sinneth is of the Dyuell the rewarde of sinne is death thou shalte not suffer the wicked to lyue take all the Princes of the people and hange them vp agaynst the Sunne on Iybbets that my anger maye bée tourned from Israell these sayinges of holy Scripture cause mée to tremble and shake in euery sinnewe Agayne this saith the holy Byble nowe shall the scowrge fall vppon thée for thou hast sinned beholde I set a curse before you to daye if you shall not harken to the commaundementes of the Lorde all they that haue forsaken the Lorde shall be confounded Furthermore where threates are poured out agaynst sinners my heart bléedeth in my bellye to remember them I wyll come vnto you in iudgement sayth the Lorde and I wyll be a swifte and a seuere witnesse offenders adulterers and those that haue committed periurie and retained the duetie of the hirelinges oppressed the widowes misused the straunger and those that haue not feared me the Lord of hoasts Out of his mouth shall come a two edged swoorde Beholde I come quickly and bringe my rewarde with me which is to yelde euery one according to his desertes Great is the day of the Lord and terrible and who is he that may abide him What shall I then doe when the Lord shall arise to iudge and when hée shall demaund what shal I answere Besides this the names that in holy scripture are attributed to God bring a terrour to my guiltie conscience He is said to be a terrible God a God of reuenge whose voice is like the thūder whose breath maketh al the corners of the earth to shake tremble These things Euphues testifie vnto my conscience that if there be a God he is the God of the righteous one that wil confound the wicked Whether therefore shal I goe or how may I auoide the day of vengeance to come if I goe to heauen that is his seate if into the earth that is his footstoole if into the depth he is there also Who can shrowde himself from the face of the Lord or where can one hide him that the Lord cannot finde him his wordes are like fire and the people lyke drye woode and shal be consumed Euphues Although I cannot but reioyce to heare thée acknowledge a God yet must I néedes lament to sée thée so much distrust him The Diuell that roaring Lyon seing his pray to be taken out of his iawes alledgeth al Scripture that may condemne the sinner leauing al out that should comfort the sorrowful Much like vnto the deceitfull Phisition which recounteth all things that may endomage his patient neuer telling any thing that may recure him Let not thy conscience be agrieued but with a patiēt heart renounce all thy former iniquities and thou shalt receiue eternall life Assure thy selfe that as God is a Lord so he is a father as Christ is a Iudge so he is a Sauiour as ther is a lawe so there is a Gospel Though God haue leaden handes whiche when they strike paye home yet hath he leaden féet which are as slow to ouertake a sinner Heare therfore the great comfort flowing in euery leafe line of the Scripture if thou be patient I my selfe am euen hée which doth blotte out thy transgressions and that for mine owne sake and I will not be mindefull of thy sinnes Beholde the Lordes hande is not shortned that it cannot saue neither his eare heauy that it cannot heare If your sinnes were as Crimosin they shall be made whiter then Snow though they were as red as Scarlet they shall be made like white Woll If we confesse our offences hée is faythfull and iuste so that he will forgiue vs our sinnes God hathe not appointed vs vnto wrath but vnto saluation by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christe the earthe is filled with the mercye of the Lorde It is not the will of your Father which is in heauen that any one of the little ones should perishe God is riche in mercye I will not the death of a sinner sayth the Lord God retourne and lyue The sonne of man came not to destroye but to saue God hath mercy on all bycause hée can doe all God is mercifull longe sufferinge and of much mercy If the wicked man shall repent of hys wickednesse which hée hath committed and kéepe my commaundementes doinge Iustice and iudgement hée shall lyue the lyfe and shall not dye If I shall saye vnto the sinner thou shalt dye the death yet if hée repent and doe Iustice he shall not dye Call to thy minde the great goodnesse of God in creating thée his singuler loue in giuing his sonne for thée So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeur beléeued in him myght not perish but haue euerlasting life God hath not sent his sonne to iudge the world but that the worlde might be saued by him Can the Mother sayth the Prophet forget the chylde of hir wombe though she be so vnnaturall yet will I not be vnmindefull of thée There shal be more ioye in heauen for the repentaunce of one sinner thē for nintie nine iust persons I came not saith Christ to cal the righteous but sinners to repentāce If any mā sin we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christe the righteous hée is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for our sinnes onely but for the sinnes of the whole worlde I write vnto you little children bicause your sinnes be forgiuen for his names sake Doth not Christ saye that whatsoeuer wée shall aske the Father in his name wée shall obtayne Doth not God saye this is my beloued sonne in whome I am well pleased heare him I haue reade of Themistocles which hauing offended Philip the king of Macedonia could no way apease his anger méeting his young sonne Alexander tooke him in his armes met Philip in the face Philip séeing the smilyng countenaunce of the childe was well pleased with Themistocles Euen so if through thy manifolde sinnes and haynous offences thou prouoke the heauye displeasure of thy God insomuch as thou shalt tremble for horror take his onelye begotten and welbeloued sonne Iesus in thine armes and then he neyther can nor will bée angry with thée If thou haue denyed thy God yet if thou goe out with Peter and wéepe bitterly God will not deny thée Though with the prodigall sonne thou wallow in thine owne wilfulnesse yet if thou retourne agayne sorrowfull thou shalt be receiued If thou bée a grieuous offender yet if thou come vnto Christ with the woman in Luke and wash his féete with thy teares thou shalt obteyne remission Consider with thy selfe the great loue of Christ and the bitter torments that he endured for thy sake which was enforced through the horror of death to crye with a loude voyce Eloi Eloi Lamasabathani My God my God why hast thou forsaken mée and with a groning spirite to say my soule is heauie euen
¶ EVPHVES THE ANATOMY OF WYT Very pleasant for all Gentlemen to reade and most necessary to remember wherin are contained the delights that Wyt followeth in his youth by the pleasauntnesse of Loue and the happynesse he reapeth in age by the perfectnesse of Wisedome ¶ By Iohn Lylly Master of Arte. Oxon. ¶ Imprinted at London for Gabriell Cawood dwelling in Paules Churchyarde ¶ To the right honorable my very good â—ord and Mâ—ster Sir William West Knight Lord Delawaâ—e Iohn Lyly wissheth long lyfe with encrease of honour PARATIVS drawing the counterfaite of Helen right honorable made the attier of hiâ— head loose who being demaunded why he dyd so he aunswered she was loose Vulcan was painted curiously yet with a polt foote Venus cuÌ„ningly yet with hir Mole Alexander hauing a Skar in his cheeke helde his finger vpon it that Appelles might not paint it Appelles painted him with his singer cleauing to his face why quod Alexander I layde my finger on my Skarre bicause I would not haue tâ—â—â— see it yea sayd Appelles and I drew it there bâ—cause none els should perceiue it â—or if thy singer had bene away either thy Skarre would haue ben seene or my aâ—te mislyked whereby I gather that in all perfect woâ—kes aswell the fault as the face is to be sâ—owen The sairest Leopard is sette downe with his spots the swetest Rose with his prickles the finest Veluet with his bracke Seing then that in euery counterfaite as well the blemish as the bewtie is coloured I hope I shal not incur the displeasure of the wise in that in the discourse of Euphues I haue aswel touched the vanities of his loue as the vertues of his lyfe The Persians who aboue all their Kings most honored Cyrus caused him to be engrauen aswel with his hoked nose as his high forehead He that loued Homer best concealed not his â—lattering he that praised