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Thy friend, like flatt’ry, too much praise doth wrong,
And too sharp censure shows an evil tongue: 
But let inviolate truth be always dear
To thee; e’en before friendship, truth prefer. 
Than what thou mean’st to give, still promise less: 
Hold fast thy power thy promise to increase. 
Look forward what’s to come, and back what’s past,
Thy life will be with praise and prudence graced:  208
What loss or gain may follow, thou may’st guess,
Thou then wilt be secure of the success;
Yet be not always on affairs intent,
But let thy thoughts be easy, and unbent: 
When our minds’ eyes are disengaged and free,
They clearer, farther, and distinctly see;
They quicken sloth, perplexities untie,
Make roughness smooth, and hardness mollify;
And though our hands from labour are released,
Yet our minds find (even when we sleep) no rest. 
Search not to find how other men offend,
But by that glass thy own offences mend; 220
Still seek to learn, yet care not much from whom,
(So it be learning) or from whence it come. 
Of thy own actions, others’ judgments learn;
Often by small, great matters we discern: 
Youth what man’s age is like to be doth show;
We may our ends by our beginnings know. 
Let none direct thee what to do or say,
Till thee thy judgment of the matter sway;
Let not the pleasing many thee delight,
First judge if those whom thou dost please judge right. 230
Search not to find what lies too deeply hid,
Nor to know things whose knowledge is forbid;
Nor climb on pyramids, which thy head turn round
Standing, and whence no safe descent is found. 
In vain his nerves and faculties he strains
To rise, whose raising unsecure remains: 
They whom desert and favour forwards thrust,
Are wise, when they their measures can adjust. 
When well at ease, and happy, live content,
And then consider why that life was lent. 240
When wealthy, show thy wisdom not to be
To wealth a servant, but make wealth serve thee. 
Though all alone, yet nothing think or do,
Which nor a witness, nor a judge might know. 
The highest hill is the most slipp’ry place,
And Fortune mocks us with a smiling face;
And her unsteady hand hath often placed
Men in high power, but seldom holds them fast;
Against her then her forces Prudence joins,
And to the golden mien herself confines. 250
More in prosperity is reason toss’d,
Than ships in storms, their helms and anchors lost: 
Before fair gales not all our sails we bear,
But with side winds into safe harbours steer;
More ships in calms, on a deceitful coast,
Or unseen rocks, than in high storms are lost. 
Who casts out threats and frowns no man deceives,
Time for resistance and defence he gives;
But flatt’ry still in sugar’d words betrays,
And poison in high-tasted meats conveys; 260
So Fortune’s smiles unguarded man surprise,
But when she frowns, he arms, and her defies.