persons there sprang of his lyne in fewe yeeres aboue sixe hundred thousande fyghtyng men Goe thy wayes nowe and boast thee in the armies of thy Nephues among whom yf perhaps there be any happy there must needes be wretched of them innumerable What then ye must neuerthelesse not only loue your sonnes and Nephues but al men also Ye must loue them I say in hym in whom ye be all brethren notwithstandyng thou must not be careful nor to immoderately glad least presently thou be vexed with contrary affections and it repeathee sometyme to haue reioyced and thou be ashamed that thou art constrained to hate hym being a man whom thou loueâ—st dearely somtime when he was a chylde as it many times happeneth Ioy. I haue a Nephue borne Reason It may chaunce so to fal out that either through the wickednesse of thy Nephue or perhaps the force of fortune thou wylt cal that an vnhappy day which now thou thinkest to be fortunate Yea peraduenture the childe may dye shortly so purchase thee as much sorrow as euer he procured thee ioy There be many diuers and suddyne and vnlooked for chaunces that happen vnto men but 〈…〉 innumerable If all shoulde lyue that are borne the 〈…〉 not holde mankinde no though they liued not continually for if they should liue continually they were not men but euen vntyl they came to olde age or vnto ripe lawful yeres Wherfore it is a follie to conceiue great ioy of a very short thing and vncertayne to what ende it wyll come which is found to be true in chyldren and nephues but specially in nephues and most especially now in nephues chyldren the further they be distant from the roote Ioy. I haue nephues borne of my mother my daughter and my sister Reason These apparteyne lesse vnto thee commit this ioy and care vnto their fathers Ioy. I haue a nephue borne of my brother Reason So was Lucaâ—e nephue vnto Anneus Seneca who proued to be no smal part of the Spanyshe eloquence and likewyse Iugurtha vnto Mycipsa kyng of Numidia who was not the last example of the Libyan treacherie the destroier of his countrey murtherer of his brethren Ioy. I haue a nepheue borne of my sister Reason So was Psensipus Nephue vnto Plato on the sisters syde and in a maner his heire in Philosophie lykewyse Alcibiades suche a Nephue to Pericles the disturber of his countrey and the rayser of the warres in Greece and Brutus also to Targinius the proude who threw hym downe from his kingly dignitie was a great man profitable to his countrey but vtter enimie to his Vncle. Ioy. I haue a Nephue borne of my daughter Reason Innius beyng a modest and graue man was Nephue by the daughter vnto Pacunius and succeeded hym in Poetrie and so was Commodus vnto Antonius pius a most shamelesse and lyght person Ioy. I haue a Nephue borne of my daughter Reason Romulus and Remus beyng nephues vnto Numitoâ— of his daughter restored theyr grandfather to his kyngdome of Alba. Aucus Martius beyng Nephue vnto Numa by his daughter possessed his grandfathers kyngdome at Rome with great honour But Cyrus that was Nephue vnto Astiages of his daughter expulsed his grandfather out of the kyngdome of the Medes These Histories are aleaged to this purpose that concernyng the byrth of nephues howe muche may be hoped so muche also may be feared Of adopted chyldren husbandes children by a former wyfe and wyues children by a former husbande The .lxxix. Dialogue Ioy. I Haue adopted a sonne Reason Adoption is handmayden vnto nature whiche although she be the more noble yet is adoption the more warie and that whiche nature doth without aduice of the begetter and as it were by chaunce in adoption the same is accomplished by the iudgement of him that adopteth Ioy. I haue gotten a good sonne by adoption Reason Thou oughtest do so yf thou haue neglected it for as begettyng so is not election excusable herein thou canst not blame thy wyfe nor accuse fortune Ioy. I haue adopted a sonne Reason This ciuyl remedy was denised wel to helpe nature The same hath ben experimented to haue been profitable to some pestiferous Nerua adopted a good sonne but I knowe that some writers are of opinion that Traiane was deceyued in his adoptyng And that Augustus was deceyued in adoptyng his Nephue Agrippa his puttyng of hym away which shortly after happened doth testifie but that he was not deceyued in the adoptyng or succedyng of Tiberius I perceyue hym almost constrayned therunto to confesse the same by puttyng certaine of his friendes to death which his owne speache also declareth and the preface of his last Wyland Testament But Mysipsa of whom I made mention not long since was altogeather an vnfortunate adopter sendyng not a sonne but rather a cruel Dragon into his Palace among his chyldren whom although whyle he lay a dyeing he exhorted so to lyue that he myght not seeme to haue adopted better chyldren then he had begotten Howbeit for the more part better are adopted then begotten and no maruayle since the one is guyded by experiment and aduyce and the other by neyther But many tymes it falleth out contrary wyse that not worse only but worst of al are adopted For man is a close and doubtfull merchandize Ioy. I haue a good sonne in lawe Reason Seldome is there founde a good sonne in lawe but more seldom a good father in lawe Ioy. I haue a good sonne in lawe Reason What matter is it vnto thee howe good he be vnlesse thou reioyce as beyng thy wyues factour For what shal the vertue of another mans childe auayle thee but only to bewray the lewdenesse of thyne owne chyldren Ioy. I haue a very good and faythful sonne in lawe not inferiour to any of my chyldren Reason It may be so Suche a sonne in lawe was Drusus to Augustus but not Nero suche an one to Claudius Of an excellent Schoolmaister The .lxxx. Dialogue IOY I Vaunt of myne excellent schoolemaister Reason Thou ceassest not yet to boast of that which is another mans For what doeth the excellencie of thy schoolemaister apparteine vnto thee Beleeue me which I repeate oftentymes it must be within thee which must make thee glorious Ioy. I glorie in an excellent schoolemaister Reason Let hym in the meane tyme enioye as he list that which is his owne and glorie also if he please although yf he be very excellent in deede he wyll not doo it and touchyng thy selfe we wyl say somewhat hereafter Ioy. I haue a notable schoolemaister Reason I long to heare what manner scholar 〈◊〉 art For before I know that I can pronounce no certeintie How many fooles and dullardes 〈◊〉 thou were â—here in the schooles of Socrates and Plato Howe many without any schoolemaister at all haue by their owne industrie become excellent insomuch that they became schoolmaisters vnto ether that had no schoolemaisters theÌ„selues We reade not that Virgil had any
