ought being bound of duetie to commend them that haue well deserued You shal seale your friendshippe vnto mée with a principall pleasure if he may vnderstand because for my saftie he hath thrust himself as it were vpon sharpe pikes and for my sake hath passed many a voyage by sea in the coulde time of winter that some part of his seruice hathe beene to your aduantage whiche the goodwill that I beare towardes you requireth Dolabella to Cicero THE ARGVMENT Dolabella Cicero his sonne in lawe persuadeth his father either to take part with Caesar or else to conuey him selfe from warre into some citie where he may liue in peace If you haue your health I reioyce I am well and so is our Tullia as for Terentia she was not all after the best but I am certaine she is nowe receuered and wareth strâ—…ng againe to be short all thinges with you are in suche good case that they cannot be better Although there be no cause why you should haue mée in suspicion at any time that I séeke to persuade you as more regarding the part of Caesar then hauing respecte to your safetie and good estate to ioyne your selfe in confederacie either with him and vs or else for your owne preseruation to séeke after ease and tranquillitie yet notwithstanding at this present especially sithence the victorie is so farre from being pessessed that it is in small likelyhoode to be atchieued I can coÌ„ceiue none other opinion but this that I am drawne by duetie to deale with you touching your estate and affaires by order of persuasion because I cannot in this poinct vse taciturnitie and silence saueing the zeale and affection which in mée towards you is naturally required harmelesse and vndiminished As for you my Cicero accept my woordes in such sorte and haue such liking of my counsell that whether you allowe it or whether you disanull it as well my meaning as also my writing may séeme in your iudgement to haue had issue from a gentle heart courteously disposed and to your goodnesse most bounden and obedient You are not vnaduised that C. Pompeius notwithstanding his name of noblenesse his title of dignitie his renowne in feates of armes hispuisance in martiall exploites his power by the meanes of the protection of kinges countries is in daunger that this which fortune denieth not to any one of inferiour degrée cannot fall to his lott to obteine namely to prepare flight saueing his honour honestie 〈◊〉 that hée is driuen out of Italie now that hée hath the repuâ—… out of Spaine his tried armie and proued souldiours taken and hée himselfe compassed round about on all sides and so enuironed that hee cannot escape the like lucke whereof whether any Emperour of ours tasted at any time I am ignoraunt Wherefore what hée or your selfe may hepe for hereafter coÌ„sider and wey wâ—…l in your owne mind according to the worthinesie of your wisedome for so shall you with great facilitie take such counsell and vse such aduisement as to your owne person wil proue in sine most profitable Thus much more I desire of you that if hée haue escaped his daunger and kéepe himselfe close in the Nauie that he be not bewrayed to be carefull of your owne affaires not to neglecte your owne estate which ought most of all to moue you and now at length towards your selfe rather then to any other to vse more friendship You haue done seruice sufficient already as well in consideration of duetie as alsâ—… in respect of acquaintaunce Both parties are satisfied and that common wealth which you haue alwayes liked and loued alloweth your doing and is not discoÌ„tented It remayneth that where the weale publique is at this present there wée also abide and be resident rather then whiles wée buisily hunt after an estate old and aunciente wee haue none at all but be quite dispossessed In consideration of which premisses I wishe you my best beloued Cicero that if peraduenture Pompeius being expelled also out of these places flée of force and constraint to other regions to take your way to Athens or else to some other citie as it shall please you for the enioyinge of quietnesse which thinge if you shall doe not reiecting my counsell tending to your commoditie I would haue you certifie mée by your letters that I if by any meanes it is possible may hasten to sée you well settled Whatsoeuer perteyning to your dignitie and worthinesse remaineth to be obteined of the Emperour it is as easie as hearte can conceiue such is the clemencie and gentlenesse of Caesar to gett it for your furtheraunce besides that my requeste in your 〈◊〉 vnto him humblie made shall preuaile and winne no 〈◊〉 authoritie It belongeth to you as a badge of your bountie to procure that the selfe same messenger whome I sent vnto you with my letters may returne bringing backe againe from you to mée a conuenient aunsweare Fare you well Cicero to Dolabella THE ARGVMENT Hee writeth to Dolabella in his highe aduauncement and commendation because hee ouerthrewe a piller that was erected and sett vpp in open place of assemblie to Caesar as it were to a god Read theâ—… 4 booke ad Atticum and Lactantius lib. 1. Cap. 15. ALthoughe I grudge not ne repine my Dolabella at your glorious renowne but reape thereby great ioy and pleasure vnspeakable yâ—…t I cannot but acknowledge and confesse that by the popular reporte and opinion I am accompted and thought a partener of your praise I séeke conference with no man and yet I haue daily communication not with a fewe for there are very good men a great multitude who for the regard of their health and maintenaunce of their owne safetie haue recourse to these quarters besides them there resort hether many of mine acquaintance out of diuerse townes incorporate not â–ª of any great distance but they all one with another aduauncing you with praises aboue hilles and mountaines yea to the very heauen giue great thankes vnto mée immediatly thereuppâ—…n For they say that they are grounded vppon such assuraunce and are in such certaintie of knowledge that you by shewing your selfe attentiue to my preceptes and to my counsells being obedient practise the part and duetie of an excellent citizen and frame your selfe to such commendable vsage as thereby you are proued a singular Consul To whom althoughe I can make a most true aunswere that in your déedes you followe your owne aduise and iudgemente as not néeding any other mans counsel yet notwithstanding I do not assent thereunto manifestly least I should seeme to diminish your coÌ„mendation if al the praise were ascribed to the benefite of my iudgement neither yet wil I séeme vtterly to make deniall for in deede I am more vaineglorious then I néede Howbeit y is not repugnant to your renowne which made much for the honour of Agamemnon y king of kings and
grauitie sobernesse courage and valiaunt hart that he would not giue credite to the report of any Phrygian of any Lycaonian as you did in your Embassadours but set light by the informations of those men which bare best and iolliest countenaunce if their reports séemed to sauour of ill will and malice And for somuch as this mans sonne married your daughter besides which knitting oâ—… affinitie and coupling of kinred feing that Câ—… Pompeius beareth you such hartie good-will and in you coâ—…ceiueth great delight as I am not ignoraunt how ought I to be affected towards you with what flames of kindnes ought my heart to be kindled specially sithens hée sent letters vnto mée the contentes whereof were of such qualitie that although I had béene your sworne and professed foe as I am your most déere and faithful friend yet must I néedes haue béene appeased and haue framed my wil to the contentation of him whose merits haue my seruice at comâ—…aundement But hereof thus farre for that runneth peraduenture more at large which is already written then was necessarie and requisite Now vnderstand you what I haue attempted and also finished Wherein wée wil labouâ—… still more for your aduauncemente then for your detriment For as I hope wée shal heare that you shal be Censor shortly the office and authoritie of which magistrate I can none otherwise beléeue will be better considered off on your behalfe as it requireth a most valiaunt minde and singular counsel more diligently and more circumspectly then these matters which wée haue in hand touching your person Fare you well Sulpicius to Cicero THE ARGVMENT When Caesar made warre in Spaine against Pompeius complices Tullia Ciceroes daughter died in childbearth when shee was diuorced from Dolabella whereuppon Sulpicius sendeth a consolatoriâ—… Epistle or a comfortable letter to Cicero â–ª gathering argumentes and reasons as many as he may to assuage his heuinesse AFter the death of your daughter was reported vnto me I toke it so grieuously as in déede I ought was stoung with such sorrowe of hart that I thought in her departure a common calamitie to consist and if I had béene present with you there at her death I doubt not but to haue giuen you a testimonie and an assured declaration of my sharpe conceiued sorrowe And although this kinde of comfort is rather miserable then deleâ—…able sowre and vnswéete then tempered with pleasauntnesse because they that minister this preparatiue to you are your néere friends and familiar companions and so partakers of your pensifenes in equal proportion that without streames of teares they cannot discharge such a duetie in so much as they had more néede of others consolation then themselues being sorowfull to presume to comfort the perplexed yet notwithstanding I haue determined at this present to write vnto you briefly such thinges as offered them selues to my remeÌ„brance not that I presuppose you to be ignoraunt what in this case should be accoÌ„plished but because you being now peradueÌ„ture ouer whelmed with heauinesse are not so circumspect as you haue béene accustomed Why should that your inward gréese so consume and waste your personne Consider I pray you consider in what order fortune hath dealt with vs that by her fumishnesse terrible thunderings we are spoiled left vtterly naked of those things which with men are in no lesse price and estimation then children our natiue countrie I meane how thinke you our honestie our dignitie and al the honours depending