and Kingdom and consequently his reputation and was forst to flye from Naples and to bury himself alive in a Monastery in France where he dyed for meer madness and that he had learnt by Tiberius his wise demeanor in the like case that it had been more honorable for him to have lived a cornuted King in Naples then a private man of honor in France Apollo did then pardon the disturbance which that noble Frenchman had occasioned and bad Tiberius proceed to make his defence who said And because the too great connivance at the shameful life which my wife led in Rome would certainly have rendred me contemptible both to the Senate and people of Rome a thing which would have been of equal danger to such a personage as I who lived in hope of that greatness which I afterward acquired as the resentment of such an injury by way of revenge would have been I chose the middle way between these two dangerous extreams which in dubious resolutions proves always best So as not to be an eye-witness of that injury which I could neither revenge nor tolerate I went from Rome under a pretence of living privatly and hid my self in Rhodes This my modesty this great respect which I bore to Augustus his blood was the true and chief cause which did not only induce him to love me but which did oblige him to demonstrate that his love in such sort as the world hath seen since his death For this Pr. who was as wise as he was glorious pittying my so much scorned condition and infinitely loathing his daughters infamous life behaved himself so rigorously towards her as his demeanor may serve for a rule to every wise Prince how to handle their unchast daughters If then so great Patience if the respect reverence and perfect obedience and so many other lawful pieces of cunning which I continually used to work my self into Augustus his affection be vitious comportments and fraudulent deceits as my enemis have represented them to your Majesty I refer my self to those who are to judge upon my reputation I now come to the second Article of my impeachment I acknowledge the cruelty which I am accused to have used towards the Romish Nobility to be true and all that Tacitus hath said of me in that point to be very true but I desire that such difference as ought to be be put between the cruelties used by a new Prince and those which are practised by an ancient and hereditary Prince for if I have taken away any mans life out of an innate cruelty or thirst after humane blood or out of any capricious inhumanity I submit my self to the rigour of the Cornelian Law as if I were one of the meanest and most abject plebeians of this State but if it were meer State necessity which forced me to be cruel to those of Augustus his blood to the chiefest Senators the commanders of any extraordinary worth and in fine even to worth it self I desire every one to consider how new Princes are necessitated to do horrid and cruel acts though it be much against their Inclination And upon this occasion I will for my defence make use of my implacable accuser Tacitus his words He hath openly profest that the horrible Proscription made by Augustus which I confess did surpass all the most immense cruelties that were ever commanded by cruel man was done not out of any inclination to severity by those who of themselves did infinitely blame such an act but onely out of meer State necessity Sane Proscriptionem Civium divisiones Agrorum neque ipsis quidem qui fecere Laudatas Tacit. lib. 1 â—nnal These are Tacitus his words Which if it be true am I to be condemned for having wisely known how to establish my self in a new Principality and for having had the wit to execute those precepts which not only every other Politician but even Tacitus hath publisht and if it be true that indulgence mansuetude and clemency are then vices in a Prince when such signal vertues are used towards those who though they be pardoned keep malice in their hearts and covet revenge is there any one here present who thinks that if I should have suffered Agrippa Posthumus Germanicus and the others of Augustus his blood to have lived that they would ever have sincerely loved my greatness and if it be a grounded precept in Policy that Princes ought to indeavour above all things to reign void of jealousie and if a Prince can never be said to be safe in a State whilst those live who were driven out of it or who pretend more right thereunto then he will not every one how little knowledge soever they have of worldly affairs confess with me that it was not any innate cruelty in me but meer necessity of state Policy which forst me to appear so severe towards those of Augustus his blood for a Prince is wise in his cruelty when as Tacitus himself says he runs danger by being merciful Moreover the many slaughters which I and after me many other Emperors gave order for against the chiefest of the Roman Senators ought not to be imputed to our cruelty as they do unjustly affirm who do now persecute me but to the indiscreet pride of those Senators who though they law Liberty banisht from out their Country yâ—t through a proud stubbornness of not putting on the cloak of humbleness or rather through a foolish ostentation of free speaking when they were inslaved and of commanding in subjection did every day more and more irritate Princes to use all sorts of severity and inhumanity against people so proudly spirited Hence it is Sir that neither Tacitus nor any other who writes my story could ever say that I was severe against any Citizens or any of the Roman or Provincial Plebeians for they never gave me any just occasion of suspition but onely say that which I confess to be true that I did persecute the noblest of the Roman Senate the which I did to abase them to terrifie them to make them mistrustful one of another to disunite them and to make them indure that slavery which I saw they did abhor nor can any Politician teach me any better rules then these to be made use of to the Nobles of a Country which being but a little before bereft of its Liberty will not onely not accommodate it self to servitude but foolishly pretends to limit the Princes Authority in commanding and in servitude keeps the pride of freedom and an inraged mind upon any good occasion to revenge the injury done unto its Liberty whence it is that hang-men spies and Atturney-Generals are the fittest instruments to establish a mans self in those new states which but a little before hath lost the Liberty of a free Commonwealth for every cruel action is held a prudent resolution when it secures the life the state and honor of that new Prince who knows how to use it Moreover I heartily
and their sheerers would learn to handle their sheers without cutting their skins Wherefore the whole generation of sheep that they might no longer undergo such calamities and oppressions did earnestly beglong horns and sharp teeth wherewith to procure respect To this request Apollo answered with a chearful countenance That the sheep had in this their request shewed their simplicity since they knew not that of all the four footed beasts that were upon the earth there were not any that were more favoured by God nor which received greater priviledges from him then they For whereas the rest were forced to seek their meat with cark and care and a thousand dangers many of them spending the night season which was destined for sleep and rest in eating for that it was not safe for them to be seen by day pasture grounds were reserved and bought at dear rates onely for sheep by men who had the command of all beasts and were Lords of the earth that in the night season they were with great care and diligence defended from their enemies in their folds and whereas other beasts were persecuted even by beasts themselves and by men and that to procure their death many did nothing but make nets feed dogs and lay snares sheep out of a particular grace injoyed the noble prerogative to have all these things done by men to secure them from their enemies And that the Creator of the world having â—…hewed exceeding great love towards sheep instead of ravenous teeth and swift legs had granted them the powerful weapons of wool cheese and of their riches wherewith they did so aquire mans love as that men did perpetually persecute Wolves Lyons Tygers and all their other cruel enemies with all sort of weapons meerly for the affection which they bore to sheep And that sheep being reputed the Worlds delight and wealth for the singular advantages which they afforded mankind they hapned to be the most numerous of any sort of beasts so as sheep being fed and defended by their Shepherds vigilancy and charity they were foolish to desire ravenous teeth and sharp horns And finally Apollo said That they ought to revenge themselves for the severity which some shepherds used towards them in milking and sheering them onely by their obedience and humility by yielding them great store of wool and much cheese and by studying how to be fruitful it being sheeps greatest felicity that those Shepherds that dealt ill with their flocks were cheifly cruel to themselves for it was a certain truth that wounds shamefully given to sheep did usually kill the Shepherd Wherefore he wished them to keep more from being desirous to bite their shepherds then they would do from the Wolves teeth For such sheep could not esteem themselves so happy who by their humility and obedience did secure their Shepherds from all harm as those were unhappy who delighted to put them in fear The LXXXIX ADVERTISEMENT Nicholas Machiavel being banished Parnassus upon pain of death was found hidden in a friends Library for which his former sentence of being burnt was excuted THough Nicholas Machiavel was banished Parnassus and the Territories thereof many years ago upon severe punishment as well to whosoever durst give receptacle to so pernicious a man in his Library yet was he found the last week secretly hidden in a friends study where he was made Prisoner He was presently sentenced by the Judges of Assize and was this day to have been burnt when he signified unto his Majestie his desire that he might first be permitted to say somewhat in his defence before the Tribunal-seat which had condemned him Apollo using his wonted clemency bad him send his Advocates and he should have fair hearing Machiavel replyed he desired to be heard himself and that Florentines needed no advocates to speek for them and his demand was granted Machiavel was then brought to the Bar where he spoke thus in his own defence Lo here you Soveraign of Learning That Nicholas Machiavel who hath been condemned for a Seducer and Corrupter of mankind and for a dispercer of scandalous politick Precepts I intend not to defend my writings I publikely accuse them and condemn them as wicked and execrable documents for the government of a State So as if that which I have printed be a doctrine invented by me or be any new Precepts I desire that the sentence given against me by the Judges be put in execution But if my writings contain nothing but such Politick precepts such rules of State as I have taken out of the actions of Princes which if your Majestie will give me leave I am ready to name whose lives are nothing but doing and saying of evil things what reason is there that they who have invented the mad desperate policies written by me should be held for holy and that I who am onely the publisher of them should be esteemed a Knave and an Atheist For I see not why an original should be held holy and the Copy thereof beburnt as execrable and why I should be so much persecuted when the reading of History which is not onely permitted but commended by all men hath the particular vertue of turning as many as do read them with a politick eye into so many Machiavels for people are not so simple as many believe them to be but that those who by the greatness of their wits have been able to find out even the most hidden secrets of Nature may not also have the judgement to discover the true ends of all Princes actions though they be cunningly hidden And if Princes that they may do what they will with their subjects will have them to be block-heads and dunces they must do as the Turks and Muschovites do inhibit Learning which is that which makes blinde understandings quick sighted otherwise they will never compass their ends for Hypocrisie which is now so familiarly used in the world hath onely a star-like vertue to incline not to force men to believe that which likes them best that use it These speeches wrought much upon the Judges and they were ready to revoke the sentence when the Atorney General told them That Machiavel was deservedly condemned for the abominable and execrable precepts which were contained in his writings and that he ought again to be severely punished for that he was found by night amongst a flock of sheep whom he taught to put false teeth dogs teeth in their mouthes thereby indangering the utter ruine of all shepherds a people so necessary as it was an indescent and angersom thing to think that they must by means of this wicked Machiavel be forced to put on breast-plates and gauntlets when they would milk or sheer their sheep and to what price would wool and cheese grow hereafter if shepherds were to be more aware of their sheep then of wolves and if they could no longer keep their flocks in obedience with thâ—… whistle and their wand but must make use of a Regiment of murrions and
