use.  
Rule thy passion ay by such measure:  
That thou save, that been under thy cure.   

Quem superare pores, interdum vince ferendo:  
Maxima etenim morum est, semper patientia virtus.   

Sufferance doth ease, was said full long ago,  
Suffer, and have all thine intent,  
Though thou may overcome yet do not so.  
Conquer through sufferance, & be patient,  
But to foul cruelty never consent.  
For it is cleped in virtue excellence,  
Awight to live in humble patience.   

Conserua potius quae sunt iam parta labore.  
Cum labour in damno est, crescit mortalis egestas.   

Be not to scant, be not to prodigal,  
Conserve thy thing gotten with labour:  
It is full fair, to be said liberal,  
But eschew waist, and be no surfetoure,  
Consume not all thy treasure in an hour,  
When of thy labour riseth none avail:  
Needy poverty must the full soon assail.   

Dapsilis interdum notis et charis amicis.  
Cum fueris foelix, semper tibi proximus esto.   

Be not like zenola, for he would eat  
With every man, & at their feest him feed:  
But never man, might tasten of his meet,  
No man to him, but he to all men go.  
Be free of meet, but look y● largesses lead  
The no ferther, than thou may well attain.  
be thin own friend, for this saith cato certain  
¶ Take heed sir, how handsomely this clerk  
Entreateth men by virtuous doctrine  
This first part of his compendious work  
In worship howthei shall full clearly shine,  
Guiding to renown straightly as any line:  
whose precepts observe if ye list,  
And to his good counsel, your hearts incline  
Kite in your wealth full well it shall be wist  
The virtues four, that men should forth convey  
Lo in this life, as bridal doth a beast,  
That men not err in this perilous way,  
Stablisshinge him as doth a steadfast reest.  
As sikur guides, that been worthiest  
man's living to set in governance,  
This sage Cato, full wisely doth regest,  
Prenteth his saws in your remembrance.    

¶ Here followeth the second book of Cato.  

TElluris si forte velis cognoscere cultis.  
Virgilium legito, quod si mage nosce laboras.   

If thou my child set thy delight,  
Of earth, to know the tilth and culture,  
And if thou wilt of knowledge be perfit.  
Why some is arable, and some is pasture,  
And why some is spreint with flower picture,  
I counsel the to musen for a while,  
In the laureate poet virgile.   

Humanos si forte velis, depellere morbos.  
Herbarum vires: macer tibi carmine dicet.   

And further more my child, if that the list,  
The virtue of herbs for to descrive:  
It may never in earth better be wist,  
Which be consuming, which be nutritive,  
Which hot, which cold, which conservative:  
Than read Macer, in his old dite,  
Which telleth 'em in proper quality.   

Si Romana cupis & punica no scere bella,  
Lucanum quaeras, qui martis praelia dicet▪   

And if thou have desirous fresh courage,  
To here of noble Romans worthiness,  
How that they vanquished them of cartage,  
And many other, through manly prowess:  
Than read Lucan, full well can he express,  
who bore him best in town & eke in field,  
and who did marvels under macers shield   

Si quis amare libet, vel discere amare legengo.  
Nasonem petito, sin autem cura tibi hec est.   

And he that lust of lovers for to read,  
And in that wise himself to advance,  
As in the craft, Naso can teach him speed.  
Some loveth song, some harp, lute & dance  
Some other things divers of pleasance,  
Some loven secretly & lust not to be spied,  
Some will be known for thus writeth ovid   

Vt sapiens vivas: audi que discere possis.  
Per quae si motum vitiis deducitur aeuum.   

But yet my child if that in adventure,  
Thine heart be set to no such manner thing:  
Or if it be not all to thy pleasure  
That Virgil, Macer, Lucan, & Naso bring,  
yet that thou may be wise in thy living.  
If the lust to give me audience.  
I shall the show doctrine of sapience.   

Ergo ades, & quae sit sapientia, disce legendo.   

Therefore my child, come to me and lere,  
And I shall the show the very treasure  
Of sapience, if the lust to here.  
And how thou shalt, in good estate endure,  
And lead thy life after god's pleasure.  
Therefore come near, & lere by this reading,  
To be a man virtuous in living.   

Si potes, ignotis etiam prodesse memento,  
Vtilius est regno, meritis acquirere amicos.   

There is no wight, that further may report  
Of thy good deeds, than the stranger may.  
Make him good cheer, & show him thy disport:  
And he shall utter thy name, this is no nay,  
For the unknown, sometime doth assay.  
Friends enough to have, is better thing,  
Than is friendless, a man to be a king.   

Mitte arcana dei coelumque inquirere quid sit.  
Cum sis mortalis, quae sunt mortalia cures.   

Of god's mystery and his working,  
Make never my child to far inquiraunce,  
It is folly to muse upon such thing.  
Dispute never thy god's pouruiaunce,  
All thing must be under his governance.  
Scythe thou art man clad in mortality,  
Dispute thou things such as mortal be.   

Lingue metum leti, nam stultum est tempote omni.  
Dum mortem metuis, amittis gaudia vite.   

The dread of death, that is inordinate,  
I mean to dread it ay, and never to cease.  
Beware of that I counsel the algate,  
For this is as gospel doubtless  
True, who dreadeth so, is ay myrthles.  
When dread of death a man so aggruggith,  
It wasteth life, and his time abbruggith.   

Iratus de re incerta contendere noli.  
Impedit ira animum, ne possit cernere verum.   

For thing that is to the uncertain,  
When thou art wrath, look that never strive.  
Thy patience easily withdraw & refrain,  
For there is no person in earth on live,  
But that all reasonless he is as belive,  
As busy wrath hath kindled him on fire:  
And than he can not dame the crouth for ire   

Fac sumptum propere, cum res desiderat ipsa.  
Dandum etenim est aliquid, cum tem pus postulat aut res.   

As time requireth, so make thine expense,  
Measure thy hand, after thy property  
Of thing, of time, and after the presence.  
See that thou spend no more than needeth y●,  
And that to spend, look thine heart be free.  
A man should do cost, & make his spending,  
Considering time, & rewarding the thing.   

Quod nimium est fugito, parvo gaudete memento.  
Tuta magis puppis, est modico que flumine fertur.   

