man said It were danÌ„gerous to me if they knowe me ¶ And socrates said It were the better for me If y were knowen by them ¶ And said a wyseman ought to vse hys dayes in one of these two maneres that is â–ª to seye in that that may cause hym to haue â–ª Ioye in thys world and in the other or in that that may cause him to haue goode name in this worlde And sai de this worlde is delectacion of an houre sorowe of many daies the other worlde is grete reste long ioye And said whosomeuer teche the one worde of sapience doth the more goode than if he gafe the of his golde And saide swere not by our lorde for no maner of lucre al be it thy cause be true for som wol thinke thou forswerest thy self And said take hede howe thou yeuest thy yeftes for som siÌ„ple folkes yeue to the vnnedy refuse hit to thoos that haue nede And said If thou wilt wynne a frende speke good of him for goode 〈◊〉 engendreth loue euill speche engendreth hatered And said a kyng ought to put from him al euil disposed â—…sones for the harme that they of his coÌ„panye do is reputed his dede And said he that erreth knoweth hit after 〈◊〉 him therof hath deseruid pardon And said he that â—…dleth to correct euery man causeth the moost part to hate him And said to a man that hadde reproued his linage If I be the worse for my linage as thou sayest thy linage is the worse for the ¶ And said he that seketh the delices of this worlde is like vnto him that seketh to drink zarab we nyng it were water renneth to drinke it till he be wery whan he cometh to hit he findeth no thing than he is more thristy than he was before for zarab is a myst in a medew whiche at somtime by reflection of the soÌ„ne semeth a water is none in dede And said a man hath neuer perfyte reste ioye in thys world â–ª for he can not al waye perseuere in delectacion possesse his winning oft hath trouble angwysshe aswele forlosse of his frendis as otherwyse And said the loue of thys world stoppeth mannes erres from hering sapience blynfildeth the eyen from seing trouth hit causeth also a man to be enuied kepeth him from doyng goode dedis And saide he that loueth vseth trouth hath moo greter seruauntis than a kyng And saide he is not free that byndeth him to another â–ª And said afferme no thing til thou knowe the trouth nor do no thyng â–ª but it be couenable nor begiÌ„ne no thing but yf thou se howe to bringe it to goode conclusion Ther was a riche man saide to him O socrates why art thou so poure To whom he ansuerd If thou knowest what is pouerte thou woltdeste haue more sorwe of thy pouerte than of myn ¶ And sayd It is a grete merueile to se a wyseman angry And sayd the deth is a thing that may not be es chewed ther ought none to drede hit but suche as haue comitted grete imquite and don litil iustice wherfore they shulde drede dampnacion for their demerites after their deth ¶ And said good deth is not to be dispised but to be magnified preysed for it makith traÌ„smutacion from the worlde of vnclennesse and shame to the world of worship from the world not durable to the worlde perpetuel â–ª from the world of folie and vaâ—…rites to the world of sapience reason and trouth ¶ And fro the worlde of traueile and peyne to the worlde of consolacion and reste ¶ And said It is merueile of him that dowteth to dye and doth thinges contrari to his saluacion And said deth is lyffe to him that knoweth to haue ioye after it ¶ And said he that liueth wele shal dye wose And said better it is worshipfull deth than shamefull lyfe And said deth is the rest of couetous people for the lenger they lyue the more multiplie their couetises so deth is they more coueÌ„ able for them than lyf for the deth of euil people is the we le and surete of the good Because they shall do nomore synne nor hurt to the people ¶ And said the lyf Iugeth inderectely amongis the dede ¶ And said one ought not to wepe for him that is slayne with out cause but for him that hath slayne him for he that sleeth vniuste ly dampneth him self ¶ And said he that dredeth eny thing ought to his power to be ware therof Also he that dowteth to haue peines for his synnes after his deth ought so to dele that he may escheue that parell ¶ And said whan thou wolt do eny thing loke for what occasion hit is And if thou seest the ende therof goode haste the conclusion and ellis resiste thy wil ¶ And saide bettir is to a man to liue harde than to borowe of him that reputeth his litil lones yeftes to be grete withoute cause wol think a man to be in his danger ¶ And saide take in no preisyng the lone or yeft of him that hath disworshipped the for the dishonour shame therof is more than the wynning He loued alwey to lerne wherof som rebuked him to whom he said the grettest shame that can come to an olde man is to be ignoraÌ„t he foÌ„ de a yong man that hadde folisshly spent wasted his substaÌ„ce was broght to suche pouerte that he was feyn to ete olyues to whom he saide if the olyues hadde be as goode to the at the begynnyng as they be nowe thou shuldest haue hadde yet largely of thy goodes ¶ And saide ther is noo difference bitwix agrete teller of tydyngis and a lyer ¶ And said the noblest thing that children may lerne is science for therby they eschewe to do euill werkis ¶ And said the gretest wynnyng that a man may haue is to gete a true freÌ„de he herde a man say that one was surer in keping his tunge than in moche speking â–ª for in moche laÌ„gage one may lightli erre To whom he said one ought not to vnder stande that in them that speke wele And said the proffit of silence is lesse than the prouffit of speche the harme of spe che is more than the harme of silence And saide one may knowe a wyseman by harkeÌ„yng holding his tuÌ„ge a maÌ„ may knowe a fole by his moche clateriÌ„ g And said he that wol not holde his peas til he be coÌ„streyned is to blame he that wil holde his peas til he be boden speke is to be preysed And said It is an ignorant thing to dispute in thingez that may not be vnderstande saide the meane is best in all thinges And said moche reÌ„nyng maketh moche werinesse saide if the witte of a man ouer maistrie not his frailte he shal sone be ouercome brought to nought And said he is abeest that
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
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
