another goodly Asse made like the former the reliques whereof are yet to be there séene on the ground 2 In Cicilia neare to the Citie of Catauea within two myles there passeth an indifferent great Riuer ouer which is a goodly Bridge of wood whereon foure Cartes may easily méete togither and it is named Pous Asini 1 The large stréete whereby we passe along from the Market place vnto the Cathedral Church of S. Mauritus in the Cittie of Lypara is called Asinesca stréete 2 In the auncient Cittie of Perugia there is a stréete which direct to the Monasterie of Couented Fryers of S. Fraunces and it is tearmed the Paradise of the Asini 1 In Friuli on certaine high downe bearing hilles where the auncient familie of the Gordes of Sauorgnani haue their iurisdiction is a way that leadeth to a certaine Castle of theirs named Here fell I with mine Asse Which words are there engrauen in very hard stones that so faire a memorie of the Asse might not be forgotten 2 In Apulia is a great way of tenne large myles by which they passe from the great Tower till they come to Mount Iargano it is called Longasina 1 There is a vale by the way as ye goe along from Fabriano to Cammerino neare to the shipping place of the auncient Varrani now Lordes of the said Cittie and it is named the vale of Asini 2 Neare to the parts of Heluetia among the Cantons where Zurich is named ye haue a valley called Asinari 1 At the Citie of Bologna there is a Tower which for height contendeth with the starres called the Tower of the Asinelli 2 A Tower of lesser height is to be séene in the Prouince of Basilicata otherwise called Lucania without the walles of the Citie of Venafro on the West side and it is tearmed the Tower Asino 1 A Fountaine plentifully abounding with water is to be séene on the confines betwéene Pipeono and the Castle of Souino it is nominated Fountaine Asini 2 Passing the Riuer Pauara and leauing the corner of the way whereby we goe to Modoua there turning on the left hand and within a quarter of a myle onwarde standes a Fountaine beautified with engrauen stone yet passing vnder a goodly vault by thrée great pipes of mettall wel neare rotten and defaced out of them comes great aboundance of water and it is called Fountaine Asinara Hauing so lately mentioned the Citie of Modeua I call to minde a memorie concerning the Asse which the said Citie long time kept among other things with good regard And it was a milking paile wherin a citizens Asse of Bologna had drunke for it happened that about matter of the confines warres ensued betwéene them of Bologna and Modeua They of this part at one time among other made a tumultuous inuasion on the territories of Bologna and finding some encounter which they looked not for by reason of their vnorderly proceeding they were enforced to returne yet they sought for some bootie in the stable of Bolognian Cittizen from whence the maister thereof had but lately before taken foorth his Asse and for feare escaped away thereon There found they the milking paile wherin the Asse before spoken on had drunke which they tooke away with them and mounting it on the point of a Launce after the maner of carrying some great Trophée they returned there with to the Cittie all the people of Modeua running to gaze theron as at a most rich spoyle gotten by conquest of warre which by them long time after was kept as an especiall example as we reade in the booke called the Annales of Lombardie But nowe returne wee to the other memories of the Asse 1 At the Cittie of Vercellis in the Church of Saint Lazarus is to bee séene a goodly auncient Sepulcher of Marble on the couerture whereof is verie linely carued an Asse lying along verie formally euen as the figures of men are shaped vppon Toombes And there are certaine letters engrauen at the féete of the said Asse but nothing can be made of any sillable by reason they are so defaced by antiquitie Here I confesse and that for some reuerence which dutifully I beare to the Asse not to haue founde any other Sepulcher carrying remembrance of the Asse but only this one albeit I haue spared no labour in reading ouer bookes sufficient beside all other possible dilligence imployed 1 Apuleius wrote a booke intituled the golden Asse 2 Plautus composed a Comedie called Asinaria I could neuer know what booke that was which gaue matter to our Poet thus to sing Now do I call to minde a new rare praise Worthie so many Dukes and Emperours Which in the Asses booke is found alwaies Wherefore I am now content to prosecute the search therof no further in hope another time to vnderstand more of it 1 Bartolus the famous Lawier in L. 1. F. de sup L. leg speaketh of a lawe which willeth that the Testator making a bond of his mooueables to a straunger and letting passing his setled good to his kindred that rightfully should as heires succéed this lawe limitteth and appointteth that his Asse if he happened to haue any is not comprehended among the mooueables But as a good stable and setled without any other implication the same Asse shall remain to his kindred y ◠do inherit the goods seated And this lawe for this purpose do I account sufficient because I am loth to trouble myselfe in searching huge lawe Libraries for any other for my labour therin would excéed the Asses 1 No sort of frutes are found but beare name of some beaste or of a man as the