To much is nought of any manner thing,  
The mean is good and most commendable,  
Than man standeth surest here in his living  
with mean estate that halt him agreeable.  
Plente and poverty be not souffrable,  
For than is the ship in the sea most sure,  
When that the flood excedith not measure.   

Quod pudeat, sociis prudens celare memento.  
Ne plures culpent id, quod et displicet uni.   

If thou know aught that may turn one to shame,  
Keep it secret for nothing it bewray:  
Be not to busy such things to proclaim  
And publish, as thou knowest prive.  
Make not all men, to gare on the and cry,  
Lest more deprave, when thou thy word has sow  
that was before to other men unknown,   

Non putes pravos hoies peccata lucrari:  
Temporibus peccata latent, et tempore patent.   

If thou espy and see a surfetoure,  
A thief, a shrew, of great misgovernance,  
Trust well sometime, shall come an hour  
when for his deed, shall he suffer penance,  
Cursed deed, asketh wretch and vengeance  
Though wickedness for time be kept secre  
Yet at the last it will discovered be.   

Corporis exigui vires contemnere noli.  
Consilio pollet, cui vim natura negavit.   

Though sum time nature have been unkind  
And yeven a man to be of small stature,  
Yet my child Remember, & have in mind  
That thou never despise that creature,  
For god may send him fortune and good our  
As oft as they be with good counsel allied,  
To whom that nature, hath great strength denied   

Quem scires non esse parem tibi tempore cede,  
victorem a victo superare, saepe videmus.   

when the hapenyth to traverce or have ad●  
which him thou knowest not equal to thy might  
Thine utterest power show not such on unto  
least that eftsoons, he have the in like plight  
for it is sin in tournement and in fight.  
fortune changeth often in an hour  
And he is discomfet, that erst was victoure   

Aduersus notum noli contendere, verbis.  
lis minimis verbis interdum maxima cresit.   

Of brands small, be made these fires great,  
withdraw the brand, the fire shall eke decrece  
Again the known air look thou never beat  
with words feel, for word disturbeth piece▪  
The man is wise, that can of words cese,  
For this is sooth as god gas the life,  
Of words small, is brad full much strife.   

Quod deus intendit, noli perquirere sort.  
Quod statuit de te, sine te deliberat ipse.   

Deal not with sorcery, ne with surquedry:  
In god's hand is all thy sort and state,  
Be not about to calcle thy destyny,  
If thou be mysbrous or fortunate.  
Let god alone, in him is all thy state,  
And that him list of the for to purpose:  
without thee, full well can be dispose.   

invidiam nimio cultu, vitare memento.  
Quae si non laedit, tamen hanc sufferre molestum est.   

Beware of envy, with her taches fell,  
within thine heart, look that she not rest:  
For it is one of the pains of helie.  
when she sojourneth in a man's breast,  
Than brenneth fenix in his own nest.  
and though she may non other man mischieve  
Yet Ethua ceaseth not herself to grieve.   

Esto fortis animo cum sis dampnatus inique:  
Nemo diu gaudet, qui judice vincit iniquo.   

Enforce thine heart, with manly sufferance,  
Though judgement against the proceed,  
Be not abashed in word ne countenance.  
For the oppressor, false may rule and lead,  
The law, but trust me well without dread,  
Long to rejoice achieveth he not,  
which by means untrue, his goods got.   

Litis praeteritae noli maledicta refer  
Post inimicitias iram meminisse, malorum est.   

Wrath of old, that should be out of mind,  
Be not about to make eft alive.  
But the envious hath that attach of kind.  
Such malice my child, look thou never revive,  
For ire of old, maketh men to strive.  
and who remembreth old enmity:  
A wicked man, forsooth my child is he.   

Ne te collaudas, nec te culpaveris ipse.  
Hoc faciunt stulti, quos gloria vexat inanis.   

Thyself also, look that thou not praise,  
Ne dispreyse, but let other men alone.  
Always after prudence thy words thou poise:  
For thine own avaunt, honour getteest thou none  
But a mock, anon as thou art gone.  
A man to praise himself as saith the school,  
Or dispraise much, is token of a fool.   

Vtere quesitis modice, cum sumptus habundat.  
Labitur exiguo, quod partum est tem pore longo.   

When it is time of cost and great expense,  
Beware of waste and spend ay by measure.  
who that to keep nor spend no difference  
Maketh, his goods may not long endure.  
The old saw saith, measure is treasure:  
For in short time, thy good may slip away,  
That was begotten in many a sundry day.   

Incipiens esto, cum tempus postulat, autres.  
Stulticiam similare loco, prudentia summa est.   

It is no wisdom, always to seem sage,  
But sometime to be nice, and fain folly:  
who hath this feat shall find advantage.  
when time and thing requireth that espy,  
And than to dissimyle it is policy:  
Sometime to be unwise in appearance  
Among the wise, is called high prudence.   

Luxuriam fugito, simul et vitare memento.  
Crimen avaritiae: nam sunt contraria famae.   

Thy filthy flesh in moving bestial,  
That fighteth against the soul within  
By force of her enticement sensual,  
Eschew my child, & keep the from her begin:  
That act, & grace, be set full far atwyne.  
And i'll of avarice the wicked fame,  
This two it be, that causen evil name.   

Noli tu quedam referenti, credere semper.  
Exigua est tribuenda fides, quia multi multa lo quuntur.   

Believe not every wights saw,  
For some report things all otherwise  
Than it was done, or any man it saw.  
And some have it of custom and of guise,  
To feed folk with flattering and lyese.  
give little trust therefore to such speakings:  
For many folk speak many things.   

Quod potu peccas, ignoscere tu tibi noli.  
Nam nullum crimen vini est, sed culpa bibentis.   

If thou surfeit in drink, forget not that,  
advise the oft thou come not in the snare.  
withdraw thy hand, feed not thy throat so fat  
Drink that sufficeth, & otherwhile thou spare.  
To much drink maketh men of wit bare,  
And yet the wine thereof is not to blame.  
But the drinker, maketh himself lame.   

Consilium arcanum, tacito commit so dali.  
Corporis auxilium, medico commit fideli.   

To thy trusty friend that is ay secre,  
Show thy counsel, to him thy heart bewray,  
A trusty friend is chiefest of prevete.  
But it is hard such friends to espy,  
Try out one among a company,  
And of thy body betake the cure:  
To such a leech, as is trusty and sure.   

