with beautie and the guifts of nature vvho vntill that time had attentiuely noted and passed vnder silence the wordes of Possidonio turning hir selfe towards him with a womans voice saide thus vnto him Holding this thy last conclusion as true Possidonio to wit that honor victory ought to be giuē to the most ancient I would gladly vnderstand if the same question which is this day betweene you two did happen between 2. yong men equal in Nobilitie of bloud to whither of the two thou wouldst giue the price victory Mary to him Madam quoth Possidonio whose Nobility as I lately saide were most ancient To which she replied but how wilt thou know whether of the two were more ancient for that seemeth a hard matter for me to discerne Madam quoth Possidonio it is a verie easie thing for therein we ought to followe the common opinion of men of the country when y e same cannot otherwise be determined by priuiledges or other lawful meanes M. Peter Anthonie added hereunto Many yeares agoe Madam sentence is giuen in determination of that which you doe demand and as I thinke not onlie your ladiship but all that are heere present haue read thereof Whereunto the lady Laurelia said We neuer studied these your disputations which in regarde that wee are women are as farre vnmeet for vs as the handling of vveapons Peter Anthony replyed I doe not speake from the purpose Madam I say that many yeares since a question fell out betweene two noble young men of Florence to wit vvhether of them vvere the better Gentleman and of more ancient nobilitie in that citie of the which as euery man vvas affected some men did prefer the one of them some the other Finally it was adiudged that the Baronesi of vvhich house one of the Gentlemen were vvere the most ancient gentlemen not onely in Florence but in all the world And hovv may that be credited quoth the lady Aurelia or concluded by any firme argument Mary quoth he it vvas confirmed with a most forcible reason Forsomuch as all they vvho were issued of the bloud of the Baronesi some of them had a very long thin face others extreamly broad some a long nose others very short this man one eie greater then his fellovve that other one eie lovver set then another besides al this their bodies very deformed in respect of other men Which thing gaue the iudge good cause to thinke that they vvere made by nature in that season vvhen shee began first to frame men and so they vvere the most ancient and most noble vvheras other men vvere made when as she knevv better how to fashion them who being not so ancient were not consequentlie so Noble So that Madame if you desire of tvvo yong men or of many to know which of them is the most noble look which of them is most deformed for he is surely descended of the most ancient stock and so the most noble Truelie novv I remember quoth the lady Aurelia to haue read the storie as you report it This nevv and vvitty argument of nobilitie with the good vvit of the iudge was vvith a pleasant laughter recommended of the vvhole companie vvhich vvhen it was ceased Possidonio began againe thus to followe on his discourse Seeing that my tales are of no force as Fabricio latelie saide I know not truely hovv I should perswade my selfe vppon what hee will laie any foundation on the which hee may rest nor with what reasons hee shall be able to vphold himselfe in asmuch as if we speak of bloud he cannot compare with me as a thing hee neuer came neere as he will freelie confesse vnto me if of learning I will not begin againe to discourse any more therof for I haue franklie spoken thereof what I think and you may iudge as vvel as my selfe whether it maketh for him or not It may be he groundeth himselfe vpon riches Surely it should be an open follie to think so much more to speake it If then hee bee not to bee compared vnto mee neither in bloud nor in riches from which two things true and perfect nobilitie doth spring and if learning bee of no moment in matter of Nobilitie it may well appeare howe his iudgement is more then deceiued and his will more then obstinate And to the end that none of my reasons may goe without due proofe I will make this manifest vnto you likewise to wit that I surpasse him as farre in riches as in Nobilitie of bloud as I haue heeretofore concluded Which of you gentlemen are ignorant that if the least part of my wealth were set on the one side and all that he hath heaped on the other that mine would not farre exceede the value of his which I doubt not but you will iudge superfluous for me to declare beeing a matter cleere inough of it selfe Yet seeing we are entered therein I wil not forbeare to speake thereof Consider then worthy Gentlemen that if the great wealth and substance which is so much desired of mortal men be not vvholie vnited in me yet at y e least I possesse the greater part of it For if vve talke of statelie Palaces I am owner of such as cause those that doe behold them to wonder and they are especiallie furnished with rich and pretious stuffe If of pleasant Gardens I haue many of them which doe abound in all that which is beautifull to the eie and delightfull to behold I will not reckon vp vnto you the fruitful fields nor the shadovvy woods from the which al that which is necessarie for the life of man may bee gathered for thanks be to God I haue sufficient store of them lesse will I tel you what flocks of sheep I possesse for it may be if I should speake of them to others I should not bee beleeued I will likewise forbeare to declare of the gold and siluer vvhich is alwaies in my treasorie finally I refuse to speake of many other particularities vvhich my selfe am ashamed to rehearse and that bicause they are as well knovvn to your selues as to me I thinke it likewise very superfluous to open vnto you what great feasts rich apparel pompe chiualry musicke songes and al other manner of pleasures sports and feastings which matters are no lesse necessary then honorable to personages truly honorable as things vvhich do of thēselues shew themselues and are wel knowne of you to be continuallie obserued by me Now to the ende you may iudge aright you ought to consider what how great Fabricio his vvealth is Scarce had Possidonio giuen ende to the sound of his last words when as Fabricio moderately and suddenlie smiling I knovv not vvhereat and afterwardes shaking of his head he spake in this sort Truely Possidonio thou dost this day lay a great burthen vppon thy shoulders if thou doost vndertake to shew others my wealth or goods as thou termest thē forsomuch as not only that smal time of the day which remaineth no
