A Treatyce Of Moral Philosophy: The Seuenth Booke Entituled Of Haps And Chaunces, And Of Contentment In Any Degree. Poem by William Baldwin

by nature all men be equall in dignitie

by nature all men be equall in dignitie,
by fortune one more then an other aduaunced:
this who considers in his supremitie,
ought loke to himselfe, and well be aduised,
by fortunes good fortune, who commeth in fauour,
by fortunes misfortune, may catche a displeasure.

The summe of all. fortune is a variable, and straunge maisters

fortune is a variable, and straunge maisters,
and vncertaine to trust to in all doinges,
for fortunes croked euils her nature doth expresse,
which daily are felt, with her hasty short turninges,
she quickenneth and destroieth her sharpe prefounde beinge,
and for this entent chiefly, misfortune should be suffred,
because that true friendes are best therby declared.

The summe of all. the honour and glory that worldlynges desire.

the honour and glory that worldlynges desire.
surmounting others in riches and dignitie,
can not long florish, but that with small hire,
shall ende their daies in woful miserie.
but vertue susteineth no such calamitie,
therefore or euer thou desire honour,
call for grace to be thy gouernour.

the more that a man hath of aboundaunce Pithagoras.

the more that a man hath of aboundaunce,
so much the lesse hath he of assuraunce.

He is neither riche, happy, nor wise Solon.

He is neither riche, happy, nor wise,
that is a bond man to his owne auarice.

treasures, which falshode semeth to augment Hermes.

treasures, which falshode semeth to augment
are euil gotten and worse are spent.
wherefore to be rich, who so doth entende,
ought truely to winne, and duly to spende.

The hauing of riches, is not so commodiouse Aristotle.

The hauing of riches, is not so commodiouse
as the departing from them is greuouse.

The summe of all Sith the perfect riches is suffisaunce

Sith the perfect riches is suffisaunce
he is more riche, content with pouertia
then he that hath of treasures aboundaunce,
which no man may possesse well with suretye
Richest is be that can himselfe satisfie
with fewest thinges, whiche he both safe and sure,
where fortunes giftes, be doubtfull to endure.

to the auariciouse is no suffisaunce Horace.

to the auariciouse is no suffisaunce,
for couetouse encreaseth as fast as his substaunce.

For couetouse people to dye is the best Seneca.

For couetouse people to dye is the best,
for the longer they liue, the lesse is their rest:
for life them leadeth, theire substaunce to double,
where death them dischargeth of endles trouble.

The summe of all Inordinate desire, of welth and auctoritie

Inordinate desire, of welth and auctoritie,
is the very roote of all mischiefe and wickednes,
it subuerteth loue, credence, good name and honesty,
yea, and lost is that soule, that is rooted in couetousnes
Fortifie then thy soule, with the trade of godlines,
and couet not to spare, but right honestly spende,
for most wretched are niggardes vntill their liues ende.

The summe of all. Pouertie with pleasure or paine doth appeare

Pouertie with pleasure or paine doth appeare
In all estates by sundry condicion
pouertie with ioy is more blessed and deare
before god (then riches) without exception
wretched pouertie is of beastly affection
and those sort of men that are poore and vertuous,
are more woorthy honouor then the riche and vicious.

The summe of all. so vertuously endeuour thy selfe to liue.

so vertuously endeuour thy selfe to liue.
that men, euen worthily thy lyfe may comend,
counterfait not vertue, for men will it repriue,
and praise thee for thy profit, if rightly thou entende,
bothe praise and dispraise in our liuing doth depende,
and as after the body there foloweth shadow,
euen so after vertue praise doth also folow.

The summe of all. although honoure, wealth, riches and dignitie

although honoure, wealth, riches and dignitie,
be deintie pleasures, that nature doth embrace,
yet libertye as writers doth testifie,
is the best thing, that man can purchace.
the poore man libertie, doth plainely deface,
the riche in pryson or bondslaue to riches,
whose liues are wasted in most wretched distres.

The summe of all. Diligence is a quickenes and liuelynes of mynde

Diligence is a quickenes and liuelynes of mynde
whereby all thinges are finished most aptly.
Diligence doth always this commoditie finde,
it neuer repenteth but endeth most gladly.
Careful diligence is the keye of certeintie.
and as with diligence men doe their busines,
what rewarde shall follow the ende wil so expresse.

stoppe the beginning so shalte thou be sure Horas.

stoppe the beginning so shalte thou be sure
all doubtfull diseases to swage and to cure.
but if thou be careles and suffer them brast
to late commeth plaistre when a cure is past.

