To that end haue I brought him to the world that there should not bee wanting one that should doubt and refuse to spend his life and blood in the defence of his countrey Qu. Wherein did Cyreneus and Theodorus courage and magnanimity most chieflie shine and appeare Ans In his resolute answer to king Lysimachus when hee did threaten him with death for then boldly speaking to the Tyrant Bid him to feare his Courtiers with these bugs for Theodorus is indifferent quoth he whether he rots vnder or aboue the ground Qu. Who may be said to suffer water continually to bee drawne out of his spring and yet for it hath nothing the lesse himselfe Ans He that giueth good counsel to them that demand it or hee that bestoweth a benefite vpon another without any hinderance to himselfe Qu. Which may be called a double iniury Ans To be defrauded of deserued praises and pursued with vndeserued reproches Qu. By what meanes shal one become rich quickly Ans In being poore of desire and therefore Seneca said If you haue respect wherwith nature is sufficed you shall neuer be poore but if you looke vnto that which opinion craueth you shall neuer be rich Qu. What men may be said to liue onely and longest Ans Those that liue onely and longest in ease and quiet And therefore Adrian a most puissant Emperour who by great trauell and intercession obtained license in the end of his daies to dwell in a little village of his where he liued seuē yeares in great rest and quiet dying left an aparant token and testimony that the life led in honor and dignity was not the true life for he caused words to be graued on his tombe Here lieth the wight whose age is of many yeares but hee liued but only seuen Qu. What child is the only heire of a wise and worthy Parent Ans Hee that inheriteth and is heire vnto all his fathers vertues Qu. What is marriage Ans A Paradise on earth if her lawes bee obserued but a hell in the house if her statutes be broken Qu. How many chiefe powers are there of the soule Ans Three Intendment Will and Memory Qu. What three deserts of the body stop the passage of these three powers of the soule Ans Ignorance of that which is good Couetousnesse of that which is euill Infirmity and langor of the body Qu. What are the remedies against these three euils and defects Ans Wisdome Vertue Necessity which to chase these three euils are thus ordered Wisdome against ignorance Vertue against couetousnesse vice Necessity against infirmity Qu. What is it that of men is least esteemed and of God most honoured Ans Chastity which is precious before God and a laughing stocke before men Qu. What is ignorance Ans A graue which burieth life Qu. What foure things haue continuall residence in a Noble mind Ans Courage to repell the incroching enemy a heart to consider a loyall friend a hand to reward the gifts of the simple and clemency to accept pardon a well meaning mind Qu. How many kinds of Sages be there Ans Three The sage wise man the sage foole and the sage hearbe Qu. Wherin is a flatterer like vnto a hauke Ans Because as a Hauke will not come to an empty fist so a flatterer to an emptie purse Qu. Which is the first step of loue Ans The losse of libertie Qu. Who after their death liue in the life of their children Ans Such parents as haue brought vp their children as they may chuse the good and forsake the euill Qu. Who is alone a worthy and a valiant man Ans He who neuer dooth bow his shoulders at the burden of misfortunes nor he who neuer panted at his chance Qu. What answered Gorgias being demanded what manner of diet he vsed that he liued so long Ans That hee neuer did eat any thing for pleasure or wantonnesse Qu. Why did Zenocrates assigning all the parts of the day to some busines appoint likewise to silence his due part Ans Because he might then priuately discusse with himself what maner he ought to keepe in speaking Qu. What did neuer speak wel of any man Ans Euill will Qu. Wherein did Artemisia declare her great chastitie towards her husband deceased Ans In her entire loue towards him for when her husband Mansolus King of Caria was dead shee caused his heart to bee dried in a vessell of gold into pouder and by a little and little drank it all vp saying Their two hearts should neuer depart asunder that she thought there might be no worthier sepulchre made for it but her owne body Notwithstanding shee