Chapter IX: Part 9

Hir chamber full of flatery and disceyte
Anone is opened the blynde fole entreth in
The hoke of deth is hyd vnder the bayte
Of folysshe lust pleasour and mortall syn
Hir soule she sellyth ryches therby to wyne
And what riches: a rewarde sothly full vyle
The soules damneth and bodyes doth defyle

The one departyth, another comys in agayne
Without all shame dare she them boldly pray
To hir fals pleasours, Thus by hir gyle and trayne
This folysshe youth to hir wyll nat denay
But vnto hir some lepe both nyght and day
Without mesure, rennynge to lese theyr lyfe
As ox or shepe vnto the bochers knyfe

The symple lambe his necke doth out extende
Vnto the Bocher his mortall ennemy
So doth these folys, sekynge a shamefull ende
And theyr owne deth, though they myght fynde remedy
O blynde fole I requyre the to aply
Vnto my wordes and thou shalt here and se.
Howe moche thou oughtest this folysshe lust to fle

The soule it damneth, and drowneth depe in hell
The wyt it wastyth, and confoundeth the mynde
It causeth man his londe and good to sell
And if that he none other mene can fynde
To rob and stele he oft tyme is inclyned
Besyde all these this fowle lust is so vyle
That with fowle sauour it shall thy body fele

Thoughe of lewde lust the ioy be short and small
And thoughe the pleasour therof be soon ouer past
The payne that foloweth it, is eternall
With wofull dolour menglyd, that euer shall last
Therfore leue of: do nat thy pleasour cast
On worldly welth, delyte ioy and pleasour
For soon they pas and chaunge at euery hour

Who that in this wretchyd worlde wyll auoyde
Of voluptuousnes the ioyes frayle and vayne
And suffre nat hym with them to be acloyde
Infect or drownyd, shall for the same certayne
Euerlastynge lyfe, and endles ioy obtayne
And for his hye tryumphe and dyuyne prudence
Haue the fruycyon of goddes hye presence

But who that wyll his carnall lust ensue
Shall here haue shame, and after payne cruell
I coude hereof dyuers examples shewe
But of right many this one I shall you tell
One Sardanapalus all other dyd excell.
In carnall lust and so his mynde dyd cast
On loue prohybyte, that grace was fro hym past

The loue of vertue was full out of his mynde
So he concludyd to sue dilyciousnes
Thynkynge after deth no welth nor ioy to fynde
For this is the sentence of the prynce of derknes
But good almyghty seynge his vycyousnes
His body and soule deuydyd soon in twayne
From worldly pleasour vnto infernall payne

By this hystory to vs it apereth playne
That from worldly pleasour and voluptuosyte
With all our myght we ought vs to refrayne
For thoughe the first of them delycious be
Theyr ende is poyson, and of sournes plente
Sue wyse men vertue, and set suche lust asyde
For they ar folys that in it lyue and byde

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Amende mad men your blynde mysgouernaunce
Subdue nat your necke to the captyuyte
Of flysshely lust and corporall pleasaunce
Nor to blynde Venus with hir lasciuyte
(If ye it note) ye dayly here and se
The mysfortune of them that it ensue
And certaynly no man can saued be
By carnall lust, but by godly vertue

* * * * *

Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne counsell.

He is a naturall fole and vndiscrete
And to hym selfe ingendryth oft great stryfe
Whiche can nat hyde his counsell and secrete
But by his foly it sheweth to his wyfe
And all that he hath done in his hole lyfe
Or that to do here after he doth purpose
To euery man suche a fole wyll disclose

The noble Sampson moste excellent of myght
And strongest man that euer was get or borne
Were nat this foly: sholde nat haue lost his syght
Nor had his here, by gyle from his hede ofshorne
And of his ennemyes ben laughyd vnto scorne
And at the last with herte wrethfull and wo
His ennemyes murdred and hym selfe also

Where as he myght haue lyued in honour
If he had kept his secretes in his mynde
With his owne wyll he dyed in great dolour.
By the fals treason of his lemman vnkynde
We may in dyuers mo examples fynde
Howe many thousandes haue suffred paynes smart
And all for shewynge the secretes of theyr hart

Amphiaraus a Prynce moste excellent
Shortened the dayes of his pore doutfull lyfe
For shewynge the preuetees of his intent
By his owne foly to his disceytfull wyfe
And thoughe he longe escaped had the stryfe
And war of Thebes whiche he dyd longe defende
Yet at the leest his tunge was his owne ende

Thus olde storyes doth oft recorde and tell
By theyr examples whiche they vnto vs gyue
That wymen ar no kepars of councell
It goeth through them as water trough a syue
Wherfore let them that quyetly wolde lyue
No more of theyr counsell to any woman showe
Than that they wolde that euery man dyd knowe

Let euery man that is discrete and sage
Of suche folys with all wysdome be ware
Whiche shewe theyr counsell by theyr hasty langage.
To euery man without all thought and care
For they of wysdome and reason ar but bare
And who that his owne secrete wyll forth tell
Howe sholde he hyde another mannes counsell

Yet other be whiche by theyr flaterynge trayne
Labour to knowe euery mannys pryuete
And by and by to shewe it forth agayne
Of them be ware for they disceyfull be.
Some other bost them of theyr felycyte
Bablynge that they haue theyr wyll in euery thynge
As prosperous welth loue, ryches and cunnynge

And of great dedes done both on see and londe
Some by theyr falshode, some by strength and vertue
But if one laboured the trouth to vnderstonde
Suche folysshe wordes sholde all be founde vntrewe
Let neuer man to suche his counsell shewe
For of one worde these folys makyth twayne
Whiche tourneth many to losse rebuke and payne

Wherfore if thou wylt that thy pryuete
Be kept secrete and nat come out at large
Be nat so folysshe to showe it unto me
Or any other if it be thynge of charge
And if thou do thou shalt be in this barge
For howe wylt thou thynke that another man
Can kepe thy counsell syns thou thy selfe ne can

If the kynge Achab had nat vttred and tolde
Vnto his wyfe his wyll and mynde so playne
By hir fals treason, and dysceyt manyfolde
Vnrightwysly Nabot had nat ben slayne
But for the same, Achab suffred great payne
By deth in batayle, and for a punysshment
His wyfe with houndes was all to torne and rent

Thus it apereth that he is wyse and ware
Whiche can his counsell kepe within his hart
For by that mean may he escape great care
And suerly lyue without yll wyllys dart
The Prophete seynge what dyuers paynes smart
Comyth oft to them whiche doth theyr secret tell
Eche man exortyth to kepe close his counsell.

