Part 11 (2/2)

Of folys that delyte them in daunsynge.

Of nyght watchers.

Of the vanyte of beggers.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion.

Go Boke: aba.s.she the thy rudenes to present.

To men auaunced to worshyp, and honour.

By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.

By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.

But whan I remember the comon behauour Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere

Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.

For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.

Thou playnly blamest without al difference Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.

Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.

But if thou fortune to lye before a State As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.

Or doctour diuyne or other Graduate Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal My speche is rude my termes comon and rural And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.

Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.

But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere That any goode man: vertuous and Just.

Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.

But the defende. As I suppose and trust.

But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal l.u.s.t Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame Shal the dysprayse: emperiss.h.i.+nge thy name.

An exhortacion of Alexander Barclay.

But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.

And you that ar herars therof also I pray Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte: Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.

s...o...b..r nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.

And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.

Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.

Barclay the translatour tho the Foles.

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