made for his body such a sepulchre that for the excellent workemanship beautie and costlinesse therof it was taken for one of the meruailes of the world for the notable fame of it all sumptuous and great sepulchres were afterwards called Mansalca Qu. Which is the best hauen to him that is penitent Ans Confession of his faults and change of counsell Qu. How might a man become maister ouer himselfe Ans In amending that in himselfe which he rebuketh in another body Qu. Wherefore made nature man naked without weapons to defend himselfe Ans Nature hauing bestowed wisedome vpon man hath giuen him means inough to arme himselfe at his owne pleasure as well against the cold and heat of the air as against the blowes of his enemy Qu. Why are Iudges and Lawyers more honoured of those that goe to law then Phisitions are of their patients Ans Because the gaine of the cause doth depend of the Iudge and aduocates but giuing of health to the patient lieth not in the hands of the Phisition but in God only Qu. Why doth a Swanne being neere his death sing more sweeter then at any other time Ans Nature hath taught this to the bird to teach vs the good which wee receiue by death which serueth vs for a doom or passage to euerlasting life Qu. Why do men seeke to auoid pouerty Ans Because it causeth them oftentimes to decline from the right way of vertue Qu. Why doe men drinke water which notwithstanding doth not nourish Ans Water dooth spend the digestion of the meat through all parts of the body Qu. Why are those that are drunke cold Ans By reason of the Wine taken immoderately which quencheth and ouerwhelmeth the natural heat of the body Quest Why doe Phisitions not minister medicines when the sicknesse or disease is at the cheefest Ans Because they should not oppresse or hinder nature Qu. What is the cause that children who are moist by nature are not bald notwithstanding Ans Because their humidity is intermingled with a temperate heat Qu. Why doth Rue being planted vnder a figge tree grow the better and receiueth more nourishment Ans Because it draws vnto itself the sweetnes of the figge tree or els the figge tree suckes away from the Rue a part of his bitternesse and so being somwhat sweetned
it groweth the better Qu. What is the reason why teeth do come againe and not any other bones of the body Ans All other bones are made and ingendred of a naturall humor and moistnesse in the mothers wombe but the teeth are ingendred by a nourishing humor which daily doth increase Qu. What is the reason that when wee see others to yawne we are prouoked to doe the like Ans This proceedeth to my iudgement by the vertue of our imagination Qu. What did moue nature to giue vs ears Ans Because thereby men might iudge of the difference of sounds and voices Through the ears likewise is purged the colour which is in the braines as through the nose is the flegme Qu. Of what stuffe are womens tongues made of Ans Of an aspen leafe for they neuer leaue wagging Qu. What is most praised and least practised Ans Honesty or els the vertue of liberalitie Qu. Which is the first step to wisdome Ans To know himselfe and the second to feare God Qu. What is the Magistrate Ans The mouth of the Law Qu. What is honor Ans The reward of vertue Qu. What is the property of folly Ans To see other mens faults and to forget her owne Qu. Which is the only sauce of meat Ans Hunger as thirst is of drinke Qu. What is shamefastnesse Ans The tincture and die of vertue Qu. Which is the cheefest pleasure in this world Ans Libertie Qu. In contracting of marriage what ought first to be regarded Ans Vertue and not riches and therefore Themistocles a woorthy Duke of Grecia being asked why hee had rather to bestow his daughter vpon a poor and an honest man then vpon a rich man ill conditioned I said he had rather a man without money then money wanting a man Qu. How might one best learn to discerne a knaue Ans In comparing him by an honest man Qu. What ought a wise man to practise Ans How to accomodate himselfe to the time Qu. What is a chiefe cause of our owne ouerthrow Ans Selfeloue Qu. Whom chiefely hurteth pouertie Ans Him that cannot carry it patiently Qu. Which is the sauce of labor Ans Rest Qu. Who liues most safely Ans Hee that doth not discouer his owne secrets Qu. What is the state of a rich churle or of a couetous man Ans A continuall torment