nightly conflictes and to awake them out of their sleepe and alwayes to be carefull and circumspect howe these licentious cattayle vse them selues towardes their neyghbours at leastwyse thou shalt take thy rest in the night season for they that ryde do trauayle and are troubled also in the night Sorowe I go a long iourney on foote Reason Perhaps in shoes For the holie fathers walked about the wildernesse vpon their bare feete The apostles which were the messengers of Almightie God walked throughout al partes of the worlde one into the East another into the Weast another into the North another into the South somtime they went by water that but seldome only when as the situation of the place was such as they coulde not otherwise choose but which of them I pray thee hast thou hearde to haue ridden on horsebacke except S. Iohn only Neither rode he euer more then once and that but a litle way which was as Clemens writeth the Ecclesiastical historie maketh mention when as he was stirred foorth with a godly hast to recouer the soule of a lost desperat young man And how should they ryde whose Lorde and Maister went on foote He scarse rode once hym self vpon a poore Asse which was not long before he was hanged vpon the crosse But if these examples doo ouer-burden thee with incomparable holynesse yet is it knowne well yenough that the Romane armies which vanquished the whole world were for the most part of them footemen who not only carried their armour and weapon on foote but also as muche victual as should serue them many dayes moreouer a kinde of munition whereby when once they were entred within their enimies boundes they defended their campe in the day times and theyr tentes in the nyght agaynst the inuasion of their enemies whervpon our cuntreiman Cicero in a certein place excellently disputing of the Romane souldiers when he had sayd that vnto valiant men of other nations theyr armour was no impediment but in the maner of a garment yet this commendation he gaue them aboue al other saying that vnto the Romane souldiers only their armour weapons were not a garment but stood them in steede of their armes shoulders And when they had once put on those warlike burdens whereof I spake then they thought them selues in deede to be apparrelled And least haply any man be deceiued by the common custome of speache let it be knowne vnto them that by the name of souldiours or seruitours footemen are only signified and that in many places of the Romane historie it may be geathered that by this name they are distinguished from horse men although they doo both sortes of them serue in the warres Wherefore the remembrance of theyr labour and trauayle may breede thee no small ease comfort not only being vnarmed and light and trauayling on an hard though a safe iourney but also yf thou were armed and heauily laden and faryng on foote in a dangerous path For there is nothing more effectuall vnto the beareyng of aduersitie then to thinke that many haue borne the same with valiant myndes And a loftie minde wylbe ashamed that he only cannot doo that which in numerable coulde doo before hym Whiche thought hath not only been profitable in labours of difficultie but also in those paynes and tormentes of the body whiche seeme to be most miserable specially in death it selfe Sorowe A long payneful iourney do I sorowfully passe foorth on foote Reason There is nothing that so much easeth a painful iourney and comforteth an heauie minde as noble and sweete cares which cannot harbour within the hart and keepe company al the way long vnlesse it be with some good and learned man Herevnto if by chaunce there happen the pleasaunt societie of some meery and eloquent companion the iourney shall not only seeme light but short also Many haue been so delighted with pleasaunt communication vpon the way that they haue felt no tediousnesse at al of the trauaile and although the iourney were long indeede yet haue they complayned of the shortnes therof supposing them selues not to haue gone but rather to haue been carried This is also common among the wrâ—tie sayinges of Publius A pleasant companion vpon the way is as good as a Wagon Of one yeeres barrennesse The Lviij Dialogue SOROWE I Am oppressed with the barrennesse of one yeere Reason Plentie then will be the better welcome vnto thee euery thing is best knowne by comparyng it with the contrary Sorowe My lande hath deceyued myne expectation Reason It is not thy lande that hath deceyued thee but thy wyckednesse and greedinesse of mynde you promyse your selues euery thyng to fall out as you would haue them lyke proude fooles beyng worthie in your owne opinion that nature her selfe shoulde be at your commaundement Who yf she dare receyue her ryght and fayle once to satisfie the deepe and bottomelesse whyrlpoole of your couetous mynds which nothyng is able to fyl then seemeth she vnto you straunge and couetous iniurious This is no righteous nor modest hope but the imaginations of an immoderate desire yee feigne that those thynges shall come to passe whiche you woulde haue and if you mysse ought thereof you call it a losse thy lande keepeth it olde custome and thou thyne For the barrennesse and fruitefulnes of the earth come by course but your couetousnesse is continual You beyng most partiall interpretours of all thynges when as you ought to take the first thankefully and soberly and the seconde patiently and valiantly the one you contemne the other you bewayle the one maketh you proude the other playntyffe Sorowe My lande whiche promised me better successe hath deceiued me Reason You weery the earth with your oxen and plowes and heauen with your vowes and prayers The blowing of the wyndes the oportunitie of shewres the comelinesse of the springyng trees the beautie of the fieldes the Wynters dust the Springs durt the Sommer Sun the rypenesse of haruest all these do drawe your couetous mindes into hope And lyke as euery flambe setteth on fyre the drie stubble and euery wynde bloweth abrode the loose dust euen so euery gaine engendreth hope to the couetous minde and the least losse not of substance only but also of hope quite confoundeth him But O you wretches moderate your vnseemely motions restraine your vnmeasurable couetousnesse and chasten your crebulus hope which hath ben frustrated by a thousand successes to what end do you looke vpon heauen and earth Plentifulnesse commeth from God only O ye mortal men suffer him to worke his pleasure behold you what is done praise it Let the workeman woorke denye not vnto God that reuerence which ought to be geuen to a man that is skilful in any science Let vesselles of earth be ashamed to controule the heauenly potter but in voyce and mynde geue thanks vnto hym for al thing who being priuie of your necessities and not ignorant of your desires
wherein yf there be lesse credite to be geuen to poetical report yet remember that whiche is more assured and fresher in memorie whiche beyng done in thy tyme thou myghtest haue seene it with thyne owne eyes to wyt howe Iohn kyng of Boheme beyng sonne vnto one kyng of the Romanes and father to another who raigned immediatly one after the other had alwaies weake eyes and at the latter ende of his age fell blynde Now since the warre which was betweene the King of France whose part he toke and the King of England are more then 42. yeeres when as being in that most sharpe conflicte in which both the Princes were in person and vnderstanding that the woorse beganne to fall on the side whereof he was he called vnto his captayne with a loud voyce sayeng Direct me quickly towards that part of the armie where the kyng of our enimies standeth and the greatest force of his whole armie Whiche when they sorowfully and fearefully had done settyng spurres to his horse he pricked thyther with al his force whyther as they that had eyes durst not folowe hym that was blynde not scarse with their sight Whereas encounteryng the most valiant front of his enimies fighting not onely valiantly but also terribly he was there flayne they that ouercame hym both wondryng at his valure and commendyng his manhood I tell you of a thyng knowen vnto all men and which except it be wrytten is lyke to peryshe through obliuion And I pray you what dyd it hinder the glory and renowme of this valiant gentelman that he lacked his sight but that whom vertue and nature had made woonderfull blyndnesse shoulde make men to be amased at hym Sorowe I am blynde Reason I wyl beginne to iest vnlesse thou leaue complayning for what els coulde blyndnesse bryng vnto thee yf so be thy strength remayne then that whiche Asclepiades beyng blynde sayth of hym selfe to wyt that thou walke with one boye waytyng on thee more then thou wast woont Of the losse of hearyng The XCvij Dialogue SOROWE I Haue lost my hearyng Reason Beholde thou hast one passage for tediousnesse stopped Many thynges that are tedious are drawen in at the eyes and many at the eares and many lothsome thynges pearce into the minde by both wayes for the auoydyng whereof blindnesse and deafenesse are to be desired a lyke Notwithstanding these haue their discommodities as almost al other mortal thynges neither doo I denie but that there is some painefulnesse in them but more daintie then pacience and not comparable to vertue Where what the proportion is betweene these discommodities it is no easie maâ—ter to gâ—eâ—sse sauing that the fyrst is more dangerous and this other more ridiculus For they that are thicke listed seeme inâ—â— maner to be out of their wittes but they that are blinde are reputed more miserable and therefore we saugh at the deafe and pittie the blinde but a wyse man contemneth both and weigheth not what other thinke but what the thing is in deede Sorowe I haue lost my hearyng Reason Then hast thou escaped flatterers whysperyng and slaunderers gyrdes a farre differyng but a lyke euyll sauyng that it is somewhat more manlye to geue care vnto foule speache then vnto flatterie For in the one so metyme is a mediume in the other is alwayes poyson Wherefore the fyrst cureth often by bytyng but this enfecteth alwayes by tyckelyng and truely woorse is faigned loue then open hatred Sorowe I haue lost my hearyng Reason Now that Arte whiche is reported to haue auayled Vlisses eyther nature or some chaunce hath geuen vnto thee in that thou hast safely passed the singyng of the Sirenes with deafe eares whereby thou oughtest to accompt thy selfe happie For howe many daungers that wayes myght haue passed into thy minde Howe many errours and finally howe many troubles myght haue entred into thy head Sorowe I haue lost my hearyng Reason I beleeue thou shalt not heare the Nyghtingale neyther the harpe nor any other kynde of instrument Nay that more is thou shalt not heare the braying of Asses the gruntyng of Swine the howlyng of Wolfes the barkyng of Dogges the rooryng of Beares the ragyng of Lions the crying of Chyldren the chyding of olde Wyues and last of all that whiche is woorse then all these the immoderate loude laughing of Fooles and their vnmeasurable weepinges and outcries and the sound of their most confused voyces then the which there can not possibly a more vnpleasant noyse be heard Sorow I lacke my hearyng Reason Thou art deliuered from manifolde deceytes Men are deceyued by nothing more often then by woordes and a deafe man is out of al daunger thereof Sorow My eares are waxen dull Reason That part of the bodye is a dangerous part and especially to Princes who thereby beyng puffed vp with the vayne blastes of flatterers doo burst manie tymes therewith to their vtter destruction to the no small laughter of the whole people Sorowe My hearyng is dull Reason If thou be restrayned from talkyng with other then talke with thy selfe being mindfull of the saying of Tully He that can talke with him selfe hath no neede of communication with an other Although a dumbe man also may talke with other to witte by readyng and writyng For he that readeth talketh with his auncetours and he that wryteth speaketh to his posteritie Moreouer he that readeth the bookes of heauenly Philosophie heareth GOD speake vnto hym and he that prayeth speaketh vnto god In both these kindes of communication there is no neede eyther of tongue or eares but onely of eyes and fingers and a deuout minde Herein therefore as in many other thinges els let vs embrace the counsell of our countrey man Cicero to the entent that as the blinde may comfort himselfe with the vse of his eares so may the deafe with the helpe of his eyes Thou therfore yf thou canst not heare men speake reade the bookes which men haue written and wryte thou bookes whiche other men may reade beholde moreouer the heauen the earth and seas and lyue in silence in contemplation of the creator of them all Herevnto this thy deafenesse wyll not hynder thee but perhappes auayle thee much Sorow My hearing fayleth me Reason By what tunes of numbers Diapente or Diapason consisteth or by what other proportions they are handled by the Musitians a deafe man may vnderstande well enough And although he haue not with his eares the tune of mans voyce or the melodie of the Vialles or Organnes but vnderstande well in his minde the reason of them doubtlesse he wyll preferre the delyght of his minde before the pleasure of his eares Imagine that he doo not knowe these musicall proportions and that a deafe man be vnskylfull in Musicke yet yf he knowe the proportions of Vertue and exercise hym selfe in them it is well herein his deafenesse wyll not hurt hym For it is muche better to be good then to be learned and yf a man be aboundantly learned and wyse he is