did occasion that bad satisfaction in the Senat and whole people of Lesbos which hath made me run upon the Rock which you see All which disorders my Pliny are occasioned not through my ignorance but through my knowing too much For in the Principality of Lesbos where people live between Liberty and Slavery Nec totam Libertatem nec totam Servitutem patipossunt Tacit. lib. 1. Hist. They can neither endure to be wholly slaves nor wholly free He who will Reigne long quietly there must not only resolve to leave things as he found them but must be of a peacefull spirit so farr from ambition as that he may be able to put in practice the hard precept of living himself and suffering others to live so as men who are absolutely Polititians as I am who are incited by nature to affect sole Dominion and who will measure all things by their Reason of State prove very unfortunate in Elective Principalities The XXX ADVERTISEMENT Apollo being aware of the great disorder occasioned amongst men by the flight of Fidelity By assistance of the Muses and of the sublimest Heroick Vertues procures her return to Parnassus IT cannot be said by the tongue of man how greatly Apollo was troubled at the secret and sudden departure from Parnassus some weeks since as you have heard of the Illustrious Vertue Fidelity For his Majestie could not with patience think that the world should be deprived of so beautifull a Princess His afflictions were increased by hearing of the great disorders which arose in all places between the people and sacred Friendship the only delight of man-kind since she saw her self forsaken by Fidelity lest she might receive some fowl affront from Fraud she would no longer live amongst men who being freed from the Oath of Allegeance to their Princes and from the severe bond of love by which they are bound unto their privat friends they grew so very perfidious and so savagely seditious as allowing all sorts of wickedness to be lawfull they drive away pure Fidelity by treachery from human familiarity and holy peace by sedition filling the whole world with bloud theft and all perfidious and cruel confusion Apollo was moreover perpetually troubled with the just Appeals of Princes who publickly protested that by reason of their Subjects hainous infidelity they were forced to forgo the Government of man-kind Wherefore Apollo thought it necessary as a remedy for so great disorder to call a Diet of the States-General which he did on the twentieth of the last month whither he summoned the Princes Poets and the Deputies of all vertuous Nations who not failing to appear on the prefixt day such hatred was discovered in many people against their Princes as they said openly that not through any disloyalty but that driven by dispair they had for ever banisht that Loyalty from out their hearts which as being very prejuditial to them they were resolved never any more to acknowledge by reason that it was basely abused by many Princes For in times past Subjects Loyalty served as a means to force Princes to barter civil and courteous proceedings with their peoples faithful service but now they saw clearly that the vertue of humble and prostrate obedience was accounted the baseness of an abject mind and the merit of a voluntary and uncorrupt Loyalty necessity of service By which fowle way of proceeding publick disorders were so far advanced as many were forced to put on the resolution which now was seen only that Capricious Princes might clearly know that the Authority of commanding was soon lost when the ill usage of Subjects and ingratitude towards them had so exceeded all humane patience as they had made Nations which were naturally well disposed to obey resolve to admit of no more Masters but rather hazard themselves in a free Government then to be so undervalued rent in pieces and cruelly dealt with by Princes Though the anger of Princes towards their people was great and the peoples distastes greater yet the Illustrious Muses assisted by the Heroick Vertues who laboured very much to bring a business of so great concernment to a happy end did at last by their dexterity mollifie and appease the minds of incenst Princes and the hearts of venomed people And the Diet was dissolved upon these Articles of agreement That the people should solemnly promise to admit again of Loyalty into their bosoms and swear to make her absolute Mistress of their hearts And that Princes should be bound to banish avarice and cruelty from out their breasts and possess their souls fully with liberality and clemency which were the things that made Subjects loyal and obedient Since it plainly appeared by authenticate faith and was witnessed by Gaius Plinius and the rest of Natural Historians That sheep which did so willingly obey their Shepherds did infinitely abhor Butchers And that it was impossible to make Doggs though naturally very faithfull and loving to men wag their tails and leap about them who gave them more blowes then bits of bread The XXXI ADVERTISEMENT In the time of Carneval the Vertuosi in Parnassus run races and make other demonstrations of mirth and jollitie THe time of the Vertuosi's festivals and publick rejoycings being come Apollo caused Macrobius to publish by sound of Trumpet in the Chaire appropriated thereunto Aulus Gelius his Saturnalia whom the reformers of the modern Pedantry call Messer Agillio his pleasant Attick Nights and the pleasant genial or jovial dayes of Alessandro de gli Alessandri and finally the merry Bacchenalia of the Romans the Lords of the world and supream Princes of Learning all of them festival and merry daies and consecrated by the Genius of gallant men and by his Majesties particular edict it was commanded that they should be chearfully celebrated by all the Nations of the Vertuosi which inhabit Parnassus according to the institutions and customes of their several Countries As soon as this so joyfull news was made known to the people the rich publick Libraries were opened in Parnassus and the famous Libraries of privat men into which during those daies of jubile it was lawfull for every one to enter to come out of and to tarry there as long as they listed to surfet by their perpetual reading upon the savory viands which the Vertuosi have first seasoned and then disht up at the plentifull Table of their Composures It was an honourable and a joyfull spectacle to see the publick invitations made by Plato by Athenaeus and the other great Princes of the Court throughout the whole streets and houses of Parnassus where the Vertuosi drank deeply of the Falerno of Learning and filled their bellies till they were ready to burst with good Discipline Only the Doctors of Law seeing the Shop of their Tribunals and of their litigious Traffick shut were sad and died for hunger amidst such plenty of savory meats and abundance of merriments For meer Pettifoggers being many ages before declared by his Majestie to be meere Asses
to live and die what they were born For if it should so fall out that any one to better his condition should presume to make himself head of any Heresie the power of all the other free Towns who were joyntly interessed in Liberty with that City where factions began to arise would presently assist with arms in hand to beat down that faction Moreover that though the diversity of religions occasioned in those Cities by the Liberty of Conscience were less dangerous in them yet could it not be said that they were totally free nor that the humor was not pernitious and apt to occasion deadly evils and that no father of a family was ever induced to set his own house one fire for having the means of quickly quenching it by a neighbouring River But that in Empires and great Kingdoms it fared otherwise for in them there were oft-times brothers to him who Governed in Chief and other Princes of the bloud and there were alwaies therein great store of particular privat men eminent for birth riches and adherents who were all of them ambitious and out of a thirst of reigning thought any enterprize how desperate soever easie And that to boot with these they had potent forreign enemies upon whom they confined who were more then ready to foment such heads of faction as should appear to arise as had lately been seen in France and in Flanders and that as well the lay Princes Electors as every other Prince of the Empire who had imbraced the present Heresies did not live with liberty of conscience but with a particular thirst accommodated to human Interest As appeared clearly in the Lutheran impiety which taking its beginning in the Dukedom of Saxony to the end that he who declared himself to be Head thereof might not grow too great the rest of the Heretick Princes had introduced the new Sects of Calvin Zwinglius and of others in their States with such confusion to sacred things as it might be truely said that there was as many Heresies in Germany as Princes and Potentates that did rule there And that which made me wonder most was to hear that some Subjects in Germany were forced to alter their Religion at their Princes pleasure an inconvenience which was seen to happen so often amongst them as some Cities have past sundry times from one Heresie to another in less then one months space All which are things of very bad example and an excellent means to introduce that Atheism amongst men which I said I thought was not to be found amongst beasts Wherefore Bodin as a horse which is long suffered to go without a bridle becomes fierce and unserviceable to man so people when they have the Reyns of Religion let loose in their necks grow wild seditious unruly and no longer apt to be governed or ruled by a Prince For he who is not taught by a sound and well regulated religion to love honor and fear God cannot obey honor nor fear man So great a truth as it is the nature of all people who alwaies err in the extreams to despise Humane Laws when they are miss-led in those that are Divine for the freedom which they have to offend the Majestie of God provokes them against their Prince who gave them that liberty This truth which I tell you is apparently seen in those who seduced the Flemmish to change their religion and to rebell against their natural Prince who to bring them to so wicked an enterprize permitted them to plunder Churches and Church-men and when at last