studye the rule hée shall beare maye bée directed and by his gouernment his studye maye bée increased in this manner dyd Pericles deale in ciuill affayres after this sort dyd Architas Tarentine Dion the Syracusian the Thebane Epiminides gouerne their cities For the exercise of the bodye it is necessary also somewhat bée added that is that the childe shoulde be at such times permitted to recreate himselfe when his minde is ouercome wyth studie least dullinge himselfe wyth ouermuche industry hée become vnfit afterwarde to conceiue readyly besides this it will cause an apte composition and that naturall strength that it before retayned A good composition of the body laieth a good foundation of olde age for as in the fayre Sommer we prepare all thinges necessary for the cold Winter so good manners in youth and lawfull exercises be as it were victuals and nourishmentes for age yet are their labours and pastimes so to bee tempered that they weaken not their bodyes more by playe then otherwyse they shoulde haue done by studyâ— and so to be vsed that they addict not themselues more to the exercise of the limmes then the following of learning the greatest enemies to discipline as Plato recompteth are labours sléepe It is also requisite that hee bée expert in marciall affayres in shooting in darting that he hawke and hunt for his honest pastime and recreation and if after these pastimes hée shall seeme secure nothinge regardinge his bookes I would not haue him scourged with stripes but threatned with words not dulled with blowes like seruaunts the which the more they are beaten the better they beare it and the lesse they care for it for children of good disposition are eitheâ— incited by praise to goe forwarde or shamed by dispraise to commit the like offence those of obstinate blockish behauiour are neither with words to be perswaded neither with stripes to be corrected They must now be tauÌ„ted with sharp rebukes straight wayes admonished with faire wordes nowe threatned a paiment by and by promised a reward dealt withall as nurses doe with the babes whom after they haue made to cry they profer the teate but diligeÌ„t héede must be taken that he be not praised aboue measure least standing to much in his owne conceite he become also obstinate in his owne opinions I haue knowen many fathers whose great loue towards their sonnes hath bene the cause in time that they loued them not for when they see a sharpe witte in their sonne to conceiue for the desire they haue that hée shoulde out runne his fellowes they loaden him with continuall exercise which is the onely cause that hée sincketh vnder his burden and giueth ouer in the playne fielde Plants are nurrished with lyttle rayne yet drowned with much euen so the minde with indifferent labour wareth more perfect with much studie it is made fruitelesse We must consider that all our lyfe is deuided into remission and stâ—dye As there is watchinge so is there sléepe as there is warre so is there peace as there is Winter so is there Sommer as there be many working dayes so is there also many holydayes if I may speake all in one worde ease is the sauce of labour which is playnely to be seene not onely in lyuing thinges but also in things without lyfe We vnbende the bowe that wée maye the better bende him wee vnloose the harpe that we may the sooner tune him the body is kept in health aswell with fasting as eating the minde healed with ease aswell as with labour those parents are in minde to be mislyked which committe the whole care of their childe to the custody of a hirelyng neyther askinge neither knowing how their children profite in lerning For if the father were desirous to examine his sonne in that which he hath learned the mayster woulde bée more carefull what he did teach But séeinge the father carelesse what they learne he is also secure what he teacheth that notable saying of the Horsekéeper maye heere be applyed which sayde nothinge did so fatte the horse as the eye of the king Moreouer I woulde haue the memorye of children continually to be exercised which is the greatest furtheraunce to learninge that can be For this cause they fayned in their olde fables memory to be the mother of perfection Children are to be chastised if they shal vse any filthy or vnséemly talke for as Democrates sayth the worde is the shadowe of the worke they must be courteous in their behauiour lowely in their speach not disdayning their cock mates or refrayning their company they must not lyue wantonly neyther speake impudently neyther angry without cause neyther quarrellous without choler A young man beeing peruerse in nature proude in words and manners gaue Socrates a spurne who béeing moued by his fellowes to giue him an other If sayd Socrates an â—sse had kicked me woulde you also haue me to kicke him againe the greatest wisedome in Socrates in compressing his anger is worthy great commendacion Architas Tarentine retourning from warre and finding his grounde ouergrowen with wéedes and tourned vp with Mowles â—ent for his Farmour vnto whome hee sayde If I were not angrye I woulde make thée repent thy ill husbandry Plato hauing a seruaunt whose blisse was in fillyng of his belly seeinge him on a time idle and vnhonest in behauiour sayd out of my sighte for I am incensed with anger Althoughe these ensamples be harde to imitate yet shoulde euery man do his endeuour to represse that hot and heady humor which he is by nature subiecte vnto To be silent and discreete in companye thoughe manye thinke it a thing of no great wayghte or importaunce yet is it most requisite for a young man and most necessary for my Ephaebus It neuer hath bene hurtefull to any to holde his peace to speake damage to manye what so is kept in sileÌ„ce is husht but whatsoeuer is babbled out cannot agayne be recalled We maye sée the cunning and curious worke of Nature which hath barred and hedged nothing in so stronglye as the tongue with two rowes of téeth therewith two lyppes besides she hath placed it farre from the hearte that it shoulde not vtter that which the hearte had conceiued this also shoulde cause vs to be silente séeinge those that vse much talke though they speake truely are neuer beléeued Wyne therefore is to be refrayned which is termed to be the glasse of the minde and it is an olde Prâ—uerbe Whatsoeuer is in the heart of the sober man is in the mouth of the drunckarde Bias holding his tongue at a feast was tearmed there of a tatler to bee a foole who sayde is there any wise man that can holde his tongue amidst the wine vnto whome Bias aunswered there is no foole that can A certeyne gentleman heere in Athens inuited the Kings Legates to a costly and sumptuous â—east where also he assembled many Philosophers and talking of diuers matters both of the common weale and learning