it must be handled and amended an harde case for how difficult a matter it is to amend many in this appeareth that very fewe doo amende them selues Of titles of warres warfare and Cheifteinship The xlviii Dialogue IOY I HAVE receyued the honour of the warlyke Gyrdle Reason Seemed it vnto thee that thy lyfe had in it to fewe discommodities alredy vnlesse thou hadst learned also the Art of warfare by meanes wherof thou myghtest alwayes remayne eyther vnquiet or without honour or open to dangers or subiect to contempt Ioy. I professe warfare Reason Ye professe that when ye are borne and therefore what neede you otherwise to professe it One armeth his body with harnesse another his mynde with deceits another his tongue with eloqueÌ„ce There is not one of you vnarmed one soweth another buildeth another declaimeth another pleadeth causes one goeth on foote another rideth on horsback or in a Couch one runneth another saileth one commaundeth another obeyeth There is neuer an one of you ydle what strange kynde of warfare is this One man lyueth in the Campe another in the iudicial Court one in the schooles another in the wooddes one in the fieldes another vpon the Sea one in the Palace another at home one spendeth his lyfe abrode in trauayle al are at warfare and not men only but Horace sayth that the Whelpe also is at warfare in the wooddes And truely of them that goe to warfare there be many sortes but the warfare it selfe is but of one kynde to wyt mans lyfe vppon the earth whiche he that defyned to be warfare truely seemeth vnto me to haue weyghed with deepe and vpryght iudgement yf so be that he had added battaile to this warfare Ioy. I am prest to goo armed into the warres Reason Why dooest thou arme thy selfe outwardly The warre is within the mynde that is whiche the vyces do besiege and ouerthrowe What neede weapons in this case vnlesse they 〈◊〉 worne for the ornament of the body and not for defence of the mynde There be some that say that there is no sight more gallant then to see an armed man but what brauery there is in an armed mans brest and head more then in that whiche is peaceable and vnarmed I cannot perceyue But forasmuch as thou art carryed away with this delyght goo to gyrde thy body with armour receyue the shewres and Sun vpon thy Helmet take vnto thee thy weapons couer thy selfe with thy shielde and whyle thou art sleepyng at home thou shalt be alwaked by Alarme and thynkest thou hast wonne some great presâ—â—ment but thou wast deceyued and hast chosen to thy selfe a dangerous and blooddy trade of lyuing Hope hath many deceiptes and there be I confesse many cheynes whiche drawe the myndes of those into destruction whiche with greedynesse haue vnaduysedly sought after that good whiche all doo desyre and couet Neyther doo I deny but that some haue by seruice in the warres atteyned vnto very great ryches and been aduaunced to great Empires but beleeue me more haue fallen into pouertie come to imprisonment seruitude violent sodaine death by meanes thereof Thou since thou art so disposed to professe thy selfe a souldyer vnlesse thou wylt disgrace thy profession make alwayes accompt of thy lyfe as yf thou were continually in dying and let that Emperial voyce euermore thunder in thyne eares Learne to strike Learne to dye One syllable long or short shall varie thy deedes and alter that case with thee for either thou shalt kyl or be kylled and therefore it behooueth thee at al tymes and in al places to make thy selfe redy These Artes are thy delyte Hearken vnto the Satyricall Poet where he speaketh and reciteth the rewardes of warfare where hauyng rehearsed an innumerable fort he geathereth notwithstandyng verie fewe among which the fyrst and chiefe is Libertie to offende A rewarde truely not so much to be desyred of good men as to be accepted by the armed lawes whiche among armour and weapons are put to scilence Ioy. I haue sent my sonne foorth to the warres Reason It is almost commonly seene that the sonne of a souldyer is hym selfe a souldier also For the father can leaue none other inheritance to his sonne then he hath to wyt his Bowe and Arrowes his Peece his Shielde his Swoorde and Warre and that also which maketh vp the game his gylden spurres And this whiche we haue sayde to the father the sonne may thynke it spoken to hym selfe Ioy. Beyng a Captayne in the warres I am become â—â—â—â—â—s with victories Reason Howe muche better were it that beyng a gouernour in peace thou becamest famous in vertues Ioy. I haue susteyned many warres Reason Thou hast bereeued thy selfe and many others of rest and quietnesse a woorthye woorke Ioy. I am famous for victories and triumphes Reason Many tymes euyll is more knowne then good and a darke tempest more spoken of then a fayre Sunshyne day To conclude thou hast prouided titles for thy Tumbe talke for the people and nothyng for thy selfe Of the friendshyppe of Kynges The xlix Dialogue IOY I Haue wonne the friendshyp of Kynges Reason True friendshyp among men is rare and thou fanciest to thy selfe that thou hast wonne the friendshyp of Kynges whom the excellencie of their estate the loftinesse of theyr minde maketh them coÌ„monly the contemners of theyr inferiors Ioy. I am beloued of kynges Reason I perceyue then that thou carest not for thy soule vertue fame quietnesse rest securitie for the fashion of most kyngs is wel knowne they scarcely loue any but suche as settyng al other thynges apart wyll make them selues the bondslaues and ministers of theyr crueltie lust and auarice And therefore yf thou be beloued of Kynges there is no enquyryng farther of thee thou litle carest for thy selfe Ioy. It is by meanes of my goodnesse and vertue that I am beloued of Kynges Reason What answerest thou then to Salust For Kynges sayth he are more suspitious of good men then of euyll and alwayes they stand in feare of other mens vertues Ioy. In respect of good qualities I am beloued of my Prince Reason Of what qualities I pray you Haukyng or Huntyng Concernyng these I reprooued thee in a certayne discourse not long since of warfare whereof we disputed last Which vnlesse it be commended by large bloodshed and great daungers it deserueth not the name of warfare but of warlie cowardice not onely in the iudgment of kynges but also of the common people Ioy. The kyng loueth me for my conditions sake Reason It is for thy vanitie or daunger or perhaps for some crimes that are in thee murder poysonyng vauderie treason flatterie lying comman plagues whiche dayly custome in thee excuseth and vrbanitie commendeth For these be the most fyttest meanes to wyn the good wyl of some kynges to whom there is nothyng more hateful then vertue learning By these therfore there is no hope to purchase theyr fauour which are rather the cause of their hatred thus is
