Nil viribus impar

FIRST trie thy strength, and ponder well the end,
Ere thou attempt'st a buisines of weight,
By triall made of wit, thy wealth, or frend,
Who can advise, or iudge of thy conceipt:
Thou else but hastest, to thy losse and shame,
While abler Iudgments, beare away the game.

Hence noblest houses, their decay haue knowne,
And greatest Clerkes in vaine opinions err'd,
And wits too heavy-rancke beene overthrowne,
Who else in time, mought well haue beene preferr'd:
Withall we taxe, the glorious foole that crakes,
Yet good at nothing, that he vndertakes.