Successus indignos noli tu far molest:  
Indulget fortuna malis, ut laedere possit,   

Within thyself, aggrieve the not to sore,  
Though thing amiss sometime the betide.  
Dismay the not in busy wise therefore,  
Thine adventure needs thou must abide,  
Fortune may not always be on thy side.  
with harms to grieve, in await lieth she,  
To reave men of their felicity.   

Prospice qui veniunt hos casus esse fe rendos.  
Nam levius laedit, quicquid praevidimus ante.   

In thyself compass about before,  
Thing to perceive, that after shall befall.  
It noyeth not, ne grieveth half so sore,  
That is forsayne, as other things shall,  
Sudden chances disseysen most of all.  
It hurteth less, and is better plight:  
whereof before a man can have in sight.   

Rebus in adversis animum submittere noli.  
Spem retine, spes una hominem nec morte relinquit.   

When divers things travers thine intent,  
And thou art wrapped in adversity:  
wait for wanhope, thou be not lost ne shent.  
Let not despair thy wit bereave thee,  
Abide the time it may better be.  
Hope is she that shall make the a seth,  
Hope leaveth not man, though man leave breath   

Rem tibi quam noscis aptam, dimittere noli.  
Front capellata, post hec occasio calua.   

When proffer is than meekly it receive,  
Take things while they be in season.  
They profre now, that oft will things waive.  
Plente now, will afterward be geason.  
Take in time, for so commandeth reason.  
The balded head, sometime full of heres,  
Now is made bare without knife or shears.   

Quod sequitu● specta: quodque imminet ante videto.  
Illum immittare deum, qui partem spectat utramque.   

Provide thyself, and have deliverance  
By likely conjecture what may betide,  
Advertise my child in thy remembrance  
Afore and after about on every side.  
Follow that god, and let him be thy guide,  
That all thing hath in his government,  
Future passed and that is present.   

Forcius ut valeas, interdum parcior esto.  
Pauca voluptate debentur, plura saluti,   

It is a attach, of a devouring hound  
To receive super five and done excess:  
Till his receit from him again rebound.  
Content thy nature, and i'll greediness:  
Fowl lusts ay keep under and repress.  
Feed not thy lust withal that she will crave  
If in health thou lust thy body to save.   

judicium populi nunquam contempseris unus.  
Ne nulli placeas dum vis contemnere multos.   

When a multitude hath given a decree,  
Or concluded aught against thine intent,  
Traverse not against the communete:  
For if thou do thou shalt lightly be shent.  
Despise not alone the peoples judgements,  
In adventure thou please of them not one:  
While thou w●●t enpugne them everyone.   

Sic tibi praecipue (quod primum cura est salutis.  
Tempora ne culpes, cum sit tibi causa doloris.   

Take good heed unto thine own estate,  
To rule thy body well with good diet.  
But look with time, thou be not at debate.  
though through thin own misrule & surfeit:  
sickness & sorrow, have given the an heat,  
The time is good, and no dismal it is:  
But man it maketh, for that he doth amiss.   

Somnia ne cures, nam mens humana quod optat.  
Dum vigilat: sperat, per somnium cernit idipsum.   

dread no dreams, so saith Detronomye,  
Though they be caused of complexion,  
Or else of any nyced fantasy,  
Or of a superflue replection:  
For dreams be but falls illusion.  
When men be waking, they desire & think,  
And upon such thing, they dream when they wink.   

Lenuoye.  
Museth a while, what all these matters mean  
Abide my master and go no further yet,  
To read them, availeth not a been:  
But if a man the curnel will unknit.  
wherefore your heart, & all your mind unshit,  
And look what lieth under the boistous rind,  
And I dare say, of wisdom and of wit,  
Plente and foison, therein shall ye find.  
refresheth yourself, which this wholesome diet●  
That fostereth and keepeth virtue on live,  
To your parson me thinketh it full meet:  
For to receive such a nutritive.  
which your estate, shall ay preserve alive.  
In great honour, & keep you from noyssaunce,  
Ouc of danger and vices infective:  
If ye will work, after this ordinance.  
And in especial, look that your deed,  
May bear true witness and testify.  
The matter that ye behold and read.  
Look with your heart, as well as with your eye,  
Than dare I say, somewhat shall ye espy,  
that to this work shall move your courage.  
wherefore your heart, your eye, & all apply,  
yourself to rule, after this dietes sage.   
●●cunda pars finita.   

¶ Here followed the third book of Cato.  

HOc quicunque velis carmen cog noscere lector.  
Hec praecepta feres, quae sunt gratissima vitae.   

Behold what wight, that lust for to read  
In this my diet, somewhat shall he find,  
where with, his soul he shall foustre and feed,  
with the wise good, and it from vices bind.  
Come near my child therefore & have in mid,  
Such doctrine to bear away and lere,  
As to thy life shall be full good and dear.   

Instrue praeceptis animum, nec discere cesses.  
Nam sine doctrina, vita est, quasi mortis imago.   

Thy soul resembleth, a new plain table,  
In the which, as yet appeareth no picture,  
The philosophy saith without fable:  
So is the soul but a deadly figure,  
Till time she be reclaimed with the lure  
Of doctrine, and so get her a good habit  
To be expert in cunning and perfect.   

Commoda multa feres, sin autem spre veris illud.  
Non me scriptorem, sed te neglexeris ipse.   

Enprynte my teaching, in thy soul steadfast,  
And full profitable thou shalt it find  
For sake it not, ne from thine heart it cast  
For if thou do exclude out of thy mind  
This lesson, thou art full barren and blind  
From virtue, and therefore wite not me,  
Sith the fault my son, is then in thee,   

Dum recte vivas, ne curas verba malorum  
Arbitrii nostri non est, quod quisque loquatur   

If thou live justly; keeping the upright  
Never declining for need ne favour,  
Than standest thou in a full wholesome plight,  
Though men malingne with words of rigour  
If thou live thus, thy good life is thy tour  
We may not let, the people to gare & cry:  
But do we well, if they say miss they lie.   

Productus testis, saluo tamen ante pudore,  
Quantum qunque potes, celato crimen amici.   

