Hospitalitie and contrariewise the most nigardes in the same King Massimissa Scipio the great Nicomedes Cecer Anaximenes and Theophrastus vsed great hospitalitie And contrariewise Timon of Athens Flauius of Luques and many other had the same in contempt ¶ What is that which is called Concorde and wherfore was it so called Concord is kinn to amitie And like as amitie ingendreth loue betwene two or many persons euen so concorde kepeth the people tied and vnited in good peace And concorde was so called by reason of the concordance and vnion wherin she knitteth and bindeth the hartes of the people as the Quene and Mystres of all good workes ¶ Wherfore was Domitian the Emperour so hated of the Romane people Bicause for the least fault committed he condempned the doers to cruell deathe ¶ What was the cause of the great victorie that the Grekes had against Xerxes Mardonius and the Persians The vnion of the Grekes like as their disagrement was the cause of their ouerthrowe euen as discorde ouerthrewe Carthage and all the Princes of Heliesponte ¶ Wherfore was it written before the gates of the temple of Apollo at Delphos Knowe thy selfe To induce vs to knowe that sparke of diuinitie which God hath placed in vs wherby we knowe that God hath done all thinges ¶ Wherfore is it saide that there is nothing that may better resemble y e kingdome of heauen then the state of a Monarchie Bicause ther is but one god which alone doth reigne gouerne al things ¶ Of what sorte of men ought a Prince to be chosen in a common welthe He ought to be noble of blood he ought to be vertuouse riche and puissaunt in armes ¶ Do you thinke it to be requisite that a lieuetenaunt generall of an Armie ought to be not onely valiaunt and wise but also happie and fortunate I thinke doubtles that he ought to be fortunate The ill fortune of Pompeius may very well auooche the same ¶ What is the principall duetie of a good Prince To seke meanes that his people be well instructed ¶ What was the cause of the euill endes of Sardamapalus and Nero. The number of Flatterers in their Courtes â—esters Parasites Bawdes Whores Ruffians all sortes of people disposed to vice where the wise and graue were expuised and driuen awaie ¶ What was the cause of the magnanimitie of Pirrhus king of Epirus The good councell and eloquence of Cyneas his Scholemaster who by reason of his eloquente orations forced very many cities rather to render them selues freely then by any force ¶ Why would king Cyrus that Xenephon should be alwaies in his companie To geue him councell in thaffaires of his Realme For Xenephon was not onely wise but also valiaunt and wel instructed in the dedes of warre ¶ Wherfore wold Alexander the gret that Onoficrates should alwaies accompanie him in the warres To inroll and register his actes and dedes ¶ Wherof ought a prince principallye to take hede Not to chaunge his bountie and goodnes for any occasion that can happen ne yet to incline his cares to flatterers ¶ Wherfore did Tigranes the kinge of Helesponte ordeine that they which did talke vnto him shoulde knele vpon their knees with their armes stretched vp To declare that he had al power aucthoritie ouer their bodies liues ¶ What is the chiefest cause of a princes ouerthrowe Flattery more then force of armes ¶ What is he in dede that maye truelye be called happie in this worlde The vertuouse man of meane wealth ¶ Whervnto serue richesse To make the minde quiet and contente withoute whiche contentation there is no happines or felicitie in this world But howe can he be in rest and quiet that hath not wherewith to bye his breade ¶ What caused Alcibiades to be so hardie contrary to the nature of the Athenians His Nourse Amilca which was a Spartan woman ¶ What moued Diogines comming from Sparta and going to Athenes to say that he came from men and was going towards women Thereby he reprehended the delightes of Athenes whiche made them effeminate and womanishe ¶ Which is most requisite either that the Souldiors shoulde defende the wall or the wall the souldiors It is better that the Souldiours should defende the wall ¶ What is the poison of frendship Flattery ¶ What maner of nourses ought they to be which are to be chosen for princes children Fayre well conditioned sage discrete pleasaunt courtuouse amiable chaste healthie and of good complexion eloquent their speache fyne and net that the childe may learne to pronounce well ¶ What is the surest guarde of a prince The good will of his Subiectes For that Prince is vnhappy which for the suertie of his person had nede of sortes and diuersities of guarde and watche ¶ What is Iustice The honor and glorie of them that do the same and a great benefite vnto them vpon whom the same is executed ¶ Whereby shall a man knowe when a Prince beginneth to be a Tiraunt When forciblye he draweth vnto him the seruice of his people ¶ What cauâ—ed Theseus to be so valiaunt The great fame and renoume of Hercules inflamed him to make hys name immortall ¶ Howe may a man be like vnto God In doing good to many indifferently and not to one alone ¶ Why do the Aethiopians which be on this side the riuer Nylus adore and worship two goddes that is to saye one immortal and the other mortall They thinke that the immortall God doeth worke al thinges and the benefites which we receaue ordinarily they beleue to come and procede of the mortall God As the notable Cosmographer Strabo doth declare ¶ What is the greatest shame that we can receaue To be surpassed in honestie curtesie and humanitie by those which be 〈◊〉 inferiours ¶ Howe did Philip kinge of Macedone gaine and winne all Gretia By golde and siluer more then by force of armes for he was wonte to saye that there was no forte or castle were it neuer so inexpugnable but he would take vpon him to subdue it if so be an Asse laden with gold wer able to enter the gates ¶ What kinde of Tragedies ought we not to reade Those which conteine nothing els but thinges that be proude cruell and full of inhumanitie But those we ought specially to reade whiche be honest and full of graue sentences interlaced with pleasaunt talke as the Tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles be ¶ Why ought we indifferently to reade all kinde of Poetes Bicause with a meruailouse swetenes of language they entermedle the Graces with the Muses wherof it came that Aelius Comodus the Emperour was so farre in loue with Martial that he termed him to be hys Uirgil ¶ Are men to be commended for their corporal beautie sake No But for their vertue wisedome counsell and force which declare what maner of mindes they haue within ¶ What difference was there betwene the Grekes and tho Romanes in making of their Images The Grekes made theirs naked the
non me rebus submittere conor ¶ Wherof proceded the fayning of Poetes that Mars was armed with Diamondes To declare that a prince ought to be strong not in bodie but in harte and corage ¶ What is the propertie of a good Captaine To be gentle politique wise and wittie not to be discoraged in harde fortune nor inflamed in prosperitie Suche was Hanniball See a further description hereof in the .xxiiii. Nouell of the Palace of pleasure ¶ From whence came the great renoume that in olde time the Cimbrians and Celtiberians atchieued in the warres Bicause they estemed the bedde of honor to be in the warres and had rather slea their owne children then they should be thrale and taken of their enemies ¶ What was the cause that Scipio being but yonge obteined suche great reputation that in his youth before rype age he was made one of the Tribunes or gouernors ouer the people and receued the state of a Councelour and was sente into Spaigne in the place of a Consull Bicause he was estemed verie holie and religiouse in suche wise as the dogges which were set to kepe the gate of the Capitole would neuer â—aie at him for all their fiercenes ¶ Why do some praise Angre Bicause it doeth commonlye accompanie courage ¶ Howe many kindes of Amitie be there Three that is to saye profitable honest and delectable ¶ Why was Dionisius expelled by the Locrâ—nces Bicause he being curteouslie receiued of them in the time of his vâ—nishment vseâ— dishonest orders towardes their wiues ¶ Why did Amphitryon geue his sonne Hercules to Euristeus To teache him to flye the voluptuousnes of the Thebanes and to accustome him with honest labour by following the vertues of Euristeus ¶ Wherof procedeth the diffrence betwene one man another By digressing from Philosophie I saie that it riseth through the trauell of the soule when it passeth into our bodies descending from God through the Lodiaque and the white Circle In which passage all soules take their affections and do participate with all the natures and mocions of eche Sphere and starre according to their aspectes ¶ What is Choler It is an angre sone come and soâ—e gone proceding of a feoble heate ¶ What is taken of the Planet Saturne Reason eloquence and vnderstanding as of Iupiter force of doing of Mars boldenes and of the heate of the Soune feeling and opinion and so forthe â–ª ¶ What is hatred It is an anger that hath taken roote ¶ What is discorde It is a frowardnes and anger comming of hatred which maketh men rebellious to the common wealth whiche in dede is the destruction of all humaine thinges ¶ What is Concorde It is a vertue which in short time maketh small and weake thinges to growe as Saluâ—t sayth Concordia paruae res crescunt ¶ Whye be Flatterers estemed worse then those that are false Bicause the false man doth but deceaue onelye but the Flatterer corrupteth men and therefore the Athenians punished Flatterers by death as Timagoras was ¶ What was the cause that Antigonus loste the moste parte of his kingedome and was constrained to make peace with the Romaines Bicause he gaue more eare to Flatterers then to Haniball that gaue him profitable counsell ¶ Why did Scipio the great refuse the title of moste mightie which the Spaniardes had geuen him Bicause chaunge of Title is a token of inconstancie more conuenient for women then men which made Cesar retourning from Alba to Rome to refuse the name king and conceaued hatred against Uitellius the father of Uitellius the Emperour bicause at his retourne home out of Siria he kneled downe to do him honor ¶ Why would Caesar neuer haue respecte to the saftye of his person although that his frendes daylye did counsell him therevnto Bicause he did lesse esteme the daunger of death then lyfe in continuall feare agreing therein to the sayinge of the Poete That it were better to be destroyed at one blow then doubtfully to attend the hazard of Fortune ¶ What moued Titus the sonne of Vespasian to pardon two gentlemen who not beinge contente to speake euell of him hadde also conspired to depose him from his Empire His good nature knowing besides that Empires and Kingedomes come from God and be bestowed vppon them whom his goodnes pleaseth to appointe ¶ What is the office of a good Prince To do well and not to care who speake euell of him ¶ Why had Epaminondas no regarde to be reuenged vppon them that spake euill of him Because he knewe that suche pacience proceded of the greate courage of the hearte ¶ What was the cause of the death of Sardanapalus His euell lyfe his lasciuiousnes wyth women and the litle iustice that he vsed ¶ Why was Marcellus created Consull of Rome with Cato that dyed at Vtica To the intent that by the gentle and good nature of Marcellus the seueritie and rigor of Cato might be moderated ¶ What caused Nero to cause the malefactour incontinently to be dispatched of life His naturall crueltye The contrarye rested in Cesar for rewarde whereof in thende he receaued hurte ¶ Why is dominion or rule so weightie a matter Bicause it is impossible to please all men ¶ Why would not Caligula the Emperour heare the accusation of any person Bicause he would that no man should hate him ¶ What induced Dionisius to geue ouer his good nature wherewith he was indued at the firste and to become cruell at the ende The mockes and cauillations of his subiectes who mocked him for his lokinge a squinte and for the grossenes of his bodie which is a notable example to beware of iesting and backbiting of princes ¶ Why did Phocion of Athenes blame Demosthenes because he spake euell of Alexander althoughe he was enemie to their countrye Bicause that Phocion like a wise man knewe that it serued for no other purpose but to pricke Alexander forwarde to make warre againste them Mennon for the same occasion wounded one of his souldiors saying I geue thee wages to fight with Alexander and not to speke euel of him ¶ Howe chaunced it that Neuius that excellent Poete was imprisoned by the Triumuiri at Rome Because he was a great Slaunderer speciallye of princes wherefore he was constrained when he was deliuered out of prison to make twoe comedies as it were for an honorable recompence whereof the one was called Areolus and the other Liontes wherein he vnsayde againe al that euer he spake before ¶ Why was Sisithcus the Poete driuen out of the Theatre by the Athenians For wryting against them that gaue themselues to Philosophie vnder the discipline of Cleanthes ¶ Why did the Magnesians crucifie Daffitas the Grammarian vpon the mount Thorax Bicause he did speake ill of many speciallye of Lisimachus their prince and dere soueraigne Lorde ¶ What is vertue It is a perfecte and entire reason which foloweth the mindes of the wise and procureth them to shunne and auoide vice ¶ What is Auarice A disordinate
wherwith he was diseased ¶ What difference is there betwene beautie and ill fauourednesse The one geueth and increaseth the other taketh away and diminisheth the maiestie of the person which caused Pericles and Hiponax although they were two worthye personages to be despised bicause they were deformed and ill fauoured ¶ Wherfore did Bupalus and Anterinus most excellente ingrauers hange them selues by the throte Through an extreme disdaine conceued for certaine Sonettes and Iambicall verses written against them by the Poete Hiponax not without desert wherefore Plato admonisheth that in any wise we shoulde not prouoke the displeasure of Poetes and the merye Poete Horace merelye writing of Poetes hath this verse Vatum irritabile genus ¶ What moued Socrates at the age of .lxx. yeres to geue him selfe to Musicke Musicke moueth the vertues of the mind chaseth away euill thoughts and sweteneth the trauell of men ¶ What indured Lycurgus the lawe maker of Lacedemon to establish Musicke specially in the fielde His experience that Musicke made man cherfull and redie to fight lustie to supporte all disaduenture and daunger of the warre ¶ What made Achilles to be so valiaunt The obseruation of the discipline and instruction of Phoenix and Chiron For Philip of Macedon was instructed by Epaminondas Alexander through his master Aristotle Alcibiades by the diligence of Pericles and Arifron tutors left vnto him by his father Clinia although he had greatest ayde and helpe by Socrates ¶ Why were the Scithians and Thratians the most sober people of all Gretia The ignorance of vice prouoked vertue more then all the knowledge of the Grekes ¶ Shamefastnes either in man or womaÌ„ what is it properly The bridle and bitte that restraineth their appetites ¶ Poesie what maner of thing is it It is the daye watche of vertue the morning foode of a redie witte the euening banquet of a well disposed minde and the midnight bel of the studious which was well experienced in the noble captaine Leonidas the Spartan who being Lieutenant generall in the warres against the Messenians neuer ceased to peruse and reade the workes and poesies of Tirteus the Poete ¶ What vices blotted the great liberalitie and pacience in aduersitie of Marcus Antonius Playe Dronkennes Surfecting and to much familiaritie with his householde seruauntes ¶ What made Iulius Caesar the first Emperour of Rome so beloued of his souldiors The not telling and counting of his Souldiors praie causing euery of them to take what he list ¶ What moued the Athenians to cause the dedes and actes of Thesius the first founder of their noble Citie to be recited which were written by Caunidias his Scholemaster hauing dayly before their â—ies the portratures and ymages of Silamon Parasius The writinges of wise men do represent vnto vs the true ymages of them of whom they be written better without all comparison then coulours or painting which haue no felinge The forme and factes of whom cannot be so well expressed ¶ What moued Polignâ—tus to cause at his owne costes and charges the whole warres of Troye to be painted The ardent desire he had to immortalizate his name ¶ Wherefore was Aurelius that excellente Painter in Rome counted to be infamous Bicause he mingled Hores and drabbes among the heauenly Goddesses so farre was he enamored with their Mere trix ¶ Why would not Agesillaus in any wise suffer him selfe to be counterfaited Bicause he wold leaue behind him after his death his dedes factes to serue for his ymage coÌ„nterfaite which in very dede do more diuinely represent y e affections of the mind theÌ„ portratures of corporall Phisnogmies ¶ wherfore was Philip of Macedon estemed a maÌ„ of so litle braine Bicause he spake much and many times to small purpose ¶ Which is the most honest excercise for a Prince Reading after he hath ended his other exercises which made the Poete Homer to bring in the God Iupiter who making a feast caused the victory that folowed in Ethiopia had against the Giantes to be song in verses to Apollo Alcinous also king of the Pheacians vsed the like Quene Dido in the feast that she made to Aeneas caused Iopas vpon his Citron to singe the course of the Starres and the beginning of the world ¶ What was the cause of the greate estimation of Pirrhus King of Epirus The eloquence that he had learned of Cicneas together with the great liberalitie and magnificence that he vsed towardes them that assisted him in his enterprises ¶ Why is it so much requisite to chose a good nurse for y e child Bicause the bodie doth not onely receaue the substance of the milke but the spirites also do fele it ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Romanes did not see their children vntill they were of the age of .vii. yeres Bicause they would not that they should come home to them before they had learned to honor them The French men were more diuerse for they wold not see their childreÌ„ vntil they wer estrong to handle wepons ¶ Why did they forbid their children the company of Ruffians gesters bablers and all such Ribaldes To thintent they should not learne to geue theym selues to dishonest pleasures and to forgette the good nature wherewith they were indued which in the ende would be the destruction both of their body and soule What ought the tales and communications be that are had with children They ought to haue some semblance of truth and aboue all thinges they must not be fearefull vnto them nor supersticious ¶ Why were the pensions receued of princes abolished in many Cities Bicause there is nothing y e doth soner corrupt the person then gifts for they engender gret suspitio in theÌ„ that do receiue them Demosthenes for receuing of bribes of Arpalus king of Persia was chased out of Athenes Why were Coriolanus and Themistocles so much against their owne countrye For the ingratitude of their citizens who denied theÌ„ both their due honours Cesar also because hys country men denied him his well deserued triumphe became enemy to his country ¶ Why was Cato of many men compted a foole Bicause he rather chose voluntary death then to yelde himselfe into the hands of Cesar who sought no other thing of him but frendship and was ment to pardon him al his iniuryes past ¶ Why did Scipio take such hede of going rashlye to the skirmishe and cumbat He knewe well that by his natiuitie he was appointed to be generall of armies and not a simple souldior wherfore he behaued him selfe according to the Maiestie of that office and not like a priuate souldior ¶ Why was Demetrius repreheÌ„ded wheÌ„ he desired to haue the surname of him that had broken the first ranke of his enemies The true title of a prince is rather to be iust then mightie and oughte rather to resemble God by vertue then the Lion by force ¶ Why did Plato refuse to reduce the common welth of the Cirenians into good order and discipline Bicause the abundaunce
