men painted Loue with his eyes vnbounde To shewe that nothing is hidde from him and that there is no crafte vnknowen vnto him wherof he hath not the counterpoiz ¶ Doe ye beleue that a trewe louer doeth thinke that he may merite the grace of his Ladie by his seruice All true louers doe iudge and esteme their Ladies to be of inestimable price and valour otherwise they coulde not be induced to loue them And yf it be so howe can a Louer be so arrogant to thinke that for a litle dured trauell he can get suche fauor ¶ Wherof was Loue made He was composed of pleasure and displeasure ¶ Wherfore be women compared to Proteus Bycause of their great inconstancie ¶ Tell me yf it were possible for Louers to chaunge them selues into many and diuerse formes as Proteus did In what forme were it best for them by wishing to remaine with their Ladies I would aduise them to become Satyres which haue their tayles harde and stiffe continuallie ¶ Wherof procedeth so many Bawdes Bicause many desire to depend of other rather then of them selues ¶ Howe is it possible for poore Louers to ende their trauels By dispaire neuer to be fortunate in Loue or neuer to enioye theffecte therof ¶ Why be yong hores commonlie olde bawdes To cause other to feele the pleasure which they whilom did feele them selues Or elles bicause they would that all other were like them selues that they might haue no cause wherof to be ashamed ¶ Ought she to be called a bawde which doeth the message without taking of money I saye that she doeth not deserue to weare that hoode considering it procedeth of pure pitie which she taketh vpon the weakenes and fragilitie of other ¶ What qualities ought one to haue to be a perfect bawde They muste sometimes be discrete and haue a respect to thinges sometimes they muste be importunate foreseing well speaking and that they maie and can consider both the time and condicions of the persons ¶ Falling into the handes of a pitilesse woman what were best to doe To absent him selfe from her and to passe ouer into some other countrie Or elles to haue her daylie before his eyes and to take occasion of trauell The surest thing is to absent him selfe farre of ¶ I desire to knowe yf the ordonaunces of Loue be reasonable or not The principall ordonaunces of Loue are that they loue equallie and that betwene the Louer and his Ladie there be nothing hidden And thus I esteme the ordonaunces of Loue to be verie reasonable seing that he vseth suche qualitie in thinges vnequall ¶ Doeth Loue vse his lawes with equitie or with rigor He that vnderstandeth them wel shal fynd that Loue continuallie hath vsed and doeth vse his ordonaunces with great equitie ¶ Be not the lawes of Loue subiect to other lawes The lawes of Loue be soueraigne aboue all other ¶ Are they contrarie to the lawes of Nature No they be rather conformable vnto them and be as it were one thing ¶ Maie Loue be called an excellent Phisician Nay rather a hurter of men for howe can he take vpon him the title of a Phisician that can not heale any other woundes but those that he him selfe maketh ¶ Of what power is the Scepter of Loue Able to make them liberall hardie and pacient that will followe his trace ¶ Yf loue procede of Idlenes howe can the same make men ingeniouse and wittie Loue hath alwaies done and yet doeth great miracles and therfore for him to do that is no great meruell ¶ Howe may Louers be moost truelie tearmed fooles or wise men I will call them wise yf they haue well set and placed their loue and by louing do not lose them selues Fooles I will also esteme them yf they loue the thing without reason measure that is not worthie to be beloued ¶ Wherof ryseth Ialousie It commeth to some of the feare that they haue to lose the thing that they moost loue To others to see that which they loue to loue another ¶ Who is moost Ialouse the man or the woman and which of them hath greatest occasion The woman is moost Ialouse but the man hath the greater occasion the reason therof and the cause I will kepe silent for this time ¶ Is the Ialouse person blinde or hath he a good iudgement to foresee If Ialousie be moderate it sharpeneth both the iudgement and sight in such wise as it seeth and knoweth all But yf it excede it is more confuse and blynde then a Moule ¶ Whom doth Ialousie become or whom doth it not become Ialousie is not comelie in him that hath experience of the faithfulnes of his Ladie but Ialousie is not vncomelie in him that is a newe Louer ¶ Thinke you that where loue is great there Ialousie may be great also Many doe thinke the contrarie bycause that the vehemencie of loue doeth so transport the person that he is neuer seperated from the thinge that he loueth ¶ Were it good for them that be Ialouse to dye without cause in that rage What should they feare more It should be well imployed ¶ Wherof commeth Ialousie Of enuie and loue ¶ Is the Ialouse man without iudgement Not alwaies considering that moost commonlie the scapes of Ladies are discouered and he is verie blinde that can not perceiue them ¶ What is the propertie of Ialousie It is to serue to a thousand deathes to prepare embushmentes for the honor of Ladies and to mingle in the middest of other pleasures poysones mischiefes and hatredes Doe ye thinke that Loue doeth onelie intrappe the light and tender hartes I doe thinke that it intrappeth all and there is none that is able to shut the gate against him ¶ Is it possible that a noble sprite for a small matter may be entrapped I beleue that it maie for euerie gentle spirite for eche litle trifle is inflamed whose noble and gentle mynd is subiect to Loue. ¶ Is it sufferable to falsifie faithe in loue Why not â—ith it is nourished onely with discept treason and falshod ¶ Is the seruice of Loue more troublesome then others In effect it is more weightie and troublesome but in will much more easie to be disgested ¶ What is it that pacifieth Louers in their greatest trauell It is Hope ¶ Wherfore doe they faine loue to be tyed to a piller of Iasper with a chayne of Diamonde and Topace dipped in the flodde Lethe To prouoke women to be pudike and chaste and to turne their eyes from the wanton allurementes which their louers be vse toward them ¶ Should the ingrate or vnkinde woman be beloued No because there can not be founde a worse vice then ingratitude Wherfore we ought to deme her hollie transformed into the nature of brute beastes ¶ Which is the trewest seruice in loue A stedfast and a constant faithe ¶ The Louer that is loued is he a seruant or a maister He is rather a seruant then a master for so muche as
bellie of a Harte Bycause the gall of a Harte is sometimes in the tayle and sometimes in the bellie ¶ What is the cause that fatte people haue litle blodde Bycause the greace and the fatnes doe consume it ¶ Wherof commeth the saying of the Auncientes that he who is wont to eate a kinde of pulse called Lentilles is for the moost part pleasaunt and amiable It is bicause that Lentilles do cause colde humors ¶ Howe commeth it that we be more gredie to eate when the North or Northeast winde doeth blowe then at other tunes That commeth of the colde of the foresaide windes which doeth vnite and holde the naturall heate together ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Florentines when they be disposed to quenche their thirste doe drinke water mingled with Uineger I will tell you Uineger beyng of his nature colde remoueth the inflamation and heate of the stomake which prouoketh thirst and so by remouing the cause the affection also is taken awaie ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Sheperds of Nuceria in Campania within the region of Italie when they meane to geld their cattell doo laie vpon their coddes thinges stupefactiue that is to saie that properly do mortifie Things stupefactiue doe thicken the vitall spirites of the membre and do alter the complexion therof so that they let the naturall heate and stop the conduictes wherby the sperme doeth descend ¶ What meane the Shepherdes of Calabria when they liste that the Ramme shal engendre a wether lambe to tye the lefte codd and when they will that it be a female to tye vp the right â–ª The male lambe is hotter then the female and therfore moost commonlye he is engendred of the right syde and the female on the lefte Binding then the left codde the sede and likewise the generatife sprite entreth the right Codd wherby he taketh heate and force which doeth soner bring forthe a male then a female ¶ What causeth the Ethiopians and Mores when they entende to gelde their cattell to cutt their vaines which be vnder the Temples The sperme and seede for the moost parte doeth descende by the vaines aboue the Temples which beyng cutt there can no maner of humors descend from the braine and so all meanes of generation are cut awaye ¶ Wherof commeth it that to gett a stomake men vse egre and sharpe thinges That is bicause all egre thinges do drie and open the stomacke which causeth the appetite ¶ What causeth that they which haue a feminine voyce be not in any great estimation or opinion among the wise Whosoeuer hath vpon him eyther member or marke or maner of doing which is proper to any other creature whatsoeuer it be he is suerly participant of the nature of the sayde creature And bycause the woman is of small practice whosoeuer hath the voyce