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Thou man that hast thy secret in thy brest
Holde it styll there suffer it nat out to go
Who that so doth, therby shall fynde great rest
Ne to thy frende shewe nat thy mynde also
For if that he after become thy fo
As often hapneth, than myght he the bewry
So sholde thy foly tourne vnto thy great wo
Howe be it suche thynges are prouyd comonly.

* * * * *

Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to theyr wyues, for theyr ryches.

Under the Asse tayle thoughe it be no thynge pure
Yet many seke and grope for the vyle fatnes
Gatherynge togyther the fowle dunge and ordure
Suche ar they that for treasour and ryches
Whyle they ar yonge in theyr chefe lustynes
An agyd woman taketh to theyr wyfe
Lesynge theyr youth, and shortynge so theyr lyfe

They that so do hath neyther rest nor peas
But besy brawlynge and stryfe contynuall
They have no pleasour, but thought and great dyseas
Rebuke out braydynge, and strypes whan they fall
But theyr owne foly is grounde and cause of all
For they be maryd unto the vyle treasour
And precious bagges, but nat for godly pleasour

They haue no hope of children nor lynage
Loue is there none, and durynge theyr wretchyd lyfe
Is nat one day in suche mad maryage
Auoyde of brawlynge, of hatered and of stryfe
But that pore man that weddeth a ryche wyfe
Cast in his nose shall styll hir bagges fynde
For whose cause he made was made and blynde

They that ar weddyd nat for loue but rychesse
Of moryage despysynge the pleasour and profyte
Suche seldome sauour fortunes happynes
But oft mysfortune them greuously doth byte
Thus gone is theyr pleasour theyr ioy and delyte
And for vayne treasoure suche ar so glad and fayne
That for the same they them subdue to payne

They wyllyngly to payne them selfe subdue
The whiche ar weddyd for wretchyd couetyse
They take no hede to maners and vertue
To honeste nor wysdome but lyue ay in malyce
For if a woman be fowle and full of vice
And lewde of maners, nought both to man and lad
Yet good shall hir mary be she neuer so bad

If that a man of hye or lowe degre
Wolde spouse his doughter vnto a strange man
He nought inquyreth of his honestye
Of his behauour, nor if he norture can
But if he be ryche in londes and good: than
He shall be prayed his doughter for to haue
Thoughe be but a bonde man or a knaue

The firste enquyrynge and speciall questyon
Is of the money, that thynge namely they moue
And last of all aske they the condicion
So whan they mete they neuer haue perfyte loue
Wherfore it were better to suche for theyr behoue
To byde alone in deserte and wyldernes
Than in wedloke in payne for frayle ryches

Forsoth it is an vnmete maryage
And disagreynge and moche agaynst the lawe
Bytwene fresshe youth, and lame vnlusty age
The loue bytwene them is scantly worth a strawe
So doth the one styll on the other gnawe
And oft the man in mynde doth sore complayne.
His sede to sowe vpon a grounde barayne

Than muste he haue another prymme or twayne
With them to slake his wanton yonge cowrage
But in that space must he endure great payne
With hir that he hath tane in maryage
Hir bablynge tunge whiche no man can asswage
With wrathfull wordes shall sle hym at the laste
His other prymes his good shall spende and waste

Thus who that selleth his youthes lustynes
For frayle ryches and this mundayne vanyte
He byeth stryfe, gyle and falshode endlesse
Suche force nat for fayth true loue nor honestye
And thoughe that he discende of hye degre
For hope of money he shall an olde fole wed
By whose foly he to euery yll is led.

And so these folys subdue them to bondage
And worthely endure suche payne and punysshement
They hope therby to come to auantage
But that they lese and lyue in sore tourment
They wast theyr good, and so whan that is spent
And nought remayneth theyr bodyes to relefe
Theyr disputacion is nought but hore and thefe

But if I sholde wryte all the vnhappynes
The wrath discorde and the great deuysyon
Wherin they lyue, that mary for ryches
And nat for loue. I neuer sholde haue done
Wherfore this say I for a conclusyon
That he shall neuer thryue ne come to his behoue
That weddyth a wyfe for gode and nat for loue

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.

Alas man myndles what is thyne intent
To wed for ryches, that weddynge I defy
Maryage was ordeyned by god omnypotent
In goddes lawes the worlde to multyply
Wherfore that man that wyll therto aply
And wolde haue the profyte of faythfull maryage
This worldly ryches ought no thynge to set by
But wed for loue and hope to haue lynage

Remember ryches is no thynge comparable
To mekenes vertue and discrete gouernaunce
And other maners whiche ar more commendable
Than worldly treasour or suche vnsure substaunce
Wherfore consyder and call to thy remembraunce
That better is to haue some woman pore and bare
And lyue in eas: Than one with habundaunce
Of great ryches: and euer to lyue in care

* * * * *

Of enuyous Folys.

