Take heed, my son, and hearken unto the words of Artemas, for there are many that will give thee counsel, yet wisdom cometh only from the few.

2 Put not thy trust in princes, for their bond is of paper that teareth easily. And their plighted word melteth like butter, before the heat of their necessity.

3 Beware of the king whose pledge runneth away like water, for the skins of such shall paper the walls of hell.

4 A man devoured of ambition, he lieth easily; nevertheless, there cometh a time when even fools believe him not.

5 Beware of the woman that followeth thee about, for she is after thy regimental buttons.

6 And if she is safe, then is she a fool; but if she is otherwise, then is she the devil.

7 A woman hunteth thee. She lieth in wait to surprise thee, and will out upon thee when the time cometh.

8 Flee unto the mountains; pitch thou thy tent afar in the wilderness; take thou sail across the waters until thou comest unto a strange coast. Nevertheless, because she has marked thee down, therefore will she have thee.

9 When thou goest forth for to fight, take care that thou smitest thine enemy in the back, for it is the mark of a good fighter so to do.

10 Also, he that shooteth his enemy through the head sheddeth light upon his understanding.