PHISICKE against Fortune aswell prosperous as aduerse conteyned in two Bookes Whereby men are instructed with lyke in differencie to remedie theyr affections aswell in tyme of the bryght shynyng sunne of prosperitie as also of the foule lowryng stormes of aduersitie Expedient for all men but most necessary for such as be subiect to any not able insult of eyther extremitie Written in Latine by Frauncis Petrarch a most famous Poet and Oratour And now first Englished by Thomas Twyne At London printed by Richard watkyns An. Dom. 1579. To the right woorshypful Maister Richard Bertie Esquier c. quietnesse of Conscience health of Body continuance of Lyfe with encrease of worldly VVoorshyp PEtrarches remedies agaynst both Fortunes in Latine Right woorshipful were as it appeareth dedicated vnto Azo an honourable Gentleman of Italy Azo had good cause to enterteyne them thankefully for that being strangely wounded with aduersitie and cast downe from the dignitie of a Lorde to the state of a wretched forlorne man he myght receaue thereby no small comfort in his sorowes The same woorke now called Physicke agaynst Fortune in Englishe and intituled vnto your Woorshypful name who are no meane personage of this our Realme of Englande but in this respect farre exceeding the degree of Azo in that you haue gained surpassing prefermentes at the handes of Fortune is semblably presented vnto your fauourable acceptation Not that it is doubted the infirmitie of your minde any way to be such that you stand in neede of these or the lyke Medicines to mittigate the sugered Bankettes or sower sauces of eyther Fortune that is to say prosperitie or aduersitie Although whoso lyst to examine your right worsbypfull estate shall well perceyue thereby that yf your minde coulde be caried away by any of these two affections the same by lykelyhood should be it which is quite contrarie to that which troubled Azo since it hath pleased Fortune or GOD rather to blesse you with suche valure of Minde Vertue Godlynesse Wysedome Grauitie and Learnyng generally in all Faculties Good letters and Tongues as fewe or none the lyke farre and wyde to be founde in this our age Adde herevnto moreouer the commendable cumlinesse of your person with integritie of health and good constitution of bodie And lastly the accesse of a noble Duchesse to your Wyfe of an honourable Countesse to your Daughter of a Lorde apparant to your Sonne and Heyre besides large Reuenues and fayre Houses and which maketh not smally to the accomplyshment of worldly felicitie the fauour of a most vertuous and louing QVEENE and a most flourishyng Commonwealth to lyue in These albeit I confesse they be very great yet are they not suche but that your wisedome of it selfe is able to beare them with sufficient moderation and as in deede they be so to esteeme of them But rather in respect of these your rare giftes and the loue that you beare vnto learnyng and the fauourers thereof I haue been induced to exhibite the medicines of Petrarch against Fortune vnto you that as many of our Countreimen as shall haue occasion hereafter to reade or vse them may the more freendly accept them for your Woorshypfull name sake In consyderation whereof and lykewyse yf it shall please you not discontentedly to accept them at my handes I shall not onely thynke my trauell well requited but also in regarde of other benefites receyued acknowledge my selfe muche bounden vnto you and to remaine your Woorships euermore readie at commaundemente Thomas Twyne ⧠The Epistolare Preface of Francis Petrarch a most famous Poet and Oratour written vnto Azo concerning the Phisicke and remedies of both Fortunes aswell aduerse as prosperous WHEN I thinke vpon the affayres and fortunes of men their vncertaine and sudden chaunces and changes truely I finde nothyng almost more fraile nothing more vnquiet then the lyfe of man For I perceiue howe nature hath prouided well for all other liuing creatures by a woonderful kind of remedie to wit a certaine ignorance of them selues but in vs only she hath conuerted our memorie vnderstanding prouidence and moreouer the diuine giftes of our minde vnto our owne toyle and destruction For being alwayes subiect not onely vnto vayne and superfluous but also hurtfull and pestiferous cares we are both greeued with the present time and also vexed with the time past and that is to come so that we seeme to feare nothyng so muche as not to seeme at all tymes to be in miserie Our studie is so great whereby we heape together causes of miseries and nouryshmentes of sorowes whereby we make our lyfe whiche yf it were wel gouerned were the most happie pleasaunt thyng that we possesse a wretched and wofull toyle whose entraunce is blindnesse going forwarde toyle ende sorowe and the whole course errour Whiche he shall fynde to be so whosoeuer with diligent eye consydereth the whole race of his owne lyfe What day doo we passe ouer in rest and quietnesse or rather doo we not finde more painefull and troublesome then other What mornyng haue we euer passed so merie and pleasaunt that hath not been surprised with sorowe and heauinesse before night Of whiche euyll although a great cause doo rest in the thinges them selues neuerthelesse vnlesse our selfe loue deceyue vs a greater cause or to confesse the trueth the whole cause consisteth in our selues and to let passe all other thinges whereby we are troubled on euery syde what war and how perpetuall is it which we maintayne agaynst Fortune wherein Vertue only can make vs conquerours But willingly wittingly we reuolt from her We only being weaklinges vnarmed encounter a most fierce foe in vnequall fight whom she againe as lightly as thinges of nought tosseth vs vp and throweth vs downe turneth vs round about and plaieth with vs so that it were better for vs to be quite ouercome then continually to be had in skorne And what is the cause hereof but only our owne lightnes daintines for we seeme to be good for nothing els but to be tossed hither thither like a Tennise bal being creatures of very short life of infinite carefulnesse yet ignorant vnto what shoare to fal with our shyp or vnto what resolution to apply our mindes whose determination is alwayes to hang in doubt and besides the present euil alwayes to haue somewhat to greeue vs behind our backe before our eyes to make vs afeard Which thing hapneth vnto no creature besides man for vnto all other it is most perfect securitie to haue escaped that which is present But we in respect of our wit and the vnderstanding of our minde are in continual wrastling strife with an enemie as it were a three headed Cerberus So that it had ben almost better for vs to haue wanted reason since we turne the force of our heauenly nature against our selues for it were now an hard matter to resist subdue this euil being so deepely rooted through age custome Notwithstanding we
mynde to the readyng of Heathen writers thou knowest these thynges neyther doo I nowe touch thee but by notes I bryng thee to remembraunce of the trueth to the end thou mayest see that such kyndes of delyghts are eyther dishonest or lyght Ioy. My studie is vpon sweete odours Reason I woulde it were vpon good fame the smel whereof is also called good but of euyl fame muche more and it is more strong then the sent of any spices whyle they are a beatyng or of brymstone whyle it is a burnyng Of these sauours the mynde iudgeth and not the nose Ioy. I am delighted in sweete smelles Reason If thou be led by sense and seeke after pleasure as I haue sayd it is eyther dishonestie or lyghtnesse if for health sake it is excuseable so that measure which is the sauce of al thinges be present For a mylde smel comforteth a fayntyng spirite but in al thynges that saying of Terence is of great force Nothing to muche For as in many other thynges so in this also there is insâ—â—te varietie of kyndes not only betweene man and man but betwene nation and nation For if the report be true which great aucthours do not condemne the people that dwel about the head of Ganges do eate no meate at al but are noorished only by the smel of a wyld apple whensoeuer they traueyle abrode they cary nothyng els with them then that good holsome fruite and are so impartent of stynke that as the pure ayre noorysheth them so an infected smel stifleth them A delycate complexion which so lyueth and dyeth Hence it proceedeth that euery nation towardes the East beyng pampered with the delicacie of the ayre as they are lesse careful of meate so haue they lesse plentie and are more desirous of sweete odours and from thence forsooth this curiositie came first vnto vs The Assyrians the Arabians and Sabei when they were vanquished by your weapons ouercame you with theyr odours which the rough and inuincible sobrietie of your forefathers resisted so long that the fyue hundred threescore and fifth yeere after the foundyng of the Citie of Rome prouision was made by a straight edict of the Censores that no man should bryng sweete forraigne oyntmentes into the Citie But not long after the vices of posteritie as the maner is abrogating the decrees of the Elders wantonnesse gate the vpper hande and crept into the very Senate which had been the aucthour of that constitution Ioy. I am desyrous to smel wel Reason Straunge odours and the art of perfumyng and pleasauntly smellyng is an argument of no natural good smel and a token of some secrete defectes In respect of which causes not only any honest man but honest woman also woulde be loath by such kynde of delicacie to offend the senses of any valyaunt and good man Thou remembrest the storie of a certayne young man who being annoynted with sweet oyntmentes and comming before the Emperour Vaspatian to geue him thankes for the office which he had bestowed vpon hym as he stoode before hym the Emperour perceyuyng the smel and disdayning at the matter with sterne countenance and rough speech I had rather sayd he thou hadst smelt of Garlyke And so wel checked eyther suppressing or cancellyng the letters wherein he had graunted hym his good wyll he sent hym frustrate away with his pleasaunt odours Thus as these smelles haue been alwayes a shame so haue they also sometime ben hurtful especially where there is some graue and vpright Censor of manners Yea what shal I say that they haue ben daungerous to some For thou knowest also how that Plautius a Senatour in the triumuiral proscription for feare of death hydyng hym selfe in the Salernitane Dennes was bewrayed by the smel of his oyntmentes purchasyng therby to hym selfe destruction and to the proscribers excuse of theyr crueltie For who would not iudge that he was iustly stayne who in such troubles of the common wealth â–ª and so great danger of priuate men would then trym hym selfe with sweet smelling oyntmentes Ioy. I haue accustomed my self to artificius odours Reason Leaue them of yf thou wylt folow my counsayle It is more shameful to frequent the artificius then the symple For euery dishonest thyng the more artificius it is the more dyshonest it is Art which is an ornament to honestie is an encrease to dishonestie Hereunto adde moreouer that it is now growne vnto far more excesse than in olde tyme although that Rome as I haue sayd and Lacedemon also which I had almost termed the Grecian Rome when this infectioÌ„ came out of Asia resisted it with rough manners and streight edictes as it had ben an armie of wel appoynted enimies Notwithstandyng at length the delicate bande of sweete oyntmentes with the legions of vices gat the vpper hand and their scoutes passed ouer into Europe and there subdued most valient nations And because it were ouer long to prosecute euery thyng by the softned 〈◊〉 â—â—â—sse of one most rough and payneful man thou mayest coâ—◠〈…〉 â—he residue For 〈…〉 the very thickest and heat of 〈…〉 inuincible and barâ—â—â—â—â— Hannibal was annoynted with his armie oyntmentes 〈◊〉 pearcing 〈…〉 nearâ—ing And therefore of this â—â—â—â—minate caâ—â—â—â—yne and his 〈…〉 â—hose beginninges were wonderful 〈…〉 was the ende as he â—ell deserued Whereby it 〈◊〉 â—hee pâ—â—â—e that where alway â–ª ye haue ben much bounde â—â—â—e vertues â—f Scipio Africane ye are somewhat also beholden to the ointâ—â—â—entes of Hanibal for it had ben good for them they had ben dry as it was best for â—â—u that they were annoynted This customâ— preuayled so maâ—â—â—â—andred yeeres after that it were a payne and also would astonysh a man to reade what is 〈◊〉 concernyng this matter both by Greekes and Laâ—â—â—â— What shal I vse many woordes Oyntmentes came vnto 〈…〉 then whom nothing was more high excellent namely Iâ—SVS Christe which he that came and put away al â—â—ftâ—â—sse and delicacie of the mâ—â—â— to exâ—inguish al prouocatiâ— as of pleasures suffered hym selfe to be annoynted withall veryly not delighted with the pleasauntnesse of the odours but with the affection and teares of the offerer But now this custome is by litle and litle diminyshed that whereas your age is in many thynges inferiour to the glory of your forefathers yet in this it seemeth to extoll it in that it is not caryed away with the fonde desire of sweete oyntmentes but they that are now delyghted therein it chaunceth vnto them not by the generall infection of the tyme but by the special imperfection of theyr owne mindes Ioy. I am enticed delyghted with fragrant odours Reason It cannot be otherwyse but that those thynges which of nature are delightsome and pleasaunt should entice a man and whyle they be present delight hym It is the saying of the wyse Hebrue With oyntmentes and sundrie odours the hart is refreshed Howbeit it seemeth to me that in ointments there is not so much delyght as loathsomenesse But admit