Richer than thou art for that littil that I haue contenteth me bettir than all the grete quantite that thou hast satisfieth the. I pray the stande out of my light and take not from me that that thou maist not yeue me we le qd alexsandir who shal bery the whan thou art ded He answerd he that wol not suffre the frenche of my careyn aboue the erthe ¶ And the sayde diogenes saide he is not parfitely goode that doth but onely absteyne him from euil dedis he sawe a Iong man of good and vertuouse disposicion whiche was euil visaged to whom he saide the goodenesse and vertues that be in the yeue beaute in thy face And som axed him whan it was tyme a man to ete He saide whan he hadde apetite and mete and if he hadde noon whan he myght gete it ¶ And said it is goode a man kepe hym from the gyle of his ennemy And the enuie of his frende ¶ And said right as a man appe reth greter in a myst than in a clere weder right so appereth more his vice in his Ire than in his pacience ¶ And said to alexsandre thinke not thou art the more worthy for thy beaute tresour and riche araye but onely for thy liberalite and goodenesse ¶ And sayd when thou dispreysest a vice in another man loke that thou vse hyâ—… not thy self And sayde whan thou seest adogge leue his maistre folo we the Dryue hym a waye for right so wil he leue the to go to another He sawe a man that prayed god to yeue hym sapience To whom he sayde thy peticion auayleth not with out first thou payne thy self to lerne it And saide of alle vertues of humanite the greter quantite therof is the bettir saue of wordes And said it is not honest to yeue praysing to a man of a thing that he hath not deserued He sawe a peyntour that was waxe a physicien to whom he saide thou knowest that men myght se at the eye the fawtes that thou didest in thy crafte â–ª but nowe they may not be perceyued for they ar hidde vnther the erthe And he sawe right a faire persone whiche was a foole and than he sayde ther is a fay re house and right an euyll hoste herborowed therin ¶ He sawe also afoole sitte in a wyndowe And he sayd Tlrr sittith astone vpon a stone ¶ One axed hym What was loue He sayde It was A sekenesse that grewe of Idelnesse and for lakke of vertuouse excercise ¶ One axed hym What was richesse He sayde Absteynyng from couetise ¶ The sayd Dyogenes was in a season seke and his frendis cam to vysite him Seyng dowte ye nat for your sekenesses come but of goddis wylle He ansuerd Therfore am I the more aferd ¶ He sawe an old man that dyede his heere 's ¶ To whom he sayde ¶ Thou maiste wel hyde thy whyte heere 's but nat thyn age ¶ And sayde It is more behooffull thou goo to the leche Than the leche to the. And semblably I seye it of the leche of the soule ¶ And sayde Dyogenes If thou wylt correcte eny man shewe it not by vyolence But as the surgyen doth to the seke that is to saye softely and pacient ly but and thou wilt correcte thy self dispose the as the hurt man doth to the leche It was axed hym howe a man myght kepe hym from ire he answered a man ought alle waye to haue in RemeÌ„brance that he can not at all tymes be serued but somtyme shal be feynÌ„ to do seruice and also hâ—…â—…ul not be alweye obeyde but at sumtyme he must obeye and he shal not at alle tymes be suffered in his wylle but at sumtyme he must suffre hauyng thys in his mynde it shulde appease hys Ire ¶ And ther come agester a fore Alexandre sittyng at his dyner whiche praÌ„ised hym outrageosely and diuerse herkened grâ—…etely ther to the said dyogenes began to ete faster than before som axed hym why he herkened not the feyre seyngis of the gester he an swered I do more prouffitably than to herken lesyngys what is shuche praysing worth whan he is neuer the better therfore ¶ And saide yf thou talke wyth astraunger speke not to moche til thou haue first made comparison by twene the connyng of his science and thyn and yf thou fynde thyn better than hys speke the boldelier and ellis holde thy peace and lerne at hym ¶ Dyuers dylicious persones blamed hym of hys manere of leuyng and he said it lieth wele in my power yf me lyst to lyue after your guise but it is not in your power to lyue after my maner ¶ And it was tolde hym that certayn persones hadde saide euyll of hym in hys absence he answered it shal not hurte me though a man strike at me and touche me not ¶ And sayd it is a churlissh condicion to answere dishonestely and a noble condicion to answere pacyently ¶ And sayd Ther is no greter tresour than Dyscrecion and wytte Nor greter pouerte than IgnorauÌ„ce Nor better frendeship than goode condicions nor bettere guyde than Is goode fortune ¶ Ande sayde Sekenesse Is the pry son of the body Ande sorowe Is the prison of thy soule ¶ Ther was a man of grete byrthe that re buked hym To whom he sayde My blode ande linage is enhaunsede by me ande thyn Is hurte ande lowed by the ¶ The sayde Dyogenes was of lytille speche ¶ And one asked hym Why he spake noo more He answered Ther was grete vertue in a mannys eeres ¶ Ther was a man sayde hym grete vylanye to whom he sayde No worde One asked hym Why he ansuerde not ¶ He sayde I coude do hym no greter dysworshyp than he doth hym selfe For he hath contrybued blame vnto him that hath not deserued it ¶ One asked hym How he shulde trouble hys ennemyes He answered Enforce thy self to be vertuous and goode ¶ And If thou wilt that thy goodenesse appere grete vnto straungers Repute them thy self to be litylle ¶ And sayd If thou yeue power to thy wyff one ly to trede vpon thy fote on the morowe she wold trede vpon thy hede ¶ And sayd Company of women Is an harme that can not be escheued ¶ And sayd He that doth good for the goodenesse of hyt onely ought not to drede byfore whom he doth hit nor for the praysing ne blame ther of One asked him whan he shulde knowe his frende he said in necessite for in prosperite euery man is frendely Ther was another man said vilanye vnto hym wher at he toke non angre It was asked hym why he was so pacient he aunswred other hath he said soth or lied yf he haue said trouth I ought not to be angry ande yet lesse if he haue liede he sawe a man clater so muche that ther cowde noo body make hym holde his peas to whom he saide frende thou hast ij eeres and but on tunge wherfor thou oughtest to herken double asmoche as
retrybucion the gyftes that be yeuen to the noghty people causen them but to aske more ¶ And said the wikkidenesse foloweth after the wikked men and dispraiseth alle goodenesse like as the flye that setteth her vpon corrupt thinges and leueth the swete flowres ¶ And said haste thou not to preyse eny thing vnto the tyme that thou knowest yf it be worthy for to be praysed or not ¶ And said that a wyseman ought not to exalte hym self by fore the vnconnyng but meke hym and thanke god that it hath pleased hym to exalte hym in grace and put peyne to bringe hym out of his Ignorance in the waye of rightwysenesse cortesie for if he shulde rebuke him shamefully it shulde be cruelte to istructe him easely is courteysie And said that ij disputers disputing arguyng for to haue knowlech of the trouth of a thiÌ„g haue no cause to be wroth to gidre for their questyon falleth to oo conclusion but if the one thinketh for to conquere the other they may haue lightely hatered to gider for as moche as ich of them wolle brige his felawe to his owne entente so to subdue his opynion And said whan thou wilt borowe or axe eny thing of ony man if it be refused the thou ought to be more asha med of thin askyng than he of his refus And said he that can not nor will gouerne him self is not able to gouerne many other And said a wyseman ought to aske curteyse ly mekely with fewe wordis like as the leche that dâ—…aweth more bloode of a man mekely wythout noyse than doth the sincerolle that pryeketh faster maketh more noyse And