Castle of Labour, The

sig: [A1]

¶Here begynneth the castell of laboure .

sig: [A1v]

sig: [A2]

Here begynneth the prologe of this present treatyse.

O ye mortall people that desyre to obtayne O] 1506 omits

Eternall blysse by your labour diligent

Wt mortal riches subdue you to payne

To rede this treatyse to the right entent

Whiche shall shewe you playne and euydent.

That idelnes moder of all aduersyte

Hyr subiectes bryngeth to extreme pouertye.

The ryche by Idelnesse to pouertye ar brought

By it the oratour leseth his scyence.

The great clerke by it is set at nought.

Thus is it ennemye vnto sapyence.

Wherfore let vs do our diligence.

This leude capytayne fro vs to exyle

Whyche nought entendeth but man to begyle.

Idell people euer troubled ar with thought.

With indigence mys[ad]uenture and necessyt[e] mysaduenture] mysdauenture 1505; necessyte] necessyt 1505, necessyte 1506

And in the snare whan they ar cought

They ar enuyroned with pouertye.

Than cometh disconforte in theyr aduersyte.

And also dispayre them doth manace.

And thought and trouble euer dothe them chace.

Therfore ye people that be subiecte to this vyce.

By your great sleuth and neglygence.

Brake your bondes / I aduyse you to aryse

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And to these wordes gyue your aduertence

Whiche wyse-man saythe in brief sentence. wyse] the wyse 1506

Who laboureth nat to get his lyuynge

Is nat worthy here to haue abidynge.

¶Thus whan this vyce a man dothe assayle.

Of sleuthfulnes and of ocyosyte

By theyr meanes dothe ryches fayle.

What foloweth than but pouertye.

Thus tourneth his welthe vnto aduersyte.

So of his foly dothe he repente.

Than echone to hym dothe iniurye.

Which oft to vs appereth euydent.

¶Therfore to vs it is ryght profytable

For to take reason for to be our gyde.

Wyth vnderstandynge / whiche ar agreable

Vs for to gouerne in euery tyde.

Wherby we may / yf sleuthe be set asyde

Ouercome pouerte and obteyne rychesse.

And dystroy thought mysfortune and distresse

¶But mannys mynde is full vnstedfaste.

More prone to vyce than to godlynesse. godlynesse] goodlynesse 1506

And whan by vyce man thus is ouercast

Than cometh disceyte / vserye and falsnesse.

Counsaylynge man all to vnthryftynesse.

Thus yf that reason be nat our frende and gyde. benat] be not 1506

Trouthe shall decay / by falshode and pryde.

But who wolde lyue in meane moderate.

sig: A3

And by way of dilygence rich[e]sse purchace richesse] richsse 1505, rychesse 1506

Good-wyll must he haue to be his aduocate

With a gode herte / for therin is solace

Intencyon to gode / must we purchace.

And than may we lyue bytwene hye and lowe

By suche meane that our frendes may vs knowe

In this lyfe can none haue skarsnesse

Whyle that reason is his protectour.

If he in labourynge take payne and besynesse

Auoydynge sleuthe that blynde gouernour.

Whiche man assayleth euery day and hour

Wherby ar many brought to distresse

But dilygence bryngeth man vnto rychesse vnto] to 1506

By whiche rychesse man cometh to noblesse

Whiche to vertue is as cheyf nouryse.

Therfore leue we sleuthe drawynge to besynesse

Enclynynge to vertue and leuynge couetyse.

Thus is it gode to eche that is wyse

Remembrynge howe sone he shall haue an ende

In trouthe and vertue his short tyme to spende

Thus in conclusyon who redeth this treatyse

To the rude langage gyue none aduertence

It is but wryten the tyme to exercyse

Without study / payne / or dylygence.

Wyth style inor[na]te / voyde of eloquence inornate] inorante 1505, inornate 1506

Expressynge the wayes of dilygence and Idelnesse

The one of pouertye the other of rychesse

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¶Thus endeth the prologe. And begynneth the castell of laboure .

IN musinge an eueninge w[ith] me was none with] whit 1505, with 1506. While whit(=with) is a possible form, with is the usual form in the copytext.

An olde prouerbe cam in my subuenaunce

A naturall foule in a hous alone

Wyll make for hym-self shyft or cheuisaunce

Than cam in-to my remembraunce.

A circumspect of many dygnitees circumspect ='state of watchfulness or circumspection, vigilant and cautious observation of circumstances or events'; see OED s.vv. circumspect n, circumspection n, 1b

Fro whiche a man hauynge suffisaunce

Wythdraweth his herte as fro vanitees

It is ay sene that youthes lustynesse

For to subdue is harde and daungerous

Some lyue in ioy / pleasure and gladnesse

Fortune to some is right contrarious

sig: A4

Some dethe tacheth in theyr estate prosperous tacheth ='lays hold of'; see OED s.v. tache v2, 2

Whome he ouerthroweth with his mortall blast

Thus goeth the worlde / none is so eurous eurous ='lucky'

But outher must he dye fyrste or last

A yonge harte is vnstable and volage

And knoweth nat in what estate to byde

Some-tyme disposed vnto maryage

Somtyme to serue god the worlde set asyde

Thus as my mynde varyenge dyd glyde

I thought it moste for myne auauntage.

Desyrynge god for to be my gyde

Fermely I concluded vpon mariage.

Thus hauynge all my frendes at assent

In short processe I puruayed me a wyfe

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Wythout wysdome / yet was I content

To hyr to kepe the dayes of my lyfe

I thought no-thynge on wynynge losse or stryfe

She vnto me lyghtly dyd consent

Than in an euenynge sad and pensyfe

By hyr lyenge symple of myne entente

Sodaynly I was in great daunger

For to me ferysly dyd appere ferysly: =fiercely; the 1506 text reads fyersly

An odyous man / an vnknowen straunger

With thre women cruell of manere

This company to me approched nere.

Whan that I them togeder sawe assemble

So cruell was theyr countenaunce and chere

That fere constrayned my body for to tremble

The man was mysshapen / pale and rusty rusty ='presenting an appearance suggestive of something old and rusted'; see OED s.v. rusty adj.1, 3

Rude / foule and right abhomynable

The wymen also as I coude spye

Of shape were foule and detestable.

Theyr chere was yll and myserable

With countenaunce replenysshed with ire

Lene as any wolf rauysable rauysable: =ravisable, 'ravenous'

Theyr iyen brynnynge as rede as fyre.

The man approched fyers as he wolde fyght

Wyth straynge iyen / and sayde his name was nede straynge] starynge 1506

His wyfe sayde necessyte she hyght.

The seconde pouertye / and the thyrde in-dede

Hyr named distresse so thought I by hyr wede.

sig: [A5]

Than I desyred to knowe theyr lynage

Pouerty was theyr moder full of drede

This tolde they me in breyf langage.

Touchynge theyr fader they coude nat denye

But that he dwelt in the depest pyt of hell

Whan I that harde right sore aferde was I

Than nede approched with countenaunce cruell

Myne body streynynge so that it dyd swell

Necessyte me so sore dyd handle

So that sothly it semed right well

Or that she went she wolde me strangle

Than sodaynly cam pouertye

Whiche me tourmented with rudenesse

Than with great crudelyte.

Upon my bely lept distresse

They all abounded in cruelnesse

On me smytynge with all theyr myght

Disgorgynge fyre in theyr fyersnesse

Vpon me as a torche-lyght.

Some at me foyned / some smote downe-ryght

That the strokes loude dyd redounde

For all my payne / durynge that nyght

My wyfe euer slept styll and sounde

She in hyr pleasour dyd habounde

And wolde nat wake for my dysease

For yf I were brought to the grounde

I trowe she cared nat a pease

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AS she thus slept and I in payne

With these foure fures dyd endure

To me approche I sawe certayne

A foule and counterfayted creature counterfayted ='misshapen, of monstrous form'; see OED s.v. counterfeited ppl. a, 2

Odius / proude and fyers I you ensure

And by the hande she toke me fast

She thought hyr purpose to procure

And drewe myne armes that they nere brast

This false witche me so dyd greue

Whiche by hyr name was called thought

That vneth coude I me remeue

Thus vnto dethe she me nere brought.

Of wordes and tales she wanted nought

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Euer she talked I wot nat what

And behynde hyr a vylayne coughed coughed] cought 1506

That was as blereiyed as a cat.

BEynge in this perturbacyon

This churle on me gaped full wyde

I fered sore his intencyon

100

Whan that I sawe hym by my syde

He loked as he had ben fryed

Of shape and colour he was ful vyle he was] was he 1506

Than he began with me to chyde

In his langage whiche was subtyle

105

Upon my bely he set his knees

And sayde his name was heuynesse

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Wyth scarled bordred were his iyes scarled: =scarlet

Bolde and full of vnlustyn[e]sse Bolde] Balde 1506; vnlustynesse] vnlustynsse 1505, vnlustynesse 1506

He semed fader of all vnthryftynesse

110

Iagged and gardyd full vngay. Iagged and gardyd ='(with clothing) ragged and tricked out'

With a face fylled with falsnesse

Berdyd lyke to a kytlynge of may. kytlynge ='cub, whelp, kitten'

Hym to beholde I was dismayde

Howe he of thynges fast dyd clatter fast] past 1506

115

Many a newe tale to me he sayde

He had well lerned for to patter

Of thynges to come fast dyd he chatter

Byddynge me call them to remembraunce

He lyst no-thynge with me to flatter

120

But put me to extreme vtteraunce.

He bad I shulde remember my dettes

And brought me forthe my countynge-boke

He shewed me there of my receptes

And me compelled theron to loke

125

By fere constrayned my body quoke my] me 1506

That powre was past me for to speke

That rybawde fered me with his loke

That conforte to me coude I none t[a]ke. take] toke 1505, take 1506

Of his turmente what sholde I say

130

I neuer was in suche encumbraunce

He bode styll and went nat a_way

And dyd me moche more greuaunce

Than all the other by theyr noysaunce

sig: [A7]

And turned me fro syde to syde

135

To slepe he lefte me no suffraunce

But fersely styll at me dyd chyde

¶This false caytyf by his cruelnesse

Troubled me that my wyt was gone

He put me in so great distresse

140

That my herte was colde as any stone.

I knewe nat to whome me for to mone

So was I enuyroned rounde aboute.

They me tourmented so echone

That of my lyfe I had great doute.

145

¶Than rounde aboute me dyd I loke

Fyrste of all sawe I pouerte

sig: [A7v]

And fals nede by the berde me shoke.

There were dystresse and necessyte.

Thought was in theyr companye.

150

And heuynesse dyd clater faste

All these six so layde at me.

That fro my bed they me nere caste.

Than as I dyd my hede remeue

About me lokynge for confort

155

I sawe one come / whiche dyd me greue.

More than all the other sorte.

He sayde his name was disconforte.

Of colour was he pale and wan

It nought auayled hym to exorte.

160

I sawe neuer suche another man.

By the hande fast he me toke

And with great myght dyd me constrayne

Full sore me by the berde he shoke

This thefe renewed all my payne

165

His encumbraunce wasted my brayne

That often I wysshed that I were dede

He wolde hym-selfe no-thynge ref[r]ayne. refrayne] refayne 1505

But kept me styll fast by the hede

In frowarde imaginacion

170

Disconforte kept me a longe space.

He bad me in conclusyon

To sue to hym after his grace.

Saynge that the tyme and space

sig: [A8]

Onys lost coude nat reco[u]ered be.

175

With suche termes dyd he me manase

Than in conclusyon thus sayde he.

A pore man howe shalt thou pay

All thy dettes that are behynde.

Brede and drynke must thou puruay.

180

And a hous to kepe the fro the wynde

Bothe men and maydens must thou fynde.

With euery-thynge that longeth them to

Doth nat fortune strongly the bynde.

Nowe let se howe thou canst do.

185

Whan I this harde I was nere mad.

And often fortune cursed I.

The speciall cause why I was sad.

Was for my purse was clene empty

Than was it nede I dyd espye

190

My gowne to plege vnto one

I sawe there was no remedye

Thought that I had but that alone Thought: =though

O blessed iesu what may this be

Maryed was I in an euyll chaunce.

195

To lyue in suche pouertye.

As I this sayde the same instaunce.

Cam to me Dispayre in cruell ordynaunce.

One of the worste of all the sorte.

She was cheyf captayne of theyr daunce

200

And doughter vnto Disconforte.

sig: [A8v]

¶This dispayre dyd me so assayle.

That loste was my discressyon.

My face began to wax pale

By fere of hyr cruell vexacion.

205

So cruell was hyr perturbacion.

Whiche on me she dyd extende.