Apple of Appius the Prune Maximillian of Maximillianus and that of the Asse which is the sort of Prunes named great good faire and yelow being rightly tearmed the Prune Asinare 2 There is a kind of Cucumber which much auaileth for medicine and it is called Cucumber Asini 2 Nouius Marcellus recordeth that the Romanes of old would celebrate the feast of the gardein God whereat the husbands children only should be present each one out-brauing other vpon his Asse and so ryding on this beast thrée times they would circle the temple about Afterward they should cast lottes and his Asse to whome the lot fell must haue his throte cut with whose blood each filling a little glasse viall they would striue to maister one another by throwing the same in the face of statue which represented the God of the gardein 2 Herodotus a most auncient writer reports that the Gréekes were wont yearly to celebrate the feast Asinaria in memorie of that notable victorie which the Athenian had against the Persians neare to the Riuer Asinone 1 Among all the pastimes wherein most and least delighted concerning table play was the game called Scarralasino to wit vnlead the Asse whereat by imitation of the Asse who suffers himselfe to be ridden by all persons indifferently all the standers by may play and easily learne it without any labour 2 Schoole-children
in what place so ere he haps to fall Heel'e nere returne to hurt himselfe withall We cannot deny but that the Asse serueth as a spectacle and most singuler example of patience because it is a vsuall thing for fathers mothers and such like simply to aduise their children or friendes that in affaires of this world they should séeme to haue the backe of an Asse meaning that it behoues them in all things to arme themselues with patience Should we spare to speake of his constancie wherwith how much he is endued the Asse which was so displeased with them of Padua doth very well declare For they hauing drawne into the Cittie the water of * Bacchiglione where first of all the Asse vsed ordinarily to drinke so outragiously did he shew himselfe offended at this water mingling as it is impossible euer after to make him drinke of that water And herehence grew the Prouerbe All Padua had not the power to make the Asse drinke by reason he perseuered most constantly in his honourable resolution In regard whereof if we would giue him that due which we owe as a debt A hood we should prouide the Asse by right As to a person that so well deserues it Shapte like the birds that singeth still by night But to kéep nothing from him that is reputed of worth yet hold him still in estéeme and render him such honour as is conuenient for him let it suffise vs before we offer in ought to despise him that first we call to memorie that through contemning and reprouing the Asse some notable daunger hath ensued yea matter of death Who knowes not what happened to great King Mydas because he offered wrong to the Asse Let them looke on his picture and they shall sée his eares shaped like to the Asses And therefore very wisely our Poet wrote of him saying King Mydas that the Asse so iniured To his owne shame by Bacchus was reproou'd And had such chastisement as he deserued But let vs speake of some who by the meanes of such wrongs offered haue brought themselues to the extréemest point of death There are now certaine yeares past since I being in Zara a citie of Sclauonia I sawe one led to the gallowes to be executed whose name was Iiacomo Schiffalasino who being first brought to prison among other malefactors and by the discréet Iudge appointed to the torture because he should confesse wherein they had offended he not hauing any detection wherewith to charge them or that was sufficient to touch them as they should be But first he beganne to consider on the sirname of Schiffalasino and approuing that sir-name for a sufficient detection terrified him thereby so strictly and in such sort as the poore man confessed the faults which both he and his companions had committed Whereupon he caused him with the rest to be hanged by the neckes and as the common prouerbe is sent them to shake their héeles against the winde If this example may not be thought sufficient let vs then call to mind the death of Philemon the Philosopher who tooke offence at one of his Asses that in token of a singular or magnificent minde put forth himselfe to eate of preserued figges which were serued in to the Table for his maister Hereat he fell into such extremitie of laughter or derision that there sodeinly he died as our Poet verie excellently singing affirmeth Philemon when his Asse he had espied To eate of Figges prepared for his table Such was his laughter that therein he died But if contrariwise we would consider what good and happie successe hath ensued such encounters wherein the Asse hath receiued no iniurie we might the more easily resolue to honor and hold them in such estéeme as fortunate diuining auguries haue deserued to be And whosoeuer hath made diligent obseruation of them shall finde they haue saued the liues of many yea in doubtfull battailes and most bloodie fights they shewed before hand assured victorie What saued the life of great Caius Marius who had bene Consull six times but only an Asse whose iestures be diligently obseruing when by the Minturnes he was committed prisoner to Fauuias