sorrowe Great Ioye doth choke the interior partes and heauines doeth extinguishe and coole them so that life can not endure where heate lacketh ¶ Wherof commeth it that Mermalade of quinces taken before the repast doeth binde and close vp the belly and taken after the repast doeth vnbinde it Through his great stiptisitie or costifnest it closeth the nether partes of the ventricle and if it be taken after repast it closeth the superior partes of the stomake which being shut the meates be constrained to auoyde by the inferior parte ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the Radishe rote doth greatly ayde helpe digestion and yet of it selfe almost can not be digested The Radish is compound made of diuerse qualities The more subtill partes therof are very proper and mete to cause digestion Thother which are grosse be contrarie to heate and so let digestion ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Cholerike complexions doe sonest atteine to berdes For their great heate and bicause they haue the poores large and wide ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue curlde heare and some other smothe and streight The curlde heares do procede of the aboundaunce of heate which euidently may be sene in Mores and Ethiopians who for the moost parte haue curled heare And playne and streight heare commeth of humiditie which through his heauines doeth draw the heare downewardes ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue their priuie partes heary and not their visage nor breste In the nether partes is more moystnes aswel by reason of the bladder as of the Matrixe there is also great resolutions of vapours which cause heare to growe ¶ But howe commeth it that heare doth also growe in them that be hanged They be continually in the Sunne and all the humors of their bodie doe resolue into vapors which causeth the heares to encrease and growe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue harshe and harde heare and other softe The softe heare doeth come of the litle pooers and the stiffe and harde doeth procede of the greatnes of the pooers for this cause women haue their heare more fyne and softe bycause their naturall colde doth restreine and make their pooers lesse ¶ Wherof doeth it come that they which be bashefull and shame faced ware redde and yet they ought rather to be pale bicause shame is a kinde of feare Shame is a certeine affection mingled with angre and feare for we be angrie many times as well against our selues as against other when we see a thing discouered that we would should be kept secrete Angre then in that conflict doeth ouercome feare and so the blodde often mouing in and out stayeth at length in the vpper parte vntill the motion of the spirites be appeased ¶ Wherof commeth it that in a maner al they which in their youthe be to fatte do dye sodenly The vaines of suche people be to narrowe and they are so pressed and as it were bounde together with fatnes and greace that the ayer and the spirite cannot freely passe Wherof it commeth that the naturall heate hauing no refrigoration of the aier of very force doth mortifie extinguish ¶ What causeth yonge men sooner to haue an appetite then olde men It is bycause they be of a hotter complexion ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbid vs meates that be to hotte Bicause they burne the blodde and do dispose it to Leprosie ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue no beardes Bicause that substaunce which should conuert into the bearde doeth turne into the heare of the heade ¶ Wherof commeth it that Infantes and children for the moost parte do resemble their mothers notwithstanding after the opinion of many Philosophers the action and dede of generation is not of the woman That commeth of the ymagination of women ¶ What meaneth it that Garlike and Onions although they be not in the ground do sprowte and growe That is of the great aboundaunce of the humors that they haue ¶ Wherof commeth it that studie is noysome and hurtefull after repast Natural heat can not trauel both in digestion speculation at one instant Wherof commeth it that when the stomacke is grieued all the bodie languisheth The stomacke hath certeine aliaunces with the harte the brayne and the Liuer which are the principall partes of the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do thinges beste with the right hande and other some with the lefte That procedeth of the heate that commeth from the harte which maketh that syde more apte and mete vnto labor whervnto it hath his principall accesse ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all kindes of creatures be more leane in the beginning of their youth and when they be olde then in their middle age Before olde age naturall heate is in his greatest force and strength which dissolueth the fatte Olde Creatures be neuer fatte and if they be their fatte is as