1. Filz, je n’ay mie grant tresor
Pour t’enrichir ; pour ce trés or
Aucuns enseignemens noter
Tu vueil, si les vueilles noter.
2. Aimes Dieu de toute ta force
Crains ley et du servir t’efforce,
La sont, se bien les as apris,
Les dix commandemens compris.
3. Trés ta joennece pure et monde
Aprens a congnoistre le monde
Si que te puisses par aprendre
Garder en tous cas de mesprendre.
4. Tant t’estudies a enquerre
Que prudence puisse acquerre,
Car celle est des vertus la mere
Qui chace Fortune l’amere.
5. En quelque estat que soyes mis
Par Fortune ou tu es soubzmis
Gouvernes toy si en tel ordre
Que de vivre en sens ayes ordre.
6. Se tu veulz en science eslire
Ton estat par les livres lire,
Fays tant, et par suivre l’estude,
Qu’entre les clers ne soyes rude.
7. Se te es noble et veulz les armes
Suivir, il fault que souvent t’armes,
Ou l’en te tendroit pour faillis,
San honneur, lasche et deffaillis.
8. Gar toy de servir mauvais maistre,
Car mauvais te couvendroit estre
S’avoir vouloies benefice,
Si vault mieulx fuïr tel service.
9. Soies loyal a ton seigneur
Naturel, tu ne dois grigneur
Foy a homme, saches de voir,
Ne faulses pour quelconque avoir.
10. Veulz tu vaincre et long temps durer?
Aprens ton cuer a endurer,
Car par bien endurer aprendre
Pourras paix et beneurté prendre.
11. Se tu as maistre, serfs le bien,
Dis bien de lui, garde le sien,
Son secret celes, quoy qu’il face
Soies humble devant sa face.
12. Trop covoiteux ne soies mie,
Car covoitise est anemie
De charité et de sagece,
Et te gar de fole largece.
13. Se d’armes avoir renommée
Te veulx, si poursui mainte armée ;
Gard qu’en bataille n’en barriere
Tu ne soies veü derriere.
14. Se es capitaine de gent,
N’ayes renom d’amer argent,
Car a pienes pourras trouver
Bonnes gens d’armes s’es aver.
15.
Se Fortune t’a tant amé
Que tu soyes seigneur clamé
Entre tes subgiez perilleux
Ne soies, ne trop orgueilleux
16. Se pais as a gouverner
Et longuement tu veulz regner,
Tien justice et cruel ne soyes
Et de grever gens ne quier voyes.
17.Se tu as estat ou office
Dont tu te mesles de justice,
Gardes comment tu jugeras,
Car devant le grant judge yras.
18. S’as disciples, ne les reprendre
En trop grant rigueur, se mesprendre
Les vois ; pense que foible et vaine
Est la fragilité humaine.
19. Se tu es homs d’eglise ou prestre,
Religieux ou moine en cloistre,
Gard toy que dessoubz faintte chape
Souffisance et paix ne t’eschappe.
20. S’a toy n’apertient n’a ta vie,
Ne te mesles, n’aies envie
Sus prince ne sus qui gouverne.
N’en fay tes devis en taverne.
21. Portes honneur aux renommez
Aux anciens, aux bons nommez,
De vaillans gens toudis t’acointes,
Mieulx en vauldras que des plus cointes.
22. Ne soyes entre gent honteux
Ne trop bault, fel ne rioteux,
Mais debonnaire a toute gent ;
Tiens estat selon ton argent.
23. Se de marchandise te vifs
Vens et achate a ton advis
Si que ne perdes ou marchié
Mais ne deçoys nul, c’est pechié.
24. Se tu as besoing et mestier
De toy vivre d’aucun mestier,
Soies soigneux et prens en gré,
Car ou ciel est le hault degré.
25. Se tu viens en prosperité
A grant chevance et herité,
Gardes qu’orgueil ne te surmonte ;
Penses qu’a Dieu fault rendre conte.