vppon our prouinciall estate This mischiefe and inconuenience being precisely pondered I am in doubte whether a more forceable thing can chaunce to ingender pensifenes and to moue a mans minde to lamentable mourning And should not hée whose heart is as it were hardened with these greater and more vehement casualties iudge all other sufferable and with lesse sorrowe to bée sustained You will not be so vnwise I thinke to be waile her coÌ„dition if you fal into this consideration as of necessitie you must and as I mée selfe doe many and oftentimes that they are in no ill case in these dayes specially replenished with tumults vprores insurrections * whose lot and luck it is to make an erchaunge of life accompanied with disquietnesse for a death deliuered from all vexation fortified with perpetual peace rest and tranquillitie What was there in Tullia your daughter which might greatly kindle in her a wil and desire to haue life lengthened in this time burthened with troubles what hope what confidence what thing of port countenaunce that shee being contracted and married to some noble youngman might runne the race of her age in his pleâ—… saunt partenership You may I thinke and it is lawfull for you in mine opinion without suspicion of preiudice to choose and elect out of the noble and honourable youth of Rome one young man of whom you doe well like and allowe to make him your sonne in lawe and to his tuition and gouernment to commit your smal children and orphans your owne selfe being in safetie Would you wish that she might liue and fill the citie by the benefit of procreation not vsing the company of man Would you desire I say to haue her bring foorth sonnes and daughters whom shée might behold in their flourishing yeares and reioyce who might possesse their inheritaunce diuided vnto them of their father and therewith liue like gentlemen and gentlewomen who might orderly arise to feates and offices of honour in the common wealth and in their friends affaires might vse their liberalitie What of all these thinges is there which was not taken away before it was fully giuen But it is a miserable thinge for a man to lose his children y losse of them no doubt is miserable if to suffer open bondage were not much more wretched Shall I tell you what put mée in great comfort when time was vndoubtedly I will vppon condition that the selfe same things might mitigate weaken your heuinesse â–ª As I came oute of Asia and directed my saile from Aegina towardes Megara I beganne to take a viewe of the countries rounde about mée Behinde mée was Aegina before mée was Megara on my right hand was Pyraeus and on my left Corinthus which cities were sometime famous and honourable but now being battered and sacked lye ruinous and waste Then thought I with mée selfe Wée sillie soules take the matter too too heauily when any of our acquaintance dyeth or is slaine whose life peradueÌ„ture was but short and héere how many multitudes of men haue béene murthered how many townes destroyed how many faire buildinges ouerthrowne Wilt thou Seruius stay thée selfe and imprint this in thy memorie Hominem te esse natum That by bearth thou art but a mortal man And belieue me friend Cicero in thus thinking I was sufficiently confirmed The same thing also if you please hange before you as it were a loking glasse at one time so many
diligence although you for affeâ—…ions sake â—…stéeme them of greater value yet not withstanding in the iudgmeÌ„t of my most enimie they are set at such a high price of praise that nothing séemeth desireable saue the iewel of honest report Be resolued in minde and in thought thus established that what I can encounter by power foresée by counsell procure by authoritie al and euery portion thereof shal be referred to the profite of the commonwealth Your meaning is manifest vnto mée and as for your admonitions they shal be the rule of my doings â–ª neither will I at any time so farre ouershoote mée selfe that any thing of mée attempted shal deserue reprehension I am in expectation of all thinges as desirous to know what is done in Gallia prouince as also to vnderstand the state of such matters as haue béene in hand this moneth of Ianuarie in the Citie In the meane season very great is my care which I suffer where I doe remaine least these countries and people amonge the faultes of others should suppose our harmes their occasion To be briefe if my successe be such as I deserue then certainly I will satisfie the mindes both of you whom I wishe specially to content and of all good men least I make their affiaunce frustrate Regard your health loue mée as I loue you Fare you wel Cicero to Planco ¶ THE ARGVMENT In this Epistle hee pricketh Plancus forward with the spurres of praise not onely to take vppon him â–ª the charge of the common wealth but also the defence and preseruation of the same I Receyued two seuerall letters from you tendinge to one effect which was a manifest argument of your dilligence For I perceiued that you were touched with a certaine desire to haue your letters which I long looked for deliuered to my hands Out of which after I had perused them I reaped double commoditie and vauntage very hard for mée in conference to decide by iudgement whether I should thinke your loue towards my person or your true hart to the body of the common wealth of greater accompte and estimation The loue and affection of oure countrie in my iudgement is the greatest without exception but yet not withstanding the knitting together of our wills conteyneth more swéetnesse wherefore the commemoration of that beneuolence and reuerence which you exhiâ—…ited vnto mée as vnto a father euen from your young yeares and the rehearsall of such thinges as serued to a semblable purpose increased in my hart incredible delectation Againe the declaring of your mind and studie to the commonwealths aduauntage which you haue alreadie conceiued and hereafter meane also to sée continued appeared vnto me passing pleasaunt And so much the greater was this delight how much the néerer it approched to the aboue recited circumstances Wherefore my Plancus I doe not onely exhort but also beséech you as I haue done in that my letter whereunto you sent mée an answeare that with all your heart wil and desâ—…re with al your body streÌ„gth and courage you regard the estate of the weale publique There is nothing in the world whereby your commoditiâ—… may be more inlarged your glorie amplifâ—…ed and praise published Neither is any thing of such excellencie in the world vniuersall or of equal worthinesse then for a man to behaue himselfe in such order as that hee may deserue well of the common wealth For such is your singular courtesie and such is your wisedome that I am not restrained to vtter vnto you with libertie of speache whatsoeuer I thincke necessarie Fortune hath so fauoured and furthered you that the passage to verie great things hath béen opened wyde to you And though the attainement of such countenaunce without the assistaunce of vertue were impossible yet notwithstanding what soeuer you haue aspired vnto y same is referred for the most part to the goodnes of Fortune and ascribed to the state of time What benefite soeuer the common-wealth receiueth through you in these troublesome seasons and hard world it shall whoalie and solie redounde to your owne dignitie and be reputed proper to your owne person The hatred of al Citizens those villans onely of whom you wott excepted is incredible against Anthonie In you is great conâ—…idence reposed and on your armie no smal expectation dependeth Now take héede in any case for the honour of all the Gods that you loosâ—… no time for your owne adâ—…auncement and renowne I counsell you as a sonne I fauour you as mée selfe and I exhort you in our countries behalfe as a very friend Fare you well Cicero to Planco THE ARGVMENT Hee commendeth Plancus for his readines and willing hart in succoâ—…ring the common wealth and incourageth him to hope for most ample and honourable rewards froÌ„ the Senate for his labour wherin he promiseth to take diligent paines himself and exhorteth him that as he hath begonne notably so hee would procâ—…ede and continue manfully ALthough I vnderstand by y mouth of Furnius what your will was concerning the common wealth and what was your counsell yet notwithstanding after I had viewed and examined your letters the matter lay more open and manifest to my iudgemeÌ„t so that I was throughly instructed in your meaning Wherefore although the whoale state of the common wealth standeth or falleth in one conflicte or battell which as I supposed was decided vppon when you were reading this letter yet notwithstanding the verie reporte of your wil and toward minde was so blased abroad that therby you atchieued great coÌ„mendation If we had had a Consul at Rome it should haue béene declared and testified to your speciall praise and worthinesse by the assent of the Senate how approueable your enterprises were how acceptable your preparation The time of which thing is not only not paste but is scarcely come in mine opinion For end That seemeth vnto mee to bee true and not counterfect honour which is bestowed and employed vppon noble men not for hope of preferment hereafter but for present merits and desertes past Wherfore let there be any coÌ„mon wealth at all wherein honour may haue power and abilitie to flourish and trust mée it shal be your lot and lucke to be aduaunced to the best the chiefest and the greatest And That honour to say trueth may of right be reputed honour which is not a temporall reward for further incouragement but a perpetuall recompence of vertue and honestie â–ª Wherfore my Plancus lay too all the might you can make to purchasâ—… praise and to winne worship support your natiue countrie be an assistant to your fellowe in oâ—…fice and refuse not to consent to the incredible conspiracie of al nations in so doing you shall both know and trie that I am a furtherer of your counsells a â—…auourer of your dignitie an assured friend in all assayes and a most faithfull companion For vnto those causes wherewith we are lincked in loue one to another as
