Die Burghsche Cato-paraphrase / [ed. Max Förster].

I. [Hh. IV. 12] , [fol. 29v]

Whan I aduertyse in my remembrance And see, how feele folk erre greuously In the way of vertuose gouernance, [ 3] I haf supposyd in my self, that I Aught to support and consell prudently Them to be full gloriose in lyuynge [ 6] And how they shall hem self to honour brynge.

II.

Therfore, my *leef childe, I shall teche the, [8 leef f. H HfE] Herkyn me well, the maner and the gyse How thyn soule inward shall acqueynted be With thewys good and vertue in all wyse. Rede and conceyue; for he is to dispise, [ 12] That redyth aye and *wot not, what is ment. [13 not wot H Hf, noot λ] Suche redyng is not elles but wynd dispent.

III. [H, fol. 30r]

Pray thy God and prayse hym with all thyn hert. [ 15] Fader and moder haf in reuerence;

Love them well. And be thow neuer to smert To here mennys counsell; but kepe the thens, [ 18] Till thow be clepyd. Be clene without offence. Salue gladly. To hym, that is more digne Than art thy-self, thow shalt thy place resigne. [ 21]

IV.

Drede thy maister. Thy *thynges loke thow kepe. [22 thyng H Ha Hc χ] Take hede to thy household. Loue aye thy wyfe. Plesaunt wordys out of thy mouthe shall crepe. [ 24] Be nat irouse. Kepe thy behest as lyfe. Be tempred with wyne and not to excessiue. Thy wyues word make non auctorite [ 27] In folye. Slepe no more than nedyth the.

V. [H, fol. 30v]

In goodly bokys whilome shalt thow rede; And that thow redyst, in thyn *mynd it shytt. [ 30] [30 mynd] hert H Hf E] Styre no wyght to wrath. Lye not, I the rede, Do well to good, and *that *will eft be quytt. [32 that will] thow shalt H] Be not wikkyd, ne to the wykkyd knytt. [ 33] Stond in the place of pletyng excersise. Deme the ryght. Be counseld of the wyse.

VI.

Play with a toppe; the dyse loke thow eschewe. [ 36] Despise not women; kepe them thy behest. Skorne neuer wreche; for than thow shalt it rewe. Couette no mannys *good. Spek few at fest. [ 39] [39 goodes H] Loke [*] thy vengeance be *alway with the lest. [40 loke aye H ‖ ay H Hf] Who *hath done the good, *haf in remembrance. [41 Who so haf H Hf E ‖ haf it H ν Hd] Love euery wyght, and thys shall the avaunce. [ 42]

VII. Lenvoye. [H, fol. 31r]

Behold, my maister, thys lityll tretyse, What it is full of wytt and sapience, Enforceth ȝow the mater to complise. [ 45] Thynk it is *translate at ȝowr reuerence. [46 translatyd H ν A υ] Enrolle it therfor in ȝowr aduertence. *Desyre *to know, what thys Catoun ment. [ 48] [48 Desyreth H ν Hf Fc ‖ to] for H, for to A υ] Whan ȝe it rede, lat not ȝowr hert be thens. Doth as thys saith with all ȝowr hoole entent. Explicit liber parui Catonis

VIII. [Rawl. C. 48] , [fol. 84r] [ I. 1]

For why that God is inwardli the witte [ 51] Off man and yeueth hym vndirstondyng, *As ditees seith, therfore shalt thou vnshitte [53 As] And τ] Thyn *herte to thyn souereyn lord and kyng. [ 54] [54 hert C] Pryncipalli *a-boue alle othir thyng, [55 a bouen C He] Yeuyng hym laude, honour and reuerence, Whiche hathe endued the with excellence. [ 57]

IX. [ I. 2]

A-wake, my childe, and love no *slogardye; [58 slogardrye C ν Hd] In muche sleep look thou neuer delite, Yiff thou purpose [*] to worship for to stye. [ 60] [60 the to τ σ, ye to Q] Long sleep and slouthe to vices men excite; It makith dulle, it makith vnparfite; It fostreth vp the filthes of the flessch; [ 63] It palith eek and wastith bloodis fressch.

X. [ I. 3]

Trist weel also: the first of vertuys alle Is to be stille and keep thi tonge in mewe. [ 66] Off tunge vnteied *muche harme may falle. [67 much C] And, leve me weel, this is as gospell trewe: Who can delaviaunce of woord eschewe [ 69] And reste with resoun, this is verray text, To God a-bove that man is aldir-next.