beastes And hâ—ere I am most earnestly to exhort you to modestie in your behauiour to duetie to your elders to dilygence in your studyes I was of late in Italy where mine eares gloed and my hearte was gauled to heare the abuses that reygnâ— in Athens I can not tell whether those things sprange by the lewdâ— and lying lyppes of the ignoraunt which are alwayes enemyes to learning or by the reportes of such as saw them and sorrowed at them It was openly reported of an olde man in Naples that there was more lyghtnes in Athens then in all Italy more wanton youths of schollers then in al Europe besides more Papistes more Atheists more sectes more schismes then in all the Monarchies of the world which things although I thinke they be not true yet can I not but lament that they shoulde be déemed to bée true and I feare me they be not altogether false there can no greate smoke aryse but there must be some fire no great reporte without great suspition Frame therefore your liues to such integretie your studies to the attayning of such perfection that neyther the mighte of the strong neyther the mallyce of the weake neyther the swifte reportes of the ignoraunte be able to spotte you with dishonestie or note you of vngodlynesse The greatest harme that you can doe vnto the enuious is to doe well the greatest corasiue that you can giue vnto the ignoraunt is to prosper in knowledge the greatest comforte that you can bestowe on your parents is to lyue well and learne well the greatest commoditie that you can yéelde vnto your countrey is with wisedome to bestow that talente that by grace was giuen you And héere I cannot chuse but giue you that counsell that an olde man in Naples gaue me most wiselye althoughe I hadde then neyther grace to followe it neyther will to giue â—are to it desiringe you not to reiecte it bicause I dyd once dispise it It is this as I can remember worde â—or worde Desceâ—de into your owne consâ—yences consider with your selues the greate difâ—erence betwéene staringe and starke blynde witte and wisedome loue and lust bee merrye but with modestie bée sober but not too sullen be valyaunte but not too venterous lette your attire be comely but not too costly your dyet wholesome but not excessiue vse pastime as the worde importeth to passe the time in honeste recreation Mistrust no man without cause neyther be ye credulous without proofe be not lyght to follow euery mans opinion neither obstinate to stande in your owne conceits serue God feare God loue God God wil blesse you as eyther your heartes can wish or your friendes desire This was his graue and godly aduise whose councell I woulde haue you all to follow frequent lectures vse disputations openly neclecte not your priuate studyes let not degrees be giuen for loue but for learning not for mony but for knowledge and bicause you shall bée the better encouraged to follow my counsell I will bée as it were an example my selfe desiring you all to imitate me Euphues hauing ended his discourse finished those preceptes which he thought necessary for the instructing of youthe gaue his minde to the continuall studye of Philosophie insomuch as he became publyque Reader in the Uniuersitie with such commendacion as neuer any before him in the which he continued for the space of tenne yeares onely searching out the secrets of Nature the hidden misteries of Philosophy hauing collected into thrée volumes his lectures thought for the profite of young schollers to sette them forth in print which if hee had done I would also in this his Notomie haue inserted but hée alteringe his determination fell into this discourse with himselfe Why Euphues art thou so addiâ—ted to the sâ—udye of the Heathen that thou hast forgotten thy God in Heauen shal thy witte be rather employed to the attaining of humayne wisedome then deuine knowledge Is Aristotle morâ— deare to thee with his bookes then Christ with his bloude What comfort canst thou finde in Philosophy for thy guiltie conscience what hope of the resurrection what gladde tidinges of the Gospell Consider with thy selfe that thou art a gentlemen yea and a Gentile and if thou neglect thy calling thou art worse then a iewe Most miserable is the estate of those gentlemen which thincke it a blemishe to their auncestors and a blot to their owne gentrie to reade or practize diuinitie They thincke it nowe sufficient for their felicitie to ryde well vppon a greate horse to hawke to hunt to haue a smacke in Philosophye neyther thincking of the beginninge of wisedome neyther the ende which is Christe onely they accompte diuinitie most contemptible which is and ought to be most notable Without this there is no Lawyer bée hée neuer so eloquent no Phisition bée he neuer so excellent no Philosopher be hée neuer so learned no King no Keyser be he neuer so royal in birth so politique in peace so expert in war so valiaunt in prowesse but he is to bée detested and abhorred Farewell therefore the fine and filed prases of Cicero the pleasaunt Eligues of Ouid the depth and profound knowledge of Aristotle Farewell Rhetoricke farewell Philosophie farewell all learninge which is not spronge from the bowels of the holy Bible In this learning shal we finde milke for the weake and marrowe for the stronge in this shall wée sée how the ignoraunt may be instructed the obstinate confuted the penitent comforted the wicked punished the godly preserued Oh I would gentlemen would â—emetimes sequester themselues from their own delights employ their wits in searching these heauenly and diuine misteries It is common yea and lamentable to sée that if a younge youth haue the giftes of Nature as a sharpe witte or of Fortune as sufficient wealthe to mainteine them gallauntly hée employeth the one in the vaine inuentions of loue the other in the vile brauery of pride the one in the passions of hys mynde and prayses of his Ladye the other in furnishinge of his bodye and furtheringe of his lust héereof it commeth that such vayne ditties such idle sonnets suche inticinge songes are sette foorth to the gaze of the worlde and griefe of the godlye I my selfe knowe none so ill as my selfe who in tymes past haue bene so superstitiously addicted that I thought no heauen to the Paradise of loue no Angell to bée compared to my Ladye but as repentaunce hath caused mée to leaue and loath such vayne delightes so wisedome hath opened vnto me the perfect gate to eternall lyfe Besides this I my selfe haue thought that in diuinitie there coulde bée no eloquence which I myght imitate no pleasaunt inuention whiche I might followe no delicate phrase that myght delyght mée but nowe I sée that in the sacred knowledge of Gods wyll the onely eloquence the true and perfect phrase the testimony of saluation doth abide and séeing without this all learninge is ignoraunce all wysdome more folly and wytte