Alexander most bewrayed his quaffing Demonydes must haue a crooked shooe for his wry foote Damocles a smoth gloue for his streight haÌ„d For as euery Paynter that shadoweth a man in all parts giueth euery peece his iust proporcion so he that disciphereth the qualities of the mynde ought aswell to shew euery humor in his kinde as the other doth euery part in his colour The Surgion that maketh the Anatomy sheweth aswel the muscles in the heele as the vaines of the hart If then the fiâ—st sight of Euphues shal seeme to light to be read of the wise or to foolish to be regarded of the learned they ought not to impute it to the iniquitie of the author but to the necessitie of the history Euphues beginneth with loue as allured by wyt but endeth not with lust as bereft of wisedome He wooeth women prouoked by youth but weddeth not himselfe to wantonnesse as pricked by pleasure I haue set down the follies of his wit without breach of modestie the sparks of his wisedome without suspicion of dishonestie And certes I thinke ther be mo speaches which for grauitie wil mislyke the foolish then vnsemely termes which for vanitie may offeÌ„d the wise Which discourse right Honorable I hope you wil the rather pardon for the rudenes in that it is the first protect it the more willingly if it offend in that it shal be the laste It may be that fine wits wil descant vpon him that hauing no wit goeth about to make the Anatomy of wit And certeinly their iesting in my mynd is tollerable For if the butcher should take vpon him to cut the Anatomy of a man bicause he hath skil in opening an Oxe he would proue himself a Calfe or if the Horselech would adueÌ„ture to minister a Potion to a sick patieÌ„t in that he hath knowledge to giue a drench to a diseased Horse he would make himselfe an Asse The Shomaker must not go aboue his latchet nor the hedger meddle with anye thing but his bill It is vnsemely for the Paynter to feather a shaft or the Fletcher to handle the pensill All which thinges make most against me in that a foole hath intruded himselfe to discourse of wit. But as I was willing to commit the fault so am I content to make amendes Howsoeuer the case standeth I looke for no prayse for my labour but pardon for my good will it is the greatest rewarde that I dare aske and the least that they can offer I desire no more I deserue no lesse Though the stile nothing delight the dayntie eare of the curious sifter yet wil the matter recreate the minde of the courteous Reader The varietie of the one wil abate the harshnes of the other Thinges of greatest profit are sette foorth with least price When the Wyne is neete there needeth no Iuie-bush The right Coral needeth no colouring Where the matter it selfe bringeth credit the man with his glose winneth smal commendation It it therfore me thinketh a greater show of a pregnant wit then perfect wisedome in a thing of sufficieÌ„t excellencie to vse superfluous eloquence We coÌ„monly see that a black ground doth best beseme a white counterfeit And Venus according to the iudgemeÌ„t of Mars was then most amyable when she sate close by Vulcanus If these thinges be true which experience tryeth that a naked tale doth most truely set foorth the naked truth that where the countenaunce is faire ther neede no colours that paynting is meter for ragged walls theÌ„ fine Marble that veritie then shineth most bâ—ight wheÌ„ she is in least brauery I shal satisfie myne own mynde though I cannot feede their humors which greatly â—eke after those that sift the finest meale beare the whitest mouthes It is a world to see how English men desire to heare finer speach then the language will allow to eate finer bread then is made of Wheat to weare finer cloth then is wrought of Woll But I let passe their finenesse which can no way excuse my folly If your Lordship shal accept my good wil which I alwaies desired I will patieÌ„tly beare the il wil of the malicious which I neuer deserued Thus committing this simple Pamphlet to your Lordships patronage your Honour to the Almighties protection â—or the preseruation of the which aâ— most bounden I will praye continually I ende Your Lordships seruaunt to commaund I. Lyly To the Gentlemen Readers I Was driuen into a quandaâ—ie Gentlemen whether I might send this my Pamphlet to the Printer or to the pedler I thought it to bad for the presse to good for the packe But seing my folly in writing to be as great as others I was willing my fortune should be as ill as any mans We commonly see the booke that at Christmas lyeth bound on the Stacioners stall at Easter to be broken in the Haberdasshers shop which sith it is the order of proceding I am content this winter to haue my doings read for a toye that in sommer they may be ready for trash It is not straunge when as the greatest
wonder lasteth but nyne dayes That a newe worke should not endure but three monethes Gentlemen vse bookes as gentlewomen handle theyr slowres who in the morning sticke them in their heads and at night strawe them at their heeles Cheries be fulsome when they be through rype bicause they be pleÌ„ty bookes be stale when they be printed in that they be common In my mynde Printers and Taylors are bound chiefely to pray for Gentlemen the one hath so many fantasies to print the other such diuers fashions to make that the pressing yron of the one is neuer out of the syre nor the printing presse of the other any tyme lyeth still But a fashion is but a dayes wearing and a booke but an howres reading which seeing it is so I am of a shomakers mynde who careth not so the shooe hold the plucking on and I so my labours last the running ouer He that commeth in print bicause he would be knowen is lyke the foole that commeth into the market bicause he would be seene I am not he that seeketh prayse for his labour but pardon for his offeÌ„ce neither doe I set this foorth for any deuotion in print but for dutie whith I owe to my Patrone If one write neuer so well he cannot please all and write he neuer so ill hee shall please some Fine heads will pick a quarrell with me if all be not curious and flatterers a thanke if any thing be currant But this is my mynde let him that fyndeth fault amende it and him that liketh it vse it Enuie braggeth but draweth no bloud the malicious haue more mynde to quippe then might to cut I submit my selfe to the iudgement of the wise and I little esteme the censure of fooles The one will be satisfyed with reason the other are to be aunswered with sileÌ„ce I know gentlemen wil fynde no fault without cause and beare with those that deserue blame as for others I care not for their iestes for I neuer ment to make them my Iudges Farewell EVPHVES THere dwelt in Athens a young gentleman of great patrimonie of so comely a personage that it was doubted whether he were more bound to Nature for the liniaments of his person or to fortune for the encrease of his possessions But Nature impatient of comparisons and as it were disdaining a companion or copartner in hir working added to this comlinesse of his body suche a sharpe capacitie of minde that not onely shée prouedâ— Fortune counterfaite but was halfe of that opinion that she hir selfe was onely currant This younge gallant of more wit then wealth and yet of more wealth then wisdome séeing himselfe inferiour to none in pleasaâ—t conceiâ—â—s thought himselfe superiour to al in honest conditions insomuch that he déemed himselfe so apt to all things that he gaue himselfe almost to nothing but practising of those things coÌ„monly which are incident to these sharp wits fine phrases smoth quipping merry taunting vsing iesting without meane abusing mirth without measure As therefore the swéetest Rose hath his prickel the finest veluet his brack the fairest â—lowre his â—â—an so the sharpest witte hath his wanton will and the holiest heade his wicked waye And true it is that some men write and most men beléeue that in all perfecte shapes a blemmish bringeth rather a liking euery way to the eyes then a loathing any waye to the minde Venus had hir Mole in hir chéeke which made hir more amiable Helen hir scarre on hir chinne which Paris called Cos amoris the Whetstone of loue Aristippus his wart Lycurgus his wenne So likewise in the disposition of the minde eitheir vertue is ouershaddowed with some viceâ— or vice ouercast with some vertue Alexander valiaunt in warre yet gyuen to wine Tulliâ— eloquent