expert warriours indeed whether of them twaine performed his service and devoir better Being created censour he deprived a yoong gallant of his horse for that being given excessively to feast and make good cheere whiles the citie of Carthage was besieged he had caused a certeine marchpaine to be made by pastry-worke in forme of a citie and called it Carthage and when he had so done set it upon the boord to be spoiled and sacked forsooth by his companions and when this youth would needs know of him why he was thus disgraced and degraded as to lose his horse of service which was allowed him from the State Because quoth he you will needs rifle and pill Carthage before me During the time that he was censour he seeing one day C. Licinius as he passed by Now surely I knew this man quoth he for a perjured person but for that there is none to accuse him I will not be both his judge and a witnesse also to give evidence against him Being sent by the Senate a third commissioner with other Triumvirs according as Clitomachus said Mensmanners to observe and oversee Where they doe well and where they faultie bee to visit also and looke into the States of cities nations and kings When he was arrived at Alexandria and disbarked as he came first to land he went hooded as it were with his robe cast over his head but the Alexandrians running from all parts of the citie to see him requested him to discover his head that his face might be the better seene and he had no sooner uncovered his visage but they all cried out with great acclamations applauding and clapping their hands in signe of joy And when the king himselfe of Alexandria streined and strived with great paine so grosse so idle and delicate he was otherwise to keepe pace with him and the other commissioners as they walked Scipio rounded Panaetius softly in the eare and said The Alexandrians have reaped already the frure and enjoied the benefit of my voyage for that by our meanes they have seene their king to walke and go afoot There accompanied him in this voiage a friend of his and a Philosopher named Panaetius and five servitors besides to wait upon him and when one of these five hapned to die in this journey he would not buy another in a foreine countrey for to supply his place but sent for one to Rome to serve in his turne It seemed to the people of Rome that the Numantines were invincible and inexpugnable for that they had vanquished and defeated so many captaines and leaders of the Romans whereupon they chose this Scipio Consull the second time for to manage this warre now when many a lustie yoong gallant made meanes and prepared to follow him in this service the Senat empeached them alleaging colourably that Italy thereby should be left destitute of men for the defence of the countrey what need soever should be so they would not suffer him to take that money out of the treasurie which was prest and ready for him but assigned and ordeined certaine monies from the Publicanes and fermers of the cities customes and revenues to furnish him whose daies of paiment were not yet come As for money quoth Scipio I stand not in such need thereof that I should stay therefore for out of mine owne and my friends purses I shall have sufficient to defray my charges but I complaine rather that I may not be allowed to levie leade forth my soldiors such as I would and be willing to serve considering that it is a dangerous warre which we are to wage for if it be in regard of our enemies valour that our people have so often beene beaten and foiled by them then we shall finde it a hot peece of service and a hard to encounter such but if it be long of our owne mens cowardize no lesse difficult will it be because we are to fight with the slender helpe of such When he was newly arrived at the campe he found there great disorder much loosenesse superstition and wastfull superfluity in all things so he banished presently all diviners prophets and tellers of fortune he rid out of the way all sacrificing priests all bauds likewise that kept brothel-houses he chased foorth and he gave slreight charge that every man should send away all maner of vessels and utensils save onely a pot or kettle to seeth his meat in a spit to roast and a drinking jugge of earth as for silver plate he allowed no man more in all than weighed two pounds he put downe all baines and stouphes but if any were disposed to be annointed he gave order that every man should take paine to rubbe himselfe for he said that beasts who had no hands of their owne needed another for to rub and currie them he ordeined that his soldiers should take their dinner standing and eate their meat not hot and without fire but at supper they might sit downe who that list and feed upon bread or single grewell and plaine potrage together with one simple dish of flesh either boiled or rost as for himselfe he wore a cassocke or soldiors coat all blacke buttoned close or buckled before saying That he mourned for the shame of his armie He met with certaine garrons and labouring beasts belonging to one Memmius a collonel of a thousand men carying drinking cups and other plate enriched with precious stones and wrought curiously by the hands of Thericles whereupon he said unto him Thou hast made thy selfe unsit to serve me and they countrey for these thirtie daies being such an one as thou art and surely being given to these superfluities thou art disabled for doing thy selfe good all the daies of thy life Another there was who shewed him what a trim shield or target he had finely made and richly adorned Here is a faire goodly shield indeed quoth he my yoong man but I 〈◊〉 thee a Romane soldior ought to trust his right hand better than his left There was one who carying upon his shoulder a bunch of pales or burden of stakes for to pitch in the rampar complained that he was over-laden Thou art but well enough served quoth he in that thou reposest more confidence in these stakes than in thy sword Seeing his enemies the Numantines how they grew rash desperate and foolishly bent he would not in that fit charge upon them and give battell but held off still saying That with tract of time he would buy the surety and securitie of his affaires For a good captaine quoth he ought to doe like a wise physician who will never proceed to the cutting or dismembring of a part but upon extremitie namely when all other means of physicke doe faile howbeit when he espied a good occasion and fit opportunitie he assaulted the Numantines and overthrew them which when the old beaten soldiers or elders of the Numantines saw they rebuked and railed upon their owne men thus defaited asking them
serve for foure obols by the day After that the Thebans had defaited the Lacedaemonians at the battell of Leuctres they invaded the countrey of Laconia so farre as to the verie river Eurotas and one of them in boasting glorious maner began to say And where be now these brave Laconians what is become of them a Laconian who was a captive among them straight waies made this answer They are no where now indeed for if they were you would never have come thus farre as you doe At what time as the Athenians delivered up their owne citie into the hands of the Lacedaemonians for to be at their discretion they requested that at leastwise they would leave them the isle Samos unto whom the Laconians made this answer When you are not masters of your owne doe you demand that which is other mens hereupon arose the common proverbe throughout all Greece Who cannot that which was his owne save The Isle of Samos would yet faine have The Lacedaemonians forced upon a time a certaine citie and wan it by assault which the Ephori being advertised of said thus Now is the exercise of our yoong men cleane gone now shall they have no more concurrents to keepe them occupied When one of their kings made promise unto them for to rase another citie and destroy it utterly if they so would which oftentimes before had put those of Lacedaemon to much trouble the said Ephori would not permit him saying thus unto him Doe not emolish and take away quite the whetstone that giveth an edge to the harts of our youth The same Ephori would never allow that there should be any professed masters to teach their yong men for to wrestle and exercise other feats of activitie To this end say they that there might bee jealousie and emulation among them not in