and sinceritie of spirit You did afterwards Maister Dominico following on your matter tel vs the manifest folly of Herode Ascalonita wherunto I neede not answere any thing else but that some madnes entred into his minde in such sorte to execute his foolish fantasie What shal I say vnto you concerning the temeritie of Equitius and the presumption of others alledaged by you who being descended of base bloud did seeke to ennoble themselues in the worthy families of other men Surely if you consider their end you shall finde that they receiued condigne punishment for their foolish conceit some of them being banished others dying in prison others hanged as a recompence of their vnaduised enterprise Wherfore we ought not to sette their follies before vs as examples to followe Besides they sought not how to ennoble themselues as you affirme but to succeed in the kingdome patrimonie of those whose successours coulourably they pretended themselues to be But why did you not bring him for an example who was more familiar with god then any other mortal man who did not vaunt himselfe that he was descended of the bloud royal but did deny that he was born of Pharao his daughter desiring rather to be persecuted as one of the people of God then to take vpon him the glory of the royall bloud and to possesse the riches of Egypt And Gordius the father of Midas who is reported to be the richest king that euer was who from the estate of a husbandman became king of Phrigia between the limites of the lesser and the greater Asia built a Citie called Gordium where he consecrated a temple to Iupiter in the which not being ashamed of his obscure birth neither forgetting his base calling he offered the plough sharde which manie times hee had tilled the ground withall and the harneis hee was woont to couple his oxen togither to the yoke to the end that in all ages it might be manifest to all men what vocation he had been of Such examples ought in deed to be recommended vnto vs not those recited by you How weake then worthy Gent. the reasons are that Possidonio yesterday with many wordes set forth you may alreadie partly iudge as I will better approoue vnto you by the sequele of my discourse Forasmuch as speaking of Nobilitie he was forced to descend vnto vertue whence true and perfit Nobilitie is deriued whereof he discoursed I know not what but hee made such large flightes a farre off as the first Faulcon did yesternight about the phesant the reason was because he perceiued that the cleere light therof did ouermuch bleare his eies Wherefore like as the warrier who finding himselfe ouermatched with weapons which he cannot weild leaueth them to take others which he may manage with greater facilitie Euen so fell it out yesterday with Possidonio For hauing armed himselfe with vertue and knowing not how to vse it he had his sodaine recourse vnto riches hee skirmished so liuely with them that he hath not onely thereby made himselfe more noble then I am but then any other man likewise But now I being come to prooue what force those weapons haue I doubt not but I shall make it manifest that they are farre more weake and of lesse defence then the other He grounded himselfe vpon two propositions the one was that a learned and vertuous man hath no nobilitie in him as if that learning serued to no purpose to make a man noble if he want such riches as are required to be in a gent. because they are no lesse necessarie in nobilitie then bloud is The other was that declaring what goodes were hee forced himselfe to prooue that they were riches Nowe before I enter into the first proposition I will make manifest vnto you what trueth is in the last to the end you afterwardes may with more ease know the veritie of the other Thou wouldest then Possidonio haue riches to be goods thou deceiuest thy selfe greatly for if they were goodes they would cause the man that possesseth them to become better and more perfit then he is for such is the propertie of that which is good but riches doe not effect this For if these certaine goodes did make a man more perfect wee must of necessitie conclude that man should be lesse perfect then the thing by which he is made more perfit which if thou grauntest for true it shoulde followe that gold siluer pretious stones trees and other liuing creatures depriued of reason for these thinges and such like are riches should be more perfect and more Noble then man which should be too great a follie to think much more to vtter We will then conclude that riches are no goodes Moreouer it is a matter verie euident that of a good thing can nothing followe but that which is good but of these thy riches what good may euer insue Nay rather all venemous branches doe spring from that root They are not then good but the cause of all euill Which may euidently be seene by the vnbrideled desire Marcus Crassus did beare vnto riches which was the cause that he robbed the temple of Ierusalem and not only of his owne death but of Marcus his son and y e ruine of the Romaine armei For he being chosen Consul by the Romaines against the Parthians and conducting the army he came into the Prouince of Iudea and being at Ierusalem hee tooke from the holie temple of Salomon 8000. talentes of gold and tooke away a golden beame which amounted to the waight of 300. pound to the which the pretious vailes of the temple shining with a wonderfull beautie and incredible arte were hanged and to be short he tooke al the ornamentes which were of any value Hee passing with this pray into Parthia beeing more bent to pillage to heape vp gold then to ouercome the enemies in the end was driuen to that necessitie that with small adoe he was the cause of his sons death and the discomfiture of the armie the Romaines being then sore beaten and villanously murthered by that people his owne head his right hand was cut off presented to Herod king of the Parthians who in asmuch as in his life time he had so much bin affected to the loue of gold to the end that after his death hee might glut himselfe therwith Herod caused gold to be melted poured into his mouth Likewise the riches of Ptolomy king of Cypres were cause of his death For hee vnderstanding that the Romaines were determined to bring his kingdom into the forme of a Prouince take possession of his great treasor he thought to drown thē in the sea rather then they shuld come into the hands of his enemies but his mind being buried in his treasor y e miserable wretch could not indure to see them lost in y t sort but rather made choise after that Cato Portius was to that end sent into Cypres by the Senate to take away his own
