Cocker's morals, or, The muses spring-garden adorned with many sententious disticks & poems in alphabetical order : fitted for the use of all publick and private grammar and writing schools, for the scholars of the first to turn into Latin, and for those of the other to transcribe into all their various and curious hands / by Edward Cocker.

H

HE well begins to run in Virtues Race, Who separates the Noble from the Base.

He that would learn to be an honest Man, Let him view all the vicious ways he can; And note their various windings and their Ends; This sure, will make him one of Virtues Friends.

He that begins to run in Virtues Race Must not look back, but strive to mend his pace.

Him I esteem a man of the first Rate, Who lives contented with a mean Estate.

He who Time's Golden Sand does well apply, Lays Earnest for a blest Eternity.

He's truly wise, he's a right honest Lad, Who rightly can distinguish Good from Bad: And having made this nice Distinction right, Does hate the bad, and in the good delight.

His mind feels Pangs of Death and pains of Hell, Wherein Divine contentment hates to dwell.

He bravely all Calumnious Baseness scorns, Whose unstain'd mind true Honesty adorns.

How wise are they, by whom the Dies are thrown, To know, if their own Mony be their own!

How soon might he, that's a meer Dunce by Nature, By Industry become another Creature!

He's truly learned whose tenatious Brain, The Quintessence of Wisdom can retain; And can, both for his own, and others Use, In season the rare Fruits thereof produce; But who loves Ignorance before choice Knowledge, A Doctor may commence in Gotham College.

How many by wise management of Time, From low Degrees, have mounted to sublime!

How happily should we vain Mortals live, Could we good Councel take, as soon as give!

He that the most his own will can deny, With Gods most holy will may most comply.

How pleasantly they have the World at will, Who can their Bags with Gold and Silver fill;

His ripe Discretion always is in season, Who can his Passions ballance with right Reason.

He to some height of Knowledge does advance, Who knows how to conceal his Ignorance.

Hear, See, and say the best; for that's the way, To live in peace, as wise men know and say.

He that receives a Courtesie, remains, Till his Retaliation, bound in Chains.

Health before VVealth prefer; VVealth commonly, Is Vassal to ingenious Industry.

How will he answer't on the Reck'ning day, Who runs in Debt, and takes no care to pay?

Husband your Time well; Squander not away, The pretious patrimony of a day.

How many thousands please themselves to Death! Whose Viands, choice and rare, obstruct their Breath.

He that's exalted on the Wings of Praise, Is wise, if humbly, he himself surveys.

How many beauteous, Face-affecting Lasses, Neglect their Graces, to attend their Glasses.

How dark's the Lesser Worlds sad Winters Night, VVhen Reasons radiant Rays do not enlight.

Having a Conscience uncontaminate, Mind not what vulgar Tongues of thee may Prate.

He that all others Business lets alone, Has the more time wherein to mind his own.

Hope's that Alexipharmical, whose rare, And Sovereign Virtue antidotes Despair.

Hast thou wrong'd any Man? make satisfaction: And scorn to Stoop to an Ignoble action.

How quickly Learners would by too much Play, Learn to forget the business of the Day!

Here the four Virtues Cardinal advance; Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Temperance.

Hope not to rectify anothers Tongue, Since for your government your own's too strong.

Happy's the man, that is from Heav'n endu'd, With Prudence, Justice, Temp'rance, Fortitude.

He's a wright noble Soul, who bravely can forsake, His pleasure, when therein he might most pleasure take.

He whose Inheritance is only Time, Must manage that, with an ingenious Care; For Arts, and Parts, though never so sublime, Without our times improvement will impair. Your pretious moments squander not away; To the Industrious, every Month is May.

He that's injurious to another, he At the same time, so to himself must be.

He that for Pleasure, forfeits his Estate, Has bought repentance at too dear a Rate.

How joyful is a man, what satisfaction He reaps, having perform'd some noble Action!

How many have been totally destroy'd, For want of being honestly imploy'd.

He that contends with uncontrouled Tongues, May lose his Reason, and consume his Lungs.

He that loves Labour, courts immortal Fame; But Sloath is always waited on by Shame.

Hate Sensual Love; Love Love that may advance The Lover, to Loves bles'd Inheritance.

Honours may leave their Owners; Riches may Assume swift wings, and quickly fly away: But Learning, and the knowledge of rare Arts, That man the most enjoys that most imparts. Endeavour that your Breast and Brain, The best of Learnings Treasures may retain.