we must be good courtiers and so with outward mirth couer inward griefe as also on the contrary F. Caesar when Aegipts traitour did The head so honoured in gift present Concealing then his manifest content His eyes shed teares as we it written read And Hanniball when to his Empire fallen He saw Dame Fortune so contrarious Laughed amongst a people grieu'd and sad To couer thus his inward discontent And thus the minde does seeke for to conceale Each passion vnder contrary aspect Sometimes with countenance cleare somewhiles browne And therefore if sometimes I laugh or smile I do 't because this the onely way is left To counterfet my inward feares and griefe B. In my opinion this is a common art so as wee can neuer sound the depth of a profound minde F. But looke on heauen and how the Sunne is faire VVhich seemes to inuite and consolate Other cares other thoughts and it Sheweth that other cares other complaints Then Vpon some greater cause time doth require For now I thinke not on my former faults Let 's now forget all bad newes past and gone And leaue all former matters in obliuion I neuer hope to see this heauen againe In tract of time or changing of mine haire Though often to confesse no more but truth I feare and so my hart is often stung VVith shame disdaine with loue with conscience B. But by your leaue I clearely now doe know that great things Sir and a long course and rase O admirable trauailer you haue past God send vs good fortune what people are these that come towards vs F. Or good or bad wee must not stirre our foote For what so euer we encounter with Or good or ill It commeth from aboue as doth the riuer From his fountaine or from his roote the plant And what doth here seeme ill Where euery good is mixed with much ill It 's there aboue where all that 's good remaynes But what doest thou Demaund the way of them in ciuilitie B. Gentlemen I pray you shew me the right way to Naples F. What answere made hee that wee should follow the most beaten But how many miles haue we thither B. I forgot to aske him F. Obserue the Sunne it is about dinner time B. I looke on him or hee one me too much doth looke F. Out of doubt hee is in loue with thee hee le make thee red sweat to broile and to bloate euen to burne for his loue B. A common euill breedes least annoyance if I be red my neighbours also will not looke pale F. If Affricke mourn'd so laught not Italy but there 's another matter I must tell you of I haue great hunger and you know if on the way a passenger want meat he must of force his steps retire stay when vigour failes that made him nimbly goe B. I doe see that an emptie sacke cannot stand vpright I asked of him with the bald head how farre it was to the next Cittie but dumbe or a foole as he was he answered me not at all but we must not sigh before our time behold I see there a very fine Village F. Goe thou before and without delay warily obserue where we may light to refresh our selues B. I thinke any Inne will serue for one meale F. Nay it is much the worse and a bad lodging costs most doe without reply what I command you for before I speake to you I thinke thereon and communicate my thought to reason and wisedome although good prouidence hath not alwaies good successe B. I will goe and presently returne F. And why come you againe so quickly what newes bring you B. The Village is poore and full of Rakehels F. The necessitie obserues no law we must serue the time accomodate our selues to the place and to the persons B. It is true and yet out of stones you can draw no milke and from thornes nothing is to be got but prickes F. Honest friend how call you this Village Mal Porto F. Didst thou not marke him I doubt the Diuell did compound him B. And let him take him to himselfe also Behold the Inne the onely Phoenix of this Towne F. Oh you of the house there doth no body answere I beleeue it be a lodging for Bats or Owles and that there is no hot ashes within it B. Me thinkes rather our hauing no answere is a silent diuine admonishment that quickly we depart F. Oh see here is one in an euill yeere which God send him and all his company What demaund you sir F. Haue you nothing to eate Light if you please and I will aske of my Mistresse F. Goe and returne quickly friend what thinke you of him that Pylot hath but a poore braine that lets a woman stirre his Ship B. But what if the common vse be so F. Be it in what Country so euer man being by the law of nature and also of God the womans head if she doe any thing she doth it not as his Mistresse but as his seruant and though sometimes it may so fall out that a man will submit himselfe to faeminine iudgement yet in this case he clearely manifesteth that either he hath but a blinde discernance or that in wisedome he is inferiour to a woman the which amongst wise men hath euer and euer will be no little scorne to our sexe Sir there is now nothing ready but raw flesh we haue in aboundance F. Cause the horses to be walkt a little then set them into a safe and sure Stable locke the dore with the key and then come to vs God saue you all With your leaue my good friend I will sit a little and take my rest B. Behold I am here againe sir F. I see well that hunger and neede putteth winges on thy feete but where are our beasts and the Cloakebagge B. In a Stable walled with brickes with a dore shut and lockt and see where it is Behold a sober and poore dinner F. Where is the wine B. The seruant brings it F. Doe not fill the Cup reach me that same that Violl with the narrow mouth for I will quench my thirst goe you and eate in the other chamber B. I am here sir pleaseth it you to be gone F. Bring in a reckoning for our selues and our horse B. Sir our host is appeared and brought mee this note in writing F. What man is hee B. Euill newes certainely for he hath little countenance of a man and in all his manner he is iust a beast and of body by Nature euill composed lame squint eyed crooke-backed and that which is worst he is of the nation of Calabria F. In a little time he can but put vs to a little trouble let mee see the bill but how can it be that for so slender a meale he should bring in so large a reckoning B. Sir you know all better then I. F. Oh what a Wolfes conscience haue we here what an
must not touch on another A. Onely for your humour sake I will eate a Medlar P. I care not for medling now yet they mitigate the heate of the stomacke stay fluxes stop vomit the kernels thereof being beaten to pouder and drunke with good white wine wherein the rootes of Parsley haue beene boyled or of camock or of spignell doe wonderfully expell the stones out of the reynes and their fruit prouoke vrine and they are of most hard digestion but they are corrected by being eaten with licorish or pennets white sugar or mixt with violets and other such like pectorall things A. Cefalus that is a lymlister reach me a nutmeg that is red waightie full and without holes P. What will you procure your selfe to haue a good breath to augment sight or to hold it in your mouth for the dazeling of the eyes for vertiginall dizzines to help the sight chin-coughs to comfort the bowels or specially the mouth of the stomacke the liuer the milt to consume ventosities to stay vomit and to corroborate the stomacke the which effects the oyle thereof also workes annoynting therewithall trembling members but if thou beest young sanguine and cholericke it will hurt thee especially in Summer A. Reach me also a