to intreate you and my authoritie lesse to commaund you yet my good-will in giuing you good counsaile should induce you to beléeue mée and my hoarie haires ambassadors of experience enforce you to follow mée for by howe much the more I am a straunger to you by so much the more you are beholdinge to mée hauing therefore opportunitie to vtter my minde I meane to bée importunate wyth you to followe my meaninge As thy birth doth shewe the expresse and liuely Image of gentle bloude so thy bringing vp séemeth to mée to bée a greate blotte to the linage of so noble a brute so that I am enforced to thincke that either thou dyddest want one to giue thée good instructions or that thy parentes made thée a wanton wyth to much cockeringe either they were too foolishe in vsinge no discipline or thou too frowarde in reiecting their doctrine eyther they willinge to haue thée idle or thou wylfull to bée ill employed Dyd they not remember that whiche no man ought to forgette that the tender youth of a childe is lyke the temperinge of newe waxe apte to receiue any forme Hée that wyll carry a Bull wyth Milo must vse to carrye him a Calfe also hée that coueteth to haue a straight trée muste not boowe hym béeinge a twigge The Potter fashioneth his claye when it is softe and the Sparrowe is taught to come when hée is younge As therefore the yron béeinge hotte receyueth any forme with the stroake of the Hammer and kéepeth it béeinge colde for euer so the tender witte of a childe if with diligence it bée instructed in youth wyll with industrye vse those qualities in hyâ— age They might also haue taken example of the wise husbandmen who in their fattest and most fertill grounde sowe Hempe before Wheate a grayne that dryeth vp the superfluous moysture and maketh the soyle more apte for corne Or of good Gardeiners who in their curious knottes mixe Hisoppe wyth Time as ayders the one to the growth of the other the one béeinge drye the other moyste or of cunning Painters who for the whiteâ—t woorke caste the blackest grounde to make the Picture more amiable If therefore thy Father had bene as wise an husbandman as hée was a fortunate husbande or thy Mother as good a huswyfe as shée was a happye wyfe if they had bene bothe as good Gardners to kéepe their knotte as they were grafters to brynge foorth such fruite or as cunninge Painters as they were happie parentes no doubte they had sowed Hempe before Wheate that is discipline before affaction they had set Hisoppe wyth Time that is manners wyth witte the one to ayde the other and to maâ—e thy dexteritie more they had caste a blacke grounde for their white woorke that is they had mixed threates wyth faire lookes But thinges past are paste callinge agayne it is to late to shutte the stable doore when the stéede is stolen The Troyans repented to late when their towne was spoiled Yet the remeÌ„braunce of thy former follies might bréede in thée a remorse of conscience and bée a remedy against further concupiscence But nowe to thy present tyme The Lacedemonians were wont to shewe their children dronken men and other wicked men that by séeinge theire filth they might shunne the lyke faulte and auoyde suche vices when they were at the lyke state The Persians to make theire youth abhorre gluttonie woulde paint an Epicure sléeping with meate in his mouthe most horribly ouerladen with wine that by the view of such monsterous sightes they might eschewe the meâ—nes of the like excesse The Parthians to cause their youthe to loath the alluringe traines of womens wyles and deciptfull entisementes had most curiously carued in their houses a younge man blinde besides whome was adioyned a woman so exquisite that in some mennes iudgement Pigmalions Image was not halfe so excellent hauing one hande in hys pocket as notinge their thefte and holdinge a knyfe in the other hande to cutte hys throate If the sight of such vglye shapes caused a loathinge of the like sinnes then my good Euphues consider their plight and beware of thyne owne perill Thou art héere in Naples a younge soiourner I an olde senior thou a straunger I a Citizen thou secure doubtinge no mishappe I sorrowfull dreadinge thy misfortune Héere mayste thou sée that which I sighe to sée dronken sottes wallowinge in euery house in euery chamber yea in euery channell héere maiste thou beholde that whiche I cannot wythout blushinge beholde nor wythoute blubbering vtter those whose bellies bée their Gods who offer their goodes as sacrifice to they re guttes who sléepe wyth meate in their mouthes wyth sinne in their heartes and wyth shame in their houses Héere yea héere Euphues maiste thou sée not the carued viâ—arde of a lewde woman but the incarnaâ—â— visage of a lasciuious wanton not the shaddowe of loue but the substaunce of luste My hearte melteth in droppes of bloude to sée a harlot with the one hande robbe so many cofers and wyth the other to rippe so many corses Thou arte héere amiddest the pykes betwéene Scilla and Caribdis readye if thou shunne Syrtes to sincke into Semphlagades Let the Lacedemonian the Persian the Parthian yea the Neapolitan cause thee rather to detest suche villanie at the sight and viewe of their vanitie Is it not farre better to abhorre sinnes by the remembraunce of others faultes then by repentaunce of thine owne follies Is not hée accompted moste wise whome other mens harmes dooe make moste warie But thou wylte happely saye that although there bée many thinges in Naples to bée iustlye condemned yet there are some thinges of necessitie to bée commended and as thy wyll doeth leane vnto the one so thy wytte woulde also embrace the other Alas Euphues by how much the more I loue the highe climbinge of thy capacitie by so muche the more I feare thy fall The fine christall is sooner crazed then the harde marble the gréenest Béeche burneth faster then the dryest Oke the fairest silke is soonest soyled and the swéetest wine tourneth to the sharpest vineger the pestilence doth most ryfest infect the cléerest complection and the Caterpiller cleaueth vnto the ripest fruite the most delicate wyt is allured with small enticement vnto vice and moste subiecte to yeldâ— vnto vanitie if therefore thou doe but harken to the Syrens thou wilte bée enamoured if thou haunte their houses and places thou shalt be enchaunted One droppe of poyson infecteth the whole tunne of Wine one leafe of Colliquintida marreth and spoyleth the whole potte of porredge one yron Mole defaceth the whole péece of lawne Descende into thine owne conscience and consider wyth thy selfe the greate difference betwéene staringe and starke blinde wit and wisdome loue and lust Bée merrye but with modestie be sober but not to sulloume bee valiaunt but not too venterous Let thy attyre bée comely but not costly thy dyet wholesome but not excessiue vse pastime as the woorde importeth to passe the tyme in