the seruants perceiuing he so dainly called one of his fellowes who brought a brase of dogges with him which hee let slip at these wild beasts we being mooued with the crie of y e dogs and noyse of the hunters wee looked out at the windows which were next the garden where we might see this vvar already begun vvhich vvas pursued vvith an infinit pleasure of vs all For vve might see them runne vvith great svviftnesse the beasts flying and the dogs follovving but y e chiefest sport vvas the many turnings in the garden and the crooked alleies by vvhich the beasts did fetch many a skip turne to saue their liues from the deadly pinching of the dogs And after they had some 3. or 4 times rounded the garden the hart y e bridge being yet cleane dovvn the gate open vvith a light skip got into the thicket again the kids follovved the dogs after which one of the seruants perceiuing he drew vp the bridge least they shuld come out again But longing after the sport vve came down vvith each of vs a cudgel in our hand you may gesse vvhat these beasts did vvherof there vvas great store in the vvood vvhen they savv y e dogs follovv them They ran euerie way somtimes thorow y e thickest places somtimes right forth vvhilest vve vvere intentiue after this sport we might espy 3. seruants coÌ„ming out of y e vvood vvith the 2. kids the hart 2. yong hares vvhich had been slain in this vvar Wherefore imagining this pray to be sufficient after the ordinarie rate after y t commandement was giuen to take vp the dogges who were not yet out of breath we came forth of the woode and shortly after sate downe to supper according to our woonted order where wee supped verie pleasantly the winde blowing verie freshly vpon vs after supper wee fell in talke of this sodaine hunting which fell out vnlooked for Wherein wee continued vntill the starres were seene in the skie hauing beforehand taken order that Nennio should the next day followe with his discourse at the same time that Possidonio and Fabricio had done theirs and then we entred into the house where after we had walked a little seeing it a fit houre to go to bed the torches being lighted vve vvere brought euerie one vnto his lodging The third Booke AS often as waighing with my selfe I consider howe great the weakenes is which nature yeeldeth vnto maÌ„ I cannot surely imagin whence it shoulde proceed that al men what soeuer doe oftentimes feele a certaine motion of bloud which spreadeth it selfe about the heart when as they do only call to minde but the verie name of Nobilitie which they possesse and that much more when they are told thereof by some other Nay there are some who without measure coueting that title doe puffe vp their mindes esteeming that to be the greatest fauour of all other Other some there are without doubt of a more damnable opinion who are mounted vp to that height of pride by the onely remeÌ„brance likewise of that name hauing no thought to the difficultie of the effect thereof that they doe verilie perswade themselues such is the deâ—eiueable beliefe of mortall men that the whole worlde is at their commandement and surely they deeme themselues to be equal to no other then to God himselfe and by this conceite they being led away they despise all vertue Surely this doth draw me into great doubtes For as I say if I enter into consideration of mans weakenes and do waigh wherof he is made I see nothing therein but vile filthinesse And nature did not onely giue this vnto man at his first creation but likewise in the dissolution of this mortall life it made the same farre worse Seeing that the weake and fraile members of man as it is euident of it self so soone as the spirit is separated from the bodie how soone they are changed into wormes into earth loathsom smels O miserable life of man and of short continuance But in truth this ought to be smally regarded although it be a great argument of y e frailty of man if we did note not only in the beginning the end of the life of man but euen in the midst therof matters of greater woonder because we see that all thinges vnder the heauens doe make continuall warre ech one against themselues and all togither bid most cruell battaile against man alone The aire oftentimes is assailed with darcke cloudes with flashing lightning and threatning thunder and all these are ordained to vexe man The water against the fire The fire against the water and both togither do fight against man Moist thinges against drie thinges and drie thinges against moist and both most and drie warre against man The South striueth with the North and the other windes and all of them togither blowing with great impetuositie in the depth of the swelling seas with great force do often deceiue y e vain affections of man What shal I say more One man doth conspire against another If then the life of man be after so strange a maner wrapped in so many miseries and in so many dangers I cannot wel imagine what cause he hath to wax so proud with this title of Nobilitie which is giuen him And as for my selfe I know not els what I should say vnto you but that such men being on high lifted vp with a superfluous desire of glory do let theÌ„selues be carried away with their vaine appetites like vnto a bird which flying in the aire hath no assurance O foolish Nobilitie if so we ought to call it or rather deceitfull shadow For we are not able to comprehend what aid this Nobilitie no lesse desired then reuerenced of mortal men may bring vs for asmuch as it neither bringeth wisedome nor knowledge incomparable gifts which are sent vs from God neither doth it make vs more iust or more prudent which are qualities that consist in the soule It may be that it is an aide vnto the body No surely in my opinion for it doth not giue neither greater beautie nor greater strength nor greater grace thereunto by all which reasons we may easily gather into how great errour these maner of men doe so foolishly fall Yet will I not say but that sometimes Nobilitie is cause of great good as it is indeed when it is true Nobilitie but that which at this day beareth sway in y e most part of men is not onely cause of any good but contrarilie of great euill For if we would without imagination passe thorow all the Cities that are in the world we shuld find very few or it may be none at al where there are not factions diuisions between gent. and the common sort from whence afterwards do bud hatred quarrels so many murthers as we may heare of euery where Amongst many histories I might here recite to you how y e people of Rome by reason of y e discords which did