Wastynge enuy oft styreth to malyce
Folys nat a fewe whiche ar therto enclynyd
Pryckynge theyr frowarde hertes vnto vyce
Of others damage reioysynge in theyr mynde
Enuyes darte doth his begynnynge fynde
In wrathfull hertes, it wastyth his owne nest
Nat suffrynge other to lyue in eas and rest

If one haue plenty of treasour and ryches
Or by his merytis obteyne great dignyte
These folys enuyous that of the same haue les
Enuy by malyce, the others hye degre
And if another of honour haue plente
They it enuy and wysshe that they myght sterue
Howe be it suche folys can nat the same deserue

These folys desyre agaynst both lawe and right
Anoters good if they may get the same
If they may nat by flaterynge nor by myght
Than by fals malyce they hym enuy and blame
Outher if one by his vertue hath good name
By fals enuy these foles hym reproue
Their wrath them blyndeth so that they none can loue

The wounde of this malycious, fals enuy
So dedely is, and of so great cruelte
That it is incurable and voyde of remedy
A man enuyous hath suche a properte
That if he purpose of one vengyd to be
Or do some mysche, whiche he reputyth best
Tyll it be done, he neuer hath eas nor rest

No slepe, no rest nor pleasour can they fynde
To them so swete, pleasaunt and delectable
That may expell this malyce from theyr mynde
So is enuy a vyce abhomynable
And vnto helth so frowarde and damnable
That if it onys be rotyd in a man
It maketh hym lene. his colour pale and wan.

Enuy is pale of loke and countenaunce
His body lene of colour pale and blewe
His loke frowarde, his face without pleasaunce
Pyllynge lyke scalys, his wordes ay vntrue
His iyen sparklynge with fyre ay fresshe and newe
It neuer lokyth on man with iyen full
But euer his herte by furious wrath is dull

Thou mayst example fynde of this enuy
By Joseph whome his bretherne dyd neuer beholde
With louynge loke, but sharpe and cruelly
So that they hym haue murdred gladly wolde
I myght recount examples manyfolde
Howe many by enuy lost hath theyr degre
But that I leue bycause of breuyte

Enuyous folys ar stuffed with yll wyll
In them no myrth nor solace can be founde
They neuer laughe but if it be for yll
As for gode lost or whan some shyp is drounde
Or whan some hous is brent vnto the grounde
But whyle these folys on other byte and gnawe
Theyr enuy wastyth theyr owne herte and theyr mawe

The mount of Ethnay though it brent euer styll
Yet (saue itselfe) it brenneth none other thynge
So these enuyous Folys by theyr yll wyll
Wast theyr owne herte, thoughe they be ay musynge
Another man to shame and losse or hurt to brynge
Upon them sellfe Thus tournyth this yll agayne
To theyr destruccion both shame great losse and payne

This fals enuy by his malycious yre
Doth often, bretherne so cursedly inflame
That by the same the one of them conspyre
Agaynst the other without all fere and shame
As Romulus and Remus excellent of fame
Whiche byldyd Rome, but after: enuy so grewe
Bytwene them that the one the other slewe

What shall I wryte of Cayme and of Abell
Howe Cayme for murder suffred great payne and wo
Atreus story and Theseus cruell.
Ar vnto vs example hereof also
Ethyocles with his brother: and many mo
Lyke as the storyes declareth openly
The one the other murdred by enuy

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Wherfore let hym that is discrete and wyse
This wrathfull vyce exyle out of his mynde
And yll on none by malyce to surmyse
Let charyte in perfyte loue the bynde
Sue hir preceptis than shalt thou consort fynde
Loue in this lyfe, and ioy whan thou art past
Where as enuy thy conscyence shall blynde
And both they blode and body mar and wast

* * * * *

Of impacient Folys that wyll nat abyde correccion.

The grettest synners that man may se or fynde
In myserable Folys theyr foly to expres
Is whan they wyll by no mean gyue theyr mynde
To frendly wordes, to grace or to goodnes
Suche folys so set theyr mynde on frowardnes
That though one gyue them counsell sad and wyse
They it disdayne and vtterly despyse

But he that is discrete sad and prudent
Aplyeth his mynde right gladly to doctryne
He hereth wyse men, his wysdome to augment
He them doth folowe and to theyr wordes enclyne
But that fole whiche ay goeth to ruyne.
And mortall myschefe had leuer be dede or slayne
Than byde correccyon or for his profyte payne

Suche haue suche pleasour in theyr mad folysshe pype
That they dispyse all other melody.
They leuer wolde dye folys than: byde a strype
For theyr correccyon and specyall remedy
And without dout none other Armony
To suche folys is halfe so delectable
As is their folysshe bagpype and theyr babyll

These frantyke folys wyll byde no punysshement
Nor smale correccion, for theyr synne and offence
No frendly warnynge can chaunge theyr yll intent
For to abyde it, they haue no pacyence.
They here no wysdome but fle from hir presence
And so it hapnyth that in the worlde be
Mo folys than men of wyt and grauyte

O mortall fole remember well what thou art
Thou art a man of erth made and of clay
Thy dayes ar short and nede thou must depart
Out of this lyfe, that canst thou nat denay
Yet hast thou reason and wyt wherby thou may
Thy selfe here gyde by wysdome ferme and stable
Wherby thou passest all bestis vnreasonable

Thou art made lorde of euery creature
All thynge erthly vnto thyne obedyence
God hath the creat vnto his owne fygure
Lo is nat here a great preemynence
God hath also gyuyn vnto the intellygence
And reason and wyt all foly to refuse.
Than art thou a fole that reason to abuse

He that is fre outher in subieccion.
If by his foly he fall into offence
And than submyt hym vnto correccyon.
All men shall laude his great obedyence
But if that one by pryde and insolence
Supporte his faute and so bere out his vyce
The hell tourmentis hym after shall chastyce

Correccyon shall the vnto wysdome brynge
Whiche is more precious than all erthly ryches
Than londes rentis or any other thynge
Why dost thou bost the of byrth or noblenes
Of ryches, strength beauty or fayrnes
These often ar cause of inconuenyence.
Where as all good comyth by wysdome and prudence

A wyse man onely as we often fynde
Is to be named moste ryche and of most myght
Here thou his wordes and plant them in thy mynde
And folowe the same for they ar sure and right.
Better is to endure, thoughe it be nat lyght
To suffer a wyse man the sharply to repreue
Than a flaterynge fole to clawe the by the sleue

