happinesse It good preseru's the obstinate denies And hates the soules disordred enemies 120 Rare Scipio the noble African King Cyrus stout and Alexander great Wasting the world with fire and sword outran Yet conquer'd were by Continence intreat Prou'd by the beautie of Darius dames When they subdu'd the heat of wicked flames 121 Architas was with this rare gift indu'd Isaeus Pompey and Zenocrates Antigonus and Gracchus all eschu'd Such youthly motions might their fancies please And when such sparks their hearts do set on fire Their Temp'rance rules the heat of lusts desire 122 We reade of Charles that Emp'rour of great fame Lysimmachus Fabritius and the rest Rodulphus Cato Socrates by name All which this vertue pure and rare possest By her they did their course of life direct And strongest passions of the minde reiect 123 Sith golden meane doth temperance out measure Happy the man that can the same attaine Neither to melt in th'hot desire of pleasure Nor frie in heart-breake griefe and hardest paine The greatest enemie that she doth finde Is stubburne perturbation of the minde 124 Now seat thee Temp'rance by thy sisters side Humbly deuoluing all thy vertuous power To him that in his chaste thoughts doth prouide His Princely minde to be your trustie tower Stout Fortitude is my next morall theame The fountaine third of reasons sacred streame 125 This Fortitude is th' earnest appetite And strong desire of great and mightie things That in contempt of actions base will fight And seruile causes to subiection brings With constant suffring in an honest cause And humble labour to defend good lawes 126 It is the strength and valour of the minde Against the tedious troubles of our age Which doth with setled resolution binde Our liues and lands for Gods trueth to ingage And to defend with courage bolde and stout Christs chosen Church the vniuers throughout 127 Twelue helps to this rare vertue do belong The first is Counsell of the graue and wise When they adrayne a battell great and strong The Priest stands in the vantguard to aduise And with loud voice the people doth exhort They should not faint to lose the towne or fort 128 And bids them hearken when he calles and cries To fight the battell with vndaunted hearts And march on stoutly gainst their enemies Not fearing death nor his relentlesse darts This shewes that courage which doth counsell lacke Runnes on at first but in the end turnes backe 129 Let vs obserue that wise and holy King That arm'd his souldiers not with speare and shield Exhorting them courageous hearts to bring With policie and strength to winne the field Which doth most plaine and perfectly declare Warr's little worth where graue aduise is rare 130 The fame which the olde Herôes did atchieue By their braue deaths and did the same commend To datelesse memory and time to liue Was fortitude and courage without end As Eleazars death hath left behinde A worthie proiect for ech Noble minde 131 Another helpe is dayly exercise Whereby the bodie 's kept in perfect vse Without the which it hourely droups and dies And made a subiect to most vile abuse Which shewes that vse and exercise doth make The partie apt and prompt all good to take 132 Hard sinews and strong armes the rusticks haue Which exercise and dayly vse hath wrought Whose perfect actions dayly custome gaue And earnest labour readinesse hath taught Vse therefore exercise which giueth strength And brings effect to all our works at length 133 The fourth is Faith which euer doth subdue And conquer all the world with victorie Faith is to Fortitude a Captaine true Fit for to march in deeds of dignitie She is the hope of things not had in sight The ioy whereof doth giue the heart delight 134 The fifth is Feare which often helpe doth bring To Fortitude in matters of import Of eu'ry sinne it doth abate the sting And to cleane hands this vertue doth exhort The feare of God the true beginning is Of perfect wisdome and eternall blisse 135 The sixth is Hope which euer appertaines In perfect silence to this vertue pure And so inabled mightie things it gaines In him that doth sweet comfort still assure So Secresie and Hope true solace bring To Fortitudes attempt in eu'ry thing 136 The seuenth pure and perfect Charitie By which we may two waies obserue and take First how we should in need relieued be And of our neighbours helpe good vse to make Which doth instruct vs in our deeds to do To others as we would be done vnto 137 A brother which his brother doth vpholde Is like a goodly citie of great strength If one do fall the other waxeth bolde Him to support and raise againe at length What with Gods blessed Word doth more agree Than brethrens loue and