sorrowe Great Ioye doth choke the interior partes and heauines doeth extinguishe and coole them so that life can not endure where heate lacketh ¶ Wherof commeth it that Mermalade of quinces taken before the repast doeth binde and close vp the belly and taken after the repast doeth vnbinde it Through his great stiptisitie or costifnest it closeth the nether partes of the ventricle and if it be taken after repast it closeth the superior partes of the stomake which being shut the meates be constrained to auoyde by the inferior parte ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the Radishe rote doth greatly ayde helpe digestion and yet of it selfe almost can not be digested The Radish is compound made of diuerse qualities The more subtill partes therof are very proper and mete to cause digestion Thother which are grosse be contrarie to heate and so let digestion ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Cholerike complexions doe sonest atteine to berdes For their great heate and bicause they haue the poores large and wide ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue curlde heare and some other smothe and streight The curlde heares do procede of the aboundaunce of heate which euidently may be sene in Mores and Ethiopians who for the moost parte haue curled heare And playne and streight heare commeth of humiditie which through his heauines doeth draw the heare downewardes ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue their priuie partes heary and not their visage nor breste In the nether partes is more moystnes aswel by reason of the bladder as of the Matrixe there is also great resolutions of vapours which cause heare to growe ¶ But howe commeth it that heare doth also growe in them that be hanged They be continually in the Sunne and all the humors of their bodie doe resolue into vapors which causeth the heares to encrease and growe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue harshe and harde heare and other softe The softe heare doeth come of the litle pooers and the stiffe and harde doeth procede of the greatnes of the pooers for this cause women haue their heare more fyne and softe bycause their naturall colde doth restreine and make their pooers lesse ¶ Wherof doeth it come that they which be bashefull and shame faced ware redde and yet they ought rather to be pale bicause shame is a kinde of feare Shame is a certeine affection mingled with angre and feare for we be angrie many times as well against our selues as against other when we see a thing discouered that we would should be kept secrete Angre then in that conflict doeth ouercome feare and so the blodde often mouing in and out stayeth at length in the vpper parte vntill the motion of the spirites be appeased ¶ Wherof commeth it that in a maner al they which in their youthe be to fatte do dye sodenly The vaines of suche people be to narrowe and they are so pressed and as it were bounde together with fatnes and greace that the ayer and the spirite cannot freely passe Wherof it commeth that the naturall heate hauing no refrigoration of the aier of very force doth mortifie extinguish ¶ What causeth yonge men sooner to haue an appetite then olde men It is bycause they be of a hotter complexion ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbid vs meates that be to hotte Bicause they burne the blodde and do dispose it to Leprosie ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue no beardes Bicause that substaunce which should conuert into the bearde doeth turne into the heare of the heade ¶ Wherof commeth it that Infantes and children for the moost parte do resemble their mothers notwithstanding after the opinion of many Philosophers the action and dede of generation is not of the woman That commeth of the ymagination of women ¶ What meaneth it that Garlike and Onions although they be not in the ground do sprowte and growe That is of the great aboundaunce of the humors that they haue ¶ Wherof commeth it that studie is noysome and hurtefull after repast Natural heat can not trauel both in digestion speculation at one instant Wherof commeth it that when the stomacke is grieued all the bodie languisheth The stomacke hath certeine aliaunces with the harte the brayne and the Liuer which are the principall partes of the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do thinges beste with the right hande and other some with the lefte That procedeth of the heate that commeth from the harte which maketh that syde more apte and mete vnto labor whervnto it hath his principall accesse ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all kindes of creatures be more leane in the beginning of their youth and when they be olde then in their middle age Before olde age naturall heate is in his greatest force and strength which dissolueth the fatte Olde Creatures be neuer fatte and if they be their fatte is as nothing through their great colde and drynes for the faâ—te is sustained and nourished with moistnes and heate ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which haue the hicket by retaining their breth do ease them selues of it The blowing and breth retained doeth heate the interior partes of the bodie and the hicket procedeth of nothing els but of colde ¶ Why do olde people nese with great difficultie Because their conduictes be very straight ¶ Why doeth wine mingled with water cause vomit Mingled wine is noisome to the stomacke and doeth weaken the vertue retentiue contrarywise pure wine doth comforte it ¶ Whye be they so subiecte to sickenesse that loue to drinke stronge and mightie wines Stronge wine excessiuelye dronke doeth extinguishe naturall heate and the liuor being therewith weakened cannot engendre good bloud but doeth rather ingender a certaine aquositie and waterishnes that conuerteth it selfe into a dropsie ¶ Why be not yonge children so thirstie and drye as men of greater age The moistnes of yonge children doeth kepe them from being thirstie For thirst is nothing els but a desyre of moistnes whervpon they that be of greater age be naturally more drye and therefore more thirstie ¶ Whye doeth the dronken person thinke all thinges which he seeth do runne and tourne round That commeth bycause the spirites seruing to sighte be mingled with the vapors and fumosities of the wine the heate whereof causeth the eyes to be in a continuall motion and so the eye being round maketh al thinges to seme as though they turned round And if the eye were of other fashion then round the thinges he seeth would seme also to be of the same shape ¶ What might be the cause that Asses when they be yonge do seme nimble quicke and pleasaunt to loke vpon and as sone as they begin to waxe and growe then do they appere the contrarye The Asse is of nature melancholike youth is hotte and therfore liuely and pleasaunt which neuerthelesse afterwardes doeth moderate and decrease because the melancholike qualitie beginneth to augmente and the heate of youth to diminishe ¶ Whye do hennes keckle and make
