shade and comfort in the day and solace in the night To good ends both of them were made and so they both are still But oftentimes they are abus'd unto most dangerous ill And then we finde it so fall out that these two weaker things Doe overcome the strong and wise yea Emperours and Kings W. G. A loving exhortation to all young married women that they discover not that in the day which their husbands acquaint them withall in the night YOu whose resplendent beauty sets on fire Your Husbands love and whose modest attire Suits their estates making the world admire Your comely personage and sectes desire Let not your tongues be as a piercing dart Or two-edg'd sword to cut in twaine their heart With words of horrour to their gentle eare Which no mild Husband can endure to heare Or fondly tattle to your friends abroad The secrets of your best beloved Lord. This is a thing befits not your estate Let Beldames scould and idle Gossips prate More modest carriage should be in your yeares What age so ere you are as well appeares For marry with a Virgin old or young She scarcely can offend but with her tongue Then strive to tame that little member stout Though set on fire of hell or plucke it out To live at peace else it will be a wonder When in the house wives maketh such a thunder Or privatly doth whisper to their friends Their Husbands secret counsels to vile ends Babling what commeth next unto their tongues With heavy sighes as if they 'd spit their longues This full out is as ill as all the rest For both are bad I know not which is best But some will scould at home and prate abroad That 's worst of all and most to be abhord Such wives there be I 'd wish man no worse evill Then to be plagu'd with such a shrewish devill Abandon therefore all you that are wives Such double wrongs and quickly mend your lives T is not your beauties will your husbands please If you be guilty of such crimes as these Nor yet your smiles and flattering lookes availe When you are given so much to scold and raile Without any just cause at girds and fits As if you were distract out of your wits Disgracing quite your hansome comely parts Having faire faces but false wicked hearts Then in a word be as your Emblem shewes Loving unto your husbands and not shrews For to have wives it is the worst of evils To looke like Saints and yet be worse than devils So leave I you each woman in her place Desiring God assist you with his grace W. G. Three Lessons that old Cato as he did lie in his bed gave unto his sonne Cato to be observed and kept above all other Precepts and Commandements formerly left him in writing CAto being wise and of an understanding wit Roms government he had in judgment seat did sit And came to such high honor so great estate That none in all the City were so fortunate Great offices he had who did them well supply Performing worthy deeds deserving memory This Cato had a son who was of his owne name As Authors manifold do witnes still the same When he was very old long time had been sick Nature being spent not finding helpe by phisicke Perceiving i◠himselfe the day of death drew neere He called to him his sonne whom he loved deare And in most decent wise to him he did declare His mind and full intent as after you shall heare Saying my deare and loving sonne its long that I Have lived here my time draws neer that I must die And leave this wretched world which is ful of misery Deaths stroke uncertain is yet may one it descry Wherfore I gladly would thee teach while I have breath how to behave thy self my son after my death That thou unto the Common-wealth maist ever be A member sound good from wicked vices free And so alwaies to live without reproach or shame To the joy of friends increase of thy good name Remember many precepts I have left behind Writ heretofore of me for to instruct thy mind Which to thy profit may redownd if thou hast wit Those documents to follow as becomes thee fit Yet notwithstanding all those rules lessons good I formerly have given thee to be understood There be three more which I wil charge thee to observ And keep'bove all the rest not frō thē to swarve The first Precept THe first precept that I of thee require And charge thee keep is never to aspire To any Office of high dignity For to advance thy selfe and pedigree By the Emperour who is free to give So long as thou sufficient hast to live Or any other Prince thy state to raise To a more higher pitch of greater praise For he that is content lives most at rest The meane estate is ever counted best Most sure it is and most comfort doth bring And he that hath it hath asmuch as King Or Emperour may have no man therefore Ought to demand or aske of God no more Wherefore great folly t is I say for such As have enough and yet repine and grutch At that they have yea very dangerous That of preferment art so covetous And through desire of honour too greedy To put themselves so much in jeopardy To lose both their estates there lives and lands Their goods and all they have within their hands For he that doth presume above his state Instead of love incurres but deadly hate As daly we may see where greatnesse is Their envie doth not want nor malice misse Gainst those that seeke to be promoted high Through false reports are faint in prison lie And lose all that they have such is their fall That have enough yet would have more than all Honour is that the mind doth covet most And no dishonour like that honour lost And truly my beloved sonne be wise Great Princes are of divers qualities And sometimes overcome through false report And flattery of rich and greater sort Gainst those subjects who are most faithfull true I then advise thee keepe my precepts few The second Precept I charge thee not prolong whilst thou hast breath The life of him that hath deserved death Especially whose evill wicked fame Hath beene a common scandall to his name For all those evils which he after doth Or moveth others for to doe insooth Thou guilty art as is himselfe therein And art partaker with him of the sinne And as the old and common proverbe have He that a thiefe doth from the gallows save He for himselfe a hangman doth provide Or keepeth one in store as oft betide To doe him an ill turne in time to come Of this beware my deare and loving sonne The third Precept THe last precept I le give thee in my life For so observe is first to prove thy wife To know if she can secret keepe those things Which touch thy honest name discredit brings
