in secret speech He himselfe guilty to himselfe dooth think all things to be spoken of himselfe 18 We must think of aduerse things or aduersity in prosperous things or in prosperity When thou shalt be happy or in prosperitie beware of those things which are aduerse or against thee The last things do not answere to the first things in the same course 19 The death of another is not to be hoped for Sith that a doubtfull life and a fraile life is giâ—n to vs. Doe not thou put hope to thy selfe or doe not thou hope in the death of another man 20 The minde is to be esteemed in the gift When a poore friend doth giue a little gift to thee Take thou it pleasingly or kindely and remember to praise it fully 21 The induring of pouerty Sith that nature hath created thee a naked infant Remember to beare patiently the burden of pouerty 22 Death is not to be feared Thou maiest not feare that death which is the last end of life He that feareth death loseth that same thing that he liueth 23 The ingratitude of friends is to be flâ—dde Iâ— no friend answere to thee for thy deserts or according to thy deseruings Doe not accuse God but thou thy selfe keepe vnder thy selfe 24 Frugality or thriftinesse Vse things gotten sparingly least any thing bee wanting to thee And that thou maiest keepe that which is or that which thou hast thinke thou alwaies it to bee wanting to thee or that thou maiest want 25 A promise iterated or repeated againe is greeuous or offensiue Thou shalt not promise twise to any man that thing which thou canst performe Least thou be windy or a boaster whilst thou wilt be accounted 〈◊〉 or courteous friendly 26 Art is to be deluded by Art He that doth dissemble in words neither is a faithfull friend in heart Thou also do the like thing so art is deluded by art or cunning 27 Faire speaking is suspected or ought to be suspected Doe not thou approue ouer much men flattering in speech The pipe singeth or soundeth sweetly wilst the fouler doth deceiue the Birde 28 Children are to be instructed in arts If children be to thee or if thou haue children neither wealth or but no wealth then instruct them in Arts whereby they may be able to defend their poor life or to get their liuing 29 How things are to be esteemed Think thou or esteeme that thing which is cheape to be deare that which is deare to be cheape So thou shalt be accounted neither sparing to thy selfe nor couetous to any 30 Things blamed or blame worthy are not to be done Thou thy selfe shalt not do those things which thou art wont to blame It is a dishonest thing to the teacher when a fault reproues himselfe or when hee himselfe dooth that which hee blameth in others 31 Things to be granted are to be asked Aske thou that which is â—ust or that which may seeme honest For it is a foolish thing to aske that which may be denied by right 32 Knowne things are not to bee changed for vnknowne things Do not thou put before or preferre a thing vnknowne to thee to knowne things or before knowne things Knowne things do consist in iudgement or doe stand on certaintie vnknowne things do consist in chance 33 Euery day is to be thought the last day Sith that our life is tossed doubtfully or conuersant in vncertaine dangers Whosoeuer thou art which labourest put or account the day to thee for gaine 34 We must obey or please our friends Giue place or yeeld somtime to thy fellow wheÌ„ thou arâ—able to ouercome Because sweete friendes are ouercome by pliantness or yeelding to 35 The duties of friendship ought to be mutuall Thou maiest not doubt to bestow little things when thou askest great things For fauour or loue dooth ioyne together deare friends by these things 36 Friendship hateth braulings Beware to bring in strife to him with whom fauour or goodwil is ioyned to thee or with whoÌ„ thou art in loue Anger doth breed hatred concord doth nourish or increase loue 37 Correction ought to bee without anger When griefe dooth vrge thee vnto anger for the fault of thy seruants Thou thy selfe moderate thy selfe that thou maiest spare thine or thy seruants 38 To ouercome by patience Ouercome thou him somtimes by bearing or for bearing whom thou mayest ouercome by force For patience hath been alwaies the greatest vertue of manners 39 Things gotten are to be kept Keep or saue together rather those things which are now gotten by labour When our labour is in losse or in repayring our loss deadly neediness dooth increase or growe 40 Thou must consult or look to thy selfe especially When thou being happy or in prosperity shalt be somtimes liberall or franke to thy knowne Al. and deere friends be thou alwaies next or best to thy selfe or look first to thy selfe or to thine own estate The second Book of Al. disticks concerning manners or of morall disticks The Preface IF perhaps thou wilt or desirest to know the tillage