non me rebus submittere conor ¶ Wherof proceded the fayning of Poetes that Mars was armed with Diamondes To declare that a prince ought to be strong not in bodie but in harte and corage ¶ What is the propertie of a good Captaine To be gentle politique wise and wittie not to be discoraged in harde fortune nor inflamed in prosperitie Suche was Hanniball See a further description hereof in the .xxiiii. Nouell of the Palace of pleasure ¶ From whence came the great renoume that in olde time the Cimbrians and Celtiberians atchieued in the warres Bicause they estemed the bedde of honor to be in the warres and had rather slea their owne children then they should be thrale and taken of their enemies ¶ What was the cause that Scipio being but yonge obteined suche great reputation that in his youth before rype age he was made one of the Tribunes or gouernors ouer the people and receued the state of a Councelour and was sente into Spaigne in the place of a Consull Bicause he was estemed verie holie and religiouse in suche wise as the dogges which were set to kepe the gate of the Capitole would neuer â—aie at him for all their fiercenes ¶ Why do some praise Angre Bicause it doeth commonlye accompanie courage ¶ Howe many kindes of Amitie be there Three that is to saye profitable honest and delectable ¶ Why was Dionisius expelled by the Locrâ—nces Bicause he being curteouslie receiued of them in the time of his vâ—nishment vseâ— dishonest orders towardes their wiues ¶ Why did Amphitryon geue his sonne Hercules to Euristeus To teache him to flye the voluptuousnes of the Thebanes and to accustome him with honest labour by following the vertues of Euristeus ¶ Wherof procedeth the diffrence betwene one man another By digressing from Philosophie I saie that it riseth through the trauell of the soule when it passeth into our bodies descending from God through the Lodiaque and the white Circle In which passage all soules take their affections and do participate with all the natures and mocions of eche Sphere and starre according to their aspectes ¶ What is Choler It is an angre sone come and soâ—e gone proceding of a feoble heate ¶ What is taken of the Planet Saturne Reason eloquence and vnderstanding as of Iupiter force of doing of Mars boldenes and of the heate of the Soune feeling and opinion and so forthe â–ª ¶ What is hatred It is an anger that hath taken roote ¶ What is discorde It is a frowardnes and anger comming of hatred which maketh men rebellious to the common wealth whiche in dede is the destruction of all humaine thinges ¶ What is Concorde It is a vertue which in short time maketh small and weake thinges to growe as Saluâ—t sayth Concordia paruae res crescunt ¶ Whye be Flatterers estemed worse then those that are false Bicause the false man doth but deceaue onelye but the Flatterer corrupteth men and therefore the Athenians punished Flatterers by death as Timagoras was ¶ What was the cause that Antigonus loste the moste parte of his kingedome and was constrained to make peace with the Romaines Bicause he gaue more eare to Flatterers then to Haniball that gaue him profitable counsell ¶ Why did Scipio the great refuse the title of moste mightie which the Spaniardes had geuen him Bicause chaunge of Title is a token of inconstancie more conuenient for women then men which made Cesar retourning from Alba to Rome to refuse the name king and conceaued hatred against Uitellius the father of Uitellius the Emperour bicause at his retourne home out of Siria he kneled downe to do him honor ¶ Why would Caesar neuer haue respecte to the saftye of his person although that his frendes daylye did counsell him therevnto Bicause he did lesse esteme the daunger of death then lyfe in continuall feare agreing therein to the sayinge of the Poete That it were better to be destroyed at one blow then doubtfully to attend the hazard of Fortune ¶ What moued Titus the sonne of Vespasian to pardon two gentlemen who not beinge contente to speake euell of him hadde also conspired to depose him from his Empire His good nature knowing besides that Empires and Kingedomes come from God and be bestowed vppon them whom his goodnes pleaseth to appointe ¶ What is the office of a good Prince To do well and not to care who speake euell of him ¶ Why had Epaminondas no regarde to be reuenged vppon them that spake euill of him Because he knewe that suche pacience proceded of the greate courage of the hearte ¶ What was the cause of the death of Sardanapalus His euell lyfe his lasciuiousnes wyth women and the litle iustice that he vsed ¶ Why was Marcellus created Consull of Rome with Cato that dyed at Vtica To the intent that by the gentle and good nature of Marcellus the seueritie and rigor of Cato might be moderated ¶ What caused Nero to cause the malefactour incontinently to be dispatched of life His naturall crueltye The contrarye rested in Cesar for rewarde whereof in thende he receaued hurte ¶ Why is dominion or rule so weightie a matter Bicause it is impossible to please all men ¶ Why would not Caligula the Emperour heare the accusation of any person Bicause he would that no man should hate him ¶ What induced Dionisius to geue ouer his good nature wherewith he was indued at the firste and to become cruell at the ende The mockes and cauillations of his subiectes who mocked him for his lokinge a squinte and for the grossenes of his bodie which is a notable example to beware of iesting and backbiting of princes ¶ Why did Phocion of Athenes blame Demosthenes because he spake euell of Alexander althoughe he was enemie to their countrye Bicause that Phocion like a wise man knewe that it serued for no other purpose but to pricke Alexander forwarde to make warre againste them Mennon for the same occasion wounded one of his souldiors saying I geue thee wages to fight with Alexander and not to speke euel of him ¶ Howe chaunced it that Neuius that excellent Poete was imprisoned by the Triumuiri at Rome Because he was a great Slaunderer speciallye of princes wherefore he was constrained when he was deliuered out of prison to make twoe comedies as it were for an honorable recompence whereof the one was called Areolus and the other Liontes wherein he vnsayde againe al that euer he spake before ¶ Why was Sisithcus the Poete driuen out of the Theatre by the Athenians For wryting against them that gaue themselues to Philosophie vnder the discipline of Cleanthes ¶ Why did the Magnesians crucifie Daffitas the Grammarian vpon the mount Thorax Bicause he did speake ill of many speciallye of Lisimachus their prince and dere soueraigne Lorde ¶ What is vertue It is a perfecte and entire reason which foloweth the mindes of the wise and procureth them to shunne and auoide vice ¶ What is Auarice A disordinate