they would have refrained and regulated them in their highest Towring Tumults they found that when God is despised men are so likewise The Government of people is a weighty affair for any Prince how wise soever nor is it possible for him alone to support so heavy a burthen but being assisted by Religion it becomes so easie unto him as one Prince may govern many millions of men for very many are so ill conditioned as they despise human Laws yet do they often fear divine ones and many who little esteem the anger of an earthly Prince dread the King of heaven and live peaceably Bodin was sorely cast down when he heard the Ottaman Emperor speak so solidly of the care which Princes ought to have of the unity of Religion and was then more grieved when the Judges told him that it was wicked ignorance to maintain that Princes are Lords of mens bodies and not fit to rule their souls as if the Allegiance which by Gods command Subjects owe their Princes be not as well a duty of the soul as of the body and that God hath constituted the most Christian Kings of France and other earthly Princes only that they might feed their ambition by reigning and pass away their time in delight wallowing in the plenty of so many earthly blessings and had not made them his Lieutenants on earth to the end that they may observe his holy Law for these reasons all the Lords of Parliament ordered that he might be immediately punished by fire who had publisht a Tenet fit only to set the world on fire The LXV ADVERTISEMENT Apollo punisheth a Poet severely for having been so desperate as to blaspheme APollo doth so abhor Blasphemy above all other vices as two daies ago he caused a Poets tongue to be struck through with a naile in the Delfick Temples Porch who had presumed to say that Nature had dealt injuriously with him in having indowed him with a Princely soul and allotted him but a beggarly fortune And though many Litterati earnestly beseeched his Majesty that he would in some sort mittigate this punishment he did not only deny to do it but in a great rage said that such wits deserved the severest punishments who being born to a poor fortune consumed all their time in afflicting themselves by seeking out new conceits which might make poverty appear unto them more shamefull and insupportable which they should imploy in seeking out such Instructions as might make it appear less shamefull and more tollerable and that he would teach men of but mean fortunes by this example how to accommodate their minds to their means it being a hatefull piece of petulancy to envy great Princes fortunes whilst others in tattered clothes died of hunger The LXVI ADVERTISEMENT The Vertuosi of Parnassus visit the Temple of Divine Providence whom they thank for the great Charity which she hath shewn to mankind THis morning according to the ancient custom of this Court all the Prince-Poets and the Litterati-Lords of Parnassus went to visit the Temple of Divine Providence to whom Giovan Ioviano Pontano made a learned Oration wherein he highly praised the infinite Charity and immence love which she had shewed to mankind in creating frogs without teeth For it would have been of no advantage to man that this world canopied by so many heavens full of so many stars should not only abound in all things necessary but even be fully fraught
the Physitians will soon be made whole and will become sincere and plain in their proceedings true in what they say and such in their sanctity of life as they were in former times The true and immediate cure then for these present evils consists only in necessitating men to live with candor of mind and purity of heart which you will all confess with me cannot be better effected then by making that little window in mens brests which as being most requisite his Majesty hath often promised to his most faithful Vertuosi For when those who use such art in their modern proceedings shall be forced to speak and act having a window wherein one may see into their hearts they will learn the excellent vertue of being and not appearing to be and will conform their deeds to their words their tongus which are accustomed to dissembling to sincerity of heart and all men will banish lies and falshood and the infirnal spirit of hypocrisie will abandon many who are now possest with so foul a fiend Talete's opinion did so please he whole Congregation as being put to the vote it was clearly carried for the affirmative and Secretary Mazzoni was commanded to give Apollo a sudden account thereof who perfectly approved the opinion and gave command that that very day the little window should be begun to be made in mans brest But at the very instant hat the Surgeans took their instruments in hand to open mens brests Virgil Plato Aristotle Averoes and other of the chief Litterati went to Apollo and told him that he was not ignorant that the prime means whereby men do with much ease govern the world was the reputation of those who did command and that so pretious a jewel not being to be exposed to danger at any time by wise Princes they beseeched his Majesty to consider in what esteem of holy life and good demeanor the reverend Philosophical Synod and the honorable Colledge of the Vertuosi were held by all the Litterati of Parnassus that therefore they earnestly desired him as it became him to do to have a care of their honors who by the fame of their goodness increase the glory of Parnassus And that if his Majesty should unexpectedly open every mans brest the greater and better sort of those Philosophers who formerly were highly esteemed ran evident hazard of being shamed and that he might peradventure find fowlest faults in those whom he had formerly held to be immaculate That therefore before a business of such importance should be taken in hand he would be pleased to afford his Vertuosi a competent time to wash and cleanse their souls Apollo was greatly pleased with the advice of so famous Poets and Philosophers and by a publick Edict prorogued the time of making the wind ows for eight daies during which time every one did so attend the cleansing and purging of their souls from all fallacies from a hidden vice from conceal'd hatred and counterfeit love as there was no more hony of roses succory cassia scena scamony nor laxative syrups to be found in any Grocers or Apothecaries shop in all Parnassus And the more curious did observe that in the parts where the Platonicks Peripateticks and moral Philosophers did live there was then such a stink as if all the Privies of those Countries had been emptied Whereas the quarters of Latin and Italian Poets stunk only of Cabbadg-porrage The time allotted for the general purging was already past when the day before they were to begin making the windows Hippocrates Galen Cornelius Celsus and other the most skilfull Physitians of this State went to Apollo and said Is it then true Sir you that are the Lord of the Liberal Sciences that this Microcosme must be deformed which is so nobly and miraculously framed as if any chief muscle any principal vein be but touched the human creature runs evident danger of being slain and that so much mischief should be done only for the advantage of a few ignorant people For not only the wiser sort of men but even those of an indifferent capacity who have converst but four daies with any Quacksalver know how to penetrate even into the innermost bowels This memorandum of the Physitians wrought so much with Apollo as he changed his former resolution and by Ausonius Gallus bad the Philosophers of the Reformation proceed in delivering their opinions Then Solon thus began In my opinion Gentlemen that which hath put the present age into so great confusion is the cruel hatred and spitefull envy which in these daies is seen to reigne generally amongst men All help then for these present evils is to be hoped for from infusing charity reciprocal affection and that sanctified love of our neighbour which is Gods chiefest commandment into mankind we ought therefore to imploy all our skill in taking away the occasions of those hatreds which in these daies reign in mens hearts which if we be able to effect men will do like beasts who by the instinct of nature love their own species and will consequently drive away all hatred and rancor of mind I have been long thinking my friends what the true springs head may be of all human hatred and am still more established in my old opinion that it proceeds from the disparity of means from the hellish custom introduced amongst men of meum and tuum the rise of all scandal an abuse which if it were introduced amongst the beasts of the earth I assure my self that even they would consume and waste themselves with the self-same hatred and rancor wherewith we so much disquiet our selves The not having any thing of propriety and the equallity which they live in is that which maintains that peace among them which we so much envie in them Men as you all know are likewise creatures but rational this world was created by Almighty God only that mankind might live thereupon as bruit beasts do not that avaritious men should divide it amongst themselves and should turn what was common into that meum and tuum which hath put us all into such confusion So as it clearly appears that the depravation of mens souls by avarice ambition and tyranny hath occasioned the present inequality and disproportionate division And if it be true as we all confess it is that the world is nothing else but an Inheritance left to mankind by one only Father and one only Mother from whom we are all descended like brethren what justice is it that every one should not have a share thereof equal with his companion And what greater disproportion can there be imagined by those that love what is just then that this world should be such as that some possess more thereof then they can govern and others have not so much as they could govern But that which doth infinitely aggravate this disorder is that usually good and vertuous men are beggars whereas wicked and ignorant people are wealthy From the root of this inequality it then ariseth