of the earth Reade thou Virgill if that thou labourest more to knowe The forces or vertues of hearbs Macer will tell thee in verse If thou couetest to knowe the Romane warres or the Punicke warres Thou maiest seeke Lucane who will tell thee the battels of Mars or of warre If it list thee any thing or at all to loue or to learne to loue by reading or thorough reading any thing concerning loue Seek Naso or Ouid but if this care bee to thee or if thou haue this care That thou maiest liue a wise man heare thou to the intent that thou maiest learne By what thing the life or age is ledde being seuered or free from vices Therefore come thou hither and learne by reading what wisedome is 1 We must deserue well of all men Remember thou to profit euen men vnknowne if thou canst or if thou be able It is more profitable then a kingdome to get friends by deserts Or thus To get friends by desert is more profitable then a kingdome 2 Secret things are not to be searched Omit to inquire the secrets of
or in sleeping which it wisheth hoping whilst it awaketh The third Book of disticks of Manners The Preface O Reader whosoeuer thou art which wilt or desirest to knowe this verse Thou shalt beare in mind these precepts which are most acceptable or profitable to life or to good liuing Instruct thy minde in precepts neither thou maiest cease to learne For the life without learning is as an image of death Thou shalt beare or reap many commodities but if thou shalt despise that or this verse Thou shalt not neglect me the writer but thou shalt neglect thy selfe 1 See that thou feare not the tongue of other men in doing rightly When thou liuest rightly or well thou mayest not care for the words of euill men It is not of our arbitrement or it lieth not in vs what euery one may speak 2 The crime of a friend is to be concealed Thou being produced as a witnesse yet the modest shame or honesty of thy friend being safe before Conceale the crime of thy friend asmuch-as-euer thou canst 3 Faire speaking is suspected or suspicious Remember thou to beware of fawning and stammering or counterfetting speeches Simplicitie of trueth is sound or sincere but the fraud or deceitfulnesse of speaking is fained 4 A sluggish life is to be fled Fly thou slothfulnes which is accounted the sluggishness of life For when the minde dooth languish idleness or litherness doth consume the body 5 The minde wearied is to be released Put between somtimes ioies or honest recreations to thy cares or labours That thou maiest be able to indure any labour in thy minde 6 Thou mayest reprehend no man with an euill minde Thou shalt not carpe at at any time the saying or deede of another man Least that another man deride thee by a like example 7 Our inheritance is to be increased Keepe thou by increasing those things which the last lot or last will of thy friends being noted or set down in tables or writings shall giue thee least thou be he whom fame may speak of or of whom all men may talk 8 Let old age be bountifull VVhen riches remaine to thee in the end of old age Make thou or see thou that thou liue bountifull not niggardly to thy friends or toward thy friends 9 The words are to be attended not the mouth of the speaker Thou being a maister or thou that art a maister do not despise the profitable counsell of thy seruant Thou mayest despise the aduise or counsell of no man at any time if it profit 10 We must vse our present fortune or we must be content with our present estate If there be not to thee or if thou haue not that thing vvhich hath beene before in goods or reuenew or in yeerly maintenance or rents Make thou or see that thou liue content with that which the times doe giue or afford 11 Awife is not to be married in hope of Dowrie Fly thou or beware least thou marry or that thou doe not marry a wife vnder the name or in regard of a dowrie Neither will thou or bee thou willing to retaine her if she shall begin to be troublesom 12 To be wise by another mans example Learne thou by the example of many men what deedes tâ—ou mayest follow What deedes thou mayest flie or thou oughtest to flie another mans life is a mistresse to vs. 13 Nothing is to be tried aboue our strength Thou maiest trie that thing which thou canst or art able to bring to passe least thy labour being oppressed with the waight of the worke doe faint or yeeld and thou leaue things tryed or assayed in vaine or without effect 14 Hee that holdeth his peace doth seeme to consont Doe not thou holde thy peace at that thing which thou hast knowen done not rightly or ill done Least thou seeme to will or to be willing to imitate euill men in holding thy peace 15 Rigour is to be tempered by fauour Aske thou the aide of the iudge vnder an vnequall lawe Yea or euen the lawes themselues doe couet or require that they bee ruled by right 16 See