Sperat infestis, metuit secundis
alteram sortem bene præparatum
pectus. Informes hiemes reducit
Iuppiter, idem

Summovet. Non, si male nunc, et olim
sic erit. Quondam cithara tacentem
suscitat Musam, neque semper arcum
tendit Apollo.

Rebus angustis animosus atque
fortis appare; sapienter idem
contrahes vento nimium secundo
turgida vela.

Surrey's version is headed Praise of meane and constant estate.

of thy lyfe, Thomas, this compasse well mark:
Not aye with full sayles the hye seas to beat:
Ne by coward dred, in shonning stormes dark,
On shalow shores thy keel in perill heat.
Who so gladly halseth the golden meane,
Voyde of dangers aduisdly hath his home
Not with lothsom muck, as a den vncleane:
Nor palacelyke, wherat disdayn may glome.
The lofty pyne the great winde often riues:
With violenter swey falne turrets stepe:
Lightnings assault the hye mountains, and cliues.
A hart well stayd, in ouerthwartes depe,
Hopeth amendes: in swete, doth feare the sowre.
God, that sendeth, withdrawthe winter sharp.
Now ill, not aye thus: once Phebus to lowre
With bow vnbent shall cesse, and frame to harp. ¹
His voyce. In straite estate appere thou stout:
And so wisely, when lucky gale of winde
All thy puft sailes shall fil, loke well about:
Take in a ryft: hast is wast, prose doth finde.

The Poem of the First Edition is entitled The meane estate is to be
accompted the best.

Who craftly castes to stere his boate
and safely skoures the flattering flood:

He cutteth not the greatest waues
for why that way were nothing good.

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