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John Heywood - Epigrams upon PROVERBS, 1562

Internetbewerking: M.H.H. Engels, december 2011

TABLE with numbers of epigrams.
Of Amendment 1 *** Wagging of Beards 2 *** Of Haste 3 *** Breaking of Square 4 *** Looking and Leaping 5 *** Wedding and Hanging 6 *** Of Delay 7 *** Of Wits 8 *** No Lack in Love 9 *** Of Homely Home 10 *** Giving and Taking 11 *** Jack and Gill 12 *** Of the End of a Wit 13 *** Of Bought Wit 14 *** Of Haste and Waste 15 *** Making of Malt 16 *** Of an Aching Eye 17 *** What Thing Beggars Choose 18 *** Of Robbing 19 *** Of Need and Law 20 *** Of Beginning and Ending 21 *** Of Grace 22 *** Of Fore Provision 23 *** Of Saying and Doing 24 *** Of Treading on a Worm 25 *** Of Ease in an Inn 26 *** How to Prove a Friend 27 *** Unwise Wedding 28 *** Something and Nothing 29 *** The Sleeping Dog 30 *** Of Hap 31 *** Of Sight and Mind 32 *** Of Mirth with Wisdom 33 *** Of Holding of a Nose 34 *** An Eye-sore 35 *** Of Reckoning 36 *** Setting up a Candle 37 *** Of Clouds and Weather 38 *** Of Making and Marring 39 *** Of Birds and Birders 40 *** Of Sorrows 41 *** Of Feeding and Teaching 42 *** Of Sufferance 43 *** Of Him that set His Hand on His Money 44 *** Of a Horse Currying 45 *** Of Shame 46 *** A Lord's Heart and a Beggar's Purse 47 *** Of Forgetting 48 *** Of the Heart and the Heel 49 *** Praise of a Man above a Horse 50 *** Of Weeping 51 *** Of Two False Knaves 52 *** A Heart in a Hose 53 *** Of Creeping and Going 54 *** Of Floating and Fleeting 55 *** A Man at an Ebb 56 *** Sight in a Millstone 57 *** Of Throwing 58 *** Of Store 59 *** Of One in Prison 60 *** Saints and Devils 61 *** Of Botching 62 *** Of a Year's Fair 63 *** Of a Cap and a Head 64 *** A Thief that hath no Fellow 65 *** False Measures 66 *** Of Clean Sweeping 67 *** Turning of Tippets 68 *** Of Theft and Receipt 69 *** Of Work and Play 70 *** Of a Painted Sheath 71 *** The Hare and the Hound 72 *** Of Beggars Singing 73 *** Of Two Faces 74 *** Of Begging 75 *** Of Nothing 76 *** Of Venturing 77 *** Of Shall Be and Shall Not Be 78 *** The Black Ox 79 *** Of Bridling 80 *** Mending and 'Pairing 81 *** Of Running without Turning 82 *** Buying a Pig 83 *** Hungry Flies 84 *** Of Loving a Dog 85 *** Of Precious Stones 86 *** Of 111 and Good Wind 87 *** Of Sooth Boord 88 *** Of Tales Told in the Ear 89 *** Of Going 90 *** Of Need 91 *** Taking Heart of Grass 92 *** Of Nothing and Allthing 93 *** Coveting and Losing 94 *** Of the March Hare 95 *** How God will Not Do for Us 96 *** Of Harping on a String 97 *** A Loss by the Devil's Death 98 *** Of a Sheep's Eye 99 *** Of Rule 100 *** Of Blind Bayard 101 *** Of the Spinster's Thrift 102 *** Of Deafness 103 *** Of a Good Horse 104 *** Of Ways to the Wood 105 *** Of One that may Soon Amend 106 *** An 111 Hearer 107 *** Of a Good Face 108 *** A Sharp Thorn 109 *** Coming and Going1 110 *** The Better Cometh Seldom 111 *** One Driveth Out Another 112 *** Of Burden 113 *** Running and Going 114 *** A Lack of Tools 115 *** Taste of a Man's Tales 116 *** Of a Cat's Look 117 *** Of Matters Not Laid a Water 118 *** One Put out of a Creed 119 *** All that may be Won of the Fox 120 *** The Surety of Some Seal 121 *** The Hare's Going Away 122 *** Judgment of Colours 123 *** Hap and Wit 124 *** Fortune and Fools 125 *** Of Loser's Words 126 *** Getting and Spending 127 *** Measure 128 *** Going Beyond the Wall 129 *** Of Harm 130 *** Wit Kept by Warmth -131 *** Light Coming and Going 132 *** Of Kissing 133 *** Of Leave 134 *** God in the Almonry 135 *** The Devil in the Horologe 136 *** The Best 137 *** The Worst 138 *** Lasting of Wonder 139 *** The Galled Horse 140 *** Good Beginning and End 141 *** The Still Sow 142 *** Of Stumbling 143 *** Of the Shoe and the Sole 144 *** Might and Right 145 *** Birth and Teaching 146 *** Of Hanging 147 *** An Old Knave 148 *** A Man's Ear and his Hood 149 *** Gains and Losses 150 *** Thieves Falling Out 151 *** Of a Shorn Face 152 *** A Bench Whistler 153 *** What God Said to One 154 *** Bowing and Breaking 155 *** Of Wrestling 156 *** God and the Church I57 *** Of One Tale in All Men Told 158 *** Of Malkin 159 *** Rash Venturing 160 *** A Scabbed Horse 161 *** Of Sitting 162 *** Ale and Wit 163 *** Of Restitution 164 *** Eating of Flies 165 *** Of the Fox's Preaching 166 *** Of Poor Men's Souls 167 *** Promise of Silence 168 *** Of Little Saying 169 *** Of the Tide 170 *** Praise of Good End 171 *** Of Hearing and Judging 172 *** A Lesson for Looking 173 *** Of a Woman's Lives 174 *** The Crow Called White 175 *** Of the Old Fool 176 *** Of a Bean 177 *** The Gift of a Pig 178 *** Change and Robbery 179 *** Of Fair Words 180 *** Of Laughing 181 *** Of Seeking 182 *** Of a Head under a Girdle 183 *** Of Wide Shooting 184 *** The Fool's Bolt 185 *** Of a Merchant 186 *** Of Tongue 187 *** Of Speech 188 *** A Busy Body 189 *** Of Time 190 *** Of Far Casting 191 *** Of Hunger 192 *** Of Feeding 193 *** Of Mortimer's Sow 194 *** Of Flea-biting 195 *** The Breechless Master 196 *** Meat and Sauce 197 *** Of Proffered Service 198 *** Of Common Meddlers 199 *** Of Enough and a Feast 200 *** Of Plain Fashion 201 *** Of Him that Cometh Last 202 *** Of Staining 203 *** Of Sitting 204 *** Of Writing to Friends 205 *** Of Great Clerks 206 *** Of Killing 207 *** Of Falsehood 2Do *** Of Bleeding 209 *** Of Seeing 210 *** Of Eyes 211 *** Of Pepper 212 *** Of an Ill Stake 213 *** Of Sufferance 214 *** Of Misreckoning 215 *** Of Even Reckoning 216 *** Of Taking 217 *** Of Mum 218 *** Of Stopping a Mouth 219 *** Of Casting 220 *** Of Jack 221 *** Of the Winking Cat 222 *** Of Saying Nay 223 *** Of the Pie and Crow 224 *** Of Saying Nought but Mum 221 *** Of Tongue and Wit 226 *** Of Own 227 *** Of Spinning 228 *** Of Laughing 229 *** Of Playing 230 *** Of the Wind Blowing 231 *** Of Far and Nigh 232 *** Of Th'instep 233 *** Of Small and Great 224 *** Of the Keys 235 *** Of Provender 236 *** Of Some Here and There 237 *** Of the Parson's Leman 238 *** Of Ill Weed 239 *** Of Speaking 240 *** Of Good Silver 241 *** Of the Proud Cock 242 *** Of Fat in the Fire 243 *** Of Bow Bent 244 *** Of God's Being 245 *** Of Kinfolk 246 *** Of Friendship 247 *** Of Nothing 248 *** Of Poverty 249 *** Of Ears Glowing 250 *** Of Post and Pillar 251 *** Of May Be 252 *** Of Use 253 *** Of Spurning 254 *** Of the Tying the Bell 255 *** Of Had I Wist 256 *** Of Dancing 257 *** Of the Cats Eating Fish 258 *** Of the Blind 259 *** Of the Worst and Best 260 *** Of Five Eggs 261 *** Of Climbing 262 *** Of the Way 263 *** Of Waiting 264 *** Of Rhyme 265 *** Of Fishing 266 *** Of Good 267 *** Of the Hot Irons 268 *** Of the Purse 269 *** Of Many Hands 270 *** Of the Loth Stake 271 *** Of Having 272 *** Of Counsel 273 *** Of Rome 274 *** Of Speech 275 *** Of One Had in the Wind 276 *** Of One Ill Shod 277 *** Of All and Nought 278 *** Of Warning 279 *** Of Birds Flown 280 *** Of Leaving 281 *** Of Setting in Foot 282 *** Of Fast Binding 283 *** Of Hap 284 *** Of Time 285 *** Of the Fat Hog 286 *** Of Bale and Boot 287 *** Of Sows 288 *** Of Making a Cross 289 *** Of a Pad 290 *** Of Long Standing 291 *** Of the Weak 292 *** Of Catching 293 *** Of Holding 294 *** Of Knowledge 295 *** Of Smelling 296 *** Of Nought Laid Down 297 *** Of Sight of Fare 298 *** Of the Pot not Broken 299 *** Of Late and Never 300
Finis.
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>> begin

