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
belefe which is the thing principally required in charmes and enchauntementes And therof it commeth that the number of women witches be greater then men ¶ What is it that causeth moost the vnion and coniunction of Louers The diuersitie of complexion causeth the effectes of Loue to be diuers And moost commonly the celestiall influences be the causes of their vnion and coniunction ¶ What doeth it meane that simple Shepardes haue ben taken with the loue of some great Lady and Princesse We euermore desire the thinges which we cannot haue Loue also taketh pleasure in many straunge thinges But there is yet a thing more straunge to see two persons of diuerse fortune the one to dye for the other Reade the historie of Tancredy in the Pallace of Pleasure ¶ Wherof commeth it that yonge women which be in loue are neuer satisfied in dauncing and in all other thinges they be of foeble complexion Immoderate desire of Dauncing is Uenereall yonge women and maydens be subiect to Venus So that in such actes they neuer finde them selues molested or weried ¶ From whence commeth it that Loue maketh vs solitarie and pensiffe Loue as Ouide doeth write is full of feare and care And it perteyneth to the fearefull to be solitarie and pensif ¶ What is the cause that many doe esteme themselues not to be well loued yf Ialousie be not mixed with Loue The feare which they haue to leese the thing that they loue doeth cause the Louer to be more cherished ¶ What causeth manie men although they be faier yonge riche and freshe to be Ialouse of the least wretche they see It may come of their owne concepte Or for that they know the lightnes of their mistres behauior ¶ Wherfore doe women require aboue all thinges their seruauntes and Louers to be secret Loue being discouered ther is not so great pleasure besides that Loue disclosed can bring nought els but damage and trauel and somtime daunger of death as may be red in the second Tome of the Palace of Pleasure almost readie to the print Of a Lady of Burgundie ¶ Wherof câ—mmeth it that Louers delight so much in Musike Musike is a very vayne thing And Louers alwaies followe after vanitie Yet I will not blame all sortes of Musike but that onely which is lasciuiouse and doeth effeminate the sprites ¶ What meaneth it that many doe loue feruently and yet cannot be beloued That procedeth by reason the complexions can not agree ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Loue doeth make men leane Louers be in continuall trauell which drieth vp the bones by reason wherof they diminishe and consume them selues ¶ What is the cause that the talke of Loue or sighte of theffectes therof in painted Tables make men desirouse to enter into his snares The pleasures that be past are by such meanes brought to our memorie and so the pleasure is double ¶ Why doeth Loue blind vs from seyng the Imperfections of the thing which we loue Loue is blinde and doeth blinde other ¶ Why is a man many times amorouse of a woman vpon her onely faine Renowme doth euermore make thinges greater then they be And the minde estemeth thinges more great by hearing then by sight ¶ Why doeth the earnest viewe and beholding of a person make a man amourouse The eyes are the messengers of loue but specially when the beames which procede from the hart do vnite conforme them selues to the thing viewed and loked vpon ¶ What is thoccasion that Louers do studie to applie them selues to the imperfections of their Ladies It is the better to resemble them beyng well assured that conformitie of maners doeth ingendre loue ¶ Howe commeth it that women can better perceaue and discerne those that be amorouse then men It may be that they are more experte in the practise of Loue as beyng more subiect vnto it then men be A goodly historie hereof may be sene in the secoÌ„d Tome of the Pallace of Plesure of Quene Anne of Hungarie ¶ From wheÌ„ce commeth it that amorouse Ladies are more liberall then they which resist Loue It is the propertie of Loue to cause them to be liberall and free harted ¶ Wherof commeth it that when Louers do talke with their Ladies spittle doth come and encrease in their mouthes The tonge often times moued doeth heate it selfe and that heate doeth resolue into spittle ¶ Wherof commeth it that when amorouse dames do talke with their Louers their brestes seme as though they would departe their bosome doeth leape and hop with suche force That procedeth of the great neighbourhod that the hart hath with the pappes from whom all the vitall spiritâ—s do procede who retyring them to the brestes be the cause of such motions ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse amorouse women do often times speake euill of their seruauntes or Louers It is to put away the suspition that men may engendre of their Loue or els for feare that other women should backebyte them ¶ Why do men so willinglye kisse the eyes of theim whom they loue The eye is the derest parte of the bodie and in the eye a man maye see and knowe what is hidden in the hart or els they do it because the eye is the beginning of Loue. ¶ Wherfore do Louers hyde them selues when they go about to content eche other Bicause of the filthines of the acte or by a naturall shamefastnes for that they seme to do a thing that is not very honest ¶ Wherfore be Louers so curiouse to knowe the name of their Ladies Bicause they suppose to finde in the names some secrete thinge that maye yelde them hope to enioye the thinge that they so greatly desire or els we may well saie that Louers will not onely possesse the bodies of their Ladies but also haue all that is ioyned therevnto and that whiche doeth depenâ— thereof ¶ Whereof commeth it that Louers be so importunate to demaunde of their Ladies howe well they loue them It is to certifye them selues the more of whiche assuraunce the spirite doeth appaise it selfe and receiueth contentation ¶ Wherefore do Louers delyght to carye about them anye thing that hath bene their Ladies To be more agreable vnto them and the better to conforme them selues to their desires and willes ¶ Wherefore do Louers geue their coloures the one to the other The conformitie of dedes and will doth ingendre and augment amitie Besides this the coloures secretly do geue to vnderstand the thinge that inwardlye we do suffre as by signifying of inconstancie diminution of heate mockeries trauels humilitie highnes we do shewe it by the colours of a yelowe pale redde blewe whyte graye and incarnate ¶ What causeth diuerse Ladies estemed wyse and of good iudgement to geue theim selues ouer to vyle men infamouse and wicked I haue tolde you often times that Loue is blinde and doeth captiuate the senses abandoning iudgement and foresight in women speciallye in those that be amorouse whose wittes be very weake and vnperfecte ¶ Whereof
them selues Loue doeth laugh at such periuries Louers therfore desirouse to serue there god do sweare continuallie Or els it procedeth of a certein lightnes caused of diuerse thoughtes which doe rise in their mindes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that men leaue not to loue a woman although through age or some other accident or chaunce she waxeth ill fauored and foule That commeth of Loue which is blind and being blind can not know or iudge the imperfections of other But howe should he take knowledge of that which he can not blame And howe can he blame that which he is constrained to embrace and wholie to pursue ¶ From whence cōmeth it that moost comenlie we be geuen feruentlie to loue not those onely of whom we neuer receiued pleasure but those also whom we neuer sawe Euerie one beareth the Image of his minde in his face and therof may bee gathered some signe or token of the witt and nature of the person by meanes wherof we maie coniecture whervnto she is most enclined which is the verie spring and beginning of naturall amitie or hatred ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse men can not obteine the grace and fauour of their Ladies although they doe serue them honor them and adore them Bycause as Aristotle saithe there is nothing in them worthie to be beloued But what man is he so voide of Natures grace but hath somewhat in him worthie of Loue. ¶ But what is the cause that some Suters be better beloued of their Ladies then other some The Ladie enriched with beautie and good maners is like vnto the sonne that doth euerie where equally extend his beames which notwithstanding are receiued vnequallie of some more of some lesse after their capacitie The sterres also therin doe beare some rule so that after the saying of Diogenes the Stoique the signes comune to two persons that is to saie vnder which the one and the other shalbe borne and those signes agreing do cause the willes of the same two persons to be ioyned vnited ¶ Why be these little and pretie angers and fallinges out which chaunce amonges Louers the refreshing and renewinge of Loue That shall euer be bycause Loue is like a flame that will goe out and dye yf it be not blowen and oftentimes moued Or els we may well saie that the more the thing which we desire is denied the more we desire it ¶ Wherof commeth it that we be ashamed to comunicate to other our desire and lust to the combat of Loue and of other appetites and desires as to drinke eate slepe and such like we be not ashamed Bycause that the same carnall affection is not so necessarie nor so profitable for this life as the other appetites be ¶ Wherof commeth the diuersitie of weapons wherwith Loue is wont to wounde men and women fishes birdes and other foure foted beastes Of the diuerse nature of thinges that he assayleth ¶ You will say that beautie fayling loue decreaseth I wold say yea bycause Loue is no other thing but a desire of beautie ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man being touched with loue can not ridde him selfe of that passion by any dexteritie policie or witte Loue is a certeine estate and plight that doeth wrappe and folde the minde of man and with a certeine swete mocion doeth transport him into the thing by him desired This affection riseth by the contemplation and iudgement that he hath of beautie which causeth him to conceiue in his sprite and minde suche admiracion and desire that whether he will or no he is caught in the Ginnes and nettes of Loue. ¶ Why doe the newe maried vse roquet and muske when they go to bed with their new maried wiues Bycause such thinges doe prouoke luste and engendre seede ¶ What reason haue certeine people of the North partes to seeth with water a certeine stone called Gagates causing their spouses before they lye with them to drinke therof That is to knowe whether they haue made any faulte or not before For the propertie of that Stone is soudenlie to force them to make water that haue indured and suffred the act of man ¶ Howe commeth it that yf a man geue him selfe to much to the sporte and plaie of Loue the same doeth diminishe the pleasure therof Bycause the seede being sore diminished is but a certeine waterishe matter of no great heate which can not yelde any great pleasure ¶ What is the cause that women which be of verie hote Nature cannot conceiue Great and vehement heate doeth distroie and corrupt the seede and therfore they which be verie hote are comenlie fructeles and barren ¶ Why doe some women loue men that be blacke and some other those that be faier and well collored Women of feble sight loue them that be blacke because blackenes doeth ioyne and vnite the sight to much disparcled and by this meanes doeth comforte the same Or els we may well saie that euerie thing doeth loue and desire his like They therfore which be hote of nature loue them that be blacke bycause they be more prone to heate Other which be of colder nature doe loue them that be white because they be of colde complexion the mother of whitenes ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient compared Loue to dronkennes For nothing elles but bycause it maketh men which before were colde heauie and couetous iustie and liberall ¶ Why were Oysters consecrated by the auncient to Venus Bycause Oysters doe prouoke lecherie ¶ Wherfore doe not common harlotes conceiue or yf they doe it is verie seldome The diuersitie of the seedes doeth lette conception and causeth that the same can not be reteined ¶ What meaneth it that the purse of Cupido is tyed with a Leke This prouerbe doeth declare that Loue is liberall and fyndeth no let to put his hand in his purse ¶ Which is greatest the hurt or profite that commeth of loue He that doeth not loue of him selfe estemeth the losse to be greater then the proffet ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath iudgement or no Howe can he with iudgement cause Louers daylie as euerie man may see to fall into suche enormities ¶ Wherof commeth it that for the moste part the children which maried women doe borrowe or which be nor lawfullie begotten commonlie called Bastardes do resemble more their husbandes then those that be legitimate or lawfullie by them begotten The reason commeth of an Imagination that they haue to be soudenlie taken or espied of their husbandes And so their husbandes be alwaies in their fantasie for it semeth to them that they be continuallie before their eyes and that they saie vnto them what doest thou thou shameles whore Is this thy assured promis made vnto me at the mariage daie ¶ Wherfore be Bastardes for the moost part of better corage and more lyuelie then lawfull children That procedeth of a more ardent force and vertue of him that doeth beget them for man is more earnest in that acte when it is secretlie committed and done in
a heate then at other times bicause the affections are not distract hither and thither and principallie when suche encountres and metinges maie be boldelie done without feare ¶ Wherefore be yonge women more prompte to laughe then other Yonge women are vnder the safegarde and tuicion of Uenus the Goddesse of laughter and so they do easelie laugh It may also be said that they haue tendre and delicate bodies and laughter is no other thing then a spice of Ioye wantonnes or tickeling ¶ Doe you thinke that Loue is so blind as he is painted or that his sight be good Wherfore should not I thinge him blinde sithe amonges my neighbors I see the moost ill fauored to be best beloued of the fayrest ¶ What people after your mind and iudgement be moost worthie to be beloued I thinke those that be learned bicause they maie gyue pleasure to the bodie proffit to the spirite and make their fame immortall ¶ Wherin is the subtilitie of women moost discouered In that that they seme to loue one alone and neuerthelesse doe gyue them selues to many ¶ What woman thinketh her selfe moost worthie to be beloued the faire or the foule Before I shall answere you shewe me a woman that thinketh her selfe to be foule ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbidde yong Louers to forbeare their Ladies incontinentlie after meate and when they bee fasting when they haue bathed themselues after they haue vomited and when they shall receiue medecines Bycause by suche forces digestion is letted the bodie is made feeble and waxeth colde and it hath bene at all times daungerouse to vse two purgations at one instant ¶ What meaneth it that the lokes of Ladies do wholy turne vs from all other obiectes and doe drawe vs vnto them The lookes of Ladies be nerer neighbor to the ymage and imagination of beautie then any other thing which aboue all thinges doeth rauish our senses and they doe pleasauntlie binde and captiuate the same of purpose in thende to bring them to subiection ¶ What might induce the wife of king Aguilfus of Lomberdie to abuse her selfe with a Dwarfe hauing to her husbande the goodliest man that euer ware crowne This trym goddesse knewe well that Nature is accustomed to amend in small members the fault that happeneth to be in the greater supposed that the matter which should be in the armes and legges was fallen to engrose the OrdinauÌ„ce the canon shot wherof Ladies do willingly receiue ¶ What be the conditions that an amorouse Ladie ought to haue That she be not couetouse that she be curteis and easie to be spoken vnto neate and secret in her doinges ¶ What properties be requisite in a Ladie that right well maie be called fayre That she haue a fayer and a comelie personage a fayer necke a small bodie a litle mouthe and white teeth and cleane ¶ Is this a prouerbe good Loue him that will loue thee Ye verie good for he is a beaste that will not loue beyng beloued ¶ Whether is the man or the woman more subiecte to Loue That question is very euident a man is soner taken and â—rapt in Loue then a woman For we see that the man which is borne to a thousande good and great enterprises doeth for Loues sake abandon all glorie and honor that he may receiue ¶ Why haue the Poetes fained Pan the godde of Lecherie to trotte vpon Goates feete To declare that he was lecherouse And here is to be noted that all the nourishmente which should be imployed vpon the members that want remaine in the vaines and not being able to be applied to the members that lacke doeth wholie conuert into seede which beynge augmented doeth encrease luste In token wherof we see them that be spare of fleshe and haue great vaines to be verie mete and apt for Uenus For this cause Uenus was geuen in mariage to haltinge Uulcane bycause that they which doe halt are commonlie great Lechers Contrariewise they be vnapt thervnto whose members be greater then naturallie they ought to be bycause that superfluitie in members doeth drawe vnto it for his nourishing and maintenaunce all that which is good and superfluouse of nature which otherwise would haue bene conuerted into seede ¶ Why haue the auncient and they of these daies painted Loue with winges To declare that the desires of Louers be highe and labour to atteine highe and great enterprises ¶ Who deserueth more to be fauored of loue the fayer of simple and honest meaninge or the foule that is sage craftie and well aduised Prudence is the beautie of the minde which contineweth longer then the beautie of the bodie ¶ Can loue be without Ialousie I thinke not For testimonie wherof be Ouid Uirgill Plutarch and Boccace who writeth in a Sonnet If Loue liued without Ialousie c. ¶ Why be Ladies soner amorouse of a Souldior then of a learned man Souldiors be more liberall and not so subtill as Scholers be more easie to be allured with enticementes of women There is no Souldior so braue yf a woman saie vnto him that he hath a fayer bearde that his legges be well proporcioned that he is comelie on horsebacke stronge to incountre and ouerthrowe his enemie but incontinentlie doeth not geue ouer and submit himself vnto her will and pleasure ¶ What