¶ He warneth to eschue whordome. He forbyddeth wast∣full spendynge He wylleth vs to lyue of our owne laboures Men muste loue theyr wyues.
CAPI. V.
My sonne / gyue hede vnto my wysdome [unspec A] and bowe thyne eare vnto my pruden∣ce: that thou mayst regarde good councell / and that thy lyppes may kepe knowledge. {fleur-de-lys} (Applye not thou thy selfe to the disceytful nesse of a woman.) For the lyppes of an har∣lot are a droppynge honye combe, and her throte is softer then oyle. But at the last she is as bytter as wormewode / & {fleur-de-lys} (her tonge) as sharpe as a two edged swerde. Her fete go downe vnto deathe / and her steppes pe∣arse thorowe vnto hell. She regardeth nat the path of lyfe: so vnstedfast are her way∣es [unspec B] / that thou canste nat knowe them. Here me nowe therfore (O my sonne) and depart not from the wordes of my mouthe. Kepe the waye farre from her / and come nat nye the dores of her house. That thou gyue nat thy strength vnto other / and thy yeares to the cruell, That other men be nat fyl∣led with thy goodes / and that thy laboures come nat in a straunge house. Ye that thou mourne nat at the last (when thou hast spente thy body and goodes) and then saye: Alas / why hated I nourture? why dyd my [unspec C] herte despyse correccyon? Wherefore was not I obedyente vnto the voyce df my tea∣chers / and herkened not vnto them that in¦fourmed me? I am come almoste into all mysfortune / in the myddest of the multitude and congregacion, ☞ Drynke of the wa¦ter / of thyne owne well and of the ryuers that runne out of thyne owne sprynges.
☞ Let thy welles flowe out abrode / that there may be ryuers of water in the stretes: but let them be onely thyne owne / and not straungers with the. Let thy well be bles¦sed / and be glad with the wyfe of thy youth [unspec D] Louynge is the hynde / and frendely is the Roo: let her brestes alwaye satisfye the, and holde the euer contente with her loue. My sonne / why wylte thou haue pleasure in an harlot / and embrace the bosome, of another woman? For euery mans wayes are o∣pen in the syght of the Lorde, and he pon∣dreth all theyr goynges. The wyckednesse of the vngodly shal catche him selfe / and wt ye snares of his owne synnes shal he be trap ped. He shall dye without amendemente / & for his great folyshnesse he shall go astray.