Thoughe sharpe correccyon at the first the greue
Thou shalt the ende therof fynde profytable
It oft apereth, therfore I it byleue
That man also forsoth is fortunable
Whiche here in fere lyueth sure and stable
And in this lyfe is clene of his intent
Ferynge the sharpe payne of hellys punysshement

He may hym selfe right happy call also
Whiche is correct in his first tender age
And so lernyth in goodes law to go
And in his yocke, whiche doth all yll asswage
But these folys bydynge in theyr outrage
Whiche of correccyon in this lyfe hath dysdayne
May fere to be correct in hell with endles payne

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Ye obstynate folys that often fall in vyce
Howe longe shall ye kepe this frowarde ignoraunce
Submyt your myndes, and so from synne aryse
Let mekenes slake your mad mysgouernaunce
Remember that worldly payne it greuaunce
To be compared to hell whiche hath no pere
There is styll payne, this is a short penaunce
Wherfore correct thy selfe whyle thou art here.

* * * * *

Of folysshe Fesycyans and vnlerned that onely folowe paractyke knowynge nought of the speculacyon of theyr faculte.

Yet be mo folys vpon the grounde and londe
Whiche in our Shyp may clayme a rowme and place
Suche be Phesycians that no thynge vnderstonde
Wandrynge about in euery towne and place
Uysytynge the seke whiche lyue in heuy case
But nought they relefe of those paynes harde
But gape alway after some great rewarde

Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe
Whan they go vysyte some paynfull pacyent
Whan they hym note sure to forgo his lyfe
Without all hope of any amendement
Yet say they other than is in theyr intent
That his diseas is no thynge incurable
So that the pacyent to hym be agreable

Sayth the Phesycyan whan he hath his rewarde
Abyde a whyle tyll I my bokes ouer se
Wherby I may relyue thy paynes harde
Than from the pacyent homewarde departyth he
To se his bokes but if the pacyent dye
In that meane space the medycyne is to late
So may he lay it to his owne folysshe pate

The speculacion sholde he before haue sene
For that in Phesyke is chefe and pryncypall,
Yet many ar that vse the craft I wene
Whiche of the cunnynge knowe lytell or nought at all
A herbe or wede that groweth vpon a wall
Beryth in it these folys medycyne.
None other bokes haue they nor doctryne

Nor none they rede to haue the true scyence
Or perfyte knowlege and grounde of medycyne
They rede no volumes of the experyence
Of Podalirius nor Mesues doctryne
Suche folys disdayne theyr myndes to enclyne
Unto the doctryne of bokes of Auycen
Of ypocras and parfyte galyen

But all the substance of theyr blynde faculte
They take in bokes that speke of herbes only
Without respect had to theyr properte
Or operacion so often they them aply
To fals doctrynes, but first and specyally
These olde wyues therwith wyll haue to do
Thoughe they nought knowe that doth belonge therto

They dare be bolde to take on them the cure
Of them diseasyd howe be it that they nat can
Suche thynge descerne as longyth to nature
What is for woman good, and what for man
So oft they ende moche wors than they began
That the pore pacyent is so brought to his graue
Yet dyuers suters suche folysshe wytches haue

Suche wytches boldly dare afferme and say
That with one herbe they hele can euery sore
Under euery syne plenete, houre and day
Yet besyde this they boldly dare say more
That it that helyth a man aged and hore
Shall helpe also a woman or a childe
Thus many thousandes oft ar by them begyled

They say also in this our charge or cure
What nedes it note the synes or fyrmament
The cause of thynges, or the strength of nature
Whether that the seke be stronge or impotent
They gyue one medesyn to euery pacyent
And if it fortune it be to colde or warme
The faythles wytche in hande goth with hir scharme

Say folysshe Surgyan by what experyence
Or whose Doctryne discyplyne or lore
Takest thou on the, nought knowynge of scyence
With one Salue or plaster, to heale euery sore
Yet so thou thynkest, I the compare therfore
Unto a lawyer that of his craft nought can
And yet presumeth to counsell euery man

A lawer and a Phesician ar both lyke
Of theyr condicion and both insue one trayne
The one begylyth the pacyent and seke
Takynge his god for to encreas his payne
The other labours and cauteles oft doth fayne
To clawe the coyne by craft from his clyent
Castynge hym of whan all his good is spent

Thus thryues the lawer by anothers good
Iniustly gotten, disceyuynge his clyent
Also some other ar callyd Phesicians good
Whiche vtterly disceyue the pacyent
If he haue money than hath he his intent
And if the seke haue store ynough to pay
Than shall the cure be dryuen from day to day

So if the lawer may any auauntage wyn
He shall the cause from terme to terme defarre
The playntyf for a player is holde in.
With the defendaunt kepynge open warre
So laweyers and Phesicians thousandes do marre
And whan they no more can of theyr suers haue
The playntyf beggyth, the seke is borne to graue

But of these lawyers bycause I spoke before
Of folysshe Phesicians here onely I intende.
Somwhat to say: And of lawers no more
On you Phesicians shall I conclude and ende
I say no man may hym so well defende
That he for murder may auoyde punysshement
Yet may Phesicians, sleynge the pacient

Thus thou that of Phesycian hast the name
If thou nought knowe of perfyte medycyne
It is forsoth to thy rebuke and shame
To boste the scyence: nat hauynge the doctryne
Therfore I counsell that thou thy mynde inclyne
To haue the cunnynge, els certaynly thou shall
Haue thy blynde craft and lyue a fole with all.

THE ENUOY OF THE TRASLATOUR.

Thou blynde Phesician that of thy craft nought can
Leue of thy lewdnes and bolde audacyte
To take on the: the cure of chylde or man
For by thy foly the wors myght they be
And ye that suerly perceyue your faculte
Be true therin, and auaryce from you cast
Shame is to brynge a man to pouertye
And than in paynes to leue hym at the last

* * * * *

Of the ende of worldly honour and power and of Folys that trust therein.