MARCVS AVSONIVS HIS FOVRE BOOKES Of Morall Precepts Intituled CATO Concerning the precepts of common life Translated out of Latin Hexamiters into English meter by Walter Gosnold Gentleman servant unto the right worshipfull Sr. Thomas Bowes of Much-bromley hall in Essex Remember those things that thou hast learned and seeke with diligence to learne those things which thou knowest not and be willing to teach other those things that thou hast learned and thou shalt increase thy learning Learning will live and vertue still shall shine When folly dyes and ignorance doth pine LONDON Printed by EDVVARD GRIFFIN 16â—â— To the Worshipfull yong Gentleman of vertuous education Mr. THOMAS BOVVES Sonne and heire to the Right Worshipfull Sr. THOMAS BOVVES Knight WALTER GOSNOLD wisheth increase of learning knowledge vertue and honour with happy daies Worshipfull Sir LEast I should be thought to be idle or to waste the golden time of my daies the rarest of all jewels in the service of that Right worshipfull Knight your good father with whom I now live without some monuments or impressions of my industry as also thinking with my selfe what I might present some way to expresse my love unto you in remembrance of those not to be requited favours I have received not onely from your selfe but from that Right worshipfull and religious Knight your father and that vertuous Lady your mother which have wholy obliged mee to their house I have thought good for the first to undertake the translation of Marcus Ausonius his foure bookes of morall precepts intituted Cato and for the latter I am inforced for want of better way to shew my good meaning to dedicate to you this rude and slender booke translated out of Latin hexamiters into English meter Wherein if I have any way ministred you occasion to mislike me for dedication of the same unto you one whose love towards me I must and will endeavour to requite though never able to cansell the obligation of your many and infinite curtesies I trust you will bee so far from taxing of me that you will rather hold me excused therein For if a man be bound by all meanes that he may as sure he is to gratifie his well deserving friends then may not I quiet my selfe and be at silence till I have devised the requitall of some part of your friendships by some slender gift such as my fortune and present chance will permit me to exhibit unto you And none can I finde sweet sir that in my minde will be more pleasing to your gentle nature for the encouraging of you to the laborious and industrious obtaining of the Latin tongue where into you are even now entering or more fitter for your worships tractible disposition being of very yong and tender yeeres and in whom the very sparkes of a philomathy is already seene then this new translated Poet which will so fill you with sweet counsell wholesome instructions and abundance of knowledge unto which we must all in some small measure attaine before we can step to any other grace or vertue leading to perfection as also teach you how to behave and carry your selfe in the whole course of your life aswell towards your inferious as superiours that your company will not onely be admired of all them that know you but likewise desired of all those that shall at any time be so happy as to be acquainted with you For the Booke it selfe is so exquisit that notwithstanding the Authour thereof was a heathen and had not the true knowledge of Christ Iesus by faith Whereby we must all bee saved living in a time and place where the outward meanes of salvation lay hid in obscurity and darknesse as it did a long time after being many yeeres before the comming of Christ yet I pray God what ere his faith and beliefe was that his uprightnesse and strictnesse of life towards God and man doe not condemne us who are or would be thought Christians living under the resplendent light and Sunne-shine of the Gospell And although hee was a heathen as I said before yet shall my charity bee such towards him being dead in whom was such an actuall habit of a good life whiles he lived as all the histories that I have read of him besides his owne workes by his many good admonitions to others left behind him doe witnesse the same I cannot thinke neither will it sinke into my heart to believe that hee died altogether in unbeliefe and knowledge of the true God For at the very period and end of his daies being praised of the Romans for his courage at his death laughed they demanding the cause why he laughed hee answered ye marvaile at that I laugh and I laugh at that you marvell for the perils and travels considered wherein wee live and the safety wherein wee die it is no more needfull to have vertue and strength to live then courage to die And if wee looke but a little backe into his life wee shall not have much cause to marvell at his comfortable and patient bearing of the stroke of death for he was a man of such milde and temperate