lyke a woman is estemed of the wise to haue litle vnderstanding or knowledge ¶ What causeth the people of Boetia to haue a grosse voyce and yet lowe and seble The Boetians be slouthfull and geuen to the bellie whiche causeth the voyce to be so lowe the reason is euident bycause their vigor and strengthe is more feble receuing and gathering lesse ayer Wherfore they cannot very well moue the muscules of the stomacke and so they are the more heauie and lesse apt to labor ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which be hastie of speach are of small constancie yll conditioned and extremely cholerike All sodeine motions come of thexiremitie excesse of heate which engendreth in men this inconstancie and lightnes to promise without any performing through Colere most coÌ„monly consider not what they say ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a shirle voyce are moost commonly enuiouse and maliciouse The sharpenes of the voyce procedeth from the sharpenes of the pipes and conduictes of the longes which riseth through drinesse and coldenes Suche be melancholike persons who beyng naturally fearefull dare neuer disclose that which they thinke ¶ Wherfore be y e Aâ—maines accustomed in their huÌ„ting to hold their breath wheÌ„ they desire to here y e noyse rustling of beasts At all times when the breth is kept in then hath the hearing greater force abrode and so consequently receiueth and comprehendeth the better that which is presented whether it be sound or noyse Moreouer blowing or breathing doth somwhat let the hearing And therfore the same being reteyned the hearing is more free ¶ But wherof commeth it that many hauing the knowledge of naturall thinges do thinke it not good to drinke after fructe and specially after Melons and Pompions Wine of it selfe is penetratife in suche sort that it easely draweth with it the vndigested fructes to the vaines where they do sone corrupt and so engender very great feuers and other lingering sicknesses ¶ ¶ What is the cause that y e gentle women of Milan to make themselues fatte doe loue and vse swete wines Swete wine doth engender grosse blood and doth easely penetrate into all the partes of the bodie and is conuerted into nourishment wherof they become so fat and of good liking Grene wine sharpe doth not the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that all they which be extreme thirstie do loue no swete wines All thinges which may ingender and enflame choler are apte to make men thirstie and suche is swete wine ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse religiouse persons which naturally are very zelouse of Chastitie do absteine from wine Wine is hote and full of vapours and therfore prouoketh lust his heat dissolueth seede and with his ventositie causeth the courage to ryse ¶ What is the cause that the Florentines â–ª after they haue put water into wine do let it rest a certein space before they drink it The more the water is mingled and incorporated with the wine the more the fume of the wine is quenched beyng reduced as it were into one body and nature Therfore after my iudgement it should be better when the wine is newe pressed to put in water then otherwise ¶ Why be the Arabians accustomed to slepe with their bodies bowing or folded It must nedes be that Nature or they which knowe his effectes haue taught them the same For sleping so folded together their stomackes doe waxe warme digest the better and there is no windines that can hinder their digestion The body being bowed as aforesaid causeth that the bely doth receiue al ventositie eueÌ„ like vnto an open purse Contrariwise y e body stretched forth maketh the belly to close shut in such sort that it can receiue no windines the belly being bent stretched forthe stuffed on euery side with bowels inward parts which causeth that the ventosities finding no place in the belly are forced to retire els wher to hinder digestioÌ„ ¶ Why do the Polonians eate colewortes to make them selues sober when they be dronke The propertie of coleworte is to send downe to the bowels the moost materiall and grosse parte of
eloquent and some to be dombe other astonied and other freshe and lustie That commeth of the diuersitie of their complections ¶ Wherof commeth it that the leaues of certaine trees in some part of ScotlaÌ„d falling into the sea be turned into duckes and malardes By the secret vertue of the Occean Sea ¶ Wherfore do men make collers of Aumbre for children Bicause aumbre is good against the sqinance which is a swelling in the iawes throte and it is good also against a disease called of y e Phisitians Tansille ¶ Wherof commeth the Dropsie Of a great colde in the Liuer ¶ Howe happeneth it that we become balde vpon the foreparte of the hedde Bicause that part is drie and of drines commeth baldenes ¶ But why be the heares of the temples graye sooner then of any other partes Bicause the Temples are very moyst and full of muscles ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians thinke them to be of small capacitie that haue sharpe heddes Bicause the spirites fynd not the conduictes so free and open ¶ Why be there no Serpentes in Ireland Bicause that region is nothing waterishe ¶ What causeth those that haue the Iaundis to thinke hony to be bitter Bicause of the great câ—ller wherwith they haue the tongue and pallat infected ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the meates oftentimes waxe sower in the ventricle That procedeth of the coldenes of the Stomacke ¶ Why is not that ayer good which is both hote and moyst Bicause it is very subiect to be corrupted ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Aethiopians haue curld heare Of the great siccitie and drynes of their humors ¶ Why be dronken persons commonly colde Bicause wine immoderately dronken doeth cause colde effectes ¶ Wherfore is veneson more estemed and praysed of the learned Phisitians then other fleshe Bicause it is of good nourishment and engendreth good blodde ¶ Why is the white of an egge harde of digestion Through the great coldenes therof ¶ How commeth it that such beastes as haue no tethe aboue haue a double ventricle To digest the better and to supplie the default that they haue by the wante of tethe ¶ Wherfore do men drinke water and yet it nourisheth not Water causeth the nutriment to spredde throughout all the body ¶ Why is not the hande hearie within Bicause the skinne is thicke and harde ¶ Why is Autumpne so vnholsome and full of diseases Through the inequalitie of his temperature ¶ Why be the eares vnmoueable Bicause they haue no Muscles ¶ Why be no remedies conuenient to be receued in the greatest extremitie of sicknes Bicause nature should be letted ¶ Wherfore are bathes of swete water estemed Bicause they do heate and moysten and are good against tercian ague◠¶ Why doeth the Northern winde preserue thinges from putrifying Bicause it drieth muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that Buglosse tempered and dipte in wine reioyseth him that doeth eate it Bicause it augmenteth the blodde and restoreth the forces of the hart ¶ Wherof commeth it that Peone hanged about ones neckâ— doeth heale the falling sickenes That herbe sendeth certeine vapors to the hed which do drie the braine ¶ Why be stockdoues better then pigions of the douehouse Bicause they haue lesse donge and excrementes ¶ Wherof commeth it that Asur colour is pleasant to the eye Bicause in that colour is a meane of all other colours para Howe chaunceth it that although Infantes be naturally moyst are not for all that graye hedded Bicause that with their moistnes heate is conioyned ¶ Why doeth a Boare fome at the mouth when he bremeth Bicause his cundittes and generatiâ—e partes be narrowe ¶ Why doth a tame Sowe bring forthe mo Pigges then a wilde Sowe That commeth of the aboundaunce of meate and of the warmenes of the places where they liue ¶ But why can not Sowes geue milke without groning or grunting Sowes haue litle milke and the same is spred in diuerse tetes and therfore there must nedes be great force to drawe it ¶ Wherfore do we sweate more in the vpper partes of our bodie then in the lower partes The propertie of heate is to ascend and not to discende ¶ Why doeth not the dunge of wilde beastes stincke so much as other Bicause they be drie of nature ¶ Wherfore hath nature shaped a braine in liuing creatures Bicause they might easely receue and comprehend the impressions and imaginations of the thinges that they smell and vnderstand ¶ Why made nature the brayne rather colde then hotte To temper and moderate the heate of the hart for the confort and refreshing of the same ¶ Why be our eyes greater in our Infancie then when we be of more age Through the gret humiditie moistnes Wherof in like maner it coÌ„meth that we are more desirouse of slepe in our Infancie then in any other age ¶ How commeth it that mens eyes do differ so much in culler one from another Of the diuersitie of the humors wherof they be composed ¶ Wherfore is sodden water better then the colde Boild and sodden water hath lesse ventosities and is more â—lighte and subtill because the earth and heauie substaunce is separated from it ¶ Wherfore hath nature ordeined nesing in man To purge the superfluitie of the braine euen as by the cogh the milte is purged ¶ Whye doo