XI. [fol. 84v] [ I. 4]

Auyse the weel, that thou neuer trauerse [ 72] Thi owne sentence; for theroff risethe shame. Sey nat oon and eft the contrary reherse. Such repugnaunce wille make thy worship lame, [ 75] Wher stedefastnesse wil cause the good fame. For he shal neuer accorde with man on lyue, That with hymsilfe will ay repugne and stryve [ 78]

XII. [ I. 5]

Yiff thou aduertise and behold a-boute The liffe of men and ther maners also, Both of thi silf and othir the withoute, [ 81] In myddilerthe thou shalt *nat fynden, who [82 nat F A φ] f. d. übr.] That in summe parti ne is to vertu *fo. [ 83 fo] so τ E, fro ν] Blame no man therfore, iff thou do a-riht; [ 84] Sith on erth lakles lyueth ther no wiht.

XIII. [ I. 6]

Yiff thou suppose thynges shall noye and greeue, Thouh thei be der and of riht grete apprise, [ 87] Such as suffreth nat thi profette acheeue, Yiff thou list be reuled as the wise, Absteyne the from suich thynges in all wise; [ 90] For it is more wisdom in sothfastnesse To proferr profette than such richesse.

XIV. [fol. 85r] [ I. 7]

It is a good lessoun for the nones [ 93] A *wiht now to be tempred with constaunce [ 94 wht C] And to be glad and mery eft-soones, Nat alwey sad ne liht of contenaunce. [ 96] A mannys cheer may hym ful oft avaunce; For att eche tyme, as the thyng requyrith, So the wiseman viseageth and cheerith. [ 99]

XV. [ I. 8]

Yiff nat credence alwey to thy wiffe, That for hir ire and hir vnpacience With sharper tonge than is swerd or knyffe [ 102] Pleynyth on thi *seruaunt, thouh non offence [103 servauntis ϑ ν] Thou fynd in hym; leer weel this sentence. The wiffe wille hate and cause for to smerte [ 105] Oftyn hym, that hir housbonde loueth in herte.

XVI. [ I. 9]

And iff thou *warne a wiht of his surfette, [107 werne C] Althouh he gruchche with frownyng contenaunce [ 108] And in his language manace the and thrette, Yit forber nat for *al such displesaunce [110 al maner C Hc] To teche hym amende his gouernaunce. [ 111] As thou began, correcte that is a-mysse; For that is ay a freendli teche i-wisse.

XVII. [fol. 85v] [ I. 10]

Ageyns the wordy folk ay full of wynde [ 114] Stryue nat atte all; it may the nat profite. Such iayissh folk been in conceitis blynde. The witles word auaileth nat a myte. [ 117] In woordis fele is wisdom oft full lite. For to euery wiht is youen speche; And yit the wise full ofte been to seeche. [ 120]

XVIII. [ I. 11]

Love othir men and haue *hem so cheer, [121 hem] men C] That to thy silfe thy love may moste extende. Looke that no persone be to the mor deer [ 123] Than thyn estat; for than shaltt thou offende And hurte thy silfe and othir folk amende. But ay cherissh othir and love hem soo, [ 126] That to thi silffe thou be nat founden foo.

XIX. [ I. 12]

Rumours newe, that flyen as the wynde, Eschew, my child, with al thi dilligence. [ 129] Be neuer besy newe *tidinges *for to fynde; [130 tithendes C ‖ for f. C Q β] Such nouelte causeth *ofte offence. [131 often ϑ] It is no witt, it is no sapience, [ 132] It hurtith nat a man to be in pes; But it dothe harme to putt his tonge in pres.

XX. [fol. 86r] [ I. 13]

Make no promys of othir mennys heste. [ 135] Remembre weel, that promys is *vnsure; [136 vsure C] And but thou keep it, thi name thou sleste. To serue thi beheste do thou thy cure. [ 138] Trist nat the woord of euery creature. Sum mannys feithe is esy for to breke; For many folke thynke nat as thei speke. [ 141]

XXI. [ I. 14]

With woordis fair whan fauel fedith the, Be thou nat blent for his fals *flaterie. [143 flatri τ] Latt thyn owne reson alway thy iuge be. [ 144] And, in effecte, *if thyn estate be hyhe, [145 if] of C Hb] Thouh fauell with his craft wil blynd thyn ye, In al thy *lyfe thou neuer geue credence [ 147] [147 lyve C M] More *of thi silfe than to thy conscience. [148 of] to C]

XXII. [ I. 15]

Whan thou seest a-nothir mannys desert, As for his good deedis comendable, [ 150] In euery place, preuy and aperte, Such a wiht with thi good woord enable. And thouh thou haue be riht *available, [ 153] [153 vailable C H Fc] Yit of thi good deede make thou no bobbaunce, And than othir men shall thy name enhaunce.