O creatures of myndes mad and blynde
I wonder of your hertis proude and eleuate
Whiche on vayne power set so sore your mynde
And trust so moche to your vnsure estate
As of your lyfe were neyther yere nor date
To worldly worshyp ye stedfastly intende
As if your lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende

Alway ye labour to come to dignyte
And oft by falshode your power to augment
Alas fewe ar content with theyr degre
But by extorcion spoyle the pore innocent
On worldly treasour so set is theyr intent
And styll to honour as besely to ascende
As if theyr lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende

Take thou example by Julius cesar
That of the worlde durynge a whyle was sure
And many kynges subduyd by myght of warre
And of the Empyre had lordshyp charge cure
But this his myght great space dyd nat endure
And whyle he trustyd yet hyer to ascende
By cruell deth he soon came to his ende

Right in lyke wyse the myghty Darius
Was kynge of Persy a realme moche excellent
Yet was his mynde so greatly couetus
That with the same helde he hym nat content
But warred on other Royalmes adiacent
So whan his myght coude nat therto extende
His owne Royalme he loste and so came to his ende

And also Xerxes in ryches abundant
Was longe in peas and great tranquyllyte
And in his Royalme was hye and tryumphant
As longe as he was content with his degre
Than had he pleasour and great felycyte.
To assay by warre his kyngdome to amende
But all he lost and so came to his ende

Whyle Nabugodonosor kynge of Babylone
In vnsure fortune set to great confydence
Commaundynge honour vnto hym to be done
As vnto god: with all humble reuerence,
God by his power and hye magnyfycence
Made hym a beste, for that he dyd offende
And so in proces of tyme came to his ende

Alexander the great and myghty conquerour
To whome all the worlde scantly myght suffyse
Of Grece was the origynall lorde and Emperour
And all the worlde subdued as I surmyse
Yet hath he done as is the comon gyse
Left all behynde, for nought coude hym defende
But as a symple man at the last came to his ende

The myghty Cresus with his kyngdomes and store
Of golde and ryches hym selfe coude nat content
But whyle he trustyd and laboured for more
Fortune hym fayled: So lost he his intent.
What shall I wryte of Cyrus excellent
Drynkynge his blode by deth whiche fortune sende
To here of states the comon deth and ende

All kyngdomes dekay and all estate mundayne
Example of Rome Cartago and Mycene
Of Solyme Tyre grace and Troy moste souerayne
None of these places ar nowe as they haue ben
Nor none other ouer the worlde as I wene
Thus shortly to speke and all to comprehende
All worldly thynges at last shall haue an ende.

THE ENOUY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

O man that hast thy trust and confydence
Fyxed on these frayle fantasyes mundayne
Remember at the ende there is no difference
Bytwene that man that lyued hath in payne
And hym that hath in welth and ioy souerayne
They both must dye their payne is of one sort
Both ryche and pore, no man can deth refrayne
For dethes dart expellyth all confort

Say where is Adam the fyrst progenytour
Of all mankynde is he nat dede and gone
And where is Abell of innocence the flour
With adamys other sonnes euerychone
A: dredfull deth of them hath left nat one
Where is Mathusalem, and Tuball that was playne
The first that played on Harpe or on Orgone
_Ilz sont tous mortz ce monde est choce vayne_

Where is iust Noy and his ofsprynge become
Where is Abraham and all his progeny
As Isaac and Jacob, no strength nor wysdome
Coude them ensure to lyue contynually
Where is kynge Dauyd whome god dyd magnyfy
And Salomon his son of wysdome souerayne
Where ar his sonnes of wysdome and beauty
_Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._

Where ar the prynces and kynges of Babylon
And also of Jude and kynges of Israell
Where is the myghty and valiant Sampson
He had no place in this lyfe ay to dwell
Where ar the Prynces myghty and cruell
That rayned before Christ delyuered vs from payne
And from the Dongeons of darke and ferefull hell
_Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._

Of worldly worsyp no man can hym assure
In this our age whiche is the last of all
No creature can here alway endure
Yonge nor olde, pore man nor kynge royall
Unstable fortune tourneth as doth a ball
And they that ones pas can nat retourne agayne
Wherfore I boldly dare speke in generall
We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.

Ryches nor wysdome can none therfro defende
Ne in his strength no man can hym assure
Say where is Tully is he nat come to ende
Seneke the sage with Cato and Arture
The hye Arystotyll of godly wyt and pure
The glorious Godfray, and myghty Charlemayne
Thoughe of theyr lyfe they thought that they were sure
Yet ar they all dede: _ce monde est choce vayne_.

Where ar the Phylosophers and Poetis lawreat
The great Grammaryens and pleasant oratours.
Ar they nat dede after the same fourme and rate
As ar all these other myghty conquerours
Where ar theyr Royalmes theyr ryches and treasours
Left to theyr heyres: and they be gone certayne
And here haue left theyr riches and honours
So haue they proued that this worlde is but vayne.

So I conclude bycause of breuyte
That if one sought the worlde large and wyde
Therin sholde be founde no maner of dere
That can alway in one case suerly byde
Strength, honour, riches cunnynge and beautye
All these decay, dayly: thoughe we complayne
_Omnia fert etas_, both helth and iolyte
We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.

* * * * *

Of predestynacion.