little Pepper P. What would you haue it for vrine or ventositie or to corroborate the stomacke or for the cough or to chew it with raisins to purge rheume out of the head A. I haue not yet thought vpon it my maisters goe to dinner and remember that I looke for you here againe take away nothing of that which is now vpon the table Whither goe you Glutton with such compasses what are you drunke it were fitter for you to goe and lye downe then to goe to dinner Let vs eate a couple of peares for company P. They are cold and drie and if they be Mulcadels sweet and very ripe or such as haue one red side or bergamotte or good Christians or Carauelle or those that wee vse to roast in Winter they are very acceptable to the taste they corroborate a weake stomack cause excrements to descend downward the Bergamotte and Carauelle are the best further they are a remedy for the poison of Mushroms and Snailes but if you put a wilde peare in wine if it be pure it will goe to the bottome but if it be mingled with water it remaines in the top A. Well but why make you so much delay eate this for the loue of my farme keepers wife that brought it me yesterday from my farme house P. Betwixt the maister and the faire maid there is alwayes some shuffling in the darke that makes the skinne of the nauill to stretch like a drumme well for the agents and patients sake I eate this and so much the rather it being now after dinner for afore they doe much hurt to collickes and ventosities and other such like diseases A. Doe you like these Seruises P. They are cold in the first and dry in the third degree if I had the fluxe I would eate them before meat for so they would cure me now after dinner if I were subiect to vomit they would stay it and comfort the stomacke but thankes be to God I suffer none of these inconueniences and therefore I leaue them to those that haue need A. I thinke I should like well of Grapes P. They are hot and moist in the first degree and the sharp ones be cold and dry but if they be white ripe and sweete they are the better because they haue many vertues but seeing they are not good I will none of them neyther doe I so much as mention them A. Let vs then eate some Almonds or sweet Almonds P. They are hot and moist in the first degree the bitter ones are dry in the second and are more abstersiue and more apertiue and doe therefore better purge the passages of the bowels in rectifying the grosse humours the best are those of amber colour growing in hot places A. But what good doe they P. The sweete ones doe nourish and make fat they aide the sight multiply sperme facilitate spittle purge the breast procure sleepe augment the substance of the braine purge the courses of vrine fatten the leane open opilations of the Lyuer the milt and all the veynes they mollifie the throate cleare the breast and the lights their oyle is good for collickes and for the passions of the breast the greene ones called little almonds of the Spring time remoue vomit from women growing great we doe eate their tender kernell with Sugar in Sommer A. But you forget as I thinke the bitter ones P. They are a remedy against drunkennesse if they be eaten before meales sixe or seauen being giuen to Foxes to eate they do kill them and to conclude euen as in meates the sweetest are the most sauory so in medicine the bitter ones are the most healthfull but being eaten when they are dry they are hard to digest cause head-ache and generate choler and the bitter ones cause the face to become red and so doe many other spices A. At Luca I saw them sir but at this time I will none of them I thanke you but I will cut this Orenge or as the Romanes call it Melangola but according to the Florentines Orenges or Citrons what say you to them P. I will answere you like a bad Counsellor that seekes not the publicke but onely his owne good that is euen as you like sir let your will surmount all reason be it as you please A. The Poxe shall eate it and if it will but doe you say it will hurt P. The rinde is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree the polph or iuycie part is cold and dry in the second degree The sweet ones are temperately hot and are pectorall the sower ones are cold in the first degree those of indifferent sauour are cold and dry A. How might I discerne and choose the best P. They must be waighty ripe and wel coloured with a smooth rinde and indifferent sauour for the sweet ones are somwhat hot but the other cold ones offend the stomacke and are corrected with sugar moreouer the sweet ones help the catarrous opilatious melancholicke persons those of meane taste are excellent for cholericall Feauers they mollifie the throate rouze vp appetite and quench thirst But that which exceedes all other qualities is that the pouder of the rinde kils wormes and being taken in wine it preserues from the plague but the sower ones are excellent to restraine fluxes the refresh the stomacke and the breast enflamed they that are sweet encrease choler in Agues A. I will eate three or foure Chest-nuts what will you doe P. They like me so so they are hot in the first and dry in the second degree they doe binde and if they be marones or great Chest-nuts they would be the better and the longer time they are kept the more sauorie and healthfull they are they nourish
Which onely makes vs like vnto the Gods B. Hee that tries not knowes not and hee that knowes not esteemes not and herein consists a great part of our ruine F. Rome all men know triumphed once Happy sometimes but base vnhappy now And yet I thinke that antient valour cleane Is not extinguisht quite in harts Italian If this be true how can it then support What Nature wils not nor is requisite T'impouerish others to enrich her selfe B. Ah we must haue other manner of matter then verses to driue the old Foxe out of his den F. Let the proud and wretched poore Italians Consume each other taking meane while no care To shake off cruell Tyrants heauy yoake But to be nourisht with owne hurts and harmes B. O good Maister the scauld comes out of the head and there is no remedy before the head be cured F. You to whose hand Fortune the bridle giues Of those faire countryes Being blinde what helps it thus to heape vp wealth Returne all to your antient Mothers wombe Your name now scarcely any where resounds And yet it seemes no pittie doth you binde A grieuous burden t is great taxes to maintaine Your hunger will at last be fasting left Your thoughts shall passe for one houre separates What in a thousand yeares hath gathered beene And this your life so godly in appearance Shall in one morning quickly be extinct And what hath purchased beene in many yeares Wretched in truth poore and blinde sottish men That place their pleasure here in such like things Which time so sodainely doth carry and sweep away B. When God doth but awake himselfe euery iocound laughter is turned into most vnhappy lamentation F. If anger in a iust heart Boyle long The slower it is the more it hurts Oh heauenly Iustice that more slow it is At last more waighty it fals delay no more The Commet shines in the inflamed aire That notes the change of states of kingdomes raigne Though ominous it shine to Tyrants proud To th'Iust yet peace it giues warre to their enimies B. Me thinkes all this is but a loosing of time F. Dost thou not know how God vseth to worke sometimes he is slow to beginne yet is hee ready to execute Dixit et facta sunt mandauit et creata