26. Tiens toy a table honnestement
Et t’abilles de vestement
En tel atour qu’on ne s’en moque,
Car on congnoist l’œuf a la coque.
27. Se tu es joennes et polis,
De pou de coust soyes jolis
Sans toy grever pour mettre en robes.
Tiens toy net et nul ne descobes.
28. Aies pitié de povres gens
Que tu vois nudz et indigens
Et leur aide quant tu pourras ;
Souviengne toy que tu morras.
29. Soies constant, tien ton propos
Du bien faire qu’as en propos,
Car homme qui change souvent
Ne peut estre preux ne savent.
30. Aimes qui te tient a ami
Et te gard de ton anemi ;
On ne puet avoir trop d’amis
N’il n’est nulz petiz anemis.
31. Soies veritable en parole
A point tais et a point parole,
Car qui trop parle par usage
Est souvent tenus a pou sage.
32. Ne croy pas de legier raport
Hayneux qu’autrui te raport,
Pense se haïne ou grant yre
Ou flaterie lui fait dire.
33. Tiens ta promesse et petit jure,
Gard ne soies trouvé parjure,
Car le menteur est mescreü
Et, quant voir dit, il n’est creü.
34. Pour perte d’amis ou de biens
Ne ché es en desespoir et tiens
Qu’assez est poissant Dieu celestre
Pour toy aidier et pour toy paistre.
35. Du bien d’autrui n’aies envie,
Car l’envïeux trés en sa vie
Possede les peines d’enfer,
C’est plus pesant fardel que fer.
36. Lis voulentiers belles hystoires
Quant tu porras, car les nottoires
Exemples sont souvent valables
Et font gent devenir savables.
37. Ne promèz mie de legier
Qu’on ne te tiengne a mençongier,
Mais ce qu’as promis si le tien,
Car le don promis n’est plus tien.
38. Ne croy pas toutes les diffames
Qu’aucuns livres dient des femmes,
Car il est mainte femme bonne,
L’experïence le te donne.
39.
Gardes toy bien, ja ne t’aherdre
A jeux ou chevance on puist perdre;
Paume et dez font souvent au bas
Mettre maint, je n’en doubte pas.
40. Se tu veulx vivre a Court en paix
Voy et escoute et si te tays,
Ne te courroces de legier,
Dongereux ne soit ton mengier.
41. Fuis compaignie riouteuse
Et femme petit cremeteuse,
Trompeurs, moqueurs et mesdisans,
Et gent qui sont autrui nuisans.
42. Se tu vois ton seigneur mesprendre
Ou tu os ton maistre reprendre,
Gard que de ce ta bouche n’euvre,
Ains l’excuse et son meffait cueuvre.
43.
Se tu es noble ou tu t’i tiens
Ou moult riche toy et les tiens,
N’en soies pour tant orgueilleux,
Car tout n’est qu’un vent perilleux.
44. Cest enseignement tiens et nottes:
Ne nyce femme ne t’assotes
Se tu veulz amer par amours,
Car pis en vauldroient tes mours.
45. Se tu vois Fortune propice
A toy en chevance ou office,
Pour toy et pour les tiens t’atourne
D’acquerir ains qu’elle se tourne.
46. Aies contenance plaisant,
Trop estourdi ne trop laisant
Ne soit ton maintien, ains t’arreste
Et meine a point et mains et teste.
47. Ne soies deceveur de femmes,
Honoures les, ne les diffames ;
Souffise toy d’en amer une
Et ne prent contens a nesune.
48. Ne vueilles trouver a redire
Sus chascun ne d’aultrui mesdire,
Gardes que bien soyes apris,
N’aies chaloir d’autrui mespris.
49. Se tu congnois homme envïeux,
Ne le hente, soit joenne ou vieux,
Car envie est si male tache
Que le lieu courrompt ou s’atache.