spirit that he could never bee seene to be wroth or out of patience with any man but alwaies counselled that were angry that if they desired to live long cheerefully and die comfortably to bannish rage as an enemy to them both a worthy saying of a heathen and to be had in estemation and remembrance of every good Christian But should any bee so unwise to thinke his precepts are the lesse worthy of immitation for being a Heathen I would aver the contrary against any seditious turbulent spirit whatsoever the best of us all being bound to receive the doctrines of many which doe write tending to our good though wee be not tied to follow the lives which they leade if bad Gold is nere the worse for being presented unto us out of a beggers hand in a lether bagge or a sermon ere the worse which we heare preached because he that preacheth it is of an ill life It is our wisdomes to looke what the gold is and not what the bagge is that it came in or what the man was that brought it We are not to inquire so much what the life and conversation of the Minister is as what his doctrine and admonitions are that hee teacheth not what this Cato was but what his precepts are which in a word are so wise honest and good for every Christian man and woman to reade and practice that you shall not finde any Author from whom a civill life may gather better instructions Many there are of my knowledge which will not have their children brought up in learning because forsooth the Authors which they should learne are heathenish as this our Cato Turrence Mantuin Ovid Virgil Homer and the like desiring rather they should live like idiots and die like fooles then to attaine knowledge as they thinke by such unlawfull meanes Others because of the tendernesse
doore And that thereof to make no lingring stay But see him put to death without delay And executed with all speed and end As at their perils they would it defend This being thus commanded with great charge By th'Emperour himselfe in words at large There certaine trusty men appointed were For the same purpose that with heedfull care Went out forthwith and did him apprehend And seaz'd of all the goods God did him send Whereat Cato amazed stood a pause And did require of them to know the cause If they could tell it him They answered soone 'T was by the Emperours command and doome For that he 'd slaine his sonne without desart And caused him to eate his owne childs heart Then Cato said my Lords and masters you All which men say is not of certaine true Therefore I counsell you that you would put Me into prison strong and there me shut Untill next day and say that for this night It is too late and of no equall right To put me unto death and that I may To morrow be cald forth without delay Before the people all there to be heard The matters layd against me and declar'd So forward goe in justice and proceed Upon my life as you doe finde the deed And forasmuch as all men did him love They did consent wherein he did them move And leaving him in prison for a space Returned to the Emperour his grace Declaring to his Majesty and state Him put to death that night it was too late Saying to him that it much better were The accomplishment of justice to forbeare Untill the morne who notwithstanding his Great anger rage fury and heavinesse That he had for the death of his deere sonne Did as the Lords advis'd him to be done Now whiles that they great company along Were leading Cato unto prison strong He cald his trusty servant as he went To him by whom the Emperours sonne was sent Unto a noble Lord of that Countrey A friend of his meane while his wife to try Concerning matters which he would discusse Commanding him saying in secret thus Goe with all speed unto my faithfull friend Where thou didst leave th' Emperors son God send Him life whom the Emperour thinketh dead And make thou haste least I die in his stead And will him that to morrow before noone He faile not to come to me so soone And bring with him the Emperours sonne amaine Unto his place who thinks I have him slaine For which I now in prison am you see Expecting death shortly to summon me And without doubt in time he doth not come I shall as thou perceivest receive my doome Now it thou lov'st me doe thy diligence Not sparing horse nor gripple for expence Upon which words his servant made no stay But taking leave with speed rode fast away So that about mid-night he came right well Unto the place where the said Lord did dwell Who was to Cato a familiar friend A Lord whose worthy fame all did commend Therefore he had him sent the Emperours sonne So secretly as possible might be done In his tuition him to have in store While he this thing would prove as ye heard before When Cato's servant to the place came late He hastily then knocked at the gate Whereas the Lord his habitation had And called out aloud with voyce most glad Having at last approacht that Palace good And they within having now understood From whence he came they opened speedily The gates brought him where the Lord did lie And th' Emperours son whom Cato did conduct Given him in charge to teach and to instruct Then did the Lord demand who did him send And how his master did his chiefest friend And what the occasion was for to relate That he came in such speedy haste so late When he had done his masters due respect And no whit of his service did neglect Then he declar'd unto the Lord at last How that his Master was in prison fast And that command was given that hee should die To morrow morne through rumor of a lie And false report which on him is begun To th'Emperour that he hath slaine his sonne And caus'd him eate the heart of his owne child Thus they his fancy led and