sunt At last rowse vp thy selfe faire Italy Anger was neuer any tempestuous furie In a breast magnanimous But onely a blast of generous affection Which breathing in the soule VVhen most of all to reason t is vnite It wakes and makes it apter to braue action From hence time forth rowse vp thy selfe O Italy The iniurie thou endurest is not a ieast The hard bit is no slender slauery Much honour is gain'd in making iust reuenge I will not say on goe too take vp Fire and sword burne and destroy But so twixt sword and sword open a way For if by chance Feare in this case should vanquish vertuous shame Flie then the light with other beasts in companie Goe and enrage on mountaine tops in Woods But so if with thy valour thou procure A state more free a foule more beautified Heauen thee exalt and second thy attempts With winde and water to thine owne braue minde B. If the Italians be vassalles to others and as if all seede of vertue were rooted vp in them support so many oppressions this I beleeue comes from the bridle of conscience F. Speakest thou in good earnest or doest but iest What must saue vs more then conscience B. Conscience cannot binde vs to vniust things besides they say it saues and so I beleeue but yet we may euen feele with our hand that vnder this cloake euery one pilles and pulles his companion F. In your talke sir haue a Cranes necke be perspicuous to discerne warie and vigilant in all things with both your eares open and readie to hearken to that which belongs to you and while you are in the world according to the worldly waues rise vp with those that mount aloft and fall with those that discend downe but aboue all things looke not too high for herein consists all the errour that of Apelles lines others will iudge besides Protogenes and finally take heede thou fantasticall foole that playing too long with the launce it become not a spindle our Tassus saying That often suddaine flights doe meete With present precipice full neere at hand All thinges vvere once created good and to a good end B. I thinke any one may perceiue that some are good and some are bad F. You would say as I suppose that The middle and end doth fit the first beginning But my good Bulugante thou must conceiue that all proceeded from an excellent cause who made all things good because you know well that good disposeth to good but the condition of present things is to corrupt with time or like an arrow to haue lesse force in the length of his flight and hereupon we see that vertue is oftentimes changed into vice and good orders commuted into great disorders as also the lawes of equitie and pietie into most vniust crueltie And therefore to come neere our first intention Signories Empires Monarchies Principalities euen as wee may reade were first instituted for common good and for peoples peace and defence but in their beginning they being onely chosen who were of an Heroicall spirit such as were not addicted to auarice and to other mens preiudice to heape vp treasure nor to prodigality to the peoples ruine but onely to good gouernment not onely for the preseruation of their owne states but of common and publike good Here they gaue publike audience to the oppressed they would not be blinded nor dazeled with vaine and whispering flatterers nor from those that set both praise and dispraise but euer maintained an vpright vnderstanding of a true gouernment But now it being proper to Tyrants to feare they minde nothing but the building of Fortresses to munifie Cistadells and gold preuailing aboue either the force of many or the sword to lay vp treasures with impositions to flea the skinne ouer euery mans shoulders And yet wee reade that towles and customes were anciently a laying of Impositions vpon the Subiect onely for the ornament sustentation maintenance and strength of the Common-wealth and publike good And these offices for a certaine annuall rent were let out to Romane Knights that is old souldiers who with their valour and seruice performed for the liberty and glory of their Country had deserued it but now you see to what vile infamy like an inueterated French poxe they are come In Italy all men laugh murmure and exclaime at them the sencelesse patients like silly sheepe with a submisse voice are alwaies lamenting but the greater pittie they shape or cal for impositions growing day after day the more bitter fruites they receiue of greater crueltie B. But my deere Maister Falsorino I would there were not worse in the
pot F. It were better to deceiue the world though you be but a foole that you had a wiser and better tongue B. Hath not truth gates wide open to come in and goe out when she pleaseth F. Sheake warily or else you shall be seuerely corrected The olde Foxes cruell and seuere Mynistresse Will learne the enterer neuer to come forth B. I neuer had it in my minde although there was great cause to reproue him who with that boasting and false title of most holy Father your sanctity Vicar of Christ successour of Saint Peter miracle of the world Porter both of heauen and hell reuerenced of all fearefull to all Nations celebrated of the Vniuerse amongst the Princes most ancient and most noble amongst the Kings most potent to whom the flower de lis the blacke and the white Eagle humbly encline themselues to whom the crowne of Pologne promptly obeyeth whom all Italy as the Lieutenant of God and an infallible Oracle doe adore and in conclusion the arch great one aboue the greatest of all the great ones in this great world and the earthquaker of this Vniuerse which in his damnation doth not leaue off to brandish against the true flames of indignation F. Alas how displeasing is it to God vnder a couerture of vaine titles and varnish of false names to pollute and infect the Church and with forgeries tyrannise the soules that he hath redeemed Beleeue me pontificall roabes vnworthily he weares Who for the publike good doth not restraine His priuate profit He is no shepheard but a rauening Wolfe who feeding his owne fauorites kinsmen and adherents seeketh to vnhorse Saint George and vncloath others vnder a pretext of cloathing Saint Peter An humaine minde but little penetrates A mortall sight cannot behold the Sunne And how much doth often helpe The bodies blindnesse to intellectuall sight Happy is he that printeth in his heart Celestiall thoughts through a gift diuine B. God can illuminate whosoeuer is in the depth of darknesse F. Oh blindnesse of our humaine mindes In what night so obscure In what thicke mist of errour Are your soules drown'd and plung'd If then O soueraigne Sunne thou lightnest not Why wretched mortall men Grow you so proud of your weake sapience That part of you which vnderstands and sees Is not your vertue but comes downe from heauen He giues and takes the same as he like best B. My tongue itches to be talking F. What concernes you not let it not nearely touch you know time purchaseth all things and againe looseth all things B. This me thinkes is a shadow F. Not a shadow or a picture or a figure but euen the body it selfe appeareth No otherwise may you at this day see certaine poore families which otherwhiles were of the richer sort some others to be raised from low to high estate as also sometimes Dukedomes Empires and Monarchies with worldly reuolution one while to encrease another while altogether to diminish because euery mortall thing is subiect to an end wherevpon Petrarch saith Mongst those magnanimous but few