of late and of many more worthy Roman Consuls of whoÌ„ the auncient histories are repleat Enuy which did proceed from the nobles did bring Pompey after his Empires and triumphes to remaine in his house or in his Grange he seldome daring to shevv himselfe publikely abroad Q. Metellus shewed the hatred which he did beare vnto Q. Pompeius when as he savv that after he had brought both of the countries of Spain into subiection Pompey succeeded him which was most odious vnto him For he licensed the greater part of the souldiors to depart caused the victuals to be spoiled the weapons of the armie to be broken did forbid that any man should giue the Elephants meate and to conclude left not any thing wherwith Pompey might defend himselfe against the enemies So great was the enuy vvhich possessed the mind of Cato of Vtica because that Cesar had in Egypt defeated the partakers of Pompey who were fled into Afrike after his death that he slue himselfe in Vtica Enuy likewise moued Themistocles that valiant captaine to persecute that worthy and iust Aristides both of them being noble men of Athens But why do I so inlarge my discourse to recount to you so many ancient histories Turne your eies if you so please vpon euery town and euery place of the vvorld inhabited by noble men and those of the common sort and you shall finde no place exempt where there is not rooted amongst noble men one with another amongst the nobilitie the comminaltie hatred persecution enuy ambition ignorance and pride These are the fruites which nobilitie of bloud doe giue to the mind which likewise doth not bring any other grace to the body because it neiâ—her maketh them more fair nor more liuely nor more strong nor more witty nor more aduised nor more apt then other men who are borne of base bloud forsomuch as therein nature worketh equally and not the nobility of bloud Certainlie quoth Maister Iohn Francisco it seemeth that it bringeth foorth in all places not onely vnsauorie fruit but most venemous and noisome A bad root answered M. Dominico cannot produce good fruit now nobility of bloud being brought into the world of a malicious root what goodnesse can it yeeld Surely none at all M. Io. FraÌ„cisco said what is that root so dangerous and venemous whence nobility of bloud proceedeth I would tell you quoth he but that I should displese Nennio in interrupting him It shal not displease me answered Nennio to hear you so that you doe promise mee to tell vs from whence the roote of this Nobilitie of bloud doth proceed vpon which condition it shall please me well to haue your opinion so that you may boldly go forwardes that being said M. Dominico turning himselfe towards M. Iohn Francisco began to speake in this maner It is an euident matter that the great Architect of the world created man pure simple not spotted with vice and perfectly good but it is not to bee beleeued that he made him either noble or ignoble Man then himselfe was the inuenter and beginner of this Nobilitie Hee being cause thereof Nobilitie beganne in the first age to be noted in those and they were esteemed Noble who either by force or fraude did surmount others Cain the first man who was borne in the world did ouercome his brother Abel and slew him and he was the first who by deceit and crueltie did vsurpe the name of Nobilitie in that thorough furious audacitie hee brought other men into subiection whereupon hee was equally honoured and reuerenced by them and reputed honourable more then any other After him did succeede Enoch Irad and others who descending from Cain that proud murtherer and vsurper of other mens goods so consequently noble they were likewise esteemed noble But Seth the third brother of Cain a iust and good man and y e first in the world who called on the name of God he was not so much esteemed and reputed amongst men but was adiudged of a soft nature abiect and vile with all his posteritie and by this meanes nobilitie tooke beginning By succession of time it pleased the great gouernor of heauen and of earth for the wickednesse which were generally committed on the earth corrupted by man who made no accompt of God to destroy the world by the opening of waters of fountaines of the depth yea of the water gates of heauen which hee would not first close vp or stoppe before that euerie liuing soule was destroied except Noe who was so highly in his fauor with the familie of those that did descend of Seth the ignoble Of this Noe afterwardes amongst others did Cham descend who shewed himselfe vnreuerent and wicked towardes his father Nemrod did succeed of his Line a man verie mightie and puissant and full of wickednesse He gaue the first beginning to the accursed vice of Tyrannous dominion and by Tyrannie he ruled the kingdome of Babylon of Arad others Wherupon thorow his might and tyrannie being become king hee was adiudged most noble Nowe great men grewe to such temeritie that they constrained those who at that time were rude and grosse not onely to repute them as noble but to adore them as Gods Hereupon their heires and successors were in a maner esteemed as Demy-Gods And so the opinions of the first men who to make a nobleman did ground themselues vpon murther and crueltie and in tyrannising ouer the people did as it were from hand to hand in such sorte extend their dominion that we may truely conclude that Nobilitie of bloud proceedeth euen from the first age of the worlde from this generall roote The generations of men being increased in the world and kingdomes possessed it was the pleasure of kings and princes that they who did most of al content them and fitted their humours best should be seperated from the common people in giuing them especiall priuiledges graces and preheminences which were not graunted to the vulgar sorte Wherefore they and their successors were held by the first people of the worlde as men well pleasing God and because they were seuered from the multitude and reuerenced more then others they were called Notable which is as much as Noble And for this cause the men of y e world being extreamely desirous of honor and of glorie and seeing that such was the meanes to become noble manie to the ende they might obteine this glorie of nobilitie did seeke to become pleasing vnto kinges and Princes Some in shewing themselues cruell murtherers of their enemies others in boldly ransacking the people others to gratifie their prince did giue them either their wife or their daughter in pray some to delight him did feede him with dishonest pleasures others with flatterie with treason with money with other horrible wickednesse and wretched deuises to winne his fauour by the which they did afterwardes obtaine priuiledges of Nobilitie for themselues and their posteritie This is the birth M. Iohn Francisco this is the beginning