in his gloses yet vayneglorious Salomon wyse yet to too wanton Dauid holye but yet an homicide none more wittie then Euphues yet at the first none more wicked The freshest colourâ— soonest fade the téenesâ— Rasor soonest tourneth his edge the finest cloathe is soonest eaten wyth Moathes and the Cambricke sooner stained then the course Canuas whiche appeared well in this Euphues whose witte béeinge lyke waxe apte to receiue any impression and hauinge the bridle in hys owne handes either to vse the raine or the spurre disdayning counsayle leauinge his countrey loathinge his olde acquaintance thought either by wytte to obteyne some conquest or by shame to abyde some conflicte and leauing the rule of reason rashly ranne vnto destruction It hath bene an olde sayed sawe and not of lesse truth then antiquitie that witte is the better if it bée the déerer bought as in the sequele of thys historie shall moste manifestlye appeare It happened thys young Impe to ariue at Naples a place of more pleasure then profite and yet of more profite then pietie the very walles and windowes whereof shewed it rather to bée the Tabernacle of Venus then the Temple of Vesta There was all things necessary and in redinesse that myght eyther allure the minde to luste or entice the hearte to follye a courte more méete for an Atheyst then for one of Athens for Ouid then for Aristotle for a gracelesse louer then for a godly lyuer more fitter for Paris then Hector and méeter for Flora then Diana Héere my youthe whether for wéerinesse hée coulde not or for wantonnesse woulde not goe anye further determined to make hys abode whereby it is euidently séene that the fleetest fishe swalloweth the delicatest bayte that the highest soaring Hawke trayneth to the lure and that the wittiest skonce is inuegled wyth the soddeyne viewe of alluringe vanities Héere hée wanted no companions whiche courted hym continuallye wyth sundrye kindes of deuises whereby they myght eyther soake hys purse to reape commoditie or sooth hys person to wynne credite for hée had guestes and companions of all sortes There frequented to his lodging and mancion house as well the Spider to sucke poyson of his fine wyt as the Bée to gather hunny as well the Drone as the Doue the Foxe as the Lambe as well Damocles to betraye hym as Damon to bée true to hym Yet hée behaued hymselfe so warilye that hée coulde single out hys game wiselye insomuche that an olde Gentleman in Naples séeinge hys pregnaunt wytte his Eloquent tongue somewhat tauntinge yet wyth delight his myrthe wythout measure yet not wythout wytte hys sayinges vaiâ—eglorious yet pythie beganne to bewayle hys nurture and to muse at hys Nature béeinge incensed agaynste the one as most pernicious and enflamed wyth the other as moste precious for hée well knewe that so rare a wytte woulde in tyme eyther bréede an intollerable trouble or bringe an incomperable Treasure to the common weale at the one hée greatly pittied at the other he reioysed Hauinge therefore gotten opportunitie to communicate with him hys minde wyth watrye eyes as one lamentinge his wâ—ntonnesse and smilinge face as one louinge his wittinesse encountred him on thys manner Young gentleman although my acquaintaunce bée small
in all pointes contrary vnto you and ye in all pointes vnlike vnto vs. Sâ—eing therefore we bée repugnaunt eache to the other in nature woulde you haue vs alyke in qualyties Woulde you haue one potion ministred to the burniâ—g Feuer and to the colde â—alseye one playster to an olde â—ssue and a fresh wounde one salue for all sorâ—s one sauce for all meates No no Eubulus but I will yeelde to more then eyther I am bounde to graunte eyther thou able to proue Suppose that which I neuer will beléeue that Naples is a canckred storehouse of all strife a common stewes for all strumpettes the sinke of shame and the very nurse of all sin shall it therfore follow of necessitie that all y are woed of loue should be wedded to lust will you conclude as it were ex consequenti that whosoeuer aryueth héere shall be enticed to follye and béeinge enticed of force shall be entangled No no it is the disposition of the thought that altereth the nature of the thing The Sun shineth vppon the dungehill and is not corrupted the Diamond lyeth in the fire and is not consumed the Christall toucheth the Toade and is not poysoned the birde Fiochilus lyueth by the mouth of the Crocodile and is not spoyled a perfecte wit is neuer bewitched with leaudâ—nesse neyther entised with lasciuiosnesse Is it not common that the Holme trée springeth amidst the Beach That the Iuie spreadeth vppon the hard stones That the softe fetherbed breketh the hard blade If experience haue not taughte you this you haue lyued long learned lyâ—tle or if your moyst braine haue forgot it you haue learned much and profited nothing But it may be that you measure my affections by your owne fancies and knowing your selfe either too simple to rayse the siege of pollycie or too weake to resist the assault by prowesse you déeme me of as lyttle wit as your selfe or of lesse force eyther of small capacitie or of no courage In my iudgement Eubulus you shal assone catch a Hare with a Taber as you shal perswade youth with your aged ouerworn eloquence to such seueritie of lyfe which as yet ther was neuer Stoyâ—ke so strict nor Iesuite so supersticious neyther Votarie so deuout but would rather allow it in words theÌ„ follow it in workes rather talke of it then try it Neither were you such a Saint in your youth that abandoning all pleasures all pastimes and delyghts you would chuse rather to sacrifice the first fruites of your lyfe to vayne holynesse then to youthly affections But as to the stomacke quatted with daynties all delycates séeme quesie and as he that surfetteth with wine vseth afterward to allay with water So these olde huddles hauing ouercharged their gorges with fancie accompte all honest recreation méere follly and hauinge taken a surfet of delyght séeme now to sauor it with despight Séeing therefore it is labour lost for mée to perswade you and winde vaynely wasted for you to exhort me héere I founde you and héere I leaue you hauing neither bought nor solde with you but chaunged ware for ware if you haue taken lyttle pleasure in my reply sure I am that by your counsaile I haue reaped lesse profit They that vse to steale honny burne hemlocke to smoke the Bées from their hiues and it may bée that to get some aduauntage of mée you haue vsed these smokie argumentes thincking thereby to smother mée with the conceipt of strong imagination But as the Camelion thoughe hée haue most guttes draweth least breath or as the Elder trée thoughe hée bée fullest of pith is farthest from strength so though your reasons seeme inwardly to your selfe somewhat substantial and your perswasions pithie in your owne conceipte yet beyng well wayed without they be shadowes without substaunce and weake without force The Birde Faâ—ras hath a great voyce but a small body the thunder a greate clappe yet but a lyttle stone the emptie vessell giueth a greater sownd then the full barrell I meane not to apply it but looke into your selfe and you shall certeinely finde it and thus I leaue you séekinge it but were it not that my company stay my comming I would surely helpe you to looke it but I am called hence by my acquaintance Euphues hauing thus ended his talke departed leauing this olde gentleman in a great quandarie who perceiuing that he was more enclined to wantonnesse then to wisedome with a déepe sigh the teares trickling downe his chéekes sayde Séeing thou wilt not buye counsell at the firste hande good cheape thou shalt buye repentaunce at the seconde hande at suche an vnresonable rate that thou wilt curse thy hard penyworth and banne thy hard hearte And immediately he wente to his owne house heauily bewayling the young mans vnhappinesse Héere ye may beholde gentlemen how lewdly wit standeth in his owne lyght howe he déemeth no pennye good siluer but his owne preferring the blossome before the fruite the budde before the flower the gréene blade before the ripe eare of corne his owne witte before all mens wisedomes Neyther is that geason séeing for the most parte it is proper to all those of sharpe capacitie to estéeme of themselues as most proper if one bée harde in conceiuing they pronounce him a dowlte if giuen to study they proclayme him a duns if