608 612 616 620 624 628 632 636 640 HUGH RHODES'S BOKE OF NURTURE. Some men to borrow euer loue, and neuer pay agayne: Euer needy still some be found, cannot long tyme indure: Such men do fayle, when they thinke themselues to be most sure; No heauynesse its to a man that nothing hath to lose; Great greefe to them that plenty hath, so sayth the common glose. If that thou spent past thy degree, thy stock thou soone shalt slake: Take heede betyme, so you may sleepe when other men doe wake. Past thy degree, couet thou not thy post for to mayntayne: Spend not thy goods to prodigallye, spend not thy store in vayne. Looke before thou leape, I wish; more ease thou mayst take: If that thou leape or thou doe looke, A mans wysdome is prooued playne To suffer wrong is vertue pure, fond fooles cannot doe so. Some men borrow but that must end in failure, which is no trouble to a man who has nothing. Don't spend more than your income, or too prodigally. Look before you leap. Take good counsel in your speech. Don't be angry with the friend who tells you your faults. Wise men can suffer wrong; fools can't. When occasyon comes, thy profyt take, tyme lasteth not for euer: Tyme flits away, thy welth augments as pleaseth God the giuer. If with thy mayster thou wilt speake, his leysure learne to see : It were contrary equitye that he should wayght for thee. Some men are euer borrowing found, wythout respect of tyme: They gape for their commoditye, giue them reliefe and fo[o]d. To speake the truth be bold and mylde, for that is very good; For fayned speech, and falshood vylde, becommeth vyllaines blood. Mocke thou no man, of what estate or calling that he be; For that is the custome of Churles To ill thy foe, doth get to thee 680 A Gentleman should mercy vse to set forth his natiuitye: He should be meeke and curteous, and full of humanitye. Pore men must be faythfull, and obedient in lyuing, Auoyding all rebellyon 684 and rygorous bloodshedding. Keepe grace and godly gouernaunce alwayes within thy mynde: 688 692 696 700 704 708 712 If thou be wanton in youth, vyce will raygn in age by kynde. Boast thou not of thy blood ne byrth, or great soueraignty : For thy good deedes, assure thy selfe, shall get thee fame and glory. To one vnknowne to thee, my friende, and play the blabs by kynde. but from such flye thou must. as wyse men seeme to say; Vtteraunce of counsayle maketh, some states to wayle and rew; A Gentleman is bound, by his birth, to be courteous. Poor men must be obedient. Use self-restraint, Don't boast of your high birth. Don't tell secrets to strangers, or trust those you don't know. Telling one's troubles eases the mind, but faithful friends will conceal their friends' grief. Keep your own counsel. [ Orig. Co tache] Be friendly with the faythfull man, one wight true and trusty. Fyrst seke a friend, then proue thou him. So shalt thou know in tyme of neede If case thou haue a trusty friend, chaunge him not for a new : They that trust vnto themselues, be no friendes faythfull true. Heare thou thy enimyes tale, I wishe, euen to the latter end; And refuse not the sweete rebuke, of him that is your friend. If giftts thou receyue of any wyght, giue somewhat, friend, agayne, estate and degree; Another tyme may happen he 752 756 760 764 768 772 776 780 784 Of secrete and close matters speake not, if thou wilt be sage: Talke discretelye, let not thy tongue go clack in an outrage. Honest men be euer content with such as they doe fynde; Take all thinges therfore in good part, vse thou a quyet mynde. Commaund not in another house, nor practyse to contende, So shalt thou be esteemed wyse, and men will thee commende. A man that is a niggard churle no tyme is lyberall : He commeth not of gentle blood that to his coyne is thrall. Sit thou not in the highest place, where the good man is present, : thou with graue aduysement. Regard honest condicions, friende, where ere thy steppes be bent, Or else some men with thee wyll not, In sport and play with man and wyfe, Suspect no counsayle if it be agaynst thee neuer moued: By foolish thoughts the wysest heads If thou come to a strange mans house, Ne yet presume thou not to farre, though he bee of thy kin. |