A most excellent new Dittie, wherein is shewed the sage sayinges, and wise sentences
of Salomon: wherein each estate is taught his duetie, with singular counsell to his
comfort and consolation. To the tune of Wigmoores Galliard.
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THose that will run a Vertuous race,
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and learne the Precepts of the sage
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Those that true wisedome will imbrace
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and learne to live in youth and age:
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Let him approch hereto with speed,
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And to these Lessons give good heed:
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for bearing well these thinges away,
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the Lord will blesse them night & day.
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My Sonne, sayth Salomon the wise,
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if thou true Wisedome wilt attaine:
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Then feare the Lord that rules the skies
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for so the scripture telleth thee plaine.
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Imbrace his word, and him obay:
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This is the chiefe and onely way:
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for they that do these thinges despise,
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are fooles to God, though worldly wise
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Unto thy Father honour give,
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and thou shalt surely blessed be:
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And be obedient while you live,
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un[t]o your Mother courteously:
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Then God will send thee evermore
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Sufficient wealth, and treasure store:
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all thinges shall prosper in thy hand,
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and long thou shalt injoy the land.
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The blessing of thy Father deare,
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doth cause the childrens good successe:
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But where the Mother doth appeare,
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to curse the childrens wickednesse,
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Their whole foundation doth decay,
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Like withered leaves they fall away:
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Then all good children learne of me,
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to love your Parentes faythfullie.
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Set not thy minde on worldly wealth,
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nor put thy confidence therein:
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For Riches doth consume by stealth,
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and Covetousnes is counted sinne:
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For while thou livest on the earth,
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Thou art uncertaine of thy death:
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and when that death doth stop thy wind
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then must thou leave thy goods behind
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Be friendly unto every man,
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but unto few familiar be:
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And try thy Friende if that thou can,
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his inward thoughts to prove and see:
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And if thou finde him just and true,
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Change not thy old Friend for a new:
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For many promise much indeede,
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but cleane forsake thee in thy neede.
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If thou hast Sonnes, instruct them well
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but on thy Daughter never smile:
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Their wanton wayes do farre excell,
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let no affection thee beguile:
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With due correction love them still,
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And give not them their wanton will:
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for if that they do stubborne grow,
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their duetie then they will not know.
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Give honour to the Aged sort,
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and to thy Betters alwayes bow:
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So shalt thou winne a good report,
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for God him selfe doth him allow:
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Of hatefull Pride likewise be ware,
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And have an eye to after care:
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be not too rash in any thing,
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for that will soone repentance bring.
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Lende not thy goodes to Mighty men,
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whose countenance passeth thy degree
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For it is hard to get againe,
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as we by dayly proofe may see.
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For other men give not thy word,
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No further then thou canst afford:
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least afterward thou chaunce to rue,
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and pay the debt when it is due.
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With him that is a Majestrate,
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in any case go not to law:
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Least thou repent the same too late,
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for he will hold thee still in awe:
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Be alwayes wary in thy wordes,
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For spightfull tongues are evill swords
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and looke to whom thou dost impart,
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the thoughtes and secrets of thy hart.
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Be never jeolous of thy Wife,
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least she thereby do mischiefe learne,
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For so thou shalt soone purchase strife:
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then wisely do each thing discerne.
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And do no evill occasion give,
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But lovingly together live:
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For where the man and wife do hate,
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the curse of God waytes at thy gate.
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On Harlots cast not thou thy minde,
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least thou thereby thy selfe consume:
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And waste thy riches in the winde,
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whilst thou in fancie fret and fume:
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Their foule inticements bringeth death
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And poyson commeth from their breath:
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their eyes are wandering too and fro,
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and every one their fashions know.
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Prayse no woman for her beauties sake,
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nor discommende no man by light:
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And with thy tongue no lying make,
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fulfill thy promise just and right.
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Be mercifull unto the poore,
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And God will thee reward therefore:
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Keepe not the Laborers wages backe
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but comfort such as comfort lacke.
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Grieve not the heavie harted man,
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nor joy not at thy enemies harme:
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Rebuke thy Brother friendly than,
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against no man use open charme:
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Nor credite thou each tale in hast,
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Till tryall prove the matter wast.
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From hateful slaunder keepe thy tongue
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& worke for age, whilst thou art young
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Three things there are which God doth hate
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as holy Scripture do declare:
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A man too proud in beggars state,
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a Rich man for to lye and sweare:
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To see an Old-man given to lust:
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And those of God are sure acurst.
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The lying tongue the soule doth quell
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but pride & lust throwes down to hell.
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While you are living, call for grace,
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thy selfe is like the fading Flower:
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Death commeth stealing on a pace,
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thou shalt not know the day nor houre.
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Thy speach at all times shall not last,
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Use well the time that now thou hast:
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and from repentance do not stay,
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thou canst no time with death delay.
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If thou consider well the same,
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and beare these Lessons in thy minde:
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And thereunto thy selfe do frame,
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great comfort surely thou shalt finde.
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Plant well these sayings in thy hart,
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And from these precepts never start:
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So shalt thou live in perfect peace,
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and God will blesse thee with increase.
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