nothing through their great colde and drynes for the faâ—te is sustained and nourished with moistnes and heate ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which haue the hicket by retaining their breth do ease them selues of it The blowing and breth retained doeth heate the interior partes of the bodie and the hicket procedeth of nothing els but of colde ¶ Why do olde people nese with great difficultie Because their conduictes be very straight ¶ Why doeth wine mingled with water cause vomit Mingled wine is noisome to the stomacke and doeth weaken the vertue retentiue contrarywise pure wine doth comforte it ¶ Whye be they so subiecte to sickenesse that loue to drinke stronge and mightie wines Stronge wine excessiuelye dronke doeth extinguishe naturall heate and the liuor being therewith weakened cannot engendre good bloud but doeth rather ingender a certaine aquositie and waterishnes that conuerteth it selfe into a dropsie ¶ Why be not yonge children so thirstie and drye as men of greater age The moistnes of yonge children doeth kepe them from being thirstie For thirst is nothing els but a desyre of moistnes whervpon they that be of greater age be naturally more drye and therefore more thirstie ¶ Whye doeth the dronken person thinke all thinges which he seeth do runne and tourne round That commeth bycause the spirites seruing to sighte be mingled with the vapors and fumosities of the wine the heate whereof causeth the eyes to be in a continuall motion and so the eye being round maketh al thinges to seme as though they turned round And if the eye were of other fashion then round the thinges he seeth would seme also to be of the same shape ¶ What might be the cause that Asses when they be yonge do seme nimble quicke and pleasaunt to loke vpon and as sone as they begin to waxe and growe then do they appere the contrarye The Asse is of nature melancholike youth is hotte and therfore liuely and pleasaunt which neuerthelesse afterwardes doeth moderate and decrease because the melancholike qualitie beginneth to augmente and the heate of youth to diminishe ¶ Whye do hennes keckle and make
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
DELECTABLE demaundes and pleasaunt Questions with their seuerall Aunswers in matters of Loue Naturall causes with Morall and politique deuises Newely translated out of Frenche into Englishe this present yere of our Lorde God 1566. Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Iohn Cawood for Nicholas Englande Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum To the Studiouse and vvell disposed youthe of Englande THE learned Poete Horace myndinge to bestowe the trewe prise of wisedome vpon him that is most worthy saieth that he by good right doeth deserue the same which can best skil how to knitte and ioyne profite and pleasure together For those two thinges be as it were vncoupleable forsamuch as the gods as Hesiodus doth witnes would that profitte were dailie accompanied with sweate and trauell and that commonlie thend of pleasure is sower and bitter He therfore of good righte is to bee tearmed a passinge good workeman which can with such â—astnes of coÌ„sent incorporate vnite them as thone maie stil interchaungeably ensue and rise of thother To which entent notwithstanding their diuersitie of opinions thauncient Philosophers altogether endeuored sieking euery one after his veyne in suche sorte to pollishe and beautifie that most excellent porcion of vs the minde as prepared the better to receaue the print of vertues seale we mought in this race of frailtie climbe to some degree at least of trewe happines and sound felicitie But bicause the name of vertue is of suche maiestie as at the firste vewe it would dashe and dismaie her firste and feble beholders certaine Philosophers castinge asyde their frostie beardes and other such ceremonies of Philosophicall showe with louing care to cherishe and mainteine those soft and gentle minds that could not yet wel broke the pain full bruntes of scollerlike customes haue deuised certein pleasant confections as it were wherwith to sauce and sweten the studie of Philosophie handling eche parte therof so familiarlie that the most wild and haggard heades were oftetimes reclaimed to harken follow their holsome Lessons And so the phrigian fabler Aesope geuing fained speche and conference of talke to creatures vnreasonable vnder cloke and color therof lefte vnto the reasonable most necessary preceptes of all humanitie and morall dewtie â–ª The like hath bene from time done by a number of noble Poetes who in their fabled forgeries yf they be well marked haue vttered all maner of most depe and profound learning I speake not of the Comike writers who pretending but sport by pretie contriuement of partes and persons teache howe to beare our selues towardes all sortes and specially to shonne the cosining trappes of those that are numbred