him beguild When Catoes servant giving them to understand How men had shew'd the Emperour out of hand That Cato had his sonne inhumane slaine And therefore did imprisonment sustaine That on the morrow t was determined For that offence to be a man but dead The Lord and th' Emperours son at this did muse And wondred much to heare this heavie news Of their good friend incontinent they rose With all the speed they could you may suppose And cal'd together all their servants ny Araying all themselves most speedily Especially th' Emperours sonne most kinde Who was in sorrow great and griefe of mind For his said master whom he loved well It was not needful as the stories tell To hasten him for to dispatch that he Might with his kind and loving master be At the time and place appointed sure His master should the stroke of death endure If fortune did not better him betide So they with posting speed did thither ride Here will we reft to speake of th' Emperours son Who taken hath his journey new begun towards his master deare whom he did love Intirely next unto God above And come againe to Cato where he lie Inhoved looking each houre for to die If that his faithfull servant voyd of crime Came not with the Emperours son in time And for so much he was belov'd of all The people throughout Rome both great and small As a wise man of understanding great Most just in all his waies and carriage neate No briber to purloyne free from that fact Extortioner not cruell to exact There was a friend of his much love profest A mighty governour at his request Kept backe and stayd as much as in him ly All the executioners of the City Who did consent for to absent themselves Most willingly for they alasse poore elves Were griev'd to doe that which should ill befall Cato who was beloved of them all Yet as Commandement was given indeed From th'Emperour himselfe they did proceed And Cato carried unto the place Of execution an easie pace With a great mighty troope and company That followed him expecting he should die And many people mourned that was there And more have mourned would but that for feare That he had done this evill wicked deed Wherewith he was accus'd as some believ'd For there was many wondring at it said Amongst themselves that they were halfe afraid It was too true but there were other-some Admired he should thus be overcome With Satans tempting and alluring baite Who for the soules of men doe lie in wait Being so vertuous a man and wise Could not for truth believe nor once surmise That he had done this wicked sinfull crime As for to kill th' Emperours sonne in 's prime And caus'd
acts of divers men Remember then thy youthful times and what thy selfe didst then Suspicionis labes The blemish of suspition 17. Ne cures si quis tacito sermone loquatur Conscius ipse sibi de se putat omnia dici Take no regard what standers by in private whispering chat A guilty conscience still mistrusts their selfe is aimed at In prosperis de adversis cogitandum In prosperity we must thinke that adversity may come 18. Cum fueris felix quae sunt adversa caveto Non eodem cursu respondent ultima primis In time of wealth remember wo mutations are not strange All humane things are ordred so to have their enterchange Mors alterius non speranda The death of another is not to be hoped for 19. Cum dubia fragilis sit nobis vita tributa In morte alterius spemâ—u tibi ponere noli Since fraile and doubtfull is our life unknowne our dying day To live in hope of others death great folly doth bewray Animus in dono astimandus We must esteeme the mind of the giver not the gift 20. Exiguum munus cum dat tibi pauper amieus Accipito placide plene laudare memento If from thy poore well wishing friend some slender gift be sent In thankfull wise accept his love and praise his good intent Paupertatis tolerantia The enduring or suffering of povertie 21. Infantem nudum cum te natura crearit Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento Since naked from the wombe thou cam'st as nature form'd thee there The burthen of externall wants with patience see thou beare Mors non formidanda Death is not to be feared 22. Ne time as illam quae vitae est ultima finis Qui mortem metuit quod vivit perdit id ipsum Dread not thy death in time to come nor feare the fatall knife VVho dreads his end therein exiles the comfort of his life Amicorum ingratitudo fugienda The ingratitude of friends is to be fled 23. Si tibi pro meritis nemo respondet amicus Incusare Deum noli sed te ipse coerce If friends to whom thou hast beene kinde thy kindnesse nought regard Accuse not Fate but blame thy selfe be wiser afterward Frugalitas Frugality or thriftinesse 24. Ne tibi quid desit quaesitis utere parce Vique quod est serves semper tibi deesse putato The better to supply thy wants spare what thy hand hath got And that thou maiest thy mony save suppose thou hast it not Promissio iterata molesta A promise iterated or oft made is grievous 25. Quod praestare potes ne bis promiser is ulli Ne sis ventosus dum vis urbanus haberi What in thy power rests to performe twice promise not for shame Lest while thou wouldst be civill thought thy lightnesse all men blame Ars arte deludenda Cunning is to be deceivd or met with by cunning 26. Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte Who speakes thee faire and loves thee not like measure let him finde So art by art is met withall and falshood in her kinde Blandiloquentia suspecta Faire speaking is suspicious 27. Noli homines blandos nimiùm sermone probare Fistula dulce canit volucrem dum decipit aucepâ— Approve not fawning flatterers whose words are full of wiles Most sweetly sounds the Fowlers Call whil'st he the bird be guiles Liberi artibus instruendi Children are to be trained up in trades 28. Si tibi sint nati nec opes tunc artibus illos Instrue quo possint inopem defendere vitam If wedden thou have children store and little wealth to give Then traine them up in honest arts that each may learâ—e to live Res quomodo aestimandae How things are to be valued or reckoned 29. Quod vile est carum quod carum vile putato Sic tibi nec parcus nec avarus habeberis ulli Things that be cheape imagine deare things deare as cheape esteeme So neither niggard to thy selfe nor greedy shalt thou seeme Culpata non facienda Things blame worthy are not to be done 30. Quae culpare soles ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum What fault thou findst with other men let not be sound in thee Foule shame in him that vice reproves himselfe not to be free Concedenda petenda Things meet to be granted are to be requested 31. Quod justuÌ„ est petito vel quod videatur honestuÌ„ Nam stultum petere est quod posset jure negari What is thy dew thou maist require or what seemes honest crave But folly were it to desire a thing thou ought'st not have Nota ignot is non commutanda Knowne things are not to be changed for unknowne things 32. Ignotum tibi nolito praeponere notis Cognita ju licio constant incognitacasu Things knowne before things never try'd preferre if thou be wise Sith those by judgement are discern'd but these be mere surmise Dies quisque supremus putandus Every day is to be accounted our 〈◊〉 33. Cum dubia incertis versetur vita pâ—riâ—lis Prolucro tibi pone diene quicunque laboras Since life in daily danger lies and issues doubtfull are Each day thou liv'st account thou gaine that captive art to care Obsecundandum amicis We must obey or please our friends 34. Vincere cum possis interdum cede sodali Obsequio quoniam dulces vincuntur amici Sometimes when thou mayst victor be give place as vanquished By yeelding up in curtesie kind friends are conquered Amicitiae mutua officia The duties of friendship ought to be mutuall 35. Ne dubites cum magna petas impendere parva His etenim rebus conjungit gratia charos Great things requiring grudge you not small charges to bestow For by this meanes twixt friend and friend doth favour greatly grow Amicitia rixas odit Frindship hateth brawlings 36. Litem inferre cave cum quo tibi gratia juncta est Ira odium generat concordia nutrit amorem With whom thou art in league of love to quarrell thinke profane Brawle hatred breeds and friendship breakes but peace doth love maintaine Castigatio sine ira Correction ought to be without anger 37. Servorum ob culpam cumte dolor urget in iram Ipse tibi moderare tuis ut parere possis When rechlesse servants move thy minde to wrath and irefull rage Doe nought in choller till the time thy fury shall asswage Patientia vincere To overcome by patience â—8 Quem super are potes interdum vince ferendo Maxima enim morum semper sapientia virtus â—hen thou by force may'st conquer seeke by sufferance to convince â—f mortall vertues wise men hold sweet patience soveraigne prince Quaesita sunt conservanda Things gotten are to be kept â—9 Conserva potuis quae sunt jam parta labore Cum labor in damno est crescit mortaliâ— egestas â—eepe rather goods by labour got
too fast Goods long in gathering oft are seene in little time to waste Supercilium non nunquam deponendum The countenance now and then is to be caâ— downe or changed or it is good sometime to counterfeit folly 18. Iâ—cipiens esto cum tempus postulat aut res Stultitiam simulare loco prudentia summa est To play the foole in time of place occatioâ— serving fit Amongst the wisest is esteem'd the chiefest point of wit Neque prodigus neque avarus Be thou neither prodigall nor covetous spend not above measure nor be miserable 19. Luxuriam fugito simul vitare memento Crimen avaritiae nam sunt contraria famae Flee wanton ryot and withall eschew the common fame Of averice both which extremes impeach a mans good name Loquaci parum credendum We must give small credit to a pratler 20. Molito quaedam referenti credere semper Exigua est tribuenda fides qui multa loquantur Believe not lighty every tale each babler shall relate Small credit crave his idle words that useth much to prate Ebrius vinumnon accuset Let not the drunken man accuse the wine 21. Quod potu peccas ignoscere tu tibi noli Nam nullum crimen vini est sed culpa bibentis Thy sinne of surfeit pardon not do pennance for the same Not wine but drinkers foule abuse is that deserveth blame Amicis consilia credenda Counsels are to be credited or committed to our friends 22. Consilium arcanum tacito committe sodali Corporis auxilium medico committe fideli Thy secrets to a secret friend commit if thou be wise Thy crazed body to his trust that health by art supplies Successus malorum ne te offendat Let not the successe or prosperity of evill men offend thee 23. Successus indignos noli tu ferre molestè Indulget fortuna malis ut laedere possit Ungodly persons thriving fast let not thy mind afright For fortune favours wicked men to worke their further spight Futuros casus providendos Future chances to be foreseene or things which may fall out to be looked to before or prevented 24. Prospice qui veâ—iunt hos casus esse ferendos Nâ—â— levius laedit quicquid praevideris ante Provide afore for afterclaps and arme thy selfe to beare So shalt thou in expected broiles prevent both harme and feare Animus in Adversis spe fovendus The minde is to be cherished or comforted with hope in adversity 25. Rebus in adversis animum submittere noli spâ—m retine spes una hominem nec morte relinquit In time of trouble be not like a wounded man halfe flaine But hope the best for hope alone revives the dead againe Opportunitas cum contingit tenenda Opportunity is to be taken when it hapneth or falleth out 26. Rem tibi quam noscis aptam dimittere noli Fronte caepillata post est occasio calva Neglect no fit occasion for thy proper good assign'd Old father Time hath hairy locks before but not behind Futura ex praeteritis colligenda Things to come are to be knowne by things past 27. Quod sequitur specta quodque imminet ante videto Illum imitare Deum qui partem spectat utramque Looke backe what followes and withall foresee what stands in place This wisedome may that Embleme teach of Janus double face Vitae ratio habenda A regard of our life is to bee had or wee must have a regard or consideration of our life 28. Fâ—rtior ut valeas interdum parcior esto pauca voluptati debentur plura saluti Sometimes for health spare dyet use for though of dainties store Dame pleasure crave yet to thy health thou art indebted more Multitudine cedendum We must give place to the multitude or we must yeeld to the most or to the general sort 29. Iudicium populi nunquam contempseris unus Ne nulli placeas dum vis contemnere multos The judgement of the multitude despise not thou alone Least while thou many men contem'st thy selfe be lik'd of none Vâ—letudo curanda Health is to be cared for or we must regard our health above all things 30. Sit tibi praecipue quod primum est cura salutis Tempora ne culpes cum fis tibi cansa doloris Of wished health have chiefest care preferre thy health fore all If evill dyet make thee sicke blame not the spring nor fall Somnia non observanda Dreames are not to be observed or regarded 31. Somnia ne cures nam mens humana quod optat Cum vigilat sperans personum cernit id ipsum Regard not dreames for what mens thoughts broad waking entertaine Or wish or hope or muse upon in sleepe appeares againe The third Booke of Morall Precepts The Preface HOc quicunque velis carmen cognoscere lector Haec praecepta feres quae sunt gratissima vitae Instrue praeceptis animum nec discere cresses Nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis imago Commoda multa feres sini autem spreveris illud Non me scriptorem sed te neglexeris ipse GOod Reader whosoere thou art that takes this Booke in hand These briefe directions good for life give heed to understand With honest precepts store thy mind learne well their wise contents For life and civill learning void deaths image represents Great profit mayst thou reape thereby which if thou not respect Not me the writer but thy selfe Thou causelesse shalt neglect Recte agendo aliorum linguam ne time as See that thou feare not the tongue of otheâ— men in doing rightly or doe not feare whilâ— thou dost well 1. Cum rectè vivas ne cures verba malorum Arbitrii nostri non est quid quisque loquatur Whereas thou leadst an upright life regard not causelesse wrongs By base detractours offered for thou canst not rule mens tongues Amici crimen celandum The crime of a friend is to be concealed oâ— the fault of a friend is to bee hid as much aâ— may be 2. Productus testis salvo tamen ante pudore Quantum cunque potes celato crimen amici Compel'd by law against thy friend to witnesse crimes forepast Thine honest reputation sav'd conceale them what thou mayst Blandiloquentia suspecta Faire speaking or fawning is suspected oâ— suspitious 3. Sermones blandos blaesosque cavere memento Simplicitas verisana est fraus ficta loquendi Of fawning words and flattering speech beware in any wise For simple truth unmasked walkes but fraud with words disguise Ignava vita fugienda A sluggish idle or slothfull life is to be fled or eschewed 4. Segnitiem fugito quae vitae ignavia fertur Nam cum animus languet consumit inertia corpus Flie lazie sluggish idlenesse which life is full of sloth For it doth languish and consume the minde and body both Animus fessus relaxandus The mind wearied is to be released or refreshed with recreation 5. Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis Vt possis animo quemvis sufferre laborem To make both mind and body
wicked men 46. Morte repentina noli gandere malorum Foelices obeunt quorum sine crimine vita est Rejoyce not at the sudden death of lewd and wicked men They 're counted happy in their death whose life faultlesse hath beene Pauper simulatum vitet amicum A poore man let him shun a dissembled friend or let a poore man beware of a counterfeit friend 47. Cum conjux tibi sit nec res fama laboret Vitandum ducas inimicum nomen amici When thou 'st a wife of substance small whose fame her selfe convince Beware of those that haunt thy house under friendships pretence Junge studium Joyne study to study or study still 48. Cum tibi contingat studio cognoscere multa Fac discat multa vites nescire docer When it doth chance with learning much by study thou art fraught See thou eschew blinde ignorance unwilling to be taught Brevitas memoriae amica Brevity or shortnesse is a friend or a helpe to memory 49. Miraris verbis nudis me scribere versus Hos brevitas sensus fecit conjungere binos That I meanly to verses write dost wonder thus I doe The shortnesse of the sense hath made me joyne them two and two The living speeches of CATO a Dying man C Heere up my panting feeble heart feare not to die A ll must die once some twice such is mans destiny T i me finish that which God allots welcome sweet death O Lord to thee I yeeld my soule who gave me breath A Post-script to the Reader NOw I this worke performed have and sent it to the Presse I know that some will call me foole and sure I am no lesse For printing that which long agoe by others was set out Which is untruth as I can prove if any thereof doubt For though it hath translated beene as I doe not deny