It is vnlawfull, man to be dilygent
Or serchynge goddes workes to set his thought
Howe he hath made the heuen and fyrmament
The erth the see and euery thynge of nought
Yet of some Folys the cause hereof is sought,
Whiche labour also with curyosyte
To knowe the begynnynge of his dyuynyte

These folys forgettynge their owne fragilyte
Wolde loke to knowe the ende of euery thynge
Boldly disputynge in goddys pryuete
And what rewarde is ordeynyd for men lyuynge
Of many folys this is the moste musynge
Whiche labour dayly with besy cure and payne.
To knowe what god doth discerne and or ordayne

Therfore in this part I shall dispyse and blame
Unchrafty folys whiche scantly haue ouer sene
Ought of scripture, if they knowe the bokes name
Or els a whyle hath at the Scoles bene
Than bende they the browys and stedfastly they wene
In theyr conceyt that they ar passynge wyse
For all scripture newe commentis to deuyse

They frowardly the sentence do transpose
And that whiche is wryten, both playne and holely
By theyr corruptynge and vnlawfull glose
Oft tyme they brynge to damnable heresy
Falsly expoundynge after theyr fantasy
They labour to transpose and turne the right sence
Thoughe the wordes stryue and make great resystence

Here what these folys with theyr audacyte
Dare besely say by theyr fals errour blynde
Presumynge on goddes secrete and pryuete
Here what lewde wordes they cast out in the wynde
They say what man can chaunge or turne his mynde
To lyue after any other fourme and rate
But lyke as he is therto predestynate

They say: if god that rayneth ouerall
Hath any ordeyned that in this worlde is
To come to the place and rowme celestyall
For to be partyner of euerlastynge blys
Ordeyned for suche as here doth nat amys
No man can chaunge, not other thynge mundayne
That thynge whiche god by his myght doth ordayne

But if that god prefyxed hath before
Any creature vnto infernall payne
In derknes to be damnyd for euer more
No erthly thynge may that sentence call agayne
Nor hym delyuer: o fole thou mayst complayne
For this thy foly and also it repent
Thynkest thou nat god alway omnypotent

Is god nat rightwyse and grounde of all iustyce
Rewardynge man after his gouernaunce
He that hath here nat lyen in synne and vyce
Hauynge in goddys seruyce his pleasaunce
Shall of his lorde be had in remembraunce
And of rewarde worthely be sure
Where it is worthy that synners payne endure

Trust well who seruyth his maker stedfastly
With pure herte kepynge sure his commaundement
And lawes shall be rewardyd fynally
With heuenly ioy and scape all punysshement
Therfore thou fole leue of this lewde intent
Lyue vertuously and trust in goddes grace
Than yll desteny in the shall haue no place

Vnto great ioy god hath vs all create
And to vs all ordeyned his kyngdome
And none hath vnto Hell predestynate
But often whan we folowe nat wysdome
By ouer owne foly we fall, and so become
Vnto our maker vnkind: and hym deny
Whiche them rewardyth that here lyue vertuously

Therfore thou Fole desyst thy wordes vayne
And let thy tunge no more suche wordes say
For god hath vs made all of one stuf certayne
As one potter makyth of one clay
Vessels dyuers, but whan he must them lay
Vpon the kyll with fyre them there to dry
They come nat all to good, moste comonly

Doth this erthyn pot his maker dispyse
Whether it be made of fassyon good or yll
Saynge why dost thou make me in this wyse
Wherfore mad man I reade the to be styll
Blame nat thy maker, for thy vnhappy wyll
For god hath neuer man nor childe create
But all he hath to heuen predestynate

And whyle we lyue here on this wretchyd grounde
We haue our reason and wyttes vs to gyde
With our fre wyll and if no faute be founde
In our demenour, in heuen we shall abyde
But if we goddes lawes set asyde
Howe may we hope of hym rewarde to wyn
So our owne foly is moste cause of our syn.

THE ENUOY OF BARCLAY.

O creature vnkynde vnto thy creatour
What carest thou to knowe or to inuestygate
The pryuetye, of god, leue this thy errour
To thynke the by hym to be predestynate
To endles wo and from his blysse pryuate
For syns thou hast thy reason and frewyll
Gyuyn the by god, thou art in suche estate
To take the eleccion outher of good or yll

* * * * *

Of folys that forget them selfe and do another mannys besynes leuynge theyr owne vndone.

Within my Shyp of rowme he shall be sure
Whiche for anothers auantage and profyte
Takyth great thought and doth moche payne endure
Vnto his owne charge takynge no respyte
But settyth it asyde and hath all his delyte
With all his stody hym to enforce and dres:
To care for euery mannys besynes.

Suche hertles folys to them self neglygent
In theyr owne charge slepe contynually
But with open iyen they ar full dylygent
The worke of other with all theyr myght to aply
And for others profyte prouyde they besely.
But whyle these Folys ar glad to take in hande
Anothers charge, theyr owne styll let they stande

Wherfore I am so bolde within my boke
Somwhat to touch these folys mad vsage
That if it fortune them on the same to loke
They may therby perceyue in theyr corage
That labour they ought for their owne auauntage
Most specyally. for that is the degre
And the true order of perfyte charite

For perfyte loue and also charite
Begynneth with hym selfe for to be charitable
And than to other after his degre
Thy owne auauntage is ay moost profytable
The great Phylosophers of maners ferme and stable
And also of wysdome godly and dyuyne
Hath left to vs suche techynge and doctryne

We haue by Therence the same commaundement
The same is wryten also as I fynde
In the holy lawe of the olde testament
And therfore he that oft wyll set his mynde
For others maters with care his thought to blynde
Let hym first se vnto his owne profyte
Lyst some mysfortune hym after sharply byte

Let hym turne his labour to his owne auauntage
And than do for other where as he seeth moste nede
For who that playeth for mony outher gage
And on his felawes cast takyth onely hede
And nat to his owne, suche one shall seldom spede
And is a Fole. So is he that doth ren
To quenche another hous, suffrynge his owne to bren

Suche one of his owne damage hath no fere
And worthy is his losse and hurte to byde
So is he that wyll anothers burthen bere
Or takyth anothers charge at any tyde
Despysynge his owne werke and settynge it asyde
If suche haue losse and after it forthynke
No man shall moche force whether he flete or synke

He is well worthy to haue a folys pype
That goth vnbyddyn to rype anothers corne
And suffreth his owne to stande though it be rype.
And generally all Folys ar worthy scorne
Of what maner byrth so euer they be borne
If they them self put, to losse or damage
Therby to do some other auauntage

Say curyous Fole: say what pleasour thou hast
In others maters thy self to intermyt
Or theyr great charges thus in thy mynde to cast
Thy selfe to socour set thou thy mynde and wyt
Let others maters therfore in quyete syt
On thy owne profyte of all firste set thy mynde
And than (if thou mayst) do somwhat for thy frende

For vtterly that man is moche vnwyse
That thus takyth thought for anothers charge
And doth his owne by neglygence despyse
For suche Folys I forgyd haue this barge
But of the same suche men I clene discharge
That first of his pryuate profyte can take hede
And than helpe a frende and felowe at a nede

THENUOY OF BARKLAY.