we nese soner in the Sunne then when we be nere the fire Bicause the heate of the sunne resolueth the humor and consumeth it not but the fyre resolueth and consumeth it ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the eares of all creatures do moue except the eares of a man That procedeth of a certaine muscle which is in the Iawes and doeth let and hinder the mouing of the eares ¶ Wherof commeth it that asses do soner lift vp their eares when it will raine then at any other time Their melancholike nature causeth it the like happeneth to many other melancholike beastes to pronosticate of raine as frogs dolphines crowes and Cuckoes ¶ Why haue birdes no eares Bicause they would hinder their flying for which cause they are created and made as man is made to trauell ¶ Wherfore are the waters of marishes and pondes so euel Bicause they are so flematike in sommer they do corrupt In so much as y e finest of y e water is conuerted into vapors y e erthines doth remain ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue hollow eies doe see better then those whose eies do stand more outward Hollowe eies haue their vertue more faste and better compacte and so they see the better and further of ¶ Why do the eies of Wolues and Cattes shine in the night and not in the day The greater clerenes doth obâ—uscate and darken the lesser ¶ Wherof commeth it that when we loke and behold our self in a glasse we do imediatly after forget our fauor The Image sene in a glasse doth represent it self to our visible sight very slenderly and by a certaine reflection and therfore can not long be
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
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
appetite a cupiditie insatiable a disease whiche infecteth the person making man vile and effeminate But after the opinion of the Stoiks Plato declareth that he whiche desireth to be riche muste geue ouer his appetites and heape no treasure together Other Philosophers affirme that couetousnes is a disease that poisoneth the bodie and maketh the minde effeminate and can neuer be recouered ¶ Why was Acchius the king of Lydia slaine For his extreme couetousnes which caused him to make taxes newe impostes vpon his people to gather together muche treasout Wherfore inthende his people did cast him into the riuer Pactolus which is ful of fine gold to thintent he might glut him selfe with gold after which he so much thirsted The selfe same vice of couetousnes was thoccasion of the death of Crassus who was slaine by the Persians ¶ What is liberalitie To vse richesse indifferently that is to saye to spende nether to muche nor to litle so that it is as it were a meane betwene Couetousnes and prodigalitie ¶ Why was Scopas of Thessalia so muche contempned of the wise men in his time Bicause he counted him selfe happie for that his counting house was full of those thinges that neither profited himselfe nor yet any other ¶ What is it that maketh a man happie The brideling of disordinate appetites ¶ Why did Piso reprehend the liberalitie of the Emperour Otho Bicause he gaue not his riches but threwe them away Uertue casteth nothing awaie Uertue vsurpeth nothing of any other mans Uertue hath nede of nothing ¶ Who were they that were counted infamouse in Rome They that spent their goodes vpon dishonest thinges and they which did take fines to enriche them selues by vnlawefull meanes ¶ What was the cause of the euill name of Sylla Bicause he grewe verie riche in short tyme which made him to be suspected of briberie ¶ Why did Plato saie that to liue quietlye in a Citie bothe richesse and pouertie ought to be expelled Riches maketh a man proude and pouertie induceth him to euill ¶ Wherof commeth it that Caesar was once blamed for his liberalitie Bicause being but a priuate man he vsed disorâ—inate expences vnmete for his degree And it is to be noted that that which is Prodigalitie in a priuate person is magnanimitie in a Prince ¶ Howe did Nicias obteine the fauor of the people By spending and geuing his goods liberallie although he was not very much commended of the wise Alexandre was greatly praised for despising of worldly goodes esteming his true richesse to consist in his trendes ¶ Whiche are lawefull richesse Those whiche are well gotten and suche as dâ— serue vs and not we them ¶ What is angre It is a certaine boyling blodde burning in desire to be reuenged vpon him with whoÌ„ a man is offended is alwaies accompanied with wrathe ¶ What difference is there betwene angre and wrathe The one consisteth in the will the other in the dede and the one may be without the other euen as a man may be dronke and yet notwithstanding is no dronkarde that is to saye accustomed to be ouercome with wine ¶ Why did the Romanes ordeine that when their Armies did prepare to encountre certaine bandes should make hast to geue the onset and therwithall should vtter certeine vehement cries To astoine the enemie and to encorage their owne souldiors to fighte more fiercely ¶ Of what age ought he to be that is first trained in the wars to make him perfect in the arte of warfare The yonger he is the more perfect he shalbe in warfare as witnesseth Hanibal who at the age of tenne yeres followed his father Amilcar in the warres Scipio toke vpon him to be a souldior at .xvii. yeres of age ¶ Amonges the Auncientes who hath best deserued the name of a good and valiaunt Capteine I am of the opinion of Antigonus who iudged Pirrhus to be the hardiest capteine that euer serued in the warres and most happiest yf fortune had suffred him to liue out his tyme. ¶ Why was the campe of Mars at Rome appointed harde by the Riuer of Tybre To thintent after sweaâ—ing and exercise of armes the youthe to washe away their sweate and dust should entre into the Riuer not onely to bathe them selues but also to lerne to swimme a thing so necessarie in a souldior as Alexandre repented him selfe of nothing so muche as for that he neuer learned to swimme ¶ What causeth Idlenes Cato saide that by doing nothing men did learne to do euill ¶ From whence came the great hardines wherwith Horacius Cocles was indued when he susteined such a fierce assault geuen by the enemies vpon the wodden bridge of Tybre at Rome Bicause he coulde swymme And by the same meanes Ceser escaped from his enemies in the warres at Alexandria Sertorius also vsed the same passing the riuer of Rodanus ¶ Why did the Romanes erect an Image of Claelia on horsebacke and not otherwise Bicause they flying from king Porsenna she feared not to passe through the Riuer of Tyber on horsebacke Or elles as some saye bicause she being sente backe againe by the Senate of Rome to Porsenna she presented him a fayer Horse richely garnished ¶ Why did Lycurgus make the maidens of Sparta accustomablie to runne and wrastle naked To make them the stronger to abyde the trauell of childe ¶ What ought a man chiefely to aske of God according to the minde of Philosophers Good Fortune after a man is indued with vnderstanding howe to vse the same ¶ What maner of thing is it to be very iuste To haue the knowledge of diuine and humane thinges ¶ What is the most grieuouse disease that may happen vnto a Prince To loue Flatterers ¶ Why did Agammenon the king desire rather to haue in his companie tenne Nestors then tenne Aiaces Bicause the man that is wise is rather to be desired then he that is hardye For that occasion Antigonus desired alwaies to haue Zeno with him to geue him councell concerning the affaires of his Realme ¶ What bokes ought princes to reade that they might lerne to be good Those that geue them admonishment of their duetie for no manne dareth speake vnto them that thing without great feare whiche they maye finde in wryting ¶ What was the cause of the great frendship of Lisimacâ—us towardes Philippides the Comical Poete Bicause he did not flatter which is many times the propertie both of a Poete and of a courtier ¶ What is pleasure A recreation of the spirite prouoking mannes minde to thinke to inioye any thing although not grounded vpon reason and therefore it is alwayes an enemie to vertue ¶ What is Ioye or gladnes It is a motion of the spirite proceding of a certaine opinion of a thing which we hope to enioye and therefore is vnâ—emely for a manne of greate estate bicause it troubleth the minde and causeth it to passe the limittes of reason ¶ Is it requisite then to reioise with measure Yea chiefely to haue