the feare of the next maister woorketh that effect vnto whom in this respect he feareth to be discredited and suspected while he may iudge the lyke euil condâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—ym towardes hym selfe By meanes 〈◊〉 which thynges vnlesâ—◠〈…〉 blinded their eies men might euidently perceiue how mâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ter it were to be without al such seruantes and seruice 〈…〉 haue seruantes round about me Reason Vnder the 〈…〉 seruantes indeede as I haue said most cruel and wicked emâ—◠〈◊〉 are conteined yet pride wil not suffer you to liue without thâ—◠〈◊〉 â–ª And in this poynt as in many other poore wretches ye 〈…〉 in your owne harme In this respect ye cheifly 〈…〉 for this ye wander by Sea and lande for this yeâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—ther and cast abrâ—de golde to the ende that the hande of your enemies may growe euery day greater and stronger Bâ—◠〈◊〉 is it not so Is not the company of the rych generally of 〈◊〉 â—â—ther opinion Many tymes a man shal see a well goueâ—â—â—d familie of a reasonable callyng to be inferiour vnto the most 〈◊〉 and gorgeous Courtes of the Persians and Lydians almost 〈◊〉 none other thyng yea rather farre to surpasse them in most 〈◊〉 â—â—tere sauyng that those Courtes doo feede moe and more 〈◊〉 â—â—ly Ioy. I haue a great troupe of seruantes wayâ—ing vpâ—on me Reason Nay rather vrgyng thee and treadyng thee vnder foote and leadyng thee bound in ratlyng chaynes so 〈◊〉 may wel be sayde to thee What hast thou doone wreâ—◠〈◊〉 thou shouldest neede so many keepers to garde â—hee Ioy 〈…〉 seruantes gard â—â—e on euery syde Reason Thou hast 〈…〉 of flyght and therefore not of escaping with lyfe To 〈…〉 â—ernly delighted with a mans owne harme is a point of desperat madnesse And therefore in this respect pouertie is to be wyshed and loued in that it deliuereth a man from al the discommodities which ryches do bryng but specially from the craftes and weerisomenesse of seruantes Of the magnificencie and beautifulnesse of houses The .xxxiiii. Dialogue IOY I Haue a gorgeous House Reason What shal I say other then that saying of Tullie The house is to be furnished with dignitie and not altogeather to be sought of the house neyther oâ—â—châ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ner seke credite by the house but the house by the 〈◊〉 Ioy. I haue agâ—â—oâ—y house Reason Why art 〈◊〉 â—â—oud thereof It is the workemans praise and not thine 〈◊〉 I dwel in a most beautifull house Reason Where 〈…〉 may lye hyd where thou mayest wander where thy serâ—â—â—â—es may ryot where the people may tarry where the Paraâ—â—â—â— may hunger a wyde place capable of much weerysomnes 〈…〉 I dwel in a great house Reason Of cities and houâ—â—◠〈…〉 lyke for he that dwelleth in a wyde place dwelâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—or to the happie lyfe it skilleth not how wide but 〈◊〉 meeryly thou lyuest Oftentimes in Kinges Palaces dwel â—â—â—â—â—e and griefe and in poore mens cottages quietnesse and 〈…〉 the largenesse and beautie of the house were the chiefâ—â—â—utter the art of buylding were the most worthie art of al oâ—â— â–ª Ioy. I dwel in a princely house Reason As though 〈◊〉 place coulde driue away cares and sicknesses or that death 〈◊〉 â—â—th a Ladder to climbe vp to the toppes of Towres Dyd 〈◊〉 â—â—ullus Hostiâ—ius abide in his Court when he was stroken 〈◊〉 â—â—ghtning fâ—â—â— heauen And was not also Targuimus 〈…〉 in his Court when he was slaine To be briefe Targuiâ—â—â—â—â—â—perbus was also in his court when he was driuen out of 〈◊〉 â—â—ngdome There is no place inaccessible to daungers no 〈◊〉 â—â—ut agaynst death Ioy. My dwellyng is myne owne 〈…〉 Reason Nay thou hast but a short tyme of dwelâ—â—â—â—e the day of thy departyng is at hand thou imaginest thy selfe to be a Citizen and thou art but a stranger and dwellest but for a rent There wil come one that wil thrust thee naked out of doores Ioy. I haue a gorgeous and beautifull house Reason When thou art departed from hence thou shalt haue a darke and narrowe one but if thou do vprightly consider of thy house it is but obscure and narowe and decaying and euery day woorse able then other to stand vpright continually fayling and foreshewing it owne fall which neither is far of from vtter ruine neyther can delite a valiant tenant as an house but greue him as a prison where he wâ—â—â—â—e loath to stay but desirous to be discharged Goe 〈◊〉 â—â—â—yes â—owe and vaunt of other mens houses or of thyne owne prison Of stronge defenced Castles The xxxv Dialogue IOY I Dwell in a most strong Castle Reason There is some commoditie in houses but much more euil in Castles Houses defend men from heate and wynde and rayne but these cast stormes of carefulnesse into the mindes of the possessours and bryng cares and dread to his political securitie Ioy. I haue a Fortresse enclosed with very strong walles Reason Hast thou forgotten the Spartane saying who to his frâ—â—nde that shewed hym the walles of his countrey answered If you haue made these for women it is wel but yf for men it is shameful Ioy I haue a most strong holde Reason What other thyng was it then your impaciencie and your pryde and couetousnesse that made you haue neede of Castles Howe muche better were it to lyue indifferently with men and to lyue vpon the playne and tylled lande in quietnesse and there to take the pleasant sleepe then to enclose thy selfe within rough and craggy rockes houlyng with nightly watches and through thyne owne miserie to make thyselfe suspected and hated of al men Hast thou forgotten what Publicola dyd who although he were one of the chiefe of those that deliuered the Citie of Rome from subiection to the kynges perceyuing neuerthelesse that the people suspected hym by reason of the situation of his house to the ende he might discharge him self of that false suspicion he pluckt his house downe from the hill Ioy. I haue an impregnable Castle Reason Hast thou not heard the olde prouerbe There is no place so impregnable into which an Asse laden with golde can not enter A strong Castle prouoketh not hyndreth besieging The Castle Tarpeian resisted a whyle the insult of the Senones and so dyd Tarentine of the Carthagiens vntyll in due tyme they were both succoured Camilius relieued this last and the other Fabius But was Hannibal able to defende both Castles of Locris No truely nor Ilion it selfe nor Byrsa coulde be defended nor Corinth whiche of auncient tyme had the fâ—â—â—â—â—f â—â—egnable notwithstandyng Mumius the conquere◠〈…〉 Was not the Castle Praenestine a more strong and better fortified then which I know not whether euer there were any about threescore and ten yeeres since by that great enimie because he coulde not by force yet by flattery and false promises taken and rased whiche at length rose vp agayne beyng shaken and weakened as it were by a long continual feuer To be short there is nothyng inuincible nothing safe agaynst the craft
away the sobrietie and modestie of thy mynde and thy plentie be bestowed vpon thy freindes and the poore there is nothing pleasaunt or sauorie to one that is alone Ioy. I husband most exquisitely fruitful lande Reason Man ought not to be seruant to the lande but the lande to man by meanes of mans transgression it is come to passe that the earth yeeldeth nothyng to the owner without trauayle yf it be not husbanded it bringeth foorth but a rough croppe Burres Thistles Bryers and Thornes the same to labour with the plough and by strange manuryng to make it soft and pliant mans neede hath enforced Hereof began husbandrie which in tymes past was the most holy and innocent lyfe but now subiect both to the auncient toyle and newe vices synce nothyng hath been left vnsearched by enuie and auarice Townysh vyllanies haue crept into Countrey cottages Truely it is lykely that husbandmen were the last that waxed wycked whereof it commeth that the Poet sayth When Iustice forsooke the earth she left her last footesteps among them But it is to be feared least they that were last euyl be nowe chiefe so that yf haply men shoulde one day generally returne to vertue and the auncient manners of olde tyme these men woulde then also be last But nowe I come to the Art of husbandrie whiche was sometyme had in great pryce and vsed by men of great callyng and wysedome wherein as in many other thyngs Cato surnamed Censorius possesseth an hygh roomth of whom when it was written and that most truely that he was an excellent Senatour an excellent Oratour an excellent Captayne and at length to the fyllyng vp of his commendacion it is added that without comparison or example he was the most excellent Husbandman of his tyme. Who wyl then be ashamed to tyll the grounde with Cato who wyl thynke that there is any thyng vnfytting for hym selfe whiche he thought seemely yenough for his person who besydes the gyftes of his body and mynde and the glory of his woorthy deedes had triumphed for conqueryng of Spaine Who would be ashamed to dryue foorth and cal to his Oxen whom that voyce draue along in the furrow whiche had sometyme hartened so many great armies to battayle and most eloquently defended so many doubtful causes Who woulde disdayne the plough and the harrowe whiche that triumphant and Philosophical hande touched whiche had purchased so many notable victories ouer so many enimies had wrytten so many excellent woorkes of worthie matter apparteynyng both to Philosophie Historie or common vse of lyfe as are those bookes which he wrote concernyng this matter whereof we nowe entreate He was the fyrst amongst you that geathered the preceptes of Husbandrie and brought them into the fourme of an Art and set them downe in wrytyng after whom there folowed many other whereof some haue aduaunced that poore and symple skyl in woorthy and excellent verses whiche nowe callyng to my mynde and not forgetful of mans necessitie truely I doo not nowe discommende of Husbandrie Notwithstandyng neyther the excellencie of wryters neyther the feare of pouertie shal euer constrayne me to iudge it meete to be preferred or matched with the liberal and commendable artes although the first age of the empire had those that were both valiant captaynes and good husbandmen but now by continuance of tyme the case is altered Howbeit it happeneth not now through the frailtie of nature that your wittes are not sufficient to atteyne vnto thynges of so diuers nature And therefore in this age I wyll permit that excellent personages geue theyr myndes sometyme to Husbandrie not to make it a toyle or theyr trade of lyuyng but rather for theyr recreations to put greater cares out of theyr heades as namely sometyme to graffe the tender twygge vppon the buddyng stocke or to correct the ranke leaues with the croked hooke or to lay quycksettes into the Dyke in hope of increase or to bryng the syluer streames by newe dygged furrowes into the thirstie mebowes I am content to geue these men licence after this maner earnestly to busie them selues to dygge and delue but wholly to apply the minde vnto the earth vnlesse necessitie constrayne thereunto I count it vnmeete and vndecent for a learned and valiaunt man who can not lyghtly want some matter of more noble exercise The good mother Nature when she gaue many artes vnto men she made a difference also between their wittes and dispositions that euery one should followe that where vnto he was most euclyned Thou shalt finde some one who beyng of an indifferent witte can so cunnyngly eyther tyll the lande or sayle ouer the seas that in this behalfe no Philosophers wysedome may be compared to his industrie It is a follie and a bootlesse thyng to contende with another man not in thyne owne but in his art wherein although otherwyse thou excell hym and be hygher as they say then hee by the head and shoulders yet thou shalt be founde his vnderlyng and where thou art superiour in the greatest matters thou mayest easily be ouercome in many small Ioy. This Summer my lande hath been verie fruitfull vnto mee Reason Marke the next for present plentie hath many tymes been a token of future scarcitie It is a rare matter to fynde prosperitie without intermission Ioy. I haue husbanded my lande diligently Reason It is well doone yf thou haddest nothyng els to doo Ioy. I haue trymmed my Vineyarde exquisitely Reason Perhaps thereby thou hast promised to thy selfe a plentifull vintage but hast thou also made an agreement with the frost and hayle Ioy. I haue sowed my grounde thicker then I was woont Reason Thou shalt feede the moe Cranes and Wildgeese abroade moe Mise and Rattes at home thou shalt be hoste to foules and woormes a picker foorth of Darnell a maker of thy floore a buylder of barnes and a seruant to thy reapers and thresshers Ioy. I haue sowed my fieldes plentifully Reason Be of good hope thou shalt reape that which thou hast sowed corne and carefulnesse vnlesse perhaps I may say this more truely that the come belongeth to many and the carefulnesse to thee alone and to speake as the trueth is the fielde is thy minde the tillage thyne intent the seede thy care the haruest thy traueyle these shalt thou finde most plentifull Ioy. I haue well husbanded my lande Reason I wyll tell thee a thyng that thou mayest woonder at Those auncient husbandmen those valiant men that tooke great glorie in Husbandrie were of opinion that it shoulde be well followed but not too well an incredible thyng perhaps to be hearde but by proofe of experience founde to be most true for the profite scarce counterueyleth the charge and among the auncient writers there is a comparison not vnfit made betweene a man and a feelde These twayne yf they be sumptuous although they be prifitable the remainder wyl be lytle or nothyng at all and therefore in that respect neyther is to be muche