Grammatically into prose yet not in poetry As I haved one therefore I say who blames my enterprise If they can finde no other fault I say they are not wise Farewell To I. B. that Grammatically translated CATO HAd I but seen thy worke before I finish'd up had mine I would have mended every line by that bright lamp of thine Who taken hath such paines therein to give each word his due That no translator I have knowne hath done the like but you And hadst thou set those lines on feet that thou hast done in prose Thy friends alone would not thee praise but even thy very foes But thou didst it for schollers good that they may profit finde Not for thy owne glory and praise which shewes a noble mind Wherefore for this thy love thou bearst to infants yet unborne Thy name thy fame and memory shall never be outworne Walter Gosnold Three Lessons thaâ— old CATO as he did lie oâ— his death-bed gave unto his young sonnâ— CATO to be observed and kept translated first out of Dutch into English prose by oâ— Laurence Singleton and now metamorphosed into English metre with the rest of his most worthy Precepts by W. G. O happy is that man which seeth others fall And can avoid the snare that they were caught withaâ— THy wife being wise make her the closet Of thy breast else not for she 'le disclose it For never yet was man so well aware But first or last was caught in womans snare Then triall make before thou dost her trust In any thing thou fearst she 'le be unjust As here old Cato's sonne did wisely try Whether his wife could keepe his secrecy To the Reader GEntle Reader having already presented thee with many good Lessons and morall Instruction of Cato which daily and hourely he taught unto his young sonne I likewise have thought fit to present unto thy view three precepts more which he left unto him upon his death-bed to be observed and kept above all other Precepts and Commaudements formerly left him in writing which rust had almost consumed and time buried in oblivion had I not by chancc lighted upon them in an old Antiquaries library and put upon their backes new liveries their old ones being quite out of fashion and therefore altogether out of request with those which otherwise might be their sociates and fellow-companions being almost an hundred thirty yeers since they were last printed and translated out of Dutch into our mother tongue Wherefore having taken such paines in the metamorphosing of them to the same habite or stile of the rest of his most worthy Precepts I trust they will not be unwelcome unto thee being no lesse worthy of acceptation than the former for as my Authour wished good in translating them into English prose so likewise doe I in metamorphosing them into English metre following my copy in the phrase of our speech without adding or diminishing either in substance or circumstance as neere as possibly I could If any then be so curious as to distaste these my poore indeavours for the plainnesse of the verse or the dislike of the Authour being a heathen I le make no other apologie for my selfe and him but this For the first it is the height of my ambition to adorne every action with the most plainest proper object especially where I have a patterne laid before me for my imitation as for the latter it is no shame for us to learne wit of Heathens neither is it materiall in whose schoole wee take out a good lesson Howsoever therefore my unpolished worke shall be accepted at thy hands yet shall I not have cause to repent me of my labonr for the benefit that may come thereby and so I conclude Yours assured though there be no assurance amongst men WALTER GOSNOLD A caveat to all young married men to beware how they lay open themselves or trust too farre at first to their wives secresie in any waighty matter tending either to the losse of their lives goods or good name before they be well grounded in their wives honesty and fidelity IF thou 'st a wife in any case shew not thy selfe so kinde As to relate each waighty cause unto her of thy minde Untill that thou hast tryall made of her that is but young And dost perceive whether that she be mistris of her tongue Or else too late you will repent that hastily you told In secrecy such things to her which bluntly shee 'l unfold Before her Gossips when she meets with other pratling wives Bringing their husbands many times in perill of their lives As here you may right well behold in this ensuing story The falshood of young Cato's wife that should have been his glory W. G. How a wife is sympathis'd to a vine being both very usefull and yet very hurtfull HOw Wives compared are to vines I shall not need recite For Poets many in this straine endeavoured have to write And set it forth with best of skill I then shall doe amisse To tautologies yet briefly in few words thus it is The fruitfull Vine and vertuous Wife are both for Mans delight For