50. Le blandissement des flateurs
Ne crois, car dient les auteurs
Que le flateur souvent la moe
Fait en derriere a cil qu’il loe.
51. Se tu veulz femme espouse prendre,
Par la mere pues tu aprendre
Ses meurs, non obstant que, sans faille,
Il est pou rigle qui ne faille.
52. N’aies en desdaing nul chastoy,
Ne desprises mendre de toy,
Car il est de telz mauvestus
Ou plus qu’en toy a de vertus.
53. Se tu es joenne et esbatant,
Ne fay pas si le fol pour tant
Qu’il appere aux gens en tout sense
Qu’il n’ait en toy arrest ne sens.
54. A jeux d’eschas n’a jeux de tables
N’a aultres, legiers ou notables,
Ne soies fel ne oultrageux
Et te joue a gracïeux jeux.
55.
Se tu as femme bonne et sage
Croy la du fait de ton mainage,
Adjouste foy a sa parole,
Mais ne te conseille a la fole.
56. Gardes ne prens males coustumes
N’en parler lait ne t’acoustumes,
Car le fol plus qu’a la karole
Est apperceu a la parole.
57. Souvent ne menaces de batre,
De teste rompre ou braz abatre,
Car c’est signe de couardie,
Personne ou fole ou pou hardie.
58. Bienfait d’autrui ne celes pas
Mais du mal te tais en tout pas,
Ne te vantes de tes bienfais,
Car ton loz en seroit deffais.
59. Se tu es ja vieux devenus,
Les joennes qui ne sont chanus
Ne soient de toy trop confus,
Souviengne toy que joennes fus.
60. Se Fortune t’a bien hault mis
Par seigneurs ou ayde d’amis,
Ne sueffre trop te faire honneurs
Qu’envie n’en sourde es meneurs.
61. En ta vieillece en nulle guise
De vestement ne te desguise
Ne de mignote cointerie,
Car sourdre en pourroit moquerie.
62. Soies diligent en tes fais
Et prudemment soustiens grans fais,
Si acquier, se pues, en joennece
Pour avoir repos en vieillece.
63. Ne soies malencolïeux
Entre gent et en temps et lieux
Fais requeste, se as afaire,
Tousjours n’est pas temps de la faire.
64. S’il avient que riches deviengnes,
Gard que trop grant estat ne tiegnes,
Pour aux plus grans t’acomparer
Tu le pourroyes comparer.
65.
Se service d’aucun reçois
Guerdonne lui, se pues, ainçois
Qu’il t’en demande benefice,
Ne soies ingrat, c’est grant vice.
66. A poissant homme decepvable,
S’il puet estre moult grevable
Fay lui acroire, s’il puet estre,
Qu’il est ton ami et ton maistre.
67. Ton secret a nul ne reveles
Sans achoison, n’autrui nouvelles
Ne gehis quant de riens ne sert,
Car qui se descueuvre il s’assert.
68. L’avoir qu’as a grant peine acquis
Se il t’est a prester requis
Soies ent si aperceü
Que tu n’en soyes deceü.
69. S’une personne en toy se fie,
Poson qu’après il te deffie,
Ce qu’il t’a dit ne dois gehir
Tant te puist grever ne haïr.
70.
Fay voulentiers en champs ou ville
Ce en quoy te sens plus habile,
Car maint par bien pou de savoir
Sont avenus a grant avoir.
71.
Acquiers amis par beau service,
Se puez, sans pechié et sanz vice,
Mais bien gardes a qui t’emploies
Et a quel requeste te ploies.
72. Ne prens estrif contre autrui conte
De chose qui a toy ne monte,
Ne blasmes a nul son païs,
Car maint en ont esté haïs.
73.
Fuis oyseuse, se veulx acquerre
Honneur, chevance, loz et terre,
Garde toy de delit non valable,
Eschives fait deshonnorable.
74. Se tu as en toy parler sage
Et de bien dire aies usage,
Gard qu’on ne puist de toy retraire
Que ton fait soit au dit contraire.