That I thought in conclusion

Of my-selfe to make an ende.

¶I was redy to renne here and there.

210

To clym vp a_hye and than to fall

By my lyfe set I nat an here.

By meanes of this fury infernall

I thought / who nedis to his deth shall.

sig: B1

It is but folye it to prolonge

215

This is a worde sayde ouerall.

He that is drowned may no man hange.

And therfore thought I for to do

The worste that outher I coude or myght outher] eyther 1506

To sle my fader and moder also

220

If I had founde them in my syght

Than vnto my mynde cam full ryght

That I shulde dye no more but onys

Wherfore Dyspayre that wretched wyght

Bad me go therto atonys.

225

I sawe well that without labour

I neuer shulde obteyne rychesse.

Fortune therof is gouernour

To some she gyueth with largesse

But I haue neyther mor nor lesse

230

So that I wery am of my lyfe

Auoyde of ioy full of distresse.

Lo what it is to take a wyfe

I se disconforte doth me g[re]ue greue] gerue 1505, greue 1506

Dispayre encreaseth my langour

235

That fote ne hande may I remeue may] can 1506

Suche is my payne and my dolour

Neyther thought I on worshyp ne honour

On knyght / squyer / baron nor lorde nor] ne 1506

My mynde was on no-thynge that houre

240

But to hange my-selfe with a corde.

sig: [B1v]

Or elles to lepe in-to some ryuer

And ther with payne my-selfe to drowne

I fered nat in what manere fered] cared 1506

I dyed / so that my lyfe were done

245

Dispayre made me hyr campyon

And had me so take in hyr snare

That sodeynly as I fell in sowne

She me nere strangled or I was ware.

AS I was in this perturbacyon

250

I sawe a lady plesaunt and bryght

For to beholde hyr meke fassyon

Sothly it was a plesaunt syght

Hir caperon with perle was pyght

sig: B2

With precyous stones about enlumynynge

255

Hyr beautefull face shone as bryght

As phebus dothe in a may mornynge

This lady standynge me before

In hyr behauour was meke and lyberall

Gode and gracious to ryche and pore

260

She semed to me the quene celestyall

A quene excellent I may hyr call

For she was doughter shortly to say

Unto that meke lorde and immortall

The whiche was borne on christmas day

265

Sore I desyred to knowe hyr name

Bycause she was of suche excellence

She sayde Reason whome none doth blame

Than was I ryght glad of hyr presence

This noble lady by hyr dylygence

270

Approched nere vnto my syde

Dispayre anone gat hyr thens

And disconfort with hyr dyd glyde

All the hole company dyd auoyde

What tyme reason sat by me thus

275

It was some wynde wolde me haue noyed

Sende vnto me by myght of Eolus

I trowe that Pluto / or Neptunus

Or mars cheyf forger of bat[a]yle batayle] batyle 1505

Or elles helporter Cerberus

280

Engendred them me to assayle

sig: [B2v]

What shulde I say they fled that tyde

Bothe dispayre and the other rout

Than was there none with me to chyde

I risynge vp loked rounde aboute

285

Than of no-thynge was I in doute

Whan reason began to speke softly

Whan she had dryuen the other out

That hyr to here great ioy had I

Reason spake with delyberacyon

290

Replete with wysdome excellently

So that sothly in conclusion

She semed an oratour wytty

What she sayde was sayde playnly

To the vnderstondynge of euery man

295

And syttynge in a chayer me by

Wysely to speke thus she began

My frende this thought se thou eschewe

Ferest thou that rychesse wyll fayle

Subdue thy-selfe to force and vertue

300

And be ruled by my counsayle

Whiche shal the gyde in eche batayle

So thou consyder what thou hast to do

Thou mayst get gode by trauayle by] by thy 1506

For to fynde the and all thyne to.

305

ONe god alone must thou honour. god] god god 1505, god 1506

And hym serue with all diligence

And as thy-selfe loue thy neyghbour.

sig: B3

Agaynst hym do thou none offence

In trouble se thou haue pacyence

310

After the tyme and the season

To eche man haue thou obedyence

These be the termes of reason

Thou shuldest nat to largely

Reioyse thy-selfe of thy rychesse

315

Nor yet be wrothe semblably

Of pouertye / payne / or distresse

Whan atropos hym-selfe doth dresse

Eche to smyte with his mortall launce

He smyteth the ryche with cruelnesse

320

And to the pore hathe oft suffraunce

Why shulde thyne hert for fere thus fayle

Is it nat rychesse ynoughe to the

To haue thy handes redy to trauayle

Without wem or mayme of thy body

325

If that thou labour c[er]taynlye certaynlye] cretaynlye 1505, certaynly 1506

Thou shall nat fayle to haue rychesse

So that thou from all synne do fle

Peasably lyuynge in mekenesse.

Fyrst auoyde eche synne mortall

330

Replenysshe the with the grace deuyne

Behaue the so in this lyfe mortall

That thou to hell do nat declyne

Submyt thy-self vnto the discyplyne

Of hym that made eche crature crature: =creature; the 1506 text reads creature

sig: [B3v]

335

Pray hym thyn harte so to enlumyne

That thou aduersyte may endure

Whan nede cometh to thy presence

To besye laboure infyx thy courage

So shalt thou make hym to go thens

340

Constraynynge hym maugre his vysage

And if dystresse do vnto the outrage

Thoroughe besynesse away hym chase

If thought wolde do to the damage

In some gode dede put thy solace

345

And if pouertye do the assayle

Or fals and feble necessyte

Enforce thy body vnto trauayle

By suche meane shalt thou cause them fle

If disconforte do trouble the

350

Tende nat vnto his temptacion

If dyspayre wolde thy lady be

Leue hyr and come vnto me reason

sig: [B4]

IF pryde on the do auenture

Despyte dysdayne or presumpcyon

355

Beware of them they ar nat sure

Of them cometh great abusyon

Cast fro the collaudacion collaudacion ='high praise'

Vayne_glorye with mysgouernaunce

Fle fro fals_ymagynacion

360

Fle bostynge and oultrecuydaunce oultrecuydaunce: =outrecuidance, 'arrogance, presumption'

If suche vyces on the do warre

Them and theyr workes se thou despyse

Co[n]streyne them by myght to stande a_farre Constreyne] Costreyne 1505, Constrayne 1506

Pray humilyte the to promyse

365

Hyr helpe / and socoure in any wyse

With contemplacyon and deuocyon

But aboue all I the aduyse

Be meke of thyn entencyon

Humilyte must be the cheyf

370

Agaynst pryde grounde of all vyce

But for to kepe the fro myscheyf But] And 1506

Do so that thou mayst haue iustice

Gete gode_prouysyon if thou be wyse

Let hym euer kepe the vantgarde

375

Than shall pryde full of all malyce all] 1506 omits

Renounsynge the auoyde rewarde rewarde] rerewarde 1506

sig: [B4v]

AFter that pryde is fro the chased

By the myght of humylite

Wyth another shalt thou be manased shalt thou] thou shalt 1506

380

Whyche is daungerous called enuye.

Accompanyed wyth myserye

With falshode / murder / and treason

Suche shall be in his companye

Wyth sclander / and fals detraccyon

385

As a daunger[ous] capytayne daungerous] daungerouns 1505, daungerous 1506

Enuye wyll the assayle and touche

He shall do the full moche payne

If thou as subiect vnto hym crouche

Ill_reporte hathe he in his pouche

390

Wyth many vyces and dyuers

Whiche vnto vertue ar reproche

Hym alway tendynge to reuers.

Whan that thou seest hyr the about

In me put thou thy truste and ioy

395

Be not afrayde nor do nat dout

sig: [B5]

Truste well I shall them all destroye

Faythe and charyte shall them noye

Se thou all-waye do hyr honour

So shall she wyt on the employ

400

To knowe howe she men dothe socour

Charyte hathe waytynge one hyr dignyte one: =on

Very trewe_loue and misericorde

Beneuolence with grace and veryte

Amonge them fonde is no discorde

405

But peas mekenesse and concorde

These shall the helpe in thy necessyte

And thus as I vnto the recorde

They shall enuye auoyde fro the

ANd than whan done is this assaute

410

On the shall come a tyraunt daungerous

Whose name is yre withouten faute

To all vyce fyers and desyrous

And vnto vertue all-waye contraryous

The whiche in seruauntes doth abounde

sig: [B5v]

415

He may well say that he is eurous

Whome this vyce doth nat confounde

Crueltye bereth his banyer

Felony is his cheyf campyon

Peruersyte is his portere

420

Madnes reyneth in his dongeon

Cursed murder that fals felon

Of his hous is as cheyf captayne

Here is a cursed relygyon

To hym that foloweth theyr trayne

425

Therfore yf yre do the distresse

Shewe thy force and thy puissaunce

Call vnto [the] debonayrnesse vnto the] vnto 1505, vnto the 1503, 1506

Agaynst yre a full myghty launce

With hyr shall come fayre suffraunce

430

Pacyence is cheyf / with discressyon

Stedfastnesse with attemperaunce

Subduynge the vnto correccyon

Ire hathe nouther mercy nor petye

On man nor woman here lyuynge

435

But echone assayleth full cruelly

Ennemye to peas and to warre accordynge

Susteyner of eche vyce semynge

Whose furour melteth mannys hart

Whiche to his [counsell are] le[n]ynge counsell are lenynge] counseler leuynge 1505, counsel are leninge 1503, counsell are lenynge 1506

440

Wherfore thy syght therfro dyuert

sig: [B6]

It is impossyble that a man yrous

May vnto god do gode seruyce

For yre is a synne ryght daungerous

Whiche is gouerned without iustyce

445

It is a fyers and mortall vyce

Whiche often dothe ryght great damage

Sythe thou art warned be thou w[y]se wyse] wese 1505, wyse 1503, 1506

Lyst that he do to the outrage.

Shewe thy force and thy puyssaunce and thy] and 1506

450

Call vnto the force with noblesse noblesse] noblenesse 1506

Pray pacyence to be thy launce

Whiche shall this vyce lyghtly oppresse

Whan yre is gone sleuthe shall hyr dresse

On euery syde with the to fyght

455

Whiche of all vyce is cheyf maystresse

A stronge tyraunt dispysynge ryght

AS cheyf captayne of all the rout

Sleuthe shall haue pleasour the to assayle

And sonne I put the out of dout

460

That in thy bed she shall nat fayle

sig: [B6v]

On the to lye bothe wanne and pale

On hyr shall wayte vnlustynesse

With neglygence voyde of trauayle

Cheyf guyder of all vnth[ry]ftynesse. vnthryftynesse] vnthyrftynesse 1505, vnthryftenesse 1506

465

Defende the fersly as a man

For with sleuthe shall come rechelesse

For to subdue the yf he can

Puttynge the to vnlustynesse

Accompanyed with fals fayntnesse

470

The whiche by theyr iniquyte

Many one bryngeth fro rychesse

Vnto great payne and pouertye

Cowardyse wyll the folowe fast

If thou do nat thy-selfe defende

475

Vnto the grounde he wyll the cast

But yf that thou thy myght extende

And hyr withstandynge yf thou entende

With hyr to fyght by force souerayne

Vnto the grounde shall she descende

480

Lyke the wynde peased by rayne peased ='calmed, stilled'

Sleuthe to the woll make good chere

By faynt and feble dissimulacion

But at the ende is his manere

For [to] stynge lyke the scorpion For to stynge] For stynge 1505, For to stange 1506

485

Be ware of his abusyon

Lyst that thou in his bondes rest

But for helpe in conclusyon

sig: C1

To god must thou make thy request

Agaynst sleuth for thy defence

490

E[n]tencion to goode must thou requyre Entencion] Extencion 1505, Entencyon 1506

Prouyde chefly for dilygence

Besynesse with charge se thou desyre

And for good_hert se thou enquyre

Pray gode_wyll to be thy gyde.

495

So shall thou sleuthe cast in the myre

Hym and his asse as he dothe ryde

AFter this assaut perylous

On the shall come voyde of iustyce

One ougly fiers and daungerous

500

Whose name is called auaryce

Beware his cursed couetyse.

For by his wordes fals and subtyle

Many one to hym dothe he atyse

Whome at the ende he dothe begyle

505

Auaryce is so yll and vnsaciable

Neuer fulfylled with rychesse

sig: [C1v]

And of his mynde ay fonde vnstable fonde: =found; the 1506 text reads founde

By thought euer fylled with heuyn[e]sse fylled] fulfylled 1506; heuynesse] heuynsse 1505, heuynesse 1506

This auaryce dothe all them oppresse

510

Whiche lyghtly fyndeth nat socour

He and his seruauntes wyll them dresse

The to assayle at euery hour.