If thou be called the sooth to testify  
Ay saving thy worship and honesty  
Thy friends trespass be not about to wry,  
Where as no shame thereof may grow to the  
This requireth ay friendliness pardiè,  
In well and woe the true benevolence,  
Betwixt folk is friendship in existence.   

Sermons blandos, blesosque cavere memento.  
Simplicitas viri sana est: fraus, picta lo quela.   

Make busy warche, & keep thy soul algats  
Behold about, espy the covert train  
When that false Favel knokkith at thy gates,  
He meaneth guile though outward he fain.  
He can anoint softly thy ears twain,  
With oil of pleasance plenty and toison.  
Yet under that, keep the from his poison.   

Signitiem fugito, quae vitae ignavia fertur.  
Nam cum animus languet, consumit inertia corpus.   

Sloth, slogardy, and dull ydulnesse,  
And lachesse, that causeth to us negligent,  
eschew my child with all thy business:  
For youll body, maketh the soul shent.  
There is in earth no greater argument,  
For to conclude the body unapt:  
Than that the soul in idleness be wrappeth.   

Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis.  
Vt possis animo quemuis sufferre laborem,   

Who so lackith rest, may not long endure:  
Therefore among take thiu ease and disport.  
Delight the never in business and cure,  
But yet at sometime thou mayst resort  
To play, recreation, and comfort,  
Thou shalt the better labour at the long,  
When thou hast mirth, thy business among,   

Alterius dictum, aut factum, ne carpseris unquam.  
Exemplo simili ne te deri deat alter.   

It is full hard, to please every wight,  
Despreyse no man's deeds, nor them lack,  
Ne words, for even so right,  
As thou dispraisest them behind thy back  
Right so will men make that a mop & a knack  
The contrary, though men had it sworn,  
The scorner shall alway have a scorn.   

Quae tibi fors dederit tabulis suprema notata.  
Augendo serva, ne sis quem fama lo quatur.   

When thy last sort that sum men call fate,  
Is good and pleasant after thine enrente:  
This mean I loo, when thou art fortunate,  
Receive the good that god hath to the scent  
Suffer it not recklessly to be spent  
For than of a waster, shalt thou have the name  
For our great riot, will cause a seble fame.   

Cum tibi divitiae superant in fine senectae.  
Munificus facito vivas, non parcus amicis.   

Into great age when thou art crept,  
And thou haste, riches, & great aboundaunes,  
be liberal of good thou hast before kept:  
Think thou hast enough and suffisance,  
Let not thy good of, the have governance,  
But govern it, and part it with thy friend:  
When thou goest hence, it may not which the wend   

utile consilium dominus ne despice servi.  
Nullius sensum, si prodest contempseris unquam.   

Grace is given to men in sundry wise,  
Sum have wisdom, & sumhane eloquence,  
These poor solke, sometime been full wise.  
A servant may be of great sapience,  
Though he be had of small reverence,  
Reward his wit among other while,  
For virtue is hid under an habit vile   

Rebus et in sensu, non est quod fuit ante  
Facvivas contemptus eo, quod tempora praebent.   

This worldly wealth, ebbing and flowing ay  
At no certain, as doth wantan apryle,  
Though thou have lost it, make no dismay:  
Be content with that thou hast for the while.  
some men there be, that have neither cross ne pile.  
Now in his ward, and yet good adventure  
Is him full near, no man may know his ure   

Vxoten fuge ne ducas sub nomine dotis.  
Necretinere velis, si cepit esse molesta.   

Wed not a wife for her inheritance,  
For she will cast it oft in thy beard.  
And if she be noyus and full of grievance,  
constrain her not tabyde in thy yard,  
Of chastise meant she is a cursed weed,  
To keep one that will the ayatwire,  
He is at ease, that of such one is quite.   

Multorum disce exemplo quae factasequaris  
Quae fugias vita est nobis, aliena magistra.   

Of other men thy mirror thou shalt make  
Conform the to that the most men appreve,  
What y● shalt do, & what thou shalt forsake,  
A better lesson mayst thou not contrive,  
Than to other monnes deeds relieve.  
In all appertaineth unto thy teaching,  
Make other men a rule for thy lining;   

Quod potes, id tents: operis ne pondere pressus  
Succumbat laboriet frustra tentat a relinquas   

A tempt nothing, that sur●●ūtith thy might  
Ne that to finish, thou mayst nor achieve  
For than, thou standest foul in thine own light  
Over his power, what men list to move,  
With shame; his work; must needs take (his leave  
It is folly amam such thing to begin:  
Which to perform, his wits be to thin   

Quod nosti haud rectefactum, nolito tacere.  
Nevideare malos imitari velle, tacendo.   

Law presumeth, that what man keepeth still  
The crime of one that doth great offence,  
And discovereth it not, he is as ille,  
As is the crymous for his silence.  
Therefore my son bring it in audience,  
That thou apperceivest not well done is:  
Lest for thy silence men dame of the amiss.   

judicis auxilium sub ini qua lege rogato  
Ipsae etiam leges cupiunt, ut iure regantur.   

When that the law is straight & rigorous,  
Entreat the judge to show the favour,  
inclining him for to be gracious.  
Anegall judge, may the parcas succour,  
And yet the law, shall be his governor.  
which he ought, sometime to modify:  
As in the case, he may a point espy.   

Quod merito pateris, patienter ferre memento.  
Cunque reus tibi sis, ipsum te judice damna.   

What pain thou souffrest for thy desert,  
Receive it well in gree with patience:  
And though thy trespass be privy covert,  
yet when thou feless in thine advertence,  
That thou art blemished in thy conscience,  
within thyself than make arbitrement:  
deeming thyself in thine own judgement.   

Multa legas facito, preelectis prelege multa.  
Nam miranda canunt, sed non credenda poetae.   

mispend no time, for sloth or for lachesse,  
But sometime read in books old and wise,  
Reed and report, with great attentifnesse:  
By reading, to cunning men may arise.  
Than read my son, & cunning accoplise.  
These poets writ things of great marvel,  
And of small credence oft this is no fail.   

Inter convivas facsis sermone modestus.  
Ne dicare loquax, dum vis urbanus haberi.   

Among friends sitting at feast,  
Be curtes and demure of thy language.  
who speaketh most, may not offend less,  
Of flesh & boon nature bathe made a cage,  
The tongue to keep, that she be not outrage.  
Than if thou wilt be loved of nature,  
Refrain thy tongue, with all thy busy cure.   

