Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie
Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence,
To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3
[Sidenote 1: MS. coorven]
And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce,
Ne comenly no sadde intelligence,
But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure,
So chylder ben disposed of nature,
[2]
Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse
In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeve
You from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10
[Sidenote 1: Read you]
That on to folow, and the other to eschewe,
I haue devysed you this lytill newe
Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age,
Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14
(Richard Hill's Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx.)
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n.
¶ Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye
Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference
To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie,
& in suche age ther[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4
Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence,
But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure,
So chyldren bene disposed of nature
[Footnote 1: The th is the same as the y.]
¶ Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8
In mynde; & _ther_for to styre & remeve
you frome vice, & to vertu addresse,
That on to folow, & _tha_t o_ther_ to eschewe,
I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12
Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age,
playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage.
[Footnote 1: The mark of contraction is over the n: t.i. the n has its tail curled over its back like a dog's.]