The boke of wisdome otherwise called the flower of vertue. Folowing the auctorities of auncient doctours [and] philosophers, deuiding and speaking of vices [and] vertues, wyth many goodly examples wherby a man may be praysed or dyspraysed, wyth the maner to speake well and wyselie to al folkes, of what estate so euer they bee. Translated first out of Italion into French, [and] out of french into English, by Iohn Larke. 1565.

¶Howe the Wyse man oughte to doubte, And howe by doubt and Feare many times the men become Vertuous. ¶The .xxx. Chapter. (Book 30)

THe Enemie of Hell ought to be doubted of euerye wyse man.

¶For Salomon saythe,* 1.1 that happye is he whyche doubt∣teth and feareth the Enemye of

Hell. And that the manne oughte to beware of hym, for if he doe, he shall not nede to doubte any perill. And thou oughte not to beware & kepe the onelye from thy greate ene¦mies, but also from the leaste in the world.

¶Yet neuerthelesse,* 1.2 Ouid saythe, that a man ought not to be so dou∣btefull and fearefull that he make doubte of that thynge, wherof no doubte is to be had.

¶Salomon saythe,* 1.3 that a manne ought not to doubte hys enemy for hys subtyllytye aud crafte. And if he be a Foole, for his mischiefe and shrewdnesse. And sayth, that when thou shalt haue a fryende, it is ne∣cessarye, that thou be a fryende to hys fryendes. And sayth, keepe thy fryend aboue all thynges, and con∣sidre the losse that thou shuld haue if thou dyd lese him. For in lesinge

thy fryend, thou shal purchase and get manye enemyes. And thou ou¦ghte to consydre and thynke, that the least of thy enemyes is greater and of more power then thou arte.

¶Socrates saythe,* 1.4 that the man whyche goeth about to get his ene¦myes, dothe trauayle for his owne dystrucyon, for he whych hath ma¦ny enemyes, ought to lyue alwaies in greate doubte and feare of hys lyfe. And saythe, that one of the greatest wyttes that a man maye haue, is to knowe howe to make of hys enymye hys fryend, And saith that thou ought not to repute thine enemy as a smale & a lyght thinge, for he maye hurte thee more then thou do thynke be he neuer so smal of power.

¶And Senec saythe,* 1.5 that thyne enemyes be somtyme more profyta∣ble

to thee, then thy fryendes, for thou doest keepe thee from fallynge into manye daungers and Folyes, for feare of them, and taketh paine to keepe thine owne, for it is better to resyste and wythstand theyr wil and malyce. And saythe that if it chaunce thee to speake wyth thyne aduersarye, beware that thou doe not showe hym thy secrete, for then thou should teache hym thy distruc¦cyon.

¶Pythagoras saythe,* 1.6 that if thou wylte dysprayse thine enemy, shew alwayes countenaunce, as thou woldeste him no maner of harme, nor that thou art his enemye.

¶Salomon saithe,* 1.7 beleeue neuer thyne enemye, and if he do humble him selfe to thee, yet doe not truste to him. For if he see his time to doe thee displeasure, he will neuer bee satisefyed of thy bloud.

¶Saynte Austyne saythe,* 1.8 that as in warre the Soldiers be neuer no ther daye nor nyghte oute of theyr harnesse, but alwayes in redinesse, and specyallye when they be neare to theyr enemies. So duryng thys lyfe, we ought not to be voyd & vn∣furnysshed of vertues, to the intent that we be not as he, whyche hys enemye dothe fynd out of harnesse, wherof the Gospell maketh menci∣on sayenge.

¶Dum fortis amatus custodit atri∣um suum in pace sunt omnia que pas∣sider.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Salo¦mon,
• * 1.2

  Ouid,
• * 1.3

  Salo¦mon,
• * 1.4

  Socra∣tes,
• * 1.5

  Senec
• * 1.6

  Pytha¦goras,
• * 1.7

  Salo¦mon,
• * 1.8

  S, Au∣styn,