stinges to the kinges of Men as well as she hath to the kinges of Bees but now she hath onely geuen an example to the free creature not taken away his libertie but that which she doth not enforce it is my part to exhort Behold that smal but diuine Worme and leaue thou of thy sting likewise not in the wounde but before the wounde The first is the part of a base person the seconde of a kyng otherwyse as not without iustice so neyther art thou a king without mercie no not so muche as a man but onely as the Fable sayth a crowned Lion. Ioy. I am Emperour of Rome Reason Thou hast Augustus Nero Vitellius whom thou mayest followe Vnto these three not only al Princes but al men are restrayned Choose vnto thy selfe then one of these whom thou mayest followe If thou be delyghted in latter examples thou hast of the same callyng Traiane Decius and Galienus Ioy. I am Emperour of Rome Lorde of the worlde Reason The time hath been when that might haue been almost truely auowed but to what state things now are come thou seest And to thintent it may be perceiued how safe it is to commit great matters vnto fooles and dastardes how great prouidence is there nowe fallen into how great madnes how great payne diligence into how great slouthfulnesse The Romane Empire is now no longer a thyng to reioyce in but an example of humane fragilitie and the mutabilitie of fortune Ioy. I am famous for mine Empire Reason Famous names obscure thynges deceytes of the worlde credulitie of man these are hookes whereby flexible mindes are plucked hyther and thyther The names of an Empire and of a kingdome are glorious names but an Empire and a Kingdome are the most difficult functions of all other yf they be ryghtly executed otherwyse they be dangerous and deadly neyther is that princely saying commended without cause The glorious Crowne is more full of care danger and sundry sortes of miseries then is the honest and happie peece of cloath whiche yf men dyd knowe there is none woulde seeke for it or reioyce when he had gotten it no not willingly receyue it when it weere offered or take it vp from the grounde yf he founde it Wherefore awake at length ye mortall men open your eyes and be not alwayes blynded with false glitteringes Measure and weygh your owne bodyes consider in how narrowe roomes you are enclosed despise not Geometers and Philosophers the whole earth is but a pricke your ende is frayle and vncertayne and whyle ye be young and whyle ye be in health ye wrestle with death and when ye thynke that ye ryse then doo ye descende and when ye seeme to stande most surest then fastest doo ye fall neyther is there any lyuing creature that is more forgetfull of it owne strength and many tymes when ye be Woormes halfe dead yet ye dreame of kingdomes and empires Remember that you your selues are a very smal pricke or to say more truely a pricke of a short pricke yea ye are not so much as the thousandth part of a pricke This part lyke proude inhabitantes ye ouerbeare who shortly shall be ouerborne your selues and shall no longer possesse any iote of all that ye haue but that your bodyes shall waxe cold and pale with death And whereas ye be now blinde and mad and walke with a proud swelling countenaunce that whiche nature hath made narrowe make ye more large in minde and while ye be in bandes imagine great matters and when ye be dying thynke vppon immortall thynges and consyder with your selues how that in this place and time which in effect are nothing ye prosecute your ridiculous and mad fansies during the space of a very short tyme to wit rapines iniuries reuengementes troublesome hopes vncertayne honours vnsatiable desires and your owne furies and madnesse and on the otherside ye affectate Kingdomes Gouernmentes Empires Nauies Armies and Battayles And when ye haue thus continued long time in your madnesse whether ye be Emperours or Ploughmen Ryche men or Beggers your bodyes are but rotten earth your lyfe but as a lyght smoke driuen away with a strong blast and at length but perhaps too late ye shal scarce vnderstand that this worlde was but an high way to passe through and no countrey to remayne in and that al these names of Kingdomes and Empires are but vayne and false Ioy. I am made an Emperour Reason When fooles be made Emperours they do not remember that they haue ben and are men Like as is the saying of Tiberius the Emperour who when a certaine friende of his being desirous by rehearsal of certaine matters passed betweene them to bring him in minde of their auncient familiaritie hauing scarce opened his mouth to say these woordes O sir do you remember he preuented him suddenly and brake of his talke and suffred him not to proceede any farther but answeared hastily vnto him I remember not what I haue ben a wicked and proud saying and not only deuoyde of friendshyp but of al humanitie Ioy. I am ascended to the Romane Empire Reason Why doest thou reioyce hereof Men also ascende to the Wheele and Gallowes And contrariwise they lye downe in their beddes and syt downe in their chayres and most times quietnesse dwelleth in lowe places Climbing hath been shame vnto some punishment vnto many and payneful to all Of a furnished Armie The .xcvii. Dialogue IOY I Haue a furnished Armie Reason I shoulde haue marueyled if that an Armie had not followed a Kingdome an Empire that is to say one miserie another But Seneca commendeth Scipio Africanus to the Starres not because he ledde great Armies which frantike and wicked persons haue done also but for his great moderation which truely an Armie neuer bringeth to a man but often taketh it away or often diminisheth it for what vertue is there so sounde which the keeping companie with so many rakehels blooddy Butchers and their wicked example wyl not quayle Ioy. I haue a great Armie Reason Thou hast now occasion to liue in the fieldes For neyther can Armies be receiued into cities neither peaceable citizens armed souldiours dwell well togeather Ioy. I haue a most valient Armie Reason Thou hast matter of war and losse of peace if thou reioyce in this doubtlesse thou belongest not to the heauenly citie Ioy. I haue an huge Armie Reason Thou hast armed enimies on both sides of thee from whom thou art defended neyther by wal nor trenche truely an heauy and dangerous case Ioy. I haue many valient legions Reason The tediousnes trouble insolencie of these no man can easily recite but thou shalt learne by experimenting how much it is better to liue alone then with many legions For truely there are no iniuries no falshood no crueltie to be compared to the wickednesse of souldiours Thou shalt by thine owne experience finde how true that verse is which euery boy hath in his mouth There is no faith
is the part of madnesse Ioy. I haue innumerable engynes and artyllery Reason It is marueyle but thou hast also pellets of brasse whiche are throwne foorth with terrible noyse of fire thou miserable man was it not yenough to heare the thunder of the immortall God from heauen O crueltie ioyned with pryde From the earth also was sent foorth vnimitable lighning with thunder as Virgil sayth which the madnes of men hath counterfeited to do the like and that which was woont to be throwne out of the cloudes is now throwne abrode with a woodden instrument but of a deuylish deuice which as some suppose was inuented by Archimedes at what tyme Marcellus besieged Syracusae Howbeit he deuised it to the entent to defend the libertie of his Citizens and eyther to auoyde or defende the destruction of his countrey whiche you nowe also vse to the subiection or subuertion of free people This plague of late dayes was but rare insomuch as it was beheld with great woonder but now as your myndes are apt to learne the worst thyngs so is it as common as any other kinde of munition Ioy. I abounde in plentie of artyllery Reason It were better thou aboundedst in the hate of warre and loue of peace forasmuch as other weapons are signes of an vnquiet mynde and these of a degenerate minde and neyther acceptable to such as loue peace but rather hated of couragious warryours Finally vnderstand this much he that first inuented artillery was eyther a dastard or a traytour desirous to hurt and feareful of his enimies and therfore he deuysed as Lucane sayth How to shew his strength from a far and to commit his force to the windes as far as they wyl beare them Whiche may be vnderstoode of al kinds of weapons that are throwne A valyant warryour chooseth rather to encounter his enimie at hande which the artylleryst escheweth Of Treasure layde vp in store The C. Dialogue IOY I Haue layde vp Treasure in store for warres Reason An euyl thyng for worse purposes Howe much more profitable were it for thee and others to lay it vp for the vse of thy friends and countrey and specially for the necessities of them that want that in deede were true treasure but nowe the pryce of the heauenly treasure is conuerted to the purchasyng of Hel. Ioy. I haue treasure for the vse of war. Reason Treasure extenuateth the strength of the mynde and warres doo enfechle men and both are hurtful Ioy. I haue great ayde of treasure for warres Reason Treasure commonly bryngeth to the owner feare of loosyng to the enimie hope of gayne and bolonesse to fight Who wyl not wyllyngly goe into their warres where he may wyn much and loose nothyng Thou readest in Horace of a poore fellowe that fought earnestly and ouercame when he was rich suddeinly fel againe into pouertie And if thou list to consyder of most special and cheife examples thou shalt perceiue that while the Romanes were poore they were the conquerours of all nations and then began to be vanquished when they waxed rich so when riches came victories and manhood departed delightes and wantonnesse also which are companions to riches entred in so that the wryters of those times dyd not without cause complayne of the departyng of the Romane pouertie Pouertie is a very good nurse of vertues and wealth of vyces Thou hopest of victorie by meanes of thy treasure but thou hast more cause to feare thereof riches haue made many dastardly and hartles al proud and loftie but none at al valiant Ioy. I haue gathered togeather a great treasure Reason Thou hast heaped vp care and enuy to thy selfe prouocation to thyne enimies vnquietnesse to theeues Of reuenge The Ci. Dialogue IOY MYne enimie is fallen into my hands I haue power now to be reuenged Reason Nay rather there is happened vnto thee a trial of thy selfe whether thou be slaue to anger or friend to mercy which were vncertaine vnlesse thou mightest be sed to both Many thynke them selues to be that they are not which they do know when they haue tried them selues what they are Ioy. Myne enimie is in my handes I may be reuenged Reason The bounds of power are one thing and of honestie another thou must not respect what thou canst do but what is scenely for thee to doo least yf thou wouldest doo as much as thou canst do it were better thou couldest do nothing at al. Ioy. I may be reueuged and there is nothyng more sweete then reuengement Reason There is nothyng more bytter then anger which I maruaile why one sayd it was sweete but yf thou feele any sweetnesse in it it is a sauage sweetnesse vnmeete for a man and proper to beastes and that not of al kindes but of the most bruitest and fiercest There is nothyng that lesse apparteyneth to a man then crueltie and wyldnesse and contrarywyse nothing that is more sittyng for him then mercy and gentlenesse vnto whiche there is nothyng more repugnaunt then reuengement and whatsoeuer sharpnesse and extremitie one man sheweth against another in hastinesse of mynde But yf the name of reuengement be so sweete vnto thee I wyl tel thee howe thou mayest vse it with much glory the most excellent kynde of reuengement is to spare and be merciful Ioy. I may be reuenged Reason It is much more beuer and gloryous to forget iniuries then to reuenge them there is no forgetfulnesse more honor able then of offences This one thyng the most excellent Oratour ascribed to the most excellent prayse of a most excellent captayne to wit That he vsed to forget nothing but iniuries And there is nothyng forbyddeth but that one mans prayse not being taken from hym may also be ascribed vnto many This one commoditie the goodes of the mynde haue especially aboue al other ryches when they are despersed abrode they do not decrease nor perysh Take thou therfore vppon thee this most noble persuasion of Caesars whiche shall make thee far more renowmed then were Cinaeas and Tarmadas with theyr great memories For the one commeth of nature the other from vertue Ioy. I take pleasure in reuenge Reason The delyght of reuenge is short but of mercy euerlastyng And of two delectable thyngs that is to be preferred that continueth longest Doo thou that this day wherof thou mayest receiue perpetual delight There is no delight greater nor more assured then that which procedeth from the purenesse of a mans conscience and the remembrance of thynges well doone Ioy. It is honest to reuenge Reason But more honest to forgeue Mercy hath commended many but reuengement none there is nothing among men so necessary or so common as forgeuenesse for there is no man but offendeth and no man but he hath neede of mercy whiche being denyed who shal take away so great abundance of faultes offences or renue the brokē league of humane societie Men shal alwaies striue one against another the wrath of God shal alwaies striue against them
it selfe it be an excellent good thing yet is it accompanied with very euyl companions vniust lawes lasciuious maners secret hatred open tyrannie Remember what sometime in the ciuile wars that Prognosticatour foresayde and was not deceyued What auayleth it to pray to the Goddes for peace This peace commeth with the owner thereof But warlyke libertie is more acceptable to valient men then peaceable seruitude Hope I haue peace Reason In the meane whyle thou hast warre also Of peace and truice The Cvi Dialogue IOY I Haue Peace Reason An excellent good thing if it were sincere and perpetual but truely it is neither For it is no new thing but too common and dayly accustomable that warre lurketh vnder the couert of peace and though the peace were pure yet the instabilitie of mindes wyll not suffer it to continue long which contende euery day among them selues no lesse then with an enimie Ioy. I haue obtayned peace Reason But warinesse and warlike discipline are lost and assured preseruation of cities but thou hast gotten idle slouthfulnesse and continual dangerous securitie since in most respectes peace is better then war but in this one respect war is better then peace in that it is more warie and full of experience The Romane prowesse had neuer decayed yf the Carthagien warre had continued The peace with the Carthagiens was the destruction of the Citie of Rome and an euerlastyng document to all other Cities to shewe that peace is not alwayes best for Nations and Empires that whiche good Nasica wyll sweare to be so in that it was committed sometyme to his charge and all the learned wyll confesse that he sayeth true Ioy. I haue peace Reason Vse 〈◊〉 modestly Proude and negligent peace is more hurtful then any warre Many that haue been in armes haue been safe among weapons but so soone as they haue been in peace they haue fallen among weapons and too late haue wished for warre What shal I speake of the ruine of Manners and the vtter ouerthrowe of Humanitâ—â— it selfe How many that haue been very good men in warre haue by peace become very euyll as though laying downe all vertue with their armour they had put on all vices with their gowne Thus hath the inwarde affection been changed with the outwarde apparrell In confirmation whereof although many thousande men might be brought to witnesse yet two onely shal suffise vs to wit Sylla and Marius of whom the first as it is written of hym no man is able sufficiently to prayse or disprayse for whyle he sought aâ—â—â—r conquestes he shewed him selfe to the people of Râ—â—â—â— to be Sâ—â—pio but while he exercised crueltie he represented hym selâ—â— to bâ— Hannibal The seconde was a man as it is also written of hym whose vertues yf they be conferred with his vices it is hard to say whether he were more valiant in warre then pestilent in peace insomuche as the same Common wealth whiche he preserued beyng in armes so soone as he put on his Gowne and was