Coniugis iratae noli tu verba timere,  
Nam lachrymis struit incidias dum foemina plorat.   

Some women weep of pure feminite,  
when otherwise they can not her intent  
achieve: but yet beware of nice pity,  
That of thy manly reason thou be not ble●●,  
For such weeping, thy heart ought not relent  
Some women of kind been ever weeping:  
And under that, they can both prick & sting.   

Vtere quaesitis, sed ne vidiaris abuti  
Qui sua comlumunt, cum deest aliena seqntur   

That thou hast gotten to thine own worship use  
what availeth riches without honour:  
To spare good, and worship to refuse,  
The niggard ay with pain and labour  
Is busy, but I read the not devour  
without reason, thy good excessifly:  
For than must thou of other beg hastily.   

Fac tibi proponas mortem non essetimendam.  
Quae bona si non est, finis cum illa malorum est.   

Enprent my child, ay sadly in thy mind,  
That thou be not of death to sorem adread  
That shall the from wrechidnesse unbind  
wherein thy life, so long thou hast lad,  
Till on thy corpse, thy soul hath been full sad  
For right as death is fine of ferfulnes:  
So is she the end of thy wrechidnes.   

Vxoris linguam, si frugi est, far memento.  
Namque malum, nec velle pati nec vaelle tacere.   

Thy wives word suffer and take in gree,  
when it availeth, for betide it may  
Full oft, that of full great prudence is she,  
And must be allowed, this is no nay.  
Suffer her than and her consete assay,  
For it is hard when she can not be still:  
If thou will not suffer, thou can not have thy will   

Dilige non aegra cha●os pietate parents.  
Nec matraem offendas, dum vis bonus esse parenti.   

Goods that be given the of nature,  
And comen also of thy progenitors,  
Therefore my child with all thy busy cure,  
Love them well, and cherish at all hours.  
They fostered y●, & kipte thee in youths showers  
Thy mother my child in especialle,  
If thou do well never offend at all.   

Lenuoye  
Resoort resoort, and hiderward relieve,  
My master, now here is a holsume air  
For your avail, unto this place retreve,  
Where as of moralite flowers fair,  
And so full pleasantly doth repair.  
Gethrith thereof, and make you agay,  
And resteth you here in this harbate.  
Behold and see what thing is to your pay,  
when you have gethred flowers to your lift,  
Take them, for they be full preseruatif.  
Hold them fast, and bear them in your fist,  
For the pestilent heirs infectis.  
I counsel you, and I jeopardy my life,  
That ye shall lead your life in sickerness,  
Through virtue of this conseruatife:  
And eke attain to much worthiness.  
Thus move I you, under protection  
Of your good grace, that what time ye read,  
Or in this matter have inspection  
As it biddeth you ye will do indeed.  
Than dare I affirm without dread,  
Ye shall achieve and be right virtuous:  
Here shall ye find that may you guide & lead,  
Straight to good fame, & brig you to her house   
Tertia pars finita.   


SEcuram quicunque cupis traducere vitam,  
Nec vitiis haerere animum quae moribus obsunt.   

What wight that lust to lead in sickerness  
His life, & keep his soul from accombraunce,  
Of vices, which again good the wis express  
Bi●h ay at strife, come give me good attendance  
These precepts keep well in remembrance.  
enrol them, and print them in your mind:  
How to live well, the means shall ye find.   

Despice divitias, si vis animo esse beatus  
Quas qui suspiciunt, mendicant: semp avary   

The soul talon of riches my child eschew,  
Resemble not the greedy Tantalus,  
Whose e●●ck in hunger, is always new:  
Among the fair apples delicious.  
no what sweet quenchith his thirst, right thus  
To the villains swallow of covetise,  
Lo all this world, not can ne may suffice.   

Commoda naturae nullo tibi tempore deerunt.  
Si contentus co fueris, quod postulat usus.   

Nature can with little thing be content,  
As ind●ete, a man should never charge  
Himself with meet, for many men been shent:  
For their receipt be so great and large.  
Men see alday the little boat and barge,  
will drench anon when they be overfreght:  
cherish nature, but hurt her not which weight   

Cum sis incautus, nec rem ratione gubernes.  
Noli fortunam quae non est, dicere caecam.   

If thy thing thou hap to misgovern.  
without reason or any providence,  
Than my child of me this lesson learn:  
Scythe it was thy fortune such expense  
To make, but wite it thine own negligence.  
for fortune may never compel thee,  
Thy good to spend but at thy liberty.   

Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam.  
Quam nemo sanctus, nec honestus captat habere.   

love thy penny, as for thy chevissaunce,  
Not for the ●oigne, to h●●r̄deit on an hepe●  
For of the print, was made an ordinance,  
Not for it should in cotres lie and sleep,  
But for it should among the people leap  
In chair exchange, and who it keepeth inn  
As for the form, is subject unto sin.   

Cum fueris locuples, corpus curare memento,  
eager habet dives nummos, sed non habet ipsum.   

When thou hast plenty, and art pecunyal  
I mean when thou hast great suffisance  
Of money, foison, and of health but small  
Than spend thy money, and thyself advance  
Keep not thy coin, and live in grievance,  
The sick, hath silver in full great excess,  
But of himself, he hath no sickerness.   

Verbera cum tuleris, discens aliquando magistri▪  
Fer patris imperium, cum verbis exit iniram.   

Though sometime y● suffer great sharpness  
Of beering, yet thy master is chastissement  
Take well in gre with lowly humbleness,  
Sith it is do but all in good intent,  
To cause the to learn, & wisdom for to hear  
And though his words sown full of ire:  
Yet suffer thou thy talant of thy desire.   

Res age quepro sunt. Rursus vitare memento.  
In quibus error●nest: nec spes est cert● laboris.   

Also my child, thou shalt the occupy  
To work things that been profitable  
But look thy wits thou never apply,  
To thing that may not be vaillable  
To cast a thing that is not pregnable  
By wit or strength, it is but great error.  
despaired hope, is end of such labour,   

Quod donare potes, gratis cocede roganti.  
Nam rectefecisse bonis, in part lucrorum est.   

when thou shalt give than give in frendlywise,  
friendly content a prayer or Request  
for given in time, is given twice,  
Sith gladsome cheer, maketh gifts Richesses  
who so giveth gladly & soon giveth beast,  
Loo no thing may friends better conquer,  
Than man to leave that he may forbear.   

