The Best of the Worlds Classics, Restricted to prose. | Page 8

wretch nor miser,
for it is a great shame to a man to have a poor heart and a rich purse; he
saith also: The goods that thou hast obtained, use 'em by measure, that
is to say, spend measurably, for they that foolishly waste and squander
the goods that they have, when they have no more proper of 'eir own,
that they prepare to take the goods of another man. I say, then, that ye
should flee avarice, using your riches in such manner, that men say not
that your riches are buried, but that ye have 'em in your might and in

your wielding; for a wise man reproveth the avaricious man, and saith
thus in two verse: Whereto and why burieth a man his goods by his
great avarice, and knoweth well that needs must he die, for death is the
end of every man as in this present life.
And for what cause or reason joineth he him, or knitteth he him so fast
unto his goods, that all his wits will not dissever him or depart him
from his goods, and knoweth well, or ought to know, that when he is
dead he shall nothing bear with him out of this world? And therefore
saith St. Augustine, that the avaricious man is likened unto hell, that the
more it swalloweth the more desire it hath to swallow and devour. And
as well as ye would eschew to be called an avaricious man or a chinch,
as well should ye keep you and govern you in such wise, that men call
you not fool-large; therefore, saith Tullius: The goods of thine house
should not be hid nor kept so close, but that they might be opened by
pity and debonnairety, that is to say, to give 'em part that have great
need; but the goods should not be so open to be every man's goods.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 16: One of the only two "Canterbury Tales" that were written
in prose, its title being "The Tale of Melibæus." The spelling here has
been partly modernized.]
[Footnote 17: Statesman and historian; born about 464 A.D.; an
administrative officer under Odoacer Theodoric, whose works were
published in 1679.]
[Footnote 18: Cicero.]

WILLIAM CAXTON
Born about 1422, died in 1491; the first English printer; began to
translate the "Histories de Troye" in 1469 and issued the work in 1474,
either at Cologne or Bruges; translated and had printed in 1475 "The
Game and Playe of Chesse," the second printed English book; set up a
press in Westminster, London, in 1476, where he continued to print

books until his death.

OF TRUE NOBILITY AND CHIVALRY[19]
The knight ought to be made all armed upon an apt horse, in such wise
that he have an helmet on his head, and a spear in his right hand, and
covered with his shield; a sword and a mace on his left side; clad with
an hauberk and plates before his breast; leg harness on his legs; spurs
on his heels; on his hands his gauntlets. His horse well broken and
taught, and apt to battle, and covered with his arms. When the knights
be made they be bayned or bathed. That is the sign that they should
lead a new life and new manners; also they wake all the night in
prayers and orisons unto God that he will give them grace that they
may get that thing that they may not get by nature. The king or prince
girdeth about them a sword, in sign that they should abide and keep
him of whom they take their dispences and dignity.
Also a knight ought to be wise, liberal, true, strong, and full of mercy
and pity, and keeper of the people, and of the law, and right as chivalry
passeth other in virtue, in dignity, in honor, and in reverence, right so
ought he to surmount all other in virtue; for honor is nothing else but to
do reverence to another person for the good and virtuous disposition
that is in him. A noble knight ought to be wise and proved before he be
made knight; it behoveth him that he had long time used the war and
arms; that he may be expert and wise for to govern others. For since a
knight is captain of a battle, the life of them that shall be under him
lieth in his hand, and therefore behooveth him to be wise and well
advised. For sometimes art, craft and engine is more worth than
strength of hardiness of a man that is not proved in arms, for otherwhile
it happeneth that when the prince of the battle relies on and trusteth in
his hardiness and strength, and will not use wisdom and engine for to