EPIGRAMS UPON PROVERBS

1. "Of Amendment."
If every man mend one, all shall be mended:
This mean to amendment is now intended.
For though no man look to mend himself, brother;
Yet each man looketh to control and mend other.

2. "Wagging Of Beards."
It is merry in hall when beards wag all:
"Husband, for this, these words to mind I call:
This is meant by men, in their merry eating;
Not to wag their beards in brawling and threating."
"Wife, the meaning hereof differeth not two pins
Between wagging of men's beards and women's chins."

3. "Of Haste."
The hasty man wanteth never woe:
In hasty women not ever so.
With suffering husbands hasty wives
Have oft, we see, full merry lives.

4. "Breaking Of Square."
An inch breaketh no square: which, since thou hast heard tell,
Thou dost assay how to break square by an ell.
"Otherwise."
An inch breaketh no square: thou breakest none, though it do;
Thou rather bringest square than breakest square between two.

5. "Looking And Leaping."
Look ere thou leap: nay, thou canst in no wise brook
To look ere thou leap, for thou leapest ere thou look.

6. "Wedding And Hanging."
"Wedding and hanging are destiny, I see;
Wedding or hanging, which is best, sir?" (quoth she).
"Forsooth ! good wife, hanging I think best," (quoth he).
"So help me God, good husband! so thinketh me
Oh, how like lambs, man and wife here agree.

7. "Of Delay."
He that will not when he may,
When he would he shall have nay:
But to that nay, nay I say:
If of my wife I delay
To take shrewd words, yet that stay
Stayeth them not from me next day.

8. "Of Wits."
So many heads, so many wits: nay, nay!
We see many heads and no wits, some day.

9. "No Lack In Love."
In love is no lack: true, I dare be borrow;
In love is never lack of joy or sorrow.
"Otherwise."
In love is no lack: no, in no wooing day;
But after wedding day, let's hear what ye say.

10. "Of Homely Home."
Home is homely: yea, and too homely sometime
Where wives' footstools to their husbands' heads climb.

11. "Giving And Taking."
Better give than take: all say, but so think none.
All think better take twenty pounds than give one.

12. "Jack And Gill."
All shall be well, Jack shall have Gill:
Nay, nay! Gill is wedded to Will.

13. "Of The End Of A Wit."
Thou art at thy wits' end: which I wonder in
To see a wit at end before it begin.

14. "Of Bought Wit."
Wit is never good till it be bought:
Thy wit is dear bought, and yet stark nought.
"Otherwise."
"Wit is never good till it be bought, Will."
"Jack, to buy or sell that ware fools can no skill."

15. "Of Haste And Waste."
Haste maketh waste: which, perceived by sloth,
Sloth will make no haste, he sweareth by his truth!

16. "Making Of Malt."
Soft fire maketh sweet malt: as malt-makers tell.
Then, to make sweet malt fire is too rash in hell;
Whereby, since in hell no good ale is to sell,
Dry drunken souls cannot like in hell to dwell.

17. "Of An Aching Eye."
Better eye out, than alway ache:
In rage of ache, true as I spake:
But in mean ache, meanly to moan,
Better an aching eye than none.

18. "What Thing Beggars Choose."
Beggars should be no choosers: but yet they will;
Who can bring a beggar from choice to beg still?

19. "Of Robbing."
Rob Peter and pay Paul: thou sayest I do;
But thou robbest and poulst Peter and Paul too.

20. "Of Need And Law."
Need hath no law: in some case, in very deed,
Need hath no law; and yet of law we have need.

21. "Of Beginning And Ending."
Of a hard beginning cometh a good ending:
Truth, on this term, is not alway depending;
Some hardly begin by the feet to sit fast,
That end with hard hanging by the necks at last.

22. "Of Grace."
In space cometh grace: I grant grace may come in space;
But in rule, by thy rule, never look for grace.

23. "Of Fore Provision."
Whoso that knew what would be dear,
Should need be merchant but one year:
But thou hast known years, two or three,
That good conditions would, in thee,
Both dear and daintily be grown;
And yet for all this, thus foreknown
To warn thee of great fore provision,
Thou hast not now one good condition.

24. "Of Saying And Doing."
Saying and doing, are two things, we say:
But thy sayings and doings every way
Join, jump in one; thy words and deeds proceed,
But thou art good, nother in word nor deed.

25. "Of Treading On A Worm."
Tread a worm on the tail, and it turneth again:
But thou treadest on the worm's head that to restrain.

26. "Of Ease In An Inn."
Thou takest thine ease in thine Inn, so nigh thee
That no man in his Inn can take ease by thee.
"Otherwise."
Thou takest thine ease in thine Inn: but I see
Thine Inn taketh nother ease nor profit by thee.

27. "How To Prove A Friend."
Prove thy friend ere thou need: that canst thou no way;
For without need of thy friend thou art no day.

28. "Unwise Wedding."
Who weddeth ere he be wise shall die ere he thrive:
Then shalt not thou be wedded and rich alive.

29. "Something And Nothing."
Something is better than nothing:
In something I grant this othing;
In some I deny; for I see
As good have nothing as have thee.

30. "The Sleeping Dog."
It is ill waking of a sleeping dog:
So think many, namely, the wroting hog.

31. "Of Hap."
It happeth in an hour that happeth not in seven year.
"That happeth this hour, wife, for thou makest me good cheer."

32. "Of Sight And Mind."
Out of sight out of mind: this may run right;
For all be not in mind that be in sight.

33. "Of Mirth With Wisdom."
'Tis good to be merry and wise:
How shall fools follow that advice?

34. "Of Holding Of A Nose."
Thou canst hold my nose to the grindstone:
So cannot I thine for thou hast none.

35. "An Eye-sore."
It is but an eye-sore: but an eye-sore, fie!
That eye-sore is as ill as any sore eye.

36. "Of Reckoning."
Reckoning without thine host thou must reckon twice:
May not my hosts disappoint that device?

37. "Setting Up A Candle."
To set up a candle before the devil:
Dim-sighted devils, I deem, deem it not evil.

38. "Of Clouds And Weather."
After clouds black, we shall have weather clear:
And after weather clear we shall have clouds black;
Now hot, now cold, now fair, now foul appear;
As weather cleareth, or cloudeth, so must men take.