DELECTABLE demaundes and pleasaunt Questions with their seuerall Aunswers in matters of Loue Naturall causes with Morall and politique deuises Newely translated out of Frenche into Englishe this present yere of our Lorde God 1566. Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Iohn Cawood for Nicholas Englande Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum To the Studiouse and vvell disposed youthe of Englande THE learned Poete Horace myndinge to bestowe the trewe prise of wisedome vpon him that is most worthy saieth that he by good right doeth deserue the same which can best skil how to knitte and ioyne profite and pleasure together For those two thinges be as it were vncoupleable forsamuch as the gods as Hesiodus doth witnes would that profitte were dailie accompanied with sweate and trauell and that commonlie thend of pleasure is sower and bitter He therfore of good righte is to bee tearmed a passinge good workeman which can with such â—astnes of coÌ„sent incorporate vnite them as thone maie stil interchaungeably ensue and rise of thother To which entent notwithstanding their diuersitie of opinions thauncient Philosophers altogether endeuored sieking euery one after his veyne in suche sorte to pollishe and beautifie that most excellent porcion of vs the minde as prepared the better to receaue the print of vertues seale we mought in this race of frailtie climbe to some degree at least of trewe happines and sound felicitie But bicause the name of vertue is of suche maiestie as at the firste vewe it would dashe and dismaie her firste and feble beholders certaine Philosophers castinge asyde their frostie beardes and other such ceremonies of Philosophicall showe with louing care to cherishe and mainteine those soft and gentle minds that could not yet wel broke the pain full bruntes of scollerlike customes haue deuised certein pleasant confections as it were wherwith to sauce and sweten the studie of Philosophie handling eche parte therof so familiarlie that the most wild and haggard heades were oftetimes reclaimed to harken follow their holsome Lessons And so the phrigian fabler Aesope geuing fained speche and conference of talke to creatures vnreasonable vnder cloke and color therof lefte vnto the reasonable most necessary preceptes of all humanitie and morall dewtie â–ª The like hath bene from time done by a number of noble Poetes who in their fabled forgeries yf they be well marked haue vttered all maner of most depe and profound learning I speake not of the Comike writers who pretending but sport by pretie contriuement of partes and persons teache howe to beare our selues towardes all sortes and specially to shonne the cosining trappes of those that are numbred amonges the vilest kynde of people Which selfe same fruite is also to be gathered of these our common plaies and showes which grounded after a sort vpon the rules of Philosophie do whet and sharpen the wittes of the lokers on euen as the Barriers Tilte Torney wrestling leaping or running do by vse streÌ„gthen the â—â—mmes and frame the bodie better and more abâ—e to discharge when neede shall earnestly require their office of armes In respect wherof hauing fallen into my handes of late a certeine Frenche booke the woorke sure of some learned and Skilfull writer driuing principallie to the like good purpose deemed it could not bee but labour worth to spende some vacaunt daies in teaching it to speake our mother english tonge Especiallie for that in full perusing thesame I founde he had so handsomlye by waie of question couched together the moste behoueable pointes of all Philosophie as to the diligent reader mought nedesly bring with it exceding riche encrease bothe of profitte and pleasure The rather truely bicause in order of his treatise not intermedling with the particuler dewtie of any calling or estate he generallie concludeth of matter not impertinent to all degrees So that leauing the rawenes of thinfant and childishe yeres to the care and correction of their nourses and scholemasters beginneth to shape his fyrste preceptes to the best aduauntage of that age which as it is most disposed to the vanities of loue so moste likelie to be abused miscaried by thesame may here in some part lerne to knowe and eschewe the tempting deceiptes of that Boy she godde and his blinde disciples From thence leadeth he vs into the darke storehouse of natures secretes where with open eies perusing the weke condition of the world and worldely thinges yea and of vs our selues for whose sake they were principallie ordeined maie remaine therof both more mindefull and thankefull to our creatour Lastely he bringeth vs to the fountaines of good nurture teaching not onely in priuate cases of our owne liues and houses but in common welthe matters also to geue suche verdict of thinges incident as amonges the wise and sagest gouernors shal make vs estemed not altogether ignoraunt or emptie of good vnderstanding All which thinges although it is not vnknowen maie by the lerned be picked out of the works of thold autentike Clarkes yet for so much as falleth not to al men such opportunitie as wherby to rake vp their so huge infinite volumes it is to be hoped the greatest number those specially whose good spirite moueth rather to geue their leasured howres to some vertuouse exercise then to ydle and for the mooste parte dispraisable games will with suche equitie vse and constre this englishing of these brief collections as of a labour louingly vndertaken bothe for their delectable recreation of minde and profytable helpe of studie wherevnto bee wished vniuersallie moost happie successe tyll for the further benefite of them that fauour the reading of the Scriptures which truthe to saye all men aboue all thinges ought to fauour shall herevnto also be annexed the like Questions of diuinitie ryght pleasaunte familier and moost necessarie QVESTIONS OF LOVE AND THE Ansvvers WHEROF doeth it come that Ruffians Iesters and common Dauncers be lesse subiecte to Loue then other That may come by the continuall familiaritie that suche men haue with women in whom they haue no pleasure for respect of loue or whose familiaritie doeth make Loue lothesome or out of taste ¶ What is the cause that he that loueth feruently is soone angrie Because the sprites and humors of Louers be verie hote and boyle continuallie ¶ How commeth it to passe that an amorouse woman is so curious to be finely appareled and decked She doeth it to increase and set foorth her beautie therby to subdue and drawe those vnto her that be moost beautifull and desirous to Loue. ¶ But why be rough and hearie men more prone and disposed to the amorouse battell of Loue then other Bycause they abound and be more full of humors then other ¶ What hath moued certeine Greke Poetes to saie that Loue is the moost excellent amongest all the heauenly goddes It is perchaunce because there is no Philosopher that doeth teache the maner of mans life â—o well as he or maketh man more practique or quicke sprited ¶ But why