Whan auarice doth the assayle

Wyth hym woll come full lyghtly

515

Vsury and rapyne wythouten fayle

Fals_swerynge and okerye okerye ='usury'; a noun *okery is not recorded in OED, but see OED s.v. ocker, oker n

Murder / theft / and trecherye

Fraude / falshode / and decepcion

Accompanyed with roberye

520

Malyce / and cauyllacy[o]n cauyllacyon] cauyllacyn 1505, cauyllacyon 1506cauyllacyon: =cavillation, 'chicanery, trickery'

Whan that thou seest this companye

With auaryce the to distresse.

Withdrawe thy-selfe to charyte

To suffysaunce and to largesse

525

But in largesse auoyde excesse

And by almes I the ensure

Auaryce thou shalt oppresse

That he no lenger shall endure

And yf that any maner creature

530

Wolde say that these vyces all

Be gyuen vnto them by nature

Or yet by destenye infernall

Me-semeth nay / theyr wyll is liberall

sig: C2

God hathe vs gyuen reasan and wit

535

Vs for to guyde vnto ioye eternall

Whiche we shall haue if we deserue it.

Therfore my sone se that thou entende

Vnto thy-selfe with perfyte dylygence

Wherby thou mayst the fro this vyce defende

540

For euer thou seest by playne euydence

That auaryce full [is] of maliuolence full is] full 1505, 1506

Hym moste hurteth that loueth it best

With largesse make for hym defence

If thou woldest haue thy mynde in rest

545

SO whan thou ouercome hast auaryce

Withe braunches of his lynage

To the woll come a cruell vyce

Named glotonye full of outrage

Whiche wyll to the do great damage

550

If thou thy-selfe to hym subdue

As well in youthe as in thy age.

This vyce on many doth renewe

sig: [C2v]

To drynke whan thou hast no thurst

Wythout mesure or any reason

555

And to ete whan thou hast no lust

Therin is no discressyon

He may be called a foule gloton

That of his wombe his god doth make

Be ware of this abusyon

560

Lyst in his bondes this vyce the take

Disordered_appetyte is with glotonye

And serueth hym cheyf on the nyght

And gurmandyse is of his meyny

And sleuth wi[th] hym encr[e]aseth myght with] wiht 1505, with 1506; encreaseth] encraseth 1505, encreaseth 1506

565

All these fyersly on the woll lyght

On eche syde the temptynge myghtely

But lyft vp thyne iyen to heuen bryght

Besechynge god of helpe mekely

Sothly whan that thy stomake

570

Is furnysshed with mete beyonde nature

Thou mayste be lykened vnto a sacke

Replete with fylthe dunge and ordure

It displeaseth god sore / I the ensure

And to thy-selfe doest thou outrage

575

Than bableth thy tunge without mesure

To others hurte / sclander and damage.

Yet mayst thou make right gode resystence

Agaynst them maugre theyr vysage

So that thou wylt take abstynence

sig: C3

580

The whiche shall be for thyne auauntage

Sobryete is cheyf of this passage passage ='exchange of blows'? See OED s.v. passage n, 13c

Whiche shall glotonye fro the auoyde

Who in great drynkynge hath vsage

By dethe lyghtly is destroyed

585

Dronkenesse dothe the lunges brenne

And maketh the membres for to quake

Dro[n]ken men often laugh and grenne Dronken] Droken 1505, Dronken 1506

Than men doth them for foles take

Dronkenesse the wyt dothe brake

590

It maketh a man to fyght and chyde

Sothly this vyce often doth make

A man of his frendes homycyde

WHan thou escaped hast glotonye

And passed his cruell morsure morsure ='bite'

595

The sore assayle wyll lecherye

A cruell vyce I the ensure

The whiche is of suche nature

At hyr begynnynge hyr face to paynt

But if that she a whyle endure

sig: [C3v]

600

Thy body wyll she make full faynt

This foule synne ougly to name

With hyr braunches ryght many-folde

Hym that it louth bryngeth to shame louth: =loves, although the usual form in the copytext is loueth (3x); the 1506 text reads loueth

Example of hercules the bolde

605

I coude mo counte if that I wolde

Whome lechery hathe made to smert

Breyfly if thou wylt haue tolde

It destroyeth many a noble hert.

It woll the gyue foulysshe pleasaunce foulysshe: =foolish

610

With a desyre right disordynate

Superfluyte with his launce

If he wyth the do make debate

He wyll the lay on the grounde prostrate

And brynge the vnto captiuyte

615

Makynge the fall fro thyne estate

And to knowe thy fragylite.

Cupido shall thyne iyen bynde

Hauynge venus hym to socour

Thus whan these two haue made the blynde

620

They shall the brynge in great errour

Than shalt thou fall into langour

For whan thou art in theyr bondes cought

If thou leue nat / by theyr rygour

Shortly they shall the brynge to nought

625

For to auoyde the crudelyte

sig: [C4]

Of this fals archer amerous

Take thou the shelde of chastyte

Therin is fortune prosperous

Chastyte is so vyctoryous

630

That he wyll take vyndycacyon

Of this fals vyce full vycious

And vaynquysshe his operacyon

Many be that wyll them excuse

Of theyr loke and beholdynge

635

Saynge that none can them accuse

For beholdynge of any-thynge

This reason is vnto them semynge

Be not our iyen made for to se

Suche excusacions wyll they brynge

640

For to defende theyr infelicyte

Thus say they for theyr excusaunce

Why may we nat loke here and there

That is trouthe without doutaunce

Of thy loke nedest thou nat to fere

645

But yet my son this mayst thou lere

Thyn iyen vnto the god hathe sent

With them to loke euery-where

So that thou haue a gode entent

The fayre regarde of maryage

650

Is vnto god ryght great delyte

In good hope for to haue lynage

Or ellys it is of no profyte

sig: [C4v]

Therfore if thou wylt be perfyte

Dryue away this folysshe pleasaunce

655

Geuynge vnto hym no respyte

For to take the in-to his daunce

Remember the great and sore vengeaunce

Taken of god for this outrage

Often-tymes without doutaunce

660

Of the mayster it maketh the page

But as I sayde in mariage

Behaue the as thou ought to do

With gode hope for to haue lynage

Or elles sothly thou synnest to

665

Therfore in bryef conclusyon

To auoyde the payne infernall

Fle from all yll operacyon.

Procedynge of these synnes m[or]tall mortall] mrotall 1505, mortall 1506

And of pryde in especyall

670

For whiche lucyfer fell downe to hell

Take this for a doctrine generall

Whiche ensuynge I shall the tell.

¶Agaynst pryde take thou mekenesse

For enuye take thou charyte

675

Pacyence putteth yre in dystresse

By dylygence sleuthe is in captiuite

For couetyse take thou liberalyte

Glotonye by sobernesse is made thral

Chastyte subdueth lechery

sig: [C5]

680

But gode and ferme fayth ruleth all

It is trouthe that mannys nature

To all yll vyce is prone and redy

Wherfore the better may he endure

The whiche vseth somwhat p[au]cyte paucyte] percyte 1505, 1506

685

Whiche is a great frende vnto chastyte

Agaynst synne take suche resystence

If thou wylt auoyde aduersyte

And purchace a place in goddys presence

Therfore if thou wolt heuen obteyne

690

As thy-selfe loue thy neyghbour

Fro mortall synne thy-selfe refrayne

Fere god and do hym honour

Do his byddynge whiche is thy creatour

Speke lytell here what wyse-men say

695

So mayste thou escape terrene langour terrene langour ='earthly distress'

And haue wheron to lyue alway

Where-as many wordes ar spoken

For to speke in breyf langage

Often wysdome and trouthe is broken

700

Of moche speche cometh great damage

Who in great langage hath vsage

Some worde may he say in gode entent

The whiche soundeth to great outrage

And causeth hym after to repent

705

Behaue thy-selfe curtes and amyable

sig: [C5v]

Cause no debate / stryfe / nor discorde

Be prudent / symple / and seruyable

Speke thou of no man yll reporte

Take gode hope and gode conforte

710

Lo here the playne way of hardnesse

Whiche shall the brynge vnto the sorte

That thou desyrest / that is rychesse

Rychesse goten by sore labour

By watchynge trauayle and by payne

715

Is vnto god moche more pleasour

Than it is whan it is sodayne

One maye in this lyfe mundayne

Obtayne rychesse wyth great vertue

But whan it is yll-goten certayne

720

The getters vnto the deuyll subdue

Folowe therfore the vertuous way

On the ryght hande that none dothe begyle

Leue the left / the whiche all-way

Destroyeth man / be he neuer so subtyle

725

This way that none dothe defyle

On the ryght hande is called dylygence

For thoughe the left on the d[o] smyle do] da 1505, do 1506

The latter ende i[s] voyde of all defence is] in 1505, is 1506

In this cursed way on the left syde

730

Many a man dothe walke gladly

So at the ende ar they destroyed

For that theyr gode is goten falsly

sig: [C6]

Some be drowned and some hanged [on hye] hanged on hye] hanged 1505, hanged on hye 1506

Be they neuer so hardy / subtyll / or wyse

735

Suche is the ende / but the other sothly

Brengeth a man vnto paradyse

A man that foloweth the left way

Can vnethe hym-selfe refrayne

He that hym-selfe refrayne nat may

740

Shall fynde it harde to come agayne

Therfore begynne in the waye of payne

Whiche shall the brynge to the sterred regyon

And for thy leders haue no disdayne

To take vnderstondynge wyt and reason

745

Some foules yll and obstynate

Whan thy are repreued by iustyce

Say that they therto ar destynate that] that that 1505, that 1506

Wenynge for to excuse theyr malyce

They say that fortune must accomplyse

750

That that is theyr destenye

Thus dothe the deuyll these wretches atyse

To kepe them in theyr incredulyte

Gode-wyll must thou haue therfore

Auoyde yll-thought fro thyne entent

755

And if that thou be tempted sore

Beware do nat therto consent

Lyft vp thyne iyen to the fyrmament

Prayenge helpe and than I reason.

Shall be right glade / fayne and diligent

760

The to delyuer in euery season

sig: [C6v]

If destenye shulde haue dominacion

Than our gode dedes shulde nat auayle

Echone wolde make trangression

If thou so thynke thy mynde doth fayle

765

If thou do well for thy trauayle

Thou shalt haue ioye / and for yll punycyon

Gete heuen / and withouten fayle

Thou escapest all tribulacyon

Thoughe that thy destenye be nought

770

Be thou nat redy to do the werst

He that is of a cursed thought

Euermore leueth the best

If thou do yll / be ware the last

Iustyce to eche geueth his guerdon

775

Whan thy soule fro this lyfe is past

Thou shalt haue euen as thou hast done

In this noble way of [d]iligence diligence] giligence 1505, dylygence 1506

If that thou thy-selfe redresse.

Thou shalt by playne experience.

780

By meane therof obteyne rychesse

As for the way of sleuthfulnesse

Howe-euer it appere the ende is nought

There is but wo / payne and dystresse

Disconforte / trouble care and thought

785

The way of sleuthe a man doth brynge

Vnto a place of captyuite

Where nought is but hunger and murnynge

sig: D1

Called the maner of wo and pouertye

There is no-thynge but necessyte

790

Brede nor drynke / worke nor trauayle

There lyueth man in suche penurye

That hunger constrayneth his hart t[o] fayle to] ta 1505, to 1506

Whan one is fall in suche myschaunce

And subdued in suche pouertye

795

He must to haue his sustenaunce

His clothes sell releued for to be

Whan they ar gone than what dothe he

Than must he be a begger or a thefe

So in conclusyon here may ye se

800

Of sleuthe what is the ende and the prefe

Of suche folke that ben ocyous

By ryght no man shulde haue mercy

They ar to them-selfe contrarious

Sleuthe disceyueth them so falsly

805

Some be pale blacke and rusty

Agaynst the sonne syttynge for solace

Some dye for hunger some colde and thursty

Sorowe mot he haue that it doth purchace

If thou haste passed a place perilous

810

And thens escaped without damage

Take gode hede se thou be cautelous cautelous ='cautious'; see OED s.v. cautelous adj., 2

Retourn nat theder for thyne auauntage

But the behaue as prudent wyse and sage

Auoydynge all sleuthe and neglygence

sig: [D1v]

815

Go aboute by another passage

Whiche is the way of dyligen[ce] dyligence] dyligent 1505, dylygence 1506

If thou se some goynge am[y]sse amysse] amasse 1505, amysse 1506

Lyghtly auoyde theyr company

Suche as in thy presence thy mouthe wyl kysse

820

And wolde the sle if they myght pryuely

Be nat aquaynted with suche comonly

Kepe well thy cou[n]sell shewe nat it

Whan one blynde ledeth another lyghtly

Often they bothe fall in the pytte

825

Take therfore the ryght passage

Of gode hope and gode esperance

Be diligent for thyne owne auauntage

For therin is richesse and pleasaunce

Bothe in plentye and in suffysaunce

830

But set nat thyn herte theron to sore

Gete nat wrongfully suche abundaunce

That thy soule suffer peyne therfore

Who that rychesse to moche doth pryse

For it takynge labour and greuaunce

835

Is so brought by vnhappy couetyse

That he is neuer at his pleasaunce

Thoughe he haue rychesse in abundaunce

For all is he nat therwith content

But a man that hathe suffisaunce

840

To all gode gladly dothe consent

sig: D2

Suffisaunce dothe god greatly please

As thou full well mayst vnderstonde

And couetyse dothe hym dysplease

Therfore auoyde his cruell honde

845

Let hym nat take the in his bonde

Lyst his excesse do the begyle

If thou remember thou art but fonde fonde ='foolish'?

