Sales epigrammatum being the choicest disticks of Martials fourteen books of epigrams, and of all the chief Latin poets that have writ in these two last centuries : together with Cato's Morality / made English by James Wright.

CATO's DISTICKS OF MANNERS.

Book 4. Dist. 1,

Contemn Riches.

Riches despise, if a rich mind you'l have; Who admires Money, is to it a slave.

2. It is best to live according to the rules of nature.

Nature will alwayes give what doth befit, If you're content, and ask no more then it.

3. Manage thy affairs with reason.

Wanting fore-sight you hard fate undergo, Say not that fortune's blind, 'tis you are so.

4. Love Riches but for their use only.

Money for present use, not shew, require; Holy and honest men no more desire.

5. Spare not thy riches on thy health.

When thou hast money, spend it on thy health; Sick rich men want themselves, although no wealth.

6. Suffer a fatherly chastisement.

If you a Master's stripes can bear, receive And welcome more what thy vext-Parents give.

7. Attempt certain and profitable things.

What certain profit gives, let that be done; Erroncous things and things uncertain shun.

8. Give freely.

Give freely that that's ask'd if able; know Thou dost gain well, when thou dost well bestow.

9. A Suspition is to be examin'd incontinently.

Quickly the truth inquire that you suspect; Dangers come swift when usher'd by neglect.

10. Venus is to be overcome by abstinence.

When you to dangerous Venus condescend, Be not a glutten to the Belly's friend.

11. A had man is the worst wilde beast.

Each Animal is fear'd though ne're so small; But I advise fear one man more than all.

12. Prefer Wisdome to Strength.

If Nature strength, wisdome your self bestow Upon your self, and a true valour so.

13. A Friend is the Mind's Physician.

Help from thy Friend desire when thou art ill; A faithfull Friend is the best Doctor still.

14. A broken heart is the best sacrifice.

Why doth the harmless beast, when you sin, bleed? Folly, to think his blood doth cleanse thy deed.

15. Choose a Friend for manners.

When for a faithfull friend you do enquire, One rich in nothing but in mind desire.

16. Shun Avarice.

Vse Fortune's gift; what do you gain when she Doth Plenty give, yet live in Poverty?

17. Pleasure is an enemy to a good name.

If you would have Fame prayse what you have done, It will, if you dishonest pleasures shun.

18. Mock not Old age.

Mock not the faults which in Old age you find, For each Old body hath a Childish mind.

19. Riches are mortal, Art im∣mortal.

Thou something learn; fickle wealth flyes away, But Art remaining fixt with thee doth stay.

20. Manners are known by words.

Mind what is slyly said; for such words do Discover manners and conceal them too.

21. Art is to be helpt by use.

Though thou hast gain'd an Art, still practise it: Use helps the hand, as study doth the wit.

22. The contempt of life.

Value not much th' approach of thy last hour; Who contemns life, fears not death's fatal power.

23. Learn, and teach.

Learn of the Learn'd, teach the unlearned fry: The Doctrine of good things, so, multiply.

24. Drink with reason.

Drink but what's necessary, shun excess; Oft a Disease comes by Voluptuousnesse.

25. Condemn not that which thou hast approved of.

That disapprove not which you prays'd; be free From being guilty of inconstancy.

26. Be circumspect in both Fortunes.

When the calm smiles of Fortune raise thy state, Beware a change; if bad, hope better fate.

27. Wisdome doth increase by study.

Cease not to learn; Wisdome by it is known; By the long use of time 'tis seldome shown.

28. Praise sparingly.

Praise sparingly; one day will certain shew Whether the often prays'd be friend, or no.

29. Be not asham'd to learn.

'Tis no disgrace to learn an Art unknown; Knowledge deserves much prayse, ignorance none.

30. Use Sobriety in all things.

Pleasure, and Strife, Venus, and Bacchus move; Enjoy the good effects, bad disapprove.

31. Trust not the sad, and filent.

Who silent is and melancholly, shun; Smooth and untroubled the deep Rivers run.

32 Compare thy Fortune with another mans.

When you complain, mind others fate, and see In what respect Fortune's mote harsh to thee.

33. Attempt nothing beyond thy strength.

Begin what you to finish need not fail; Safer ith' Haven 'tis than Main to sail.

34. Be just to the just.

Be just unto good men, for oft no small And yet just judgements on the unjust fall.