honest recreation mistrust no man wythout cause neither bée thou credulous without proofe bée not light to followe euery mans opinion nor obstinate to stande in thine owne conceipte Serue God loue God feare God and God wyll so blesse thée as eyther hearte can wishe or thy friendes desire And so I ende my counsaile beseechinge thée to beginne to followe it Thys olde Gentleman hauinge finished his dyscourse Euphues beganne to shape hym an aunswere in this sort FAther and friende your age sheweth the one your honestie the other I am neither so suspitious to mistrust your good will nor so sottishe to mislike your good counsaile as I am therefore to thancke you for the first so it standes mée vppon to thincke better on the latter I meane not to cauill wyth you as one louinge sophistrye neyther to controwle you as one hauing superioritie the one woulde bring my talke into the suspition of fraude the other conuince me of folly Whereas you argue I knowe not vppon what probabilyties but sure I am vppon no proofe that my bringing vp shoulde bée a blemish to my birth I aunswere and sweare to that you were not therein a lyttle ouershot eyther you gaue too muche credite to the report of others or to much lybertie to your owne iudgement you conuince my parents of péeuishnesse in making me a wanton and me of leaudnesse in reiectinge correction But so many men so many mindes that may séeme in your eye odious which in an others eye may be gratious Aristippus a Philosopher yet who more courtely Diogenes a Philosopher yet who more carterly Who more popular then Plato retayning alwayes good company Who more enuious then Tymon denouncing all humaine sâ—cietie Who so seuere as the Stoyckes which lyke stockes were moued with no melody Who so secure as the Epicures which wallowed in all kinde of licentiousnesse Though all men bee made of one mettall yet they bée not cast all in one moulde there is framed of the selfe same clay aswell the tile to kéepe out water as the potte to containe lycour the Sunne doth harden the durte melt the waxe fire maketh the gold to shine and the straw to smother perfumes doth refresh the Doue kill the Betil the nature of the man disposeth the consent of the maÌ„ners Now wheras you séeme to loue my nature loath my nurture you bewray your own weaknes in thinking the nature may any waies be altered by education as you haue ensaÌ„ples to confirme your preteÌ„ce so I haue most euident and infallyble argumentes to serue for my purpose It is naturall for the vyne to spread the more you seeke by arte to alter it the more in the ende you shall augment it It is proper for the Palme trée to mounte the heauyer you loade it the higher it sprowteth Though yron be made softe with fire it returneth to his hardnes though the Fawlcon be reclaimed to the fist she retyreth to hir haggardnes the whelpe of a Mastiâ—e will neuer be taught to retriue the Partridge education can haue no shew where the excellencie of nature doth beare sway The silly Mouse will by no manner of meanes be tamed the subtill Foxe may well be beaten but neuer broken from stealing his pray if you pownde spices they smell the swéeter season the woode neuer so well the wine will taste of the caske pâ—auâ—e and translate the crabbe trée where and whensoeuer it please you and it will neuer beare sweete apple Infinite and innumerable were the examples I coulde alleadge and declare to confirme the force of Nature and confute these your vayne and false forgeries were not the repetition of them néedelesse hauing shewed sufficient or bootelesse séeinge those alleadged will not perswade you And can you bée so vnnaturall whome dame Nature hath nourished and brought vpp so many yeares to repine as it were agaynst Nature The similytude you rehearse of the waxe argueth your waxinge and melting brayne and your example of the hoâ—te and harde yron sheweth in you but colde and weake disposition Doe you not knowe that which all men doe affirme and knowe that blacke will take no other coulour That the stone Abeston being once made hotte will neuer be made colde That fire cannot be forced downewarde That Nature will haue course after kinde That euery thing will dispose it selfe according to Nature Can the Aethiope chaunge or alter his skinne or the Leoparde his hewe Is it possible to gather grapes of thornes or â—â—gges of thiâ—telles or to cause any thinge to striue against nature But why go I about to prayse Nature the whiche as yet was neuer any Impe so wicked barbarous any Turke so vile and brutish any beast so dull and sencelesse that coulde or would or durst disprayse or contemne Doth not Cicero conclude and allowe that if wée followe and obey Nature we shall neuer erre Doth not Aristotle alleadge and confirme that Nature frameth or maketh nothing in any poynte rude vayne and vnperfect Nature was had in such estimation and admiration among the Heathen people that she was reputed sor the onely Goddesse in Heauen If Nature then haue largely and bountefully endewed mée with hir giftes why déeme you me so vntoward and gracelesse If she haue dealte hardely with me why extoll you so muche my birth If Nature beare no sway why vse you this adulation If Nature worke the effecte what booteth any education If Nature be of strength or force what auaileth discipline or nurture If of none what helpeth Nature But lette these sayings passe as knowne euidently and graunted to be true which none can or may deny vnlesse he be false or that he bée an enemye to humanitie As touchinge my residence and abidinge héere in Naples my youthly and lusty affections my sportes and pleasures my pastimes my common dalyaunce my delyghtes my resorte and company and companions which dayly vse to visite mée althoughe to you they bréede more sorrowe and care then solace and comforte bicause of your crabbed age yet to mée they bring more comforte and ioy then care griese more blisse then bale more happines then heauines bicause of my youthfull gentlenes Eyther you would haue all men olde as you are or els you haue quite forgotten that you your selfe were youngâ— or euer knew young dayes eyther in your youth you were a very vicious and vngodly man or now being aged very supersticious deuoute aboue measure Put you no difference betwéene the younge flourishinge Baye trée and the olde withered Béeche No kinde of distinction betwéene the waxinge and the wayninge of the Moone And betwéene the risinge and the settinge of the Sunne Doe you measure the hotte assaultes of youth by the colde skirmishes of age whose yeares are subiect to more infirmities then our youth we merryâ— you melancholy wée zealous in affection you ielous in all your dooinges you testie without cause wee hastie for no quarrell You carefull we carelesse wee volde you fearefull we