With it thou endurest but a whyle

Remember it is no-thynge permanent

850

In abundaunce to haue rychesse

As water rennynge sone is it spent

Whan deth cometh all thyn excesse

Of welth and richesse tourneth to heuynesse

Thou must it all leue the behynde

855

Than one of thy kynne with largesse

Bloweth thy pens out with the wynde

Therfore with lytell be thou content

Thankynge euer god of pouertye

Thanke hym of that he hathe the sent

860

Auoydynge synne and iniquite

If thou wyth synne subdued be

Thou canst do no dede meritory[e] meritorye] meritorys 1505, merytorye 1506

Do well and than I ensure the

Thou shalt obtayne the heuenly glorye

865

Some folke in all theyr lyfe

To gete gode ar full diligent

Lettynge neythe[r] for hatered ne stryfe neyther] neythey 1505, neyther 1506

sig: [D2v]

And yet ar they neuer content

Vnto all fal[s]hode they do consent falshode] falhode 1505, falshode 1506

870

They tende nat but to get and saue

With couetyse is theyr herte so brent

That they thynke neuer y[n]oughe to haue ynoughe] youghe 1505, ynough 1506

Whan they ar moste in fortunes grace

Lyfted vp hye vnto the mone Lyfted] Lystfted 1505, Lyfted 1506

875

She shewynge them hyr frowarde face

Causeth them lyghtly to come downe

Thoughe they before sat in theyr trone

Fortune on them hath made a mowe

Wherby theyr rychesse fro them is gone

880

Than one the grounde lye they full lowe. one: =on

Therfore se thou fortune defye

Sythe hyr rych[e]sse is so vn[s]table rychesse] rychsse 1505, rychesse 1506; vnstable] vntable 1505, vnstable 1506

And in god onely thy-selfe affye

In whom is rychesse perdurable

885

His suffisaunce is full profytable.

Therfore in hym thy-selfe assure

And in this purpose be thou stable

God hym loueth that doth endure

A man ryche full of Ignoraunce

890

Whiche in tyme passed hath had honour

In fortunes rychesse hauynge pleasaunce

Is nowe downe dryuen by a sodayne shoure

He neuer afore was vsed to labour

Thus after he hath lept from hye to lowe

sig: D3

895

By idelnes fortune doth on hym lour

He lyeth on the grounde and none wyll hym knowe

Of clothynge desyre thou no newe gyse

But clothe thy-selfe alway honestly

Suffer nat pryde vpon the to ryse

900

But go ay meke and symplye

And se thou be content onely

So thou haue good wheron to lyue

Without gatherynge ouer-largely

Thou knowest nat whan deth wyll aryue

905

If it fortune that by necessyte

Thou put thy-selfe in the seruyce

Of any man of great auctoryte

Outher lorde / marchaunt / or iustice

Be nat foulysshe / flaterynge / nor nyse

910

Nor yet sleuthfulle in any wyse

Se that thou fle from eche vyce

Lyst he the vtterly despyse

What-euer he say suffer mekely

Fere hym with loue entyer and cordyall

915

Serue hym bothe day and nyght truly

Say of hym goode ouer-all

Remember loue is so specyall

That without it no gode is done

Of his goodes be nat lyberall

920

And god shall pay the thy guerdon

sig: [D3v]

Thou ought of right to set thy hert

With all thy myght and thy puyssaunce

Thy masters wyll for to aduert

And it to fulfyll without doutaunce

925

So call thou vnto thy subuenaunce

This prouerbe that I the lere

Kepe it in thy remembraunce

Loue goeth neuer without fere

Fere without loue may right well be

930

We fere without loue them that vs manase

But where-as true loue is in certentye

It maketh men lyue euen by compas

[T]herfore this loue se thou purchace Therfore] Sherfore 1505, Therfore 1506

And [yf] thou shalt fall in his fauour sone yf] than 1505, 1506

935

Than thy rewarde to thy solace

Shalbe euen after as thou hast done

If thou truly thy mayster serue

He shall perceyue it within a whyle

Than shalt thou haue that thou doest deserue

940

With a gode name whiche none doth fyle

But if that thou do hym begyle

He shall perceyue it at the laste

Than shall thy dedes thy name defyle

So out of his hous he shall the cast

945

Whan that thou art thus departed

Wythout his loue full folysshely

As a seruant full yll aduerted

sig: [D4]

Another mayster must thou seke truly

Than shall other come pryuely

950

And enquyre whether thou were yll or gode

If he say yll that they may spye

No man woll haue the by the rode

But if that any be in necessyte

And can none other seruaunt fynde

955

Than perauenture he woll haue the

And alway be to the vnkynde

But if he be a fole or blynde

Elles wyll he none of thy seruyce

Than shalt thou wa[n]der out with the wynde wander] warder 1505, wander 1506

960

No mayster shall loue thy gyse

If that thou wolt thy mayster please

Thou must haue these thre propertees

Fyrst must thou haue an asses eares

With an hertes fete in all degrees

965

An hogges snout / and after these

By suche meanes shall I declare

That in tyme of aduersytees

By them the better thou mayst fare

By an asses eres this is ment

970

That thou must harken hym about

If thou se he be nat content

Say nought but se thou hym dout dout ='dread, fear'; see OED s.v. doubt v, 5a

Where-as he is se thou nat rout rout ='behave riotously'; see OED s.v. rout v7, 3

What he commaundeth do gladly

sig: [D4v]

975

Than shall he nat put the out

If thou behaue the thus wysely

By the hogges snout mene I thys the] this 1506

What mete so-euer to the is brought

Thoughe it be some-what amysse

980

Take pacyence and say thou nought

Ete thou it nat but it be ought

Rather suffer thou a lytell penurye

Another tyme better shalbe bought

For to amende that iniury

985

Let thy snout smel in eche place

And specially for to seke labour

If thou so do in lytell space

Thou shalt nat fayle of his fauour

Let thy pacyence ouercome his rigour

990

And take good hede to his condicion

Se that thou alway hym honour

Submyttynge the to his correccyon

This signyfyeth the fete of an hert

Thou must do thy mayster socour

995

Both day and nyght thoughe thou shuld smerte

To renne and go at euery hour

Day nor nyght spare no labour

Rather than he shulde haue damage

Helpe hym in welth and in dolour

1000

If any man do to hym outrage

sig: [D5]

Thus reason left of hyr parlament

Than after turned I me to rest

And than cam wysedome full dilygent

A man prudent / discrete and honest

1005

Stondynge nere afore my brest

I lyfted myne hede vnto hym nere

He had suche glose vpon the text had] made 1506

That I had maruayle hym to here

HE that hym ruleth by reason

1010

Getteth bothe ryches and honour

Takynge vpon hym labour

Euer hath he a ryche mansyon

That is ruled by reason

He purueyeth eche thynge in season

sig: [D5v]

1015

As best is whan the tyme is grene

After a storme the sonne dothe shene

That man is quyte of all discencion

Whiche is ruled by reason

¶Sothly my frende it is abusyon

1020

This caduke richesse greatly t[o] prayse to] ty 1505, to 1506

To many a man it dothe dysease

He auoydeth sclaunder a[n]d detraccion and] ad 1505, and 1506

Whiche is rewled by reason

¶Ye knowe that within a lytell season

1025

Fortunes fauour many one procure

But of hyr grace no man is sure

Therfore he is wyse in conclusyon is wyse] wyse is 1506

Whiche is ruled by reason

I make townes and castels stronge of walles

1030

I make iestes / stories / and comedyes /

I made the seuen artes lyberals

With poemes and many tragydees

I haue made many omelyes

Whiche vnto man ar full profytable

1035

Wherby he maye auoyde all folyes

And of his mynde be ferme and stable

Whan reason on man hathe dominacyon

I promote hym vnto great dignite

I hate discorde / and adulacion

1040

And loue peas / concorde / and equyte

sig: [D6]

He that wyll lyue well in prosperyte

Muste haue reason to be his gouernoure

And than wyll I of myne owne lybertye

Of very right be his protectoure

1045

I am wysedome whiche haue knowlegynge

Of goode and yll without doutaunce

But without reason I do no-thynge

For in hir is no maner ignoraunce

Who me procureth I hym auaunce

1050

Wherfore sonne if thou wylt procede

Be euer content with suffysaunce

Than shall I helpe the at thy nede

Obey to re[a]son what-euer she say reason] reoson 1505, reason 1506

With all thyn hert in lowlynesse

1055

Than by hyr grace shalt thou puruay

Bothe worshyp honour and richesse

She helpeth men out of dystresse

By hyr wyt and discressyon

If thou wylt come to parfytnesse

1060

Put the in hir subieccion

¶The auctour.

¶Thus wysedome vnto me dyde speke dyde speke] spake 1506

At reasons wyll and commaundement

Wherby great confort dyd I take

His reasons were so wyse and prudent

1065

On whose saynge I fyxed myne entent

sig: [D6v]

Concludynge vpon the way of payne

But for the tyme passed I was dolent

Whiche loste / coude nat be called agayne

Tha[n] halfe-faynt for watchynge excessyf Than] That 1505, Than 1506

1070

I lyfted my hede vp lokynge me about

Left alone sore / sad / and pensyf

Than was I agayne in dout

I fered them that afore went out

Than sawe I one full of grauyte

1075

Go compaysynge my bed about

With two seruauntes in this companye this] his 1506

Whan he vnto me dyd appere

I thought he had ben some aduocate

His hode was furred wyth menyuere

1080

His gowne of the same lyke his estate

He me behelde without any debate

And sayde his name was disceyt full slye

Of whome comethe many a mortall fate

His lytell varlet was named vsurye

1085

Falshode was his seruauntes name

So knewe I by his fals vysage

The mayster cared no-thynge for shame

Yet was he a comely personage

He me so flaterynge by his langage

1090

Set hym downe there by my cheke

I maruayled what was his vsage

Than thus vnto me he began to speke.

sig: E1

SAy my frende wheron doest thou muse

Thou doest thy-selfe destroy with thought

1095

All thy wyt thou doest abuse

Th[o]u stodyest sore and all for nought Thou] Thu 1505, Thou 1506

Reason hathe the in hyr bondes cought

But let hyr go by my counsayle

Than of rychesse that thou hast sought

1100

By my helpe thou shalt nat fayle

Wysedome hath the aduertysed

To put the in reasones subiectyon

A strawe man let hyr be despysed

And yelde the vnder my proteccyon

1105

Who loueth reason lacketh discressyon

sig: [E1v]

Thou all-way seest a man resonable

That fereth god iustyce and punycyon

Hath neuer ought this is verytable

Reason that foule doth the counsayle

1110

To lyue alway vertuously

Thou shalt haue hunger for thy trauayle

She byddeth the alway laboure besyly

But by my craft I all sodaynly

Make hym this day pore ryche to_morowe

1115

Therfore reason se thou defye

Let hyr and all hyrs go with sorowe

Reason with lytell is well content

She settethe no-thynge by exesse

For to labour she is euer diligent

1120

Without gatherynge of great rychesse

But I exalt men vnto noblesse

Sodaynly by my art subtyle

If any wolde do to me falsnesse

I take hym lyg[h]tly in his owne wyle lyghtly] lygtly 1505

1125

But whyle that thou ensuest reason

Thou shalt neuer come to dignyte

But pore and sympl[e] in euery season symple] sympl 1505, symple 1506

As a bonde-man had in captyuyte

Out of all maner hope of lybertye

1130

Oppressed shalt thou be ouer-all

Euery day well mayst thou se

That the great dothe ete the small

sig: E2

Leue therfore reason by my counsayle

If thou wylt haue rychesse lyghtly

1135

And if that any do the assayle

By my craft I shall blere theyr iye

If that thou do entende to me

Thou shalt fynde that thou hast sought

I shall be at thy wyll redy

1140

And whyle I lyue thou shalt lacke nought

If that thou wolt come to thyn ease

And haue golde at thy pleasour

Thy neyghbour se that thou dysease

With iniu[r]ye / damage force and rygour iniurye] iniuye 1505, iniurye 1506

1145

Let me disceyte be as thy gouernour

Or elles my seruaunt vsurye

From one to another go euery hour

With a glosynge langage of flaterye

Let thy tunge be as a knyfe

1150

Wyth euery man therwyth to rage

And where thou woldest haue no stryfe

Shewe thy-selfe / discrete and sage

Specyally where-as is auauntage

Speke fayre tyll thou haue thy pray

1155

But yet let nat to do damage

To euery man whyle that thou may

Gouerne the euer wyth decepcyon

sig: [E2v]

