Momenta desultoria

Centur. III.

I.

SI quem laborem sumpseris in re bona,
Vanescit ipse labor, manetque ipsum bonum.
Si fortè te oblectaveris in re mala,
Vanescit oblectatio, manet malum.
Nocere praeteritus labor nulli potest,
Prodesse nulli perdita oblectatio.

I.

IF thou take paines in what is good, the paines vanish, the good remains: If thou take pleasure in what is evill, the evill remaines, and the pleasure vanishes: What art thou the worse for pains, or the better for pleausre, when both are past?

[p. 409]

III.

RUgare vultum plusculo risu fuge,
Ne fortè ridiculum bonis te praebeas.
Ne solve mentem gaudio frequentior,
Ne vanus aestimere. Vana gaudia
Ridicula sunt dementiae suburbia,
Nimiusque risus civitas dementium.

III.

WRinckle not thy face with too much laughter, left thou become ridiculous; neither wanton the heart with too much mirth, left thou become vain: The Suburbs of folly is vain Mirth, and profusenesse of Laughter is the City of fools.

VII.

E Patria si expulsus es, tibi imputa.
Si patriam elegisse curasses bonam,
Nec exul esses: tute si regno tuo
Bene imperasses, omne regnum esset tuum.
In patria exul stultus est, in patria est
Sapiens, & exul. errat ille, hic iter facit.

VII.

ARt thou banisht from thy owne Country? Thank thy owne folly: Hadst thou choseen ar ight home, thou hadst bin no Exul: Hadst thou commanded thy own Kingdom, all Kingdomes had beene thy owne: The foole is banisht in his own Country. The Wiseman is in his own Country, though banisht: the foole wanders; The Wiseman travels.

[p. 410]

XII.

AGnosce noxam noxius, noxâ cares.
Qui confiretur, ad salutem iter facit,
Cui displicent peccata ,duplicat gradum;
Si deserit peccata, confectum est iter.

XII.

IF thou would'st be justified acknowlegd thy injustice: He that confesses his Sinne, begins his journy towards Salvation: Hee that is sorry for it, mends his pace: He that for sakes it,is at his Iournies end.

XIII.

QUam reprehendis ipse fac careas culpâ:
Quod sordidâ attrectas manu, magis sordet.

XIII.

BEfore thou reprehend another, take heed thou art not culpable in what thou goest about to reprehend. He that cleanses a blot with blotted fingers, makes a greater blur.

XIV.

FUge ebriosus esse, ne te omnes boni.
Ubi vina regnant, exul est mentis vigor,
Peregrina virtus, hostis exardens Deus,
Facundia est jurare, rumor abdita.
Noachus horâ publicavit ebrius
Quod sobrius sex saeculis velaverat.

XIV.

BEware of Drunkennesse, lest al good men beware of thee; Where Drunknesse reigns, there reason is an exul; Vertue, a stranger; God, an Enemy; Blasphemy is wit, Oaths are Rethorick, and secrets are Proclamations. Noah discoverd that in one houre, drunk, which sober he kept secret six hundred years.

[p. 411]

XV.

QUae pauperi donaveris, furi eripis:
Quae pauperi negaveris, fur possidet.
Thesaurus, arca pauperum, ipsius Dei est.
Si pauperi das, debitorem habes Deum.

XV.

WHat thou givest to the Poore, thou securest from the Thiefe, what thou withhold'dst from his necessity, a Thiefe possesses, but Gods Exchequer is the poor mans Box: when thou strik'st a Tally, he becomes thy debtor.

XIIX.

UT filium videas probum, videat patrem:
Malè filium carpit pater mali reus.
Exempla quàm parecepta plus pueros docent.
Praesentibus quae filiis audent patres,
Patrare & his absentibus filI solent.

XIIX.

IF thou desire to see thy Child vertuous, let him not see his Fathers vices: thou canst not rebuke that in them, that they behold practised in thee; Till Reason be ripe, Examples direct more then Precepts. Such as thy behavior is before thy Childrens face, such commonly is theirs behind their Parents backs.

[p. 412]

XX.

MYsteria indagare ne nimium velis;
Ne quod necesse est negligas, dum quaeritas
Quod nec necesse est. Tutius de rebus est
Dubitare, quarum incerta sit scientia,
Quàm disputare velle de mysteriis.

XX.

