Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

Golden Precepts

XXX. Arthur Bourcher

PERHAPS you thinke me bolde

That dare presume to teach,

As one that runs beyonde his race,

And rowes beyond his reach.

Sometime the blinde doo goe

Where perfect sights do fall;

The simple may sometimes instruct

The wisest heads of all.

If needfull notes I giue

That vnto vertue tend,

Methinkes you should of right vouchsafe

Your listning eares to lend.

A whetstone cannot cut,

Yet sharpes it wel, we see;

And I, though blunt, may whet your wit,

If you attentiue be.

First, these among the rest,

I wish you warely heede,

That God be serued, your prince obayed,

And freendes releeu’d at neede:

Then looke to honest thrift,

Both what and how to haue:

At night examine so the day,

That bed be thought a graue.

Seeke not for other’s goods,

Be iust in woord and deede;

For “got with shifts” are spent with shame—

Beleeue this as thy creede.

Boast not of nature’s gifts,

Nor yet of parent’s name;

For vertue is the onely meane

To win a woorthie fame.

Ere thou doost promise make,

Consider well the end;

But promise past be sure thou keepe

Both with thy foe and freende.

Threat nor reuenge too much—

It shewes a crauen’s kinde;

But to preuaile, and then forgiue,

Declares a noble minde.

Forget not friendship’s debt;

Wish to requite at least;

For God and man, yea, all the world,

Condemnes the vngratefull beast.

Beare not a friendly face

With harte of Judas kisse:

It shewes a base and vile conceit,

And not where valure is.

The motions of the flesh

And choler’s heate restraine;

For heapes of harmes doo daily hap,

Where lust or rage dooth raigne.

In diet, deed, and wordes,

A modest meane is best:

Enough sufficeth for a feast,

But riot findes no rest.