claw of a Bitter or lyke the apple in Persia whose blossome sauoreth lyke Honny whose budde is more sower then gall But O impietie O broade blasphemy agaynst the heauens Wilt thou be so impudent Euphues to accuse the gods of iniquitie No fonde foole no. Neyther is it forbidden vs by the gods to loue by whose diuine prouidence we are permitted to lyue neyther doe wée want remedyes to recure our maladyes but reason to vse the meanes But why goe I about to hinder the course of loue with the discourse of law hast thou not redde Eupheus that he that loppeth the Uine causeth it to spreade fairer that hee that stoppeth the streame forceth it to swell higher that he that casteth water on the fire in the Smithes forge maketh it to flame fiercer Euen so he that seeketh by counsayle to moderate his ouerlashinge affections encreaseth his owne misfortune Ah my Lucilla wold thou wert either lesse faire or I more fortunate eyther I wiser or thou milder either woulde I were out of this madde moode eyther I would we were both of one minde But how should she be perswaded of my loyaltie that yet had neuer one simple proofe of my loue will shée not rather imagine me to be intangled with hir beautie then with hir vertue That my fancie being so lewdly chayned at the first will be as lyghtly changed at the last that ther is nothing which is permaneÌ„t that is violent yes yes she must néeds coniecture so although it be nothing so for by how much the more my affection coÌ„meth on the suddaine by so much the lesse will she thinke it certeyne The ratling thunderbolte hath but his clappe the lyghteninge but his flash and as they both come in a moment so doe they both ende in a minute I but Euphues hath shée not hearde also that the drye touche woode is kindled with lyme that the greatest mushrompe groweth in one night that the fire quickly burneth the flaxe that loue easilye entreth into the sharpe witte without resistaunce is harboured there without repentaunce If therefore the Gods haue endewed hir with as much bountie as beautie If she haue no lesse wit then she hath comelynesse certes she will neyther conceiue sinisterly of my sodayne sute neyther be coye to receiue me into hir seruice neyther suspecte mée of lyghtnesse in yeelding so lyghtly neyther reiect me disdaynefully for louing so hastely Shall I not then hazarde my lyfe to obtaine my loue and deceiue Philautus to receiue Lucilla Yes Euphues where loue beareth sway friendshippe can haue no shew As Philautus brought me for his shadowe the last supper so will I vse him for my shadow til I haue gayned his Saint And canst thou wretch be false to him that is faithfull to thee Shall hys curtesie be cause of thy crueltie Wilt thou violate the league of fayth to enherite the land of folly Shal affectioÌ„ be of more force then friendshippe loue then law lust then loyaltie Knowest thou not that he that looseth his honestie hath nothing els to loose Tush the case is lyght where reason taketh place to loue and to lyue well is not graunted to Iupiter Who so is blinded with the caule of beautie decerneth no coulour of honestie Did not Gâ—ges cut Candaules a coate by his owne measure Did not Paris though he were a welcome guest to Menelaus serue his hoste a slippery prancke If Philautus had loued â—ucilla he woulde neuer haue suffered Euphues to haue séene hir Is it not the praye that entiseth the theefe to ryfle Is it not the pleasaunt bayte that causeth the fléetest fish to bite Is it not a bye word amongst vs that golde maketh an honest man an ill man Did Philautus accompt Euphues to simple to decypher beautie or supersticious not to desire it Did he deeme him a saint in reiecting fancie or a sotte in not discerning Thoughte hée him a Stoycke that he would not bée moued or a stocke that he coulde not Well well seeing the wound that bléedeth inwarde is most daungerous that the fire kepte close burneth most furious that the Oouen dammed vp baketh soonest that sores hauing no vent fester inwardly it is high time to vnfolde my secret loue to my secrete friende Let Philautus behaue himselfe neuer so craftely hée shal know that it must be a wily Mouse that shal bréed in the Cats eare and bicause I resemble him in wit I meane a little to dissemble with him in wyles But O my Lucilla if thy hearte he made of that stone which may bée mollyfied onely with bloud woulde I had sipped of that riuer in Caria which tourneth those that drincke of it to stonesâ— If thine eares be anointed with the Oyle of Syria that bereaueth hearing would mine eyes had bene rubbed with the sirrop of the Ceder trée which taketh away sight Euphues hauing thus talked with himselfe Philautus entered the chamber and finding him so worne and wasted with continual mourning neither ioycing in his meate nor reioycing in his friend with watry eyes vttered this speach FRiende and fellow as I am not ignoraunt of thy present weaknesse so I am not priuie of the cause and although I suspect many thingsâ— yet can I assure my selfe of no one thing Therfore my good Euphues for these doubtes and dompes of mine either remoue the cause or reueale it Thou hast hetherto found me a chéerefull companion in thy mirth and nowe shalt thou finde me as careful wyth thée in thy moane If altogether thou maist not be cured yet maist thou be comforted If there be any thing that either by my friends may be procured or by my life attained that may either heale thée in parte or helpe thée in all I protest to thée by the name of a friende that it shall rather be gotten with the losse of my body then lost by getting a kingdome Thou hast tried mâ— therfore trust mée thou hast â—â—ulâ—ed me in many things therfore trie me in this one thing I neuer yeâ— failed and now I will not fainte Be bolde to speake blush not thy sore is not so angry but I can salue it thy wouÌ„d not so déep but I can â—earch it thy griefe not so great but I can ease it If it be ripe it sâ—albe lawnâ—ed if it be broken it shal be tainted be it neuer so desperate it shal be cured Rise therfore Euphues take hart at grasse younger thou shalt neuer be plucke vp thy stomacke if loâ—e it selfe haue stoung thée it shal not stiffle thée Though thou be enamoured of some lady thou shalt not be enchauÌ„ted They that begin to pine of a consuÌ„ptioÌ„ without delay preserue theÌ„selues with cullisses he that feeleth his stomack enâ—lamed with heat coolâ—th it eft soones with coÌ„serues delayes bréed dauÌ„gers nothing so perillous as procrastinatioÌ„ Euphues hearing this coÌ„fort friendly counsaile disseÌ„bled his sorrowing hart with a smiling face aunswering him foorthwith as followeth True it is Philautus that he which toucheth