in peace he defiled with all kynde of tretcherie and lastly ouerthrewe lyke an enimie with forcible Armes Ioy. I reioyce in that my Countrey is in peace Reason What yf peace some tyme extinguishe that whiche is best in a man and nourysh that whiche is worst Well knowen is the saying of the Satyrical Poet who when he had sayd muche concernyng the causes of the auncient Romane vertue and valiencie among whiche is and Hannibal neare to the Citie at the last he inferreth But now wee feele the discommodities of long peace Wantonnesse and riot more cruell then Armes doo vrge and take reuenge vppon the conquered Citie Is there any peace I pray thee so muche to be esteemed of that is no odious to excellent personages yf it be accompanied with sensualitie and riotousnesse Truely vnto hym that shall deepely consyder of the matter though armes be layde downe yet can it not seeme peace where the mindes are oppugned with domestical and most subtyl warre that wanteth 〈…〉 good maners are exiled pleasures beare rule and vertues are troden vnder foote Ioy. The peace is assured Reason And so as I haue sayde are the companions of peace libertie licentiousnesse with dan gers no lesse in qualitie or quantitie then are in warre These bryng destruction vnto the body the other vnto the soule and many times vnto the body also And therefore vnto many the brestplate hath been more fortunate then the gowne the fielde more safe then the chamber and the Trumpet then the Pype and the Sun then the shadowe There hath ben some that were neuer in more safetie then in the warres as thou hast hearde Iulius Caesar report concernyng hym selfe and his souldyers as for peace yf it woulde come without vices I confesse it is an heauenly gyft and suche a good thyng as is inferiour to none but it seldome commeth without vices Ioy. But I haue taken a truice Reason Thou hast geuen thyne enimie respite to recouer his force that he may strike more strongly then thou Ioy. I haue truice Reason Truice is cosen germane to treason Thou seest that through subtiltie many things are doone by the enimie but thou readest of many moe so that the policies of warre are neuer better executed ayde neuer more freely sought for yea truice hath made many inuincible in warre IOY I haue taken truice with myne enimies Reason A loytryng tyme neyther meery with peace neyther exercised in warre but doubtfully waueryng betweene both where pride hyndereth peace and feare detracteth warre and I knowe not whether it be more hurtful so to continue or other wyse to fall For to desyre a time of breathyng is the part of one that is weery and the part of a wretched and madde man to be able to abyde neither peace nor warre Of the Popedome The Cvii Dialogue IOY I Haue atteined to the Popedome Reason Men vse commonly to flye out of a tempest into the Hauen but thou wyllingly thest out of the Hauen into a tempest thou art a woonderfull marriner Ioy. I haue â—â—ten the Popedome Reason A rare matter I wyl not say difficult Dyd the care ouer one soule seeme so litle grieuous vnto thee but that thou must take the charge burden of al vpon thee Thy shoulders are stroÌ„g or thine ambition is great so far to pricke thee foorth where thou knowest thou shalt be in euyl case Ioy. I am ascended to the Popedome Reason By what meaues see thou For there are two wayes both tendyng vnto trauaile but the one leadyng vnto miserie Whichsoeuer of these thou followest knowe that thou art in miserie or yf the best happen that of a freeman thou art become a bondslaue So thou that art sayde to haue ascended art fallen downe beyng nowe become one of those to whom is song that saying of the Prophete They that goe downe into the Sea in shyppes hauing busynesse vpon many waters they that ascende vp into heauen and descende downe to Hell
rippes Then the fox filling her bellie with the fishe soddenlie lept away and so to their great wonder indignation escaped them Howe manie other sleightes of Foxes are there what howling of wolues what barking about the staules of cattell what watching of crowes and kites about pigeon houses and broodes of chickens what natural and euerlasting hatred betweene them as some do report The one goeth into the others nest and there breaking the egges destroieth the hope of their broode As for the Cuckowe he hath not onlie one or two enimies but all birdes in a manner insult ouer him as being a fugitiue and alwayes complayning Moreouer what continuall wayte do the Weesels lay for the Aspes to entrap them what assault of theeues is there against the priuie chambers and closets of rich men what great watching warding is there in euerie seuerall kinde howe great and diligent contention who is able to declare the manifold labours and watchings of hunters and haukers their craftes and ginnes to take beastes foules and of fishers their hookes and nettes to take fishes or on the other side the subteltie of the wilde beastes foules and fishe Al which things what are they other than the instrumentes of contention Moreouer what stinges are there in waspes and hornettes and what battailes and conflictes are there betweene these plagues and the poore neate Neither are the dogges or horses or other kindes of foure footed beastes at anie more peace and quietnesse What troubles haue they with flies in the sommer time and howe are they molested with snowe in the winter which some in iest doe terme the white flies what continuall vnquietnes is there among rattes what insult of fleas by night what cōtention of gnattes by day what battailes betweene the storckes the snakes and frogges what warres betweene the Pigmeis and the Cranes What strange and wonderfull conflictes doth the greedie thirst or desire of golde raise vp betweene the people Arimaspi and the Gryphes So that it is not easie to iudge whose wickednesse is the greater but that the one endeuour to steale the other to keepe the one are pricked forth by couetousnesse the other by nature The like desire to keepe and steale I finde likewise in the farthest partes of the world among the Indians whilest certein Emotes of incredible bignesse and wonderfull crueltie do semblably defende their golde against the like couetousnesse of that nation The Basiliske fraieth all other serpentes with his hissing driueth them away with his presence and killeth them with his looke The Dragon encloseth the Elephant within the foldes and windinges of his bodie for they are doubtfull and vncerteine Whereby it commeth to passe that there is naturall enmitie betweene liuing things as thirsting after warme blood in summer which some do write of and the ende of the battell maketh it credible ynough if it bee true that the one doth die drie and without blood and the other hauing sucked the blood of his slaine enimie like as a conquerour in the battell yet being him selfe ouercome with his deintie delicates and burst in sunder with ouer much drinking of blood falleth downe dead in the same place Manie other things likewise there be that doe grieue and offend this kinde of beast as the most sharpe paine after the drinking of an horsleech and the most fearefull seeing or hearing of a sillie mouse It is a straunge case that so great a beast and of so huge strength should so much abhorre the sight of so small an enimie But thus dame Nature hath created nothing without strife and offence The Lion him selfe being a couragious and valiant beast and contemning all weapons for the defence of his yong ones yet dareth not behold the turning nor heare the ratling of running wheeles or emptie cartes and wagons and moreouer whereat a man may the more wonder hee cannot abide the sight of the cockes combe and much lesse his noyce and crowing but aboue all things it is said that he cannot away with the crackling of flaming fire This strife therefore hath this beast proper vnto him selfe besides hunting which is common vnto all wilde beastes Tygres also haue their contention who by wit and subtiltie doe hinder and frustrate the pollicies and purposes of their enimies that come to steale their whelpes and runne away As for the shee woolues they be euer at strife with hunger husbandemen and shepheardes I speake nowe of venomous and wilde beastes But at what quietnesse are the tame flockes of cattell with what force and malice doe the hogges contende among themselues Howe doe the leaders of the heardes lie togeather by the eares What bickerments are there betwene them what flights what pride is there in the conquerour what sorowe in him that is conquered what remembrance of iniuries what returne to reuenge Who marketh not in reading howe the warlike bulles the buck goates that fight with their hornes haue exercised the wittes of the Poetes What shal I say of other things They haue all one cause of disagreement euerie thing dependeth vpon contention When was it seene that a strange horse comming to a newe stable or a strange colte turned into an vnaccustomed pasture could eate his meate in quietnesse Who hath not obserued that during the time that the henne sitteth the heat is great the hartburning exceeding in so litle a familie although this also be common vnto all foules There is no liuing creature so gentle whom the loue of his young doeth not exasperate The roust cockes wounde one another with their spurres and by nature and desire of blood plucke eche other by the combe in their fight with all the force of their bodie so much enuie so much pride reigneth in their hartes such is their desire to conquere such is their shame to yeelde Who seeth not the stubburnesse of the Duckes and Geese howe they thrust eche other with their brestes chide their aduersarie with their gagling beate him with their winges and hange together by their billes And as for the wilde kindes it is lesse maruell in them for it i◠a cōmon and vsuall thing among them that the bigger foules be a destruction and sepulchre to the lesser The wilde beast a wilde beast the foule a foule the fishe a fish and one worme deuoureth another yea the lande foules foure footed water beastes do searche turmoile ransacke the sea riuers lakes and flooddes so that of all things the water seemeth vnto me to be most troublesome both in respect of it owne mouing and the continuall tumultes of the inhabitantes thereof as beeing a thing most fruitfull of newe creatures and strange monsters whereof there is doubt insomuch that in this point the learned do not reiect the opinion of the common people that looke what euer creatures there be vpon the lande or in the aire the like in forme there are within the waters forasmucch as there are innumerable sortes of such whereof the aire and earth haue
of another certein maiestie verie memorable Ventidius Bassus an Esculane beeing borne of a base mother and an vnknowen father his countrie being taken and he a yong man was in the triumphe of Gneius Pompeius Strabo who was father vnto Pompeius the great brought away among other prysoners the same man afterwarde fortune chaungyng her countenance beyng made generall ouer the people of Rome fought with most prosperous successe agaynst the Parthian King that was become proude by reason of his auncient power and late conquest and hauyng slaine the Kinges sonne and discomfited the power of the enemie whiche thing the destinies had graunted before that tyme vnto none of the Romane captaines taking reuenge on that famous slaughter of the Romans most magnificently requiting the death of the Crassi hym selfe being a conquerer and triumphing beautified that Capitol with his owne charrets wherin being a captiue he had somtime furnished the triumphant charrets of another and filled the Romane prison with the armie of this captiue enemies And that this spectacle might be the more acceptable and the conquest more woonderfull it was gotten the same day as the course of the yeeres came about vpon which the most terrible slaughter was receiued at Carras Who is so ambitious and greedie of a kingdome that he had not rather haue this glory without a kingdome then a kyngdome without this glory And what I pray thee hyndred Ventidius from atteynyng to felicitie and great honour although he were borne of base stocke and in the fyrst part of his lyfe were at lowe ebbe and in miserie Truely that man whom Esculum dyd contemne Rome dyd regard and matched that obscure name of a stranger with the famous names of her noble Citizens These are the steppes to rise by these are the degrees vnto vertue wherby men are aduaunced not only vnto glory and higher fortune by endeuouring hopyng watchyng but also enthronized within heauen And therefore thou that art meanely borne endeuour to ryse restyng thy first and last step within the entrie vnto vertue not declyning any whyther nor staying Sorow My begynnyng is lowe Reason That is nowe past thynke vppon the thynges that doo folowe neyther am I ignorant that as the first and last dayes of a mans lyfe haue seemed vnto some principally to gouerne the state of humane affayres or as they speake to comprehende and conteyne it veryly I wyll easily agree vnto the first although vnto the seconde I cannot so wyllyngly consent For although as they affirme it skilleth muche with what good lucke a thyng be begunne although the Satiricke Poet thynking vppon suche matters hath thus written whereas he speaketh of Ventidius For it auayleth muche what constellation receiue a man when he beginneth to yeelde foorth his fyrst noyse and commeth away redde from his mothers wombe Notwithstandyng we deny these thinges and these prosperous significations and this so great force of the starres we renounce ascribyng all thinges vnto the most gloryous Creatour of the starres among whose creatures we seclude none from this path of vertue felicitie and glory Sorowe The basenesse of my stocke is very great Reason And what sayst thou to that Wouldest thou rather haue thy pryde be muche Or what hereby dooest thou thynke to be wantyng vnto thee vnlesse thou wouldest also fayne declare thy madnesse by the smoky images and mangled statues that must be erected in thy courtes and galleryes and as it were charnell house of thy predecessours and familie standyng full of rotten titles for a gazing stock to them that shall passe by whereby thou mayest fabulousâ—y discourse with a proude looke in the open streates of those whom thou neuer knewest Sorowe I am borne vnnoble Reason Not only to be borne