notable learned men yf they chaunce to erre do wander in more heynouse errors then those that be but meanely learned Bicause they trust so muche to the excellencie of their witte and so following their owne fantasies most commonlie be deceaued ¶ Wherof commeth it that yf a wise and well experienced man do geue him selfe to vnrighteousnes in that vice he surpasseth them that are of lesse experience That Iustice is most cruell which nedeth defence by force of armes ¶ Which be those that be wise men They that are not inclined to sinne ¶ Howe long is it lawefull for a man to desire to liue So longe as a man is out of hatred and necessitie ¶ Where ought true pleasure to be sought In our selues and not in other ¶ Why is moderation so much commended Bicause it encreaseth pleasure ¶ Why did Epaminondas make so litle preparation in a feaste that he made for certaine Ambassadours To declare that they that can both be rich and suffer pouertie may hardlye be corrupted with money if it be offered ¶ What made Alcibiades to be banished out of Athenes The enuie of the Citizens ¶ What was the cause that Abatonius beinge so poore was made a kinge His singuler goodnes which wise Alexander knewe right well ¶ Why was Hipparchus estemed Secretarye to the Goddes â–ª For the great knowledge that he had in the course of the starres ¶ What is most to be feared in a Citie Honger ¶ Howe may a man enriche him selfe By forsaking his appetites ¶ Howe may we liue ioyfullye By putting our trust in thinges that neuer shall haue ende ¶ How should a man be master ouer him selfe By amending that fault in him selfe which he espieth in an other ¶ What ought they to eschewe that are in prosperitie Hatred ¶ What is the propertie of a wise man To applie well his time ¶ Where lieth the felicitie of man In the quiet state of the minde ¶ What maner of thing is humanitie It is a vertue ioined with good affection or rather a beneuolence mixed and tempered with dexteritie ¶ Why were the Romanes accustomed in their base courte to place the cabinet of the graces To declare that the office of man is to ayde and pleasure one another ¶ What maner of thing is mercy It is an affection of the spirite ioyned with humanitie ¶ Howe did Licurgus bring his Citizens to humanitie By prouoking eche man not selfe but to do all thinges for common profite as Bees do ¶ Who be they that haue bene excellent in humanitie Alexander the great and after him Scipio and Cesar. ¶ Why was Cato reprehended of Inhumanitie Bicause he loued disagrement and discension within his house thinking by that meanes to profit the better ¶ What thing is facilitie It is a vertue which easely maketh a man to enter frendship with others and doth longe mainteine the same ¶ What did Antonius pius the Emperour to make him selfe euerye day better then other He toke aside the wisest of his familier frendes and asked of them what euill was spoken of him and if he perceaued that any euell was spoken of him iustly he amended ¶ What be they that were excellent in facillitie Philip and Alexander his sonne well shewing the same to Dimocrates the Architect ¶ What is faithe It is such a godly vertue that all other vertues withoute the same is nothing Without faith wisedome is follie Temperaunce is displeased Force is impacient and Iustice is turned into crueltie ¶ Of al y e Auncients who was most excellent in that vertue Sextus Pompeius son of Pompeius the great Alexander Scipio ¶ What thing did obliterat and blot the vertues of Brutus The treason that he vsed against Cesar. ¶ What is frendship It is a mutuall beneuolence of two or moe proceding of a certaine semblaunce in maners ¶ Can it not be otherwise described After the minde of Pithagoras it is a certaine agremente of Nature equall betwene two ¶ Amonges the Auncientes who was most excellent to get frendes Alcibiades but he could not kepe them ¶ What is to be required in frendship Asemblable wil grounded vpon vertue ¶ Howe many kindes of amities be there Plato maketh three that is to say Naturall Ciuile and Hospitall â–ª ¶ What is Pietie It is the honor that first we â—we vnto God then to our Country and afterwardes to our parentes and Maiestrates ¶ What is the office of Pietie To make the person amiable towardes his parentes and kinsefolkes and towardes his country ¶ Who were excellent in that vertue Many but aboue the rest Metellus surnamed Pius after him were these three Decius Ptolome Ariobarsanus and Seleucus ¶ And who were they that were contrary to that vertue Nicomedes whiche killed his father Darius Ptolome Philopater and Ptolome called Phiton ¶ Which is the true frendship After the minde of Epicurus that which is ciuile for it is alwayes ioyned with pleasure ¶ Ciuile amitie can it be perfect amonges moe then two That is very difficult for the conditions correspondent to such frendeship are seldome to be fouÌ„d for as Plato saith al things ought to be coÌ„mon ¶ Why did Nature make man naked and vnarmed Nature hauing made man wise hath geueÌ„ him meanes inough wherby to arme himself at â—is plesure to vse at one time sundry kinds of wepoÌ„s ¶ Wherof commeth it that tall men commonly are not wise The length of the bodie commeth of great moistnes and heate but drynes engenâ—râ—th wisedome in man ¶ Wherof procedeth it that Iudges and aduocates are more reuerenced of their Clientes the PhisitiaÌ„s be of their pacients The gaine and hope of Clientes dependeth vpon the Iudges and Aduocates but the hope of the sicke dependeth not onely of the Phisitian but rather of God ¶ Why did the Auncientes call the falling euill the disease 〈◊〉 Hercules Bicause Hercules was subiect therevnto ¶ What is the office of a thristie man To remember that which is past and to thinke vpon that to come ¶ Why ought a man rather to chose losse theÌ„ dishonest gaine Bicause the euill chaunce of losse is but for a time but the other indureth for euer ¶ Howe maie a man liue godlie To thinke euery daie to be the laste daie of his life ¶ Why should a man take more care for his soule then for his bodie Bicause the perfection of the soule maketh the imperfection of the bodie and the beautie or force of the bodie maketh the soule neuer the better ¶ Where lieth the seate of our life In wisdome Strength and magnanimitie for there is neither wind nor tempest that can shake them ¶ What difference is there betwene diligent and curiouse Suche as is betwene Religiouse and Supersticiouse ¶ What difference is betwene affection and good will Affection is a generall inclination of the spirite which induceth a man to loue and maketh him sorie yf there chaunce any thing euill vnto him whom he loueth But good wil is shewed when being
moued with affection we endeuour our selfes to shew pleasure vnto them whom we loue in suche sorte that good will is the effect of the affection ¶ Howe shall a man knowe them that are wicked By the example of the good ¶ Howe shall the vertue of man be knowen By aduersitie as golde by the fyer ¶ What was the cause of the renowme of Simâ—n of Athens His being so curtuouse and gentile that he caused those beastes to be buried that made him to winne the prise of the games of Olimpus ¶ What made Pericles infamouse His great ingratitude inhumanitie to suffer Anaxagoras his schole-master to dye for hongre ¶ What moued Phocion to helpe them that were wicked Bicause he knewe the good had no nede of helpe ¶ Why did the Romanes eate and drinke openly before the gates of their Citie To take better occasion to geue meate to them that did want ¶ Wherof commeth the custome that kinges and Princes cause their Trompettes to be sounded when they go to dynner To geue warning to the pore to come take parte of their magnificence liberalitie and in many coÌ„mon welthes the same custome is yet obserued ¶ Why did Alexandre laie his Treasure in the Temple of the Sunne To kepe it saufe for at that tyme holie thinges were had in suche reuerence that all thinges were saufe that were coÌ„mitted and laied in the same For that cause Callisthenes laied in the Temple of Inno his doughters do wries to be kept ¶ What caused the victories and the great sloughter that Leonidas of Sparta and Themistocles made against Xerxes and his people and what was the cause that in the ende Xerxes was slaine by the meanes of Artabanus Bicause he had violated and polluted the holie thinges and spoyled the Temples The like happened to Brennus in the Temple of Apollo and Antiochus bicause he would haue sacked the Temple of Iupiter ¶ What is Religion after the mindes of the Philosophers It is a vertue so coupled with godlines that it can not be losed or seperated ¶ Who were they that the Philosophers called Religiouse and whiche Supersticiouse The Religiouse were they which applied their studie in the seruice of God the Supersticiouse were they that praied incessantly for the health and longe lyfe of their children ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man vnderstandeth one thing and doeth another Bicause of contrarie thinges we be wont to atteine like knowledge â—â— bicause the mind attendeth to many thinges and the sensual appetite but to one But man most coÌ„monly liueth by reason beasts after their appetite ¶ Wherof commeth