merrye a iester if sadde a Sainct if full of wordes a sotte if without speach a Cypher if one argue with them boldly then is he impudent if coldely an innocent if there be reasoning of diuinitie they cry Quae supra nos nihil ad nos if of humanitie Sententias loquitur carnifex héereoff commeth suche greate familyaritie betweene the rypest wittes when they shall sée the dysposition the one of the other the Sympathia of affections and as it were but a payre of shéeres to goe betwéene theire natures one flattereth an other in hys owne folly and layeth cushions vnder the elbowe of his fellowe when hée seeth him take a nappe with fancie and as theire witte wresteth them to vice so it forgeth them some feate excuse to cloake theire vanitie Too much studie doth intoxicate their braynes for saye they althoughe yron the more it is vsed the brighter it is yet siluer with much wearing doth wast to nothing though the Cammocke the more it is bowed the better it serueth yet the bow the more it is bent occupied the weaker it waxeth though the Camomill the more it is trodden and pressed downe the more it spreadeth yet the violet the oftner it his handled and touched the sooner it withereth and decayeth Besides thys a fine wytte a sharpe sence a quicke vnderstanding is able to atteine to more in a moment or a very little space then a dull and blockish heade in a month the sithe cutteth farre better and smoother then the sawe the waxe yéeldeth better and sooner to the seale then the stéele to the stampe or hammer the smooth playne Béeche is easier to be carued and occupyed
then the knottie Boxe For neyther is ther any thing but y hath his contraries Such is the Nature of these nouises that thincke to haue learning without labour and treasure without trauayle eyther not vnderstanding or els not remembring that the finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone and the fairest Iewell fashioned with the harde hammer I go not about gentlemen to inueigh against wit for then I wer witlesse but frankely to confesse mine owne lyttle wit. I haue euer thought so supersticiously of wit that I feare I haue committed Idolatry agaynst wisedome and if Nature had dealte so beneficially with mée to haue giuen me any wit I should haue bene readyer in the defence of it to haue made an Apologie then any way to tourne to Apostacie But this I note that for the most part they stande so on their pantuffles that they be secure of perills obstinate in their owne opinions impatient of labour apte to conceiue wrong credulous to beleeue the worst ready to shake off their olde acquaintaunce without cause and to condempne them without colour All which humors are by somuch the more easier to bée purged by howe much the lesse they haue festred the sinnewes But retourne we agayne to Euphues Euphues hauing soiourned by the space of two moneths in Naples whether he were moued by the courtesie of a young gentleman named Philautus or inforced by destenie whether his pregnant wit or his pleasaunt conceits wrought the greater liking in the minde of Euphues I know not for certeyntie But Euphues shewed such entyre loue towards him that he séemed to make small accompt of any others determining to enter into such an inuiolable league of friendship with him as neyther time by peecemeale should empaire neither fancie vtterly dissolue nor any suspition infringe I haue red saith he and well I beléeue it that a friend is in prosperitie a pleasure a solace in aduersitie in griefe a comfort in ioy a merrye companion at all times an other I in all places the expresse Imagâ— oâ— mine owne person insomuch that I cannot tell whether the immâ—rtall Gods haue bestowed any gift vpon mortall men either more noble or more necessary then friendship Is ther any thing in the world to be reputed I will not say compared to friendship Can any treasure in this transitorie pilgrimage be of more vale we then a friend in whose bosome thou maist sleepe secure without feare whom thou maist make partner of all thy secrets without suspition of fraude and pertaker of all thy misfortune without mistrust of fléeting who will accompt thy bale his bane thy mishap his misery the pricking of thy finger the percing of his heart But whether am I carried Haue I not also learned that one shoulde eate a bushell of salt with him whom he meaneth to make his friend that tryall mâ—keth trust that there is falshood in fellowship and what then Doth not the sympathy of manners make the coniunction of mindes Is it not a by woord like will to like Not so common as commendable it is to see young gentlemen choose theÌ„ such friends with whom they may séeme béeing absent to be present being a sunder to be conuersant beeing dead to be aliue I will therefore haue Philautus for my pheere and by so much the more I make my selfe sure to haue Philautus by how much the more I view in him the liuely Image of Euphues Although there bée none so ignoraunt that doth not know neither any so impudent that will not confesse friendship to bée the iewell of humaine ioye yet whosoeuer shall sée this amitie grounded vpon a little affection will soone coniecture that it shall be dissolued vpon a light occasion as in the sequele of Euphues Philautus you shall see whose hot loue waxed soone colde For as the best wine doth make the sharpest vinaigâ—r so the déepest loue tourneth to the deadliest hate Who deserued the most blame in mine opinion it is doubtful so difficult that I dare not presume to giue verdit For loue being the cause for which so many mischiefes haue ben attempted I am not yet perswaded whether of theÌ„ was most to be blamed but certeinly neither of them was blamelesse I appeale to your iudgement gentlemen not that I thincke any of you of the like disposition able to decide the question but béeing of déeper discretion then I am are more fit to debate the quarrell Though the discourse of their friendship and falling out be somewhat long yet being somewhat straunge I hope the delightfulnes of the one will attenuate the tediousnesse of the other Euphues had continuall accesse to the place of Philautus and no little familiaritie with him and finding him at conuenient leasure in these short termes vnfolded his minde vnto him Gentleman and friend the triall I haue had of thy manners cutteth off diuers termes which to an other I would haue vsed in the like matter And sithens a long discourse argueth folly and delicate words incurre the suspition of flattery I am determined to vse neither of them knowing either of them to bréede offence Waying with my selfe the force of friendship by the effects I studied euer since my first comming to Naples to enter league with such a one as might direct my steps being a straunger resemble my manners being a scholler the which two qualities as I finde in you able to satisfie my desire so I hope I shall finde a hearte in you willing to accomplish my request Which if I may obtein assure your selfe the Damon to his Pythias Pylades to his Orestes Titus to his Gysippus Theseus to his Pyrothus Scipio to his Laelius was neuer â—ouÌ„d more faithfull then Euphues will be to his Philautus Philautus by how much the lesse hée looked for thys discourse by so much the more he liked it for he saw all qualities both of body minde in Euphues vnto whom he replyed as followeth Friend Euphues for so your talke warranteth me to terme you I dare neither vse a long processe neither louing speach least vnwittingly I should cause you to coÌ„uince me of those thinges which you haue alredy condemned And verily I am bolde to presume vpon your curtesie since you your self haue vsed so little curiositie perswading my selfe that my short answere wil worke as great an effect in you as your few words did in me And seeing we resemble as you say each other in qualities it cannot be that the one should differ from the other in curtesie séeing the sincere affection of the minde cannot be expressed by the mouth that no arte can vnfolde the entire loue of the heart I am earnestly to beséech you not to measure the firmenesse of my faith by the fewnes of my wordes but rather thincke that the ouerflowing waues of good will leaue no passage for many woords Tryall shall proue trust héere is my hand my heart my lands and my lyfe at thy coÌ„maundement Thou maist well perceiue that I