Quod tibi suspectum est contestim discute quid sit.  
Namque solent primo quae sunt neglecta nocere.   

when a thing thou haste in a conjecture  
As in the conceit, holding it suspect  
To discuss that thing anon to thy cunre  
for at the furst when such things is reject  
The rest is after easy to correct.  
And thing that at the furst is not set by,  
Is often say to grieve finally.   

Cum te detiniat Veneris damnosa voluptas.  
Indulgere gulae noli, que ventris amica est.   

And when thou art disposed inwardly.  
To venus' acts, than repress thy courage,  
Fostre not thy flesh to lustily.  
For great diet, maketh the flesh outrage,  
Where as measure might cause it to ●●age  
And gluttony, is clepud chief pometrice,  
leading the flesh, to wantonness & vice.   

Cum tibi proponas animalia cuncta tjmere,  
unum hominem tibi praecipio plus esse timendum.   

The rampand Lion & the Tiger fell,  
The irous Boar, the hound full of envy,  
And other beasts more than needeth to re●le,  
Men dreaden sore, and ferens their tyranny,  
And will they do but yet one be'st I spy,  
That is to fere most in speciale:  
Man is the be'st, that thou most dread shall.   

Cum tibi preualide fuerint in corpore vires,  
Facsapias, sic tu poteris vir fortis haberi.   

The virtue that is clepud fortitude  
Standeth not all in strenghthes bodily,  
As to be virous, mighty, strong and rude,  
But in the soul, it must be sikurly.  
Than if thou wilt thyself fortify  
Thy soul with in acqueynt with sapiene:  
And than shalt thou be strong in existence.   

Auxilium a notis petito, si forte laboras.  
Nec quisquam melior medicus, quanfidus amicus.   

what thing in earth thou shalt take on hand  
And thy support, shall be in frendlynesse,  
No stranger on live so nigh to y● will stand  
As thy known friend, my child this is express  
Of the stranger thou hast no sickerness,  
For when all other been full far to seche:  
Thy faithful friend, can best than be thy leech   

Cum sis ipsenocens, moritur curvictima pro ●e.  
Stultitia est morte alterius sperare salutem.   

The death of beasts that be unreasonable,  
As be custum and right of sacrifice  
To purge the is no seth agreeable.  
Trust not so to get thy reprice,  
For they that trusten so be full unwise.  
By death of beasts god will not quemed be.  
And man abide in his iniquity▪   

Cum tibi vel socium, vel fidum cue airy an●●cuin.  
Non tibi fortuna est hominis, sed vita petenda.   

When y● wilt chose a friend for trustiness,  
Than of his fortune make no Inquirance.  
For fortune is mother of change ableness,  
Ask of his life and of his governance:  
For that is prove of greater suffisance.  
Than ure of fortune that is casuelle,  
For life of man his fortune doth excel.   

Vtere quesitis opibus: fuge nomen avari:  
Quid tibi divitiae pro sunt, si pauper abundas?   

Use well the richesses that thou hast by quest  
Of avarice the wicked name eschew,  
Let not thy good be stopped in a chest?  
Keep not thy stuff ay closed still in mewe?  
Such old treasure will make thy shame new.  
What proufiteth plenty, or great treasure.  
And in poverty a wretch always to endure   

Si famam servare cupis, dum vivis, honestam  
Fac fugias animo, quae sunt mala gaudia vitae.   

And if thou desire to rejoice thy fame,  
In honest whiles thou livest here  
Eschew though things that may cause shame  
liquorous lusts must be laid on bear,  
And things feel, that soyonsly apere.  
This worldis joy is ay full defectyf●,  
Beware of joy that hurtith thy good life.   

Cum sapias animo, noli irridere iene●tam.  
Nam qui cun que seen, puerilis sensus in illo est.   

And ay my child conceive and advertise,  
That never thou scorn feeble stowping age  
Thine elders my child for nothing y● dispilee  
Though in their wits they he not so sage  
As in their youth: such age is outrage,  
When age cometh this is sooth certain,  
A man beginneth to be a child again   

Disce aliquid nam cum iubito fortuna recedit,  
Ars remanet, vitamque hominis non deserit unquam.   

Enforce thy wits somewhat for to lere,  
Acquaint the with cunning, for that is sure  
If fortune fail, and poverty appear  
Who that hath cunning, is likely to recure  
Cunning and craft, remaineth to endure  
By th● a man may himself relieve  
When fortune hath cast him into mischief.   

Precipito cuncta tacius, quid quisque lo quatur,  
Sermo hominem mores. et celat. et in dicat idem.   

Be styil in silence with abysenesse.  
Tarry my chield till other men have said,  
So shalt thou somewhat say in soothfastness  
Let not thy tongue be suddenly untyde,  
For that might the of hastiness be obreide.  
By man's word, his manner will be showed.  
By word is known the wise from the lewd.   

Exerce studium, quamuis perceperis artem,  
Vt cura ingenium, sit et manus adiwat usuin   

Though in cunning y● hast full great conceit  
Enforce the ay yet to learn more.  
The soul it is, that must▪ be thy receit,  
Kept in the her, with that treasure and store  
Use maketh mastery, use cunning therefore.  
Use helpeth art, as cunning helpeth wit:  
Than use and ure, to cunning must be knit   

Multum ne cures venturi tempora fact●.  
Non timuit mortem qui sit comemnere vita   

Body from soul shall have desseveraunce,  
Death is end commune to every wight.  
Charge not to much therefore of death is chauncen  
The tribute of death must thou pay of right:  
But yet by death shalt thou set more light.  
If by his life thou set no thing express  
That is full of woe and wrechianesse.   

Disce, sed a doctis, indoctos ipse doceto.  
Propaganda etenim est rerum doctrina bonarum.   

Learn of the wise, that teach the any thing  
Good, for it is virtue and full-commendable  
To increase doctrine through such cunning.  
It is alway a deed charitable,  
To learn and tecehe it is full agreeable  
To good doctrine, virtue on live keepeth,  
Which newer doctrine, soon from me should   

Hoc bibe quod possis, si tuvis ●ine viveresanus.  
Morbi causa mali est homini, quandoquae voluptas.   