vndoubted assuraunce of your good will towardes me as muche as may be inclined I am so circumspecte and aduised notwithstanding that to your office through ambition ouer much medling I be not an impediment Euer since I was a childe and knew what acquaintance ment I and Q. Curtius haue béene vnited in very great familiaritie at whose miserie as at the calamitie also of Syllaes time ful of tumult I am sory and lament and yet neuerthelesse when as graunt was made by a generall consent that such as had suffered semblable inconueniences al that they were worth being vtterly lost and spoiled should returne and enioy the libertie of their countrie I withdrewe not my wil from the rest for the furtherance of their safety This C. Curtius hath a certaine possession or péece of lande lying in Volaterrano wherto he conueyed the remnant of al his substance as it were from the daunger of deuouring ship wracke At this instant it hath pleased Caesar to admit him among the order of Senatours whiche place and office of dignitie he can hardly scantly mainteine this possession of his being not reserued restored And surely it is a thing thaÌ„ which none can be more grieuous that he whose honour is higher aduaunced should of substance and wealth susteine greater dammage neither is it conuenient that he should be dispossesse of that land which is deuided at Caesars commauÌ„dement who is made a Noble Senatour by Caesars beneficence But touching the equitie vprightnes of the thing I haue smal stomach to vse more words in writing lest I shold séeme to account more of the circuÌ„stances of the cause then to estéeme of your fauour and loue Wherefore I beséeche you moste earnestly that you would suppose the suite of C. Curtius as pertinent to mine own person in so much that what soeuer you do for my sake by way of request concerning the present cause of C. Curtius persuade your selfe that you do it for Cicero and let your opinion be occupied in this point that what he by your benefite obteineth the very same likewise Cicero receiueth Thus muche to put in proofe and also to perfourme I beséeche you once again and that with earnestnesse Fare you well Cicero to P. Sulpicio THE ARGVMENT He maketh a declaration of his duetie commendeth M. Bollanus desireth Sulpicius to be a meane whereby Dionysius his seruant might be apprehended ALthough my recourse be not so often in these dayes specially to the Senate yet notwith standing when your letter was of me read perused I did thinke that I might in no respect bee a hinderer of your honour renoune but that thereby our auncient fréendshippe should be ecclipsed and a great portion of courteous duties passing to and fro betwéen vs vtterly banished Wherefore in your absence I failed not to be your furtherer neither did I shewe my selfe dissolute or negligent in ordering a solemne supplication for your behoof and as for regarde to your wealth substaunce reputation dignitie therein I will shewe my selfe at no time wanting To the intent therefore that your acquaintance may not be ignorant with what a loueing affection I am carefull ouer your person it is my wil and desire that by letters from you they be shortly certified to the end that if in any thing you stand in néede of mine assistance they may not be in suspension to infourme mée of the same Touching M. Bollanus a man of no lesse honestie then valiantnesse a man I say furnished with all thinges and one whom I haue loued as a fréend of long continuance I send you singular commeÌ„dations You shall do me a speciall benefite and suche a pleasure as a greater cannot be perfourmed if you do your endeuour that he may vnderstand this my commendation vnto you in his behalfe commenced to haue béene to him a principall helpe and aduantage of whose good demeanour you shal so well like that you will take him to be as he is a vertuous Gentleman and a courteous I make you this assurance by faithfull promise that through the fruite of his friendshippe and vse of acquaintaunce you shall reape exceeding delectation and swéetnesse aboue measure Furthermore I beséeche you instantly as you tender our kindenesse and familiaritie and for the loues sake whiche vnto mee you haue perpetually professed that in this point you would spare no paines but labour to the vttermoste Dionysius my seruant to whom I coÌ„mitted the charge of my bookes accounts and monie after he had by stealthe conueyed away many of those things wherof I put him in credite and suspecting that his offence was suche as deserued due punishment he tooke his héeles and by flight sought for refuge He is lurking in one corner or other of your Prouince M. Bollanus my familiar friend and diuerse other a great many saw him in Narona to whom after certain conference when he had coyned this excuse that he was by me manumised set at libertie they gaue credite to his report let him escape If you wil vouchsafe for my sake to bestowe some labour that he may be apprehended and sent backe againe to me his maister what a benefite I shall receiue by your paines therein employed I am not able by vtteraunce to testifie The matter it selfe is but momentanie and light but the gréefe of my minde is vehement and great Bollanus will instruct you in what place he abideth and what is to be done in this case if you will vse his aduise If it be my lucke to recouer the fugitiue fellowe I wil thinke mée selfe to haue receiued an excéeding great pleasure Fare you well Cicero to Philippo ¶ THE ARGVMENT He commendeth Oppius and Egnatius to Philippe the Proconsul the one being present and the other being absent ALthough the reuerence certaintie of our olde acquaintance driueth all doubtfulnesse into banishment that I cannot choose but thinke my commendation to be ingraffed in your remembraunce yet notwithstanding I am constrained of courtesie to commend and recommend the same L. Oppius my familiar friend being present and the affairs of L. Egnatius in his absence to your patronage and defence So great and so sure is the fréendshippe whiche knitteth our hartes together and so firme is the foundation of our familiaritie that I can not but labour as earnestly in his businesse that it might be furthered as I would trauell in mine owne matters to haue theÌ„ mainteined Wherfore I shal persuade meeâ—… selfe to bée a partaker of a principal benefite if through your procurement it may come to passe that he may vnderstand suche to be your fauourable and courteous vsage vnto my person as I haue alwayes thought and estéemed Than this pleasure I cannot receiue a greater at your handes wherfore to sée to the perfourmance of the same I desire you moste earnestly Fare you well Cicero to Seruilio ¶ THE ARGVMENT He commendeth Andron the sonne of Arthemon of Laodicea
called playes of dispâ—…t and trifling pastimes neuerthelesse as much renowne otherwhiles is by them atâ—…hieued as by matters more earnest and wâ—…ightie is procured and to discouer a manifest trueth which silence oughte no longer to smouâ—…ther for why should I not vtter verses whiles I exhort you to the stâ—…die aâ—…d meditation of the same True is this Comparison As waxâ—… is praisde if soft it bee and yeeld To euerie shape which workemans fingers frame Minerua chaste and Mars with sword and sheeld Faire Uenus grace that â—…miable Dame â–ª Her prâ—…tie sonne who Cupide hath to name With thousand sortes of thinges that disagree In waxe by Aâ—…te which plainly printed â—…ee And as the flames of hoat and scortching fire Are quenched quite with water of â—…he spring And sloures in field thereby to growth aspire And medowes greene of grasse which plentiâ—… bringâ—… So witt of man by skill a goodly thing â—…n diuers Arts must taught and trained bee What gaine is gott thereby the blind may see And therefore Oratours most excellent and men of great reputation vsed either to giue their mindes to that kinde of exercise or else in the saâ—…e were excéedingly delighted nay rather they did both take pleasure in it thought no skorne to make it their practise For it is a wonder to consider and weighe how y minde labouring in this meditation is much like vnto a bowe some times bent very tight and sometimes againe made slack for the nones that is it is other whiles busily occupied otherwhiles againe it is pleasaâ—…tly disposed For the subiect or argument wherof â—…erses consiste are perâ—…urbations and motions of the minde as loue hate anger mercie mildnesse frowardnesse c. Besides that they conteine all kinde of thinges which béelong to the course of our life and not so much as caâ—…es of lâ—…we pleadable in courtes of assise c. but in them verses are conuersaunt Poetrie hath also in it a peculiar commoditie and it openeth a passage to pleasure in other exercises for that being tyed to the necessitie of obseruing quantitie and proportion of syllables we delight our selues in proaâ—…e applying oure penne to write that more willingly which comparison doth proue vnto vs more easie and lesse laborious You haue peradâ—…enture more wordes spoken in this behalfe then you required Neuerthelesse one thing hath escaped for I haue not made declaration what I thought worthie the reading albeit I expresse what was worthie the writing It shal be your part to â—…xe and ingraffe this in your remembraunce that with diligence you must elect and châ—…se the best approued authorâ—… in their kind of methode and exercise a common saying it is in y mouthes of many Multum legendum esse non multa That much and ofâ—…en reading must be vsed and not one thing vppoâ—… another And what Authors those are that are most to be allowed it is so manifest and euident that iâ—… néedeth uo demonstration and if I should set downe a catalogue or beadroll of their names mine epistle should extend and stretch it selfe an vnreasonable length insomuch that whiles I set downe directions and precepts how you should order and dispose your studies I my selfe séeme to diminishe and consume the time which otherwise on my booke mought be employed Take into your handes againe your noting tables and write somewhat that is alreadie spoken or else the selfe same thing that you haue begonne Plinius to Traiano THE ARGVMENT This epistle is petitorie for it compriseth a shorte supplication made to his Prince Traianus for the graunt and gift of an