could neuer heare man by such snares to intrappe man For true it is that men themseleus haue by vse obserued that it must be a hard winter when one Wolfe eateth an other I haue read that the Bull being tyed to the Figge trée loseth his strength that the whole heard of Deare stande at the gaze if they smell a swéete apple that the Dolphin by the sound of Musicke is brought to the shore And then no meruaile it is that if the fierce Bull be tamed with the Figge tree if that women beeing as weake as shéepe be ouercome with a Figge if the wilde Deare be caughte with an apple that the tame Damzell is wonne with a blossome if the fleete Dolphin be allured with harmony that women be entangled with the melodie of mens speach fayre promises and solemne protestations But follye it were for mée to marke their mischiefes sith I am neyther able neyther they willynge to amende their manners it becommeth mée rather to shew what our sexe should doe then to open what yours doth And seeing I cannot by reason restrayne your importunate sute I will by rigour done on my selfe cause you to refraine the meanes I would to God Ferardo were in this poynte lyke to Lysander which would not suffer his daughters to weare gorgeous apparell saying it would rather make them common then comely I would it were in Naples a law which was a custome in Aegypt that woemen should alwayes go barefoote to the intent they might kéepe themselues alwayes at home that they shoulde be euer lyke to the Snaile which hath euer his house on his head I meane so to mortifie my selfe that in stead of silkes I will weare sackecloth for Owches and Bracelettes Léere and Caddys for the Lute vse the Distaffe for the Penne the Néedle for louers Sonettes Dauids Psalmes But yet I am not so senceles altogether to reiect your seruice which if I were certeinly assured to procéed of a simple minde it shold not receiue so simple a reward And what greater triall can I haue of thy simplicitie truth theÌ„ thine owne requeste which desireth a triall I but in the coldest flinte there is hotte fire the Bée that hath hoâ—â—y in hir mouth hath a sting in hir tayle the trée that beareth the swéetest fruite hath a sower sappe yea the wordes of men though they séeme smoothe as oyle yet their heartes are as crooked as the stalke of Iuie I woulde not Euphues that thou shouldest condemne me of rigour in that I séeke to asswage thy follye by reason but take this by the way that although as yet I am disposed to lyke of none yet whensoeuer I shall loue any I will not forget thée in the meane season accompt me thy friend for thy foe I will neuer be Euphues was brought into a greate quandarie and as it were a colde shiuering to heare this newe kinde of kindenesse such swéete meate such sower sauce such faire wordes such faint promises such hotte loue such colde desire such certayne hope such sodaine chaunge and stoode lyke one that had looked on Medusaes heade and so had bene tourned into a stone Lucilla séeing him in this pitifull plight and fearing he would take stande if the lure were not cast out toke him by the hand and wringing him softely with a smiling countenaunce began thus to comfort him Mée thinkes Euphues chaungeing so your couloure vpon the sodaine you will soone chaunge your coppie is your minde on your meat a penny for your thought Mistresse quod he if you would buy all my thoughts at that price I shoulde neuer be wearye of thinking but séeinge it is too déere reade it and take it for nothing It séemes to me sayd she that you are in some browne study what coulours you mighte best weare for your Ladye In déede Lucilla you leuell shrewdly at my thought by the ayme of your owne imagination for you haue giuen vnto me a true loues knotte wrought of chaungeable silke and you déeme mée that I am deuisinge howe I mighte haue my coulours chaungeable also that they mighte agrée But lette this with such toyes and deuises passe if it please you to commaund me any seruice I am héere ready to attende your leasure No seruice Euphues but that you kéepe silence vntill I haue vttered my minde and secrecie when I haue vnfolded my meaning If I should offende in the one I were to bold if in the other too beastly Well then Euphues sayd shée so it is that for the hope that I conceiue of thy loyaltie and the happy successe that is lyke to ensue of this our loue I am content to yeelde thée the place in my heart which thou desirest and deseruest aboue all other which consent in me if it may any wayes bréede thy contentation sure I am that it will euery way worke my comforte But as eyther thou tenderest mine honour or thine owne safetie vse such secrecie in this matter that my father haue no incklyng héereoff before I haue framed his minde fitte for our purpose And though women haue small force to ouercome men by reason yet haue they good Fortune to vndermine them by pollycie The softe droppes of raine pearce the hard Marble many strokes ouerthrow the tallest Oke a silly woman in time may make such a breach into a mans hearte as hir teares may enter without resistaunce then doubt not but I will so vndermine mine olde father as quickly I will enioy my new friend Tush Philautus was liked for fashion sake but neuer loued for fancie sake this I vow by the fayth of a Uirgin and by the loue I beare thée for greater bands to confirme my vowe I haue not that my father shall sooner martir me in the fire then marry me to Philautus No no Euphues thou onely hast wonne me by loue and shalt only weare me by law I force not Philautus his fury so I may haue Euphues his friendship neither will I prefer his possessions before thy person neyther estéeme better of his lands then of thy loue Ferardo shall sooner disherite me of my patrimony then dishonour me in breaking my promise it is not his great mannors but thy good manners that shall make my marriage In token of which my sincere affection I giue thée my hande in pawne and my heart for euer to be thy Lucilla Unto whome Euphues aunswered on this manner If my tongue were able to vtter the ioyes that my heart hath conceiued I feare me though I be wel beloued yet I shoulde hardlye bée beléeued Ah my Lucilla howe much am I bounde to thée whiche preferrest mine vnworthinesse before thy Fathers wrath my happinesse before thine owne misfortune my loue before thine owne lyfe howe might I excell thée in courtesie whome no mortall creature can excéede in constancie I finde it nowe for a setled truth which earst I accompted for a vaine talke that the Purple dye will neuer staine that the pure Cyuet will neuer loose his sauour
therefore euer reserued I héere on my knées forsweare Philautus for my husband althoughe I accept him for my friende and séeing I shall hardly bée induced euer to match with any I beséeche you if by your Fatherly loue I shall bée compelled that I may match wyth such a one as both I may loue and you may like Ferardo béeing a graue and wise Gentleman although he were throughly angry yet he dissembled his fury to the ende he might by craft discouer hir fancie and whispering Philautus in the eare who stood as though he had a Flea in his eare desired him to kéepe silence vntil he had vndermined hir by subtiltie which Philautus hauing graunted Ferardo began to sift his daughter with this deuice Lucilla thy coulour sheweth thée to be in a greate choler and thy hot woords bewray thy heauy wrath but bée patient séeinge all my talke was onelye to trye thée I am neyther so vnnaturall to wreaste thee against thine owne will neyther so malytious to wedde thée to any agaynste thine owne likinge for well I knowe what iarres what ielousie what sâ—riefe what stormes ensue where the matche is made rather by the compulsion of the parents then by consent of the parties neyther doe I like thée the lesse in that thou lykest Philautus so little neyther can Philautus loue thée the worse in that thou louest thy selfe so well wishinge rather to stande to thy chaunce then to the choyse of any other But this gryueth mée most that thou art almost vowed to the vayne order of the vestall virgins despisinge or at the least not desiring the sacred bandes of Iuno hir bedde If thy Mother had bene of that minde when shée was a mayden thou haddest not nowe bene borne to bée of this minde to bée a virginne Waye wyth thy selfe what slender profile they bring to the common wealth what sleight pleasure to themselues what greate griefe to theire parentes which ioye most in their ofspringe and desire moste to enioye