Quand ung ignorant ne dit mot
Il est bien pareil au scavant:
Et nest de sagesse remot,
Sinon quant il parle souvent:
Ta bouche ayt donc le doy devant,
Pour luy faire tenir silence:
Et soys en peu parler suyvant,
De Harpocras la grand sapience.
- Alciato, Andrea 1615
[When he is silent, the fool differs no whit from the wise. It is tongue and voice that betray his stupidity. Let him therefore put his finger to his lips and so mark silence, and turn himself into Egyptian Harpocrates.]