is the cause that many dispysing their wiues be so fonde vpon curtesans and harlottes The Curtesans suffer not them selues to be sene except they be fyrste painted but wiues must often be sâ—ne of theyr husbandes which causeth them to seme not to be so fayer Or we may saye that wines continuallie be at their husbandes backes misusinge them with byle and vnsemelie wordes which maketh them to tast of other meates and causeth them to ymagine a thousand other appetites and lustes ¶ Wherfore haue Louers so feoble voices Of the feare that they haue to displease their Ladies And therwithall the vnequall motions wherwith their spirites are moued which forceth this feoblenes of voice ¶ Where doeth Loue shewe her greatest force eyther in making the foole to become wise or the moost wise or aduised man to become a beaste If there be more paine to breake downe then to builde I beleue there shalbe more adoe to restore wisdome to him that hath lost it then newelie to make him wise For Loue and follie be nothing els but an alienation of the good sence and witte ¶ May a man die through vehement Loue Of this the historie of Seleucus and Antiochus maie testifie and beare witnes which may be reade in the fyrst Tome of the Palace of pleasure lately published ¶ Which should be the greatest hart breaking the Ladie dying in our sight and presence or in our absence I would thinke by her presence for the eyes doe geue greater felinge of dolor and griefe then the eares ¶ Wherof commeth it that men haue diuerse Iudgementes of the beautie of women It is a prouerbe deriued from the auncient Grekes that all faier and beautifull
he is clogged with a double chaine To loue and to be loued be two chaines although that the one be voluntarie and the other by necessitie ¶ Doe you thinke that a woman without the preiudice and hurte of her honor maie satisfie one that hath serued her a longe tyme and season I dare not saie without preiudice But yet I wil affirme that she is to be excused yf she geue him some â—ase that hath long faithfullie serued her ¶ Whiche is the greatest ingratitude that may chaunce in loue Not to rewarde at all his seruices ¶ Why is the seruice of Loue worthie of greater rewarde then other Bycause the longer one continueth therin the greater bitternes he endureth and suffreth ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath placed his principall treasure in women I beleue so because it hath geuen them the soueraintie aboue all men ¶ Who is the moost fortunate in loue the Attendant or the possessor The possessor hath one contentacion but the attendaunt hath more then a thousand ¶ Is loue the cause of good or euill Of good seing he maketh fooles wise ¶ Why doe men saie that loue is a perfect musitian Bycause he tuneth the sprites and affections which before hadde no agreement ¶ Why doe men saie that a faier woman is a monster in beautie Bicause it is a rare thing as monsters be ¶ Doe Courtyzans loue or doe they faine to loue There be manie reasons to saie that they loue not but experience teacheth the contrarie for I knowe them that be madde for loue and other that die for the same ¶ Wherfore doe Louers many tymes take vpon them longe Iourneis to ridde them selues from Loue Bicause dailie trauel in Iourneis do cause new and straunge thinges to appeare able to cause a man to forget loue I speake nothing of the paines men haue nor yet of the newe loues that maye chaunce which as one nayle doeth driue out an other so they make and cause them to forget their fyrste ¶ Wherof commeth it that many Louers the more they be ill intreted of their Ladies the more they be inflamed in their louâ— That commeth of a certeine constancie of Nature Or we maie well saie that all Louers be not masters ouer them selues ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the woman is more Ialouse then the man Bicause she is more fearefull and suspiciouse or elles bicause she loueth with lesse discretion then the man ¶ whether is it more difficulte to flye loue or to dissemble it when one is entangled with the same He that loueth not at al nor is ouercome with any affections can without great payne dissemble loue but where loue ruleth and mastereth it hath suche force that in despite of vs he doeth manifest and shew himselfe ¶ How chaunceth it that dyuers great amities frendships are vpon smal occasion turned into great hatred and malice That commeth through the lightnes and inconstancie of Louers ¶ Howe commeth it that he whiche is soone taken with Loue doeth soone forget it He is like to them that ryde a great gallop and by and by waxe wery ¶ Why be some more geuen to their kinne and of them take more pleasure then of other For the conformitie of bloode ¶ What meaneth it that although diuerse women beyng of Nature couetouse and holde fast yet cannot geue them selues to loue those that be riche They doe that to shewe that they will not sell their good grace but be willing to geue it liberally as beyng of a noble and gentle spirite but howe many shall ye fynde of that mynde ¶ Why doe they esteme it daungerouse to loue a man that is fayre Because that suche be moost desired or they be of Nature more proude then other For Beautie is the mother of pride ¶ Wherof commeth it that women do greatly hate those that haue forsaken them and with greater malice yf they carrie awaye any thing of theirs The double losse which they receiue is the cause ¶ Why should we not ground our loue vpon those that be to yonge Bicause they be inconstant very bolde and euer more curiouse of new seruauntes and louers ¶ Howe chaunceth it that moost commonly the beautifull desire to haue seruauntes and Louers that be faier And that the vertuous those that be vertuous Similitude and likenes doeth engendre and breade loue ¶ Howe is it that they which haue a short or dimme sight are more geuen to loue then other It maie be bicause they se not the foulnes imperfectioÌ„s so wel as others ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Contrie people do loue paiesantes better then Citizens Bicause they be more affectioned to their lyke ¶ Why doe women appeare fayrer by candle light then in the cleare daye Bicause their painting or beautie doeth glister more by candle light then otherwise euen as our body and fleshe doeth shine more beyng in the sunne then in the shadowe ¶ Which of these were it beste to serue a mayde a maried woman or a wydowe The loue of the mayde is moost constant of the widowe muche more pleasaunt and of the wedded woman more sclaunderouse and hurtefull ¶ Wherof commeth it that such as loue Religiouse men can scantly and with great payne retyre them selues The Religiouse for the most part be learned and consequently they can perswade and make the simple woman vnderstand a thousand tales and ioyes causing them to beleue that they will do them pleasure that they shal triumphe in Paradise and be placed set in the ranke and companye of Angelles ¶ Whereof commeth it that manye be so amorouse of Nunnes Bicause the hidden beautie is moost desired and because they he attired and colored with ten thousand toyes and it semeth that al their words be so swete as Suger and Rose water ¶ Wherof commeth it that those which be yonge are more amorouse then other Bycause they truste to receiue greater pleasure ¶ Wherfore is loue painted to be placed betwene slouthfulnes and hatred and that Idlenes goeth before and hatred foloweth with winges Bicause Idlenes doth engendre loue of loue many times riseth hatred ¶ Whereof commeth it that women which of nature be timerouse be neuerthelesse stronge and hardy in amorouse enterprises Bicause Loue doeth darken their vnderstanding and in thinges wherin they should be moost fearefull doeth harden and encorage them ¶ Wherof doth it come that olde women for the moost part are embraced of yong men and that sometimes old men do sooner enioye yonge women Olde women through experience be very bolde and hardie and without any regarde imploye them selues vpon yong men Olde men bicause they be not â—o be feared and that without suspicion they may speake familierlie by good aucthoritie by reason of their age â–ª doe come for the mooste parte where yonge men for nothing that they be able to doo can come ¶ What meaneth it that women geuen to Loue be more disposed to charmes and enchauntmentes then men Of their follie and fonde