artificiall slight but in force and vertue And therefore when one demaunded of Lysander how Charon had in wrestling overcome him and laid him along on the plaine ground Even by slight and cunning quoth he and not by pure strength Philip king of Macedonia before he made entrie into their country wrote unto them to this effect Whether they had rather that he entred as a friend or as an enemie unto whom they returned this answer Neither one nor the other When they had sent an embassador to Demetrius the sonne of Antigonus having intelligence that the said embassadour in parle with him eftsoones gave him the name of King they condemned him to pay a fine when he was returned home notwithstanding that hee brought as a present and gratuitie from the said Demetrius in time of extreme famine a certain measure of corne called Medimnus for every poll throughout the whole citie It hapned that a leud and wicked man delivered in a certaine consultation very good counsell this advice of his they approoved right well howbeit receive it they would not comming out of his mouth but caused it to be pronounced by another who was knowen to be a man of good life Two brethren there were at variance and in sute of law together the Ephori set a good fine upon their fathers head for that he neglected his sonnes and suffred them to maintaine quarrell and debate one against another A certaine musician who was a stranger and a traveller they likewise condemned to pay a summe of money for that he strake the strings of his harpe with his fingers Two boies fought together and one gave the other a mortall wound with a sickle or reaping hooke when the boy that was hurt lay at the point of death was ready to yeeld up the ghost other companions of his promised to be revenged for his death and to kill the other who thus deadly had wounded him Doe not so I beseech you quoth he as you love the gods for that were injustice and euen I my selfe had done as much for him if I had beene ought and could have raught him first There was another yong lad unto whom certaine mates and fellows of his in that season wherin yong lads were permitted freely to filtch whatsoever they could handsomely come by but reputed it was a shamefull and infamous thing for them to be surprized and taken in the maner brought a yong cub or little foxe to keepe alive which they had stollen those who had lost the said cub came to make search now had this lad hidden it close under his clothes the unhappie beast being angred gnawed bit him in the flanke as far as to his very bowels which he endured resolutely and never quetched at it for feare he should be discovered but after all others were gone and the search past when his companions saw what a shrewd turne the curst cub had done him they child him for it saying That it had been far better to have brought forth the cub and shewed him rather than to hide him thus with danger of death Nay Iwis quoth he for I had rather die with all the dolorous torments in the world than for to save my life shamefully to be detected so for want of a good heart Some there were who encountred certaine Laconians upon the way in the countrey unto whom they said Happie are you that can come now this way for the theeves are but newly gone from hence Nay forsooth by god Mars we sweare we are never the happier therefore but they rather because they are not fallen into our hands One demaunded of a Laconian upon a time what he knew and was skilfull in Mary in this to be free A yoong lad of Sparta being taken prisoner by King Antigonus and sold among other captives obeied him who had bought him in all things that he thought meet for to be done by a freeman but when he commaunded to bring him an urinall or chamber-pot to pisse in he would not endure that indignitie but said Fetch it your selfe for me I am no servant for you in such ministeries now when his master urged him thereto and pressed hard upon him hee ran up to the ridge or roofe of the house and said You shall see what an one you have bought and with that cast himselfe downe with his head forward and brake his owne necke Another there was to be sold and when the partie who was about him said thus Wilt thou be good and profitable if I doe buy thee Yea that I will quoth he though you never buy me Another there was likewise upon market and when the crier proclaimed aloud Here is a slave who buies him who A shame take thee quoth he couldst not thou say a captive or prisoner but a slave A Laconian had for the badge or ensigne of his buckler a slie painted and the same no bigger than one is naturally whereupon some mocked him and said That he had mad choise of this ensigne because he would not be knowen by it Nay rather quoth he I did it because I would be the better marked for I meane
Philosophie But I pray you my very good friend quoth I unto him forbeare this vehement and accusatorie humour of yours and be not angry if haply you see that some because they be borne of leud and wicked parents are punished or else doe not rejoice so much nor be ready to praise in case you see nobilitie also of birth to be so highly honored for if we stand upon this point and dare avow that recompence of vertue ought by right and reason to continue in the line and posteritie we are by good consequence to make this account that punishment likewise should not stay and cease together with misdeeds committed but reciprocally fall upon those that are descended of misdoers and malefactors for he who willingly seeth the progenie of Cimon honoured at Athens and contrariwise is offended and displeased in his heart to see the race of Lachares or Ariston banished driven out of the citie he I say seemeth to be too soft tender and passing effeminate or rather to speake more properly over-contentious and quarrelsome even against the gods complaining and murmuring of the one side if the children childrens children of an impious wicked person do prosper in the world and contrariwise is no lesse given to blame and find fault if he doe see the posterity of wicked and ungracious men to be held under plagued or altogether destroied from the face of the earth accusing the gods if the children of a naughtie man be afflicted even as much as if they had honest persons to their parents But as for these reasons alledged make you this reckoning that they be bulwarks and rampars for you opposed against such bitter sharpe accusers as these be But now taking in hand again the end as it were of a clew of thread or a bottom of yearne to direct us as in a darke place and where there be many cranks turnings and windings to and fro I meane the matter of gods secret judgements let us conduct and guide our selves gently and warily according to that which is most likely probable considering that even of those things which we daily manage and doe our selves we are not able to set downe an undoubted certaintie as for example who can yeeld a sound reason wherefore we cause and bid the children of those parents who died either of the phthisick and consumption of the lungs or of the dropsie to sit with their feet drenched in water until the dead corps be fully burned in the funeral fire For an opiniō there is that by this meanes the said maladies shall not passe unto them as hereditarie nor take hold of their bodies as also what the cause should be that if a goat hold in her mouth the herbe called Eryngites that is to say Sea-holly the whole flocke will stand still untill such time as the goat-herd come and take the said herbe out of her mouth Other hidden properties there be which by secret influences and passages from one to another worke strange effects and incredible as well speedily as in longer tract of time and in very truth we woonder more at the intermission and stay of time betweene than we doe of the distance of place and yet there is greater occasion to marvell thereat as namely that a pestilent maladie which began in Aethiopia should raigne in the citie of Athens and fill every street and corner thereof in such sort as Pericles died and Thucydides was sicke thereof than that when the Phocaeans and Sybarits had committed some hainous sins the punishment therefore should fall upon their children go through their posteritie For surely these powers and hidden properties have certaine relations and correspondences from the last to the first the cause whereof although it be unknowen