amonges the vilest kynde of people Which selfe same fruite is also to be gathered of these our common plaies and showes which grounded after a sort vpon the rules of Philosophie do whet and sharpen the wittes of the lokers on euen as the Barriers Tilte Torney wrestling leaping or running do by vse streÌ„gthen the â—â—mmes and frame the bodie better and more abâ—e to discharge when neede shall earnestly require their office of armes In respect wherof hauing fallen into my handes of late a certeine Frenche booke the woorke sure of some learned and Skilfull writer driuing principallie to the like good purpose deemed it could not bee but labour worth to spende some vacaunt daies in teaching it to speake our mother english tonge Especiallie for that in full perusing thesame I founde he had so handsomlye by waie of question couched together the moste behoueable pointes of all Philosophie as to the diligent reader mought nedesly bring with it exceding riche encrease bothe of profitte and pleasure The rather truely bicause in order of his treatise not intermedling with the particuler dewtie of any calling or estate he generallie concludeth of matter not impertinent to all degrees So that leauing the rawenes of thinfant and childishe yeres to the care and correction of their nourses and scholemasters beginneth to shape his fyrste preceptes to the best aduauntage of that age which as it is most disposed to the vanities of loue so moste likelie to be abused miscaried by thesame may here in some part lerne to knowe and eschewe the tempting deceiptes of that Boy she godde and his blinde disciples From thence leadeth he vs into the darke storehouse of natures secretes where with open eies perusing the weke condition of the world and worldely thinges yea and of vs our selues for whose sake they were principallie ordeined maie remaine therof both more mindefull and thankefull to our creatour Lastely he bringeth vs to the fountaines of good nurture teaching not onely in priuate cases of our owne liues and houses but in common welthe matters also to geue suche verdict of thinges incident as amonges the wise and sagest gouernors shal make vs estemed not altogether ignoraunt or emptie of good vnderstanding All which thinges although it is not vnknowen maie by the lerned be picked out of the works of thold autentike Clarkes yet for so much as falleth not to al men such opportunitie as wherby to rake vp their so huge infinite volumes it is to be hoped the greatest number those specially whose good spirite moueth rather to geue their leasured howres to some vertuouse exercise then to ydle and for the mooste parte dispraisable games will with suche equitie vse and constre this englishing of these brief collections as of a labour louingly vndertaken bothe for their delectable recreation of minde and profytable helpe of studie wherevnto bee wished vniuersallie moost happie successe tyll for the further benefite of them that fauour the reading of the Scriptures which truthe to saye all men aboue all thinges ought to fauour shall herevnto also be annexed the like Questions of diuinitie ryght pleasaunte familier and moost necessarie QVESTIONS OF LOVE AND THE Ansvvers WHEROF doeth it come that Ruffians Iesters and common Dauncers be lesse subiecte to Loue then other That may come by the continuall familiaritie that suche men haue with women in whom they haue no pleasure for respect of loue or whose familiaritie doeth make Loue lothesome or out of taste ¶ What is the cause that he that loueth feruently is soone angrie Because the sprites and humors of Louers be verie hote and boyle continuallie ¶ How commeth it to passe that an amorouse woman is so curious to be finely appareled and decked She doeth it to increase and set foorth her beautie therby to subdue and drawe those vnto her that be moost beautifull and desirous to Loue. ¶ But why be rough and hearie men more prone and disposed to the amorouse battell of Loue then other Bycause they abound and be more full of humors then other ¶ What hath moued certeine Greke Poetes to saie that Loue is the moost excellent amongest all the heauenly goddes It is perchaunce because there is no Philosopher that doeth teache the maner of mans life â—o well as he or maketh man more practique or quicke sprited ¶ But why
