Uhere it is so that euery humayn Creature by the suffranÌ„ce of our lord god is bornÌ„ ordeigned to be subgette and thral vnto the stormes of fortune And so in diuerse many sondry wyses man is perplexid with worldly aduersitees Of the whiche I. Antoine wydeuille Erle Ryuyeres lord Scales cÌ„ haue largeli and in many diffirent maners had my parte And of hem releued by thynfynyte grace goodnes of our said lord thurgh the meane of the Mediatrice of Mercy whiche grace euidently to me knowen and vnderstonde compelled me to sette a parte alle ingratitude And droof me by reson conscience as fer as my wrecchednes wold suffyse to gyue therfore synguler louynges thankes to god And exorted me to dispose my recouerd lyf to his seruyce in folowiÌ„g his lawes comÌ„andemeÌ„ts And in satisfaccoÌ„n recoÌ„rence of mynÌ„ Inyquytees fawtes before donÌ„ to seke excecute the werkes that myght be most acceptable to hym And as fer as my fraylnes wold suffre me I rested in þ t wyll purpose Duryng that season I vnderstode the Iubylee pardonn to be at the holy Appostle Seynt Iames in Spayne whiche was the yere of grace a thousand CCCC lxxij I determynyng me to take that voyage shipped at southampton in the moneth of Iuyll the said yere And so sayled from thens til I come in to the. Spaynyssh see there lackyng syght of alle londes the wynde beyng good and the weder fayr Thenne for a recreacionÌ„ a passyng of tyme I had delyte axed to rede somÌ„e good historye And amoÌ„g other ther was that season in my coÌ„panye a worshipful gentylmanÌ„ callid lowys de Bretaylles whiche gretly delited hym in alle vertuouse and honest thinges that sayd to me he hadde there a booke that he trusted I shuld lyke right wele and brought it to me whiche book I had neuer seen before and is called the saynges or dictis of the Philosophers ¶ And as I vnderstande it was translated oute of latyn in to frenshe by a worshipful man callid messire Iehan de Teonuille somtyme prouost of parys Whan I had heeded and well loked vpon it as I had tyme and space I gaaf therto a veray affection ¶ And inespeciall by cause of the holsome and swete saynges of the paynems whiche is a glorious fayr myrrour to alle good crysten people to beholde vnderstonde Ouer that a grete comforte to euery wâ—…l dysposed soule It speketh also vniuersally to thexample weell and doctryne of alle kynges prynces and to people of euery estate It lawdes vertu and science It blames vices and ygnoraunce ¶ And all be it I coude not at that season ner in alle that pylgremage tyme haue leyzer to ouersee it wele at my pleasure what for the disposicions that belongeth to a taker of a Iubylee and pardon ¶ And also for the grete acqueyntaunce that I fonde there of worshipful folkes with whom it was sittyng I sholde kepe good and honest companye yet neuertheles it rested stylle in the dâ—…syrous fauour of my mynde entendyng vtterly to take therwyth greter acqueyntaunce at som other conuenyent tyme. ¶ And so remaynyng in that oppynyon after suche season as yt lysted the kynges grace comaunde me to gyue myn attendauÌ„ce vpon my lord the Prince and that I was in his seruyse whan I â—…dde leyser I loked vpon the sayd booke ¶ And at the last concluded in my self to traÌ„slate it in to thenglyssh tonge wiche in my Iugement was not bâ—…fore Thynkyng also ful necessary to my said lord the vnderstaÌ„dyng therof And leest I coude not at al tymes be so wele ocupied or sholde falle in ydlenes whan I myght now and thenne I felle in hande with all And drewe bothe the senteÌ„ce and the wordes as nygh as I coude Neuertheles I haue â—…hen seyn herde of other of the same bookes which differeÌ„ce be of other inportaunce â–ª And therfore I drede that suche as shold liste to rede the translaconÌ„ haue veray intelligence of ony of thoos bookes eyther in latyne or in frenshe sholde fynde errours in my werke whiche I wold not afferme cause of the contrary But allegge the deffaulte to myne vnconnyng with the dyuersytees of the bookes humbly desyrynÌ„ g the reformaconÌ„ therof with myn excuse and the rather syn after my rudenes not expert I in my maner folowed my copye and the ground I had to speke vpon as here after ensiewis SEdechias was the first Philosophir by whoom thorugh the wil and pleaser of oure lorde god Sapience was vnderstande and lawes resceyued whiche Sedechias saide that euery creature of good beleue ought to haue in hym sixtene vertues ¶ The first vertue is to drede and knowe god and his angellys ¶ The seconde vertue is to haue discrecion to dis cerne the good from the badde and to vse vertu and fle â—…ices ¶ The thirde vertue is to obeye the kynges or princes that god hath ordeyned to reygne vpon hym and that haue lordship and power vpon the people ¶ The fourthe vertue is to worship hys fadre hys modre ¶ The fyfthe vertue is to do Iustely and truely to euery creature aftir his possibilite ¶ The sixte vertue is to distribute his almes to the poer people ¶ The seuenthe vertue is to â—…epe and defende straungers and pilgrymes ¶ The eyght ver tue is to bynde and determine him self to serue onr lorde god ¶ The nynthe vertue is to eschewe fornicacion ¶ The tenthe vertue is to haue pacience ¶ The enleuenth vertue is to be stedefast and true ¶ The twelfthe vertue is to be peasible and attemperate and shamfast of synne ¶ The thertenthe vertue is to loue Iustice ¶ The fourtenthe vertue is to be liberal and not couetouy ¶ The fyftenthe vertue is to offre sacrifices to our lord god almyghty for the benefices and gracis that he sheweth hym dayly ¶ The sixtenthe vertue is to worship god almyghty and to put hym hooly in his protection and defence for resistence of the in fortunitees that dayly falles in thys worlde ¶ The saide Sedechias saide that right as it apparteineth to the people to be subgect and obbeissant to the Royal mageste of thayr kyng or prynce right so it behoueth their kyng or prince to entende dyligentely to the we le and gouernaunce of hys people and rather to wil the we le of them than hys owne propre lucre for by similitude ryght so is the kyng or the prince with hys people as the soule with the body And sayd Sedechias yf a kyng or a prince enforce hym self to gadre money or tresor by subtyl exortacions or other vn dewe meanes he ought to knowen he doth amysse for suche tresor may not by gadred wythoute the sequele be to hys daunger or depeopulacion of hys Royaume or countrey ¶ And said Sedechias yf a kyng or a prynce be negli gent and sloughtfull aud take no hede to serche and enquere the disposicion
and workis of hys ennemyes thenâ—…ent wyll and dedis of his subgettys he shal not be long in surete in hys Royame ¶ And said Sedechias the people is fortunat and happy that haue a goode and a vertuous kyng or prince discrete ande wyse in scyences ¶ And mykyl ar the peple infortunat whan eny of thyes thynges lak in their kyng or prynce ¶ And saide Sedechias yf a kyng or a prynce for slouthe or leue to do eny of the litil thynges that hym ought and is ordeygned he shulde execute lightly after he leueth greter vndon and soo consequently he may lese alle ryght as a litill sekenesse or hurt withoute it be sone and wele remedied may cause the dystruction of allâ—… the hole body ¶ And saide Sedechias yf a kyng or a prynce byleue the fayre wordes ande flate â—…yngis of hys ennemyes hauyng no Respect to their wer â—…ys it is meruaylle but the sayd kyng or prynce therby sodaynly take harme ¶ And said Sedechias It apparteygneth to a kyng or a prynce to enfourme hys sone in vertue and science and howe he shall gouuerne hys lande aftir him howe he shulde be rightwys to his people howe he sholde loue and haunte hys knyghtes not sufferyng them to vse to mykel hunting is nor other Idelnesses but instructe hem to haue goode eloquence and to eschewe alle vanitees ¶ And sayd Sedechias It apparteyneth to a kyng or a prince yf he wol haue eny nygh seruaunt first to knowe hys guydyng and condicions and howe he gouuerneth hym silf in hys house and amongis hys fellawes and yf he vnderstande hym of goode condicion and gouuernaunce hauyng pacience in his aduersite reteyne and take hym than hardely ¶ And ellis to beware of hym ¶ And sayd Sedechias yf thou haue a verry true frende that loueth the wele thou ought to take hym more in thy loue and fauour than eny of thy kennesmen desiryng thy deth for to haue the succession of thy goodys ¶ And sayd Sedechias commonely euery resemblance delyteth other ¶ And said Sedechias he that will not be chastysed by fayre and swete wordes ought to be cor rected by sharp and harde corrections And sayd Sedechi as the grettest richesse is satisfaccion of the herte And said he is not riche to whom richesse lasteth not ne whan they may be lightly taken awaye But the best richesse is that thing that dureh perpetuelly ¶ And said Sedechias the obeissaunce don by loue is more ferme than that that is don by myght or drede ¶ And said that experyence is a goode chastisement ¶ And sayd the lokyng vpon the ende of the worke yf it be good yeueth hope to the begynnyng ¶ And saide that goode renoÌ„mee and fame is right prof fitable in this worlde the dedes therof auaileth in the other worlde ¶ And saide it is better a man to holde his peas than to speke myâ—…he to eny ignorant manÌ„ and to be a lone than to be a coÌ„payned with euill people ¶ And saide whan a kyng or a prince is euill tacched and vicioux better is to thaim that hath noo knowlege of hym than to thoos that be grettest maisters in his house ¶ And saide better is a womanÌ„ to be bareynÌ„ than to bere an euill disposid or a wikked childe ¶ And saide the comÌ„panie of a pour wiese man is bettir than of a riche ignorant that weneth to br wyse by subtilitee ¶ And saide he that offendeth god his creator by gretter reason he faileth to other ¶ And saide bileue not in hym that seith he loueth and knoweth trowth and doth the contrarye ¶ And saide the ignorante men wol not abstynÌ„ them from their sensualitees but loue their lâ—…f for thair pleasaunces what defence so euer be made vnto tâ—…m right as childrenÌ„ enforce them self to ete swete thin ges and the rather that they be charged the contrarie but it is other wiese with wiesemenÌ„ fâ—…r they loue their liues but onely to do goode dedis and to leue Idelnesse the delecta conÌ„s of this worlde ¶ And saide howe may be coÌ„pared the werkes of theim that entende the ê‘fection of the goode thinges perpetuel to thaim that wol but their delites traÌ„sytory ¶ And saide that the wiese men bere their greues sorowes as they were swete vnto them knowing their trouble pacieÌ„t ly taken the ende therof shal be to their merite ¶ And saide þ t it is ê“ufitable good to do wele to them that haue deserued it And that it is euille doon to doo wele to thaym that haue nat deserued it for al is lost that is yeue vnto them right as the reyne that falleth vpon the grauel ¶ And said he is happy that vsith his dayes in doyng couenable thinges and takith in this worlde but that that is necessarie vnto hym and may not forbere Applying him self to do good dedis to leue the badde ¶ And sayd a man ought nat to be demed by his wordes but by his workis for comenly wordes ben vayne but by the dedes is knowen the harme or the prouf fit of euery thing ¶ And said whan that almes is distribute to pouer indigent peple it proffiteth as a good medicine couenably yeuen to them that be seke but the almes yeueÌ„ to the not indigeÌ„t is a medicine yeueÌ„ without cause And said he is happy that withdraweth his ere his eye from alle vyle thinges ¶ And said the moost couenable dispen ce that eny man may make in his lyf is hit that is sette in the seruice of god in good workis And the second is that is speÌ„ded in necessarie thiÌ„ges that may not be forborne as mete drinke clothing for remedies ayenst sikenesse the worste of all is that is dispended in syn euil werkis HErmes was borne in egypte and is as mykyl to say ther as mercuri in ebreu as Enok which was sone to Iareth the sone of Matusale the sone of Malaleel the sone of Caynan the sone of Enoes sone of Seth sone to Adam And to fore the grete flode called Noes flode After that was ther another litil flode whiche drowned but the contre of Egypte onely afore the whiche the said Hermes departed thens and went through alle landes tyl he was four soore yere olde and. ij And wyth him hadde lxxij personnes of diuers tonges whiche alweye stered and exhorted the people to obeye our lord edified Cvm. to wues whiche he fulfilled with sciences And was the first that fonde the science of scoles establisshed to the people of euery clymat lawes couenable and apparteignyng to thair opinions to the whiche hermes the kyngis in thoo dayes yaf grete audience and obeissaunce in all thair landes so did ab thenhahitantis of the. Isles of the see he constreyned them to kepe the lawe of god in saing trouthe to dispise the worlde to kepe Iustice to wynne the saluaconÌ„ in the other worlde he comÌ„aunded orisons praiers to be saide and to faste euery
wyke ooÌ„n day to destroye the ennemiyes of þ e lawe to yeue almes to the pour goddis people that is to say to the feble and Impotent he comÌ„aunded that porke flesshe and camelys sholdâ—… be etenÌ„ and suche semblable me tes and comÌ„aunded them expressely that they shulde kepe them fro pariury he stablisshed many festis at certain seasons â–ª and ordeigned also diuers persones to offre sacrifices at the rising of the sonne and som other at the first newe moone and at the coniunction of the planettes also whan the planetes entre in to their houses and whan they asceÌ„ded and whan they discended The sacrifices were of many thinges that is to say of roses of flours of greynes of whete of barley of frutes of grapes of licours of wynes And the same hermes saide that it was noo Recompense sufficient to thanke god onely for the grace he hath sent vs ¶ And saide O thou man yf thou dredest god wele thou shuldest neuer falle in to the patthes that bringeth man to harme ¶ And saide make not your clamours to god as Ignorauntes ful of corrupt â–ª wil fulnesse and be not inobedient vnto oure lorde god nor trespassours to his lawe And wil noon of you do to your felowe otherwyse than ye wolde be don to but by concordauÌ„t and loue to gyders vse fastyngis and orisons in pure clene willes constreyne you to do goode dedes humbly and withoute pryde in suche manere as of your werkes may growe good fruytes and kepe you oute of the companyes of theues of fornycatours and of thoos that vse euâ—…lle werkis ¶ And said kepe you that ye be not 〈◊〉 and let trouth be alwey in your mouthe and swere not but ye and nay enforce you not to cause them swere that ye knowe wille lye lest ye be parteners to theyr pariury put your trust in god that knoweth alle seccetes and he shal Iuge you in equite at the grete day of IugemeÌ„t when he shall yeue remuneracions to the good for theyr goodeâ—… nesse and punysshe the euyll for theyr wykkydnesse And sayde ye be certayn that the redemptour our lord is the gret teste sapience and the gretteste dilectacion that one ought to haue of whom alle goodenesse cometh and by whom alle the yatis of witte vnderstanding ben opened â–ª ¶ And god that hath loued his seruaÌ„tis hath yeuen them discrecion hath establisshed prophetes propheciers ministres fulfilled with the holy goost by the whiche he hath manyfestely shewed vnto them the secretis of the lawe the trouth of the sapience to enteÌ„te that they shuld escheue al errours applye them to alle good dedis And said vse sapience folowe the lawes be mercyfulle â–ª and garnisshe you wyth goode doctrines think loke wel vpon your weâ—…kis wythout hasting you to mykyll in especiaal whan ye shal punissh nnsdoers and yf ye vse eny manere of thinge likly to synÌ„e be not shamefaste to with drawe you therfro and to take penaunce for the same for to yeue other exemple for yf it be not punisshed in this worlde it shal be at the greete day of Iugement and suche shal be tourmented with grete peines whitoute ony pyte taken vpon them ¶ And saide correcte you by your self and folowe the wiese men lernyng of hem good vertues lette all your desire be to wynne good renoÌ„mee and fame employe not your tyme and your mynde in â—â—â—â—hede nor in malice ¶ And saide loke ye sette noo vayâ—â—â— to the noysaunce of eny body nor that ye seke th aire hurtes by cautesses or sotiltees For suche workes wol not be hid but at the last thâ—y wol apoere ¶ And saide conâ—â—â—eyne you to annexe the loue of god and of your feith vnto sapience and yf ye do so all your lyf it shal be to you a grete a prouffitable wynnyng of that noble vertue shal come vnto you greter benefices than yf ye sholde asseÌ„ble grete golde and siluer or other tresours not durable for it shal be to you a grete richesse in the other world that neuer shal haue ende ¶ And saide be al one within and withoute in that ye shal speke be wâ—re that your wordes be not contrary to the thoughtes of your hert ¶ And saide huÌ„ble and obeye your self to your kyng and your princes and worship the grete ministres vnder them loue god trouth yeue true counsaile to that entent ye may the more hoolly with your good penanÌ„ce be in the waye of saluacioÌ„ And saide yelde louiÌ„g vnto your lord as wele in your tribulacion as in ê“sperite in your pouerte as wele as in your richesse And sayd ye shal bere hens non other thingis but your werkis and therfore be ware that ye Iuge not vniustly and desire rather to haue pouerte in doing good dedes than richesse in synÌ„ for richesse may soon be lost and good dedis shal euer abyde And sayd be ware of to mykyll laughing and mokkyng eny persone al be it ye perceyue in him eny foule or euyll tache yet rebuke them not dishonestly but thinke that god hath made you all of one matere might haue made you as euil as he wherfore ye ought to thanke his goodenesse that hath shewed you suche grace hath kept you from myschef in the tymes past and present ¶ And pray him of his mercy he wol so kepe you forthe And said if it fortune that the eÌ„nemyes of our feith wil dispute with you by diuerse sharp seyngyes ansuere them in swetenesse in humylite prayng god to be of you counseile that he will addresse all his creatures to the goode feith for theyr perpetuel saluacion ¶ And saide be silent in counseil and be wel ware what ye speke afoâ—… your eÌ„nemâ—… lest â—…e resem ble him that seketh a 〈◊〉 to be bâ—…tyn wiâ—…h all And saiâ—… ye may not be Iuste withouâ—…e the drede of our lord god bâ—… whiche ye atteyne 〈◊〉 of the holy gost that shal oâ—…n â—…ou the gates of paradis wherin you souleâ—…â—…hal eÌ„â—…e with thâ—…s that haue deserued euerlastiÌ„g lyf and said eschewe 〈◊〉 coÌ„pa ny of thoos that loueth you not of 〈◊〉 peple of 〈◊〉 mâ—… of ignorauÌ„tâ—… And whan â—…e 〈◊〉 eny good thought eâ—…e cuâ—…e it ye may incoÌ„tineÌ„t leste ye 〈◊〉 set or withdrawâ—…n ther fro by eny 〈◊〉 or euil 〈◊〉 And said haue no enuie though thou se eny prosperice come to an euil man for hyâ—… ende shal not be goode ¶ And said â–ª make your children lerne goode in their youthe or they falle to malice and so ye shal not synne in them ¶ And saide worship and pray to our lorde with a clene wil adresse al your desirs to him and he shal helpe enhance you what part so euer ye go subdewe your ennemyes vnder you ¶ And saide whan ye wil faste make first clene your saules of al filthe that your fastiÌ„g may comÌ„ of pure
gouernaunce Slepe no more than shal suffyse onely for the sustentacion of thy body and the rest of thy herte and entremetâ—… not nor let thy werkys be but in rightwysenesse and trouth withoute dissimulacion and slouthe nor delay not that thou must nedely execute Sustey ne and loue also thoos that be the grete multiplyers that ys to saye the coÌ„mones that labour the erthe by tylth and so wyng sedes vpon the same by the whiche the royaumes and the people be susteyned the knyghtehode multyplied and the houses fulle of richesse wherfore suche wol be kept and cherisshed ¶ And It behoueth openly to worship thoos that be goode euery man after his discrecion condicion and science to that entent that the peple may so knowe them and be bonteuous to alle thoos that seke sciences to corage them the more to lerne and entende To studye so that the royaumes or prouynces may be the better for thair connynges ¶ Besye thy self to punysshe malefactours and thoos that putteth the in daunger or trouble within thy wyaume or lordship make stryke of their hedes publykely that other may take example by them to a theeâ—…fe lete his hande be stryken of To a robber of the hygh waye let him behanged that the waye may be the surer Bren the Sodomytes and punysshe the men taken in fornycacion after their estate ¶ And the women in like wyse Ware the of the wordes of lyers and suche punysshe se the pryfonners ones in a moneth ¶ And Delyuere thoos that ought to be delyuered and yeue them of thyn almes pâ—…â—…sshe incontinent thoos that haue deserued It Yet not so hastyly but that they may haue dysir of repentaunce and that other let hem be kept til thou knowe the trouth whether they be gylty or not Beware also Vse not thyn owne couÌ„seyle onely But be auysed by men of Age and discrecion ¶ And suche as been experte in many thynges And whan thou shalt fynde ony suche Iust and rihtfully be coun seyled by him ¶ And elles reporte the to the mooste holsome opynyon of alle thy counseyllours and god shall helpe the. ¶ And said He Is noble that vsith goodenesse And It is a grete goodenesse to vse Iustyce and chastyte and to yeue lyberally or It be axid ¶ And sayde whan ¶ A kyng or a prince can nor wille restrayne hys euyll vices and couetise howe shulde he repreue his seruauntes whan he can not correcte his propre seruauntis howe shulde he correcte and gyde alle his people and specialy thoos that ben ferre from hym Therfore It behoueth A kyng or a prynce fyrst to be lorde ouer hym self And after vpon other by ordre ¶ And sayde A good kyng or a prynce shulde not be to full of Suspection for It wol make men drawe from hym And also he ought not to haue eny of that disposicion in his house ¶ And in especyall Bakbyters Contryuers or Reporters of tales For whan there Is dyuysion or trouble in A kyngys or in a prynces house Lyghtly no good Counseyllours or seruauntis wylle abyde there TAc sayd he that can not refrayne his Ire hath no power ouir hys witte And said a wyse kyng or a prince ought not to make comparisons nor dispute in discreconÌ„ with a greter and myghtier than he is ¶ And said whan a kyng or a prince hath conquered and ouer come his ennemyes he ought to maynteyne them in Iustice. in good custumes and liberalite and pacience And so may he make of ennemyes his freÌ„des And said yf a kyng or a prince assemble an outrageous tresur and dispende it not â—…t it apparteyneth he shal lese both it his Royaume ¶ And saide â–ª the people ar to the kyng as the wynde to a grete fyere for the more the wynde is the stronger is the fyere ¶ And saide a kyng or a prince ought to knowe thoos that wele and truely haue serued him and establisshe thoos a boute hym self after th aire trouth witte conÌ„yng and ought to yeue and be bounâ—…evous vnto theym aftir theyr merites â–ª And yf he yeue by wil to noughty folkis that haue not deserued it it puteth a weye the courage of his goode sernauntis to serue hym wele eny lenger and so shal he be bastily so full of noughty people that when he wolde he can not be delyuerede of theym ¶ And saide it is conuement for a kyng or aprince to lerne and knowe but not all for there is many thinges that a kyng or a prince ought not to knowe nor vnderstonde _â—Alquinus sayde that men receyue grete benefices dayly of god our creatour al be it that they be synners Then they be bouÌ„de to thanke hym for hys graces and to aske hym pardon for thayr trespasses ¶ And said many thyngis seme right good that be â—…ull badde and after gretely blamed And many thynâ—…es be dispraysyd in the begynnyng that afterward ben founde goode and desired ¶ And sayde Bettir it is to the to haue grete necessite than to borowe of him in whom thou hast no truste ¶ And sayde If thou laboure to teche a foole the more shal folye encresse And said I merueil of thoos that absteyne them from metis noyng to the body and maketh none abstynence of synne ¶ And said mul teplye silence for that auoydeth perelles and vse trouth Whiche discipline shal maynteyne the and thy werkis he that wol wele kepe the feyth ought to leue to his frende of hys goode and to be gracious to them that he knoweth good and no denyer of Iustice to his ennemye and to eschewe alle thyngis that toucheth disworship OMer was an anucient vercifier in Grece and of the gretest astate there he was after moyses v. â—… lv yere he made many goode thingis and allâ—… the vercifiers of grece folowed his discipline The whiche omer by fortune was taken and emprisoned and put to be solde as a prisonner or a bondema â–ª ¶ And tâ—…an one axed hym whens he was He sayd of his fadâ—…e and of his modre will thou that I shal beye the And â—…e 〈◊〉 why axest thou me counseyle what thou woâ—… 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 siluer ¶ And they axed him Wherto he was gooâ—… 〈◊〉 sayd To be deliuerd ¶ And so abode long in prâ—…son ¶ And at the last they lete him go He was A man faire formed and of large statuâ—…e and lyued Cviij yere And here after folowe his seyinges he is discrete that can refrayne his tonge ¶ And said â—…e that weâ—…kith by conseil yeueth him self rest and labour to other And saide it is a frendely lyuyng to dâ—…le withoute fraude and â—…rat And saide acompanye the with good people and thou shalt be on of hem acompanye the with badde thou shalt be on of thoos And saide he is good and liberal that applieth him to good werkis and â—…lene and that putteth them in execu conÌ„ or euer ther come eny occasion of empeschement And said the hert shyneth
in vertue and is sure whan it is set in sapieÌ„ce And fraud barat is in the fruit of euill though â—…s ¶ And said the mouth sheweth ofte what the hert thinketh ¶ And said the looke sheweth somtyme the dis posicion of the hert a fore the wordes been spoken ¶ And saide it is agrete surete for a man to purueye by tyme in his causis ¶ And saide it is merueile of a man that may be in resemblaunce to god and enforceth him self to be like beestâ—…s ¶ And saide beware thou do ne take noo thing that thou ferest to be accused of for if thou do thou shalt be the accuser of thy selfe ¶ And saide payne thy self to winne good condicions and vertues for therby vices harmes 〈◊〉 eschewed ¶ And saide ther was somtyme a wiese man skaped out of a broken and lost ship in to an Isle of the see and so beyng ther alone drewe a figure of geometrie vpon the sandis where with he was fonde by certaine shipmen that brought hym to the kyng of that grounde tellyng hym that cas and auenture And therfore the kyng sent through all hys prouinces and charged them thy shulde enforce them self to lerne and haue suche connyngis as shulde byde with them after theyr ship were lost that is to say science and goode werkâ—…s ¶ And a man berith with hym .ij. vesseâ—…s the on be fore and the other be hynde In that 〈◊〉 be the 〈◊〉 and vices of other folkis In that behynde be his owne ¶ And saide to his sone Beware that thou be not couetous for yf thou be couetous thou shalt be pouer And saide If thou be pacient thou shalt be preysed If thou be prowde thou shalt be blamed ¶ And said a man is bettir than al other bestes of the erthe ¶ And saide Sapience is to werke by science And saiâ—…e knowlege is bettir than ignoraunce ¶ And said thys world is an house of marchaundyse som wynne therin by their goode dedis and somme liese by th aire euill gouernaunce ¶ And said by grete dylygence som men atteyne to their purpose ¶ And saide he that hath grete myght and gouernaunce in thys worlde ought to haue no grete reioyssyng â–ª and he that hath noon is dispreysed ¶ And saide ther is no wikkedder thyng than lyeng and ther is no goodenesse in alyer SAlon was of Athenes and made many bookis of predicacions ¶ And establysshed the lawes there whiche athenes was a Cyte in thoos dayes fulfil led with wysemen he hadde many verses techyng folkis to eschewe their propre willes ¶ And saide Whan thou wilt doo ony thyng folowe not thyn owne wil but seke counsey le and therby shalt thou knowe the trouth of the werkes ¶ It was asked him What was the mooste difficulte in a man â–ª ¶ He answered To knowe him self To kepe hys frauÌ„chyse or liberte To speke in places where he ought not To be angry with that he may not ameÌ„de to coueyte that that he may not haue ¶ And said the thingeis of thys world ar establisshed by lawes and the lawees be sustyned by ij thingis that is to say by swerde and by banere ¶ And said to his disciples wave that ye be noo mokers for that engendreth hattered ¶ And saide the ber tuous laudes of a man be not thoos þ t he yeueth him self but thoos that ben yeuen hym for his goode werkes And it was asked him who was liberall he saide he that vsith liberalite not couetyng other menneâ—… goodes ¶ And said an euill tonge was sharper than a glayâ—…e A riche man as ked him what were his goodis heâ—… answered my tresor is suche that no man may haue yt withoute my wyll and may not be mynisshed for no thing that I yeue of it but thou maist departe with noonÌ„ of thynÌ„ withoute dymynuacion ¶ And said yf thou wilt the loue of thy frende shal abyde ferme vnto the. be curteise to him and spare him in his angre or errour ¶ And saide thou owghtest not to yeue a man greter preisyng in his pÌ„sence than he is worthy for he knoweth the trouth And was axed him howe a man shold wynnÌ„ frendes he answered in worshipping seyng good of them in their absence And said agoode saule hath ney ther to grete Ioye nor to grete sorowe for she reioyseth nat but whan she seeth goode thynges and noonÌ„ euyll and hath no sorowe but when she seeth the euill thingis and noonÌ„ goode And whan she loketh on all the world she seeth the goode the euyll so entermedled that she sholde not simply reioysse her self nor trouble her self angrely ¶ And saide a kyng that doth right Iustice shall reigne and gouerne wele his people he that doth Iniustice and violeÌ„ce seketh another to reigne for him And said it behoueth a kyng or a prince first to ordre dresse him self after to dresse other or ellis he shulde be like him that wolde dresse his shadowe a for him self ¶ And yt was askid of hym Whan Contrees and townes wer wele gouerned He answered and said whan their prynces rule them after their lawes SAbyon was a grete deffendour of his neyghbours hadde certayn frendes whiche a kyng wolde slee And whan the saide sabyon vnderstode it he went with them in resistence of the said kyng whiche kyng assembled so grete nombre of knyghtes ayenst him that he was discomfit taken and was commaÌ„ded to be put in engyne and tormeÌ„ted withoute he wolde accuse them that wer coÌ„senting to make werre ayenst the kyng whiche Sabyon ansuerd that for no payne he wold not telle that thyng that shulde noye his frendes ¶ And in dede beyng in the engyne cutte his tonge with his owne teth to th entent that he myght not accuse his felowes and frendes And the sayde sabyon lyued xlviii yere and her after folowed of his seynges to his disciples ¶ And sayd yf ye lese eny thing say not ye haue lost it but saye ye haue restored that was not youres And sayde to one of his discipples multiplie thy frendes and that shal asswage thy care ¶ And sayde a wyseman ought to be ware howe he weddeth a fayre woman for euery man wil desire to haue her loue And so they wol seke their pleasirs to the hurt and displeasir of her housband And sayde Delectacion in richesse is a dangerous vice ¶ And there cam one of his seruauntis vnto him on a tyme and tolde him that his sone was dede he ans uerd that he knowe wel that he was mortal not inmortal and a man ought not to drede the deth of the body but the deth of the saule OonÌ„ asked why he said so considering that he helde thoppynion that a resonable saule myght not dye he aunswerde whan a resonable saule is conuerted to the nature of a beste withoute vse of reason al be it that it be sustaunce incorruptible yet is she reputed for dede for she leseth