39. "Of Making And Marring."
Make or mar I will, so sayest thou ever;
But thou dost ever mar, thou makest never.

40. "Of Birds And Birders."
Better one bird in hand, than ten in the wood:
Better for birders, but for birds not so good.

41. "Of Sorrows."
Make not two sorrows of one, if thou can;
Lest making of two sorrows mar one man.

42. "Of Feeding And Teaching."
Thou art better fed than taught, I undertake:
And yet art thou skin and bone, lean as a rake.

43. "Of Sufferance."
Of sufferance cometh ease: " How shall I know that, wife?"
"I have suffered thee, without ease, all my life."

44. "Of Him That Set His Hand On His Money."
"Thy hand is on thy half penny: and must John;"
For thou hast no more coin to set thy hand

45. "Of A Horse Currying."
A short horse is soon curried: that is, to wit,
When short horse and short curriers do meet.

46. "Of Shame."
Shame take him that shame thinketh: for thou dost think none;
Thou art too far past shame, shame to think on.

47. "A Lord's Heart And A Beggar's Purse."
There is nothing in this world that agreeth worse
Than doth a lord's heart and a beggar's purse:
And yet, as ill as those two do agree,
Thou canst not bring them asunder to be.

48. "Of Forgetting."
The parish priest forgetteth he was parish clerk:
And the parson forgetteth he was parish priest;
But priest, clerk, and no clerk, all who will mark,
To forget what we were shall see us enticed.

49. "Of The Heart And The Heel."
Shall I set at my heart that thou settest at thy heel?
Nay, a heart in a heel'd hose can never do weel.
"Otherwise." Shall / set at my heart that thou settest at thy heel?
Nay, however kibed heels do, kibed hearts do not weel.

50. "Praise Of A Man Above A Horse."
A man may well lead a horse to the water
But he cannot make him drink, without he list.
I praise thee above the horse, in this matter;
For I, leading thee to drink, thou hast not missed
Alway to be ready, without resistance,
Both to drink, and be drunk, ere thou were led thence.

51. "Of Weeping."
Better children weep than old men, say wise men:
But old men weep when children laugh, now and then.

52. "Of Two False Knaves."
Two false knaves need no broker: but it is need
That brokers break false knaves' fellowship with speed.

53. "A Heart In A Hose."
Thy heart is in thy hose: which jail is not strong:
Thy hose are too full of holes to keep it long.

54. "Of Creeping And Going."
Children must learn to creep ere they can go:
In the spittle old knaves learn to do so.

55. "Of Floating And Fleeting."
Thou art afloat, thou weenest, being in the fleet:
But floating and fleeting agree not there meet.

56. "A Man At An Ebe."
Thou art at an ebb in Newgate: thou hast wrong;
But thou shalt be afloat at Tyburn ere long.

57. "sight In A Millstone."
Thou seest far in a millstone: thank God, therefore!
Thou seest in a millstone; in nothing more.

58. "Of Throwing."
Throw no gift again at the giver's head:
Namely, no gift of thy wife given in check;
If thou do, the rebound may be so red
That the red blood may run down in thy neck.

59. "Of Store."
Store is no sore: yes, store may be a sore;
I think it a sore of sores to have store.

60. "Of One In Prison."
"Thou art in by the week." "Nay, sir, I am here,
Not in by the week, I am in by the year."

61. "Saints And Devils."
Young saint, old devil: there's mo of womankind
Than young devils, old saints in mankind, as I find.

62. "Of Botching."
God is no botcher: but, when God wrought you two,
God wrought as like a botcher as God might do.

63. "Of A Year's Fair."
The fair lasteth all the year: "but wife, I tell thee,
In this year's fair, for fair, I cannot sell thee."
"I have worse luck," (quoth she), and began to scowl:
"I cannot sell thee there for fair nor for foul."

64. "Of A Cap And A Head."
Thy cap is better at ease than thy head:
Between which twain, might I at wish be sped
To choose one of the twain, which I would first crave -
Thy whole cap before thy sick head I would have.
"Otherwise."
My cap is better at ease than my head:
Thy cap is better than thy head, 'tis said.

65. "A Thief That Hath No Fellow."
Ask my fellow whether I be a thief:
No way, can that way of thy theft make preef;
Thou hast no fellow in theft to catch thee;
For there is no thief, (in theft), can match thee.

66. "False Measures."
Thou fearest false measures: which are things to fear sore;
But I fear false measures as much and more.

67. "Of Clean Sweeping."
New broom sweepeth clean, which is thus understand -
New broom sweepeth clean in the clean sweeper's hand.

68. "Turning Of Tippets."
He hath turned his tippet - that turn showeth plain
Our tippets have been turned, and turned again.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet, dyed it, and dressed it
Upon the right side and fair, and plain pressed it.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet, and pressed it so close,
That for a turned tippet it hath a fair gloss.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet: Lord! how he provides
Tippets turned, dyed, shorn, and worn bare on both sides.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet twice in my sight:
First on the wrong side, and last on the right.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet: an honest turning
To turn his tippet, and turn round for burning.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet, shorn against the wool full,
And more against his will than against the wool.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet: that have we turned all;
Some half turn, some whole turn, turned round as a ball.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet; yea, for a while:
But might he turn again, Lord ! how he would smile.
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet; yet mo turns ye mock:
But who doth wear his tippet a weathercock?
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet: now for a novelty;
And, for a novelty, would turn straight again he.
"Otherwise."
He turneth his tippet, or his tippet turneth him,
But which turneth which, I see not, by sweet Saint Sim!
"Otherwise."
He hath turned his tippet,
For simony a sippet.
"Otherwise."
He turneth his tippet: if that turning turn him
Into the pulpit, that turning is turned trim.

69. "Of Theft And Receipt."
Where are no receivers, there are no thieves:
Where nought is to receive, thieves bring no grieves.

70. "Of Work And Play."
As good to play for nought, as to work for nought:
But thou wilt play for nought, and not work for ought.

71. "Of A Painted Sheath."
Thou makest much of thy painted sheath: and wilt do,
It having not one good knife longing thereto.

72. "The Hare And The Hound."
Hold with the hare and run with the hound: run there
As wight as the hound, and as wise as the hare.

73. "Of Beggars Singing."
Beggars sing before thieves: but what of that?
When beggars sing so, thieves see nought to laugh at.

74. "Of Two Faces." Thou bearest two faces in one hood:
Thou hast one ill face, both be not good.

75. "Of Begging."
Thou beggest at wrong door, and so hast begged long:
Thy getting, by begging, showeth every door wrong.

76. "Of Nothing."
Nothing hath no savour: which savourless show
Showeth nothing better than something that we know.
"Otherwise."
Nothing hath no savour: as ill is this othing -
Ill savoured something as unsavoured nothing.

77. "Of Venturing."
Nought venture, nought have: and venturing of much
May have a little, venturing is now such.

78. "Of Shall Be And Shall Not Be."
That shall be, shall be: but all that should be
Shall not be, nor hath been, as far as I see.

79. "The Black Ox."
The black ox never trod on thy foot:
But the dun ass hath trod on both thy feet.
Which ass, and thou, may seem sprung of one root;
For the ass's pace, and thy pace, are meet.

80. "Of Bridling."
"I will bridle thee with rough bit, wife."
Quoth she: "If thou wilt bridle me, I will snaffle thee."

81. "Mending And 'pairing."
I will mend this house, and 'pair another:
Yea, but when wilt thou mend thyself, brother?

82. "Of Running Without Turning."
He runneth far that never turneth again: nay, nay!
Though the snail never turn he runneth no far way.

83. "Buying A Pig."
I will never buy the pig in the poke:
There's many a foul pig in a fair cloak.

84. "Hungry Flies."
Hungry flies bite sore: which shall bite us ever;
For without hungry flies we shall be never.

85. "Of Loving A Dog."
Love me, love my dog: by love to agree
I love thy dog as well as I love thee.