house where he noted how swiftly he rusht out of doore and ranne to drinke at the néerest fountaine He then aduising on this progresse of the Asse sayd That the Goddes had sent this beast before hand to signifie that by his sodeine running to the â—ountaine he should receiue thereby most certaine augurie that there was no other meane left for him to escape with life then by water Whereupon hauing gotten forth of the aforesaid prison he went and imbarqued himselfe at the next port and fled into Affrica where he saued himselfe Vincentio Cartari in his booke of Images of the auncient Gods saith that the Ambraciotti and Sicioni people of Greece being in warre togither an ambush was laide in a wood to intrap them that were to issue forth of the Citie At the same time it happened that a man driuing his Asse toward the Citie with certaine lading on his backe his beast by chance sented a shée Asse going before which made him follow after braying so loud as possibly he could And pacing on faster then his maister would willingly he should both the Asses at length began to bray togither each beast answering the other falling and rising with their voyces in such straunge and confused noyse that the Sicioni terrified with the murmure were glad to be gone from where they laie hid and so betooke themselues to flight The Ambraciotti being aduertised thereof pursued and ouerthrew them Afterward they made a goodly Asse of mettall which they sent to be offred at Delphos in the Temple of Apollo for a memorie of their good fortune by the Asse and which they perswaded themselues had not else happened to them but only by that singular beast Higinus the Historian recordeth that when the Goddes Bacchus and Vulcan fought with the Giants they entred the battaile mounted on Asses We read likewise in Hedorotus the father of the Grecian historie that Darius going to warre against the Scithians led with him a great nomber of Asses that only by their noyse and braying made all the enemies horses take them to their héeles Afterwards the Scithians comming to assault Persia their horses were againe so affrighted with the dreadfull voyce of Asses as they fled and could not be enforced to abide Our Poet by these and such like effects being earnestly sollicited very elegantly singeth in this maner Forced to flight by his commaunding crie A mightie Armie did the Asse dismay By Scithians brought to warre yet glad to flie Beholde then whether wee haue good cause or no to holde the Asse in all estimation yet in these vnthankfull dayes of ours we sée him folde for a most base or rather a vile price albeit in elder ages he was of dearer value then euer was any other beast in the world Marcus Varro rehearseth that in his time an Asse was solde for
speake what Plinie rehearseth in his second booke and twentieth Chapter that of the corruption in the Asses carcasse is engendered the blacke Flie called a béetle which Flie as is said in the thirtieth booke and second Chapter the people of Egypt worshipped as a God perswading themselues that it was the very image of the Sun And this was because all the Béetles as Elianus writes and Snydas likewise confirmeth are male-kinde and haue no female among them in this maner then is their engendring continued The séed of the Oxe Horse or dung of the Asse spilt or spred on the ground which afterward they turne togither with their féete making therof the fashion of a bed and so lye thereon and circle it for twentie eight dayes togither when it receiueth forcible heate at the time for them to take life and thus appeares new engendred Béetles theron which are like to the Sun because he likewise spreads on the earth his vertue seminall Thus by his continuall course are they encreased flying vp toward heauen and the heate of his beames and as the Mooue reneweth euerie moneth so doth this kinde of Béetle stil renew Now let vs speake a little of the vertue which naturally appertaineth to the hoofe of the Asse according to Plinie when it is boyled in Asses milke and applied to weak sighted eyes it helpes them greatly taking all offence whatsoeuer from them and cleares the sight most miraculously Plutarche writeth in the life of Alexander the great that the poyson giuen him to drinke was an excéeding cold water gathered from a certaine Rocke in the Countrey of Nouaria which cannot be kept but in an Asses hoofe for all other things are not able to hold it but wil breake by reason of the extreame coldnesse Such then and so many are the stupendious actions notable graces and supernaturall gifts or quallities of the Asse which can neuer be sufficiently commended as therfore he deserueth to haue the chiefe place amongst all brutish beasts liuing on the earth By iust equitie whereof our Poet being intirely moued thus singeth If I would sing his due deserued praise This not another leafe would me suffise To name the vertues that him signifies And giues to him the palme of following daies Hence is it that wee néede make no great meruaile why the auncient Astrologers mooued by his so many natural perfections Noblenesse and excellencie doo honour him in heauen with the name of two starres placed in the signe of Cancer called Asinelle and in an other place they set downe thrée named Praesepe Asinelli the Asses maunger Nor can I but declare as succéeding in this place the great