Haue care for all men, but confer with few,
And count faire words to be but as a dew.
Follow the time, finde humors, flatter pride,
And praise the Groom, but only please the Bride.
Str••ue not with great ones, meddle not with small,
••or trifles trouble not thy selfe at all.
Frequent the Church, make shew of great deuo∣tion
And be not bashfull to receiue promotion.
Looke big at beggers, weare thy cloathes neat,
And spen•• not to much money at thy meat.
Saue thy horse-meat at thy couzins stable,
And take thy trencher at anothers table.
Breake iests on cowards, but take heede of knaues,
And loue no bawds for they are beastly slaues.
Be perfect in Arithmeticks close Art,
In all accompts to make a sauing part.
Obserue the Lyon, doe not stirre the Beare,
And loue the Woolfe but only for the haire.
Learne of the Asse to beare, the Dogge to wait.
And of the Ape to counterfet conceit.
Catch not at flies, they are but swallowes food,
But loue the meat that nourisheth the blood.
Feed like a Woolfe on blood whilst it is warme.
He is a foole that feeles anothers harme.
Yet scome as kinde as he that seemes to crie,
To see him sicke, whom he would wish to die.
Take heed of interest, sell nor gage no land,
And from assurance euer keepe thy hand.
Take no mans word, for coine is hard to get,
And t'is a custome (now) to pay no debt.