75. Deshonner d’autrui ne racontes
Ne voulentiers n’en tiens tes contes,
Ains, s’aultre le dit, fays ent paix,
Se tu puez, ou se non t’en tais.
76. Se tu veulz fuïr le dongier
D’amours et du tout l’estrangier,
Eslongne toy de la personne
A qui ton cuer le plus se donne.
77. Se bien veulx et chastement vivre,
De la Rose ne lis le livre
Ne Ovide de l’Art d’amer,
Dont l’exemple fait a blasmer.
78. Se tu veulz lire des batailles
Et des regnes le commençailles,
Si lis Vincent et aultres mains,
L Fait de Troye et des Rommains.
79. Pour devocion acquerir
Se te veulz es livres querir,
Saint Bernard et aultres auteurs
Te seront en ce fait docteurs.
80. S’en amours tu as ton vouloir
Et veulz amer pour mieulz valoir,
Ne t’en mez tele rage ou pis
Que tu en puisse valoir pis.
81. Pour sembler plus grant et plus riche
Ne te pares n’autrui affiche,
Car cil, cui elle est, s’on t’en loe,
Tost dira que la chose est soe.
82. S’a ton besoin de ton ami
Empruntes, ne jour ne demi
N’oblies qu’il le te fault rendre
Et penses de tant mains despendre.
83. Se pues par bel ou par grant cure
Le tien pourchacier, n’aies cure
De mouvoir plait ou a maint triche,
Car a peine est grant plaideur riche.
84.
Ne tiens maingée a ton loyer
Si grant que ne puisses paier,
Car souvent par trop gent avoir
On despent la terre et l’avoir.
85. Se tu te sens de chaude cole
Fay que Raison a son escole
T’aprengne a tes sense ordenner,
Par ce te pourras reffrener.
86. Ne raportes parole aucune
De quoy sourdre puisse rancune ;
Ton ami rapaise en son yre,
Se tu pues, par doulcement dire.
87. Trop ne te dois humilïer
Ne moult estre familier
A tes serfs ne jouer des mains,
Car prisier t’en pourroient mains.
88. Se tu reprens l’autrui meffait
Si gardes si bien en ton fait
Qu’il n’ait en toy ce mesmes blasme ;
Fol est diffamé qui diffame.
89. Ne fay pas longuement requerre
Ce que veulz donner n’aler querre,
Car qui tost le don abandonne
Qu’on veult donner deux fois le donne.
90. Se es par Fortune desmis
D’office et a povreté mis,
Penses qu’on se muert en pou d’eure
Et qu’ou ciel est nostre demeure.
91. Selon ton pouvoir vestz ta femme
Honnestement et si soit dame
De l’ostel après toy, non serve,
Fay que ta maignée la serve.
92. A ton pouvoir gard toy d’acquerre
Anemis n’a nul mouvoir guerre,
Sans grant cause ja ne t’y boute,
Car en guerre chiet mainte doubte.
93. Ne soyes rioteux a table
Mais avec ta gent si traitable
Qu’on ait ta compaignie chiere,
Ne fay entr’eulx despite chiere.
94. Fay toy craindre a ta femme a point
Mais gard bien ne le batre point,
Car le bonne en aroit despis
Et la mauvaise en vauldroit pis.
95. Tes filz fay a l’escole aprendre,
Bat les se tu les vois mesprendre,
Tien les subgiez et en cremour
Et leur celes ta grant amour.
96. Tien tes filles trop mieulx vestues
Que bien abruvées ne peues ;
Fay les aprendre bel maintien
Ne point oyseuses ne les tien.
97. Reffrain ta langue en ta grant yre,
Et s’adonc te tiens de trop dire
Ce sera vray signe et message
Que tu es constant, ferme et sage.
98. S’a moyen estat puez venir
Souffise toy du maintenir
Se tu ne puez grigneur avoir
Sans grever gent ne decepvoir.