whom good doth please But time at last triumphs ouer the world ouer all titles B. I like well whatsoeuer you haue said because it is true but your Italy policie doth so preuaile that this case seemes almost desperate F. What a foole are you O how differing are those inaccessible wayes by which your graces descend to vs. From those deceitfull and crooked ones By which our thoughts ascend the heauen For if time worke not there can be no perseuerance where neither Iustice nor truth but onely violence ruleth for reason like a launce ouerthrowes all opposition B. This reason satisfies one very much F. Doe not you remember Eglon King of Moab who was iustly slaine by Ehud the Israelite who was therefore called a renowmed sauer of his Country and Philip King of Macedonia was extolled by euery one with infinite praises for taking away Euphrates life one of Platoes schollers who had perswaded his predecessour to Tyrannie B. And that deseruedly out of question considering that wicked counsels are the corruptions and the onely poison to good Princes and so by the leprosie of their auarice and greedinesse they rot the whole flocke and vnder pretext of assisting the head for the better filling of their owne poakes they are neuer satisfied that they may haue the more aboundance to grow fat for hell F. So it is but yet many times lawes being enacted vnder the Princes authoritie and he being the life and soule of them it is he onely that beares away the infamie thereof and herevpon not the Counsellours but Dionisius himselfe was expelled by Dion of Siracusa Astiages was stripped of his Kingdome by his Nephew Cyrus Busiris King of the Aegiptians by Hercules Milo Tyrant of Pisa was throwne headlong into the Sea Alexander Ferreus was slaine by his wife Thebe Nero was induced to kill himselfe being denounced their enemie by the Senate Caius Caligula was slaine in a conspiracie by his owne souldiers Domitianus brother to Tirus was put to death in his owne chamber by his familiar friends Antonius Comodus was strangled Macrinus slaine by Heliogabalus and infinite others loosing their liues in the same vnhappy manner and thinkest thou that liuing wisely doest thou thinke the same hearts hands and other humane meanes are now quite extinguished whereby Tyrannies may be remoued with their Tyrants also Heare our Ariostos The people did and for the most part doe Obey them best their hatred that vndergoe For one of them doth hardly trust another Nor dares himselfe impart vnto his brother He may well bannish one another kill And take their goods and honour at his will But silent hearts send vp their sighes on hie While God and Saints Reuenge doth not denie Which though but slow yet sure it lights at last And payes home thicke for all delay that 's past B. This proceedes from the defect of a dastardly heart which daring to doe nothing the tongue thereupon growes silent F. Certainly you erre the same heart is in our breasts but here is all the matter youth is not brought vp amongst Drums and warlike Trumpets neither accustomed to see or shed bloud except for follies or humor or about words of no moment neither are they inured to carrie away victorie because if you obserue it men are onely pleased and feede themselues with vanities effeminacies and alas that so I should say with leuities but as I said before with Tasso with a pike in hand to suffer the heat of the Summer and to endure the rigour of cold Winter they were accustomed The paper that on their behalfe Doth wantonly now sing Both tender louer and pleasing Nuptials Being made a Trump would Trophies sound armes B. Surely I take almost euery one to be of that quality wherein he is nusled and afterwards taught by anothers example F. Finde me but one in our times so drowned in aggrieuances
to repose excellent trust in you E. I beseech you very heartily A. And I so farre as I am able doe request you that you will doe the like E. As my affection shall neuer faile no lesse shall my confidence A. The oftner you shall doe it the more acceptable it will be and the greater fauour E. If you doe so I shall repute it for a speciall fauour A. Achilles against Troylus I see my selfe vnable to rebut your eloquence and wit E. Wee must satisfie loue in some sort and by meanes of delight produce some benefit to our mindes A. It is true yet in a long way euery little circuit breedeth wearinesse E. Why should we alwayes speake after the same manner A. God hath not made vs Dogges that wee should alwayes vse one voice nor foules that we should alwaies be cloathed with the selfe same feathers E. You say true and therefore see the Courtier sometimes lay aside his sword and with his plume and perfumed gloues to giue ouer Galateos precepts but replenished with Philosophy to discourse and act like a Philosopher A. Pro virtute impetus post virtutem ruina corporibus animisque vis est parua eadem languescit mora I feared that after you had beene a Courtier you would not likewise haue become a Philosopher E. To tell you the truth seeing at this day how many counterfait ceremonies are vsed I am become one of Platoeâ— schollers in reiecting them and I frame my selfe harsh and rude like another Isope or rather as another Piouan Arlotto in obseruing of them A. What was Plato an enemie to ceremonies E. O God he was so much against them that euen in the vvorship of the Gods and in their seruice he would haue them vtterly abandoned A. Happily he led the way vnto the Puritanes E. That I know not neither doe I affirme but onely that he was of this opinion A. Hermes and Asclepius were of the same humour E. Who vnderstands not honours not slipping at trifles easely becomes contemptuous A. Yet is he surnamed the diuine Plato because hee did more neere then others approach vnto the truth of the first cause E. Notwithstanding vpon this subiect hee vvrote many vanities A. And who liues amongst vs who either in words or deedes and often in their writing doth not somtimes miserably stumble vpon this snare E. Say then that the most learned oftnest erre as we also see in meate that ouer salted tasts the worse A. It is true we must know that he which is not cerimonious is vicious E. I agree in that with you for on the contrary we see that ceremonies doe bring many into acceptance and fauour A. Hereupon Ceretus was not onely praised but howsoeuer he gaue occasion to the Tarquinions to sacke the Capitall was also priuiledged with a hundred yeeres of peace for the ceremonies obserued in it E. But consider that these were holy appertaining to the worship of the Gods and Goddesses of that time A. Were there then many yeeres agoe other Gods then there are now E. Doth so common a thing seeme new vnto you reade the Authors turne ouer the Histories and you shall know that a thousand times in a few ages both men and women doe cancell the ancient and like Painters compose new Gods create a new worship and frame new religions A. It is very strange E. As there is one onely God and one true baptisme so there is one onely religion and whosoeuer inuents any other hee findes a sect and no religion A. Pardon me a Clowne said vnto me that wee doe not know the foundation God is an infinite spirit and that I may so speake not of a great but of an infinite wisedome therefore capable of all things but man being of a small and finite spirit and of a scanted vnderstanding that onely pleases him which is agreeable to his slender capacitie and delights his