Where as any frendes lyueth in accorde Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe Sawynge his sede of debate and myschefe His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent. If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse He couereth his venym: as symple of intent. Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent. Before face folowynge the way of adulacion, Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion. The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion. Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale. Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion. And so they ar of wyse men without fayle. But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion, Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon. But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe. Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite. Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe. But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be. And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye. For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy. An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes. Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes. So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre. The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame. Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame. By his warkes knowen is euery creature For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be. He labours no debates amonge men to procure. But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite. Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce. But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence. Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence. Wo be to them whych by malyuolence Slandreth or dyffameth any creature. But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure. * * * * * Of hym that wyll nat folowe nor ensue good counsell, and necessary. [Illustration: Of folys yet another sorte doth come Vnto our shyp rowynge with great trauayle Whiche nought perceyue of doctryne nor wysdome And yet dysdayne they to aske wyse counseyll Nor it to folowe for theyr owne auayle Let suche folys therat haue no dysdayne If they alone endure theyr losse and payne]