to us yet it ceaseth not secretly to bring foorth her proper effects But there seemeth to be verie apparent reason of justice that publicke vengeance from above should fall upon cities many a yeere after for that a citie is one entire thing and a continued body as it were like unto a living creature which goeth not beside or out of it selfe for any mutations of ages nor in tract and continuance of time changing first into one and then into another by succession but is alwaies uniforme and like it selfe receiving evermore and taking upon it all the thanke for well doing or the blame for misdeeds of whatsoever it doth or hath done in common so long as the societie that linketh holdeth it together maintaineth her unitie for to make many yea innumerable cities of one by dividing it according to space of time were as much as to go about to make of one man many because he is now become old who before was a yong youth in times past also a very stripling or springall or else to speake more properly this resembleth the devises of Epicharmus wherupon was invented that maner of Sophisters arguing which they cal the Croissant argument for thus they reason He that long since borrowed or tooke up mony now oweth it not because he is no more himselfe but become another he that yesterday was invited to a feast cōmeth this day as an unbidden guest cōsidering that he is now another man And verily divers ages make greater difference in ech one of us than they do commonly in cities and States for he that had seene the citie of Athens thirtie yeeres agoe and came to visit it at this day would know it to be altogether the very same that then it was insomuch as the maners customes motions games pastimes serious affaires favours of the people their pleasures displeasures and anger at this present resemble wholly those in ancient time whereas if a man be any long time out of sight hardly his very familiar friend shall be able to know him his countenance will be so much changed and as touching his maners and behaviour which alter and change so soone upon every occasion by reason of all sorts of labour travell accidents and lawes there is such varietie and so great alteration that even he who is ordinarily acquainted and conversant with him would marvell to see the strangenesse and noveltie thereof and yet the man is held and reputed still the same from his nativitie unto his dying day and in like case a citie remaineth alwaies one and the selfe same in which respect we deeme it great reason that it should participate aswell the blame and reproch of ancestours as enjoy their glorie and puissance unlesse we make no care to cast all things in the river of Heraclitus into which by report no one thing entreth twise for that it hath a propertie to alter all things and change their nature Now if it be so that a citie is an united and continued thing in it selfe we are to thinke no lesse of a race and progenie which dependeth upon one and the same stocke producing and bringing foorth a certeine power and communication of qualities and the same doth
most sant oblations that is for so saith Epaminondas the Thebane fighting valiantly and exposing your selves to the most honorable and bravest services that be in defence of countrey of your auncestors tombes and sepulchers and of your temples and religion mee thinks also I see their victories comming toward mee in solemne pompe and procession not drawing or leading after them for their prize and reward an ox or a goat neither be the said victories crowned with ivie or smelling strong of new wine in the lees as the Bacchanales doe but they have in their traine whole cities islands continents and firme lands as well mediterranean as maritime sea-coasts together with new colonies of ten thousand men a piece to be planted heere and there and withall crowned they be and adorned on every side with trophaes with triumphes pillage and booty of all sorts the ensignes badges and armes that these victorious captaines give the images also that they represent in shew be their stately beautiful temples as the Parthenon the Hecatompedos their city walles on the south side the arcenals to receive lodge their ships their beautifull porches and galleries the province of the demy isle Chersonesus the city Amphipolis as for the plaine of Marathon it goeth before the laureat garland and victorie of Miltiades Solanius accompanieth that of Themistocles trampling under his feet and going over the broken timber and shipwracke of a thousand vessels as for the victory of Cimon it bringeth with it an hundred Phaenician great gallies from the rivers Eurymedon that of Demosthenes and Cleon comes from Sphacteria with the targuet of captaine Brasidas wonne in the field and a number of his souldiers captive and bound in chaines the victory of Conon walled the city and that of Thrasibulus reduced the people with victorie and liberty from Phyle the sundry victories of Alcibiades set upright the State of the city which by the infortunate overthrow in Sicilie reeled and was ready to fall to the ground and by the battel 's fought by Neleus and Androclus in Lydia and Carta Greece saw all Jonta raised up againe and supported And if a man demaund of each one of the other victories what benefit hath accrued unto the city by them one will name the isle Lesbos and another Samos one will speake of the Euxine sea and another of sive hundred gallies and he shall have another talke of ten thousand talents over and above the honour and glory of trophaees These be the causes why this city doeth solemnize and celebrate to many festivall daies and heereupon it is that it offreth sacrifices as it doeth to the gods not iwis for the victory of Aeschylus or Sophocles nor for the prizes of poetry no nor when Carcinus lay with Aerope or Astidamus with Hector But upon the sixth of May even to this present day the city holdeth festivall the memory of that victory in the plaines of Marathon and the sixth day of * another * moneth maketh a solemne offring of wine unto the gods in remembrance of that victorie which Chabrias obteined neere unto the isle Naxos and upon the 12. day of the same moneth there is another sacrifice likewise performed in the name of a thankes-giving to the gods for their liberty recovered because upon the same day those citizens which were prisoners and in bondage within Phyle came downe and returned into the city upon the third day of March they wonne the famous field of Platea and the sixteenth day of the said March they consecrated to Diana for on that day this goddesse shone bright and it was full moone to the victorious Greeks before the isle of 〈◊〉 The noble victory which they archieved before the citie of Mantinea made the twelfth day of September more holy and with greater solemnity observed for upon that day when all other their allies and associates were discomfited and put to flight they onely by their valour wonne the field and erected a trophae over their enemies who were upon the point of victory See what hath raised this city to such grandence Lo what hath exalted it to so high a pitch of honor and this was the cause that Pindarus called the city of Athens the pillar that supported Greece not for that by the tragedies of Phrynichus or Thespis if set the fortune of the Greeks upright but in regard of this that as himselfe writeth in another place along the coast of Artemisium Where Athens youth as poet Pindar said Of freedome first the glorious ground worke laid And afterwards at Salamis at Mycale and Plataees having setled it firme and strong as upon a rocke of diamonds they delivered it from hand to hand unto others But haply some man will say True it is indeed all that ever poets doe are no better than sports and pastimes But what say you to oratours they seeme to have some prerogative gative and ought to be compared with martiall captaines whereupon it may seeme as Aeschynes scoffing merily and quipping at Demosthenes said That there is some reason why the barre or pulpit for publicke orations may commence action and processe against the tribunall seat of generals and their chaire of estate Is it then meet and reasonable that the oration of Hyperides intituled Plataicus should be preferred before the victory which Aristides wonne before the city Platea or the oration of Lysies against the thirty tyrants goe before the massacre and execution