it is the best book for to be taught to young children
in school, and also to people of every age, it is
full convenient if it be well understood And because
I see that the children that be born within the said
city increase, and profit not like their fathers and
elders, but for the most part after that they be come
to their perfect years of discretion and ripeness of
age, how well that their fathers have left to them
great quantity of goods yet scarcely among ten two
thrive, [whereas] I have seen and know in other lands
in divers cities that of one name and lineage successively
have endured prosperously many heirs, yea, a five or
six hundred years, and some a thousand; and in this
noble city of London it can unneth continue unto the
third heir or scarcely to the second,—O
blessed Lord, when I remember this I am all abashed;
I cannot judge the cause, but fairer ne wiser ne better
spoken children in their youth be nowhere than there
be in London, but at their full ripening there is
no kernel ne good corn found, but chaff for the most
part. I wot well there be many noble and wise,
and prove well and be better and richer than ever
were their fathers. And to the end that many
might come to honour and worship, I intend to translate
this said book of Cato, in which I doubt not, and
if they will read it and understand they shall much
the better con rule themselves thereby; for among
all other books this is a singular book, and may well
be called the regiment or governance of the body and
soul.
There was a noble clerk named Pogius of Florence,
and was secretary to Pope Eugene and also to Pope
Nicholas, which had in the city of Florence a noble
and well-stuffed library which all noble strangers
coming to Florence desired to see; and therein they
found many noble and rare books. And when they
had asked of him which was the best book of them all,
and that he reputed for best, he said that he held
Cato glosed for the best book of his library.
Then since that he that was so noble a clerk held
this book for the best, doubtless it must follow that
this is a noble book and a virtuous, and such one that
a man may eschew all vices and ensue virtue.
Then to the end that this said book may profit unto
the hearers of it, I beseech Almighty God that I may
achieve and accomplish it unto his laud and glory,
and to the erudition and learning of them that be
ignorant, that they may thereby profit and be the
better. And I require and beseech all such that
find fault or error, that of their charity they correct
and amend it, and I shall heartily pray for them to
Almighty God, that he reward them.
AESOP. (1483)
EPILOGUE