The summe of all. God that is most glorious, was thalmighty beginner

God that is most glorious, was thalmighty beginner
of all things that in heauen or in earth hath their beinge.
which was without beginning, he is the onely helper.
and furtherer of good workes to come to good ending.
without counsaile and aduisement begin not any thinge.
but consider well the ende and waie it discreetly,
for happely it preserueth bothe soule and bodye.

A Treatyce Of Moral Philosophy: The Eyght Booke Entituled Of Vices, Faultes, And Corruptions, To Be Aduoided.
The summe of all. as the soule, which by vertue, is chiefly garnished

as the soule, which by vertue, is chiefly garnished
doth shewe and set forth, goddes eternal glory:
so the soule that with vice is replenished
forgeateth god, and sinneth most wickedly,
embrace then vertue, for vice is most filthy,
and vertue at no time, in man can shine clere,
while vice and wickednes in him shall appere.

The summe of all. there is to mankinde no greater enemy

there is to mankinde no greater enemy
and that more hindereth his estimacion
then the lothsome burden of bestly foly,
which plainly appeareth in eche condicion.
fooles are ouerthrowne with light affection.
and as corne vppon stones is all sowne in vaine,
euen so are good counsailes to a foolishe braine.

The summe of all. Ignoraunce of the soule, is very madnes

Ignoraunce of the soule, is very madnes,
which while it laboureth the truth to attaine,
Is confounded and wrapped in heauines,
through selfe knowledge, and feblenes of braine,
yea, this is also most euident and playne,
that as ignoraunce is bredde by idlenes:
euen so is errour by ignoraunce doubtlesse.

By wyne bewty fadeth, and age is defaced

By wyne bewty fadeth, and age is defaced
wine maketh forgotten, that late was embraced.

The summe of all wrath, enuy, hatred, enmitie, and malice

wrath, enuy, hatred, enmitie, and malice,
are vices most cursed, hatefull and ougly
repugning peace, that swete vertue of Price,
which knitteth both god and man in amitie,
they be contrary also to humanitie
and as the godly and wise doth detest them,
so the wicked and foolish dooth embrace them.

The summe of all. the wyne freshly florisheth & yeldeth in his kinde

the wyne freshly florisheth & yeldeth in his kinde,
three sundry grapes, and of contrary condicion:
of pleasure, of drunkennes, and of sorow, thus we find
by daily experience, through our grosse affeccion,
wine inordinately taken troubleth mans reason,
and the filthynes of drunkerds, if thou see & remember,
shall sufficiently admonishe thee to kepe thee sober.

The summe of all. The soule with lying is often infected

The soule with lying is often infected
as with a pestilent and hurtfull maladie.
the soule in that state is knowen to be wicked
wherof shame or reason is the onely remedy.
flye therfore and forsake all liers company.
and as great tellers of newes are seldome credited
so liers and bosters are alwaies dispysed.

The summe of all. fylthy lustes and lechery are most disobedient euils

fylthy lustes and lechery are most disobedient euils
which with violence hurteth where thei fasten on idlenes,
the stinking lothsome lecher with their idle pretesed wils.
loseth the fruites of praise, & winneth the ende of wickednes.
shame, euill ende & damnacion, foloweth their filthines,
flie from whordom loue dennies, & leaue to liue wantoly:
and seeke the praise of temperance sobernes & chastitie.

Of flatterie.

Diogenes.
of slaunderers and flatterers take heede if ye will,
for neither time nor wilde beaste an byte vs so ill
for of wilde beastes, slaunderer is the worst biter,
and of the time most biteth a flatterer.


Theophra.
for a man muche better it is amonge rauenes
to fall, and be taken, then among flatterers
for rauens but of fleshe deade bodies do depriue.
but flatterers deuoure men while they be aliue.

The summe of all. flattery from friendship is hardly disseuered

flattery from friendship is hardly disseuered
being mutually knit, with the affects of the minde.
busy bodyes and picktbanks, are not to be trusted,
as wisemen their subtletie will quickly out fynde.
nobles by flattery are often made blynde.
and as wormes in softe woode do breade moste gladlye,
so gentle and noble wits, are hurt by flattery.