composition whatsoeuer else he refuses and condemnes E. Be it as you will so many ages so many religions A. If with the time the rites be changed and with the rites the Gods and the heauens what meruaile if man also be changed E. He which from the beginning was and is and shall be euer one true and onely God by reason of the absolute perfection of his nature cannot be said to be subiect to any change A. If hee be as you say vnchangeable in his substance from whence comes it that those Gods are changed as the Moone and with them the manner of their worship is as often varied E. God as I tolde you is not changeable but the imperfection passion and inconstancie which shakes and as a reed bindes man to euery side and chiefly blindes his vnderstanding and his will and so makes him to his perpetuall hurt seeme changeable A. I doubt least by too many digressions we be caried from our intention E. In so doing we shall imitate Seneca who therefore the more full he was of variety the more delightfull he was and much the more acceptable A. But let vs returne to our purpose not onely the foresaid Philosophers did disallow of ceremonies but before deceit did multiply in the world and the said ceremonies did so much encrease there was as it were not any apparance of them E. So I thinke for being yet barbarous and little better then beasts in their speech conuersation and all their actions meere rusticall materiall and more then rude they were not apt nor knew not how to assume good manners and customes A. It may well be but though it were after a rude manner yet they alwayes proceeded with naked and sincere loue E. But I pray you tell mee how could they possibly without some forme of ceremonie demonstrate loue for in my opinion ceremonie being nothing else but a reformation of Barbarisme a precinct of ciuility an humane fashion a courteous manner of proceeding an expresse signe of loue which also in extreames produceth louing actions and we being humane humane effects and consequently outward obseruance in a great part which is also a signe of affection and conformable to our state and condition explanes and manifests the same A. This can no wayes be blamed when they are performed for the reasons aboue mentioned if they be not babarous but are vsed towards superiours in noble conuersations E. Why then what would you set downe in this point A. I speake of such ceremonies as are friuolous altogether void of affection and full of all affectation which smell wholly and in euery part of a counterfait Courtier and as they proceede not from a sincere and well instructed heart so they consist in bare words vttered meerely for forme and learnt by heart like olde wiues tales or tattles and recited in manner of a players part flowing in false proffers which in a verie short time are transmuted into fume they vanish away with the winde and to conclude in a moment are dissolued into nothing I saw you at Luca but will
plainely appeares E. The same Galen furthermore saith that the force of desire obeyes not reason but that the vertue and faculty inascible is subiect thereunto A. How can such variety stand together when they both concurre to make bodily temperature and complexion E. I beleeue whosoeuer is led by such an opinion and takes from man free-will hee confounds himselfe destroyes the lawes banisheth vertue casts all discipline to the earth annihilates the force of vse extirpates continencie extinguisheth iustice buries the end of all reward and abates the edge of punishment with many other inconueniences which for breuities sake I passe ouer A. Surely I take that opinion of Galens to be no lesse damnable then likewise that other of the Stoicks that thoughts actions customes and other infinite attributes proceede from destenie E. What from that immutable ordination of mutable things or the diuine sentence by meanes whereof euery thing is produced vvith ineuitable order and necessitie or as Plutarch saith from that eternall reason or that eternall vniuersall law or as Hermes from that vnion of things which distributeth to euery one conformable to the predestinated time which was formerly ordained by diuine decree A. Yes marrie that I meane E. This doth otherwise clearely seeme to obserue onely the name and title of free-will but in effect ouerthrowing both the nature and the liuely and naturall condition thereof and further as I said all law the which for mine owne quiet and not to molest others I leaue a part A. But mee thinkes not onely they aboue mentioned but also the Astrologers haue grosly erred in this point because they would haue all our actions and customes our bad or good fortunes to proceede from the influence of the starres or reuolution of the heauens E. Doe you not call to minde what I formerly said that the more learned are more fooles then others and are many times not ignorant sots but rather fooles most vitious and malicious A. I would it were not so true as it is E. But yet out of all this which hath hitherto beene discoursed I cannot but perceiue it so plainely denied that customes proceede not from Nature neither is it so plainly conuinced but that euery one may proceede conformable to his complexion and temperature A. To the end you may be satisfied I will goe forward but so as I may haue your assistance E. Although it be long since I studied and that I haue foolishly giuen ouer so sweet a quiet so that I discoursing I shall onely produce that which I collected in my more tender yeeres yet howsoeuer it be and whatsoeuer comes to my minde you shall haue therein your part A. We must therefore obserue that customes are not absolutely perturbations but rather perturbations rightly fashioned and framed or rather certaine manners of them Further conceiue that this vvord custome may be vnderstood two wayes that is either for an inward or an outward habit which proceedes from the inward whereupon the wise man said Gressus hominis nunciant de eo E. But what call you externall customes A. An action vvhich is an effect produced from an inward cause and such an externall habit is a manifest reuelation of some internall custome euen as the smoake is of the fire E. Of how many kindes may we thinke that they are A. Of two one proceedes from our natiuitie the other is acquired by time if it spring from our birth it may concur with all men be cōmon with the rest of all mankind euen as all are generally endued with reason or else it is onely proper to some nation or to some one man or to diuers particulars E. The Philosopher affirmes as much Singulis mores quosdam per naturam competere and Seneca affirmes as much A. But those customes which are obtained by progresse of time or that are of little moment and but of a short continuance we may tearme them a certaine disposition but if it perseuer with one constantly and take habit then it is more properly called a custome for Aristotle saies that customes are obtained by vse of such I say he speakes E. Yea but here growes the point shall we thinke that such customes follow the temperature and complexion of the body A. To satisfie in part mine owne desire which aymes at no other obiect but to content yours I answere you that customes or any other humane action follow temperature after three manner of wayes or as a cause equall not equall or a like cause but more excellent or finally as their meanes and instrument E. But what if we speake of the facilitie and enclination vnto them A. Out