The Godly aduertisement or good counsell of the famous orator Isocrates, intitled Parænesis to Demonicus wherto is annexed Cato in olde Englysh meter.

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¶ Here begynneth the boke of Cato both in Latyn and Englyshe. (Book 1)

SI deus est animus nobis vt carmina dicunt. Hic tibi praecipue sit pura mē∣te colendus.

¶ For thy that god is inwardly the wytte Of man, and geuith him vnderstanding As dite is sayne, therfore shal thou vnshitte Thyne hert to thy soueraine lord and king Principally aboue all other thyng: Geuing him laude honour and reuerence, Whiche hath endowed the with exulence.

Plus vigila semper nec somno dedi∣tus esto, Nam diuturna quies vicijs alimenta ministrat.

A wake my chyld, and loue no slogardie: In long slepe and loke thou neuer delite, Yf thou purpose, to worshyp for to stie. Longe slepe and slouth, to vices men exite, It makith dull, it makith inperfite It fosterich vp the filthes of the flesshe, It wastith eke, and pallith blodes freshe.

Virtutem primam puta, esse, compe∣scere linguam. Proximus ille deo, qui sit ratione tacere.

Trust well also, the first of vertues alle, As to be stil, and kepe thy tongue in mewe: Of tonge vntide muche harme may falle: Leue me well, this is as gospell trewe, Who can dalians of tongue esshewe, And rest with reason, this is the vray texte To god aboue that man is alder nexte.

Sperne repugnando tibi tu contra∣rius esse. Conueniet nulli, qui secum decidet ipse.

Auyse the well, that thou neuer trauerse Thyne own sentēce, for therof cometh sha∣me. Say not one & eft cōtrary reherse, such repugnāce, wil make thy honourlame Where stedfastnes, wil cause y^• good fame. For he shal neuer accorde with man alyue: That w^e himself, will ay repugne & striue.

Si vitam inspicias hominum, si deni{que} mores. Cum culpas alios, nemo sine crimine viuit.

If thou aduertise and beholde aboute, The lyfe of men, and the maners also,

Bothe of thy selfe, and other there without In myddell earth, thou shalt fynde, who That in some part, is to vertu fo. Blame no man therfore, if thou doe ryght: Sith in earth lacles, lyueth no wyght.

Quae no citura tenes, quamuis sint chara relinque. Vtilitas opibus, praeponi tempore debet.

If y^• suppose thinges shall annoye & greue, Though they be dere & of right great price, Suche as suffreth not thy profit If the lust to be ruled, as the wyse Absteine the frō suche thynges in al wyse. For it is more wysdome in sothfastnesse, To preferre profite, than suche rychesse.

Constans & leuis, vt res expostulat esto. Temporibus mores, sapiens sine cri∣mine mutat.

It is a good lesson for the nones, A wyght now to be tēpred with cōffaunce, And to be mery and glad eftsones: Not alway sad, ne lyght of countenaunce. A mans chere may full oft auaunce: For at eche tyme, as the thyng requireth, So the wyse man visageth and chereth.

Nil timere vxori de seruis crede querenti. Soepe etenim mulier, quem coniunx diligit odit.

Geue not credence alway to thy wyfe, That for her yre, and her vnpacience With sharper tong, thā is swerde or knife, Playneth on thy seruaūt, though no offēce Thou finde in him: lerne wel this sentence The wyfe wyll hate, & cause for to smerte Oftimes him, her husband loueth w^e herte.

Cum{que} mones aliquem, nec sevelit esse moueri. Si tibi sit charus, noli desistere coeptis,

And if thou warne a wyght of his forfayte: Although he grudge w^t frowing coūtenāce And in his language; manace the & thrate: Yet forbere not for all suche displesaunce. To teache him to amende his gouernaunce As thou began, corecte that is amysse, And that is a frendly tuche ywysse.

Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis. Sermo datur cunctis animi sapien∣cia paucis.

Against the wordy folke ay full of wynde, Striue not at all, it may the not profite: Such Iayissh people, ben in cōceites blinde

The witlesse worde, auayleth not a myte. In many wordes, is wysdome oft full lyte. For to euery wyght, is geuen speche, And yet the wyse full oft ben to seche.