86. "Of Precious Stones."
"Folly to cast precious stones before hogs, Hugh,"
"Hodge, except they be precious hogs, thou sayest true."
"Otherwise."
Cast precious stones before hogs: cast stones to hogs? nay!
But precious stones have been given to hogs, some say.

87. "Of Ill And Good Wind."
It is an ill wind that bloweth no man to good:
And like good wind that bloweth no man ill.
But, fearing ill winds, old men most times stood
Out of all extreme winds under the hill.

88. "Of Sooth Boord."
Sooth boord is no boord: sooth boord soundeth ill
In false fair flattering boord, boord as ye will.

89. "Of Tales Told In The Ear."
In at the tone ear and out at the tother:
If tales told thee go in and out so, brother,
Then the travel of those tales show much wonder:
Thy two ears be two hundred mile asunder.

90. "Of Going."
The further we go the further behind:
Meet footmen to go with crabs, in my mind.
"Otherwise."
The further I go the further behind:
Stand still, fool! till thou better footing find.

91. "Of Need."
Need maketh th'old wife trot: is she a trotter now?
Gallop, young wives! shall th'old trot out-trot you?

92. "Taking Heart Of Grass."
"Thou takest heart of grass, wife, not heart of grace."
"Come grass, come grace, sir, we graze both in one place."

93. "Of Nothing And All Thing."
Where nothing is, a little thing doth ease:
Where all thing is, nothing can fully please.

94. "Coveting And Leesing."
All covet, all lose: this cometh oft in ure.
But nought have, nought lose: this is ever sure.

95. "Of The March Hare."
.4 s mad as a March hare: where madness compares,
Are not Midsummer hares as mad as March hares?

96. "How God Will Not Do For Us."
Every man for himself, and God for us all:
God will not seal that writing, write it who shall?

97. "Of Harping On A String."
Harp no more on that string, for it standeth too high;
And soundeth as basely as a halter, well nigh.

98. "A Loss By The Devil's Death."
The devil is dead: then hast thou lost a friend;
In all thy doings the devil was at tone end.
"Otherwise."
The devil is dead: one devil is dead, but we see
Mo devils left alive, as ill or worse than he.
"Otherwise."
The devil is dead: who shall inherit his land?
Enough : the devil hath left children a thousand.
"Otherwise."
The devil is dead: who shall his land rightly win?
Thou! for thou, by condition, art next of kin.
"Otherwise."
The devil is dead: nay, the devil is in a sown;
But the devil reviveth again, chil lay my gown.
"Otherwise."
The devil is dead: what helpeth the death of the devil?
The devil hath heirs as ill as he, and more evil.

99. "Of A Sheep's Eye."
He cast a sheep's eye at her: a strange eye spread
To see a sheep's eye look out of a calf's head.

100. "Of Rule."
Better rule than be ruled: wife! thy endeavour
Hath showed thee to be ruled by that rule ever.

101. "Of Blind Bayard."
Who so bold as blind Bayard? no beast, of truth;
Whereof my bold, blind Bayard, perfect proof showeth
Both of his boldness, and for his bold blindness.
By late occasion, in a cause of kindness,
A company of us rode in certain ground;
Where we wellnigh an impassable slough found.
Their horses, ere they entered, began to stay;
Every one horse giving another the way -
Of good manner, as it were - and more and more
Each horse gave back to set his better before,
Save this rude rusty, bold, blind Bayard of mine,
As rashly, as rudely, chopped forth; and in fine,
Without any curtsey, ere any man bids,
Blindly and boldly, he leapt into the mids.
And look how boldly, the mids he leapt in till;
Even, with like boldness, in the mids he lay still;
And trow you the jade, at the best men's words there,
ould stir one joint? nay, not the breadth of one hair.
But stared on them, with as bold a countenance
As that whole had been his by inheritance;
He having no more to do there than had I.
But straight there cometh a cartwear of good horse by;
By force whereof, and help of all that rout,
Blind Bayard and I were drawn together out.
Which blind boldness, by this admonition,
Except he amend in some meet condition,
Rather than ride so, I will afoot take pain
Blind bold Bayard shall not thus bear me again.

102. "Of The Spinster's Thrift."
Thus rideth the rock: if the rock be riding,
The spinster's thrift is set a-foot sliding.

103. "Of Deafness."
Who is so deaf as he that will not hear?
Not the devil till will draw his hearing near.

104. "Of A Good Horse."
It is a good horse that never stumbleth:
Then have I a good horse, for my horse tumbleth,
And falleth down right; my horse stumbleth never.
So well am I horsed, and have been horsed ever,
And so loth to lend him, to field or town's end,
That, as soon shall my foe ride him as my friend.

105. "Of Ways To The Wood."
There be mo ways to the wood than one:
Of all good ways to wood, thou goest none.

106. "Of One That May Soon Amend."
He may soon amend, for he cannot appair:
A good evidence to prove him the devil's heir.

107. "Of An Ill Hearer."
I cannot hear on that side: no, truth to tell,
Of any side thou couldst never yet hear well.

108. "Of A Good Face."
"I did set a good face on the matter, Joan."
"Thou didst borrow it then, Bess, for thou hast none."

109. "A Sharp Thorn."
It pricketh betimes that shall be a sharp thorn:
"I ween thou prickest, wife! ere time thou were born."

110. "Coming And Going."
As fast as one goeth another cometh in ure:
Two buckets in a well come and go so, sure;
But go or come who shall, while all come and go.
Seldom cometh the better: practise preveth so.

111. "The Better Cometh Seldom."
Seldom cometh the better, come or go who will:
One nail driveth out another, we see still.

112. "One Driveth Out Another."
One nail driveth out another: with strokes so stout
That the hammer-head which driveth them weareth quite out.

113. "Of Burden."
Light burden, far heavy: that dost thou try;
A feather borne far will tire thee well nigh.
"Otherwise."
Light burden, far heavy, borne for other men;
For ourselves, heavy burdens light enough then.
"Otherwise."
Light burden, far heavy: thy brain lacketh strength
To bear a pint of wine a pair of butts' length.
"Otherwise."
Light burden, far heavy: thou dost find that lack
In all light good burdens that lie on thy back.
"Otherwise."
Light burden, far heavy: how can lame folk prove,
Who in all their lives, their lengths do not remove?

114. "Running And Going."
He may ill run that cannot go:
He that sitteth by the feet find so.

115. "A Lack Of Tools."
What is a workman without his tools?
How may baubles be missed among fools?

116. "Taste Of A Man's Tales."
A tale of a tub, thy tales taste all of ale:
Not of pescod ale, sir; my tales are not stale.

117. "Of A Cat's Look."
A cat may look on a king: and what of that?
When a cat so looketh, a cat is but a cat.

118. "One Put Out Of A Creed."
Thou mayest be in my pater noster, indeed;
But surely thou shalt never come in my creed.
I care not, though I do not; what can I win
To come in a creed, which creed God is not in?

119. "All That May Be Won Of The Fox."
We can have no more of the fox but the skin:
And the fox thinketh that too much for us to win.

120. "The Surety Of Some Seal."
As sure as it were sealed with butter: forsooth!
Some butter seal lasteth as long as some wax doth.

121. "The Hares Going Away."
There goeth the hare away: is she gone, say you?
Let her go! we have hares and hare-heads enou'.

122. "Judgment Of Colours."
Blind men should judge no colours: should they nat?
Blind men will judge all colours, for all that.

123. "Hap And Wit."
Better be hapjyy than wise: here art thou hit;
Thy hap hath ever been better than thy wit.
"Otherwise."
Better be happy than wise: not so, some say;
He that can be wise shall be happy, say they.

124. "Of Fortune To Fools."
God sendeth fortune to fools: not to everyone;
Thou art a fool, and yet, fortune thou hast none.
"Otherwise."
God sendeth fortune to fools: and to wise men still
God sendeth good fortune, or the devil sendeth ill.

125. "Of Loosers' Words."
Let the loosers have their words, all at once:
Shall the loosers talk? there will be chat for the nonce.

126. "Getting And Spending."
Ill gotten, ill spent: be that tale true to tell,
Thou art never like to spend penny well.