of them performed by Thrasybelus and Archias or that of Aeschines against Timarchus being accused for keeping harlots and a brothell house before the aide that Phocion brought into the city of Byzantium besieged by which succour he impeached the Macedonians and repressed their insolent vilanies and outrages committed in abusing the children of the Athenian consederates or shall we compare the oration of Demosthenes as touching the crowne with those publicke and honorable coronets which Themistocles received for setting Greece free considering that the most excellent place of all the said oration and fullest of eloquence is that wherein the said oratour conjureth the soules of those their auncestors and citeth them for witnesses who in the battell of Marathon exposed their lives with such resolution for the saftie of Greece or shall we put in balance to weigh against woorthy warriours these that in schooles teach yoong men rhetoricke namely such as Isocrates Antiphon and Isaeus But certeine it is that this city honored those valiant captaines with publicke funerals and with great devotion gathered up the reliques of their bodies yea and the same oratour canonized them for gods in heaven when he sware by them although he followed not their steps and Isocrates who extolled and highly praised those who manfully sought willing were to spend their hartbloud in the battell of Marathon saying that they made so little account of their lives as if their owne soules had bene else-where other mens in their bodies magnifying this their resolution and the small
factour that thus bought and solde in their name was called Poletes 30 What is that which in Thracia they call Araeni Acta that is to say the Shore of Araenus THe Andrians and Chalcidians having made a voiage into Thrace for to chuse out a place to inhabit surprised jointly together the citie Sana which was betraied and delivered into their hands And being advertised that the Barbarians had abandoned the towne Achantus they sent forth two spies to know the truth thereof these spies approched the towne so neere that they knew for certaine that the enemies had quit the place and were gone The partie who was for the Chalcidians ran before to take the first possession of it in the name of the Chalcidians but the other who was for the Andrians seeing that he could not with good footmanship overtake his fellow flang his dart or javelin from him which he had in his hand and when the head thereof stucke in the citie gate he cried out aloud that he had taken possession thereof in the behalfe of the Andrians with his javelin head Hereupon arose some variance and controversie betweene these two nations but it brake not out to open warre for they agreed friendly together that the Erythraeans Samians and Parians should be the indifferent judges to arbitrate and determine all their debates and sutes depending betweene them But for that the Erythraeans and Samians awarded on the Andrians side and the Parians for the Chalcidians the Andrians in that verie place tooke a solemne oth and bound the same with inprecations curses and maledictions that they would never either take the daughters of the Parians in mariage or affiance their owne unto them and for this cause they gave this name unto the place and called it the Shore or banke of Araenus where as before it was called the Port of of the Dragon 31 Why do the wives of the Eretrians at the solemne feast of Ceres rost their flesh meat not at the fire but against the Sunne and never call upon her by the name of Calligenia IT is for that the dames of Troy whom the king led away captive were celebrating this feast in this place but because the time served to make saile they were enforced to haste away and leave their sacrifice unperfect and unfinished 32 Who be they whom the Milessians call Ainautae AFter that the tyrants Thoas and Damasenor had beene defaited there arose within the city two factions that mainteined their several sides the one named Plontis the other Cheiromacha In the end that of Plontis who were indeed the richest mightiest persons in the city prevailed and having gotten the upper hand seised the soveregne authority government and because when they minded to sit in consultation of their waightiest affaires they went a ship-boord and launched into the deepe a good way off from the land and after they had resolved and decreed what to doe returned backe againe into the haven therefore they were surnamed Ainautae which is as much to say as alway sailing 33 What is the cause that the Chalcidians name one place about Pyrsophion The assembly of lusty gallants NAuplius as the report goeth being chased and pursued by the Achaeans fledde for refuge like an humble suppliant to the Chalcidians where partly hee answered to such imputations which were laide against him and in part by way of recrimination recharged them with other misdemeanors and outrages whereupon the Chalcidians being not purposed to deliver him into their hands and yet fearing lest by treachery and privy practise hee should be made away and murdred allowed him for the guard of his person the very flower of the lustiest yoong gallants in all their citie whom they lodged in that quarter where they might alwaies converse and meet together and so keepe Nauplius out of danger 34 What was he who sacrificed an ox unto his benefactour THere hovered sometime a shippe of certeine men of warre or rovers and ankered about the coast of Ithacestia within which there was an old man who had the charge of a number of earthen pots conteining Amphors a piece with pitch in them now it fortuned that a poore mariner or barge-man named Pyrrhias who got his living by ferrying and transporting passengers approched the said shippe and delivered the old man out of the rovers hands and saved his life not for any gaine that hee looked for but onely at his earnest request and for very pure pitie and compassion now in recompence heereof albeit hee expected none the old man pressed instantly upon him to receive some of those pots or pitchers aforesaid the rovers were not so soone retired and departed out of the way but the old man seeing him at libertie and secure of danger brought Pyrrhias to these earthen vessels and shewed unto him a great quantitie of gold and silver mingled with the pitch Pyrrhtas heerby growing of a sudden to be rich and full of money entreated the old man very kindly in all respects otherwise and besides sacrificed unto him a beese and heereupon as they say arose this common proverb No man ever sacrificed an ox unto his benefactour but Pyrrhias 35 What is the cause that it was a custome among the maidens of the Bottiaeans in their dauncing to sing as it were the faburden of a song Go we to Athens THe Candiots by report upon a vow that they had made sent the first borne of their men unto Delphos but they that were thus sent seeing they could not finde sufficient meanes there to live in plentie departed from thence to seeke out some convenient place for a colonie to inhabite and first they setled themselves in Japigia but afterwards arrived to this verie place of Thracia where now they are having certeine Athenians mingled among them for it is not like that Minos had caused those yoong men to be put to death whom the Athenians had sent unto him by way of tribute but kept them for to doe him service some therefore of their issue descended from them being reputed naturall Candiots were with them sent unto the citie of Delphos which is the reason that the yoong daughters of the Bottiaeans in remembrance of this their originall descent went singing in their festivall daunces Go we to Athens 36 What should be the reason that the Eliens wives when they chaum himnes to the honour of Bacchus pray him to come unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say with his bull foote for the hymne runneth in this forme pleaseth it thee right woorthy lord Bacchus to come unto this holy maritime temple of thine accompanied with the Graces 〈◊〉 I say to this temple with an ox or beefe foot then for the faburden of the song they redouble O woorthy bull ô woorthy bull IS it for that some name this god The sonne or begotten of a cow and others tearme him Bul or is the meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with thy great foot