liberte fraun chise ¶ And saide It is more couenable for a man to suf frâ—… dâ—…th than to put his soule in perpetuel derknes And soyde Lette not to doo goode dedis though they be not plea saunt to the worlde ¶ And saide dele alwaye so to thy power that thy soule may stande in goode and noble state whatsomeuer falle of thy body ¶ And sayde Aclene and pure soule hath no delyte in wordely thynges ¶ And sayde go not the pathes that thou maist gete hatered by Ande sayde thou oughtest to wynne frendis for the maynteynyng of thyn astate and do not thoo thynges that thou couetest but that thou oughtest to do and take hede whan thou shalt speke and whan thou shuld holde thy peace ¶ And sayde he refreyneth him from couetise that letteth not to spende hys goode for his frendes ¶ And sayde put alle couetise from the. and than shalt thou apper ceyuâ—… trouth ¶ And said He is not verry pacient that sufferyth but as moche as he may But he is presentely pacient that suffereth ouer his power ¶ And sayde Pytagoras Ryght as a leche ys not reputed nor taken for goode nor connyng that heleth other and can not hele him selfe right so ys he noo goode gouernour that commandeth other to eschewe vices and nether can nor wyll leue them hym selfe And sayd the worlde varieth nowe with the and nowe ayenst the If it be vith the thynke to do wele yf it be ayenst the take it paciently ¶ And saide many harmes coÌ„me to beestes by cause thy be domme and vnto men through their owne speche ¶ And saide harde it is to greue him that can absteyne him from iiij thingis that is to witte hastynesse wilfulle frowardenesse pride and slowthe for hastynesse causith repentaunce wilfulle frowardenesse causeth losses pryde causeth hattered and slowth causeth dispreysing He sawe a man right noblâ—… and richely arrayed whiche hadde vyle and foule wordes To whom he sayde Other speke after thyn arraye or lete thyn arraye be aftir thy wordes The kyng than of Ceallâ—… desired hym to dwelle with hym To whom he saide thâ—… wâ—… kes and thy demeanyngis be contrarye to thy prouffyt And thyn office is not wele executed for thou distroyest the fundement of thy feyth wherfore I wol not dwelle with the for the physicien Is not sure for amongis hys pacientis he may take sekenesse ¶ And sayde If thou wâ—… that thy childeren or thy seruantis do no fawtes thou 〈◊〉 reste a thyng innaturall ¶ And sayde The soule that is in the company of goode peple is in delectacion and Ioye And when it is amonge euyl It is in sorowe and lâ—…uines se. ¶ And sayd The wyseman thenketh on the we le of his soule as attentyuely as other atteÌ„de to the we le of theyr bodyes ¶ And saide take frenship of hem that thou seest folowe trouth thinke or thou werke And saide right as a physicien can not hele hys pacient wythoute he telle hym the trouth of hys disease right so may not a man be wele counseylled of hys frende withoute he telle hym the playnesse of hys cause ¶ And saide many ennemytees gro wen for faulte of trust betwix parties and trust causeth often many harmes ¶ And whan pytagoras sat in hys cheyre he vsed in shewyng his doctrines to saye mesure your pathes and go the right weye so shal ye go surely Attempre you from couetise and your goode astate shall dure vse Iustice and ye shal be byloued and dredde kepe nat your body in grete delectacions for and ye so do ye shal not con fusteyne the aduersites that myght falle vnto you ¶ And he sawe an olde man that was shamefast to 〈◊〉 to whom he sayde ¶ Science is bettir in age than in â—…gth ¶ And sayde ¶ If thou wylt dispreyse hym â—…at thou hatest shewe not that thou art hys ennemye And saide a goode kyng or a prince ought to thinke diligenteli to the state and guydyng of hys lande and ought to ouersee hyt as often as a goode gardyner doth his garden ¶ And saide hyt behoueth a kyng to yeue exâ—…ple him self to kepe his lawes and se that his next kynnesmen and frendes do so after him and it apparteneth not to a kyng to be prowde nor to do after hys owne wil only nor to ride couertely nor in noo derâ—…re nyght but gladdely shewe him self open faced a mongis his people and coÌ„ueny ently be conuersant amongis them without ouer moche famylyarite ¶ And whan a kyng or a prince shal go to his rest that he se ther be goode wache and yf thy faylle theryn that he punysshe them we le and to beware to ete the mete that a Ialous woman yeueth hym or eny other suspect persone ¶ And sayde the we le disposed man remembreth but hys synnes and the euyll disposed hath mynde but on hys vertues It fortuned his wyff was deces sed in aferre countre and som axed hym If there were eny dyfference to dye in their propre lande or ellis ferre froÌ„ thens He ansuerd whersomeuer one dye the weye to the other world is alle like ¶ And sayd to a yong man that wolde not lerne in his youthe If thou wolle not take peyne to lerne thou shalt haue the peyne to be lewde and vnconnyng And saide god loueth thoos that bee disobeissant to euyll temptacions ¶ And saide good praeyer is one of the beste thinges a man may present to god yf thou axe him eny boon lete thy werkys be agreable vnto hym DYogenes otherwyse called dogly by cause he hadde som condicions of a dogge and he was the wysest man that was in hys dayes He dispraysed gretely the worlde and lay in a tonne Whiche he tourned for his auantage from the sonne And the wynde as it pleased hym and therin he rested whansomeuer the nyght fill vpon him He ete whansomeuer he was hungered were it by day or by nyght in the strete or ellis where wythoute eny shame therof ¶ And was content wyth .ij. gownes of wollen cloth in the yere ¶ Ande so he leuyd and gonuerned him self till his deth ¶ Somme axed him Why he was called dogly he sayde be cause I barke vpon the fooles and fawne vpon the wysemen ¶ Alexsandre the grete cam vnto hym of whom he toke litle regarde be axed hym why he sette so litil by hym seyng that he was so myghty a hyng and hadde noo necessite he ansuerd I haue noght to â—…o nor sette by him that is bondeman to my thrall why qd Alexsandre am I so than ye said diogenes for I am lord and maistre to al couetise and holde her vnder my fete as my thrall and couetise is thy maistresse and thou art bounde vnto her and so art thou bounde to my thrall Than sayd alexsandre yf thou wylt axe me eny thying of thys worlde I wol yeue it the Dyogenes answered why shulde I axe the eny thing while I am
dyrecte your soules And do your part for to kepe the lawe in suche wyse that your maker may be content wyth you ¶ And he sawe a yong man that had solde the lyuelode that was com to him by succession ¶ And he dispended it amysse in grete dyners and other mysrewle To whom he said the erthe eteth other men but thy self eteste the erthe And it was axed of him why it is That tresour and science may not accorde to gyder And he answered and sayd that one thing hool a coÌ„plisshed may not be dâ—…uided And said that he that trustes in his fortune And is not som what besye and diligent to laboure in goode werkis the goo de resorted from him as doth the arowe from the stone that it hath light vpon And said he that techeth goode to other and doth it not him self Is like to hym that lighteth a candell to another and goth him self darkeling And saide a kyng ought not to be gretely praysed that reygneth onely but vpon his subiectes but he ought to haue lawde that reigneth and hath lordship wpon hys ennemyes And said he that gadereth and assembleth moche siluer ought not to be called riche but he that dispendeth it worshipfully and laudably And som asked him howe one might kepe hin from nede and he answered if men be riche let hem lyue temperately and sobrely and if they by pouer lete hem laboure diligentely Than som axed him of howe moche goode a man ought to be content And he answered to haue so moche as he neded nat to flatre nor borouwe of other ¶ And said to his disciples whan ye shal be weâ—…y of studyeng sporte you in redyng goode stories ¶ And sayd that the wyseman ought not to coueite the richesse of hys frendes lest he be hated and dyspreysed therfore ¶ And said Alitill good is a grete thing yf thou be content ther with ¶ And said â–ª it is bettir and a more couenable thing to akyng to remembre and se to the goode gouernaunce of his people the space of aday than for to daunce sporte him a hole yere And sayd werkis doon by wysdom causeth knowlege of thingis them discreteli to dis cerne werkes doon by ignoraÌ„ce is an vnknowen thing tille trouth stable sette them in their right wey workis doon by lesingis is for to disordre goode thiÌ„ges put them 〈◊〉 of their propre placis ¶ And saide thou shalt neuer be pacient whyle thou art couetous And it was asked him howe he myght haue lerned so moche wysdom he ansuerd by cause I haue putte more oylle in my lampe to studie by than wyn in my cuppe And it was axed of him what man is moost couenable to gonerne a towne And he ansuerd he that â—…n we le gouerne him self And it was also axed of him what man was moost worthy to be called wyse and he ansnerd he that taketh moost hede to goode conseile and casteth moost dowtes ¶ And said that the vessels of golde be proued and knowen by thair sowne if they be broken or hoole soo ar men proued and knowen by their speche if they be wyse or fooles ¶ And it was axed him whiche be the moost Ignorant men in their dedis And he saide suche as werke moost after their owne conseyll and that obeye to them self and for deffault of goode aduisement dispose hem hardely to do wykkid dedes And they asked him who dooth moost wrong to him self And he said he that meketh him to thoos that he ought not â–ª ¶ And saide the ignorant people Iugeth lightly the fairenesse or the filth that they se outwarde the wyseman Iugeth by that that they se of mannes condicions ¶ And said he findeth sapience that seketh her by the right weye and many erre by cause they seke her vnduely and blame her without cause And said he that is ignorant of good sapience knoweth not him self he that knoweth not him self is of al igno â—…untis the moost ignorauÌ„t And he is wyse that knoweth Ignoraunce and he that knoweth it not is ignoraunt ¶ And saide wrath ledeth shame in a lece And said The king resembleth to a grete Ryuere growyng