For trouble is compaignyon to the voluptuous and delicate lyfe and waxeth olde with the poore miserable lyfe But as those that be fearefull of a weake stomake and not hable to brooke the Seas when they saile on the Seas wyll remoue manye tymes out of a lyttle Bote into a great shippe and from thence into a galey thinckynge therby to be immediatly easid of their griefe vntyll such time they feele that they profite nothing in so doinge because that wheresoeuer they go they cary with them that Chooler fearefulnes whych is wythin theÌ„ Euen so the ofteÌ„ chauÌ„ge of soÌ„dry kindes of life cannot delyuer the mynd froÌ„ suche grieffes and troubles as these be That is to saye Ignoraunce and lacke of Experience foolishe rashnes lacke of knowledge and power to vse thinges presente in their due kynde For these be the thinges that vâ—xe both ryche and poore and trouble so well the maryed as the vnmaryed Nor none other cause then thys doth make suche as haue forsaken the citie for to dwell in the Country to be wearye againe of the Countrey and to retourne eftsones into the Cytye These thinges also cause many men whiche by great helpe and importunate sute haue placed themselues in kynges Courtes anone after to repente their laboure so bestowed A sicke man as Ion sayeth is a verye vnpleasaunt thinge for he cannot abyde his wyfe he blameth his Phisicion and is angry with his bedde Yf hys friende commeth to vysite him he dothe but trouble hym And if he departe from hym he dothe againe offende him But after that hys dysease begynneth to asswage and to be somewhat more temperate Then commeth healthe by litle and lytle makinge all thinges delectable and pleasaunte In suche sorte that whereas the daye before he dyd lothe newe layde Egges deintye Brothes and the fyneste breade that might be gotten The nexte daye after can hungerlye eate a peece of common bread with a few cresses Of suche importaunce is a good discorse in all chaunges of the life thonely force wherof procureth the happye lyfe It is sayed that when Alexander hearde the Philosopher Anaxharcus affirmynge in disputation that there were innumerable worldes he weapte for sorowe And beynge demaunded by his frendes what iuste cause he had to wepe he aunswerid Haue we not iuste cause quod he to weepe sythe there be so manye worldes and we be not as yet lordes of one But Crates the porely clad Philosopher contrarywise consumed all hys life to the laste daie in sporte laughter as though they were all festiuall dayes Agamemnon likewise kynge of the Micens was not a little troubled for that he had the rule of so manye men Of whom Homer talking saieth thus Thou knowest righte well Atreus son That clepid is Agamemnon Whome moste of all with Labors great Ioues pleasure is to vexe and freat When Diogenes the Phylosopher was in the markette amongst others to be solde and was commaunded by the Cryer which should sell him to rise vppe He woulde not so doe but ieasted wyth the Cryer demaunding of him if he brought a fishe to sell whither he would bydde it rise vppe or not So litle he estemed hys mysserable state Did not Socrates lykewise being in prisoÌ„ fast cheined fettred stoodye wisedome and dyspute of phylosophye amongst his disciples and Scholars But looke agayne on thother syde howe Phaeton clymyng vp into the heauens with weeping teares complayned because that no maÌ„ would geue him the gouernement of his fathers horse chariot As the shooe is wont to be wriethed and turned to serue a crooked foote and not contrarywise the foote to fitte a crooked shooe Euen so the state and disposition of the mynde must make euery kinde of lyfe that is offred semblable and agreyng to her selfe Nor it is not custome as some men affirme whiche maketh pleasaunte the lyfe that they haue chosen as best for themselues But rather wisedom maketh thesame life best and moste pleasaunt Therefore lette vs firste labour to pourge to purifie and to make so cleane as is possible the flowyng fountayne of the tranquilitie of the minde whiche is within vs to thintent that we may make all outwarde thinges commyng vnto vs by chaunce plyant and apte to serue the purpose through our patient sufferance For though thinges doe not succede well accordyng to oure desire yet it behoueth not vs to be angrie therwith sithe angre thereto nought appertayneth Yea he is to be praised that by arte and pollecy can soonest redresse suche euyll successe And therefore Plato compared mans lyfe to the dice playe in the which although the player oughte to desier euery beste caste yet howe so euer it chaunceth he muste take skilfull heede to dispose eche caste in the beste wyse that he can according as the chaunce will beare it Of whiche two thynges the one that is the chaunce of the dye consisteth not in oure power But the other lyeth in vs to perfourme That is to saye if we be wise to take pacientlye whatsoeuer chaunseth and tappoynte euery one his right place in such sort that whatsoeuer chaunseth well may bee applied to most aduauntage that whiche happeneth otherwise to leaste damage But foolishe men and vnexperte in knowing howe to liue be like vnto a diseased body whiche can neither suffer heate nor colde For in prosperitie they be fresh and gaye and looke pleasauntlye But in aduersitie they bende the browes and looke all frowardlye And therefore both states doe trouble them yea rather in them both they trouble themselues And no lesse also bee they troubled in those thinges which of them selues are thoughte to bee good Theodorus which surnamed is Atheus was wonte oftetimes to saie that he reached furth his woordes with the ryghte hande but they receaued them with the left euen so fares thignorant sort which when fortune many tymes woulde come vnto them on the right side they moste vndecentlye turnyng themselues awaye doe place her on the lefte But muche better doe the wisemen