XXIII. [fol. 86v] [ I. 16]

And thou lyve longe an olde man shall thou bee. [ 156] Age wille approche maugre alle that sey nay. Than perceyue, behold a-boute and see, How agid *folk been tretid euery day; [ 159] [159 folkis C, folkys Hb] And so to purveye for thy silfe assay. Into stoupyng age whan thou art crepte, Thyng may the helpe, that in youthe was kepte. [ 162]

XXIV. [ I. 17]

Charge nat, al-thouh sume mene speke softe, Ne chaunge no cheer; for oft it is weel bett In secrete wise to speke than crye on lofte. [ 165] A man shuld see alwey, wher he wer sette, And aftir that so schuld he speke or lette. But to the suspect of harme it seemeth [ 168] Men speke of hym; he noon othir demyth.

XXV. [ I. 18]

Whan fortune hathe youe the felicite And sette the on hihe, than war the of a falle; [ 171] Than sueth oft ful sharp aduersite. Fals fortune turnethe as a balle; [173 hinter as ein doth übergeschrieben (v. sp. H.), wie H R β lesen] In hir trost haue thou no sykirnesse att all. [ 174] Her perilous play turneth whilom to grame; The eend is woo, of that began with game.

XXVI. [fol. 87r] [ I. 19]

Our bretil liff is heer * so ful of doute, [ 177] [177 so f. α] That in verray surete *no wiht may stond. [178 no] ne C] So sodenly creepe the soulis oute Al a-boute this world in euery lond [ 180] Off yong and old; for euery wiht is bonde To dethe. Therfor sett nat thyn affiaunce In deth of hym, *that may survyue perchaunce. [ 183] [183 that] the C Hf ν λ, he F]

XXVII. [ I. 20]

A litil yift youen with good entent Off thi frend, that lith in pouerte, With riht good cheer such yifte take and hent, [ 186] Supposyng ay, that as good wille hath he And more than many men, that richer be. * Peise nat the yifte ne pondre nat the pris. [ 189] [189 Preise ϑ Hb Cp κ Hc G D Fc Ad] The entent is good, and *that may the suffice. [190 that f. C Fb]

XXVIII. [ I. 21]

Sith nature, that is the firste norice. Hath brouht the hidr all nakid and * al bare, [ 192] [192 al ² f. CM ν] Thouh thou neuer can richesse accomplice But thou arte hold alway in pouertis snare, Yit, no force, make neuer to muche care, [ 195] Take pacientli pouerte for the beste. Richesse is nat of nature, but of *conqueste. [197 coquest C]

XXIX. [fol. 87v] [ I. 22]

Thouh deth be fyne of euery creature, [ 198] And no wiht on lyue shall from *it escape, [199 it] him C Hb M Hc x φ] Yit dreede nat deth with ouer besy cure. To lyve in erthe than is but a iape, [ 201] Iff thou shalt aftir dethe so alway gape. Thynk weel to deye, but modifie thi thouht, Or *ellis to lyue auaileth the riht nouht. [ 204] [204 ell C]

XXX. [ I. 23]

For thi desert if no freende thanke the, I meen, whan thou haste don thi force and peyne To othir folk ful freendli for to bee, [ 207] Iff thei can nat to the grauntmercy seyne, Withdrawe thyn hand and so thi silfe restreyne. Blame nat *thy God for theer vnfreendlynesse, [ 210] [210 thyn C, f. A] But for such men do aftirwarde the lesse.

XXXI. [ I. 24]

Sith no richer man ne liveth any-wher, Yiff he *consume his *goodis alle and waste, [ 213] [213 cosume C ‖ good α Ad Fb] But that pouert shall greue hym sore and dere, Therfor, my child, such goodis as thou haste, Latt nat to soone out of thyn handis be *rafte. [ 216] [216 raste C] * Last *that thi good hereaftir wille the faill, [217 Last C, lese Hc, sonst lest ‖ than C M ν Fb χ, f. κ] Hold, that thou haste; it may the eft availl.