and forein Princes to put fetters upon their Italy Then to the infamy of so shamefully ungrateful people the opprobries and reproaches are added which Poets in all sort of Satyrical Verses and Orators in daily invectives make against such misdemeriting men to the end that men may learn by those severe resentments to shun committing faults which I ring eternal infamy with them and to the end that Military men who are wont without weighing what Princes they serve to run where they may have best and most ready pay may learn to love their Country so well as that they may think it greater charity to kill themselves then to take up arms against her Menante who before he can send this weeks Gasetta to his loving Customers is bound to carry it to the Urban Pretor cannot give you as he ought to do the names of those Italians in his Papers who are painted in so ignominious a posture but he tels you that the posterity of those Souldiers who suffer the punishment of so long shame when they enter into that Court blush to think that their Ancestors have so shamefully villified their house and do therefore with much compunction of soul continually bewail their predecessors misdemerits These Gentlemen by themselves and by the intercession of the greatest Princes of this State have and do still much importune the Queen of Italy that she will be pleased at last to pacifie her anger and give way that those nobly descended Souldiers may be freed from that shameful opprobry and Apollo himself at the intreaty of the best Princes of Italy did earnestly mediate the same but all in vain For she still continuing her indignation answered Apollo and the other who had intreated her even with tears which for meer anger fell from her eyes that she had patiently born with the ruines plundrings affronts and other utter desolations which she had received from the Goths Ostrogoths Huns Vandals and other barbarous Nations which had so miserably torn and wasted her as being accidents which all Princes were subject unto and more particularly she who by the pleasantness of her situation fruitfull soyl and great riches which she had got in time of peace did not only allure but even call in forrein Nations to her ruine who thirsted after her wealth and were desirous to change their barren Countries with the fruitful fields of Italy But that her dearly beloved children should take up arms against her their tender mother which they ought to have imployed in her defence were wounds which perpetually cry'd for revenge so wicked an ingratitude as was incapable of pardon so sad a wickedness as could not be out-done by any whatsoever cruel hatred That therefore finding her self so deeply wounded in the concernment of her Liberty their intreaties made her the more obstinate in her hatred was the reason why his Majesties mediation did the more irritate her revenge and why their humility who beg'd her pardon made her the more to glory and wax cruel in her revenge and that the very length of time made that injury continually appear more fresh which she neither could nor would pardon Not only for that she knew she had never deserved so ill at her Italians hands but for that she knew she had been wickedly betrayed assacinated and so opprobriously made slave by those on whose neck she had trampled only out of their execrable avarice who ought least to have done it and from whom she did least expect it And that therefore every one might learn from the punishment of others and from her well put on resolution That whosoever doth offend his Country in so shameful a manner did not only commit an excess which was impardonable but did so shamefully stain his honor as the blur thereof was not to be washt away with any sope The LXXXVIII ADVERTISEMENT The whole generation of Sheep send their publike Ambassadors to Apollo by whom they make their desires known that they may be allowed to have sharp teeth and long horns and their desire is laughed at by his Majestie THe vvhole generation of Sheep have sent four Ambassadors to this Court who had audience given them this day by his Maj. wherein a great Apuleian Weather said That Sheep did very vvell knovv that God the Creator of all things had been so charitable to all creatures and so just as that he recompenced their imperfections and defects vvith gifts equivolent So as amongst so great a multitude of bruit beasts there was not any one who could with reason say he was ill dealt withal by his Divine Majestie Onely the sheep thought he had treated them like a father in law and dealt partially with them for having created them with great imperfections he had not bestowed on them any equivolent vertue whereby though they might not secure their state they might at least live in that peace and quiet in the world as other beasts did For though he had made Hares unspeakably timerous had given them sharp teeth but not a heart to bite yet he had made them so swift of foot as he did thereby secure them from being injured by any other beast how fierce soever and that the Fox had no reason to complain of his want of footmanship since God had given him so wisely a pate as he happily escaped the deceits of other wild Animals and that he had also recompenced the wolfs slowness by indowing him with so bold a heart so sharp teeth and with so circumspect a genius as being a terror to other bruit beasts he made himself be respected even by man and that it was likewise clearly seen in the birds of the ayr that his Maj. had used the like charity for he had given those larger wings and made them swifter of flight to whom he had denyed the use of feet with which he had indowed Pheasants Partridges and Quails in recompence for their short wings and want of feathers in their tails that onely sheep being created with an unspeakable stupidity of wit heartless slow of foot and without those teeth to bite with which makes other creatures be so much respected they thought they were abandoned by that divine charity which had shewed great love even to harmful beasts And the Weather further added That for the utmost and greatest calamity of so unarmed sheep God had given them Lyons Tygers Bears and Wolves the most implacable and fiercest beasts that inhabit the world for their enemies so as sheep seemed to be created only to feed those inraged beasts who know not what satiety means The same Ambassador also said That to these insufferable injuries which the sheep received from their enemies the ill usage was added which they received from their shepherds which was onely occasioned by their being altogether unarmed for had they teeth wherewith sometimes to bite those indiscrete shepherds who are so uncharitable in milking them and so indiscrete in sheering them perhaps they would deal more piously with them
by some disguised Vertuosi is relieved by the great French Ronsard VVHilst famous Dante Allegieri was the other day in a Country-house of his which he had built in a very solitary place to exercise his Poetry in some Litterati got secretly into his house where they did not only take him prisoner but holding a dagger at his throat and harquebuses at his sides they threatned to kill him unless he would tell them the true Title of his Poem whether he called it Comedy Tragi-Comedy or Heroick Poem And Dante answering them that they used him not like one of his quality and that if they would ask him the question in Parnassus he would satisfie them The Litterati that they might have their desire immediately beat and buffeted him and not being able by these insolencies to compass their intents they grew so outragious as taking the rope which hung upon the bucket by the well side they fastned it to a beam of the house and went about to hang Dante therewith who cry'd out Help help murder murder and so great was the noise he made as it was heard by Ronsard the Prince of French Poets who had a Country-house not far from that of Dante This generous Frenchman took up his sword immediately and ran towards the noise whereupon the Litterati fearing lest some others might be with Ronsard ran away but not so soon but that the Frenchman both saw and knew them Dante was set at liberty clothed and brought to Parnassus by Ronsard where the news of so foul a riot being heard Apollo was very much grieved at it and his honor pressing him to know the Delinquents he first examined Dante who told him all that had past and said he knew not who they were that had dealt so inhumanly with him but that it might be that Ronsard who had not only seen them but had severely reprehended them for that their insolency might peradventure know them Ronsard was forthwith sent for who denied not only that he knew any of them but said he had not seen them The Judges by reason of this contrariety between what Dante had said and Ronsards Deposition feared that the Frenchman thinking it a base thing to accuse any man would not discover the Delinquents When Apollo heard of this he was very angry with Ronsard and commanded to give him the Rack Wherefore Ronsard was quickly secured who persisting in his denial the Judges gave order that he should be put to the rack as one who was likely to know somewhat Ronsard being stript bound and bidden to speak the truth was raised from the ground The generous Frenchman instead of complaining as is usual in such cases desired the Judges that they would not let him down all that day affirming that he held it too inestimable a content rather to suffer so then to offend any one The Judges finding by this his constancy that they should do no good by the rope caused Ronsard to be let down and began to think upon some other torment and of as many as were propounded the Judges liked none better then that which Perillo's devilish wit found out who said that a better way to torment a Frenchman then either ropes or fire was to set him without either spur or switch upon a slow dul horse and so they did It was a miraculous thing to see that Ronsard was no sooner set on horseback but belabouring him with his legs wrying his body twenty several waies and shaking the bridle to make the horse go fast he grew to such impatiency and was surprised with such an agony of mind as being quite out of breath he cryed to the Serjeants that were by his side Take me down friends for I am dead take me down quickly and I will tell all and let them suffer the punishment that have done the fault Those you enquire after were Monsignor Carrieri of Padua Iacapo Mazzoni of Cesena and another whom I know not but you may know from the other two that I have named The XCIX ADVERTISEMENT All the Princes of the world beseech Apollo that he wil insert into their people the love of their Country THe Ambossador from all the Princes of the Universe who came long since to Parnassus had on Thursday long audience from his Majesty and the common report is That in the name of all his Princes he made a sore complaint that their people committed every day such shameful excesses so inormous actions as that they had made the art of Reigning much more difficult then it was That they were so far advanced in their disorders as a Prince could not now give a City or any strong Hold in custody to a Souldier without running evident danger of being in a short time treacherously assassinated and that they could not be so circumspect nor wary in chusing a Captain-General or other Officer of War but that they were soon brought into the sad condition of being forced to fear their servant friend then their Prince enemy and that the peoples iniquity was no less then the Commanders perfidiousness For their people were so shamefully given over to a vitious curiosity as they began in a short time to hate any Prince how good soever shewing the same desire and liking to change Princes as they had to change meat at their tables That hence it arose that Princes in their greatest needs were not only not assisted by their people and defended by them with that affection and charity as they were bound to do but it was every day seen how they were shamefully betrayed by them and for a little money sold to their enemies And that the Princes had at last learnt that for certain all these evils were occasioned through the little love which people bore unto their Countries and that Rome the Queen of the World and Mother of Empire could succesfully extend the Confines of her Dominion from the East to the West only by means of the cordial love which her Citizens bore her That whereas amongst them banishment was as terrible as death many modern Princes that they may not be without Subjects nor have their Countries unpeopled were forced to forbid men the forgoing of their Country upon pain of forfeiting their Estates That therefore all the Princes of the world did jointly signifie unto his Maj. that all the remedies they could use against this so grievous evil had proved invalid and that therefore they humbly intreated him that he would be pleased to insert into the hearts of subjects that fervent charity and that immence love unto their Countries as was seen to be in the Subjects of Commonwealths and wherein doubtlesly the chief greatness and richest treasure lay of whosoever reigned Apollo answered the Ambassador That Princes might make their Subjects love their Countries much better then he could by good Government and equal Justice and by liberality and procuring them perpetual abundance For that all men who by natural instinct bore an excessive love to