hath Loue bene estemed a godde Bycause he maketh an Idiote to speake well a coward to be bolde and hardie a melancolike man Ioyful a heauie and slouthful man prompt and readie to all enterprises be they neuer so great Or els he is made a godde for man to excuse him selfe and to cast vpon Loue all that which by the same he hath done and susteined ¶ Why be Louers so desirous of corporall bodelie beautie Bycause beautie as auncient Poetes do affirme doth please the Goddes is agreable to men is not lothesome nor heauie to him that is indued therwith but desired aboue all thinges that may be wished ¶ what is the reason and cause of Nosegaies garlandes of floures and grene bowes wherwith Louers be wont to adorne the frontes of their Ladies lodginges It is to honor them as their goddes on earth and to shewe that such Nosegaies Garlandes and Maie bowes doe serue for the spoiles and triumphes of their Ladies and for true signes of the seruice and deuotion of their louing seruantes ¶ But wherof commeth it that we dreame seldome of the thing that we loue All louers being tossed and vexed with diuerse thoughtes can not stedfastlie graue and settle any one thing in their fantasie for their houghtes be like the circles and bubblinges of the water which are dissipated the one by the other ¶ From whence commeth it that certeine Louers vpon the viewe and sight of their Ladies doo blushe It riseth of the blodde and sprites which ascend vpwardes wherof the face fullest of poores of any part of the bodie doeth charge it selfe with coulor It may be also that it procedeth of a singuler reuerence that they beare to their Paramoures ¶ But why doo they afterwardes waxe pale There is no true louer but is troubled with some disquiet or contrarietie Yf the cause then of his paine doe present it selfe before his eyes the same doeth easelie growe and increase And so Nature retiring vnto the inward partes as into her holde or forte carieth with her both the blodde and sprites leauing the superior partes without any coulor ¶ Howe chaunceth it that barren and vnfruitfull women be more hote and prompt to loue then they which are fruitefull and beare children Bycause that suche doo moore abound with seede and do purge them selues of their naturall disease lesse then other doo ¶ Why doe Louers delight to beare in their handes Nosegaies and Apples All Louers haue desire to enioye and possesse the floure and the fruicte of others age and beautie wherin they reioyce when soeuer they see the same And so be amorouse bothe of flourâ— and fruicte and of all suche beautifull thinges that they see ¶ But why be Louers for the moost part readie to wepe Poore Louers continuallie be pricked with some Naile and fele cause wherof to complaine being of Nature fearfull suspiciouse Ielouse and troubled so that it is no merueile if such and the like passions do prouoke them to teares ¶ What meaneth it that Louers be continually as it were in a fyre The affection of Loue doeth moue and trouble their sprites which doeth raise in them this heate ¶ Why be women more prone to the combat of Loue then any other creatures at all times and seasons Nature hath indued them with more delicate touchinges and with more moderate complexion then other Besides this they be of complexion whoâ—e and moiste a thing verie proper and requisite to that plaie and pastime ¶ Howe commeth it that men take no pleasure in the plaie and game of Loue when they haue lust to make water Bycause euen then the Conduictes are full and that which is full of moistnes cannot receue other humor It maie be also that the heauines and weight of the vrine doeth restraine and stoppe the conduicte from whence the seede doeth issue and come ¶ Wherfore is the pleasure of Loue greater then all other pleasures that may be ymagined That commeth of the Sperme which passeth through all the partes of the bodie yelding vnspeakable pleasures to thother members ¶ How chaunceth it that men of melancholike complexion be more liuelie then other in combat of Loue The windie passions wherof they be full be causes of the same which make them more wakefull and disposed thervnto ¶ Why doe Phisitians praise mediocritie or seldome vse of Loues game Bycause the same doeth lighten the bodie reioyce the spretes comfort the braine recreate the senses and expelleth from them all accidentes proceding of melancholike humor Excesse also is to be blamed because it doeth weaken the bodie and is hurtefull to the sight ¶ Why doeth Nature geue to Loue so great pleasure For preseruation of mankind which through the same is continued ¶ Why doe they soone grow to graie heares which be much geuen to Loue Bycause they expell from them their naturall heate wherby life is conserued and mainteined ¶ Why doeth the beare of the hedde and eyebrowes of those that be fornicators and lecherouse soonest fall The game of Loue doeth marueilouslie coole the superior parts which being made bare and voide of blodde and sprete can not digest that which doeth nourishe the same And so the vapors proceding of digestion be not sufficient and able to ingendre heare of the hedde and eyebrowes ¶ What maketh a man after he hath committed the acte of Venus to be soudenlie melancholike and angrie Because in the doing of the same we lose and skatter the moost part of our vitall spirites which maketh vs heauie and sadde ¶ What is the cause that a man doeth sooner dispatche that acte fasting then when his bellie is full The Conduictes wherby the seede doeth passe be more