Drink not to much, no more than y● maist● bear  
Kute thyself with them bridal of measure  
To much drink, will the annoy and dear,  
Sur●●t: is ever of health unsure.  
And measure maketh m● in health to endure  
What man is 〈…〉 lusts vile,  
In go●● est atent may a bide no while.   

Lau●●tis quod cun que palam quodcunque probaris.  
Hoc y●●e ●e rursus levitatis crimine▪ ●anes.   

And if it hap the in audience,  
A thing to praise, beware that thou not blame  
It oft again right in the same presence  
If then dispraise commend not eke the same  
Of such traverse, must nediss follow shame  
To pryese now, and eft to blame doubties,  
Is a thing of great unstableness.   

Tranquillis rebus quae sunt adversa caveto.  
Rusus in adversis, melius sperare memento.   

When y● livest here right in thin own ease.  
In all thy joy reeste and prosperity,  
Think thou parcas adversity will cese:  
For wealth standeth not in sickerness,  
And also soon when any adversitese,  
Assautith thee, yet fall not into despair:  
Think in thy help, good fortune may repair   

Discere necesses, cura sapientia crescit.  
Raro datur longo prudentia temporis usu.   

It is full fair my child, to be prudent,  
And wisely look thou learn therefore.  
To learn ay my son do thine cntents,  
By diligent business, wisdom is mo●●:  
Wisdom is she, that may not be forbore  
The rather prudence, that folk nice refuse.  
Can not be had but by process and use,   

Parce laudato. Nam quem tu saepe ꝓbaris.  
una dies▪ qualis fuerit monstrabit amicus.   

Beware always that thou never enhance,  
In thy laud or praising a wight to high:  
For thou mayst have cause eft to disavance  
The same: but ay thy praising modefie.  
For at one day, thou shalt full well espy  
Whether he be friendly that friendly seemeth:  
For all be not friends, that men deemeth.   

Ne pudeat, quae nescieris te velle doceri.  
Scire aliquid laus est, pudor est nil discere velle   

Be not ashamed also my child to lere,  
That thou can not for it is a teach  
Of folly: not to desire doctrine to here.  
Full well is he that to cunning may stretch,  
Sith conyngles a man is but a wretch.  
To knowemuche, is right commendable,  
And nought to know, is ay reprovable.   

Demissos animo, et tacitos, vitare me mento.  
Qua flumen placidum est, forsan later altius unda   

The solleyne still oft meaneth fraud & guile,  
Of such a man eschew the company  
For the still man compasseth otherwhile  
within his heart, deceit and treachery.  
In floods still is water deep and high,  
In streams soft seeming to thy pleasance,  
Often betidith, full unhappy chance,   

Cum tibi displiceat rerum fortuna tua rum  
Alterius specta, quo sis discrimine ●●peior.   

With thy fortune when thou art dischtente  
And canst not take agree thine adventure,  
Behold and feel in thine avisemnetes,  
How they sometime were as thou as sure,  
And more likely in wealth for to endure.  
Both of beauty and eke of nobleness:  
Have yet fallen down into wretchedness.   

Quod ●otes id tenta, nam littus carpere ren●s.  
Tutius est multo, quam, velum tendera in altum   

Atempte no thing, that y● mayst not suffice,  
Pass not thy might, bear not to high thy sailt  
For there is apparel, if that the stream arise,  
Certayne my child, this without fail,  
The vessel small, is at full great avail,  
When with his Ore he may to land reach  
where the sails hie full often gone to wretch   

Contra hominem justum, brave contendere noli.  
Semper enim deus iniustas ulciscitur iras   

Against the true Just man, brawl not nestrive  
For to god above, that is great displeasance,  
Trust this truly, there is no man onlyve,  
That to the just man doth dear or grievance,  
But at the last god will take vengeance.  
And hereof it is good heed for to take,  
The rightwisman, of god is not forsake.   

Ereptis opibus, noli gaudere merendo.  
Sed gaude potius, tibi sin contingat habere.   

If extortion or misadventure,  
Have plucked at the and made the threadbare  
Of riches yet do thy force and cure,  
Being merry and eschew thought and care.  
For fretting thought, is a full cursed ●nare:  
Come not therein, fortune is unstable,  
After poverce, riches is pregnable.   

Cum Venere et Baccho, lis est, coniuncta voluptas.  
Quod lautum est, animo complectere sed fugelites.   

Venus is ready, with all her acts vile.  
when he bacchus, hath sent her in largesse,  
The treasure of his hot and fervent I.  
Therefore my chield thine appetite repress,  
In wines hot, do not to great excess.  
Drink that for thy soul is expedient,  
Eschew strife, with measure be content.   

Est iactura gravis, que sunt amitterre damnis.  
Sunt quaedam quae ferre decet patienter amicum   

It is an harm, thy goods to forge.  
That been in hand, by force or violence,  
But yet my child thou must consider who,  
And what he is, that doth the such offence.  
betwixt friend and foe, have ay a difference.  
For in sum case, thou must a friend forbear,  
And suffer him, though he annoy & dear.   

Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vitae.  
Quocunque ingrederis, sequitur mors corpus, et umbra.   

Be not to sure that thou shalt live long,  
A wight shall die be he loath or leaf.  
And as the old so die the young among,  
Death stelith on, as doth a prive thief.  
Lo against death, men find no relief  
She is about to make a divorce,  
And followeth ay the shadow of the corce.   

Thure deum placa, vitulum sine crescat aratro.  
Ne credas placare daeum, dum caedat litatur.   

Serve ay thy god with lowly observance,  
with heart entier, with sweet smelling incense,  
Such sacrifice, is most to his pleasance.  
Of calves small that never did offence,  
Though thou them slay, they not dispense  
with y●, let them grove & swink in thy plough  
Thy heart to god is sacrifice enough.   

Cede locum laesus, fortunae cede potenti.  
Cedere qui potuit, prodesse aliquando valebit.   

give place to him that exceedeth thy might,  
Though thou be hurt it may profit perchance.  
and seld availeth a man for to fight  
against such one as passeth his puissance,  
Though he grieve now, yet oft he may advance  
Full oft is sayne after great duresse,  
The mighty man will kithe his gentleness.   