commeth the custome that the Grekes do eate a confection made of Quinces commonly called Marmalade the first night of their mariage Bicause they feare to disease and werie their spouses at the first recountre and meting ¶ Whereof commeth it that manye be in loue with Gardâ—ners Their simplicitie perchaunce is the cause Or els because gardens be dedicated to Venus and those that be continually within them do sauour of Rosemarye Margerome or of some other swete herbe ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the newe maried women the first night of their mariage go so vnwillingly to bedde and do rise the next day so lustie and ioyfull That commeth of the perfection that they haue receiued of the man for then they knowe that they be women in dede ¶ Wherfore doeth agrement in loue cause thinges to please vs which otherwise should not so doe Loue of necessitie doth enflame For we seing many to pursue the thing we loue the opinion which we haue of her beautie doeth increase in vs. ¶ Why doeth a woorde many tymes more allure the harte then longe seruice Bicause seruice was not inployed to the purpose and the worde was spoken to effecte ¶ Howe commeth it that women touched vpon the Nauell be incontinent prouoked with a desire to enter the fielde There be certaine vaines in the mawe wherof the Nauell is made and the mawe is the very seate of voluptuousnes It is no meruaile then if they be moued therevnto when they be touched vpon the same ¶ What is the cause that some louers be better pleased with the Melancholike then with the liuely and lustie Louers be easelie induced to beleue that they be beloued and perceiuing their Ladies to be Melancholike and heuie they esteme that to come of the care that they do take of them and of their affaires but it maye be that it commeth of the agrement and similitude of complexion ¶ Why be riche women more geuen to loue then the poore Idlenes is the cause who is the mother of all superfluitie I leaue to speake of the delicate meates and the good wines that the riche doeth vse without hauing any griefe or vexation which troubleth their braine ¶ Why is loue most commonly painted with his eyes bound vp Bicause he blindeth poore Louers and maketh them so like vnto beastes that they cannot at all deserne the imperfections of their Ladies ¶ Whye do Louers delighte to heare amorouse histories of Loue discribed aswell by aunciente writers as the histories written by aucthours of our time By the conformitie of their passions and likelihode of their affections ¶ Why be women well content when they be told that other women be in loue as well as they Bycause theyr faulte semeth the lesse not beyng alone spotted with that vice ¶ Wherfore do stepmothers loue their sonnes in lawe and hate their doughters in lawe They hate their doughters in Lawe because they drawe all the substaunce from their sonnes and they loue their sonnes in lawe as the principall goodnes and solace of their owne doughters ¶ Why is loue better liked in the Cuntrie then in the Toâ—â— Bycause in villages there is not so great respect and for that all commodities and thinges are not to be founde there Louers be constrained to applye themselues one to another Moreouer the pleasure of gardines of hunting fyshing and other Cuntrie delightes doe moost commonly cause men to kepe themselues at home and to forgett the toyes and follies of Townes and Cities ¶ Wherof commeth it that amourouse women be more ticklishe then other Women prone to loue be delicate for the moost parte whose skinnes be lose and softe more easie to be tickled ¶ Why do women loue them moste earnestly that had their Maydenhede and men cleane contrary hate those women whoÌ„ fyrst of all they embrased Women by the coniunction of the man doe gayne perfection and the man therby maketh him selfe vnperfect bicause the woman is a creature vnperfect and as the Philosophers say a creature caused not complete ¶ Why be some hard to be perswaded that they be beloued Bicause they perceiue not themselues amiable and because they know that in them there is nothing that may incite other to loue them ¶ Wherfore do Louers many tymes write to their Louers with the Ioyse of Onions or of Leamondes Bicause the thing which is written with suche ioyse should not appeare manifest except it be neare the fyre and they do so to kepe their loue secrete ¶ Why do not Louers subscribe their letters which they write to their Ladies and Paramoures The reason and cause is aboue mentioned beyng assured that yf their Loue â—ere disciphred they should haue lesse pleasure Besides this away shuld be opened for false tonges to impeach lett their mindes purposes ¶ Why do Louers write one to another amorouse sonnets in ryme rather then in prose Poetrie is the frend of Loue. And all the praise belonging to loue was alwaies more swetely songe and celebrated by Poetes then by Orators ¶ Wherfore do women so willingly beholde them selues in Glasses To contemplate and beholde their beautie to esteme the same as it is worthie Or els it procedeth of a certeine lightnes that is in them ¶ But wherfore vse they more willingly glasses of Stele then of Christall Stele is of a more sounde substaunce conforting with his glimse or reuerberation the sight more then Christall doeth ¶ Wherfore doe we present women with glasses gloues ringes chaines Iewels and pretie fannes to coole their faces or defende the same from the fyre Glasses do serue them to see their beautie fannes refresh and cole them cheynes to signifie that they be foles and had nede to be cheyned gloues to lett their handes from snatching still ready and proper to the spoyle Ringes that they may consider thende with the beginning and to thinke vpon the tyme present and to come ¶ What is thoccasion that many women haue liued chastely in their youthe and approching to age haue geuen them selues ouer to wantonnes It may be that in their youth they laboured muche for trauell is enemie to loue Or els they were so well loked vnto that they had no leasure or tyme to attempt that enterprise ¶ Wherof doeth it câ—me that louing and amorouse women be geuen to bable and prate more then other If loue be not to excessife it rendreth and maketh folkes ioyfull lustie and well speaking And commonlie it semeth that heauines stoppeth the Orgaines and conduictes of the voyce contrariewise Ioye and gladnes of the harte doeth open and vnlose them ¶ What is the cause that many rapt with loue doe vpon the soudein lose this loue All they which be of hote complexion be subiect to soudeine mutations and chaunges and runne hither and thither without any reste ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that Louers lose their eating or appetite The amorouse passions doeth disparse their hartes into sundrie parts and their liuely and vitall spirites be vnproper 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
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
hath Loue bene estemed a godde Bycause he maketh an Idiote to speake well a coward to be bolde and hardie a melancolike man Ioyful a heauie and slouthful man prompt and readie to all enterprises be they neuer so great Or els he is made a godde for man to excuse him selfe and to cast vpon Loue all that which by the same he hath done and susteined ¶ Why be Louers so desirous of corporall bodelie beautie Bycause beautie as auncient Poetes do affirme doth please the Goddes is agreable to men is not lothesome nor heauie to him that is indued therwith but desired aboue all thinges that may be wished ¶ what is the reason and cause of Nosegaies garlandes of floures and grene bowes wherwith Louers be wont to adorne the frontes of their Ladies lodginges It is to honor them as their goddes on earth and to shewe that such Nosegaies Garlandes and Maie bowes doe serue for the spoiles and triumphes of their Ladies and for true signes of the seruice and deuotion of their louing seruantes ¶ But wherof commeth it that we dreame seldome of the thing that we loue All louers being tossed and vexed with diuerse thoughtes can not stedfastlie graue and settle any one thing in their fantasie for their houghtes be like the circles and bubblinges of the water which are dissipated the one by the other ¶ From whence commeth it that certeine Louers vpon the viewe and sight of their Ladies doo blushe It riseth of the blodde and sprites which ascend vpwardes wherof the face fullest of poores of any part of the bodie doeth charge it selfe with coulor It may be also that it procedeth of a singuler reuerence that they beare to their Paramoures ¶ But why doo they afterwardes waxe pale There is no true louer but is troubled with some disquiet or contrarietie Yf the cause then of his paine doe present it selfe before his eyes the same doeth easelie growe and increase And so Nature retiring vnto the inward partes as into her holde or forte carieth with her both the blodde and sprites leauing the superior partes without any coulor ¶ Howe chaunceth it that barren and vnfruitfull women be more hote and prompt to loue then they which are fruitefull and beare children Bycause that suche doo moore abound with seede and do purge them selues of their naturall disease lesse then other doo ¶ Why doe Louers delight to beare in their handes Nosegaies and Apples All Louers haue desire to enioye and possesse the floure and the fruicte of others age and beautie wherin they reioyce when soeuer they see the same And so be amorouse bothe of flourâ— and fruicte and of all suche beautifull thinges that they see ¶ But why be Louers for the moost part readie to wepe Poore Louers continuallie be pricked with some Naile and fele cause wherof to complaine being of Nature fearfull suspiciouse Ielouse and troubled so that it is no merueile if such and the like passions do prouoke them to teares ¶ What meaneth it that Louers be continually as it were in a fyre The affection of Loue doeth moue and trouble their sprites which doeth raise in them this heate ¶ Why be women more prone to the combat of Loue then any other creatures at all times and seasons Nature hath indued them with more delicate touchinges and with more moderate complexion then other Besides this they be of complexion whoâ—e and moiste a thing verie proper and requisite to that plaie and pastime ¶ Howe commeth it that men take no pleasure in the plaie and game of Loue when they haue lust to make water Bycause euen then the Conduictes