Chaucerian and Other Pieces/Piece15
XV. THREE SAYINGS.
(A). A SAYING OF DAN JOHN.
Ther beth four thinges that maketh a man a fool,
Hónour first putteth him in outrage,
And alder-next solitarie and sool;
The second is unweldy croked age;
Women also bring men in dotage; 5
And mighty wyne, in many dyvers wyse,
Distempreth folk which [that] ben holden wyse.
(B). YET OF THE SAME.
Ther beth four thinges causing gret folye,
Honour first, and [than] unweldy age;
Women and wyne, I dar eek specifye,
Make wyse men [to] fallen in dotage;
Wherfore, by counseil of philosophers sage, 5
In gret honour, lerne this of me,
With thyn estat have [eek] humilitee.
(C). BALADE DE BON CONSAIL.
If it befalle, that god thee list visyte
With any tourment or adversitee,
Thank first the lord; and [than], thyself to quyte,
Upon suffrauncë and humilitee
Found thou thy quarrel, what-ever that it be; 5
Mak thy defence (and thou shall have no losse)
The rémembraunce of Crist and of his crosse.
A. From Stowe (ed. 1561). 1. bethe foure; foole. 3. soole. 7. Distempren (!); folke whiche; supply that; bene.
B. From the same. 1. bene (read beth, as above) foure. 2. I supply than; vnwildy. 3. dare eke specify. 4. I supply to. 6. learne. 7. thine estate; I supply eek.
C. From the same. 1. befall; the. 2. aduersite. 3. Thanke; lorde; I supply than; selfe. 4. humilite. 5. Founde; quarel. 6. Make.