Ye that take charge, thought and besy cure
For others mysfortune, losse or aduersyte
First of your self I aduyse you to be sure
For this is the order of parfyte charyte
Eche to hym selfe moste louynge ay to be
And next to his frende, but who that doth dispyse.
His owne besynes whiche is in ieopardye
Seynge to anothers forsoth he is vnwyse

* * * * *

Of the vyce of vnkyndnes.

He is a Fole that crauynge is alway
Takynge the seruyce and rewardes of his frende
And nat remembryth the same agayne to pay
But as a churle it castyth out of his mynde
For who that wolde haue one to hym be kynde
And lyberall, he ought the same to be
For kyndnes meyntayneth bothe loue and charyte

He that wyll charge another with cures harde
And great labours greuous to sustayne
Ought for his labour hym worthely rewarde
That the rewarde may be confort to his payne
It is disworshyp and also shame certayne
To take the labour of any ryche or pore
And nat iustly hym to content therfore

Wherfore the workman ought also to intende
Vnto his labour to saue his honestye
And workemanly to brynge it the ende
If he therby wolde well rewardyd be
And if the owner therof beholde and se.
His worke so done, he is a chorle vnkynde
If he do nat content the workmannys mynde.

He that wolde gladly that men sholde hym commende
Must fully purpose and fyx within his mynde
Lyberall to be and nat euer to intende
To false Auaryce, whiche many one doth blynde
And if he purpose hye honours for to fynde
Or hym auaunce to any great degre
He must haue mekenes and lyberalyte

He must of maners also be commendable
And of his speche als pleasaunt as he can
For an olde prouerbe true and verytable
Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man
But euery lawe doth dam and also ban
The churlysshe vyce and lewde of vnkyndnes
Whiche dryeth vp the well of bounte and goodnes

For vnkynde folys if one labour dylygent
And so brynge theyr worke vnto good conclusyon
They fynde yet fautis and so ar nat content
Withdrawynge the rewarde by theyr collusyon
Wherfore let suche thynke it no abusyon
Nor haue disdayne ne yet in mynde complayne
If the pore laborer gyue vp his worke agayne

These frowarde Folys, doth wronge and iniury
To suche as to them do profyte and honour
For kyndnes, they render shame and vylany
Rebukes sclander extorcion and rygour
But whyle they hope to come to great valoure
And by such rygour to honours to aryse
Theyr hope vanyssheth as doth the snowe or yce

Wherfore who that puttyth one to besynes
To charge or labour of body or of mynde
Ought hym rewarde agayne for his kyndnes
If he do nat forsoth he is unkynde
But specyally as I oft wryten fynde
It is a thynge whiche doth for vengeaunce cry
A pore laborer to put to Iniury

What man can wryte the inconuenyence
Whiche groweth of this lewde and cursyd vyce
Vnkyndnes causeth great myschefe and offence
And is repugnynge to reason and iustyce
Wherfore let suche that wyll be namyd wyse
Leue it: and folowe lyberalyte
Whiche is noryssher of loue and amyte

In dyuers bokes examples we may fynde
Howe many Cytees hygh and excellent
Agaynst all lawe and reason were vnkynde
To suche as dyd theyr dignyte augment
O vnkynde rome thou was of this intent
Whiche hast Camyllus exyled in great payne
Thoughe he euer laboured thy honour to mentayne

O cruell Athenes by thy ingratytude
Hast thou nat banysshyd Solon also fro the
Though he enfourmyd hath thy maners rude
And gyuyn the lawes of right and equyte
For his great meryte, loue and benygnyte
Thou hast hym gyuen exyle and paynes harde
His labour was nat worthy that rewarde

Thou vnkynde Sparta: of thy audacyte
What shall I wryte or thy lewde vnkyndnes
Hast thou nat banysshed by thy cruelte
Thy kynge Lycurgus, bycause he dyd redres
Thy wanton errours by lawe and rightwysnes
And Scipio whiche his country dyd defende
Fonde it to hym, vnkynde at the last ende

A thousande mo whome I can nat expresse
To suche as haue for them abyde great payne
Haue done displeasour, and shewed vnkyndnes
And them disceyued by some cautele or trayne
Yet none of them great goodnes cowde obtayne
By theyr vnkyndnes for who that so doth cast
Vnkyndly shall be seruyd at the last.

THENUOY OF BARKLAY.

O fals vnkyndnes out on the I cry
From all goodnes dost thou nat man withdrawe
Byndynge his herte to gyle and vylany
Agaynst nature, agaynst both right and lawe
Thou makest man his maker nat to knawe
Therfore thou man expell out from thy mynde
This vyce, for we fynde in an olde sayde sawe
Wo is hym that to his maker is vnkynde.

Remember man the great preemynence
Gyuen unto the by good omnypotent
Bytwene the and Angels is lytell difference
And all thynge erthly to the obedyent
Fysshe byrde and beste vnder the fyrmament
Say what excuse mayst thou nowe lay or fynde
Syns thou art made by god so excellent
But that thou oughtest agayne to hym be kynde.