of litil aâ—… d smale rennyng watres and therfore if he be swete the litill shulde be swete â–ª ¶ And if he be salt the litill shulde be salt ¶ And said be wele ware that in bataille thou truste not al onely in thy strength dispreysing thin naturall witte for often engin causeth victorie without might but vnuethe may men haue victorie by strength withoute vse oâ—… naturall polycie And saide wordes without goode effecâ—… is like a grete watre that drowneth the peple doth it self no prouf fyt ¶ And saide a suspection man is of euill condicions and lyueth in sorowe ¶ And saide be not wyllyng to vse eny wordely delectacions in to the tyme that ye se whether witte and reason graunte ther to And if thiese two accorde thou maiste we le and lightly knowe the fairenesse and the filth therof And in what wyse they wrie and what difference is betwene hem ¶ And sayd The Reames aren somtyme lost by neglygence And somtyme for vsing to moche Idelnesse also by to grete trustyng in fortune Also whan men entende not to encrese the peple to inhabyâ—… the lande And Also when werre lasteth long ther in And sayd The ende of Indygnacion is to be ashamed of him self ¶ And It was axed hym howe A wyseman coude be troubled ¶ And he answered Whan he is com pelled to telle the trouth of an vnknowen thyng to him ¶ And sayd Whan thou shalt se A man of good disposicion and fulle of perfectyon thou ought to do after hym fore couetise is bothe weke and seke in hym And said dispraise not alitill goode thing for it may encresse And said blame not nor rebuke a man whan he is wroth for than thou mayest not directe him ¶ And said be not gladde of the euill fortune of another for thou kno west not howe the worlde may tourne ayenst the. ¶ And sayd stable thy witte bothe at thy right hand and thy left And thou shalt be fre ¶ And saide ther be thre thinges that doth me harme to se that is to saye A riche man fallen in pouerte a worshipfull man dispraised and a wyseman in okked and soorned by ignoraunte people ¶ And said be not in felisship with the wikked men for noo goo de that they can promise the. ¶ And said whan a wyaume is in prosperite Couetise is bounde to the king whan it is in aduersite the kyng is bounde to couetise ¶ And said Co uete not that thy thing ben hastely don but desire only that they be well don And said a man ought to be better conteÌ„t is more bounde to his prince for oon fairre worde of hym than yf other hadde geuen him grete giftis ¶ And said the gyftes that be yeuen to the goode people asken
labour of the peyne of their lerning And the said Aristoteles callid AlexaÌ„dre axing him questions vpon the gouernaÌ„ce of the lordis of the peple to whom alexandre yaue good ansueres But neuer the lesse Aristotiles beet him with a Rod. And it was axed of him why he had beet him with oute cause And he ansuerd this childe is like able to be a grete lord a myghty kyng And I haue bete him all onely for to holde him lowly and in mekenesse foâ—… he shal be to soon prowde ¶ And saide If thou canst directe another directe him as thy self And a yong man axed him why he was so pouer To whom he answered My pouerte hath no thyng offensed me ne doth me no harme But thyn hath doon the and shalle do harmes ynowhe ¶ And sayd The Royaumes by maynteyned by the lawes ordeigned by the kyng and princes ¶ And said the kynges and princes ben susteyned vphold by knight hode ¶ And the knyghtis ben maniteyned by moneye money cometh of the people and the people is gouerned by Iustice without whiche no Royaume may prospere ALexander the grete was sone to phelip king of macedone whiche phelip regned vij yere And the said Alexander began to regne in the. x viij yer of his age And he said to his people in thys wyse Fayr lordes I will in no wyse be contrarye to your wylles ne to your dedes But I shewe to you that I hate frawdes malices as I haue louid you duryng my faders lyf so wil I doo in tyme comyng And I bothe counceylle pray you that ye drede god obeye him as souerayn of all And chese him for kyng be most obeyssant to him that shal best pour ueie for the good astate of his peple that shal be most debo nayr mercyful to poure folkes that beste shal kepe Iusti ce the right of the feble ayenst the myghty him also that shal best dispose for the publyke wele for no delectacion of worldly pleasaÌ„ces shal not be slowful to kepe defeÌ„de you and by whom ye shal be defended all euill harmes by the meane of his good dedes shal be destroyed and him that most hardyli shal put him forth for to destroye your eÌ„nemi es For suche ought to be chosen kyng and none other whan his people had herd the reasons abouesayd and kno wen his grete discrecion wytte and vnderstaÌ„ding they were gretly ameruaylled and answered to him thus ¶ We haue herde and vnderstand thy grete reasons And haue resseyued and resseyue thy good counceyll and therfore we wole and byseche the that thou Reygne and haue the lordship vpon vs duryng thy lyf we hope that ther is none that hath so wele deseruid to be our kyng ¶ And thus they chees him to ther kyng and to their lord and coroned him yaf him their blessinges and praid to god that he wold blesse mayntene him ¶ To whom he said I haue herde the prayer that ye haue made for me beseching to god that he wol stedefaste the loue of me in your hertes corages And that by no maner of the delectacioÌ„ he suffre me to do thing ayen your proffites ne to my disworship sone af ter he sent lettres to alle the prynces and goode townes of his Royaume ¶ And whan he had sent his lettres One daire kyng of perce of mede sent to Alexandre for tribu te like as he had of his fader And he sent him word that the henne that leyd that egge was dede ¶ And after this Alexander made grete conquestis and whan he had coâ—…iquered Inde he went to â—…contre cassid bragman the whiche whan they wiste his comyng they sente many wyse men to him whiche salewd him saide sir Alexauder thon hast no cause to werre vpon vs ne to be â—…il willig for we ben both poure meke we haue no thing but only sapieÌ„ce the whiche if thou wolt haue pray god that he wol yeue her the. for by batayll thou shalt neuer haue her Ande whan alerander herd hem saye so he made al his Ooste to tarye with fewe of his knyghtes wente within the said contre for tenquere further of the trouth ¶ And whan he entred wyth in the same ground he fond many pouer foolkes women childeren al naked gadering herbes in the feldes And he axid of them many questions to whiche they answered right wysely and than he bad hem axe of hym somme thing that myght doo hem good to all their people he wolde yeue it hem gladdy ¶ And thenne they said Sir we axe the none other thing but þ t thou wilt gyne us euer lasting lyf TheÌ„ ne AlexaÌ„der ansuerd said how might a man make other meÌ„nes liues euerlastiÌ„g whaÌ„ he may not lengthe his owen lyf an our And that ye axe of me is in no mannes power that lyueth Than they said to him Syth thou hast goode â—…nowleche therof wherfore trauayllest thou thy self to destâ—…oye all the world and to gadre all the worldly tresours and wost not whan thou must leue hem Thenne ¶ Alexan der said to him I do not alle these thinges that ye say of my self but god hath sent me thurgh allâ—… the worlde for teâ—…alte and magnifye hys lawe and to destroye them that 〈◊〉 not in him ¶ And somtyme Alexander wente 〈◊〉 visyting his lordes and enqueryng of her 〈◊〉 And vpon atyme he cam in to a towne of his owne ¶ And sawe two men of the same towne bysore a Iuge pletyng of the whiche one said to the Iuge Sir I haue bought an hous of thys man And longe after I hâ—… ue founde with in the same a tresour vnder therthâ—… whiche is not myn ¶ And I haue offred to diliuere it to hym ¶ And he hath refused it wherfore Sir I biseche the that he be compelled to take it for as moche as he knoweth it is not myne for I haue no right therto ¶ Thenne the Iuge comaÌ„ded his aduerse partie â—…ansuere to the same and thenne he said Sir Iuge that same tresour was neuer myne but he hath edyfyed in that place that was byfore comyn to alle tho that wolde haue edyfyed ther in ¶ And therfore I haue no right to take it And thenne they bothe required the Iuge that he wolde take it to him self to whom he answe red and said sithen it is so that ye saye that is ye haue no right to whom the heretage hath longed and yet longeth where the tresour was founde hou sholde I haue eny right therto that am but a stranÌ„ger in that caas and neuer a fore herde speke therof ye wolde excuse you therof and giue me the charge of the tresour that is euill doo ¶ Thenne 〈◊〉 axid of him that had founde the tresour whether he had oâ—… childeren whiche answerd he had a sone and he axed thâ—… other in like wise
he said he had a doughter Thenne tâ—… Iuge said Iuged that amariage sholde be made bitwen them and that they sholde haue the tresour by that meane And whan Alexander herde this Iugement he had grete meruayll therof and said thus to the Iuge I trowe that ther is not in al the world so rightwis ne so trewe a Iuge as thou art And the Iuge that knewe him not saide and axed of him whether ony Iuge wold haue don other wyse Ye certaynly said Alexander in many landes Thenne the Iuge hauyng grete meruayll ther of axed of him whether it rayned and the sonne dide shyne in tho landes as though he wold haue sayd that hit was meruayll that god shuld sende ony light or rayne or other good thinges to them that doo not ryght trewe Iustice And therof Alexander had gretter meruaylle than byfore and said that ther were but fewe suche people vpon erthe as they were in that sanâ—…e And as AlexaÌ„der wente out of that lande he passed thâ—…rgh a cite in whiche al the houses of that cyte were of one â—…igh 〈◊〉 byfore the dore of euery hous was a grete pytte or graue in whiche cyte ther was no Iuge wherof he had grete meruaylle And axed of the inhabitantis therin wherfore suche thingis sholde serue The whiche ansuerd him said First for the outrageous height of houses loue Iustice can not be longe in a town a mong the peple And they sai de that the pittes or graues were their owne houses to which they sholde sone go to there dwelle vntil the day of Iugement And as touching that they had no Iuge they said that they made good Iustice of them self wherfore they ne ded no Iuge Thenne Alexander departed from them right wel plesed And a fore his deth he wrote a lettre vnto his moder desiring her to make no sorowe for him ¶ And sone after Alexandre died was put in a Coffre of gold buried in Alexsandre he was born theder with grete reuerence by kynges princes other grete lordes that kept fulfilled his testameÌ„t