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

Die Burghsche Cato-Paraphrase.

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.

L. [ II, praef. 1-2]

Iff thou list, my child, setten thyn delite Off erthe for to knowe the tilthe and the cultur, [ 348]

And iff thou wilt be of knowlech perfit Whi summe is arable and summe is pasture, And whi summe is spreynt with floury pictur, [ 351] I conseil the to musen for a while In the laureat poete greete Virgile.

LI. [fol. 91r] [ II, praef. 3-4]

And forthermor, my chyld, if that thou list [ 354] The vertues of herbes for to discrive,— It may nowher in erthe bettir be wist, Which be consumyng and which be nutritive, [ 357] Which hote, which cold, which confortatyve,— Than reede Macere in his old ditee, Which tellith hem in propre qualite. [ 360]

LII, [ II, praef. 4-5]

And iff thou haue desirous fressh corage To heer of noble Romayns worthynesse, How that thei venquesshed them of Cartage [ 363] And many othir thoruh manly prowesse, Than reede Lucan; fful weel can he expresse, Who bar hym best in toun and eek in feeld, [ 366] And who dide merueillis vndir Martis sheeld.

LIII. [ II, praef. 6-7]

But he, that list of louers for to reede And in that wise hymsiluen so tauaunce, [ 369] As in that craft Naso can teche hym speede. Summe louyth song, sume harpe, lute and daunce, Summe othir dyvers thynges of plesaunce; [ 372] Summe louyth couertly and list nat been espied; Summe will be knowe; and *thus writith Ouyde. [374 this C Hb]

LIV. [fol. 91v] [ II, praef. 8-9]

But yit, my leeff child, iff in auentur [ 375] Thyn hert be youe to nomaner of such thyng, Or iff it be nat al to thyn plesure, That Virgil, Macer, Lucan and Naso bryng, [ 378] Yit that thou may be wise in thy lyuyng, Iff the list to yeue me audience, I shal shewe the doctryne of sapience. [ 381]

LV. [ II, praef. 10]

Therfore, my chyld, cum vnto me and leer, *And I shal the shew the verray *tresur [383 And f. C ‖ tresour ϑ χ Y Fc φ] Off sapience, if that the list to heer, [ 384] And how thou shalt in good estate endur And leede thi lyff aftir Goddis plesure. Therfore come neer and leer bi thys reedyng [ 387] To be a man vertuous in lyuyng.

LVI. [ II. 1]

Ther is no wiht [*], that ferther may reporte, [389 wiht on lyve C] Off thi good deedis, than the straunger may. [ 390]

Make hym good cheer and shew hym thy disport, And he shall vttir the, this is no nay; For *the vnknowe sumtyme to do assay. [ 393] [393 the] he τ, a man Hb] Freendis inowe to have *is bettir thyng [394 is] his C Db A] Than is freendles a man to been a kyng.

LVII. [fol. 92r] [ II. 2]

Off Goddis misterie and his werkyng [ 396] Make neuer, my child, to *ferre inquirance. [397 tofore τ] It is foli to muse vpon such thyng. Dispute neuer thi Goddis purueiaunce. [ 399] All thyng must be vndir his gouernaunce. Sith thou art man clad in mortalite, Dispute thou thynges such as mortal be. [ 402]

LVIII. [ II. 3]

The dreede of deth that is inordinat,— I meene, to dreed it ay and neuer cees. Bewar of that, I conceil the algate; [ 405] For this is as trewe as gospel *douteles. [406 doutles ϑ σ D] Who dreed it so, is alway merthelesse. Whan dreede of dethe a man so *aggreggithe, [ 408] [408 aggruggith C H Hb Cp A χ] It wastithe liff and his tyme abreggithe.

LIX. [ II. 4]

For *thyng, that is to the vncerteyne. [410 thyng f. ϑ (that F)] Whan thou art wrothe, look neuer þat þou stryve; [ 411] Thi passions esili withdrawe and refreyn. For ther is no persone in erth on lyve, But that vnresounles he is als blyue [ 414] As besy wrathe *hath *kyndled hym on fyre. [415 hath] had τ, hadde Fb ‖ kynled C Db, kenlid M] And than can he nat deeme the *trouthe for ire.

LX. [fol. 92v] [ II. 5]

As tyme requerith, so make thyn expence. [ 417] Mesure thyn hand aftir thyn proprite Off thynge, of tyme, and aftir the presence. See that thou spende nomor than nedith the. [ 420] And that to spende loke that thyn herte be fre. A man shold do cost and make his spendyng Considryng tyme and rewardyng the thyng. [ 423]

LXI. [ II. 6]

To much is nouht of any maner thyng. The meen is good and moste comendable. That man stant surest heer in his lyuyng, [ 426] With meen estat that halt hym greable. Plente and pouerte be nat suffrable. For than is the ship in the see moste sur, [ 429] *What tyme [*] the flode excedithe nat mesur. [430 Whan C Cp ‖ tyme that τ R Db Y, f. Cp Pc]

LXII. [ II. 7]

Iff thou knowe ouht, that may turne vnto shame, Keep it secre; for nothyng it *bewrye. [ 432] [432 bewreye C δ Ha A κ G Hc D Fc]

Be nat to besy such thynges to pro-clame And publissh, as thou knowest pryuye. Make nat all men [*] on it to gaur *and crye, [ 435] [435 out on it ϑ Hb ‖ and] or C, f. F] Lest mo deprave, whan thow thi woord hast sowe, That was before to othir folke vnknowe.

LXIII. [fol. 93r] [ II. 8]

Iff thou espie and see a *surfetour, [ 438] [438 suffetour C] A theeff, a shrew of much mysgouernaunce, Trist weel summe tyme that ther shal come an hour, Whan for his deede he shal suffre penaunce. [ 441] Cursed deede askith wrech and vengaunce. Thouh wikkydnesse for tyme be kept secre, Yitt att the laste will it discurid be. [ 444]

LXIV. [ II. 9]

Thouh that summe tyme natur hathe been vnkinde And youe a man to be of smal stature, Yit, my child, remembre and haue in mynde [ 447] That thou neuer dispise that creature. For God may sendde hym fortune and good vre, Als oft thei be with good counseil allied, [ 450] To whom that nature hathe grete *strength denyed. [451 strenth C Ad χ]

LXV. [ II. 10]

Whan the happithe trauers or [*] haue a-do [452 or to C ν] With oon thou knowist nat egal to thi myht, [ 453] Thyn vttrest powere shewe nat *such vnto, [454 such] a man α (þat man HB)] Lest that eft-soone he haue the in such pliht. For it is seen in turment and in *fiht: [ 456] [456 siht C] Fortune chaungethe ofte withynne an hour, And he is sconfet, that erst was victowr.