loueth ¶ Why doe louers so often breake their faith and promis one to an other Youth aboundeth in heate and is subiect to diuerse and many thinges and can not staie it selfe in one thought wherby it procedeth that the auncientes haue made Uenus the mother of Loue whom many Louers do followe ¶ Doe ye thinke that by Magique arte the heart of an obstinate woman maie be mitigated to condiscend to the pleasure of a Louer All they that haue written of Naturall thinges affyrme the same The Diuines saie contrarie And I in the diuersitie of opinions in so great men dare not declare mine owne ¶ Is it possible that a couetouse man may become amorouse The forces of Loue haue alwaies beene more braue and fine then those of couetousnes So I beleue that Loue can not onelie make the Couetouse liberall but also prodigall for as the couetouse haue had no measure to get goodes so they may haue as litle to spend them yf they thinke that by money they maie inioye the thing that they loue ¶ Wherfore haue men more libertie then women to loue in moe places then one Take modestie shamefastnes and feare from women and ye take awaie their life which chaunceth not to man ¶ Wherfore be Louers continuallie readie to demaund the hartie good will of them that they loue The harte is the feate of desire and of all knowledge all which be readie to obey the thing that it loueth the ymage wherof representing it selfe pleasant before the eyes of Louers doeth rauishe from them both the hart and the principall partes And therof it commeth that being as it were robbed of them selues and oppressed with intollerable bondage they require with all importunitie to be restored and placed in their intire and former estate ¶ Wherof commeth it that commonlie we suffer our selues to be allured to loue thinges wherof there is no hope to atteine vnto That is for lacke of knowledge of the beginninges of Loue the which are light and litle And although that all hope is cut of and taken from vs to inioye the swete embracementes which Loue doeth promis Neuertheles the beautie of the thing beloued doeth delight vs and the remembraunce therof doeth occupie the braine Suche passions haue bene called of our elders domâ—ne desires bycause they doe still and stealinglie possesse the hart vnware and by litle and litle take increase And our reason should not be hindred yf it were susteined by hope ¶ Wherfore be all the ioyes of Louers vncerteine Bycause in loue there doe dailie chaunce diuerse casualties as suspicion Ialousie feare angre Peace refuse disdaine ¶ Why is Loue compared to a Darke laberinth or Maso Bycause the entrie and comming in is easie and the goyng out impossible ¶ Wherfore doe men compare loue to a Crocodill The nature of a Crocodill after the mind of those that haue written of natural thinges is to followe those that flye from him and to flye from them that doe followe him And so is it with Loue. Therfore I geue councell that who soeuer will inioy theffecte of his desires that he be not to sharpe and egre to pursue and followe his Ladie ¶ Beleue ye that Loue good iudgement maie be together I beleue no for then the foule and deformed should neuer be beloued But we see not onelie the contrarie to happen but which is worst those that be the vilest indewed with moost treason and least loyaltie and faith howe foule so euer they be are moost commonlie best beloued Wherof commeth it that diuerse which loued feruentlie to haue some comfort did soudenlie lose that great heate of loue All vehement loue doeth not longe continewe for within a while the spirite hath leasure to examine it selfe and to retourne to due vnderstanding thinking vpon all thinges that might violate and corrupt the same wherby the sensuall appetites be by this meanes restrained ¶ Why doe men call loue bothe flame and fyre It is not possible better to expresse howe insupportable a thing it is considering the heate of the desires which it ingendreth in the hartes of his seruantes and the tirannie that he vseth towardes those whiche are vnder his power whom he bringeth to ruine and consumeth like fyre without any pitie ¶ What is the cause that Louers take pleasure to retourne so often to those places where they haue had ioye and solace of their loue Bycause in so doing they conceiue Ioye and the memorie of that which they moost loue doeth refreshe them And yt semeth then that this remembraunce doeth double the pleasure alreadie receiued ¶ Why are men rather amorouse then women For that they are of hoter complexion and their spirites more quicke and prompte ¶ Why be wemen more firme and stedfast in loue then men Bycause thinges which of them selues be colde be lesse subiect to mobilitie and inconstancie then those that be hotte ¶ Wherof commeth it that women be more easelie perswaded to be loued then men Bycause they esteme them selues muche more then there is cause ¶ But why be they angrie or why doe they frowne and lower when men saie they be foule or olde Foulenes moost commonlie commeth of age and age is the high waie to death which naturallie doeth anoye and displease all persons ¶ Wherfore is it saide that the coughe and the passion of Loue can not be kept secret They be two thinges of great force for the coughe troubling the bodie can scantlie be concealed or hidden Loue is a passion proceding of a certeine fyer which by the eyes is discouered and manifesteth it selfe by the coulor of the face and by all the actes of a Louer it maie be comprehended and knowen so that without great paine and difficultie it can not be hidden ¶ From whence do the amorouse send forth so many sighes Their continuall thoughtes sende all the heate to the harte wherof it commeth that necessarilie it is conuenient for them to respire and breath of which respiration sighinges be forced wherby the coldnes of the ayer is drawen to temper the inwarde heate That maie also ryse of the consideration of the time lost of the detestation that commeth of lecherie of the vâ—â—inision of honor reputacion and finallie that the successe of dishonest loue is tragicall noysome furiouse and miserable ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient painted loue holding floures in one hande and fyshe in thother To shewe that Loue is a lorde bothe of Sea and lande ¶ Thinke you that loue doeth yelde greater force corage and strength to him that doeth combat and fight in the presence of his Ladie There is nothing more certeine And for this cause was brought in and ordeined the braue and lustie companie of the errant and wandering knightes to geue pleasure to Ladies by Iustes and turneis ¶ Who receiueth moste contentacion the victoriouse and louing knight or the gentlewoman for whom he hath fought The knight as I suppose ought to be best contented as hauing cause to
