1Here Solomon coucheth as it were a heap of proverbs together, all which he applieth to his purpose, saying as it were: it cometh to pass in this world, as these proverbs declare. Whatsoever thou doest in this world, it cometh to pass, as saith the proverb: He that diggeth a pit. &c. Men do not escape from it without hurt. Likewise to rule men, is as to break up an hedge, where many times, it chanceth that a Snake stingeth him. Wherefore, if mishap betide thee, play the slackarde never the more, but remember that thus it goeth in this world. For to rule men is in Gods power only. Therefore, he that is called to authority, must remember that he taketh that in hand that mans wit can not compass. For the hearts of men are not in our power. Only they which have the fear of God in them are easily ⟨p. 116⟩governed. This proverb is taken from them that dig pits or graves,2 whose chance it is many times unawares to fall into the same. So to bear rule in this world, is to dig a pit: there be thou fenced, & know thou art in peril. Which except thou wilt do, thou shalt fall into many sudden and unforeseen dangers. For dangers foreseen less hurt us. Thus did Demipho in Terence's Phormio well give warning of. Wherefore (saith he) All men when they are in most prosperity, most chiefly consider with themselves how to suffer and bear adversity, dangers, losses, banishment. When he cometh out of the country, let him alway think, my son may have committed some fault, my wife may be dead, my daughter may be sick: these be common cases, and it may be that they shall not be strange unto thee. Whatsoever falleth out otherwise than thou hopedst for, take for advantage. That if any thing so happen, thou mayst say, thus I thought and looked for, and think no strange thing is happened unto thee. And if any good hap or fortune betide thee, take it for a daily gain. ⟨image 166⟩Thou must not straight way leave of digging, though thou fall unawares into the pit. The life of man is full of dangers: and as in breaking down an hedge, it is to be feared least some Serpent lying hidden may sting us: so in governing a common weal, we must beware we be not hurt. If thou hap to be bitten or hurt, thou must bear it: for it is no news.
1HEre Salomon cowcheth as it were a heape of prouerbes together, all which he applyeth to his purpose, saying as it were: it commeth to passe in this world, as these prouerbs declare. Whatsoeuer thou doest in this worlde, it commeth to passe, as sayth the prouerbe: He that diggeth a pit. &c. Men doe not escape from it without hurte. Lykewyse to rule men, is as to breake vp an hedge, where many tymes, it chaunseth that a Snake stingeth him. Wherefore, if mishap betyde thée, play the slackarde neuer the more, but remember that thus it goeth in this worlde. For to rule men is in Gods power onely. Therefore, he that is called to auctoritie, must remēber that he taketh that in hand that mās wit can not compasse. For the hartes of men are not in our power. Onely they which haue the feare of God in them are easely ⟨p. 116⟩gouerned. This prouerbe is taken from thē that dig pits or graues,2 whose chaūce it is many times vnawares to fall into ye same. So to beare rule in this worlde, is to dig a pit: there be thou fenced, & know thou art in perill. Which excepte thou wilt doe, thou shalt fall into many suddē and vnforeseene daungers. For daungers foreséene lesse hurt vs. Thus dyd Demipho in Terences Phormio well geeue warning of. Wherfore (saith he) All mē whē they are in most prosperity, most chiefely consider with thēselues how to suffer and beare aduersitie, daungers, losses, banishement. When he commeth out of the coūtrey, let him alway thinke, my sonne may haue cō mitted some faulte, my wyfe may be dead, my daughter may be sicke: these be common cases, and it may be that they shall not be straunge vnto thee. Whatsoeuer falleth out otherwise thē thou hopedst for, take for a•vaūtage. That if any thing so happen, thou mayst say, thus I thought and looked for, and thinke no straūge thing is happened vnto thée. And if any good hap or fortune betyde thée, take it for a dayly gayne. ⟨image 166⟩Thou must not straight way leaue of digging, though thou fall vnawares into the pit. The lyfe of man is full of daungers: and as in breaking downe an hedge, it is to be feared least some Serpēt lying hidden may sting vs: so in gouerning a common weale, we must beware we be not hurt. If thou hap to be bitten or hurte, thou must beare it: for it is no newes.
- 1Governance a perilous enterprise.Gouernāce a perillous enterprise.
- 2Governance must not be cast of, for the perils therein.Gouernāce must not be cast of, for the perrils therin.