the noble and blessed name of a graundfather Thou knowest that the tallest Ashe is cut downe for fuell bycause it beareth no good fruite that the Cowe that gyues no mylke is brought to the slaughter that the Drone that gathereth no honny is contemned that the woman that maketh hyr selfe barren by not marryinge is accompted amonge the Grecian Ladyes worse then a carryon as Homere reporteth Therefore Lucilla if thou haue any care to bee a comforte to mye hoarye haires or a commodityâ— to thy common weale frame thy selfe to that honourable estate of matrimonye whiche was sanctified in Paradise allowed of the Patriarches hallowed of the olde Prophetes and commended of all persons If thou lyke any bée not ashamed to tell it mée whiche onely am to exhorte thée yea and as much as in mee lyeth to commaunde thée to loue one If hée bée base thy bloude wyll make hym noble if beggerlye thy goodes shall make hym wealthy if a straunger thy fréedome may enfraunchise hym if hée bée younge he is the more fitter to be thy pheare if he be olde the lyker to thine aged Father For I had rather thou shouldest leade a lyfe to thine owne lykeinge in earthe then to thy greate tormentes leade Apes in Hell. Be bolde therefore to make me partner of thy desire whiche will be partaker of thy dysease yea and a furtherer of thy delights as farre as either my friendes or my landes or my life will stretch Lucilla perceiuinge the drifte of the olde Foxe hir Father wayed with hir selfe what was beste to be done at the laste not wayinge hir Fathers yll wyll but encouraged by loue shaped hym an aunswere whiche pleased Ferardo but â— little and pinched Philautus on the parsons side on thys manner ¶ Déere Father Ferardo althoughe I sée the bayte you laye to catche me yet I am content to swallowe the hooke neyther are you more desirous to take me nappinge then I willinge to confesse my meaninge So it is that loue hath as well inueigled me as others which make it as straunge as I. Neyther doe I loue hym so meanely that I should be ashamed of his name neyther is hys personage so meane that I shoulde loue hym shamefullye It is Euphues that lately arryued heere at Naples that hath battered the bulwarke of my breste and shall shortly enter as conquerour into my bosome What his wealth is I neither know it nor waye itâ— what his wit is all Naples doth knowe it and wonder at it neyther haue I bene curious to enquire of his progenitors for that I knowe so noble a minde could take no Originall but from a noble man for as no birde can looke againe the Sunne but those that bée bredde of the Eagle neyther any Hawke soare so hie as the broode of the Hobbie so no wight can haue suche excellent qualities excepte hée descend of a noble race neyther be of so highe capacitie vnlesse hée issue of a high progenie And I hope Philautus wyll not bée my foe séeinge I haue chosen his déere friende neither you Father bée displeased in that Philautus is displaced You néede not muse that I shoulde so sodeinely bée intangled loue giues no reason of choice neither will it suffer anye repulse Mirha was enamoured of hir naturall Father Biblis of hir brother Phaedra of hir sonne in lawe If nature can no way resist the fury of affection howe should it be stayed by wisdome Ferardo interrupting hir in the middle of hyr discourse although he were moued with inward grudge yet he wisely repressed his anger knowing that sharpe wordes would but sharpen hir froward wil and thus answered hir briefly Lucilla as I am not presently to graunt my good will so meane I not to reprehende thy choyce yet wisdome wylleth mee to pawse vntill I haue called what maye happen to my remembraunce and warneth thee to bée circumspecte leaste thy rashe conceyte bringe a sharpe repentaunce As for you Philautus I woulde not haue you dispaire séeinge a woman dothe oftentimes chaunge hir desire Unto whome Philautus in fewe woordes made aunswere Certeinely Ferardo I take the lesse griefe in that I sée hir so greedy after Euphues and by so much the more I am content to leaue my sute by how much the more she séemeth to disdayne my seruice but as for hope bicause I woulde not by any meanes tast one dramme thereoff I will abiure all places of hir abode and loath hir company whose countenaunce I haue so much loued as for Euphues and there staying his speache hée flange out of the dores and repairing to his lodginge vttered these words Ah most dissembling wretch Euphues O counterfayte companion couldest thou vnder the shewe of a stedfast friende cloake the mallice of a mortall foe vnder the coulour of simplicitie shrowd the Image of deceit Is thy Liuia tourned to my Lucilla thy loue to my louer thy deuotion to my Sainct Is this the curtesie of Athens the cauillyng of schollers the craft of Grecians Couldest
morrowe bée more wilfull But alas it is no lesse common then lamentable to beholde the tottering estate of louers who thinke by delayes to preuente daungers with oyle to quench fire with smoke to cleare the eye sight They slatter themselues with a faynting farewell deferring euer vntill to morrow when as their morrow doth alwayes encrese their sorrow Lette neyther their amyable countenances neyther their painted protestacions neyther their deceitfull premises allure thée to delaâ—es Thinke this with thy selfe that the swéete songes of Calipso were subtill snares to entice Vlysses that the Crabbe then catcheth the Oyster when the Sunne shineth that Hiena when she speaketh lyke a man deuiseth most mischiefe the women when they be most pleasaunt pretend most trecherie Follow Alexander which hearing the commendation and singular comelynesse of the wife of Darius so couragiously withstood the assaultes of fancie that hée would not so much as take a viewe of hir beautie Imitate Cyrus a king indued with such continencie that he loathed to looke on the heauenly hewe of Panthea and when Araspus tolde him that she excelled all mortall wightes in amiable shewe by so much the more sayde Cyrus I ought to absteine from hir sight for if I follow thy counsayle in going to hir it maye bee I shall desire to continue with hir and by my lyght affection neglect my serious affaires Learne of Romulus to refraine from wine be it neuer so delicate of Agesilaus to despise costly apparell be it neuer so curious of Diogenes to detest women bee they neuer so comely Hée that toucheth pitche shall be defiled the sore eye infecteth the sounde the societie with women breedeth securitie in the soule and maketh all the sences sencelesse Moreouer take this counsaile as an article of thy Créede which I meane to sollow as the chiefe argument of my faith that idlenes is the onely nourse and nourisher of sensual appetite the sole maintenance of youthfull affection the first shaft that Cupide shooteth into the hot liuer of a héedlesse louer I woulde to God I were not able to finde this for a truth by mine owne tryall I would the example of others idlenesse had caused me rather to auoid the fault then experience of mine owne folly Howe dissolute haue I bene in striuing against good counsayle howe resolute in standing in mine owne conceite howe forwarde to wickednesse howe frowarde to wisedome howe wanton with too much cockeringe howe waywarde in hearing correction Neyther was I much vnlike these Abbate lubbers in my lyfe though farre vnlike them in beliefe which laboured till they were colde eat til they sweate and lay in bed till their boanes aked Héereof commeth it gentlemen that loue creepeth into the minde by priuie crafte and kéepeth his holde by maine courage The man béeing idle the minde is apte to all vncleanenesse the minde being voide of exercise the man is voide of honestie Doth not the rust fret the hardest yron if it bee not vsed Doth not the Moath eate the finest garment if it bée not worne Doth not Mosse growe on the smothest stone if it be not stirred Doth not impietie infect the wisest wit if it be giuen to idlenesse Is not the standinge water sooner frosen then the running streame Is not he that sitteth more subiect to sleepe then he that walketh Doth not common experience make this common vnto vs that the fattest grounde bringeth foorth nothing but wéedes if it be not well tilled That the sharpest wit enclineth onely to wickednesse if bée not exercised Is it not true which Seneca reporteth that as to much bendinge breaketh the bowe so to much remission spoyleth the minde Besides