¶ The purgacion of the slouthfull. Of the foolysh sonne and doughter, we must haue discretion, how and to whom we ought to preache, of sorowynge vpon the deed. A foole is not to be moche talked withall. Iniuryes and wronges do breake frende∣ship and amytye.
CAPI. XXII.
[ A] A Slouthful body is moulded of a stone of claye: he that toucheth him, must wash his handes agayn. A misnurtured sonne is the dishonour of the father. A folysh doughter shall be lytell regarded. A wyse doughter is an heretage vnto her husbande: but she that commeth to dishonesly, bryngeth her father in to heuynesse. A doughter that is past shame, dishonoureth bothe her father and her husbande: the vngodly shall regarde her, but they bothe shal dispyse her, the play∣inge of musycke is not mete where heuynes is, euen so is the correction & doctryne of wis∣dome euer vnpleasaunt vnto fooles.
Who so teacheth a foole, is euen as one [ B] that gleweth a pot sherde togyther: as one that telleth a tale to hym that heareth hym not, and as one that rayseth a man out of an heuye slepe. Who so telleth a foole of wys∣dome, is euen as a man, whiche speaketh to one that is a sl pe. When he hathe to tolde his tale, he sayth: what is the matter? When one dyeth, lamentacion is made for hym, be¦cause the lyght fayleth him: euen so let men mourne ouer a foole: for he wanteth vnder∣standynge.* 1.1 Make but lytle wepynge because of the deed: for he is come to rest, but the life of the foole is worse then the death. Seuen dayes do men mourne for hym that is deed, but ye lamētacyō ouer the vnwyse and vngod¦lye shulde endure all the dayes of their lyfe.
[ C] Talke not moch with a foole, and go not with hym that hath no vnderstandynge. Be∣ware of him, lest it turne the to trauayle, and thou shalt not be defyled with his synne. De¦parte from hym, and thou shalte fynde rest, & shalt not be wrothē back into his folishnes. What is heuyer then leade? And what shuld a foole be called els but leade? Sande, salt, and a lump of yron is easyer to beare,* 1.2 thē an vnwyse, foolysh, and vngodly man. Lyke as the bande of wod bounde togyther in the foundacion of the house can not be loosed, e∣uen so is it with the herte that is stablyshed in the thought of counsell. The thought of the wyse, shall neither feare ne be offended at any tyme.
Lyke as a fayre playstered wall in a wyn∣ter house, and an hyghe buyldynge, may not [ D] abyde the wynde and storme: euen so is a fo∣les herte afrayde in his ymagynacion: he fea¦reth at euerye thynge, and can not endure. He that nyppeth a mans eye, bryngeth forth teares: and he that prycketh the herte, bryn∣geth forth the meanynge and thought. Who so casteth a stone at the byrdes, frayth them awaye: and he that blasphemeth his frende breaketh the frendship: though thou drewest a swerde at thy frende, yet despayre not, for thou mayste come agayne to thy frende. If he speake sowrelye, feare not, for ye maye be agreed togyther agayne: excepte it be that thou blaspheme hym, dysdayne him o∣pen his secretes & wound him trayterously for all suche thynges, shall dryue awaye a frende.
Be faythfull vnto thy neyghboure in his pouertye, that thou mayste reioyce with hym [ E] also in his prosperity. Abide stedfast vnto him in the tyme of his trouble, that thou mayste be heyre with hym in herytage. Lyke as the vapour and smoke goeth ou•• at the ouen be∣fore the fyre, euen so euell wordes, rebukes and threatenynges go before bloudshedyng. Be not ashamed to defende thy frende: as for me. I wyll not hyde my face frome hym,* 1.3 though he shulde do me harme. Whosoeuer heareth it shall beware of him. Who shal set a watch before my mouth, & a sure scale vpō my lyppes, that I fall not with theym, and th••t my tonge destroye me not?