127. "Matters Not Laid A-Water."
My mailer is laid a-water: that's a false tale;
Thy matters lie, not in water, they lie in ale.

128 "Measure."
Measure is a merry mean
Which, filled with noppy drink,
When merry drinkers drink off clean
Then merrily they wink.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean,
But I mean measures great;
Where lips to little pitchers lean,
Those lips they scantly wet.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
But inch, foot, yard, or ell,
Those measures are not worth a bean;
They measure no drink well.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
Be drink dear or good cheap,
From measure no wight may thee wean;
Thou measurest drink by heap.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
Good liquor may not shrink;
Thou takest no triacle of Gean
So wholesome as good drink.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean
Showing indifferency;
Would th'ale-wife play the polling quean?
Yet measure will not lie.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean
That doth diligently;
Attend the taps of stand and stean
To moist thy lips full dry.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
And measure is thy mate
To be a deacon, or a dean:
Thou wouldst not change the state.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
Who that shall enterprise
This measure from thee, for to glean,
Right early must he rise.
"Otherwise."
Measure is a merry mean:
In volumes full or flat;
There is no chapter, nor no scene
That thou appliest like that.

129. "Going Beyond The Wall."
Furder than the wall we cannot go:
Thine visage showeth otherwise, then so;
Thou goest, when thou must start out of sight,
To the wall, and over the wall quite.

130. "Of Harm."
A man far from his good is nigh his harm:
Nigh thy good, next thy harm, as chance may charm.
"Otherwise."
A man far from his good is nigh his harm:
For thee to fear that it were worse than woodness;
Movables, immovables, land or farm,
Thou hast not one groat's worth of good or goodness.
"Otherwise."
A man far from his good is nigh his harm:
This showeth thee nigh harm; for, hadst thou an arm
That could and would reach hence to Constantine,
That arm could not reach to any good of thine.

131. "Wit Kept By Warmth."
Thou art wise enough if thou keep thee warm:
But the least cold that cometh killeth thy wit by harm.

132. "Light Coming And Going."
Light come, light go, that cometh in ure by light feet;
But light heads make light feet lie lame in the street.
"Otherwise."
Light come, light go: for that thou art well wrought;
For thou art as light as a thing of nought.
"Otherwise."
Light come, light go: pass, come and go lightly;
In a juggler that lightness is sightly.
"Otherwise."
Light come, light go: thy light going doth excel;
But thy light coming I like not half so well.

133. "Of Kissing."
Unknown, unkissed: and being known, I ween
Thou art never kissed where thou mayest be seen.
"Otherwise."
"Unknown, unkissed: from that desire, wife, bless thee;
For no man that seeth thee desireth to kiss thee."
"From kissing in sight, husband, such as flee me,
Let them come kiss me where they do not see me."

134. "Of Leave."
Leave is light: light enough as thou wilt make it;
If thy master give no leave thou wilt take it.
"Otherwise."
Leave is light: yea, and leave is axed lightly;
And may be granted lightly, axed rightly.

135. "God In The Almonry."
There is God in th'almery: a well-played part;
Shut God in thine almonry out of thy heart.

136. "The Devil In Th'orologe."
The devil is in th'orologe, the hours to try;
Search hours by the sun; the devil's dial will lie.
"Otherwise."
The devil is in th'orologe: now cheer in bowls;
Let the devil keep our clocks while God keep our souls.

137. "The Best."
The best is behind: the worst is before;
Between both, beware drift to the worst shore.
"Otherwise."
The best is behind: we go before too fast;
Bide for the best, else it will be lost at last.
"Otherwise."
The best is behind: start thou back and fet it,
Abide, abide! a wiser man must get it.
"Otherwise."
The best is behind: even so I thought it would;
The best lacketh feet, foot pace with us to hold.
"Otherwise."
The best is behind: behind, nor yet before,
Would I have the best but with us evermore.

138. "The Worst."
The worst is behind:
There art thou assigned.
"Otherwise."
The worst is behind: but the way is not rough;
The worst will get before again, time enough.
"Otherwise."
The worst is behind: yet behind worse evil
We see our fare; at next course cometh the devil.
"Otherwise."
The worst is behind: God keep it behind us;
Or us before it, as it never find us.

139. "Lasting Of Wonder."
A wonder lasteth but nine days:
Yes, thou didst nine years gone
But one good deed, for which some says,
Thou art yet wondered on.

140. "Of A Galled Horse."
Rub a galled horse on the back and he will kick:
But the galled ass will stand still, rub, spur, or prick.

141. "Good Beginning And End."
Of a good beginning there cometh a good end:
Nay, Lucifer began well, and now a fiend;
But of good beginning and ending, truth to tell,
The best way to end well is to begin well.

142. "The Still Sow."
The still sow eateth all the draff: my sow eateth none;
The devil stealeth not my sow till her grain be gone.

143. "Of Stumbling."
Stumble at a straw and leap over a block:
Such stumblers are blockheads, or else they do mock.
"Otherwise."
Stumble at a straw and leap over a block:
The ass and the ape seem here joined in one stock.

144. "Of The Shoe And The Sole."
The shoe will hold with the sole: no man knoweth it
But he that knoweth how the shoemaker seweth it.
"Otherwise."
The shoe will hold with the sole: what should the shoe do
But hold with the sole? the sole will hold with the shoe.

145. "Might And Right."
Might overcometh right: God keep us from that might;
God give us that might that striveth not with right.

146. "Birth And Teaching."
Better unborn than untaught: but, of truth, thou
Were as well taught afore thou were born as now.

147. "Of Hanging."
I have hanged up my hatchet: and 'scaped thyself?
Thou shouldest rather be hanged than thy hatchet, else!

148. "An Old Knave."
An old knave is no babe: no, but we know
Of an old knave's babe an old knave may grow.

149. "A Man's Ear And His Hood."
Thy ear groweth through thy hood: is thy hood torn?
Or doth thy ear pierce through thy hood, like a horn.

150. "Gains And Losses."
Light gains make heavy purses:
Light losses make heavy curses.
"Otherwise."
Light gains make heavy purses: and light purses
Make heavy hearts, and heavy-hearted curses.
"Otherwise."
Light gains make heavy purses: so brag merchants bare
When they take three halfpence for twopennyworth ware.

151. "Thieves Falling Out."
When thieves fall out true men come to their good:
Come betimes, or else it is gone, by rood!

152. "Of A Shorn Face."
Thy face is shorn against the wool, very deep:
Have I wool in my face? yea, thou art a sheep.

153. "A Bench Whistler."
"Thou art a bench whistler: a shrill, whistling wench;
But how long hast thou whistled in the King's Bench?
"I have whistled in the King's Bench, (Geoffrey),
As long as thou hast marched in the Marshal sea."

154. "What God Said To One."
Thou art one of them to whom God bade Ho!
God took thee for a cart-horse, when God bade so.
"Otherwise."
Thou art one of them to whom God bade Ho!
I ween thou went'st too far when God bade so.

155. "Bowing And Breaking."
Better bow than break when straining shall stretch;
Nay, as good break as bow beyond our reach.
"Otherwise."
Better bow than break: I praise this that ye spake;
But some bend, or be bent and bowed, till they break.
"Otherwise':"
Better bow than break: it is truly spoken:
Bowed wands serve for somewhat, so do not broken.

156. "Of Wrestling."
The weaker hath the worse in wrestling alway:
Best for the weak to leave wrestling then, I say.

157. "God And The Church."
The nearer to the church, the farther from God:
Both one to thee, a ream thence, or a rod.

158. "Of One Tale In All Men Told."
It must needs be true that every man saith:
Till all men say one thing, the judgment stayeth.
"Otherwise."
It must needs be true that every man saith:
Must it so? then art thou a fool, in faith!

159. "Of Malkin."
There be mo maids than Malkin: " thou sayest
truth, Joan; But how may we be sure that Malkin one?"

160. "Rash Venturing."
I will set all even at six and at seven:
Yea, and repent all between ten and eleven.