are full and that which is full of moistnes cannot receue other humor It maie be also that the heauines and weight of the vrine doeth restraine and stoppe the conduicte from whence the seede doeth issue and come ¶ Wherfore is the pleasure of Loue greater then all other pleasures that may be ymagined That commeth of the Sperme which passeth through all the partes of the bodie yelding vnspeakable pleasures to thother members ¶ How chaunceth it that men of melancholike complexion be more liuelie then other in combat of Loue The windie passions wherof they be full be causes of the same which make them more wakefull and disposed thervnto ¶ Why doe Phisitians praise mediocritie or seldome vse of Loues game Bycause the same doeth lighten the bodie reioyce the spretes comfort the braine recreate the senses and expelleth from them all accidentes proceding of melancholike humor Excesse also is to be blamed because it doeth weaken the bodie and is hurtefull to the sight ¶ Why doeth Nature geue to Loue so great pleasure For preseruation of mankind which through the same is continued ¶ Why doe they soone grow to graie heares which be much geuen to Loue Bycause they expell from them their naturall heate wherby life is conserued and mainteined ¶ Why doeth the beare of the hedde and eyebrowes of those that be fornicators and lecherouse soonest fall The game of Loue doeth marueilouslie coole the superior parts which being made bare and voide of blodde and sprete can not digest that which doeth nourishe the same And so the vapors proceding of digestion be not sufficient and able to ingendre heare of the hedde and eyebrowes ¶ What maketh a man after he hath committed the acte of Venus to be soudenlie melancholike and angrie Because in the doing of the same we lose and skatter the moost part of our vitall spirites which maketh vs heauie and sadde ¶ What is the cause that a man doeth sooner dispatche that acte fasting then when his bellie is full The Conduictes wherby the seede doeth passe be more open fasting then after meate ¶ Wherof commeth it that Louers care not to spend the whole night in Loue. Euery vehement passion doeth holy drawe a man thervnto and suffreth him not to geue himself to any thing els but to that wherof he thinketh and whervpon he bendeth his fantasie ¶ Why be Louers so carefull of the sight and amorouse lookes of their Ladies All Louers be wont to suffer them selues to be fedd with such allurementes and there is no part of the bodie that doeth so well manifest and declare the interior passions of the minde as the eyes Also we saie that the eyes are the true harboroughes of the harte And therof it commeth that when one kisseth the eyes affectuously as a thing desired It semeth that he kisseth the thought and the soule it selfe Wherof certeine Poetes with good reason haue written that Loue boroweth his arrowes from the eyes of Louers to serue him selfe agaynst them selues ¶ What doeth moue the Poetes to faine Venus to be of Massiue golde That may be by reason of her rare and excellent beautie or els bycause she is so much desired as golde some assigne the cause vpon the great some of golde that Louers doe consume and spend vpon Loue. ¶ What is the cause that Louers doe vse so to forsweare
thinges be hard to be iudged euen so of this difficultie commeth this diuersitie of Iudgementes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that many which be estemed men of verie good Iudgement be surprised with the loue of foule and ill fauored women It may be that they haue marked a certeine beautie in them which doeth not appeare outwardlie In like maner Painters and Musitians haue iudgement of draughtes and accordes wherof none doe take heede but suche as haue skill in the same ¶ Wherfore be they whose bellies be couered with heare so geuen to women Lecherie doeth procede of the heate of the raignes wherof doe ryse great vapors which engendre the heare of the bellie the aboundaunce of the heare of the bellie doeth signifie the heate in the generatiue partes ¶ Doe you thinke the discouering of Loue to be the cause sometime that a man obteineth not his desier That chaunceth many times by reason that such women doe loue their honestie very muche ¶ Is the trauell greater in secret and conceled loue then in that which is discouered and open Without doubte there is greater paine in concealed loue bycause a man can not euent the heart of loue conceaued which by comunicating and counseling with some other may be made more confortaâ—le and easie ¶ Whether is more constant in loue the man or the woman The man â–ª being bothe of bodie and spirit more firme in all affaires And naturallie he is more constant and of better perswacion in loue ¶ Wherof commeth it that he which loueth is moost commonlie beloued That peraduenture maie come bycause our spirites can not resist the amorouse shottes which doe procede of the swete lookes that Louers doe continuallie cast one vpon another Or els we will saie that it is the propertie of nature to couple and ioyne like to like and to skatter and diuide the thinges which haue no proportion together ¶ Wherfore do men saie that to Neese is a good signe in the facte and dede of Loue Bycause it commeth of the braine which is as it were the litle Cauan and withdrawing place of all the senses And it semeth that all the senses doe agree and geue their assent to the sentence and conclusion of Louers ¶ Wherof commeth it that secret loue is more burning and feruent then that which is discouered and open That chaunceth bycause the secret Louer hath no meane of ease and rest to lett out the fyre that doeth consume him the vertue of Loue being of meruelouse force and strength and so not able to atteine the thing which he loueth best is vnto him greater trauell and paine then yf he inioyed it or might discouer it to his frende for his comforte ¶ Whether were it better that there were loue or no loue I beleue it to be better that there were loue for somuch as it bringeth vnto vs more good effectes then euill and to my minde and opinion Plato agreeth who making a definicion of Loue doeth saie that it is nothing els but a desier to get and obteine a faier and beautifull thing ¶ Thinke you that one maie be in loue with an other onely vpon fame and report Yf Loue be wont to place himselfe in the chamber of our mindes by entrie through the gates of our eyes who doubteth but likewise he may enter by the dores of our eares to harborough him selfe in our vnderstanding Boccacio in his Decamerone and Plutarche be of the same opinion Example hereof may be senâ— by the historie of the Duchesse of Sauoie and the Lorde Iohn of Mendozza which may be redde in the Pallace of Pleasure aforesayd ¶ What doeth incite a man more to vertue eyther honor or the desire that he hath to please the thing he loueth I doe not iudge or thinke that Loue doeth serue for a spurre to pricke men to vertue supposing that a man desireth it for none other purpose but to enioye it ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse women haue remained longe time without louing any person and afterwardes haue burned with loue I saye that the vertue of the Planetes haue wrought it for in this vniuersitie of thinges nothing doeth moue it selfe that doeth not take his fyrst motion of the planetes ¶ Who loueth moost feruentlie the hardie or the Coward It is the bolde and hardie for the coward commonlie dareth not aduaunce him selfe foorth to proue his fortune ¶ Are ye not of this opinion that he which is more liuelie and of spirite more excellent is lesse content with one Loue alone Yes truely and that is accustomablie sene amonge men and women for why to content him selfe to loue in one place is an acte of pusillanimitie and of smal hart and corage which is the cause that my mystres doth not content her selfe with a thousand seruantes ¶ Which is greatest paine to get and obteine the loue of one or to mainteine the same being gotten To mainteine it after my iudgement because of the great inconstancie of women which doe sone fill and satisfie them selues and are quickelie angrie and soone wearie lightly found and sone forgotten verie slipperiâ— Cattaâ—l ¶ Who is more easie to be perswaded that they are beloued the man or the woman The man and that maie be clerelie sene for Ladies neyther by long seruice great giftes or otherwise can perswade them selues to be beloued but euermore they be readie to replie that a man doeth dissemble and counterfaicte the trueth ¶ What doeth certifie the woman that she is loued The perseuerance in Loue. ¶ Is there no other signe then perseuerance To be Ialouse of them and to geue liberallie yf perchaunce they be couetouse as in dede they be for the moost parte ¶ Why is Loue painted by some in forme of a Shepherd Bycause they which pursue and followe loue be more lyker beastes then men ¶ Which hath greatest force in man hatred or Loue I wolde saie that the passion of Loue should be greatest And why man through hatred neuer killed him selfe which men doe often times through extremitie of Loue. ¶ Is Loue blinde as he is painted The vulgare and common loue is blynd but the celestiall loue is not but with great dexteritie it openeth and discouereth the greatest secretes ¶ Why be they that haue small legges more subiect to loue then others That procedeth of the aboundaunce of seede that maketh them so Lecherouse which thing commeth ordinarilie to those whose inferior parts of the bodie receiue no great nourishment Bicause all that which Nature taketh from the nether partes is by Nature conuerted into superfluitie and seede Therfore we should rather haue demaunded why men greatlie giuen to lecherie haue for the moost parte so small and slender legges ¶ Wherof doeth it come that Louers haue so litle knowledge of the imperfections of their Ladies One great mocion doeth lette an other Euery Louer then beyng troubled in spirite the iudgement of his sence is impeached and letted in suche wise as he remeineth blind in the thing which he