XXXII. [fol. 88r] [ I. 25]

Behote noman a thyng to leene hym twise [ 219] And faile hym; that is but a vilanye. Yiff thou may leende, do it in ffreendly wise. Such cheuysance wil freendlynesse bewrie. [ 222] Off thi good deed clamour nat ne crye. Be nat to wyndy nor of *wordes breeme, [224 woorde ϑ] Yif a good mann the list appeer and seeme. [ 225]

XXXIII. [ I. 26]

And yiff thou fynde the *sone of dowbilnesse, [226 sones α (sownes Hb)] The fals dissimulour if thou espie With peyntid woord and hert ful of falsnesse, [ 228] Thou maist in no wise better bleer his ye Than serue hym with his owne trecherie. For *woordis fair and freendlynesse no part [ 231] [231 woord C] Yeue thou the same and so aart *begyle with aart [232 begyle] begyled A ν κ Fc Ad, gylyd C H]

XXXIV. [ I. 27]

Preeve nat a man bi *ouer-peyntid speche. [233 ouer fair p. C] Undir fair woordis ys ofte couerid gyle. [ 234] The *woord is gay, but frenship is to seeche. [235 world α Fb] And as men sey, such craft is in this ile: Summe thynken harm, whan thei hir tonges file. [ 237] The whistlyng fouler maketh mery song, And yit briddis begilethe he a-mong.

XXXV. [fol. 88v] [ I. 28]

Whan that God hathe youen the children fele [ 240] And no richesse, than do thou in this wise: Teche thy children with *craftis for to dele, [242 craft τ, some crafte Hb] That with their aart thei may hemsilf cheuyse. [ 243] Yiff thou do thus, thou werkist as the wise. Craft is ful good, and craft is lucratyffe; By craft thei may deffende the nedy liffe. [ 246]

XXXVI. [ I. 29]

Haue this conceit; for it is often *seen, [247 seyn C Hb Cp D] Thynges deer shall ofte abate of prise, And thynges, that of litil valewe been, [ 249] In tyme comyng may to grete derthe a-rise. Remembre this and it *weel aduertise. [251 wille C Ad, wolle Hb M Hf, foll Fc] Thus shalt thou beste the name of chynchery fleme. [ 252] And othir men shall the no negard deeme.

XXXVII. [ I. 30]

A-vyse the weel, latte resoun be thy guyde, Whan othir folk thou art a-boute to blame, [ 255] That suche defaute in the be nat aspied; For if ther be, than *shalt thou haue the shame. [257 shall C] A manys honour such thynges will reclame. [ 258] It is ful foule, whan that a man will teche, Iff that *his deede a-yens his *woordis preche. [260 his ¹] is C Db Fc Ad ‖ woord C M]

XXXVIII. [fol. 89r] [ I. 31]

Loke thi desir be groundid in a riht [ 261] [261 a ist fortradiert in C] And that it neuer trauers honeste; For as oft-tymes, as any wiht Desirith more than riht or equite, [ 264] Than may his request repellid be. And it is clepid nycete and grete folye To asken oft thatt men will ay denye. [ 267]

XXXIX. [ I. 32]

Chaunge nat thi freende, that thow knowest of old, For any newe in trost, that thou shalt fynde Bettir than he; but in thyn handis hold [ 270] Hym, that hathe to the ffreendly been and kynde. Such eschaunges been ful *often blynde. [272 oft C] Thou weenest *to knowe *and yit knowist nat a deel. [ 273] [273 to f. τ ‖ and] at C] To know a freend it is a casuel.

