Similitudes and Instructions

1Like as snowe is not mete in sommer, ner rayne in haruest: euen so is worshipe vnsemely for a foole.

2Like as ye byrde and the swalowe take their flight and fle here and there, so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shal not light vpon a man.

3Vnto the horse belongeth a whyppe, to the Asse a brydle, and a rodde to the fooles backe.

4Geue not the foole an answere after his foolishnesse, lest thou become like vnto him:

5but make ye foole an answere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne coceate.

6He is lame of his fete, yee droncken is he in vanite, that comitteth eny thinge to a foole.

7Like as it is an vnsemely thige to haue legges & yet to halte, eue so is a parable in ye fooles mouth.

8He yt setteth a foole in hye dignite, yt is eue as yf a man dyd cast a precious stone vpo ye galous.

9A parable in a fooles mouth, is like a thorne yt pricketh a droncken man in ye hande.

10A man of experience discerneth all thinges well, but whoso hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede.

11Like as the dogg turneth agayne to his vomite, euen so a foole begynneth his foolishnesse agayne afresh.

12Yf thou seyest a man yt is wyse in his owne conceate, there is more hope in a foole then in hi.

13The slouthfull sayeth: there is a leoparde in ye waye, and a lyon in ye myddest of the stretes.

14Like as the dore turneth aboute vpon the tresholde, euen so doth the slouthfull welter himself in his bedd.

15The slouthfull body thrusteth his hode in to his bosome, and it greueth him to put it agayne to his mouth.

16The slogarde thinketh him self wyser, then vij. men that sytt and teach.

17Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife, he is like one yt taketh a dogg by ye eares.

18Like as one shuteth deadly arowes and dartes out of a preuy place, euen so doth a dyssembler with his neghboure,

19And then sayeth he: I dyd it but in sporte.

20Where no wodd is, there the fyre goeth out: and where the bacbyter is taken awaye, there the strife ceaseth.

21Coles kyndle heate, and wodd ye fyre: euen so doth a braulinge felowe stere vp variaunce.

22A slaunderers wordes are like flatery, but they pearse ye inwarde partes of ye body.

23Venymous lippes & a wicked herte, are like a potsherde couered wt syluer drosse.

24An enemie dyssembleth with his lippes, and in the meane season he ymagineth myschefe:

25but wha he speaketh fayre, beleue him not, for there are seuen abhominacios in his herte.

26Who so kepeth euell will secretly to do hurte, his malyce shalbe shewed before the whole congregacion.

27Who so dyggeth vp a pytt, shal fal therin: and he yt weltreth a stone, shal stomble vpon it hymselfe.

28A dyssemblynge tonge hateth one that rebuketh him, and a flaterige mouth worketh myschefe.