by extream desire of gaine accompanied with a fear to loose thar which he hath gotten Qu. What thing gets friends Ans Prosperity but aduersity tries them Qu. Why ought we in requiting of a good turne imitate the earth Ans Because it giues more then it receiueth Qu. Why ought we not to blame nor likewise to praise our selues Ans Because the one is a signe of folly and the other a token of inconstancy Qu. What are riches Ans Nets to intrap men and thornes to pierce the heart Qu. Which is the surest guard of a Prince Ans The loue of his subiects Qu. What two things do chiefly bridle and encourage men Ans Reward and punishment Qu. Why haue wise men alwaies hated anger Ans Because it is a spice and kind of folly Qu. Wherein is warre better then peace Ans Warre stirreth vp the minds of men to vertue and peace drawes them to idlenesse and lasciuiousnesse Qu. Why doe old men die almost without paine Ans By reason that all their sences are debilitated and weakened Qu. Why doth sorrow and grief make men to looke old before their time Ans Because they dry vp the moistnesse of the body and age is nothing but a kind of drinesse Qu. Why must Wheaten bread chiefly be salted and leauened Ans Because that Wheat by nature is sopping and very and salt doth dry the great of it and the leauen makes it more lighter Qu. Why are fat things not subiect so soon to corruption Ans Because they participate so much of the aire and the fire Qu. Why is a Diamond not so soon burned by thy fire as any other precious stone Ans By reason of his soliditie Qu. Why dooth oyle swim aboue any kind of liquor Ans Because of his fatnesse and all fat things doe much participate of the ayre Qu. What is the reason that some men are more able to endure longer then other Ans Because some of them are more cholericke and some more flegmaticke Qu. What is the reason that when wee are a hungred our spitting is more salter then otherwise Ans Because hunger encreaseth choler which easily becommeth bitter by reason of his sharpenesse Qu. Why are women commonly more fatter then men Ans Because they are more colder of cōplexion and doe lesse exercise Qu. What is the cause that the milk of pale or white women is not so wholesome as that of them that are browne Ans Blacke women are more whoter of nature and therfore by consequent their milke is better digested Qu. Of what conditions is man Ans Of all conditions of foules beasts that God hath created Bold as a lyon sportful as an ape dumbe as a fish prating as a parret filthy as aswine neat as a swanne swift as a hart slow as a snaile prowd as a peacocke gentle as a lambe chast as a turtle loyall as a horse fearefull as a hare ignorant as an asse subtle as a serpent angry as a waspe and lecherous as a Moonky Qu. Of what mettall are womens tongues made of Ans Of Virgils brasen flaile which strooke both friends and foes Qu. What difference is there betweene a scold and a harlot Ans As there is betweene the Viper and the Crockadile for the scold with outrage destroieth her husband the harlot with dissembling loue Qu. What is that which is coldest clad in freese and warmest attired in precious stones Ans Pride which hath no grace but in brauery Qu. What is life without literature Ans A mans graue or an image of death Qu. What wicked mother hath brought forth a good child the onely prop stay of all gouernements Ans Ill manners haue brought forth good lawes to the establishment of vertue and the subuersion of vice Qu. What ought we to thinke of the time which we haue here Ans That wee haue little ynough loose much Qu. Where ought marriage not to bee inforced Ans Where loue cannot be compelled Qu. Which are the titles and epithets of the sunne Ans To be parent of the day gouernor of the world a quickner of the body the eie of the firmament the heart of nature the king of the starres and the visible sonne of God Qu. Which are the wings of time Ans Time past present and to come Qu. Which are the teeth wherwith time consumes all things Ans The night the day life and death Qu. What is the cause that in our age there are not so many excellent men as there were in times past Ans By reason of nature which daily decreaseth or because vertue is not so much esteemed of now adaies as it was