99. Ains que tu parles si t’avise
Que veulz dire et en quel devise,
Tu parleras plus sagement
Devant gent et en judement.
100. Nouveaulx argumens ne debas
Ne meus, souvent ne t’en debas,
Car haïr se fait l’estriveur
Qui trop d’argumens est trouveur.
101. Donne liement, se tu donnes,
Meffait au repentant pardonnes,
T’amour ne change de legier
Tes accointes tost n’estrangier.
102. Gardes bien qu’yvrece ne face
Changier ton parler ne ta face
Ne ton sens, car c’est trop grant honte
Quant vin le sens d’omme surmonte.
103. Ta parole soit ordonnée,
Tost ne trop laisamment menée
Ne soit, n’en parlant par usage
Ne fais grimaces du visage.
104. Se Dieu t’a envoyé victoire
En quelque cas belle et nottoire,
Les vaincus trop mal n’atourner,
Tu ne scés ou tu puez tourner.
105. Se tu scés que l’en te diffamme
Sans cause et que tu ayes balsme
Ne t’en courcer ; fay toudis bien,
Car droit vaintra, je te di bien.
106. S’aucun parle a toy, bien pren garde
La fin que le parlant regarde,
Et, se c’est requeste ou semonce,
Pense un petit ains la response.
107.
Se tu as a faire requeste
Gard que raisonnable et honneste
Soit, ne travailles tes amis
Sans cause, quoy qu’on t’ait promis.
108. Ains que commences grant ouvrage
N’a toy vengier d’aucun oultrage
Ou bataille ou chose a venir,
Pense a quel fin ce puet venir.
109. N’entreprens sans conseil des sages
Grans fais ne perilleux passages
Ne chose ou il chée grant doubte ;
Folz est qui perilz ne redoubte.
110.
N’embraces tant d’estrange fais
Que nul ne soit par toy parfais,
Ce qu’as empris tost expedie,
Que trop soyes long on ne die.
111. Ne te dampnes pas pour acquerre
A tes enfans avoir et terre ;
Fay les aprendre et entroduire
A science ou a mestier duire.
112. Bon exemple et bonne doctrine
Oz voulentiers et t’y dottrine,
Car pour neant son oreille euvre
Homs a ouïr sans mettre a œuvre.
113. Ne laisses pas a Dieu servir
Pour ou monde trop t’asservir,
Car biens mondains vont a defin
Et l’ame durera sans fin.
1. Son I have no great treasure to enrich you, so from now I want for you to note some teachings, if you wish to learn them.
2. Love God with all your strength, fear the law and strive to serve it; the 10 commandments, if you have learnt them well, are included there.
3. Throughout your youth, pure and without stain, learn to understand the world so that you can learn to guard [yourself] from mistakes in all cases.
4. Apply yourself so much to study that you can acquire Prudence because this is the mother of virtues which hounds out bitter Fortune.
5. In whatever station you are put by Fortune where you are subservient, govern yourself in this position so that you have regularity in living.
6. If you wish to choose the route of learning, do much to read books and pursue study so that you are not ignorant among clerics.
7. If you are noble and wish to pursue the military, it is necessary to take up arms often or people will hold you to be cowardly, without honour, weak and lacking.
8. Guard yourself from serving a bad master because it might suit you to be bad if you wish to gain favour. Thus, it is better to flee such service.
9. Be loyal to your natural lord, you do not owe greater faith to man, know, in truth, do not falsify [your faith] for any amount of money.
10. Do you wish to triumph and prevail for a long time? Teach your heart to endure because by enduring well, you can learn to have peace and happiness.
11. If you have a master, serve him well, speak well of him, guard his belongings, conceal his secrets, whatever he may do be humble to his face.
12. Do not be too covetous because covetousness is the enemy of charity and wisdom, yet guard yourself from excessive generosity.
13. If you wish to be known for military might, then follow a great army, [and] watch that in battle you are not seen behind the defences.