that thou beare those things which thou sufferest by thine owne fault Remember thou to beare patiently what thing thou sufferest deseruedly And when thou art guiltie to thy self or when thou knowest thy selfe guilty condemne thyselfe thou being iudge 17 Many things are to bee read but with iudgement Make thou or see thou that thou reade many things they being read throughly read ouer many moe For the Poets doe sing things to be maruelled at but not to be beleeued 18 We must speak modestly in a banquet Make thou or see that thou bee modest in speech amongst guests or at a feast Least thou be called a pratler whilst thou wilt or desirest to be accounted ciuill 19 The angrinesse of wiues is not to be feared Do not thou feare the words of the angry wife For whilst a woman dooth weep shee dooth build or practice deceits with her teares 20 We must vse things gotten but we must not abuse them Vse things gotten but thou mayest not seeme to abuse them They that do consume their owne things doe follow other folks things when it is wanting to them or when they lack 21 Death is not to be feared Make thou or see that thou propound to thy selfe death not to be feared VVhich death if or although it is not good yet it is the end of euils 22 An honest wife is to bee borne with if or although shee bee apratler or shrew of her tongue Remember thou to beare the tongue of thy wife if she be thriftie For it is an euill thing to will or bee willing to suffer nothing nor to be able to hold the peace 23 Pietie towards Parents Loue thy deere parents not with a sicke or constrained pietie Neither maiest thou offend thy mother whilst thou wilt be good to thy father The fourth Book of disticks concerning Manners The Preface WHosoeuer thou art which couetest to lead a secure life Neither thy mind to stick in vices or to be delightted in vices which are against or
Let it not shame thee to learne Let it not shame thee to be willing to be taught those things which thou hast not knowne To knowe somthing is a praise but to be willing to learn nothing or to be vnwilling to learne is a shame 30 Wee must vse things to sobriety Strife is with Venus and Bacchus or strife followeth lust and wine and pleasure is ioyned to them Imbrace in thy minde that which is daintie or pleasant but fly strifes The meaning seemeth to bee this Pleasure is in the vse of lust and wine but strife brawing come oft thereof Loue that which is honest in them but flie the euils of them 31 We must not trust sad and still men Remember thou to shunne men cast down in mind and still or secret Peraduenture the water doth lie hid more deeply where the riuer is calme or where it runneth softly 32 Lot is to be compared to lot When the fortune of thy things doth displease thee Behold the fortune of another man in or by what difference thou maiest be or art worse 33 Nothing is to be vndertaken or attempted beyond our strength Try that thing which thou canst or art able for to take or goe neere vnto the shoare with the rudders Is safer by much then to stretch out or spread abroad the sayle into the deep sea or into the maine sea 34 We must not contende vnequallie with a iust man Do not thou contend wickedly against a iust man For God doth reuenge alwaies vniust angers 35 Either fortune or both estates is to be borne equally or alike Doe not thou lament by complaining thy goods being taken away or when thou hast lost thy goods But reioyce rather if it happen to thee to haue wealth 36 What is to be borne from a friend It is a grieuous losse to lose by losses those things which are or that which a man hath There are certaine things which it becommeth a friend to beare patiently of a friend 37 Wee must not trust to the time Do not promise long times of life to thy selfe Whithersoeuer thou enterest in or which way so euer thou goest death doth follow Al. as the shadow doth follow the body 38 With what things God is to be pacified Pacifie God with frank incense or incense suffer the calfe that he growe vp to the plough or for the plough Neither thou canst beleeue to pacifie God or any man to appease God whilst it is sacrificed to him by slaughter or by sacrifice made by slaughter 39 Dissemble thou being hurt of mightier men or when thou art hurt of mightier men Thou being hurt giue place or yeeld to fortune yeeld to a mighty man Al. He who hath been able to hurt thee will be able sometimes to profit thee or to do thee good 40 Correct thy selfe When thou shalt offend any thing or in any thing thou thy self correct thy self forthwith For whilst thou doest heal wounds greefe is a medicine of greefe 41 A friend being changed is not to be dispraised Thou shalt neuer condemne a friend after a long time Hee hath changed his manners but remember the first pledges of his loue 42 The bestowing of benefits is to bee attended