for they would be glad to see him hanged that releeues them I would not that any man should interprete them in earnest which is only written in a merriment and that for this they should withdraw their charity from such poore men Quest Why do most men delight more in flesh then in fish why it is more wholsomer vnto the body Answ Because it strengthneth more and is of sounder nourishment or els because it agrees better with the substance of our bodies Quest What is the Law Answ A net Quest. What are the Lawyers Answ Burdars Quest What are the Clients Answ Birds Quest What is the Court where the Law is pleaded Answ The place where the nets are spred to take the simple and silly birds Quest. Whereby doth a womans loue resemble the shadow of our bodies Answ Euen as our shadow if we runne towards it doth fleet away from vs and if wee runne from it doth follow vs so the loue of a woman if wee fondly pursue it will disdaine vs but if we set light by it or seeme to run from it will most earnestly desire vs. Quest What is a chief stratageme in war Answ Expedition and not to ouerslip occasion Quest Why did the Ancients find fault with Zeuxis liberalitie Answ Because he gaue bestowed gifts to receiue double againe Quest. What is the cause of greatest deuotion the greatest replenisher of hel Answ Ignorance which maketh men to worship stones and dishonour God Quest. What is the greatest friend to men at libertie and the most enemy to such as are condemned Answ Hope which encourageth men at libertie to attempt great matters maketh such as are condemned vnprepared for death Quest What seasoneth and sweetneth the bitternesse of warre Answ Hope of victorie Quest. Why is fauour bought with mony most vncertaine Answ Because by discontinuance of giuing it breeds inward grudging and by the ceasing of liberalitie it bursteth out into open hatred Quest. Wherein is an enuious man like vnto yron Answ Euen as yron is consumed with his owne rust so an enuious man pines away by his owne folly Quest What is least to bee respected in an Oration Answ Glosing words for as in coyne the brauery of the stampe is little or nothing regarded but onely the weight and the substance euen so it is no matter how eloquent the Oration be but how graue and profitable Quest What is an Hystory Answ A testimony of time a light of veritie the maintainance of memory the schoole-mistresse of life and the messenger of antiquity Quest What is the hardest thing to bee learned Answ To learne to know himselfe Quest. How might one eschew enuy Answ By liuing abiect and miserable Quest What is Idlenesse Answ The Father of Lechery and the highway to pouertie Quest What are riches Answ Diogenes called them the vomite of fortune Quest What doth cast from it a greater heat then fire Answ Beautie which setteth not only on fire those that touch it but also those that a farre off doe behold it Quest What is death Answ The end of trauels and the beginning of life Quest. What is the duty of a wise man Answ To mistrust the ignorant and to know how to skirmish with aduersitie Quest Who is sometimes a mother and sometimes a stepdame Answ Fortune Quest. What are the most precious ornaments of a Citie Answ The vertues of the Cittizens Quest What maketh men constant against all humane affections Answ A good disposition of the mind Quest Why are lawes said to be like vnto spiders webs Answ Because they catch small flies but waspes and bees flie through them Quest. What is the reason that for to see the better we are wont to shut one eie Answ Because the other might bee aided with the sence of the eie which is shut and closed Quest What is the cause of Hydropsie Answ The great cold of the liuer Quest Why do those that haue the yellow yandars find hony to be bitter in tast Answ By reason of the great colour wherwith their tongue and the palait of their mouth is infected Quest Why do muske millions cucumbers prouoke vrine Answ By reason of their great humiditie Quest What is the cause that old men and women dote Answ By reason of the great coldnesse which is in them Quest Wherout doth it proceed that men become pale when they are seased with feare Answ Because the blood retires to the vitall parts of the body Quest. Why hath a Scorpion his poyson in the taile Answ Because the poyson is his excrement Quest Why did Hypocrates permit those to drinke wine that had a burning ague Answ It was for to helpe digestion and to strengthen the parties Quest Why are the