as he had ordeigned Thenne stert vp one of the grettest lordes of them that kept hym said thus They that neuer wepte for other kynges now ought to wepe for this same And tho that neuer had meruaill of aduersite shold now haue meruail of the deth of this king And he desired the other lordes that they shuld saye somme good thing for to coÌ„forte the peple that was gretli dismaied troubled for the deth of kyng alexandre or for the deth of the worthyest kyng that euer was TheÌ„ne one of them said king alexaÌ„dre was woÌ„t to kepe gold seluer now gold seluer kepe him And he said it by cause of the chest that his body laye in which was of gold And another said alexaÌ„der is depted fro sinnes filthes now his soule is with the good soules which ben purified And another said alexaÌ„der was wonte to chastise alle men and now he is chastysed ¶ And another said the kynges were wonte to drâ—…de him and now the pourest man of all the world dredeth him not ¶ And another said yester day all the erthe suffiseth not to AlexaÌ„der now the lengthe of his body suffiseth him And another sayd AlexaÌ„der might here yesterday no bo dy durst speke ayenst his wille and now euery man may speke he heerith not ¶ And another said the morâ—… that thastate of kyng AlexaÌ„der was grete and more exelleÌ„t the more is thoccasion of his deth greuous pytefull ¶ And a nother said thoo that sawe not yesterday ¶ AlexaÌ„der feâ—…ede him gretely now thoo that see him fereth him not ¶ And ther said AlexaÌ„der was he whoo 's enemyes durst not comâ—… nere him and now his frendes dispreyse and wil not see hym ¶ And whan Alexander began to regne he waâ—… buâ—… xviij yeres of age And he regned xvij yere of the whi che euiployed ix yeres in bataylle and in conquerâ—…ng And. viij yere he restyd hym visiting the groundes and landes that he had conqueryd ¶ And he had victorye vpon xxiiij maner of langages ¶ And in two yeres he sought all thorient and occident And the nombre of his knightes that were comonly of his retenew and at his wages were CCC xiij M. without yomaÌ„rye other men necessarie to his werres ¶ And he deyde in the eage of xxxv yeres and he was of sangweyn colour his face ful of pocâ—…is One of his eyen graye and that other black smale sharp 〈◊〉 vi saged like a ly on ¶ And was of grete strengthe loued moche warres fro his chyldehode vnto his lyues ende And he comanded that the people shold worship god â—…epe hem from synne ¶ And saide the world is not susteyned but comonly by science â–ª And the royames be not directed but by the same alle thinges ben gouerned by reason And saide sapieÌ„ce is messagier of reason ¶ And it byfelle that Alexander passid thurgh a toun wherin vij kynges had regned byfore And he askid yf ony of their kinâ—…ede was alyue And they of the toun said ye a sone of one of the said kinges And alexaÌ„der desired to see him ¶ And the pâ—…ple saide to alexander that he was euer in the chirchyerd And alexander wente to see him axid of him wherfore he a bood so in the chircheyerd why he wold not take vpon him suche astate as his fader had his Auncestris as other men doo Seyng that it was the will of all the peple ¶ And the yong child ansuerd saide O right bounte uous kyng I haue here a thing to do the whiche whan I ha ue don it I shal do thy comandemeut To whom thenne alexander axed what thing it was that he had to do there And he ansuerd I am sechyng the bones of my fader of myn auncestris kynges for to put hem a part froÌ„ the other but I finde hem also semblable that I can not knowe one from the other ¶ Thenne alexander saide to him thou ough test tacquere worship in this world ¶ And If thou haddest good and strong corage thou mightest haue all thy faders goodes and of thy prâ—…decessours alle ther honours To whome the yong child ansuerd saide I haue good her te And alexaÌ„der axed him wherin And he saide by cause that I haue fouÌ„de lyf without deth â—…ougthe without eage xi chesse without poute Ioye without troble helthe without sekenes Certaynly said alexaÌ„der of all these thiÌ„ges haue I none Thenne sayd the childe yf ye wil haue hem axe hem of him that hath hem and he may yeue hem and none other Thenne Alexander said that he had neuer seen man of so grete discrecion ¶ Alexander vsed euery day to be in a cer tayn place for to here the complayntes of euery body And it was so that vpon a day onely
other poure And the fader yaf the doughter to the poure man wherfore AlexaÌ„der axid of him why he did so And he saide by cause the riche is ignorant like to become a poure man and the poure is wyse able to become a riche man ¶ Alexander axid of a wyse philosophre by what mene the royames were wel direâ—… tid holden in goode astate And he ansuerd by obeyssauÌ„ ce of the peple the Iustice of the kyng ¶ And as AlexaÌ„ der foughte ones in bataille many women cam in the same bataill ayenst him theÌ„ue he withdrawe him hastely said to his men if we sholde haue victory of this bataill where thise women ben it were no worship to vs if they had the victorie theÌ„ne it were to vs a ppetuel shame wherfore we shal not fighte ayenst them whyle the womeÌ„ ben ther And saide it is a perillous thing a man tabide so long in the see that the storme teÌ„pest come vpon him that may well depâ—…e during the faire weder In like wyse it is of them that dwel in princes kinges houses ¶ And saide it is a foule thing to a man to haue grete wordes without effecte it is a fay re thiÌ„g to him that put his werkis bifore his wordes And said the grettest most laudable liberte that is to a man is to kepe him from couetise And whan his fader coÌ„manded him that he sholde gladly here the coÌ„maundementis of his maistre he saide he wold not onely here them but he wold fulfille them with glad herte to his pouere And said It is worse a man to haue defaute of discrecion theÌ„ne of richesses THolome was a right wyseman we le vnderstaÌ„den in especial in iiij scieÌ„cis that is to witte Geometrie musike arismetrik astrologie he mad many good bokis a mong the which one is callid Almageste the which is of Astrologie he was borne in ¶ Alexandrie the greteste cyte that is in the land of Egipte ther he made his consideracions in the tyme of kyng Adryan and made his dictions vpon the consideracions at Roodes he was not kyng all be it that many personnes calleth hym kyng And he lyued lxx viij yeres ¶ And said he is wyse that disposith his tonge to speke of god and he that knoweth hym not is the moost foole of alle ¶ And said he that is enclyned to his wille is nyghe to the Ire of god and the nerer that a man approucheth the deth the more he ought to laboure and traueyll to do we le ¶ And said Sapience abydeth no lenger in the hert of a foole than a fleyng thing that may not tarye in thaier ¶ And sayd good wytte and good discrecion ben fellawes ¶ And sayd A man of good sapience can not dye ne a man of good vnderstandyng can neuer be pouer ¶ And said Sapience is atre that wexeth grene in the hert and fructifieth in the tonge ¶ And said Beware that thou dispute not with hym that hath no knowlege ne yeue not thy conseyl but to him that askith it ne telle not thy secret but to hym that can kepe it And said he that wol lyue wele ought not to kepe in his hert all his aduersitees And said the mays tre of a grete house hath many melaÌ„colyes And said speke wysely aswele for thy self as for all other And said yf thou mayst not eschewe soÌ„tyme to be wroth atte lest lette not thy wrath last louâ—… ¶ And said the hertis of good peple ben the castell forterescis of secretes And said a man that is not to be correctid by other meÌ„ may surly correcte them of their faultes And said he that askid coÌ„seil of the wysemaÌ„ and doth ther aftir whether it turneth him to good or to euill he ought not to be blamed therof â–ª ¶ And saide It is bettir a kyng to directe his peple than to haue grete habondaunce of knyghtis ¶ And sayde Surete putteth a weye sorowe â–ª and fere empescheth gladnes ¶ And saide The wordis of god auayleth not to them that haue put al their hert to the worlde ¶ And said It is to grete folie a man to thinke to moche on the thinges that passith his vnderstanding ¶ And sayde men been of two natures som wolle neuer be content howe be it that they finde ynough som other seke and finde nothing ¶ And said men cause tacquere geete money And money is the cause tacquere men ¶ And saide He of the whiche the Science excedith his witte may be likened to a feble shepherd that hath a grete heep of sheep in his kepyng ¶ And saide he that hath put al his entente to his flessly delites is more boÌ„de than a keytif â–ª And said the hygher that a man is exaltid in his lordship the more greuous it shal be to him to fall from the same And said thought is the key of certaynete And saide the reffuses of a nygard ben bettir than the largesces of a prodygall waster ¶ And saide thou canst do nothing so acceptable to god as to do wele to him that hath offensed ayenst the ¶ And saide if thou wol be wyse be not in feliship wyth foolis but be euer in feliship with them that ben wyser than thy self â–ª ¶ And saide the soule can not be decey ued into the tyme that the body taketh his ende And said ¶ Folye is the gretteste ennemy that ony body may haue And said Good will is the fondement of alle good werkes good werkis is the messagier in the other world And said he that kepith the good opynion and leueth the euill yeueth grete reste to his herte ¶ And said Sekenesse is the prison of the body and saluacion of the soule ASsaron sayd that a kyng in his kyngdom may be doÌ„maged and hurte and specially by fyue thinges the first is by to grete drienesse as to be iij. yere without Rayn the seconde is by expending more than his lyuelode cometh to the therde is to vse to moche wooÌ„men wyne huntyng the fourthe is to be of euill maneres of wicked condicions also to be to cruel vengeable the fyfte is to haue many ennemyes ¶ And said the moost notable maneris condicions the moost prouffyta ble is to be liberal and true of his worde ¶ And said he that is liberal may not lyue amys the true speker may not be shamed of his speking the meke lo wly man can not be hated the sobre man can not be seke he that we le dyli gently vnderstondith to his bysenesse may neuer repente therof bringeth hym to good perfection And said a king or a prince ought not to truste them that disprayse hym in him that is couetous in him that is com from grete pouertie to grete richesses in him from the whiche he hath taken the goodes and lordshippes in him that hath