it that man aboue al creatures is proude Bicause he doth somewhat resemble god and being tamed aboue all other beastes by the knowledge that he hath of many thinges comprehendeth by his wit al sensible thinges and by the spirite al things intelligible ¶ Wherfore is a pluralitie of Princes euil not to be suffred All that which may be done by one is better done then when it is done by many Moreouer yf a kyngdome be tourned into Tirannie the tirannie of one is more sufferable then of many and to be short the reigne of one is the beste ¶ Wherof commeth it that we loue better to be counted an honest man then to be so in dede and haue an euill reporte Man alone is capable of honour and therfore eche man desireth to seme to be good and euery man would auoide the trauell that bringeth man to goodnes albeit without the same vertue can not be in man ¶ From whence came the custome not to name the newe borne before the seuenth daie Bicause they estemed the childe at .vii. daies of age to haue escaped the daunger ¶ Howe chaunceth it that in the beginning of sitting at the table to eate a man careth not how nere together he sitteth and at the ende of the meale he loueth to sitte at ease and at libertie When a man is hungrie he careth not for ordre for in eating we represent a Pyramis which combreth litle rowme ¶ Why did the Aegiptians desirouse to liue chast eate no salte Bicause through the heate therof it prouoketh Lecherie ¶ Why doeth Homere call salte a diuine thing Bicause it geueth taste to all meate and preserueth the same from stinking and hath a force and vertue generatiue ¶ Wherfore be we afaird to passe through a churchyarde Bicause it representeth our ende ¶ Wherfore did the Grekes fayne that there was a god that blamed all thinges To declare that there is nothing perfeçte ¶ Wherfore was Hanibal so hated of the Romanes Bicause he kept no fidelitie and despised al things touching god man ¶ What moued Ptolome king of Aegipte to ordeine the Romane people to be the tutors of his sonne Bicause he knewe the Romanes to be faithfull ¶ Howe was the common welthe of Sparta so longe time mainteined Some imputed the cause to the magestrates which knew well how to commaund some to the people bicause they knewe howe to obey ¶ Who was the cause of the great victorie that the Lacedemonians obteyned against the Iliryans The presence of their king which was but a childe perswaded thervnto by the counsell of their priestes ¶ Why were the Athenians so vnfortunate in warres Bicause they gaue charge and aucthoritie vnto many ¶ Wherfore did the Mossones a people of Asia kepe their seruauntes tied and as it were dayly locked vp To cause them to die for hongre yf they did any thing that was not honest For which cause Alexandre chastised them very rigorousely ¶ Wherfore did the Athenians establishe this lawe that yf a bond man were set at libertie and shewed him selfe vnkinde to his master he should returne againe into bondage To declare howe vnnaturall ingratitude is ¶ What caused the kingdome of Persia so much to florishe Xenophon saieth that it was the great loue that they bare to their king ¶ What thing is hardest for a man to do To be secrete Which Philippides affirmed when he besought Lycimatus his great frende not to reueale his secretes ¶ Why did Plato so muche refuse the liberalitie of Dionisius If Dionisius had bene alwaies nighâ— vnto Plato to geue him somewhat Plato would euer haue refused it ¶ Howe ought a man to vse Hospitalitie Indifferently neither to muche nor to litle Which Homere affirmed when he ordeined that a traueller by the waie yf he would not tarrie he should not be pressed to tarrie but if he would that he should haue good chere made vnto him ¶ What order is to be obserued in helping of men Massurius Sabinus the Lawier resoluing this doubte saith that first we be bound to defende the pupilles that be committed to vs in gouernement charge vntill they be come to age Secondly to defende and helpe our gestes and such as be lodged in our houses Thirdly those whose â—utes and causes we take in hande to mainteine ¶ Who amonges the Auncientes were the most excellent in
of Loue Shame and feare ¶ Who be they that doe not let to serue Loue although they be otherwise pressed with affayres Lustie and coragiouse hartes which in despite of busines doe not passe to suffer them selues to enter the yoke of Loue. ¶ What be the paines of Loue Hurtes and woundes more then deadlie that is desires full of rage extreme trauell exile and banishmente greuouse martirdome and pryde intollerable ¶ What is the meate of perfecte Louers Sighes and teares ¶ Wherwithall do they make sacrifice to Loue With cleane hartes which are not spotted with any couetousenes ¶ Who be the messengers of Loue Pleasure Trauell swete bitter warre Peace life and deathe ¶ What are the causes of Louers sicknesses Hart breakinges hurtful fastings the hungre of Loue trembling quiuering and continuall trauels secrete dolors the extremitie of vexations and great watchinges ¶ which are the benefites of Loue Playes stepe beddes pleasures rest tranquilitie contentation aboundaunce peace refreshinges and other reioysinges ¶ Who be most secret in loue men or women Women be moost secret no doubte bicause they speake lesse then men a thing likely to be true but seldome sene Is the benefite greater by beyng secret in Loue or the hurte by too muche speaking I thinke the hurte surmounteth ¶ Thinke you that by the dexteritie of the sprite men may knowe the secretes of Louers The holie Scripture doeth witnes that the harte of man cannot be knowen and that god alone doeth knowe the same ¶ Why be the secretes of loue so easely kepte For the great swetenes that men fynde in them ¶ Is it better to loue them that be faier or them that be secret Without doubt the secret wise are more worthie to be loued for beautie is of litle continuaunce ¶ Howe should men kepe them selues secret in loue They must take hede that they passe not oftentimes by their Louers houses or often followe their haunte but waite vntill Fortune presente apte occasion ¶ Howe should our pleasures be measured They ought to agree with our age with our estate with the time and place where we be ¶ What should be the faithfull seruice of a Louer It ought to be necessary and voluntarie with the hart and the life ¶ What meaneth it that women for the moost part doe loue them that haue slowe vnsetled heddes and contemne others which haue more amiable qualities They doe esteme perhaps that they shalbe better beloued and serued of those meaner spiretes because they haue not suche knowledge as the other which are of more vnderstanding then they ¶ Howe many sortes of beauties be there Three one in the bodie the other doth consist in the accorde and harmonie of the voyce the thirde in vertue ¶ Howe may they be comprehended The first by the eyes the second by the eares the thirde by the vnderstanding And men may also inioye the perfection of beautie by sight by hearing and by thought ¶ What meane the Poetes when they fayne of Circes that she with her sorceries did chaunge and transforme al them that taried with her into beastes They would signifie by that metamorphose no other thing but the wanton and lassiuiouse allurementes of Circes wherwith deteyning all those that fell into her handes she so farre forth made them equall to brute beastes that vtterly they forgat their true estate of manhood ¶ From whence come the paynes that men suffer in this earthly and vulgare Loue They procede of that that we desire things which we can not alwaies haue at our will and mindes ¶ Do ye thinke that desire of beautie doeth hinder the reste and quietnes of men No for that desire is not of any thinge Corporall ¶ Wherfore do men attribute arrowes and fyre vnto Loue To shewe howe ardent and full of dolor his passions be ¶ Why is Loue painted naked Bycause that all the actes and dedes of Louers be suche that they can not be hidden nor dissembled ¶ What is the greatest blindnes in Loue To loue her whom we thinke can not be contented with the loue of one ¶ Whether do ye esteme greatest the beautie or the foulnes of those that can not content them selues with the loue of one The foulenes is farre greater ¶ What deserue they to be loued or hated In my Iudgement they should be hated and eschewed as the plague ¶ Which is the greatest spurre that prouoketh a man to doe well and honorablie The presence and fauour of his Ladie ¶ To what thing is the seruitude of Loue like To the seruice of Princes ¶ Howe should a man behaue himselfe amonges Ladies As in the courte amonges Princes and great estates to witte that he must be bolde and hardie ¶ Is it very true that he muste nedes be bolde and full of audacitie After my opinion no but according as a man may vse him selfe I saye yea Notwithstanding I suppose that in the court and traine of Princes and in the seruice of Ladies men ought rather to marche in the steppes of humilitie and reuerence then in to much hardines and presumption ¶ Which be the noblest hartes They whom loue disdaineth not to warme with his sacred heate ¶ Wherfore do sume loue many persons at once and yet do not vse to disclose the same Noble mindes take great pleasure to do so but to tell and shewe it it is but losse and shame ¶ Is it true which men say that yf one be in loue with another he then beareth affection to all those thinges which resemble the thing he loueth That is to true for they be in loue euen with thinges that be dombe and without sence with pictures and ingrauen thinges and suche lyke yf they shew any remembraunce of the thing they loue ¶ What is the true gage of Loue A pure and cleane harte ¶ Why doe women very oftentimes blame or disprayse their Louers To thintent that other shoulde praise them thereby to double their pleasure ¶ Who hath the more liuely spirite and better memorie the man or the woman The man not after the saying onely of the Philosophers but also of holy Scripture ¶ Who hath the better iudgement of the amiable partes the man or the woman The man as beyng indued with the nature of a more highe vnderstanding and a spirite more subtill ¶ May we loue the thing that doeth turne vs to dishonor I thinke not ¶ What is the greatest recompence that a woman can make vnto a man To reueale vnto him her secretes and finally to make him Lorde and maister of her bodie and of all her thoughtes FINIS ¶ NATVRAL QVESTIONS and the Ansvvers THE II. BOKE WHerfore is not Chese made of beasts that be tothed on bothe sydes Bycause theyr milke will not curde or creame ¶ Wherfore do men caste Smallage into Pondes Bycause Smallage doeth serue Fyshe for a medecine and also they delight to eate the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that Dogges neuer loue to eate of the tayle or of the