extremities of the body more subiect to cold then the other parts thereof Answ Because they are not so solide or so well knit together and are farther remoued from the heart Quest Why do Pullets their throtes being cut suruiue after it longer then men Answ Chickens and Pullets haue smaller sinnewes and veines and therefore life cannot so soone leaue them Quest. Why are men more taller then women Answ By reason of their naturall heat Quest Why doe women make water stooping and men to the contrary Answ Because their bladder stands higher then mens doth Quest Why haue men more teeth thē women Answ Because they abound more in blood and heat Quest What is the reason that when maidens brests begin to grow they begin to change their voice Answ Because then the Organs of the voice are wider and lesser closed Quest Why are twinnes not so strong as others be Answ Because the seed which shold haue serued to one is parted into two Quest Why doe eager things prouoke appetite Answ Because they drie vp the humours and consequently close the stomacke faster vp which doth cause appetite Quest. Why doe Lettuce prouoke sleepe Answ Because they engender grosse humors Quest Why is Iuie alwaies greene Answ Because the heat of it is tempered with humiditie and viscositie Quest Why haue Birds no teeth Answ Because the substance which teeth doe grow of doth turne into their bils Quest When is vice past al hope of remedy Answ When it is growne into a custome Quest Why doe matters well executed please but few men Answ Because most men are rather guided by affection then by reason Quest What is idlenesse Answ A nurse of lasciuiousnesse and the wel-spring of all vices Quest What thing metamorphoseth a man into a beast Answ Lust Quest Which is the highest degree of vncharitie Answ To make of him a laughing stocke besides who by our means hath been afflicted Quest Which is the chiefest felicitie Answ To be released of a wicked woman Quest What men are least to be trusted Answ Those that haue beene disloiall to their owne country Quest What thing spends most prodigally that which couetousnesse hath most wickedly scraped together Answ Ambition Quest What is a chiefe comfort to the
in times past or els it is the custome of all ages to complaine Qu. What is anger Ans A short madnesse or els the beginning of foolishnesse Qu. What is vertue Ans A sweet harmony of nature to the found and time wherof al good men giue an eare vnto Qu. What difference is there between wisdome and a ready wit Ans The wise man giueth good counsell and the witty man presently conceiues and iudges of it Qu. What priuiledge haue braue and couragious knights aboue other men Ans Not to be subiect nor to be daunted by fortune Qu. What shadoweth nay darkeneth the great vertues in Philip and Alexander the Great his sonne Ans Drunkennesse Qu. What is Wine immoderately taken Ans The blood of the earth turned to poyson Qu. What is Wine moderately taken Ans A whetstone to memory Qu. Why did the Aegyptians ordaine that commoniesters and plaiers should beare no witnesse in any cause Ans Because such kind of people are commonly giuen to wickednesse and for a trifle ready to do a mischiefe Qu. What is nobilitie without vertue Ans A bladder puft vp with pride and violence Qu. Which are the vertues that doe conduct vs to heauen Ans Faith hope charity pietie religion and godlinesse Qu. Which is the poyson of friendship Ans Flattery Qu. What kind of ignorance is most dangerous Ans Not to know God and then not to know himselfe Qu. Wherefore is vertue so amiable Ans Because shee is alwaies conformable to reason Qu. What warre is lawfull Ans That which is conducted to obtaine peace Qu. Wherefore is the first counsel of a woman which she giueth without thinking on it far better then that which she hath studied vpon Ans Euen as all vnreasonable creatures are by instinct of nature driuen to their actions so a woman although she be ill yet the intelligence which nature hath giuen her which will not bee deceiued nor abuse any body compels her by the first motion to good But if she gets leasure to vse her owne nature all that shee shall doe will be naught Qu. Wherefore are women commonly more couetous then men Ans Because they know they should bee no body without riches Qu. Wherefore are those that haue great heads more giuen to sleepe then those that haue little