Blessed is he _that_ hath a full drum; and those that wait without
the bazaars, they shall look _upon it_ with envy.
2 A little love warmeth the blood; but much _love_, it is a consuming
fire.
3 Wherefore, beware of the damsel with ruddy locks. For if _it be_
so, assuredly she will devour thee up; but if it be _of_ henna, a
draught of spring water will serve thee equally.
4 Beware of all women, and avoid thou them that _would_ undo thee.
5 For the ways of those do grow in artfulness; neither is there any
_man_ that can stand up against them.
6 Now there is a certain woman, and she hath hair _of a_ length; it
is like unto silk also, and the colour of it allureth the eye.
7 Verily, _that_ woman will contrive that thou shall loosen the pin
_of it_. Yea, in thy clumsiness, thou shalt _bring it_ down.
8 For _it is_ a snare with which she seeketh to entrap thee; and the
cunning of her maketh thee her tool in _the matter of_ thine own
enticement.
9 List not to the voice of the tale-bearer, and the scandalmonger
shalt thou abhor _with_ a great abhorrence.
10 For what hast thou _to do_ with virtue? And who art thou to
prescribe thy neighbour's life?
11 Verily, rumour raceth like the wind; it groweth quicker than light
_when_ the sun riseth. And scandal, it is the father of more
children _than_ are.
12 Judge not a man according to the look of him, else shalt thou be
many times deceived.
13 For the brightest button, is it the chief upon thy raiment? Nay,
neither _doth_ it support thy necessary garment.
14 The young man, he loveth easily, _but_ at two score years he
waxeth discreet.
15 The damsel, she loveth easily, _and_ at two score years she waxeth
easier.
16 In the heat of the desert, then think of Hell, for _it is_ a
pleasant thought that will comfort thee somewhat.
17 Thine enemy hurleth a missile. It cometh through the air for to
_out_ thee. If thou art a fool, remove not from that place. But if
thou art wise, then haste thee quickly away.
18 For every snail _hath_ its shell, and he getteth it on his back;
but the laggard, he getteth _it_ in the neck.
19 Howbeit, it is not always the quick _man_ that goeth first over
the top.
20 A damsel inclineth towards thee. She regardeth thee with soft
eyes and _there is_ meaning in her glance.
21 Peradventure thou hast a blot upon the beauty of thy face _which_
annoyeth thee continually. Nevertheless, she will not see it.
22 At the largeness of thine ears, at the uprightness of thine hair,
at thy teeth that _were_ made for thee, she will look at none of
these.
23 But if thy pocket be empty, lo, she will see _them_ all. Neither
will she forgive thee for being _what_ thou art.
24 Woe unto man that be born upon earth, neither is there any help
_in him_ save only death.
25 For whosoever liveth his years in solitude, his old age _shall be_
full of desolation. But whosoever taketh unto himself a wife, that
man's last days, they shall be an abomination unto him.
26 Take heed, my son, and hearken unto the words of Artemas, for
there _are_ many that will give thee counsel, yet wisdom _cometh_
only from the few.