caused him to be condemned for his contumacy in that he failed to answer at the day assigned for his triall that verie yeere when Theopompus was Provost of the citie under whom the foure hundred conspiratours and usurpers of the common-weale were put downe and overthrowen Now the decree of the Senate by vertue whereof ordained it was That Antiphon should be judicially tried and condemned Cecilius hath put downe in these tearmes The one and twentith day of Prytaneia when Demonicus of Alopece was secretarie or publike notarie Philostratus of Pellene chiefe commander upon the proposition or bill-preferred of Andron the Senate hath ordained as touching these persons namely Archiptolemus Onomacles and Antiphon whom the captaines have declared against that they went in embassage unto Lacedaemon to the losse and detriment of the citie of Athens and departed from the camp first in an enemies ship and so passed by land by Decelia that their bodies should be attached and cast into prison for to abide justice and punishment according to law Item that the captaines themselves with certaine of the Senate to the number of ten such as it pleased them to chuse and nominate should make presentment and give in evidence that upon the points alledged and prooved judgement might passe according Item that the Thesmothetes should call for the said persons judicially the verie next morow after they were committed and convent them before the judges after that they be chosen by lot when and where they should accuse the captaines with the orators abovesaid of treason yea whosoever els would come in he should be heard Item when sentence is concluded and pronounced against them then the judgement of condemnation shall be executed according to the forme and tenure of the law established in case of traitors Vnder the instrument of this decree was subscribed the condemnation of treason in this manner Condemned there were of treason Archiptolemus the sonne of Hippodamus of Agryle present Antiphon the sonne of Sophilus of Rhamus likewise present and awarded it was by the court that these two should be delivered over into the hands of the eleven executors of justice their goods to be confiscate the disme whereof to be consecrate unto the goddesse Minerva their houses to be demolished and pulled downe to the very ground and upon the borders of the plots wherein they stood this superscription to be written Here stood the houses of Archiptolemus and of Antiphon two traitours of the State *** Also that it might not bee lawfull to enter or burie the bodie of Archiptolemus and of Antiphon within the citie of Athens nor in any part belonging to their domain or territorie That their memorie should be infamous and all their posteritie after them as well hastards as legitimate and that whosoever adopted any one of Archiptolemus or Antiphons children for his sonne himselfe should be held infamous Finally that all this should be engrossed and engraven in a columne of brasse wherein also should be set downe the sentence and decree which passed as concerning Phrynichus ANDOCIDES II. ANdocides was the sonne of that Leagoras who somtime made a peace betweene the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians borne in the tribe of Cydathene or Thurie descended from a noble house and as Hellanicus saith even from Mercurie for the race of the Ceryces that is Heraults pertaineth unto him and therefore chosen he was upon a time with Glaucon for to go with a fleet of twentie saile to aide the Corcyreans who warred upon the Corinthians But after all this accused he was of impietie and irreligion for that hee with others had mangled and defaced the images of Mercurie that stood within the citie also for that he had trespassed against the holy mysteries and sacred ceremonies of Ceres in as much as being before time a wild youth and loosely given he went in a maske one night and brake certaine images of the god Mercurie whereupon I say he was judicially convented And because he would not deliver and bring foorth to be examined upon torture that servant of his whom his accusers called for he was held attaint convict of that crime which was laid to his charge yea for the second imputation charged upon him verie deeply suspected for which also he was called into question not long after the setting foorth of the great Armada at sea which went into Sicily when the Corinthians had sent certaine Aegesians and Leontines into the citie of Athens unto whom the Athenians privately were to yeeld aid succour in the night season they brake all the images of Mercury which stood about the market place as Cratippus saith Well being suspected for offending against the sacred mysteries of Ceres thereupon judicially called to his answer he escaped judgement of condemnation and was acquit so that he would discover and declare the delinquents and offenders indeed Now having emploied his whole studie endever there about he wrought so that he found out those who were faultie as touching the sacred mysteries aforesaid among whom was his owne father As for all the rest when they were convicted he caused them to be put to death only his fathers life he saved although he was already in prison promising with all that he would doe much good service unto the common-weale wherein he failed not of his word For Leagoras accused many who had robbed and embezilled the cities treasure and committed other wicked parts by the meanes whereof he was absolved Now albeit Andocides was in great name and reputation for mannaging the affaires of common-weale yet neverthelesse he set his mind to trafficke and merchandize at sea whereby hee got amitie and entred into league of hospitalitie which many princes and great potentates but principally with the king of Cyprus and it was than that he stole and carried away a citizens child the daughter of Aristides and his owne niece without the privitie and consent of her friends and sent her closely for a present to the said king of Cyprus but when he was upon the point to be called in question judicially for this fact he stole her privily away againe out of Cyprus and brought her home to Athens Hereupon the king of Cyprus caused hands to be laid upon him where he was kept in prison but he brake loose and escaped to Athens at the verie time when the foure hundred conspiratours and usurpers governed the State and being by them cast into prison he got away againe when the said Olygarchie was dissolved Howbeit he was drawen out of the citie when the thirtie tyrants ruled all and usurped their government During which time of his exile he abode in the citie of Elis but when Thrasibulus and his adhaerents returned into the city he also repaired thither and was sent in an embassage to Lacedaemon where being taken againe in a trip he was for his ill demeanour banished All these premises appeare evidently by his orations which he hath written for in some of them
and spitefull speeches for envious and malicious persons NARRATIONS OF LOVE The Summarie IN this discourse Plutarch relateth five tragicall histories which shew the pitifull accidents that befell certeine persons transported with the inordinate and irregular affection of Love leaving thereby unto the reader a faire and cleere mirrour wherein to beholde the judgements of God upon those that abandon themselves to be carried away by intemperance and loosenesse NARRATIONS OF LOVE IN the citie Aliartos situate within Boeotia there was sometime a yoong maiden of excellent beautie named Aristoclea and the daughter she was of Theophanes and two yoong gentlemen there were that made sute unto her in way of mariage to wit Straton an Orchomenian Callisthenes of Aliartos aforesaid Now was Straton the richer of the twaine and farre more enamoured of the damosell for seene her he had when she washed herselfe in the fountaine of Ercyne which is in Lebadia against the time that she was to carrie in procession to Jupiter surnamed King a sacred panier as the maner was of the Canephorae to do But Callisthenes had the vantage of him and was deeper in her love for that he was besides neere of kin unto the virgin So Theophanes her father being doubtfull what to doe for he stood in feare of Straton as one who for wealth and noble parentage went well-neere beyond all the Boeotians resolved at length to referre the choise unto the oracle of Jupiter Trophonius but Straton who was borne in hand by those of the house