said a maÌ„ of feble courage annoyeth him lightly of that he loueth ¶ And said enforce thy self to knowe god drede him peyne the for to knowe thy self to teche other and rather to do so than to besy the in thin other daily occupacions And said Desire no thing of god but that is prouffitable but desire of him the good that is durable loue not simply the goode lyff here but principally the good ende And said he is vnhappy that coÌ„tinueth in his malice thinketh not on his ende ¶ And saide reken not thy gettyng in thynges that been from the ne cary not to do for them that haue don for the. tille they aske the the recompense ¶ And sayd He is not verry wyse that gladdeth or reioysed him in wordely prosperitees and is troubled in ad uersitees ¶ And said the filth of wordely witte is knowen in moche speche ¶ And said first thinke afterward speke than execute for thinges chaunge lightly ¶ And said angre the not sodeynly for if thou acustume it it woll tourne ones to thy harmes ¶ And said If thou be will ling to yeue eny thing to eny nedy body tary not till to mo rouwe for thou knowest not what may befall to the. And yeue to him that may not labour ne gete his liuing And said be not wyse onely in seyng but in dedes for the speche wasteth in the world and the sapience of dedis is prouffita ble in the euer lasting world And said our lord accepteth him for noble that doth goode werkis though he be peasible of fewe wordes and reputeth for euill the praieres sacrifices that ben doon by euill people ¶ And said If thou laboure to doo goode thou shalt therfore suffre no peyn for if thou hast difectacion to do synne thy dilectacion shall va nishe and be none and thy synne shal abide euer with the And said haue in mynde the daye that thou shal be called to thy IugemeÌ„t thou shalt here nothing than thy clatteryng toung shal be still the thought shal faile the thyn eâ—…n shal be derke and thyn humanite shal be coÌ„sumed in to the erthe and thy witte so corrupt that thou shalt haue no power to fele the stenche of thy body nor howe the wormes shal suke thy roten kareyn Also haue in mynde the plaor wher thou shalt goo the lordis and the seruauntis shal be alle like in the sayd place and that ther may nother fren de ne foo hurt nor helpe the. ¶ And therfore serâ—…e good sciences and disciplyne for thou shalt not knowe whan thy departyng out of thys world shal be and yet be certayn that a mongis all the yeftes of god sopience is the moost exellent she yeueth goodenesse to the good peple pardonneth to the wikked their wikkednesses thinke haue in thy mynde coÌ„tinually that thou haste a de trust not in eny thingis of thys moeuaeble world be wele ware that thou do no foule dedis for no delectacion nor wiÌ„ningis be ware that for the variable plaisauÌ„ces of thys wikked world thou lese not the ioyfull euerlasting blysse ¶ And saide loue sapience vnderstande herken the wysemen be obeyssant to thy lorde werke not but in due tyme. yet taâ—… hede howe thou shalt do it loke that thou say no worde vnconuenient be not prowde for no richesses ne despeire the not for no euyl fortunes be wele disposed to all peple dispray se no man for his mekenesse ¶ And said that thou reputeste no vice in thy self blame not another though he doth it thou ought not to desire to be preysed of vertues that be not in the ne do no suche thing that thou woldeste blame or disprayse another if he did it Thou must do suche thingis as ben good couenable though they be forboden the And sayd Awyseman ought to repute his errour grete his good dedis litill ¶ And said afolye ys to cut the vynes take awey the euil branches therof to leue wythin our self the couetises other wikkidnesse And saide like as we kepe our self from the multitude of metes for the helth of our body we ought to by as grete reason to abstein vs from vices for the saluacion of our soules And said he that addeth to his gentilnesse noblesse wyth good maners and condicions is worthy to be praysed ¶ And that he taketh and suffiseth him onely with the gentilnesse that co meth to him by hys kynred withoute purchassing eny other vertues ought not to be called good nor to be holde noble ¶ And said if thou fele thy self more true to the kyng than other ben and that thy wagis ben like to theires or lesse yet thou ought not to compleyne therof for thin ar lasting and so ar not theires And said If eny haue enuie at the and by enuie saith euill of the Sette not therby and thou shalt haue peas with hym for he seketh not but for to haue noyse with the And said men ought to kepe wele their halidayes that is to witte principally from euill doyng ¶ And said the more that thou art exalted in high astate the more thou ought to be meke and curteise to the people to the ende that their loue may abyde with
yf thou be in errour thou canst neuer gouerne hem wele for a pouer mā can not make another riche he that is disworshipped can not worship another he that is right feble may not helpe another so may not goodely ne wese eny man directe another but if he directe him self first And therfore if thou woll take of the filthes from other clense thy self first or ellis thou shalt be as the leche that is seke can not hele him self and traueileth to hele other that haue the same sekenesse ¶ And sayd It is a grete a vancement to the people to haue a right wys kyng ¶ And It is a grete corrupcion vnto theym to haue a corrupt and mysruled kyng ¶ And saide kepe the fro couetise for thou oughtest to thynk and remembre wele that It is not laudable thyng to haue richesses in thys worlde and shame in the other seyng that this worl de is no more but onely abaytyng place for to go to the other worlde ¶ And said If thou wol be riche suffise the with suche as thou hast for he that hath not suffisaunce can neuer be riche what goodes that euer he hath ¶ And sayd If it were so that by euill doyng It shulde fortune the to ha ue som good by wele doyng to haue som harme yet eschewe the euill orellis thou shalt be deceyued atte last euir do wele atte last thou shalt be remunered therfore And said suche thing as thou praysis vpon thy self blame it not vpon another and do nothing to other but as thou wolde sé it wer don to the refrayn thyn owne wille hate not other men be not enuious and haue him not in Indignacion that hath offenseth the for no man can somtyme esche we errour be not couetous for couetise lettith the mānes reason taketh aweye the knowlege of trouth do not vncouenable werkis take compaynie with wyse men and studie in their bookis fle lesinges for the lyers lyeth not but for vnkno wing of reason of her saules the lest harme that can fall to alyer is that noo man bileueth him of nothing that be saith neuertheles a man may bettir be ware of a theffe than of alyer ¶ And said the hertis of good people accorden togiders like as renning watre with the watre of the see the hertis of euil people can not lightly accorde al be it that thei be togidres as the vnreasonable bestes that playe lepe togidre sodaynly falle to fighting ¶ And said ordeigne that