Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof driveth away sleep.

Vigilia honestatis tabefaciet carnes, et cogitatus illius auferet somnum.

Wilt thou pine away with care for riches, lose thy sleep for thinking of it?

The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a grievous sickness maketh the soul sober.

Cogitatus præscientiæ avertit sensum, et infirmitas gravis sobriam facit animam.

These solicitudes breed a madness in the brain, such as only grave sickness can expel.

The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when he resteth he shall be filled with his goods.

Laboravit dives in congregatione substantiæ, et in requie sua replebitur bonis suis.

Toils rich man for gain, till he can rest and enjoy what is his;

The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end he is still poor.

Laboravit pauper in diminutione victus, et in fine inops fit.

toils poor man to fend off need, and when he ceases he is a poor man still.

He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it.

Qui aurum diligit non justificabitur, et qui insequitur consumptionem replebitur ex ea.

Love money, and thou shalt be called to account for it; thy quest corruption, of corruption thou shalt have thy fill.

Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof hath been their ruin.

Multi dati sunt in auri casus, et facta est in specie ipsius perditio illorum.

Many have given themselves up to the lure of gold, and in its beauty found their ruin;

Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it.

Lignum offensionis est aurum sacrificantium: væ illis qui sectantur illud! et omnis imprudens deperiet in illo.

its worship was a snare to catch their feet; alas, poor fools that went searching for it, and themselves were lost!

Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures.

Beatus dives qui inventus est sine macula, et qui post aurum non abiit, nec speravit in pecunia et thesauris.

Blessed is the man who lives, for all his wealth, unreproved, who has no greed for gold and puts no trust in his store of riches!

Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life.

Quis est hic? et laudabimus eum: fecit enim mirabilia in vita sua.

Shew us such a man, and we will be loud in his praise; here is a life to wonder at.

Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them:

Qui probatus est in illo, et perfectus est, erit illi gloria æterna: qui potuit transgredi, et non est transgressus; facere mala, et non fecit.

A man so tested and found perfect wins eternal honour; he kept clear of sin, when sinful ways were easy, did no wrong, when wrong lay in his power.

Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the church of the saints shall declare his alms.

Ideo stabilita sunt bona illius in Domino, et eleemosynas illius enarrabit omnis ecclesia sanctorum.

His treasure is safely preserved in the Lord’s keeping and wherever faithful men are met, his alms-deeds will be remembered.

Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy mouth upon it.

Supra mensam magnam sedisti? non aperias super illam faucem tuam prior.

Sit thou at a rich man’s table, be not quick to remark upon it;

Say not: There are many things which are upon it.

Non dicas sic: Multa sunt, quæ super illam sunt.

it is ill done to cry out, Here is a table well spread!

Remember that a wicked eye is evil.

Memento quoniam malus est oculus nequam.

Be sure a covetous eye shall do thee no good;

What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep over all the face when it shall see.

Nequius oculo quid creatum est? ideo ab omni facie sua lacrimabitur, cum viderit.

eye is a great coveter, and for that, like no other part of thy face, condemned to weep.

Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy thou be put to confusion.

Ne extendas manum tuam prior, et invidia contaminatus erubescas.

Be not quick to reach out thy hand, and be noted, to thy shame, for greed;

Be not hasty in a feast.

Ne comprimaris in convivio.

jostling goes ill with a feast.

Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself.

Intellige quæ sunt proximi tui ex teipso.

Learn from thy own conjecture thy neighbour’s need;

Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if thou eatest much, thou be hated.

Utere quasi homo frugi his quæ tibi apponuntur: ne, cum manducas multum, odio habearis.

take sparingly the good things set before thee, nor court ill-will by thy gluttony.

Leave off first, for manners’ sake: and exceed not, lest thou offend.

Cessa prior causa disciplinæ: et noli nimius esse, ne forte offendas.

For manners’ sake, leave off eating betimes, or thy greed shall give offence.