Dilige sic alios, vt sis tibi charus amicus. Sic bonus esto bonis, ne te mala damna sequantur.

Loue other men, and haue them so in chere That to thy self, thy loue may moste extēde: Let no persone, be to the more dere Than thy estate, for thē shalt thou offende. And hurt thy selfe and other folke amende. But ay loue other and cherysshe them fo, That to thy selfe thou be not founden foo.

Rumores fuge, ne incipias nouus au∣tor haberi. Nam nulli tacuisse nocet, nocet esse locutum.

Rumours newe that flyen as the wynde, Eschue my chylde with all thy diligence: Be neuer besy, newe tidynges to fynde, Suche nouelte, causeth oft offence, It is no wit it is no sapience. It hurteth not a man to be in peace, But it doth harme, to put his tōg in preace

Rem tibi promissam, certain promit∣tere noli. Rara fides ideo, quia multi multa loquuntur.

Make no promyse of other mens behelfe, Remebre the well, that promesse is vnsure: And but thou kepe thine, thy name y^• sleest, To serue thy behest do thy besy cure. Trust not the worde of euery creature, Some mennes feyth is easy to breke: For many folke thynke not, as they speke.

Cum te aliquis laudat, iudex tuus esse memento. Plus alijs de te, quam tu tibi credere noli.

With wordes faire, whan fauel sedeth the: Be thou not blind, for al his false flatterie, Let thine own reason alway, thy iudge be. And in effecte, if thyne estate be hie, though fauel w^t his craft, wold blinde thine eye, In all thy lyfe, thou neuer gene credence, More to thy selfe, than to thy concience.

Officium alterius, multis narrare me∣mento. At{que} aliis cum tubenefeceris ipse si∣leto.

Whan thou seest another mannes deserte, As for his good dedes comendable, In euery place prsuie and perte, Suche a wight, w^t thy good word enhable. And though y^u haue ben right amyable, Of thy good dede, make thou none-auaūce: And than other mē, shal thy name enhaūce.

Multorum cum facta, senex & dicta recentes. Factibi succurrant, iuuenis quae fece∣ris ipse.

And thou liuelōg, an olde mā shalt thou be, Age wyll aproche, maugre in who say nay. Than aperceyue, beholde about and se, How aged folke been entreated euery daye, And so to puruoye for thy selfe assaye, Into stouping age whan thou art crept, Thyng may y^• helpe, y^• in yougth was kept.

Ne cures si quis tacito sermone lo∣quatur. Concius ipse sibi, de se putat omnia dici.

Care not, although some men speke softe, Ne change no chere: for oft it is ful bet In secrete wyse to speke, than crie on loft A man should s•• alway where he were set, And after that so should he speake or let. But to the suspect of harme it semeth, Men speke of hym, he none other demeth.

Cum fueris felix, quae sunt aduersa caueto, Non eodem cursu, respondent vlti∣ma primis.

Whan fortune, hath geuen them felicite, And set the on hie, than ware of a falle,

Than sueth oft, full sharpe aduersite, Fals fortune turneth as doth a balle, In her haue thou no sekernes at alle. Her perilous play, sumtime turneth to gra me: Thende is woo, of that began with game.

Cum dubia et fragilis, sit nobis vita tributa. In mortem alterius, spem tu tibi po∣nere noli.

Our bretel lyfe, is here so full of doubte, That in veray surerye no wight may stand Lo sodeynly crepeth the soules oute, All aboutes this worlde in euery land Of yong & olde: for euery wight is bounde To deth: therfore set not thyne affiaunce In deth of him, ther may suruine pchaūce.

Exi guum munus cum det tibi pauper amicus. Accipito placide, plene et laudare memento.

A lytle gift, geuen with good entent, Of thy frend y^• lyueth in pouerte, With ryght good chere, suche giftes take & hent, Supposyng ay, that as good wyll hath he And more, than many men that ryche be. Prayse not the gift, ne pondre not the price Thentent is good and that shal the suffice.

Infantem nudum, cum te natura creauit. Paupertatis onus, pacienter ferre memento.

Syth nature, that was thy fyrst norice, Hath brought the hyther all naked & bare, Though thou can neuer richesse accōplice, But y^u art hold, alwaye in pouerties snare: Yet no force make neuer to muche care, Take paciently pouerte for the beste, Ryches is not of nature, but of queste.