another sort of Nobilitie as some will haue it of so great power that although a man be not descended of noble bloud yet doth it notwithstanding cause him to bee esteemed honourable And that is it worthie companie as I thinke wheron Fabricio when hee will indeuour his best to speake what hee can for his Nobilitie will most of all extend his discourse vpon for he will haue no other prop nor staie to keepe himselfe on foote I meane that hee will wholly rest himselfe vpon learning and therewithall make his resistance Wherefore it shall not be from the purpose vnto that which I haue spoken to adde these fewe wordes by the which I doubt not that without any great trouble vnto you but that I shall shewe you what Nobilitie learning can bring vnto man when I shall haue set downe what I shall thinke thereof which it may bee shall not be farre out of the waye and you may iudge howe greatly Fabricio shall be deceiued I say then worthie companie that not onely hee is a noble man as some doe beleeue who draweth his beginning from a noble stocke as by that I haue alreadie discoursed you may haue vnderstoode but likewise he is esteemed amongst noble men who albeit hee be not descended of noble bloud yet giuing himselfe vnto learning doth gaine some credite and reputation amongst men And this kind of Nobilitie if notwithstanding we ought to tearme it so certainly is recommended as a thing no lesse good then laudable but I doe flatly denie that they doe attaine to perfit Nobilitie except they receiue therewith this Nobilitie of bloud Yet I will say and it may be it is not farre from the trueth that learning is rather an ornament of Nobilitie then cause thereof And will say more according vnto my opinion that it giueth a certaine facilitie or rather a beginning vnto man to become honourable but it doth not indeede make him noble as peraduenture Fabricio thou diddest perswade thy selfe Forasmuch as if in anie matter wee consider learning meerely in it selfe without anie other qualitie or ornament that is required in Nobilitie we shall finde that it doth not make him honourable that possesseth it but hee shall be like vnto a faire pretious stone set in the middest of some base and vile mettall and like as a small candle doth giue but a slender light vnto those that beholde it I say verie small in regarde of a great Torche So doth this kinde of Nobilitie shine in regarde of that other which I lately spoke of And be not thou ouer hard of beliefe heerein for I shall very easily prooue this vnto thee Imagine such a one in thy mind who is graced with good manners learning and knowledge but in bad apparell as there are many such and likewise another void of learning but in braue attire fit for a gentleman and that they be both vnknovvne vnto thee what answer wouldest thou make if my selfe or any other should demand of thee which of these two were a gentleman Surelie as I thinke thou wouldst say the last of them and whosoeuer hath any sound iudgement would not thinke otherwise and this proceedeth of the insufficiencie of learning for as I haue said vnto you it is not of it selfe sufficient at one instant to bring forth the effects of nobilitie I say then that there wanteth somewhat else and it is riches which are an ornament or rather a part of nobilitie which if thou dost conioine with learning it may be that then I will beleeue that he that possesseth both is become noble for then two causes doe concur togither neither of the which of themselues would bee sufficient He then that wil be accounted noble ought aboue al things especially to abound in wealth O how many learned men haue I knowne in my time whoe contemning these goods for so are they rightlie called haue beene and are yet vilely despised themselues Doest thou thinke Fabricio that now I tell thee troth Now I can but imagine what courage thou canst haue seeing the ground more and more to sinke vnder thy feet vvhat leaning stocke wilt thou haue when as that vvhereon thy mind did most of all settle it selfe following thy false opinion doth least of all serue thy turne Learning will not much helpe thee wherefore thou mayest boldlie put thy trust in somewhat else for in thee there is no nobilitie at all to be considered Yet to the end that thy hart may not bee ouercharged vvith melancholie I will grant thee thus much that thou art become noble thorough learning which being supposed as true arguing in this sort I may saie vnto thee It is a matter manifest which can in no sort be denied that dame Nature doth both in dignitie and perfection far surpasse industrious art seeing it doth onely in the operation thereof force it selfe to imitate nature Now this sort of nobilitie which thou wouldst haue in thy selfe is not naturall but artificiall bicause as I haue saide vnto thee thou art not noble by nature but ennobled by the exercise of learning and so consequentlie noble by Art But yet this is not sufficient Fabricio I will yeelde thee many other reasons to shew thee that I am more noble than thou art although that there were Nobilitie in thee Thou canst not in any sort denie mee that as often as two equall thinges doe striue togither but that all honour and reuerence is attributed to the most ancient if then both of vs be noble as I haue alreadie granted thee and doe againe yeeld thee ought not I to be adiudged more noble as hee which descendeth of more ancient nobilitie or contrarilie thy selfe who art but an vpstart Gentleman Surely if thou leanest vnto the truth thou canst not say otherwise But God knoweth what occasion thou hast now to reioice seeing that without taking any further paines I haue granted thee that thou art a Noble man alasse I beleeue this thy mirth will be but small being intermingled with so great sorrow So that not onelie the ground will faile vnder thy feet but likewise the breath in thy mouth nothing remaining for thee hereafter to say Thou shalt see that indeed hereafter quoth Fabricio taking the speech vpon him with a good grace stretching forth and wagging his right hand at Possidonio in a mocking maner yea thou shalt well perceiue whether the breath will faile in my mouth as thou saiest for y u shalt wel feele of what force those new fables are which thou hast this day set to sale in fauour of this thy nobilitie and shouldest yer this haue well perceiued it if it had beene lawful for me to answere thy arguments as I am well furnished with matter Thou canst doe no lesse quoth Possidonio with a smiling countenance then cal them new fables seeing that they doe so newly torment thee but thou shalt finde them true histories against thy selfe Fabricio replied I know not what at which instant the lady Aurelia graced