BE not over curious in prying into Mysteries; left by seeking things wich are needlesse, thou omittest things wich are ncessary: It is more safe to doubt of uncertaine matters, then to dispute of undiscover'd Mysteries.

XXII.

FAc disputando veritas appareat
Incerta potiùs quàm potens argutia.
Substantiam illud, hoc inanias dabit.
Frustra ferit non igneam silicem chalybs.
Athleta veritatis esto, & huic fave.
Qui verittati obnititur, vinci studet;
Sin victor est, in gloria est inglorius.

XXII.

LEt the end of thy Argument be rather to discover a doubtfull Truth, then a commanding Wit; in the one thou shalt gaine substance; In the other froth: That flint strikes the steele in vain, that propagates no sparkles; Covet to be Truths Champion, at least to hould her Colours: Hee that pleads against the truth, takes paines to be overthrown: or, if a Conqueror, gains but vain-glory by the conquest.

[p. 413]

XXVI.

ANimae salutem, sanitatem corporis,
Rem prosperam & famae decus si diligis,
Amare scortum spernito: nomen bonum
AEre gravat alieno; ut hoc luas labris
Jubet, sinu retentat, ulnis carcerat:
Existimatione salvâ hinc non abis,
Nec nisi quadrante liberaris ultimo.

XXVI.

IF thou desire the happinesse of thy Soule, the health of thy Body, the prosperity of thy Estate, the preservation of thy credit, converse not with a Harlot: Her eyes run thy reputation in debt; Her lips demand the payment; Her brests arrest thee; Her armes imprison thee; from whence, beleeve it, thou shalt hardly get forth till thou hast either ended the dayes of thy Credit, or pay'd the utmost farthing of thy Estate.

XXIX.

SI collocâris in solo partas opes,
Coelo repostas repperire nescias.
Auferre speres quà nihil confers tui?
Animae saluti & gloriae datum Dei
Coelo repostum & unicè & verè tuum est:
Quodcumque terrâ condis amissum puta.

XXIX.

IF thou hide thy Treasure upon the Earth, how canst thou expect to finde it in Heaven? Canst thou hope to be a sharer where thou hast reposed no stocke? What thou givest to Gods glory, and thy Souls health, is laid up in Heaven, and is only thine; that alone, which thou exchangest, or hidest upon Earth is loft.

[p. 414]

XXX.

NE quaere quàm molesta sit vitae via,
Nec ambulanti quaere quam jucunda sit:
Quò tendat, hoc attende; & hoc, ubi desinet.
Si commoda est, suspecta sit; si incommoda,
Fer, ut ferenda est: propriam socordiam
Accusat ultrò, qui viae molestiam:
Quicunque pravâ detinetur, ilicet,
Sperare vitae nescit exitum bonum.

XXX.

REgard not in thy Pilgrimage how difficult the passage is, but whither it tends; nor how delicate the Iourney is, but where it ends: If it be easie, suspect it; if har, endure it: He that can not excuse a bad way, accuses his own sloth; and he that sticks in a bad passage, can never attaine a good Iournies end.

XXXI.

OPes honoris semen & corruptio est:
Et natus est & servus est honos opum.
Ereptum honori redditur nummis decus.
Ubi facta nummis fama Mercenaris est,
Quaesitus est nummis honos: contemnere
Si noveris utrumque, verè es nobilis.

XXXI.

MOney is both the generation and corruption of purchasd' Honor: Honor is both the Child and Slave of potent money; The credit which Honor hath lost, Money hath found: When Honor grew Mercenary, Money grew Honorable. The waye to be truly Noble, is to contemne both.

[p. 415]

XXXIII.

SI vanitati subjaces, hanc ne fove:
Si vult foveri, animos ei non addito:
Robusta si fit, esto tu robustior:
Si facta robustissima est, precibus doma:
Si non domatur, adde & hìc jejunium:
Si perstat usque & usque, tu persta magis:
Patientam mox addito, jam victor es.

XXXIII.

IF thou be subject to any great vanity, nourish it not: If it will be entertained, encourage it not: If it grow strong, more strongly strive against it; if too strong, pray against it; If it weaken not, joyn fasting to the Prayer; if it shall continue, adde Perseverance to both; If it decline not, adde Patience to all, and thou hast conquered it.

XXXIV.

INjuria si laesus es, fer & sile.
Illata verbis plaga lenitur bonis,
Crudescit aegris; si queas ignoscere,
Oblivione porrò tota obducitur:
Jnjuriam victure fortiter minùs
Opponis argumenta quàm silentium.