the nettle tenderly is soonest sloung that the Fly which plaieth with the fire is singed in the flame that he y dallieth with women is drawen to his woe And as y Adamant draweth the heauy yron the harp that fléet Dolphin so beauty allureth the chast minde to loue the wisest wit to lust The example whereof I would it were no lesse profitable theÌ„ the experieÌ„ce to me is like to be perilous The vine wattered with wine is soone withered the blossom in the fattest grouÌ„d is quickly blasted the Goat that fatter she is the lesse fertil she is yea man the more wittie he is the lesse happy he is So it is Philautus for why should I conceale it froÌ„ thée of whoÌ„ I am to take counsaile that since my last first being with thée at the house of Ferardo I haue felt such a furious battaile in mine own body as if it be not speadely repressed by pollicie it wil carry my minde the grauÌ„d captain in this fight into endles captiuitie Ah Liuia Liuia thy courtly grace without coynes thy blazing beauty without blemish thy curteous demeanour without curiosity thy swéet speach sauoured with wit thy comly mirth tempered with modesty thy chast looks yet louely thy sharp taunts yet pleasant haue giuen me such a checke that sure I am at the next view of thy vertues I shall take thée mate And taking it not of a pawn but of a prince the losse is to be accompted the lesse And though they be coÌ„monly in a great choler that receiue the mate yet would I willingly take euery minute x. mates to enioy Liuia for my louing mate Doubtlesse if euer she hir self haue ben scorched with the flames of desire she will be ready to quench the coales with courtesie in an other if euer shé◠haue ben attached of loue she will rescue him that is drenched in desire if euer she haue ben taken with the â—eâ—â—â—â—r of fancie she wil help his ague who by a quotidiaÌ„ fit is conuerted into phrensie Neither can there bée vnder so delicate a hew lodged deceite neither in so beautifull a mould a malicious minde True it is that the disposition of the minde followeth the composition of the body how theÌ„ can she be in minde any way imperfect who in body is perfect euery way â— I know my successe wil be good but I know not how to haue acceâ—se to my goddesse neither do I want courage to discouer my loue to my frieÌ„d but some colour to cloak my coÌ„ming to the house of Ferardo for if they be in Naples as ieolous as they be in the other parts of Italy then it behoueth me to walke circuÌ„spectly to forge some cause for mine ofteÌ„ coÌ„ming If therfore Philautus thou canst fet but this fether to mine arrow thou shalt sée me shoot so néere that thou wilt accoÌ„pt me for a cunning Archerâ— And verily if I had not loued thée wel I wold haue swalowed mine own sorrow in sileÌ„ce knowing that in loue nothing is so dauÌ„gerous as to perticipate the means therof to an other the two may kéep couÌ„sel if one be away I am therfore enforced perforce to challenge that courtesie at thy handes which earst thou diddest promise with thy heart the perfourmaunce whereof shall binde mée to Philautus and proue thée faithfull to Euphues Philautus thincking all to bée golde that glistered and all to bée gospell that Euphues vttered aunswered his forged gloase with this friendly cloase In that thou hast made me priuie to thy pourpose I will not conceale my practise in that thou crauest my aide assure thy selfe I wil be the finger next the thumbe insomuch as thou shalt neuer repent thée of the one or the other Concerning Liuia though shée bée faire yet is shée not so amiable as my Lucilla whose seruaunt I haue bene the tearme of thrée yeares but least comparisons shoulde seeme odious chiefly where both the parties be without comparison I will omit that and séeing that wée had both rather be talking wyth them then tatling of them wée will immediatly goe to them And truely Euphues I am not a little gladde that I shall haue thée not onely a comfort in my life but also a companion in my loue As thou hast bene wise in thy choice so I hope thou shalt bée fortunate in thy chaunce Liuia is a wench of more witte then beautie Lucilla of more beautie then witte both of more honestye then honoure and yet both of suche honoure as in all Naples there is not one in birthe to bée compared wyth any of them both Howe much therefore haue wée to reioyce in our choice Touchinge our accesse bée thou secure I will flappe Ferardo in the mouth with some conceyte and fill his olde heade so full of newe fables that thou shalt rather bée earnestly entreated to repaire to his house then euyll entreated to leaue it As olde men are very suspitious to mistruste euerye thinge so are they verye credulous to beléeue any thinge the blinde man doth eate many a Fly yea but sayd Euphues take héede my Philautus that thou thy selfe swallow not a gudgen which woord Philautus did not marke vntill he had almost digested it But said Euphues let vs goe deuoutly to the shrine of our Saincts there to offer our deuotion to the which Euphues consented willingly smiling to himselfe to see how he had brought Philautus into a fooles Paradise Héere you may sée gentlemen the falshood in felowship the fraude in friendship the painted sheth with the leaden dagger the faire woords that make fooles faine but I will not trouble you with superfluous addition vnto whom I feare mee I haue bene tedious with the bare discourse of this rude historie Philautus and Euphues repaired to the house of Ferardo where they found Mistres Lucilla and Liuia accompanied with other gentlewomen neither béeing idle nor well employed but playing at cardes But when Lucilla beheld Euphues she could scarcely containe hir selfe from embracing him had not womanly shamefastnesse and Philautus his presence stayed hir wisdome Euphues on the other side was fallen into such a trance that he had not the power either to succour himselfe or salute the gentlewomen At the last Lucilla began as one that best might be bolde on this manner Gentlemen although your longe absence gaue mée occasion to thincke that you disliked your late entertainment yet your comming at the last hath cut off my former suspition And by so much the more you are welcome by how much the more you were wished for But you gentleman taking Euphues by the hande were the rather wished for for that your discourse being left vnperfect caused vs all to long as women are wont for things that like them to haue an ende thereoff Unto whom Philautus replyed as followeth Mistres Lucilla thoughe your courtesie made vs nothing to doubt of our welcome yet modestye caused vs to pinch courtesie who shoulde first come as for my friende I thincke hée