vnnoble but so to lyue also haue seemed felicitie vnto some Hast thou not read at leastwyse in the Tusculane whiche Cicero hath erected the Anapaestus of the moste mightie Kyng praysyng an olde man and callyng hym fortunate in that he was ingloryous and lyke to continue vnnoble and obscure vnto his lyues ende Of a shamefull byrth The vi Dialogue SOROWE MY byrth is not only base but also shameful Reason There is one only true and great shamefulnesse of the mynde yf thou take that away all thynges are fayre Sorowe I am yll borne Reason He that lyueth well is borne well and dyeth wel But he that lyueth yll cannot be well borne For what skylleth it in how bryght a path a blynde man walke Or what auayleth it from whence a man come yf he come into miserie and reproche Sorowe I was borne in sinne Reason The moste excellent man bewayleth this matter and truely euery man is borne in syn But beware that you heape not more grieuous synnes one vppon another although there be also meanes to clense them Howbeit that fyrst deformitie many tymes at the first entrance into this lyfe is washed away in the sacred fountayne of Baptisme and the soule by clensyng made as white as Snowe Sorowe My parentes ill beget me Reason What belongeth it vnto thee who haue begotten wel so thou be wel borne vnlesse thou ioyne thy wyckednesse vnto the wickednesse of another Sorowe I am ashamed of my fylthy begynnyng Reason Then doo I not marueyle that you be proude of that which is anothers and also that you be ashamed of that which is not your owne and generally yee repose your good and euyll thynges in any place or person rather then in your selues whiche notwithstandyng can be in none other then your selues And vnlesse thou thy selfe hast committed some vyle and shamefull deede what fault is there in thee or what rebuke to haue haâ—de a dishonest father Beware then that thou be not heyre vnto thy father in his lewdnesse but studie in that behalfe to be farre vnlyke hym He that begate thee thou not beyng priuie thereof coulde not imprynt his spottes vppon thee agaynst thy wyll within thee and from thee it muste needes come that shall make thee obscure or noble Sorowe I am borne into the worlde by dishonest parentes Reason All parentes ought to seeme honest vnto theyr chyldren but as they are to be feared so are they not all to be folowed of theyr chyldren for some tyme I woulde geue them counsayle to forsake them Thus muste thou otherwhyle take a contrary course and yf he be a naturall father he wylbe content to be forsaken and wyll desyre to haue hym selfe loued but not his faultes This is only the deuised way by whiche to suppresse and treade vnderfoote theyr parentes name is a glorious and honest deede in the chyldren to lyue otherwyse then they dyd that is to say more continently and holyly Let the chyldes tongue conceale the parentes dishonestie let not his vnlykenesse of lyfe manners and deedes be silent It is a great commendation to the sonne when it shal be sayde behynde his backe O howe muche is this young man more modest then the olde man his father and contrarywyse there is no
was poore before I was borne Reason Thou hast a good memorie yf thou doo remember it and a most delicate feelyng yf thou diddest perceiue it Sorowe I was begotten in pouertie Reason Dooth this complaint any thyng auayle thee It was not long of thee but of thy parentes Sorowe I was borne in pouertie Reason And shalt likewise dye in pouertie thy end shal be lyke thy beginning vnlesse perhaps thou thinke that the golde which thou hast in the bottome of thy cheast wyl cure thy sicknesses when thou liest a dying Sorow The beginning of my life was in pouertie Reason The middle many times possesseth false riches but the beginning ending are very pouertie to be borne naked to die naked is the necessitie of humane condition For what I pray you auayleth the chamber hung with purple the funeral bed gilden and whatsoeuer other pride the ambition of mankind hath deuised when a man is departyng out of this worlde What haue these thynges to doo or what apperteyne they to the Ague or to death it selfe whereof we speake or the nakednesse of them that dye Is it so that as trappings gallant furniture pleaseth an Horse so doo the costly hangynges delight the walles These thynges may please the eyes of the beholders In thynges that lacke sense there may be some what that may delight others but them selues can take no pleasure in any thyng Sorowe I was borne naked and poore Reason Varietie of fortune dooth alter almost all worldely thynges the same also maketh many of them equall and of lyke degree whereby she may bryng comfort vnto the inequalitie of the residue the greatest and chiefest wherof is this equalitie of byrth and death Many and sundry are the sortes of apparrell whiche the lyuyng doo weare but nakednesse only belongeth vnto them that are borne and dye but that the first sort doo fynde out many thynges vpon ignorance and the other forsake all thynges wittyngly so that the knowledge of transitorie thynges ought to qualyfie the sense of so small a losse Sorowe Naked dyd I enter into this wretched lyfe Reason Whyle thou thynkest on that thou shalt depart naked with a more indifferent minde Of the heauie burden of many chyldren The .xii. Dialogue SOROWE I Am ouerburdened with many chyldren Reason With gold and siluer also weake shoulders may be ouerlayed howebeit no man wyll complayne of it but wyll be glad to be so burdened But as for chyldren they are accounted among the chiefest gyftes of your felicitie Dooest thou say then that thou art ouerburdened and not rather lyghtened by them Sorowe I am a poore man among many chyldren Reason Nay rather thy chyldren are thy ryches then howe thou canst be poore in the myddes of ryches see thou For this happeneth but only vnto couetous men and those that are vnthankefull for theyr goodes Sorowe Among a company of chyldren I liue in beggerlie neede Reason Chyldren are not a toyle but an ease vnto their Parentes an appeasyng to theyr griefes and a comfort in all fortunes yf they be good otherwyse there is no complaynyng of their number but of their manners Sorowe I am hemmed in with an armie of Chyldren Reason And why not rather accompanied defended and beautified Truely not Fathers onely but Mothers also doo terme chyldren theyr Iewelles Hast thou not hearde howe Cornelia that was daughter vnto Africane the great when as a very ryche Gentlewoman of Campania who by chaunce lodged in her house womanlyshly glorying shewed her her most precious and fayre Iewelles prouokyng Cornelia as it were vnto emulation of very purpose prolonged that talke vntyll suche tyme as her chyldren shoulde returne from Schoole who then were but lytle boyes but afterwarde proued excellent men Whom when theyr mother behelde turnyng her selfe towardes her gheast These quoth shee are my Iewelles Notably well sayde truely and as it became the daughter of so woorthie a father but these thy ornamentes thou tearmest impedimentes Sorowe Who is able to feede so manie chyldren Reason He that feedeth thee from thy youth vnto thyne olde age who feedeth not onely Men but also Fyshes and Beastes and Foules Sorowe But who is able to cloath the bodyes of so many chyldren Reason He that apparrelleth not onely lyuyng creatures but also the Fieldes with Grasse and Flowres and the Wooddes with Leaues and Branches And how knowe we yet whether these thy chyldren perhappes shall not onely feede and clothe thee but also defende and honour thee Of humane affayres as some that begynne with pleasure doo ende with sorowe and care euen so contrarywyse some that haue a bytter begynnyng doo ende pleasauntly suche as for the most part is the euent of all vertuous actions whiche are greeuous at the fyrst entraunce but in processe delectable Sorowe I am poore and haue manye chyldren Reason Thou marueylest as though thou haddest not read of the plentifull pouertie of men There are sundrie kyndes of Trades and diuers gyftes of Fortune they happen not all vnto one man vnto some wandryng Merchandize to some the rough Earth to some dead Mettall and vnto thee lyuyng ryches whiche are Chyldren are alotted And shall we recken Oxen and Sheepe and Asses and Camelles and flittyng Bees and Pigeons and Poultry and Peacockes and lykewyse Menseruauntes and Womenseruauntes in the number of ryches and exclude Chyldren onely Sorowe O howe manye Chyldren haue I Reason O howe many moe haue other had Priamus had fyftie Orodes king of the Parthians had thirtie Artaxerxes king of the Persians had an hundred fifteene Erothinius king of the Arabians seuen hundred in trust and confidence of whom inuadyng the confines of his enimies with seuerall inroades he wasted the landes of Egypt and Syria And truely it is a kynde of power and force to haue many Chyldren But I knowe what thou wylt say These whom thou hast named were all of them myghtie Kynges and my state is farre otherwyse Was Appius Claudius a King No he was not so much as a Rych man in that auncient tyme when as it was a reproche to be counted ryche and blyndnesse was ioyned with his pouertie and olde age with his blyndnesse and yet notwithstandyng Tullie wrytyng of hym Foure Sonnes sayeth he and fyue Daughters so great an house and so great resort of Suters dyd Appius gouerne beyng both blynd and olde Neyther is it marueyle that he gouerned well his priuate affayres when as beyng troubled with these discommodities he gouerned also the whole Common wealth The greater part of humane defectes consysteth in the manners not in the thynges Appius estate was not lyke a Kyng neyther dyd he desyre it but beyng contented with his owne callyng decked vp his small house not with costlye furniture but with vertues and maynteyned his familie with a slender dyet And that whiche many Kinges doo vnwyllyngly and camplaynyng that dyd he with an indifferent mynd For he sought not for ryches but conformed his appetite to his abilitie Appius had not
so learned a man shoulde be of that opinion but that he was so it is out of all doubt There be some also that count fortitude to be the moste excellent and soueraigne vertue to receyue woundes with bent breast to stayne the fielde with gore blood and finally to goe vnto death with a bolde courage Some there be that ascribe all these thinges vnto extreame madnesse and iudge nothyng better then quiet and dastardly idlenesse There shall some come also that wyll esteeme iustice to be the gouernour of humane affayres the mother of vertues who shall beleeue that religion is the way vnto euerlastyng lyfe and the ladder to climbe vp by vnto heauen There shall other some come lykewyse on the contrary syde that shall count iustice cowardice and religion madnesse and superstition these are they of whom it is written They are able to doo euery thyng who affirme that all thynges appertayne vnto violent men And not only in this kynd of violent men and rauinous persons but also among the multitude of learned men home great aduersaries iustice hath it may easily be perceyued in the bookes of Cicero whiche he wrote of a common wealth There be some that with great and deserued commendations doo extoll the keepyng of fayth and promises There be othersome also that say it is no deceipt to breake fayth but that it proceedeth from more knowledge and a better wit. Whiche although it be the common opinion and saying of the most part of men at this present in Lactantius it is namely ascribed vnto Mercurie saying as he reporteth it That it is no fraude to deceyue but craftinesse this is that woorthy god of wyse dome and eloquence To be shorte there is no vertue so commendable but it shal finde some dispraisers as for thankefulnesse there is no nation so barbarus no manners so sauage which do not commend it and no man euer that dyd not disprayse vnthankefulnesse For admit a man be a theefe a murderer a traytour an vnthankeful person he shal not dare excuse his faulte but denye it whiche although it be so neuerthelesse there are innumerable vnthankeful persons Neyther is there almost any one vice by so many condemned in woorde whiche lykewise is by so many embraced in deede What shal I conclude Truely that it ought to be condemned not onely in woord but chiefely in mynde and iudgement and of euery good maneschewed in hym selfe and borne withal in another as other thynges whereof mankynde hath plentie wherewith the wicked do abounde and the good are molested Suffer therefore chose rather to tollerate an vnthankeful person then thy selfe to be one Sorowe I fynde many vnthankeful Reason Take heede there be no fault in thy selfe For there are many that whyle they wyl seeme to be liberal they become boasters and fault fynders whiche are an hateful kinde of men whose good turnes doo a man more hurt then helpe him And that is nothyng els then to procure hatred by expence which is a mad kynde of merchandize Sorow Hauing deserued wel I suffer many that are vnmindful and vnthankeful Reason Doest thou greeue thereat and wouldest thou change conditioÌ„ with them Do not so I pray thee where so euer the fault lye let vertue be on thy side Sorowe I haue many that are vnthankeful Reason What wouldest thou haue me say to thee that thou shouldest leaue to do wel and hynder thy selfe for another mans faulte Nay rather doo thou contrarie and where as thou hast many prouide that thou mayst haue mo whiche thou shalt haue yf thou doo good vnto many For there are alwayes many vnthankeful but most at this day and I feare me least that shortly it wiâ—be a monster to finde a thankeful person In suche forte dayly all thinges impaire and goe backe warde Suche is the importunacie of those that require them and the forgetfulnesse and pride of those that owe them and yet notwithstandyng men must not therefore leaue of neyther must we scratch out our eyes because the blynd can not see but rather the blindnesse of other ought to make vs loue our eyes the more deerely Sorowe I haue founde many vnthankfull Reason Thinke with thy selfe whether thou hast been so vnto many One vnthankefulnesse punisheth another as also in other thinges for oftentimes one sinne is punishment to another Sorowe I haue done good vnto many vnthankefull persons Reason It is better to doo good vnto many vnwoorthy then to be wanting vnto one woorthy person Goe forward therefore and lay not aside thy good maners in respect of hatred