14. If you are a captain of men, do not be known for loving money because you will hardly be able to find good men-at-arms if you are greedy.
15. If Fortune loves you so much that you are proclaimed a lord, do not be threatening nor too proud among your subjects.
16. If you have a country to govern and you wish to reign for a long time, be just and do not be cruel and do not look to harm people.
17. If you have a station or office in which you are involved in justice, watch how you judge because you will come before the great judge.
18. If you have followers, do not admonish them too rigorously, if you see them err, think how weak and vain the human condition is.
19. If you are a man of the church or a priest, a cleric or a monk in a cloister, watch that beneath your sacred vestments, satisfaction and peace do not escape you.
20. Do not get involved with or be envious of princes or those who govern if it does not pertain to you or your life, do not talk about it in taverns.
21. Honour famous people, the ancients, the well named, always acquaint yourself with valorous people, you will be valued better for this than the most worthy.
22. Do not be among shameful men, or be too bawdy, violent or riotous, but be polite to all people; keep your estate according to your means.
23. If you are a merchant, buy and sell according to your good sense so that you do not lose at the market, but do not deceive anyone, that is sinful.
24. If you have a need and necessity to live by any trade, be attentive and accept it with gratitude because it is the highest level in heaven.
25. If you come by prosperity to great wealth and inheritance, watch that pride does not surmount you; think that you must account to God.
26. Act politely at the table and dress yourself in clothing of such adornment that you are not mocked for it, because you know the egg by the shell.
27. If you are young and refined, you can be happy at little cost without burdening yourself to dress well. Keep yourself clean and do not steal from anyone.
28. Have pity for poor people that you see naked and begging and help them as much as you can; remember that you will die.
29. Be constant, hold well to your intentions to do what you have proposed because the man who often changes cannot be noble or wise.
30. Love who holds you as a friend and guard yourself from your enemy; one cannot have too many friends [and] there are no small enemies.
31. Be truthful in speech, be silent and speak at the right time, because the one who speaks too much by habit is often considered less wise.
32. Do not easily believe the hateful report which others tell you, think if hate or great anger or flattery makes them speak.
33. Keep your promise and take oaths rarely, watch that you are not found perjured, because the liar is misbelieved and, however much he tells the truth, he is not believed.
34. Do not fall into despair for the loss of friends or wealth and know that celestial God is powerful enough to help you and nourish you.
35. Do not envy the wealth of others because, from then in his life, the envious man bears the sufferings of hell, which is a heavier burden than iron.
36. Eagerly read lovely stories as much as you can, because their famous examples are often valuable and make people wise.
37. Do not promise lightly as you could be considered a liar, but that which you have promised, keep it because the promised gift is no longer yours.
38. Do not believe all the allegations that certain books say about women, because there are a great number of good women, experience will show you this.
39. Guard yourself well, never get involved with a game or loan where you might lose; tennis and dice often put low a great many, I do not doubt this.
40. If you wish to live at court in peace, look and listen, and if you stay silent [and] do not anger easily, your meal should not be dangerous.
41. Flee riotous company and women of little reserve, scammers, mockers, slanderers, and people who are harmful to others.
42. If you see your lord make a mistake or you dare to reproach your master, watch that you do not open your mouth about it but rather excuse him and cover his mistake.
43. If you are noble or you keep both yourself and your household in great wealth, do not be proud over it because all [of this] is but a perilous wind.
44. Keep and note this teaching: Do not fall in love with an unsuitable woman if you wish to love by love, because your tastes will value the worst of them.
45. If you see Fortune favourable to you in wealth or station, be ready to acquire [it] for yourself and your household before it turns.
46. Have a pleasant countenance, let your temperament be neither too foolish nor too stern, but rather still yourself and control both your hands and head appropriately.
47. Do not be a deceiver of women, honour them, do not slander them; suffice yourself to love one and do not quarrel with any woman.