neighbours charitie 138 The second is adhaering to the trueth To which whose mindes and hearts do euer cleaue Shall still controule foolish wayes of youth And not let worldly vanities deceaue For those that are to constant trueth inclin'de Will not admit vaine thoughts to vexe the minde 139 The eighth is Wisdome which we may esteeme A fitting helpe and comfort in this place A wise man stout and valiant we should deeme A strong man learned giues his learning grace Thus Valour should to Wisdome still be tied And learned men with strength be beautified 140 The ninth is Temperance which most pursue The steps and paths of true prosperitie And doth sinister accidents subdue For being downe cast in aduersitie No losse of goods can change or grieue that minde Whom all the gifts of Fortune can not blinde 141 He that doth liue and naught desires at all Of wealth or riches in his course of life Needs not to feare the force of Fortunes fall Nor to molest his minde with care and strife Sweet is the time the yeeres and dayes well spent Where that one hath doth giue the heart content 142 The tenth is pure and perfect discipline Of these our bodies in corrupt estate Which makes vs from our fleshly foes decline T' imbrace good things which we by nature hate And being conquer'd works in vs more strength For to attaine true vertues goale at length 143 Another helpe is Almes and good reliefe Vnto the poore and them which stand in need To clothe the naked and to ease the griefe Of those for whom our Sauiour Christ did bleed Which Almes with honour shall obtaine the field And rule the mighty Monarchs speare and shield 144 The last is prayer of most great auaile With Fortitude conioyn'd doth high ascend When Moyses did by prayers God assaile To Israel the conquest he did lend Which shewes that prayer with
Iustice doth aduance 17 Sage Prudence busied in foresight of things And moderate Temperance with her golden squire True manly Fortitude the heart of Kings Ioin'd with impartiall Iustice all desire For their more safetie and securer rest A sacred mansion in your Princely brest 18 Now Vertue lookes more debonaire and sweet And darts strange flames of loue in euery place T' is so when she and Princely greatnesse meet Accept the good that Vertue giues your Grace A double ease then shall your Highnesse finde Making these Vertues Squires of your minde 19 What comfort comes by such a gracious King In whom the foure rare morall vertues raigne A Prince that wants of these in anything Can not serue God nor subiects well maintaine All which great gifts his Princely minde must beare That will Th'emperiall Crowne of honour weare 20 These foure a Chariot of foure wheeles haue fram'd Which whoso mounts shall great and mightie be And for this merit shall as much be fain'd As if the Conquerer of the world were he Few Kings this goodly Chariot haue driuen For vnto few these Cardinals are giuen 21 Which vertues are fast knit and ioin'd together Yet proper and distinct in qualitie Like Riuers flowing in a stormie weather Out of the fountaine of pure honestie Thus all are one and one esteemed all Who wanteth one possesseth none at all 22 There is one only wise and Soueraigne king Who sitteth on his high and holy throne And by his word created euery thing From whom true wisdome doth proceed alone Which teacheth vs his holy word to know And in abundance doth his mercy show 23 These Morall vertues Cardinall are nam'd A cardine as ancient writers say Which is a hindge on which the doore is fram'd By which it shuts and opens euery way All Monarchs kingdoms commonwealths Kings Guided by these possesse mostblessed things 24 By these they are made open vnto God And to all goodnesse in their land and state Preseru'd from Sathan and his wicked rod And from those vices which these vertues hate Who rules by these shall haue eternall blisse And raigne with God where vertues glory is 25 Further they call them Card'nall as I gesse By reason of their firme stabilitie Both in themselues and persons they possesse Where they inhere with perfect constancie When doores are mou'd the hindges fixt remaine And yet not chang'd returne the same againe 26 The third cause is for that our conuersation And course of life supported ought to be By these foure vertues without alteration As doores borne vp on hindges which we see Though to and fro the doore do dayly passe Yet borne on hindges is the same it was 27 Fourth reason why we do them Card'nall proue Is praeminence and power aboue the rest The Cardin's are the chiefest parts aboue Of Heauen of Earth and Sea which God hath blest Alluding vnto man compos'd by nature Of elements or els no perfect creature 28 These vertues