The dialoges of creatures moralysed. Applyably and edificatyfly, to euery mery and iocounde mater, of late tra[n]slated out of latyn into our Englysshe tonge right profitable to the gouernaunce of man. And they be to sell, vpo[n] Powlys churche yarde.

¶ Of the Euyn sterre & the morowe sterre. Dialogo. Quarto. (Book 4)

VEsperus is callyd the night sterre / and Lucifer the day sterre / which apperith in the mornyng. These two sterrys / gadryd togider all other sterrys & went with one assent to the creato^r & maker of all sterrys / & made vnto hym theyr sapplicacyon and sayde / Gracious Lorde thow arte a good maker / and we therfore thanke the / for thow haste ordeynyd & bestowyd vs in the best wise. But for thys cawse we be trowblyd that owre beawte & brightnes is not alwaye shewed. Therfore lorde we mekely beseche

the / to take the lyghte fro th•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make hym darke that owre bryghtnes in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tyme may appere & be shewyd. To whom the lorde & maker answered & sayd your peticion is not lawfull for the sonne is the garnys∣sher of the day / The distrybutour of howrys / the Ory¦gynall of all thynges growynge / and without hym no thyng maye encreace. Therfore I wyllnot condescende to your peticion for it is not exaudible / nor worthy to be alowyd. Wherfore the sterrys seyng they cowlde not haue their desire went ageyn togydre & fourmed a newe peticiō & offeryd it to thier maker & sayd. O blessid lorde & maker of all creatures / we beseche the at least to drye vp & put a waye the clowdis out of the ayre the whiche lette our bryght lyght to be shewyd For ostyntymes for their lettyng. we may not apree / nor be knowyn as we be. And therfore lowly we pray the / that where as our first askyng was denyed vs / of thy godenes grant vs this seconde peticion & desyre. The lorde & maker consi∣deryng their symples / gaue theym this answer with a sad countenance and sayd. Holde your peas & desire not vnlefull thynges / for I wyll not graunt them / for it is wryttyn in the boke of Caton / Aske that is righfull / & that y^t semyth honest. y^e clowds be necessary though ye thinke contrary For they with their rayn moystē therth If no rayne shulde fall the erth cowde not be frutefull & with this answer he put the sterrys from their desyre and sayde thus in this wyse.

That peticion may Iustly be denyed Whiche at no tyme to Reason is applyed.

MAn by this example it apereth that he that wyl be herd in his prayers or in his supplicacion / must aske the thinges that be rightfull / honest and resonable to be graunted. Wherfore saynt Austyn sayth / whan ye

aske the thynges whiche god laudeth & promyseth / thē is your askynge sure / for y^t peticyō is sone granted of god Therfore Isyder sayth trewe. Many men praynge / be nat herd in theyr askyng. For god granteth them better & more for theyr welth / then they desyre. Seneca telleth in y^e ij. booke of benefits / y^t a ••teyn persone on a tyme as∣ked j. d. of Alexāder / & he gaue hym an hole town. And whan the peticyoner thanked alexander & sayd he was nat worthy nor able to receyue so great a gyfte / alexan∣der answered & sayd natto hym. I retayne in my mynde what becōmeth y^e to aske / but what becmoth me to gyue So almyghty god doth / for oftentymes he granteth nat our askyng / becawse he wyll auaunce our peticyon with a better / & more profitable rewarde. And therfore sayth Isidor. Som tymes god hereth nat many folkes to their plesure. for he wyll gracyously here them to theyr more profyte and helthe.