Apollo had heard the request of this Vertuoso If you have brought nothing else with you friend Mario said he then that little volume which you have there of the nature of love I am sorry that I must tel you you have taken pains to no purpose having laboured to shew the world the nature of that love which is so well knoâ—…n to all men as that there is not any one that knows not in some sort how to conceal it you might have deserved a chief place in this my State I tell you if you had bestowed your labour in writing the nature of hatred which every ignorant common person knows so well how to palliate with the name of good-will and cover with the false cloke of love as the world is full of the complaints and appeals of those unfortunate people who for having trusted too much exclaim of being assassinated by their friends Marius Equicola departed much afflicted from the Court by reason of this his Majesties resolute answer next to whom came Sforza Oddo a famous Perugian Doctor of Law who laid at his Majesties feet his compleat Treatises Della Compendiosa sostitutione and Della restitutione in Integro and the Volumes of his learned Conciglis which in a short but pithy Oration he desired might be consecrated to Immortality This Litterato was very acceptably and graciously received by his Majesty and by the Colledg of the Vertuosi but but little honour was done to those his Works not for that they were not compleatly learned but for that Treatise of Law being of very little esteem in this State Sforza was only admired for the sweetness of his disposition and for his being very much verst in all the most commendable Sciences Immortality was therefore but coldly and with weak applause decreed to Sforza and to his writings and when he had taken the accustomed Oath of Allegiance between the Chancellors hands he was told by the Master of the Pegasean Ceremonies that his business being ended he might be gone Sforza replyed that he could not nor ought not to be gon before his Majesties Exchequer was bound to keep his name and fame alwaies alive in mens memories as he had seen done to Magagnati and others Apollo hearing this dispute he spake thus to Sforza Know most honored Litterato that I willingly bind my Royal Exchequer for security of perpetual fame to those my Vertuosi who are admitted into Parnassus but this belongs not to Doctors of the Law with whose writings I out of good reason proceed otherwise for knowing that the infinite volumes of modern Lawyers have put those Laws into so great confusion in the clearness and perspicuity whereof mans greatest felicity lies as to end suits which are made everlasting the capricio s of privat men are more imbraced and followed then the Decrees of Princes and in the multitude of the variety of common opinions the opinions of writers are rather imbraced then weighed I foresee that within a short time Princes will be forced to free mankind afflicted by so great disorder with extirpating out of the world the writings of those Iurisconsulti who by their infinite cavilings have turned the administration of sacred Justice into an execrable Merchandize Wherefore I should too much injure my Exchequer if I should oblige it to keep the fame of those infinite volumes written by the Doctors of Law perpetually alive which I foresee for certain will shortly all be burnt as being publike prejudicial enemies to mankind Sforza by reason of this unexpected answer of Apollo looked very pale and being much afflicted reassumed his Writings consecrated to immortality and putting them under his left arm took from out his bosom three excellent Comedies made by him De Morti vivi and Della Erofilamacchia and della Prigione d'Amore Andshewing them to his Majheld up in his right hand said Most Illustrious Prince of the Zodiack I rather desire to obtain certain Immortality amongst the Italian Comick Poets then that of the Doctors of Law which as your Majesty hath said is so manifestly exposed to the danger of fire I am so delighted with the sight of this so glorious abode in Parnassus as I will not leave any thing unindeavoured that I may never depart from thence I therefore humbly beseech your Majesty not to think me unworthy thereof Apollo then commanded the Vertuosissimo Alexandro Picolommeni called Lo Stordito Intronato the Prince of Italian Comick Poets that he should acquaint the Colledg of the Litterati with his opinion of those commodities which Picolommini having done and therein highly exaggerated sforza's wit Immortality was again decreed unto him by all the Litterati of Parnassus and all the aforesaid solemnities being performed Sforza departed very much joy'd from the Royal Audience Giovanni Despâ—…uterio a Dutch Schol-master presented Apollo next with his Grammer and earnestly desired to be admitted into Parn ssus To whom Apollo answered That being cloy'd with so nausty a generation by reason of the musty mouldy disputations and questions which daily arose in Parnassus between the Pedanticks he was resolved rather to lessen their number which was grown too great then ever to adde any one more to them that therefore he might depart when he pleased Though Apollo had so clearly excluded Despauterius yet was not he a whit discouraged but with a Pedantick petulancy answered Sir if your Majestie shall please to give such satisfaction to my demands as I desire I am so far from intending to displease your Majestie or any of your Litterati in Parnassus as I promise and oblige my self to teach my easie Grammar to all such children as shall come to my School Gratis Appollo replyed That he was not the first who under pretence of so charitable a work had intruded themselves into Parnassus that Donato first then Guarin Scopa and Mâ—…rcinello next and many other Grammarians who by their excessive number had so defiled Parnassus had made use of the same fair pretence who being afterwards grown wealthy by the profuse liberallity of their Schollars Parents whereas their large Donatives ought to have encouraged them in so good a work they contrary to all mens expectation had wrought the contrary effect for being already become rich as soon as they saw they could live plentifully upon their own incomes they abandoned their profession of teaching and impiously spurn'd at that charity which seemed first to be so deeply graven in their hearts so as such being become unuseful in Parnassus were a visible incumbrance to him and to his Litterati Apollo further added that notwithstanding all that had been said that he would willingly allow Despauterius an abode in Parnassus but upon condition that whensoever he should shut up his school he should restore all the moneys to the Parents which he had taken for instructing their children When Despauterius had heard this proposal made by Apollo he without further replying made all the haste he could out of the Court and answered Iohn Baptist
a lover and consequently I love amorous Poetry but this must be when love is handled with such terms of civility by modest Poets which I so much admire in my most modest Petrarch Nor can I sufficiently wonder how some modern Poets can be so shameless as to make use of Learning which was wholly brought into the world to sow vertue amongst men therewith to teach others the use of wicked lust and the practice of every most detestable vice Nor can I imagin how it can be possible that any man should be so sullied with the sluttery of uncleanness as that he dare publish those obscenities with his pen in clear day-light and in the sight of the whole world which are committed by libidinous men not without blushing and remorse of conscience in the dark secretly within sheets in close Chambers and that they do not only not acknowledg such slips to be actions which bring with them eternal infamy but that they are grown so blind as that they hope to win same unto themselves and purchase eternal glory by those things which deserve perpetual punishment Apollo had not made an end of speaking when the unfortunate Poet went out of the Hall and he and his guide getting upon the same horses whereon they came left Parnassus as fast as they came thither And to his greater scorn his book which no man durst touch with their hands as if it had been infectious was by the publick Aparators kickt out of the Court. In this interim a base Mountebank forced the Guard at the dore of the Pavillion and with a Box which he had under his arm and a Dog which he led in his hand entred the Court the dore-keepers ran immediately to keep so unworthy a fellow from coming before his Majesty and taking him by both the arms pluck him out of the Pavillion The Mountebank being very strong strugled hard to keep in and cryed out aloud that he would be heard Apollo was sorry to see the poor wretch so handled and commanded the Souldiers to forbear further troubling him the Mountebank then spread his Cloke upon the ground and opening his Box drew forth a great sheet of Vellum at which a large seal was hanged and shewing it to his Majesty to the Muses and to the Colledg of Litterati said Sir To prove that the Sope which I for the general good deliver out to every one to take away whatsoever stain of shame or dishonour unless it be the disgrace of having married a whore out of the vestments of peoples reputation is miraculous and the only thing in the world let all men behold this my priviledg granted me by the invincible and alwaies glorious Prince Charls the first King of France who thought this my secret worthy so singular a favour only because I took avvay that great spot of Oyle from off his Royal Robe with this my sope not any waies injuring the stuff which Ariadeno Barbarosso threw upon it Wherefore I earnestly beseech your Majesty and all those who are in this consecrated place that my commodity may be fully tryed and if every one find it not to be the rare thing which I have said I desire it may immediately be burnt Apollo seemed to be much taken with the vivacity of this bold mans wit whom he asked what his dog was good for The Charletan answered That the modern world being become sensual he gathered company together to hear him with this his dog which could shew tricks If it be so said Apollo this your occupation seems to me to be much like to the catching of birds for you with your prating play the fowlers part who whistle your sope is the bait which is put upon the bird-lime your dog the owle those that hear you and believe you the guls who leaving some feathers of small money in the bird-lime of your Merchandize makes your Quarry good But since you are unfortunately falne upon this place where such as you are are but little credited and your commodities not like to go off for that my Litterati have no stains at all in their aparrel do me and my Vertuosi the pleasure to see your dog play The Charletan obeyed and made his dog which was singularly well taught shew many tricks which it did so handsomly and with such understanding obeying whatsoever his Master bad him do as he seemed to have human sense The graver sort of the Senat wondred very much to see Apollo waste the time appointed for businesses of such weight in looking upon such trivial pleasure especially since his Majesty seemed to be much delighted with the dogs tricks which continued a good while But their wonder turned soon into admiration when Apollo whose property it is to extract excellent documents and useful precepts even out of the vilest things that he looks upon cryed out Oh the glory of Knowledg Oh the great felicity of my Illustrious Vertues the only rich patrimony of mankind O my dearly beloved Litterati rejoice with me cheer up your hearts since now you see with your eyes the great power of Knowledg the worth of Science when a little knowledg which a man hath been able to teach a dog is sufficient not only to make both him and his Master live plentifully but to cause him to enjoy the greatest content which can befall a large soul of seeing the world and getting good gain thereby and yet there be some who value them not who despise them and persecute them as being prejuditial The Mountebank being liberally rewarded and dismist by order from Apollo a Vertuoso appeared before his Majesty who whilst he lived in the world by reason of his pleasant pregnant wit and his graceful comportment having been the delight of the Roman Court was by all men known to be that Baldo Cataneo who was so admired by the Vertuosi of that Court for his pleasant witty conceits and his gravity in more serious affairs both in Prose and in Verse as he deserved the munificent Allessandro Peretti Cardinal Montalto for his liberal Mecenas This Poet presented Apollo with the first Canto's of his Argonautica a Poem composed by him in eight lined Stanzas and bitterly bewailing his misfortune in dying in the flowre of his age said his death was for no other cause displeasing to him save only that he must now lay before his Majesties feet that immature fruit of his brain which if he had lived longer he hoped would by increase of years have been so perfected as it would have been more then meanly pleasing to the Litterati Which calamity was the reason why for his small desert and by reason of the misfortune of this Poem he now desired that Immortality unto his name of meer grace and favour which he had hoped to have been able to have challenged of right and justice Apollo with great humanity but in words and gesture answered Cataneo That both himself and all the Vertuosi of Parnassus were very sensible of his