LXVI. [fol. 93v] [ II. 11]

Off brondis smale be maad thes fires grete. [ 459] Withdrawe *the brond, the fier shal eek discrees. [460 thi C Hb] A-gein the knowe, *that herr, loke thou nat bete [461 that] tha C Hb ‖ herr C, herre Hb, erre F, ar H, here Fc, heir R Ha, eyr A λ ν, ayr Db Cp, ayere M, eyre D, hyer ω (highere Ad), man κ] With woordis fele; *for woord distrobleth pes. [ 462] [462 woord for C] The man is wise, that can of *woordis cees. [463 woord τ] For this is sothe as God *yaf the thi liffe: [464 yeue τ Hb E, yeueth H Str. LXVII mit LXXXII vertauscht in α] Off woordis small is bred ful muche striffe. [ 465]

*LXVII. [ II. 12]

*Deele nat withe sorcerye ne with surquedrie. [466 Deyle τ, dwel Db] In Goddis hand is all thi sort and fate. Be nat a-boute to calkle thy distanye, [ 468] Iff thou be *myserous or ffortunate. [469 yrous C δ] Lat God allone; in hym is all thy state. And that hym list of the for to purpose, [ 471] Withoute the can he fulweel dispose.

LXVIII. [ II. 13]

Bewar of envye with hir techches fell. Withynne thyn herte looke that she nat reste. [ 474] For it is oon of the *peynis of helle. [475 peyns C] Whan she soiourneth in a mannys breste, Than *brennithe Fenix withynne his owne neste. [ 477] [477 bredithe α] And thouh she may non othir man *myscheeue, [478 mischeeff C, myschewe F] *Yit Ethna cesith nat hirsilfe to greue. [479 And yit C]

LXIX. [fol. 94r] [ II. 14]

Enforce thyn herte with manly sufferaunce, [ 480] Thouh wrong iugement a-yens the proceede. Be nat abassht in woord ne countenaunce; For the processour may reule and leede [ 483] The lawe; but trost me weel withouten dreede, Long to reioisshen acheueth he nate, Which bi menys vntrewe his goodis gate. [ 486]

LXX. [ II. 15]

Wraththe of olde, that shuld be oute of mynde, Be nat aboute to make it eft on lyue, But the envious hathe that tech of kynde. [ 489] Such malice, my childe, look thou nat revive; For such ire of old makithe a new stryve. And who that remembrithe old enmyte, [ 492] A wikkid man forsothe, my childe, is he.

LXXI. [ II. 16]

Thi silfe also looke that thou nat preise Ne dispreise, but lette othir men allone. [ 495] Alway aftir prudence thi *woordis peise. [496 woord ϑ E] For thyn avaunt honour shalt thou gete none, But haue a mokke as faste as thou arte gone. [ 498] A man to preise hymsilfe, as seithe the scoole, Or dispreise moche is token of a foole.

LXXII. [fol. 94v] [ II. 17]

Whan it is tyme of coste and grete expence, [ 501] Bewar of waste, and spend as bi mesure. Who that to keepe and spende no difference Makith, his goodis may nat longe endure. [ 504] The olde sawe seithe: Mesur is tresure. For in short tyme the good may *slippe a-waye, [506 shippe C] That was goten in many a sondry day. [ 507]

LXXIII. [ II. 18]

It is *no wisdam alway to be sage. [508 nat ϑ] But sumtyme to seeme nyce and feyn folye, Who that hathe this fet, shal fynde avauntage. [ 510] What tyme and thyng requerithe, that espie; And than dissimule, that is good policie. Summe tyme to be vnwise in apparence [ 513] Among the wise *is clepid ful hih prudence. [514 his C Ad]

LXXIV. [ II. 19]

The filthy flessh, in meuyng bestiall, That fihtithe ay a-yens the soule withynne [ 516] Bi force of hir entisment sensuall, Eschewe, my chyld, and keepe the from hir gynne. That and grace been sette ful ferr atwynne. [ 519] And fle of auerice the wikkid fame: Thes too it be, that causen euyl name.

LXXV. [fol. 95r] [ II. 20]

Beleve nat in every wihtis sawe; [ 522] For sume reporte thynges al othir wise Than it was don or any man it sawe. And sume have it of custum and of guyse [ 525] To feed folk withe flatrie and with lise. Yif litil trost therfor to suche spekyng; For many folk spekith many a thyng. [ 528]

LXXVI. [ II. 21]

Yff thou surfete in drynk for-yete nat that. Avyse the eft, thou come nat in that snare. Withdrawe thyn hand; feede nat thy throte so fatte; [ 531] Drynk, that suffisith the, and *elles spare. To much drynk makethe men of wit ful bare. [532 ell C Cx, els F Hf, elles übr.] And yit the wyne therof is nat to blame, [ 534] But the drynkere makithe hymsilfe lame.

LXXVII. [ II. 22]

To thi trosty freend, that is ay secre, Shew thi counseil; to hym thyn herte *bewry. [ 537] [537 bewreye C Hb G Hf D Fc] A trosty freend is [*] chest of pryuyte; [538 the chest τ R Hd χ, the cheef Fb, a ch. D] But it is hard such *freendes to espie. [539 freend C (es-Schleife vom Korr. 1 ange∣fügt) Fb, a frend F H R A] Trye oute oon a-mong a companye. [ 540] And of thy body betake thou the cure To suche a leche as is trosty and sure.

LXXVIII. [fol. 95v] [ II. 23]

Withynne thy silfe a-greve the nat to sore, [ 543] Thouh thyng amys sume tyme the betide; Dismay the nat in besy wise therfore. Thyn auenture thou muste needis a-bide; [ 546] Fortune may nat alwey be on thy side; With harmes to greve in a-waite lith she To reven men welthe and prosperite. [ 549]

LXXIX. [ II. 24]

In thi silffe compasse a-boute before Thyng to perceyue, that aftir schall befalle. It noieth nat nor greueth half so sore, [ 552] That is forseyn, as othir thynges shall. Sodeyn chauncis disesithe moste of all. It hurtithe lesse, and is in better pliht, [ 555] Wheroff beffore a man can haue insight. [556 aman C]

LXXX. [ II. 25]

Whan dyuers thynges trauers thyn entent, And thow art wrappid in aduersite, [ 558] War for wanhope thou be nat lost and shent. Latt nat dispeir thy witte bereuen the. A-bide the tyme, that she shall better be. [ 561] Hope is she, *that shal make the a sethe; [562 that f. C R ‖ aseth A He, seethe Hc, feith Hf] Hope leueth nat a man, thouh man leue the brethe.

LXXXI. [fol. 96r] [ II. 26]

Whan men profre, it is tyme to receyve. [ 564] Take thynges, whil thei be in seson. Thei profre now, that eft will yiftis weyue. Plente nowe will aftirward be gesoun. [ 567] Take in tyme; for so comaundithe resoun. The ballid hed, whilom full of heris, Now is bare withoute rasour or sheris. [ 570]

LXXXII. [ II. 27]

Prouyde thy silfe and haue delyueraunce, Be likly coniectur what may be-tide. Aduertise, my childe, in thi remembraunce [ 573] Affore and aftir, aboute in euery side. Follow God, and lat hym be thi guyde, That hathe al thyng in his gouerment, [ 576] Futur and passid and that, that is present.