XXXIV.

HAth any wounded thee with injuries? meet them with patience; Hasty words ranckle the wound, Soft language dresses it, and oblivion takes away the star. It is more Noble by silence to avoid an Injury, then by Argument to overcome it.

[p. 416]

XXXVII.

AEQualiter natos ama: si non facis,
Fac nesciatur: ne invidiosus ille sit,
Hic invidendus, neve uterque insaniant.
Natura si quid fecerit discriminis,
Boni parentis est, favere debili.
Ad hoc tribunal iniquus est judex amor.

XXXVII.

LOve not thy Children too unequally; or if thou dost, shew it not, left thou make the one proud, the other envious, and both fools: If Nature hath made a difference, it is the part of a tender Parent to helpe the weakest. That triall is not faire, where affection is the Iudge.

XXXIX.

SI pauperi donaveris, considera
Non quàm merenti dona, sed quàm pauperi.
Meritum petentis nempe non pendet Deus;
Modum erogandi pendet. Idnigno datum est?
Humanitati, quidquid est, datum puta.

XXXIX.

IN giving of thy Almes, enquire not so much into the person as his necessity: God looks not so much upon the merits of him that requires, as into the manner of him that relieves: If the Man deserve not, thou hast given it to humanity.

[p. 417]

XLII.

SI corrigenti rasceris, confessus es
Bene censuisse; si placet correctio,
Fateris iracundiae culpam tuae.
Bene corrigenti quisquis est qui vult malè,
Accendit iram iniquus ultoris Dei.

XLII.

IF thou be angry with him that reproves thy Sin, thou secretly confessest his reproof to be just: if thou acknowledge his reproof to be just, thou secretly confessest thy anger to be unjust. He that is angry with the just reproover, kindles the fire of the just Revenger.

XLIV.

NOli jocator esse, ne fias jocus.
Habitus jocandi proximus dementiae est.

XLIV.

LEt not mirth be thy profession, lest thou become a make-sport. He thath hath but gain'd the Title of a Iester, let him assure him self, the fool's not far of.

LVII.

SIlere, stulti maxima est prudentia:
Sermone contra agnoscitur sapiens suo.
Sapiens haberi si cupis, verbis proba,
Diffise verbis finge te silentio;
AEquè sapis, si inscitiam velaveris
Simulando, quàm si detegas scientiam.

LVII.

SIlence is the highest wisdome of a foole, and Speech is the greatest triall of a Wise man; If thou would'st be known a Wise man, let thy words shew thee so; If thou doubt thy words, let ty silence feign thee so.It is not a greater point of Wisdom to discover knowledge, then to hide ignorance.

[p. 418]

LX.

PRivata famulum puniat correptio:
Si publica, occallescit offensus pudor.
Si desijt puer esse, plagis abstine:
Jneptus est qui serviat, qui verbera
Post verba commeretur, aut haec digerit.

LX.

REbuke thy Servants fault in private; publique reproof hardens his shame: If he be past a youth, strike him not. He is not fitt for thy service, that after wise reproofs will either deserve thy strokes, or digest them.

LXII.

REi caducae dulcis expectatio est,
In sempiterna dulcior possessio.
Haec spem coronat, illa fit spei pudor.
Iter pudendum est, cujus omnis in via
Inanis est dulcedo, nulla in exitu.

LXII.

THings temporall, are sweeter in the expectation: Things Eternall are sweeter in the fruition: The first shames thy hope, the second crowns it: It is a vain Iourney whose end affords lesse pleasure then the way.

[p. 419]

LXIII.

FAc ipse te cognoris ut timeas Deum:
Cura Deum novisse, quem sic diligas.
Illâ arte candidatus, hac sapientiae es
Mystes: Dei timor caput sapientiae,
Amare eundem Legis est impletio.

LXIII.

KNow thy selfe, that thou may'st feare God: Know God, that thou mayst love him; in this, thou art initiated to Wisedome, in that perfected: The feare of God is the beginning of Wisdome: The love of God is the fulfilling of the law.

LXIV.

SI praevidere noveris periculum,
Minus metu praeverte quàm prudentiâ.
Timor futuri caussa praesentis mali est.
Si praevenire gestias, cura feras.
Sapientis est vitare praevisum malum,
Patientis est perferre, fortis vincere.

LXIV.