of riches had made it to licenceous ¶ Wherof came it y e Marius Viriatus Ventidius Bassus wer so excellent in armes did suffer so paciently y e labors of y e warres The one was a laborer the other a sheperd the third was a horskeper wherby all thre were vsed to gret trauel to paine to heat and cold and to sparenes of life ¶ Why would the Capadocians neuer be without a prince â–ª Experience did teache them howe profitable it was to be vnder the gouernaunce of an other ¶ For what cause was Solon estemed a foole Bicause being pursued of Pifistratus the tyraunt he loued rather to begge throughout the worlde then to tarrie with Cresus kinge of Lidia who would haue geuen him part of his Realme to the intent he mighte iustely and vertuousely gouerne which by his aduise he thought that he might atteine ¶ Why would the Aetheniens neuer become subiect to any Prince Bicause from their childehode they were accustomed to liue at libertie ¶ With what goodnes ought he to be indued that doth reigne and gouerne He ought to excede his subiectes in bountifulnes so muche the more as he doeth surpasse them in degree and honor ¶ What is the true duetie of a Prince To make his subiectes to liue quietly and godly which thing he can not doe yf he him selfe be not good iuste and vertuouse ¶ What difference is there betwene the equall and iuste Prince and the Tyraunt The one vseth thoffice of a man the other of a beaste The Prince serueth as a father to his subiectes the Tyraunt deuoureth them ¶ Howe may a Tyraunt assure him selfe in his Tyrannie By putting to deathe those that are the chiefest and moost noble Such was the councell of Thrasibulus to Periander Tarquinius superbus to his sonne ¶ Why be men naturally afraide to rebell or encounter with a Prince Bicause that after the minde of Hesiodus the Prince is established by God ¶ Thinke you that God hath any regarde of thinges to come There is nothing more certaine Romulus testifieth the same being rescued from the water and nourished with the milke of a wolfe Abidus nourished with the milke of a Hynde and Cyrus of a Goate ¶ Is it any meruell then although the Persians did worshippe them as goddes No truely Moreouer Homer and Hesiodus do affirme that principalitie and gouernement is a gifte proceding from aboue geuen vnto men therby to knowe the power of God ¶ What is the nature of a liberall man It is not onely to geue for the reliefe of the necessities of others but also to giue liberally and with a free harte ¶ Howe did the auncientes by figure and painting represent the good successe and ende of all thinges They made an Image holding in the right hande a cuppe and in the lefte hande an eare of wheate with a poppiâ—â— signifying thereby that he is well satisfied that contenteth him selfe with the fructes of the earth ¶ Wherfore was the gratitude and good remembrance that Eschines had towards his scolemaster Socrates so well coÌ„mended Bicause he gaue him selfe to serue him and a greater pleasure he could not do him ¶ Wherof commeth it that Crassus being in the beginning verie couetouse became in the ende so liberall Through the gret importunitie of beggers that neuer suffred him in quiet ¶ Why was it said that Alexandre had conquâ—red kingdomes and that Anaxarcus kept them Bicause that Alexander desperately for the sorrowe that he had slaine Clitus his great frende would haue killed him self and so haue lost at one instant the glorie of so many victories had it not bene for the great admonishions that Anaxarcus the Philosopher gaue him which preserued him from killing him selfe ¶ Why did Alexandre vse alwaies to carrie the Iliades of Homere about him Bicause by reding the factes of armes of the Auncientes he lerned the pollicies of the warres which encoraged him the more to y e desire of wars ¶ Of what disposition ought a sufficient Ambassadour to be Braue eloquente and wise For it is commonly saide that the prince is knowen by the Ambassador ¶ Why did the Romanes call their Ambassadours which went to treat of peace with the nauie Caduceatores Of the Caduceum of Mercurie which was a rodde that he helde in his hande signifying therby that the same rodde was a meane betwene them that fought and the aucthor bothe of peace and warre ¶ What was the cause that Nicomedes kinge of Bithynia instituted the Romanes to be his heyers In token of remembraunce of gratefulnes to be towardes them being by their ayde after he was chased from his estate by Mithridates king of Pontas restablished in the same againe ¶ What is that which maketh a Prince wicked To thinke that it is laweful for him to do all thinges and that all wickednes is sufferable hauing power to do what he liste His great welth and aboundaunce may be also the occasion and flatterers euill ministers and cruell men of warre suche as attende about his person ¶ Which is the hardest thing for him to do Dioclesian the Emperour saide to knowe perfectly howe to vse himselfe in his kingdome ¶ Why are Ciuile warres so greately to be contempned Bicause he that hath the vpper hande doeth not onely what he listeâ— but also they which take his parte do the same ¶ Why be Princes estemed like vnto God As God considereth the affection of man euen so the liberall and magnanimouse Prince ought to consider the hart and power of him that doeth him seruice ¶ Why was the liberalitie of Zeuxis reprehended of the Auncientes Bicause he gaue to receiue twise the valour ¶ Why did the Auncientes saie that it was no nede to offer eyther golde or siluer to Sainctes Bicause Sainctes are not couetouse and aâ—ericiouse as men be ¶ Why would not certaine of the Auncientes haue the ymaâ—es of their goddes to be in Marble or other stone Bicause they are tractable and plyant to our praiers and requestes wherfore they demed it blasphemie to iudge them to be harde harted ¶ Wherof proceded the custome that the kinges of Persia had to geue golde and syluer to all women that they met and to men dartes and arrowes Gold and syluer is conuenable to women and weapons to men ¶ Why did Plato in his lawes forbid that any god should be made eyther of golde or siluer Bicause he demed those mettalles to be the verie poyson of the world ¶ Why did the kinges of Persia vse to rewarde women that brought forthe many male children Bicause they filled the cuntrie with souldiers which serued for the preseruation of the same ¶ Howe was Caesâ—r healed of the falling euill By sobrietie and abstinence from wine ¶ Why haue many wise men studied to be obscure in these writinges To astoyne dul wittes at the first sight therby to encorage the studiouse to serche the mysteries and secretes of the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that the moost
Romanes clothed or armed according to their estate The wise man in a long gowne the souldior armed as Horatius Cocles in a goodly armure and Accius Nauius that excellent Southsayer in a longe gowne ¶ Of whence sprange the infamie of Perillus he being suche an excellent maker of ymages and pictures Because he applied al his cunning in making of a Bull of brasse therwith to please the cruell minde of Phalaris the Tiraunt wherein were rosted and executed those whom it pleased the Tiraunt that the crye of the executed person within was like to the lowinge of a Bull. But he was well paide for his labor for the Tirant marking that execrable deuise caused the saide Perillus to taste the first fruites of his workmanship ¶ Whervnto serueth Musicke To exercise the minde as the fence playe and dauncinge are proper exercises ¶ What was the cause that Pericles did obteine victorie against Nicias The knowledge in Astrologie For Pericles foreseing an eclips of the Sonne aduertised his people therof But Nicias hauing no knowledge in the saide science was with his Armie verie sore troubled and appalled ¶ What caused Driopas the Athenian to establishe this lawe That whosoeuer had conceaued any euill opinion of God shuld haue his hedde cut of Bicause there is no worse thing then to haue an euill opinion of him which hath made and mainteineth all thinges ¶ What maner of thinge is Religion It is the true knowledge of goddes owne seruice ¶ Wherfore did Alcibiades reiect all kinde of Musike sauing when he was at the Table at his meales Bicause Musike prouoked him to conceiue delight familierlie to talke at the Table ¶ A straunge Question wherof I would fayne be resolued One Stesichorus lying in his cradle a Nightingale lighted on his mouthe and songe vpon the same It was a presage that Stesichorus should proue an excellent singer ¶ What profite bringeth Musike to him that hath delight in the same It sharpeneth the sprite not onely to knowe the harmonie of the voice but also it maketh the person to haue a better iudgement to indite eyther in rime or prose ¶ What is true Philosophie The knowledge of goodnes and howe to liue well ¶ Howe many partes hath Philosophie Three wherof one consisteth in the