The Example of Vertu | Page 4

hyghe quene Azia?That was a conqueres so puyssaunt?And besyde her the quene of Saba?Whiche in grete ryches was tryumphaunt?And also Ipolyte in armes valyaunt?Sate with her besyde quene Hecuba?And yet also the quene Europa
Present ther was the wiche quene Iuno?And quene Pantasyll wyth fayre quene Elyn?And yet I sawe by her than also?The noble vyrgyn yonge Polyxyn?That was destroyed at the last ruyn?Of Troye the grete by cruell Pyrrus?The sone of Achylles that was so cheualrus
As I dyd loke I had commaundement?Of dame dyscrecyon for to remembre?These noble ladyes so pure and excellent?Hardy in corage of age ryght tendre?Yet not withstandynge deth dyde surrendre?And all theyr strength and lusty corage?For he spareth nother youth ne age
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Forth we walked to the dwellynge place?Of dame sapyence so full of blys?Replete with Ioye vertu and grace?No thynge there lacked that possyble is?Man for to comfort withouten mys?Though he were derke in wordely foly?He sholde there b enlumyned shortely
Her towre was made of werkes curyous?I can no thynge extende the goodlynes?Of her palays so good and gloryous?Bylded in the place soth of fastnes?With owten tast of wordely bytternes?No persone can extoll the souerente?Of her worthy and royall dygnyte
She eche estate sholde haue in gouernaunce?As theym to rule or that they repent?For better it is to haue good puruyaunce?At the begynnynge as is expedyent?Than for to wyssh for thynges myspent?That myght be saued longe afore?And with a for wytte kepte in store
Her chaumbre was glased with byrall clarefyed?Depeynted with colours of delectacyon?A place of pleasure so heuenly gloryfyed?In vertue heale lyfe and saluacyon?Without ony stormy trybulacyon?That myght anoy the heuenly helth?But alway comfort to the sowlys welth
There sate dame prudence in vertue magnyfyed?Impossyble it is to shewe her goodelyhed?She was so fayre and clerely puryfyed?And so dyscrete and full of womanhede?That and I trowe vertue were deed?It sholde reuyue yet in her agayne?She was so gentyll and without dysdeyn
It was grete comfort vnto my hert?For to beholde that heuenly syght?Dyscrecyon sayd I sholde not depert?Tyll I had spoken with her syster bryght?Forth she me ledde with all her myght?Vnto that prynces and royall souerayn?Ergo my labour was not in vayn
Than spake dame prudence with meke contena[un]ce?Welcome dyscrecyon my syster dere?Where haue ye ben by longe contynuaunce?Wyth youth she sayd that ye se here?And for my sake I you requere?Hym to receyue in to your seruyse?And he shall serue you in goodely wyse
Welcome she sayd for my systers sake?And yet also now for your owne?In to my seruyce I wyll you take?Sythens that your wyldnes is ouerblowen?The sede of vertu on you shall be sowen?Vyce to depryue by his good auctoryte?As for to subdue all yll iniquyte
Of other mennes wordes be thou not bolde?And of theyr promys make no behest?And yf thou here an yll tale tolde?Gyue no iugement but say the best?So shall thou lyue euermore in rest?Who lytell medeleth is best at ease?For well were he that all myght please
Beware kepe the from grete offence?That thou condempned be not by ryghtwysnes?Whan she doth gyue her mortall sentence?Without pease or mercy cause her reles?Her iugement of mortall heuynes?That the best frende to the wyll be?The for to socour in grete necessyte
But yet in theym haue none affyaunce?As fyrst to synne thynkynge that they?At the ende to the wyll be delyueraunce?Nay ryghtwysnes wyll dryue theym away?For of all synnes without delay?Suche synne in hope it is the moost?For it is the synne of the holy ghoost
Now I amytte you into your rome?In the whiche ye shall your selfe apply?Of myn owne chaumbre ye shall be grome?Loke ye be dylygent and do not vary?From my c[om]maundementes neuer specyally?For and ye wyll theym well obserue?A moche better rome ye do deserue
The fyrst c[om]maundement that I gyue the?Thynke on the ende or thou begynne?For thou by ryght may knowe the certente?That deth is fyne of euery synne?Be neuer taken in dyabolycall engyne?But that repentaunce may loose the sone?Of that grete synne that thou hast done
Trust not to moche in fortunes grace?Though that she laugh on the a whyle?For she can sodenly turne her face?Whan that she lyst the to begyle?She welth and Ioye can sone defyle?And plonge the in the pyte of pouerte?Wherfore in her haue thou no suertye
Presume no ferther than the behoueth?For it wyll turne the to grete shame?For who that from his rome remoueth?He is often full gretely to blame?And medeleth with other in theym lame?As no thynge connynge nor expert?They may hym say syr malapert
Or that thou speke call to remembraunce?Vnto what mater thy worde shall sygnyfye?Loke that it torne no man to greuaunce?Though that it be spoken merely?Yet many a one wyll take it greuously?Whiche that myght cause wroth and debate?Whyle that thou lyues beware of that
For a thynge lost without recouer?Loke that thou neuer be to pensyfe?Thanke god of it thynke to