only the name of Philosophy For to speake playnly of the disorder of Athens who doth not see it and sorrow at it such playing at dice such quaffing of drinke such dalyaunce with woemen such daunsing that in my opinion ther is no quaffer in Flaunders so giuen to typplynge no courtier in Italy so giuen to ryotte no creature in the worlde so misled as a student in Athens Such a conâ—usion of degrées that the Scholler knoweth not his â—uetie to the Bachelor nor the Bachelor to the Maister nor the Maister to the Doctor Such corruption of manners contâ—mpt of Magistrates such open sinnes such priuie villanye such quarrellynge in the stâ—eetes such subtile practises in chambers as maketh my hearte to melt with sorrowe to thinke of it and shoulde cause your mindes gentlemen to penitent to remember it Moreouer who doth know a scholler by his habite Is there any hatte of so vnséemely a fashion any dublette of so long a waste any hose so short any attire either so costly or so courtly eyther so straunge in making or so monstrous in wearing thâ—t is not worne of a scholler haue they not nowe in stéede of blacke cloth blacke veluet in steede of course sackecloth fine silke Be they not more like courtiers theÌ„ schollers more like stageplayers then studentes more lyke ruffians of Naples then disputers in Athens I woulde to God they did not imitate all other nations in the vice of the minde as they doe in the attire of their body for certeynelye as there is no nation whose fashion in apparel they do not vse so is there no wickednesse publyshed in anye place that they do not practize I thinke that in Sodom and Gomora there was neuer more filthinesse neuer more pryde in Rome more poysoning in Italy more lyinge in Crete more priuie spoyling in Spayne more Idolatry in Aegypt then is at this day in Athens neuer such sectes among the Heathens such schismes amongst the Turkes such mis beleefe among the Infidells as is now among Schollers Be ther not many in Athens which thincke ther is no God no redemption no resurrection What shame is this gentlemen that a place so renowmed for good learning should be so shamed for ill lyuinge that where grace doth abounde sinne shoulde so superabound that wher the greatest profession of knowledge is ther should also be the least practising of honestie I haue read of many Uniuersities as of Padua in Italy Paris in Fraunce Wittenberge in Germanie in England of Oxford Cambridge which if they were halfe so ill as Athens they were to to bad as I haue heard as they bée they be starke nought But I can speake the lesse against them for that I was neuer in them yet can I not chuse but be agrieued that by report I am enforced rather to accuse them of vanitie then excuse them any way Ah gentlemeÌ„ what is to be looked for nay what is not to be feared when the temple of Vesta where virgins should liue is lyke the stewes fraight with strompets when the Alter where nothinge but sanctitie and holynesse shoulde be vsed is polluted with vncleanenesse when the Uniuersities of christendome which should be the eies the lights the leauen the salt the seasoning of the woâ—ld are dimmed with blinde concupisence put out with pride and haue lost their sauour with impietie Is it not become a bye word amongst the common people that they had rather send their children to the carte then to the Uniuersitiâ— being induced so to saye for the abuse that raigneth in the Uniuersities who sending their sonnes to attayne knowledge finde them little better learned but a great deale worse lyued then when they went and not onely vnthriftes of their money but also banckeroutes of good manners was not this the cause that caused a simple woman in Greece to exclaime against Athens saying The Maister and the Scholler the â—uter and the Pupill bée bothe agréede for the one careth not howe lyttle paine hée taketh for his moneye the other howe little learning I perceyue that in Athens there bée no chaungelinges When of olde it was sayde to a Lacedemonian that all the Grecians knew honesty but not one practised it When Panathaenea were celebrated at Athens an olde man going to take a place was mockingly reiected at the last comming among the Lacedemonians all the youth gaue him place which the Athenians liked well off then one of the Sparthans cryed out Uerily the Athenians know what should be done but they neuer doe it When one of the Lacedemonians had bene for a certeine time in Athens séeing nothinge but dauncing dicinge banquetinge surfeytinge and licencious behauiour retourninge home hée was asked howe all things stoode in Athens to whome hée aunswered all thinges are honest there meaning that the Athenians accompted all thinges good and nothing bad Howe such abuses should or might be redressed in al Uniuersities especially in Athens if I were of authoritie to commaunde it should be séene or of credite to perswade those that haue the dealinges wyth them it should soone be showne And vntill I sée better reformation in Athens my younge Ephaebus shall not be nurtured in Athens I haue spoken all this that you gentlemen might sée how the Philo in Athens practise nothing lesse then Philosophy what scholler is hee that is so zealous at his booke as Chrisippus who had not his maide Melissa thrust meate into his mouth hadde perished with famine béeinge alwaye studying Who so watchfull as Aristotle who going to bedde woulde haue a ball of brasse in his hande that if hée shoulde bée taken in a slomber it might fall and awake hym No no the tymes are chaunged as Ouid sayeth and wée are chaunged in the times let vs endeuour euerye one to amende one and wée shall all soone bée amended let vs giue no occasion of reproche and wée shall more easily beare the burden of false reportes and as wée sée by learninge what wée shoulde doe so let vs doe as wée learne then shall Athens florishe then shall the studentes bée had in greate reputation then shall learning haue his hyre and euerye good scholler his hope But retourne wee once agayne to Philo There is amongst men a trifolde kinde of lyfe Actiue which is about ciuill function and administration of the common weale Speculatiue which is in continuall meditation and studye The thirde a lyfe ledde moste commonlye a lewde lyfe an idle and vaine lyfe the lyfe that the Epicures accompte their whole felicitie a voluptuous lyse replenished wyth all kinde of vanitie if this Actiue lyfe be wythout Philosophy it is an idle lyfe or at the least a life euil imployed which is worse if the contemplatiue life bée seperated from the Actiue it is most vnprofitable I woulde therefore haue my youth so to bestowe his studye as hée may both bée exercised in the common weale to common profite and well imployed priuately for hys owne perfection so as by his