whiche lyke as bees doe make honie whiche is of all thynges moste sweete of Thyme the driest hearb and of most bitter Iuyce So they of most harmefull thinges doe choose oute many tymes some thinge that is to them bothe meete and profitable Whiche thynge is most chiefly to be studied and with much exercise of the minde to bee laboured For as he that when he had throwen a stone at a snarlyng bitche and missing her vnwillynglye by chaunce hit his stepdame saide vnto hymselfe that his throwe was not altogether euill bestowed eueÌ„ so wheÌ„ chaunce chaunceth not according to our desier we maie amende it and apply it to some other vse Diogenes was banished out of his couÌ„trey and yet this had none euyll successe for the same banishemente gaue hym firste occasion to studie Philosophie Zenon Citicus being become of a Philosopher a notable riche merchaunt by misfortune loste all that he had saue one shippe whiche afterwarde when he heard
He sayde what he dyd than deuise With spede to haue it brought to passe A thyng most peryllouse therfore It is vndecent thynges to wyll When he that wylleth euermore Hath powre the same for to fulfyll For powre doth malice quickly moue With euyll affectes the mynd to streke As enuy wrath aduowtry loue Mens goodes also and lyues to seke And then the worde nys soner sayde But wo to hym that is suspect Toffende in that to hym is layde For sentence there must take effect Of nature such as searchers be Do hold that after thunder clapp The lyghtnyng coms yeat do we se The same before we heare the rapp The bludd lykewyse before the wound To vs most commonly appeares For sight doth mete the light wheare sound Is fayne to come euin to our eares In kyngdoms so some men we fynde Taue suffred eare thaccused were And sentence yeuen to wrath inclynde Before due profe of cryme appeare For wrath nought hable is twithstand The powre of malice when she list As is the anker firt in sande Which can the cruell sea resist Onles that reason with her wayght Presse downe such powre and kynges abyde To marke the sonne in greatest hayght Howe he hymselfe doth wysly guyde For when he mownted is aloft To Cancers ryng he semes to stay In that he goeth so fayre and soft Wherby he doth assure his way But this by dayly profe we knowe Where powre and malyce do abyde There malyce nedes her selfe must showe And can her face no long tyme hyde If those that haue the fallyng yll At any tyme take colde I say They can not stand but stagger styll Which playnely doth theyr grefe bewray 〈…〉 But only wysshe and dayly craue Of god to graunt that ouer vs Long tyme of raigne her bygones haue Which is so good and gracious Finis ¶ The fruytes of Foes Newly corrected and cleansed of manye faultes escaped in the former printing Anno domini M.D.LXI Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ¶ Roger Ascham Secretory to the Queenes maiestie for the latin tongue in praise of the booke OF English bokes as I could find I haue perused many one Yet so wel done vnto my mind As this is yet haue I foūd none The woordes of matter here doe rise So fitly and so naturally As heart can wishe or witte deuise In my conceit and fantasie The woordes well chosen and well sette Doe bryng suche light vnto the sense As if I lackt I woulde not lette To bye this booke for forty pense To the Queenes highnes SVch Newyeres giftes as most mē do prepare To geue your grace it passeth far my powre For golde ne pearle ne such lyke costly ware Can I possesse sith fortune styll doth lowre As she on me hath hereto euer done Which had me brought at length to great distresse But that the hope which in your grace alone I alwayes fixt my griefes did oft redresse Which hope I say euen now doth make me bolde Your royall state with this so small a queyre For to present yea more that hope me tolde From this day forth I should no more dispeire For loe saith she the golden worlde at hande And Iustice raignes again within this lande Your maiesties most humble seruant Thomas Blundeuille The fruites of Foes BI Plutarks lore of mortal foes Learne ye that list some fruit to take For fruits inough he doth disclees Wherof I wil you partners make In olde time past mē only sought The hurtfull beastes their foes to kyll Of other spoyle they nothyng thought But so to saue themselues from ill But others came then afterwarde Whose sleight was such those beastes to slay As they thereto had small regarde Except they myght obtaine some pray Their fleshe to eate they vsde therfore And with their wolle themselues to cladde Their milke and galle they kept in store To heale suche griefes as sicke men hadde And of their hydes they harnes made Themselues to arme on euery syde That they might aye in safety wade Against all force that might betyde Loe thus by foes no hurt to take It did not them at all suffise Except they might such great gaine make As they themselues could best deuise If thou therfore without some hate Here cannot liue in quiet rest Inuent some way of such debate To leaue the worst and take the best No tylman can by arte deuise Eche tree to spoyle of nature wilde Nor huntsman eke be he right wise Can tame eche beast that roons in fyelde Wherfore they haue right wisely founde The meane tapply such beast and tree To other vse which doth redounde Vnto their great commoditee The water of the sea we see Is salte and hath vpleasante taste Yet cheifly thence I say haue wee The fishe our foode which we do waste Yea more then that thinges of great price The shipps by sea to vs do brynge Both pleasant silke and holsome spice And many other nedefull thinge The brightnes of the flaminge fire Appearing in the Satirs sight Straight waies so kindled his desire That it timbrace he toke delight Prometheus then loude can crie Beware he saide imbrace none suche For that it hath the propertie To burne all those that doth it tuche It was not made to