LXXXIII. [ II. 28]

It is a tecche of a deuouryng hounde To receyue superflue and don excesse, [ 579] Til his receit a-geyn from hym rebounde. Contente thy nature and flee gredynesse. Foule lustis ay keepe vndir and represse. [ 582] Feed nat thi *lust with all, that she wil craue, [583 lustes C] Yff that in helthe thou lust thi body save.

LXXXIV. [fol. 96v] [ II. 29]

Whan a multitude hathe youen a decre [ 585] Or concludith ouht a-yens thyn entent, Trauers nat yit a-yens the comonte; For iff thou do, thou shalt lihtly be shent. [ 588] Dispise nat alone the peples iugement. In auenture thou plese of hem nat oon, Whil thou wilt impugne hem euerychon. [ 591]

LXXXV. [ II. 30]

Take good heed vnto thyn owne estate To reule thy body weel with good diete. But look with tyme thou be nat at debate, [ 594] Thouh thoruh thyn owne *mysreule and surffete [595 mysse τ R Fb (in C rewle vom Korr. 2 ergänzt)] Seeknesse or sorwe hathe *youen the an hete. [596 youe τ Hc, yeue R Db He Hd, yeuen H Ha E, gyven D, gyeve M, you Fc, ȝet Ad, f. Y] The tyme is good, and no dismale ther is, [ 597] But men it make, for that thei do amys.

LXXXVI. [ II. 31.]

Dreede no dremys, *so seithe Deutronomy, [599 so f. C] *Thouh thei be causid of compleccioun, [ 600] [600 thou C] Or ellis of any nyced fantasie, Or *of a superflue replecioun. [602 of f. C] For dremys be but fals illusioun. [ 603] Whan men be wakyng, thei desire or thynke; Vpon that thyng thei dreme, whan thei wynke.

LXXXVII. Lenvoye. [fol. 97r]

Musithe a while, what all thes maters meen. [ 606] A-bidith, sire, and go no ferther yitt. To reden hem, *auaileth not a been, [608 valeth C (davor a- vom Korr. 2), vayleth Hb ν χ, wailithe Ad] But iff a man the kernel wil *vnknitt. [ 609] [609 vnknett C χ] Therfore your mynde and al your hert *vnshitt [610 vnshett C χ] And *loke whatt lith vndir the boistous rynde. [611 lokith τ] And I dar say, of wisdom and of witt [ 612] Plente and foisoun therin shall ye fynde.

LXXXVIII.

Reffressheth you with this holsom diete, That fostreth vertue and keepith on lyue. [ 615] To your persone me thynkith it ful meete For to receyue such a nutrytive, Which your astate shal ay preserue on lyue [ 618] In grete honour and keepe yow fro noysaunce, Oute of daunger and vices infectyve, Yiff ye will werche aftir this ordynaunce. [ 621]

LXXXIX.

And in especiall looke, that your deede May bere trewe *wittenesse and testifie [623 wittenesy C] The mateer, that ye beholde and reede. [ 624] Looke with your herte as weel as with your eye. Than, dar I say, sumwhat shall ye espye, That to this werk shall meven *your corage. [ 627] [627 your in C eingefügt von Korr. 2] Wherfor your hert, your eye and all applye, Your silf to reule aftir thes ditees sage.

Explicit secunda pars.

XC. [fol. 97v] [ III, praef. 1-2]

Behold, what wiht that listith for to reede [ 630] In this my ditee, somwhat shall *he fynde, [631 ye C δ M] Wherwith his soule he may fostre and feede With thewes good and it from vices vnbynde. [ 633] Come neer, my child, therfore and haue in mynde Suche doctryne to beer a-wey and leer, *As to thy liff shall be full leef and deer. [ 636] [636 as] and τ δ, as thou Hf]

XCI. [ III. 1]

The soule resemblith a new pleyn table, In which as yit apperith no picture, The filisophre seithe withouten fable. [ 639]

So is the soule but a dedly figure, Til the tyme she be recleymed with the lure Off doctryne and so gete hir a good habite [ 642] To bene expert in connyng and *parfite. [643 profite C mit Abkürzungsschleife für ro]

XCII. [ III, praef. 3-4]

Inprente my techyng in thy soule stedfaste; And ful profitable thou shalt it fynde. [ 645] Forsake it nat ne from thyne hert it caste; For iff that thou exclude oute of thy mynde This lessoun, thow art full bareyn and blynde [ 648] Fro vertu. And therof a-wite nat me, [649 a wyȝt Hb, atwyte H R, attwyte F, a wayt Hc, wyte A Cp x (wytt E) ν ζ, awyte σ He] Sith *the deffaute, my sone, is than in the. [650 thi CHb]

XCIII. [fol. 98r] [ III. 2]

Iff thou lyve iustly keepyng the vpriht, [ 651] Neuer declynyng for meed ne *for fauour, [652 for f. τ R Fb Y Cp γ] Than stondist thou in a ful holsum pliht, *Thouh men maligne with *woordes of *rygoure [ 654] [654 thou C ‖ woorde τ R ‖ rygourye C] Yff thou live thus thi good liff is thi tour. We may nat lette the peple to gawre *and crye. [656 or C Hb ‖ gaule R, gawle Fb, gnare M, gare Cp, grare? Ha] But do we weel; if thei sey mys, thei lye. [ 657]

XCIV. [ III. 3]

Iff thou be clepid the sothe to testyfye, Ay sauyng thy worship and honeste, Thi freendis trespace be *nat a-bout to wrie, [ 660] [660 nat f. τ δ Fb Db M λ] Wher as no shame may growe therof to the. This requirith ay freendlynesse parde. In wele and woo the trewe *benyvolence [ 663] [663 bevyolence C, by vyolence Hb] Bi-twix folke is frensship in existence.

XCV. [ III. 4]

Make besy wacche, and keep thi soule algate, Behold a-boute, aspie the couert treyne, [ 666] Whan that fals fauell knockethe atte gate, He menythe guyle, *thow outeward fair he feyn. [668 thow C Hb] He can enoynte softly thyn erys tweyn [ 669] *With oile of plesaunce in ful grete foysoun; [670 which C] But vndir that keepe the from his poisoun.

XCVI. [fol. 98v] [ III. 5]

Slouth, slogardy and dul idylnesse, [ 672] Lacches, that causeth to be necligent, Eschew, my child, with all thi bisynesse; For ydill soule makith the body shent. [ 675] Ther is on erthe no gretter argument For to conclude the body vnapte Than that the soule in idilnesse be wrapte. [ 678]

XCVII. [ III. 6]

Who that lacketh reste, may nat longe endure; Therfor a-mong take thyne ese and disporte.