your offices and auctoritees ben yeuen to them that lo ueth foloweth trouth right wysnes and cause them to haue rigorous peynes þ t ben harmedoers loueth falshode decepcion And said If ye haue do wte in eny thing counseile you to wysemē if thei dispraise you therof be ye neu wroth therfore ▪ and yf a man hath som vice beside that hath many vertues ye ought not therfore to lete to aske him cōseile And said many man shal both lette and trouble them that can not helpe hym And saide Iustice is a mesure the whi che god hath ordeigned vpon the erthe by the whiche the fe ble is defended from the myghty and the true from the vn true ¶ And saide the wyseman knoweth what ignorance is in asmoche as somtyme he hath ben ignorant but the ignorant was neuer wyse therfore he knoweth not what is wysedom ¶ And said to Alexandre ther be may litil besinesses in thy Royame many grete generall if thou ye ue pouer to eny persone vpon the grete thy self to occupie the litil thou shalt wele witte perceyue that grete domage shul therby fal to the in tyme comyng if it falle not sonner And said liberalite is to yeue to nedi peple or to him þ t hath deserued it so that the gift be after the possibilite of the yeuer for he that yeueth ouer reason ought to be called a waster not liberal And said sapiēce is the defense of the soule myrrour of reason wherfore he is right blessid þ t traueilleth to haue her for she is the fōdemēt the roote of al noble dedes laudable thingis by her we may winne the good en de and kepe vs from peyne euerlastyng And said O alex andre if thou vse thy pouoir and lordship other wyse than thou oughtest to do thou shalt be enuied of enuie shal com lesingis of lesingis shal com Iniustice ennemytee of In iustice and ennemyte shal com bataile and by batayll the lawe shal be perisshed the people hurt and thy possessions lost ¶ But yf thou vse thy lordship as thou oughteste to do trouth shall encresse in thy Royaume of trouth shall come Iustice of Iustice loue of loue grete yeftis su retie by the whiche the lawe the people and thy good shal be maynteyned encrece ¶ And said he that maketh his Royaume seruaunt to the lawe shal reigne he that taketh put out the lawe from the royame shal not reigne And said A kyng ought to be of goode strong courage to remēbre wele the ende of the werkis to be courtoys fre to refrayn his wrath wher it apparteigneth and shewe hit where it nedeth to kepe him from couetise to be true to gouerne him as nygh as he may after his good predecessours to yeue to his men as they haue deserued to deffende kepe the lawe the feith euir to do wele after his might yf the strength of his body faile him thenne to kepe the might of his corage by the whiche he shal be the more assured in al his nedis And said the kyng that gouerneth him his roaume wele by his wysdom Is worthy to be greetly praised lauded ¶ And said to Alexander seche to wynne the ri chesses that be not trāsitories the lyf that is not moeuable the kingdoō that can not be taken aweye from the the euer lasting Ioye be piteful but not somoche that thou stāde in daungir therby do pugnicion Iustice to thaim that haue deserued it without delay trauaille the to fortiffie the lawe for in that is the loue drede of god whan thou shalt be cōpelled to take vēgeaunse of thyn ēnemy put it not ouer til another daye for the fortune cōdicions of this worlde in oeue chaunge of tētymes sodaynely ¶ And said thou ought not to hate him that saith the sothe nor to chide him that kepeth the feithe but he that shal do cōtrarie to the feith be thou his ēnemy with al the pouer of thy reame and said It is bettir that thou correcte thy self and amende the after the exemple of thy predecessours than thy successours shulde amende him aftir the exemple of the ¶ And said worshippe the goode men therby thou shalt haue the loue of the people and sette not all thy will in this world in the
ther cam none to complayne vnto him ¶ And therfore he wolde not that day sholde be put in the nombre of the dayes of his regne ¶ And whan he was redy to fyghte with kyng daire it was told him that the same daire had with him more than ccc M. good fyghting men wherto he ansuerd and said a goode cooke ought neuer to be abasshed to see in his kechyn many sâ—…eep among other bestis ¶ And the patryarkes prâ—…lates that were for that tyme cam and said to him God hath yeue to the lordship vpon many royames regions and contreeâ—… to thentente that thou sholdest haue many children begoten of thy body for to haue the succession of the same after thy deth and therfore it were good that thou sholdest â—…aue ma ny wyues ¶ Tho whom he ansuerd that it shold torne him to grete ashame that had ouercome alle the mightyest men of the world for to be disconfited by women ¶ Ther cam to him a pouer man wel and wysely spekyng whiche was pourly arayed ¶ To whom Alexander sayd I haue meruaylle that thy clothyng is not after thy spechâ—… For ther is bytwene them grete difference Thenne the pour maÌ„ sayd O myghty kynge I may self lerne to speke and to haue reason with me and ye maye resonably clothe me thenne Alexander made him to be clothd with one of his best gownes Also ther passed a theef byfore alexaÌ„dre that was goyng to be hanged whiche saide O worthy king saue my lyf for I repente me sore of my mysdedes Thenne Alexander comanded that he sholde be hanged whyle he had goode repentaunce ¶ Also vpon a tyme one axed of him x. pieces of goold To whom Alexander said thou art not worthy to haue so moche ¶ And he saide to him ayen Syr if I am not worthy to haue so moche yet ar ye able to yeue it me ¶ And alexander axid of Aristotle what thing a good and a manly king ought conttnuelly doo ¶ And he ansuerd that he ought to thynke euery nyght to the goode gouernaunce of his people the day folowing to put it in effect ¶ And it was axid of him what thing was moost delectable in conquering of landes and of contrees And he saide the mooste delectacion was to gyue largely and recom pense them that haue doone hym good seruise ¶ And he axid of Aristotle by what mene he shold be counceilled And he ansuered and saide Ordeine vpon the gouernemeÌ„t of thy houshold hym that hath many seruauÌ„tes can wele rule and gouerne them make hym thy ê“curour and receyuour of thy money that hath grete liuelode and spendeth discretly and notably ¶ And a Patriarke axid of hym what he wolde do with so many men as he had And he an suerd I that am lord of them that ben grete and myghty lordes may wel forbere to be lord of their seruauntis And ther cam two men before him differeÌ„t of opinions to whom he said the senteÌ„ce that shal plese that one shal displese that othir therfor coÌ„sente ye to the trouth that shal plese you bothe ¶ And it was axid of hym why he worshippid more his mastir than his fadre And he ansuerd for as moch as I haue of my maister euerlasting lyf And I haue of my fader lyf but for a certayn tyme ¶ And whan dares dough ters were taken it was tolde him that they were right fayre and therfore he wolde not see them feeryng to haue