valient man. Reason Then hast thou one that perhaps may purchase vnto his countrey libertie to his enimies slaughter to him selfe honour and one day vnto thee teares but feare continually Ioy. My Sonne is valient and of great courage Reason What other thyng dyd Creon bewayle in his sonne that was slayne then his couragious desire of martial prayse What Enander in his sonne Pallas then his newe glory in armes and the sweete honour of his first encounter Whereof dyd feareful Priamus admonish his sonne Hector then that he should not alone expect Achilles What doth the careful mother entreat her sonne other then to shun that warlike champion Finally what dyd Hectors wyfe beyng ignorant of the heauie chaunce that alreadie was hapned say that she feared other then her husbandes well meanyng and the heate of his minde that was not able to stay hym out of the fyrst aray of the Souldiours but woulde rather runne before them all Whiche thyng also she feared at the beginning when as she spake vnto hym as he was going into the warres in this maner Doeth thy valiencie so deuilishy be witche thee that thou takest compassion neyther vpon thy Sonne nor mee his Mother who shall shortly be thy Wydowe Lastly what other dyd Achilles mother say beyng fearefull for her Sonne Now must I seeke for my sonne Achilles by Lande and Sea and I woulde he woulde folowe mee Whilst in wayne she tooke hym being feeble out of the garboyle of the hotte warres and carrying hym into the pallace of the calme olde man hyd hym vp in her virgins secrete closets All these lamentations and feares were by nothyng els procured then Martial force and valient courage Ioy. My sonne is exceeding couragious Reason A great courage without great power is great follie True valiencie and magnanimitie apparteine but to fewe men although they that seeme most mighty strong how weake they be in deede many things besides death do declare but specially death it selfe so that it may be sayde shortly and truely There is nothyng more weake nor more proude then man. Ioy. I haue a couragious sonne Reason Reioyce therefore for thy house shal be full of great attemptes and emptie of rest and quietnesse and thou shalt often wishe that thy sonne were not so couragious To conclude fortitude is a noble vertue and magnanimitie beautifull but both are painefull and troublesome and modestie is safe and quiet Of the Daughters chastitie The Lxxiiii Dialogue IOY I Haue a chaste Daughter Reason A great ioy but a careful For the greater her chastity is the more watching is lust ouer her For there is nothyng more ardently inuaded then that which is defended with chaste watch and womanly shamefastnesse When the corruptor hath won the path he goeth foorth then more slowly and permitted thynges are more coldly desired a thyng that is muche coueted is hardly preserued Ioy. My Daughters beautie is excellent Reason There it is then where a very good thing ministreth matter to the most vilest The beautie of Lucretia was great but nothing in respect of her honestie so that the chastitie of this noble Matrone violently pricked foorth the hot young man to adulterie Thus the wickednesse of the reprobate abuseth the ornamentes of the vertuous Ioy. My Daughters chastitie is knowen Reason Pray that it may continue Thou readest in the Poet A woman is alwayes diuers and changeable Which although Virgil sayd it not were it therefore lesse true How many haue we seene that haue been honest whyle they were young and haue afterward prooued wanton in their age And so striuing with their present vices against their forepassed honestie doo seeme in a maner to repent them of their tyme honestly spent a more foule reproche then whiche there can chaunce in no sexe and age Ioy. I haue a most chaste Daughter Reason If she knewe her selfe and vnderstoode whose gift chastitie is and geuing thankes vnto hym coulde apply all her studie to preserue the same wouâ—d continue vndefiled in safetie thou shalt then haue great cause I confesse to thanke God and reioyce with her more then yf thou haddest married her to a Kyng and yet beleeue me some tyme to feare also For since constancie is rare in al thinges be sure there is none at al in women Of a good sonne in Lawe The Lxxv. Dialogue IOY I Haue a very good Sonne in law Reason Thou oughtest to loue him more deere then thine owne sonne for thine owne sonne commeth to thee by chaunce but thy sonne in lawe by choyce Thanke therfore thy Daughter who owing vnto thee Nephewes hath now brought thee a sonne Ioy. Fortune hath brought vnto me a very good sonne in lawe Reason In this kinde of affinitie there be examples of notable fayth and treason Seldome or neuer hath any Sonne been so faythfull to his father as way Marcus Agrippa to Augustus Caesar as Marcus Aurelius to Antonius Pius vnto whom euen vnto his liues ende whiche was the space of three and twentie yeeres he so behaued hym selfe that not onely he deserued his loue and his Daughter but also the succession in his Empire as his Sonne through his continuall fayth and diligence But Nero was no suche sonne in lawe vnto Claudius although he not by his desartes but by his mothers policie obtayned the Emperours daughter and Empire Ioy. I haue founde a courteous and agreeable Sonne in lawe Reason Beware least eyther the hope of succession or the seekyng after goodes doo infringe this agreement Who wyll not wyshe that he may lyue whose lyfe he seeth to be profitable vnto hym selfe But yf he once begynne to attempt any thyng so that perhappes he suppose thy lyfe to be an hynderaunce or thy death begynne or seeme to be profitable vnto hym then the affections of the mynde are changed and secret hatred wyll soone breake foorth And of what force the discorde is betweene the Father and the Daughters husbande to say nothyng of the auncient Fable of Danaus and Nummianus who was slayne by the wycked treason of Aprimus his Father in lawe and likewyse Stilico who through the desyre to reigne forgat his Father in lawe that was dead and his Sonne in lawe that was lyuing the most memorable example of Caesar and Pompei doth sufficiently declare Of seconde Marriage The Lxxvi Dialogue IOY I Meane to be married agayne Reason If thou knewest throughly what a woman were or what excellent auctours doo write of her thou wouldest not haue married at the first Ioy. I entend to marrie againe Reason If thy first mariage haue not tamed thee then marrie againe if the tame thee not then thou mayst also marrie the third time Ioy. I am about to marrie againe Reason Who so hauyng chyldren by his fyrst marriage bringeth a Stepmother among them he setteth his house afyre with is owne handes If youth pricke thee or letcherous olde age styrre thee to lust then whiche there is nothing more filthie perhaps to speake now more
ciuilly then vertuously it were more profitable were it not the cause of sinne or forbyd by the lawe of God to remedie the matter by keepyng a Concubine then that a quiet house be disturbed by Stepmothers tempests and hatred Ioy. I entende to marrie againe Reason Thou maiest do so by the lawe of man the lawe of God rather suffryng it then praysing it All men knowe what Sainct Paul sayth concernyng that matter And truely we may easily perceiue how that among the Gentiles who in that respect lyued in more libertie this was more suffred then lyked of For your Forefathers dyd alwayes repute the experiment of many mariages to be a token of a certayne lawfull intemperauncie whiche opinion Sainct Ierome embracing how muche he writeth agaynst seconde marriages and how sharply our promised breuitie wil not suffer vs to declare whiche although it seeme al to be spoken agaynst women and not against men doubtles that sexe ought to be the greater preseruer of chastitie honestie notwithstandyng there is more wisedome and constancie required of men Ioy. I haue neede of seconde mariage Reason I should wonder vnlesse I knew your conditions for you make not only vayne but hurtful thynges also necessarie for you And as for thee thou hast a very hard mouth yf thou haue neede of another wife to brydle thee Ioy. I make hast to be married agayne Reason Too it then apace whyle thou art hotte and when thou art cold thou wylt repent thee Hast thou not noted how pleasaunt sleepe is in an emptie chamber Thy minde is only bent vpon that filthie and miserable act which passeth away and woundeth Of the marriage of Chyldren The Lxxvii Dialogue IOY MY ofspring is encreased by the marriage of my children Reason This care is somwhat more coÌ„mendable then the last was and yet notwithstanding the encrease of the hines hath often been more profitable then the bodyly issue The one filleth the caske with pleasant wine the other annoyeth the friende with bytter cares Ioy. I haue bestowed my daughter in mariage Reason If thou haue so doone circumspectly and happily thou hast both preserued thy daughter and founde a sonne or as I haue sayde erewhyle one better then a sonne but yf thou haue doone otherwyse then hast thou both cast away her and purchased to thy selfe an enimie and to thy daughter a Tyrant Ioy. I haue bestowed my daughter in mariage Reason If she were a good daughter thou hast bereft thy selfe of a sweete and pleasant iewell and transported it into an other mans house If she were an euyl daughter thou hast eased thy selfe of an heauy burden and laden therewith another man. Ioy. I haue married my daughter Reason Reioyce not to muche at it Maryage hath been vnto many the begynnyng of a careful and vnfortunate lyfe and admit that al thynges fall out happyly a wyfe is a trouble some thyng and thou hast sent foorth her whom thou louest about an harde labour and a payneful businesse Chyldren wyl come at home and thereof wyll spryng vp a peculiar fountayne of cares But yf there come nonâ— then that is a miserie and griefe Thus fruitefulnesse shal make her burdensome and barrennesse shall make her odious and perhaps she wyll wyshe she had taryed at home with thee and wyll haue this thy ouerhastie loue in bestowyng her Ioy. I haue gotten an husbande for my daughter Reason The ende of an idle lyfe and the begynnyng of a payneful an heauie burden of household cares the knowledge of the worlde and the triâ—â— or hersâ—â—â—e Ioy. My daughter is married Reason But she â—oth 〈◊〉 her libertie her virginitie her quietnesse whiche is nâ— indifferent change Ioy. I haue prouided a wyfe for my sonne Reason The bringing home of a daughter in law is worse then the sending â—ooth of thine owne daughter forasmuch as ciuil war is alwayes more dangerous then forraigne Thou hast set open thy Castle gates perhaps to an enimie or truely to a partner for nowe thou art not Lord and maister alone of thyne owne goodes and therfore it skylleth to know what maner one thou lettest in Ioy. I haue prouyded for my sonne a noble ryche and a fayre wyfe Reason Why dooest thou conceale that whiche followeth to wyt a proude and an importunate one who is enuious of her husbande and of thy lyfe There is auncient war betweene the husbandes father and the sonnes wyfe and neyther of them hath the greater vauntage but equal feare for they be both in one state and condition There is no lyuyng thyng that so much affecteth the hygher place as dooeth a woman For in case she perceyue her selfe by meanes of your lyfe debarred thereof what she imagineth then in her mynde and what she wysheth it were an harde matter to coniecture Ioy. I haue marryed my sonne to a wife Reason What knowest thou whether thou haue procured an euerlastyng weerysomnesse to hym thy selfe or perhaps secrete danger to you both Many daughters in law haue consumed theyr fathers in law and husbandes with continual pryde and doggednesse some haue made them away with poyson and some haue shortened theyr dayes with a weapon Howe many sonnes had Egisthus before he had euer a daughter in lawe Yea there hath ben founde suche a daughter in lawe who beyng carryed away with desyre to raigne and impaciencie of the seconde roomth to the ende she myght the sooner see her husband and her selfe possesse the gouernment hauyng procured the death of her owne father caused her Chariot to be driuen ouer his stayne carkasse If this be the rewarde of fathers at their owne chyldrens handes what shal the sonnes father looke for at his sonnes wiues hands Ioy. I am glad that I haue celebrated my daughters maryage Reason How many tymes hath an vnlucky euent disturbed this celebration and teares tumultes folowed songs and banquettes and dauncinges All immoderate ioy is foolish specially in these thynges whereout sorow may and woonteth to aryse Ioy. I haue both prouided a wyfe for my sonne and an husband for my daughter Reason Thou hast chaunged burdens thou hast layde a strange care vpon thyne owne shoulders and carryest thyne owne care vpon other mens shoulders Of Nephues The .lxxviii. Dialogue IOY I Haue a younge Nephue borne of my sonne Reason A great loue of thy sonnes and a continuall care notwithstandyng it hath a certeine ende but if it passe any further there is no ende of carefulnesse and both he that is borne of thy sonne and he likewyse that shal be borne of him finally all of them are borne to thy payne whose number how farre it proceedeth or may proceede thou knowest He that was the father of the people of Israel yf he beyng affected as thou art had in suche sort lyued duryng the lyfe cyme of our fyrst fathers howe great a burden of cares should there haue rested vpon the weeryed olde mens shoulders For besides Priestes and women and chyldren and other vnhable