this immoderate sleepe immodest play vnsatiable swilling of wine doth so weaken the sences and bewitch the soule that before we feele the motion of loue wée are resolued into lust Eschewe idlenesse my Philautus so shalt thou easily vnbende the bowe and quenche the brandes of Cupide Loue giues place to laboure laboure and thou shalt neuer loue Cupide is a crâ—ftie childe following those aâ—â—an ynche that studye pleasure and flyinge those swyftlye that take paines Bende thy minde to the lawe whereby thou mayst haue vnderstanding of olde and auncient customes defende thy clientes enriche thy cofers and carry credite in thy Countrey If lawe séeme loathsome vnto thée searche the secretes of phisicke whereby thou maist know the hidden natures of hearbes whereby thou maiste gather profite to thy purse and pleasure to thy minde What can be more exquisite in humaine affaires then for euery feuer bée it neuer so hot for euery palsey be it neuer so colde for euery infection be it neuer so straunge to giue a remedy The olde verse standeth as yet in his olde vertue That Galen gyueth goods Iustinian honors If thou bee so nice that thou canst no waye brooke the practise of Phisicke or so vnwise that thou wilt not beate thy braynes about the institutes of the lawe conferre all thy study all thy time all thy treasure to the attayning of the sacred and sincere knowledge of diuinitie by this maist thou bridle thine incontinencie raine thine affections resâ—rayne thy lust Héere shalt thou beholde as it were in a glasse that all the glorye of man is as the grasse that all thinges vnder heauen are but vaine that our lyfe is but a shadowe a warfare a pilgrimage a vapor a bubble a blast of such shortnesse that Dauid sayth it is but a spanne longe of such sharpenesse that Iob noteth it replenished with all miseries of suche vncerteintie that we are no sooner borne but wée are subiecte to death the one foote no sooner on the grounde but the other ready to slippe into the graue Heere shalt thou finde ease for thy burden of sinne comforte for the conscience pined wyth vanitie mercy for thine offences by the martirdome of thy swéete Sauiour By this thou shalt be able to instruct those that be weake to confute those that bée obstinate to confounde those that be erronious to confirme the faythfull to comfort the desperate to cutte off the presumptious to saue thine owne soule by thy sure faith and edifie the hearts of many by thy sound doctrine If this séeme to straight a dyet for thy straininge disease or to holy a profession for so hollow a person then employ thy selfe to martial feats to iusts to turnayes yea to al tormeÌ„ts rather then to loiter in loue spend thy life in the laps of Ladyes what more monstrous can there be then to sée a younge man abuse those giftes to his owne shame which God hath giuen him for his owne preferment What greater inâ—amye then to conferre the sharpe wit to the making of lewde Sonnets to the idolatrous worshipping of their Ladies to the vaine delights of fancie to all kinde of vice as it were against kinde course of nature Is it not folly to shewe wit to women which are neither able nor willinge to receyue fruite thereoff Doest thou not knowe
studye the rule hée shall beare maye bée directed and by his gouernment his studye maye bée increased in this manner dyd Pericles deale in ciuill affayres after this sort dyd Architas Tarentine Dion the Syracusian the Thebane Epiminides gouerne their cities For the exercise of the bodye it is necessary also somewhat bée added that is that the childe shoulde be at such times permitted to recreate himselfe when his minde is ouercome wyth studie least dullinge himselfe wyth ouermuche industry hée become vnfit afterwarde to conceiue readyly besides this it will cause an apte composition and that naturall strength that it before retayned A good composition of the body laieth a good foundation of olde age for as in the fayre Sommer we prepare all thinges necessary for the cold Winter so good manners in youth and lawfull exercises be as it were victuals and nourishmentes for age yet are their labours and pastimes so to bee tempered that they weaken not their bodyes more by playe then otherwyse they shoulde haue done by studyâ— and so to be vsed that they addict not themselues more to the exercise of the limmes then the following of learning the greatest enemies to discipline as Plato recompteth are labours sléepe It is also requisite that hee bée expert in marciall affayres in shooting in darting that he hawke and hunt for his honest pastime and recreation and if after these pastimes hée shall seeme secure nothinge regardinge his bookes I would not haue him scourged with stripes but threatned with words not dulled with blowes like seruaunts the which the more they are beaten the better they beare it and the lesse they care for it for children of good disposition are eitheâ— incited by praise to goe forwarde or shamed by dispraise to commit the like offence those of obstinate blockish behauiour are neither with words to be perswaded neither with stripes to be corrected They must now be tauÌ„ted with sharp rebukes straight wayes admonished with faire wordes nowe threatned a paiment by and by promised a reward dealt withall as nurses doe with the babes whom after they haue made to cry they profer the teate but diligeÌ„t héede must be taken that he be not praised aboue measure least standing to much in his owne conceite he become also obstinate in his owne opinions I haue knowen many fathers whose great loue towards their sonnes hath bene the cause in time that they loued them not for when they see a sharpe witte in their sonne to conceiue for the desire they haue that hée shoulde out runne his fellowes they loaden him with continuall exercise which is the onely cause that hée sincketh vnder his burden and giueth ouer in the playne fielde Plants are nurrished with lyttle rayne yet drowned with much euen so the minde with indifferent labour wareth more perfect with much studie it is made fruitelesse We must consider that all our lyfe is deuided into remission and stâ—dye As there is watchinge so is there sléepe as there is warre so is there peace as there is Winter so is there Sommer as there be many working dayes so is there also many holydayes if I may speake all in one worde ease is the sauce of labour which is playnely to be seene not onely in lyuing thinges but also in things without lyfe We vnbende the bowe that wée maye the better bende him wee vnloose the harpe that we may the sooner tune him the body is kept in health aswell with fasting as eating the minde healed with ease aswell as with labour those parents are in minde to be mislyked which committe the whole care of their childe to the custody of a hirelyng neyther askinge neither knowing how their children profite in lerning For if the father were desirous to examine his sonne in that which he hath learned the mayster woulde bée more carefull what he did teach But séeinge the father carelesse what they learne he is also secure what he teacheth that notable saying of the Horsekéeper maye heere be applyed which sayde nothinge did so fatte the horse as the eye of the king Moreouer I woulde haue the memorye of children continually to be exercised which is the greatest furtheraunce to learninge that can be For this cause they fayned in their olde fables memory to be the mother of perfection Children are to be chastised if they shal vse any filthy or vnséemly talke for as Democrates sayth the worde is the shadowe of the worke they must be courteous in their behauiour lowely in their speach not disdayning their cock mates or refrayning their company they must not lyue wantonly neyther speake impudently neyther angry without cause neyther quarrellous without choler A young man beeing peruerse in nature proude in words and manners gaue Socrates a spurne who béeing moued by his fellowes to giue him an other If sayd Socrates an â—sse had kicked me woulde you also haue me to kicke him againe the greatest wisedome in Socrates in compressing his anger is worthy great commendacion Architas Tarentine retourning from warre and finding his grounde ouergrowen with wéedes and tourned vp with Mowles â—ent for his Farmour vnto whome hee sayde If I were not angrye I woulde make thée repent thy ill husbandry Plato hauing a seruaunt whose blisse was in fillyng of his