57
The greatest [preferment] that childe we can giue,
is learning and [nurture], to traine him to liue:
Which who so it wanteth, though left as a [squier],
consumeth to nothing, as [block in the fier].
58
When God hath so blest thee, as able to liue,
and thou hast to rest thee, and able to giue,
Lament thy offences, serue God for [amends],
make soule to be readie when God for it sends.
59
Send fruites of thy faith to heauen aforehand,
for mercie here dooing, God blesseth thy land:
He maketh thy store with his blessing to [swim],
and after, thy soule to be blessed with him.
60
Some [lay] to get riches by sea and by land,
and ventreth his life in his enimies hand:
And [setteth] his soule vpon sixe or on seauen,[E56]
not fearing nor caring for hell nor for heauen.
61
Some pincheth, and spareth, and pineth his life,
to [cofer vp] bags for to leaue to his wife:
And she (when he dieth) sets open the chest,
for such as can [sooth] hir and all away [wrest].
62
Good husband, [preuenting] the [frailnes] of some,
takes part of Gods benefits, as they doo come,
And leaueth to wife and his children the rest,
each one his owne part, as he thinketh it best.
63
These lessons approoued, if wiselie ye note,
may saue and auantage ye many a grote.
Which if ye can follow, occasion found,
then euerie lesson may saue ye a pound.
[1] Stanzas 2, 3, and 4 are wanting in 1573 and 1577.
[2] coefers. 1577.
[3] St. 14 is not in ed. of 1577.