colle and kisse But heate and light alwaies to yelde The very meane also it is Whereby craftes men their artes doe welde Hereby therfore we may perceiue That of our foe right perilous In this our lyfe we may receiue Suche fruites as be commodious For though some thynges be very ill To those to whom they appertaine Yet vsde they may be with suche skyll As losse shall easily turne to gaine As loe for proofe some sickly corse For easementes sake sekes quiet rest VVhere some againe to win their force To trauell oft do thinke it best Diogenes and Crates chaunce Do well declare how banishmentes And losse of goodes doe some auaunce To knowledge great which them contentes VVhen Zeno heard that tempestes gret In raginge sea his ship had lost He mourned not ne yet did fret But made as though it lytle cost And thus gan say to fortune tho Howe dearely doest thou me entreate Me thus to force againe to go In wysedoms schoole to fynde a seate Some beastes we see such stomakes haue As serpentes cause full soone disgeast Both woode and stone they also craue Suche kynde of foode them hurteth least But some againe so deinty bene That they oft loth the finest bredde And purest wine that can be sene VVherwith they myght be alwayes fedde Euen so fares fooles that frendship ioyes Do aye destroye but to the wyse Of hatefull strife and spightfull toyes Great wealth and gaine dothe oft aryse VVherefore me thinkes where in thy foe Doth seme to geue the greatest grief Thou mayst thereof receiue also Muche greater gayne to thy reliefe And if thou aske how that may be I saye to thee consider then What care he hath thy workes to se With whom to
shouldst reprehende As one with worse might aunswer thee VVhich thou in no wyse couldst defende As once did Leo Bizantine When one that had a crooked backe Hym cast in teeth his bleared eyne alas quoth he this is no lacke A humaine thing this is I say But why alas canst not espye Howe on thy backe thou bearest alway That goddesse fell dame Nemesye Nemesis Goddâ—sse râ—uenge Aduouterer see none thou call Whilst fouler lust in thee dothe raigne Ne yet reproue the prodigall If auarice thy lyfe dothe staine Alemeon when he did reuile Adrastus king of kin thou art Quoth he vnto that woman vile Whiche carft with knife her husbandes hart Adrastus then him aunswerd loe With that whiche did him touche at quicke Suche beastly wrathe in thee did floe Thy dame to slea ere she were sicke When Dyonise did Crassus skorne For that he wailde his Lampreys cas By crewell death then all forlorne Whiche in his ponde long fostred was Then Crassus said rebuke not mee Sith that from thee no teares did fall The death to see of thy wiues three Nor felst no grief therby at all VVho so delightes to checke or taunt No rybalde knaue or foole must bee VVith bragging woordes hymself to vaunt But rather should from vyce be free VVherfore none semes more bound tobay Apollos woorde thine own self know Then those that are most prompt alway To rayle to iest to mocke and mowe For hap it may saith Sophocles That whilst they taunt as them likes best To them again is said doubtles That whiche to heare they couet lest In tauntyng thus our foes we finde No litle fruit but more we gaine VVhen they likewise with wordes vnkinde Our faultes to taunt do not refraine Anthistines said well therfore That lyfe in safety to encloes Man ought to haue alwaies in store Right perfit frendes or bitter foes For faithfull frendes wyll vs reforme VVhen that we erre our foes againe VVyll so muche rayle aâ—d out of forme That nedes from vyce we must abstaine But syth that now true frendship is Of free speche spoylde and flattry bent To chatte and prate of thynges amysse Good counsels eke must nedes all stent And therefore nothing now remaines For vs to doe but to abide The trueth to heare to our great paynes By spightfull foes that nought wyll hyde When Telephus his festred wounde Could no wise heale with thenmies speare VVhich first him hurt louelyfe him bound To launce thesame without all feare Euen so must they of force agree To byde reprofe of spightful foes VVhere wanteth frendes their faultes to see And frankly wyll thesame disclose Nor in this case we should behold Our foes intent when they so rayle But if such thinges as they haue tolde Be true in vs or els doe fayle Prothemeus of Thessalie A grieuous sore had in his breast Whiche one that was his enemie Did cure by chaunce againste his heast For when he thought to haue him slain By dent of sword he brake the sore Which festred was to his great pain And so hym helde for euermore Euen so full oft it comes to passe That wordes yspoke for ill intent Do greatly helpe some one that was His fault t amend ful negligent But most men when they are reuilde Haue no regarde if with such vice As is them tolde they be defilde But sekes reuenge by lyke aduice VVhere reason would that suche as are By foes rebukte for their offence Should afterward thereof beware And seke redresse with diligence Yea more then that without desart Though they vs check for any thing To seke yet then it is our part The cause wherof the same did spring And eke to feare lest eare we thought VVe haue the same or such lyke don For one suspect hath many brought To shame and great derision As thargiue kyng sir Lacydes Because he was so nice of gate And eke his heere would finely dresse VVith finger aye was poynted ate And cald a man effeminat The lyke to Pompey dyd befall For that he vsde his hedde to scrat VVhen he no hurt dyd thinke at all For none did more then he despyse Such wanton lust and tendernes VVho aye was bent to enterprise Thynges great of weight and hardines So Crassus eke to tell you plaine Suspected was through suche lyke tale For that he did as some men fayne Frequent full oft a maide vestale And yet in dede his connyng nas For any hurt or ill intent But cerâ—ain land to hye in