belly seeinge him on a time idle and vnhonest in behauiour sayd out of my sighte for I am incensed with anger Althoughe these ensamples be harde to imitate yet shoulde euery man do his endeuour to represse that hot and heady humor which he is by nature subiecte vnto To be silent and discreete in companye thoughe manye thinke it a thing of no great wayghte or importaunce yet is it most requisite for a young man and most necessary for my Ephaebus It neuer hath bene hurtefull to any to holde his peace to speake damage to manye what so is kept in sileÌ„ce is husht but whatsoeuer is babbled out cannot agayne be recalled We maye sée the cunning and curious worke of Nature which hath barred and hedged nothing in so stronglye as the tongue with two rowes of téeth therewith two lyppes besides she hath placed it farre from the hearte that it shoulde not vtter that which the hearte had conceiued this also shoulde cause vs to be silente séeinge those that vse much talke though they speake truely are neuer beléeued Wyne therefore is to be refrayned which is termed to be the glasse of the minde and it is an olde Prâ—uerbe Whatsoeuer is in the heart of the sober man is in the mouth of the drunckarde Bias holding his tongue at a feast was tearmed there of a tatler to bee a foole who sayde is there any wise man that can holde his tongue amidst the wine vnto whome Bias aunswered there is no foole that can A certeyne gentleman heere in Athens inuited the Kings Legates to a costly and sumptuous â—east where also he assembled many Philosophers and talking of diuers matters both of the common weale and learning
onely Zeno sayd nothing Then the ambassadors said what shall wee shewe of thée O Zeno to the king Nothing aunswered hee but that there is an olde man in Athens that amiddest the pottes coulde holde his peace Anacharsis suppinge with Solon was founde a sléepe hauing his right hande before his mouth his lefte vpon his priuities wherby was noted that the tongue should be rayned with the strongest bridle Zeno bicause hée woulde not be enforced to reueale any thinge agaynst his will by torments bitte of his tongue and spit it in the face of the Tyraunt Nowe when children shall by wisedome and vse refrayne from ouer much tatlyng lette them also be admonished that when they shall speake they speake nothing but truth to lye is a vyce most detestable not to be suffered in a slaue much lesse in a sonne But the greatest thinge is yet behinde whether that those are to bée admitted as cockemates with children which loue them entirely or whether they bée to bée banished from them When as I sée manye fathers more cruell to their children then carefull of them which thincke it not necessarye to haue those about them that most tender them then I am halfe as it were in a doubte to giue counsell But when I call to my remembraunce Socrateâ— Plato Xenophon Eschines Saebetes and all those that so much commende the loue of men which haue also brought vpp many to great rule reason and pietie then I am encouraged to imitate those whose excellencie doth warâ—ant my precepts to be perfect If any shall loue the childe â—or his comely countenaunce him woulde I haue to be banished as a most daungerous and inâ—ectious beast if hee shall loue him for his fathers sake or for his own good qualyties him would I haue to be with him alwayes as superuisour of hys manners such hath it bene in times past the loue of one Athenian to the other and of one Lacedemonian to the other But hauing sayde almost sufficient for the education of a childe I will speake two words how he should be trayned when he groweth in yeares I can not but mislyke the nature of diners parentes which appoynte ouerseers and tutours for their children in their tender age and suffer them when they come to be young men to haue the bridle in theire owne hande knowing not that age requireth rather a harde snaffle then a pleasant bit and is sooner allured to wickednesse then childehood Who knoweth not the escapes of children as they are small so they are soone amended eyther with threates they ar to be remedied or with faire promisses to be rewarded But the sinnes and faults of young men are almost or altogether â—ntollerable which giue theÌ„selues to be delycate in their dyet prodigall in their expence vsing dicing dauncing dronkennesse deflowring of virgâ—ns abusing wyues committing adulteries and accounting all things honâ—st that are most detestable Hâ—ere therefore must be vsed a due regarde that theire lust may be repressed their ryot abated their courage cooled for hard it is to sée a young man to bée maisâ—er of himselfe which yeldeth himselfe as it were a bonde slaue to fonde and ouerlashinge affections Wise parentes ought to take good heede especially at this time that they frame their sonnes to modesty eyther by threats or by rewardes either by faire promises or seuere practises eyther shewinge the miseries oâ— those that haue ben ouercome with wildenesse or the happinesse of theÌ„ that haue conteined themselues wythin the bandes of reason these two are as it were the ensignes of vertue the hope of honour the feare of punishment But chiefly parents must cause their youths to abandon the societie of those which are noted of euill liuing lewde behauiour which Pithagoras seemed somewhat obscurely to note in these his sayinges First that one should absteine from the tast of those thinges that haue blacke tayles That is we must not vse the companye of those whose corrupt manners doo as it were make their lyfe blacke Not to goe aboue the ballaunce that is to reuerence Iustice neyther for feare or flattery to leane to any one parcially not to lye in idlenesse that is that sloth shoulde bée abhorred That wée should not shake euery man by the hande That is wée should not contract friendshippe wyth all Not to weare a straite ringe That is that we should leade our life so as wée neede not to fetter it wyth â—heynes Not to bring fire to a slaughter That is wée must not prouoke anye that is furious wyth wordes Not to eate our heartes That is that wée shoulde not vexe our selues wyth thoughtes consume our bodyes with sighes wyth sobbes or with care to pine our carcasses To absteine from beanes that is not to meddle in ciuill affayres or businesse of the common weale for in the olde times the election of magistrates was made by the pullinge of beanes Not to put our meate in Scapio That is wée shoulde not speake of manners or vertue to those whose mindes are infected with vice Not to retire when wee are come to the ende of our race That is when wée are at the poynte of deathe wee shoulde not be oppressed wyth griefe but willingly yelde to nature But I will retourne to my former preceptes that is that younge men shoulde bée kept from the company of those that are wicked especially from the siâ—ht of the flatterer For I say now as I haue oftentimes before saydeâ— that there is no kinde of beast so noysome as the flatterer nothing that will sooner consume bothe the sonne and the Father and all honest friendes When the Father exhorteth the sonne to sobrietye the flatterer prouoketh hym to wine when the Father weaneth them to continencie the flatterer allureth them to lust when the Father admonisheth them to thrifte the flatterer haleth them to prodigallitye when the Father encourageth them to labour the flatterer layeth a cusshion vnder his eldbowe to sleepe biddinge them to eate drincke and bée merry for that the lyfe of man is soone gone and but as a short shadowe and seeinge that wée haue but a whyle to lyue who woulde lyue lyke a seruaunt they saye that nowe their Fathers bee olâ—e and doate through age lyke Saturnus Héereof if coÌ„meth the young men giuing not onely attentiue eare but redy coyne to flatterers fall into such mysâ—ortune heereof it procéedeth that they haunt the stewes marry before they be wyse and dye beâ—ore they thriue These be the beasâ—s which liue by the trenchers of younge gentlemen consume the treasures of their reuenewes these be they that soothe younge youthes in their owne sayinges that vpholde them in all theyr dooinges with a yea or nay these be they that are at euery becke at euery nod â—réemen by fortune slaues by free wil. Wherfore if there be any fathers that would haue his children nurtured and brought vp in honestye let him expell these Panthers whiche haue a swéete smell but a deuouringe minde yet