about Aristoclea that she inclined more unto him laboured earnestly that the matter might be put unto the election of the damosell herselfe whereupon when Theophanes the father demanded of her in the face of the world Whom she loved better and would chuse to be her husband she preferred Callisthenes whereat Straton shewed himselfe immediatly not a little discontented for this repulse and disgrace but two daies after he came unto Theophanes and Callisthenes pretending and saying that he would not fall out with them but was desirous still of their good favour and friendship how ever his ill fortune had envied him the marriage of the yoong virgin They approving well of this speech and taking his words in very good part invited him as a guest to the wedding feast meane while he provided himselfe of a good number of his friends and besides no small troupe of servants whom he disposed secretly in their houses heere and there against the time that this maiden after the custome and maner of the countrey should go downe to a certeine fountaine named Cissoeisa there to sacrifice unto the Nymphes before her marriage day now as she passed by those who lay in ambush came all running forth from every side and seized upon her bodie but Straton himselfe principally who drew and haled the damosell unto him as hard as he could Callisthenes againe on the other side for his part as became him held her fast so did they about him thus the silly maiden was tugged and pulled to and fro so long betweene them that before they were aware dead she was among them in their hands upon which strange occurrent what became of Callisthenes it is not knowen whether he presently made away himselfe or fled into voluntary exile for he was no more seene as for Straton in the very sight of all men there in the place he killed himselfe upon the very body of his espoused bride 2 There was one named Phidon a Peloponnesian affecting the seignorie of all Peloponnesus and being desirous that the citie of Argos his native seat should be ladie over all others laied an ambush first for the Corinthians to intrap them for he sent an embassage unto Corinth to demand a levie of a thousand yoong men that were the lustiest and most valourous gallants of the whole citie The Corinthians sent them accordingly under the conduct of one of their captaines named Dexander Now the purpose of this Phidon was to set upon this troupe and kill them every one to the end that he might thereby enfeeble the Corinthians and make the citie serve his owne turne as a strong bulwarke most commodiously seated to command and subdue all Peloponnesus This desseigne of his he communicated unto certeine of his friends for to be put in execution accordingly among whom there was one named Abron who being a familiar friend unto Dexander revealed unto him the conspiracie whereupon the said regiment of a thousand yong men before they were charged by the said ambush retired themselves and recovered Corinth in safetie Then Phidon bestirred himselfe to finde out the man who had thus betraied and discovered his plot which Abron fearing withdrew himselfe to Corinth taking with him his wife children and his whole familie where he setled and remained in a village named Melissa belonging to the territorie of that citie there begat he a sonne whom of the very place which he inhabited he named Melissus and this Melissus in processe of time had a sonne of his owne called Actaeon who proved the most beautifull and withall the modestest lad of all other youths and springals of his age in regard whereof many there were enamoured of him but among the rest one especially named Archias descended lineally from the noble race of Hercules and for wealth credit and authoritie the greatest person in all Corinth This Archias seeing that by no faire meanes and perswasions he could prevaile with yoong Actaeon and winne his love resolved with himselfe to use violence and forcibly to ravish and carrie away this faire boy so he came upon a time as it were to make merrie unto the house of Melissus his father accompanied with a great traine of friends and attended upon with a good troupe of his owne householde-servants where he gave the attempt to have away the boy by force but the father with his friends made resistance the neighbours also came foorth to rescue and did all what they could to holde and keepe the youth with them but what with the one side and what with the other poore Actaeon was so pulled and tugged that betweene them hee lost his lfe which done all the rest went their waies and departed but Melissus the father brought the dead corps of his childe into the market place of the Corinthians presented it there unto them and demaunded justice to be done upon those who had committed this foule outrage The Corinthians made no greater a matter of it but onely shewed that they were sory for his mishap and so he returned home as he came without effect attending and waiting for the solemne assembly at the Isthmicke games where being mounted up to the top of Neptunes temple he cried out against the whole race of the Baccharides and withall rehearsed by way of commemoration the beneficence of his father Abron unto them and when he had called for vengeance unto the gods hee threw himselfe downe headlong among the rocks and brake his necke
our neighbours eie so we ought by the forme maner of other mens orations to take the patterne and representation of our owne to the end that we be not too forward and bolde in despising others but may more carefully take heed to our selves when wee likewise come to speake To this purpose also it would dec very well to make a kinde of conference and comparison in this maner Namely to retire our selves apart when we have heard one make an oration and to take in hand some points which wee thinke had not beene well and sufficiently handled and then to assay either to supply that which was defective in some or to correct what was amisse in others or els to varie the same matter in other wordes or at leastwise to discourse altogether thereof with new reasons and arguments like as Plato himselfe did upon the oration of Lysias For I assure you no hard matter it is but very easie to contradict the oration and reason by another pronounced mary to set a better by it that is a piece of worke right hard and difficult Much like as when a certaine Lacedaemonian heard that Phlip king of Macedon had demolished and rased the city Olynthus Hath he so quoth he But is not able to set up such another Now when as we shall see that intreating of the same subject and argument there is no great differenece betweene our owne doings and other mens before us and that we have not farre excelled them we shall be reclaimed much from the contempt of others and quickly represse and stay our owne presumptuous pride and selfe love seeing it thus checked by this triall and comparison And verily to admire other mens doings as it is a thing adverse and opposite to despising so it is a signe of a milder nature and more enclined to indifferencie and equitie But even herein also there would be no lesse heed taken if not more than in the contempt beforesaid for as they which are so presumptious bolde and given so much to dispraise and despise others receive lesse good and smaller profit by hearing to the simple and harmelesse sort addicted overmuch to others and having them in admiration are more subject to take harme and hurt thereby verifying this sentence of Heraclîtus A foolish sot astonied is anone A shall he hear's or seeth done As for the praises therefore of him that speaketh we ought favorablie and of course without great affectation to passe them out of our mouthes in giving credite unto their reasons and arguments we are to be more warie and circumspect and as touching the phrase utterance and action of those that exercise to make speeches we must both see and heare the same with a single hart and a kind affection As for the utilite and truth of those matters which are delivered we should examine and weigh the same exactly with more severitie of judgement Thus we who be hearens shall avoid the suspitions of evill will and harted they againe that are speakers shall do usno harme For oftentimes it falleth out that upon a speciall faustine and good liking unto those that preach unto us we take lesse heed to our selves and by our credulitie