cas He could obtayne her free concent Posthumia through mirth and playe And hauntyng oft without respect Mens company her name I saye VVith infamy dyd sore infect For whiche she cited was tappere As one that had in lecherie Abusde her selfe with kinsfolkes nere And yet she dyd no villany VVhom though that Spurius whiche hight Manutius then bishop hye Of that ill fame did cleane acquight He warnde her yet thus fatherly Posthumia sith that thou haste In holy workes thy lyfe aye ledde Lest wanton talke thy name may waste I counsell thee haue lykewyse dredde Themistocles none ill had wrought VVhen he so often letters sent To Pawsanye yet some folkes thought To traye the realme was his intent If any man thee charge therefore VVith thynges vntrue in euery part Be negligent no whit the more Nor lightly let them from thee start But take good hede lest thou or thyne Hath geuen some cause of suche ill fame VVhiche once founde out thy selfe enclyne To learne thencefoorth to flee thesame For such ill happes as comes vnwares Do oft times teache what is for vs Most mete to doe in such lyke cares As Merop saith in writing thus VVhen fortune did me cleane depriue Of that whiche I estemed most To muche more wit I did arriue Albeit full dere it did me cost By maisters then of cheaper price VVhiche be our foes why should we steke In thynges vnknowen to take aduyce VVhiche with such cost we sometyme seke For they in vs doe knowe and see A thousande thynges whiche frendes reiect Because by loue they blinded bee VVhere foes are full of great respect When Hierons foe did hym reproue For that his breth did sauer ill Then to his wife and best beloue With spede went he to chide his fill And sayde to her why hast thou not To me declarde this fault of myne Because quoth she I thought god wot That all mens brethes had bene as thine Thus may you see that frendes most deare Our faultes nought can so soone out fynde As foes that aye both farre and neare Fayles not to kepe suche thynges in mynde One vertue more and that full goode By foes also we maye obtayne VVhiche is our tonges in angry moode By reasons bytte for to refraine For vertues such wyll not be hadde Except we learne in tyme to tame Our fierce affectes and rageing madde VVherby oftimes we come to shame As loe beholde the wrathfull man For lacke of wyt and temperaunce His foolish woordes
entreatinge of the tranquility of the mynde out of suche Commentaries as I had written in tymes paste concerninge the same Trustynge that in suche kynde of wrytinges thou wylt not looke for fyne termes and elloquent speach But onely haue regard to the good doctrine therof whiche maye helpe to instruct order mans lyfe And I thinke it already brought to some good passe Because that althoughe thou art knyt in frendshyp and that not after the common sorte with great men and worthy Prynces and hast also suche knowledge and experience in matters of lawe as thou geuist place to no man therein yet for all that thou arte not lyke the tragycall Meroppes puffed vp wyth vayne glorye or foolyshlye amased at the reioycynge of the people whiche hath thee in great admiration extolling thee with infynite prayses Neyther doest thou forget to haue harde oftimes howe that the shooe be it neuer so gay can not heale the gowtye foote nor the gold rynge the dysease in the fynger nor yet that the ryche Crowne of golde and stone can once ease the payne of the heade For to whom may ryches honoure glorye or preheminence in Court serue to put away griefe of the mind or to leade a quiet lyfe But to such as whē they haue these thinges cā rightly vse them and when they lacke theim paciētly suffer the lacke therof But howe can that be done but onely by reason premeditate and accustomed immediatlye to reprehende the passyble and vnreasonable parte of the soule so often as it brusteth out and not to suffer it to raūge anye further abrode and so to be turned out of the ryght way by the vrgent provocation of vnbrydiled affection And therefore as Zenophon wylled all men in their prosperitie to haue moste remenbrance of the Goddes and then most earnestlye and deuoutly to worshyppe them to th entent that the goddes beinge therby alreadye reconcyled and rendred more fauourable towardes them they myght afterwarde when occasion should serue the boldlyer make petition and craue the thyng that should behoue thē Euen so al sayinges wrytinges as be most apte to appease the troubles of the minde ought amongst men that haue reason to be first hydde and fyxed in the mynd to the intent that suche thynges beinge prepared of a longe time before when nede shoulde requier myght serue them to most aduauntage For as chourlyshe mastyffes be moued with euerye noyse and yet quieted by one knowen voyce wherunto they be commonlye vsed Euen so it is very harde for man to quiet the outragious and bestial affectes of the mynd except he hath some famylyer and accustomed preceptes and lessons redye at hande to styll the feruent rage therof But suche as thynke that to leade a quyet lyfe it behoueth not to do many thynges nor to be muche occupied eyther in priuate or publyque affayres those wolde make vs to bye the tranquillity of the lyfe full deare Syth that then it coulde not be gotten but by slouth and ydlenes exhortynge euery man therunto as thoughe he were sycke by that tragycall verse whiche sayth in this wyse Abyde thou seely wretch and moue not from thy bedde Wherin thou maiest lye warme eke full well befedde For yf preuye slouthe be to the bodye a hurtfull Medicine than sluggishnes delicatenes and fayntnes of corage whiche causeth a manne to forsake bothe kyffe kynne and country is lyke wyse as euill a phisicion to heale the sycknes and trouble of the mynde Moreouer it is repugnaūt to trueth to say that those men which do least laboure and seldomist trauell abrode do leade most quiet lyfe For then women