Ne timeas illam, que vite est vltima finis. Qui mortem metuit, quod viuit per∣dit idipsum.

Though deth be fine of euery creature, And no wyght on lyue, may it escape, Yet drede not deth with ouerbesy cure. To lyue in erth, than is it but a Iape, If thou after death alwaye so gape. Thinke wel to die, but modifie thy thought Or elles to lyue, auaileth the right nought.

Si tibi pro meritis, nemo rn̄det amic{us} Incusare deū noli, sed te ip̄e coherce.

For thy desert, if no wyght thanke the, I meane, whā y^u hast done thy force & paine To other folke frendly for to be: If they can not to the gramercy sayne,

Withdraw thy selfe, & so thy hand refrayne Blame not thy god, for their vnfrēdlinesse: But for such folke, do afterwarde the lesse.

Ne tibi quid desit, quaesitis vtere parce Vt{que} quod est serues, semper tibi de∣esse putato.

Sith y^• no riche mā, liueth there any where If he consume his goodes all and wast, But y^• pouerte shal greue him sore & dere: Therfore my chylde, such goodes as y^• hast, Let not to s••ne, out of thy hand be raft, Lest y^• thy goodes hereafter wil the fayle: Holde that thou hast, it may the oft auayle.

Quod praestare potest, ne bis promi∣serisvlli. Ne sis vētosus, dūvis bon{us} ip̄e videri

Behete no man a thing, to lene him twyse, And fayle hym, that is but vilany. If thou may lene, do it in frendly wyse, Such cheuissaūce, wil frendlynesse bewrie. Of thy good dedes, clamour not necrie, Be not wordy ne of wordes breme, If a good man, the lust to apere and seme.

Qui similar verbis, nec corde est fidus amicus. Tu quo{que} fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.

And if thou finde, the son of doublenesse, The fals flatterer, if thou espie, with painted word, & hert full of falsnesse:

Thou maiest in no wise better blere his eie Than serue him with his owne trecherie. For wordes faire, & frendlynesse no parte: Geue him the same, & arte begile with arte.

Noli homines blandos nimium ser∣mone, probare. Fistula dulce canit, volucrem dum de¦cipit auceps.

Preue not a mā, with ouer peynted speche, Vnder faire wordes, is oft couert gile. The worde is gay, but frēdship is to seche, And as men say, suche craf is in this yle: some thinke harme, whā thei her tōges file The whystling fowler, maketh mery song And yet the byrdes, begileth he among.

Cum tibi sint nati, nec opes: tunc ar∣tibus illos. Instrue, quo possint inopem defen∣dere vitam.

Whan y^e god hath geuen the children fele, And riches small, than do you in this wise. Teche thy children with craftes for to dele, That by their art, they may thēself cheuise. If y^u do thus, thā workest thou as the wyse, Craft is good, and craft is lucratife, By craft, they may defende the nedy lyfe.

Quod vile est, carū: quod carum est, vile putato. Sic tibi nec cupidus, nec auarus nos∣ceris vlli.

Haue this conceite, for it is often saine, Thynges dere, shal ofte abate of pryse: And thynges that of lytle value bene In tyme comynge, maye to derth aryse, Remembre this, & it wel aduertise: Thus shal thou best, y^e name of chincherye fleme And other mē, shal y^• no nigarde deme.

Quae culpare soles, ea tune feceris ipse. Turpe est doctori cū culpa redarguit ipsum.

Auyse the wel, let reason be thy guyde Whan other mē thou art about to blame, That suche defaute be not in the espyede For if ther be, thā shall thou haue y^• shame Amās honour suche thinges wyl reclame. It is ful foull whan y^•a man wyll teche Yf his owne dedes, against his wordes pre∣che

Quod iustū est, petito: vel quod vide∣atur honestū Nam stultū est petere, quod possit¦iure negari.

Loke thy desyre, be grounded in a right And that it neuer trauers honeste For as often tymes as wyght Desyreth more than right and equite Than may his request repeled be And it is clepud nycete and grete folye To aske oft that men wyl ay denye▪

Ignotum tibi, tu noli praeponere notis Cognita iudicio cōstant, incognita casu.