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
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
sorrowe Great Ioye doth choke the interior partes and heauines doeth extinguishe and coole them so that life can not endure where heate lacketh ¶ Wherof commeth it that Mermalade of quinces taken before the repast doeth binde and close vp the belly and taken after the repast doeth vnbinde it Through his great stiptisitie or costifnest it closeth the nether partes of the ventricle and if it be taken after repast it closeth the superior partes of the stomake which being shut the meates be constrained to auoyde by the inferior parte ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the Radishe rote doth greatly ayde helpe digestion and yet of it selfe almost can not be digested The Radish is compound made of diuerse qualities The more subtill partes therof are very proper and mete to cause digestion Thother which are grosse be contrarie to heate and so let digestion ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Cholerike complexions doe sonest atteine to berdes For their great heate and bicause they haue the poores large and wide ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue curlde heare and some other smothe and streight The curlde heares do procede of the aboundaunce of heate which euidently may be sene in Mores and Ethiopians who for the moost parte haue curled heare And playne and streight heare commeth of humiditie which through his heauines doeth draw the heare downewardes ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue their priuie partes heary and not their visage nor breste In the nether partes is more moystnes aswel by reason of the bladder as of the Matrixe there is also great resolutions of vapours which cause heare to growe ¶ But howe commeth it that heare doth also growe in them that be hanged They be continually in the Sunne and all the humors of their bodie doe resolue into vapors which causeth the heares to encrease and growe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue harshe and harde heare and other softe The softe heare doeth come of the litle pooers and the stiffe and harde doeth procede of the greatnes of the pooers for this cause women haue their heare more fyne and softe bycause their naturall colde doth restreine and make their pooers lesse ¶ Wherof doeth it come that they which be bashefull and shame faced ware redde and yet they ought rather to be pale bicause shame is a kinde of feare Shame is a certeine affection mingled with angre and feare for we be angrie many times as well against our selues as against other when we see a thing discouered that we would should be kept secrete Angre then in that conflict doeth ouercome feare and so the blodde often mouing in and out stayeth at length in the vpper parte vntill the motion of the spirites be appeased ¶ Wherof commeth it that in a maner al they which in their youthe be to fatte do dye sodenly The vaines of suche people be to narrowe and they are so pressed and as it were bounde together with fatnes and greace that the ayer and the spirite cannot freely passe Wherof it commeth that the naturall heate hauing no refrigoration of the aier of very force doth mortifie extinguish ¶ What causeth yonge men sooner to haue an appetite then olde men It is bycause they be of a hotter complexion ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbid vs meates that be to hotte Bicause they burne the blodde and do dispose it to Leprosie ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue no beardes Bicause that substaunce which should conuert into the bearde doeth turne into the heare of the heade ¶ Wherof commeth it that Infantes and children for the moost parte do resemble their mothers notwithstanding after the opinion of many Philosophers the action and dede of generation is not of the woman That commeth of the ymagination of women ¶ What meaneth it that Garlike and Onions although they be not in the ground do sprowte and growe That is of the great aboundaunce of the humors that they haue ¶ Wherof commeth it that studie is noysome and hurtefull after repast Natural heat can not trauel both in digestion speculation at one instant Wherof commeth it that when the stomacke is grieued all the bodie languisheth The stomacke hath certeine aliaunces with the harte the brayne and the Liuer which are the principall partes of the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do thinges beste with the right hande and other some with the lefte That procedeth of the heate that commeth from the harte which maketh that syde more apte and mete vnto labor whervnto it hath his principall accesse ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all kindes of creatures be more leane in the beginning of their youth and when they be olde then in their middle age Before olde age naturall heate is in his greatest force and strength which dissolueth the fatte Olde Creatures be neuer fatte and if they be their fatte is as nothing through their great colde and drynes for the faâ—te is sustained and nourished with moistnes and heate ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which haue the hicket by retaining their breth do ease them selues of it The blowing and breth retained doeth heate the interior partes of the bodie and the hicket procedeth of nothing els but of colde ¶ Why do olde people nese with great difficultie Because their conduictes be very straight ¶ Why doeth wine mingled with water cause vomit Mingled wine is noisome to the stomacke and doeth weaken the vertue retentiue contrarywise pure wine doth comforte it ¶ Whye be they so subiecte to sickenesse that loue to drinke stronge and mightie wines Stronge wine excessiuelye dronke doeth extinguishe naturall heate and the liuor being therewith weakened cannot engendre good bloud but doeth rather ingender a certaine aquositie and waterishnes that conuerteth it selfe into a dropsie ¶ Why be not yonge children so thirstie and drye as men of greater age The moistnes of yonge children doeth kepe them from being thirstie For thirst is nothing els but a desyre of moistnes whervpon they that be of greater age be naturally more drye and therefore more thirstie ¶ Whye doeth the dronken person thinke all thinges which he seeth do runne and tourne round That commeth bycause the spirites seruing to sighte be mingled with the vapors and fumosities of the wine the heate whereof causeth the eyes to be in a continuall motion and so the eye being round maketh al thinges to seme as though they turned round And if the eye were of other fashion then round the thinges he seeth would seme also to be of the same shape ¶ What might be the cause that Asses when they be yonge do seme nimble quicke and pleasaunt to loke vpon and as sone as they begin to waxe and growe then do they appere the contrarye The Asse is of nature melancholike youth is hotte and therfore liuely and pleasaunt which neuerthelesse afterwardes doeth moderate and decrease because the melancholike qualitie beginneth to augmente and the heate of youth to diminishe ¶ Whye do hennes keckle and make
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
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
of riches had made it to licenceous ¶ Wherof came it y e Marius Viriatus Ventidius Bassus wer so excellent in armes did suffer so paciently y e labors of y e warres The one was a laborer the other a sheperd the third was a horskeper wherby all thre were vsed to gret trauel to paine to heat and cold and to sparenes of life ¶ Why would the Capadocians neuer be without a prince â–ª Experience did teache them howe profitable it was to be vnder the gouernaunce of an other ¶ For what cause was Solon estemed a foole Bicause being pursued of Pifistratus the tyraunt he loued rather to begge throughout the worlde then to tarrie with Cresus kinge of Lidia who would haue geuen him part of his Realme to the intent he mighte iustely and vertuousely gouerne which by his aduise he thought that he might atteine ¶ Why would the Aetheniens neuer become subiect to any Prince Bicause from their childehode they were accustomed to liue at libertie ¶ With what goodnes ought he to be indued that doth reigne and gouerne He ought to excede his subiectes in bountifulnes so muche the more as he doeth surpasse them in degree and honor ¶ What is the true duetie of a Prince To make his subiectes to liue quietly and godly which thing he can not doe yf he him selfe be not good iuste and vertuouse ¶ What difference is there betwene the equall and iuste Prince and the Tyraunt The one vseth thoffice of a man the other of a beaste The Prince serueth as a father to his subiectes the Tyraunt deuoureth them ¶ Howe may a Tyraunt assure