Well Philautus thou takest not so much care for the losse of hir as I griefe for thy lewdnesse neither canst thou sorrowe more to sée hir dye sodeinely then I to heare thée lyue shamefullye If thou meane to keepe mee as a friende shake off those vaine toyes and dalyaunces wyth women beléeue mée Philautus I speake it wyth salt tears trickling downe my chéekes the lyfe thou liuest in court is no lesse abhorred then the wicked death of Lucilla deâ—ested more art thou scorned for thy folly then she hated for hir filthinesse The euill ende of Lucilla should moue thée to begin a good lyfe I haue often warned thée to shunne thy wonted trade if thou loue me as thou profestest in thy letters then leaue all thy vices shewe it in thy lyfe If thou meane not to amend thy manners I desire thée to write no more to me for I will neither answere thée nor read them The Iennet is brokeÌ„ as soone with a waÌ„d as with the spurre a genâ—â—eman as well allured with a word as with a swoord Thou concludest in the end that Liuia is sick truely I am sory for shée is a madyen of no lesse comlinesse then modesty hard it is to iudge whether she deserues more praise for hir beauty with the amorous or admiration for hir honestie of vertues if thou loue me embrace hir for she is able both to satisfy thine eye for choice instruct thy heart with learning CommeÌ„d me vnto hir as I praise hir to thée so wil I pray for hir to God that either she may haue paâ—ience to endure hir trouble or deliuerance to scape hir peril Thou desirest me to send thée the Sermons which were preached of late in Athens I haue fulfilled thy request but I feare me thou wilt vse them as S. George doth his horse who is euer on his backe but neuer rideth but if thou wert as willing to read them as I was to send them or as ready to follow them as desirous to haue them it shall not repent thée of thy labour nor me of my cost And thus farewell ¶ Euphues to Botonio to take his exile patiently IF I were as wise to giue thée counsaile as I am willing to do thée good or as able to set thée at libertie as desirous to haue thée frée thou shouldest neither want good aduice to guyde thée nor sufficient helpe to restore thée Thou takest it heauylye that thou shouldest bée accused without colour and exiled wythout cause and I thincke thée happy â—o be so well rydde of the courte and to bee so voyde of crime Thou sayest banishment is bitter to the frée borne and I déeme it the better if thou bée wythout blame There bée manye meates which are sowre in the mouth and sharpe in the mawe but if thou mingle them wyth swéete sawces they yeelde both a pleasaunt taste and holesome nourishment Diuers colours offende the eyes yet hauinge gréene amonge them whet the sight I speake this to this enâ—e that though thy exile seeme grieuous to thee yet guiding thy selfe with the rules of Philosophye it shall bee more tollerable hée that is colde doth not couer himselfe wyth care but with clothes he that is washed in the rayne dryeth himselfe by the fire not by his fancie and thou which art bannished oughtest not with teares to bewaile thy hap but with wisedome to heale thy hurt Nature hath giuen no man a country no more then she hath a house or laÌ„ds or liuings Socrates would neither call himselfe an Athenian neither a Grecian but a CitizeÌ„ of the world Plato would neuer accompt him banished that had the Sunne Fire Aire Water Earth that he had before where he felt the Winters blast and the Summers blaze wher y same Sunne the same Moone shined whereby he noted that euery place was a countrey to a wise man and all partes a pallaice to a quiet minde But thou art driuen out of Naples that is nothing All the Athenians dwell not in Colliton nor euery Corinthian in Graecia nor all the Lacedemonians in Pitania How can any part of the world bée distant farre from the other when as the Mathematicians set downe that the earth is but a pointe being compared to the heauens Learne of the Bée as wel to gather Honny of the wéede as the flowre and out of farre countries to liue as wel as in thine owne He is to be laughed at which thincketh the Moone better at Athens then at Corinth or the Honnye of the Bée swéeter that is gathered in Hybla then that which is made in Mantua when it was cast in Diogenes téeth that the Synoponetes had banished hym Pontus yea sayde hee I them of Diogenes I maye saye to thée as Straconicus sayde to his guest who demaunded what faulte was punished wyth exile and hée aunsweringe falshoode why then sayde Straconicus dâ—st not thou practise deceite to the ende thou maist auoyde the myschiefes that followe in thy countrey And surely if conscience be the cause thou art banished tho court I accompt thée wise in being so precise that by the vsing of vertue thou maist be exiled the place of vice Better it is for thée to liue with honesty in the country then with honour in the court greater wil thy praise be by flying vanitie then thy pleasure in followinge traines Choose that place for thy palaice which is most quiet custome will make it thy countrey and an honest life will cause it a pleasaunt liuinge Philip falling in the dust and séeing the figure of his shape perfect in shewe Good God sayd he we desire the whole earth and sée how little serueth Zeno hearing that this onely barke wherein all his wealth was shipped to haue perished cryed out thou hast done well Fortune to thrust me into my gowne agayne to embrace Philosophy thou hast therefore in my minde great cause to reioyce that God by punishment hath compelled thée to strickâ—nesse of lyfe which by lybertie might haue ben growen to lewdnesse When thou hast not one place assigned thée wherein to liue but one forbidden thée which thou must leaue then thou béeing denied but one that excepted thou maist choose any Moreouer this dispute with thy selfe I beare no office whereby I shoulde eyther for feare please the noble or for gaine oppresse the néedy I am no Arbiter in doubtfull cases whereby I should eyther peruerte Iustice or incurre displeasure I am frée from the iniuries of the stronge and mallice of the weake I am out of the broiles of the sedytious and haue escaped the threates of the ambitious But as hée that hauinge a fayre Orcharde séeing one trée blasted recompteth the discommodity of that passeth ouer in silence the fruytfulnesse of the other So hée that is banished doth alwayes lament the losse of his house the shame of his exile not reioysing at the liberty quyetnesse pleasure that he enioyeth by the swéet punishment The kinges of