which might ensue thereupon made him aware of his great error which blinded with passion he committed in that his Cause telling him That Princes did then make their Nations great and powerful when they united them to an inferior Nation as the Kings of France had done by the important acquisition of Britany and not to a more numerous and potent Kingdom For in the first case by aggrandizing her Empire men made their Nation Mistriss whereas in the other by lesning her Dominion they made her a slave Whilst King Ferdinando departed the Audience no waies appeased by this his Majesties wise answer to the great admiration of the whole Colledg a Sparrow-Hawk came flying into the Court and lighting upon the publick Chair infused wonder into all the spectators who took it for some prodigious thing which signified some great matter And the Souldiers of the Guard running to drive her out of the Pavillion his Majestie commanded them to let her alone Then the Roman Augures or Southsayers rose up and desired Apollo that they might interpret that Augury Apollo laught at the request of those vain men and told them that futurities were so hidden by immortal God from men as he was a meer fool who pretended he could foretell them by the flying of birds or any such like thing which hapned by chance and that if they would make use of their Art of Augury by their ordinary interessed ends of making ignorant men more obedient and ready in the execution of such things as they desired shewing them that the will of God concurred with mans command they should know that Parnassus was no aboad for such fools as could be whirld about by the holy and sacred pretences of malitious interessed men Apollo having said these things and great silence insuing thereupon the Hawk spake thus That Vertue which is thought to be only peculiar to man is not only known by other Animals but loved by them and greedily imbraced is clearly proved by the aptness which is seen in birds to learn several tunes which they hear sung by others and by their learning to speak like man by the corveting and dancing of four-footed beasts and by other things which they see or are taught the which they do as gracefully imitate as they do easily learn This truth most glorious Prince of the Planets is sufficient to make the wonder cease in all those that hear me why I a savage bird who live by rapine and am therefore thought to have a cruel heart and to be fiercely minded should desire the so happy and blessed aboad of Parnassus To adorn the soul with vertue the desire of good conversation is not only infused by God into men who are indued with an understanding able to know all things but into all sorts and conditions of Creatures And since I very well know that those are only admitted into Parnassus who by their words and acts either have taught or are able to teach holy precepts good doctrine and vertuous things I certainly may with much reason pretend to be thought very worthy to live in these fortunate habitations I know that all these glorious Litterati will grant me that mans subsistence that the good beginnings better progress and best end of all vertuous life depends upon the education which parents give their children this as necessary as badly known Science of breeding up children well is notwithstanding very ill practised by men and very well known by the instinct of nature to bruit animals I if it may stand with your Majesties approbation am come to instruct in Parnassus listen therefore Gentlemen and admire Amongst us birds there is no more immense love then that which children bear to their fathers but I find mans ignorance to be so gross that amongst them the greatest enemies which children have are their fathers For the unbowel'd love which they bear unto them is more prejudicial to them then is their enemies implacable hatred Love even to ones own children hath its bounds and limits which those who exceed occasion ruine to their children and that you may judge of other animals by the example which I shall shew you of us birds we do so affectionately love our young ones as to feed them upon urgent necessity with flesh torne out of our own breasts is not our utmost charity to them but we do notwithstanding as men unfortunately do love them when they are old but by the wise instinct of nature only so long as they must of necessity be fed by us for when we find their claws begin to grow sharp and their wings strong the first fit for prey the other for flying we use the last and most perfect bounds of charity in not loving them any longer not for that that paternal affection which lives in fathers even after their childrens death ceaseth to be amongst birds but because that infinite affection of parents to do what is best and most convenient for their children requires it should be so the love of fathers to their children is not only useful but necessary but only so long as they are not able of themselves to get their living and harmful and directly pernitious if they assist them when they are able by their own labours and industry to live plentifully of themselves For certainly mens children would be very industrious if their parents would only love them till that time which God hath prefixt unto us and that they would do like me who when I see my young ones can fly currantly I shew them hedges full of Sparrows that they may live plentifully So men when their children are become men like themselves should shew them Princes Courts and chief Metropolitan Cities wherein much business is transacted to the end that they might maintain themselves not like idle and unusefull lumps of flesh buried in sloathfulness and total ignorance but by their own vertuous industry Apollo having heard so necessary a lesson for men after having highly praised the Sparrow-hawk and deputed it a safe and honourable place in Parnassus he said Now at last my beloved Vertuosi we find clearly that the immortal God having infused full and perfect wisdom into bruit-beasts for what concerns their preservation and propagation the true Philosophy which makes men wise and to which by continual study and speculation they ought to attend is to observe their natural instincts and diligently to practice them in what concerns themselves for so they might lead their lives happily not by the capriciousness of several sects of Philosophers so far differing in opinion amongst themselves but by living according to holy and prudent natural precepts and as it would be a foul disorder if birds and other bruit animals should feed their children till they grow old in their nests and dens so it must be confest that parents do very ill who taking more care how to accumulate wealth and riches for their children then to leave them the pretious and alwaies permanent patrimony of
of this modern age had as much need of amendment as had the men This Edict caused great commotion in some that were subject to Apollo's Dominion for neither intreaties nor threats were able to make those of Marca give way to the receival thereof who freely profest they were resolved rather to forgo their Country and their children then leave their laudable custom of honouring their Masters with sincerity of heart and loving their friends with candor of mind rather then with coursies and other Court-ceremonies gotten without book It met with greater difficulties amongst Princes for the most powerful French Monarchy would never give way to the observancy of Gallateo's rules Nisi si in quantum which she ingenuously profest she would rather mind then good manners which she would only observe with a certain outward shew The Spanish Monarchy promist to submit to Gallateo's rules provided Monsieur de la Casa would leave out one Chapter That when she should be at Table with other Princes she would not have it be reputed ill manners if she should take a bit with her hand from off her neighbours trencher neither would she be thought to be over-greedy if she should chance to eat all her next companions whole part The Venetians said that they would willingly admit of Gallateo if that Monsieur de la Casa would declare that to endeavour by all means possible to know another mans affairs was not ill manners but arerequisite point of policy All the Italian Princes readily imbraced Gallateo only said they would be allowed to eat on both sides their mouthes without being held ill-mannered But the Dutchmen stormed mightily for they did not only deny being bound to the Italian sobriety in dâ—…inking but did obstinately require Gallateo to declare that the Dutchmens overmuch drinking and being continually drunk was one of their chiefest vertues and one of the most requisite things that their Princes and Commonwealths did for their safety-sake desire in their people The which request was blamed by all the Litterati as impertinent and absurd and therefore gainsaid Wherefore the Dutch were very much exhorted and desired to submit themselves to Gallateo touching the particular of Sobriety because they were even pointed at by the best Nations of Europe for their immoderate drinking and being so often drunk To which the Dutch did stoutly answer That those sober men deserved to be esteemed drunk that living under the slavery of Princes were hardly used and grieved every day by the capriciousnesse and beastly passions of one man and that the drunken Dutch ought to be highly esteemed who had wit enough both to vind cate their Liberty and to maintain it when they had got it And added That they were to be chained up for fools that did not believe that the drunkenesse of the German Nation was the true foundation of so many famous Republiques as were seen there For the safety of a State and the peoples universal peace depending wholly upon the fidelity of State Officers and upon the candor and sincerity of every mans soule what greater Jewel could there be desired then to see the Germans by their drinking too much Wine continually vomit up their very intimate secrets and most concealed thoughts They added That it was clearly seen by long experience that those did best counsel their Countreys who having drowned their private Interest and choaked their fair pretences which sobriety useth to beget in mens minds with good store of Wine spake like Germans from their hearts and not as doe the Italians and those of other sober Nations from the mouth outward onely with false and feigned words They said also That