bellie of a Harte Bycause the gall of a Harte is sometimes in the tayle and sometimes in the bellie ¶ What is the cause that fatte people haue litle blodde Bycause the greace and the fatnes doe consume it ¶ Wherof commeth the saying of the Auncientes that he who is wont to eate a kinde of pulse called Lentilles is for the moost part pleasaunt and amiable It is bicause that Lentilles do cause colde humors ¶ Howe commeth it that we be more gredie to eate when the North or Northeast winde doeth blowe then at other tunes That commeth of the colde of the foresaide windes which doeth vnite and holde the naturall heate together ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Florentines when they be disposed to quenche their thirste doe drinke water mingled with Uineger I will tell you Uineger beyng of his nature colde remoueth the inflamation and heate of the stomake which prouoketh thirst and so by remouing the cause the affection also is taken awaie ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Sheperds of Nuceria in Campania within the region of Italie when they meane to geld their cattell doo laie vpon their coddes thinges stupefactiue that is to saie that properly do mortifie Things stupefactiue doe thicken the vitall spirites of the membre and do alter the complexion therof so that they let the naturall heate and stop the conduictes wherby the sperme doeth descend ¶ What meane the Shepherdes of Calabria when they liste that the Ramme shal engendre a wether lambe to tye the lefte codd and when they will that it be a female to tye vp the right â–ª The male lambe is hotter then the female and therfore moost commonlye he is engendred of the right syde and the female on the lefte Binding then the left codde the sede and likewise the generatife sprite entreth the right Codd wherby he taketh heate and force which doeth soner bring forthe a male then a female ¶ What causeth the Ethiopians and Mores when they entende to gelde their cattell to cutt their vaines which be vnder the Temples The sperme and seede for the moost parte doeth descende by the vaines aboue the Temples which beyng cutt there can no maner of humors descend from the braine and so all meanes of generation are cut awaye ¶ Wherof commeth it that to gett a stomake men vse egre and sharpe thinges That is bicause all egre thinges do drie and open the stomacke which causeth the appetite ¶ What causeth that they which haue a feminine voyce be not in any great estimation or opinion among the wise Whosoeuer hath vpon him eyther member or marke or maner of doing which is proper to any other creature whatsoeuer it be he is suerly participant of the nature of the sayde creature And bycause the woman is of small practice whosoeuer hath the voyce lyke a woman is estemed of the wise to haue litle vnderstanding or knowledge ¶ What causeth the people of Boetia to haue a grosse voyce and yet lowe and seble The Boetians be slouthfull and geuen to the bellie whiche causeth the voyce to be so lowe the reason is euident bycause their vigor and strengthe is more feble receuing and gathering lesse ayer Wherfore they cannot very well moue the muscules of the stomacke and so they are the more heauie and lesse apt to labor ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which be hastie of speach are of small constancie yll conditioned and extremely cholerike All sodeine motions come of thexiremitie excesse of heate which engendreth in men this inconstancie and lightnes to promise without any performing through Colere most coÌ„monly consider not what they say ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a shirle voyce are moost commonly enuiouse and maliciouse The sharpenes of the voyce procedeth from the sharpenes of the pipes and conduictes of the longes which riseth through drinesse and coldenes Suche be melancholike persons who beyng naturally fearefull dare neuer disclose that which they thinke ¶ Wherfore be y e Aâ—maines accustomed in their huÌ„ting to hold their breath wheÌ„ they desire to here y e noyse rustling of beasts At all times when the breth is kept in then hath the hearing greater force abrode and so consequently receiueth and comprehendeth the better that which is presented whether it be sound or noyse Moreouer blowing or breathing doth somwhat let the hearing And therfore the same being reteyned the hearing is more free ¶ But wherof commeth it that many hauing the knowledge of naturall thinges do thinke it not good to drinke after fructe and specially after Melons and Pompions Wine of it selfe is penetratife in suche sort that it easely draweth with it the vndigested fructes to the vaines where they do sone corrupt and so engender very great feuers and other lingering sicknesses ¶ ¶ What is the cause that y e gentle women of Milan to make themselues fatte doe loue and vse swete wines Swete wine doth engender grosse blood and doth easely penetrate into all the partes of the bodie and is conuerted into nourishment wherof they become so fat and of good liking Grene wine sharpe doth not the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that all they which be extreme thirstie do loue no swete wines All thinges which may ingender and enflame choler are apte to make men thirstie and suche is swete wine ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse religiouse persons which naturally are very zelouse of Chastitie do absteine from wine Wine is hote and full of vapours and therfore prouoketh lust his heat dissolueth seede and with his ventositie causeth the courage to ryse ¶ What is the cause that the Florentines â–ª after they haue put water into wine do let it rest a certein space before they drink it The more the water is mingled and incorporated with the wine the more the fume of the wine is quenched beyng reduced as it were into one body and nature Therfore after my iudgement it should be better when the wine is newe pressed to put in water then otherwise ¶ Why be the Arabians accustomed to slepe with their bodies bowing or folded It must nedes be that Nature or they which knowe his effectes haue taught them the same For sleping so folded together their stomackes doe waxe warme digest the better and there is no windines that can hinder their digestion The body being bowed as aforesaid causeth that the bely doth receiue al ventositie eueÌ„ like vnto an open purse Contrariwise y e body stretched forth maketh the belly to close shut in such sort that it can receiue no windines the belly being bent stretched forthe stuffed on euery side with bowels inward parts which causeth that the ventosities finding no place in the belly are forced to retire els wher to hinder digestioÌ„ ¶ Why do the Polonians eate colewortes to make them selues sober when they be dronke The propertie of coleworte is to send downe to the bowels the moost materiall and grosse parte of
