Part 85 (1/2)

Where ys thys worle A-wey y-wente?

[Sidenote: A man must mind what he says; hearts are fickle and fell.]

A man that schold speke, had nede to be ware, ffor lytyl thyng he may be schente; 4 Tonggys beth y-turne to lyther entente; Hertys, they beth bothe fykel and felle; Man, be ware leste thow repente!

Whate eu{er} thow sey, A-vyse the welle! 8

[Sidenote: Take care what you say.]

A-vyse the, man, yn whate place and whare A woord of conseyl thow doyst seyne;

[Sidenote: A false friend may hear it, and after a year or two will repeat it.]

Sum man may ley ther-to hys ere; Thow wenyst he be thy frend; he ys thy foo c{er}teyne; 12 P{er}aventor aftyr A ?ere or tweyne-- Thow trowyst as tru as eny stele,-- Thys woord yn wreth thow schalt hyre A-gayne!

Whate eu{er} thow sey, A-vyse the welle! 16

[Sidenote: Hasty speech hurts hearer and speaker.]

Meny man spekyth yn hastenys: hyt hyndryth hym and eke hys frende; hym were well{e} beter his tong{e} to sese Than they both ther-for be schende. 20 Suche wordys beth not to be had yn meynde, hyt maky?t comforte w{i}t{h} care to kele:

[Sidenote: In the beginning, think on the end.]

Man, yn the begynnyng thenk on e eynde!

Whate eu{er} thow sey, A-vyse the welle! 24

[Sidenote: You tell a man a secret, and he'll betray it for a drink of wine.]

To sum man thow mayste tel a pryuy tale: Whan he fro the ys wente A-way, ffor a draw?t of wyne other ale he woll{e} the wrey, by my fay, 28 And make hyt worse (hyt ys noo nay) Than eu{er} hyt was, A thowsend dele.

[Sidenote: Mind what you say.]

Thys ys my song{e} both ny?t & day, Whate eu{er} thow sey, A-vyse the welle! 32

[Sidenote: Avoid backbiting and flattering; refrain from malice, and bragging.]

Be ware of bagbytynge, y the rede; ley flateryng{e} vndyr thy foote, loke; Deme the beste of eu{er}y dede Tyll{e} trowth haue serchyd truly e roote; 36 Rrefrayne malyce cruell{e} & hoote; Dyscretly and wysly speende thy spelle; Boost ne brag{e} ys worth A Ioote; Whate eu{er} thow sey, A-vyse the welle! 40

[Sidenote: A venomous tongue causes sorrow.]

Dysese, wharre, sorowe and debate, ys caused ofte by venemys tong{e};

[Sidenote: When words are said, regret is too late.]

haddywyst cometh eu{er} to late Whan lewyd woordis beth owte y-sp.r.o.ng{e}. 44 The k.o.c.ke seyth wysly on his song{e} 'hyre and see, and hold the stylle,'