open fasting then after meate ¶ Wherof commeth it that Louers care not to spend the whole night in Loue. Euery vehement passion doeth holy drawe a man thervnto and suffreth him not to geue himself to any thing els but to that wherof he thinketh and whervpon he bendeth his fantasie ¶ Why be Louers so carefull of the sight and amorouse lookes of their Ladies All Louers be wont to suffer them selues to be fedd with such allurementes and there is no part of the bodie that doeth so well manifest and declare the interior passions of the minde as the eyes Also we saie that the eyes are the true harboroughes of the harte And therof it commeth that when one kisseth the eyes affectuously as a thing desired It semeth that he kisseth the thought and the soule it selfe Wherof certeine Poetes with good reason haue written that Loue boroweth his arrowes from the eyes of Louers to serue him selfe agaynst them selues ¶ What doeth moue the Poetes to faine Venus to be of Massiue golde That may be by reason of her rare and excellent beautie or els bycause she is so much desired as golde some assigne the cause vpon the great some of golde that Louers doe consume and spend vpon Loue. ¶ What is the cause that Louers doe vse so to forsweare
the wine and that which is moost subtillest and fynest to the blader and that commeth of the participation that it hath with Nitrum of saltenes And for to vse it to this effecte the colewort must not be to muche sodden ¶ Wherfore did our forefathers make difficultie to vse at their tables diuerse meates and sortes of dishes The diuersitie of meates can not be digested with one proportion of heate And so nature being troubled with indigestion of such diuersitie of meats causeth noysomnes to the stomacke and specially when it is weake ¶ Wherof commeth it that the sea is so profitable and delectable for Lazermen and such as haue the dropsie The sea prouoketh vomit and through vomiting â—â—eame and all other superfluouse humors which cause suche diseases do auoyde And so those that be infected do loue the Sea ¶ Wherefore is the Citie of Auignion rather subiect to the plague then any other place rounde about it The subtill ayer is sone infected and soone purged of the infection contrariewise the grosse ayer is not so lightly infected nor yet so soone purged ¶ Howe may the fyne and subtill ayer be knowen from the grosse and corrupt ayer The tenuitie and subtiltie of the ayer is knowen for that at the rysing of the Sunne it is soudenly heated and waxeth colde at the goyng downe therof The contrarie doth chaunce to the grosse and vitious ayer ¶ Wherof commeth it that the winter in some countries is longer then the Somer and in other cuntries the Somer longer then the winter The cause of the Sunne in the Zodiaque doeth cause mutation of the foure seasons of the yere And where the sunne continueth longest ouer the heddes of those that dwell in that region there is Somer greatest and where it is farre of winter doeth longest continewe ¶ Why is Musike more delectable in the morning then at any other tymes Bicause that all things be then in silence the sences be more lustie and waking and the minde in great moderation and temperaunce ¶ Why be fructes commonly beloued of all men For the naturall swetenes which is in them or els bicause they be of temperature hote and moyst ¶ Wherfore is the sighte aboue all the other senses mooste estemed Bycause by the sight we see the difference of all thinges Or els we may say that it commeth by the impression of Loue which taketh his first force and strength by the sighte ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a feble sight write smaller letters then other Bicause they write their eyes beyng in a maner halfe closed and shut ¶ What is the cause that all ill factes doe discouer themselues by the eyes and the harte Bycause the eye is messanger of the harte It maie also be said that the face being tender and open to all vapors the same maie easelie be iudged and discouered by the alterations that it sheweth principally froÌ„ the hart ¶ Why be they that haue litle heades naturally more cholerike and disdainfull then others Bycause that the heate comming from the harte from whence anger riseth can not well be cooled and the Choser proceding from the blodde moued and boyling about the harte causeth heauines ¶ Wherof commeth it that by and by after we haue made water that parte by the which the Sperme and seede passeth doeth immediately retyre and waxe lesse Bycause the same part beyng emptie and voyde is incontinently fylled with ayer which cooleth the membres that it replenisheth ¶ What is the cause that man of all creatures is the wisest The purenes and subtiltie of his blodde ¶ Wherof commeth it that by thinking vpon straunge and horrible thinges our fleshe doeth quake and tremble Bycause the heate doeth retyre to the inferior and inwarde partes ¶ Howe commeth it that in