Preceptes of Cato with annotacions of D. Erasmus of Roterodame vere profitable for all [...]

Thales. 1.

FEare thy self, although without witnesse. Thou art so bolde, to committe vnclennesse.

Burrant. As in the plaie of tiktacke, if the ta∣ble men stand vpon a single poinct he is in daunger of lesyng: Euen so eue∣ry persone disposed and beyng not a feard to dooe sinne and naughtinesse while he is alone, the deuill will bee busie to tempt him, and putte him in daūger of lesyng of his soulle. Wher as in doublyng of his poinct, that is, in takyng some honest and godlie cō∣paniō with him, he shall saue his mā

that is to saie, his soulle, from dead∣ly sinne, into the whiche he had been ready to fall, if the witnesse had not been with him.

Thales. 2.

The life of man dooeth sone perishe. But the glorie of his death dooeth neuer diminishe.

Burrant. Some compare the life of man to a bubble, some to the lightnesse of a fether, some other to the gliding of a shadowe. And again, other there are that feineth it to hang by a heare, or a twined threde. But let theim com∣pare it to what brittle thing soeuer thei wil, very short it is in deede and sone gone. Therefore, if a man will by his godlie cōuersacion of life, and by his good dedes procure to himself an honest fame & good name, he maie liue long by the glorie of his good dedes emong men here in yearth, and through Christes demerites reigne

with God euerlastingly.

Thales. 3.

If thou entendest to dooe any se∣crete thing. Kepe it to thy self and be not therof bablyng.

Burrant. The nature of man is now adaies so subtile, the studie of euery man is for his awne profite so great, and so rare a thing it is to finde a true and a tru∣stie frend, that it is to harde to trust any bodie, yea, the wisest poinct of al is, for a manne entendyng any seri∣ous and secrete businesse whiche shal tourne him to any profite, to kepe it close to himself, and to make no man of his counsaill, least he bee preuen∣ted by him, to whom he trusted best, and so be beguiled of his purpose.

Thales. 4.

It is a tormēt that thing to be dreaded

whiche by no meanes can be auoided.

Burrant. A thief beyng vpon the gallowes, and perceiuyng that there is no waie but one, & that there is no other reme dy, but that he must hang and swinge in an halter, if he feare in this case, he doeth none other but make to him self a newe paire of galous while he hangeth, his minde beyng in doubte and feare of that thing that cannot be remedied, and so hangeth himself twise, doublyng his sorowe & grief.

Thales. 5.

when thou dooest chide earnestlie. Thou dooest litle helpe an enemie.

Burrant. As who would saie, it is better for a man, to haue a good cuffe of the eare of his foe, then the flattryng kisse of his feigned frend: for the open warre and debate, that I haue with mine e∣nemie, is a good helpe and meanes, how to learne to beware of him, and

how to kepe my self, that I come not into his reache. And so cā I not of my dissemblyng frend, whiche like a ve∣nemous serpent, stingeth priuely.

Thales. 6.

Any thing to litle, is not sufficient. But all is to litle, if thou be not content

Burrant. A meane in all thinges is good and commendable. For if the thing be o∣uermoche and superfluous, then is it not sufficiente, forasmoche as it can∣not serue our tourne, and the abun∣daunce of it, dooeth rather hinder vs then ferther. Of the contrarie, if the thing should bee ouer scant and litle, then are wee newe to seke. So that if the thing had been meane, be∣twene ouermoche and to litle, it had fitted vs very well.