XL. [ I. 33]

Sith manys liff is fulle of miserie, Whilom in mirthe and aftir in myscheef, [ 276] Now in the vale, now in the mont on hihe; Now man is poore and eft richesse releffe; The shynyng morwe hath ofte a stormy eve— [ 279] To *this policie take heed and entend: Look thou haue lucre in thi labours eende. [280 this] his C Fb]

XLI. [fol. 89v] [ I. 34]

Thouh thou may venquyssh and haue the victory [ 282] Off thi freend and felawe, yit forbere. Reffreyn thi silfe; be nat hawteyn ne to hihe. Irous hauntes ful oft men do dere, [ 285] Wher esy softnesse *freendis may conquere. [286 freend α (a freend H)] For bi good deedis, sett in lowlynesse, Men be to-gidre *knytt in freendlynesse. [ 288] [288 knyt] sett ϑ, brought Hb]

XLII. [ I. 35]

The lymytour, that visiteth the wyues, Is wise i-nouh. Of hym a man may leer To *yiuen *girdiles, pynnes and knyues. [ 291] [291 yiue girdils C] This craft is good; *thus dothe the celi freere: [292 this C Hb M He Ad, soo Fb Cp] Yiueth thynges smale for thynges, that been deer. Iff thou receyue, gif ay *sumwhat ageyn; [ 294] [294 summe thyng ϑ] And that wille *norissh *freendes deer certeyn. [295 norsshe τ Y ‖ freend C, thi frend F H]

XLIII. [ I. 36]

Toil nat ne stryve with hym, that is thi freende. Bewar of that: make nat thi freend thi foo. [ 297] A toilous man may frenship breke and sheende. Thes baratours, that beth mysreulid soo, Intrike *hemsilfe and *wrappe hem in much wo. [ 300] [300 hymsilfe C, themsilfe Q H Hb Cp ‖ wappe C] For ire of kynde engendrith nat but hate, Wher-as accorde *norisheth loue algate. [302 norsheth C, norshit F]

XLIV. [fol. 90r] [ I. 37]

Whan thi seruant thou takist in diffaute, [ 303] Thouh he cannat his necligence excuse, Yit in thyn ire make nat to fers assaute, But with thi maletalent a while take trewse; [ 306] Thow shalt fynde ese, this feet if thou vse: Reule thi passioun euer bi such mesure, That thou save hem, that be vndir thi cure. [ 309]

XLV. [ I. 38]

'Suffraunce dothe ese', was seid full yore a-goo. Suffre thou and haue al thyn entent. Thouh thou may ouercome, yit do nat soo. [ 312] Conquere thoruh suffraunce and be pacient, But to foul cruelte neuer consent; For it is clepid in vertu excellence [ 315] A wiht to lyue in humble pacience.

XLVI. [ I. 39]

Be nat to scant, be nat to prodigal. Conserue thy thyng goten with labour. [ 318] It is ful faire [*] to be said liberal, [319 for to τ Q] But eschew waste and be no surfetour. Consume nat al thy tresour in an hour. [ 321] Whan of thi labour riseth noon availle, Nedy pouerte must the ful soone assaille.

XLVII. [fol. 90v] [ I. 40]

Be nat like Sceuola [Wohl jener 'P. Scaeuola', welcher nach Macrobius, Saturnal. III, 13, 11 (ed. Eyssenhardt), an dem Schlemmerbankett des Pontifex Maximus Q. Metellus Pius teilnahm, welches Macrobius ausdrücklich als ein Beispiel von luxuria anführt.] ; for he wold ete [ 324] [324 seuola Hd χ, zeuola μ λ Fc Ad, zevola Pm, zeuela D, yeuola χ ν] With euery man and at his feest hym feede. But neuer wiht myht tasten of his mete; Noman to hym, but he to all men yeede. [ 327] Be fre of mete, but look that largesse leede The no ferther then thou may weel atteyne. Be thyn owne freend, thus seith Catoun certeyn. [ 330]

XLVIII. Lenvoye.

Take heed, sire, how holsumly this clerk Entretith men with vertuous doctrine, His firste part of this compendious werk, [ 333] In worschip how thei shal ful cleerly shyne, Gydyng to renoun streiht as any lyne; Whos preceptis obseruen if ye list [ 336] And to his good cownsel yowr herte *enclyne, [337 ecline C] Riht on your welthe full weel *it shal be wist. [338 shal it C H ν]

XLIX.

The vertues foure, that men shoold foorth conveie [ 339] Loo in this liff, as bridill dothe a beest, That man nat erre heer in this pereilous weye, Stablisshyng hym, as dothe a stedfast reest, [ 342] As sikir guydes, that been worthiest Mannys lyuyng to sette in gouernaunce, This sage Catoun ful wisely doth regest. [ 345] *Preentith his sawes in yowr remembraunce. [346 preetith C ‖ pars prima H σ] f. C u. a.]

Explicit *pars prima.