the harte of a Stagge there is a bone Nature hath there placed it to serue for a staye and foundation of the continuall mouing and motion of his hart both in rest and trauell ¶ What is the cause that the blodde is redde Of the affinitie that it hath with y e Liuer which is the very seate of blod ¶ Howe commeth it that women haue more thicker blodde then men That procedeth of coldenes which is naturall to women and the propertie therof is to thicken ¶ How commeth it that in Horses Mules Asses and crowes men finde no gall All they haue galles but it is not in one proper place but disparsed throughout all the vaynes ¶ Why are they commonly leane which haue great Miltes The Milte doeth drawe vnto it muche matter and substaunce which would els turne to nourishment and fatnes ¶ Howe come heares to be placed vpon the hedde The Braine bringeth them forthe discharging it selfe of grosse vapors which comming forthe by the poores of the fleshe do waxe drie and turne into heares ¶ Why do diuerse fede vpon bones and not vpon heare Bicause of the ouermuch drynes therof ¶ By howe many waies may the braine be purged The watriche humors be purged by the eyes the melancholike by the cares the cholerike by the nose and the flematike by the heare ¶ Wherfore was man created with the face vpright towarde heauen and other beastes cleane contrarie To euery thing ought to be assigned the figure that is moost proper to his mouing as to the skye roundnesse to fyre the figure Piramidale that is to saye vpright and straight To man also bicause of his two fete the figure Diamâ—trale and Piramidale is very conuenient and mete ¶ What is the cause that the harte doeth alwaies sturre and is in continuall motion The ayer and the moost subtill spirites haue chosen the harte for their seate They beyng then so pure and subtill do seake meanes to stretch and enlarge them selues so farre as they may and to fill that which they finde to be voide which causeth the harte to moue and pant It may be said also that the harte being made as it were in a triangle forme although not perfectlie doe open shut in the lesse part and therfore it continually moueth ¶ Wherfore hath nature made the longes of al creatures lyke a sponge To receiue ayer the better for the refreshing and cooling of the harte and to driue away all hurtefull vapors ¶ Wherfore hath nature placed the harte in the middest of the stomacke To geue lyfe equally to all the members euen as the sonne placed in the middle of the heauen doeth equally geue light to all thinges ¶ Wherfore doeth it decline somewhat more to the lefte syde then to the right To temper the coldenes of the milte which is the seate of melancholie and placed on the lefte syde ¶ Howe commeth it that all those creatures which haue litle hartes be more hardie then they which haue greater In litle hartes the heate is better compacte and kepte and so by consequence the more vigorouse and of greater force ¶ Wherof commeth it that some doe dye throughe ioye and some through
Wherof commeth it that the milke in a womans brest soudenly decayeth yf she geue her selfe to be immoderate in luste Bicause the menstruall blodd doth not ascend to the brestes to nourishe the childe ¶ Wherof commeth it that those women that are with child of a sonne haue their right breste harder then the lefte It is because the male bredeth in the right syde and so the menstruall blodde comming to that syde to nourishe the childe maketh it more harde and styffe ¶ Wherfore hath Nature geuen vnto woman but two teates onely and vnto other Creatures mo Bicause other Creatures do bring forthe many yong ones at once and women moste commonly haue but one or two children at the moost ¶ Wherof commeth it that many times women do bringe forthe their children before their time through to muche Ioye or mirthe Great Ioye taketh away the heate of the Matrix which causeth vntimely birthe ¶ But why is the thicke and plentiful milke a token of a man childe and the milke that is cleare thin betokeneth a daughter The woman being with child with a sonne is of greater heate which thickeneth and maketh the milke to digeste contraryewise the milke of a woman being with childe of a doughter is lesse digested by hauinge of lesse heate ¶ Wherof commeth it that the milke of women whiche without respect and at all times be content to be imbrased is not good for children At that instaunt that the woman is embrased the beste and subtillest parte of the milke doeth retourne to the Matrix and to the generatiue vessâ—lles and that which is the worst remaineth in the Pappes wherby the childes fare is full slender and thinne ¶ Wherof commeth it that the milke of fayer women is not so good as of blacke women Browne women are of hotter complexion and therfore haue their milke better digested ¶ Wherof commeth the disordinate desire that women with childe haue to eate thinges that are lothesome most