blemysh more greeuous in the wantonnesse of olde men then to compare it with the continency of youth And truely yf the honour of the parentes be burdensome to the chyldren that lyue yll with howe great a weight dooth the prayse of the chyldrens honestie presse downe the infamie of the yl lyuyng parentes Sorowe I was begotten in vnlawful and condemned lust Reason But it were better for thee to haue a desire to be and so to be reputed the honest sonne of an vnhonest father rather then the vnhonest sonne of an honest father For in all prayse or disprayse those thinges are most chiefly to be regarded whiche are a mans owne There is no man iustly reproued or praysed for that whiche is anothers although as I haue sayde whatsoeuer is in you it wyll be the more euident yf it be set by his contrary For as euery one is worthyly praysed or dispraysed so is the very and proper cause of prayse or disprayse within hymselfe But as one man is slayne with anothers swoorde and one mans goodes burned by another mans fire so hapneth it not that one mans good name perisheth by another mans fault for that the goods of the minde are more permanent then the goods of the body or of fortune so that they cannot be hurt or taken away agaynst the wyl of the owner Sorow I was begotten agaynst ryght and law Reason Thou hast doone nothyng agaynst the law but thy parentes haue and therefore henceforward do euery thyng according to the lawe In this respect thou hast committed none offence at all concernyng thy birth houre but of thine owne manners thou thy selfe shalt yelde an accompt And although in reuenge of wandring venerie the force of the ciuyl lawes is extended vnto the innocent chyldren notwithstandyng GOD measureth euery one within his owne boundes neyther imputeth the chyldes offence vnto the father neyther the fathers vnto the chylde And that Philosophie iudgeth otherwyse of this matter then do the lawes thou hast learned of the Philosophers them selues Being then beaten downe by the lawes and erected agayne by the iudgement of GOD and the Philosophers thou hast wherewith to comfort thy mynde neyther as thou art restrayned from a priuate patrimony so art thou barred from the publique inheritaunce of vertue For the one of these descendeth by the ordinaunce of man the other is geuen by desart and before thou were borne as thou deseruedst no glory so truely dyddest thou merite none infamie Sorowe Myne Originall is vnlawfull and incestous Reason What may be borne of incest or what of adulterie for proofe be Romulus and Alcides Perses was Kyng of Macedonie and lugurtha Kyng of Numidia and both of them expulsed theyr lawfull brethren out of theyr kyngdomes by euyll vsage and most vyle meanes but they expulsed them notwithstandyng Alexander Kyng of Macedonie that was called Philippes sonne yet whose in deede he was supposed to be thou hast hearde and also how Philip towardes the latter ende of his lyfe was woont sometyme to say that Alexander was not his sonne Whiche thyng his wyfe Olympias of her owne accorde confessed vnto hym and for that cause he was diuorsed from her as some aucthours haue written Constantius hym selfe beyng borne of a noble Concubyne was aduaunced vnto the Empyre before his brethren that were lawfully begotten Vnto these woulde I adde Kyng Arthure vnlesse that to myngle Fables with Histories were nothyng els then to dimyshe the credite of the trueth with lyes To be short there is no cause why thy byrth shoulde discourage thee Howesoeuer men are borne yf vertue aduaunce them they haue glory yenough Sorowe I am yll borne Reason Lyue well and dye well howsoeuer thou were borne it belongeth not to thee neyther canst thou remember it neyther enquyre muche after that whiche belongeth not vnto thee vnlesse it be to make thee more humble and mecke but not more sorowfull Sorowe I was borne fylthyly Reason Courteous behayour and an honest lyfe doo not only take away all blemyshes but all remembrance of a shameful byrth Vse this remedie while thou mayest for beleeue me thou hast none other Sorowe I am ashamed of my parentes infamie Reason Put away this shame for there is one father of all men whiche is GOD and one mother of all men whiche is the earth Of Bondage The vii Dialogue SOROWE I Entred a bondman into this lyfe Reason Be not sory thou shalt depart a free man yf thou wylt thy selfe as many haue doone who contrarywyse haue entred free and departed bonde Sorowe I was seruylely borne Reason Lyue freely there is nothyng letteth thee for the better part of thee to be free There is one most grieuous kynde of bondage whiche is synne that is not able notwithstandyng to oppresse men agaynst theyr wylles cast of that and thou shalt be free Sorowe Fortune woulde needes make me a bondman Reason Thine owne wil may make thee otherwise for although she vse her olde custome neuerthelesse thou knowest what to hope for Thou knowest what a monster she is thou knowest her toyes and pastymes it lyeth in thee not only to become a free man but also Lorde ouer thy maister although what she wyll or wyll not it skylleth not and albeit she be inexorable as some tyme she is neuerthelesse she hath no power ouer the mynde and in euery conflict agaynst her we must requyre ayde of her enimie Many tymes whom fortune hath made bonde vertue hath made free Sorowe I am oppressed with grieuous seruitude Reason Who so wyllyngly beareth the yoke maketh it lyght I wyll tell thee a speciall comfort and an euerlastyng stay whiche when thou art exempted from the controulement of thy mightie maister wyll make thee a free man and rycher then thy maister hym selfe apply the studie of wysedome and she wyll set thee at libertie It is the saying of Cato confyrmed by Cicero That only the wyse man is free namely by that libertie then which there is none more assured Sorowe I leade my lyfe vnder most harde maisters Reason They shal be made gentle by no meanes more then by faythfulnesse and diligence and perhaps in suche sort whiche hath hapned vnto many that therehence thou shalt gayne libertie where nowe thou bewaylest thy bondage and peraduenture by some other meanes and from some other place For some one is made free by his temporall maister and some by the Eternall Thou knowest with howe great daunger Malchus escaped the threatnynges of his maister that persecuted hym but neuerthelesse he escaped hym In the meane whyle thynke thus of thy maister that he maynteyneth thee and hath taken vpon hym al the care ouer thee whiche carefulnesse to leese a mans libertie what is it to be called other then a profitable discommoditie Vnto many theyr libertie hath been bonde and theyr bondage free The yoke of men is not so greeuous as the yoke of cares who so can shake of the one may indifferently beare the other Vnto this man