loueth ¶ Why doe louers so often breake their faith and promis one to an other Youth aboundeth in heate and is subiect to diuerse and many thinges and can not staie it selfe in one thought wherby it procedeth that the auncientes haue made Uenus the mother of Loue whom many Louers do followe ¶ Doe ye thinke that by Magique arte the heart of an obstinate woman maie be mitigated to condiscend to the pleasure of a Louer All they that haue written of Naturall thinges affyrme the same The Diuines saie contrarie And I in the diuersitie of opinions in so great men dare not declare mine owne ¶ Is it possible that a couetouse man may become amorouse The forces of Loue haue alwaies beene more braue and fine then those of couetousnes So I beleue that Loue can not onelie make the Couetouse liberall but also prodigall for as the couetouse haue had no measure to get goodes so they may haue as litle to spend them yf they thinke that by money they maie inioye the thing that they loue ¶ Wherfore haue men more libertie then women to loue in moe places then one Take modestie shamefastnes and feare from women and ye take awaie their life which chaunceth not to man ¶ Wherfore be Louers continuallie readie to demaund the hartie good will of them that they loue The harte is the feate of desire and of all knowledge all which be readie to obey the thing that it loueth the ymage wherof representing it selfe pleasant before the eyes of Louers doeth rauishe from them both the hart and the principall partes And therof it commeth that being as it were robbed of them selues and oppressed with intollerable bondage they require with all importunitie to be restored and placed in their intire and former estate ¶ Wherof commeth it that commonlie we suffer our selues to be allured to loue thinges wherof there is no hope to atteine vnto That is for lacke of knowledge of the beginninges of Loue the which are light and litle And although that all hope is cut of and taken from vs to inioye the swete embracementes which Loue doeth promis Neuertheles the beautie of the thing beloued doeth delight vs and the remembraunce therof doeth occupie the braine Suche passions haue bene called of our elders domâ—ne desires bycause they doe still and stealinglie possesse the hart vnware and by litle and litle take increase And our reason should not be hindred yf it were susteined by hope ¶ Wherfore be all the ioyes of Louers vncerteine Bycause in loue there doe dailie chaunce diuerse casualties as suspicion Ialousie feare angre Peace refuse disdaine ¶ Why is Loue compared to a Darke laberinth or Maso Bycause the entrie and comming in is easie and the goyng out impossible ¶ Wherfore doe men compare loue to a Crocodill The nature of a Crocodill after the mind of those that haue written of natural thinges is to followe those that flye from him and to flye from them that doe followe him And so is it with Loue. Therfore I geue councell that who soeuer will inioy theffecte of his desires that he be not to sharpe and egre to pursue and followe his Ladie ¶ Beleue ye that Loue good iudgement maie be together I beleue no for then the foule and deformed should neuer be beloued But we see not onelie the contrarie to happen but which is worst those that be the vilest indewed with moost treason and least loyaltie and faith howe foule so euer they be are moost commonlie best beloued Wherof commeth it that diuerse which loued feruentlie to haue some comfort did soudenlie lose that great heate of loue All vehement loue doeth not longe continewe for within a while the spirite hath leasure to examine it selfe and to retourne to due vnderstanding thinking vpon all thinges that might violate and corrupt the same wherby the sensuall appetites be by this meanes restrained ¶ Why doe men call loue bothe flame and fyre It is not possible better to expresse howe insupportable a thing it is considering the heate of the desires which it ingendreth in the hartes of his seruantes and the tirannie that he vseth towardes those whiche are vnder his power whom he bringeth to ruine and consumeth like fyre without any pitie ¶ What is the cause that Louers take pleasure to retourne so often to those places where they haue had ioye and solace of their loue Bycause in so doing they conceiue Ioye and the memorie of that which they moost loue doeth refreshe them And yt semeth then that this remembraunce doeth double the pleasure alreadie receiued ¶ Why are men rather amorouse then women For that they are of hoter complexion and their spirites more quicke and prompte ¶ Why be wemen more firme and stedfast in loue then men Bycause thinges which of them selues be colde be lesse subiect to mobilitie and inconstancie then those that be hotte ¶ Wherof commeth it that women be more easelie perswaded to be loued then men Bycause they esteme them selues muche more then there is cause ¶ But why be they angrie or why doe they frowne and lower when men saie they be foule or olde Foulenes moost commonlie commeth of age and age is the high waie to death which naturallie doeth anoye and displease all persons ¶ Wherfore is it saide that the coughe and the passion of Loue can not be kept secret They be two thinges of great force for the coughe troubling the bodie can scantlie be concealed or hidden Loue is a passion proceding of a certeine fyer which by the eyes is discouered and manifesteth it selfe by the coulor of the face and by all the actes of a Louer it maie be comprehended and knowen so that without great paine and difficultie it can not be hidden ¶ From whence do the amorouse send forth so many sighes Their continuall thoughtes sende all the heate to the harte wherof it commeth that necessarilie it is conuenient for them to respire and breath of which respiration sighinges be forced wherby the coldnes of the ayer is drawen to temper the inwarde heate That maie also ryse of the consideration of the time lost of the detestation that commeth of lecherie of the vâ—â—inision of honor reputacion and finallie that the successe of dishonest loue is tragicall noysome furiouse and miserable ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient painted loue holding floures in one hande and fyshe in thother To shewe that Loue is a lorde bothe of Sea and lande ¶ Thinke you that loue doeth yelde greater force corage and strength to him that doeth combat and fight in the presence of his Ladie There is nothing more certeine And for this cause was brought in and ordeined the braue and lustie companie of the errant and wandering knightes to geue pleasure to Ladies by Iustes and turneis ¶ Who receiueth moste contentacion the victoriouse and louing knight or the gentlewoman for whom he hath fought The knight as I suppose ought to be best contented as hauing cause to
it moueth the humors of the brayne and cannot afterwardes resolue them ¶ Why do some dye by to much Ioye Bicause the spirites do abandon and forsake the harte ¶ Why should men beware of tomuch fasting Bicause longe fasting ingendreth a heape of ill humors and causeth feblenes and lothesomnes ¶ Why is vineger very good for Cholerike persons and hurtefull to them that be melancholike Bicause it refresheth Choler and drieth melancholie ¶ What causeth the eyes to shedde forth teares Coldenes is thoccasion which naturally doeth make thicke and restraine wherby teares do procede ¶ Why haue thinges that be very swete and odoriferouse a certeine spice of bitternes Swete smelles do alwaies serche hotte places which commonly are somewhat bitter ¶ Wherof commeth it that thinges that nourishe and encrease milke do warme moderately without drying Bicause suche thinges do engendre blodde wherof milke commeth ¶ Why he all nourishing thinges perticipant with swetenes Bicause all swete thinges be very temperate ¶ Whereof commeth it that wyne in processe of tyme is of greater heate Bicause the waterishe partes do vanishe and auoyde ¶ Wherof commeth it that some wines waxe sower so sone Bicause in the vintage tyme they were replenished with superfluouse humours ¶ Why do men rather vse Sorrell then vineger against the inflamations of the intestines and Bowels Bicause that Sorrell is more moderate then vineger And whosoeuer is diseased therwithall should not vse any medecine that is sharpe or violent but rather pleasaunt ¶ Wherof commeth it that yealowe Choller is alwaies bytter and the blacke agre and sharpe Heate causeth bitternes and colde causeth sharpenes ¶ Why is the Catarre or Rewine sometime swete somtimes sharpe and sometimes salte Of a certeine mixture of the humours ¶ Why doeth the wilde Bore pisse before he doeth runne or flye awaye To dispatche him selfe of the heauines of his vrine the more swiftlye to runne ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians geue to infantes and yonge children a herbe called Abrotonum in english Sothernwood Bicause it killeth wormes ¶ How chaunceth it that scorpions do smite hurt sidewise Bicause their pricke and stinge is croked ¶ Why do men waxe pale when they be afraide Bicause the bloud flieth away and retireth to the vitall partes ¶ Why doth the sea called Mare mortuâ—m bringe forth nether plante nor fishe Through the great bitternes of the same ¶ What is the cause that a salte thing beinge heated againe waxeth bitter Bitternes commeth of adustion ¶ Why hath the Scorpion venime in her taile Bicause venime is the excrement of the Scorpion ¶ Wherfore did nature make mens eares so eminent standing out and of gristles To be more quicke of hering and to be lesse grieued when they be hurt ¶ Why cannot milke creame or curde beinge incorporated with hony Bicause hony with his vertue incisiue and abstersiue doeth let it ¶ Why doth not an arter or sinewe being cut growe againe as fleshe doeth Bicause they be spermaticke members ¶ Wherfore do the leaues of a Seruace tree fall together at one instant Bicause he hath no viscous or slimie humor ¶ Wherfore is a Baye tree alwaies grene Bicause the heate of that tree is alwaies tempered with humiditie and viscositie ¶ Wherfore is the female more imperfecte then the male Bicause she is more colde ¶ What caused Hipocrates to suffer those that had hotte and sharpe feuers to drinke wine To aide and helpe