Bee thou more kinde in offices by how much thou art more deare to any Least thou vndergoe the name which is called a Loseoffice or an vnthankfull man 43 Take away suspicion Beware least being suspicious or giuen to suspicion thou bee a wretch or liue in misery at all houres or perpetually For death is most apt to fearefull men and suspicious men 44 Humanitie is to bee exercised towards seruants When thou shalt buy seruants for thine owne vses And callest them seruants neuertheless remember them to be men 45 Thou maiest not omit the occasion of a commodious matter The first occasion is to bee snatched to thee or catched earnestly of thee the first of all Least thou seek again those things which thou hast neglected now before 46 We must not reioyce of the suddain death of wicked men Doe not thou reioyce in the suddaine death of euill men Happy men do die the life of whom is without fault or blame 47 A poore man let him shun a dissembled friend When a wife is to thee or when thou hast a wife neither substance or but no substance and the fame of her doth labour or she is in an euill name See that thou account the hurtfull name of a friend to bee shunned or Beware of those men who haunt thy house vnder pretence of friendship 48 Ioyne study When it chanceth to thee to knowe many things by thy study Make or see that thou learn manie things and that thou shun not to knowe or to be ouer-proud to be taught 49 Breuity is a friend or friendly to memory Dost thou maruell mee to write verses or that I write verses in naked or bare words The shortness of the sense or sentences hath made mee to ioyne these verses two and two or by couples together FINIS a called b of the precepts of the common course of life * Erasmus Roterdame being correctour c corrected and expounded by Erasmus d The fore-speech or speech set before the book e Whereas I did obserue or perceiue f to offend greatly g in their manner or order of liuing h I haue â—dged it meet or thought good i to prouide for k their weakness or errour l chiefly m commendably or with commendation n come to o Now therefore p â—fter what manner or in what soâ—t q orâ—er or fashion thy manners r my lessons or instructions s in such sort t is to despise and contemne learning u make humble supplication to God or vse to pray to God x Loue thy father mother entirely y Haue thy kin in estimation z teacher a Keep diligently b that which is committed to thee c Come not to plead before thou be instructed what to say d for the barr e with them who are vertuously and well disposed f Thrust not â—n thy selfe to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other mens matters g handsome or neat not slouenlike h Salute others cheerefully i to him that is migh tier then thou or striue not with him that is mightier then thy selfe k Be not cruell or rigorous against thy inferiour l Be not vnthrifty m modesty or shamefastnesse n Be carefull in thy affaires o Giue thy selfe to
God and what heauen is Sith that thou art mortall care for those things which are mortall 3 The feare of death doth driue away ioyes Leaue the feare of death for it is a foolish thing in euery time or at all times Whilest thou fearest death thou losest the ioyes of life 4 Angrinesse is to be taken heed of Doe not thou contend being angry concerning an vncertaine matter Anger dooth hinder the minde that it cannot see the truth 5 We must spend where or when neede is Make cost or spend quickly when the matter it selfe doth desire or when iust occasionis For somthing is to be giuen when time or matter dooth require 6 A moderate fortune or meane estate is more safe Fly that which is ouermuch remember to reioyce in a little The ship is more safe which is caried in a moderate riuer or streame 7 Hidden vices are to be kept in or concealed Thou being wise remember to hide from thy fellowes that thing which may shame thee Least moe men blame that thing which dooth displease thee alone 8 Hidden things are reuealed at length Al. I will not that thou think vvicked men to gaine their sinnes Sinnes lie hid in times and lye open in time 9 Weaknesse is recompensed by vertue Doe not thou contemne the strength of a little bodie or a weak body Hee excels in counsell to whom nature hath denied strength 10 We must yeeld to a more mighty man for a time Giue place in time to him whom thou shalt knowe not to be equall to thee Wee see oft times the conquerour to bee ouercome of the conquered or of him who was vanquished 11 Not to brawle with our familiar friends Doe not thou contende in words against thy knowen friend The greatest strife dooth growe somtimes by the least words 22 Fortune is not to bee sought by lot Do not inquire or search out curiously by lotte what God intends He himselfe doth deliberate without thee what he determineth concerning thee 13 Riot doth