161. "A Scabbed Horse."
A scabbed horse is good enough for a scalded squire:
Your mastership need not care what horse ye hire.

162. "Of Sitting."
Between two stools my tail goeth to the ground:
Better stand than sit till sure seat be found.

163. "Ale And Wit."
When ale is in wit is out:
When ale is out wit is in;
The first thou showest, out of doubt,
The last in thee hath not been.

164. "Of Restitution."
Steal a goose and stick down a feather:
In a feather, and such conscience,
If I should stick them down together
I can devise no great difference.

165. "Eating Of Flies."
"The blind eateth many a fly: not thou, wife!
For, though blindness have banished thine eyes' defence,
Yet when flies in flying to thy mouth be rife,
Thy tongue is a fly-flap, to flap flies from thence."

166. "Of The Fox's Preaching."
When the fox preacheth then beware our géese:
You that fear your geese learn wit here a-piece;
Keep foxes from pulpits your geese to teach,
Or keep geese from sermons when foxes do preach.

167. "Of Poor Men's Souls."
Poor men have no souls: no, but poor men had souls
Till the drunken souls drowned their souls in ale-bowls.
"Otherwise."
Poor men have no souls: yes, but we see
Poor men's souls as poor as their purses be.
"Otherwise."
Poor men have no souls: no, have rich men any?
I fear but few; for they have lost souls many.
"Otherwise."
Poor men have no souls: No, no! the devil
made them;
The sots could not keep their souls while they had them.

168. "Promise Of Licence."
I will say no more till the day be longer:
No, no! say no more till thy wit be stronger.

169. "Of Little Saying."
Little said, soon amended:
Little good, soon spended;
Little charge, soon attended;
Little wit, soon ended.

170. "Of The Tide."
The tide tarrieth no man: but here to scan -
Thou art tied so that thou tarriest every man.

171. "Praise Of Good End."
"All is well that endeth well: a good saying, (wife);
But I would see it proved by th'end of thy life."

172. "Of Hearing And Judging."
Hear all parts ere ye judge any:
God send such hearers many!

173. "A Lesson For Looking."
Some man may better steal a horse
Than some may stand and look upon:
Where such suspicion standeth in force,
Flee sight of stolen horse-look on none!

174. "Of A Woman's Lives."
"Wife, a woman hath nine lives like a cat."
"Sir, you have but one life, and yet enough of that."

175. "the Crow Called White."
I will say the crow is white: art thou so light?
What is thy credence when the crow cometh in sight?
"Otherwise."
Ye must say the crow is white: in any case
Not now; but we were made say so a long space.
"Otherwise."
I will say the crow is white: wilt thou so
When every man seeth her black? go, fool, go!

176. "Of The Old Fool."
There is no fool to the old fool:
Go, young fools, to th'old fools to school!
"Otherwise."
There is no fool to th'old fool: speak not that loud;
That praise will make old fools vengeably proud;
Which praise of old fools, young fools perceiving plain:
Young fools and old fools each will other disdain.

177. "Of A Bean."
A bean in a monk's hood: very good!
Here is the bean, but where is the hood?

178. "The Gift Of A Pig."
"Sir, ye give me a pig of mine own sow."
"Wife, I give a sow pig to a sow now."

179. "Change And Roeeery."
Change is no robbery: that is a tale not strange;
Change is no robbery, but robbery maketh change.
Many sweet blessings change to bitter curses
When true men's money changeth into thieves' purses.

180. "Of Fair Words."
Fair words make fools fain: that was by old schools;
But now we see fair words make wise men fools.
"Otherwise."
Fair words make fools fain: yet fair words
are cheerful; But foul words make all folk ireful or fearful.

181. "Of Laughing."
I laughed in my sleeve, faint laughings there to win;
Sleeves be too narrow to laugh lustily in.

182. "Of Seeking."
"I seek for a thing, wife, that I would not find."
"Good husband! ye are the more fool, in my mind."
"Otherwise."
Thou seekest for a thing that thou wouldst not find:
And I find all things that I do not seek;
In my hap, and thy wit, what difference assigned?
I ween not the value of a good green leek.

183. "Of A Head Under A Girdle."
He hath thy head under his girdle: take heed
He hang not thy head in his girdle, indeed.

184. "Of Wide Shooting."
He shooteth wide: the cause why I see, even sith
He hath not one straight shaft to shoot straight with.
"Otherwise."
He shooteth wide:
On which side?
"Otherwise."
He shooteth wide: but he cannot amend that;
For he seeth not the mark that he shooteth at.

185. "The Fool's Bolt."
A fool's bolt is soon shot, and fleeth ofttimes far;
But the fool's bolt and the mark come few times near.

186. "Of A Merchant."
He is a merchant without money or ware:
Bid that merchant be covered; he is bare.
"Otherwise."
He is a merchant without money or ware:
He hath, in some respect, the less cause of care.

187. "Of Tongue."
"Tongue breaketh bone, and bone it hath none:
I wish, (wife), thy tongue may have a bone."
"And I wish," (quoth she), "a bone in your hood."
"Wish that bone away," (said he), "'tis not good."
"Then wish you the tother," (quoth she), "away."
They did so; which done, now said she: "We may
Witness both that you have your wish in fine,
But both cannot witness that I have mine."
"Otherwise."
Tongue breaketh bone itself having none:
Such tongues should have bones, or bodkins the tone.
"Otherwise."
Tongue breaketh bone and bone itself hath none:
"Yes, thy tongue is full of good ale-bones, (Joan)."

188. "Of Speech."
Spare to speak, spare to speed:
If speech bring speed, Then wilt thou speed,
for thou speakest more than need.

189. "A Busy-eody."
He will have an oar in every man's barge:
Even in Cock Lord's barge he beareth that charge.
"Otherwise."
He will have an oar in every man's barge:
Then with some of those oars he roweth at large.

190. "Of Time."
Time is tickle: we may match time in this;
For we be even as tickle as time is.
"Otherwise."
Time is tickle:
Chance is fickle;
Man is brickie;
Frailties pickle
Powdereth mickle,
Seasoning lickle.

191. "Of Far Casting."
He casteth beyond the moon: great diversity
Between far casting and wise casting, maybe.
"Otherwise."
He casteth beyond the moon: what need that be done?
We have casting enough a this side the moon.

192. "Of Hunger."
Hunger droppeth out of his nose:
That is the worst kind of the pose.

193. "Of Feeding."
He hath fed till he is as full as a tun:
I mean an empty tun - what food hath he won?

194. "Of Mortimer's Sow."
Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow:
Went that sow back at that bidding, trow you?
"Otherwise."
Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow: see
Mortimer's sow spcaketh as good Latin as he.
"Otherwise."
Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow:
"The boar shall back first," (quoth she), "I make a vow!"

195. "Of Flea-biting."
'Tis but a flea-biting: friend, if fleas bite so,
They will bite men to the bare bones where they go.

196. "the Breechless Master."
The master weareth no breech: then I protest!
The master is a girl, a boy, or a beast.

197. "Of Meat And Sauce."
Sweet meat will have sour sauce: to this reason feat
Join this conversion: sour sauce will have sweet meat.
Thus, sourness and sweetness, the one and th'other,
In fear of the tone, we hope of the tother.
"Otherwise."
Sweet meat will have sour sauce: where that is seen,
As good lack that meat as have that sauce, I ween.

198. "Of Proffered Service."
Proffered service stinketh: thou art deceived else;
Thy proffered service stinketh not; thou stinkest thyself.
"Otherwise."
Proffered service stinketh: more fool thou to proffer it!
Thou shouldest season thy service ere thou offer it.

199. "Of Common Meddlers."
He that meddleth with all thing may shoe the gosling:
If all such meddlers were set to goose-shoeing,
No goose need go barefoot between this and Greece;
For so: we should have as many goose-shoeers as geese.