knowledge of the vniuersall nature of thinges the other in the knowledge of man and the thirde in mutuall talke Which partes be well allowed by the Philosopher Plato ¶ Howe happened it that Numa Pompeius being a man of meane state and conditions arriued to the degree of one of the Romane kinges Religion was the cause in such wise as all that he spake and sayd by reason of his holines was thought to procede from the goddesse Egeria with whom he laie as the Romans helde opinion ¶ Wherfore was Tullus Hostilius another of the Romane kinges soudenlie stroken with a flashe of lightning For that he made not his sacrifices to Iupiter in suche deuocion and ceremonies as did apperteine ¶ For what occasion were Uirgines in olde time more estemed then they be at this present Bicause they were supposed to be indued with the spirite of prophesie which manifestlie did appeare by those maydens called Sibillae ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Virgil hath praised Aeneas â–ª with this Epitheton In signem pietate virum Commending him onely for his pietie towardes the Goddes Bicause Religion and pietie conteine in them all kinde of vertues ¶ What caused the Poetes to vse so many fictions and inuentions To allure men to abandon their barbarouse conditions and brute behauiors and to tourne them selues to vertue and her exercises ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of Ciâ—na Bicause he was cruell towardes his souldiors and constreined them to fight perforce and by compulcion ¶ What is Pacience A voluntarie suffraunce in thinges difficult for loue of honor and profi◠¶ What is constancie It is a vertue which conserueth good counsell and maketh a man perseuer in honorable dedes ¶ What is Opinion It is a staie fixed eyther in dede or worde which maketh vs obstinatelye to followe our fansie althoughe it be without reason onely to be superior in all controuersies ¶ What is Iustice After the minde of the Aunciente Poetes it is a celestiall vertue powred downe from God into our sprites that we might the better honor loue and sanctifie him as aucthor of all thinges and therfore Princes were for good respect called of Homere Iupiters scholers ¶ What is the propertie of Iustice To loue and honor God aboue all thinges and our neighbour as our selfe ¶ Howe many kindes of Iustice be there Foure that is to saie Diuine Naturall Ciuill and Iudiciall ¶ Of what thinges is the world gouerned By rewarde and punishment ¶ What is deuine Iustice It is that which maketh vs to acknowledge god to be our creatour the beginning and ende of all thinges and him of whom all creatures receiue lyfe without participation of mortall thinges ¶ What is naturall Iustice It is all waies one in all men and varieth nothing through the diuersitie of Regions and Nacions being alwaies conuenable to Nature And as diuine Iustice sheweth the dewtie towardes God euen so naturall Iustice is subiect to the satisfaction of nature The disciples of Socrates affirmed that naturall Iustice is a knowledging of good iuste thinges and agreable to naturall reason which thing whosoeuer doeth vse shall become good of him selfe ¶ What is Ciuile Iustice It is apperteining to a Prince or Magestrate whose office is to prouide that the people be wel ruled and gouerned and that no harme be done vnto the place wherof he hath the rule ¶ What is Iudiciall Iustice That consisteth in being reasonable to all men and to discerne the iuâ—â—e 〈◊〉 the vniuste ¶ What is properlie the nature of a wicked man To be harde cruell and vnwilling to receiue good counsell to reioyce at other mens euill to suffer no man paciently to be angrie to here them to be praised suche as not onely haue done them pleasure but also those which be vtterly vnknowen vnto them Suche were Pirron and Eraclitus Philosophers Tymon of Athens Marius Coriolanus Phocion Lucius Crassus which was slaine by the Persians Cato Scipio the great and Caligula ¶ Why were Aâ—hilles and Sylla reprehended for their victories Bicause they were cruell and insolent towardes their Enemies when they had ouercome them The contrary did Cesar Alexandre Hanniball Anâ—onius Aegesilaus all which wer greatly praised for their victories ¶ Before whom is it lawefull for a man to vaunt him selfe of well doyng Before the valiaunt or before them that knowe him not or haue smale knowledge what vertue is ¶ Why was Meteâ—lus despised For being to muche desirouse to haue surpassed Sertorius to whom notwithstanding he was noâ— comparable in valiaunce ¶ Howe ought a man to vse the goodes of Fortune That they may become subiect to man and not man to them folowing the verse of Horace Et mihi res
procedeth of a certaine honâ—stie of minde Many haue termed it to be the misteris of comelines and the mother of honestie ¶ What was the cause of the victorye that the Persians hadde against Astiagâ—s The shame that theyr wiues didde vnto theym when they fledde from the Battell whoe seinge them runne awaye lyke shepe lifting vp their garmentes smockes and all sayde vnto theym whither wyll ye ye cowardes and dasterdlye menne you that dare not stande to the battell Whither will ye flee Is there no waye lefte for you but to perse againe the wombes of your mothers Whiche manlike woordes although proceding from womens mouthes made that dasterdly nation to retourne and gaine the battell ¶ Wherein appered the honestie of Socrates so muche comâ—mended of the Auncientes Manye and sundrye wayes but speciallye in this pointe for when he hearde any one talke dishonestlie he hidde his head with his cloake vntill the other had done his tale ¶ What is Abstinence It is a vertue of the minde bridled by reason drawing vs from disordin ate appetites which we haue after the goodes of this world ¶ What is Continence It is a vertue of the minde which maketh our sensuall appetites subiecte to reason so that by abstinence couetousnes is refrained and through Continence Lecherie is chastised ¶ Who amongs the Auncients was estemed most abstineÌ„t Paulus Aemilius chiefelye in the victorye that he atchieued of the Persians and in the enterprises of Spaine and Macedonia Lucius Acummius at the ouerthrowe of Corinthe ¶ And in CoÌ„tinencie who hath excelled among the Ancients Cipio the great Alexander and Cesar. ¶ What is it that made the Corinthians infamouse Bicause they solde their daughters to enriche them selues ¶ What was the cause of the defamation of Messalina the wife of Claudius Her dishonest Intemperaunce and filthie lust who would not sticke to aduenture cumbat with any aduenturouse knight ¶ Howe did Hieron of Siracusa get so great fame beinge but the bastard sonne of a poore laboring man By great temperaunce honestie and valiaunce whiche did so shine in him that he was made captaine generall of the Syracusanes againste the Carthaginians and in the ende he behaued himselfe so well that he was made kinge ¶ What thinges are very honest Those which without respecte eyther of profite or commoditie doe deserue of them selues to be commended And honestie is no other thinge but a prouocation alwaies to do vertuouse dedes ¶ What was the cause of the glorie of Theseus The affection that he had to folowe the vertues of Hercules whiche caused him continually to be troubled both in bodie and minde ¶ In what vertue did Pomponius Atticus excell In modestie the companion of honestie Such also were Hanibal Publius Surus Anaxilaus Epictetus and king Philip of Macedonia ¶ What is the propertie of Chastitie To rule and gouerne the affections of the minde to chase away all disordinate appetites to conterpeise riot with reason and in all thinges to be constant ¶ What differeÌ„ce is there betwene Chastitie shamefastnes Chastitie is a generall chastisement of our affections be it either lecherie gluttonie or couetousnes But shamefastnes is tried onely in continuing from lechery Those women then that are chaste are suche as haue not committed offence neither in bodie nor thought But the shamefast are those which haue not had to do with any man but w t their owne husbaÌ„ds ¶ How did Euagoras king of Cyeras obteine so great renoume By not deceiuing any man for keping of his promisse gratefying his trends for his valiance for being enemie to vice al euel thoughts ¶ What is moderate sparing properlye It is a vertue nere vnto modestie which is so necessarie vnto man that without it he falleth into many vices It causeth man to spende nothing superfluously and to spare nothing that is necessary to be spent ¶ Howe may we godlely increase our goodes By moderate sparing and by tilling the earth ¶ What is sobrietie It is a vertue that ruleth drinking and eating without which other vertues are obscure ¶ Howe maye that man become sober that is insatiable in drinking and eating By considering the follies which they do that are dronke ¶ Why did the Lacedemonians vse in their feastes alwaies to cause one to be made dronke for example vnto their children To make their children to abhorre that beastlye vice ¶ Howe ought a man to drinke With suche moderation that he may abate his thirst auoiding dronkennes the disease of the head and stomacke which continually doe followe the same ¶ What did obscure the greate vertues of kinge Philip and Alexander the great his sonne Dronkennes the like happened also to Cyrus the lesse to Cato Promachus and to the sonne of Cicero ¶ What signifieth wine so disordinately taken The bloud of the earth conuerted into poison ¶ What made Massinissa of such great estimation Sobrietie and his being content with such victualles as the meaner souldiors vsed to eate And by that sobrietie he behaued him selfe so well that at four score and sixe yeres of age he begat a childe and at foure score and twelue he vanquished the Carthaginians ¶ Why did Solon ordeine that a man should lie with his wife but three times in a moneth only To accustome his