| In going by the way, | and passing the street, |
| Thy cap put off, | salute those ye meet; |
| In giving the way | to such as pass by, |
| It is a point | of civility. |
| And thy way fortune | so for to fall, |
| Let it not grieve thee | thy fellows to call. |
| When to the school | thou shalt resort, |
| This rule note well, | I do thee exhort: |
| Thy master there being, | salute with all reverénce, |
| Declaring thereby | thy duty and obediénce; |
| Thy fellows salute | in token of love, |
| Lest of inhumanity | they shall thee reprove. |
| Unto thy place | appointed for to sit, |
| Straight go thou to, | and thy satchell unknit, |
| Thy bokes take out, | thy lesson then learn, |
| Humbly thyself | behave and govérn. |
| Therein taking pain, | with all thine industry, |
| Learning to get, | thy book well apply. |
| All things seem hard | when we do begin, |
| But labour and diligence | yet both them win; |
| We ought not to reckon | and count the thing hard, |
| That bringeth joy | and pleasure afterward; |
| Leave off then labour | and the lack rue, |
| Lament and repent | when age doth ensue. |
| Deeds that deserved | fame and great praise, |
| Buried had been, | we see in old days, |
| If letters had not then | brought them to light |
| The truth of such things | who could now recite? |
| Apply thy mind | to learning and science, |
| For learning in need | will be thy defence. |
| Nothing to science | compare we may well, |
| The sweetness whereof | all things doth excel. |
| And Cato the wise | this worthy saying hath, |
| That man wanting learning | is as the image of death. |
| The roots of learning | most bitter we deem; |
| The fruits at last | most pleasant doth seem. |
| Then labour for learning | while here thou shalt live, |
| The ignorant to teach, | and good example give; |
| So shalt thou be thought | a member most worthy |
| Thy commonwealth to serve | in time of necessity. |
| Experience doth teach | and show to thee plain |
| That many to honour | by learning attain, |
| That were of birth | but simple and base; |
| Such is the goodness | of God’s special grace. |
| For he that to honour | by virtue doth rise, |
| Is double happy, | and counted most wise. |
| If doubt thou dost, | desire to be told, |
| No shame is to learn, | being never so old; |
| Ignorance doth cause | great errors in us |
| For wanting of knowledge | doubts to discuss; |
| Then learn to discern | the good from the ill, |
| And such as thee warn, | bear thou good will. |
| When from the school | ye shall take your way, |
| Or orderly then go ye, | two in array, |
| Your selves matching | so equal as ye may, |
| That men it seeing | may well of you say |
| In commending this, | your laudable ways, |
| Which must needs sound | to your great praise, |
| Not running in heaps | as a swarm of bees, |
| As at this day | every man it now sees; |
| Not using, but refusing, | such foolish toys, |
| As commonly are used | in these days of boys, |
| As whooping and hallooing, | as in hunting the fox, |
| That men it hearing | deride them with mocks. |
| This foolishness forsake, | this folly eschewing, |
| And learn to follow | this order ensuing. |
| In going by the way, | neither talk nor jangle, |
| Gape not, nor gaze not | at every new fangle, |
| But soberly go ye, | with countenance grave; |
| Humbly yourselves | toward all men behave; |
| Be free of cap | and full of courtesy; |
| Great love of all men | you shall win thereby. |
| Be lowly and gentle | and of meek mood; |
| Then men can not | but of you say good. |
| In passing the street, | do no man no harm; |
| Use thou few words, | and thy tongue charm, |
| Then men shall see | that grace in thee groweth, |
| From whom virtues | so abundantly floweth. |
| When thou art come | where thy parents do dwell, |
| Thy leave then taking, | bid thy fellows farewell; |
| The house then entering, | in thy parents’ presénce, |
| Humbly salute them | with all reverénce. |