48. Do not wish to criticise anyone nor slander another; watch that you are well learned, do not be angry with the mistakes of others.
49. If you know an envious man, be he young or old, do not frequent his company, because envy is so bad a stain that it corrupts the place where it is found.
50. Do not believe the blandishment of flatterers because the authors say that the flatterer often grimaces behind the one who he praises.
51. If you wish to marry a woman, you can learn her habits through her mother, notwithstanding that, without a doubt, there are few rules that do not fail.
52. Do not hold in distain or chastise or devalue the one who is less than you, because there are those of such ragged state who are of better virtue than you.
53. If you are young and fun-loving, do not be so foolish that it seems to people that there is neither tranquillity nor good sense anywhere in you.
54. Do not be bitter or aggressive in games of chess, table games or others, light or serious, and amuse yourself with agreeable pastimes.
55. If you have a good and wise wife, believe that she can manage your household, have faith in her word, but do not be counselled by a foolish woman.
56. Watch that you do not take on bad habits, speak disagreeably or get used [to doing so], for the fool is perceived more by the word than by the song.
57. Do not often threaten to beat [anyone], break [their] head or dislocate [their] arm because this is a sign of cowardice, of someone either crazy or weak.
58. Do not conceal the good deed of another but stay silent about a bad one in every place, do not praise yourself for your good deeds because your reputation will be damaged.
59. If you have become old, should the youths who are not grey not be bothered by you, remember that you were young.
60. If Fortune, through lords or the help of friends, has put you very high, do not suffer so much to be honoured that you are deaf to [your] leaders.
61. In your old age, do not disguise yourself in any manner of clothing or excessive elegance because you can be mocked for going out like that.
62. Be diligent in your deeds and undertake great actions prudently, thus, if you can, acquire in [your] youth so that you can rest in old age.
63. Do not be melancholy among people and, if you have a problem, make a request in the [right] time and place, it is not always the time to do so.
64. If it happens that you become rich, watch that you do not hold too large an estate, for you can pay the price by comparing yourself to greater people.
65. If you receive the service of anyone reward him before he asks you for payment, if you can. Do not be ungracious, that is a great vice.
66. Regarding a powerful deceiving man, if he can be a great hinderance to you make him believe, if possible, that he is your friend and your master.
67. Do not reveal your secret to anyone without cause, nor another’s news, do not confess much of anything for certain because he who uncovers himself enslaves himself.
68. If it is necessary that you lend the wealth which you have acquired with great effort, be prudent enough that you are not deceived [in the loan].
69. Let us consider that someone trusts you. After he acts against you, as much as he might hinder and hate you, do not reveal what he said to you.
70. Willingly do in the fields or city that which you feel most able because a great many, through just a bit of savvy, are come to great wealth.
71. Acquire friends through good service, if you can, without sin and without vice, but watch well who you employ, and to which request you bend.
72. Do not quarrel with another’s account of things which does not pertain you, do not blame anyone for his country because a great many have been hated for this.
73. Flee laziness. If you wish to acquire honour, wealth, reputation and land, guard yourself from ignoble crimes [and] avoid dishonourable actions.
74. If you have wise words and have the habit of speaking well, watch that people cannot reproach you that your deed is contrary to your word.
75. Do not recount the dishonour of others nor frequently keep it in your accounts but rather, if another mentions it, make peace over it if you can or, if not, stay silent about it.
76. If you wish to flee the danger of love and get away from it entirely, distance yourself from the person to whom your heart most gives itself.
77. If you wish to live well and chastely, do not read the Roman de la Rose or Ovid’s Ars Amatoria, whose example is a bad influence.
78. If you wish to read about the beginnings of battles and kingdoms, read Vincent and other hands, Le Fait de Troye et des Romains
79. Search in books if you wish to acquire devotion, St Bernard and other authors will be your teachers in this work.
80. If love is your desire and through loving you wish to be worthier, do not put yourself in such a passion, or worse, that you can be valued less for it.