people by litle and litle to shamefastnes a thing that aduaunceth not onely women but also men Howe may a man auoide all horrible and fearefull thinges By vertue by which thing onely moste cruell Tirauntes haue bene reformed ¶ Wherefore did Dimocritus put out his eyes To thintent he might not see the prosperitie and insolency of his country men whiche liued without Iustice and all kind of vertue ¶ What priuiledge haue braue and valiaunt men To be none of fortunes subiectes ¶ Is it possible to fynde perfecte valiaunce in one manne alone Homere thinketh not so and holdeth opinion that force and valiaunce in respect of other vertues in the same do many times receiue certaine furiouse assaultes Likewise he supposeth that there be many kindes of valiaunce for he praiseth Achilles for his angre Ulisses for his wisdome ¶ Why is it requisite for a souldior to be Cholerike Bicause Choler sturreth vp the harte and enflameth the sprite That is force sayeth Homere which entreth in at the nose and chafeth the blodde ¶ Amonges morall vertues which is the beste I thinke it to be force whiche by his vertue maketh a man not to feare death in an honorable enterprise and subdueth his harte to Iustice and wisdome ¶ Who was the firste that rewarded valiaunce with preciouse giftes Bachus was the firste that gaue presentes vnto valiaunt souldiors as Crownes Speares Cheines victories pictures and helmetes ¶ Howe did the wise define that vertue Diuerslie The disciples of Socrates saide that it was a vertue which willed man not to feare aduerse fortune to whom agreed Chysippus The Stoiques saide that it was an effection of the passionat mind which made men obedient to the
lawes without any feare The Schollers of Plato saide that it is a sure and stedfast meanes to chase awaie and receiue when time serueth all thinges which seme horrible Aristotle saith that it is a meane betwene hardines and feare ¶ What maketh a man to be lustie and valiaunt Desire of honor any glorie ¶ Itamus the souldior of Atigonus did he despise deathe for Glorie sake No but was content to dye bicause being a very wicked person he abhorred lyfe ¶ What meaneth it that Timiotheus the Musitian alwaies when he listed could cause Alexandre the great to entre battell and take vpon him armes and weapon and yet coulde neuer moue the braine of Sardanapalus That proceded of the nature of eyther of them which could not be altered without great difficultie Is there nothing besides Choler that doeth make a man to be valiaunt Sorrowe maketh a man to lowre although the true valiaunt man is constant both in sorrowe and harmes and sheweth alwaies a good face ¶ They that chauf through Choler or sorrowe may they be called valiaunt No but rather hardie cruell and furiouse ¶ Do you thinke it a good thinge to be reuenged vpon the enemies Yea yf the reuengement be done by vertue and valiaunce of harte and not by a passion ¶ What is the propertie of a valiaunt man Not to feare that thing which semeth fearefull vnto him and that onely for a zeale that he hath to honor and not by constraint ¶ Thinke you that despaire doeth not sometimes inflame the hartes of men to be coragiouse and valiaunt Virgil thinketh yea by saying that Optima Spes victis nullam sperare salutem But I suppose that desperaunce inflameth our hartes againste our selues and not against others ¶ Thinke you also that necessitie maketh a man valiaunt I wold suppose so for so much as necessitie constraineth a man to do what she list And so were the Ambronians constrained by their wiues to fight ¶ Why did the Santians kill them selues Bicause they wer in dispaire that they should neuer recouer their libertie ¶ Maye a man place hope amonges the number of Morall vertues Many haue estemed it to be the quene of vertues ¶ Who is the master of all thinges Use. For which cause the Souldior that is not accustomed to battelâ— dareth scarce shewe his face to the enemie ¶ Whervnto ought a good Capteine principallie to haue respecte To common profit rather then to his owne perticuler commoditie Suche was the aduise that Pelopidas the Generall of Thebes receued of his wife as he was going to the warres ¶ What is the chiefe ende of magnificence To gette Frendes ¶ Why were Caeseres giftes beste estemed although they were lesse then others Bicause he gaue them with a good will and with his owne hande Uoluntarie giâ—tes do engendre more fauor towards him that geueth them and bindeth him more that receiueth them ¶ In what thing is magnificence most apparaunt eyther in building and repayring of condues and mines or in Sepulchers Temples Steples Labyrinthes or Libraries I thinke the building and foundation of Cities for it acquireth and winneth vnto man great reputacion and the memorie therof is more then for euer As appeareth by the fame of Tyton the father of Mâ—nnon S myramis quene of Babilon Smirra the quene of the Amazones Philotidas Nelius â—thamantes Teucer Antiochus Perseus Alexandre Augustus Caesar Marcellus Titus Labienus Liuius Mutuis Pompelius Cornelius Sempronius and other builders of Cities ¶ Why did the Persians establishe a lawe against those that were ingrate Bicause they knewe ingratitude to be the spring of all vice the enemie of nature the poyson of amitie and the ruine of gentlenes and benignitie ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of Epaminondas Bicause he would haue saued his Armie besides Mantinea The like did Paulus Aemilâ—â—s although Uarro his companion did the contrarie through whose temeritie and necligence the Romanes receiued that great ouerthrowe at Cannas ¶ Wherof came it that the ordinaunces which Lycurgus made for the state of the warres were so greatly estemed Bicause they still tended to honorable victorie ¶ Howe like you the sayinge of Caesar whiche is that a man ought not to violate Iustice but at such tyme when he desireth to reigne and gouerne Forsothe I lyke it so well as a thing most vnrighteouse and wrongful ¶ What was the cause that the Lacedemonians loste their Monarchie and Empire The vnsaciable desire that they hadde to surmount the whole worlde which caused them to haue enemies on euerie syde The lyke incited the kinges of Grecia against Athenes wherfore mediocritie is commendable in all thinges ¶ Wherof proceded the ordinaunce that the Grekes made to punishe the Souldior that had abandoned the weapons of defence and not them that had cast away the weapons of offence Bicause the Souldior should be better aduised to defend himselfe then to assaile And for that cause the Romanes in the warres did put their braceletes vpon their lefte arme and not vpon their right ¶ What is Magnanimitie It is a certeine greatnes of courage wholie bent and disposed to honor in suche wise as he can not be stoute or magnanimouse which is not honest and vertuouse ¶ Wherfore was the Temple of vertue placed by Marcellus before the Temple of honor To declare that honor is gotten by vertue ¶ What is the propertie of him y t is magnanimouse valiaunt To enterprise and do things difficill and great without hope of recompence and with modestie and subrieâ—ie to talke of the same ¶ What is the principall vertue that a Prince can desire To aspire to be the best in doing well ¶ What moued Caesar to sâ—nde home Ptolome king of Alexandria his prisoner considering the ill willes that the Alexandriâ—â—â— hare vnto him Bicause he thought to winne more honer to fight with a kinge then with a multitude 〈◊〉 oute a 〈◊〉 ¶ What was the ouerthrowe of Galba Bicause he committed his gouernment to an other and would not vnderstand the state of the same but referred all to certaine noughtie persons which were about him ¶ Wherefore would not Alexander geue eare to the counsell of Parmenio who aduised him to assaile his enemies in the night Bicause he estemed that rather to be the acte of a thefe then of a valiant captaine which ought to fight by vertue and not by policies ¶ What maner of thing is Slouth Tullie doeth say that it is a certaine feare which the slouthfull manne conceueth in him selfe of the labor paine that he ought to do and is contrary to diligence Demosthenes was not to be reprehended herein for he was angry that day that he sawe an artificer or crafts man rise before him for which cause Pithias the Oratour was wont to saye that the workes of Demosthenes did smell of the oile and candell ¶ What was the cause that â—ibâ—rius the Emperour loste the whole countrye of Armenia which was taken from him by the