not a vvhole day would be sufficient to reckon them vp Wherfore passe on further and toile not thy selfe about that thou needest take no care for for if thou wilt I wil yeeld vnto thee not only that thou art rich aboue any other but that al the riches of the world be in thy possession I am very certaine Fabricio quoth Possidonio that the troth doth force thee to grant it me Wherfore this my proposition gent. is true that I doe not onely farre surpasse him in bloud but in riches likewise And now vvilt thou yet haue the heart to vndertake to shevve vs y t thy Nobilitie is greater For I possessing al the ornamentes that are to be desired of mortal men I cannot be perswaded that thou hast any courage left to speake any more therof Wherfore it would wel become thee to hold thy peace and to yeeld that thy reasons which are of no force may giue place to mine It were then best for thee not to charge so heauy a burthen vpon so vveake shoulders for hauing to day without varying from the troth alleadged so many vvorthy excellent deeds of my ancestors made account of such great abundance of riches wherhence the perfection of Nobility doth spring I would but know vvhat thou hast to say It may be thou wilt inform vs of the braue combats and valiant battels of thy ancestors Or shew vs vvhat faire palaces plesāt gardens thou hast Wherfore if as thou deemst thou hast any sound iudgment in thee indure not any more that this matter bee further discouered but hence forward pronounce that sentence against thy selfe which we attend from the iudge which being said he paused a little and then followed on his discourse in this sort I would here end my discourse faire Ladies were it not that I haue yet to say that riches are an ornament and part of nobilitie which if it were not a trouble vnto you I would most willingly proue It cannot be troublesome vnto vs quoth one of the Gent. casting vp his eies into the skie seeing that the sunne is as yet aboue the tops of the trees This aunswere pleased likewise the rest of the company to the end Possidonio might follow on his discourse wherefore taking the speech vpon him he continued in this manner Ought not we gentlemen to esteeme of the grace and ornament which riches do bring to Nobility Vnto the which it hapneth like as to a garden which besides all other dainties is bewtified with diuers flowers which nature doth bring foorth which ornament the night by the darkenesse thereof dooth hinder nay it perswadeth sometimes that it is rather an obscure valley then a garden and yet doth it stil remaine the same it is then the cleerenesse of the day that maketh it shew faire and ioyfull Euen the very same may be said of riches For if a man who is issued of noble bloud high discent wanteth them it wholy darkneth the sunshine of his nobilitie whence it proceedeth that hee is no more accounted noble but one of the vulgar sort We will then affirme that riches necessarilie are the cause of all ornament of nobilitie And this needeth not to seeme straunge vnto you for experience from whence wee take all this assurance may make vs full certaine thereof For if wee consider all those that are borne of any worthy family and as I am greeued to thinke thereon surely wee shall finde manie of them who are constrained to maintaine life and soule togither as they say to plough the ground or otherwise forced thorough contemptible pouertie to serue other men or els to auoid miserie against their willes to take some other vnfit calling vpon them And any man may of himselfe iudge the generall occasion of so insupportable a mischiefe which proceedeth from no other cause then for want of riches But this euill should seeme but a small moment if it were not cause of a farre greater Seeing that from thence doth spring blemish in bloud diminishing of renowne increase of infamie a generall dishonor of a mans house and finally not only losse of Nobilitie but therewithall of life it selfe Who wil afterwards presume anie more to call such a one by the title of a gentleman Such a one I say who for want of wealth and riches hath derogated from Nobilitie in vsing some base trade and vocation But what shall I say more he becommeth thereby in the end the fable of the world and as a miseserable wretch is pointed at by the common sort and made a laughing stocke Doth it seeme vnto thee Fabricio that these thinges are worthy to be accompted of surely no but they are rather to be preferred before a mans owne life And this I onely speake in that which concerneth the commoditie of priuate persons but what shall I say of generall or publicke estates wherof we see at this day so many goe to ruine for there are verie few commonwealthes or communalties as we do terme them which do not for want of that which is necessarie sincke to the ground on euery side Howe manie Palaces howe many Churches howe manie Cities doe there dayly fall to the ground as ruinous which because the estate of men cannot sustaine them cannot be vpheld What shall I say of this king or of that Prince who being not of abilitie to resist the force of the enemie that assayleth them for want of supply of money do leese their kingdomes their powers and their crowne you should not heare of so manie ouerthrowes you should not see so many slaughters neyther shoulde you round about you feele so manie cruell actes if they did abound in wealth you may then henceforth iudge whether riches be an ornament and part of Nobilitie or not And like as when they faile they are cause of great inconueniences yea of more then I haue this day acquainted you withal So likewise where they abound they doe bring with them honour and glory For therof first of all doth arise a glorie farre exceeding al other as that which proceedeth of liberalitie which likewise giueth as great renowne and honour to a gentleman as can possiblie be spoken of And who is so ignorant that knoweth not y t without wealth such a glorie of liberalitie cannot shew forth it selfe as doth issue there-from Surely all men may wel perceiue it Doe not the ancient stocke and families conserue themselues in their nobilitie by meanes of riches doth not the nobilitie of y t man extend it selfe the more who doth liberally giue helpe to his friends or to any other that hath need of succour doth not their nobilitie increase with their lordlike garments their great rich banquets their great number of seruauntes their faire horses their pleasant gardens and such other thinges Thou canst not deny this Fabricio Now tell me what man is he that can easily effect these thinges if he want wealth Surely it is a thing not to be beleeued Riches do