such a noyse after they haue layed Bicause the place where the egge laye nowe being voide is incontinently filled with ayer which coleth the belie The like happeneth to women incontinently after they be deliuered and to the yarde of a man after he hath pissed It might also be answered that the henne crieth out so for feare that some will take awaye the thing she hath layed ¶ Wherof commeth it that the bottome of a cawdron or kettle is colde although scalding water do remaine in it It is because of the hotte vapours which mount on highe wherby the vpper partes beyng made hotte the bottome is cold through the continuall water that is in it ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the graine which the Antes do lay vp in the ground is euermore bitten on the one syde Nature hath taught them to do so to take awaye the growing thereof for their owne better sustentation For corne in the earth doeth naturally growe which if it should the pore beast should be defrauâ—ed of his liuing ¶ Wherefore do the Phisitians saye that it is daungerouse to let one bloud that is fatte The vaines of grosse men be hidden and small and besides that they haue litle bloud ¶ Why doeth the Camelion chaunge colors so often That commeth of ouermuche feare and for that he estemeth his blodde so deare ¶ Why be riche men more subiect to the goute then the poore Bicause they stuffe them selues with many and diuerse meates or that they be to much ydle or els bicause they vse not conuenient excercise The same may also come through to much companye with women for there is nothing that corrupteth more the vertue digestiue then such excesse ¶ Wherfore is it not good to speake when one eateth Bicause speache doeth muche lette and hinder the chawing of meate or els it is for feare of entring or failing into some coughe and strangling ¶ Why be they that haue fewe tethe of a short lyfe They that lacke tethe can not chawe well and by that meanes they do not make suche digestion as is conuenient We see also that they whiche haue their tethe thinne sette are of weake complexion euen from their generation For yf they had bene of good and strong complexion in their beginning and generation and that the substance had bene according they should not haue had such scarsitie of tethe ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the birdes and foule which be fatte in this cuntrie yf they take their flighte into the Southe partes or into Ethiopia they retorne leaner then when they departed The southe partes be hote and drie and doeth drie that which dwelleth in them Or we maie saie that in all places that be hote and colde bothe in Somer and in Autumne there be found fructes and seedes and the daies are more longer ¶ What is the cause that birdes doe brede in the spring when they be leane and in Autumne when they are fatt and in good lyking they doo not brede The springtyde is a moderate season and all liuing thinges at that tyme be moost temperate and by that meanes are more apte to generation Contrarywise Autumne is colde and drye and by that meanes lesse fitte to that matter ¶ Wherfore do we soner vomit vpon the Seas then when we trauell on foote or horsebacke Bycause to sayle vpon the Seas is a motion the which is not after our nature but to runne is To saile is a mouing vnaccustomable and all extraordinarie thinges doe trouble man ¶ Wherof commeth it that the first fructes aswell of beastes as of trees yf they come in their season be fairer then those that come after At the first bearinges Nature is freshe and lustie in the other she is somewhat weake and impotent ¶ What is the cause that a deade corps is more heauie then a liuing bodie A liuing body is replenished with ayer and fyer which doeth kepe it tight vp for their nature is alwaies to mount on high ¶ Why doth the excessiue vse of women make vs weake Bicause it taketh away from vs our naturall heate ¶ Whye do the Phisitians commaunde salte to be caste amonges the cloutes of litle Infantes when they be swadled To harden the skinne ¶ Why did Democrites forbid his scollers whom he desired to be chaste to eate rapes Bicause rapes through the great ventositie wherwith they fill our bodies prouoke lecherie ¶ Wherfore do women with childe forbeare to eate rue For that it causeth them to be deliuered before their time ¶ Wherof doth it come that all oylie thinges do take awaye the appetite The thinges which are oylie do swimme at the mouth of the stomacke where the appetite is ingendred euen as the digestion is made in the bottome of the stomake ¶ Wherof commeth it that by to much vse of egre and sowre thinges men waxe olde before their time All thinges that consume naturall humiditie doeth cause age ¶ What is the cause that thinges whiche are salte be noysome for the sight Bicause they perce to much ¶ Wherof commeth it that women if they chaunce to fall do fall most willingly backewarde Bicause their hinder partes are more grosse and heauie then the rest through coldnes which vnto them is naturall ¶ What is the cause that we be euermore fatter in the belie and in the guttes then in any other parte Bicause the belie is nere the stomake where digestion is made ¶ Wherof commeth it that all melancholike creatures haue longe eares The eares are made of a cold and dry matter which quickly is transposed into matter of bones because that al melancholike bestes be of a cold and dry complexion we ought not to maruaile that they haue gret eares ¶ Why haue women smaller feete then men Heate being farre greater in men then in women causeth them to grow in height ingrosing and inlarging the superior partes ¶ What causeth maÌ„ to be more enclined to laugh theÌ„ to wepe Bicause it is a pleasure to laugh and a displeasure to wepe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some men do route sleping other slepe without making any noise some do speake betwene their tethe and some aloude and clere This diuersitie doeth procede of the lette that is in the apprehensiue senses accordingly as they be stopped or free ¶ Wherfore is smoke so contrary to the sight For the grossenes and sharpenes thereof The grossenes is shewed in the fume that it engendreth The sharpenes is manifested in that it mounteth alofte vnequally and as it were like cloudes ¶ Wherof commeth it that a vine hauing ashes at the roote shall bring forth better wine then any other It is bicause y e vine of it self is meruailouse moist ful of vaines which appeareth when it is cut primed in the spring tide for it auoideth forth much licor Ashes also being at y e fote of the vine doth not only drye vp the humiâ—itie of the roote stoppeth the same from mounting but also diminisheth fineth