81. Do not dress yourself with another’s ornament to seem bigger and richer because if you are praised for it, the person, whomever they are, will quickly say that the thing is theirs.
82. If you borrow to your need from your friend, do not forget for a day or even a half of one that you must repay it and think about spending much less.
83. If, through good or great care, you can press a debtor for your money, do not try to bring an action in court (where there is much trickery) because a frequent litigant is hardly ever rich.
84. Do not hold so large a household in your employ that you cannot pay them, because often through having too many servants, one spends their land and their wealth.
85. If you are affected by hot bile, do as Reason in its school teaches you to put your senses in order so that you can moderate yourself.
86. Do not relate any word which might bring forth a grudge; if you can, calm your friend in their anger by speaking gently.
87. YYou should not humble yourself too much with your serfs or be too familiar or play card games [with them] because they might value you less for it.
88. If you admonish the mistakes of others then watch very well that there is not the same fault in your own doing; foolish is the shameful one who shames [another].
89. Do not make [someone] spend a long time asking or searching for what you wish to give [them] because the one who quickly gives up the gift that he wants to give, gives it twice.
90. If by Fortune you are put down in station and you have been put in poverty, think that we die in but a little time and that our rest is in heaven.
91. Honestly dress your wife according to your ability and if she runs a hotel after you, do not maintain her, ensure that your household serves her.
92. As you are able, guard yourself from acquiring enemies [and] do not have any to cause a war, never enter one without great cause because in war many people fall in fear.
93. Do not be rowdy at the table but be so amiable with your people that your company is dear, do not look grumpy among others.
94. Make your wife afraid of you when appropriate, but watch well not to hit her, because the good wife will hate you for it and the bad wife will be less worthy.
95. Send your sons to school to learn, hit them if you see them make a mistake, keep them subject and fearful and conceal your great love from them.
96. Keep your daughters so well dressed that they are well satisfied, not less; teach them good bearing, do not keep them idle.
97. Restrain your language in your great anger and if in the moment you keep yourself from saying too much, this will be a true sign and message that you are constant, firm and wise.
98. If you can come to a moderate station, suffice yourself in maintaining it if you cannot have greatness without burdening or deceiving people.
99. If you consider what you want to say and with which word[s] before you speak, you will speak more wisely before people and in judgment.
100. Do not stir up new arguments, lie or debate often because the fighter who starts too many arguments is hated.
101. If you give, give willingly, pardon the fault of the remorseful, do not change your love lightly or estrange your friends.
102. Watch well that drunkenness does not change your speech, your character or your perception, because it is a great shame when wine overcomes a man’s sensibility.
103. Your speech should be ordered, it should not be conducted too quickly or without measure, you should not habitually frown when speaking.
104. If God sends you victory in some good and notable case, do not put the vanquished in too bad a state, you never know where you might end up.
105. If you know that someone slanders you without cause and that you are blamed, do not get angry over it; always do well because right will prevail, I tell you well.
106. If anyone speaks to you, take good care. Watch to what end they speak and, if it is a request or a summons, think a little before your response.
107. If you have made a request, watch that it is reasonable and honest, do not press your friends without cause, whatever they have promised you.
108. Before you begin a great work or take revenge for any outrage or any battle or thing to come; think what end this can come to.
109. Do not undertake great actions or perilous journeys or anything which falls in great doubt without the counsel of wise advisors; foolish is the one who does not fear peril.
110. Do not embrace so many unusual deeds that nothing can be completed by you, that which you have started, quickly finish so that it cannot be said you take too long.
111. Do not damage yourself to acquire wealth and land for your children; make them study and introduce them to learning or instruct them in a trade.
112. Willingly listen to good examples and teaching and teach it to yourself, a man opens his ear for nothing if he listens without putting himself to work.
113. Do not stop serving God to enslave yourself too much to the world because worldly goods will come to an end but the soul will endure for ever.