Augurship or Septemuirship two seuerall offices in the end hee addeth a reason whie his request is to be of the number of the Augurs FOr â—…omuch as right gratious Souereigâ—…e I knowe of a certaintie that it belongeth to the testimoniall and commendation of my behauiour to be adorned and aduaunced by the iudgement of so bountifull a Prince I make my humble supplication to your highnesse that it would please you to amplifie and inlarge my dignitie whereunto I haue aspired through the benefite of your Graces clemencie either with the office of an Augur or of a Septimuir because there is place voide and to be furnished that I may according to the relligious rites and ceremoniall order of priesthoode pray publiquely vnto the Gods immortal whom at this present I worship and adore priuately for the preseruation and happie estate of your highnesse Plinius to Fabato THE ARGVMENT He beginneth with the celebration of bearth dayes then descendeth to talke of a Village in Campâ—…nia a Countrie in Italie Pliâ—… â–ª lib. 3. cap. 5. Flor. lib. 1. Strab. lib. 5 â–ª and others whereof Fabatus to whome hee directeth this letter was Lord and possessioner shewing that somethings were in decay and other some thinges againe in good estate hee 〈◊〉 of his want of acquaintaunce with men of the Countrie whose natures agree well with labour at last making mencion of Rufus touching some secrete matter hee concludeth WE are bound of duetie no lesse to celebrate your bearth day then our owne sithence the ioy and delight of ours dependeth vppon yours by whose diligence and care it is come to passe that when wée are hâ—…ere wée are merrie and when wée are there wée are not sorrie The Uillage called Camilliana Villa which is in Campania and in your possession is meruailous olde rotten and ruinous howbeit such thinges as are of most value and price doe either remaine whole and sounde or else haue but litle harme Wée will therefore giue attendaunce that they may bée repaired in order conuenient I séeme to haue friendes a great number â–ª but of that kind stampe which you séeke and your matter â—…oth craue I haue almost neuer a one For they are all gowned men and Citizens and you knowe this that thâ—… administration and buisinesse belonging to farme places and manours in the Countrie require a painefull and laborious fellowe and such a one as is hard and toughe and able to indure toile and trauel enough to whom as that kinde of exercise is nothing grieuous so the charge and care thereof is not vnséemely neither is their solitarinesse seasoned with sadnesse Concerning Rufus you thinke very honestlye for he is lincked with your sonne as it were in fetters of familiaritie and friendship Howbeit what new thing hée caâ—…ne compasse for himselfe I cannot tell his will is bent to do verie much I beléeue Fare you well Plinius to Quintiliano ¶ THE ARGVMENT The daughter of Quintiliaâ—…us to whom hee writeth thiâ—… epistle being towardes marriage with Nonius Celer a younge Gentleman â–ª Plinie would haue so attyred as to the office and calling of her husband is most correspondent and aunswearable Hee giueth her a summe of monie to â—…mende her Dowrie and thinking his gift but small doubteth not for all that â–ª but it shal be well accepted ALthough you are a man of singular continencie and
he hath not power he is altogither ignorant wherabouts he is busied Among these people in perplexities of perturbations intrapped one being disposed more manifestly to declare Democritus his madnesse made a harsh squeaking noyse cast out many shrill shrinkings like vnto a pititull mother bitterly lamenting the deade bodie of her childe lying in the coffâ—…n put into the sepulchre and raked vp in clods of earth all exequies conuenient done vnto the putrifying carkasse Anothâ—…r maketh outragious exclamations and tragicall outcries howling most hideously as if the déere childe of his owne body and bringing vp before his owne face in his own presence had most vnmercifully bene murthered These extreme passions of mynde with tong not vntestified when Democritus had heard simpeâ—…ing and smiling he began somwhat leisurely to write and wagged his head too and fro wherein he had some meaning Then said I you Abderites shal in this place make your tarriance I my selfe aduenturing to go neare vnto him will both by his communication gestures of body soone attaine to the perseuerance of his grieuous agâ—…nie if at least he be in any passion When I had thus spoken I attempted to clime the sâ—…éep slipperie hil but scarcely could I come at him I felt the ascending vp so labourious howbeit wheÌ„ I approched somwhat neare him his pen went passing swiftly vpon the paper I stood stil gaue attendance til such time as he had finished his writing Then he staying y spéedie course of his hand a litle beholding me not far off out of presence sayd God spéede friend And you also said I O Democritus with whom in wisdome no maÌ„ is comparable Then he hauing in him self a souden conceit of suspicion bicause as I suppose he called me not by my name as I did him by his demauÌ„ding of me what my name was For said he through ignorance of your name I called you by y common terme of friend vsed at méetings in gréeting to strangers such as be vnknown I made him answere that my name was Hippocrates that by profession I was a physician Whervpon he inferred this question saying what of the race of Aesculapius of his line are you discended The praise worthy report of your noble name in the practise of physicke hath this long time bene blased among vs is most famous But tell me good friende what occasion constrained you to séeke accesse hether sit downe first of al and then we wil conferre Sée here is a heape of leaues gréene soft to sit vpon easie nâ—…t vnpleasant for such seates they be as by lucke are alotted more to be accepted then to be refused When I had taken my place according to appointment he put forth another demaund said Declare vnto me euidently whether the businesse wherabouts you haue come hither be publique or priuate for to disburthen you of all doubt I am disposed to exhibite vnto you so much dutifulnesse and seruice as mine abilitie shal graunt me by permission Then shaped I this answere the cause of this â—…y comming was to sée heare you whom I had learned by common voice to be a philosopher of great fame flourishing in wisedome Your owne countrie ministred this present occasion in whose behalfe I beare the office of an Embassadour Then saith he yet againe you shall first tast y benefit of our curtesie intertainment TheÌ„ I being desirous earnestly bent to take trial of him in al points circumstances as narrowly as I could coÌ„prehend albeit I sâ—…we in him no signification of madnesse but manifest argumeÌ„ts tokens of sobernesse began my coÌ„munication with this queâ—…ion Do you knowe a citizen of this your towne named Philopoemenes why said you not rather y sonne of a diuell whose abiding is neare to Mercuries brook But friend Democritus let minâ—… intertainment be seasoned with more courtesie â–ª tel me first of al what it is y you write so busily at this present TheÌ„ he pausing a litle space said it was a pamphlet intreating of madnesse WhervpoÌ„ I fell into these words with a certaine admiration Oh mightie Iupiter you write a treatise for citizens not out of season For what citizens saith he Democritus said I my tong ouerruns my knowledge I say nothing for being vnaduised in my language I tooke no héed how those words escaped But what thing do you write touching madnesse who made me this wise answere what else but what it is how in y mynds oâ—… men it is ingendered by what meanes it ought to be cured for which purpose I haue ript open launced cut mangled these beasts y you see bathing in their own bloud not y I haue the work of omnipotent Iupiter in contempt detestation but for y I am ear nest to know y places where y foure natural humors be setled specially y place propertie of melancholy For of this you are not ignoraunt y melancholy being predominant or more abounding theÌ„ y other qualities moueth men to madnesse which humour is not wanting in any of vs by the ordinance of Nature although in some it haue more in other some lesse quantitie For the surplusage of y same what is it else but a méere maladie or sicknesse which being of it selfe good necessarie is other whiles changed into a contrarie Then sayde I Out of doubt Democritus your wordes dissent not from truth nether séeme they repugnant to reason Whâ—…rfore in my iudgemeÌ„t blessed is your condition whose fortune is 〈◊〉 fauourable as to liue in that libertie of quietnesse the benefite whereof we are not suffered to enioy Upon these wordes of myne he mouâ—…d this question demaunding of me what should hinder me more then him from the vse of such felicitie To whome â–ª I maâ—…e this aunswer Bycause my landes my children my debtes my cures my seruauntes my wife and other worldly matters wherein I am ouerwhelmed cutte me off from the profite of that prosperous opportunitie Immediately vpon these words y man according to y accustomed course of his passion fel into a lowd laughter and shortly after refrained from that souden motion Then sayde I To what purpose laughed you in that order Democritus tell me what iudge you of the words which I vttered were they approuable or were they disalowable vpon this demaund he laughed out of measure The Abderits who standing aloof and beholding his behauiour clapped with their hands and gaue a shout some smote them selues on the heades vnhappily other some buffetted them selues about the face pitiously and some againe plucked their haires vp by the rootes most rigorously For as afterwardes they gaue me to vnderstand Democritus laughter was neuer so excessiue Then began I to speake againe to the man and sayde I am desirous most prudent Democritus to learne the reason of this perturbation or affection whether the presence of my person or the vtterance of my wordes