Care nat for them that ar in payne

At pore folke haue thou derision

1160

To gete gode do the not refrayne

For to dysceyue men set thy brayne

In theyr presence shewe them gode chere

But of theyr hurte se thou be fayne

In theyr abscence in eche manere

1165

Speke fayre with falshode amonge

Shewe thy-selfe meke and treatable

Take money by ryght and wronge

Make the ryche man myserable

Gather togeder rychesse arrable arrable: =horrible

1170

Fere neyther god ne the deuyll of hell

Of thy wordes be thou nat stable

To ryche enuyous / to pore cruell

Pay nought in plede nor in processe plede: =plead, 'law-suit'

Lene no-thynge but vnto vsere

1175

Se that thou the pore oppresse

Take theyr herytage and nouryture

Spare no-thynge the to periure

And if any do the repreue if any] yf that ony 1506

By swerynge fast thy-selfe assure

1180

From his gode hym to remeue

Thou shalt haue rychesse at the last

To lyue in great prosperyte

If thou speke fayre and borowe fast

Faynynge thy-selfe in charyte

sig: E3

1185

For nowe-a_dayes in trouth and veryte

No man of the woll haue count

Without clothynge of auctoryte

Lyke a knyght or a vycount

Kepe thy termes lyke thyn estate

1190

With ermyne or sables fur thy gowne

If any man haue enuye therat

By thy craft turne hym vp-set-downe

Thus mayst thou encreas thy renowne

And if any come with the to speke

1195

Let thy man say thou art nat in the towne

That he may come often the to seke

Let hym retour the to enquyre retour ='return' (see OED s.v. retour v, 2); the 1506 text reads retourne

Be nat asshamed for to lye

And what thynge thou doeth desyre thou doeth] that thou doost 1506

1200

Be it gode or bad do it lyghtly

Take no hede to well nor truly

So it be done take thou no thou[g]ht thought] thouht 1505

And I shall euer helpe the besely euer helpe the] helpe the euer 1506

So that at nede thou shalt lacke nought

1205

To hym that is curtais and lowly

Euery man dare agay[n]say agaynsay] agaysay 1505

But to one ryche gay and hastye

Skant is one that dare say nay

They wyll hym fere lyste that he fray fray ='make a disturbance'; see OED s.v. fray v1, 5

1210

Therfore eche man wyll hym forbere

Fayne felonye on them to lay

sig: [E3v]

And than shall euery man the fere

¶What-euer thou doest worke by wyle

Fyll thy stomake full of falsnesse

1215

Fro the reason do thou exyle

Of hyr nought cometh but destresse

Refuse fayth take thou falsnesse

For suche is the worlde in this season

As thou mayst se by euydence expresse

1220

They ar all pore that folowe reason

Se thou be redy ay to take

Withoute geuynge ought agayne

Thy promesse swerynge se thou forsake

Thus mayst thou haue ryches sodayne

1225

Let thy tunge folowe the comon trayne

Of adulacyon couerde with eloquence

Thus shall euery man be fayne

Vnto the for to do reuerence

If there come to the any myschaunce

1230

Care nat it shall do the no grefe

Thou shalt haue for thy sustenaunce

Me and my men the to relefe

We shall defende the fro myschef

And vnder the vmber of veryte

1235

Thoughe he be neuer so fals a thefe

We shall ouercome hym by our subtyltye

Loke what it is for to haue polecye

With craft subtyltye and practyke practyke: =practic, 'contrivance, cunning'; see OED s.v. practic n1, 5

By whiche meanes he that worketh slye

sig: [E4]

1240

Casteth his ennemye lyghtly in the dyke

Trewe wysdome se thou exyle

Whiche causeth thought and heuynesse

Muse alway men to begyle

Let nat to make fayre promesses

1245

Euery day here twenty messes

But haue at none of them deuocion

And spare thou nat to take excesses

Of theft / falshode / and ex[t]orcion extorcion] excorcion 1505, extorcyon 1506

Beleue me for thyne auauntage

1250

And refuse thou reason vtterly

Falshode my frende shalbe thy page

Exaltynge the to rychesse myghtely

Whan thou art in suche case truly

Euery man shall do the honour

1255

And yf that a[n]y do to the vylanye

Se thou hym tame by thy rygour

Whyle that reason on the doth reyne

Thou shalt neuer come to worthynesse

But euer of pouertye complayne

1260

Auoyde of myrthe full of sadnesse

Thou shalt nat ned to count expresse

Crownes / nobles / nor royals

Thou shalt be voyde of all rychesse

And of degrees temporalles.

1265

Thou hast herde what I haue the tolde

sig: [E4v]

This is my mynde and my counsayle

Whe[r]fore on me se thou be bolde Wherfore] Whefore 1505

And do here-after for thyn auayle

Thus mayst thou come without trauayle

1270

To rychesse / so thou auoyde reason

If thou thus do without fayle

No more will I say at this season

¶The auctour.

¶Whan this fals caytyf had thus sayde

I was abstract nere fro my mynde

1275

His wordes made me sore afrayde

That I vnstable was as the wynde

About me socour coude I none fynde

For fere I quaked / colde were my fete

I had in me as good a mynde

1280

As hath a Gose vpon a spete

That whiche reason dyd me counsayle

Was gode holsome / and resonable

Disceyte contrarye dyd me assayle

Shewynge me craftes dysceyuable

1285

Thus was my mynde as varyable

As a fane stan[d]ynge in the wynde standynge] stanbynge 1505, stondynge 1506

In no purpose ferme nor stable

As nowe-a_dayes we many fynde

As I thus lay troubled full sore

1290

Wysdome retourned to me agayne

More prudent than he was before

Whiche with his langage discrete and playne

sig: [E5]

Exorted me for to refrayne

Me fro that thefe deceptyon

1295

And than reason shulde me may[n]teyne maynteyne] mayteyne 1505

And thus sayde he in conclusyon

¶ wysedome.

DOest thou trust fal[s]hode / or dysceyte falshode] falhode 1505, falshode 1506

A pore man they woll the dyffame

They loue but dyscorde and debate

1300

They prayse the yll and good doth blame

And they pryncypally ar the same

Whiche bryngeth man to the pyt of hell

Trust in reason moste noble of fame

Whiche no-thynge doth but that is well

sig: [E5v]

1305

That man is mad that l[e]ueth reason leueth] lyueth 1505, leueth 1506

Vnto dysceyte for to be lenynge

He that so dothe after in breyf season

Agaynste hym-self is murmurynge

Therfore be thou the wythdrawynge

1310

For of hym venym dothe descende

Lyue after reason aboue all-thynge

For who well lyueth[ /] well doth ende

Howe many dayly doest thou se

That leuynge reason them-selfe assure

1315

In falshode / hauynge great dignite

Fro pore men takynge theyr pasture

In this extorcion they longe endure

By falshode getynge gode mundayne

But whan that knowen is theyr nature

1320

They be made pore by chaunce sodayne

We haue oft sene great wyndes blowe

And with a lytell rayne [o]uercome ouercome] euercome 1505, ouercome 1506

So many men be brought full lowe

Before exalted by fals costom

1325

Some rayed in scarlet / and other some

Arayed in golde / tyssue / and veluet

The one after vnto the swerde become

The other trayned vnto the gebet.

If that they had trusted in reason

1330

Leuynge falshode that dysceyuour

They shulde nat haue had suche confusyon

sig: [E6]

But styll haue lyued in theyr honour

Reason that lady of great valour

Dothe nought that is to repreue

1335

But dysceyte that fals traytour

His cheyf subiectes doth myscheyf

Sythe that rychesse is so varyable

Wherfore take we therfore suche payne

Consyderynge our lyfe so vnstable

1340

From dethe we can vs nat ref[r]ayne refrayne] refayne 1505, refrayne 1506

The day and the hour is vncertayne the hour] houre 1506

Therfore let us lyue skarsly skarsly ='sparingly'

For this is a thynge moste certayne

That fyrst or laste we must nedis dye

1345

Disceyte in his fyrst begynnynge

To eche man well Inoughe doth sounde

But an euyll deth is his endynge

His scolers thus doth he confounde

But hym that in rychesse doth abounde in rychesse] in no rychesse 1505, in rychesse 1506

1350

By reason goten eche man dothe prayse

In deceyte suche ende is founde

That euery man dothe it disprayse

By reason well mayst thou obtayne

R[i]chesse mundayne suffycyently Richesse] Rrchesse 1505, Rychesse 1506

1355

Who that hathe none bydeth in payne

And of[te] is entreated vncurteysly ofte] of 1505, ofte 1506

Who hathe nat money and that largely

Were he as holy as was saynt poule

sig: [E6v]

Where-euer he goeth contynually

1360

He shall be taken for a fole taken for] taken but for 1506

Who that by reason dothe gode purchace

He lyueth therwith right merely

To his pleasour with grat solace

But yf that any thorowe enuye

1365

Wolde do hym wronge or iniurye

He must to god call for socour

And than shall he full hastely

Hym ayde and helpe at euery hour

¶The auctour.

Thus in my bed sore troubled layde

1370

Halfe releued was my courage

I toke gode hede to that he sayde

For he was wyse discrete and sage

And thynkynge it for myn auauntage

Submytted me to the grace dyuyne

1375

I knowe dysceyte by his outrage

Wolde me haue brought vnto ruyne

So purposed I fully to take

The counsayle of my lady reason

And dysceyte vtterly forsake

1380

With his falshode and abusyon

Than beynge of [this] opynyon this opynyon] opynyon 1505, this opynyon 1506

Reason dyd vnto me apere

With hir face bryght as the sonne

sig: F1

Arayde in a ryche manere

1385

This lady was right gracious

Pleasaunt curteys and amyable

On me lokynge with chere ioyous

With a salutacyon right honorable

For this fals caytyf myserable

1390

Disceyte with his seruauntes two

For all theyr chere abhomynable

At hyr comynge dyd fro me go

I Am glad of the perfyte vyctorye

Whiche thou hast obtayned this nyght

1395

It shall be to the right merytorye

In the hyghe trone that is so lyght

sig: [F1v]

Wysedome with his noble myght

Hath ben for the a goode solicitour

But sith thou haste agreed to the right

1400

Nowe shalt thou be my seruytour

I gyue the in commaundement

For to serue me ferme and faythfully

Haunt company wyse and prudent

So shalt thou haue rychesse largely

1405

I knowe that mannys mynde truly

By temptacion full oft doth vary

What I commaunde do thou gladly

And to me reason be nat contrary

What man that I do sustayne

1410

I make clene from all maner vyce

But he that falshode doth maynteyne

Hateth concorde / peas / and iustice

God wyll that thou leue malice

And vsurye in pryncypall

1415

Whiche thou must do if thou be wyse

With perfyte wyll and cordyall

I kepe men in theyr fraunchyse

I make the feble stronge and able

Disceyte to yll men doth atyse

1420

And doth nought that is profytable

Be therfore constant / ferme / and stable /

Endue thy hert with force and vertue

So shalt thou disceyte full myserable

sig: F2

By godly wysdome strongly subdue

1425

Gode name is better than rychesse

The grace of god is full excellent

Truste nat in the fayre promysse

Of disceyte / ne his termes eloquent

Behaue thy-selfe wyse / and prudent

1430

Be ruled by grace and pacience

Both day and nyght be diligent

To get the treasour of sapience

And if that god gyue the wysdome

Be nat therof proude nor glorious

1435

But more symple se thou become symple ='humble'

Thankynge hym with chere pyteous

Let [t]hy mynde be euer vertuous thy: letter broken

Submyttynge the to thy creat[o]ur creatour] creatur 1505

Whiche is so meke and gracyous

1440

That he wyl be thy gouernour

With eche man be in charyte

Begynnynge at thy-selfe fyrst of all

Let all thy dedes sounde vnto equyte

To pore men be thou lyberall

1445

Men wyse and vertuous to the call

Whiche shall the kepe from all damage

Auoyde flaterers from thy hall

The to disceyue is theyr vsage

With me abydeth none malicious

sig: [F2v]

