Early English Meals and Manners Part 83

[Sidenote: It kindles G.o.d's wrath against thee.]

Prouokynge his yre and kyndlinge his wrath 880 Thee for to plauge, that geuinge the hath Knowlage and reason thy selfe for to rule, 884 And for to flee the thynge that is euyl.

[Sidenote: Seneca.]

Senica doth councell thee all swerynge to refrayne, 888 Although great profite by it thou mighte gaine:

[Sidenote: Pericles.]

Pericles, whose wordes are manifeste and playne, 892 From sweryng admonisheth thee to obstaine;

[Sidenote: G.o.d's law forbids swearing, and so does the counsel of Philosophers.]

The lawe of G.o.d, and commaundement he gaue, 896

[Sidenote: [sign. C. vii.b.]

Swearynge amongst vs in no wyse wolde haue.

The councell of philosoph[ers]

I haue here expreste, 900 Amongest whom sweryng was vtterly deteste; Much lesse amongest christians ought it to be vsed, 904 But vtterly of them cleane to be refused.

[Sidenote: _Against filthy talking._]

-- A-gainste the vice of filthy talkynge.

Cap. xii.

[Sidenote: Never talk dirt.]

++No filthy taulke in no wise vse, 908 Thy tonge therby for to abuse.

[Sidenote: For every word we shall give account at the Day of Doom, and be judged according to our deeds.]

Of euery idell worde an acc.u.mpte we shall render;-- 912 All men I woulde this sayinge to remember;--

[Sidenote: [sign. C. viii.]]

To G.o.d for it at the generall daie 916 In earnest or sporte we shall speake or saie; whiche daye to the iuste shallbe most ioyfull, 920 And to the wicked againe as wofull.

As we here doe, so shall we receaue, 924 Vnles we repente and mercy of G.o.d craue.

If G.o.d wyll deale with vs so straight 928 For thinges that be of so small waight,

[Sidenote: Let lewd livers then fear.]

Then haue we cause to feare and dreade, 932 Our lyues lewdly if we haue leade.

[Sidenote: Keep your tongue from vain talking.]

[Sidenote: [sign. C. viii.b.]]

Thy tonge take hede thou doe refrayne 936 From speakyng wordes that are moste vayne;

[Sidenote: Aristot.]

Thy wyll and witte to goodnes applie, 940 Thy mynde exercise in vertuous studie.

[Headnote: AGAINST LYING.]

[Sidenote: _Against Lying._]

-- A-gainste the vice of lyinge.

Capitulo .xiii.

[Sidenote: Plato.]

++To forge, to fayne, to flater and lye, 944 Requiere diuers collours with wordes fayre and slye,

[Sidenote: To speak the truth needs no study, therefore always practise it and speak it.]

But the vtteraunce of truthe is so simple and playne 948 That it nedeth no studie to forge or to fayne; wherfore saye truth, how euer stand the case, 952 So shalte thou fynde more fauour and grace.

Vse truthe, and say truth, in that thou goest aboute, 956 For tyme of althinges the truthe wyll bringe out.

[Sidenote: [sign. D. i.]]

[Sidenote: Shame is the reward of lying.]

Shame is the rewarde For lying dewe; 960 Then auoyde shame, and vtter wordes trewe.

A lyar by his lying this profet doth get, 964 That whan he saith truth no man wyll him credet;

[Sidenote: Always speak the truth.]

Then let thy talke with the truth agree, 968 And blamed for it thou shalte neuer bee.

[Sidenote: Who can trust a liar?]

Howe maie a man a lyer ought truste? 972 But doubte his dedes, his woordes being vniuste.

In tellyng of truth there lougeth no shame, 976 Where vttring of lyes deserueth much blame;

[Sidenote: If a lie saves you once, it deceives you thrice.]

And though a lye from stripes ye once saue, 980

[Sidenote: [sign. D. i.b.]]

Thrise for that once it wyll the desceue; Truste then to truth, and neither forge nor fayne, 984 And followe these preceptes: from liyng do refraine.

[Headnote: A NIGHTLY PRAYER.]