suffred many domages and hurtes for the wyall mageste ordinaunce Ne in him that hath made eny aliaunce or promesse with his ennemyes he ought to be wele ware that he yeue no po wer to non suche as thoo abouesaide And sayd It is an impossible thing a man to kepe him from falling in som fawte that is exaltid with a kyng in grete magnificence without desserte And said whan a wyse prince knoweth that eny of his men had offenseth ayenst him he ought has tely to enquere the trouth of the dede and the quantite of the trespas and yf it be don wylfully or by ignorance and also If he was wont to do so and yf he be like to falle therin ayen And vpon euery of the same pointis to Remedye hastely ¶ And said The kynges seruauntis ought to shewe in seruyng hym their good vertues their feith the noblesse of their kynrede to thenteute that the kyng may bettir knowe hem and do to euery of them as he shal haue deserued ¶ And saide If a kyng loueth and cherissheth the vntrewe and wikkid men as them that been good and true he ought not to be called kyng for he is not like to reygne long ¶ And said If the kyngis conseyllours his physicien and hys confessour deleth wyth other thynges than langith to their offices ¶ The kyng shall contynuelly be endommaged seke of body and of the soule ¶ And like to come to a foule ende ¶ And saide He that sayth not trouth to hys leche And he that counceylleth wyth his frendâ—… ¶ And â—…elleth him not the trouth of his counceylle he distroyeth him self ¶ And Assaron sayde A kyng sholde not commytte to another the besynes that ys necessarye to hym self for to do ¶ And Assaron sayde The moost secrete counseylle of the kyng Is his conscience and his good dedes is hys best tresour ¶ And of alle men the trewesâ—… is the best ¶ And the best Rychesses ben they that be truely and duely goten ¶ And he sayth a kyng sholde committe his besynesses to him that he hath proued in fayth in witte and in good gouernaunce and if he may finde no suche â–ª take him that hath euer be conuersant with wyse men ¶ And he said a wyse kyng of good vnderstonding amendeth and auaylleth moche his counseillonrs ¶ And he sayth whan a kyng of good discrecion hath to do two right hasty thinges he sholde begynne at the noblest and at the most pronffittable And yf they ben bothe two of one estate begiÌ„ne at that whiche may best be recouerd in tyme comyng ¶ And he sayth yf a kyng be mercyfull his besynes shal goo wel his wysedom shal auayle him in tyme comyng yf he be trewe his people shal reioyse with him yf he be Iuste his regne shal endure ¶ And he sayth kyn ges sholde gete good renoÌ„me and other mene dignitees by good mesure for ontrageousnes is not enduryng ¶ And he sayth yt belongeth to a conquerours kyng to sette and kepe good Iustice in his Reames and other lordshippes go ten ¶ And hou be it that it is a greuous thing to conquere them yet is it a more greuous more chargeable thing to kepe them wel ¶ And he sayth he that is most complete of witt is he that knoweth him self And that departed him not from thobeyssauÌ„ce of god for what maner occasion that cometh to him that contynuelly thanketh him for the goodes that he hath sent him ¶ And assaron sayth that an euill lawe the loue of a shrewe lastth no lenger than the shadowe of acloude ¶ And assaron sayth that a wyseman enforceth him to fle and wythdraweth from harme And the foole doth grete payne to fynde hit And assaron sayth whan a wyseman that is counceylour or offycer to a kyng seeth that the kynge wille doo or saye ony thing domageable and harmefull to hym or to hys Royaume or to his people and subgettis he shold addresse and remembre him of good examples of cronyckes and histories of his noble and wyse predecessour concernyng vnto that purpos in so moche that the kyng conceyue and haue knowleche that he sayth it for his wele and worship ¶ LEgmon was born in Ethyope and lerned his science in the londe of Asteyn in the tyme of king dauid the prophete And was bought by a Iewe for an esclaue or bondman for xxx marck And his maistre pleyed gladly atte dise and ther ran by fore his maistres gate a Ryuer And on a tyme as his maister an other man playde atte dyse they leyd sette an owche to plege that who of them lost a game shold do the wille of the winnar or he shold drynke alle the water that ran passed afore his yate So it happend that his maistre lost And that other comaunded him that he sholde do hoolly his comaÌ„dement And the loser ansuerd that he was redy to be at his Iugement Thenne he said to him thou shalt gyue me alle the good that thou hast of ony valewe or thou shalt drynke all the watre of this Ryuer And he that had lost demanded only respyte of one daye for tauise him that other graunted it to him And thus he abode in his hous right pensyf and ful of thoughte how he might escape fro this perille And as he was in this thought legmon his bondman and seruauÌ„t cam home brouht vpon his necke a burthen of wood and salewed his maistre ¶ The whiche gaf him no answere for the thought that he was in Howe be it he was accustomed for taraysone hym for the good wordes that he fonde in him thenne legmon said to hym Maistre who hath angred or greuid the And he answerd nothing agayn And legmon said maistre telle me the cause of thy sorow and woo For I shal lyghtly remedye it if I may and thenne his maistre reherced to hym all the fayte as is afore reherced And thenne legmon said to him that he sholde in no wyse abasshe him ¶ For he wold gyue him good counceyll Thou shalt demande him sayd he if thou shalt drinke that the ruyer coÌ„teyneth now thys present tyme â–ª or ellis all that that shal renne and come continuelly and I wote wel he shal saye that thou shal drinke al that it conteyneth now and whan he hath so said thou shalt saye to him that he stoppe and make the riuyer to staÌ„de without rennyng ony more that thou art redy to drinke hit that it holdeth now and thus thou shalt wynne thy cause ¶ Whan the maister herde the counseyll of his bondman he was moche recomforted And in like wyse on the mornÌ„ he said to him that had wonne the owche in thys wyse he escaped from the paryll and fro theÌ„ne forthon he afranchised legmon ande made him fre that a fore was bonde and thrall And he dyde and gaf him moche good and was reputed for right â–ª a wyseman ¶ And one of his
as the children whan they be borne in peyne entred into this world reioysse hem after whan they be grete fele the delices and eases therof In like wyse men be sorowfull whan they shal dye yet if they haue lyued wele they go after in to a 〈◊〉 world where they than shal resioysse them perpetually ¶ And another said As the goodenesse of wysemen goth eumore in a mending In like wyse goth the malices of the fooles euery day in empayring ¶ And another said If thou correcte a wysemaÌ„ he shal thanke the therfore if thou teche a foole he shal dyspreyse the ¶ And saide He ys thy verray frende that in thy necessite offerith him self alle his goodes vnto the And another saide the gouernour of a wyseman is pacience and the goueruour of a foole is pride And another said a man that is slowthfull in his werkis is coÌ„monely enuious of the we le of other men ¶ And another sayde It is goode toenquere twies of thinges vnknowen for the first question is of wille and the seconde is of discrecion And another saide trouth is goddes messager wherefore she must be worshipped for the loue of her maister ¶ And another said he that multiplieth hys temporall goodes dyminueth his espuÌ„alles And another saide thoos that byleue and drede god stedfastlye haue not delectacion but onely in him in his werkis ¶ And another saide the moost laudable werkis that one may doo is to obeye the maundemeÌ„tes pleaser of our lord god and the werke of the body Ioigned to the werke of the herte is more laudable than the werke of the herte onely ¶ And another said the euile creatures been wors than serpentes lyons or caraynes And in like wyse as vpon the erthe ther is nothing bettir than the goode creatures Right so ther is no thing wors than thoos that be wykked ¶ And another saide he that taketh vpon him higher astate than to him bilongith putteth grete peyn to be euill spoken of ¶ And a nother saide he that will haue reste in his lyf ought to kepe hym from iiij occasions the first is that he ought not to be wroth though som creature lyue whiche he wolde haue dede seconde is yf som dye whiche he wolde haue alyue thâ—… therde is yf he hath not that that he desireth and the fourthe is yf he see that fortune raise and bring vp somother of lower degre than he is ¶ And another saide to entermedle and dele litille with wordely werkis is a thing that may beste kepe a man from alle inconuenientis ¶ And another saide the more a wyseman is alone the greter is his Ioye be it day or nyght And another said the euil disposed king is like a caraygne þ t maketh the erth stenke aboute it the goode king is like the fayer reÌ„nyng ryuire that is prouffita ble to the creatures And another said The wysemeÌ„ ar nat content to prouffite onely them self but semblably do auaÌ„tage to other the fooles hurte not onely them self but rather take grete labour to hurte trouble other folkes And another said a foole for a litill thing exposeth him â—…ightly to fortune And said thou maiest not be so wele arrayed nor be seen as with trouth And another saide absteynyng from wrath and couetise is a laudable thing aswele in this worlde as in the other ¶ And another saide he that yeueth conseyle praysith it him self wold feyn be callid 〈◊〉 And another said lete not to do wele though thy good dedis ben not knowen for wele doyng is so goode of hit self that it shal be willable ynough to the attâ—… last And another sai de a man of goode discrecion ought not to excercise hym in thinges inpossible ne say thinges not willable â—…e spende more than his wynnyng is ne promette more than he may fullfille And another said a maÌ„ may haue but payne labour in thys world And said he that eteth not shal dye for hungre if he eteth more than ynough he shal be seke wherfor it is a difficile thing to a maÌ„ to be longe in helth And another seide trust him not that forswerith his feâ—…th for worldely thinges And another said Idelnesse engâ—…dreth ig norauÌ„ce ignorauÌ„ce engeÌ„dreth errour And another said thou shalt fiÌ„de eueri where clothing mete place for to dwelle in if thou be ought but that suffiseth the not þ t is to the necessarie thou shalt be subgect to couetise yet thou shalt lakke thy desir And another said In loÌ„g sleping is no ê“ffite but harme is to vse it a man ought to beware that he dispeÌ„de not half his lyf in Idelnesse And another said the goode soule wol haue no rest