IF thou hast providence to foresee a danger, let thy prudence rather prevent it, then feare it. The feare of future evills, brings oftentimes a present mischiefe: Whilst thou seek'st to prevent it, practice to bear it. He is a Wise man that can avoid an evill; he is a patient man that can endure it; but he is a valiant man that can conquer it.

[p. 420]

LXV.

SI admotus ad Rempublicam es, provinciam
Tuere justitiâ, & simul clementiâ:
Donis abhorre: dona quae accipit manus
Obcaecat oculos. Hunc ubique adhibe modum;
Iniquitatem plecte, virtuti fave,
Odium à severitate quae nimia est cave,
Contemptum ab indulgentia praeter modum.
Sic justus esto, ut jure possis diligi;
Sic esto clemens, ne timeri desinas.

LXV.

IF thou hast the place of a Magistrate, deserve it by thy Iustice, and dignifie it qwith thy mercy: Take heed of early gifts. An open hand makes a blinde eye: Be not more apt to punish vice, then to encourage vertue. Be not too severe, lest thou be hated, nor too remisse, lest thou be sleighted: So execute Iustice, that thou mayst be loved; so execute mercy, that thou mayst be feared.

LXX.

EXsolve servo pauperi stipendium,
Ut ne tuo te fraudet exactor Deus,
Si conqueratur fortè, blandis auribus
Audi querentem; ne querelam deferat
Caelo adienti. Si tuâ caussâ indiget,
Tu propter illum inprosperè victurus es:
Quadrans egeni diviti instar pestis est.

LXX.

DEtaine not the wages from the poore man that hath earn'd it, lest God withold not thy wages from thee: If he complain to thee, heare him, least he complain to Heaven, where he wil be heard: If he hunger for thy sake, thou shalt not prosper for his sake. The poor mans penny is a plague in the rich mans purse.

[p. 421]

LXXIV.

VItae quietem si cupis, fac justa sit:
Jnjuriam qui non facit, nullam timet:
Jnjusta mens laborat, ut faciat malum
Malè destinatum, aut vitet id quod intulit.

LXXIV.

IF thou desire rest unto thy Soule, bee just: He that doth no injury, feares not to suffer jnjury: The unjust mind is always in labour: It either practises the evill it hath projected; or projects to avoyd the evill it hath deserved.

XC.

CAlumniâ impetitus es? tecum puta,
Vacesne culpâ: ni vacas, factum bene,
Vel, si vaces, nec inutilis coreptio est.
Hanc applicato & hanc tibi; fel melleum,
Et hostem apertum arcanum amicum feceris.

XC.

IF any speake ill of thee, flee home to thy owne Conscience, and examine thy heart: If thou be guilty, 't is a just correction; If not, 't is a faire instruction; Make use of both, so shalt thou distill hony out of Gall, and out of an open Enemy create a secret friend.

[p. 422]

XCIII.

SApientiam affectando dum parcis loqui,
Nimium silendo ne arguas dementiam.
Si stultus es, silentium sapientia est;
Nimium silere, si sapis, dementia est.
Stultus sapientem ut saepe non sinit loqui,
Sapiens loquacem, non loquens, stultum facit,
Et hujus ille fit reus dementiae.

XCIII.

TAke heede whilst thou shewest Wisedome in not speaking, thou betrayest not thy folly in too long silence. If thou art a foole, thy silence is Wisedom: If a Wise man, too long silence is folly: As too many words from a fools mouth, gives a Wise man no leave to speake: Soo too long silence in a Wiseman, gives a foole the opportunity of speaking, and makes thee guilty of his folly.

XCVII.

SI prosperos vivis dies, inprosperis
Paratus esto. Singulae AEstates suas
Brumae sequuntur: qui secundis non serit,
Non invenit quod rebus adversis metat.

XCVII.

SEest thou good dayes? prepare for evill times: No summer but hath his winter: He never reapd' comfort in Adversity, that souw'd it not in Prosperity.

[p. 423]

XCIX.

NEc inviis nec aviis verum latet.
Profitere verum candidè, sequitor palam,
Si cum timore faxis, indignè facis.
Jndignus est qui veritate gaudeat,
Qui fraudulenter veritatem quaeritat.

XCIX.

TRuth haunts no corners, seeks no by-ways: If thou profess it, doe it openly: If thou seeke it, doe it fairely: He deserves not to professe Truth, that professes it fearfully: He deserves not to finde the Truth taht seekes it fraudulently.