a Cicero or a Demosthenes both tryed Rhetoricians to sett him out with their blasing eloquence Maro and Homer must take in hand to write in heroicall Uerses y vertue and noblenesse of him whose worthinesse when I examine I see such oddes betweene the maiestie of his person and the homelinesse of mine inuention that I thinke it more auailable to kepe silence and so auoyde blame then by saying litle and y same superâ—…ciall to incurre reprehension for attempting that which I am not able to coÌ„passe Neuerthelesse because euery man hath knowledge deliuered him as it were by weight and measure it is my part to employ that which remayneth in mée insemblable proportion and therefore most Gracious Souereigne according to mine abilitie I will procéede in commending my Alexander as I haue alreadie begunne least I should giue occasion to your highnesse that I haue taken vppon mée a péece of worke whereof I cannot be the maister To pretermitte his infancie to let slippe his yonger yeres both which were neuer destitute of most honourable behauiours and to come to his riper age to come to that time wherein he gaue singular manifestations of his valliantnesse which was neuer seperated from policie it is a world to coÌ„sider y victories which he obteyned to recount the countries which he subdued to number vp y people whom he drue to his subiection to make rehersal of his straung aduentures finally to declare the manifold wayes which lay wyde open vnto him to good fortune and the getting of euery thing according to his owne will whereby be purchased that rare title of Empyre to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnus Great and mightie it would excéede the due proportion and length of an epistle drawe the veyne of mine inuention drie bréede wearisomnesse to you in reading and séeme rather to sauour somewhat of the nature of an historie which rippeth vpp circumstances to the very proofe leauing litle or nothing vnremembred What Prince in power hath euer béene heard off comparable to Alexander What king in his adueÌ„tures hath had more happie successe On whome haue the Gods and Goddesses more smiled that hée should strike such an astonishment of his owne person into the mindes of people as to be thought and named Iupiter and not Alexander the sonne of Philippe and Olympias When hée was twentie yeares old hée was admitted to the Scepter of the kingdome and had in his hands the Macedonian Monarchie after the deceasse of his father who was slaine of Pausanias who being no sooner installed in the seate royall and wearing the Diademe of empire was much troubled wyth commotions of his people such as ought to haue béene most loyal and obedient to their leage lord king made insurrection and playd the arrant rebells seeking not his dispossession onely but also his destruction neuerthelesse he estéeming these tumults but as vayne shadowes was so farre from being carryed away with the conceite of fearefulnesse the next and readie way to cowardise that with boldnesse of heart and constancle hée suppressed them all and that in verie short space confirming to himselfe the true seruice of his subiects and winning the fauour of his Peeres and Nobles that he could not but prosper in all things which he atteÌ„pted He beséeged the citie of Thebes ouercame it did ransack it By concluding peace he reconciled vnto himself his people the Atheniens He discomfited Darius and his whole armie tooke his wyfe children prisoners whom he vsed very parcially nay very mercifully considering y he had iuster occasion to execute tyraÌ„nical violence then to shew any sparkle of coÌ„passiâ—… He behaued himself in al his warlike enterprises like a puisant Martialist hauing vertue his forrunner and Fortune his weighting mayd Pamphylia Cilicia Pisidia Phrygia Paphlagonia Cappadocia c. fel into his dominioÌ„ thus most miraculouâ—…y were y boâ—…ds of his kingdome amplified inlarged He passed ouer the â—…oud Issus came to Damascus tolte Cyprus all Phenicia Tyrus excepted which citie when he was assaulting there appeared vnto him in his dreame Hercules calling him by his name and offring himself to take him downe from the walls Another thing appeared also vnto him in his sleape a Satyre playing with him whom when he would haue caught it ran away from him neuerthelesse at last it came voluntarily yelding vnto him was taken in his hands This last dreame being put to expositours to be interpreted was thus vnderstoode that by the diuision of the word Satyrus the dreame did import this meaning namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The citie Tyrus shal be yours After that he tooke Gaza a great and stately citie in Syria hée conquered Aegypt in which countrie hee was desirous to leaue some monument of himselfe that the memorie of him and his people might flourish throughout all posterities This citie he called after his owne name which he built in such a plott of land as a better neither for pleasauntnesse nor commoditie might be chosen in all that region Thus procéeding from wor thinesse to worthinesse from renowne to renowne mounting as it were by steppes he became so famous that all the world heard of the déedes of Alexander counting him rather a God then a man So then your Grace may sée by these confused and disordered discourses packt together in praise of a right praise worthie Prince what a valliaunt spirite hee was directed withal in al his aduentures How farre he was to reuolt from manhoode no not when hee was in extremitie of daunger but withstanding all inconueniences thoroughe the good guiding of vertue and the fauour of fortune that neuer failed hee purchased a name of noblenessé which remayning in the registers of many Chroniclers and writers may serue for an incitation or incouragement to other kings and Princes to followe his steppes in puisaunce and martiall excercises though their lucke be not like his nor the successe of their labours so fraught with happinesse Nowe to ende with that wherein I should haue begunne namely the ornamentes of his minde which proued him a noble gentleman in déede it is manifest in all that was written of him how studious and painefull he was to be seene in the knowledge of the sciences liberall and no lesse earnest and desirous to put that in experience wherein he was instructed The learning of things tending to humanitie what goodly effects wrought it in his hart yea euen in the heate of warre when the force of his anger should haue pluckt him violently to reuengement then was hée passing appliable to compassion in somuch that hée did both forgiue and forgett offences committed against his maiestie albeit they were ofteÌ„times done to worke his owne mischiefe In the mysteries of nature he laboured so diligently being taught of Aristotle that there was kindled in him such a meruailous delight that he could not abide others to be communicants and partakers of that which hee knewe but
benefite To be raysed out of your bed early in a morning with the chirping noyse and swéete singing of byrdes to be incouraged to sit downe to your studie and to bestow a few houres at your booke to rise out of your chaire and walke about the flelds brauely beautified with flowres hearbes and blossomes to fetch a clyming course vp and about the pleasaunt and delightsome hilles Then after your returne from walking to betake you to your accustomed companions and with them to haue conference til the heate of the day decline and be ouerpast or else all noonetide to solace your selfe in the refreshing shadowe or else to be exercised with shooting in a crossebowe and to make tryall howe you can leuell at a marke Sometimes to mount on horsebacke and goe abroade a hunting then to sit close at your booke for a while and when you are wearie with reading nay when your reason hath persuaded you in a measure of studie for the Muses are such pleasant companions that the more we frequent them the more desirous we are to vse them â—…o farre they be from breeding loathsomenesse then you haue your deintie suppers prouided and dishe vpon dishe presented to tâ—…e table After that you haue your fine walkes in places of pleasure and therewithall communication seasoned with the leuen of learning to câ—…clude and shut vp all in breuitie you haue your swéete and delicate sléepes in your comfortable chambers I would I were deade if these â—…e not such rare delightes to mée specially as that I coulde finde in my heart if I wist where to haue them euen to saile euer seas but euen to sée them and what I woulde then gladly doe to enioy them may soone be â—…uspected Day and night I thinke nay I wishe that I had wings that I might flée vnto you Wherefore sée that you looke for me about the Ides â—…f September For I meane by Gods helpe at that appointed day to be present with you neyther will I goe forwarde with the rest of my determined peregrination and voiage before I see the euent and full successe of my labours and the whole trade of my life that is til I haue part of your pleasures a fewe dayes in your gay gréene medowes Fare you well Dated at Patauium Ch. Longolius to Ia Sadoleto ¶ THE ARGVMENT He confesseth what pleasure he conceiued by the letter which M. A. Michael receiued froÌ„ Sadoletus to be conuâ—…yed vnto him preferreth the bountie of his nature before perfourmaunce of promises acknowledgeth him selfe to continue myndfull of Sadoletus his curtesie discouereth the occasion why he rather choseth to dwell in Pataâ—…ium then in the citie of Rome declareth that wheÌ„ his troubles be vntwisted he will visite Sadoletus Lastly he concludeth with the mouing of a petition in his former lettâ—…r mencioned THE letter whiche M. Antonius Michael sent me the last daye from Venice minisâ—…red vnto me a great signification of familiaritie betwéene vs both and a manifest proofe of your good liking of me of our familiaritie in that you persuade your selâ—…e to be excusable and that I will not burtheÌ„ you for the long delaying and silence which you vsed before you writte vnto me of good liking in that you be desirous to haue me leade my life with you and to turne all that is yours into my vse and seruice But surely although suche be my condition at this present that nothing vnto me could séeme more worthy acceptation then the receiuing of letters from you yet notwithstanding hereâ—…f I would not haue you ignoraunt that your good will and kynde heart is to me in more price and estimation then the pâ—…rfourmaunce