don ony dishonest thinges sayng that grete dishonour were vnto him that had oucome so many notable manly men in the bataylles yf he shold be oucomen by women beyng in his prysons ¶ And it bifelle that one made a longe sermon byfore him whiche noyed moche to alexaÌ„der wherfâ—…re he sayde the predicacion is not to be lawded that endureth ouer the power of the herkeners but that is good that endureth after the possibilite of them that hereth it ¶ And it was axid of him how men myght acquyere the loue of other men he aÌ„s uerd in doyng hem good or els atte leste in doyng hem no ne harme And said men soÌ„me tyme throue better by theyr ennemyes than by their frendes ¶ And it was axid of him how he myght be so mighty consideryng that he was so yong of age And he said for as moche as I haue tranaylled tacquere frendys yeuen to myn ennemyes and by thys maner I haue power vpon hem alle ¶ And said it is a grete losse to a man to lose his frendis and more than to lese his sone or his tresour ¶ And said the frendes that be acqnerid by good dedes ben better than tho that ben acqÌ„rid by force ¶ And vpon a tyme as alexander wente to sporte him priuely certayn men beyng at a wyndow keste wa ter vpon him wenyng that he had ben one of their felaws whan they sawe þ t it was alexaÌ„der they were gretely aferd alexaÌ„der badde hem be not aferd sayng þ t they had weted no ne but him þ t they thought to wete as aristotle taught many kynges sones with Alexander he axed ones of one of hem what shal thou gyue me whan thou shalt be a kyng The whiche said I shal make the my grete gouernour in like wyse he axid of another whiche saide I shal yeue to the half my royame And thenne he axid of alexander whiche ansuerd him thus Maistre enquere of me not this day vp on that that I haue to do to morowe for whan I shal see that I neuer sawe I shal thinke that I neuer thoughte but if I regne as thou sayst I shal thenne do as thou shalt see and thinke to be couenable And theÌ„ne Aristotle saide to him Certaynly I wote wel that thou shalt be a grete a mighti kyng for thy face thy nature sheweth it so ¶ Alexander sayde to one that long had ben his lieutenauÌ„t had neuer rebuked him of no vice I am no thing pleased with thy seruice Why sire said his lieutenauÌ„t By cause saide Alex ander that I am a man as another erre haue erred ma ny a tyme sith thou cam in my seruice thou sawest neuer no fawte in me therfore thou art not suche as I ought to haue to be my lieutenauÌ„t for thou art not wyse and if thou hast seen knowen my fawtes and not corrected me therof Thou art not trewe to me And he said Reason letteth not to acquere science but slouth dispraysith it And somme axed of a wyse man called Nychomake what was the cau se that men obeyed so lightly to AlexaÌ„dre And he said by cause that he was vertuous that he hath wel kept Iustice he had ben of good coÌ„uersacion and of right excellent go uernement And there were two men whiche axed euerych of them to haue to his wyf the doughter of a riche man of whiche two one was riche and the
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
thoughtes be alway in him and thy wordes semblably for the spekyng and thinkyng in god surmouÌ„teth alle other wordes and thoughtes as he him self surmouÌ„teth alle other creatures And therfore men ought to obeye him notwithstonding ony other thing that they ben constreyned to Sone make thy orisons prayers duly to him for prayer is as a ship that is in the see for yf she be good she shal be sauf and all that ben therin And if she be euill she shal perisshe alle they that be therin And saide A man may lightly fynde his liuyng and his necessitees in this world which is of litill duryng as to vs creatures but a man sholde pour ueye him of thinges necessaries for to bere with him whan he shal departe hens ¶ And saide How may a man make another to chaunge his wille that can not refreme his owne will ¶ And said Good will ys one of the goodes wherof god is seruid And gladly to here thinges lowable is to him agreable And a curtoyse ansuer ought moche to be preysed ¶ If the behoueth to sende ony message or legacion sende a wyseman â–ª and if thou maist none finde goo thy self ¶ And said byleue not him that lyeth to the of another man for he shal lye in like wyse to another maÌ„ of the And saide it is more light to chauÌ„ge montaignes fro one place to another than for to make him vnderstaÌ„de that hath none entendement ¶ And said do not that of which thou sholdest haue shame to see another do it Two pacientis ben in thys worlde of whiche one is he that seeth endnreth paciently that he hateth that other is to refrayne his wil. Ther ben thre estates of men that ben knowen but in thre maners that is to witte the pacieÌ„t is not knou en but in his aduersite in his Ire The valyant man is not knowen but in warre And the frende is not knowen but in necessite ¶ Of alle other maners condicions the worst is a man to be suspecionous of his frende and to discouer thinges secrete to haue truste and affiaunce in euery man to speke ouermoche of thynges vnproffitable and to be in dauÌ„ger of euil peple for couetise of goodes tem porell ¶ And saide the thought is the myrrour of the man wherin he may beholde his beaute his filth ¶ And he saide beware kepe the for to be suspecoÌ„us for suspecion taketh a way the loue fro the peple Witte without doctrine is a tre without fruyte And said for to be Ioyous to salewe eue ry man gladli to be liberal in gyuyng receyuing to for gyue gladli his euil wil makeÌ„ a maÌ„ to belouid of eche body ANese the philosophre saith Whan men were olde Their vertues ben dispysed And the riche men ben more ferful than poure men ¶ And he said the noble deth is better than a vyle domynacion And said the moste and grettest ewre or happe of a man is to haue a good felawe nowe thenne accompanye the with good peple and thou shalt be one of them ¶ One of the grettest vylonyes iniquitees of the world is for to do vylonie vnto an impotent ê‘sone And said If thou hast don ony trespas or sinne repence the anon without abiding vnto the moren And he said thou oughtest to gyue him thanke that doth the good of what coÌ„dicion that he be of so that he do it liberally in good entente And said he may not knowe ne apperceyue many thingis that can not apperceyue ne knowe him self And said if thou wilt haue enduring loue with another put thy self in payne teÌ„forme him in goode maners said yf a king be iuste rightful he shal seygnorie be lord ouer the corages of his peple if he be otherwyse though he be named for th aire kyng yet wil they haue their corages SAcdarge saith that the werkes of this vnto another world ben guided by two thingis one is by science of whiche the soule is adressyd that other is bysenes of whiche the soule the body ben entreteigned knyâ—… And said men leue for to do moche harme euil whan they doubte fe re our lord and said noblesse of lignage is right couenable to receyue scieÌ„ce ThentencioÌ„ of the maÌ„ shold be for to refrai ne his corage from fylth foule thinges