digestion and to strengthen the pacient ¶ Wherof commeth the Cotidian feuer Of the great haboundaunce of the fleame ¶ Why do the herbes called Penerâ—ial ditton and Nil cause women to haue their flowers Bicause their vertue and propertie is to open ¶ Wherfore is the meale of beanes good for y e spots in y e face Bycause it is meruailouse abstersiue and clensing ¶ Wherfore do we slepe better when we haue traueled then otherwise Bicause the spirites haue then more nede to be refreshed ¶ Wherof commeth it that sometimes we be laxatiue and sometimes to much costiue It is because of the feblenes of the vertue retentiue or through sharpe humor that vexeth and troubleth vs and the cause why we be bound procedeth of contrarie occasions ¶ Wherof commeth the Tertian agues Of yealowe choller corrupted ¶ Wherof procedeth the falling sickenes Of grosse fleame or rather of a melancholike humor which is retayned in the ventricles of the braine ¶ Wherfore did nature make the scull of the heade grosse thicke and hollowe The sâ—ul is grosse and thicke to defend the braine the better and holowe that the vapoures of the braine might issue out of the same more easelye for the head is a way through the which all the vapors of the body do passe ¶ Wherfore is not wine good for them that be growing still in greatnes Wine doth straight go into the head and children in there infansie haue the head grosser after the proportion of the reste of the body then in anye other age ¶ Why do melons cowcumbers cause men to make water That commeth of their great humiditie ¶ Wherfore is it not good to slepe with the face vpwardes Bicause it heateth the raines inflameth the bloud and not onelye the blud but the spirits also which are in the hollow vaine in y e gret arterie ¶ Howe commeth it that trees are more hard and stronge of the Northside then they are of the South and West side Bicause the North wind doth better harden ¶ Wherfore doo not those litle beastes or serpents that of the Latinists are called Cerastes brede nether in Cipres trees nor boxe trees In Cipres trees bitternes sharpnes in boxe trees hardnes is y e cause ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth the disease which PhisitiaÌ„s do cal Diabethe It is a disease in the raines and commeth of the feblenes of the same ¶ Wherof procedeth the swetenes of fruictes Of moderate heate ¶ Why do olde men doate so much Through the great colde that is in them ¶ Wherof procedeth y e lasque flux of y e bely called Dissenteria Of biting and sharpe humors ¶ Why do hearinges in so great multitudes leaue the Northerne and go to the Westerne Sea To enioie the temperature of that climate ¶ Why doth eating of y e brain of some beastes prouoke vomit Bicause y e brain is oilie swimmeth vpoÌ„ y e orifice mouth of y e stomake ¶ Why is grossest meat geuen â—uer at supper Bicause with slepe they make good digestion ¶ What is the cause that the pulse commonly called chichâ— peason doeth prouoke Lecherie By reason of the saltenes wherof the hul is participant ¶ Wherof commeth it that men to see the better do close one of their eyes Bicause the effecte and spirites of the one may helpe the other ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the higher the Sunne is the lesser is the shadowe Bicause the sunne beames do then reuerberate directly downewardes ¶ Why doth the force of wine make some to be
in their Citie ought without remedie the Rope about his necke to recite openly before the people the lawe which he would establishe and the reason wherfore That was to chastise and correct those that loue nouelties and newe deuises for if the lawe proposed pleased not the people or was found to be wrongfull and vniuste the proposer of that lawe had no more hurte but soudenly was strangled Which ordinaunce and decree kept the good citezens of Locres more then two hundred yeres in good estate of common welthe without any alteration and chaunge ¶ Why did the Auncientes in olde time arme their souldiers onely with the plackard without any other Armure To cutte from them all hope of running awaie ¶ Wherfore did the Auncient aboue all thinges desire to dye honorablie Bicause honorable deathe couereth the faultes of the life paste ¶ What mente the wise continuallye to ioygne wisedome with puisaunce That puisaunce might not be conuerted into tiranny ¶ Wherfore did the Auncientes saye that their mindes and soules were like vnto Lampes Bicause through good instructions they mighte geue lighte eche to other ¶ What mente many sinculerly to commend pouertie Bicause it made men industriouse and vigilant ¶ Why did the Auncientes ordeine that if ther chaunced any disorder or murmuring among the souldiors they should caste lottes to punishe a fewe of them and that they to whom the lotte should fall incontinently should be dispatched It was to feare a great number through the punishment of a fewe ¶ Why be those that be expert in the arte of warre alwaies blamed yf they enter rashely into combat Bicause that the yssue of the battels are vncertaine ¶ Why dyd the Auncientes paynte the ymade of vertue girded To declare that the vertuouse man ought to be diligent in his affaires and not slouthfull ¶ What meaneth it that women are desirouse of reuengement aboue all other creatures Their weakenes is the cause ¶ Why were the Persians so curiouse to accustome their children to auoyde lying and to tell the truthe Bicause they demed veritie to dwell amonges the godds And that they ought not to premeditate what to saie ¶ Wherfore ought Intemperaunce to be auoyded Bicause it bringeth with him all disorder necligenge and inordinate life ¶ Why do some prayse pouertie Bicause she teacheth all good maners nourisheth and enterteyneth the good spirite and causeth assuraunce in man ¶ Why is a riche wife to be eschewed Bicause she doeth not content her selfe with the estate of a wife but would be maistresse and more then a maistresse ¶ Why do many desire deathe when as for the honor of the same there neuer was any aulter edefied nor Himpt songe in his praise Bicause it is a remedie for all euils and an assured porte for the deade ¶ Why is it better for a prince to be loued then feared Bicause feare can not alwaies laste nor indure ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do loue deathe and other some feare him Death is feâ—rfull to them that forgoe all thinges with life But deathe is swete to them that leaue some eternall memorie of them selues and hope to goe to the place of comfort and felicitie ¶ Why do men commend drie harde and barren places Bicause such places make men carefull industriouse and diligent which thing no men can beare better witnes then the Bergamasques Geneuois Ragusâ—is and Luchoâ—s cities in Italie ¶ Why is it saide that in geuing of benefites we ought to immitate the fertile fieldes Bicause they yelde more then they receiue ¶ Why is delicate fare to be eschewed Bicause it corrupteth good wittes ¶ Why ought no credite to be geuen to Fortune Bicause she is inconstant ¶ Why is it not good to followe the opinion of the common people Bicause they iudge all thinges by their opinion and not according to the truthe ¶ Why is age when it approcheth to be feared Bicause age is sickenes it selfe and the shoppe of all infirmities ¶ What moued some to geue counsell indifferently to auoyde the conuersation of women Bicause they be all equally instructed in the schole of Malice as the Comicat Poet Terence affirmeth ¶ Why ought a man to beware of extreme pouertie Bicause it destroyeth good wittes ¶ Why do some desire to become olde and to haue no children To be the lesse fearfull of Tirantes ¶ Why did the Auncientes ordeine that in ciuill dissentions there should no part be taken with the common people Bicause there is nothing more disordred eyther in rage or couetousnes then the common people more impacient in heauines nor more dissolued in pleasures ¶ Why ought vnlawfull gaine to be eschewed Bicause the ende therof is not good neither doeth suche gaine longe continue ¶ Why do they compare a couetouse man to him that hath the dropsiâ— Bicause he is seldome satisfied and can not quenche the couetouse thirst wherwith he is alwaies infected ¶ What was the cause of the commaundement that we haue to honor Princes Bicause they are on earche a representation and lyuely Image of God who gouerâ—eth all thinges ¶ Why did the Persians make their children to beholde the orders and fashions of Dronckardes To teache them to abhorre dronkennes by seing the disordinate fashions of those that were droncke ¶ Why did the Auncientes saie that it were muche better to fall into the handes of Rauens then of Flatterers Bicause Rauens and Crowes do eate vs when we be deade but Flatterers do deuoure vs alyue ¶ Why is it not semely for a man to praise or dispraise himself Bicause the one is a signe of follie the other of inconstancie ¶ Wherin resteth true Amitie In the vnitie and equalitie of minds by folowing and refusing louing and hating one thing Amitie is lyke to the Sunne of the world without which all thinges are darke and out of order ¶ Howe may a true frende be knowen By thinges vncertaine ¶ Who be they that do leaste feare deathe They that least trouble them selues with worldely thinges ¶ What thing getteth frendes Good Fortune getteth them and yll fortune loseth them ¶ What difference is there betwene frendship and hatred The one ought to be immortall and the other is mortall ¶ Which is the best patrimonie that man can haue in this worlde To be spare and continent in liuing and yf our goodes be not sufficient for vs let vs be sufficient for our goodes ¶ What kinde of auerice or couetousnes is counted moost honest The couetousnes of tyme when it is imployed as it ought to be ¶ What is the state of the riche couetouse man A continuall torment and an extreme desire to get goodes together with feare of losse of the same ¶ Howe may a man truely tearme temporall richesse Heauines of minde snares and nettes to catche vs and thornes that pearce vs throughe the harte ¶ What chaunceth to sluggardes and to the slothefull To liue barely and to reste without profite ¶ What is the propertie of Fortune To feare