the Dutch which did so much affect the glorious name of Souldiers as was well known to all men had not patience to listen unto the counsels and deliberations of of sober men which were usually apprehensive and full of lewd circumspection covered over with the vaile of wisdome but to the end that their resolutions might be bold and generous they would not suffer any man to counsel his Countrey whilst he was fasting but when by having drunk much Wine they had inflamed their hearts with generosity It being the proper vertue of Wine rather to drive fear from the heart then to rob the understanding of judgement And that therefore the Germans with much reason De reconciliandis invicem inimicis jungendis affinitatibus adsciscendis Principibus de Pace denique ac Bello plerunque in conviviis consultant tanquam nullo magis Tempore ad simplices cogitationes pateat animus aut a magnas incalescat Tacit. de Mor. Germ. That whether it concern the reconciling of enemies the making of affinities the chusing of Princes finally be it about Peace or War they for the most part consult upon it in their cups as if the soule were at no time more open for civil thoughts or set on fire for great ones And they further added That if the Italian sobriety were introduced amongst the Germans those false hearts and double minds those deep thoughts those turn-coats full of treachery conspiracies plots of false souls masked over with hidden hatred and feigned love would begin to be found in that faithfull and sincere Nation wherein the Nations which glory in their sobrietry do so much abound a thing so true as the French who have been held to be so glorious by all the world for their ancient candor and sinceriâ—…y of soul in being alwayes faithfull to their King since many of them have given over the laudable custom of taking off their Cups and being drunk after the Dutch fashion had suffered themselves to be wound about into such treacheries as the world took too much notice of And that if that little window to be contrived in the breasts of men the better to discover the hearts of certaine damnable cheaters who being Devils inwardly study to appeare outwardly Angels was thought to be so necessary for the good of mankind with what ground of reason could any man blame the laudable custom of being drunk it being clearly seene that by drinking of too much Wine mens bodies became Diaphanous and transparent For these reasons which were very much approved of and praised by Apollo it was resolved That as touching the particular of sobriety in drinking the Noble German Nation should not be subject to Gallateo's Precepts the use of being drunk being rather a piece of publick cunning amongst the Dutch then a vice of private men It being apparently known that those Nations are very well advised both in times of Peace and Warre who like the Dutch Deliberant dum fingere nesciunt constituunt dum errare non possunt Tacit. de Mor. Germ. Deliberat whilst they know not how to counterfeit and doe ordaine whilst they cannot err The XXIX ADVERTISEMENT Apollo finding that wicked men by making use of the Sword of Iustice to injure honest men do make his Tribunals become very hatefull to remedy so great a disorder
rather liberal and gracious towards them then to redouble their blows their discourtesies their lashes their ill usage For to murmur complain or call their Master ingrateful doth beget in him such obstinacy not to reward one who may otherwâ—…se be of some desert even as the curses and blasphemies which the Gally-slaves use to those that correct them are the true causes which draws on their more severe correction Which is so true a thing as Princes hold it for an undeniable maxim That an open enemy and a distasted Courtier Differant nomine nonre The XLIX ADVERTISEMENT Natalis Comes an Historian is severely punisht by Apollo for having said somewhat in an Assembly of the Literati which did hainously offend his Majesty VVHilst Natalis Comes the Latin Historian discoursed some daies since under Melpomenes Porch together with many other Literati of this Court of the glory of those great Princes who have left eternal memory behind them of their honorable actions according to the custom of Historians tearmed the seisure or getting of a Kingdom made by a Potent Prince without any title of right or justice a glorious atchievement Which being suddenly carried to Apollo's ear by those malignant spirits which both the air and earth doe continually abound in his Majesty grew so incenst against Natalis as at the very instant that he was brought prisoner to him he forbad him entrance into any of the Libraries for three year And though his Majesty hath been intreated by the chief Historians of this State to shew some mercy to this his Vertuoso he hath not only denied to doe it but hath freely said that since there could be no greater wickedness committed then the unjust liberty which some Princes have usurped to bereave one another of their States an action which hath filled the whole world with those sad disorders wherewith mankind is so much afflicted he thought it too sore an iniquity that any so perfidious Literato should be found in his State who should dare to call those wicked thefts which are not committed without a million of aggravating circumstances glorious atchievements The L. ADVERTISEMENT The chief Monarchies of Europe and Asia which now reside in Parnassus fall sick at one and the same instant and not being to be cured by Esculapius Hippocrates or any other able Physitian they are restored to their health by a skilful Farrier EVery one in Parnassus did infinitely wonder that upon one and the same day all the chief Monarchies of Europe and Asia should fall desperately sick which many thought occasioned through the putrifaction of the air or by some unauspitious aspects of the heavens Apollo did not only send excellent remedies to all those Potentates but all the chief Physitians of this Court and commanded that great Esculapius should himself be assistant to their cure so as no remedy was left untri'd by so rare Physitians that so eminent personages might recover their healths but all proved to no purpose for all the Physitians did infinitely wonder that though their Medicines were most generous and very proper for the malady yet they did not work according to their particular vertues that their Manna Laxative Syrup and Sena it self though given in great quantity should rather prove restringent then cause usual evacuations by reason of which strange novelties wise Esculapius and the rest of the rare Physitians thinking that Nature yielded to the malady by reason of her weakness gave over the cure as desperat It hapned in this interim that a learned Politician went meerly by way of visit to see one of those sick Princes who had ben his antient Master from whom he understood the condition of his sickness and then desired to know what remedies were apply'd unto him and when he was satisfied in this his desire he found fault with the Medicines which were given him and exclaimed mightily against the Physitians not sticking to call them all ignorant puppies and forthwith sent with all speed for the Farrier of Parnassus who is trusted with the cure of Pegasus Who suddenly appearing he staid not to hear the relation of the sickness from the Patients own mouth as Physitians use to doe but without either feeling of Pulse or casting of water he presently knew the quality of the infirmity and straitwaies made a composition of Dragons bloud Bolearmenick whites of Egs and spreading it upon lint made Plasters of it and applyed them to those Princes and then made large swathes for their legs and arms afterwards he gave them a Laxative potion to drink in a syrup ordained by Galen These Medicines which were very much blamed and laught at by Esculapius Hippocrates and all the prime Physitians did in a few hours work so well with these Princes as they soon forsook their beds and ran skipping and leaping about more nimbly then ever they had done before Whereupon all the Vertuosi of Parnassus when they saw such admirable effects were much astonished that Empires Kingdoms and great States which could not be cured of the disorders which they were run into by skilfull Physitians with their Rubarbs and other Canonical Medicines should be so soon restored to their healths by a drench for a horse given them by a silly Farrier The LI. ADVERTISEMENT The Achaians being much incenst against the Duke of Alva for his cruel proceeding against their two Chieftains take up Arms and drive him out of their State VVHilst the Duke of Alva after the execution of the two chief Heads of the People whereof you lately heard sought to secure his State by using great severity in the taking away of mens lives his Countrey grew still more and more unquiet it not being alwaies true That to fall at the first in new gotten and jealous States to the extirpating of such as are most eminent either for birth attendance worth or riches does free Princes of the jealousies which they have of the Nobility and people For some chief men of Achaia as soon as they saw those two Ring-leaders of theirs put to death only because they were much esteemed and beloved by the people began to apprehend their own ruine And because gallant men cannot live long in fear of danger they thought it not only a safe way to be speedy but not being able to live quietly and void of suspition they fell chearfully upon rash counsels many of the best wits of Achaia made themselves the peoples heads being grieved to see that the love which they bore to those two who made so unfortunate an end should be judged a fault deserving death So as the Duke of Alva's severity wrought the effect which is usual in new Tyrannies which are crept into Free Countries by reason of the discord between the Nobility and Commonalty of reuniting the Nobles and Plebeians in perfect love and charity that so they may recover that Liberty by union which they lost by foolish civil discord The whole people of Achaia therefore led on by the Nobility took up
the Romans who at their first entry made so stately a show whom Pernassus had seen so noble an Auxiliary Militia who had raised their Empire to such an immensity and who were so glad to hear their civil Government so exagerated by all the Literati in being able to dilate their Empire by the blood of other men were forced to quit the Theater and to hide themselves in holes that so they might shun hearing the scorn and injurious speeches which were uttered against them by all the Literati that were present at the show For the noble Vertuosi hating from their very souls the Roman cruelty and ingratitude used towards those Nations who by their expence of blood had deserved so well at their hands asked where was the Faith where the sacred Friendship where the Gratitude used to those their Friends to those who had so well deserved of the people of Rome and by their lives had exalted their Empire to so great a height And whether these were Actions becoming that Roman Senate who made so great a show and boasted so much of Religion Faith and unviolable friendship insomuch as all did detest that execrable reason of State which following onely that which brings men apparent advantage can so impiously turn its back upon what is just and honest and which when her occasions are served forgets all Obligations how great so ever As soon as this miserable sight was ended Guiccardin by order from Apollo got up into a very high place and made a long Political discourse upon the little discretion and upon the want of Charity of great Monarchs towards petty Princes that are of less power then they wherein he said that when in a State consisting of many Princes one Prince more great then any of the rest took up Arms to bear down one of the other all the rest to keep from being supprest should