it moueth the humors of the brayne and cannot afterwardes resolue them ¶ Why do some dye by to much Ioye Bicause the spirites do abandon and forsake the harte ¶ Why should men beware of tomuch fasting Bicause longe fasting ingendreth a heape of ill humors and causeth feblenes and lothesomnes ¶ Why is vineger very good for Cholerike persons and hurtefull to them that be melancholike Bicause it refresheth Choler and drieth melancholie ¶ What causeth the eyes to shedde forth teares Coldenes is thoccasion which naturally doeth make thicke and restraine wherby teares do procede ¶ Why haue thinges that be very swete and odoriferouse a certeine spice of bitternes Swete smelles do alwaies serche hotte places which commonly are somewhat bitter ¶ Wherof commeth it that thinges that nourishe and encrease milke do warme moderately without drying Bicause suche thinges do engendre blodde wherof milke commeth ¶ Why he all nourishing thinges perticipant with swetenes Bicause all swete thinges be very temperate ¶ Whereof commeth it that wyne in processe of tyme is of greater heate Bicause the waterishe partes do vanishe and auoyde ¶ Wherof commeth it that some wines waxe sower so sone Bicause in the vintage tyme they were replenished with superfluouse humours ¶ Why do men rather vse Sorrell then vineger against the inflamations of the intestines and Bowels Bicause that Sorrell is more moderate then vineger And whosoeuer is diseased therwithall should not vse any medecine that is sharpe or violent but rather pleasaunt ¶ Wherof commeth it that yealowe Choller is alwaies bytter and the blacke agre and sharpe Heate causeth bitternes and colde causeth sharpenes ¶ Why is the Catarre or Rewine sometime swete somtimes sharpe and sometimes salte Of a certeine mixture of the humours ¶ Why doeth the wilde Bore pisse before he doeth runne or flye awaye To dispatche him selfe of the heauines of his vrine the more swiftlye to runne ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians geue to infantes and yonge children a herbe called Abrotonum in english Sothernwood Bicause it killeth wormes ¶ How chaunceth it that scorpions do smite hurt sidewise Bicause their pricke and stinge is croked ¶ Why do men waxe pale when they be afraide Bicause the bloud flieth away and retireth to the vitall partes ¶ Why doth the sea called Mare mortuâ—m bringe forth nether plante nor fishe Through the great bitternes of the same ¶ What is the cause that a salte thing beinge heated againe waxeth bitter Bitternes commeth of adustion ¶ Why hath the Scorpion venime in her taile Bicause venime is the excrement of the Scorpion ¶ Wherfore did nature make mens eares so eminent standing out and of gristles To be more quicke of hering and to be lesse grieued when they be hurt ¶ Why cannot milke creame or curde beinge incorporated with hony Bicause hony with his vertue incisiue and abstersiue doeth let it ¶ Why doth not an arter or sinewe being cut growe againe as fleshe doeth Bicause they be spermaticke members ¶ Wherfore do the leaues of a Seruace tree fall together at one instant Bicause he hath no viscous or slimie humor ¶ Wherfore is a Baye tree alwaies grene Bicause the heate of that tree is alwaies tempered with humiditie and viscositie ¶ Wherfore is the female more imperfecte then the male Bicause she is more colde ¶ What caused Hipocrates to suffer those that had hotte and sharpe feuers to drinke wine To aide and helpe digestion and to strengthen the pacient ¶ Wherof commeth the Cotidian feuer Of the great haboundaunce of the fleame ¶ Why do the herbes called Penerâ—ial ditton and Nil cause women to haue their flowers Bicause their vertue and propertie is to open ¶ Wherfore is the meale of beanes good for y e spots in y e face Bycause it is meruailouse abstersiue and clensing ¶ Wherfore do we slepe better when we haue traueled then otherwise Bicause the spirites haue then more nede to be refreshed ¶ Wherof commeth it that sometimes we be laxatiue and sometimes to much costiue It is because of the feblenes of the vertue retentiue or through sharpe humor that vexeth and troubleth vs and the cause why we be bound procedeth of contrarie occasions ¶ Wherof commeth the Tertian agues Of yealowe choller corrupted ¶ Wherof procedeth the falling sickenes Of grosse fleame or rather of a melancholike humor which is retayned in the ventricles of the braine ¶ Wherfore did nature make the scull of the heade grosse thicke and hollowe The sâ—ul is grosse and thicke to defend the braine the better and holowe that the vapoures of the braine might issue out of the same more easelye for the head is a way through the which all the vapors of the body do passe ¶ Wherfore is not wine good for them that be growing still in greatnes Wine doth straight go into the head and children in there infansie haue the head grosser after the proportion of the reste of the body then in anye other age ¶ Why do melons cowcumbers cause men to make water That commeth of their great humiditie ¶ Wherfore is it not good to slepe with the face vpwardes Bicause it heateth the raines inflameth the bloud and not onelye the blud but the spirits also which are in the hollow vaine in y e gret arterie ¶ Howe commeth it that trees are more hard and stronge of the Northside then they are of the South and West side Bicause the North wind doth better harden ¶ Wherfore doo not those litle beastes or serpents that of the Latinists are called Cerastes brede nether in Cipres trees nor boxe trees In Cipres trees bitternes sharpnes in boxe trees hardnes is y e cause ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth the disease which PhisitiaÌ„s do cal Diabethe It is a disease in the raines and commeth of the feblenes of the same ¶ Wherof procedeth the swetenes of fruictes Of moderate heate ¶ Why do olde men doate so much Through the great colde that is in them ¶ Wherof procedeth y e lasque flux of y e bely called Dissenteria Of biting and sharpe humors ¶ Why do hearinges in so great multitudes leaue the Northerne and go to the Westerne Sea To enioie the temperature of that climate ¶ Why doth eating of y e brain of some beastes prouoke vomit Bicause y e brain is oilie swimmeth vpoÌ„ y e orifice mouth of y e stomake ¶ Why is grossest meat geuen â—uer at supper Bicause with slepe they make good digestion ¶ What is the cause that the pulse commonly called chichâ— peason doeth prouoke Lecherie By reason of the saltenes wherof the hul is participant ¶ Wherof commeth it that men to see the better do close one of their eyes Bicause the effecte and spirites of the one may helpe the other ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the higher the Sunne is the lesser is the shadowe Bicause the sunne beames do then reuerberate directly downewardes ¶ Why doth the force of wine make some to be