of all promises not for that by them you giue a testimonie and declaration to outreach myne opinion for I haue bene alwayes resolâ—…ed thus in mynde that what soeuer might be looked for at the handes of a vâ—…rie friend should nothing to the contrarie passe from you vnto me that hope in her account might not be vnsatisfied but bycause I reading and perusing your Epistles might in them see and behâ—…ld a most liuely representation of your liberall and bountiâ—…ull nature In consideration whereof I yealde you infinite thankes as by duetie I féele my selfe constreined and also that it will please you to continue this your accustomed kindnâ—…sse to my behoofe I beséech you most earnestly For I trust so to escape the rocks of forgetfulnesse and vnthankfulnesse which haue caused many a one to suffer shamefull shipwracke that I shal be able enough to performe and accomplish as I hope with daily dutifulnesse and continuall recourse of courtesie all suche seruice as your deserts doe exact and require In that you say you sée no cause why I shoulde rather desire to dwell at Patauium then in another house within the citie to the end I may kéepe in secrete the inwarde grudge of my heart and not discouer my hidden thoughtes touching the citie I tell you trueth that if the worlde did laughe vppon mée as it doeth vppon you I woulde not passe a 〈◊〉 in what place I spent the time that I haue to liue As for you that haue all thinges about you whiche are necessarie and requirable it makes no greate matter sythence in any countrie whersoeuer you come you are able to mainteine your selfe in welth and honour according to the noblenesse of your fortune and the worthy calling where vnto you are allotted but my condition and estate is farre otherwise that euen in this plentie and abundaunce of all things I am so farre from bearing any port or hauing a traine of men to daunce attendance vpoÌ„ me that I am not of abilitie sufficient to finde a poore lackie to doe my necessarie seruice and what shoulde I then doe thinke you at Rome But for so much as it pleaseth you to offer me the vse and commoditie of your house that is to drawe me thether where you be resident I will not shew my selfe so vntoward as to refuse the benefite of your proffered curtesie neyther will I shew any signe of such foolishnesse as to labor longer in the lack of your familiaritie whiche I haue desired most heartily yea so earnestly as nothing aboue it whatsoeuer But bycause my matters are brought into so narrowe a streight that they can not with such ease nor yet with suche spéede be set at libertie and obteine a larger scope I haue not as yet to write any thing vpon certaintie to you of my comming so soone as I haue vntwinde my selfe out of the bryers I will giue you informatien In the meane seasâ—…n remember I am so affected in mynde that I wishe with all my heart to enioy your bountifulnesse and your familiaritie moreouer the same petition which I made vnto you in my former letter I renewe againe in this namely that through your friendly furtheraunce when you are at conuenient leysure I may haue accesse to our supreme Bishop and with him
honour and noblenesse all mystes and fogges of ignoraunce may be driuen away out of all the corners of this kingdome that by this benefite the promoting of learning I meane wrought by your procurement you may winne singular renoune to your owne person and perpetuall praise to your posteritie God giue your honour prosperitie and happynesse in aboundance Fare you well M. G. Haddon to the right honourable the Lord Robert Dudleie Earle of Leycestre c. THE ARGVMENT Writing to the Earle of Leycestre that nowe is he taketh the beginning of his Epistle from his owne person then exhorteth him to bestow his conuenient leasure in the studie learning of the sciences liberall bringeth in an erronious opinion long since helde of the auncient Romaines and answereth the same by the authoritie of Cicero therevpon he taketh occasion yet againe to exhort him to the studie of Arts reckoning three seuerall thinges not vnmeete for his person and to the intent his words might carrie the greater credite and countenaunce hee vseth examples both forreigne and domesticall one among the rest drawne from her owne highnesse I meane the Queenes maiestie nowe in possession of the English Empire in the mencion whereof he toucheth sundrie circumstances Lastly he concludeth with a speciall exhortation wherein he sheweth his loâ—…e to GOD Almightie to his souereigne â–ª and to his countrie THat my seruice is so acceptable with your honour I sée good and substantiall cause to reioyce and sithence I sée it hath such happie successe I will not be slaâ—…ke in continuing the course thereof euen for the time it is allowed of you and is thought aunswerable to your will and pleasure Howe muche mine abilitie is inferiour to your honours commendable report so much is and ought your fauour and courtesie to minister vnto me the more delectation in which point I shall neuer giue sufficient testimonie of the loue whiche I beare you till I haue sâ—…t abroade in open viewe of the worlde some singular monument and sounded in the eares of people an especiall kynde of melodie whereby it may not onely be knowne and vnderstoode but also sealed and assured what benefites I haue receiued of your honour specially and of yours in like manner generally In the meane season as I may and as I can I will be your fauoâ—…rer and furtherer that so much time may be bestowed confecrated to tearning studie as the affaires of the weale publique your necessarie buisinesse do affoord and though it be not so muche as you woulde yet let it be as muche as it may In the auncient yeares of the Romane common wealth it was an opinion of a greate number an opinion I say which preuailed not a little in those dayes and the selfe same as yet euen in the Courtes of Princes hath taken too déepe roote that the knowledge of Artes and sciences is nothing necessarie to Noble men neyther that they ought to tye and intangle their myndes in suche toyes and trifles But â—…he authoritie of Cicero leauened with greate grauitie and pouldered with wisedome is at contradiction with this barbarous opinion that Noble men at their méetinges should not be mute and tong-tyed neyther that they ought to spende the time in vaine prattle tending to no purpose but that as their degrée is highe and honourable so is it conuenient and séemely their knowledge shoulde be aunswerable Wherefore although you haue not full leasure to apply all your labour to the studie of Arts and sciences yet must you so acquaint your selfe with them and as it were dye your wit in their vnchaungeable colours that in euerie liberall science you may haue a certaine sight and iudgement especially in those whiche are most plausible popular and prayseworthy as are for example eloquence the ciuil lawe and histories But in this kinde of studie it is néedelesse to giue you exquisite preceptes bycause you haue attending vpon you one for the same purpose sufficiently furnished the benefite of whose seruice you haue in vse Wherein appeareth a perfect proofe of your prudence and prouidence For you shall not â–ª finde among all your riche and precious possessions any one thing of the like value and estimation if he be suche a man indeede as by your letters vnto me directed and deliuered I doe gather In that after the example of Neoptolemus you impart a little leasure to Philosophie it is well and not to be misliked For that leasure shall procure vnto you great profite and nolesse pleasure But the life of Neoptolemus as it was neuer frée from weightie affaires but alwayes occupyed in mattâ—…rs of importaunce besides that still busied in battell skirmishes conquestes like a right Martialist so I must néedes confesse the trade of your life to be accompanied with much businesse but howe it is warlike I sée not neyther would I wishe it to be so I tell you trueth And yet Iulius Caesar which was a Monarche of the world vniuersall euen in the midst of extreme heate and rage of battell brought ouer with him into this English Island then called Britanie Trebatius the lawyer to the intent he might not loose no not that little leasure but by the vse of the same reape some learning L. Luâ—…ullus in that most daungerous conflict whiche he aduentured against Mithridates was so farre from forgetting Philosophie that for the continuall increase of wisedome he had a Philosopher in his companie throughout all his iournies to the ende that the course of his studies shoulde not be hindered Of * Alexander the great it is not vnknowne with what daily diligence he heard Aristotle his maister But these be olde auncient examples and also forreigne I will bring you home to our owne countrie yea euen to the heart of the court and I will set before you a principall patterne after the whiche as I suppose you are verie well content to frame your self precisely You sée that her Maiestie hath matters manifold and innumerable wherabout to beate her braine and yet you are not ignoraunt howe her highnesse is addicted to studie and with what a desire she longeth after learning When I am in the court and consider this I am somwhat ashamed of my selfe For so often as I haue recourse to her highnesse I finde her commonly at her booke and yet suche resort and daily attendaunce is there on her Grace and suche a multitude of suites of all sortes that it is to bée thought her Maiestie hathe not so muche leasure as once to thinke vppon learning But of this her earnest and diligent 〈◊〉 that waye employed she hath reapt profite plentifully namely the knowledge and vnderstanding of all things in whiche she is able fo reason and conferre with men of learning besides that great glorie yea suche glorie as is lincked to euerlastingnesse bycause shée being but a woman is so prouided of alâ—… furniture belonging to learning and wisedome that all other
