LOOK ABOVT YOV: OR, A Groatsworth of good Councel for a Peny: BEING Variety of Councels, Cautions, Caveats, and Directions: Which, as they are necessary for Young-men; so they are not to be rejected by Old-men.
V [...] VVLNERE VERITAS
FIrst, Make not an envious man a drunkard, a woman, nor a man in subjection to a woman of thy councel: for it is impossible for them to keep close thy secrets.
2 Be not over-prodigal in gifts, or chargable courtesies, for thanks wax old [...]o soon as ever gifts are in possession.
3 Begin no great Enterprise before thou know how to accomplish it.
4 Mock no man in his misery, but rather by him take heed how to avoid the like misfortune.
5 Labour not to inform him that is without Reason, for so shalt thou not only lose thy labor, but also make him thine enemy.
6 Desire not that of another, that thou thy self being asked wouldst deny, for therein it is ridiculous.
7 Attempt not two things at one time, but accomplish one first, so shall not the one hinder the other.
8 Chuse rarher to live solitary, for it is better to live alone in the corner of an house top, then in a spacious Palace w [...]th a brawling and contentious woman.
9 Let not thy liberality exceed thine ability, nor thy hand go beyond thy purse.
10 Bewars of pride in prosperity, for it wil make thee impatient in adversity
11 Speak no more to a stranger in private, then thou wouldst have publikely known.
12 If thou doubt in any thing, ask councel of wise men, and be not angry if they reprove thee.
13 Do to all men as thou wouldest be done unto.
14 Boast not of thy good deeds, lest also the bad be laid to thy charge: however do good to all men, although in doing good to an ill disposed person it happen to thee as to those that feed other mens Dogs, which bark at their feeder as well as at any other stranger.
15 If thou givest ought give it at the first asking: for that is not freely given which is craved with importunity.
16 When thou givest a gift to thy friend, let it be of the best: yet be not like a Boulter, that in bolting the meal casteth out the fine flower, and retaineth onely the bran.
17 Be courteous, and shew a good countenance to all: yet enter not into familiarity with any, but onely such whose Conversations are honest, and whose truth by tryal is made trusty.
18 Instruct Youth in good and commendable qualities: for as a Vessel savoureth alwayes of the same liquor wherewith it was first seasoned, so the mind doth retain those qualities in age in which it was trained up in youth.
19 Be not over profuse either in gifts or expences: for it is better to be envied for thy provident sparing, then pitied for thy prodigal spending.
20 Beware of Envie, the most ancient pride the most great: and women the most dangerous & excess the most foul evil,
21 Women in their Wils are peremptory, and in their answers sharp: yet like Faulcons they wil stoop to a gaudy lure, and as they are apt to weep, so are rhey to deceive: for thou knowest whether her teares be of sorrow, or of dissimulation, for she can shed both: and indeed womens sorrows are either too extream, not to be relieved; or else picled up with dissimulation, not to be believed: it is natural for a woman to despise the thing that is offered her, and yet it is death to be denyed the thing she demands. Womens hearts are said to be full of holes, apt to receive, but not to retain: so that if love creeps in at one hole, it steps out at 3 or 4. The Closets of womens thoughts are ever open, and the depth of their hearts hath a string that stretcheth to their tongues. Women are like to the pictures of Fortune standing upon a Globe winged with the feathers of fickleness: and as for little goodness they look for great praise; so for much evil they look for no chastisement: and as there ir no Creature that more desires honour, so there is no Creature that worse keepes it then a woman. And finally, he that can abide a curst wife and her conditions, need not care what company he keeps.
22 Nevertheless, if thou be'st wed to a curse wife, refrain both thy tongue and hands, and make a Vertue of Necessity, placing that with patience thou canst not remove with ease: and consider, that it is thou that defervest to be beaten either for making choice of at all, or at best for making thy choice no better.
23 Wine and strong Beer are crafty Wrestlers, and overthroweth the Wit, weakneth the feet, and overcometh the vital Spirits: and therefore it may be truly said, that Drunkenness doth metamorphise a man into a beast, a strong man into a weak, and a wise man into a fool: A drunken man like an old man is twice a child. Drunkenness is a Monster with many heads; as abominable discourse, fornication, wrath, murther, swearing, cursing: and Wine is said to have destroyed more men then the Sea hath drowned: and to say no more, Drunkenness is a voluntary Madness.
24 Pride eateth Gold, and drinketh blood, and climeth so high by other mens heads, that it often breaks its own neck: it chanceth often to proud men, that in their greatest jollity, and when they think their Honour to be spun and weaved, that then the Web of their lives in a moment are cut and broken. Pride causeth that Work to become wicked, which in it self would be good: so that humble submission is beter then proud boasting of our deeds, which often cause a proud man to fall into more detestable vices then before. A proud heart in a poor man, is like a great fire in a small Cottage, which not onely warmeth the house, but burneth all that is in it. Advance one of low estate to high degree, and none alive aan reap more pride then he: and when ambition and pride is in the saddle, then mischief and shame is on the Crupper.
25 Envy is the Daughter of Pride, the Author of Murther and Revenge, the beginner of secret Seditions, and ever waits at Vertues Elbow. Envy is the slime and impostume of the soul, a perpetual torment to him in whom it abideth, as wel as to vertuous persons, and actions; a venome, a poyson, or quick-silver, which consumeth the flesh, and dryeth the very marrow of the bones. An envious man waxeth lean at the fatness of his Neighbor, and ever accounteth his Neighbors losses his gains, and his Neighbours gains his losses. Envy is said of the Poets to dwell in a dark Cave, being pale and lean, looking a [...]quint, abounding with gall, her teeth black, never rejoycing but at other mens harmes ever unquiet and alwayes careful of doing mischief. And in this, one onely point may be distinguished from Hatred: the one is secret: the other open: And in this alone is the envious mans meat above others (to him) he continually gnaweth upon his own heart.