and diligent regard which euermore the auncient magnificent Lords had to make as one would say the Asses name immortall perswaded mooued and prouoked thereto by his so many rare and excellent qualities in aboundant sort bestowed on him by nature and speciall benignitie of celestiall fauour To the end I may then with some gratitude of mind leaue such a memorie to posteritie as shall make the Asses name to be perpetuall note how these things following haue bene entitled and honoured with the name of the Asse 1. Cities 2. Castles 3. Boroughes 4. Villages 5. Islands 6. Seas 7. Ports 8. Mountaines 9. Riuers 10. Bridges 11. Stréetes 12. High waies 13. Vallies 14. Towers 15. Fountaines 16. Sepulchers 17. Bookes 18. Lawes 19. Frutes 20. Feastes 21. Games 22. Oathes 23. Proper names 24. Families 25. Prouerbes And to the end this which I haue said may appearantly bee knowne binding my selfe willingly to the Asses name it wil be hard for me to gather and consort in this place two named things for each of the fiue and twentie before declared that only beare memorie of the Asse and so shall do for euer Nor shall I néed to collect any more then two of each though for euery one I could set downe ten at the least because I am loth to be troublesome to my selfe as also fearefull to hinder any from imitating the steppes of such Asse-friends 1 One of the most principall Cities in Persia not farre off from the great Citie of Selencia is called in the Persian tongue Zaucamora which in our language is as much to say as the Asses Citie 2 In Peloponesus or Morea if we wil so call it néere to the sea that lieth toward the West is the Citie named Asinari 1 In Calabria at the Marquesate of Oluito there is a Castle called Castello del gl'Asini 2 In Friuli about ten myles distant from Asola is an other tearmed Castello Asinino 1 In the territorie of Placentia is a village named Villa discontral Asino 2 Neare to Rome as ye go toward Braciano is a Village that hight Asina bella 1 In the territorie of Siena is a Borough called Asina luuga 2 On the way as we ryde from Bologna to Florence betwéene Loiano and Pietramala we come to a Borough tearmed Scarcalasino 1 Asinetta is an Island at the mouth of the red sea not much distant from the land on the East side where stands the strong Citie of Aden 2 In the Eupine sea called Mare Maiore on the North part neare to Palus Meotides there is a little Islande which aboundeth with swéete water and it is called Isola Asinina 1 Olaius Magnus a most diligent writer of the North parts affirmeth that the sea which from Norway we saile by to the Prouince of Lapponia called Schiuziroffi in our language is tearmed Mare Asinone 2 The great spacious 〈◊〉 which from the Realme of Ireland passeth on to Iseland of the Countrey people is called Mare Asinesco 1 In the Aegean sea neare to the Castle which vulgarely is called Dardanelli on the side of Asia is to be séene a most faire Port though not ouer bigge and it is named Porto Asinino 2 In the Isle of Cyprus before we arriue at the hauen of Famogosta a Port is found which is not very sure for yéelding shelter from the colde Northeast winde it is called Porto Asinetto 1 Ten myles of from Florence may ye discerne the mountain Asinaro where the obseruant Fryers of a Monasterie builded on the top of the mountaine daily serue God 2 On the part where Abrutium is seated in Italy is Mount Asinello on the top whereof is a Church dedicated to S. Eustatius 1 Neare the water Treuio by Abrucium is a little Riuer named the Riuer of Asino 2 In the territories of Ragusa or Epidaurus within sixe myles distance of the Cittie runneth the Riuer Asinesco which is a nauigable water and hath a defenceable Port at the Sea mouth 1 Among the ruines of Aquileia which was destroyed by Attyla is to be séene part of a most sumptuous Bridge at the head whereof stands a huge Asse of very pure marble which with her Dugges séedes two yoong Asses and this Bridge is yet called Pont ' Asinone On the other part of the same Bridge now ruined as the eldest men of the Countrey auouch was
were went to put some heauie thing on their head and binde an arme behinde being first hood winckled then would the rest runne about him thus vsed singing Vnload the Asse and if he feele not Looke to his standing that he reele not 1 Diodorus Siculus declareth that at such time as the Isle of Scicile was gouerned by tyrants there was a statute that a woman offending in adultrie should frée her selfe swearing she had not committed adulterie being brought before the head of an Asse which for this purpose was kept in the temple dedicated to God Bacchus 2 There was an vse among the Gentiles that they in iest willing to giue an oath to children they would fasten a lampe at their garment with a haubercher after the fashion of a long triangle and holding thereby say Sweare here vpon this eare of the Asse Here it remaines to speake of them that of olde haue bene named by the Asse and of families likewise which haue called themselues of the Asse But because they are infinit and all the skinnes in the land of Madiam cannot containe them I intend only to name two as hitherto of the rest I haue done leauing the endlesse number of the other to them that list imploy their paines about such a businesse But yet among so many I must not forget that famous nauall victory which the