1450

Tyraunt traytoure nor cowarde

But noble people / wyse / and vertuous

And peas as chefe bereth the standarde

Who casteth on me his regarde

Shall surely skape both hole and sounde

1455

Who in dysceyte hathe his forwarde forwarde ='compact, covenant, promise'; see OED s.v. foreward n1

Whan he moste trusteth is brought to grounde

If that by fortune thou haue aduersyte

Without noyse paciently endure

God knoweth thy fragylyte

1460

Fro poynt to poynt I the ensure

And if disceyte on the procure

Auoyde the cause the tyme and place

For without dout I the ensure

Disceyte stynketh in goddys face

1465

Where-as is pryde myscheyf is bye

Therfore of humilyte take confort

Fals flaterye se thou defye

And tende no-thynge to disconforte

Beware falshode and yll reporte

1470

Auoyde robery and all maner wronge

If thou do as I the exorte

In vertue shalt thou lyue full longe

Thou mayste get if thou folowe me

Rychesse mundayne in suffisaunce

1475

Without falshode or iniquyte

Or doynge thy neybour any greuaunce

sig: F3

Thy gode and yll in a balaunce

Shall be weyed at the day extreme

And than after thyn ordynaunce

1480

The myghty iuge shall the deme

Therfore sonne by me thou maye

Obteyne goodes mundayne and eternall mundayne] mundayned 1505, mundayne 1506

Lyue without thought in lowe araye

Without any payne corporal

1485

Of this rychesse that is temporal

Thou mayst with ioye here haue thy part here haue] haue here 1506

And the hyghe glorye celestyal

Whan thy soule shall hens depart

Beholde what two great benefices

1490

I ordeyne for my seruytours seruytours] seruytour 1506

Where other fylled with malyces

By falshode lese all suche honours

Periures theues and seductours Periures ='perjurers'; see OED s.v. perjure n1; the 1506 text reads Periurers

Saturate with synne and ordure

1495

Lyue here in castels and in tours

But theyr estate can nat endure

Roberye / pykynge and cauyllacion

Theft with falshode doth gouerne

That fals tyraunt decepcyon

1500

And ledeth hym vnto the tauerne

Fals vsurye dothe discerne

Theyr armes with his termes blasynge

With pryde of all vyce lanterne

sig: [F3v]

Vnto theyr counsell is lenynge

1505

Suche as they haue but smale conscience

Therfore se that thou them despyse Therfore] Wherfore 1506

They refuse vertue / cunnynge and syence

Lenynge to ryot suche is theyr gyse

Wherfore dere sonne I the aduyse

1510

Let nat theyr power on the extende

For yf it do / I the promyse

At Tyburne wyll they make the ende

If falshode thoroughe his wyllynes

Exalt a man vnto honour

1515

And after if that his rychesse

Be loste by some sodayne shour

They to whome he dyd rigour

Before wyl ioy of his damage

They wylbe redy at euery hour

1520

To hym to render his outrage

One vnto another wyll say

Loke where he lyeth that was so ryche.

His gode yll-goten is nowe away

And lo where he lyeth in the dyche

1525

We thought that his ende wolde be suche

He hathe lyued in welth to longe

His scabbed skyn [s]o nowe doth ytche so] lo 1505, 1506

That he dare nat come vs amonge

Thus mayst thou se it is profytable

sig: [F4]

1530

To lyue truly in this mortall lyfe

Gettynge rychesse by meanes verytable

Sythe it yll-gotten encreaseth stryfe

Who laboureth for rychesse excessyf

Weneth to come vnto hye estate

1535

But at the last he abydeth pensyf.

And euery gode man dothe hym hate

Leue therfore vyce / and loue vertue

If thou wylt lyue in lybertye

And than men knowynge the gode and true

1540

Wylbe glad / of thy company

But yet must thou haue humilite

Wyth pacyence / and concorde thy way to dresse

Wyth fayth / trouthe / and equyte

If thou wolt get heuenly rychesse

1545

Be thou symple of countenaunce

Speke fayre with chere amyable

Beware dysceyte and fere his launce

Be nat of purpose varyable

It is a thynge abhomynable

1550

Vnder an abyde of faythfulnesse

To haue a fals hert and reprouable

Full of wrathe / yre and falsnesse

Vnder the vmber of veryte

Many one vseth fals discepcion

1555

Vsynge to speke right faythfully

But falshode is in theyr entencyon

sig: [F4v]

They thynke other to disceyue by treason

But theyr-self dysceyued do they fynde

But lerne this sonne of me reason

1560

God knoweth euery mannys mynde

God k[no]weth pleyne and clerely knoweth] konweth 1505, knoweth 1506

Mannys mynde thought and courage

For he by his grace ineffably ineffably: =ineffable?

Made hym lyke to his owne ymage

1565

Shuldest thou nat than do hym homage

Whiche hathe the gyuen so great a benefyce

Passynge all other in auauntage

That is the royalme of paradyse royalme] realme 1506

And after whan by disobedyence

1570

Man was damned to be in pay[n]e

That hyghe lorde a lambe of innocence

With his owne blode brought hym agayne

This blessed lorde had no dysdayne

For to become a man mortall

1575

And suffer deth with many a payne

To make vs fre that erst were thrall

This lorde chefe mayster of iustice

Shall kepe his iugement fynall

Than some that there be moste of pryce there] here 1506

1580

Shall than be myserablest of all

The pore and ryche shall be egall

Eche man shall haue lyke audience

All mankynde there in generall

sig: [F5]

Shall there abyde this iuges sentence

1585

The aungels shall theyr trumpettes blowe

Callynge men to the iugement

Than euery man full well shall knowe

Howe that he here his lyfe hath spent

With an hyghe voyce that lorde omnipotent

1590

Shall call my seruantes with hym to dwel

The bad all pensyf / wo / and dolent

Perpetually shalbe damned to hell

Nowe art thou so that thou mayste chuse

The harde way of s[al]uacyon saluacyon] slauacyon 1505, saluacyon 1506

1595

Or elles if thou wolt that abuse

Thou fyndest the way of perdycyon

Do after me son that I am reason I] 1506 omits

To auoyde the fendes cruell bande bande] bonde 1506

And than that iuge prynce of dyscressyon

1600

Shall the set on his right hande

On the rayne-bowe meke and propyce propyce ='propitious, gracious'; see OED s.vv. propice, propitious

On hye shall syt that myghty lorde

Hauynge on his one hande iustyce

And one the other myserycorde one: =on

1605

With them shall peas be and concorde shall peas be] shall be peas 1506

And veryte shall be there playne

This iuge with these at one accorde

Shall iuge the lynage humayne

God shall my seruauntes vnto hym call

sig: [F5v]

1610

With meke chere and countenaunce

Vnto his hyghe sete imperyall

But after another maner chaunce

He shall say wordes of great penaunce

To falshodes seruauntes whiche shalbe dum

1615

Puttynge them to extreme vttraunce

Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.

What shall theyr rychesse than auayle

Whan they shall haue but rightwysnesse

Eche man shall haue after his trauayle

1620

The gode lyght / and the yll derkenesse

Some shall thynke it a day of swetnesse

But other some wyth crye and yell

Shall thynke that day of bytter[n]esse bytternesse] bytteresse 1505, bytternesse 1506

Descendynge downe to the pyt of hell

1625

Therfore frende to thy-self take hede

Renounce falshode with all iniquyte

This day shall make the to haue drede

If thou it call to mynde trulye

Who getteth rychesse here falsly

1630

Of hell-paynes shall haue his part

And therfore hyther come am I

Fro thys payne the to dyuert

¶Therfore aryse and do me homage

With meke hert and intencion

1635

Refusynge falshode with his outrage

Makynge suche prouysyon

sig: [F6]

That thou mayst lyue by dyscressyon

Than shall I make the to possede

A place in the heuenly regyon

1640

Lo al my seruauntes hath such mede

The actour.

AFter that I herde my lady reason

So wysely speke full of pruden[ce] prudence] prudent 1505, prudence 1506

I forsoke disceyte / falshode and treason

Yeldynge me vnto hyr magnificence

1645

I kneled downe in hir presence

Knowynge it for myne auauntage

With meke loue and obedyence

Vnto reason I made homage

sig: [F6v]

Holdynge my handes vp to hyr grace

1650

With lowe chere dyd I me present

There shewed I hyr all the case

Howe that I my lyfe had spent

This noble lady wyse and prudent

Suerly vnto me dyd promesse

1655

So I wolde make amendemente

To be my lady and maystresse

Than this lady approched nere lady] laday 1505, lady 1506

Of all other moste gode and gracious

With lowly countenaunce and [c]here chere] there 1505, chere 1506

1660

Of my helthe gratly desyrous

And to hyr seruauntes neuer contrarious

Seynge hyr nere thus vnto hyr sayde I

Most excellent lady moste gode and glorious

To you wyll I me submyt gladly

1665

Do ye with me what is [y]our pleasoure your] our 1505, your 1506

I am euer redy glad and diligent

To do all-thynge that may you honoure

Neuer wyllynge more to be negligent

To suche vertues / or counsayle prudent

1670

I defye falshode with his subtyltees

To you obeynge with hole entent

Bothe in welth and aduersytees

Reason was glad in eche degre

Whan she herde me say in this wyse

1675

Than as syster vnto humylyte

sig: G1

Out of hyr chear sone dyd she ryse chear: =chair

And kyssynge me she dyd promyse

Euer at my nede for to be kynde

Than sodaynly in a secrete wyse

1680

This lady entred into my mynde

Thus whyle that reason was my gyde

I gouerned me well and wysely

Dysceyte and falshode settynge asyde

With wretchednesse and vsurye

1685

To byde with reason purposed I

As longe as god lent me my lyfe

Beynge in this purpose dyd I spye

Aproche an olde man and his wyfe

Whan I them sawe I was content

1690

They were so meke and gracyous

The mannys name was euydent

Gode_wyll / to none contrarious contrarious] was contraryous 1506

The womans gode_hert to none enuyous

The whiche two had with them brought

1695

A yonge chylde / pleasaunt / gode and vertuous

In excellence passynge my thought

This childe euer by gode_wyll stode

Vpon hyr hande to hyr le[n]ynge lenynge] leuynge 1505, lenynge 1506

This was his name / Lust_to_do_gode

1700

As me-thought vnto my semynge

These thre togeder on me smylynge

Aproched nere / and fyrste of all

sig: [G1v]

Gode_hert began with this saynge

With meke countenaunce and lyberall

¶ Gode_hert.

1705

SIthe that reason resteth in the

Son / I shall nat from the depart

The tyme and season nowe mayst thou se

Whiche to the bryngeth the ase of hert ase: =ease

We shall fro the all yll dyuert

1710

Puttynge into thy subieccion

Thy wyfe and chyldren hole and quart quart ='healthy; see OED s.v. quart, quert adj.

Whan age cometh the vpon.

We thre togeder shall the conuey

Vnto a place full of all pleasaunce

sig: G2

1715

There shall we shyft for the puruay

To helpe the out of all greuaunce

This place is of great cheuysaunce

Goten onely by way of dyligence

The whiche place shal the auaunce

1720

To the hye degre of excellence

Folowe vs and we shall the brynge

Into the hye-way / whiche is right specious

The whiche way hath at his endynge

A fayre castel / pleasaunt and sumptuous

1725

In whiche remayneth a treasour precious

That is worldly goodes full of noblesse

This place is called that is so beauteous

Labour / wherin remayneth rychesse

Reason right often hath the tolde

1730

Of this castell whiche is so honorable

Passynge all castels a thousande-folde

And vnto mankynde most profytable

But the way is so variable

That none can com thyder without vs thre

1735

But he must haue some fortune myserable

And be compelled agayne to fle

The[r]fore who theder doth hym dresse Therfore] Thefore 1505, Therfore 1506

Nat hauynge vs in his companye

Shall neuer truly haue rychesse

1740

His fortune is in great difficultye

Many one cometh vnto dignyte

sig: [G2v]

By falshode / vsurye / and rapyne

But at the ende symple pouertye

Kepeth them fallen into ruyne

1745

Syth thou [a]pplyest to reasons doctryne applyest] opplyest 1505, applyest 1506

I shall helpe the euer at thy nede

My wyfe shall vnto the enclyne

My sone shall helpe the for to spede

Do after vs / and haue no drede

1750

For we thre shal to the be kynde

Whan thou hast laboured / for thy mede

If thou well do thou shalt well fynde

Lust_to_do_gode / is nowe redy

Vnto this place the to conuey

1755

Therfore aryse and come lyghtly

And we shall well for the puruay

Reason hyr seruauntes helpeth alway

Whiche hath vs hyther vnto the brought

Ryse vp let vs go without delay

1760

For after great rest oft cometh thought

¶The actour.

