Initium Sapientiae

A POYSONOVS Serpent wreathed vp around
In scalie boughtes, a sharpe two edged Sword,
Supported by a booke vpon the ground,
Is worldly wisedome grounded on GODS word,
The which vnlesse our proiects doth sustaine,
Our plot is nought, and best devises vaine.

What ever then thou hap to take in hand,
In formost place, the feare of GOD preferre,
Else, like the Foole thou buildest on the sand,
By this (the Lesbian stone) thou canst not erre,
Which who so doth, his first foundation lay,
Contriues a worke that never shall decay.