him selfe in his Tyrannie By putting to deathe those that are the chiefest and moost noble Such was the councell of Thrasibulus to Periander Tarquinius superbus to his sonne ¶ Why be men naturally afraide to rebell or encounter with a Prince Bicause that after the minde of Hesiodus the Prince is established by God ¶ Thinke you that God hath any regarde of thinges to come There is nothing more certaine Romulus testifieth the same being rescued from the water and nourished with the milke of a wolfe Abidus nourished with the milke of a Hynde and Cyrus of a Goate ¶ Is it any meruell then although the Persians did worshippe them as goddes No truely Moreouer Homer and Hesiodus do affirme that principalitie and gouernement is a gifte proceding from aboue geuen vnto men therby to knowe the power of God ¶ What is the nature of a liberall man It is not onely to geue for the reliefe of the necessities of others but also to giue liberally and with a free harte ¶ Howe did the auncientes by figure and painting represent the good successe and ende of all thinges They made an Image holding in the right hande a cuppe and in the lefte hande an eare of wheate with a poppiâ—â— signifying thereby that he is well satisfied that contenteth him selfe with the fructes of the earth ¶ Wherfore was the gratitude and good remembrance that Eschines had towards his scolemaster Socrates so well coÌ„mended Bicause he gaue him selfe to serue him and a greater pleasure he could not do him ¶ Wherof commeth it that Crassus being in the beginning verie couetouse became in the ende so liberall Through the gret importunitie of beggers that neuer suffred him in quiet ¶ Why was it said that Alexandre had conquâ—red kingdomes and that Anaxarcus kept them Bicause that Alexander desperately for the sorrowe that he had slaine Clitus his great frende would haue killed him self and so haue lost at one instant the glorie of so many victories had it not bene for the great admonishions that Anaxarcus the Philosopher gaue him which preserued him from killing him selfe ¶ Why did Alexandre vse alwaies to carrie the Iliades of Homere about him Bicause by reding the factes of armes of the Auncientes he lerned the pollicies of the warres which encoraged him the more to y e desire of wars ¶ Of what disposition ought a sufficient Ambassadour to be Braue eloquente and wise For it is commonly saide that the prince is knowen by the Ambassador ¶ Why did the Romanes call their Ambassadours which went to treat of peace with the nauie Caduceatores Of the Caduceum of Mercurie which was a rodde that he helde in his hande signifying therby that the same rodde was a meane betwene them that fought and the aucthor bothe of peace and warre ¶ What was the cause that Nicomedes kinge of Bithynia instituted the Romanes to be his heyers In token of remembraunce of gratefulnes to be towardes them being by their ayde after he was chased from his estate by Mithridates king of Pontas restablished in the same againe ¶ What is that which maketh a Prince wicked To thinke that it is laweful for him to do all thinges and that all wickednes is sufferable hauing power to do what he liste His great welth and aboundaunce may be also the occasion and flatterers euill ministers and cruell men of warre suche as attende about his person ¶ Which is the hardest thing for him to do Dioclesian the Emperour saide to knowe perfectly howe to vse himselfe in his kingdome ¶ Why are Ciuile warres so greately to be contempned Bicause he that hath the vpper hande doeth not onely what he listeâ— but also they which take his parte do the same ¶ Why be Princes estemed like vnto God As God considereth the affection of man euen so the liberall and magnanimouse Prince ought to consider the hart and power of him that doeth him seruice ¶ Why was the liberalitie of Zeuxis reprehended of the Auncientes Bicause he gaue to receiue twise the valour ¶ Why did the Auncientes saie that it was no nede to offer eyther golde or siluer to Sainctes Bicause Sainctes are not couetouse and aâ—ericiouse as men be ¶ Why would not certaine of the Auncientes haue the ymaâ—es of their goddes to be in Marble or other stone Bicause they are tractable and plyant to our praiers and requestes wherfore they demed it blasphemie to iudge them to be harde harted ¶ Wherof proceded the custome that the kinges of Persia had to geue golde and syluer to all women that they met and to men dartes and arrowes Gold and syluer is conuenable to women and weapons to men ¶ Why did Plato in his lawes forbid that any god should be made eyther of golde or siluer Bicause he demed those mettalles to be the verie poyson of the world ¶ Why did the kinges of Persia vse to rewarde women that brought forthe many male children Bicause they filled the cuntrie with souldiers which serued for the preseruation of the same ¶ Howe was Caesâ—r healed of the falling euill By sobrietie and abstinence from wine ¶ Why haue many wise men studied to be obscure in these writinges To astoyne dul wittes at the first sight therby to encorage the studiouse to serche the mysteries and secretes of the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that the moost
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
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
respecte to the inconueniencie that might happen by to muche mirthe as it chaunced to those two Romane women that thought their children to haue bene dead in the iourney of Cannas which afterwardes souâ—denly retourned safe contrarye to their mothers expectations and as it happened to Chilo who died through to muche ioye ¶ To what thing oughte a manne to haue moste regarde To vertue then to his health after that to honest pleasures and finallye to richesse ¶ What is prodigallitie It is a perturbation of the minde diminishing vertue which consisteth in spending extraordinarily and without order of reason ¶ What was the cause of the death of Apisius that wrote so diligently of cokerie He killed him selfe with nothing els but gluttonie ¶ What is Ambition It is a troubling of the minde so vehement that it consumeth the hart and spirite with great desire to atteine to glorie dignitie and honor ¶ What is it that a man ought to couet in this worlde All thinges that are honest What is assuraunce It is a vertue proper to highe and lofâ—ie mindes whiche approcheth night vnto confidence And the propertie of that vertue is to make a man alwayes â—oke with a bolde and merye countenaunce not studyinge or takinge any care for ought that may chaunce and properlye it is a tranquilitie of the minde wherevnto Phocion greatlye exhorted Alexander the great but in vaine ¶ What is Magnificence It is a vertue proper onely to princes because it consisteth in greate and harde thinges and great expences ¶ Who is he that worthelye may be called liberall Aristotle saith that it is he which spendeth his reuenue in good order and vpon thinges desent ¶ Is there anye difference betwene liberalitie and magnanimitie Great difference although they seme to be but one He that is liberall oughte to haue respect howe muche he doeth spende what that thinge is worthe that he buyeth and aboue all thinges that he doe not excede in expence of his Reuenue The magnanimouse and honorable withoute anye care for publicke expence hath respecte onelye howe he may do some great and valiaunt enterpryse ¶ Amonges the Auncientes who hath bene most excellente in valiaunce Cesar And for that cause Marcus Bibulus whoe was companion with Cesar in the office of Edilis was wont to say that it chaunced vnto him as it did vnto Pollux because like as the temple dedicated to Caâ—â—or and Pollux was called onely the temple of Castor euen so all the valiance that Cesar and Bibulus vsed together in the time they were collegnes in that office redounded only to the honor of Cesar and not of Bibulus ¶ Who was the most excellent amonges the auncientes to acknowledge and recompence a good turne done vnto him Pirrhus of whom it is sayde that he was thought to haue dyed for anger that he had not time enough to succour one of his frendes ¶ What is the nature of an vnthankefull man To forget the taste of good turnes past if a man do not perseuer still in doinge him good ¶ Who loueth more either he that doeth the good tourne or he that receaueth the same He that receaueth a good tourne is debter to him that doeth it The nature of the debter is to shunne the company of his creditour and to disdaine him when he hath not wherewithall to paye him But the creditour desireth none other thing but the health of his debter whereby he maye finde meanes sometime to be payde ¶ What is Constancie It is a vertue whiche properlye resisteth sorowe and is contrarye to Inconstancye ¶ What is the propertie of Continencie To vanquishe and subdue the Fleshly lustes And although it be a harder matter to vanquishe then to fight and resist yet the Auncientes haue better estemed the continent man then the constant ¶ Amonges the constant who haue bene the most excellent Marius Cassius Sceuola Attilius Anaxarchus Zeno Citus Pomponius Leena the harlot Pirrhus and manye others whiche haue bene happie through constancie ¶ What is trust It is a sure hope and presage of a good turne that we hope for as thogh it should without all doubte happen vnto vs. ¶ Why was Chysippus disdained of all other Philosophers For his arrogancie for he