I accorded vnto them lyghtly

Auoyde of sleuth and negligence

With them theder to go gladly

Vnto this place cheyf of diligence

1765

Whyche of all honour hath preemynence

Eche man for to helpe at his nede

Than thought [I] for to recompence I] 1505 omits, I 1506

The tyme loste / and thyder to spede

sig: G3

But I tolde them I knewe no-thynge

1770

Of dyligence / nor yet of besynesse

Gode_hert sayde / By our techynge

Thou shalt knowe the way expresse

Thou mayste bothe say and thynke doutlesse

Whyle we thre ar thy conductours

1775

That thou art voyde of heuynesse

And sure of all worldly honours

A_wake and put the in aparayle

To moche slepe hurteth man certayne

In this way must thou sore trauayle

1780

For reason so dothe it ordeyne

For what man that taketh payne

On hym with trauayle and abstynence

To rychesse [n]ed[e]s must attayne nedes] medys 1505, nedes 1506

Therfore aryse and go we hens

¶ Gode_wyll.

1785

Go sonne thou must bestowe thy tyme

In other wyse than thou hast done

Let [nat] to labour for no cryme nat] 1505 omits, not 1506

Lettynge thy dedes ay sounde to reason

And as for me / I me abandon

1790

With my husbonde on the to wayte

Vnto this castell and noble mansyon

Wherin is rychesse without dysceyte

Who other begyleth hym-selfe disceyueth

Rychesse yll-goten cometh to yll ende

1795

Who in this castell falshode conceyueth

sig: [G3v]

Shall nat his power far extende

But after dethe if thou wylt ascende

Take me [and] trauayle to be thy gyde and] 1505 omits, and 1506

Whiche in this castell shall the defende

1800

By our meanes in euery tyde

Lust_to_do_gode

¶Do my faders commaundement

If thou truly wolde haue rychesse

And to my moder be dylygent

In that thou mayst wit[h] loulynesse with] wit 1505, with 1506

1805

And I shall do my wyll and besynesse

Vnto my power the to susteyne

Wherfore auoyde thou sleuthfulnesse

And vs to folowe take on the peyne

¶The actour.

sig: [G4]

The previous section heading is repeated here in the copytext.

THus I hauynge great delyte I] as I 1503

1810

To here them speke so wysely

Lept fro my bed without respyte Lept fro] Depured 1503

And made me redy hastely

Gode_wyll went full redely

To lyght a candell at myne instaunce

1815

Whiche as she went songe so merely

That hyr to here I had pleasaunce

I toke my clothes vnto me necessarye

And made me redy at theyr instaunce

Lust_to_do_gode full gladly

1820

To bere the candell had great pleasaunce

Than went they forthe all in ordynaunce

As folke replenysshed with mekenesse

That to beholde theyr cou[n]tenaunce

My herte was fylled with gladnesse

1825

Lust_to_do_gode / went alway

Before berynge the candell-lyght

Gode_wyll went next in fayre aray

And than gode_hert / I folowed right

Sothly it was a pleasaunt syght

1830

To se to_geder so meke a company

I had nat suche sorowe all the nyght

As I had than myrthe and melodye

sig: [G4v]

THan entred we into the way

Of great payne called dyligence

1835

Wythout restynge I went alway

There founde I no resystence

These thre were euer in my presence

For the way was vnknowen to me

I hasted me vnder theyr defence

1840

That I myght there the soner be

Thus went we forth a lytell whyle

Of the way was I ignoraunt

My thre felawes dyd on me smyle

On me beholdynge with glad semblaunt

1845

Than sawe I this castell fayre and plesaunt

sig: [G5]

Moste ryche / stronge and sumptuous

Whan I it sawe so resplendaunt

Sothly of hert I was full ioyous

Vnto the gate whan I was nye

1850

I wolde haue entred without sauegarde sauegarde ='safe-conduct, guarantee of safe passage'; see OED s.v. safe-guard n, 3

But the porter resysted me

Beholdynge me with chere frowarde

Of that castell he kept the garde

His wyfe was euer in his presence

1855

Thynkest thou to enter he sayde cowarde

Nat hauynge our loue nor our lycence

¶ Besynesse.

¶Thynkest thou to enter without our leue

Into this castell cheyf grounde of rychesse of] to 1506

Nay nay thou must hens remeue

1860

None entreth here but by mekenesse

My wyfe Cure and I Besynesse

Haue suche offyce in this castel

To vs obeyeth bothe more and lesse

That hathe intencyon therin to dwell

1865

By the fayre path of diligence

Thou art come hyder as I byleue

Yet mayst thou nat here haue resydence

Without our loue fauour and leue

Thou mayste nat enter therfore remeue

1870

For wyth the am I nat content

sig: [G5v]

Auoyde or elles I shall the greue

His wyfe than sayde incontynent

¶ Cure.

Gentyll husbonde holde hym excused

He wyll obey vnto your commaundement

1875

Let nat his mekenesse be refused

He wyll nought without your assent

I knowe hym wyse / discrete / and prudent

He wyll gladly do you homage

So it wyll please you be content

1880

Of fauour to graunt hym passage

Commaunde hym what-so-euer ye please

And he shall do it without fallace fallace ='falsehood, deception'

He purposeth nat you to dysplease

But hym submytteth vnto you[r] grace your] you 1505, your 1506

1885

Praynge that he may haue place

Into this castell for to go

He hath our fauour to purchace

Gode_hert / and Gode_wyll also

¶The actour.

Than besynesse as a man full kynde

1890

Sayde / syth thou hast suche socour

My fauour redy shalt thou fynde

The for to helpe at euery hour

To here hym speke I had pleasour

Than sayde he / sythe thou hast reason

sig: [G6]

1895

Thou shalt nat fayle of great honour

Wyth welth and rychesse in breyf season

¶ Besynesse.

I That called am besynesse

Vnto man richesse do procure

My wyfe also in all destresse

1900

Doth man of hyr helpe assure

This place is called by droyture droyture ='uprightness'

The excellent castell of labour

If thou here be I the ensure

Thou must be besye in euery hour

1905

Sythe thou art in our subieccion

sig: [G6v]

Trust well thou shalt come to rychesse

For whyle in thy mynde abydeth reason

By no meane cannest thou haue skasnesse skasnesse: =scarceness

I shall helpe the in all besynesse

1910

In this castell to ensue the trayne

The captayne therof / and the mayst[resse] maystresse] maysters 1505, maystresse 1506

Ar called by name trauayle and payne

Thou shalt in this place haue moche ado

Mannys good-wyll for to deserue

1915

Thou shalt skant fynde the meane therto

The captayne is so yl to serue

Vneth his byddynge canst thou obserue

Without it be wel done and a_pace

But in godenesse thou the styll preserue

1920

Thou shalt be sone out of theyr grace

Thus do I the afore aduert

Of the great payne that thou shalt fynde

Lest that after it shulde greue thy hert

Therfore on wysedome set thy mynde

1925

The captayne is somwhat vnkynde

Whiche shall do to the great rigour

Eche thynge tourneth as the wynde

Wythin this castell of labour

¶The actour.

¶All that shall do me none yll

1930

I shall assay them for to please

sig: H1

I haue fonde gode_hert / and gode_wyll

With Lust_to_do_gode / whiche shall me ase

I trust no man for to dysplease

Whyle I of them do take counsayle

1935

I wyll nat let for no dysease

To go into this castell of trauayle

THan besynesse and cure brought me into

This castell / ample / and spacyous

Shewynge me men and wymen also

1940

Sore workynge and none ocyous

Them to beholde was a thynge maruelous

Bothe yonge and olde of euery facultye

To labour was there none contra[r]ious contrarious] contracious 1505; contraryous 1506

Eche one wolde afore his felawe be

sig: [H1v]

1945

They smote with hambers that we[re] stronge were] we 1505, were 1506

That to beholde I had great wonder

Suche a noyse was them amonge

That it sounded lyke the thunder

Some were aboue / and some were vnder

1950

In theyr shertes laborynge for hete

Some dyd peaces brake in_sunder

Some agayne them togeder bete

To beholde them I had delyte

Seynge them worke so lustely

1955

That to laboure I had appetyte

Cure and Besynesse that dyd spye

Whyche sayde vnto me shortly

That if I coude labour well

They wolde get me lycence gladly

1960

In that castell for to dwell

Than to them answered I certayne

That to labour I was content

Than spake they to the captayne

Requyringe hym for to assent

1965

He graunted me a place present

Conuenie[n]t for my degre Conuenient] Conueniet 1505, Conuenyent 1506

There promysed I for to be diligent

So that in theyr fauour I myght be

I set me downe vnto labour.

1970

With besynesse and parfyte diligence

Trustynge therby to haue honour

sig: H2

Cure and besynesse were nat thens

I was right glad of theyr presence

For they taught me howe I shulde do

1975

Vnto them I gaue audyence

And what they sayde I agred therto

Than cam the wyfe of the capytayne capytayne] capytaayne 1505

Goynge here and there trottynge

They tolde me that hyr name was payne

1980

Eche manys labour vysytynge

Hyr handes and hyr forehede swetynge

She taryed no more in any place

Than doth a pursyuaunt ridynge pursyuaunt ='messenger'; see OED s.v. pursuivant n, 2b

Whan he wolde purchace some grace

1985

Sometyme in hyr smocke rennynge faste

No-thynge entendynge to rest nor ease entendynge] tendynge 1506

She ran styll whyle hyr breth wolde laste

Nat sp[a]rynge fo[r] no dysease sparynge for] sprynge fo 1505, sparynge for 1506

She was diligent eche man to please

1990

And me behelde approchynge nere

She sayde syr porter ye me displease

For bryngynge of this stranger here

¶ Peyne.

Syr Besynesse that ar portere

Of this castell shewe me playne

1995

Who hathe broug[h]t hyther this straunger? brought] brougt 1505

I sawe hym neuer afore certayne

sig: [H2v]

Cometh he fro fraunce / or fro britayne

I must knowe his cause and his entent

He muste submyt hym vnto my payne

2000

Or elles in vayne his tyme is spent

¶ Besynesse.

¶My lady peyne haue ye no dout

For hyther is he come truly

With gode_hert / and gode_wyll hym about

Whiche hyther hathe hym brought besely

2005

Lust_to_do_gode is to hym nye

Whiche is a chylde ryght honorable

Ye shall fynde hym to you redy

Humble of hert and seruyable

¶ Cure.

¶My husbonde and I loue hym right well

2010

We shall helpe hym at euery nede

Ye shall nat nede hym ought to tell

Therfore my lady haue ye no drede

Euen as he dothe gyue hym his mede

And my husbonde shalbe his borowe

2015

That in his labour he shall spede

And neyther spare for peyne nor sorowe

¶ Peyne.

sig: H3

YE say bothe well and wysely

I knowe nat yet howe he wyll preue

For many one be sone wery

2020

Of labour whan it doth them greue

But suche sothly be to repreue

But we shall sone se what labour

He can do / or that he remeue

To come to rychesse and honour

¶The actour.

2025

¶Than payne to me approched nere

Byddynge me labour diligently

And that I shulde in eche manere

sig: [H3v]

Do my besynesse well and wysely

Nat sparynge my body nor my bonys

2030

And he that dyd nat so truly

Shulde auoyde that place atonys

I tolde hyr that I had desyre

To worke fast without fayne

And for to folowe hyr pleasyre

2035

So that she shulde nat complayne

Saynge I trusted to obteyne

By my labour welth and rychesse

And that I shulde my-selfe constrayne

To be nere Cure / and Besynesse

¶ Peyne.

2040

¶That is answered by gode moyen moyen ='means'

Whan trauayle my husbonde shall you se

The whiche is feble and auncyen

Your worke and labour shall he ouerse

Of hym rewarde[d] shall ye be rewarded] rewarde 1505, rewarded 1506

2045

After your worke and your labour

And in the meane-tyme ye shall haue me

Alway redy at your socour

¶The actour.

