Catonis disticha moralia ex castigatione D. Erasmi Roterodami vna cum annotationibus et scholijs Rechardi Tauerneri Anglico idiomata conscriptis ìn vsum Anglicæ iuuenvis [sic]. Aliquot sentenciæ in signes ex variis collectæ scriptoribus per eundem Erasmum. Mimi publiani, cu[m] Anglicis eiusdem Rechardi scholiis, recogniti

LIBELLVS ELEGAN¦tissimus qui inscribitur Cato de preceptis vitae com∣munis.

CVM ANI∣maduerterē, quā plurimos homi∣nes grauiter er∣rare in uia mo∣rum, ••uccurren∣dum & consu∣lendum eorum opinioni fore existimaui, ma∣ximè ut gloriosè viuerent, & honorē con∣tingerent. Nunc te fili charissime docebo▪ quo pacto mores animi tui componas. I∣gitur precepta mea ita legas, vt intelligas. Legere enim et nō intelligere, negligere est Ita{que} Deo supplica. Parentes ama. Cognatos cole. Magistrummetue.

The fyrst reuerence is to God, the next* 1.1 to the father and mother, the thyrde to the rest of thy kynsfolke. We make sup∣plication vnto God with our prayers and sacrifices. We loue oure Parentes whyle we obserue and obey them. We embrace oure kynsfolke with offices of humanitie and with vsynge their com∣panye.

And after all these, the chylde muste feare and stande in awe of hys mayster vnto whose correction he is committed.

Datum serua.

The thynge that thou art put in truste with, kepe it faythfullye.

Foro te para.

That is to saye, exercise thy selfe in such knowledge, as thou mayest be conuer∣saunte in the courte of pledynge. For in olde tyme thys was the fyrste degree to high promotion, Erasmus sayeth that in mooste auncient bokes he fyndeth it written thus (foro pare) that is to saye, obey and applie thy selfe to the market, that is to saye, to the state present, lyke to the common prouerbe (vtere foro).

Cum bonis ambula.

Kepe company with men of honest ha∣ueour. For first they wol iudge the such one as they be with whom they see thee conuersaunte. And secondelye by haun∣tynge and kepynge companye with the good, thou shalt become better.

Ad consilium ne accesseris ante∣quam uoceris.

Thruste not thy selfe into other mens counsayles and affayres, but when thou

art called, then come.

Mundus esto.

That is, neyther fylthye nor ryottouse, but nette and pure.

Saluta libenter.

Fayre speaking gendreth and also nou∣risheth the frendshyp of manye.

Maiori cede.

That is, stryue not with theym that be myghtyer then thy selfe.

Minori parce.

Rage not agaynste those that be thy inferiours, but beare somewhat wyth them.

R••m tuam custodi.

Wast not rashely thy goodes, le••t either foulye thou be dryuen to beggerye, or more foulye forced for to robbe & steale, or els (whiche is nexte ••osyn to it) to ex∣torte and poole.

Verecundiam serua.

Kepe thy selfe vndefyled▪ and pure frō the spottes of foule lecherye.

Diligentiam adhibe.

As diligence in all thynges preuayleth and beareth the chiefe stroke: So hath negligence alwaye infelicitie wyth it accompanyed.

Libros lege. Quos legeris memento.

Oute of bookes is learned anone that whiche by longe experience and vse of lyfe a man can skase atteyne. But here* 1.2 ye muste take hede that ye ouercharge not youre selfe with readynge, heaping one thynge vpon another, and imprin∣tynge nothynge in the memorie.

Familiam cura.

Thyne owne domistical affaires are to be cared for, and none other.

Blandus esto.

That is, be courteouse in companye.

Irasci ab r••noli.

Be not waywarde and harde to please,* 1.3 for at al not to be moued pertayneth ra∣ther to a stocke then to a man.

Neminem irriseris.

Skornyng of other is a token of an ar∣rogante folye. But Erasmus saieth in som•• bokes it is written thus.* 1.4

Mi••erum ne irri••eris.

As who shoulde saye, the vices of the minde do merite to be mocked and scor∣ned, but miserye deserueth rather pitie then mockerye.

Mutuum dato. Cui des videto.