Delite the neuer in besynesse and cure, [ 681] But that whilom thou maist also resorte To play, recreacioun and conforte. Thou shalt the bettir labour at *the longe, [ 684] [684 the f. τ R] Whan thou haste merthe thi bisynesse a-monge.

XCVIII. [ III. 7]

It is full hard to plese iche a wiht. Dispreise nomanys deedis nor hem lakke, [ 687] Ne *woordes nother. For even so riht [688 woord χ R] As thou deprauyst hym, byhynde thy bakke Riht so wol men make the a *mokke and a knakke. [ 690] [690 mowe C Hb E G D Fc, moppe Cp He Hd] The contrarye thouh [*] men had it sworne, [691 thouh that C R] The skorner shal be guerdoned ay with scorne.

XCIX. [fol. 100r] [Fol. 99 ist bei der Paginierung übersprungen.] [ III. 8]

Whan thi laste sort, that som men clepyn fate, [ 693] Is good and plesaunte aftir thyn entente,— Thus meen I, loo, whan thou arte fortunate,— Receyue the good, that God hathe the sent. [ 696] Suffre it nat rechelessely to be spente. For than of wastour thou shalt haue *the name, [698 the f. C] For grete ryot will causen feble fame. [ 699]

C. [ III. 9]

Into grete age what tyme that thou art krepte And thou hast richesse and grete habundaunce, Be liberall of good, that thou haste kepte. [ 702] Thynk thou hast inowh and suffisaunce. Latt nat thi good of the haue *gouernaunce; [704 goueraunce C] But *gouern it and parte it with thy freende. [ 705] [705 goueren C] Whan thou goste hens, it may nat with the weende.

CI. [ III. 10]

Grace is youen to men in sondry wise: Sum haue wisdom, and som haue elloquence. [ 708] Thes pore folk somtyme thei ben full wise. A seruaunt may be of grete sapience, Thauh he be had in litel reuerence. [ 711] Reward *his wit, if it be worth the while. [712 is C] Vertue is hid vndir an habite vile.

CII. [fol. 100v] [ III. 11]

This woorldis welthe, ebbynge and flowyng ay [ 714] At no certeyn, as is wantoun Aprile, Thouh thou haue *lost, thou shalt nat the dismay. [716 lust C, losse R Fb Ha A x ν ζ] *Be content with that thou hast for the while. [ 717] [717 Been C] Sume man ther is, that hathe nouthir cros *ne pile [718 nor τ M, ner A, nethyr H] Now in this world, and yit good auentur Is hym ful nyh. No man can know his vre. [ 720]

CIII. [ III. 12]

Wedde nat a wiffe for hir inheritaunce; For she wol caste it *ful oft in thy berde. [722 wel C, f. Hb β]

And *if she be noysaunt, ful of greuaunce, [ 723] [723 if f. C Hb D] Constreyne hir nat to biden in thi yerde. Off chastyment it is a curside yerde To keepen oon, that wol the ay atwyte. [ 726] He is att ese, that of such on is quyte.

CIV. [ III. 13]

Off othir men thow shalt thy myrour make. Conforme the to that moste men appreve. [ 729] What thou shalt do and *what thou shalt forsake, [730 what f. C Hf] A bettir fette maist thou nat *contreve [731 contryve C Hb M Hc D, constryue Fc] Than to othir *mennys deede releeve. [ 732] [732 mannys C Fc, mens A Ad] In al, that perteynethe to thy techyng, Make othir men a rewle for thy lyvyng.

CV. [fol. 101r] [ III. 14]

Attempte no thyng, that sourmountith thy myht [ 735] Ne that to ffynyssh thow *mayste nat *accheve; [736 muste C ‖ acchewe C, exchewe Hc, atteyne σ] For than thou stondist foule in thyne owne liht. Ouer his power what man leste to meeve, [ 738] With shame his werke moste nedis take leve. It is foly a man such thynges to begynne, Which to perfourme his wittis be *to thynne. [ 741]

CVI. [ III. 15]

Law presumeth, that what *man kepith stille [742 man f. C, a man R ν] The cryme of oon, that hath don grete offence, And discurith it nat, he is *als ille, [ 744] [744 als R, also Ad, all C A Y Fc, than χ, as übr.] As is the cryminous for his silence. Wherfore, my sone, bryng it in audience, That thou perceyuest nat weel don is, [ 747] Leste for silence men deeme of the a-mys.

CVII. [ III. 16]

Whan that the lawe is streit and rigerous, Entrete the iuge to *shewen the fauour, [ 750] [750 shew C] Enclynyng hym for to be gracious. *An egal iuge may the *parcaase socour, [752 And τ R A Hf Hc, For an ω ‖ parcause C, par∣chas Y, case v (cause χ)] And yit the lawe shal be his gouernoure, [ 753] Which he suethe somtyme to modyfie, In the caas he may a poynt espye.

CVIII. [fol. 101v] [ III. 17]

What peyn [*] thou suffrest for thi deserte, [ 756] [756 that thou C He Fc Ad] Receyue it weel with gre in paciens. And thouh thi trespace be *preuye and couerte, [758 pruuye C, pryue ν, preue M, pryvary Hb] Yitt, whan thou feelist in thyn aduertence, [ 759] That thou arte blemsshed in thi conscience, Withynne thy silfe than make arbitrement, Deemyng thy-silfe in thyn owne jugement. [ 762]

CIX. [ III. 18]

Mispende no tyme for slouthe or for lacchesse, But whilom reed in bookis olde and wise. Reed and reporte with grete attentyfnesse. [ 765] Be reedyng to connyng men may arrise. Than reed, my sone, and connyng accomplise. Thes poetes writen thynges of grete meruayle [ 768] And of smalle credence oftyn, thys is no faile.

CX. [ III. 19]

A-mong freendis sittyng at the feest Be curteis and demure of thy language. [ 771] Who spekith moste, may nat offende leste. Off flessh and boon nature hathe made a cage The tonge to keepe, that she be nat outrage. [ 774] *Than if thou wolt ben losed of *norture, [775 Thauh C ‖ nature C Hb σ Cp χ, nurture R λ D Ad] Refreyne thyn tonge with al thy besy cure.