shoulde lyue muche more quietly then men Because that women for the most part do tarye at home doinge lyttle and what they do they do it syttynge on theyr stooles And yet as Hesiodus saith thoughe the colde Northene wynde cannot by violence breake in to blow vppon the younge and tender Damoyselles yet grieffes troubles sorowes and euyll disposicions of the mynde throughe Ielousy supersticion vayne glorye suche lyke innumerable vyces do finde the meanes secretlye to creape into their preuye dorters It is sayd also that Laertes forsoke his Countrey his house and the Court it selfe and liued .xx. yeres in a litle Cottage all alone by him selfe hauing none other compaignie but a sely olde womā which serued him of meate and drinke And yet for all that he had both sorowfulnesse of heart and heauinesse in countenaunce to be his compaignions mawgre his head Yea what wyll you saye if this doyng of nothing hath oft times disturbed manye mens wits and sences as you may reade in Homer speakinge of Achilles in thys sort Here sittes in shippe Achilles swift whom Ioue begot To fury bente refusing firmely nowe to fyght Of all the Lordes cōmons eke esteming not The counsels wise which cause mans fame to shine full bright He faintes in heart and yet furthwith to fight oothe crye And moues hymselfe the feates of cruell Mars to trye And therfore he being sore greued to se hymselfe so lost with ydlenesse in a great rage reproued hym selfe sayinge in this wyse Lo here I sitte full like a heauye lumpe of clay This Nauewe great to kepe in ydlenes alway Wherefore Epicurus hymself the fautour and mainteynor of all pleasure and voluptuousnesse woulde not haue those that by nature are ambicious desirous of glory to geue themselues to ydlenesse but rather to folowe nature as their guide to seke to beare rule offyce in a common wealthe For suche menne as be naturally enclyned to bee doyng cannot quietlye suffer to be depriued of the thynge wherin they moste delyghte Notwithstādyng he is vnwise that wyll chose suche menne into a common wealth as cannot moderate themselues and forbeare the rule therof rather then those that bee hable bothe to rule themselues and the commō wealthe also Thus then you see it is not meete to measure the quietnes and carefulnesse of the mynde by multytude or fewnesse of affayres For it is no lesse trouble and griefe to leaue vndoone that whiche is good and honeste then to doe that which is nought and vile But there be some whiche will prescribe appoint themselues before to folowe one certain kynde of lyfe which they take to be voyde of all care trouble as to bee husbandemenne or to lyue vnmaried or elles to be Prynces and rulers whiche sort of men how much they be deceyued Menander dothe playnelye declare by these wordes here folowynge I thinke O Phania that rytche men whiche haue no nede to borowe vppon vsurye to pay their creditors do not lye tumblyng and tossyng in their beddes lamentyng in the nyght season by them selues and cryinge out full ofte wooe is me but do sleepe swetelye and quietlye But proceading a lytle further he found the ryche to be no lesse troubled then the poore For life sayeth he and trouble ben as it were of one kynd and borne both at one byrthe
that man with great facilitie might learne to liue with all men in all places But nowe let vs returne againe to those thinges from the whiche we haue for a while digressed As those that bee sicke of an ague to whom all thinges dooe seeme bitter so soone as they taste thereof vntyll they see that others without makyng any signe of bitter taste dooe gredelye eate those meates which they did so lothsomly spit out do no lenger theÌ„ attribute the fault to the meate or to the drink but to theÌ„ selues to their sicknes euen so if we see that others with great quietnes of mind with a mery countenance do performe the selfesame thynges which we passe ouer with greate regreate and sorowfull complaintes let vs theÌ„ leaue at length to be so muche greued and offended with the thynges themselues But for to reteygne a constant mynde in tyme of aduersitie it is verye necessarie and expediente not to passe ouer with winking eyes those thinges which luckely according to oure desier at any time haue chauÌ„ced vnto vs so with a meete mixture the euill mishaps with happye happes to recoÌ„pense To recreate our eyes wheÌ„ thei bee daseled with ouermuch beholding of glistering things we vse to turne theÌ„ away to behold pleasaÌ„t grene herbs floures And yet our minds we do coÌ„trarywise dispose to MelaÌ„choly sorowfull thynges forceyng it to haue remembraunce of thinges most worthye repentaunce and by violence we pul it awaye whether it wyll or not from suche thynges as are to be commended praised And nowe it commeth to my remembraunce that to this purpose may be very well applied the sayinge whiche was sometyme spoken againste a curious fellowe that busilye searched after other mens matters nothynge apperteynynge vnto him Why a mischief doest thou most spightful maÌ„ with kites eyes so narrowlye marke other mens faultes and with the eyes of an Owle blindly passest ouer thine owne Euen so thou happye man why doest thou so diligently regard thy griefes and euyll mishappes makyng them alwayes presente and freshe before thyne eyes by continuall remembraunce and turneste thy mynde from present ioye and prosperitie And lyke as scaryfyinge cuppes wherewyth Phisitians vse to drawe the foulest bloud out of the flesh so thou doest gather thy woorst thynges into thy self Being in that case no better then the marchant of Syo who though he sold much wyne yea and that principall good to others yet sought out alwayes for himself that which was soure and without verdure Whose seruaunte beyng on a tyme fledde from him was demaunded of one what cause had constrayned hym to forsake his maister because quoth he my maister hauing good thinges