Otherwhyles a man oughte to lende hys money, yet not to all sortes of men without choyse, but to such as wyll well

and truely yelde it agayne, and to suche as be worthye to haue suche office of frendshyp bestowed vpon them, and fi∣nally to suche as thou couldest fynde in thy hearte euen to geue it.

Iudicio adesto.

In olde tyme it was the chiefe office of frendshyp, in thy frendes cause, where iudgement was to be geuen, to be with him and to assist hym with thy counsell and helpe.

Conuiuare raro.

Ouer ofte to call other to feastes wa∣steth a mans substaunce, and ouer oft to goe to feastes is not commendable. But more rarely to doe eyther of them is good humanitie.

Quod satis est dormi.

Slepe not for pleasure, but for the ne∣cessitie of nature.

Iusiurandum ••er••a.

Thou oughtest not rashelye to sweare, and the thynge that thou sweare••e, tho•• must perfourme, oneles it be a thynge vnlawefull.

Vino te tempera.

Be moderate in wyne, or abstayne frō wyne. For verelye to geue wyne to a yonge man, is to put oyle to fyre.

Pugna pro patria.

We muste fyghte not for euery try••••e, but for defense of oure countrey.

Nil temere credideris

Be not lyght to beleue all thynges that be spoken.

Tu te consule.

Aske counsayle of thy selfe, for thou best knowest thy selfe and thy thinges. It is also read thus.

Tuto consule.

* 1.5

Take hede of ieoperdouse counsayles, folowe surs counsayles.

Meretricem fuge. Literas disce.

Youth is best kepte frome harlottes by the study of good sciences.

Nil mentiri velis.

* 1.6

A lye is a foule vyce and namelye in a gentle man.

Bonis benefacito.

Benefites ought not to be bestowed but vpon good persons, for otherwise they be loste.

Maledicus ne esto.

Tempre thy selfe frome tauntynge of other men.

Existimationem retine.

Mayntayne thy good name, that thou lose it not, for it is soone loste, but it is

not soone recouered.

A••quum iudica.

Iudge not for mede or fauoure, but ac∣cordynge to the rule of equitie.

Parentes patienti•• vince.

Thoughe thy parentes handle thee not indifferentlye, yet thou muste forbeare them.

Beneficij accepti memor esto.

It is a greate comblynes to be mynde∣full of that thou takest, and forgetfull of that thou geuest.

Ad pretorium stato.

In the Mayres court or kynges courte where causes be pleaded are manye thynges learned.

Consultus esto.

Haue knowledge of the lawe, to the in∣tent* 1.7 thou mayest helpe thy frende.

Vtere virtute.

Vse vertue.

Iracundiam tempera.

Before, he admonished we shoulde not be angrye without cause. Now he war∣neth that also a iuste angre▪ shoulde •••• moderated.

Trocho lude. Alias fuge.

The toppe is conuenient for chyldren. The dyse be infamouse euen amonges

the Heathen people.

Nihil ex arbitrio virium feceris.

It is tyrannicall, to haue eye to what thou cannest doe by myght, and not to what thou canst doe by ryght.

Minorem tenon contempseris.

It is the proude mans property & not y^• wyse mans, to abhorre hys inferiour.

Aliena concupiscere noli.

Be content with thyne owne.

Coniugem ama.

Thou muste loue thy wyfe, for she is thy partener both of weale and wo.

Liberos erudi.

Chastice and brynge vp thy chyldren.

Patere legem quam ipse tuleris.

What ordre thou prescribest to other, vse the same towardes them.

Pauca in conuiuio loquere.

Haue not thou all the wordes at the bourde, that other men also maye haue place to speake.

Illud stude quod iustum est.

Be not effectionate to the thynge, that shoulde be a reproche for thee to doe.

Amorem libenter ferto.

Hatred is by all meanes to be fled, and loue desyred. And though the person be scase worthye to be loued agayne, yet suffer thy selfe to be loued.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gradus p••¦••tatis.
• * 1.2

  ☞
• * 1.3

  Ab r••. i. temere, si∣ne causa.
• * 1.4

  wretches are ra∣ther to be pitied thē skorned.
• * 1.5

  Tuto, abuerbe safelye,
• * 1.6

  alias, debes
• * 1.7

  Consultus is he y^• mē aske coū∣saile of in the law, & Consultor is the cli∣ent that asketh counsaile