heads Ans The greater the thing is the more vapors it doth containe and humiditie doth cause sleepe Qu. Why are lentiles and cabages so ill for the eie sight Ans By reason of the melancholike blood which they engender Qu. What is the cause that many die with too much ioy Ans Because the vitall spirits abandon the heart Qu. Wherefore ought we not to fast long Ans By reason that by too much fasting a masse of ill humours is ingendred and prouoke vomit Qu. What is the cause that we haue better stomackes to our meate when the wind is at the North then at other times Ans By reason of his coldnes which knits together and holds within vs the natural heat of our bodies Qu. What is the reason that Vineger is very wholesome to those that are cholericke is of contrary operation to those that are melancholicke Ans Because it asswageth choler by his coldnesse and dries vp melancholie Qu. What is the reason that in tract of time Wine becommeth more whote Ans Because the aquosity thereof euaporeth and vanisheth away Qu. What is the cause that some wines sower so lightly Ans Because that in the time of Vintage the grape was full of superfluous humors Qu. Why dooth the wild Bore vse to pisse before he runnes away Ans To vnlade him of the burden of his water for to runne the swifter Qu. When is it nothing discommendable to exceed the meane Ans When it is vsed to exercise and driue drowsinesse out of sluggards Qu. What husbāds do not loue their wiues Ans Those that loue their bodies their goods and not their mindes and good conditions Qu. What is chiefly to bee regarded in a witnesse Ans His honesty as in a Lawier eloquence and good vtterance Qu. Why can yoong men hardly keepe a meane Ans By reason of the natural heat abounding in them Qu. How might a foole seeme and bee accounted wise Ans If he goes braue in attire and speakes little Qu. What is the reason that some haue hard and some haue soft heare Ans The greatnesse and smalnesse of the Pores is cause of it for soft hear cōmeth by reason of the smalnesse of them and hard heare for the contrarie And therefore women haue commonly softer hear thē men because their naturall cold doth restrain and close the Pores Qu. What is the reason that Garlicke and Onyons doe bud although they are not in the earth Ans Because of their great abundance of moistnesse and heat Qu. Why is a dead body heauier then that which hath life within Ans A body aliue is full of ayre and fire which doe hold it vpright for their nature is alwaies to mount vpwards and a dead body is nothing but a lumpe of earth whose nature is heauie and alwaies tending downewards Qu. What dooth preuent an occasion of murmuring Ans Equalitie Qu. Why doe vices shaddow themselues vnder the colour of vertues Ans Because if they should come in their own shape but few would giue them entertainement Qu. Why ought Parents to bee very curious in seeking of good tutors and masters for to instruct their children Ans Because as their Parents are the fathers of their bodies so the maisters are the fathers of their soules and as childrē doe imitate the nature of those that haue begotten them so out of their maisters maners as out of a nurses brest they sucke their vertues and vices their good and ill conditions Qu. What is it that in louing too much turneth to mortall hatred Ans Ielousie Qu. Who murdereth the liuing the same of the dead Ans A Slanderer Qu. Wherin is our enemy commonly better vnto vs then our friend Ans Because our enemy speares not to tel vs our faults which friends seeke for the most part to hide from vs. Qu. What is as seldome found as the Phenix of Arabia Ans A trusty friend Qu. What is it that Kings cannot conquer Ans Mens affections Qu. In what place is flattery a Iewell Ans Where dissembling swaies the scepter Qu. What ought wee in this life most to remember and least to feare Ans The houre of death Qu. What is mans life Ans A thing more brickell then glasse more lighter then the smoke and swifter then the wind Qu. What garment is the best Ans That which couers malice Qu. What are dice Ans Fortunes whelpes which consume a mans wealth and empaire his patience Qu. What are womens vowes Ans Words written in the wind Qu. What are their promisses Ans Carracters figured in the ayre and figures grauen in the snow Qu. What is a beautifull strumpet Ans An Adamant that drawes a Panther