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¹ A dead flye doth corrupt sweete oyntment, and maketh it to stinke: Euen so oft tymes he that hath ben had in estimation for wysdome and honour, is abhorred because of a litle foolishnesse.² A wyse mans heart is vpon his right hande, but a fooles heart vpon his left.³ A foole wyll shewe him selfe when he goeth by the way, yet thinketh he that euery man doth as foolishly as him self.

⁴ If a principall spirite be geuen thee to beare rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for he that can take cure of him selfe, auoydeth great offences.⁵ Another plague is there whiche I haue seene vnder the sunne, namely, the ignoraunce that is commonly among princes: ⁶ in that a foole sitteth in great dignitie, and the riche are set downe beneath.⁷ I haue seene seruauntes ride vpon horses, and princes goyng vpon their feete as it were seruauntes.⁸ But he that diggeth vp a pitte, shall fall therin hym selfe: and who so breaketh downe the hedge, a serpent shall byte hym.⁹ Who so remoueth stones, shall haue trauayle withall: and he that heweth wood, shalbe hurt therwith.¹⁰ When an iron is blunt and the poynt not sharpened, it must be whet agayne, and that with might: Euen so doth wisdome folowe diligence.¹¹ A backbiter is no better then a serpent that stingeth without hissing.

¹² The wordes out of a wyse mans mouth are gratious: but the lippes of a foole wyll destroy him selfe.¹³ The beginning of his talking is foolishnesse: & the last worde of his mouth is starke madnesse.¹⁴ A foole is full of wordes, and a man can not tell what shall come to passe: who wyll then warne hym of it that shall folowe after hym?¹⁵ The labour of the foolishe is greeuous vnto them, whyle they know not howe to go into the citie.

¹⁶ Wo be vnto thee O thou lande, whose kyng is but a chylde, and whose princes are early at their bankettes.¹⁷ But well is thee O thou lande, whose kyng is come of nobles, and whose princes eate in due season for necessitie, and not for lust.¹⁸ Thorowe slouthfulnesse the balkes fall downe, and thorowe idle handes it rayneth in at the house.¹⁹ Meate maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merie: but vnto money are all thinges obedient.²⁰ Wishe the king no euil in thy thought, and speake no hurt of the riche in thy priuie chaumber: for a byrde of the ayre shall betray thy voyce, and with her fethers shall she bewray thy wordes.