although in shewe he appeare very gentle but he that by aduice and counsayle draweth his sonne the ryght way prouokyng hym forwarde also some tymes by word and some tymes by deede or els when he seeth him backwarde blameth hym or vnwillyng compelleth him and although in outwarde shew he seemeth somewhat sharpe yet is he not a hard father The seueritie of a father is commonly more profitable for the sonne then his gentlenesse Sorowe My father is hard Reason Zeale sorowe feare and age do excuse a fathers frowning Sorowe I do paynfully abyde an hard father Reason What yf that happen vnto thee which hath worthily hapned vnto many of thy mynde to wit that thou be constrayned to abide the hardnesse of another What yf it shoulde chaunce thee thy selfe to begin to be the father of a stubberne sonne Then shouldest thou knowe how pleasant a thyng the yoke of a father were and howe ryght is his aucthoritie Now vnderstandest thou but only one thyng that delighteth thee and in the same one thyng thy iudgement hath no delight of the mynde but is deceyued with the delyght of the senses Sorowe I haue an harde father Reason Admit he be harde nature hath made hym thy iudge and not thee his whiche order the Ciuyl lawe foloweth and is ashamed to see the sunne to correct and chasten the father Thou oughtest to be ashamed to enterpryse that whiche the lawe is ashamed to lycence any sonne to doo suffer thou and let hym iudge of thee that begate thee and brought thee vp commit thou the iudgement of hym to other and yf thy father haue not deserued true prayse yet at the leastwyse reuerence hym with duetifull silence Sorowe My father vseth harde behauiour Reason The behauiour of thy father is not to be blamed but to be borne with There is no greater reproche to Alexander then that he woulde seeme to attempt I wyll not say to speake euyl of his father but enuie his fathers commendations Thou oughtest eyther to speake worshypfully of thy father or els to holde thy peace altogeather Sorowe I haue an harde father Reason Thou hast a meane to shewe thy loue to shewe thy honestie to shewe thy pacience and to shew thine obedience In al the world there is none more iust then the empyre of a father no seruice more honest then of a sonne There is nothyng so muche a mans owne as the sonne is the fathers there can nothyng be more vniustly taken from hym then his sonne But you with a headlong and intemperate desire beyng borne to be subiect desyre to be Soueraigne and thus you both withdrawe your selues from your father and also vsurpe the gouernment whiche your fathers ought to baue ouer you wherein is a double mischiefe Whereby it commeth to passe that the rashnesse of youth disturbeth the dueties of all thynges Nowe hereof it proceedeth that when perhappes you be restrayned from this then you complayne of the sharpenesse of your father beeyng woorthie your selues in your owne iudgement that it shoulde be lawfull for you to doo all thynges only in this respect for that you be sonnes and ye haue learned also to please your selues at lookyng Glasses whiche you shall then at length perceyue when yee begynne to perceyue howe shamefully you haue wyshed for it before your tyme. Sorowe I haue a rough father Reason What yf his roughnesse be fatherly For the father oweth a rough carefulnesse vnto his sonne and the sonne a reuerent duetifulnesse obedience and humblenesse vnto his father Concernyng Manlius Torquatus thou hast read in Histories and also in Marcus Tullius that as he was very louyng vnto his father so was he bitterly seuere vnto his sonne perhaps woorthyly blamed by iudgement of the common people for the one but hyghly commended by vpryght deemers for them both suche diuersitie is there in mens opinions Sorowe I haue an harde father Reason To late it is or euer you knowe your good O yee mortall men But when you begynne to knowe it then doo you acknowledge it to muche and thus yee loath the thynges that be present and lament for them when they be lost The one of these tasteth of to muche pryde the other of ouer much humilitie both where yee ought to geue thankes and where you shoulde geue example of pacience but in both yee complayne and in neyther beare your selues indifferent is this your thankefulnesse towardes God and men Sorow I haue an harde father Reason The tyme wyll come when thou shalt sygh and wyshe for this thy father and shalt cal hym and he wyl not answere thee And he that nowe seemeth vnto thee more harde then stone shal then seeme vnto thee that he was more soft then downe Sorowe I haue an harde father Reason Thou knowest not what it is to haue a father as long as thou hast hym Of a stubberne sonne The .xliiij. Dialogue SOROWE I Haue a stubberne sonne Reason It is meete that thou that couldest not beare with thy father shouldest suffer thy sonne as beyng the heauier burden For one sharpe woorde of the sonne irreuerently spoken by hym that is proude doth more vexe and greeue the minde then whatsoeuer hardnesse of a seuere father For the sonne offereth the iniurie in so dooyng but the father dooth but that whiche is right Sorow I haue a rebellious sonne Reason Impudently doth he complaine of the rebellion of his youngers that before tyme despised the iust aucthoritie of his elders Sorowe I haue a stubberne sonne Reason At length perhaps thou doest now vnderstand what it was that thou thoughtest of thy father that seemed so harde vnto thee Sorowe I suffer an insolent sonne Reason If the faulte be in his age it wyll we are away with it The vnbridled youth of many in precesse of tyme by strange encrease hath been conuerted vnto thriftinesse Sorowe I haue a rebellious sonne Reason Thou art not alone For Dauid and Mithridates that was Kyng of Pontus Seuerus the Emperour of Rome had all rebellious sonnes and also many hundred yeeres after the seditious minde of a young Prince who stirred a rebellion agaynst the kyng his father disturbed the common quiet of the Realme of Britaine as the common bruite goeth but euery man bewayleth his owne mischaunces and none the discommodities of an other or the common calamitie Sorowe I haue an vngodly and rebellious sonne Reason A great part of the griefe of a father is taken from thee if thou feare thy sonnes death Sorowe I haue a stouthful and a dastardly sonne Reason Knowest thou not how that the worthy Scipio Africanus had a sonne very vnlyke vnto hym which also dyd degenerate notwithstandyng he loued hym tenderly And truely we ought to beare more affection I wyll not say loue vnto hym whom nature doth lesse helpe He hath neede of nothyng that is ryche in vertue the want whereof maketh men very wretches and so in consequent very needy of mercifulnesse and therefore thou for thy part yf