moued with affection we endeuour our selfes to shew pleasure vnto them whom we loue in suche sorte that good will is the effect of the affection ¶ Howe shall a man knowe them that are wicked By the example of the good ¶ Howe shall the vertue of man be knowen By aduersitie as golde by the fyer ¶ What was the cause of the renowme of Simâ—n of Athens His being so curtuouse and gentile that he caused those beastes to be buried that made him to winne the prise of the games of Olimpus ¶ What made Pericles infamouse His great ingratitude inhumanitie to suffer Anaxagoras his schole-master to dye for hongre ¶ What moued Phocion to helpe them that were wicked Bicause he knewe the good had no nede of helpe ¶ Why did the Romanes eate and drinke openly before the gates of their Citie To take better occasion to geue meate to them that did want ¶ Wherof commeth the custome that kinges and Princes cause their Trompettes to be sounded when they go to dynner To geue warning to the pore to come take parte of their magnificence liberalitie and in many coÌ„mon welthes the same custome is yet obserued ¶ Why did Alexandre laie his Treasure in the Temple of the Sunne To kepe it saufe for at that tyme holie thinges were had in suche reuerence that all thinges were saufe that were coÌ„mitted and laied in the same For that cause Callisthenes laied in the Temple of Inno his doughters do wries to be kept ¶ What caused the victories and the great sloughter that Leonidas of Sparta and Themistocles made against Xerxes and his people and what was the cause that in the ende Xerxes was slaine by the meanes of Artabanus Bicause he had violated and polluted the holie thinges and spoyled the Temples The like happened to Brennus in the Temple of Apollo and Antiochus bicause he would haue sacked the Temple of Iupiter ¶ What is Religion after the mindes of the Philosophers It is a vertue so coupled with godlines that it can not be losed or seperated ¶ Who were they that the Philosophers called Religiouse and whiche Supersticiouse The Religiouse were they which applied their studie in the seruice of God the Supersticiouse were they that praied incessantly for the health and longe lyfe of their children ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man vnderstandeth one thing and doeth another Bicause of contrarie thinges we be wont to atteine like knowledge â—â— bicause the mind attendeth to many thinges and the sensual appetite but to one But man most coÌ„monly liueth by reason beasts after their appetite ¶ Wherof commeth it that man aboue al creatures is proude Bicause he doth somewhat resemble god and being tamed aboue all other beastes by the knowledge that he hath of many thinges comprehendeth by his wit al sensible thinges and by the spirite al things intelligible ¶ Wherfore is a pluralitie of Princes euil not to be suffred All that which may be done by one is better done then when it is done by many Moreouer yf a kyngdome be tourned into Tirannie the tirannie of one is more sufferable then of many and to be short the reigne of one is the beste ¶ Wherof commeth it that we loue better to be counted an honest man then to be so in dede and haue an euill reporte Man alone is capable of honour and therfore eche man desireth to seme to be good and euery man would auoide the trauell that bringeth man to goodnes albeit without the same vertue can not be in man ¶ From whence came the custome not to name the newe borne before the seuenth daie Bicause they estemed the childe at .vii. daies of age to haue escaped the daunger ¶ Howe chaunceth it that in the beginning of sitting at the table to eate a man careth not how nere together he sitteth and at the ende of the meale he loueth to sitte at ease and at libertie When a man is hungrie he careth not for ordre for in eating we represent a Pyramis which combreth litle rowme ¶ Why did the Aegiptians desirouse to liue chast eate no salte Bicause through the heate therof it prouoketh Lecherie ¶ Why doeth Homere call salte a diuine thing Bicause it geueth taste to all meate and preserueth the same from stinking and hath a force and vertue generatiue ¶ Wherfore be we afaird to passe through a churchyarde Bicause it representeth our ende ¶ Wherfore did the Grekes fayne that there was a god that blamed all thinges To declare that there is nothing perfeçte ¶ Wherfore was Hanibal so hated of the Romanes Bicause he kept no fidelitie and despised al things touching god man ¶ What moued Ptolome king of Aegipte to ordeine the Romane people to be the tutors of his sonne Bicause he knewe the Romanes to be faithfull ¶ Howe was the common welthe of Sparta so longe time mainteined Some imputed the cause to the magestrates which knew well how to commaund some to the people bicause they knewe howe to obey ¶ Who was the cause of the great victorie that the Lacedemonians obteyned against the Iliryans The presence of their king which was but a childe perswaded thervnto by the counsell of their priestes ¶ Why were the Athenians so vnfortunate in warres Bicause they gaue charge and aucthoritie vnto many ¶ Wherfore did the Mossones a people of Asia kepe their seruauntes tied and as it were dayly locked vp To cause them to die for hongre yf they did any thing that was not honest For which cause Alexandre chastised them very rigorousely ¶ Wherfore did the Athenians establishe this lawe that yf a bond man were set at libertie and shewed him selfe vnkinde to his master he should returne againe into bondage To declare howe vnnaturall ingratitude is ¶ What caused the kingdome of Persia so much to florishe Xenophon saieth that it was the great loue that they bare to their king ¶ What thing is hardest for a man to do To be secrete Which Philippides affirmed when he besought Lycimatus his great frende not to reueale his secretes ¶ Why did Plato so muche refuse the liberalitie of Dionisius If Dionisius had bene alwaies nighâ— vnto Plato to geue him somewhat Plato would euer haue refused it ¶ Howe ought a man to vse Hospitalitie Indifferently neither to muche nor to litle Which Homere affirmed when he ordeined that a traueller by the waie yf he would not tarrie he should not be pressed to tarrie but if he would that he should haue good chere made vnto him ¶ What order is to be obserued in helping of men Massurius Sabinus the Lawier resoluing this doubte saith that first we be bound to defende the pupilles that be committed to vs in gouernement charge vntill they be come to age Secondly to defende and helpe our gestes and such as be lodged in our houses Thirdly those whose â—utes and causes we take in hande to mainteine ¶ Who amonges the Auncientes were the most excellent in
Hospitalitie and contrariewise the most nigardes in the same King Massimissa Scipio the great Nicomedes Cecer Anaximenes and Theophrastus vsed great hospitalitie And contrariewise Timon of Athens Flauius of Luques and many other had the same in contempt ¶ What is that which is called Concorde and wherfore was it so called Concord is kinn to amitie And like as amitie ingendreth loue betwene two or many persons euen so concorde kepeth the people tied and vnited in good peace And concorde was so called by reason of the concordance and vnion wherin she knitteth and bindeth the hartes of the people as the Quene and Mystres of all good workes ¶ Wherfore was Domitian the Emperour so hated of the Romane people Bicause for the least fault committed he condempned the doers to cruell deathe ¶ What was the cause of the great victorie that the Grekes had against Xerxes Mardonius and the Persians The vnion of the Grekes like as their disagrement was the cause of their ouerthrowe euen as discorde ouerthrewe Carthage and all the Princes of Heliesponte ¶ Wherfore was it written before the gates of the temple of Apollo at Delphos Knowe thy selfe To induce vs to knowe that sparke of diuinitie which God hath placed in vs wherby we knowe that God hath done all thinges ¶ Wherfore is it saide that there is nothing that may better resemble y e kingdome of heauen then the state of a Monarchie Bicause ther is but one god which alone doth reigne gouerne al things ¶ Of what sorte of men ought a Prince to be chosen in a common welthe He ought to be noble of blood he ought to be vertuouse riche and puissaunt in armes ¶ Do you thinke it to be requisite that a lieuetenaunt generall of an Armie ought to be not onely valiaunt and wise but also happie and fortunate I thinke doubtles that he ought to be