for the good lyf maketh the good renoÌ„me causeth a good ende he is right exesseÌ„t which is honourable in al his â—…isportes of whom the wytte surmonteth the Ire â–ª He saide late it suffise to the to be so wyse that thou caÌ„st do wel kepe the fro doyng euil Ther is nothing so euil vnto a man as to be euil enâ—…ctri ned and in especyall whan he is yssued of noble and good lignage And said for to conne science it is a right honourable prouffitable thing For by hir the goodes of this world and of that other ben goten A wyse man wil nothing haue of his prynce but that whiche he hath goten by sayng trouthe and by his good werkes ¶ And sayd he is a good lord that taketh vpon him payne to kepe his sugdttis in suche wyse as he kepeth his owen body and that he be not so rigorous and opressing that them behoueth to leue his lordship ¶ And that also he be not to them so debonayr that they dispyse his maundementis ¶ And he said the most curteys gyuer is he that gyueth without axing ¶ And saide In what someuer place thou be with thyn ennemye be it in disporte or other wyse make all way good wacche on thy self though so be thou be strenger than he and mightier yet laloure al way to make peas ¶ And sayd in like wyse as it is grete peyne to the body of a man to susteyne thing that is inpossible to him right so is it agreuous thing to a wyseman for to teche a foole ¶ And sayd A suspecious man may neuer haue good lyf And saide he is right Ignoraunt and vnkynde that can not gyue thankyng for the goodenesse that is don to him but yet he is more vnkynde that denyeth it to other ¶ And sayde He that demaundeth but reason is able to wynquysshe and ouercome his ennemye THesille saide Thou oughtest to lone bettir the Rude wordes that ben prouffitable and true than the swete wordis that ben of deceyte and flateringe Som men put venym in swete drinkis and the medicines that sonest heleth people aren byttre and of euille sauour And saide It is a foule thing to be so curious for the fedyng of the body that it hurteth bothe it the soule And saide as a shipman taketh not the see without he seth that he hath a couenable wynde no more shuld a man dispose him to ony maner werkis without that it were conuenable for the soule And said thou oughtest to do that that is most proufytable for the body and rather
that that is moost couenable for thy saule not to do the contrarye ¶ And said he that can wele conseille other ought to conseille wele hym self and haue remembraunce to the saluacion of hys saule for it is a grete vice to a man to worship helpe ano ther and disworship and hurt hym self ¶ And said as it bycometh euill a man that hath afoule vnclene body to be clothed with cloth of gold or with cloth of sylke right so it is afoule thing to haue grete beawte of body and of vysage and be full of euill werkys And said we ought by reason to kepe cleenly our bodyes we ar mor specyaly bounde to kepe honestly and wese that that yeueth vs know lege of our lord god that is the wysedom of the saule and not to hurte or ouercom it with meetes or drynkes And it was axid of him howe a man myght kepe him from Ire And he ansuerd in remembryng that it is inpossible he shulde al weye be obeyed but that he must somtyme obeye And that he shall not alwaye coÌ„maunde but he shal be coÌ„maunded And also that god seeth all thing yf he hath this in consideracion he shulde not longe be wroth and he sawe agrete fatte man to whom he saide thou paynes the sore to breke the wallis of thy pryson ¶ And said whan thou shalt correcte another shewe hit not like him that wold benge him of his ennemy but do as the phisician that cour toysely speketh to his pacient And whan thou shalt correcte thyself shewe the as the hurt man doth to hys leech SAint Gregorie seide Recomaunde to god the begynnyng the ende of al thy werkis And said studie and trauaylle to knowe alle thinges and reteyne and holde wyth the thoos that ben moost proffytable ¶ And saide pouerte is euyll but euill richesse moche worse And said be thou pacient and haue reason in thy wrath and lighte thy self wyth Sapience in stede of caÌ„del and presume not to be better than thou art but thinke thou art dedely Repute the for a strauÌ„ger thou shalt worshippe the straungers ¶ And saide whan thy ship shal be laden with grete transquillite than thou oughtest fere to be drowned ¶ And said men ought to receyue meryly alle that god sendeth hem ¶ And said the hattered of good men is better than the loue of euyl peple ¶ And sayd frequente and haunte the companyes of wysemen and not of the riche ¶ And saide dispraise not a litel of goode thin ges for they may gretely encresse and amende ¶ And said Endure paciently without takyng vengeauce GAlyen was one of the. viij leches Right excellent in medycine whiche were al. viij superlatyf aboue all other lechis of the whiche the first was Esculapyus The seconde Gorius The therde Myrius The four the Promenides The. v. platon The. vj. Esculapius the seconde The. vij Ypocras The. viij Galyen whiche had none like to him He was borne after the Incarnacion of oure lord ij C. yeres And he composed and made wese a iiij C. volumes of bookis among which therben viij that ben studyed in suche thinges as men desire to lerne of the art of medicine his fader was right diligent to put him to the scole spendid moche good vpon him sent hym in to the countre of Asie in the cite of Pargame Athenes Rome AlexaÌ„drie for to finde the best maistres And there he lerned physik geometrie gramayre and other sciencÌ„es And he lerned physik of a woman called cleopatre whyche taught hym many goode herbis And prouffitable to all manere of sekenesses And he dwelled long in Egipte for to knowe all thyse herbis ¶ And long after he deyed nygh the Cyte of Escam fast by the grene see in the marches of egypte And in his youthe he desired gretly to kno we the science demonstratiue And he was so enclyned to lerne hyt that whan he departed from the scole wyth other childeren his mynde was euer vpon that that hys mayster hadde taught hym wherof his felowes mokkyd hym And axed hym why he wolde not play and sporte hym with hem To whom he sayd I take as grete pleasaunce to recorde my lesson as ye do in your pleyes wher of hys said felawes hadde grete meruaylle ¶ And sayde that hys fader was happy to haue suche a childe and to put hym to the scole that so wele loued wysdom hys fader was a grete labourer his graunt fader was a souerayn maystre carpen ter and hys grauntsirs fader was an harper and meter of landes whiche is the science of geometrie Galyen was at Rome in the reigne of kyng Octauyen whiche reygned after Adrien and their he made a booke of anascomie and many other traityes Som sey that grete part of hys bookis were brent and among hem som of aristotilles bookys written with his hand of danagoras of Andromache and a booke that he hadde made of tryaâ—…les for venyms taught the kyng of grece to breke the hilles and felle the vallees and to make pleyne weyes in ther countres and edyfied Cytees and closed hem wyth bigge