36
Geld vnder the dam, within fortnight at least,
and saue both thy monie and life of the beast.
Geld later with gelders as many one do,
and looke of a doozen to geld away two.
Gelding of horse coltes.
37
Thy colts for thy [saddle] geld yoong to be light,
for cart doo not so, if thou iudgest aright.
Nor geld not but when they be lustie and fat:
for there is a point, to be learned in that.
Gelding of fillies.
38
Geld fillies (but tits) er an nine daies of age,
they die else of gelding (or gelders doo rage).
Yoong fils[E181] so likelie of bulke and of bone:
keepe such to be breeders, let gelding alone.
Reare the fairest of al things.
39
For gaining a trifle, sell neuer thy store,
what ioy to acquaintance, what pleasureth more?
The larger of bodie, the better for breede:
more forward of growing, the better they speede.
¶ Of cow and sow.
40
Good milchcow, well fed, that is faire and sound,
is yeerely for profit as good as a pound:
And yet by the yeere, I haue prooued er[23] now,
as good to the purse is a sow as a cow.
¶