And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all: and be not the first to ask for drink.

Et si in medio multorum sedisti, prior illis ne extendas manum tuam, nec prior poscas bibere.

When there are many about thee, do not be quick to stretch out thy hand, quick to call for wine.

How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain.

Quam sufficiens est homini erudito vinum exiguum! et in dormiendo non laborabis ab illo, et non senties dolorem.

For a man well disciplined a little wine is enough; spare thyself the uneasy sleep, the pains that shall rack thee;

Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man:

Vigilia, cholera et tortura viro infrunito,

wakeful nights come of excess, and bile and griping pains.

Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him.

somnus sanitatis in homine parco: dormiet usque mane, et anima illius cum ipso delectabitur.

For the temperate man, there is sound sleep; sleep that lasts till morning, and contents his whole being;

And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness upon thy body.

Et si coactus fueris in edendo multum, surge e medio, evome, et refrigerabit te, et non adduces corpori tuo infirmitatem.

though thou have been constrained to eat beyond thy wont, thou hast but to leave the table and vomit, and thou shalt find relief, nor come to any bodily harm.

Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt find my words.

Audi me, fili, et ne spernas me, et in novissimo invenies verba mea.

Take good heed, my son, do not belittle this advice of mine; thou shalt live to prove it true.

In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee.

In omnibus operibus tuis esto velox, et omnis infirmitas non occurret tibi.

Put thy heart into all thou doest, and no infirmity of purpose shall hinder thee.

The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, and the testimony of his truth is faithful.

Splendidum in panibus benedicent labia multorum, et testimonium veritatis illius fidele.

The generous host is on all men’s lips; ever they bear witness to his loyal friendship;

Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true.

Nequissimo in pane murmurabit civitas, et testimonium nequitiæ illius verum est.

the niggard has the ill word of a whole city; men form shrewd judgement of a niggard.

Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very many.

Diligentes in vino noli provocare: multos enim exterminavit vinum.

Never challenge hard drinker to a drinking-bout; wine has been the ruin of many.

Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the hearts of the proud.

Ignis probat ferrum durum: sic vinum corda superborum arguet in ebrietate potatum.

Fire tests the strength of steel; and a proud man fuddled with wine betrays his quality.

Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it moderately, thou shalt be sober.

Æqua vita hominibus vinum in sobrietate: si bibas illud moderate, eris sobrius.

Easy flow wine, easy flow life, but to men of sober habit; sobriety must drink within measure.

What is his life, who is diminished with wine?

Quæ vita est ei qui minuitur vino?

To the drunkard, life is no life at all;

What taketh away life? death.

Quid defraudat vitam? mors.

wine is death, when it so deprives a man of life.

Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not to make them drunk.

Vinum in jucunditatem creatum est, et non in ebrietatem ab initio.

Wine was made for mirth, never for drunkenness;

Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the heart.

Exsultatio animæ et cordis vinum moderate potatum.

drink wisely, and it shall rejoice thy heart and thy whole being;

Sober drinking is health to soul and body.

Sanitas est animæ et corpori sobrius potus.

health it brings to mind and body, wine wisely taken.

Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many ruins.

Vinum multum potatum irritationem, et iram, et ruinas multas facit.

Wine drunk in excess brings anger and quarrelling and calamities a many;

Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul.

Amaritudo animæ vinum multum potatum.

it is the poison of a man’s life.

The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, lessening strength and causing wounds.

Ebrietatis animositas, imprudentis offensio, minorans virtutem, et faciens vulnera.

What does the false courage of the drunkard? It takes him unawares, and makes him less a man; grievous wounds come of it.

Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him not in his mirth.

In convivio vini non arguas proximum, et non despicias eum in jucunditate illius.

When the wine goes round, do not find fault with thy neighbour, or think the worse of him for being merry;

Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in demanding again.

Verba improperii non dicas illi, et non premas illum repetendo.

never taunt him, never press him to repay the debt.