walles and also to make ryueres renne thorugh the townes ¶ And in other places where nede was And to do all other thinges that were to the commone proffyt ¶ And in thoos dayes they hadde more delectacion aud pleasaunce to the goode rule and gouernaunce of their lordship than to the ease pleasaunce of their owne bodyes And their hertis were moche sette to haue goode vnyuersitees scoles of grete clerkes And specially in physyke ¶ And also they ordeigned in euery Cuntre and region certayn folkis to gader herbes to breng them to the maistres of physyke for to preue them by experience ¶ And the same herbes thus approued were sent to the kinges closid and sealled with their sealles to th entent that they shulde not be chaunged and than the kynges ordeigned hem for seke folkis ¶ And the said Galyen sayd wysdom can not prouffit to a foole Ne wiâ—…e to him that vseth it not ¶ And sayd Heuynesse cometh of the thinges passed and thought of thinges to comme And Galyen was foure score yere and. vij whan he sayd that many grete lordes be Ignoraunte Whan they be more enclyned to haue fayre horsses and riche gownes and other Iewels than to wynne goode fame by good condicions ¶ And saide The physiciens were wont to haue lordship and to gouerne seke folkis and to cause them to do suche thinges as were most expedient and prouffitable for their helth and no seke man durst disobeye his physycien but shulde be compelled to obeye him wherfore they were the the soner recouered and hole ¶ And nowe the leches been subgettis to the seke folkis And be compelled to handylle hem easely and softely ¶ And to yeue hem swete drinckis thogh it auayleth hem but litill and ther fore is ther the more sekenesses and lenger vnhelth ¶ And
quenchith when the brondis be taken awey Also a dronken man can nat perceyue his droÌ„kenship til he be sobre after whan he seeth another dronken he knoweth therby in what was he was in ¶ Also the angred man retourned by his pacieÌ„ce seeth another angry may wele perceyue his owne defawtes ¶ And saide We see comonly women sonner angry than men the seke men rather than the hole the olde man lightlyer than the yonge wherfore it is to be thought that wrath cometh of feblenesse of courage And a maistre rebuked his clerck seyng holde thy peas bondemans sone And he ansuerd I am not the lesse worth for my kynne But thou art the wors for thy condicions ¶ And saide A wyseman ought to saye that that is coÌ„uenient somtyme to here that that is not to be said ¶ And saide ther is no thing that greueth somoche thy frende as to shewe him that thou hast him suspect And saide Companye dele so with the peple that they wissche after thy pÌ„sense whan thou art absent that they lament be waile thy deth a man wepte whan his sone was boren And it was axid of him why he wepte ought rather to be ioyefull And he ansuerd I wepe for my sone that goth nowe to warde his deth And it was axed of him what maner peple be leest behated And he ansuerd thoo that may nother helpe nor hurt that doth nother good nor harme for the euil peple hate the goode the goode hate the euil And saide Custume is harder to bre ke than nature And said ther ben ij maner of abstineÌ„ce One is with goode wyl the other by force whiche is not goode And a nother saide speke but prouffitable thinges nor ete no more than for thy sustynauÌ„ce seke to haue nothing but that is possible to be had ne compleyne the not of thy frendis take nonÌ„ vnhope of that that thou maist not amende Aske nothing of the couetous man teche that thou can yeue that thou hast haue pacience in thyn aduersitees Do to be written in thy seale or in thy signet bothe goode pe ple and bad shal ende beholde that sentence often And said Short remembraunce hastenesse of speche maketh many a tyme man fayle and erre in his Iugement And one Rebuked a wyseman To the whiche the wyseman saide Thou rebukes me nat of alle my vices And It was axid of him why he wolde haue no sone he ansuerd I had leuer be withoute for whan I beholde the grette loue that a maÌ„ hath to his chylde the grette peynes troubles he hath to bryng him vp and atte last must lese him that sorowe were more to me than the Ioye It was aduised one that was goyng in a ferre vyage that he shuld nat holde his Iurney lest he dyed therin ¶ And he ansuerd That deth is alle one to me be it in other Countrees or at home And It was axid of another what thing is not to be don though it be iuste trew And he ansuerd a man ought not to prayse him self of eny of hys goode dedis ¶ And saide It is somtyme good to spare the sothe for to yeue hope to his ennemyes to saue his frendis froÌ„ deth for trouth nedeth not alwayes be said ¶ And it was axid of him what thing was most delectable ¶ And he ansuerd helthe whiche is not sure to be kept long in one degre is moste diffycile ¶ And said A man that desireth to come to eny grete wele ought not to leue it though he atteyn not therto at the first but ought to continue his entreprise for it cometh at one tyme. that cometh nat at C. And saide the wyseman is not deceyued by flateringis deceyuable or swete wordes like as the snake whiche ys taken eten by the pecok in beholding the fayr fethres of his tayle And awitty prince may helpe him in his warres aswele with bad peple as with good in diuers maners ¶ And said If thou haâ—…e a man thou oughtest not therfore hate all his seruantes ¶ And said Though a man haue bought abooke It compelleth hym not to studye and rede therm Aud said Men ought to serue god in x. maneris that is to wytte to yelde him graces for the benefetes that he hath yeue hym to bere paciently hys aduersitees to speke trewly to paye all that he promytteth to Iuge right wysely to be temperate to do goode dedis after hys pouer or he be required to worschipe hys frendis to foryeue the fawtes of hys ennemyes to desire nor do ony thyng to ony man but as he wolde be don to ¶ And one was blamed bicause he hadde yeuen his siluer to an euylle persone beyng in ne cessiteâ—… ¶ And he said I haue not yeuen hym my siluer for hys badnes but by cause he was in necessite ¶ And saide excercite of diuers labours is helth and delectacion of the body ¶ And was axed him sithen whan he was waxed wyse And he ansuerd sithen the tyme that I began to disprayse and mystxyst my self he herde a man reherse lesingis and vntrewe wordes To whom he sayd If thou hardest another fey that thou sayest thou woldest not byleue him wherefore thou maeyst wel thynke noman bileueth the ¶ And Aristophanus sayd Victorie of worde is not victorie in dede but the veray victorie is in the werke And Anaxagoras sayde A good wyseman fereth not the deth for wysedom gouerneth hys wytte hys tonge hys voyce trouth gydeth his herte and his will pytie mercy ben his frendis seking of wysemen ben his fete his lordship is Iustyce his reigne is mesure his swerde is grace his wepen is peas his arowe is saluacion his knyghthode is the counseylle of wysemen his ornamentis ben strength his tresoure is discipline his loue is the companye of good peple his loue all his desir is to fle synne to serue loue god And saide A grette tresour is to haue frendis is a noble affection wherfore it is conuenient to cherisshe kepe hem wele to winne one by another as oon byrd draweth many moo into his company And a kyng axid of a wrse man whom he reputed able to be a good Iuge And he ans uerd He that is not deceyued by flateries þ t is not corrupt by yeftes is not deceyued for fawte of discrecion ¶ And another saide Sclandrers ben wors than theues for theues stele but the goodes sclandrers take distroye loue And another said worship yeuen without cause atte last tourneth to shame ¶ And another saide It were better to be in companye conuersaunt with a serpent than with an euil woman And saide one ought to doubte the subtilitees craftes of his ennemy if he be wyse and if â—…e be a fole thâ—… drede his folies And another said the most liberal in this worlde is he that reputeth for a grete
