I say was neuer no such wofull case, As is when honour doth it selfe abuse: The noble man that vertue doth embrace, Represseth pride, and humblenes doth vse, By wisdome workes, and rashnes doth refuse: His wanton will and lust that bridle can In deede, is gentill, both to God and man. 16. But where the nobles want both wit and grace, Regarde no rede, care not but for theyr lust, Oppresse the poore, set will in reason’s place, And in theyr wordes and doomes bee found vniust, Wealth goeth to wracke till all lye in the dust: There fortune frownes, and spite begins[1796] to growe, Till high, and lowe, and all be ouerthrowe. 17. Then sith that vertue hath so good rewarde, And after vice so duly wayteth shame, How hapth that princes haue no more regarde, Theyr tender youth with vertue to enflame? For lacke whereof theyr wit and will is lame, Infect with folly, prone to lust and pryde, Not knowing how themselues or theyrs to guyde. 18. Whereby it hapneth to the wanton wight, As to a ship vpon the stormy seas, Which lacking sterne to guide it selfe aright, From shore to shore the winde and tyde to[1797] teese, Fynding no place to rest or take his ease, Till at the last it sinke vpon the sande: So fare they all that haue no vertue[1798] cand. 19. The plowman first his land doth dresse and tourne, And makes it apt or ere the seede hee[1799] sowe, Whereby hee is full like to reape good corne, Where otherwise no seede but weede would growe: By which ensample men may easely knowe, When youth haue welth before they can well vse it, It is no wonder though they do abuse it. 20. How can hee rule well in a common wealth, Which knoweth not himselfe in rule to frame? How should hee rule himselfe in ghostly health, Which neuer learnde one lesson for the same? If such catch harme theyr parents are too blame: For needes must they be blinde, and blindly led, Where no good lesson can be taught or read. 21. Some thinke theyr youth discret and wisely taught, That brag, and boast, and weare theyr fether braue, Can royst, and rout, both lowre, and looke aloft, Can sweare, and stare, and call theyr fellowes knaue, Can pill, and poll, and catch before they craue, Can carde and dice, both cog and foyste at fare, Play on vnthrifty, till theyr purse bee bare. 22.