in this world than he that wol haue a goode soule ought to beware of to moche rest And another said beware of the coÌ„panye of a lyer in all thy werkis be they in grete auctorite or in smal And another said he that loueth the with feynt loue for wordely thingis shal hate the in like wyse but he that loueth the for the ê‘petuel we le shal growe eumore in thy loue And another said goune the so wele that thou kepe the from euil doing suffise the with the goode dedis that thou shalt do besyde And another sayd he that wil wite whethir his soule be noble clene or foule corrupt he ought to coÌ„sidere his disectacioÌ„ his coÌ„science if he delyteth him in doyng good vertues noble thiÌ„gis without harm than his soule is clene noble if he delyteth him in doing foule traÌ„sitorie thiÌ„ges of no value than his soule is foule for euery thing resioyeth with hies semblable the good with the goode the euil with the euill And another saide he is happy that goeth the right wey for he findeth soÌ„ner therby the place whedir he wold go he that gooth oute of his weye the more he gooth the ferther he is behinde And it was axid of a wyseman what was ê‘â—…aytte folye he ansuerd to think to com to a good astate ê“sperite by bad werkis to loue falshed hate trouth to take delecta cioÌ„ in richesses to trust euery man it was axid of him what is the signe of litil forsight litill knowlege he ansuerd one to yeue trust wher he hath ben deceyued And suffise you with þ e traÌ„slacioÌ„ of þ e sayngis of these philosopheres HEre endeth the book named the dictes or sayengis of the philosophres enprynted by me william Caxton at westmestre the yere of our lord M. CCCC Lxx vij Whiche book is late translated out of Frenshe into englyssh by the Noble and puissant lord Lord Antone Erle of Ryuyers lord of Scales of the I le of wyght Defendour and directour of the siege apostolique for our holy Fader the. Pope in this Royame of Englond and Gouernour of my lord Prince of wales And It is so that
at suche tyme as he had accomplysshid this sayd werke it liked him to sende it to me in certayn quayers to ouer see whiche forthwith I sawe fonde therin many grete notable wyse sayengis of the philosophres Acordyng vnto the bookes made in freÌ„she whiche I had ofte afore redd But certaynly I had seen none in englissh til that tyme ¶ And so afterward I cam vnto my sayde lord tolde him how I had red seen his book And that he had don a meritory dede in the labour of the translacion therof in to our englissh tunge wherin he had deseruid a singuler lawde thank ¶ Thenne my said lord desired me to ouersee it and where as I shold fynd faute to correcte it wherein I answerd vnto his lordship that I coude not amende it But yf I sholde so presume I myght apaire it For it was right wel connygly made and translated into right good and fayr englissh Not withstondyng he willed me to ouersee it shewid me dyuerce thinges whiche as him semed myght be left out as diuerce lettres missiues sent from Alisander to darius aristotle and eche to other which lettres were lityll appertinent vnto the dyctes and sayenges aforsayd for as moche as they specifye of other maters And also desired me that don to put the said booke in enprinte And thus obeyng hys request and comaundement I haue put me in deuoyr to ouersee this his sayd book and beholden as nygh as I coude howe It accordeth wyth thorigynal beyng in frensh ¶ And I finde nothyng discordaunt therin Sauf onely in the dyctes and sayengys of Socrates Wherin I fynde that my saide lord hath left out certayn and dyuerce conclusions towchyng wymen Wherof I meruaille that my sayd lord hath not wreton them ne what hath meuyd him so to do Ne what cause he hadde at that tyme. But I suppose that som fayre lady hath desired him to leue it out of his booke â–ª Or ellyes he was amerous on somme noble lady for whoo 's loue he wold not sette it in his book or ellis for the very affeccion loue and good wylle that he hath vnto alle ladyes and Gentylwomen he thought that Socrates spared the sothe ¶ And wrote of wymen more than trouthe whiche I can not thinke that so trewe a man so noble a Phylosophre as Socrates was sholde write other wyse than trouth For If he had made fawte in wryting of wymen He ought not ne sholde not be beleuyd in his other dictes and sayinges But I apperceyue that my sayd lord knoweth veryly that suche defautes ben not had ne founden in the wymen born and dwellyng in these partyes ne Regyons of the world Socrates was a Greke boren in a ferre Contre from hens Whyche contre ys alle of othere condycions than thys is ¶ And men and wymen of other nature than they ben heere in thys contre For I wote wel of what someuer condicion women ben in Grece the women of this contre ben right good wyse playsant humble discrete sobre chast obedyent to their husbon dis trewe secrete stedfast euer besy neuer ydle Attemperat in speking and vertuous in alle their werkis or atte leste sholde be so For which causes so euydent my sayd lord as I suppose thoughte it was not of necessite to sette in his book the saiengis of his Auctor socrates touchyng women But for as moche as I had comaÌ„dement of my said lord to correcte and amende where as I sholde fynde fawte and other fynde I none sauf that he hath lefte out these dictes saynges of the women of Grece Therfore in accomplishing his comaÌ„dement for as moche as I am not in certayn wheder it was in my lordis copye or not or ellis perauenture that the wynde had blowe ouer the leef at the tyme of trans lacion of his booke I purpose to wryte tho same saynges of that Greke Socrates whiche wrote of tho women of grece and nothyng of them of thys Royame whom I suppose he neuer knewe For yf he had I dar plainly saye that he wolde haue reserued them inespeciall in his sayd dictes Alway not presumyng to put sette them in my sayd lordes book but inthende aparte in the rehersayll of the werkis humbly requiryng all them that shall rede this lytyll rehersayll that yf they fynde ony faulte tarette it to Socrates and not to me whiche wryteth as here after foloweth SOcrates sayde That women ben thapparaylles to cacche men but they take none but them that wil be pouer or ellis them that knowe hem not And he sayd that ther is none so grete empeshement vnto a man as ignoraunce and women ¶ And he sawe a woman that bare fyre of whom he saide that the hotter bare the colder ¶ And he sawe a woman seke of whom he saide that the euyll restyth and dwellyth with the euill ¶ And he sawe a woman brought to the Iustyce and many other wymen folowed her wepyng of whom he sayde the euyll ben sory angry by cause the euyll shal perisshe And he sawe a Iong mayde that lerned to write of whom he saide that meÌ„ multiplied euyll vpon euyll ¶ And sayd that the Ignoraunce of a man is knowen in thre thynges That is to wete Whan he hath no thought to vse reason Whan he can not refrayne his couetises ¶ And whan he is gouerned by the conceill of wymen in that he knoweth that they knowe not ¶ And he saide vnto his discyples Wylle ye that I enseygne and teche you howe ye shal mowe escape from alle euille ¶ And they ansuerd ye And thenne he saide to them ¶ For what someuer thyng that it be kepe you and be wele ware that ye obeye not to wymen Who ansuerd to him agayn ¶ And what sayist thou by our good moders and of our susters He saide to hem Suffise you with that I haue sayde to you For alle ben semblable in malyce ¶ And he saide who someuer wyll acquere and gete science late him neuer put him in the gouernaunce of a woman And he sawe a woman that made her fresshe and gaye to whom he sayde Thou resemblest the fyre For the more wode is leyde to the fyre the more wole it brenne ¶ And the gretter is the hete ¶ And on a tyme one axid him what him semed of wymen ¶ He ansuerd That the wymen resemble vnto a Tre called Edelfla Whiche ys the fayrest tre to be holde and see that may be â–ª But within it is ful of venym And they saide to him and demanded wherfore he blamed so wymen and that he him self had not comen into this worlde ne none other men also with oute hem He ansuerd The woman is like vnto a Tre named Chassoygnet on whiche tre ther ben many thinges sharpe and pryckyng whiche hurte and pryek them that approche vnto hyt ¶ And yet neuerthelesse that same tre bringeth forth goode dates and swete And they demanded hym why he fled from the wymen ¶ And he ansuerde For as moche as I see them flee and eschewe the goode and comonly do euill ¶ And a woman sayde to him wylt thou haue ony other woman than me ¶ And he ansuerd to her â–ª Arte not thou ashamed toffre thy self to him that demandeth nor desireth the not LO these ben the dictes sayengis of the philosophre Socrates whiche he wrote in his book ¶ And certaynly he wrote no worse than a fore is rehersed And for asmoche as it is acordauÌ„t that his dyctes and sayengis shold be had as wel as others therfore I haue set te it in th ende of this booke â–ª And also somme ê‘sones perauenture that haue red thys booke in frensshe wold haue arette a grette defaulte in me that I had not do my deuoir in visiting ouerseyng of my lordes book acording to his desire And somme other also happely myght haue supposed that Socrates had wreton moche more ylle of women than here a fore is specified wherfore in satisfieng of all parties also for excuse of the saide socrates I haue sette these sayde dyctes sayengis a parte in th ende of this book to th entent that yf my sayd lord or ony other persone what someuer he or she be that shal rede or here it that If they be not well plesyd with alle that they wyth a penne race it out or ellys rente the leef oute of the booke Humbly requyryng and besechyng my sayd lord to take no displaysir on me so pre sumyng but to perdone where as he shal fynde faulte and that it plese hym to take the labour of thenpryntyng in gre thanke whiche gladly haue don my dyligence in thaccomplisshyng of his desire and comandement In whiche I am bounden so to do for the good reward that I haue resseyuyd of hys sayd lordship Whom I beseche Almyghty god tencrece and to contynue in his vertuous disposicion in thys world And after thys lyf to lyue euerlastyngly in heuen Amen Et sic est finis Thus endeth thys book of the dictes and notable wyse sayenges of the phylosophers late translated and drawen out of frenshe into our englisshe tonge by my forseide lord Th erle of Ryuers and lord Skales and by hys comandement sette in forme and emprynted in thys manere as ye maye here in thys booke see Whiche was fynisshed the xviij day of the moneth of Nouembre and the seuenteth yere of the regne of kyng Edward the. fourth