do exceed all others farre By them are noble acts and deeds begunne The least of them shines bright as any starre And all in one as glorious as the Sunne The soule who striues the greatest works t' effect By these foure vertues doth herselfe direct 29 The fifth cause is their principalitie For vnto them all vertues are inclin'de They leade the motions power and qualitie Of heart of soule of bodie and of minde They teach they rule they gouerne and they guide The minde and soule that is to wisdome tide 30 Prudence the act of Reason still doth sway Which vertues is from vices to discerne Twixt good and bad which is the perfect way To take or leaue it teacheth vs to learne It makes vs see and know the good from ill And hauing choise to take the better still 31 Temperance the act doth rule leade and direct Of the concupiscible facultie Which is things good and pleasing to elect To comfort man and with Gods word agree It doth dispose all actions which delight Mans humane good and highest God of might 32 Fortitude rules the actions will and power Irascible in hearts and mindes of all That manage valourous actions at each stower And to indure what perils can befall Rather than faint in any fearefull guise They shew themselues both valiant stout and wise 33 These former vertues do themselues dispose With seuerall actions in their proper places But Iustice doth direct and leade all those To all good works indu'de with heauenly graces And by her vnderstanding power controule The outward acts and inward thoughts of soule 34 In number foure these choisest vertues are Which learned men in books define to be A bodie knit with substance firme and rare Sound without change from all corruption free Yet haue they obiects in a diff'rent kinde To euery wicked thought and worke inclin'd 35 Gainst Prudence warreth senselesse Ignorance Infirmitie with Fortitude doth fight Vnbridled Lust defieth Temperance And hatefull wrong gainst Iustice bends his might Thus euery vertue findes a vicious foe The one doth good the other doth not so 36 The Church which is of Christ the Spouse and mate By these foure vertues is adorn'd and wrought As of foure precious stones of highest rate Not to be match't if all the world were sought Which do protect and keepe on euery side Gods Word and Trueth so often purified 37 Prudence before doth teach her to foresee All future mischiefes like to come at last Iustice behinde will alwayes witnesse be To euery thing before is gone and past For what 's to come the first doth her defend For matters done the latter helpe doth send 38 But Temperance the right hand doth attend Lest it be puft vp with prosperitie And Fortitude the left hand doth defend For feare it fall into aduersitie These former vertues doe the Church vpholde In Gods true feare that cannot be controlde 39 Next wise men do these Cardinalls compare To the foure Riuers pure of Paradise Which water that faire garden Eden rare The place of all delights and high deuise For as they moisten earth in euery place So those bedew the soule of man with grace 40 By these men coole the heat of carnall lust And wicked passions which oppresse the minde By these our hearts are mou'd to do what 's iust From ill to good they make vs still inclin'd By these the Lord his blessings still imparts Vnto the sonnes of men to glad their harts 41 They are compar'd to those faire colours pure In whose cleere hue those Curtaines were discern'd Of Moyses Tabernacle built most sure From whom are all good acts and precepts learn'd Which seuerally the vertues do define And shew Christs Church on high to be diuine 42 The first the Iacinth is of heauenly hue Whose rarenesse doth to Prudence appertaine Whereby we imitate our
fift doth holde a Reuerend respect And due regard of those that best deserue The last doth well the works of truth effect And from good lawes and praeceps neuer swarue But still maintaine what euer 's good and iust And not to vaine deceitfull toies to trust 171 Religion is the worship pure of God Obseruing of his iust and holy lawes To visit those that suffer scourge of rod And to relieue when want doth offer cause It keeps our minds vnstain'd and vndefilde From all infection of the world so vilde 172 But pietie is a bountifull regard Whose care respects aswell the bond of bloud As duties or priorities reward Or great obedience to the meane and good In all degrees it makes an equall show To yeeld true measure to the high and low 173 Fauour or grace a vertue we may call Wherein the true and perfect friendship shines With memorie of subiects duties all Whose bounds and limits grace to vs defines It doth containe will to remunerate The gifts and qualities