commonly in the firste or thirde moneth after they be conceued Suche is the appetite as the humors be which are within And bicause the humors of women with childe are corrupted it is no maruell although their appetite be without reason ¶ Wherof procede the spottes that we see many times in the Moone Of the corruptions of the earth eleuated with vapores Many learned men in Astrologie do affirme that the starres doe receiue their nourishment from the humors of the earthe ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue the falling sicknes do see nothing although their eyes be open That procedeth of the vnderstanding which is then as it were blind and the vnderstanding causeth the sight For the sight is no other thing â–ª but a certen power able to receiue and comprehend that which is presented vnto vs and to retourne it agayne when we will ¶ Why do they that are fatte liue but a litle while It is the want of blodde which by fatnes is consumed for the lesse blod 〈…〉 the more they are subiect to heate and colde and that is the cause 〈◊〉 why they be fructeles and barren ¶ Why do Phisitians appoint the bread for those that be sicke to be first tempered before it be geuen them The Leuaine hath a certeine corrupt heate in it which augmenteth feuers in suche sorte that it corrupteth the breade if there be to muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that the paste the more it is kneded the better it is It is bicause the licor the meale and the leuaine being well incorporated and the moystnes resolued the breade is more holsome and better ¶ Wherof commeth it that the outward partes of the bodie are more subieâ—t to colde then any other part of the same Bicause they are thinner and furder from the harte ¶ Wherof procedeth it that they whiche haue the ball of their eye great haue not so good sighte as they which haue it small Bicause the vertue of the siâ—ht filleth better and is closer in a litle ball of the eye then in a great ¶ What is the cause that strypes layed on with rodds do smart more then blowes with stickes Bicause Roddes do enter better into the bodie ¶ Wheroâ— commeth it that the herbes Pursline and Lettice do first coole and then warme the bodies of them that do vse to eate them Untill the digestion be made they do coole the bodie but the digestion made they chaunge into good blodde and so increase heate ¶ Why was the thinge callâ—d of the Italians Nimphae placed in the orifice of a womans matrix To be an Ornament or rather to kepe her matrix from colde and that it should serue the same as a couerture ¶ Why is the Capon better to be eaten then the Cocke The Capon leseth not his moistnes bicause he treadeth not the Henneâ—â—â— the Cocke doeth and therfore is better ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue the etique feuer or consumption do fele no paine in sickenes Euery vnequall temperature is without payne ¶ What is the cause that aâ—ter slepe we vse to stretche our selues To driue away euill vapours ¶ Why do they that haue traueled slepe better then others Bicause the spirites desire to be at reste ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that they which are dronke in beholding one thing do thinke that they see two or many That commeth of the continuall and souden mocion of the eyes proceding of the vapours and exhalacions of the wine ¶ Why is a Dronkard of better iudgement in thinges that are bitter egre salte and of euill taste then any other A Dronkard hath his tongue better seasoned with the licour and swetnes of the wine and hath more moystnes in his tongue then he that liueth soberly wherby he may the better iudge ¶ What difference is there betwene heauines in the hedde and dronkennes Heauines in the hede causeth oppilacions and stopping Dronkennes commeth of subtile vapours which trouble and mingle them selues with the Braine and the vitall spirites ¶ Why do men iudge him that hath a short arme to be fearfull and of euill disposition As the length and bignesse of the arme is a token of heate euen so the shorte arme doeth betoken colde for the propertie of colde is to shorten and restraine And as of heate procedeth hardenes so of colde commeth feare Being then in continuall feare lefte euill should happen vnto them it is no meruaile though they thinke alwaies of some euill ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue grosse chekes are of dull and harde vnderstanding Grosse fleshe commeth of grosse humors which also causeth grosse spirites and so consequently dull vnderstanding ¶ Why do they rubbe their eyes that wouldnese Nesing commeth of heate and the rubbing prouoketh heate ¶ Why do the Eagles driue away their yonge ones before they be â—ethered or fligge Bicause that without fethers they be very euill â—auored or els bicause they be very rauenouse ¶ Wherof procedeth it that most commonly a man
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