in his custody wil take no part therof but alwaies for himselfe seeketh the woorst There be many lyke this man whiche forsakynge the sweetest drinkes doe take them vnto the sowrest and most harshe of taste But Aristippus did not so who beinge placed as it were betwixte a paire of ballaunce would not discende into the heauiest and most preste downe with euils but mounted vp to the higheste and least chargied with griefe For when he had lost the plesanteste lordship that he had he spake to one of those men which showed theÌ„selues to be very sorie for the losse thereof and to lament muche his fortune in thys wise Doest thou not know quoth he that thou hast but one litle ferme to liue on and I haue three manours with the demeanes yet left hole vnto my self that is true said the other Why then quoth he should not I be rather sory for thee then thou for me For it is very madâ—es to bee sorye for things lost not to reioyce in thinges saued And as litle children wheÌ„ any man of many thinges taketh but one litle trifle from them doe weepe and crye out castyng all the rest awaie euen so we being in any one lytle thinge by fortune disturbed we lament and complaine reiectynge all the rest as vnprofitable But some maÌ„ perchaunce would saie what haue we to reioyce in yea rather what haue we not This manne hathe greate honour that manne a faire house this manne a wyfe according to his mynde that manne a faythfull frende Antipater tarsensis countynge in hys deathe bedde vppon hys fyngers all the good thynges that euer he hadde in hys lyfe tyme dyd not omytte so muche as hys prosperous sailynge oute of Cilitia vnto Athens Nor these common thynges oughte to be neglected yea we ought to make some compt of them As for that we lyue and bee in healthe also for that we see the Sunne and that there is neyther warre nor sedicion that the lande is errable and the Sea easye for euerye manne to saile on finally for that it is free for vs to speake and to keepe sylence to bee occupyed and to bee ydle But the presence of these thynges woulde gieue vs the greater occasion of quietnesse if we woulde fyxe in oure mynde the Image of thabsence and lacke of the same Oftentimes admonyshynge oure selues howe greatlye healthe is desyred of them that bee sycke and peace wyshed for of those that bee troubled with warre And howe muche the straungyer beynge of lowe degree desyereth to gette honour and fame in suche a noble Citye and agayne howe bitter a thyng it is to lose that which was once gotten For in mine oppinion none of these thynges or suche lyke ought to be estemed or wished for beynge once lost sithe that nothing is to bee the more regarded for that it leaueth to haue his being nether yet ought we to possesse these thinges as thinges of excellencye or to kepe them with suche carefulnes watching them continually least we shoulde be spoiled of them as of thinges of pryce yea rather though we safely possesse theÌ„ yet as transitorie thinges we oughte to neglecte them and litle regarde them For these thinges ought to be vsed and enioyed with pleasure and chiefly to th entent that if we should chance to lose them we might the more quietly and moderately suffer the losse thereof But many as Archesilaus saith thinke it labour well bestowed one man to come after another in course and order for to beholde with fixed eye and minde the poesies pictures ymages of others neglecting their owne lyfe whiche though it hath many consyderacions and aduertisementes and that not vnpleasaÌ„t yet they turnyng their eies another way do rather consider behold other mens fortunes lyke aduouterers whiche abhorring their owne wiues do couet other mens leading their lyues in great errour For it importeth muche towardes the preseruinge of the minde in this constant estate first for a maÌ„ to weye and ponder himself and his own peculier thinges Or if he will not so do then to beholde and to consider his inferiours And not contrarywise as the coÌ„mon sort doth to maruaile at those whom fortune dothe extoll and aduaunce to the hyghest degree of honoure and riches so often as she is disposed to
content with theyr rewarde and dooe easilye suffer the wrestlers to enioye to theymselues those Crownes of glorye that they haue wonne Haste thou gotten Sparta sayeth Solon to bee thy Countrey then adourne it wyth good lawes and ordynaunces But we would not sayeth the same Solon chaunge with you oure vertue for youre richesse For vertue is a stable thynge and the propertye thereof maye bee possessed But rychesse are onelye graunted too mannes vse for a time passinge oft from one to another Strato the naturall Phylosopher when hee hearde that Meuedemus had more scholers then he said is it so muche to be maruayled at the more desier to bee washed then to bee annointed Aristotle writinge to Antipater said that Alexāder was much to be praised and extolled not onely for that he had the rule and empire ouer manye nacions but also for that he had a better opinion then others of thinges appertaignyng to god And therfore if men would thus perswade with themselues that theyr owne things ought to be reioyced in to be praised and not to be so litle set by thei should not so pine away in maruailyng at other men But nowe though there bee none of vs al that thinketh the vine mete to beare figges nor the olyue tree to brynge foorth grapes yet do we continually accuse our selues and with vnthankful satiablenes vexe and greue our selues yea we be wery of our selues except we maie bee chief so well amongst the riche as also among thelloquent at whom in peace as abrode in warre aswel amongst the Philosophers as the souldiers and againe amongst the flatterers as amongst those that be true and of a faithfull free simplicitie and finally so well amongest the couetous sparers and as the prodigall spenders And yet we see with oure eyes howe maruaylously