The A B C of Aristotle. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.D., page 30, written without breaks.]
Who-so wilneþ to be wijs, & worschip desiriþ,
Lerne he oo lettir, & looke on anothir
Of þe .a. b. c. of aristotil: argue not aȝen þat:
It is councel for riȝt manye clerkis & knyȝtis a þousand,
Line 4
And eek it myȝte ameende a man ful ofte
For to leerne lore of oo lettir, & his lijf saue;
For to myche of ony þing was neuere holsum.
Line 8
Reede ofte on þis rolle, & rewle þou þer aftir;
Who-so be greued in his goost, gouerne him bettir;
Blame he not þe barn þat þis .a. b. c. made,
But wite he his wickid will & his werk aftir;
Line 12
It schal neuere greue a good man þouȝ þe gilti be meendid.
Now herkeneþ & heeriþ how y bigynne.
- A
- to amerose, to aunterose, ne argue not to myche. [page 31]
- B
- to bolde, ne to bisi, ne boorde not to large.
- C
- to curteis, to cruel, ne care not to sore.
- D
- to dul, ne to dreedful, ne drinke not to ofte.
- E
- to elenge, ne to excellent, ne to eernesful neiþer.
- F
- to fers, ne to famuler, but freendli of cheere.
- G
- to glad, ne to gloriose, & gelosie þou hate.
