Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SYMON'S LESSON OF WISDOM FOR ALL MANNER OF CHILDREN, by CHARLES SYMON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SYMON'S LESSON OF WISDOM FOR ALL MANNER OF CHILDREN, by                    
First Line: Child, I warn thee in all wise
Last Line: Wouldst thou be bishop when he is past.
Subject(s): Advice


CHILD, I warn thee in all wise,
That thou tell truth and make no lies.
Child, be froward not, nor proud,
But raise thy head and speak aloud;
When any man doth speak to thee,
Doff thy hood and bow thy knee;
Wash thy hands and wash thy face,
And be thou courteous in each place.
When thou comest with good cheer
In hall or bower, bid "God be here!"
Look thou cast at no man's dog
A stone, nor strike his horse or hog;
Look thou neither scorn nor jape
With man, with maiden, nor with ape;
Let no man of thee make plaint;
Swear not by God, nor yet by saint.
Be courteous, when thou stand'st at meat,
And what men serve thee, take and eat:
Scrupling not to cry nor crave,
Saying, "Nay, that must I have."
Stand thou still before the board,
Look thou speak no noisy word.
Honour thy father and thy mother,
Grieve thou ne'er the one nor other;
But ever and oft shalt thou kneel down,
And ask their blessing and benisoun.
Child, keep thy clothes aye fair and clean,
Let no filth thereon be seen.
Child, climb not over house nor wall,
Neither for fruit, nor bird, nor ball.
Child, cast no stones at neighbour's house,
Since they may break his glass windows;
Make no noise, nor jape, nor play,
In holy church on holy day.
And, child, there's yet another thing,
Keep thee from words and jangeling.
And, child, whene'er thou goest to play,
Look thou come home by light of day.
I warn thee, child, of another matter,
Keep thee well from fire and water;
And beware of how thou dost look
Over brink, or well, or brook.

Rise betimes and go to school,
Fare not as a wanton fool,
Learn as fast as e'er thou can,
For our bishop good is an agêd man,
And therefore thou must learn right fast
Wouldst thou be bishop when he is past.





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