The Ship of Fools, Volume 1

by Sebastian Brant

Of them that folysshly speke agaynst the workes of god.

Here note we fowlys whiche can nat be content
With goddes worke, and ordynaunce dyuyne
Thynkynge theyr owne wyll moche more expedyent
Nat wyllynge theyr myndes to his wyll to enclyne
But suche folys often sholde come to ruyne
And wo with sorowe and losse sholde they fynde
If god sholde conforme his workes to theyr mynde

He is a fole and laboreth in vayne:

Whiche with small brondes of fyre flamynge bryght

Entendyth with laboure besynes and payne

Of the shynynge sonne for to encrease the lyght

Suche one assayeth a thynge passynge his myght

And is a fole to set thought or delyte

To mende that thynge whiche god hath made perfyte

But yet is he a moche gretter fole truely

Whiche wyll correct that thynge whiche god hath done

And doth nat his herte his wyll and mynde aply

To goddes workes and deuyne prouysyon

Of all other maddest is his condycion

And more frantyfe forsoth I may hym call

Than they that ar vext with furyes infernall:

(Thou fole) the myght of god omnipotent

In vertue and wysdome so largely doth extende

His maiesty, and power is so excellent

His glorious godhede his workes doth defende

So that no mortall man can them amende

Wenest thou mad fole that thou amende cannest ought

That he hath done: whiche made all thynge of nought

He that hath made the heuen and firmament

The londe, the se, and euery other thynge

Is so discrete, so wyse, and prouydent

Before his presence parfytely seynge

All thynge to come that neuer hath had beynge

His workes and dedys ar so perfyte and ryght

That none can increas nor yet decreas his myght

He doth all thynge dispose moderate and dispence

Knowynge our mynde, and what is to vs most mete

All thynge is open and playne in his presence

Our inwarde thought must he nedes knowe and wete

And euery fortune is playne before his fete

He hath all thynge by lawe and order drest

And doth no thynge but it is for the best

Therfore whether he gyue thunder snowe or rayne

Wynde or wether, tempest or tourment

Frost lyghtnynge, fayre wether, outher storme sodayne

Mystes or clowdes, yet man sholde be content

And nat with worde nouther inwarde intent

Agaynst god grutche, but euery day and houre

Magnyfye the dedys of god his creatoure

It were moche better thou fole that thou were dome

Than to cast lewde wordes agaynst thy lorde in vayne

Thou fole he worketh no thynge but by wysedome

And yet art thou nat content but dost complayne

Thou sekest vengeaunce (for thy synne) and payne

In hell for euer, thynkynge thy selfe so wyse

To teche thy god, and his warke to dispyse

It is nat lawfull for any, hye nor lowe

To be so bolde so blynde or so cruell

Grutchynge wordes agaynst his god to throwe

Thughe to theyr plaseour a thynge nat fortune well

Take example by the children of Israell

Whiche oft for this synne suffred great payne and wo

Slayne and distroyed, so haue ben many mo

Many a lewde body without wysdome or rede

Grutche in theyr myndes, and openly do blame

Almyghy god, whan theyr children ar dede

Where rather they ought to enioye of the same

For it myght fortune that great rebuke and shame

Myght to theyr frendes haue come by theyr synne and cryme

Soone after: if they had nat dyed at that tyme

Wherfore this one clause is my conclusyon

That god our maker is wyse and prouydent

Blame nat his workes by thyne abusyon

For all that he doth is for the best intent

But if that god sholde alwaye assent

To our desyres and euer perfourme our wyll

Our owne requestis sholde tourne vs to great yll

Alexander barklay to the Folys.

O ye mad myndes that no thynge vnderstonde

O man presumptuous and vnobedyent

Howe darest thou be so bolde to take on honde

To repreue the workes of god omnipotent

Wylt thou hym teche, as more wyse and prouydent

Than he is (whiche made all thynge of nought)

Leue of this thy foly, and holde thy selfe content

For thou art a fole to set theron thy thought

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