Cum quid peccaris, castiges te ipse subinde.  
Vulnera dum sanas, dolour est medicina doloris.   

After thy surfeit and great offence,  
Chastise thyself correct that was amiss,  
correct thy guilt, amend thy negligence.  
Sorrow for sin, a very medicine is  
Repent the sore, than art thou safe iwis.  
For physic saith, my child I the ensure:  
a bitter drink, the sharp sickness may cnre.   

Damnaris nunquam post longum tempus amicum.  
Mutavit mores, sed pignora prima me mento.   

If thou have found long friendship in a wight.  
Full yore ago, though he begin to change  
Dispraise him not: men bide not in one plight  
sometime was abbey, there as now is grange  
This world's course, is wonder queinte & strange.  
but though y● man, now be wax unkind:  
His old friendship remember in thy mind.   

Gracior officiis quo sis, magis charior esto.  
Ne nomen sub eas, quod dicitur offici perda.   

If it ure the in office to be set,  
Than be thou gracious to other men  
They may report a godly man is met  
with such an office, & so good name shall run  
About of thee, but I ensure the when.  
The officers are unkind, than say y● press  
Now would god, this man were officelesse.   

Suspectus, caveas ne sis miser omnibus horis.  
Nam timidis et suspectis aptissima mors est.   

Be not suspect, that is a wicked teach,  
The suspect wight, with coward jolasy,  
In his living is but a very wretch,  
Much is amiss, and all would he es●y,  
He deemeth false and faileth hertinesse.  
His false conceit set in malyncolye  
Sleeth him anon: death endeth his folly.   

Cum fueris servos proprios mercatus in usus.  
Et famulos dicas, homines tamen esse memento.   

If thou have men without liberty,  
Such as men clepe the men of bondage,  
Though they be under thy capitulate,  
yet to such men be never so outrage,  
If they be holden under thy servage.  
Though they be bound yet very men they be:  
And so to deal with them, & remember the.   

Quam primum rapienda tibi est occasio prima.  
Ne rursus quaeras, quae iam neglexeris ante.   

Thy first fortune receive with readiness,  
Refuse it not though it be scant and small.  
It is well better in gree to take the less,  
Than refuse it, and after fail of all.  
Gifts of fortune take them as they fall.  
Forsake them now, & oft thou shalt them need:  
Time is to take when men proffer & bede.   

Morte repentina noli gaudere malorum  
Foelices obeunt, quotum sine cry vita est   

Rejoice not my child in all thy life,  
The sudden death of a cursed man or wretch  
when he is dead, the soul may not revive,  
From pain to joy, the spirit may not shretche,  
The finds hold so sore that they may retch.  
who liveth well full well eke dieth he:  
That soul is sure of great falicite.   

Cum coniux tibi sit, nec res, & fama la borat.  
Vitandum ducas inimicum nomen amici.   

If thou have a wite in assurance,  
Than trust her well, and love her inwardly,  
with heart & thought & all thy affiance,  
Be not ●●fecte with suspect jealousy  
It no daefa●te in her thou canst spy.  
And if thy friend tell the such is the fame:  
He is a friend and she nothing to blame,   

Cum tibi contingat studio cognoscere multa:  
Fac discas multa, vites nescire doceri.   

When through study and long exercise,  
Thou knoweit much & hast great cunning,  
yet do thy diligence, in busy wise,  
More to ken it is a wholesome thing.  
To great honour, cunning may the bring.  
And never eschew for to will be taught,  
without teaching, science will not be reached.   

Miraris verbis nudis me scribere versus.  
Hos brevitas sensus fecit coniungere binos.   

And if y● aught marvel, or lust for to muse,  
In naked words why my verses I write,  
In no wise I may me better excuse,  
Than say my wit so dull & inparfite,  
Ar●ith me thus rudely to indite.  
By two and two, my metre for to knit,  
Nought causeth me, but simpleness of wit.   
Pars quarta et ultima.   


Cum ani●ad●●●terem, quum plurimo● homines graviter errare.   

When I advertise in my remembrance,  
And see how many folk err grievously  
In the way of virtuous go ●ernaūc●▪  
I have supposed in myself that I,  
Ought to support and counsel prudently  
Them to be full glorious in syving,  
and how the● should themself in honour bring▪   

Legere et n● intelligere negligere eit.   

Therefore my chys●e I shall teeth thee,  
hearken me well, the manet and the guise,  
How thy sauce suward shall acquainted be  
with the good and virtuous in all wise,  
Ke●e an conceive, for he to dilpice,  
that readeth ay & wot not what is mente:  
Such reading is nought but ●yn●e ●pen●●▪   

Itaque de●●is●plica. Parents ama▪   

Praise thy god & pray him with all thy heart,  
Father & mother have thou in reverence,  
Love them well, & be thou never to sm●rt  
To here men's counsel but keep the thence  
Till thou be called, ●e ●lene without offence▪  
Salue gladly 〈…〉 at be more dig●e  
than that thyself, thou shall thy place, resign.   

Magistrum me●ue. Rem tuam custodi.   

dread thy master, thy thing look thou keep  
Take heed to thy housh●ld, ay love my wife,  
Pleasant words cut of thy mouth ler creep,  
Be not Irous, keep thy behest as life,  
Be tempered with wine, but not to excessise,  
Thy wives word make none authority.  
In folly, sleep no more than needeth the.   

Libros lege, quod legeris memento.   

In goodly books sometime shalt thou read,  
And that thou readest in thy mind it shitte,  
Stir no wight to wrath, lie not I the reed  
Do well to good, and that will oft be quit,  
Be not wicked ne to the wicked knit,  
Stand in the place of pleting exercise,  
deem the right, be connseyled of the wise.   

Troco lude: alias fuge.   

Play with a top the dice look thou eschew,  
Despise not women, keep them thy behest,  
Scorn never wight, for tha y● shalt it rue,  
Covet no man's good, speak few at feast▪  
Look thy vengeance be ever which the lest,  
who hath done the good have in remembrance,  
Love every wight, & this shall the advance.   
Try before you trip.   

¶ Imprinted at London in Fletestreate, at the sign of the Rose Garland, by William Coplande.  
Finished the first day of January. Anno. M. D. LVIII.