¶Than began I to labour fast

Enployinge theron pleasour and myght

2050

Contynuynge whyle the nyght dyd last

sig: [H4]

Than in the mornynge appered lyght

In at a wyndowe that was bryght

Than blewe I my candell out

Labourynge styll with all my myght

2055

As other that were me about

Styll to labour I dyd me caste

By suffraunce of the grace dyuyne

Vnto the tyme of the brakefaste

Where we had neyther ale ne wyne

2060

They myght nat tary for to dyne

So sure on labour was theyr purpose

Tyll labour caused them to declyne

By payne constrayned so vp they rose

They were all homely as companions

2065

Theyr labour gaue them an appetyt reall reall ='royal'? See OED s.v. real adj. 1

Some yete garleke / some yete onyons yete ... yete] ete ... ete 1506

Suche seruyce was amonge them all

Broun brede to them was cordyall

Wetynge it in the water clere

2070

Drynkynge of the fountayne clere as crystall

They had no scorne of this manere

There was neyther befe ne moton

To ete whan hunger dyd them assayle

Suche is the maner in this season

2075

Some be rewarded yll theyr trauayle

They wrought in peas and in batayle

Some etynge and labourynge both at onys

sig: [H4v]

Nat sparynge theyr body without fayle

As chefe laborers for the nones

2080

WHan I sawe theyr condycion I] that I 1506

So prone to labour and besynesse

I set myne hole and ferme entencion

By suche labour to gete rychesse

Than vpon me came fayntnesse

2085

That I had lyst to refresshe nature

Whan they me sawe in suche distresse

I lacked no brede I you ensure

I wolde be of theyr companye

And takynge this brede with gode-wyll

2090

I therof bote ryght merely bote: =bit

sig: [H5]

Styll workynge nat thynkynge yll

I had no scorne me for to fylle

With this brede but theron bote

And after with chere meke and styll

2095

With fayre water I wasshed my throte

I fylled my bely fayre and well

With this fayre brede made of rye

Drynkynge alway at the well

And yet styll wrought I merely

2100

I was as well at eas truly

As thughe I had [had] all deyntees had had] had 1505, had had 1506

In the worlde / for certaynly

To moche is nought in all degrees

Shortly to say I was as full

2105

As was conuenyent to nature

For excesse maketh the mynde dull

I reporte[d] me to besynesse and cure reported] reporte 1505, 1506

For often-tymes man dothe murmure

Whan he is full of mete and wyne

2110

To all vyce prone I the ensure

Excludynge hym fro the grace dyuyne

Whan I was thus refresshed well

I drewe me to my warke agayne

Gode_hert and Gode_wyll dyd me tell

2115

Howe I sholde do / also certayne

Lust_to_do_gode dyd me maynteyne

Thus drewe I me vnto besynesse

sig: [H5v]

I spared neyther trauayle nor peyne

Wythout falshode to get rychesse

2120

CUre and charge dyd me beholde

Commaundynge me to labour fast

And tolde me surely that they wolde

Rewarde me truly at the last

So laboured I tyll the day was past

2125

And as I laboured songe I merely

Tyll hesperus cloudes the day ouercast

And that the nyght aproched nye

Than cure vnbyden went a_pace

And lyghtly lyghted a candell

2130

She set it by my workynge-place

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And many newe poyntes to me dyd tell

She sayde who bydeth in this castell

After the commaundement of reason

Must worke vnto the curfue-knell

2135

Consyderynge the tyme and season

At hyr byddynge I wrought styll fast

Hauynge therin delyte and pleasour

Tyll that the bel range at the last

Whiche was a conuenyent hour

2140

Than hunger cam with his rigour

Whiche cruelly dyd me assayle

With that sawe I come from a tour

The capytayne called trauayle

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FRende thou art welcome vnto this place

2145

For thy labour true and diligent

Whiche hath brought the into my grace

Therfore shal I gyue the riches permanent

So after that thy youthe is spent

I shall the promyse and behest

2150

After thy labour incontynent

Thou shalt come to the hous of rest

Thou shalt haue rest at thy desyre

After thy payne and tribulacion

Thou shalt syt merely by thy fyre

2155

After that thy worke is done

There shalt thou fynde consolacyon

After thy payne and thy trauayle

Thus shalt thou fynde in conclusyon

After pouertye ryche apparayle

2160

And therfore at one worde shortly

Nowe do as thou thynkest best

For with gode-wyll the leue gyue I

For to go home vnto thy rest

And thy prayer and thy request

2165

I trauayle shall vnto the promesse

Go nowe thou shalt haue my behest

Af[t]er labour / that is richesse. After] Afer 1505, After 1506

¶The actour.

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¶Than toke I leue of trauayle

Goynge to reste full of gladnesse

2170

Than with hye voyce withouten fayle

I called the porter named besynes

Than to the yates I dyd me dresse

The whiche were shyt than had I dout

Yet shewed I the porter suche mekenes

2175

That he agreed to let me out

BEsynesse and cure his wyfe

Let me out at the gate mekely

Alway me warnynge for drede of stryfe

On the mornynge to ryse erly

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2180

My labour for to fynysshe parfytely

Saynge all that I had done was nought

Without it were ended lyghtly

Wherfore theron set thy thought

He sayde in the castell of rychesse

2185

No man can haue any audyence

Whyle he soiourneth with ydelnesse

The capt[a]yne hath gyuen that sentence captayne] captyne 1505

But by the way of dyligence

One may ryght well obteyne this place

2190

Here mayst thou se in thy presence

By what hardnesse thou fell in grace

In labour must thou haue perseueraunce

Auoydynge great rest that is so daungerous

Whiche bryngeth wyse-men into ignoraunce

2195

And to rychesse is right contrarious

Auoyde sleuth whiche is so odyous

That of hym cometh nought but pouertye.

Aboue all to falshode be contrarious

Despysynge his goodes full of iniquyte

2200

If thou hym loue sonne I ensure the

Of my worde mayst thou be certayne

That thou offendest the deyte

Of our lorde / and deseruest peyne

Eternall / therfore the refrayne

2205

Fro this falshode in eche degre

And if that sleuth vpon the rayne

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As pore as Iob was shalt thou be

Without rest no man may lyue

For it is accordynge to trauayle

2210

But in rychesse if thou wolt preue

Rest nat to moche by my counsayle.

Remember this lesson se thou nat fayle

And to th'entent thou forsake nat this lawe

Nat it forgettynge / for thyne auayle

2215

By thyne eare I shall the drawe

¶ Cure.

My frende one can nat ay endure

For to labour to his auauntage

Therfore se thou thy-selfe assure

To labour fast in thy yonge age

2220

Infyxe thy mynde and thy courage

On reason and thou shalt haue rychesse

By ydelnesse thou doest outrage

Bothe to the and all thyne doutlesse.

¶The actour.

Than drewe she myne ere agayne

2225

As cure had done before doutlesse

And than vanysshed away certayne

Leuynge me there full of fayntnesse

Procedynge of my labour and besynesse

Thus seynge them gone I thought it best

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2230

To re[f]resshe nature without excesse refresshe] reeresshe 1505, refresshe 1506

And so drewe me to the hous of rest

I sawe rest whiche dyd me abyde

Within his hous withouten blame

And my wyfe on the other syde

2235

Dressed my souper without dyffame

There rested I in goddys name

Famylierly nat as a stranger

Thankynge god of inmortall fame

That I escaped was that daunger

¶The hous of rest.

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2240

VNto the table I went that tyde

Entendyng to soupe without outrage

My wyfe sat on the other syde

After my custome and olde vsage

There had we brede wyne and potage

2245

And of flesshe a smale pytaunce

Without to [do] any hurte or damage do] 1505, 1506 omit

We souped togeder at our pleasaunce

My wyfe voyded the table clene

And vnto me aproched nere

2250

Than on my sholder dyd she lene

After hyr costome and manere

There tolde I hyr of the daungere

Whiche I was in the nyght before

Howe that she slept with mery chere

2255

The whyle that I was troubled sore

I tolde hyr that in all my lyfe

I had nat so great peruersyte

Nowe in pleasour and nowe in stryfe

Tourmented fyersly felt I me

2260

For fals Nede / and Necessyte

Wyth pouertye / and hyr felawe distresse

Thought and heuynesse wyth crueltye

Lay on my bed me to oppresse

Dysconfort and Disesperaunce

2265

Lay vpon me with theyr treason

Redy to brynge me to myschaunce

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Or in the way of perdicion

That had nat ben my lady reason

Whiche me enformed to myne auauntage

2270

They had brought me vnto confusyon

Or done to me some great outrage

Wysdome dyd greatly me profyte

For I haunted his companye

Whiche by his meanes made me quyte

2275

Of falshode / disceyte / and vsurye

Whiche thre by theyr polecye

Had me nere brought to conf[u]syon confusyon] confysyon 1505

But after agayne confort had I

Of that wyse lady called reason

2280

To whome I haue made homage

For she of hyr owne beneuolence

Hathe gyuen me at breyf langage

Gode_hert / and Gode_wyll for my defence

Whiche haue a chylde ay in my presen[c]e presence] presente 1505, presence 1506

2285

Lust_to_do_gode named is he

Redy to helpe me in all indigence

Out of payne and peruersyte

We went vnto the castell of labour

Where was many an artifycer

2290

Cure stode at the gate that hour

Besynesse hyr husbonde was porter

They receyued me with gode chere

Trauayle was theyr captayne

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His wyues name was called payne

2295

There wrought I all nyght and day certayne nyght and day] daye and nyght 1506

With fre-wyll and glad plesaunce

To_morowe must I retoure agayne

To this castell of fayre ordynaunce

There fonde I but smale pytaunce

2300

But euery man after his degre

After his labour had his fe

And therfore my welbeloued wyfe

Consyder the payne and the trauayle

Whyche whyle ye slept without stryfe

2305

Right cruelly dyd me assayle

But nowe am I well without fayle

Sythe I haue escaped this daungere

And in your presence may appere

My wyfe therof cared no-thynge

2310

But leughe me to derysyon leughe: =laughed, the strong form of the past tense in Scots English (see OED s.v. laugh v); the 1506 text also reads leughe

She scorned me and my talkynge

For were it wynnynge or perdicion

It was to hyr all one conclusyon

For so she were serued at hyr desyre

2315

She cared nat if I lay in the myre

She called me fole and cared nought

And was nere redy wyth me to fyght

She swore by god that hyr dere bought

She wolde make me remember that nyght

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2320

Therfore I went to bed euen-ryght

For the thre-foted stole sore fered I

To chat with a woman it is but foly

A man shulde take no hede at all

To what-someuer a woman say

2325

Of hyr tunge she is lyberall

It is no wysedome hyr to denay

In peas may he be by no way

That wolde styll a woman / it is contrary

She is a publyke and comon secretary

2330

Who-euer he be that hathe a wyfe

Had nede for to haue pacyence

Or elles must he lyue alway in stryfe

Thoughe she be bounde to obedyence

Yet doth she after hyr owne sentence

2335

I dare no more say for drede of blame

That man is happy that one can tame

On this poynt I made me redy

And so went to my bed full ryght

Where I slept styll and merely

2340

Tyll four of the clocke after mydnyght

Than vp I rose by the candellyght

Thynkynge on Cure and besynesse

And to my worke sonne dyd I me dresse

Ay praynge god by his ordynaunce

2345

That if I may nat obteyne rychesse

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That I may purchace suffysaunce

Whiche is my lady and my maysteresse

To enforme me to lyue in symplenesse

So that after this lyfe mortall

2350

I maye reioys the realme eternall

¶ A[u]ctoris excusatio.

Auctoris] Actoris 1505

GO forth smale treatyse and humbly the present

Vnto the reders as indigne of audience

Exortyng them with meke and lowe entent

To this rude langage to gyue none aduertence

For many one hath parfyte diligence

Whiche by no meane his mynde can expresse

The cause therof is lacke of eloquence

Whiche nowe is caduke by meane of sleuthful[n]esse

The yonge chylde is nat all parfyte

To renne whan he can neyther crepe nor go

But whan he begynneth he hath great delyte

In his newe science / wherfore he hath great wo

Endurynge falles with many paynes mo

Thus suche peyne so longe dothe he endure

And to hym-selfe he entendethe so

That of his fete he is parfyte and sure

So certaynly in suche case am I

Some-what asaynge if I can ensue

The steppes of them the whiche craftely

All vyce of wrytynge vtterly eschue

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But ignoraunce right oft doth me subdue

And often I falle for lacke of exercyse

This rude langage so on me doth renewe

That I agayne vnethes may aryse

The cause why I folowe nat these oratours

Is for lacke of intellygence

And that I haue nat smelled of the flours

Spryngynge in the garden of parfyte eloquence

Wherfore with humble and meke obedyence

I submyt me to the correccion

Of them whom minerua with hyr science

Hathe indued / this is my conclusyon

¶Thus endeth the castell of labour wherin is rychesse / vertue and honoure.

¶Enprynted be me Richarde_Pynson.

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