35. Equally bear both For∣tunes.

Do not complain when thy Estate doth fall, Rather rejoyce that ill fate takes not all.

36. Bear with thy Friend.

Great losse is great vexation, yet there are Some things the which true Friends should patient bear.

37. Trust not to time.

Promise not many dayes, few, short, they be; Death, shadow-like doth alwayes follow thee.

38. What Sacrifice doth please God.

God loves not blood, his Altars do not stain; Incense to Heaven, the Calf to earth ordain.

39. Conceal thy dammage receiv'd of a great one.

To Fortune yield wrong'd by her Favourite; For he again may rise who can submit.

40. Chastise thy self.

Punish thy self when thou a sinner art; The smart of wounds is cur'd by adding smart.

41. Disapprove not of thy changed friend.

An Old friend disapprove not; though he be Now chang'd, yet think what he was once to thee.

42. Make use of a good turn.

Be thankfull unto him thy friend hath been, Least you the Sirname of Ingratefull win.

43. Be not suspicious.

Who are suspicious, miserable are; Such dying once dye to perpetual fear.

44. Be a man to thy man.

When you do Servants buy, although you will Them Servants call, know they are human still.

45. Take hold of occasion.

The first occasion take, least you again Lost opportunity re-ask in vain.

46. Rejoyce not at sodain death.

At Bad men's sodain death Joy do not shew; They only well do dye who did live so.

47. Is married, shun acquaintance.

Having a Wife, shun thou a feined Friend, Who thy few goods and richer fame may spend.

48. Alwaies learn.

Though learned, yet still learn, and shun the will Of being unwilling to be Scholar still.

49. Brevity helps memory.

You ask why I this way of writing take; Know brevity did bid me Disticks make.

THE END.

CATONIS DISTICHA DE MORIBUS.

Lib. 4. Dist. 1.

Divitiarum contemptus.

Despice divitias, si vis animo esse beatus; Quas qui suspiciunt, mendicant semper avari.

2. Vivere ad naturam opti∣mum.

Commoda naturae nullo tibi tempore deerunt, Si contentus eo fueris, quod postulat usus,

3. Res ratione agendae.

Cum sis incautus, nec rem ratione gubernes, Noli fortunam, quae non est, dicere coecam.

4. Amor pecuniae ad usum.

Dilige denarium, sed parce dilige formam: Quam nemo sanctus, nec honestus captat habere?

5. In valetudine ne opibus parcas.

Cum fueris locuples, corpus curare memento. Aeger dives habet nummos, sed non habet ipsum.

6. Castigatio paterna ferenda.

Verbera cum tuleris discens aliquando magistri, Fer patris imperium cum verbis exit in iram.

7. Certa & utilia agenda.

Res age quae prosunt: rursus vitare memento, In quibus error inest, nec spes est certa laboris.

8. Libenter donandum.

Quo donare potes, gratis concede roganti: Nam recte fecisse bonis in parte lucrorum est.

9. Suspitio statim expe∣dienda.

Quid tibi suspectum est, confestim discute quid sit: Namque solent, primo quae sunt neglecta, nocere.

10. Venus abstinentia cohibenda.

Cum te detineat Veneris damnosa voluptas, Indulgere gulae noli, quae ventris amica est.

11. Homo malus, fera pessima.

Cum tibi proponas animalia cuncta timere, Unum hominem tibi praecipio plus esse timendum.

12. Sapientia fortitudini praeferenda.

Cum tibi praevalidae faeriut in corpore vires, Fac sapias, sic tu poteris vir sortis haberi.

13. Amicus cordi medicus.

Auxilium à not is petito si forte laboras; Nec quisquam melior medicus quam fidus amicus.

14. Sacrificium, spiritus contribulatus.

Cum sis ipse nocens, moritur cur victima pro te? Scultitia est morte alterius sperare salutem.

15. Amicus ex moribus diligendus.

Cum tibi vel socium vel fidum quaeris amicum, Nón tibi fortuna est hominis, sed vita petenda.

16. Avaritia vitanda.

Utere quaesitis opibus, fuge nomen avari: Quid tibi divitiae prosunt, si pauper abundas?

17. Voluptas inimica famae.

Si famam servare cupis, dum vivis, honestam, Fac fugias animo, quae sunt mala gaudia vitae.

18. Senem etiam delirum ne irriseris.

Cum sapias animo, noli irridere senectam; Nam quicunque senex, sensus puerilis in illo est.