God hath the made vnto his owne lykenes
No erthly creature vnto the comparable
Thy iyen vpwarde to consyder his hyghnes
Where other creatures that ar vnresonable
Goeth on all foure and ar nat other able.
Theyr loke alway vnto the grounde inclynyd
Therfore thou ought in vertue to be stable
And to thy maker neuer to be vnkynde

Whan man offendyd by disobedyence
Subduynge hym self to labour care and payne
And lost the consort of goodes hye presence
Hath nat christ Jhesu redemyd hym agayne
Besyde all this thou hast no thynge certayne
In erth but by hym. wherfore I call the blynde
And of thy maners vncurtayse and vylayne
If to thy sauyour thou be nat true and kynde

Thoughe god hath made the (man) thus excellent
To lyue (if thou lyst) in ioy eternally
A lytell thynge shall hym agayne content
He nought requyreth but thy herte onely
And that thou defy thy gostly ennemy
And in goddes seruyce thy herte and body bynde.
Than shall he rewarde the in heuen right gloriously
So mayst thou be callyd vnto thy maker kynde

* * * * *

Of folys that stande so well in their owne conceyt that they thinke none so wyse, stronge, fayre, nor eloquent, as they ar themself.

Vnto my shyp I call hym to be Coke
The mete to dresse to other Folys echone
Whiche in his myrrour doth alway gase and loke
Whan he may get hym vnto a place alone
And though of colour and beaute he haue none
Yet thynketh he hym self fayre and right plesant
And wyse: thoughe that he be mad and ignorant

In his owne dedys is onely his delyte
In his owne conceyte thynkynge hymself right wyse
And fayre, thoughe he be yelowe as kyte
Is of hir fete: yet doth he styll deuyse
His vayne myrrour: that onely is his gyse
And thoughe he beholde hym self of lothly shape
He wyll it nat byleue, but in his glasse doth gape.

Though for his foly all men myght hym repreue
And that he se it before hym openly
Within his glasse: he wyll it nat byleue
But strongly it defende and eke deny
He seyth nat his erys longe and hye
Whiche stande vpon his folysshe hode behynde
His lewde conceyt thus makyth hym starke blynde

Whan people comon of men of hye prudence
Or of hye beauty, and strength if men doth tell
If one suche fole were there in the presence
He swere durst boldly and that on the gospell
That he onely all other dyd excell
And that to gyue councell good and profytable
Were none in the worldly vnto hym comparable

These folys bost them selfe of theyr wysdome
And thynke them selfe to haue preemynence
Aboue all other that ar in christendome.
In gyftis of grace as beautye and scyence
Of strength, gode maners, vertue, and eloquence
But thoughe they stande in theyr owne conceytis
Nought is saue foly within theyr folysshe patis

And thoughe theyr face and vysage stande awry
And all to reuylde, theyr mouth standynge asyde
Within theyr myrrour the same can they nat spye
But in theyr foly contynually abyde
And whether that they ar styll outher go or ryde
Labour or be ydyll, they gase styll in theyr glasse
Yet wyll they nat byleue to haue erys lyke an Asse.

Oft whan these folys lye in theyr bed vpright
With tawny loke or els theyr botyll nose
They haue theyr myrrour alway in theyr syght
The vayne glasse (of theyr beautye) to apose
And whan suche a fole into the kechyn gose
To stere the pot, there whether he syt or stande
The glasse alway is in the other hande

Whan he a whyle his glas hath loken than
If one examynyd hym of his beautye
He boldly durst swere both by god and man
That nought were in hym whiche myght repreuyd be
But all goodnes, fayre shape, and loke of grauyte
And that his gere gayly vpon his backe doth syt
He hardly is wyse: if he had any wyt.

I wryten fynde that great inconuenyence
As losse, contempt and occasyon of pryde
Hath fallyn vnto many by this lewde complacence
Whiche haue nat knowen the way themself to gyde
The emperour Otho had ay borne by his syde
In warre and peas (a glasse) for his pleasaunce
To se his colour therin; and countenaunce

And to the entent to make his colour gay
With Assys mylke he noyntyd oft his skyn
And shauyd his berde onys euery day
But for that he offendyd god herein
After was he sharply punysshyd for this syn
And put vnto extreme rebuke and shame
To gyue other example to auoyde the same

It is forsoth a maner femynyne
And nat for man to be so elegant
To suche toyes wanton wymen may inclyne
A yonge mayde may at her forhede haue pendant
The vayne myrrour to se hir shape pleasant
Man sholde nought set by to norysshe his beautye
But onely manhode strength and audacyte

The wanton mayde may for hir self ordayne
Hir call hir coyfe, and suche conceytis newe
As broches fyletes and oyntmentis souerayne
And clothynge of dyuers colour and of hewe
But nowe yonge men the same fourme do ensue
And to content theyr mad and folysshe mynde
To wymen they compare themselfe agaynst kynde

Disorder rayneth as I before haue sayde
The yonge men takyth womans countenaunce
And hir aparayll, and wymen ar arayde
As men: agaynst all lawe and ordynaunce
Thus man and woman ensue mysgouernaunce
In theyr behauour is small dyuersyte
Theyr owne conceyt causeth great enormyte

The poet Ouyde shewyth in a fable
Howe that one callyd Pygmalyon by name
A fygure made vnto hymselfe semblable
Whiche he in marbyll right craftely dyd frame
And in so moche he worshypped the same
Tyll at the last his mynde was past and gone
And he transformed so was in to that stone

And if the Poetis fables be all sure
As by theyr subtyle wordes oft we here
The childe Narcissus was chaungyd of fygure
Whyle he behelde into the water clere
For whyle his shadowe vnto hym dyd apere
Vpon the same so sore he set his mynde
That he transformyd was to another kynde.

But to retorne agayne to our purpose
And of this sort of Folys to conclude
If god sholde them to other shape transpose
That thynke them fayre though they be foule and rude
Into foule fassyon he many sholde include
For whyle Folys theyr owne beauty magnyfy
So growyth the nomber and so they multyply

THENUOY OF BARKLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.

Blynde man inclere thy wylfull ignoraunce
Stande nat so great in thy owne conceyte
Ne in thy lewde fassyon set nat thy pleasaunce
Whether thou be pore or man of great estate
Another man moche more shall in the wayte
Of gode and yll than thou thy self canst do
Therfore be nat cause to thy self of disceyte
If one the teche: aply thy mynde therto

* * * * *

Of lepynges and dauncis and Folys that pas
theyr tyme in suche vanyte.