noble men Princes and potentates may rather stande musing and maruelling at her maiestie as at a worldes wonder then set her hyghnesse before them as a president or an example to immitate and follow And as her Graces giftes be excéedingly commended in these quarters among forreigne people and straungers so likewise her passing prayse as well for the learning wherewith she is indued as for the sundrie languages also whereof she hath vnderstanding is spreade abroade and published by the report of such persons as in whome wisedome and iudgement is not wanting and this her prayse being noysed farre and neare is so farre from perishing that it is perpetuall and the flowre of her fame dothe neuer ceasse flourishing If you will be applyable to the like diligence and continuaunce in studie as this excellent Ladie and péerâ—…lesse prince accustomably vseth it can not be but you must néedes bée a communicate of the like renoune and in the chiefest commendations that can bée attained haue your deserued portion But whiles I call to remembraunce the noblenesse of your person I finde this my long exhortation to bée a néedelesse lesson bycause to loue learning commeth wholy to you by inheritaunce For your father although he him selfe was vnlearned yet he was a great fauourer and furtherer of suche men as were learned whiche to be no vntrueth by this proofe is most apparant and manifest bicause hée made so muche of me in consideration of that same vncertaine shadowe of learning whiche in me hée perceiued for the sounde substaâ—…uce of learning he could not sée in mée sythence thereof I was voyde and destitute Furthermore Iohn of Warwicke the elder brother was so inflamed with an earnest loue to learning that in comparifon thereof he had all thinges else in lesse account estimation next whome though your brother who euen nowe is aduauncâ—…d to his honour eniâ—…yeth the selfe same titles of dignitie and noblenes be not indued with the like abilities of knowledge yet is he affected with equall measure of loue and good liking towards learning in so much that he giueth none the hearing with more readinesse then he doth such whome he is persuaded to passe others in wisedome iudgement and vnderstanding Touching your person I will say nothing specially in presence onely thus much in conclusion shall be added that sithence God of his gracious goodnesse hath planted you in place of promotion farre aboue the degrée of other men necessarie it is and requisite also that you be circumspect and diligent first to pray vnto God with humblenesse of spirite and to do him seruice continually from whome all thinges flowe as from a full founteine secondly that you spare no labour but do the vttermost of your endeuour that with the knowledge of all sciences you may be absolutely furnished that through so precious and auailable a benefite you may haue in you â–ª abilitie sufficient both to perfourme to your prince that duetifull obedience which you owe to her highnesse and to discharge the seruice which is due to your countrie then which thing onely and alone I account nothing more pleasaunt and acceptable employing therein what so euer I can at this present or hereaster shall be able to compasse From Brugesse Fare you well Nothing is of me more wished and desired then the continuall health and prosperitie of my souereigne Ladie and gracious maistresse and next vnto her highnesse the welfare and good estate of your honour Wherefore in that you certified me of both you shewed a poynt of speciall courtesie and you did euen as muche as I was able to require Once againe Fare you well M. G. Haddon to Syr Thomas Smithe Knight c. THE ARGVMENT Hee beginneth with a testimonie of loue and a comparison of both their coÌ„ditions wherin he proueth to be great inequalitie by suÌ„dry circuÌ„stances he toucheth both their estates as well his owne being the writer of this letter as also his to whom it was writteÌ„ shewing that they can not long continue albeit they be contrarie hee toucheth the miseries of this life shewing by the example of a shippe gouernour to his purpose aptly applyed thaâ—… wee ought not to struggle with necessitie neyther yet to disalowe of what soeuer is appointed vs by Gods good prouidence Lastly hee concludeth with hope saying that death which is alwayes nigh at hand like aâ—… hauen to harbour vs wil make an alteration of this wretched life for a life happie and blessed BUt that I loue you muche I would beare you a grudge sythence betwéene your present fortune and myne there is suche difference aud inequalitie as to me it is a great griefe but to you an excéeding ioy For you haue gotten at one time the loue of your countrie the fauour of youre Prince a wife friendes leasure with pleasure and the honour of an Embassadour as for me suche is myne vnhappy fortune and matchlesse vnluckinesse that of al these consolations belonging to the life of man I am boyde and destitute yea I am so intangled and wrapped as it were in a certaine labyrinthe that not Dedalus him selfe if he were aliue coulde finde a way to get out againe after he is once entered But your happinesse can not be of long continuaunce nor yet myâ—…e vnluckinesse euerlasting and why bycause suche is the frailtie of our nature and the variablenesse of our condition euen from our byrth and generation that no part or parcell of our life is pitched vpon perpetuitie and stedfastnesse but shaken to shiuers with a thousande sundrie and vncertaine chaunces Wherefore euen as Gouernours of shippes kéepe that course in sayling which they can not that which they would and cut the waues as they are furthered with a merrie winde euen so let vs frame our studie and labour to that wherevnto we are constrained by necessitie and shewe our selues not discontent with that wherevnto we are appointed by Gods gratious prouidence bycause we must be ruled thereby there is no remedie howe so euer we séeme to wrestle and withstande Furthermore let vs fasten our selues vpon the sure anchor of this most certaine and infallible hope that although we be ouerwhelmed and as it were in manner sounke in seas of miseries though we be tossed too and fro with most outragious stormes and tempestes of troubles incident to this wretched life yet death being the port of peace and quietnesse is neuer farre from vs in these daungerous extremities by and through whose singular benefite we shall be remoued out of the ruinous cotage of this worlde fraught with vanities into heauenly houses and most blessed abidings where eternitie and euerlastingnesse reigneth where we shall liue in all pleasantnesse séeing féeling hearing nor tasting any thing whereat to be offended and grieued In the meane space God of his goodnesse blesse you with perfect health and long life to whome I commit you and all yours what soeuer From Brugesle M. G.
weapons to be armed for the indurance of labors sâ—…eatings and watchings yea for vertues sake to put his life in hassard and to haue death in sâ—… small account as vtterly to despise it and haue it in contempt These things do not ingender terrour in the hearts of such whose praise can not perish whose renoune is ioyned with eternitie and â—…uerlastingnesse but in those they bréede feare and quaking timorousnesse with whose life al things else whatsoeuer vanish and aâ—…e extinguished Socrates to Theopompo THE ARGVMENT He inciteth Theopompus to the imbracing of knowledge sheweth that no place is more meete for to lodge it in then is mans mynde or memorie KNowledge is a thing most perfect most honourable and most beautifull deseruing not to be marked on the backes of brute beastes but to be imprinted and grauen in the mindes of men Wherefore Theopompus commit to the casket of thy memorie the vnderstanding of those things wherein to be instructed thou art so desirous from hencefoorth abhorring the hydes of deade carkasses frame your selfe to be delighted with mens liuely voyces Fare you well Apollonius to Estieo ¶ THE ARGVMENT Hee sheweth that vertue and riches are contrarie preferring wisedome before wealthinesse VErtue among vs is couÌ„ted contrarie to mony for when the one of these diminisheth the other increaseth when the one increaseth the other diminisheth howe then is it possible that they should both haue place in one person except after the opinion of sooles that thinke riches to be vertue Suffer not therefore your friendes and acquaintance to be ignorant of vs what we are neyther let them conceiue of vs this opinion that we had rather â—…hose to be wealthy men then to be wise men For it is a thing most worthy of discoÌ„meÌ„dation yea it is a foule offence if that for riches we should aduenture tedious and daungerous voyages which passe away like smoake and shadowes neglecting in the meane season the noblenesse of vertue which is lincked to eternitie and euerlastingnesse Virgil to Augusto ¶ THE ARGVMENT He writeth to Augustus touching his worke called the Aeneides wherein he saith things are out of order therevpon inferring his râ—…ason AS I haue receiued from your hands many Epistles so some concerning mine Aeneas which if it were worthy of your person I wold most willingly preseÌ„t it to your highnesse But it is such a confused and disordered heape that I thinke my selfe scarse well in my wittes when I tooke vpon me to write such a worke sithence as your Grace knoweth other deuises to the â—…eautifying of such a booke are more to be required Cato to Caesar. THE ARGVMENT This Epistle beeing written by a heathen or Pagane might bee a mirrour to a Christian. For herein Cato sheweth his opinion touching the soule of man saying that it is heauenly he declareth also in what worke our mindes ought to be busied WE must be of this iudgement friend Caesar that our soules concerning the which we haue had often conference descended and came downe from the heauenly habitation being sunke as it were in the muddie element of grosse earthly substaunce a place repugnant to celestiall matter and cleane contrarie to eternitie Furthermore we must beléeue that the immortall and euerlasting Gods haue instilled and powred our mindes into our bodies that we shoulde liue in the world after a seuerall order that we should be occupied in heauenly speculation viewing the course of celestiall creatures that in modestie of life and vprightnesse of maners we might imitate and followe them accordingly Plato to Dionysius his alies ¶ THE ARGVMENT He writeth to Dionysius his kinred and alies to leaue off their lauash cheare