Silentij dignitas

LOE SOLON here th' Athenian sage doth stand,
The glorie of all GRECIA to this day,
With courage bold who taketh knife in hand,
And with the same, doth cut his tongue away:
But being ask'd of some, the reason why,
By writing thus he answer'd by and by.

Oft haue I heard, that many haue sustained,
Much losse by talke, and lavishnes of tongue,
Of silence never any yet complained,
Or could say iustly, it had done him wrong:
Who knowes to speake, and when to hold his peace,
Findes fewest daungers, and liues best at ease.