of ech estate 174 Reuenge of things vniust a vertue is That doth subdue oppression force and wrong All obscure acts which leade men farre amisse She doth repell be neuer they so strong It doth defend the pure and innocent And chastice those that in transgression went 175 Much holinesse dread reuerence behights For iust obseruance of the merit due To those on whom all perfect honour lights Whose worth makes their deseruings good and true It giues renowme and honour in her kinde To men of note and of a Noble minde 176 Trueth is a practicke habit as I weene Or veritie which doth the minde possesse Inspir'd into the soule of man not seene By God himselfe whose sp'rit brings happinesse This maketh difference twixt the good and euill To chuse her selfe and hate her foe the deuill 177 Iustice is term'd the simple poore mans treasure Lockt in the chest of soule and conscience It yeelds to them the trueth of great mens measure And keepes it swept from eating-moths offence All precious stones whose vertues breed no doubt It doth reserue and cast all other out 178 He is not iust that dreadeth death or paine Or feares exile or stings of pouertie No conscience cleere whose eyes do looke for gaine Or heart prefers the foes to equitie No man for good or honest we regard Whose minde doth measure iustice with reward 179 Iustice hath wrought to vs most happie things Iustice by right hath taught our land to know A royall lawfull true descent of Kings Whose vaines the bloud of Henrie seuenth show It brought him in he will not shut her out Let none for Iustice therefore feare or doubt 180 This Princely branch from that pure roote now springs Of Brute that mightie monarch of great fame Whose buddes the fruit of perfect Iustice brings And to his people auncient Britans name Which he adorns with vnitie and peace Throughout the world for euer to increase 181 We see the buds of that same stately tree Whose blossoms yeeld our hearts and eies delight We reape the fruit of Iustice equally As moats still subiect to the Sunne of light Iustice diuine chiefe vertue of renowne Commands with loue our sacred King to crowne 182 Prudence with Iustice did coniunction make Vniting so foure kingdomes into one Heau'ns in the change did all our troubles slake In giuing pow'r and right to Ieames alone He is the first that ouer all did raigne Or could with loue and peace the crowne obtaine 183 He with his Iustice doth all strife debate And makes vs loue one onely God and king He ioineth loue twixt those that iarr'd with hate And doth our hearts to true religion bring He makes vs liue in peace and vnitie With kingdoms great and haue our trafficke free 184 Blest be his name that made vs Iustice know By such a Prince whose heart intends no wrong Blest be his power that such a tree did show From that true stocke of Brutus graft so long Blessed be heau'n a Princely Britaine raignes And that so goodly plants of Brute remaines 185 Iustice brings peace and concord to our land And breeds not warres by off'ring others wrong It knits men fast like faggots in a band In faith and loue that to one state belong Religion loue and vnitie increase Vnder the King whose heart desireth peace 186 Iustice extreme is neuer to be vs'd With crueltie or rigorous intent It may with ouer-wresting be abus'd And turne to wrong the good which vertuement The summe of Iustice which is in rigor seene To iniurie is chang'd and alt'red cleene 187 True Iustice riches neuer can infect Nor gaine of kingdomes cut off course of right No priuate whisper shall the cause detect Till both be heard and trueth be brought to light Where Iustice flies with flatt'ring wings to th' eare The Kingâ—s abus'd and subiects buy it deare 188 Most pitifull that land and people's left Where perfect iustice is not vnderstood They are of all true happinesse bereft And sure to sinke let cause be ne'er so good But still to labour striue consume and spend All that they haue yet neuer make an end 189 What greater plague or viler punishment Than liue in hope of right from day to day What greater torment to a state is sent Than Iudges to sell Iustice with delay Who rule the cause with coine vnto their will And keepe true Iustice from the iudgement still 190 They that abuse this image pure of God And sell the trueth for pictures of a King Are made the meanes to vse the deuils rod And all good causes to confusion bring They neuer care how matters come about So that the purse the golde be powring out 191 Paulus the Pythagorian doth direct How all men should this gift diuine embrace As nurse and mother truely to effect The works of all the rest with heauenly grace Gods prouidence to Iustice is appli'de Which doth