it be the Phenix agayne for he among byrdes weareth a chayne and is moreouer the only byrde of his kynde But the Parrat beyng a great saluter and specially of prynces nature hath playnly made hym as it were a flatterer whereby this Disticon or two verses are knowen I Parrat wyll learne other mens names of you But I haue learned this of my selfe to say hayle Caesar Ioy. I haue a most eloquent Pye. Reason When as eloquent men are very seldome found hast thou a most eloquent Pye I confesse it is a pratlyng byrde and a diligent saluter whereof commeth this saying I pratling Pye doo call thee my maister with a perfect voyce If thou sawest me not thou wouldest deny that I were a byrde Veryly there be strange thynges I know not whether as true reported concernyng the diligence and desire to learne of this byrde But this aboue the residue is scarce credible that yf she forget the woorde whiche she is taught she is very much vexed and greeued which griefe of mynde she bewrayeth by her secrete meditation and yf she chaunce to call the woorde to her remembrance then waxeth she woonderful meery But yf through hardnesse of the worde or weaknesse of her memorie she be throughly ouercome many times she dieth for sorow so that now the Poet Homers death is to be counted lesse strange yf so it be true Howbeit all Pyes are not of lyke aptnes to learne but those only which receiue theyr meate and name with mast and are commonly called mast Pies Ioy. I haue gotten a pleasant singyng Nightyngale Reason Plinie the second reporteth that there are Nightingales also and Starles founde that are apt to be taught the Greeke and Latine tongues and moreouer that in his tyme there was a Chrushe in Rome that dyd imitate the speache of a man the lyke whereof was knowne commonly of late of a Starle whom it hath been thy chaunce to heare and woonder at many tymes euen in Plinies Countrey speakyng orderly many woordes togeather poyntyng and pronouncyng them lyke a man For as touchyng the Parrat it is nowe so common a thyng that it is no more to be marueyled 〈◊〉 Howe often hast thou hearde hym playnly call for meate How often calling his Feeder by his name and the better to perswade hym flatteryng hym with sweetenesse of gestures and woordes How often laughyng in suche sorte that he hath caused the standers by to laugh that it was thought not to be the laughter of a byrde but of a very man Whiche although it be so yet al these beleeue me but specially the Nightingale woulde syng more pleasantly vppon theyr owne boughes then in your Cages sauyng that your lust lyketh of nothyng but that whiche you haue made your owne although nature haue made al thynges common Thus couetousnesse stretcheth beyonde her owne bondes and her owne name Ioy. I haue gotten togeather innumerable store of birdes Reason Although thou haue many yea though thou haue al yet I thynke thou wylt lacke the Phenix whether there be such a byrde or whether there be no such byrde or whether we beleeue that to be true which some haue written to wyt how that vpon the foure hundred yeere after the building of the citie this bird flue out of Arabia into Egypt and being taken there was brought to Rome and there at an assemblie was shewed vnto the people and at length as it is like yenough died which last thing those graue writers doubt not but it is false which notwithstanding are in some distrust of the first And therfore when thou hast al kinds of birdes yet shalt thou lacke the most woonderful and beautiful birde of al. Sorowfully and angerly I iest with thee why do ye alwaies reioyce like children in vaine pleasures And as Solomon sayth Yee litle babes how long wil ye loue infancie Turne at the length vnto my correction as he also sayth For these are his woordes whiche I speake vnto you and O ye blynde wretches suffer the byrdes to lyue in the wooddes to breede to feede to syng and wander abrode and stretche you foorth the wynges of your slouhtful myndes vnto heauen and lyft vp your selues from the grounde endeuour not to catche byrdes but to become byrdes And omittyng these matters whereof I am ashamed to speake yf thou haue any thyng wherein it is meete for a man to reioyce vtter it Of the woorthinesse of Marriage The Lxv. Dialogue IOY I Haue married a noble Wife Reason I had rather thou hadst at home not onely Pies and Parrattes but Owles and Shritches They woulde sing she wyll chyde they would tell thee somwhat she wyll doo thee nothing thou myghst cast them of but her thou canst not Ioy. I am adorned with a noble marriage Reason Thou art tyed with a fayre chayne from whence death only can delyuer thee Ioy. I am happie by meanes of a noble marriage Reason Thou were more happie if it were by a chast marriage and most happie by a single lyfe Ioy. I am beautified with a goodly marriage Reason The choyce of a wyfe is hard a foule one is loathed a fayre one is hardly kept by reason that there is perpetual warre betweene the beautie of the body and chastitie of the minde But if that do happen whiche is most rare and honestie be ioyned with beautie I wyl then reason more largely with thee Admit she haue all other ornamentes of a woman nobilitie wysedome ryches fruitefulnesse eloquence good name and fame good and commendable behauiour yet know thou this that with these pride is entred intermingled into thy house So that it is not without good cause that the Satyrical Poet sayeth That he had rather haue Venusin◠then Cornelia that was mother to the Gracchi and daughter to Scipio Africane that was proude of her fathers triumphes and glory Ioy. I haue chaunced vppon a noble and honest marriage Reason What sayest thou of the pride and disdayne Art thou ignoraunt of the maners of women Learne to serue learne to suffer learne to loose thy deerest friendes thou must attende thy wedlocke only A wyfe is a dangerous rocke and destruction to friendshyp imperious and gouernour of the husbandes affections Ioy. I haue married a Gentlewoman to my wyfe Reason An heauie burden and hard fetters to weerie thy shoulders and feete which sometyme were free Greeuous to be spoken more greeuous to be thought on but most greeuous to be suffered a ghest not for one day but for thy whole lyfe and perhaps an enimie hath entred vpon thy house voyde of defence So that as I haue sayde the hope of the auncient remedie of diuorce beyng taken away death onely must set the free Ioy. I haue married a welbeloued wife Reason Thou art deceyued she hath married thee thou liuedst to long at thine owne libertie thou hast taken a wyfe to be thy Mistresse a tormentour to her Chyldren in law an enuier of her Mother in lawe a yoake to thy Houshold a burden