whiche thou maist not long abyde And saide worshippe sapience for tiffie it by good maistris disciples scolers worship hem paye for their expencis kepe hem of thy household aftir that thou shalt se they shal be prouffited sped in the scien ce And thou shalt fynde that grete prouffit worship shal come to the therfore ¶ And saide he is of bygge strong corage of good discrecion laudable feith that bereth pacientely all his aduersitees for a man can not be knowen in his prosperite ¶ And saide thou ought to thinke that the wekest of alle thyn ennemyes is stronger than thy selfe ¶ And said thou ought to cherisshe thy knyghtis thy yomanry to haue hem in as grete loue in tyme of peas as in tyme of werre for if thou sette litill by them in tyme of peas they shal forsake the whan thou shalt haue more ne de of hem And said the grettest prouffit that thou canst do in thy royame is to take aweye the wikkid peple to rewar de the goode And saide a man is of euyl coÌ„diciou that taketh no hede but to the vices fawtes of other in dispreysing of them ¶ And said worshipful deth is bettir than sha meful lyf And said the sapience of a man of lowe degre is worship the folie of him þ t is of high degre is a shame auarice is the thiÌ„g that taketh awey the name of gentilnesse And said the good priÌ„ce ought to goune the peple as his good predecessours haue don to loue cherisshe the good and true peple more than his tresour or other wordely goo des and to delite him in that that he hath rightwysly and not wrougfully ¶ And said no man ought to be ashamed to do Iustice for if the kyng be not iusticial he is not knig but he is violent and rapax ¶ And said the wikkid men obeye for drede and the goode for theire goodenesse ¶ And said men ought to do wele to the good people to chastise the wikkid by rigour ¶ And said wrath ought not to be to sharp ne to swete and he wrotte an epistyll to AlexaÌ„dre that the kynges been worshipped for iij. thinges that is to witte for instruction of good lawes for conquestes of lan des regions and for to peoplishe distroye desertes 〈◊〉 dernessis and he wrotte also to alexandre that he shulde not be willing to correcte all meÌ„nes fawâ—… to 〈◊〉 for it lieth not entierly in mannes pouer to kepâ—… him from doing euil therfore it is good somtyme to foryâ—…ue 〈◊〉 if it be so that of nede pugnicion must be don men ought to shewe that thei do it by coÌ„pulsion to amende pugâ—… the errours not in manere noâ—… by weye of 〈◊〉 he sawe a man that hadde his hand smytten of foâ—… thefâ—…e that he had don And he said for asmoche as that man had taken from other suche as was not his owne men haue taken froÌ„ him that that was his said thou maist not so we le cause thy peple to loue the as to cherisshe hem shewe hem right wysenesse if thou doost the contrary though thou hast the lordship of their bodies thou hast not the lordship of their her t is ne of their courages that shalt thou finde whan thou callest vpon their seruise at thy nede wherfore it is a grete daÌ„gier for aâ—…ing to do iniurie do make his peple hade him And said he is right happy that can chastise him self takiÌ„g exemple by other And said fortifie your soules with goode dedes departe you from couetises which distroyeth the feble corages ¶ Ther is nothyng that maketh a man lesse to be sette by than to preyse and boste him self of his good dedis And it was axed of him what is the cause that wysemen wol not be wrothe eny man wol teche hem And he ansuerd for asmoche as wysemeÌ„ knowen that scieÌ„ce is a right prouffitable thiÌ„g And said he that wol not nor can not do wele atte lest ought to kepe him from euil doing And said to his disciples loke that ye haue iiij eeres ij for to herkeÌ„e lerne sciencis proffitable thingis the other ij for your other wordely besinesses The moost profitable thing to the world is the deth of the euil peple And saide a man may not be so wele knowen as in grete auctorite And said in al thingis the lest quaÌ„tite is the lighter to bere sauf only in scieÌ„ces for he þ t hath moost therof the lightelyer may he bere it And it was axed of him what was the moost couenable thiÌ„g for a discrete man to haue And he ansuerd that that shulde abide with him if he wer ascapede out of a drowned ship in the see And said men ought to loue to lerne the best of the scieÌ„ces as the bees loue the swetest of the floures he had a noble worshipfull heritage of the which he lete otâ—…r haue the gouernance wold not go theder him self And it was axed him the cause And he ansuerd that he that oftenest goth to se his heritagis hath the mo displeasirs And said the tonge of a foole is the key of his secret And said to one that was slowthful wold not lerne sithen thou wol not take the peyne for to lerne thou shalt haue the peyne to be lewde vnconnyng And said kepe the from the feliship of him that knoweth not him self ¶ Tho that been dayly enclined vtterly disposed to vices may not encresse in good ne proffyte in science And saide if thou woll haban done to thy body alle his wil thou shalt be the worse both in helth in alle other thinges and atte last thy soule shal be dampned therfore He that is entierly enclined to do fornicacion may not be praysed ne come to good ende ¶ And said a mery man wol not lightly be wroth A liberal man may not wele be enuious ne a couetous man content with his richesse And said the man is preued tryed by his werkis as the gold by the fyer One of his disciples made to him an euill raport of one of his felawes to whom â—…e said I wol not beleue thyn euill wordis ayenst thy felawe nor I wol not beleue his euil wordes ayenst the And said like as the rayn may not proffite to the corne that is sawâ—… vpon the drye stones nomore can studieng auaile to afoole A mannes tonge sheweth his witte or his folie ¶ Experience ought to correcte a man and to helpe hym to liue wele And saide sapience maketh richesse to be faier hydeth po uerte It was axed of him what was fayer speking And he ansuerd to speke litille laudably to yeue reasonable answeres he wrote thus to aleraÌ„dre ye be a noble migh ty kyng more mighty than ye were shal encrece yf ye di