fortunate The ill fortune of Pompeius may very well auooche the same ¶ What is the principall duetie of a good Prince To seke meanes that his people be well instructed ¶ What was the cause of the euill endes of Sardamapalus and Nero. The number of Flatterers in their Courtes â—esters Parasites Bawdes Whores Ruffians all sortes of people disposed to vice where the wise and graue were expuised and driuen awaie ¶ What was the cause of the magnanimitie of Pirrhus king of Epirus The good councell and eloquence of Cyneas his Scholemaster who by reason of his eloquente orations forced very many cities rather to render them selues freely then by any force ¶ Why would king Cyrus that Xenephon should be alwaies in his companie To geue him councell in thaffaires of his Realme For Xenephon was not onely wise but also valiaunt and wel instructed in the dedes of warre ¶ Wherfore wold Alexander the gret that Onoficrates should alwaies accompanie him in the warres To inroll and register his actes and dedes ¶ Wherof ought a prince principallye to take hede Not to chaunge his bountie and goodnes for any occasion that can happen ne yet to incline his cares to flatterers ¶ Wherfore did Tigranes the kinge of Helesponte ordeine that they which did talke vnto him shoulde knele vpon their knees with their armes stretched vp To declare that he had al power aucthoritie ouer their bodies liues ¶ What is the chiefest cause of a princes ouerthrowe Flattery more then force of armes ¶ What is he in dede that maye truelye be called happie in this worlde The vertuouse man of meane wealth ¶ Whervnto serue richesse To make the minde quiet and contente withoute whiche contentation there is no happines or felicitie in this world But howe can he be in rest and quiet that hath not wherewith to bye his breade ¶ What caused Alcibiades to be so hardie contrary to the nature of the Athenians His Nourse Amilca which was a Spartan woman ¶ What moued Diogines comming from Sparta and going to Athenes to say that he came from men and was going towards women Thereby he reprehended the delightes of Athenes whiche made them effeminate and womanishe ¶ Which is most requisite either that the Souldiors shoulde defende the wall or the wall the souldiors It is better that the Souldiours should defende the wall ¶ What is the poison of frendship Flattery ¶ What maner of nourses ought they to be which are to be chosen for princes children Fayre well conditioned sage discrete pleasaunt courtuouse amiable chaste healthie and of good complexion eloquent their speache fyne and net that the childe may learne to pronounce well ¶ What is the surest guarde of a prince The good will of his Subiectes For that Prince is vnhappy which for the suertie of his person had nede of sortes and diuersities of guarde and watche ¶ What is Iustice The honor and glorie of them that do the same and a great benefite vnto them vpon whom the same is executed ¶ Whereby shall a man knowe when a Prince beginneth to be a Tiraunt When forciblye he draweth vnto him the seruice of his people ¶ What cauâ—ed Theseus to be so valiaunt The great fame and renoume of Hercules inflamed him to make hys name immortall ¶ Howe may a man be like vnto God In doing good to many indifferently and not to one alone ¶ Why do the Aethiopians which be on this side the riuer Nylus adore and worship two goddes that is to saye one immortal and the other mortall They thinke that the immortall God doeth worke al thinges and the benefites which we receaue ordinarily they beleue to come and procede of the mortall God As the notable Cosmographer Strabo doth declare ¶ What is the greatest shame that we can receaue To be surpassed in honestie curtesie and humanitie by those which be 〈◊〉 inferiours ¶ Howe did Philip kinge of Macedone gaine and winne all Gretia By golde and siluer more then by force of armes for he was wonte to saye that there was no forte or castle were it neuer so inexpugnable but he would take vpon him to subdue it if so be an Asse laden with gold wer able to enter the gates ¶ What kinde of Tragedies ought we not to reade Those which conteine nothing els but thinges that be proude cruell and full of inhumanitie But those we ought specially to reade whiche be honest and full of graue sentences interlaced with pleasaunt talke as the Tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles be ¶ Why ought we indifferently to reade all kinde of Poetes Bicause with a meruailouse swetenes of language they entermedle the Graces with the Muses wherof it came that Aelius Comodus the Emperour was so farre in loue with Martial that he termed him to be hys Uirgil ¶ Are men to be commended for their corporal beautie sake No But for their vertue wisedome counsell and force which declare what maner of mindes they haue within ¶ What difference was there betwene the Grekes and tho Romanes in making of their Images The Grekes made theirs naked the
fishe called Polpo which taketh his colour of the Sande where he grauelleth or groundeth him selfe ¶ Upon what reason did Homere call certaine people of Thracia halfe men and why did he saye that the house of Protesilaus was imperfecte Bicause the people of Thracia liued without women and in the house of Protesilaus there were none but men The like affirmeth Menander of the Geti or Gothos But what good can an housholder do without a woman surely in mine opinion I speake iâ— not to please women no more then a man can liue without meat or continue without clothing ¶ Who was the first that taught a man to liue an Actiue liue Socrates and as Cicero saieth suche life is verie agreable to God ¶ What is vertue It is an Armonie or pleasaunt accorde of Nature with other good thinges agreyng thervnto ¶ What is the chiefest goodnes according to the Philosophers opinion To fele no kinde of sorrowe as Hierom Rhodiotto saieth albeit that the Stoiques and Epicurians affirme the contrarie ¶ Why is Lycurgus amongs al y e law makers estemed the best Bicause he did obserue and kepe that which he him selfe commaunded ¶ Why did the Poetes faigne that Prudence was borne or conceiued of the braine of Iupiter To declare that witte and vnderstanding wherof Prudence doeth spring whiche causeth vs to foresee all thinges is deuine ¶ Wherfore do the Poetes faigne Philoctetes to be banished from his cuntrie and to wandre by hilles and dales dailye weping and sighing To declare that there is no sorrowe nor accident howe weightie soeuer it be which ought to induce man to violate nature or to kill himselfe ¶ Wherin consisteth true force To abide and supporte all harde thinges and not to imbase his harte in aduersitie ¶ Wherfore did the Auncientes wash before they did sacrifice To declare that all disordinate thoughtes proceding of beastly affections be displeasaunt to Godde ¶ For what reason did the auncient Romanes tearme God to be Optimum Maximum so muche to saye right good and verye great And wherfore did they place Optimum before Maximum The one Epitheton signifieth vertue and the other puissaunce or might yet vertue was alwaies preferred as the chiefest ¶ What moued Anaxagoras to giue all his goodes to his frends The more frackely to playe the parte of a Philosopher to yelde vnto heauen our true cuntrie Wherof we do take our beginning and yssue the first fructes of our mindes and sprites ¶ What was the cause that Acâ—ius the Poet did make a Comedie intituled Il Cauallo Troiano in English the Troian horse A desire he hadde to reprehend those that are slowe of vnderstanding that wer ignoraunt to vse tyme before necessitie and not afterwards when 〈◊〉 fortune did succede Wherof rose the prouerbe Sero sapiunt Phryges ¶ Wherfore did the Romanes terme Fabius Maximus to be the Target of the Romane people and Marcellus the Sworde Bicause the one gaue him selfe to mainteine the common welthe but the other was eagre and sharpe to reuenge the enemies of the same And yet bothe they were seâ—te together by the Senates order that the grauitie of the one might moderate the hardines of the other ¶ Wherfore did Caesar ordeine two Legions or bandes of souldiors to be enterteined at Rome well armed and furnished That the Citizens should not be surprised vnwar and noted of negligence Euery Legion was deuided into tenne Cohortes or companies in euery Cohors was L. bandes or squares euery Square had .xxv. soldiors the Legio commonlie conteineth .vi. thousand footemen and .vii. C. xxxii horsemen but Liuie in many places of his Decades declareth the same to be sometimes more and sometimes lesse yet our common accompte of the Legio comprehendeth the numbre and diuision aforesaide ¶ Wherfore is Pompeius reproued by certeine Historiographers not to be skilfull and wise enough Bicause at the iourney of Pharsalis which he loste he lefte in an Islande called Corfu a puisaunt armie wherwith he might haue stopped the passage of Cesar. ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of the Emperour Otho The hazardinge of the battell his enemies beynge as it were in dispaire ¶ What difference is there betwene Prudence and viuacitie of witte otherwise called pregnancie of minde or Sagacitie Prudence geueth good Councell and the pregnaunt witte comprehendeth and iudgeth the councell which is moost requisiâ—e the one being very necessarie for the other ¶ Wherfore was Paulus Minutius the companion of Fabius estemed so prudent and wise Bicause he toke Councell of himselfe in that which he knewe and followed the councell of others in that which he did not vnderstand esteming him to be a sotte and beaste which had not good aduise in him selfe and would not obey them that hadde experience ¶ What is the duetie and propertie of them which be accompted to be fyne witted To vse their wittes to eche diuise and qualitie lyke vnto the fishe Balena whiche is a great fishe in the Sea hauing a hole in his hedde wherby he taketh ayer thrusting forth therat great aboundaunce of water some times here and sometimes there ¶ Why was Lysandre so â—louted and mocked of his owne people Bicause he vaunted and bosted him selfe to be the kinseman of Hercules not doing any signe or token of vertue but all that he did was by tromperie and deceipt ¶ Wherfore was Helanicus of Epirus so greatly estemed for his subteltie Bicause all that he did was for the publike wealthe and not for his owne perticuler profite ¶ What is Equanimitie a vertue so muche praised It is a certeine purenes and constancie of minde wherwith we continue alyke in prosperitie and aduersitie not being puffed vp with pride or abbasing our minde Socrates the Philosopher and Antoninus Pius the Emperour were excellent in that vertue ¶ Where is the seate of the affections in our bodie Ioye resteth in the splen Aâ—gre in the gall Feare in the harte Lecherie in the lyuer ¶ What maner of thing is modestie It is a moderation of our appeties which obeyeth reason ¶ For what respect did Antiochus geue so greate thankes vnto the Romaines that leauing him so little a Countrye whiche before was a Kinge so mightie and prince puisaunt His modestie didde him to vnderstande that he was discharged of a great burden which hindred him before often times from slepe from eâ—ting and drinking ¶ Wherin did Tiberius moste of all declare his modestie In that beinge desired to taxe his people he sayde that it was the office of a good Sheperde to shere his shepe and not to pull of theyr skinnes Dionisius of Siracusa wherein didde he shewe himselfe praise worthie For beinge so modest that althoughe he were come to the estate of a Kinge Yet he would not alter the maner of apparel which he ware when he was a priuate man ¶ What maner of thinge do ye call shamefastens It is a certaine passion which maketh the person blushe speciallye in anye good and honest matter and
procedeth of a certaine honâ—stie of minde Many haue termed it to be the misteris of comelines and the mother of honestie ¶ What was the cause of the victorye that the Persians hadde against Astiagâ—s The shame that theyr wiues didde vnto theym when they fledde from the Battell whoe seinge them runne awaye lyke shepe lifting vp their garmentes smockes and all sayde vnto theym whither wyll ye ye cowardes and dasterdlye menne you that dare not stande to the battell Whither will ye flee Is there no waye lefte for you but to perse againe the wombes of your mothers Whiche manlike woordes although proceding from womens mouthes made that dasterdly nation to retourne and gaine the battell ¶ Wherein appered the honestie of Socrates so muche comâ—mended of the Auncientes Manye and sundrye wayes but speciallye in this pointe for when he hearde any one talke dishonestlie he hidde his head with his cloake vntill the other had done his tale ¶ What is Abstinence It is a vertue of the minde bridled by reason drawing vs from disordin ate appetites which we haue after the goodes of this world ¶ What is Continence It is a vertue of the minde which maketh our sensuall appetites subiecte to reason so that by abstinence couetousnes is refrained and through Continence Lecherie is chastised ¶ Who amongs the Auncients was estemed most abstineÌ„t Paulus Aemilius chiefelye in the victorye that he atchieued of the Persians and in the enterprises of Spaine and Macedonia Lucius Acummius at the ouerthrowe of Corinthe ¶ And in CoÌ„tinencie who hath excelled among the Ancients Cipio the great Alexander and Cesar. ¶ What is it that made the Corinthians infamouse Bicause they solde their daughters to enriche them selues ¶ What was the cause of the defamation of Messalina the wife of Claudius Her dishonest Intemperaunce and filthie lust who would not sticke to aduenture cumbat with any aduenturouse knight ¶ Howe did Hieron of Siracusa get so great fame beinge but the bastard sonne of a poore laboring man By great temperaunce honestie and valiaunce whiche did so shine in him that he was made captaine generall of the Syracusanes againste the Carthaginians and in the ende he behaued himselfe so well that he was made kinge ¶ What thinges are very honest Those which without respecte eyther of profite or commoditie doe deserue of them selues to be commended And honestie is no other thinge but a prouocation alwaies to do vertuouse dedes ¶ What was the cause of the glorie of Theseus The affection that he had to folowe the vertues of Hercules whiche caused him continually to be troubled both in bodie and minde ¶ In what vertue did Pomponius Atticus excell In modestie the companion of honestie Such also were Hanibal Publius Surus Anaxilaus Epictetus and king Philip of Macedonia ¶ What is the propertie of Chastitie To rule and gouerne the affections of the minde to chase away all disordinate appetites to conterpeise riot with reason and in all thinges to be constant ¶ What differeÌ„ce is there betwene Chastitie shamefastnes Chastitie is a generall chastisement of our affections be it either lecherie gluttonie or couetousnes But shamefastnes is tried onely in continuing from lechery Those women then that are chaste are suche as haue not committed offence neither in bodie nor thought But the shamefast are those which haue not had to do with any man but w t their owne husbaÌ„ds ¶ How did Euagoras king of Cyeras obteine so great renoume By not deceiuing any man for keping of his promisse gratefying his trends for his valiance for being enemie to vice al euel thoughts ¶ What is moderate sparing properlye It is a vertue nere vnto modestie which is so necessarie vnto man that without it he falleth into many vices It causeth man to spende nothing superfluously and to spare nothing that is necessary to be spent ¶ Howe may we godlely increase our goodes By moderate sparing and by tilling the earth ¶ What is sobrietie It is a vertue that ruleth drinking and eating without which other vertues are obscure ¶ Howe maye that man become sober that is insatiable in drinking and eating By considering the follies which they do that are dronke ¶ Why did the Lacedemonians vse in their feastes alwaies to cause one to be made dronke for example vnto their children To make their children to abhorre that beastlye vice ¶ Howe ought a man to drinke With suche moderation that he may abate his thirst auoiding dronkennes the disease of the head and stomacke which continually doe followe the same ¶ What did obscure the greate vertues of kinge Philip and Alexander the great his sonne Dronkennes the like happened also to Cyrus the lesse to Cato Promachus and to the sonne of Cicero ¶ What signifieth wine so disordinately taken The bloud of the earth conuerted into poison ¶ What made Massinissa of such great estimation Sobrietie and his being content with such victualles as the meaner souldiors vsed to eate And by that sobrietie he behaued him selfe so well that at four score and sixe yeres of age he begat a childe and at foure score and twelue he vanquished the Carthaginians ¶ Why did Solon ordeine that a man should lie with his wife but three times in a moneth only To accustome his people by litle and litle to shamefastnes a thing that aduaunceth not onely women but also men Howe may a man auoide all horrible and fearefull thinges By vertue by which thing onely moste cruell Tirauntes haue bene reformed ¶ Wherefore did Dimocritus put out his eyes To thintent he might not see the prosperitie and insolency of his country men whiche liued without Iustice and all kind of vertue ¶ What priuiledge haue braue and valiaunt men To be none of fortunes subiectes ¶ Is it possible to fynde perfecte valiaunce in one manne alone Homere thinketh not so and holdeth opinion that force and valiaunce in respect of other vertues in the same do many times receiue certaine furiouse assaultes Likewise he supposeth that there be many kindes of valiaunce for he praiseth Achilles for his angre Ulisses for his wisdome ¶ Why is it requisite for a souldior to be Cholerike Bicause Choler sturreth vp the harte and enflameth the sprite That is force sayeth Homere which entreth in at the nose and chafeth the blodde ¶ Amonges morall vertues which is the beste I thinke it to be force whiche by his vertue maketh a man not to feare death in an honorable enterprise and subdueth his harte to Iustice and wisdome ¶ Who was the firste that rewarded valiaunce with preciouse giftes Bachus was the firste that gaue presentes vnto valiaunt souldiors as Crownes Speares Cheines victories pictures and helmetes ¶ Howe did the wise define that vertue Diuerslie The disciples of Socrates saide that it was a vertue which willed man not to feare aduerse fortune to whom agreed Chysippus The Stoiques saide that it was an effection of the passionat mind which made men obedient to the