towarde the wicked neyther surceasse to doo good vnto others for that of some it is not accordyngly accepted Perhappes hereafter they shal know thee better but yf they do not it shall suffice thee to knowe God and thy selfe It is no true vertue whiche is not sufficed with the rewarde of it owne conscience Sorowe I haue had euill lucke by doyng good to many Reason Take heede that one mans fault hurte not anothers and which is more greeuous annoy not thee Trie others and perhappes it wyll fal out more fortunatly Moreouer some that haue been a long time vnthankefull at length when shame hath touched their mindes haue become most thankeful and the lost hope of them hath been returned with great vauntage And further that whiche a debtour hath many tymes denied being required one that hath been no debtour hath willyngly offered there was neuer any good deede lost Who so doth wet let hym thinke most of his owne estate Only vertue doth good vnto many but the greatest and chiefest parte of vertue returneth vpon the woorker therof And therefore although al men be euyll and vnthankefull a good man must not ceasse to do well for those thynges whiche he dispearseth among many he heapeth vpon many and is at leastwyse beneficiall to hym selfe for not being an vnthankeful person Sorowe I haue cast away benefites vpon vnthankeful persons Reason A couetous person wyl not sticke to giue somtime frankely but liberalitie is the greater the lesse there is hope of recompence Of euil seruauntes The .xxix. Dialogue SOROWE I Am besieged with euyl seruauntes Reason Nowe sayest thou truely that thou art besieged for before tyme thou seemedst to thy selfe to be furnished and adorned with them but in very deede thou wast besieged not onely with an army of thy familiars but also of thine enimies Sorowe I am oppressed with vnruly seruauntes Reason Thine owne armie fighteth agaynst thee whiche is an vnpleasant matter Sorow I am besieged with proud seruauntes Reason And yet thou art constreyned to feede them that besiege thee whiche is an extreame necessitie Sorowe I am besieged with very euill rauening theeuishe lying and vnchaste seruauntes Reason What needest thou to roule in so many termes of thy seruaunts Cal them seruauntes and then thou hast sayde al. Sorowe I am besieged with seruauntes and what counsel doest thou geue me Reason What counsel shoulde I geue thee or what
albeit that place may otherwyse be applyed Sorowe I am oppressed with cares Reason As though among the swellyng waues the shyppe of thy lyfe beyng voyde of counsayle and destitute of a Master coulde escape shypwracke if thou doo not whyle tyme serueth ride in some quiet and safe Port and there lye at Anker before the tempest of the minde doo ouerwhelme thee Sorow I am caried away knowyng not what to doo Reason And so besides the peryls of the minde whiche are incomprehensible and infinite your lookes are diuers and strange lyke the minde whiche as Cicero wryteth maketh the same and beyng in such a state now merrie now sadde now feareful now secure now swyft now slowe in gate thou art a notable garyng stocke for al men through the varietie of such gesture as was Catiline But once settle thy selfe to wyll and doo well but otherwyse yf thou wyll that yll is styll shalt thou be as thou art For vice is alwayes variable Settle thy selfe I say to wyll that good is and then shalt thou fynde as thy minde quieted so thy lookes stayed and all thy gestures vniforme vnchangable eyther through hope or feare through ioye or griefe whiche is a speciall part of grauitie seene in very fewe men and hyghly commended among the Grecians in Socrates and in Lelius among your Countreymen and last of al in Marcus Antonius and in Aurelius Alexander among your Princes Of a doubtful state The .lxxvi. Dialogue SOROW. I Am in a doubteful state Reason What is it I pray thee that thou doubtest of Is it whether mortall men must dye or whether transitorie thinges are to be contemned or that we must not depende altogether vpon prosperitie or whether destinie cannot be auoyded and therefore must be tollerated neither fortune bowed but may be broken To all these the answeares are certayne Sorowe Beyng in a doubtfull state I knowe not what wyll become of me Reason In deede perhaps thou mayest doubt where when and how thou shalt dye but that thou must dye that he can not dye an euyll death whiche hath ledde a good lyfe or to soone which alwayes hath played the honest man thou canst not doubt Agayne that he can dye out of his owne countrey who maketh the whole worlde his countrey or but in exile whiche desireth to be in his natiue countrey except thou be vnwyse thou canst neuer doubt Whence therefore come these doubtynges Perchaunce of fortune but thinkest thou she wylbe faythful to thee whiche with none keepeth fayth Is it not more lykely that she wyll keepe her olde woont lyke the troublesome sea now deceitful with a fayned calmenesse nowe with surging waues terrible by and by dreadefull with shypwracke And yet hadst thou any experience at al no place should there remayne for doubting For albeit the euentes be doubtful yet vertue which wyl make thee certayne in the greatest vncertaynetie is alwayes certayne vnto whom when thou hast geuen thy selfe nothyng shal be doubtful but al thynges foreseene Sorow I haue a doubtful state Reason But the same is not doubtful to God and therefore content thy selfe and commit thee wholly vnto him saying In thy handes I am do with me as it pleaseth thee whiche thing spoken godly laye feare aside cast of doubting be no more careful He knoweth what to doo with thee which knoweth al thynges With a litle but sure with a trustie barke thou cuttest the mightie sea He is a faythful and most careful gouernour of thy saluation What skylleth it if the passenger know not the way so it be knowen to the maister of the shyp Of woundes receyued The .lxxvii. Dialogue SOROWE I Am vexed with most greeuous woundes Reason O howe lyght shoulde they seeme wouldest thou beholde the woundes of thy soule But suche delicate bodyes haue most commonly insensible soules Of one part nothyng on the other ye are redy to suffer al thynges and whiche is most wretched ye neuer feele them Sorowe My woundes trouble me Reason The enimies swoorde pearseth the shielde not the soule For she can neuer be hurt if so be she do not bereaue her selfe of her owne weapons It was sayde of a certaye man in a litle but sure a learned woorke that no man can be hurt but of hym selfe whiche I thinke to be a true saying albeit many mislyke the same Sorowe I am mangled with most greeuous and manifolde woundes Reason There is no wounde more greeuous then that whiche is to the death but there is but one suche wounde and yf but one that is most greeuous the rest must needes be lyght Caesar being goared with twentie and three woundes had but one deadly wounde and yf we should graunt them al to be deadly yet coulde he dye but once And albeit many and deepe are the woundes yet but one effect is there of them all the often woundyng of a dead body argueth a blooddie minde in the wounder but encreaseth no payne in the wounded Sorowe With woundes I am weakened Reason Woulde to God pryde with al her sisters were brought lowe and humilitie admitted for a companion of the woundes that we myght finde it true whiche was written Thou hast humbled the proude lyke a wounded person It is a good wounde and profitable whiche is a medicine to heale other and greater woundes Sorowe I am ougly in sight through my woundes Reason Hast thou forgot that young man of whom twyse in this our communication we spake Hereafter shouldest thou doo that of thyne owne accorde which now thou doest lament to be done vnto thee by another Sorowe My face is disfigured with woundes Reason The wounde is not to be regarded so muche as the cause thereof Woundes receyued in a lawful war do woonderfully adorne the face Fayre is the wounde whiche a valiant man hath gotten in a good quarel but muche fayrer is the death Sorow I am lame withall Reason Thou remembrest I am sure the answeare of Horatius Cocles who after he had borne the brunt of the whole armie of the Tuscaâ—e king vpon the brydge Sublicius after a more valiant then credible maner and escaped from his enimies the brydge beyng broken by his owne countreymens handes and leaping into the ryuer Tyber though with some hurt vnto one of his legges which thing afterward suing for an office was obiected vnto hym thus stopped the mouth of his aduersarie I halte not at al quoth he but suche is the wyt of the immortal Gods that euery step whiche I make shoulde bryng into my remembrance my glorious victorie as noble an answere as his exploite was notable Sorow I haue lost myne hande in fight Reason If it be thy left hande the losse is the lesse but if it be thy ryght hande thou mayest doo as dyd Marcus Sergius a man of prowesse who hauing in fight lost his ryght hande in the Punike war made hym one of Iron wherewith he went to many and blooddie battayles But yf that be not so conuenient make thy left
hande to serue thy turne in steede of a ryght Thou remembrest howe Attilius one of Caesars souldiers in the Massilian warre helde with his left hande the enimies shyp tyl he was drowned when his ryght hande was cut of Sorowe I haue lost both mine handes Reason Where fortune hath most libertie there greatest vertue is to be showen The power of fortune may be withstoode by the prowesse of vertue Which if thou hast thou art valient though thou haue neuer an hande Cal vnto thy mind Ciniger the Athenian who when both handes were cut of after the Marathonian battayle beyng a great argument of his inuincible courage held fast his enimies shyp with his teeth as wel as he could whiche battayle was the immortal fact of captayne Melciades Neyther do thou forget that Souldier of Cannas who reuenged himselfe on his enimie with his teeth when his handes were maymed For beyng in his armes depriued of the vse of his handes he bit of his eares and marred the fashion of his face afore he would let goe and so dyed as he thought gloriously These are examples of cruel mindes but the remedies whiche nowe I prescribe are more comfortable and meete for milde mindes And that is remember thy body is a frayle and mortal thyng and speedyly also wyl forsake thee when thou art wounded or otherwyse troubled in body be not moued neyther maruayle thereat but hauing lost the ministry of thyne outwarde limmes conuert thy selfe into the inmost corners of thy soule there shalt thou finde some great thing to be sayde and done and that thou needest neyther handes nor tongue to helpe thee Sorow I am deformed with woundes Reason I sayde eare whyle that yf the quarrel were good the wounde is faire whiche is gotten by fight and the face is not deformed with filthy woundes but adorned with glorious markes Neyther are they scarres but starres nor woundes but signes of vertue fixed in the face Cesius Scena a captayne of an hundred in Caesars armie a man of a woonderful courage but of no vpryghtnesse otherwise was had in such admiration among his enimies that they not onely kissed his woundes wherwith he was torne and cut through a thousande fold in respect of his valientnesse only but also conueied his weapons and armor into the temples of their Gods as most excellent ornamentes and reliques If he beyng a wicked man was so honored in what price are they to be had who are aswel vertuous as valiant Sorow I am extreamely weake through my woundes Reason Heale ye wretches those woundes which wyl sticke by you for euer yf in tyme they be not healed Let earth looke to them which shall both couer and consume them yea and make crooked bodyes which it receiueth strayght when it restoreth them agayne Sorowe I am maymed being so wounded in this and in that parte Reason Thou stryuest about partes but thou shalt forgoe the whole Of a kyng without a sonne The .lxxviii. Dialogue SOROWE I Haue a kyngdome but I lacke a sonne Reason Hast thou not cares enough through the burden of thy kyngdome except thou haue the charge of a sonne also The heauier your burden is the lyghter your hart and sweete it seemeth to you when ye lye downe with your loade There is no publike wayght so heauie as a kyngdome nor no priuate charge more waightie though none so deare as a sonne Sorow I lacke a sonne to whom I may leaue my kyngdome Reason Leaue to thy subiectes libertie nothing is better for them to haue nor meeter for thee to geue There haue been some whiche in their lyfe tyme and yet not without successours haue thought hereupon as Hiero Siracusan and Augustus Caesar Howe much better is it to do well vnto many when thou mayest then yl vnto one And what is sweeter yea better then to lyue in freedome What woorser yea more daungerous then to be a kyng Sorowe I lacke a sonne to be heire of my kyngdome Reason Thou lackest matter to continue a tyrannie For what els are kyngdomes but auncient tyrannies Tyme maketh not that to be good whiche by nature is euyll Adde hereunto that good fathers commonly haue vngracious chyldren to succeede them Examples hereof may be Hierome of Sicile and Iugurth Tyrant of Numidia whereof the one through ambition the other through trecherie both to their destruction violated the auncient amitie whiche their forefathers had many yeeres kept religiously with the Romans Hast thou not a sonne Then thou hast not hym which shal ouerthrowe that whiche thou hast done thou hast a people whiche wyl loue thee honoure thee remember thee and alwayes thanke thee for theyr libertie Thinke that God hath delt more graciously with thee eyther in takyng away or denying thee a sonne then in geuing thee a kyngdome Sorowe I am a kyng without a sonne Reason Nowe raigne more vertuously and freely many tymes the loue of chyldren draweth away the minde from the loue of iustice Thou hast redde how in the great Ilande Taxrobane which lyeth farre beyonde India within the East Oceane directly opposite to England the kyng is chosen by the consent of the people and they take vnto them the best man among al to be their kyng neyther blood nor good fauour nor profite but only goodnesse bryngeth to preferment Truely an holy and blessed election Wouldeto God it were vsed in these partes of the worlde then shoulde not yl succeede the good nor the woorst the wicked then shoulde not wickednesse and pride come from parentes to theyr chyldren in al posterities as it doth And though the best and most vpryght man with one consent of al be chosen yet is he neuer allowed for kyng except he be both an olde man and without chyldren least eyther the heate of youth or the loue of chyldren carrie hym away from the executyng of iustice So that he whiche hath a sonne is neuer chosen and after he is created kyng if he beget one he is immediatly remoued from his princely aucthoritie For the wyse men of that countrey thynke it impossible that one man should haue a diligent care both of his kyngdome and of his chyldren Of a kyngdome lost The .lxxix. Dialogue SOROW. MY kyngdome is gone Reason Nowe it is a kynde of comfort to be without a sonne Sorowe I am cast out of my kyngdome Reason A good fal thou sattest in a slypperie place and now beyng on the plaine and beholdyng the perilous height behinde thy backe thou wylt see howe that descendyng from the throne of royaltie thou art aduaunced to the rest of a priuate lyfe And if there can be no pleasure nor happinesse without securitie thou shalt perceyue that somewhat more pleasant and happie is the lyfe thou nowe leadest then whiche thou dyddest heretofore Sorow I am driuen from my kyngdome Reason Thanke hym which was cause thereof an harde thyng for the eare to heare peraduenture but surely comfortable to the mind it is that I byd thee For
