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Lordynges, by this ensample I yow preye, |
| 310 | Beth war and taketh kepe what I seye: |
| Ne telleth nevere no man in youre lyf |
| How that another man hath dight his wyf; |
| He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn. |
| Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn, |
| 315 | Techeth a man to kepen his tonge weel. |
| But as I seyde, I am noght textueel; |
| But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame; |
| "My sone, thenk on the crowe, on Goddes name. |
| My sone, keepe wel thy tonge and keepe thy freend, |
| 320 | A wikked tonge is worse than a feend. |
| My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse. |
| My sone, God of his endelees goodnesse |
| Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke, |
| For man sholde hym avyse what he speeke. |
| 325 | My sone, ful ofte for to muche speche |
| Hath many a man been spilt, as clerkes teche. |
| But for litel speche, avysely, |
| Is no man shent, to speke generally. |
| My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne |
| 330 | At alle tymes, but whan thou doost thy peyne |
| To speke of God in honour and in preyere; |
| The firste vertu sone, if thou wolt leere, |
| Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge. |
| Thus lerne children, whan that they been yonge, |
| 335 | My sone, of muchel spekyng yvele avysed, |
| Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynough suffised, |
| Comth muchel harm-thus was me toold and taught.- |
| In muchel speche synne wanteth naught. |
| Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serveth? |
| 340 | Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerveth |
| An arme a-two, my deere sone, right so |
| A tonge kutteth freendshipe al atwo. |
| A jangler is to God abhomynable; |
| Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable, |
| 345 | Reed David in hise psalmes, reed Senekke. |
| My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke; |
| Dissimule as thou were deef, it that thou heere |
| A jangler speke of perilous mateere. |
| The Flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste, |
| 350 | That litel janglyng causeth muchel reste. |
| My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd, |
| Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd; |
| But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn, |
| He may by no wey clepe his word agayn. |
| 355 | Thyng that is seyd is seyd, and forth it gooth; |
| Though hym repente, or be hym leef or looth, |
| He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd |
| A tale, of which he is now yvele apayd. |
| My sone, be war, and be noon auctour newe |
| 360 | Of tidynyges, wheither they been false or trewe, |
| Wherso thou com, amonges hye or lowe, |
| Kepe wel thy tonge, and thenk upon the crowe." |
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Masters, by this example, I do pray |
| 310 | You will beware and heed what I shall say: |
| Never tell any man, through all your life, |
| How that another man has humped his wife; |
| He'll hate you mortally, and that's certain. |
| Dan Solomon, as these wise clerks explain, |
| 315 | Teaches a man to keep his tongue from all; |
| But, as I said, I am not textual. |
| Nevertheless, thus taught me my good dame: |
| "My son, think of the crow, in high God's name; |
| My son, keep your tongue still, and keep your friend. |
| 320 | A wicked tongue is worse than any fiend. |
| My son, from devils men themselves may bless; |
| My son, high God, of His endless goodness, |
| Walled up the tongue with teeth and lips and cheeks |
| That man should speak advisedly when he speaks. |
| 325 | My son, full oftentimes, for too much speech, |
| Has many a man been killed, as clerics teach; |
| But, speaking little and advisedly, |
| Is no man harmed, to put it generally. |
| My son, your foolish tongue you should restrain |
| 330 | At all times, save those when your soul is fain |
| To speak of God, in honour and in prayer. |
| The first of virtues, son, if you'll but hear, |
| Is to restrain and to guard well your tongue - |
| Thus teach the children while they yet are young - |
| 335 | My son, of too much speaking, ill advised, |
| Where less had been enough and had sufficed, |
| Much harm may come; thus was I told and taught. |
| In fluent speaking evil wants for naught. |
| Know you of where a rash tongue has well served? |
| 340 | Just as a sword has cut deep and has carved |
| A many an arm in two, dear son, just so |
| A tongue can cut a friendship, well I know. |
| A gossip is to God abominable. |
| Read Solomon, so wise and honourable, |
| 345 | Or David's Psalms, what Seneca has said. |
| My son, speak not, but merely bow your head. |
| Dissemble like one deaf, if you but hear |
| A chatterer speak what's dangerous in your ear. |
| The Fleming says, and learn it, for it's best, |
| 350 | That little prattle gives us all much rest. |
| My son, if you no wicked word have said, |
| To be betrayed you need not ever dread; |
| But he that has missaid, I dare explain, |
| He may not aye recall his words again. |
| 355 | That which is said, is said, and goes, in truth, |
| Though he repent, and be he lief or loath. |
| A man's the slave of him to whom he's told |
| A tale to which he can no longer hold. |
| My son, beware and be not author new |
| 360 | Of tidings, whether they be false or true. |
| Where'er you come, among the high or low, |
| Guard well your tongue, and think about the crow." |
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