well nature dothe teache vs the contrary For as nature hathe ordeyned sundry wyld beastes to lyue by sōdry kindes of foode and not to bee all fed either with seedes fleshe or rootes but diuers to eate of diuerse meates euen so likewise the selfe same nature hath geuen to mankind dyuerse kindes of life as some to be herdmē some plowmē some foulers and some fishers wherefore it behoueth euery one of vs to take that whiche we perceiue is moste meete for vs and wholye applyinge oure selues to that to depart from the possession of those thynges whiche we know do apperteigne to others For otherwise Hesiodus should be vnwise to speake in this sorte The potter doth himself with potters aye compare And eke the smith his like in arte texcell dothe care But nowe menne doe not contende one with another in lykenesse of arte or facultie but the riche with the eloquente the nobles with the riche and the lawyers with the subtile sophisters Yea free mē gentlemen and suche as bee descended of an auncient stocke bee amased and dooe maruaile so muche at the good successe promocion that manye tymes players of merye interludes and commodies on stages tumblers and slaues haue in kinges courtes that whilest thei thinke all their owne honest qualities not to be estemed they vexe themselues with great grieffes and sorowfulnesse of mynde whiche at length dothe kyll them But howe euerye man hath in his own mynde a storehouse or receptacle and as it were a flowynge fountayne both of quietnesse and of carefulnesse and hathe also the vessels wherof Homer speaketh full of all kynde of good and euyll not as hee sayeth layde at Iupyter hys Doore but placed wythin the soule the dyuersityes of menne whiche wee see to bee dyuerslye ruled by affections of the mynde dooe ryghte well declare For fooles doe not onely passe ouer good thynges whiche be presente but also dooe neglect those that bee paste So muche are theyr carefull myndes bente to that whiche is to come But wise menne contrarywise reuoluing thynges throughe good remembraunce before their eyes doe cause those thinges that as yet bee not to bee at hande yea and to bee presente in deede Whereas to fooles because thynges present do chaūce in a momente so sodainelye as they can not almoste bee perceyued it semeth that we haue nothynge nor that anye thynge apperteigneth vnto vs. And as the Rope-maker whiche is paincted in Pluto hys Temple for slouth suffreth his Asse that standeth by hym to eate vp all the corde that hee of hempe hathe twysted euen so the vngratefull and sluggishe forgetfulnesse of manye takynge awaye the commodyties receyued of thinges past and cancellynge all the noble actes and woorthye enterpryses all the sweete tyme spente in quyete Studye free from all worldly affaires all the plesaunt and merie societies and felow lyke liuynge together of frendes and finallye cleane abolishyng all that parte of the lyfe that euer was geuen to anye myrthe or pleasure wyll not suffer I saye one self life to be made and knit of thynges paste and present but by seperatyng the life past from the lyfe present and agayne the lyfe present from the lyfe to come maketh for lacke of callyng suche thinges to remembraunce all thinges to seeme as though they had neuer bene done Those that in the scholles of Philosophers doe take away thencrease of bodies affirmyng the substaunce to vanish away by continuall wasting of breath doo seme to proue that euerye one of vs dooe alter state of body dayly decay by woordes But suche as do forgette thynges past as though theyr memorie failed them and will not repeat one thing often those do not in woordes but in deedes make themselues euery day more miserable and poorer then other Depending of the time to come as thoughe thynges of a yere paste and of late dayes yea and of yesterdaye apperteigned nothing vnto thē yea and as thoughe those thinges hadde neuer chaunced vnto them So that the quiet estate of the mind is by this meanes disturbed And as flies creapyng vppon verye smoothe and slippery glasse doe slide and yet in rough and cranyed places doe easily sticke Euen so menne doe fal from merye and pleasaunt thinges and doe take sure holde on the remembraunce of heauye and sorowefull thinges Yea rather as by report there is in Olinthios a certaine place called of the propertie thereof Cantharoletron into the whiche when the great betleflyes bee once entered they cannot fynde the waye out againe but after that they haue many times tumbled to and fro and gone oft aboute in vaine at length doe dye so men being walowed into the remembrance of misery aduersitie cānot afterward help themselues out nor yet once take breathe And therfore as painters in their tables are wont with faire glistering coulours to couer and to ouerlaye those coulours that be duskishe and not to be seen So it behoueth menne in their myndes wyth thinges woorthye of remembraunce and praise to presse down and to ouerwhelme all suche sorowfull chaunces as are not to be spoken of For thinges paste cannot be vtterly abolyshed nor yet dothe it lye in mannes power wholy to beware