of doubt the enclination of customes followes temperature and with the mutation thereof as we may clearely see in seuerall ages and nations they also varie and therefore Hippocrates and Galen spoke in this point very wisely that fasting and abstinence was very profitable for the reformation of customes E. Daily experience proues the same for we see those that are euill brought vp and nurtured in gluttonie and repleation in their gestures actions words and proceedings to become so insolent and petulant as they doe not onely loose the forme of Christians but being transformed into worse then brute beasts they grow like infernall Furies but what will you say if we speake properly of customes A. Why they doe not follow temperature neither doth this stand with them by nature but they are in our owne power and are obtained by vse assuetude hereupon wee say that custome is a Demon to euery one and assuetude another nature E. And yet we must obserue that although customes as being properly customes doe not necessarily follow temperature yet neuerthelesse men follow it they liuing for the most part as they are led by their naturall disposition the which we may daily discerne among the multitudes of the vnarmed and insolent vulgar A. Nay that which is more the same is oftentimes more then it selfe and otherwhiles we see it lesse in some who onely vaunt themselues of vertue to be well borne and of gentle bloud whence we may affirme to haue their temperature fauorable and enclining to ciuility and so on the contrary we conuerse with many borne of meane condition who notwithstanding are very ciuill in their proceedings very wise and in euery gesture and action full of vrbanity E. Man being of a reasonable nature in following his nature hee followes but reason which more or lesse excites him to vertue who obseruing good men he takes example by them to be reformed and so enters into the vvay of good customes but so on the other side also it seemes that after the vse of reason he begins to liue according to the life sensible he being preserued by the same and not being able without it to liue or doe any thing and so he is the more instigated to liue according to sence which inciting him to good to the good of his degree or
fowler doth cunningly and liuelily imitate her owne chirping sound Flatterie you loue and yet conceyuing not that when we would bridle the Coursier we clap his backe and claw his necke and brest If we doe eate honey superfluously it grieueth and much offendeth the stomacke sweete wine maketh drunke when that which is sharper will not When the Surgeon smoothes and coyes the Patient then is hee ready to pricke or cut but when he prickes or cuts him then hee cures that is false this the true counsellour lyes doe sauour sweete truth hath a sharper smacke the one is likened to salt the other to honey therefore the ancient Gods in their sacrifices accepted salt but refused honey A. It is long since I learned all this and I know well it is better for one to light among Crowes whose vse is to pecke out the eyes of none but dead men then on profane and fained flatterers who with their lyes doe dazell the eyes of the liuing And surely the flattering tongue doth more hurt then the fierce hand of armed enemies for this man reprehendeth in chastising the other in praysing fetters vs in vice the one we shun the other we beleeue E. These false and flattering Counsellers smoake-sellers whose smooth and sugred tongues are further from their hearts and whose wicked wils are more different from their countenance then are day from night or else the shadow from the Sunne these changing Polipiâ—s that in each moment of time doe change their colour these bad Scorpions who first doe feele and afterwards doe sting with their taile doe command both the eares and hearts of their Lords they dispense with Magistrates and Officers subscribing supplications with their hand and hee that cannot will not or knowes is deemed either proud or enuious or else he liues in contemptible estate A. These false â—ounsellers and these fained spectacles vvhich doe cause their Lord thus to looke and see awry doe plant and put such things into his minde on vvhich it may be he neuer had a thought because it swerued from duetie right and Law and was against equitie making him beleeue that this he should and ought to doe when it is nothing so E. Truth is so banished from courts that he who doth lyingly applaud is by his Lord most chearefully retained and he vnhappily doth tell the truth Gaines but ill lookee and is cast out of doores A. Oh vvondrous case can the world possibly grow worser then wee see it at this day but happen whatsoeuer happen can my tongue shall neuer suffer nor permit Iustice to be wronged but euer shall speake the truth for sure he cannot be counted blamelesse who by his silence backes anothers fault E. Who doth not know that hee doth as much offend as the other who relates so much vntruth for if the one hurt the other doth no good A. But questionlesse vvee may further auerre that seldome at this day neyther demerit vertue nor valour but gold onely gold I say maintaines all so as this may be tearmed the keye that opens and shuts the gate against him that deserues well E. This is no doubt that ancient golden age Where onely gold doth raigne and ouercome A. But behold those Gentlemen which goe yonder E. Obserue I pray you what parentage they are of of what a beautifull stature and bodily constitution how they are apparrelled how comely in their gate and ciuill in their carriage A. So in truth they are but marke I pray you him hee vvith varietie doth euen beautifie nature he contents ones eye so much I meane that Gallant vvho like the Spring time is set forth vvith euery colour that hee may be eyed of euery body and regarded of women who like another God of loue glitters so faire and louely E. You may vvell call him a Gallant because hee is as round plump vaine and light as a Gall. A. I called him a Gallant from Galla vvhich is a Gall but not in that it is a vaine and light thing as peraduenture hee may be but because he is agile and nimble like a Gall which being throwne into the vvater it doth turne and moue according to the vvaues and yet neuer sinkes and so this Gallant carryeth himselfe in such sort as he is alvvayes in the top so as the Latine saying is verified in him Totus teres atque rotundus and in his courses he is like a Die which being cast which way you will it alwaies stands vpon his square E. You compare him very aptly to a die which in the casting of twelue makes sixe of sixe foure and of foure many times two Asses and so this galant many times of much makes a litle to morrow it is lesse afterwards it comes to be nothing at all A. Nay but rather in calling him a gallant I meant that this title was agreeable and befitting for men of euery degree state and condition minding by this name or title of gallant to inferre nothing else but that as discreet and wise he might know according to the time to be wisely silent or by modest discourse to shew himselfe a braue man prudently discoursing and arguing amongst his superiours and equals and courteously and affably vvith men of indifferent sort and his inferiours alwayes making choise rather of a briefe then prolixe vtterance furthermore supposing that hee should shew wit and iudgement in all such actions as depend not wholy of his owne prouidence and sufficiencie but rather