But now returne I againe to you [t]hree, knowing my miserie is to you no news: and let me heartily intreate you to bee warned by my harmes. Delight not (as I haue done) in irreligious oaths; for from the blasphemers house a curse shall not depart. Despise drunkennes, which wasteth the wit, and maketh men all equal vnto beasts. Flie lust, as the deathsman of the soule, and defile not the Temple of the holy ghost. Abhorre those Epicures, whose loose life hath made religion lothsome to your eares: and when they sooth you with tearmes of Mastership, remember _Robert Greene_, whome they haue so often flattered, perishes now for want of comfort. Remember gentlemen, your liues are like so many lighted Tapers, that are with care deliuered to all of you to maintaine: these with wind-puft wrath may be extinguisht, which drunkennes put out, which negligence let fall: for mans time of itselfe is not so short, but it is more shortened by sin. The fire of my light is now at the last snuffe, and the want of wherwith to sustaine it, there is no substance left for life to feede on. Trust not then (I beseech yee) to such weake staies: for they / are as changeable in minde, as in many attires. Well, my hand is tired, and I am forst to leaue where I would begin; for a whole booke cannot containe these wrongs, which I am forst to knit vp in some few lines of words. _Desirous that you should liue, though himselfe be dying, Robert Greene._ Now to all men I bid farewell in this sort, with this conceited Fable of the olde Comedian _Æsope_. An Ant and a Grashopper walking together on a greene, the one carelessely skipping, the other carefully prying what winters prouision was scattered in the way: the Grashopper scorning (as wantons wil) this needelesse thrift (as he tearmed it) reprooued him thus: The greedie miser thirsteth still for gaine; His thrift is theft, his weale works others woe: That foole is fond which will in caues remaine, When mongst faire sweetes he may at pleasure goe. To this the Ant perceiuing the Grashoppers meaning, quickly replied: The thriftie husband spares what vnthrifts spends, His thrift no theft, for dangers to prouide: Trust to thy selfe, small hope in want yeeld friendes, A caue is better than the desarts wide. In short time these two parted, the one to his pleasure / the other to his labour. Anon Haruest grewe on, and reft from the Grashopper his woonted moysture. Then weakely skips he to the medows brinks: where till fell winter he abode. But stormes continually powring, hee went for succour to the Ant his olde acquaintance, to whome he had scarce discouered his estate, but the little worme made this replie. Pack hence (quoth he) thou idle lazie worme, My house doth harbour no vnthriftie mates: Thou scornedst to toile, and now thou feelst the storme, And starust for foode while I am fed with cates. Vse no intreats, I will relentlesse rest, For toyling labour hates an idle guest.