the world both gouerne rule and guide 192 In Townes and Cities it is rightly thought The perfect path to equitie and peace In priuate homes twixt man and wife is wrought True vnitie and concord to increase It makes men serue their masters with regard And masters kinde good seruants to reward 193 It is commanded by Gods holy spirit All Magistrates should Iustice dayly vse And that their hearts should iudgement pure inherit And not Gods holy lawes for to abuse For whoso doth infringe and breake the same Can not auoid the curse of endlesse shame 194 It doth to Iustice duely appertaine To entertaine the pure and innocent Them to protect till they be free againe So sent away full safe to their content Iudgement resists bold deeds of wickednesse And doth with punishment all faults redresse 195 By Solon this was truely taught as meane For great
is a beame proceeds from that true sunne Which giues not only vnderstanding light But kindles our affection still to shunne What should offend the God of power and might She is the quicke the cleere and purest light Which doth direct all other vertues right 69 As sight amongst our numbred senses fiue Accounted is as fairest and most cleare So other vertues must their light deriue And brightest splendor from her glorious Spheare By her direction all good works are wrought And mēs minds cloth'd with mild cōstant thought 70 This vertue doth containe three other parts As Vnderstanding Memory Foresight Esteemed Eyes by learned men of Arts Which makes her iudge and censure times aright Time present first and past the second showes The last of these doth future times disclose 71 Nor may we here exclude the Canonists Nor Schoole-men which auouch fiue needfull parts Which in this Princely vertues power consists Liuely described in the liberall Arts. These do attend obserue and keepe their place For humane good and heauenly works of grace 72 The first of them they terme Didacticall Which teacheth vs our selues to know and guide The second they holde Oeconomicall To rule ones house and maintenance prouide By this our selues our house and people learne Twixt good and euill rightly to discerne 73 The third is taken for a warlike Spirit By which an Armie 's marshal'd rul'd and led To yeeld reward to valiant men of merit To cure the hurt and care to burie dead Which giues ech one his office and his place Pleasing the best and giuing none disgrace 74 The fourth is deem'd for Politicke estate Which Architecton men of wisdome name Ordaining lawes the trueth for to debate As right falles out to censure of the same Establish such Decrees as may vs leade To know the path of perfect good to treade 75 The last is pure and simple Policie By which the subiects do their fortunes shroud Vnder the King in their extremitie As skies ou'rcast within a mighty cloud Which Prince for peace sets downe and keeps good lawes And with iust care doth heare the poore mans cause 76 Prudence doth manage exercise and trie The secret acts and functions of the rest Respecting parts of true Philosophie Wherewith so many vertues are possest Aethicke and Oeconomicke those they call And Politicke they terme the last of all 77 The first true maners in it selfe doth frame The second families doth rightly guide The third doth gouerne cities of great fame And mightie kingdomes where good lawes abide So that our selues our houshold-state and lands What best becomes are brought to vnderstand 78 This vertue is threefold in secret skill Whereof the first is taken from the hart Disposing things that are in present still And noteth all what 's past on eu'ry part It doth prouide for future times euent That Had I wist prouoke not to repent 79 The second from the mouth doth aye proceed Which doth consist in mod'rature of speech This is the badge of wisdome pure indeed As proofe and eke experience doe teach For fooles that holde from prattle and vaine talke Shall in account of perfect wise men walke 80 The third is of the worke and true effect Which in this place as proper doth consist To shew good actions and the bad reiect And from the works of faith not to desist But meat such measure vnto all we should As euery one to giue to vs we would 81 Well may we further note and so obserue The worlds Prudence and next thereto humane The third diuine which doth the soule preserue All call'd alike but not in worke the same Yet two do seeme from vertue to proceed In outward shew but not in worke or deed 82 The first is busied dayly to procure All temp'rall things which most mens humor feed The second neuer ceaseth to allure Carnall desires which soules confusion breed The third with zeale indeuours Christ to please And craues his helpe