What path list you to tread? what trade will you assay?

The courts of plea, by brawl and bait, drive geson peace away.

In house for wife and child there is but cark and care;

With travail and with toil enough in fields we use to fare.

Upon the seas lieth dread: the rich in foreign land

Do fear the loss, and there the poor like misers poorly stand.

Strife with a wife, without, your thrift full hard to see;

Young brats a trouble; none at all, a mayme it seems to be;

Youth, fond; age hath no heart and pincheth all to nye.

Choose then the leifer of these two: ay life, or soon to dye.