there is no minde be it neuer so swyfte that is able to measure it and also the surpassyng beautie of vertue whiche is so louelie that yf it coulde be seene with the bodily eyes as Plato sayth it woulde rauyshe men woonderfully with the loue thereof Therefore let loue on the one syde and feare on the other styrre thee vp for both of them are very effectuall for neyther he that loueth neyther he that hateth can commonly be dull and sluggyshe and yet notwithstandyng ye ryse in the nyght tyme vnto diuine seruice wherein ye pray that hurtfull sleepe and sluggyshnes oppresse you not there is no place for sleepe nor sluggyshuesse when as death frayeth you on the one syde and vertue on the other For who coulde euer be slouthfull and carelesse in great dangers or great aduauncementes Whensoeuer thou haft respect vnto these courage wyll resort to the minde and sleepe wyll flye from the eyes when ye thynke with your selues howe muche imperfection remayneth within you and howe muche tyme ye haue spent in idlenesse whereof when men haue no consyderation we see howe they spende long ages vnprofitably and heare olde men wonderyng and amazed to say What haue we doone heere these many yeeres We haue eaten drunken and slept and nowe at last we are awaked too late The cheefe cause whereof is this sluggyshnesse whereof thou complaynest whiche in tyme ought to be dryuen away by the prickes of industrie and the brydle of foresyght least that by ouerlong staying thou be caried away with the multitude vnto a dishonourable ende Of Letcherie The Cx. Dialogue SOROWE I AM shaken with the vehemencie of Letcherie Reason Letcherie is begotten by slouthfulnesse and brought foorth by gluttonie what maruell is it then yf the daughter followe her parentes As for gluttonie and letcherie they are common vnto you with beastes and that they make your lyfe more beastly then any other thyng wyse men haue so iudged and therefore although there be many mischiefes more greeuous yet is there none more vyle Sorowe I am carryed away with Letcherie Reason Whyther I pray thee but vnto death both of the bodye and soule and infamous ignominie and too late and perhappes vnprofitable repentance Goe thy wayes nowe and followe her that carrieth thee away vnto suche endes Thynke vppon the miserable and notorious chaunces of innumerable not onely priuate men but also Cities and Kyngdomes whiche partly by syght and partly by heare-say but specially by readyng ought to be very well knowen and then I suppose thou wylt not geue thy hande vnto this vice to followe it Heare what the best learned haue iudged and written concernyng this matter Pleasures sayth Cicero beyng most flatteryng Ladyes doo wreast the greater partes of the mynde from vertue To this ende sayth Seneca they embrace vs that they may strangle vs whiche none otherwyse then Theeues that lay wayte for traueylers vppon the way and leade them aside to murther them ought to be auoyded Wherein it shall muche auayle yf whosoeuer shall feele hym selfe infected with this mischeefe doo imagine that most excellent sayeing of Scipio Africane in Liuie whiche he spake vnto king Masinissa to be spoken vnto hym selfe Vanquishe thy minde quoth he and take heede thou doo not deforme many good giftes with one vice and corrupt the beautie of so many desartes with a greater faulte then the cause of the faulte is The whiche shal be doone the more easily yf a man doo thynke earnestly vppon the vilenesse fylthinesse shortnesse and ende of the thyng and also the long reproche and the short time and howe perhappes the pleasure of one breefe moment shal be punished with the repentaunce of many yeeres and peraduenture with euerlastyng damnation Of Pryde The Cxj. Dialogue SOROWE I AM lyfted vp with pryde Reason Earth and ashes why art thou proude Canst thou that art oppressed with the burden of so many mischiefes be lyfted vp with pride Who yf thou were free from them al and were lyfted vp by the wynges of al vertues yet were al thy good gyftes defiled with this vyce only For there is nothing more hateful vnto God then pryde By this fel he that was created in most excellent estate by which thou beyng a sinner thinkest to aryse If it hapned so vnto hym for this one thing what doest thou thinke wyl befall vnto thee in whom this wickednesse is ioyned with other vices Thou hast heaped a naughtie weight vpon thy burden Sorow I am carried with pryde Reason Why shouldest thou be so I pray thee Doest thou not remember that thou art mortal that thou wearest away euery day that thou art a sinner that thou art subiect to a thousand chaunces and in danger euery day to vncertayne death and finally that thou art in wretched case And hast thou not also heard the most famous saying of Homer The earth nourisheth nothyng more wretched then man I woulde fayne knowe whiche of these doth most cheefely pricke thee foorth vnto pryde whether the imbecilitie of the body or the whole armie of sickenesses or the shortnesse of lyfe or the blyndenesse of the minde whiche continually wauereth betweene most vayne hope and perpetual feare or the forgetfulnesse of that whiche is past or the ignorance of that whiche is to come and present or the treacherie of enimies or the death of freendes or continuing aduersitie or flytting prosperitie By these and none other ladders ye ascend vnto pryde by these ye ryse to ruine All other dangers wherein men do walter haue some excuse although it be vniust but pryde and enuie haue no coloure at al. Sorow I am sorie that I am proud Reason To be sorie for sinne is the first degree to saluation And as it is the nature of pryde to lyft vp so is it of humilitie to be sorie and submit it selfe whiche thou shalt do the more easye so soone as thou turnest thyne eyes earnestly vpon thy selfe whiche being so I am not mynded neyther ought I to heape vp vnto theeaucthorities wrytten in bookes agaynst vices This only shal be sufficient that thou knowe that so soone as euer thou be disposed vnfeignedly al these matters wyl surceasse immediatly and whensoeuer as they say thou shalt blowe the retreate retire to thyne ensignes as touchyng this present mischeefe This one thyng I wyl say moreouer that pryde is a sickenesse of wretches and fooles for doubtlesse they be suche that be proud otherwyse I am sure they woulde neuer be proud neyther is it written without cause in the booke of Wisedome That al that are foolysh vnfortunate are proud about the measure of their soule And truely yf they were wyse for their soules health their meane were to abase their estate knowyng their owne imbecilitie For so thou readest it written in the same booke He that is a king to day shal dye to morow And when a man dyeth he shal haue serpentes and beastes and woormes for his inheritance The begynning of pryde is to
Schoolemaister Eod. Of a notable Scholler Folio 104. Of a good Father Folio 105. Of a most Louing Mother Eod. Of Good Brethren and Louing and Fayre Systers Folio 106. Of a good Lorde Folio 107. Of the Clearenesse of the Ayre Folio 109. Of Fortunate Saylyng Eod. Of wyshed Arriuing at the Haune Folio 110. Of commyng foorth of Pryson Eod. Of a quiet State. Folio 111. Of Power Folio 113. Of Glorie Folio 114. Of Benefites bestowed vpon many Folio 115. Of Loue of the people Folio 116. Of Inuadyng a Tyrannie Folio 117. Of a Kyngdome and Empire Folio 119. Of a furnished Armie Folio 123. Of a wel apppoynted Nauie Folio 124. Of engyns and Artillarie Folio 125. Of Treasure layde vp in store Folio 126. Of Reuenge Eod. Of hope to Wynne Folio 129. Of Victorie Eod. Of the death of an Enemie Folio 130. Of hope of Peace Folio 131. Of peace and Truce Folio 132. Of the Popedome Folio 133. Of Happynesse Folio 134. Of good Hope Folio 136. Of expectation of Inheritance Folio 138. Of Alchimie Follo 139. Of the promises of wyse men and Soothsayers Folio 140. Of Glad tydynges Folio 143. Of Expectyng a mans sonne or farmer or wyfe Eod. Of Lookyng for better tymes Folio 145. Of the hoped comming of a Prynce Folio 146. Of hope of fame after Death Folio 147. Of Glory hoped for by buyldyng Folio 148. Of Glory hoped for by keepyng company 149. Of Manyfold hope Folio 150. Of hoped quietnesse of Mynde Eod. Of the hope of lyfe Euerlastyng Folio 151. The Table of the matters conteyned in the second Booke of this woorke OF the deformitie of the Bodye Folio 162. Of Weakenesse Folio 164. Of Sycknesse Folio 165. Of a base Countrey Eod. Of Basenesse of Stocke Folio 166. Of a shamefull Byrth Folio 169. Of Bondage Folio 171. Of Pouertie Folio 174. Of Damage susteyned Folio 175. Of Thynne fare Folio 178. Of Originall pouertie Folio 180. Of the heauie burden of many Chyldren Eod. Of Money lost Folio 183. Of Suertishyppe Folio 187. Of Losse of tyme Folio 188. Of Vnfortunate pâ—aâ—ing at Tables Folio 190. Of Her vnto whom one was assured iudged vnto another Eod. Of the losse of a mans Wyfe Folio 191. Of a Shrewyshe Wyfe Folio 193. Of the stealyng away of a mans Wyfe Folio 194. Of an vnchaste Wyfe Eod. Of a barren Wyfe Folio 197. Of an vnchaste Daughter Folio 198. Of Shame commyng from an other Folio 199. Of Infamie Folio 200. Of Shame procured by meanes of vnwoorthy commendation Folio 202. Of Vnthankfull Freendes Folio 203. Of Vnthankfull persons Folio 204. Of Euyll Seruauntes Folio 206. Of Fugitiue Seruauntes Folio 107. Of Importunate Neyghbours Folio 208. Of Enimies Folio 209. Of occasion lost to reuenge Folio 210. Of the peoples Hatred Folio 211. Of Enuie Passiuely Eod. Of Contempt Folio 212. Of Long expectyng a promised Rewarde Folio 213. Of Repulses Eod. Of an vniust Lorde Folio 215. Of an Vnlearned Schoolemaister Folio 216. Of an Vnapt and proude Scholer Folio 217. Of a Stepdame Folio 218. Of the hardnesse of a Father Eod. Of a stubburne Sonne Folio 220. Of a contentious Brother Folio 221. Of the Losse of a Father Folio 222. Of the Losse of a Mother Eod. Of the losse of a Sonne Eod. Of the miserable fal of a young Chylde Folio 224. Of A sonne that is founde to be another mans Eod. Of the losse of a Brother Folio 226. Of the death of a Freend Folio 227. Of the absence of Freendes Folio 228. Of greeuous Shyp wracke Folio 230. Of Burnyng Eod. Of Great labour and Trauayle Folio 231. Of A payneful Iourney Folio 232. Of One yeeres Barrennesse Folio 234. Of An euyl and proude Bayliffe Folio 235. Of Theft Folio 236. Of Robberies Folio 237. Of Coosynage and deceite Eod. Of A streyght and narrome dwellyng Folio 238. Of A Pryson Folio 239. Of Tormentes Folio 240. Of Vniust Iudgement Folio 241. Of Banyshment Folio 242. Of A mans countrey Besieged Folio 245. Of A mans countrey Destroyed Folio 246. Of the feare of loosyng in warre Folio 247. Of A foolyshe and rashe felowe in office Folio 248. Of an vndiscreete and hastie marshal of the Feelde Eod. Of vnfortunate successe in battayle Folio 249. Of Ciuile warre Folio 250. Of the disagreement of a waueryng mynde Folio 251. Of a doubtful State. Folio 253. Of Woundes receyued Eod. Of a kyng without a Sonne Folio 254 Of a kyngdome Lost Folio 255. Of Treason Folio 257. Of the losse of a Tyrannie Folio 258. Of Castles lost Folio 260. Of olde Age. Folio 262. Of the Gout Folio 267. Of Scabbes Folio 268. Of Watchyng Folio 269. Of the vnquietnesse of Dreames Eod. Of Importunate renowme Folio 270. Of Sorowe conceyued for the euyl manners of men Folio 272. Of Smal greefes of sundry thynges Folio 273. Of an Earthquake Folio 279. Of the plague farre and wyde ragyng Folio 280. Of Sadnesse and miserie Eod. Of the Toothache Folio 284. Of payne in the Legges Folio 285. Of Blyndnesse Folio 286. Of the losse of Hearyng Folio 289. Of the loathsomnesse of Lyfe Folio 290. Of Heauinesse of the body Folio 291. Of great dulnesse of wyt Eod. Of a slender and weake Memorie Folio 292. Of lacke of Eloquence Folio 293. Of Losse of the tongue and speeche Folio 294. Of want of Vertue Folio 296. Of Couetousnesse Folio 297. Of Enuie and Mallice Eod. Of Wrath. Folio 298. Of Gluttonie Folio 299. Of sluggishenesse of the Mynde Eod. Of Leâ—cherie Folio 300 Of Pryde Eod. Of Agues Folio 301. Of the 〈◊〉 e of the guttes and Traunce Folio 302. Of Sundry paynes and greefes of the whole body Folio 303. Of Madnesse Folio 309. Of Poyson Folio 310. Of the feare of death Folio 311. Of Voluntarie murtheryng a mans owne selfe Folio 315. Of Death Folio 319. Of Death before a mans tyme Folio 322. Of a violent Death Folio 324. Of a shameful Death Folio 326. Of a sodayne Death Folio 327. Of one that is sicke out of his owne Countrey Folio 328. Of one that dyeth out of his owne Countrey Eod. Of One that dyeth in sinne Folio 332. Of One dying that is careful what shal become of his inheritance and chyldren Folio 334. Of One dying that is careful what his wyfe wil do when he is dead Folio 335. Of One dying that is careful what wyll become of his countrey after his deceasse Folio 336. Of One that at his death is careful of his fame and good report Folio 337. Of One that dyeth without chyldren Folio 338. Of One dying that feareth to be throwen foorth vnburyed Folio 340. FINIS