Gods anger to appease 83 Against this vertue there are opposit Foure vices couer'd vnderneath a vaile Resembling in some sort true signes of merit But not abiding touch their purpose faile Yet do they striue and worke and labour still With goodly shew to worke the course of ill 84 The first Prudentia carnis we do name Astutia the second we may call The third Dolus a branch is of the same And Fraus the last though not the least of all Which euer in their actions do agree With vertues cloke to worke all villanie 85 Yet finde they in themselues a different course Though in vile plots and purposes one head For Craft we may of these account the worst Which first the path to wickednesse doth tread These with their subtill false and slie deceits In shew like honest lay soule-trapping baits 86 Next Dole and Fraud do cunningly defend And still excuse the damned works of euill But Dolus to deceit is surest friend And couching close doth seeke the soule to spill Yet Fraud most properly doth rest in facts Not in the words of such deceitfull acts 87 This vertue did with orient brightnesse shine In Salomon that matchlesse king of praise Who left with fame his Prouerbs most diuine To be true Prudence guide for vs alwaies Whose holy wisdome all the world bereft That since his death the like was neuer left 88 Who did true wisdome in his censure show Betwixt two women striuing for a childe An inward prudence wrought the trueth to know That the true mother should not be beguilde In offring them the infant to diuide He both the trueth of loue and nature tri'de 89 The lawfull mother did lament and crie She would not any such diuision make But rather seem'd her right cleane to denie And bid the mother false the whole to take By which the King in wisdome vnderstood The mother right whose loue preseru'd the blood 90 I rightly may of Iesus Sirach speake And famous Esdras who did both designe Such prudent rules they neuer meant to breake But all mens faults by vertue to refine And by their light and holy works to moue Mens mortall hearts to honour God aboue 91 By Prudence Alexander did obtaine Two battels of Darius Persians King Which time twelue hundred thousand men were slaine And fifteene Nations did to bondage bring Fiue thousand Townes and Cities he that day By wisdome power and rule did ouersway 92 Did not this vertue Iulius Caesar show In reconciling Senators of Rome By whome he learn'd the perfect way to know For Consulship to haue the peoples dome Then Prudence ioyn'd with bounty worth and wit Brought him in Rome an Emperour great to sit 93 The worthie fame of Solons prudence springs With branches great of endlesse memorie Which the Athenian iarres to concord brings And all to liue in loue and vnitie This he obtain'd
in taking part with none Yet made them chuse him Ruler all alone 94 Lycurgus worthy maker of sharpe lawes Who did reforme the Lacedemons state Fiue hundred yeeres of peace he was the cause And setled loue'mongst those that swel'd with hate So that they liu'd in gouernment and peace Vntill his lawes and ordinance did cease 95 Well may we note how Phocion spake his minde Against th' Athenians enterprise in warre And sith they tooke his counsell to vnkinde He spake aloud that men might heare him farre You force me do the things I ought not thinke Nay yet from speech nor counsell for to shrinke 96 Demosthenes a woman poore preseru'd Who had ingag'd herselfe vpon receit To them of whom from faith the one was sweru'd And got the money from her by deceit Her cause by prudence he did well defend And for the paiment made her foes attend 97 Here strike we saile and now the anker cast Of our bifronted Prudence in the bay Of sacred royaltie there remaining fast Till her faire sister Temp'rance bring we may O that she finde such quiet harbour there As may the date of datelesse time outweare 98 This Cardinall doth wicked wayes subdue Chacing bad motions which misleade the minde Preseruing man in meane and measure true Gods lawes to keepe which are to vs assign'de And to contend by all the meanes we can To beat downe sinne and raise the inward man 99 This Temp'rance is describ'd three parts to haue First Continence doth rightly challenge one The second office Clemencie doth craue And Modestie the third doth holde alone Ech one of these sits in his proper place To build Gods house and Sathans to deface 100 The first the minde and appetite doth leade With inclination to good works of light The other carnall motions downe doth treade And all externall euils pardon quite The third distinctly measur'd with suspence Doth iudge the cause and maner of offence 101 From Continence two other branches spring One drawes our hearts