boasted that he knewe all thinges ¶ Why was Hipocrates blamed of Arrogancie Bicause he wrote to Xerxes king of Persia that he woulde not vtter his knowledge vnto barbarous people ¶ And why was Zeuxes the painter also blamed of ArrogaÌ„cy Bicause when he had painted Helena he saide that Leda her mother for all that she was gotten with childe by Iupiter had not made Helena so fayre as he had painted her ¶ Howe oughte a manne to behaue himselfe towardes his frendes In suche sorte as a man must thinke that in time to come they should be enemies although that Cicero maketh a mocke at that opinion and saith that it is the poison of frendship ¶ Howe did Milâ—iades the sonne of Cimon of Athenes obteine so great renoume Bicause there was no man howe poore so euer he was but he woulde geue eare to his request ¶ Whye was Viriatus so muche estemed of the Portugalles who were wont to dispise all other Captens Bicause he was readie in fighte and knewe howe to defende himselfe ¶ Whye was Philip kynge of Macedonia so negligent and slowe in the warres Bicause he thought it better to ouercome his enemie by policie then with effusion of bloud ¶ Howe chaunced it that the Lacedemonians when they hadde obteined victorye by force of armes didde sacrifice a Cocke and when they came vpon the enemie by policie subtiltie or knowledge they sacrificed an Oxe Bicause they estemed policie better then strength ¶ What vertues apperteine vnto strength Magnanimitie confidence assuraunce valiaunce constancie stedfastnes and pacience ¶ Why was Fabius Maxi nus crowned vniuersallie throughout all Italie with Grasse Bicause that Crowne was ordeined for Captaines and Generalles that could conducte their souldiors to the warres and retourne with them againe without losse and effusion of bloud After that sorte did Antigonus escape from the furie of Pirrhus ¶ What ought a man principallie to espect in the warres Opportunitie which Pelopidas Pirrhus and Marcelâ—us knowing not howe to vse arriued very sone to the ende of their liues ¶ Why did the Lacedemonians beate their children vppon the aulter of Iupiter To vse them to be constant and to indure stripes without making complaint ¶ What was the reason of a Lawe placed in the .xii. Tables which was that the deade should not be wepte for Bicause weping and teares do witnesse a faynt and effeminate harte ¶ What meane the Poetes to bring in Princes and knightes lamenting their misfortune To mocke them secretely for without daunger they durste not do it openlie ¶ Wherof commeth it that Alcibiades was in his tyme compared to the fishe called in Italian Polpo Bicause he was of a nature so tractable that he could manne himselfe to all vses and fashions like to the
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
Persians Missia by the Danes and Samothracians and Fraunce by the Almaiâ—es Slouth and feare of trauell geuing himselfe daie and night to the delightes of Ladies in the Island of Cypres ¶ Whye did the people of Saba the nexte neighbours of the Nabathei geue themselues so much to Idlenes considering the diligence and industrie of the saide Nabathâ—i their nexte neighbours The fertilitie of Saba made them slouthfull and the barrennes of the countrye of the Nabathei made them vigilant and industriouse ¶ Why did Euripides introduce Theseus to consider and talke of all the euils that can happen to man Bicause a stripe foresene doeth hurt a man the lesse ¶ What is mercie properlye It is a certaine heauines arysing of an other mans griefe whiche as some say ought not to moue the mindes of the good but rather they ought to content them selues with their innocencye without takinge paine or care what the wicked do susteine and abide ¶ What is Felicitie It is an aboundaunce of Spirituall corporall and earthlie goodes ¶ Why was Archagathus y e Surgeon made a Citizen of Rome Bicause he was very mercifull and cunning in his cures that the like of whom the Romaines neuer sawe ¶ Whye was Antonius the Emperour surnamed Pius Because he reigned without effusion of bloud and was so mercifull as euer Cesar Alexander or Uespatian was ¶ Why do Souldiors loue hunting Bicause it is like vnto the warres which is the place where euerye man may learne to liue vertuously ¶ Whiche is the godliest exercise that a man can learne Husbandrye in which there is not onelye profite but pleasure ¶ Where is the best walke that can be founde That walking place which is furnished with wise men ¶ Whereof proceded the great estimation of Homere Bicause his workes are so full of learning and verye good to encoragâ— mens heartes to vertue ¶ Whye were the Greke aucthors counted great lyers Bicause they confounded histories with fables suche as Herodotus and Hellanicus be ¶ What is the propertie of Iustice To deceaue no man euen as the propertie of wisedome is not to be deceaued ¶ When is it lawefull to lye For safegarde of the goodes or the life of an other as Chilâ— did when he forsware him selfe to saue the life of a certaine man ¶ What is the propertie of a gloriouse man To beleue rather that which is spoken of him although it be false then that which he perceiueth in dede to be in him selfe For that cause was the â—able of Iuno and Ixion feygned ¶ What is the propertie of a vile and noughtie man To hide the truth for feare which neuer chaunceth to the valiaunt and honest who cannot abide that any man should lye ¶ Why did the Poetes say that veritie was the daughter of memorie and tune Bicause she cannot be longe hidden ¶ From whence came the whâ—le that Ixion doth turne continually as the Poetes doe faigne It is the true token of a common liar who the nerer he thinketh he is to vertue the further he is from it ¶ Why did the Egiptians ordaine that a vacabonde and common Iester should not be taken for a witnesse Bicause suche people are not worthie to be regarded and for a little bribe they are redie to all mischiefe ¶ Wherfore did the Romanes forbid playing for money excepte it were in warrelike exercises as to throwe the barre to daunce to wrastle to vaute to playe at defence and other suche like pastimes Bicause in other pastimes Fortune ruleth and not vertue ¶ Why did â—pelles the Painter set his tables abrode for euery man to viewe That he might vnderstande mens Iudgemente of his faultes As appered by a Cobler who founde faulte in a pantofle or slipper which Appelles had made ¶ What mischiefes do Flatterers bring They corrupt all good maners they tell lies in stede of truth they doe euell in stede of good vice in stede of vertue and are ordayned to destroyâ— the good and those that do righteouslye ¶ Why would not Socrates suffre himselfe to be praised of a yonge man Bicause that praise in presence is a kinde of Flatterie ¶ Whye did the Romaines so much disdaine Prusias kinge of Bitbinia Bicause he was the greatest flatterer that euer was borne In so much that his flatteries were the cause that it was ordeyned at Rome that no kinge shoulde come thither withoute licence of the Senate obteyned before ¶ What is Flatterie properly It is a vice proper and perticuler to vyle mindes to women and cowardes for it procedeth of nothing els but of feare ¶ What is shamefastnes It is a kind of feare to fall into any infamie or to be blamed for anye dede doing or to be worthelye reprehended for some faulte Therefore Cicero did terme it to be the Tamer of euell thoughtes for she withdraweth man and preserueth him from committing any offence ¶ To whom ought a man to be shamefast To children onelye for to a man of age it is vnmete to blush and to say I had not thought to do it ¶ Who is he that worthely may be counted valiaunt He that loueth life and feareth not death ¶ What is death It is an ende from which a man ought not to retire but to go to it ioyfullye and as some saye it is a gest geuen of God to menne by a singuler grace ¶ Whye didde Mallius saye in the oration that he made at Rome against Furius and Aemilius that enuie was bleare eyed and had a verye euell sight Bicause that the enuiouse man considereth those thinges whiche are nexte him and not them a farre of whiche should be more to be enuyed yf enuie were a vertue ¶ Why is Enuie compared vnto fier Bicause it alwaies mounteth for there is no man so mightie that enuie will sticke to assaile and surmounte him also if it be possible ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of Socrates being so innosent a man The enuie of the Athenians a vsuall thing in that citie which caused also the death of Themistocles and Aristides the iuste ¶ Why do the Poetes faigne that Marcias was beaten of Apollo and Thamiras had his eyes put out by the Muses To declare that howe mightie soeuer a man be he hath some bodie that goeth about to make him selfe equall with him which is a passion almost like vnto Enuie but not so muche different from vertue ¶ What was the cause of the soudeine deathe of Diodorus the Sâ—phistre The thought that he toke bicause he could not resolue a question that Stilpho the Philosopher put to him in pastime And excessiue thoughte ought not to fall into the harte of a vertuouse man ¶ What meane the Poetes by faigning an Eagle alwaies to gnawe the harte of Frometheus To declare the continuall studie of Prometheus who was very learned and wise in Astrologie ¶ Wherof commeth it that in the tyme of Ptolome there were found so many Mathematicians in the time of Xerxes so many pleasures and in