mourne And inwardly within my selfe to grone She thereupon salutes me with a kisse Demands to know my griefe and heavinesse Then out of policie in secret wise With as much outward shew I could devise Of hearty sorrow and as one dismai'd As she me thought I trembling to her said How that I had in furious anger slaine Th' emperors sonne for which I doe sustaine A thousand feares in my afflicted soule And none that heares it will my griefe condole For I have slaine him in my raging lust And divellish ire whom I had in trust To teach in learning vices to expell Who vexing me this mischiefe thus befell Yea furthermore I caus'd his heart be drest With costly spices as in most request And in the finest manner did it send Unto his parents as I did intend At a rich banquet for a present neate And they thereat their owne sons heart had eate My wife this hearing was exceeding sad And much lamented as if that she had Bin the sole actor of this bloody deede Such showring teares from womens eyes proceed But I her willed as she would my life And as she was my faithfull and true wife That she in secret would it keepe and ne're To any creature living it declare Saying this wicked deed I did bemone Grieving my soule but remedy was none How she in secret kept it you have seene or rather how unconstant she hath beene As the whole world can witnesse at this day That it almost my life had cost I say As well it did appeare you all did see Of which I make no wonder for there be Some women will no secret keepe untold That which is shew'd them but will it unfold For naturally they 're given to prate and talke So that at randome oft their tongues doe walke Yet there be many sober women eke That will not onely secrets needfull keepe But also good and wholsome counsell give Unto their husbands all the daies they live As in good stories read may wee And partly by experience see Then Cato turn'd himselfe in humble wise Unto the Emperour with fixed eyes Saying oh noble and renowned prince My deare soveraigne Lord you see from hence And all your Nobles how it chanc'd to me Which thing of me cannot forgotten be And that by reason I did not obey My fathers admonitions to this day Nor gave no credit to those words that he Upon his death bed dying left to me For my direction therefore it had bin My dutie to perform'd his will therein For I did ill his precepts to forgit Who was indued with wisdome and such wit When he these words had said in the presence Of the Empeorour with due obedience Before the Lords and commons of the Citie Which made them note his inward griefe with pity Then also he unto the Emprour said My soveraigne Lord by whom I have bin swaid To beare great office I doe here resigne And yeeld into your hands that which is mine Discharging here my selfe thereof as free Againe as er'e you gave it unto mee For from henceforth if God me so doth blisse I never will on mee take any office For which the Emperour and many more Were truely sorry and did much deplore This thing for none in the whole city were So worthy for to rule and office beare Yet neverthelesse unto his dying day He a great counsellor was tooke away The Emperour great kindnesse him did show And worthy gifts upon him did bestow And love him better after than before As his expressions shew'd a great deale more And so remain'd in favour all his daies Unto Romes joy and his eternall praise FINIS A Postscript THis foresaid example giveth a good lesson to all honest discreete and wise women that they may keepe secret all things touching or appertaining to the estate of their husbands that they shew it to no creature living for oftentimes it chanceth that in opening of small matters commeth much harme and most times when they thinke least thereon A close mouth as the saying is makes a wise head and a foolish woman is easily knowne by her much babling In being close and secret and especially in such things as men would have kept close and in secret can come nothing but good and quietnesse for a word is like an arrow in a bow when the arrow is shot and gone from the bow it maketh a noyse and cannot returne againe before it taketh his lighting place So likewise a word when it is spoken and gone out of the mouth it cannot come againe before it be disperst unto the auditors and standers by aud of them is heard and understood either in the good or evill part therefore it is good to have in memory and marke well the saying of the wiseman Salomon first thinke a thing twise or thrice before thou speake it and take good heed and regard to what end and effect it may turne and come unto before thou openest thy mouth for where much babling is there must needes be offence she that refraineth and bridleth her tongue is wise an innocent tongue is a noble treasure and as one wisely saith silence in a woman is a speciall vertue It is a wonder to see a dumbe Grashopper because the whole kinde of them is garrulous yet more wonderfull it is to see constancie and silence in women because their Sex is mutable and loquacious the toung is an unruly member especially in a womans mouth but where grace is it is easily bridled the tongue is called the gate of life and death and that in this respect for by it the lives of our selves and others are daily hazarded as you may see in the story immediatly going before Wherefore I would once againe advise all wise and discreet women or that would so bee thought and accounted when their tongues at any time shall be most active and nimble for discourse to thinke upon Catos wife that they reveale not in any wise any secret whereby any mischiefe may come thereof for by a word speaking and that to her neare friend and to one of her owne Sex which one would have thought would have kept her counsell into what great perill had shee like to have brought her husband and her selfe Labour then to amend your own imperfections in this one thing otherwise the danger and shame in the end will light upon your selves as the verse herefollowing doth shew Women whose tongues before their wit doth run Oft speaks too soone rues when they have done But this is not written onely to be marked of women but also of all persons of what estate and degree soever they bee that have any matter of secret or counsell committed unto them that they may hereby learne and beware how they shew or declare any thing that they shall heare see done or said in any counsell for many times by uttering of a small thing great inconvenience doth come and much hinderance to things pretended A Cooling card for