admit embrace from their lips many false erroneous opinions The Lacedaemonian rulers Lords of the Counsel of estate upon a time liking wel of the good advise and opinion of a person who was an ill liver caused the same to be delivered openly by another of approoved life and good reputation wherein they did very wisely as prudent politicians to accustome the people for to affect the behavior and honest cariage of their counsellors rather than to respect their words onely But in Philosophie it is otherwise For we must lay aside the reputation of the man who hath in publike place spoken his minde and examine the matter apart by it selfe For that like as in warre we say there be many false ahrmes so also in an auditorie there passe as many vanities The goodly grey beard and hoafie hard of the speaker his solemne gesture and composing of his countenance his grave eie browes his glorious words in behalfe of himselfe but above all the acclamations the applause and clapping of hands the leaping and shouting of the standersby and those that are present in place are enough otherwhiles to trouble and astonish the spirits of a yoong hearer who is not well acquainted with such matters and carie him away perforce as it were with a streame Over and besides there is in the very style and speech it lelfe a secret power able to beguile and deceive a yoong novice namely if it runne round away smooth and pleasant and if withallthere be a certeine affected gravitie and artificiall port and loftinesse to set out and grace the matter And even as they that play upon the pipe be it corner recorder of fife fault many times in musioke and are not perceived by the hearers so a brave and elegant tongue a copious and gallant oration dazeleth the wits of the hearer so a she can not judge fourdly of the matter in hand Melanthus being demaunded upon a time what he thought of a Tragaedie of Diogenes Prould not see it quoth he for so many words where with it was choaked up But the Orations declamations for the most part of these Sophisters who make shew of their eloquence not onely have their sentences covered as it were with vailses and curtaines of words but that which more is they themselves do dulce their voice by the meanes of I wot not what devised notes soft sounds exquisite and musicall accents in their pronuntiation so as they ravish the wits of the hearers and transport them beside themselves leading and carying them which way they list and thus for a certeine little vaine pleasure that they give receive againe applause and glorie much more vaine Insomuch as that befalleth properly unto them which by report Dionysius answered upon a time who seemed to promise unto a famous minstrell for his oxcellent play in an open Theatre to reward him with great gifts gave him in the end just nothing but said he had recompensed him sufficiently already For looke quoth he how much pleasure I have received from thee by thy song and minstrelsy so much contentment and joy thou hast had from me by hoping for some great reward And verily such recompense as this have those Sophisters and great Orators at their hearers hands For admired they are so long as they sit in their chaire and give delight unto their auditorie No sooner is their speech ended but gone is the pleasure of the one and the glorie of the other Thus the Auditours spend their time and the speakers employ their whole life in vaine For this cause it behooveth a yoong hearer to sequester and set aside the ranke superfluitie of words and to seeke after the fruit it selfe and heerein not to imitate women that plait and make garlands
and whose displeasure he incur as who for no good in the world would he hired to hold his 〈◊〉 nor willingly forbeare to speake plainly the truth who with his good will would never speake or do any thing to sooth up and please another Then will he make semblance as though he neither saw nor tooke knowledge of any great and grosse sinnes indeed but if peradventure there be some light and small outward faults he will make foule a doo thereat he will keepe a woondring and crying out upon them then shall you have him in good earnest exclaime and reproove the delinquent with a loud and sounding voice As for example if hee chance to espie the implements or any thing else about the house lie out of order if a man be not well and neately lodged if his beard be not of the rightcut or his haire grow out of fashion if a garment sit not handsomly about him or if a horse or hound be not so carefully tended as they should be But say that a man set nought by his parents neglect his owne children misuse his wife disdaine and despise his kinred spend and consume his goods none of all these enormities touch and moove him Heere he is mute and hath not a word to say he dared not reprove these abuses much like as if a Master of the wrestling schoole who suffreth a wrestler that is under his hand to be a drunkard and a whooremonger should chide and rebuke him sharpely about an oile cruse or curry-combe or as if a Grammarian should finde fault with his scholar and chide him for his writing tables or his pen letting him goe away cleere with solaecismes incongruities and barbarismes as if he heard them not Also I can liken flatterer to him who will not blame an ill authour or ridiculous Rhetorician in any thing as touching his oration it selfe but rather reprooveth him for his utterance and sharpely taketh him up for that by drinking of cold water he hath hurt his winde-pipe and so marred his voice or to one who being bidden to reade over and peruse a poore seely Epigram or other writing that is nothing woorth taketh on and fareth against the paper wherein it is written for being thicke course or rugged or against the writer for negligent slovenly or impure otherwise Thus the claw-backs and flatterers about king Ptolomaeus who would seeme to love good letters and to be desirous of learning used ordinarily to draw out their disputations and conferences at length even to midnight debating about some glosse or signification of a word about a verse or touching some historie but all the while there was not one among so many of them that would tell him of his crueltie of his wrongs and oppressions ne yet of his 〈◊〉 tabouring and other enormious indignities under the colour of religion and seeke to reforme him Certes a foolish fellow were he who comming to a man diseased with tumors swellings impostumes or hollow ulcers called Fistulaes should with a Chirurgians launcet or Barbers rasor fall to cut his haires or pare his nailes even so it fareth with these flatterers who applie their libertie of speech to such things as neither are in paine nor yet do any hurt Moreover some others there bee of them who being more cunning and craftie then their fellowes and use this plainnesse of language and reprehension of theirs for to please and make sport withall Thus Agis the Argive seeing how Alexander the great gave very great rewards and gifts to a certaine pleasant and odde fellow that was a jester cried out for verie envie and dolour of heart O great abuse and monstrous absurditie The King hearing it turned about unto him in great displeasure and indignation demaunding of him what he had to say I confesse quoth he indeed that I am grieved and I thinke it a great indignitie when I see all you that are descended from Iupiter and his sonnes to take pleasure in flatterers and jesters about you for to make you merrie For even so Hercules tooke a delight to have in his company certeine ridiculous Cecropes and Bacchus had ever in his traine the Silenes In your court likewise a man may see such to be in credite and highly esteemed When Tiberius Caesar the Emperor upon a certeine day was come into the Senate house of Rome one of the Senators who knew how to flatter arose and stood up and with a good loud voice Meete it is quoth he ô Caesar that men free borne should likewise have the libertie of speech and speake their minds frankly without dissimuling or concealing any thing which they know to be good and profitable with this speech of his he stirred up the attention of the whole house so as they gaue good eare unto him and Tyberius himselfe listened what he would say Now when all was still and in great silence Hearken quoth he ô Caesar what it is that we all accuse and blame you for but no man dare be so bolde as to speake it out You