and delicates teaching them that they shall â—…euer be wise or sober so long as they be so sensually disposed and that they shall neuer attaine true delight if they learne not to be prudent and continent WHen I came to sée that straunge kinde of life replenished with Italian iunkets and Syracusane deinties carrying a report of a life flourishing in felicitie I was so farre from allowing the same that twice in one day to pamper the paunche séemed vnto me a thing worthy of much misliking And as I say of this so I say of nightly sléepings taken abâ—…siuely and of all things else whatsoeuer to the necessitie of this life incident inordinately vsed For in such superfluitie no man shall attaine to wisedome none shall acquaint them selues with temâ—…er aunce For what nature by suche meanes mâ—… learne moderation Nowe â–ª out of question There can bee no life accompanied with perfect pleaâ—…auntnesse whereon prudence and temperaunce giue not attendaunce â–ª Fare you well Plato to Aristodoro THâ—… ARGVMâ—…NT IT is reported vnto me that you aboue the rest are in familiaritie with Dion and that your chiefest exercise consisteth in vertuoâ—…s behauâ—…ours answerable to the precepts of Philosophie For this is myne opinion iâ—…gement that Constancie faythfulnesse sinceritie and such praise worthy properties are true Philosophie â–ª As for other sciences artes faculties and professions seruiceable to other thinges if any man call them by the name of Ornaments hee shall giâ—… them no vnfit terme as I suppose But Fare you well and in the câ—…mendable conditions where withâ—…l you are presently acquainted make continuance Plato to Archytae Tarentino ¶ THE ARGVâ—…ENT He writeth to Archytas toâ—…ching some 〈◊〉 of the anâ—…ent Troâ—…ans whose name is not knowne 〈◊〉 hiâ—… 〈◊〉 hâ—…s inuention and ordâ—…r sinally â–ª he maketh mention of 〈◊〉 commentaries but treating of what matters between them two it was in secrete the like Epistle if it be not altogether the same is before recited IT is a wonder to thinke with what excéeding ioy I receiued the Commentaries whiche you sent me with the singular witte of whose author I maruellously delighted The in vnadoutedly as by his worke it is apparant deserued right well of those his auncient progenitours They say â–ª that of them there were ten thousand men in number who among all the other Troians that accompanied Laomedon as it is reported were most noble renoumed Touching the commentaries which by writing you do require these are to let you vnderstand that as yet they are not finished neuerthelesse receiue them as they are I meane vnperfect Concerning the custodie of the writings whereof you wot my minde with yours is agréeable wherefâ—…re â—…urther talkâ—… in this matter is néedelesse Agesilaus to Plutarcho ¶ THE ARGVMENT He answeareth to a letter sent vnto him at suche time as he was busie in warlike affaires to put him in minde of his returne In the end of the letter he sheweth with an example of himselfe that Princeâ—… must be ruled by lawe and counsel of highest officers WE haue subdued a great part of Asia we haue vanquished the Barbarians and we haue made many battels or skirmishes in Iconia Notwithstanding because you will not haue mée passe mine appointed day
I wiâ—…folow or peraduenture preuent your Epistle For I beare rule and gouernement not for my selfe but for my countrie and mine equals And surely he that is placed in authoritie doth euen then rule with moste iustice aâ—…d equitie when he repineth not that as well the lawes of the lande as also other magistrates in the citie should be his superiours Apollonius to his brother Apollonio ¶ THE ARGVMENT Hee writeth to his brother Apollonius whom being in sorrowe by reason of the late deceasse of his wife he comforteth giuing him counsell not to abiure or forsweare matrimonie by cause hee hath lost so good a partner and yoake fellowe but to marrie againe least by defection of issue their name should weare out of memorie ALthings that be in the worlde are of that nature and disposition that when they are at their ful ripenesse then are they most fit to fall away and pearish such a thing is old age to all men and womâ—…n liuing â–ª whiche being not able to continue yealdeth vnto death Wherefore although you haue lost your wife of late yet be not therewithall grieued neyther be you of this opinion that life is a thing muche more excellent then death bicause it is reported to daunt the harts of men with terrour sithence among men indued with courage and valliauntnesse a life in all respectes is farre worsse then death Shew your selfe the cousen germaine of a Philosopher Pythagoras I meane in profession and propertie but be principally the brother of Apollonius and cease not to mainteine your familie by marrying a seconde wife For if in your first wife there had bene any qualitie blame worthy we would mistrust and suspect the seconde marriage and that meritoriously But if she were beautified with the precious diamond of chastitie if she towardes her husbande were most louingly affected and in consideration of such gracious behauiours deserued semblable kindnesse what then can créepe into your cogitations what thought can inuade our myndes that wée shoulde so despaire and be out of hope as not to get the like againe Sithence it is likely that she will do her endeâ—…our to be better then her predecessour bycause there iâ—… no occasion offered her â—…f slouthfulnesse in the other whereby she shoulde waxe carelesse negligent idle and yll occupied Let the case and estate of your brethren sinke into your consideration and what their condition is at this day prudently ponder The eldest hath not as yet bene acquainted with the swéete pleasures of wedlocke The youngest iâ—… in hope to haue children but the same consisteth vpon reasons and circumstaunces There are of vs in number thrée brethren to vs thrée no issue is raysed to this day Ouâ—… countrie may not be lâ—…ft frustrate and voyde of hope nor they whiche succéede vs lose that which hath béene long looked after For if we then our father are farre excellent as he also surpassed his syre what impediment is there to the contrarie â—…ut that of your bodies may be bred and borne childreÌ„ much better then vs their parents Let suche prouisoeâ—… 〈◊〉 be vsed that we may haue posteritie by whome thâ—… memorie 〈◊〉 our names may be mainteined in semblable maâ—…er â–ª as they haue bene hitherto by our parents imposition I coulde not for aboundaunce of teares trickling downe my chéekes write any more touching this matter neyther had I any thing at all where abouts to occupie my penne answerable to this that I haue written in force and efficacie Apollonius to Euphrata THE ARGVMENT A commendation of Pythagoras in this Epistle is expressed for he maketh a râ—…apitulation first of his knowledge in sundrie sciences liberalâ—… then of the ornamentes wherwith his minde was inriched lastly of his bodily abilities all whiche iuels they obteined that framed themselues to his profession Iâ—… therefore the scholers proued so excellent what shall we thiâ—…ke of thâ—… maister WHo so vseth the companie and conuersation of Pythagoras it is a worldes wonder to consider the commodities and excéeding benefites whiche shall redound to his aduantage I wil giue you a taste of them in a brief summarie He shal attaine the knowledge of making lawes He shall learne to be skilfull in the art Geometrical Arithmeticall Musicall Cheyrurgicall Physical Astrologicall and in all pointes of the science of diuination or Southsaying hée shal be wel experimented Yea besides the within named professions he shal be benefited with thinges of more excellencie as with Maiestie with magnificence with constancie with eloquence with an assured iudgement concerning the Gods immortal and not with an erronious opinion whiche is so farre from beautifying that it blemisheth he shal be furnished with a certaine knowledge of celestial spirits and not carried away with vaine persuâ—…sion He shal not couet excesse but shal be directed with a minde of it selfe contented with perseuerance with frugalitie or thriftinesse with no superfluitie of things necessarie with quicknesse of the senses with nimblenesse with drawing breath without impediment with a good colour and complexion with soundnesse and safetie with contempt of life though it be pleasant and likewise of death although it be terrible Now to come to you what shall they reape that frequente your fieldes They shal gather such gleaning as agrée with your haruest namely the same vertue wherwith you are iudued shal be to them aduantage Pythagoras to Hiero King of Sicylie ¶ THE ARGVMENT Hiero king of Sicylie sending for Pythagoras is in this Epistle answered with a flatte denyall The reasons that the Philosopher vseth are all borowed from abuses in whiche â—…ee praiseth a competent kinde of liuing suche a one as he himselfe loued and discommendeth a lasciuious life wherwith Hiero was delighted The Epistle is worthie to be coÌ„mitted to memorie and more woorthie to bee pâ—…t in practise THe life that I lead is not acquainted with care but established vpon tranquillitie as for yours there is no circumstance wherein with mine it is consonant or agréeable A man addicted to temperance and not in subiection to the rage of his perturbations néedeth not the Syracusane deinâ—…ie iunckets Pythagoras hath al things in sufficiencie wher vpon to liue at all times and in al places competently The seruice that an vnderling or he that is bouÌ„d to obey oweth to his Lord and maister is neither greeuous nor tedious specially to them that are already instructed by honest custome and vse to acknowledge submission and to doe reuerence Moreouer a minde satisfied with his appointed lotte is a thing of great account hath passing priuiledges of libertie from imminent aduersities and daungers For that one and onely minde hath neuer an enimie to lay traps and traines as instruments of further mischiefe Wherefore it foloweth of necessary consequent that such a life approcheth moste nigh to the nature of the Gods in semblaunce of properties Furthermore vnblameable affections and a constitution or state of the minde framed to the right rule of