CXI. [fol. 102r] [ III. 20]

Some wommen weepyne of pur femynyte, [ 777] Whan othir wise thei kan nat her entente *Accheve; but yit beware of nyce pite [779 acchew C M Ha Hc Fc, eschewe Db, askuse Hf] Thi manly resoun, that it be nat blent. [ 780] For suche wepyng thyne hert auhte nat relente. Some wommen of kynde be euer-moor weepyng And vndir that kan thei bothe prikke and stynge. [ 783]

CXII. [ III. 21]

That thou haste goten, to thin owne worship vse. What auailethe richesse withoute honoure? To spare good and worship to refuse [ 786] The nygard chynche with peyne and with labour Is besy. But I reede the nat devour Withouten resoun thy good excessiffly; [ 789] For than muste thou begge of othir *hastily. [790 hastly C R, hastyly F H Hb Ha Hc (-ili), hastely κ Da Cp A D, hastyfly G He]

CXIII. [ III. 22]

Enprente, my childe, ay sadly in thy mynde, That thou be nat of *deth to *sore adradde, [ 792] [792 ded C ‖ tofore C] That shal the from wrecchidnesse vnbynde, Wher-in thi liff longe thou hast ladde, Til of thy *corps thy soule hathe ben ful sadde. [ 795] [795 corpus C, cors γ] For riht as dethe is eend of ferfulnesse, So is she eende of al thy wrecchydnesse.

CXIV. [fol. 102v] [ III. 23]

*Thi wifis woord suffre and take in gree, [ 798] [798 this C] Whan it availeth; for betide it may Ful ofte, that *of riht grete prudence is she [800 riht of C] And muste ben a-lowed, this is no nay. [ 801] Suffre hir than and hir conceit assay. For it is hard, whan thou can nat be stille, Ne hir to suffre thou kanst haue no wille. [ 804]

CXV. [ III. 24]

Goodis, that be youen the of nature, Comethe eek of thy progenytours. Therfore, my child, with al thi force and cure [ 807] Love hem weel and cherissh at all hours. Thei fostred the and kept in youthe shours. Thi moodir, my child, in especiall, [ 810] Iff thou do wele, neuer offende at all.

CXVI. Lenvoye.

Resorte, resorte and hidirward releve. My maister, now her is *an holsom ayr. [ 813] [813 vnholsom C] For your availe vnto this place retreve, Wher-as of moralite floures fayre And swete ful plesauntly, lo, dothe repeir. [ 816] Gadrith therof and makithe yow a gay And restethe yow heer riht in this *herbeire. [818 herbere C M ν ζ (erbayre Ad)] Behold and see, what thyng is to your pay. [ 819]

CXVII. [fol. 103r]

Whane ye haue gadrid floures *to your liste, [820 to f. C, vnto F, at Hb] Tastethe hem; for thei ben preseruatiffe. Holdithe hem fast and berethe in your *fiste. [ 822] [822 feste C, feystys D] For the pestilence ayers infectyffe I conseil yow, and *iuparte my liff, [824 enparte C, iuparte F, in part R, jupard H, jubarte M, jubard σ, joberd A, jeopard Hb Cp D Fc, gewparde Fc, gibarde ν, iebarde Ht, ieparde Cx] That ye shall leede your liff in sikirnesse [ 825] Thoruh vertue of this conseruatiffe And eeke atteyne to muche worthynesse.

CXVIII.

Thus meve I you vndir proteccioun [ 828] Off your good grace, what tyme ye reede Or haue in this mateer inspeccioun, As it biddith, that ye wol don in deede. [ 831] And than I dar afferme [*] withouten dreede, [832 afferme it τ] Ye shall *accheve and be ful vertuous. [833 acchewe C, eschewe σ, eschue ν] Heer shal ye fynde, that you may guyde and leede [ 834] Streiht to good fame and bryng yow til hir hous.

Explicit tertia pars.

CXIX. [ IV, praef.]

What wiht that list to leede in sikirnesse His lif and keepe his soule from accombraunce [ 837] Of vices, which a-yens *good thewes expresse [838 good f. C ν] Beth at stryff, com yiff good attendaunce. Thes preceptis keepe wel in remembrance. [ 840] Enrollyng hem and pryntyng in your mynde. How to lyve wel, the mene shal *ye fynde. [842 be C, he Hf ν, the He, Þu Hc D Fc]

CXX. [fol. 103v] [ IV. 1]

The foule talent of richesse, my child, eschewe. [ 843] Resemble nat the gredy Tantalus Whos etike in hungre is alway newe Among the fair applis delicious; [ 846] Ne watir swete quenchythe his *thurst riht thus. [847 thrist C M, thirst σ Ad, thrust H E Fc χ, þorst Hc] To the violente swolwe of couetise So al this world nat can ne may suffise. [ 849]

CXXI. [ IV. 2]

Natur can be with litil thyng contente, As in diete a man shuld neuer charge Hymsilf with mete; for many men be shente, [ 852] For their receitis ben to grete and large. Men *seen al day: the litell boot and barge [854 seyn C, sayne F, sey Hb] Wol drench a-non, whan it is ouer-freiht. [ 855] Cherissh nature, but hurt *hir nat *with weiht. [856 nat hir ϑ ‖ with f. ϑ]

CXXII. [ IV. 3]

Iff *thin thyng thou happe to *mysgouerne [857 thyng thin C R, thing of thyn Hb ‖ mysgouere C] Withoute reson or any prouydence, [ 858] Than, myn owne child, of me this lessoun lerne: Sey nat, it was thi fortune such expence To make, but wyte it thin owne necligence. [ 861] For fortune may neuer compellen the Thi good to spende but at thi liberte.

CXXIII. [fol. 104r] [ IV. 4]

Loue the peny as for cheuysaunce, [ 864] Nat for the coyn to hoord it *vp on heepe. [865 in C π λ ν, vp in Hb, on R Cp κ D Fc]

For of the prynte was maad an ordinaunce Nat for it shuld *in coffres lye and sleepe, [ 867] But for it shuld among the peple leepe [867^b und 868^a f. α, dafür neu nach 868 in α: But oonly ther lyvyng therwith to reepe (but f. Hb, for to geete [st. reepe] Hb)] In ther eschaunge. Who kepith it inne As for the fourme, is soget vnto synne. [ 870]

CXXIV. [ IV. 5]

Whan thou hast plente and art pecuniall, I meene, whan thou hast grete suffisaunce, Off mony foisoun and of helthe but smalle, [ 873] Than spende thi monay and thi selfe avaunce. Keepe neuer thy coyn and lyve in grevaunce. The seek hathe siluer in ful grete excesse, [ 876] But of hymsilfe hathe he no sikirnesse.

CXXV. [ IV. 6]

Thouh somtyme thou suffre the grete sharpnesse Off betyng, yit thi maistres chastisment [ 879] Take weel in gree withe lowly *humblenesse, [880 humblesse ϑ R Hf, humyly∣nesse He] Sith it is doo al in good entente To cause the lore and wisdom for to hente. [ 882] And thouh his woordis *sownen ful of ire, [883 be sowen τ δ, sowen Ha Fc, sowne Cp A ω, sowne is ν, sounden x, sound H, seme Hc] Yit suffre thou the talent of that sire.