Chaūge not thy frēd, that y^u knowest of old, For any newe, in trust y^• thou shalt fynde Better than he: but in thy handes holde Him, that to y^• hath frendly been and kinde: Suche changes ben full often blynde Thou wenest to know, & yet knowest y^u not a dele To knowe a frende, it is ful casuale

Cū dubio incertis versetur vita periculis Pro lucro tibi pone diē, quicū{que} laboras.

Sithe mannes lyfe is ful of myserie, Some tyme in myrth, and after in mischiefe Now in the dale, Now in the mounte on hie Now man is pore, and oft ryches relefe The shynyng morow, hath oft a stormy eue To this polycie, take hede and entende: Loke thou haue lucre in thy labours ende.

Vincere cū possis, interdū sede sodali: Obsequeo qm̄ dulces retinentur amici.

Though y^u may be venged, & haue victorie Of thy frende & felowe, yet y^u must forbere, Refraine thy selfe, be not to haute ne hie: Irous hastines, ful ofte men doth dere, where easy softnes, frendes may conquere, For by good dedes set in holines, Men ben togyder knet in frendlynes

Ne dubites cum magna petas, impē∣dere parua. Hiis etenim rebus coniungit gratia charos.

The lymytour that visiteth the wiues, Is wyse enough, of him a man may lere, To geue pynnes, purses, and knyues, This crafte is good, so doth the sely frere. Geue thinges smale for thinges y^• ben dere If y^• receiue, geue somewhat ay agayne, And that wil norishe frendes dere certaine.

Litem inferre caue, cum quo tibi gra∣tia iuncta est. Ira odium generat, concordia nutrit amorem.

Touile not, ne striue w^t him y^• is thy frend▪ Beware of y^•, make not thy frend thy foo: A touyllous man may frendship & shende. These baratours that ben misruled soo, Entryp them selfe and wrap in much woo. for Ire of kinde, ēgēdreth nought but hate, Where as accorde, norysheth loue algate.

Seruorum ob culpam cum te dolor v•• get in iram: Ipse tibi moderare, tuis vt parcere possis.

Whan thy seruaūt thou takest in defaute, Though he can not his negligence excuse,

Yet in thyne yre, make not to ••yers assaute: But with thy haste a while take truse, Thou shalt finde ease, this fete if y^• can vse. Rule thy passion ay by suche mesure: That thou saue, that ben vnder thy cure.

Quem superare pores, interdū vince ferendo: Maxima etenim morum est, semper patientia virtus.

Sufferaūce doth ease, was said ful lōg ago, Suffre, and haue all thyne entent, Though thou may ouercome yet do not so. Conquere through sufferaūce, & be paciēt, But to foule cruelte neuer consent. For it is cleped in vertue excellence, Awight to lyue in humble pacience.

Conserua potius quae sunt iam parta labore. Cum labor in damno est, crescit mor∣talis egestas.

Be not to scant, be not to prodigall, Conserue thy thing gotten with laboure: It is full fayre, to be sayd liberall, But eschewe wast, and be no surfetoure, Consume not all thy treasure in an houre, Whan of thy laboure ryseth none auayle: Nedy pouerte muste the full sone assayle.

Dapsilis interdum notis et charis amicis. Cum fueris foelix, semper tibi proxi∣mus esto.

Be not lyke zenola, for he woulde ete With euery man, & at their feest him fede: But neuer man, might tasten of his mete, No man to him, but he to al men yede. Be free of mete, but loke y^• largesses lede The no ferther, than thou may well attain. be thin own frēd, for this saith cato certain ¶ Take hede sir, howe holsomly this clerke Entreateth men by vertuos doctrine Thys fyrst part of his compendious werke In worship howthei shal ful clerely shine, Guyding to renowne streght as any lyne: whose preceptes obserue if ye list, And to his good coūsail, your hertes encline Kight in your welth ful wel it shal be wist The vertues foure, y^• men shold forth cōuey Lo in this life, as brydel doth a beeste, That men not erre in this perilous waye, Stablisshinge him as doth a stedfast reest. As sikur guydes, y^• ben worthyest Mannes lyuing to sette in gouernaunce, This sage Cato, full wysely doth regest, Prenteth his sawes in your remembraūce.