Persians Missia by the Danes and Samothracians and Fraunce by the Almaiâ—es Slouth and feare of trauell geuing himselfe daie and night to the delightes of Ladies in the Island of Cypres ¶ Whye did the people of Saba the nexte neighbours of the Nabathei geue themselues so much to Idlenes considering the diligence and industrie of the saide Nabathâ—i their nexte neighbours The fertilitie of Saba made them slouthfull and the barrennes of the countrye of the Nabathei made them vigilant and industriouse ¶ Why did Euripides introduce Theseus to consider and talke of all the euils that can happen to man Bicause a stripe foresene doeth hurt a man the lesse ¶ What is mercie properlye It is a certaine heauines arysing of an other mans griefe whiche as some say ought not to moue the mindes of the good but rather they ought to content them selues with their innocencye without takinge paine or care what the wicked do susteine and abide ¶ What is Felicitie It is an aboundaunce of Spirituall corporall and earthlie goodes ¶ Why was Archagathus y e Surgeon made a Citizen of Rome Bicause he was very mercifull and cunning in his cures that the like of whom the Romaines neuer sawe ¶ Whye was Antonius the Emperour surnamed Pius Because he reigned without effusion of bloud and was so mercifull as euer Cesar Alexander or Uespatian was ¶ Why do Souldiors loue hunting Bicause it is like vnto the warres which is the place where euerye man may learne to liue vertuously ¶ Whiche is the godliest exercise that a man can learne Husbandrye in which there is not onelye profite but pleasure ¶ Where is the best walke that can be founde That walking place which is furnished with wise men ¶ Whereof proceded the great estimation of Homere Bicause his workes are so full of learning and verye good to encoragâ— mens heartes to vertue ¶ Whye were the Greke aucthors counted great lyers Bicause they confounded histories with fables suche as Herodotus and Hellanicus be ¶ What is the propertie of Iustice To deceaue no man euen as the propertie of wisedome is not to be deceaued ¶ When is it lawefull to lye For safegarde of the goodes or the life of an other as Chilâ— did when he forsware him selfe to saue the life of a certaine man ¶ What is the propertie of a gloriouse man To beleue rather that which is spoken of him although it be false then that which he perceiueth in dede to be in him selfe For that cause was the â—able of Iuno and Ixion feygned ¶ What is the propertie of a vile and noughtie man To hide the truth for feare which neuer chaunceth to the valiaunt and honest who cannot abide that any man should lye ¶ Why did the Poetes say that veritie was the daughter of memorie and tune Bicause she cannot be longe hidden ¶ From whence came the whâ—le that Ixion doth turne continually as the Poetes doe faigne It is the true token of a common liar who the nerer he thinketh he is to vertue the further he is from it ¶ Why did the Egiptians ordaine that a vacabonde and common Iester should not be taken for a witnesse Bicause suche people are not worthie to be regarded and for a little bribe they are redie to all mischiefe ¶ Wherfore did the Romanes forbid playing for money excepte it were in warrelike exercises as to throwe the barre to daunce to wrastle to vaute to playe at defence and other suche like pastimes Bicause in other pastimes Fortune ruleth and not vertue ¶ Why did â—pelles the Painter set his tables abrode for euery man to viewe That he might vnderstande mens Iudgemente of his faultes As appered by a Cobler who founde faulte in a pantofle or slipper which Appelles had made ¶ What mischiefes do Flatterers bring They corrupt all good maners they tell lies in stede of truth they doe euell in stede of good vice in stede of vertue and are ordayned to destroyâ— the good and those that do righteouslye ¶ Why would not Socrates suffre himselfe to be praised of a yonge man Bicause that praise in presence is a kinde of Flatterie ¶ Whye did the Romaines so much disdaine Prusias kinge of Bitbinia Bicause he was the greatest flatterer that euer was borne In so much that his flatteries were the cause that it was ordeyned at Rome that no kinge shoulde come thither withoute licence of the Senate obteyned before ¶ What is Flatterie properly It is a vice proper and perticuler to vyle mindes to women and cowardes for it procedeth of nothing els but of feare ¶ What is shamefastnes It is a kind of feare to fall into any infamie or to be blamed for anye dede doing or to be worthelye reprehended for some faulte Therefore Cicero did terme it to be the Tamer of euell thoughtes for she withdraweth man and preserueth him from committing any offence ¶ To whom ought a man to be shamefast To children onelye for to a man of age it is vnmete to blush and to say I had not thought to do it ¶ Who is he that worthely may be counted valiaunt He that loueth life and feareth not death ¶ What is death It is an ende from which a man ought not to retire but to go to it ioyfullye and as some saye it is a gest geuen of God to menne by a singuler grace ¶ Whye didde Mallius saye in the oration that he made at Rome against Furius and Aemilius that enuie was bleare eyed and had a verye euell sight Bicause that the enuiouse man considereth those thinges whiche are nexte him and not them a farre of whiche should be more to be enuyed yf enuie were a vertue ¶ Why is Enuie compared vnto fier Bicause it alwaies mounteth for there is no man so mightie that enuie will sticke to assaile and surmounte him also if it be possible ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of Socrates being so innosent a man The enuie of the Athenians a vsuall thing in that citie which caused also the death of Themistocles and Aristides the iuste ¶ Why do the Poetes faigne that Marcias was beaten of Apollo and Thamiras had his eyes put out by the Muses To declare that howe mightie soeuer a man be he hath some bodie that goeth about to make him selfe equall with him which is a passion almost like vnto Enuie but not so muche different from vertue ¶ What was the cause of the soudeine deathe of Diodorus the Sâ—phistre The thought that he toke bicause he could not resolue a question that Stilpho the Philosopher put to him in pastime And excessiue thoughte ought not to fall into the harte of a vertuouse man ¶ What meane the Poetes by faigning an Eagle alwaies to gnawe the harte of Frometheus To declare the continuall studie of Prometheus who was very learned and wise in Astrologie ¶ Wherof commeth it that in the tyme of Ptolome there were found so many Mathematicians in the time of Xerxes so many pleasures and in
the most excellent creature that God created that is to saye of man ¶ Which is most subiect to their appetites either the man or the woman The woman was most purified in her creation and so she subdueth her appetites best ¶ Tel me the properties of the Phenix the Egle the Swan the Faucon the Popingay the Crane the Pelican the Pecocke the Nightingale the Turtle Doue the Pye and the Crowe To be immortall high minded a good singer to haue good winges to be beautifull vigilant amiable gloriouse delectable sadde chaste royall and to prognosticate the time to come ¶ And the Larke the Cocke the Quaile the Swallowe and the Storke what properties haue they To be pleasaunt magnanimouse delectable sadde and mindfull of a good turne ¶ And the Lion the Tigre the Elephaunt the Unicorne the Beare the Hyena the Wolfe the Panther the Rinoceron and the Leobert To be vigilant swifte obedient humble furiouse inhumaine a deuourer to smell well to be fayer and of great courage ¶ The Beuer the Harte the Squerill the fallowe dere the Ape the Foxe the Graye or Brocke the Marteine and the Wolfe engendred of the Harte To be prouiding of longe life nimble fearefull a Counterfecter craftie slepie honorable and spotted ¶ What signifieth the colours of white grene yealow golden pale yealow orenge coloure blew pale and carnation colour Truth hope gladnes diminution of amitie inconstancie heate and râ—â—engement frendship treason and sorowe ¶ The chaungeable color the violet the skye coler and thâ— Tawney Inconstancie gouernement highe estate and lowe ¶ The mount of Venus being eleuated or declined what signifieth the same Loue or hatred ¶ The mount of Saturne a nother token of Palmistrie what signifieth the same Richesse or pouertie ¶ Howe ought euery age of man to be gouerned Sucking babes with milke the Infant with roddes the childe with shame the yong man with good discipline the man with armes the olde man with good counsell and the latter age is decrepit and twise childishe ¶ What be the tytles of the Sunne The sunne is called the father of the daie the gouernour of nature the life of the bodie the eye of the world the harte of nature the kinge of the Starres and the visible sonne of God ¶ Which be the winges of Time The time paste the time present and the time to come ¶ What be the teeth wherby time doth consume all thinges The daie the night lyfe and deathe ¶ What is the cause that in our time men be not so excellent as they haue bene in times paste It is Nature which dailie groweth worse and worse or els it is because vertue is not so muche commended or estemed at this present as in times paste it hath bene Or els it may be saide that it is the custome of each age to make complaint of the present state FINIS Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Nicholas Inâ—lande The water of the riuer of Lethe being dronken doth cause a man to forget his memorie The doubtes of Câ—nâ—e Fuâ—uio Rargone The 〈…〉 a noble man of Trescia The doubtes of Signor Miâ—â—â—l Carâ—ra The doubtes of Signor Traiano Calzauelo The doubtes of Conte Giouanni Michas The doubts of M. Giouanni Antonio Saluagno The doubts of R. Siluio Luzzago The doubtes of â—â— Francesc◠〈◊〉 The doubts of Conte Curtio Martineago The doubtes of M. Gabriel Giliota The doubts of M. Hercole Bâ—â—nacciolo The doubts of M Girolamo Libanoro The doubts of M. Pietro Spino The doubtes of Georgio Di Poggi Cerastes is a serpent which hath hornes like a Ramme The doubts of Caualiere Alessandro Da Castello The doubts of M. Dioâ—â— gi da Castello The doubts of the reuerende father Bartholâ—meo Stephaniâ— The doubts of Monsignor Labbate Lâ—â—â—dano The doubts of Monsignor â—orquatâ— Bembo The doubts of Doctor Barnardo Schio The doubtes of â— Alexandro Federici The doubtes of S. Francesco Palaricine The doubts of S. Ottauiano Palauiciuo The dâ—ubts of S. Nicâ—lo Madruâ—cio The dubtes of Conte Lodiuico Rangone The doubts of the priÌ„ce of Salernâ— The doubts of Madonna Medea Pauona The doubâ—s of S. Anerigo Sansâ—uerini The dubtâ—s of Girâ—lamâ— Spagna The doubts of Dottore Carrettonâ— The doubâ—s of S. Ferratâ— Martina The doubts of S. â—io de â—liâ—bici The doubâ—s of Conte Sigismondo Diarco The doubts of M. Alâ—ssandro â—ressino The dâ—ubts of Conte Camillo da Castiglione The doubts of S. Giouan Michas The doubts of M. Vincentio Brusantino The doubts of M. Alberto Schiad The doubts of M. Francesco Codazza The doubts of Caualiâ—r Gasuola Euerye IugeruÌ„ or yoke is asmuch grounde as .i. yoke of Oxen wil ploughe in a daye It maye bee tearmed our English acre A pointe in Palmistrie and a parte of manans hande