CXXVI. [fol. 104v] [ IV. 7]

Also, my child, thou shalt the occupye [ 885] To werche thynges, that ben profitable. But look thy wittis thou neuer applie To thyng that may nat ben aduaylable. [ 888] To caste a thyng, that is nat profetable, By wit or strengthe, it is but grete errour: Dispeired hope is ende of suche labour. [ 891]

CXXVII. [ IV. 8]

Whan thou shalt yive, than yive in freendly wise. Frely content a prayere of requeste; For thyng yoven be tyme is yoven twise. [ 894] Sith gladsom cheer makith *yiftis richeste, [895 yiftis f. ϑ] Who yiveth gladly and soone yeveth beste. Lo, no thyng may bettir freende conquere [ 897] Than man to *leene, that he may weel forber. [898 oder leeue? (s. Oxf. Dict. unter Lend v², 2, a-b), leen σ Cp Hf Cx, lende R Hc, leve Hb Ad]

CXXVIII. [ IV. 9]

Whan in a thyng thou haste a coniecture, As in thi conceyt holdyng it suspecte, [ 900] To discusse that thyng a-non do thi cure. For at the first whan such thyng is reiecte, The reste is aftir esy to correcte; [ 903] *And thyng, that at the firste is nat sett by, [904 A C Hb σ ω] Is *oftyn seyn to greven fynally. [905 oftyntyme C Hb, ofte tyme A, often tymes ω]

CXXIX. [fol. 105r] [ IV. 10]

And whan thou arte disposid inwardli [ 906] To Venus actis, than represse corage. Fostre nat thi fleessh to lustily. For [*] grete diete makethe the flessh outrage, [ 909] [909 for a C] Where-as mesure myht cause it asswage. And glotenye is clepid cheeff *promotrice, [911 promotice C δ] Leedyng the fleissh to wantounnesse and vice. [ 912]

CXXX. [ IV. 11]

The ranpaund leoun and the tigre felle, The irous boor, the hound ful of envye And bestis moo than nedithe heer to telle [ 915] Men dreede ful sore and fer herr tyrannye; And wel thei do. But yit oon best I espye, That is to feryn most in especial: [ 918] *Mann ys *the beste, that thou moste dreeden shall. [919 mannys C Hb ‖ the f. τ π ν λ Fc]

CXXXI. [ IV. 12]

The vertu, that is clepid fortitude, Stondith nat alle in strengthis bodyly, [ 921] As to be virous, myhti, strong and rude; [922 virous] vrous v (eurous χ)] But in the soule it must ben sikirly. Than, if thou wilt thi-selfe fortifie [ 924] Thi soule withynne acqueynte with sapience; And than shalt thow be strong in existence.

CXXXII. [fol. 105v] [ IV. 13]

*What thyng in erthe thou shalt take on *honde, [ 927] [927 whan τ ‖ hande C μ Y Ad] And thi supporte shal be in freendlynesse. No strange wiht on lyue so nyh wol the stonde As thi knowen ffrende, my child, this is expresse; [ 930] Off the straungier haste thou no sikirnesse. For whan all othir ben ful ferr to seche, The feitheful knowe freende kan beste be thi leche. [ 933]

CXXXIII. [ IV. 14]

The deethe of bestis, that beth vnresounable, As bi custom *and riht of sacrifice [935 and und of um∣gestellt in α] To purgyn the, is no seth greable. [ 936] [936 no sethe] nothyng H, not Db, no feith Hf, no suche Hc Ad] Trust nat as so to gete thy reprise; For thei, that trust so, ben ful vnwise. Bi dethe of bestis God wil nat queemyd be, [ 939] And man a-bide in his iniquite.

CXXXIV. [ IV. 15]

Whan thou wolt chese a freende for trustynesse, Than of his fortune make noon inquiraunce; [ 942] For fortune is moodir of changeabilnesse. Aske of his liffe and of his gouernaunce; For that is preeff of grettir suffisaunce [ 945]

Than vre or fortune, that is casuell. For liff of man his fortune dothe excell.

CXXXV. [fol. 106r] [ IV. 16]

Vse weel the richesse, that thou hast *of queste. [ 948] [948 on C Hb, be Cp Hc D] Off avarise the wikkid name eschewe. Lat nat thi good *be stoppid in a chest. [950 ly C ρ Y Hf ζ] Keepe nat thy stuff ay closid stille in mewe. [ 951] Suche old tresour wol make thi shame ful newe. What profitethe plente of grete *tresur [953 tresour τ A Hf ζ, tre∣soore Hc] And in pouerte a wrecche alway endure. [ 954]

CXXXVI. [ IV. 17]

Iff thou desir to reioisen thi fame In honeste, whil thou lyvest heere, Eschiew *the thinges, that may cause shame. [ 957] [957 thes C, thoo δ Cp G Hc, f. ρ E ζ] Likerous lustis must be leid on beer And thinges fele, that ful ioyous appeer. This worldis *ioye is ay ful deffectyfe: [ 960] [960 yoye C, plesure Hb] Be war of ioye, that hurteth thi good liffe.

CXXXVII. [ IV. 18]

And ay, my child, conceyve and aduertise, That neuer thou skorne feeble stoupyng age. [ 963] Thi *elderis, my child, for nothyng *thou despise, [964 alderis C, eldere F H ν ‖ thou f. C R ρ κ λ D Fc] *Thouh in ther wittis *thei be natt so sage [965 thou C, thow Hb ‖ the C H, f. Hf] As in ther *youth, sith age is outrage. [ 966] [966 thouht α, thowth Hc, yonghe A, yongith Hf] Whan age cometh, this is sothe certeyn, A man begynneth to ben a chyld a-geyn

CXXXVIII. [fol. 106v] [ IV. 19]

Enforce thi wittes somwhat for to lere; [ 969] Acqueynte the withe connyng. For that is sure, Iff fortune chaunge and than pouert appeer, *Who that hathe konnyng, is likly to recure. [ 972] [972 what τ] Konnyng and crafte *remayne and endure; [973 remay∣nethe ϑ Hb Cp Hf He ν D, remaynen M] And bi them a man may *him-silfe releve, [974 them silfe C] Whan fortune hathe caste hym in to myscheeffe. [ 975]

CXXXIX. [ IV. 20]

Be stille in silens with a-visenesse. Tary, my child, til othir men han seid; So shalt thou lerne somwhat in sothfastnesse. [ 978] Latt nat thy tonge sodenly be vnteid; For that myht the of hastynesse abreid. [980 abreid] upbreide κ D, vbbreyde He, breyde Hc, umbrayde A] Bi manys woord his maner *wil be schewed. [ 981] [981 wold C, wol R Hf Y Hc D] Bi woord is knowen the wise man from þe lewid.