manifést so many thousand woorthie men and valiant warriours and which is a more haynous matter holy Sainctes haue lacked Feare The earth is denyed me when I am dead whiche is a very hard matter Reason This is not harde but thou art tender that canst be hurt and yet feelest nothyng Feare The earth is denyed me when I am dead whiche is an vnwoorthie thing Reason Howe so Art thou then due to the earth or the earth to thee Perhaps the earth may be denyed thee but not thou the earth Some chaunce peraduenture or iniurie of the enimie may depriue thee of thy graue but thou that camest from the earth must needes returne thyther agayne whiche thing since the Lorde thy God hath forewarned thee of by his owne mouth cannot be false Feare The earth shal not couer me in her bosome Reason But thou shalt couer her with thy nakes body and what shal this apperteyne more vnto thee after thy death then it doth at this present what is become of the paringes of thy nayles and clypping of thy haire and the blood that was let out for some feauer or other disease and also of the pieces of thy chyldrens coates and infantes mantles and swadlebandes when thou wast in thy tender yeeres Hast thou forgotten the gallant answere of Theodorus Cyrenaeus in Tullie whom when Lysimachus the kyng threatned to hang vp vpon the galous as I take it These terrible thynges quoth he threaten vnto thy gorgious courtyers as for Theodorus he careth not whether he rotte aloft or vpon the ground And if the earth receiue thee not into her bosome yet shal she entertayne thee vpon her face wheras the grasse shall cloath thee the flowers decke thee being glad of suche a guest and the raine moisten thee and the sunne burne thee and the frost freese thee and the winde mooue thee and perhaps this is a more natural meane wherby the body whiche is framed of the foure elementes may be resoued into so many agayne Feare I am left vnburyed whiche is horrible to be heard Reason This horrour consisteth in opinion and not in trueth forasmuch as some haue thought it an horrible matter to be couered with earth very faire to be consumed with fire as we know your aâ—nceâ—ours were perswaded Among sâ—me it was counted an honourable death to be torne in peeces by dogges and wylde beastes Concernyng this poynt there are innumerable customes manners among nations which being curiously gathered togeather by Crispus Cicero hath abridged Thou shalt lye vpon the bare ground but another shal be pressed with a great rough stone another couered with rotten cloddes another flit weliring dead in the water another as he hangeth be driuen with the wind beaten with the haile torne by the rauens and crowes to be short they that haue been perfumed with odours cloathed with purple the woormes shal consume them And that more hath he that is couered with marble and gold ouer him who weeping in the Poet sayeth And now the surges drench me and the windes beate me agaynst the shoare Although he also folowing the sway of the common errour abhorreth to be couered with earth Vnlesse perhaps thou do likewyse condescend to fables olde wiues tales thinking that the soules of them that lye vnburied do wander an hundred yeeres about the bankes of the hellish lake which toyes truely a sound religious minde vtterly reiecteth Feare I am denied a graue in my natiue soyle Reason If thou haue a turfe left thee in thy natural countrey thou art in case that Phocion as great a man as he was may enuie at thee whom being a citizen of Athenes hauing otherwyse deserued thereof then I doubt me thou hast of thy countrey the vnthankeful citie bannished out of their confines when he was dead a strainge kinde of crueltie Feare I shal be cast foorth vnburied Reason Se to thyne owne businesse and leaue this care vnto the lyuing FINIS The aucthour speaketh of his abhominable country Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Rychard VVatkins 1579. A Table of the matters conteined in the fyrst booke of this woorke OF Floorishyng yeeres Folio 1. Of the goodly Beautie of the Body Folio 2. Of Bodyly health Folio 4. Of Restored health Eod. Of Bodyly strength Folio 5. Of Swyftnesse of bodye Folio 6. Of Wytte. Eod. Of Memorie Folio 7. Of Eloquence Folio 8. Of Vertue Folio 10. Of the opinion of Vertue Folio 11. Of Wysedome Folio 12. Of Religion Folio 14. Of Freedome Eod. Of a glorious Countrey Folio 15. Of an honourable Familie Folio 18. Of a fortunate Begynning Folio 20. Of Sumptuous fare Folio 21. Of Feastes Folio 23. Of Apparrell and trimming of the Bodye Folio 26. Of Rest and quietnesse Folio 27. Of pleasaunt Smelles Folio 29. Of the sweetenesse of Musicke Folio 30. Of Daunsing Folio 32. Of playing with the Ball. Folio 34. Of playing at Dice and Lottes Eod. Of prosperous playing at Tables Folio 35. Of Iesters Folio 37. Of the games of Wrestlyng Folio 38. Of sundry Spectacles and Shewes Folio 40. Of Horses Folio 42. Of Hunting and Haukyng Folio 44. Of great retinue of Seruauntes Folio 45. Of the magnificence and beautifulnesse of Houses Folio 47. Of strong defenced Castles Eod. Of precious housholde stuffe Folio 48. Of Precious stones and Pearles Folio 49. Of Cuppes made of Precious stones Folio 53. Of Engrauinges and Seales in Precious stones Folio 56. Of Pictures and paynted Tables Folio 57. Of Statues and Images Folio 58. Of Vesselles of Corinth Folio 60. Of store of Bookes Folio 61. Of the fame of Wryters Folio 64. Of Maistershyppe Folio 66. Of sundrie tytles of Studies Folio 67. Of Tytles of Businesse and Affayres Folio 69. Of Tytles of Warres Wâ—â—â—cuyre and Chiefetayneshyp Folio 70. Of the Frâ—â—â—dshyp of Kinges Folio 71. Of the abundance of Freendes Folio 72. Of Freendes not knowen but by report Folio 74. Of one onely Faythfull Freende Folio 75. Of Plenty of Rychesse Folio 77. Of fyndyng of a Golde mine Eod. Of the fynding of Treasure Folio 78. Of Vsurie Eod. Of Fruitefull and wel tylled Lande Folio 80. Of Pleasant greene walkes Folio 81. Of Flockes and heardes of Cattell Folio 83. Of Elephantes and Cammelles Eod. Of Apes and other beastes of Pleasure Folio 84. Of Peacockes Chickins Hennes Bees and Pigions Eod. Of Fyshe pondes Folio 85. Of Cages of Byrdes and of Speaking and Singing Byrdes Folio 87. Of the worthinesse of Mariage Folio 89. Of a fayre Wyfe Folio 90. Of a fruitefull and eloquent Wyfe â–ª Folio 91. Of a great Dowrie Eod. Of Pleasant loue Folio 92. Of the Byrth of Chyldren Folio 96. Of a Pleasant young Chylde Eod. Of the excellent Fauour of Chyldren Folio 97. Of the valiencie and magnificencie of a Sonne Folio 98. Of the Daughters chastitie Folio 99. Of a good Sonne in Lawe Eod. Of Seconde Mariage Folio 100. Of the Mariage of Chyldren Folio 101. Of Nephues Folio 102. Of Adopted Chyldren Folio 103. Of an excellent