pride and ignorance but of vnsufferable euill and ineuitable losse How often hath there been cruel warre betweene the people of Rome How many Nations hath beene raised in armes How much bloud hath beene shedde through the continuall dissentions which grewe betweene the noble men and the common people Surely verie much for the pride of noble men against the comminaltie was growne to that height the desire which they had to increase their wealth by the occupation of that which belonged vnto other menne was so great that the common people oftentimes did remain in more safety in waging war abroad then they did in peace with the nobility at home who handled them as their capital enimies by which actiōs they had not only brought the common people of Rome to extream pouerty but all Italie whereof did follovve ciuill vvarre and that bicause they did vsurpe both the goodes and landes of the cōminaltie vvhereof did spring the lavve Agraria which did forbid that no man vvhether he vvere noble or of the common sort should hold more land then a paire of oxen could plowe in fiue hundred daies and that the enemies lands should be deuided amongst the people VVhich lawe did so displease the nobility that they conducted their armies euen to the extreame limits of Italie and Tiberius Gracchus succeeding as Tribune of the people to fauour that lavve the Romane liberty vvas cleane ouerthrowne For thereof did arise such great hatred that they came to armes and to bloud without measure wherupon the people reposed themselues vpon Marius and the nobility vpon Scilla vvho after most cruell vvarre remained conquerour And the same disdaines and invvard enmity renuing betvveene the Nobility and the communaltie in the time of Cesar and Pompey the one making himself the leader of Marius his side the other taking part vvith Scilla as their cheefe conductor vvhereof did follovve infinite and cruell slaughters Cesar in the ende beeing victorious vvho was the first tyrant of Rome What shall I say of the bloudie butcherie which follovving after the suddaine death of Asellius Pretor of Rome who vvas set in that authoritie to reforme the insatiable vsuries which were so increased in the citie by the rich and mighty that the people entred into despaire and vvith great furie did breake dovvne the Images of Scilla and of Pompey which vvere so hatefull vnto them Greeuous likevvise vvere the dissentions vvhich did spring in the famous Citie of Athens betweene the noblemen and the people during y t vvhich Cassandra was established by the nobilitie chiefe of the faction against the comminalty Polipercon being their leader who not without great slaughter did driue Cassandra into Macedonia so that the people as conquerors remained at libertie Whereuppon they did condemne the principall persons of the contrary faction to death and did banish others the citie amongst whō Demetrius Phalerius was one and Phocion that great captaine of theirs whoe albeit that his vertues were iudged worthy of al humane glory and praise yet came he to be so hatefull vnto the common people that euen vntill his death they denied him buriall How greeuous the hatred is which groweth by wicked oppressions made by the nobility against the comminalty they onely doe knovv who haue made tryall thereof That which happened vnto Fabius beeing Consul may make good proofe hereof for he extreamly oppressing the people hadde in such sort inflamed their greeuous hatred against him the Romane armie buckling with their enemies and holding the victorie for certaine and vndoubted the souldiors rather resolued to depriue themselues of the victorie then to giue him cause of triumph Farre worse then this happened to Appius Claudius a capitall enimie of the people for he holding the Consulship in the warre against the Volsques the souldiors rather gaue him triumph of dishonour then of victory turning their backs to their enimy And heere I will declare vnto you the ende of this Appius Claudius who was woont to call a most vile prison which was in Rome the habitation of the Romaine people but the name was not agreeable to the effect for by the appointment of the Tribune of the people he was shut vp in that prison amongst theeues and murderers and there put to death But why doe I speake onely of Appius Claudius seeing that it hath alwaies remained as a naturall and hereditary instinct to that familie with mortall hatred to pursue the commons so that the chiefest of that house vvere in continuall dissention with the officers that vvere for the people By this you see that the Nobilitie of bloud is not onely cause of pride and ignorance but of most cruell slaughters and mortall hatred Nennio gathered this last conclusion of his speech and afterward he followed on in this maner The nobilitie of bloud most worthy gentlemen besides the calamities afore spoken of dooth ingender a kind of enuy that stil gnaweth in the heartes of noble men for they seeing some amongst the common sort deseruedly aduanced to honour and dignity through their singular value vertue immediatly there ariseth in their hart intollerable enuy which doth eat and consume them as the sunne doth the snow Of such vigor was the enuie which increased in the hearts of the Romane nobility when as they saw Gn. Flauius whose father was a Libertine created Pretor of the people in regard vvhereof they laid awaie their golden rings and their trappings of their horses which vvere markes of nobility which they vvere vvont to do when they were sad and sorrovvful And on a time the same Gn. Flauius being Pretor going to visit his collegue who was sick he met there many gentlemen of Rome amongst the vvhich one of them in regard he vvas born of base parentage moued not himselfe to do him honour as Pretor and their superiour vvhereof he made no account but commanded that the chaire vvherein the greatest and most vvorthy officers of Rome vvere caried throgh the city should bee brought vnto him and afterwardes caused it to be placed before the gate of the pallace to the end that none of the gentlemen should issue forth but they should euen in despite see him set in that chair into the which none of them did euer ascend Enuy likewise did cruelly afflict the hearts of the Romane nobilitie vvhen as they savv Ventidius Bassus of whom Fabricio did speak yesterday of a base hackney man to be mounted to the dignity of a Tribune to the degree of Pretor to be created Summus Pontifex and finallie to be made Consull in such sort y t they made verses vpon the basenesse of his birth But doe I say onely that the noble men are enuious ouer the common people when as it doth with great vehemency finde place euen amongst themselues Enuy was the cause of the horrible vvars vvhich did grovv between Cornel-Scilla Marius and Cinna which were most noble men betvveene Cesar and Pompey vvho vvere Patriciens of Rome of vvhom I did make mention