CXL. [ IV. 21]

Thouh in konnyng thou have ful grete conceit, Enforce *the ay yit to lerne more. [ 984] [984 f. C, thi F, thi self Hc D] The soule it is, that must be the receit; Replenissh hir with that tresour and stor. Vse makithe maistrie; vse konnyng therfore. [ 987] Vse helpethe art, and cure helpithe the witte; Than vse and *cure to konnyng moste be *knitte. [989 f. C Hb ‖ knette C]

CXLI. [fol. 107r] [ IV. 22]

Body from soule must haue disseueraunce. [ 990] Dethe is ende comoun to euery wiht. Charge nat to muche therfore of dethis *chaunce; [992 chaunge C Ad] The tribut of dethe must thou pay of riht. [ 993] But yit bi dethe shalt thou sette more liht, Iff bi this liff thou sett no thyng expresse; It is so ful of woo and wrecchidnesse. [ 996]

CXLII. [ IV. 23]

*Lere of the wise and teche the vnkunnyng. [997 Vere C, lerne Hb A Cp κ G ζ] For it is vertu and *ful commendable [998 f. ϑ R Fc, also Hb, at al tyme ω] Tencrese doctryne thoruh such comonnyng. [ 999] It is alway a deede charitable To lere and teche; it is ful greable To God. Doctryne kepithe vertu on lyve. [ 1002] Whiche ne were, doctryne soone from man shuld slyve. [1003 sleyue H, slyffe κ Hc, stryve D, schyve Fc, fliue Cp]

CXLIII. [ IV. 24]

Drynk nat to muche, no mor than þou maiste bere. Rewle thy-silfe bi the bridil of mesure. [ 1005] To muche drynke wol the annoy and dere. Surfette is euermore of helthe vnsure; And mesur makethe men in helthe endure. [ 1008] Whatt man is rewlid aftir lustys vile, In good astate ne may a-bide no while.

CXLIV. [fol. 107v] [ IV. 25]

And iff hit happe the in audience [ 1011] An thyng to preyse, be war, that thou ne blame It eft ageyn riht in the same presence. Iff thou dispreise, comende nat eek the same; [ 1014] Off suche trauers must needis risen shame. To preisen now and eft to blame douteles It is a thynge of grete vnstabilnesse. [ 1017]

CXLV. [ IV. 26]

Whan thou lyuest heer riht at thyn owne ese In al thy ioye, rest and prosperite, Thynk the per-case aduersite may sese; [ 1020] For *welthe stondithe nat in sykirte. [1021 wethe C E, werth Ad] And also soone, whan any aduersite

Assautethe the, yit fall nat in dispeire; [ 1023] Thynke in thi-silfe: good fortune may repeire.

CXLVI. [ IV. 27]

It is ful fair, my child, [*] to be prudent [1025 for to τ] And wys; looke thou lere ther-fore. [ 1026] To lerne ay, my sone, do thyn entent. Bi diligent bysynesse wisdom is more. Wisdom is she, that may nat be forbore. [ 1029] The rare prudence, that folkes nyce refuse, Can nat ben had but bi processe and vse.

CXLVII. [fol. 108r] [ IV. 28]

Beware alway, that thou neuer enhaunce [ 1032] In thi lawde or preisyng a wiht to hihe; For thou mayste haue cause eft to [*] dissavaunce [1034 to do C] The same. But ay thy preysyng modifie. [ 1035] For att oon day thou shalt *ful wele espye, [1036 ful f. C] *Whether he be freende, that freendly seemythe; [1037 whedir C H Hf He Ad, where Fc] For all be nat freendis, that men demethe. [ 1038]

CXLVIII. [ IV. 29]

Be nat asshamed, my child, also to *lere, [1039 lerne τ Hb] *That thou canst nat; for it is but a tecche [1040 iff ϑ R] Off foly nat to desire doctryne heere. [ 1041] Ful wel is he, that to konnyng may strecche, Sithe konnyngles a man is but a wrecche. To konne moche is riht comendable [ 1044] And nouht to konne is ay reproveable.

CXLIX. [ IV. 31] [IV. 30 folgt als Strophe CLIV.]

The soleyn stille oft meenethe [*] fraude and gile; [1046 of fraude ϑ] Off such a man eschewe the companye. [ 1047] For the stille man compassethe othir while Withynne his herte disceit and trecherye. In floodis stille is watir deep and hihe. [ 1050] In stremys softe seemyng to thy plesaunce Ofte betidithe ful vnhappy chaunce.

CL. [fol. 108v] [ IV. 32]

With thi fortune whan thou art discontent [ 1053] And kanst nat take in gree thin *aduenture, [1054 aduerture C, aventure ν] Behold and feele in thin aduisement, How thei, that whilom wer as thou as sur [ 1056] And more likly in welthe for to endure Bothe fore bounte and eek for noblesse, And yit haue *falle doun *into wrecchidnesse. [ 1059] [1059 doun falle τ ‖ into] doun C, in F H]

CLI. [ IV. 33]

Attempte the thyng, so as thou maist suffise. Passe nat thi myht. Bere nat to hihe thi saile;

Ther is pereil, if that the storme a-rise. [ 1062] Serteyn, my child, this is withouten faile: The vessel smalle is at ful grete a-vaile, Whan with his ore to londe he may a-reche, [ 1065] Where-as the sailes hihe ful oft go to wrecche.

CLII. [ IV. 34]

A-geyns the trewe iuste man brawle nat ne stryve; For to God a-boue that is displesaunce. [ 1068] Trust this trewly: heer is no man on lyve, That to the iuste man dothe dere or greuaunce, But at the laste God wol take vengeaunce. [ 1071] And heerof it *is good heed [*] to take: [1072 is f. C Hb ‖ for to C] The riht-wiseman of God is nat forsake.

CLIII. [fol. 109r] [ IV. 35]

Iff extorsioun or mysauenture [ 1074] Haue plukked at the and maad the threedbare Off richesse, yit do thou thi force and cure. To be mery and eschewe thouht and care. [ 1077] For fretyng thouht is a ful cursid snare; Cum nat ther-in. Fortune is vnstable. Aftir pouerte richesse is preignable. [ 1080]

CLIV. [ IV. 30]

Venus is reedi to all hir actis vile, Whan he, Bachus, hathe set hir in largesse The tresour of his hoote and feruent yle. [ 1083] Therfore, my child, thin appetite represse. In wynes hoote doo nat to grete excesse. Drynk, that for thi soule is expedient. [ 1086] Eschewe stryffe. Withe mesure be content.