think their Companions loss their own ruine a means to bring them into slavery a preparation for their overthrow and that therefore absolutely forgetting all private hatreds and heart-burnings they should all of them imbrace the publike Cause and â—…un by their common forces joyntly to asswage that fire which was likely in a short time to reduce their own homes into ashes for in former times Asia and Africa not at all betaking themselves to Arms were unfortunate spectators of the servitude of whole Italy subjugated by the famous Romans and in more modern times the whilome powerful Kingdom of Hungary to it s now great sorrow laught at the overthrow of the Grecian Empire that therefore in like dangers every Prince should have the two golden Sentences of that Master of true Policy Tacitus written in their hearts Omnibus perire quae singuli amittant Tacit. in vita Agriculae It being very true that in such like cases Singuli dum pugnant Universi vincuntur And that they should esteem such honors as were done them by those who were more powerful then they shameful disgraces alliances which they might contract with them preparations to betray them the advantage which they might get by Pensions hooks bayted with poyson tricks to lull them asleep onely that they may afterwards with a little mony purchase that their liberty which cannot be payd by mountains of gold And that above all things else they should take example by the slavery which they had seen of the Romans associates and should think that the ambition which the more powerful have to reign having no Orison the accomplishment of conquering an Enemy was the beginning to subjugate a Friend The second day Apollo commanded that upon the same Theater all those great Senators should first appear who had assisted Caesar his Tyranny and that of Augustus out of the Interest of private Ambition or out of meer avarice which being forthwith done he gave order that all those should appear who were wickedly slain in the cruel Proscription made by the Triumviri and in Augustus his long reign and those who had been put to death by Tiberius his cruelty Caligula's bestiality and by Nero's fierce Nature This was the most sad and lamentable spectacle that was ever seen represented in the memory of man in any place whatsoever for then all Pernassus broke forth into deep sighs and shed tears in abundance when those that had assisted Caesar in his Tyranny saw that not onely Tiberius Caligula Claudius and Nero but even Augustus himself forgetting the obligations which they ought to their posterity who had ayded them in atchieving their Tyrannical power were by them destroyed and cruelly put to death For Children not inheriting their fathers humors as they do their Estates many of the sons of those Senators who following Caesars and Augustus his Colours had appeared enemies to publike liberty were afterwards cruelly slain by the insuing Tyrants onely for that they discovered too much their love to live free others for proving more vertuous Senators then would stand with Tyrannical Govenment and an infinite number by the meer bestiality of those that governed This so horrid sight at first occasioned great silence wherein the Vertuosi considered that since not any Plebeian appeared amongst the vast number of those that were slain nor any other principal subject of the Provinces but onely worthy Senators and Gentlemen of infinite desert the cruelties used by the Tyrants who reigned in the Roman Empire against the Senators and nobler sort of Gentry were for the most part occasioned thorow the defect of the Nobility who not able to preserve publike liberty by peace as they ought to have done could never submit themselves to receive that total servitude which must of necessity be imbraced under the Government of one onely man but by their many Conspiracies by continual misgovernment of their Tongues and by their pride of speaking like free men whilst they were in slavery did so provoke and anger them that reigned as made them become cruel Butchers of the Roman Nobility This useful consideration being ended those unfortunate Senators who to make Caesar and Augustus great had with their swords in hand and with so much effusion of blood banisht liberty from out their Country ran as if they had been mad to embrace their children grandchildren and great grand-children who had been so Tyrannously treated but being by them driven away with reproachful speeches those Senators more afflicted then ever said You have reason to look upon us your Progenitors with an incensed eye and to drive us like enemies out of your sight for you may truly say these your wounds were occasioned by these our hands the Tyranny which hath made you so miserable by our imprudency your calamities by our foolish Ambition all the inhumanities whereinto we have most imprudently hurryed you by our unfortunate jars and deplorable discord and now when repentance serves onely to make our afflictions the greater we cleerly see by this your miserable spectacle that nothing is sweeter that there is no greater consolation no greater
all the Kings that ever were on earth who still growing more and more cruel by his perpetual felicity by shewing to the world his Justice liberality advisedness and great piety did still the more afflict those his enemies who that they might render him odious to his people of France did openly affirm that if ever he should come to be King of that powerful Monarchy he would surely prove the utter and final ruine thereof And how much did it grieve the enemies of so great a King thinkest thou Moreto when they saw his victory compleated and his fortune confirmed by his own worth and valor and with what an eye thinkest thou they did behold him conqueror triumphing and not onely adored but reverenced by his people according to the ancient custom of France so glorious as the very first day that he mounted the Throne he became the absolute Arbitrator of the world Dost not thou believe it did much more grieve these mens hearts to see the King of Navar whose suppression they had so much indeavoured become the most glorious King of France then when they thought themselves surest of his down-fall and then confirmed in his Kingdom by so plentiful an issue as they are forced to confess they were sent him by Heaven Dost not thou believe Moreto that these his malevolents esteem so great happiness such prosperity given by God to this our King to be their shame and misery They are perpetually tortured who for their greater confusion are suffered to live being forced to see the Halcyon days of this powerful Kingdom of France The LXXXIX ADVERTISEMENT A Literato presents Apollo with an Oration made by him in praise of the present Age Which is laid aside byish Majesty as not grounded upon any truth SOme few daies since a famous Literato presented Apollo with an eloquent Oration composed by him in praise of the present age wherein he clearly shewed how much of latter times goodness godliness and all sorts of vertue are increased in the world and concluded that from such excellent beginnings mankind might securely hope that that happy Golden Age so cry'd up by the Poets was now very nigh at hand This Literato and his Oration found but cold acceptance at Apollo's hands and being asked whether he had so well considered the Age which he had so highly praised as he ought to have done and with what spectacles he had viewed and contemplated it he answered that he had not only viewed the Courts of a great many famous Princes the most accurately that he could but had travailed over the greatest part of Europe in all which Courts and Countries he had diligently observed the lives of those who commanded in chief and their fashions who obeyed and that he had observed nothing in them which was not highly to be praised and that then in passing his judgement upon all the particulars of the present Age which appeared to him to deserve praise he not aiding himself by any spectacles made only use of the eyes of his judgement which he thought were not dim sighted Apollo reply'd That surely he had written that his Oration in the dark for that the true state of the present age the true intimate intentions of those that govern in it and the real meanings of those that live in it could not be seen no not by Linceus's eyes unless a man did put the purest Politick Spectacles upon his nose whereby he might see the truth of passions which lay deeply hid in the breasts of modern men who were so mysterious in all their proceedings as their inward meanings appeared least outwardly Which being said Apollo caused a pair of excellent spectacles to be given to that Literato which were lately made in Tacitus his Forge and bad him view the present age through them and then tell him whether it appeared to be the same which he had so exalted in his Oration The other obey'd and after having well contemplated and considered the Age through those spectacles Sir said he That which I now see wiâ—…h these spectacles is not the age wherein we now live but a world full of ostentation and outward appearance with very little substance of true vertue where an infinite number of men are lined with feigned simplicity clad with the false Alchumy of appearing goodness but full fraught with cosenage tricks and plots where nothing is more studied then how to over-reach ones companion and to hurl his neighbour into the hell of wicked enterprises by false pretence of sanctified meanings I see a world full of Interest in which I cannot discern charity and candid love between the Father and the Son and by these miraculous spectacles I plainly see that the World is nothing but a large Shop where all things under the Moon are bought and sold so as the true meaning of men that live therein is meer gain and how to heap up monies and in fine the world is so ugly as it is hateful to me to keep these spectacles on my nose for certainly mankind might be truely termed miserable if our present age which I have deservedly praised in my Oration were in any the least degree like this which I behold Truely said Apollo the world which you now have seen with these politickspectacles is the very same which you glory so much in having praised where those who will pass their judgement without making use of these penetrating spectacles are like those unfortunate wretches who putting their hands into a hole to find a Creafish pluck out a Toad The XC ADVERTISEMENT Christopher Columbus and other famous discoverers of the new world desire Apollo that Immortality may be decreed them for their noble daring but are denied it CHristophano Colombo Ferrante Cortese Magelin Pizzaro Gama Americo Vespuchi and many other famous discoverers of the new World appeared two daies since in this Court Never was there seen a more signal pleasing spectacle in Pernassus nor fuller of curiosity then the entrata made by these Gentlemen who were met accompanied visited welcomed and lodg'd by the Princely Poets with as much affection and honour as men deserve who by their incessant labour and numberless hazards have inriched the Universe with a new World Nor is it to be believed what consolation the Vertuosi received for having at last come to the clear and distinct knowledg of the quantity and quality of that great Machine of the earth which immortal God hath created to be an habitation for men In so much as Ptolomy Varro and other Cosmographers did very often visit these Gentlemens houses not being able to satisfie their curiosity of seeing those parts of Asia Africa and whole America together with the Cape of good Hope and the Straits of Magelen which for so many thousand years were unknown to Antiquity Astrologers have hardly satisfied their desires by the purchast knowledg which they had of the Stars of the other Pole Aristotle was greatly amazed when these Gentlemen told him that