from pleasures to refraine And those corrupt desires of eu'ry thing That should procure our euerlasting paine The other works to bridle that desire of golde and wealth which sets the heart on fire 102 By Continence the appetite is taught And gouern'd by the square of graue aduise Vertue to loue and vices set at nought And for the best all courses to deuise Whereby is prou'd that vile intents contain'd Are chang'd to good and wicked acts refrain'd 103 Clemencie is a Temp'rance of the minde When iust Reuenge may take his time and power Or Lenitie in noble hearts most kinde Which might afflict inferiours euery hower And to impose vpon them punishment For all offences done with ill intent 104 Though this for all men be expedient Yet vnto Princes chiefly it belongs Whose care to punish faults conuenient Giues vs example to desist from wrongs Which is confirm'd and prou'd in ech respect When God made Moyses Iudge of his elect 105 Who was the meek'st and temperat'st Prince aliue That liu'd obedient in Gods feare and loue And would no man of his due right depriue Nor once his foot from that was trueth remoue Then England Ioy God hath a Moyses sent His right to keepe and all our harmes preuent 106 Well may we note in Isr'el many Kings That were most gentle in their toilsome raigne Which did in mercie censure doubtfull things And with attention heare the poore complaine And hauing heard the truth on both parts tri'de In temp'rate iudgement did the cause decide 107 I would in no wise wrong my Regall power Nor once abuse the greatnesse of my place But rule my subiects eu'ry day and hower With pitie mercie lenitie and grace This Esther writes renowmed Queene of fame That following Princes might obserue the same 108 Beholde the King doth come vnto the milde And with the gentle maketh his abode But from th' obdurate he will be exilde And shun the path where wicked people trode From Clemencie this knowledge still doth spring To know a Tyrant from a gracious King 109 A shamefast wise regard is Modestie Of honest things inhabiting the minde And the reward hath of authoritie The which doth pure and stable actions binde And teacheth vs in compasse how to liue Of precepts such as Temperance doth giue 110 This sheweth man himselfe how to behaue In laughter words and gesture decently In ord'ring well those parts which God vs gaue In comly habits of Ciuilitie All these Sobrietie doth still obserue And neuer from true modest actions swerue 101 Temperance doth guide the seasons of the yeare And their coniunctions firme and mutuall makes Of elements whose temp'rate times appeare In ord'ring things that Prudence vndertakes It is the compasse of the wide worlds frame And perfect ornament to decke the same 102 It is the ground-worke of mans happie life And preseruation of his inward soule It is the curbe and bridle of all strife Drawing the raines which choler do controule It doth containe the inward thoughts of minde By which all actions mod'rate passage finde 103 From Prudence rightfully she drawes her line Withouten which we cannot Temp'rance gaine Nor any can to Fortitude incline Vnlesse the mod'rate vertue he attaine For courage will be rash and heady still And wanting Temp'rance followes rages will 114 This vertue knit and ioyn'd with all the rest Doth worke perfection in their true effects Without the which no vertue is possest With that true good that Wisdome most respects In Noble mindes where temp'rate motions faile Presumptuous thoughts do euermore preuaile 115 The ornament that best beseemes all Kings Inuesture is with robes of Temperance That makes their fame so high to flie with wings And to the heauens their Scepters doth inhance In right and trueth a King we may him call That his desires and pleasures masters all 116 This vertue is the light that banisheth Obscuritie of passions round about A double vertuous qualitie she hath For she preseru's vs both within and out With priuate publike and humane respect Shee frees the soule which vice did so infect 117 She is a stedfast mod'rate rule of reason Ouer the passions of Concupiscence She keepes the motions of the minde in season And to the soule is still a sure defence Nothing so rare on earth can be espi'de As she which both the soule and minde doth guide 118 It joines and fastens bodie to the soule As firme and fast as surest driuen naile It roots out lust and doth bad facts controule And makes perfections in our minds preuaile That man who entertaines not such a guest True reason wants and liueth like a beast 119 It is the pillar of true Fortitude The helme and shield against luxuriousnesse It is the eye by which our works are view'd And draw'n and kept to lore of