on chance and fortune that he appeare to be discreet iudicious prudent in his words and actions resolued and patiently enduring what vnhappily may fall out vnto him not through the least cause or blame in himselfe that he be pittifull towards other mens afflictions wise in auoiding all malignant persecutions valiant in tolleration esteeming it a greater glory to ouercome himselfe then to reuenge an iniurie euer lying on the top like a gall to remaine victor by his owne patience then as a man of perspicuity to beare himselfe in ambiguous and doubtfull things to take a resolute course of being free from all imminent dangers further also my meaning is that hee should be able to discourse of the quality of loue of the discretion of louers and finally that he should be a good enditor of letters displaying his intentions not in fury but with singular caution and because words flie and wrightings remaine I would haue him endite compose with all due circumstance neuer taking pen in hand before all choler be pacified abated and after the Laconian stile correspondent to occasions with a short graue and pleasing method let him succinctly expresse variety of conceits A. I confesse that of your gallants many are such being further endued with a quiet peaceable minde some are resolute warlike others pleasant witty subtill vigilant crafty perspicuous apprehensiue prudent intelligent vertuous and noble but so on the other side you shall finde many of them vaine voluble instable light lunatick
well they excite Venus being beaten with honey and salt they cure the biting of a mad dog the like doth the flesh of a Tunnie fish broiled vpon hot imbers they stay vomit but are hard of digestion they bring stitches to the body generate ventosities but most of all when they are raw but they are lesse hurtfull when they are roasted vnder the ashes in cold seasons and then eaten with pepper sugar salt A. Chest-nuts euen as Akornes seeme to be meate for animals P. Why I pray you is not man a creature if hee be passionate hee is the worst Creature Nature could haue created after the premeditation of a thousand yeeres A. Out of question an honest man represents the Image of God but a wicked man is worse then an hundred Wolues or ten thousand vnchained Diuels P. But concerning our purpose though all maste is meate for beasts yet hath it many vertues for in time of dearth it makes bread for the poore being grownd and drunke with wine it cures the bitings of venemous beasts and those that haue taken any kinde of poyson or drunke cantharides so as they pisse blood and fall into many bad accidents The pouder of them drunke with the decoction of camok or of dogs tooth helps the disease of the stone and being drunke with Cowes milke it is good against poyson Their oyle is good for wollen cloathes and so is sope A. Shall I taste of a greene Limon P. If it be ripe and haue the odour of a well coloured cytron and hauing some dayes since beene pluckt from the Tree they haue but more defectly the faculties and vertues of a Pome-citron their iuyce procures appetite stayes vomit cuts through grosse humours resists malignant feauers kils wormes and the sharpe iuyce of them being taken to the quantitie of an ounce and mingled with Malmasie expels stones out of the reynes and the greene ones operate the same more effectually Moreouer if they be cut very greene and sugar and rose-water put vpon them and so be eaten with flsh or slesh which is salt they are excellent to prouoke appetite they giue a good taste to our drinke and preualently expell grauell from out the reynes and bladder for the same effect they are eaten in sallets cut small with water hony and vinegar but yet they hurt the stomacke all collicall griefes and generate melancholy they are corrected with sugar and synamon A. I thinke Pomegranets are not without their speciall vertue P. The sweet ones helpes the stomacke breast all coughes and Venus and sharpe ones ease the liuer all burning feuers they quench thirst slake the heate of the stomacke and their iuyce doth the like and their syrrupe for they effectually abate choller they suffer no superfluities to mount vp into the head and both of them prouoke vrine Their rindes preserue clothes from moths and so doth the rinde of the cytron or limon the which likewise preserue rose leaues that they breede no wormes The vices both of the one and the other Pomegranate is corrected by vsing of them both together A. I pray you sir take these foure Wall-nuts for my sake P. I thank you very heartily and for your loue will take them those domestical are the best and especially those red great and thinly couered ones that are full of humour and haue not beene touched with the wormes the long ones are most pleasing to the taste they nourish most of all other nuts and augment the braine A. From hence it may be it comes that they please women so much because they supply in this point their debilitie P. Three or foure eaten continually in the beginning of dinner doe absolutely free vs from the griefe of the reynes and grauell Being eaten with Rue and dry figges fasting they preserue from the plague let the raw ones be couered with Sugar like Corianders and they are very acceptable to the stomacke but they are hard of digestion and yet acceptable to the Liuer they generate some ventositie and much choler and eating many of them they cause head-ach A. Here be small nuts shall we eate of them P. Nuts hurt the throate tongue and palate they excite coughs and head-ach procure crudities thirst and dizzinesse but they loose aking teeth and being infused into wine they doe no hurt or seasoned with sugar and honey but in Winter they heale the stomacke and sometimes helpe flegmatickes and melancholicks if they suffer no restruction of the breast A nut put into the pot makes the flesh to boile presently and so being put into a pullet When Nut-trees bring forth aboundance of fruit they signifie abundance of corne Two dry nuts two figs twentie Rue leaues and a graine of salt pestled and eaten fasting doe not onely preserue from poyson but also from the plague Being eaten fasting they cure bitings of madde dogs and being chewed and laid vpon the biting it is very good the greene huskes of nuts supply the want of pepper in meates A. By no meanes will I forbeare to taste of these Pine-apples P. They are hot and moist and if they be not mouldie they are good they nourish much being sodden with honey and sugar they purge the breast prouoke vrine restore a weake nature cleanse the reynes and bladder ease the griefes of the nerues and of the Seatica and good for Paralitickes for benummed persons and tremulant they mundifie the Lights are profitable for the breast and therefore are very good for Tisickes and to excite lust but they must be vsed soberly because they are somewhat hard For their correction they must first be infused into luke-warme water and then they may be eaten by flegmatickes with honey and by those cholerickes with sugar and in Winter they are very good for old men with honey A. Your Pistaccioes please me beyond measure P. If they be greene within they are wonderfully effectuall in stirring vp venerious appetites they remoue opilations of the Lyuer with other effects formerly mentioned but yet they hurt hot complexions and yet not if they be eaten in the beginning or end of meales taking after them sugar and conserues of Roses They hurt cholericall complexions and help old men and flegmatickes A. We will eate three or foure sower Cherries P. How like you them they binde the belly cut flegme refresh dry vp and corroborate the great ones and those very ripe are best they slake the heate of choler cut the ventositie of flegme excite appetite and are preserued with Sugar but yet exasperating the stomack they hurt old men and those that are weake of stomacke they are very good in the heate of Summer and are best with sugar being much auaileable for pestilentiall Feauers A. These Apricockes by their smell and colour like me well will you haue any they are here at your seruice sir P. They are cold and moist they were brought out of Armenia the best coloured and greatest ones are best with a sweete kirnell called Alberges
