Chilon, that was a wise ambassador, Was sent to Corinth with full great honór From Lacedaemon, to make álliánce; And when he came, it happen’d him, by chance, That all the greatest that were of that land, Y-playing attë hazard he them fand. For which, as soon as that it mightë be, He stole him home again to his countrý. And saidë there, “I will not lose my name, Nor will I take on me so great diffame, You to ally unto no hazardors. Sendë some other wise ambassadors, For, by my troth, me werë lever die, Than I should you to hazardors ally. For ye, that be so glorious in honoúrs, Shall not ally you to no hazardoúrs, As by my will, nor as by my treatý.” This wisë philosópher thus said he. Look eke how to the King Demetrius The King of Parthes, as the book saith us, Sent him a pair of dice of gold in scorn, For he had used hazard therebeforn: For which he held his glory and renown At no valúe or reputatioún. Lordës may finden other manner play Honest enough to drive the day away.
Now will I speak of oathës false and great A word or two, as oldë bookës treat. Great swearing is a thing abomináble, And false swearing is morë reprováble. The highë God forbade swearing at all; Witness on Matthew: but in special Of swearing saith the holy Jeremie, Thou shalt swear sooth thine oathës, and not lie: And swear in doom, and eke in righteousness; But idle swearing is a cursedness. Behold and see, there in the firstë table Of highë Goddë’s hestës honouráble, How that the second best of him is this, Take not my name in idle or amiss. Lo, rather he forbiddeth such swearíng, Than homicide, or many a cursed thing; I say that as by order thus it standeth; This knoweth he that his hests understandeth, How that the second hest of God is that. And farthermore, I will thee tell all plat, That vengeance shall not partë from his house, That of his oathës is outrageoús. “By Goddë’s precious heart, and by his nails, And by the blood of Christ, that is in Hailes, Seven is my chance, and thine is cinque and trey: By Goddë’s armës, if thou falsely play, This dagger shall throughout thine heartë go.” This fruit comes of the bicched bonës two, Forswearing, ire, falseness, and homicide. Now, for the love of Christ