200. "Of Enough And A Feast."
As good enough as a feast: yea God save it!
Enough were even as good if we might have it.
"Otherwise."
As good enough as a feast:
This for a truth say most and least.
But what enough is justly meant,
And with enough to be content,
Those are two points that few or none
Can learn to know, and stand upon.

201. "Of Plain Fashion."
The plain fashion is best: what! plain without pleats?
That fashion commendeth the calf when it bleats.
"Otherwise."
The plain fashion is best: and accepted best
In things that please ears, but not in the rest.
"Otherwise."
The plain fashion is best: that's truly expressed
Where fashioners of plain fashions are honest.

202. "Of Him That Cometh Last."
He that cometh last make all fast: to this, say some,
All is made fast ere the last comer come.
"Otherwise."
He that cometh last make all fast:
Who shall make him fast that cometh last?

203. "Of Striving."
He striveth against the stream: by custom's school
That striver is either a fish or a fool.

204. "Of Sitting."
Better sit still than rise and fall:
If all fall ye may hang when ye shall.

205. "Of Writing To Friends."
Ye may write to your friends that ye are in health:
Who may write to his friends that he is in wealth?

206. "Of Great Clerks."
The greatest clerks be not the wisest men:
Be small learned, or unlearned fools, wisest then?

207. "Of Killing."
He will kill a man for a mess of mustard:
He will kill ten men then for a custard.

208. "Of Falsehood."
There is falsehood in fellowship: there is so;
The fellowship is small else as the world doth go
"Otherwise."
There is falsehood in fellowship: no wonder;
Falsehood and fellowship are seldom asunder.

209. "Of Bleeding."
Here lieth all and bleedeth: all? that's false and foolish;
Thou never sawest blood bleed out of a stockfish.

210. "Of Seeing."
Seest me and seest me not: both one thing-, forsooth!
As good unseen as seen whose sight no good doeth.

211. "Of Ills."
Of two ills choose the least: of ills many
The least is too great to choose any.
"Otherwise."
Of two ills choose the least: may we choose ills now?
Choose on, choosers! the like choice never had yow.

212. "Of Pepper."
Thou takest pepper in the nose: and yet thy nose
Looketh not black like pepper, but red like the rose.
"Otherwise."
Thou takest pepper in the nose; which needeth not -
Thy nose without pepper is fiery red-hot.
"Otherwise."
Thou takest pepper in the nose, which so seasoned,
Showeth thy nose better seasoned than thy head reasoned.

213. "Of An Ill Stake."
An ill stake that cannot stand one year in a hedge:
If the stake self fail, the stake is as ye allege;
But, if stake stobbers will not let stakes stand,
Blame not the stake; blame the stake stobber's hand.

214. "Of Sufferance."
Sufferance is no quittance: but, suffering too long
Showeth much like a quittance in suffering of wrong.

215. "Of Misreckoning."
Misreckoning is no payment: yes! as doth fall
In some reckoners, misreckoning is payment all.
"Otherwise."
Misreckoning is no payment: to avoid that,
Some debtors with their creditors reckon nat.

216. "Of Even Reckoning."
Even reckoning maketh long friends:
Odd reckoning maketh many friends.

217. "Of Taking."
I will take as falleth in the sheaf: wherever it fall
In the sheaf, or out of the sheaf, thou takest all.

218. "Of Mum."
Mum is counsel in every man we see;
But mum except, nothing is counsel in thee.

219. "Of Stopping A Mouth."
"He shall not stop my mouth." "No, Nan, I think that;
I believe all the devils in hell stoppeth it nat."

220. "Of Casting."
He is cast in his own turn: that is likely;
And yet in all turns he turneth wondrous quickly.

221. "Of Jack."
He is Jack out of office: curtsey, withdraw!
Jack once out of office, all hail Jack daw!

222. "Of The Winking Cat."
Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: run, mice!
Or else the cat's claws will catch you at a trice.
"Otherwise."
Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: run, rats!
Small holes keep small mice from wily winking cats.
"Otherwise."
Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: creep, mouse, creep!
Run not before cats that wink more than they sleep.

223. "Of Saying Nay."
Say nay, and take it: yea, say nay and take it;
But say nay or say ye never forsake it.
"Otherwise."
Say nay and take it: hear me say this othing:
Say nother yea nor nay; tak't and say nothing.

224. "Of The Pie And Crow."
Not too high for the pie nor to low for the crow:
High pies made low crows; we have enough, I trow.

225. "Of Saying Nought Eut Mum."
I will say nought but mum:
Thou showest the more wit some.
"Otherwise."
I will say nought but mum: that I beseech;
Mum hath a grace in thee far more than speech.

226. "Of Tongue And Wit."
Thy tongue runneth before thy wit: that's no rash race;
For, so may it run running but a snail pace.

227. "Of Own."
Own is own
Where's own known.
"Otherwise."
Own is own: these words I speak with eyes weeping',
For all mine own is in other men's keeping.
But g'ood is that riches where it is heapt
That from th'owner by no means can be kept.

228. "Of Spinning."
She hath spun a fair thread: which showeth, indeed,
That a foul spinner may spin a fair thread.

229. "Of Laughing."
They laugh that win: falsely to win and keep,
Winners may laugh when they have cause to weep.
"Otherwise."
They laugh that win: by theft to win and keep,
Thieves at stealing laugh, thieves at hanging weep.

230. "Of Playing."
He playeth best that wins: that deny I will;
Many players win much that play very ill.
"Otherwise."
He playeth best that wins: there is a lie running;
Many win much, much more by hap, than cun ning.

231. "Of The Wind Blowing."
Let this wind overblow: when over blow,
This wind will over blow us first, I trow.

232. "Of Far And. Nigh."
I have seen as far come as nigh: come no near;
The ferder thou art hence, the better is it here.

233. "Of Th'instep."
He is high in th'instep: his steps may be high,
But to step in good steps he steppeth nothing nigh.

234. "Of Small And Great."
Many small make a great: and some great made small;
Thou hadst great good manners and thou hast none at all.

235. "Of The Keys."
The keys hang not all by one man's girdle: no!
Every key hath a clog: who would be clogged so?

236. "Of Provender."
His provender pricketh him: prick him? gods forbod!
What is his provender? pins, by likelihood!
"Otherwise."
His provender pricketh him: where grew that corn?
Pricking provender as ill as boats borne.
"Otherwise."
His provender pricketh him: that horse must need stir;
Pricked within with provender, without with spur.

237. "Of Some Here And There."
Here some and there some: yeaj here and there some;
But most when, and most where no some doth come.

238. "Of The Parson's Leman."
She is as tender as a parson's leman:
Parson's lemans are tough enough now and than.

239. "Of Ill Weed."
Ill weed groweth fast: it groweth fast indeed;
The corn can scantily grow for the weed.
"Otherwise."
Ill weed groweth fast: that is showing
In the show of thy fast growing.

240. "Of Sinking."
He shall sink in his own sin: yea, when he sinketh;
But he fieeth in his own sin yet, methinketh.

241. "Of Good Silver."
She thinketh her farthing good silver: but, trust me!
She is quicksilver what ever her farthing be.

242. "Of The Proud Cock."
Every cock is proud on his own dunghill:
The hen is proud enough there, mark who will.

243. "Of Fat In The Fire."
The fat is in the fire: that is a shrewd turn;
Cast the lean after; fat and lean, let all burn!

244. "Of Bow Bent."
I have the bent of his bow: that I know;
What bolts shootest thou from that bow? fools' bolts, I trow!

245. "Of God's Being."
God is where he was: yea, but so art not thou;
Thou were abroad late, and art in Newgate now.

246. "Of Kinsfolk."
Many kinsfolk, few friends:
Few friends and many fiends.

247. "Of Friendship."
A friend is never known till a man have need:
Nor then, nother, for any I know, indeed.

248. "Of Nothing."
Where nothing is, the king must lose his right:
Where all thing is, there right is lost by might.

249. "Of Poverty."
Poverty parteth fellowship: that's not true ever;
Poverty in beggars parteth fellowship never.

250. "Of Ears Glowing."
Thine ears may glow: "let's see whether they glow, John.
I lie: thine ears cannot glow, for thou hast none."