they being slipt from the stone cause vrine their kernels kill wormes If they be dryed with the Sunne or in an ouen not ouer-hot being first clouen in the middest and taken as oft as is possible and then sprinckled ouer with powdred sugar they are of the same effect as Past of Genoa so as being made into paste they be prepared after this manner But yet they moue fluxe of the belly they swell the bloud are conuerted into choler they are of euill nourishment generate pestilentiall Feauers putrifying the bloud they are hurtfull for flegme the Liuer and milt they are corrected by eating annise-seeds or salt meats with them or seasoned with spices and afterwards also drinking good wine thereupon A. I hope you will not forbid me to eate a few of these cherries seeing others eate of them euen while their bellies cracke againe P. Follow not others but rather reason it selfe I would not finde by experience how hurtfull they are to me A. He is a foole that knowing how will not seeke to auoid euill Which are the best P. Those of hard substance well ripened by the Sunne and not by Art and those which are not ouer wet by the raine such as are of hard substance for the watrish ones such as are in England are to be auoided of those called Marastie the best are the Palumbine the good sweet ones open the dry ones especially the Visciole doe bind slake choler and cut flegme if they be boild with sugar A. Doe they not hurt then P. The sweete ones are enemies to the stomacke they generate wormes in the belly and putrifying humours they sodainely corrupt and putrifie By reason of their ventositie they puffe vp the stomacke if they be eaten plentifully their vice is corrected by eating few or if none at all it is the better especially for faire women for they breeding putrefaction in their stomackes and contaminating their bloud they make them sallow pale wanne and vnpleasant to behold Another way to correct them is after the eating of them without any intermission of time to take meates of excellent substance salted and sharp and let them not be eaten for meate but to quench thirst and the heate of choller but they are wonderfull bad for old men and flegmatickes and so consequently for women the most part of whom and in a manner all are flegmaticke and therefore we see that corporall coniunction is so pleasing to them as with a thousand chaines they cannot be detained from it hereupon a lawyer sayes Mulier est de illis bonis adeo corruptibilibus quae conseruando conseruari non potest A. There is no minde can thinke nor heart imagine nor eye discerne nor locke can locke in nor dore shut vp nor bar stop nor chaine that can binde a womans deceit let vs leaue them that with their liberty the dishonest may whip themselues and the honest may more clearely shine Well for their sakes I will taste of one of these dates P. You doe well to say for their sakes their loues being euen as the kernell in the dates they generate a blood which is sodainly changed into choler they cause the morene to come forth they opilate the liuer milt bowels and veynes wherevpon long feauers are ingendred being sodden with sugar they are lesse hurtfull or eating them after eager meates and with vinegar If they be not prepared with sugar they hurt at all times to all ages and to all complexions but yet they make fat make the belly slippery helps coughes A. Now let vs come to Oliues P. They are able to make one laugh they yeeld little nourishment digest slowly and sallets of them enflame the liuer and hinder sleep Those steept in vinegar are best they help in cold seasons to all ages and complexions and they must be eaten at the end of meales to corroborate the stomacke and to aide digestion and he that doth otherwiâ—e proceeds without reason or order A. Will you haue any peaches they are heere ready at your pleasure P. I could wish to haue them pluckt and taken off the tree they are cold and moist and their kernels hot and dry the hard ones that are not pluckt participate more of the nature of the Quince and therefore they are called Quince-peaches They must be eaten in the beginning of dinner because they loose and they must be infused into wine whose spirit they drawing in by their poares they remaine intepide but in conclusion they are hurtfull in that they generate the dropsie and some seeke as was formerly said to correct them with wine but they are the worse for so their hurtfull iuyce is the quicklier carried to the veynes The kernels of Peaches being eaten preuent the hurt of the fruites they are excellent for collickes and the wormes for ventosities and to mundifie the stomacke as also for opilations of the lyuer they dissolue the stone of the reynes and bladder they free them from flegmatical excrements that take euery morning eight or ten and if one haue too hot a Lyuer two preserue a man healthfull A. Behold here are Prunes which are visited and shall not wee visit them see here are seauen to restore and comfort you P. Oh they are cold and moist the Damascens are much commended if they be sweete and ripe and they are called Damascens of the Citie of Damascus of Soria they purge choler coole heate quench thirst refresh and moisten the body their iuyce being boyled excites appetite quencheth the thirst of Febricitants and with Scammonie and Manna there is made an hard Electuarie which is much vsed in Rome adding thereunto the infusion of Sene Polipodie Annises and Synamon but the aboue named fruits hurt weake stomackes but not if they be eaten in the beginning with Sugar and that afterwards wee drinke excellent wine after it A. If you please to haue a Cucumber or of that which is a kind of Pompilion see they are here ready at your seruice P. If I were assailde by a violent Feauer which God forbid to diminish the heat and fury therof I would make vse of them or else of their seedes for the reynes and bladder to prouoke vrine or yet if I had an hot and dry stomacke and that it did abound with superfluous heate I would vse their solid substance or if I were affected with the drynesse of my tongue but thankes be to God I being free from all these accidents they can generate nothing but bad nourishment for corrupting sodainely they conuert into an humour like to mortall poison but that which is worst it diminisheth seede extinguisheth Dame Venus and breedes in the stomacke slimie flegme which procureth long Agues by reason of their diffusion into the veynes And to those that haue flegme in the stomacke they bring vomite and they doe generate collicall griefes and Hypocondriacall passions In the beginning of meates they ascend vp like a hot Raddish roote they are lesse hurtfull in the end and are easily