deceiued proouing moreouer that riches was the soueraigne good of man and Fabricio that they were occasion of all euill Certainlie both of you did shewe that beeing drawen vvith the passion of the minde each of you did speake your pleasure for indeede they are not of themselues neither good nor euill but a meane betweene both and such as by vse we doe make them For if wee bestowe them badlie they are surelie euill if we spende them vvell I see no cause vvhy they shoulde bee euill They are not necessarie vnto true nobility yet doe they bring some aide thereunto in as much as there is no vertue in the world nor any dignity that can be gotten without these meanes especially in this age as of late I said vnto you And hee that desireth them to the intent he may bee a helpe vnto others is not to be blamed so that this his affection do not surpasse a certain tēpered mediocrity But leauing all these discourses apart and intending Possidonio and Fabricio to come to the conclusion of our speech God knoweth whether it grieueth mee or not to giue sentence this daie because I am certaine that the pronouncing thereof cannot be without the disquieting of the thoughtes vexing of the heart and griefe of minde vnto one of you Neuerthelesse quoth both of them with a willing minde speake freelie for all that for it may bee vvee shall depart from hence with more loue and kindnesse when we haue heard the determinate end of our disputation then when we came hither like as in wrastling of necessitie one of vs must needes take a fall Whereunto Nennio answered you did both of you promise mee so much before I did receiue the charge of so heauy a burthen But howsoeuer it fall out that I may commit no error I wil this day shew my selfe conformable to the opinion of the Emperour Gismond who being reprehended by some of his familiar friends because he did aduance men of base birth yet adorned with vertue and not such as were borne of noble bloud He answered As for me I will exalt such as ought to bee preferred before any other men liuing and those from whom true nobilitie proceedeth which opinion because it agreeth with reason I intende to followe Wherefore I saie that like as it is a thing worthy greater commendation to builde a newe pallace to stoare it with moueables and to inhabite it then it is onlie to dwel therein so is he worthy of far more greater glorie who of himselfe becommeth noble then hee who is simplie borne noble and for this cause therefore and many more no lesse pregnant then true reasons heretofore alleadged I iudge and determine this that the nobilitie of the minde is farre more true and farre more perfect then the nobility of blood conioyned with riches and consequently thou Possidonio beeing noble by birth only and Fabricio by the vertues of his minde as hath a long time beene prooued vnto you I say that he is famous with more height and perfection of nobility and so likewise worthy of more honour and glorie then thou art And therefore giue the victory of the question in cōtrouersie togither with the prize vnto thee Fabricio as to the most noble Nennio hauing spoken in this wise he helde his peace Fabricio hauing yeelded him due thanks for his iust sentence with very good wordes without any longer stay with a good grace hee tooke the ring and turning towards Possidonio he spake vnto him in this manner I will neuer permit but that thou likewise shalt be partaker of this sentence Possidonio for if it hath beene fauourable vnto me it shal likewise in parte bee pleasing vnto thee and therefore the Ring shal remaine with thee which yet thou shalt not weare in remembrance of the Ladie Virginia who gaue it but of me So he extending his hand gaue him the ring and albeit that oftentimes hee refused it yet in the ende being constrained thereunto by the companie hee tooke it in signe of brotherlie friendship Scarse were these laste wordes ended and the ring giuen by Fabricio accepted of by Possidonio but all the Ladies with a cheerefull countenance did rise vppe from their places to shevve themselues after the fashion of women that they were glad and wel pleased with Fabricio all their voices being heard but the Lady Camilla was louder then any of the rest reioicing cspeciallie at his victorie who being likewise risen with a quicke and speedie pace marching towardes the greene Oliue trees of the garden for shee knewe right in what estimation the leaues thereof were and how much worthy of commendation he was who was deseruedlie crowned with them hauing broken some branches of them she suddenlie made a garland of them interlaced with flowers such as yong maidens are wont to make and therewithal with her owne handes shee crowned Fabricio vsing these speeches vnto him with a womanlie voice Thou shalt we are it in signe of victorie Wee likewise being risen from our places and being met togither in the galleries and standing at the windovves which looked towards the garden from whence a sweet gale of wind did blowe wee still did discourse amongst our selues of that which had passed especiallie of the determining of the disputation and of the victorie purchased by Fabricio All of them equally commending no lesse the ready liberality of Fabricio in bestowing the ring vpon Possidonio then his good mind in accepting thereof who albeit he had not gotten the victorie in this controuersie yet in debating the matter with Fabricio hee alleadged no weake reasons thereby to haue become conquerour Thus we remained there vntill supper time approched when as the tables being couered vnder the fresh ayre after that we had supped with great contentment of vs all wee passed the rest of the night in sport and pastime vntill it was time to go to bed And before we departed from thence wee all with one consent gaue order hovv vve should spend y e next day folowing which albeit it was passed in honest and pleasaunt exercise yet did I not determine to enter into any further discourse therof That which hath bin spoken this day being the last in reuerence of him who gouerneth al things and who by his heauenlie will hath hitherto beene my guide and conductor shal at this time be sufficient FINIS