|
Looke, Attilla, the grete conquerour, |
| Deyde in his sleepe, with shame and dishonour, |
| 295 | Bledynge ay at his nose in dronkenesse. |
| A capitayn sholde lyve in sobrenesse; |
| And over al this avyseth yow right wel, |
| What was comaunded unto Lamwel, |
| Nat Samuel, but Lamwel, seye I - |
| 300 | Redeth the Bible and fynde it expresly, |
| Of wyn yevyng to hem that han justise. |
| Namoore of this, for it may wel suffise. |
| And now that I have spoken of glotonye, |
| Now wol I yow deffenden hasardrye. |
| 305 | Hasard is verray mooder of lesynges, |
| And of dedeite and cursed forswerynges, |
| Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre and wast also |
| Of catel and of tyme, and forthermo |
| It is repreeve and contrarie of honour |
| 310 | For to ben holde a commune hasardour. |
| And ever the hyer he is of estaat, |
| The moore is he holden desolaat; |
| If that a prynce useth hasardrye, |
| In all governaunce and policye |
| 315 | He is as by commune opinioun |
| Yholde the lasse in reputacioun. |
|
| Lo, Attila, the mighty conqueror, |
| Died in his sleep, in shame and dishonour, |
| 295 | And bleeding at the nose for drunkenness; |
| A great captain should live in soberness. |
| Above all this, advise yourself right well |
| What was commanded unto Lemuel - |
| Not Samuel, but Lemuel, say I - |
| 300 | The Bible's words you cannot well deny: |
| Drinking by magistrates is called a vice. |
| No more of this, for it may well suffice. |
| And now that I have told of gluttony, |
| I'll take up gambling, showing you thereby |
| 305 | The curse of chance, and all its evils treat; |
| From it proceeds false swearing and deceit, |
| Blaspheming, murder, and- what's more- the waste |
| Of time and money; add to which, debased |
| And shamed and lost to honour quite is he, |
| 310 | Who once a common gambler's known to be. |
| And ever the higher one is of estate, |
| The more he's held disgraced and desolate. |
| And if a prince plays similar hazardry |
| In all his government and policy, |
| 315 | He loses in the estimate of men |
| His good repute, and finds it not again. |
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