yourself so, you will be quite at liberty to do so; being careful, however, to choose a proper time, and rather to make him see the truth, and relieve him from anxiety,—­the more if you are in his charge or depend on his authority—­than to defend yourself with some excuse.

[4]7th.  Mock not nor Jest at anything of Importance break no Jest that are Sharp Biting, and if you Deliver anything witty and Pleasent abtain from Laughing thereat yourself.

Chapter iv. 7.  Ne vous amusez point aux equiuoques ny en matiere importante, ny en choses honteuses.  Si vous trouuez bon de railler, gardez vous bien de mordre, & bien plus de dechirer comme un chien.  Que les bons-mots & les rencontres soient tirees du suiet, que les vns & les autres ayent leur gentillesse & leur pointe, sans attirer l’indignation de personne.  Que les plaisanteries ne soient point comme celles des bouffons, qui font rire par des representations extrauagantes, & des actions deshonnestes:  si vous rencontrez ioliment, si vous donnez quelque bon-mot, en faisant rire les autres, empeschez-vous-en, le plus qu’il vous sera possible.

Do not divert yourself with equivoques, either in important or in mean matters.  If you find good occasion for a joke, be careful not to bite, still less to tear, like a dog.  Witticisms and repartee should be to the point, and should have elegance and appropriateness without exciting the indignation of any.  Do not let your pleasantries degenerate into those of buffoons, who raise laughter by extravagant representations and indecent action.  If you are clever in repartee, if you say a good thing, manage if possible, in making others laugh, to abstain from it yourself.

48th.  Wherein wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is is more prevalent than Precepts

Hawkins iii. 8.  Be sure thy conversation be in that poynt vertuous, wherein thou art desirous to retaine another, least thy Actions render thy advice unprofitable.  Since the ratification of any advice is the serious prosecution of that vertue.  For example hath ever been more prevalent than precept.

49th.  Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile

Hawkins iii. 11.  Use no reproachfull language against any man, nor Curse, or Revile.  For improperations and imprecations will rather betray thy affections than in any manner, hurt him against whom thou utters them.

[5]0th.  Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any

Hawkins iii. 10.  Thou oughtest not too suddenly to believe a flying Rumour of a friend, or any other.  But let charity guid thy judgment, untill more certainty:  for by this meanes thou securest his Reputation, and frees thy self of rashness.

51st.  Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush’d once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleanness