Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A02099
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Greenes farewell to folly Sent to courtiers and schollers as a president to warne them from the vaine delights that drawes youth on to repentance. Robert Greene vtriusque Academiæ in Artibus magister.
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Greene, Robert, 1558?-1592.
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1591
(1591)
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STC 12241; ESTC S105962
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57,357
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94
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learne out kitching commentaries but if we perseuere still in this dissolute kind of superâ—…uity being Christians in name and Epicures in life we are to feare that in the ends néede and necessitie will force vs to forsake it and as it happened vnto king Darius who when he had liued a long time in delightes drowning him selfe in the 〈◊〉 of the Persians not once looking so low as hunger and thirst as he fled from Alexander and waxed verie thirstie drinking puddle water taken from a riuer tainted with deade carcasses he burst â—…oorth into this spéeche that in all his life he neuer drancke swéeter so will it befall to vs by our inordinate excesse and seeing we may best sée this vertue of â—…rugalitie by discouering his contrary we will spend this forenoone in dscoursing the follie of superfluitie or gluttonie which Bernardino I appoint vnto your charge as one which we all knowe to haue béene an enemie to such disordered bankets Bernardino not greatly discontent with this command beganne after the gentlemen were seated in the arbour to frame his spéech in this manner Plato the prince of the Academickes who for his sacred sentences with his maister Socrates amongst all the Philosophers challenged the name of diuine had alwayes this saying in his mouth that whatsoeuer excéedeth this word necessarie is superfluitie which genus he deuided into two especiall partes of apparell and fare for the last whereof I am appointed to intreat thus to the purpose Those Gentlemen which build vpon the doctrine of the Epicures and place their chiefe felicitie or summum bonum in the delicacie of fare consider not that gluttonie is like to the Lymons in Arabia which being passing swéete to the mouth are infâ—…ctious in the stomach like to the floure of Amyta which glorious to the eye greatly molesteth the smell the swéete content or rather the bitter pleasures that procéede from these follies feeding our lust with a tickling humour of â—…elight for euerie dram of pretended blisse presents vs a pounde of assured enormitie for we are so blinded with the vale of this vayne sollie that forgetting our selues we runne headlong with Vlysles into Cyrces lappe and so by tasting hir inchaunted potion suffer our selfe to be like beasts transformed into sundrie shapes sor that was the meaning Homer aimed at by the Metamorphosis saying some were chaunged into Lyoâ—…s as by dronkennesse madâ—… furious some into Apes whom wine had made pleasaunt seme into sâ—…ine whose brutishe manner bewrayed their imperfection by sléeping in their pottes comparing the altâ—…ration of men by ouermuch drinke to no other but a bestiall chaunge of their natures besides this discoucrie Galen Hypocrates and other learned Phisitians approue it the source from whence all diseases and euill dispositions of the body do flow for sayth Plutarch we are sicke of those things whereof we doe liue and by our naturall disposition are wholy giueÌ„ to health if the disorder of our diet did not infringe the perfect temperature of our complexions Homer going about to prooue the immortalitie of the Goddes and that they dye not groundeth his argument vppon this because they eate not as if he woulde argue that as eating and drinking maintaines life so they are the efficient causes of death and that more dye of gluttoâ—…e than of hunger hauing oft more care to digest meate than care to get it Seneca sayd that the Phisitians in his time cried out that life was shorte and art long that complaint was made of nature that shee had graunted vnto beastes to liue fiue or sixe ages and to limite mans dayes but the length of a spannâ—… which notwithstanding being so short and momentarie was oft consumd in excesse drawing on death by our owne desires and offering vp our gorged stomaches vnto Atropos as sacrifice to intreat that the date of our yeares bee vntimely preuented so that as the wise man sayth morâ—… perishe by surfet than by the sword vnto whome sayth Salomon falleth woe affliction sorrowe strife teares rednesse of the eyes and diseases Euen to them that sit long at the wine which at the first pleaseth both the eye and the tâ—…st but at last stingeth as deadly as a scorpion Heraclytus was of this opinion that the insatiate appetite of gluttonie doth obscure the interiour vertues of the minde oppressing the diuine parte of man with a confused chaos of sundrie delicates that as the sunne eclipsed with darke and vndigested vapours hath not the perfection of his brightnesse so the bodie ouercharged with 〈◊〉 of meates hath the senses so sotted as they are not able to pierce by contemplation into the Metaphysicall secreates of anie honoâ—…rable science Innumerable also be dissolutâ—… fashions and wicked enormities that spring froâ—… gluttony and dronkennesse for where this follie is predominant there is the minde subiect vnto lust anger sloth adulterie loue and all other vices that are subiectes of the sensuall part for as the olâ—…e Poet sayth Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus And by the way I remâ—…mber certaine verses written by our countriman Dante to this effect Il vitio chi conduce Englished thus A monster seated in the midst of men Which daily fed is neuer satiat A hollow gulfe of vild ingratitude Which for his food vouchsafes not pay of thankes But still doth claime a debt of due expenee From hence doth Venus draw the shape of lust From hence Mars raiseth bloud and stratagemes Tâ—…e wracke of wealth the secret foe to life The sword that hastneth on the date of death The suâ—…est friend to phisicke by disease The pumice that defaceth memorie The misty vapour that obscures the light And brightest beames of science glittring sunne And doth eclipse the minde with sluggish thoughtes The monster that afoordes this cursed brood And makes commixture of these dyer mishaps Is but a stomach ouerchargd with meates That takes delight in endlesse gluttony Well did Dante note in these verses the sundrie mischieâ—…es that procéede from this folly séeing what expâ—…ces to the purse what diseases to the person what ruine to common wealth what subuersion of estates what miserie to princes â—…aue insued by this insatiate sinne of gluttonie We read of the Emperour Vitellius Spynter that he was so much giuen to superfluity and excesse that at one supper 〈◊〉 was serued with two thousand seuerall kind of 〈◊〉 and with seauen thousande flying foules but the heauens storming at such an insatiable monster that so highly abused the benefites of God conspired his ouerthrow for 〈◊〉 did not onely dispossesse him of the imperial Diademe but caused him to be publikly executed in Rome Dionysius the younger from gluttony fell to tyrannie vntill he was exiled for his wickednesse out of Sirilia Mulcasses king of Thunis was so drowned in pleasure delight of superfluous banketting that in the midst of his miseries when the Emperour Charles had forsaken him and left him of a king almost the 〈◊〉 of the world yet as Paulus Iouius
to driue him out of his kingdome without battell Ferdinando the fourth putting to death a knight more for anger than anie iust cause the Gentleman at the sentence cried out Iniurious Emperor I cite thée to appeare before the tribunall seate of God to answere this wrong within thirtie daies on the last of which expired tearme the Emperour died Then comfort thy selfe Rustico let not despaire arme thée to such an heathenish resolution rather liue to reuenge than die to double thy miserie and séeing the duke hath dealt thus hardly vse him as Alexander Seuerus handled his secretarie who beeing a caterpiller in the Court and selling the verie fauourable lookes of his maister for coyne promising poore men to prosecute their sutes when he neuer mooued their cause at last in requitall of this treacherous dealing was tied to a post and choakâ—…d with smoake hauing a proclamation made before him by sound of trumpâ—…t that they which sell smoake shoulde so perishe with smoake the poore man from these plaintes fell into teares that ouercome with the passions hee fell a sleepe where in a dreame was by God reueaied vnto him the meanes of reuenge as soone as he awoake and called vnto minde the vision thinking it to be no fantasticke illusion of the brayne but a strickt commaunde from the heauenly powers presently wente home and waxed contrarye vnto his woonted custome very merrye frequenting dayly the Dukes Palace where giuing him selfe vnto drinking he became in time to bee in some sauour with the Duke who neuer remembred that hee sat in iudgement against the poore man On a time seeing that oportunitie â—…auoured him he requested the Duke that as he went on hunting he would take the paines to visit his poore house where he should finde no daintie fare but onely that he durst promise a cup of good wine This worde was enough to perswade the Duke to a greater matter so that be granted to come The poore man glad that his purpose was like to take effect went home and made a sale of all that hee had euen to his veriâ—… shirt to the great sorow of his wife and wonder of his neighbours which knew not his pretence As soone as he had pretilie furnished himself with mony he bought great store of excellent and delicate viandes of strong and pleasant wine and conuaâ—…ed them home to his house whether within two daies after the Duke fore-sent his cooke certifieng the poore man that he would dine with him who prouiding most sumptuous fare set all his wealth vpon the table at one dinner and intertained the Duke with such a heartie welcome that he not onely wondered where Rustico got such store of victuals but gaue great thankes for his good chéere Rustico serued in wine in such abundaunce that don Antonio fell to his olde vice of dronkennes and in such sort as he neuer tooke so much in his life The poore man seeing him take his drinke so fréely went to one of his Trumpetters and told him that the Duke commanded hee shoulde by sounde of Trumpet presently summon all the Citizens to appeare at his house eyther without delaie or excuse Which commande hee forthwith executed and the Burgomaisters chiefs men of the Citie meruailing what this should meane yet hasting to the house of Rustico they found a scaâ—…folde erected at the doore where after they had stayed a while Rustico came foorth and began to speake in this manner Worthie Citizens and Burgomasters of 〈◊〉 I knowe you meruaile what the cause of your comming is especially séeing mee that am poore and vnlettered prepare to offer an Oration to such politike gouernours but it is the â—…are of my Countriâ—… especially of this Citie which is like to ruiâ—…ate through the want of the possession of a perfect magistrate that drines me to this resolute and desperate attempte The dutie of a magistrate as I haue heard a certaine Philosopher should set downe consisteth in three especiall pointes in ruling teaching and iudging that hee be wise to gouerne vertuous to giue insample and impartiall to iudge for as Cicero saith sooner shall the course of nature faile than the subiects will leauâ—… to follow the steps of their Prince If then that common wealth be happy that is gouerned by such a king in what distresse is that Citie that wanteth such a magistrate and hath one that neither rulâ—…th teacheth or doth iustice but censures all things by the pallet Philip of Macedonia béeing desired by an olde woman to heare her complaint answered hee had no leasure Then quoth she be not â—…ing meaning that a Prince ought to haue more care ouer the affaires of the common wealth then ouer his owne priuate busines Then worthie Citizens what may that Citie saie whose gouernour is addicted to his own pleasure that delights not in iustice but in superfluiâ—…y that honors not the seate of iudgement with Philosophie but polluteth the place with dronkenesse that studieth not in the lawe but his library is in the kitchin that séeketh not to learne wisdome but to gorge his stomack with delicates such a one worthie Citisens haue we for our Duke our gouernour our mâ—…gistrate and as hee vttered that word his poore wife and children draggeâ—… the Duke vpon the scaffolde who was all besmeared in his owne vomite resembling rather a brute beaâ—…t then a man bred loathsomnes to all the people which â—…e poore man taking â—…or his aduantage cried out See Burgomasters and Citisens of Auspourg your duke your magistrate your gouernour who is come vpon the 〈◊〉 to hearâ—… the complaâ—… of the widow and 〈◊〉 and to minister iudâ—…ment This is the tâ—…e man that condemnâ—…d me in the halfe of my goods by 〈◊〉 and the other hâ—…lfe I haue solde to present you this spectacle the oâ—…e halfe he gaue awaie beeing 〈◊〉 and the other this daie heâ—… hath câ—…nsumed in gluttony Now citiâ—…ns shame you not at such a sight what shall Gâ—…rmanie France Italy and all the bordering Cities report of our towne What straunger will desire to traffique where there is such a glutton What Citie can ioy where there is such a gouernour If you suffer this the common wealth is like to ruinate and you and your children like to beare the burthen of a superfluous tyrant See what Rustico hath done for his Countrie now vse him as you please The Buâ—…gomaisters by a general assent gaue commandement that he should be vucouered vpon the scaffold til he came to himself and in the meane time they assembled thâ—…mselues and determined his exile The duke alter he had taken two or three houres sleepe sinding himselâ—…e vpon an open scaffolde was ashamed But hearing what had happened to him by the meanes of Rustico and how the Burgomaisters had resolued on his banishment as one feeling the horrour of the fact desperatly went into the poore mans backe side and â—…anged himselfe Which neâ—…es being brought to the Burgomaisters with a generall voice they created Rustico gouernour of the Citie This short and swéete tale of Bernardino greatlie pleased the Countie and the rest of the companie all praising the pollicie of the poore man that had made so speedie and sharpe a reuenge Well quoth the olde Countâ—…sse wee haue so long discoursed of gluttonie that our simple cheere hauing so good a sauce as hunger will proue verie good delicates therefore Gentlemen séeing wee must either make our Coâ—…ke cholerike or else leaue our present parle let vs at this time not disturbe his patience but hie vs in to dinner and repast being taken willingly wee will continue our discourse Then â—…eignior Farneze and the rest hauing their stomackes armed to such a combat willingly obâ—…ied and so for this time we will leaue them FINIS