breed hatred Remember thou to shun enuie in too much tricking or finenesse Which enuy if or although it do not hurt yet it is a grieuous thing to suffer or beare it 14 Our minde is not to bee put down or cast down for vniust iudgement Be thou of a valiant minde when thou art condemned vniustly No man doth reioice long which dooth ouercome by an vniust iudge 15 Strife is not to bee rubbed againe or renewed to friends reconciled Do not thou relate or rehearse the euill speeches of strife past It is the property of euill men to remember anger after enmities 16 Neither praise thou thy selfe nor blame or dispraise thy selfe Thou thy selfe maiest neither praise thy selfe neither shalt thou blame thy selfe Fools do this whom vain glorie doth vex 17 Sparing Vse moderately things gotten when cost or our expence dooth abound or exceede our abilitie It slides away in a little time which hath beene gotten in a long time 18 The eye-brow or countenance is to be put down sometime or It is good sometime to counterfeit folly Bee vnwise or faine lightnesse or folly when time or matter doth require To faine or counterfait foolishnesse in place or when opportunity serueth is the chiefest wisedome 19 Be thou neither prodigall nor couetous Fly riotousnes and withall or together remember to shun The crime of couetousness for they are contrarie to fame or good reputation 20 Wee must beleeue little or giue small credit to a prattler Do not thou belieue a man reporting alwaies certaine things or som strange matters For very little credit is to bee giuen to them who speak many things 21 The drunken man let him not accuse the wine Do not thou pardon thy selfe that thou offendest by drink or by ouermuch drinking For there is no fault of the wine but the fault is of the drinker 22 Counsels are to bee credited or committed to our friends Commit secret counsell to a close companion Commit the helpe of thy bodie to a faithfull Physitian 23 The successe of euill men let it not offend thee Doe not thou beare or take greeuously the vnworthy successes of euill men Fortune doth cocker euill men that it may hurt them The first verse may be more easie thus Noli successus indignos ferre molestè 24 Future chances to bee foreseene Look to these chances to be borne which do come or all out For whatsoeuer thou shalt look vnto before doth hurt more lightly 25 The minde is to bee cherished with hope in aduersity Doe not thou submit or cast down thy minde in aduersity Retaine hope one hope or hope alone doth not leaue a man in death 26 Opportunity is to bee holden when it hapneth or falleth out Doe not thou let pass the matter which thou knowest to be apt to thee or for thee Occasion or opportunity is hayrie in the forehead it is balde after or behinde 27 Future things â—re to be gathered of things past Look to that thing which followeth and see before that which hangeth ouer See that thou imitate that God which looketh to either part or to both parts or which seeth both before and behinde 28 A regard of our life is to be had Be thou somtime more sparing that thou maist be more strong or more healthfull Few things are due to pleasure moe things are due to health 29 We must giue place to the multitude Thou being one or alone shalt neuer contemne the iudgement of the people Least thou please no man whilest thou wilt contemne many men 30 Health is to be cared for Let there bee especially a care of health to thee which thing is the first thing Thou maiest not blame the times when thou art a cause of griefe to thy selfe 31 Dreames are not to be obserued Thou maiest not care for dreames for what thing mans minde doth wish Hoping for when it doth awake it dooth see that same thing by sleep Or thus The minde of man doth see that same thing by sleep
good name or estimation r to a great talker s giue credit t telling euer u some newes x little heed y who vse many words or are euer talking z may not accuse or let not the drunken man accuse the wine a Condemne or accuse thy selfe b sinnest * crime c in the wine d of him that drinks excessiuely e See that thou commit f to a friend which is discreet to keep counsell g still or silent h the cure of thy body i trusty k Let not the successe l prosperity m take to heart n the vndeserued successes or prosperous successe o doth cherish or fauour p Things which may fall out q to bee looked to before or preuented r Prouide for aforehand or foresee s to beare t are wont to fall out u foresee x doth lesse hurt y to be cheared or comforted * aduerse things z Be not dismayed or discouraged a in aduerse things b Keep hope or be of courage c man hopes still in death d to be taken e chanceth f omit let slip or ouerslip g any thing h fit or profitable and coÌ„modious for thee i hath haire k that it may bee layde hould on before l with out haire m on the hinder part