251. "Of Post And Pillar."
Tossed from post to pillar: thou art a pillar strong;
And thou hast been a pillar, some say, too long.

252. "Of May Be."
Be as be may is no banning:
But be as be shall hath much scanning.

253. "Of Use."
Use maketh mastery: this is a true tale to tell;
In that use hath made thee prick a purse so well.

254. "Of Spurning."
Folly to spurn or kick against the hard wall:
Being shod with cakebread that spurner marreth all.
"Otherwise."
Folly to spurn or kick against the hard wall:
But against soft walls spurners spurn and kick all.

255. "Of Tying The Bell."
Who shall tie the bell about the cat's neck now?
"Not I," (quoth the mouse), "for a thing that I know."

256. "Of Had I Wist."
"Beware of Had I wist, wife." "Oh man! 'tis too late
To beware thereof since thou were my wedded mate."

257. "Of Dancing."
He danceth attendance: are attendants dancing?
Then have we much dancing with small avancing.

258. "Of The Cat Eating Fish."
The cat would eat fish but she will not wet her feet:
She thinketh flesh with dry feet more sweet than fish with weet.

259. "Of The Blind."
The blind eat many a fly: that we find
Chiefly where carvers to the blind are blind.

260. "Of The Worst And Best."
Provide for the worst: the best will save itself;
For that saving side thou art a subtle elf.
Of all kinds of things thou hast provision pressed,
For thy neighbours the worst, for thyself the best.

261. "Of Five Eggs."
He cometh in with his five eggs: what eggs to call?
Hen eggs, goose eggs, or duck eggs? nay, daws' eggs all.

262. "Of Climbing."
He that never climbed never fell: some men climb
For doves' nests and find daws' nests, sometime.

263. "Of The Way."
It is out of my way: so it lightly may;
To all good things thy way is out of the way.

264. "Of Waiting."
He waiteth for moonshine in the water:
Such waiting, such winning; that's a meet matter.

265. "Of Rhyme."
It may rhyme but it accordeth not: "'cordeth not, Will?
Beware of 'cording rhymes; those rhymes agree ill."

266. "Of Fishing."
It is ill fishing before the net:
Worse fishing behind, as nets are set.

267. "Of Good."
He knoweth none end of his good: mark his winning;
He knoweth of his good none end, nor beginning.

268. "Of The Hot Iron."
When the iron is hot, strike: strike hot iron and steel;
But gold or silver to strike we have no deal.

269. "Of The Purse."
Thy purse is threadbare, we see, on the outside;
And more bare on the inside when both sides are tried.

270. "Of Many Hands."
Many hands make light work: many hands? yea, mark!
Ye must say thus: many light hands make light wark.
"Otherwise."
Many hands make light work: no work is 'signed thee;
Thou canst not work; thy hands be bound behind thee.

271. "Of The Loath Stake."
The loath stake standeth long: we have many loath stakes;
Each stake well-nigh to other itself, loath makes.
"Otherwise."
The loath stake standeth long; in some place, but some hand
Plucketh up all stakes, suffering no stake long to stand.

272. "Of Having."
Better to have than wish: nay, ye may so crave
That better to wish ten times than once to have.
"Otherwise."
Better to have than wish: not alway, cousin!
What if ye rashly wished stripes now, a dozen?
"Otherwise."
Better to have than wish: better have as we have
Than to have at wish all that wishers would crave.

273. "Of Counsel."
Three may keep counsel if twain be away:
But one fool doth oft his own counsel bewray.
"Otherwise."
Three may keep counsel if twain be away:
Some women, I hear say, that saying denay.

274. "Of Rome."
Rome was not built on one day: that is well known;
Nor in one day Rome will not be overthrown.
For where Rome seemed pulled down in one day, brother,
There is Rome set up again in another.

275. "Of Speech."
Spare to speak, spare to speed:
Dumb men win nought indeed;
And speech, as speech may fall,
May win nought and lese all.

276. "Of One Had In The Wind."
I have him in the wind: well, sir, it is your ind
To have him in the wind, or hang him in the wind.

277. "Of One Ill Shod."
Who is worse shod than is the shoemaker's wife?
The devil's wife; she was never shod in her life.

278. "Of All And Nought."
He would all have and nought forego: no!
He may all forego and nought have, so!

279. "Of Warning."
I gave him Scarborough warning: Scarborough?
That warning came short to bring good harborough.

280. "Of Birds Flown."
The birds are flown: that bird's nest was ill watched;
Birds' wings once full summ'd birds will hardly be catched.
"Otherwise."
The birds are flown. Flown? that flight no wonder brings;
Birds may soon flee where birders clip no birds' wings.

281. "Of Leaving."
Leave it or it leave you: leave what? folly?
He can never leave it nor it him, wholly.

282. "Of Setting In Foot."
He hath set in foot: things by wit to be sped,
His foot shall do service as good as his head.
"Otherwise."
I will set in foot: friend, thou mayest set in fit
Foot, hand, and head, but thou canst set in no wit.

283. "Of Fast Binding."
Fast bind, fast find: nay, thou were 'prentice fast bound,
And yet rannest thou away where thou couldst not be found.

284. "Of Hap."
Happy man, happy dole: so say sick and whole;
But good hap is dainty : most men have seldom good dole.
"Otherwise."
Happy man, happy dole: hap is full of holes;
Hap catcheth and holdeth very few good doles.

285. "Of Time."
Take time when time cometh: we are ofttimcs told of it;
But when time cometh yet can we take no hold of it.
"Otherwise."
Take time when time cometh: assay to be bold of it;
But slippery as an eel's tail is the hold of it.
"Otherwise."
Take time when time cometh: are we set time to take?
Beware time, in meantime, take not us in break.
"Otherwise."
Take time when time cometh: when time cometh -thou sayest well!
But when cometh good time to take, I cannot tell.

286. "Of The Fat Hog."
Every man basteth the fat hog: nay, friend, nay!
Mast faileth sore this year, fat hogs pine away.
"Otherwise."
Every man basteth the fat hog, 'tis agreed
That those hogs shall have most help that have least need.

287. "the Bale And Boot."
When bale is hekst, boot is next: though boot be nigh,
What helpeth boot where bale is ever most high?

288. "Of Sows."
"As meet as a sow to bear a saddle, John."
A sow to bear a saddle? we have seen none;
But though sows bear no saddles, yet may we say
We see saddles bear sows, well-nigh every day.

289. "Of Making A Cross."
I will make a cross upon this gate: yea, cross on;
Thy crosses be on gates all, in thy purse none.

290. "Of A Pad."
It will breed a pad in the straw: very well!
Beware it breed not a padlock on thy heel.

291. "Of Long Standing."
Long standing and small offering maketh poor parsons:
Long waiting and small wages maketh poor garsons.

292. "Of The Weaker."
The weaker goeth to the pot: yea, and God wot!
Some the weaker for oft going to the pot.

293. "Of Catching."
Catch that catch may: after catching and snatching,
Tilling and polling, we fall now to patching.

294. "Of Holding."
Hold fast when ye have it: if it be not thine,
Hold fast and run fast when thou hast it, friend mine!

295. "Of Knowledge."
I know him as well as the beggar knoweth his bag:
Thou knowest him; but when wilt thou know thyself, wag?

296. "Of Smellings."
I smelt him out further than he might smell thee.
The smeller of smellers then, thou art even he!

297. "Of Nought Laid Down."
Nought lay down, nought take up: well said!
Nought lie down, nought rise up: well weighed!

298. "Of Sight And Fare."
Ye see your fare: a very strange fare to see;
A blind man may see our fare as well as we.

299. "Of The Pot Not Broken."
Neither pot broken nor water spilt: water
Thou spillest none; but thou spillest all other matter.

300. "Of Late And Never."
Better late than never: yea, mate!
But as good never as too late.
"Otherwise."
Better late than never:
That is not true ever;
Some things, to rule in rate,
Better never than late.

Finis.

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