eloquent and some to be dombe other astonied and other freshe and lustie That commeth of the diuersitie of their complections ¶ Wherof commeth it that the leaues of certaine trees in some part of ScotlaÌ„d falling into the sea be turned into duckes and malardes By the secret vertue of the Occean Sea ¶ Wherfore do men make collers of Aumbre for children Bicause aumbre is good against the sqinance which is a swelling in the iawes throte and it is good also against a disease called of y e Phisitians Tansille ¶ Wherof commeth the Dropsie Of a great colde in the Liuer ¶ Howe happeneth it that we become balde vpon the foreparte of the hedde Bicause that part is drie and of drines commeth baldenes ¶ But why be the heares of the temples graye sooner then of any other partes Bicause the Temples are very moyst and full of muscles ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians thinke them to be of small capacitie that haue sharpe heddes Bicause the spirites fynd not the conduictes so free and open ¶ Why be there no Serpentes in Ireland Bicause that region is nothing waterishe ¶ What causeth those that haue the Iaundis to thinke hony to be bitter Bicause of the great câ—ller wherwith they haue the tongue and pallat infected ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the meates oftentimes waxe sower in the ventricle That procedeth of the coldenes of the Stomacke ¶ Why is not that ayer good which is both hote and moyst Bicause it is very subiect to be corrupted ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Aethiopians haue curld heare Of the great siccitie and drynes of their humors ¶ Why be dronken persons commonly colde Bicause wine immoderately dronken doeth cause colde effectes ¶ Wherfore is veneson more estemed and praysed of the learned Phisitians then other fleshe Bicause it is of good nourishment and engendreth good blodde ¶ Why is the white of an egge harde of digestion Through the great coldenes therof ¶ How commeth it that such beastes as haue no tethe aboue haue a double ventricle To digest the better and to supplie the default that they haue by the wante of tethe ¶ Wherfore do men drinke water and yet it nourisheth not Water causeth the nutriment to spredde throughout all the body ¶ Why is not the hande hearie within Bicause the skinne is thicke and harde ¶ Why is Autumpne so vnholsome and full of diseases Through the inequalitie of his temperature ¶ Why be the eares vnmoueable Bicause they haue no Muscles ¶ Why be no remedies conuenient to be receued in the greatest extremitie of sicknes Bicause nature should be letted ¶ Wherfore are bathes of swete water estemed Bicause they do heate and moysten and are good against tercian ague◠¶ Why doeth the Northern winde preserue thinges from putrifying Bicause it drieth muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that Buglosse tempered and dipte in wine reioyseth him that doeth eate it Bicause it augmenteth the blodde and restoreth the forces of the hart ¶ Wherof commeth it that Peone hanged about ones neckâ— doeth heale the falling sickenes That herbe sendeth certeine vapors to the hed which do drie the braine ¶ Why be stockdoues better then pigions of the douehouse Bicause they haue lesse donge and excrementes ¶ Wherof commeth it that Asur colour is pleasant to the eye Bicause in that colour is a meane of all other colours para Howe chaunceth it that although Infantes be naturally moyst are not for all that graye hedded Bicause that with their moistnes heate is conioyned ¶ Why doeth a Boare fome at the mouth when he bremeth Bicause his cundittes and generatiâ—e partes be narrowe ¶ Why doth a tame Sowe bring forthe mo Pigges then a wilde Sowe That commeth of the aboundaunce of meate and of the warmenes of the places where they liue ¶ But why can not Sowes geue milke without groning or grunting Sowes haue litle milke and the same is spred in diuerse tetes and therfore there must nedes be great force to drawe it ¶ Wherfore do we sweate more in the vpper partes of our bodie then in the lower partes The propertie of heate is to ascend and not to discende ¶ Why doeth not the dunge of wilde beastes stincke so much as other Bicause they be drie of nature ¶ Wherfore hath nature shaped a braine in liuing creatures Bicause they might easely receue and comprehend the impressions and imaginations of the thinges that they smell and vnderstand ¶ Why made nature the brayne rather colde then hotte To temper and moderate the heate of the hart for the confort and refreshing of the same ¶ Why be our eyes greater in our Infancie then when we be of more age Through the gret humiditie moistnes Wherof in like maner it coÌ„meth that we are more desirouse of slepe in our Infancie then in any other age ¶ How commeth it that mens eyes do differ so much in culler one from another Of the diuersitie of the humors wherof they be composed ¶ Wherfore is sodden water better then the colde Boild and sodden water hath lesse ventosities and is more â—lighte and subtill because the earth and heauie substaunce is separated from it ¶ Wherfore hath nature ordeined nesing in man To purge the superfluitie of the braine euen as by the cogh the milte is purged ¶ Whye doo we nese soner in the Sunne then when we be nere the fire Bicause the heate of the sunne resolueth the humor and consumeth it not but the fyre resolueth and consumeth it ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the eares of all creatures do moue except the eares of a man That procedeth of a certaine muscle which is in the Iawes and doeth let and hinder the mouing of the eares ¶ Wherof commeth it that asses do soner lift vp their eares when it will raine then at any other time Their melancholike nature causeth it the like happeneth to many other melancholike beastes to pronosticate of raine as frogs dolphines crowes and Cuckoes ¶ Why haue birdes no eares Bicause they would hinder their flying for which cause they are created and made as man is made to trauell ¶ Wherfore are the waters of marishes and pondes so euel Bicause they are so flematike in sommer they do corrupt In so much as y e finest of y e water is conuerted into vapors y e erthines doth remain ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue hollow eies doe see better then those whose eies do stand more outward Hollowe eies haue their vertue more faste and better compacte and so they see the better and further of ¶ Why do the eies of Wolues and Cattes shine in the night and not in the day The greater clerenes doth obâ—uscate and darken the lesser ¶ Wherof commeth it that when we loke and behold our self in a glasse we do imediatly after forget our fauor The Image sene in a glasse doth represent it self to our visible sight very slenderly and by a certaine reflection and therfore can not long be