a corrupte oppinion and naughtye custome of oure selues hath taughte vs to be grieued therewith And that is the greatest parte against the whiche it should be well done to haue alwaies ready at hand this sayinge of Menander Thou neuer sufferest any outragious thynge excepte thou suppose it so to be For what needest thou to care so long as it pyncheth not thy fleshe nor toucheth thy lyfe as for exaumple The lowe byrth of thy father the whoredome of thy mother to be depriued of the honour of the highest seate or to be iniured in that the glorie of the victory is taken from thee what dooe these thinges I saye apperteigne to thee For thoughe all these thynges were so in deede yet nothynge letteth thee but that thou mayest bee well yea and verye well dysposed both of body and soule Now against such thinges as naturally somewhat offēd vs as sicknes misery death of oure frēdes we ought tobiect this sayīg wo is we But why woe is me syth we haue suffered nothing but that whiche apperteygneth to man For there is no talke or saying that doeth more quickly reproue the passyble parte of the soule when it is drawen out of the right waye by vnbrideled affections then that sayinge which doth admonishe vs and put vs in remembraunce of the vniuersall and naturall necessitie and of that which must nedes be with the whiche necessitie man is noryshed vppe and wrapt in it at the tyme of his byrthe and fyrst knyttynge of his bodye whiche one knotte is onelye subiecte to fortunes assaultes and al the reste of natures gyftes whiche be chiefest and of most valewe he may safely possesse withoute daunger When Kynge Demetrius had taken the cytie of Megara it is sayde that he demaunded Stylpo the Philosopher whether he hadde loste anye of hys goodes or not To whom Stylpo answered That he sawe no manne takynge awaye anye thynge of his for saieth he though fortune hathe suffered vs to bee robbed and spoyled of all the reste yet wee haue some thynge lefte in vs whiche the Greekes can neyther beare nor dryue awaye It is no reason therefore so muche to despyse and to reiecte nature as though she had no iote of fortitude nor of sufferaunce and therefore not equall in force to Fortune But sythe wee knowe ryghte well that that parte of manne which is to fortune subiecte is a verye small porcion of vs and lytle to bee regarded beyng so brittle and so softe that it yeldeth at the fyrste to euery lytle poushe and that we be lordes of the better parte wherein as in a strong holde all good thynges be placed yea and wherein also true glorye scyences and all studies apperteigninge to vertue haue their beyng whiche cannot be taken awaie nor euer perishe by anye vyolence it becommeth vs I saye therefore to bee in mynde vnuincible and to truste in oure selues fearynge nothynge that is to come And to saye to fortune that whiche Socrates fainynge to haue spoken vnto Anitus and Melitus his accusours spake in deede to the Iudgies Anitus and Melitus maye well take my life from me but hurt or damage thei can do me none For though Fortune may oppresse manne with diuers dyseases destroye his goodes and accuse him to the Tiraunte or to the people yet she cannot make hym an euyll manne or a cowarde or false hearted and faynte of courage or malicious and specially he beyng a good manne and endued with manlynesse and stoutenesse of courage And finally she can not take away the right constitucion and disposicion of the mind whiche doth help manne more to passe his lyfe then th art of sailing doeth the mariner to passe the seas For the sterne man be he neuer so expert can no more stil the raging sea or represse the violence of the boysterous winds then to take hauen where as he list so oft as he desireth to come from sea to shore No nor yet cā his art performe this that he being taken in a sodain tempest maye cōstantly and without feare escape such necessity But onely it helpeth thus much that so long as he despaireth not but that arte maie take place he gathereth in hys sayles aswel as he cā and so floteth with the tempest wheras the cowardly maryner sitteth wryngynge his handes together and whilste the maste of the ship lyeth drowned by violence of windes in the sea he trembleth quaketh for feare But the quiet mind in a wiseman both bringeth healthe to the bodye by the meanes of continency good diete exercise whyche thinges dooe aswage and cleane take awaye the cause and matter of sicknesse also if there be afterward perhappes any occasion of trouble whereuppon mannes mind doth run as vpon a rocke in the sea he hoyseth vp sayle and as Esclapiades saith quickly passeth thesame But fooles not so muche for desier of life as for feare of deathe dooe hang on the bodye by the hands closed lattys wise one finger with in another euē as Vlisses did hang by the wild figge tree when he feared the dangerous goulfe called Caribdis roaringe vnderneath him who as Homer writeth being sodainly taken in the sea of Sycelye was brought to such case that by meanes of the violence of the winde driuing him hither thither he could nether go forward nor backward nor yet as the prouerbe saieth as one that holdeth a wolf by the eares was hable what for wearines for thūhandsomnes of the place to holde the tree any lenger and yet durst not let it go for feare of the terrible monster Truely if a man woulde by some meanes searche oute the nature of oure soule and think with him selfe that by death we passe from this life to a better or at the least not to a woorse certainly that man in despisinge deathe shoulde prepare for himselfe no smal prouision to conduct him in his iourney towardes the quietnesse and tranquilitye of the mynde For he that as well by force of vertue whiche is proper and peculyer to manne may liue pleasantly as also by meanes of other thinges not apperteygnyng to manne but geuen besides nature being of great power farre passing our own proper thinges maie be of such bold spirite and courage that he maie saye to himself I maie depart yea I saye euē at the firste instant and by gods leaue whē I will my selfe Howe I pray you or whē maie we thinke that any grieuous thing indissoluble or troublous can chaunce to this man But whosoeuer he was the fyrst spake this famous and renowmed sentence O Fortune I haue preuented thee and taken vppe before all thy wayes and passages bee they neuer so strayghte truelye that manne seemeth not to haue encouraged and boldned himself by strong buildings fast barred and surelye locked but rather by Philosophicall decrees and testimonies of wise men which be cōmon and easie for all menne to haue yea and readie at hande to all those that shall vouchesafe to receaue them