n it is to late to catch when it is past o things to come p to be knowne q by things past r Consider s which is past and behinde vs. t prouide for u which is comming x Ianus the double faced God of the Romanes looking both wayes * A reason y We must haue a regard or consideration z more moderate in thy diet then thou aâ—t wont ordinarily a haue better health b We must be more carefull for health then pleasure c We must yeeld d to the most or to the generall sort * shalt contemne neuer e despise f opinion or senteÌ„ce g none or no body h make no reckoning of the counsell of any i We must regard our health aboue all things k Haue chiefe regard of thy health l which is the chiefe of all things m when thou art the cause n of thine own woe or sorrow * to thee o to be regarded p Doe not care for * the humane mind or the mind of man q it seemeth to see r in sleep s This is meant of ordinary dreames not such diuine visions as are recorded in the book of God double metres u to vnderstand x this little Book written in verse y beare away z most welcome happy or pleasant a furnish or adorne with instructions b cease not or giue not ouer or be weary of learning c a picture d a man without learning is like a dead man e beare away or get much commodity f this Book * Thou thy selfe g despise h the author of this book i thou shalt be the loser k Thou maiest not feare or do not feare l whilest thou doest well m do not care for n the speeches o of slanderers p in our power to rule mens tongues q iudgement * doth talke r fault s hid asmuch as may be t brought forth u to witness x credit y or so that thou maiest saue thine owne credit z Hide or keep close a fault b fawning or flattering c is to be suspected d Take heede to fly e flattering or faire speeches f stuttering g Plainenesse of speaking truth h honest plain i the cunning k of speaking deceitfully l counterfait m idle or slothfull n eschewed o slownesse or dulness p sloth q is idle r spoyle s tired or ouertoyled t â—ased loosed or refreshed with recreation x mirth u Intermeddle or interpose and mingle with y beare out or vndergo z any though neuer so great a reproue no man b malitiously c finde fault with d speech e mock thee f by thine example or requite thee alike g state h augmeÌ„ted i Increase augment or see thou increase k those things which come vnto thee by the death of thy friends l in tables because in old time they writ in tables m least all speak of thee as of a spend-al or euill husband * Old age let it bee bountifull n abound to thee or thou hast wealth enough o bountifully or frankly and liberally p sparing as a niggard q considered viz. what is spoken r not who speaks s Thou who art a master or lord t despise not u Thou shalt not contemne at any time x the sense or opinion y if it bee profitable z if thou haue not as thou hast had before or if thy goods bee diminished * in money a that thing which God giueth b to be led or taken c portion or goods d in respect of portion or goods e retain thou or keep her f wicked g This counsell was Heathenish not Christian. h We must learne to be wise by other mens examples i facts or things k thou oughtest to follow l shun or auoide m the life of other men n a teacher to vs teaching what to do what to auoide o assayed or attempted p ability or power q take that in hand r pressed ouerloaden or vanquished s difficultie t lie down u leaue vndone x thy enterprises y without profit z is silent a keep secret conceale or dissemble b thou knowest c countenance or like of d keeping in silence their euill doings e Seueritie is to bee moderated or mitigated f the help or fauour g a hard or rigorous law h Also the best laws i ouer-ruled or mitigated by equity k Thou maiest beare or beare thou l to take in good part m by thine own fault or worthily n faulty o be thine owne iudge p and when they are read ouer q read daily more more r Poets writing in verse s do speak of t woÌ„dred at u not to be credited alwaies x at a feast or banquet y of few words z in talk or sparing in speech a a busie talker b esteemed c courteous of good behauior d anger e feare not f of thy wife being angry g she works wiâ—es or treacheries h vse well that which thou hast gotten i misspend them k to spende them wastfully l goods m doe seeke after n when they want or when all is gone o Determine with thy selfe p not to feare death q neuerthelesse or yet notwithstanding r of euils of this life s to suffer or indure t talke u a good huswife x a fault y to be vnwilling to suffer any thing z to giue no answere a Godlinesse b thy father and mother whom thou oughtest to loue dearely c grieuous inforced or not by compulsion d neither offend e dutifull a of manners b Thou whosoeuer c desirest d to passe ouer or to liue e a quiet life or a life free from care trouble e Neither to haue f to bee