auncient Persians brought with them out of Egypt and Noacles a moste excellent Painter in those dayes desirous to remember the same by his Arte painted an Asse drinking at the Riuer Nilus in despight of the Crocadile which being ouercome in power and thus subiected stoode patiently to see him drinke as Plinie reporteth 1 Then not to let passe in silence the names of men called Asse as their proper names I may first alleadge the name of Asinius Gallus who was sonne to Scipio Affricanus And who desires to know an infinite number of men both Senators of other discents which by proper name were called Asini let him reade Ciceros Epistles to Atticus where he shall finde an endlesse beadrole 2 Here may I wel insert the name of a famous man a moderne Cittizen of Florence of the auncient family of the Asini to wit maister Asino whome the Historie of Florence faithfully reports to reforme and correct the statutes of the merchaunts for which his Asse-gloring name will for euer be renowmed in that Citie Pindarus and Macrobius in the fift booke of his Saturnalles affirmeth that the famous Gréeke which made the Horsse of wood by meanes whereof the Grecians got the Citie of Troy was called Asinon whereas Virgill naming him Sinon we may safely auouth that the good Poet who fauoured the Troyan part from whence the Romanes had their originall was procured to alter the name of the aforesaid Asinon euen no otherwise then the Grecians did when by publike decrée he was censured with banishment that should speake of his name who to get himselfe fame set on fire the Temple of Diana at Ephesus And so to conquere with obliuion such a famous Asinon whose praise well deserues to liue for euer they haue taken away his names first letter and in stéed of Asinon call him Sinon 1 We haue alreadie declared that in Florence liues the noble Familie of the Asini 2 In Pisa likewise is there another and in Bologna that of the Asinelli where also is stil celebrate the famous Tower which the noble Asinelli in elder times erected But to what end trouble I my wittes in this maner seeking by the light of an Asse-friending lanthorn for names sirnames and families séeing our Poet himselfe thus singeth If I should speake more matter of import By grounded reason I might safely say The Asse in men that are of learnedst sort Seemes to haue priuiledge and greatest sway Tis too well knowen wherefore I silent sit As hauing thereof neither spoke or writ Beside all this I doo not meruaile a little séeing such an infinit company of fooles who being honoured with the excelling name of Asse will yet runne he adiong to brabble and quarrell when setling to their weapons they will flash and cut they care not with whom All which happeneth by reason it is no common vse to apply the name of so Noble a beast to man who notwithstanding cares not for the ignomie to bee tearmed after other wicked beastes more vnbeséeming as to be called Beare Lyon Dogge and such like This was the cause that our Poet mooued by a thousand reasons saith Nor know I wherefore choller doth so daunt A man when he is tearmed by the Asses name Whereof me thinkes much rather he should vaunt Now procéed we to speake of the Asses Prouerbes 1 When a man will not repeate his wordes againe he vseth to say It is May no more or May is past so things are auoyded from twise speaking The meaning here of may be this because the first moneth that Asses doo make knowne to the worlde their louing nature to each other they send foorth their goodly swéet and continual brayings whereof they forme a melodious and proportionable kinde of musicke Nor thinke I that any of our immoderne Musitians can deny but that their song is full of exceeding pleasure to be heard because therein is to bee discerned both concord discord singing the meane the beginning to sing in large compasse then following on to rise and fall the halfe note whole note musicke of fiue voyces firme singing by foure voyces thrée togither or one voyce and a halfe Then their variable contrarietie amongst them when one deliuers foorth a long tenor or a short the pausing for time breathing in measure breaking the minim halfe minim or verie least moment of time Last of all to heare musicke of fiue or sixe voyces chaunged to so many of Asses is amongst them to heare a song of world without end Hence is it that a man being so attentiue to heare this kinde of Asse musicke cannot listen or lende his eare to what else is said to him and therefore it is lawfull by perticular priulledge of the said May moneth to repeate the words to such as without offence would learne them by heart nor shall it be taken so vnmanerly done as it were in any of the other moneths 2 When Apuleius sawe himselfe transformed into an Asse he resolued to shewe his maister by the effects of all his personage the great loue he bare him So after the maner of the house Dogge kéeping his hinder féete on the ground and rising vp with his former he so clambred vpon his maister as but a while before he had séene the litle Dogge doo And albeit his kinde Assehith intent he disclosed to his maister yet such maner of salutation in him was not taken in good part Hereof then it comes that when a man suspects or misdéemes of an others familiaritie he vseth to say He plaies the Asses pastime with me So was it went to be said What the Asse giues in such he