CLV. [ IV. 36]

It is an harme the *goodes to forgoo, [1088 good C R Hc] That ben on hande, bi force and violence. [ 1089] But yit, my child, *thou most considre, who [1090 tho C, the Ha He] And what he is, that dothe the such offense. Bi-twix freend and foo haue ay a difference; [ 1092] For in som case thou most a freend forbere And suffre hym, thouh he *annoy and deere. [1094 anney C, noy ρ Hc ω]

CLVI. [fol. 109v] [ IV. 37]

Be nat to sure, that thou shalt lyue heer long. [ 1095] A wyht shal deye, alle be he lothe or leeffe; And as the old so deye the yonge a-monge. Dethe stelithe on, as dothe a pryvy theefe. [ 1098] Loo, a-yens dethe men fynde no releeffe. She is a-boute to make a devorse And folwethe ay the shadwe of the *corse. [ 1101] [1101 corpse ϑ R, course Hf]

CLVII. [ IV. 38]

Serue ay thi God withe lowly obseruaunce, Withe herte entier, withe swete smellyng encense;

Such sacrifice is moost to his plesaunce. [ 1104] Off calues smale, that neuer dede offence, [1105 dede C He ω, deden D, dide übr.] Thouh thou hem sle, the blood may nat dispence. With the lat *hem growe and swynke in þi plouhe. [ 1107] [1107 hym C Db Ad, him R, them M Cp, thaym E] Thin herte to God is suffisant *i-nouh. [1108 I nouht C]

CLVIII. [ IV. 39]

Yiff place to hym, that excedith thy myht: Thouh thou be hurt, it may profette perchaunce. [ 1110] And seeld availethe a man for to fiht Ageyns such on, as passith his pusaunce. Thouh he greve *now, yit *efte he may avaunce. [ 1113] [1113 nat C H R He ν ‖ ofte ϑ Cp, f. ν] Ful oftyn is seyn aftir the grete duresse The myhty man wol *kithe his gentilnesse [1115 kithen τ, kythyth H]

CLIX. [fol. 110r] [ IV. 40]

Aftir thy surffet and thi grete offence [ 1116] Chastice thi-silfe, correcte, that is a-mys, Correcte thi gilte, amende thi necligence. Sorwe for synne a verray medycyne is. [ 1119] Repent the *sore; than art thou saufe iwis. [1120 sorwe τ, sorefully D, for ν Fc] For fisik seithe, my child, I *the ensure: [1121 the f. τ] A bittir drynk the *sharpe sekenesse may cure. [ 1122] [1122 sharper C D]

CLX. [ IV. 41]

Yff thou haue founde longe frenship in a wyht Ful yore ago, thouh he begynne to chaunge, *Dispreise hym nat; men bide nat in oon pliht. [ 1125] [1125 displese C Hb, dispraue G, dispreire Y χ] *Somtyme was an abbey, ther is now a graunge [Vgl. Skelton, Colin Cloute: Of an abbaye ye make a graunge.] . [1126 sometymes C, some A] This worldis cours is ful queynte and strange. But thouh the man as now be wax vnkynde, [ 1128] His olde frenship remembr in thi mynde.

CLXI. [ IV. 42]

Iff it vre the in office to be sette, Than be thou gracious to othir men. [ 1131] Thei may report: a goodly man is mette With such office; and so good fame shal renne A-boute of the. But *I ensure the, whenne [ 1134] [1134 I f. C ν] Thofficer is vnkynde, than seithe the pres: Now wold God this man *were officeles. [1136 is C]

CLXII. [fol. 110v] [ IV. 43]

Be nat suspect; that is a wikkid tecche. [ 1137] The suspect wiht with cowarde ielousnesse In his lyvyng is but a verray wrecche. Much is a-mys, and all wold he redresse. [ 1140] Hee deemythe fals and failethe hertynesse.

His fals conceyt, set in malencolye, Slethe hym a-noon; *deth endithe his folye. [ 1143] [1143 f. C H R Fb, this F, thus Hb, thus deth A ω]

CLXIII. [ IV. 41]

Iff thou haue men withouten liberte, Such as be clepid the men of bondage, Thouh thei ben vndir thi captyuyte, [ 1146] Yit ouer such men be neuer outrage, Iff thei be holden vndir thy seruage. Thouh thei be bonde, yit verray men thei be. [ 1149] That *thei be men, than ay remembre the [1150 the C]

CLXIV. [ IV. 45]

Thi first fortune receyve withe reedynesse; Refuse it nat, thouh it be scant and smalle. [ 1152] It is wele bettir in gree to take the lesse, Than refuse it and aftir faile of alle. Yiftis of fortune take them as thei falle. [ 1155] Forsake hem nowe, and efte thou shalt *haue neede. [1156 hem C Hb, them Cp, f. M E] Tyme is to take, whan men profere and beede.

CLXV. [fol. 111r] [ IV. 46]

Reioyse thou neuer, my child, in al thi lyve [ 1158] The sodeyn dethe of a cursid man and wrecche. Whan he is deede, the soule may nat revive; Fro peyne to ioye that spirit may nat strecche; [ 1161] The feendis holdyn so sore, that thei may kecche. Who lyuethe wele, ful wele eeke deyethe he; That soule is sykir of grete felicite. [ 1164]

CLXVI. [ IV. 47]

Iff thou haue a wiffe in assuraunce, Than trust hir weele and love hir inwardlye Withe herte and thouht and al thyn affiaunce. [ 1167] Be nat infecte with suspecte ielousye. Iff no deffaute in hir thou kanst espye And if thi freend telle the, suche is the *fame, [ 1170] [1170 same C R] He is a freend and she nothyng to blame.

CLXVII. [ IV. 48]

Whan thoruh stody and longe excersyce Thou knowest mochil and hast grete konnyng, [ 1173] Yit do thy diligence in besy wyse More to konne; it is an holsom thyng. To grete honour konnyng may the bryng. [ 1176] And ay eschewe nat for to be tawhte. Withoute techyng science wol nat be kawhte.

CLXVIII. [fol. 111v] [ IV. 49]

And if thou ouht meruayle and lest to muse, [ 1179] [1179 lest C Hc, lust ν E Ad, lystene Hb, list oder lyste übr.] In nakid *woordis, why my verse I write, [1180 woord τ R]

In no wise I may me bettir excuse, Than sey: my witt so dul and vnparfite [ 1182] Artith me thus rudely for tendite. Bi too and too my metre for to knytte Nat causethe me but sympilnesse of witte. [ 1185]

Explicit secundum Magistrum Benedictum credo [?] De. b. [oder v oder s]

Kolophon: Explicit Cato x, Explicit hic Cato dans castigamina nato F A Y (in F folgt noch: Iste Cato erat unus .vij. prudencium Rome, Cato et Plato et cetera. Detur pro penna scriptori pulcra pu [i. e. puella]. T. E. J. Þ.), Explicit liber Catonis H Hb Ha M λ (in Ha dahinter noch transpositus in Anglicum; in Hc: Explicet liber Catonys compositus per Magistrum Benedyctum Boruh, vicarius de Maldoun in Essex; in Hf dahinter noch: compositus per Magistrum Benedictum Burgh, vicarium de Maldoun et cetera; in M noch: quod scripci [sic!] da michi quod merui. G.U.P.), Thus endith Catoun þat noble and worthi clerke, as here it shewith by his commendable werke G, Pars quarta et vltima Cp, fehlt übr.