19. Opes fluxae, ars perpe∣tua.

Disce aliquid; nam cum subito fortuna recedit, Ars remanet, vitamque hominis non deserit unquam.

20. Mores ex verbis cogniti.

Omnia perspicito tacitus, quae quisque loquatur. Sermo hominum mores & celat, & indicat idem.

21. Ars usu juvanda.

Exerce studium, quamvis perceperis artem. Ut cura ingemum, sic & manus adjuvat usum.

22. Virae contemptus.

Multum ne cures venturis tempor a lethi; Non timet is mortem qui scit contemnere vitam.

23. Discendum & Docendum.

Disce sed à doctis, indoctos ipse doceto: Propaganda etenim rerum doctrina bonarum.

24. Bibendi ratio.

Hoc bibe quod profit, si tu vis vivere sanus: Morbi causa mali est homini quandoque voluptas.

25. No damnes quod proba∣veris.

Laudaris quodcunque palam, quodcunque probaris, Hoc vide ue rursus levitatis crimine damnes.

26. Circumspectus sis in utraque fortuna.

Tranquillis rebus quae sunt adversa caveto: Bursus in adversis melius sperare memento.

27. Studio crescit sapien∣tia.

Dicere ne cesses; cura sapientia crescit; Rara datur longo prudentia temporis usu.

28. Parce laudandum.

Parce laudato: nam quem tu saepe probaris, Una dies, qualis fuerit, monstrabit, amicus.

29. Discere ne pudeat.

Ne pudeat quae nescieris, te velle doceri. Scire aliquid laus est; pudor est nil discere velle.

30. Rebus utendum ad sobrietatem.

Cum Venere & Baccho lis est, & junct a voluptas; Quod lautum est animo complectere, sed fege lites.

31. Tristibus & tacitis non fidendum.

Demissos animo, ac tacitos vitare memento: Qua flumen placidum est, forsan latet altius unda.

32. Sors sorti confe∣renda.

Cum tibi displiceat rerum fortuna tuarum, Alterius specta, quo sis discrimine pejor.

33. Vltra vires nihil aggre∣diendum.

Quod potes id tenta; nam littus carpere remis Tutius est multo, quam velum tendere in altum.

34. Cum justo inique non contendendum.

Contra hominem justum prave contendere nosi; Semper enim Deus injustas ulciscitur iras.

35. Fotuna utraque aeque fe∣renda.

Ereptis opibus noli gaudere querendo: Sed gaude potius, tibi si contingat habere.

36. Ab amico quid ferendum.

Est jactura gravis, quae sunt amittere damnis: Sunt quaedam, quae ferre docet patienter amicum.

37. Tempori non confidendum.

Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vitae: Quocunque ingrederis, sequitur mors corporis umbra.

38. Deus quibus placandus.

Thure Deum placa, vittulum sine crescat aratro; Ne credas placare Deum, dum caede litatur.

39. A potentioribus laesus dissimula.

Caede locum laesus fortunae, cede potenti: Laedere qui potuit, prodesse aliquando valebit.

40. Castiga teipsum.

Cum quid peccaris, castiga te ipse subinde. Vulnera dum sanas, dolor est medicina doloris.

41. Amicus mutatus, non vitupe∣randus.

Damnaris nunquam post longum tempus amicum: Mutavit mores, sed pignora prima memento.

42. Beneficiorum collatio attendenda.

Gratior officiis quo sis mage, charior esto: Ne nomen subeas, quod dicitur officiperda.

43. Suspitionem tolle.

Suspectus caveas, ne sis miser omnibus horis; Nam timidis & suspectis aptissima mors est.

44. Humanitas erga servos.

Cum sueris servos proprios mercatus in usus, Et famulos dicas, homines tamen esse memento.

45. Occasionem rei commodae ne praetermittas.

Quam primum rapienda tibi est occasio prima, Ne rursus quaeras quae jam neglexeris ante.

46. Non laetandum de repentino obitu.

Morte repentina noli gaudere malorum: Faelices obeunt, quorum sine crimine vita est.

47. Pauper simulatum viter amicum.

Cum conjux tibi sit, nec res, & sama laboret, Vitandum ducas mimicum nomen amici.

48. Junge studium.

Cum tibi contingat studio cognoscere multa, Fac discas multa, & vites non velle doceri.

49. Brevitas memoriae amica.

Miraris verbis nudis me scribere versus? Hos brevitas sensus fecit conjungere binos.