Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Sloth, &c.

Sloth is to Vertue, chiefest enemie: And Idlenes, the guide to euery ill.

SLoth dulles the wit, and doth corrupt our strength. Sloth both corrupts, and chokes the vitall powers. Idlenes is a death in life esteem'd. Long slumbers are for idle persons meet. The idle luske, that no way is enclin'd, Walkes as one dead among the liuing kind. Ease is the mothet of dissention. Who growes too negligent, too soone repents. Humours, by much excesse of ease are bred. All idle workes, are but the workes of lyes. All idle houres are Calenders of ruth, And time ill spent is preiudice to youth. Idlenesse causeth errour and ignorance. Through idlenes, kingdoms haue ben destroi'd. Idlenes is the root of desperation. The idle mind is apt to all vncleannesse. In height of weale who hath a slothfull heart, Repents too late his ouer-foolish part.

Sloth blunts conceit, but studie sharpens it. Prosperitie alwaies ingendreth sloth. The slothfull man in his owne want doth sleepe. Sloth hinders thrift, and much displea••eth God. Loue is a prodigie to loytring wits, A hell of life, a trap for idle toies. The idle heart is mooued with no prayers. In doing nothing, men learne to doe ill. Sloth is a feare of labour to ensue. The Bees abide no idle Drones among them. Vsurie is the nource of idlenes: And idlenes the mother of all euill. The wise mans idlenes, is d••ily labour. A noble nature, sloth doth soone corrupt. Idlenes is the canker of the mind.

Similies on the same subiect.

AS mothes eat garments that are seldome worne, So idlenes infecteth loytring wits. As too much bending breakes the strongest bow, So too much sloth corrupts the chastest mind. As mosse growes on those stones which are not stirr'd, So sloth defiles the soule, not well employed. As standing waters venemous wormes ingender, So idle braines beget vnholy thoughts. As pooles freeze sooner than the running streames, So idle men speed worse than those that worke. As sitters sooner sleepe than they that walke, So sinne tempts sooner sloth, than diligence.

Examples likewise on the same.

SCipi•• did banish from his campe, all such As could be toucht with sloth or idlenes.

The wise men thus did answere Alexander, If he were idle, long he could not liue. Because the Sabies did abound in wealth, They gaue them selues to nought but idlenes. Metellus being arriu'd in Africa, Dismist all meanes might offer idlenes. Tully saith, Men were borne to doe good workes, As a pre••eruatiue gainst idlenes. Pythagoras gaue all his ••••ho••l••••s charge, At no time to admit an idle thought.