neglect your selfe and have no regard of your owne person you consume and spoile your body with continuall cares and travels for our sake taking no rest nor repose either day or night Now when he had drawen out a long traine of words to this purpose Cassius Severus a Rhetorician stood up and by report said thus Such libertie of speech as this will be the utter undoing of this man But these flatteries are of the lighter sort and doe lesse hurt there be other more dangerous which worke the mischiefe and corruption of those who are not wise and take no heed unto them namely when flatterers set in hand to reproove them whom they flatter for the contrary vices to those that be in them Thus Himerius the flatterer reproched a certaine rich man of Athens the veriest pinching miser and the most covetous withall that was in the whole city with the imputations of prodigality and negligence about his owne profit and gaine charging him that one day he would smart for it and both he and his children be hunger-sterved for want wherwith to susteine themselves if he looked no better to his thrift or when they object miserable niggardise and beggerie unto those that are knowen to be prodigall spenders and consume all After which maner Titus Petronius reprooved Nero. Againe if they come to princes and great lords who deale cruelly and hardly with their subjects and tenants saying unto them That they must lay away this overmuch lenity and foolish pitty of theirs which neither is seemely for their persons nor yet profitable for their state And very like to these is he who maketh semblance to him who is a very senselesse for and foolish foole that he stands in great feare and doubt of him lest hee should be circumvented by him as if he were some cautelous crafty and cunning person He also that doth rebuke another who is an ordinary slanderer who taketh pleasure upon spight
lay hand as it were upō your person in the presence of so many men Whereupon Ptolomaeus being mooved at these suggestions sent unto the man a cup of poison with cōmandement that he should drinke it off Aristophanes also casteth this in Cleon his teeth For that when strangers were in place The towne with termes he did disgrace and thereby provoke the Athenians bring their high displeasure upon him And therfore this regard would be had especially above all others that when we would use our libertie of speech we do it not by way of ostentation in a vaine glorie to be popular and to get applause but onely with an intention to profit and do good yea and to cure some infirmitie thereby Over and besides that which Thucydides reporteth of the Corinthians how they gave out of themselves and not unfitly that it belonged unto them and meet men they were to reproove others the same ought they to have in them that will take upon them to be correctours of other persons For like as Lysander answered to a certeine Megarian who put himselfe forward in an assemblie of associates and allies to speake frankely for the libertie of Greece These words of yours my friend would beseeme to have beene spoken by some puissant State or citie even so it may be said to every one that will seeme freely to reprehend another that he had need himselfe to be in maners wel reformed And this most truly ought to be inferred upon all those that wil seeme to chastice and correct others namely to be wiser and of better government than the rest for thus Plato protested that he reformed Speusippus by example of his owne life and Xenocrates likewise casting but his eie upon Polemon who was come into his schoole like a Ruffian by his very looke onely reclaimed him from his loose life whereas on the contrary side if a light and lewd person one that is full of bad conditions himselfe would seeme to finde fault with others and be busie with his tongue he must be sure alwaies to heare this on both sides of his eares Himselfe all full of sores impure Will others seeme to heale and cure Howbeit forasmuch as oftentimes the case standeth so that by occasion of some affaires we be driven to chastice those with whom we converse when we our selves are culpable and no better than they the most cleanly least offensive way to do it is this To acknowledge in some sort that we be likewise faulty and to include and comprehend our owne persons together with them after which maner is that reproose in Homer Sir Diomede what aileth us how is it come about That we should thus forget to fight who earst were thought so stout Also in another place And now we all unwoorthy are With Hector onely to compare Thus Socrates mildly and gently would seeme to reproove yoong men making semblance as if himselfe were not void of ignorance but had need also to be instructed in vertue and professing that he had need with them to search for the knowledge of trueth for such commonly do win love and credit yea and sooner shall be beleeved who are thought subject to the same faults and seeme willing to correct their friends like as they do their owne selves whereas he who spreadeth and displaieth his owne wings in clapping other mens justifying himselfe as if he were pure sincere faultlesse and without all affections and infirmities unlesse he be much elder than we or in regard of some notable and aprooved vertue in farre higher place of authoritie and in greater reputation than our selves he shall gaine no profit nor do any good but be reputed a busie body and troublesome person And therefore it was not without just cause that good Phoenix in speaking to Achilles alledged his owne misfortunes and namely how in a fit of choler he had like one day to have killed his owne father but that sodeinly he bethought himselfe and changed his minde Least that among the Greekes I should be nam'd A parricide and ever after sham'd which he did no doubt to this end because he would not seeme in childing him to arrogate this praise unto himselfe that he was not subject to anger nor had ever done amisse by occasion of that infirmitie and passion Certes such admonitions as these enter and pierce more effectually into the heart for that they are thought to proceed from a tender compassion and more willing are we to yeeld unto such as seeme to have suffred the like than to those that despise and contemne us But forasmuch as neither the eie when it is inflamed can abide any cleere and shining light nor a passionate minde endure franke speech or a plaine and bare reprehension one of the best and most profitable helps in this case is to intermingle there with a little praise as wereade thus in Homer Now sure me thinks you do not well thus for to leave the field Who all are knowen for doughty knights and best with speare and shield A coward if I saw to slee him would I not reproove But such as you thus for to shrinke my heart doth greatly moove Likewise O Pandar where is now thy bowe where are thine arrowes flight Where is that honour in which none with thee dare strive in fight And verily such oblique reprehensions also as these are most effectuall and woonderfull in reclaming those that be ready to run on end and fall to some grosse enormities as for example What is become of wise Oedipus In riddles areeding who was so famous Also And Hercules who hath endur'd such paine Speakes he these words so foolish and so vaine For this kinde of dealing doth not onely asswage and mitigate the roughnesse and commanding power that is in a reprehension and rebuke but also breedeth in the partie in such sort reprooved a certeine emulation of himselfe causing him to be abashed and ashamed for any follies and dishonest pranks when he remembreth and calleth to minde his other good parts and commendable acts which by this meanes he setteth before his eies as examples and so taketh himselfe for a paterne and president of better things But when we make comparison betweene him and others to wit his equals in age his fellow-citizens or kinsefolks then his vice which in the owne nature is stubburne and opinionative enough becommeth by that meanes more froward and exasperate and often times he will not sticke in a sume and chase to fling away and grumble in this wise Why goe you not then to those that are so much better than I why can you not let me alone but thus trouble me as you do And therefore we must take heed especially that whiles we purpose to tel one plainly of his faults we do not praise others unlesse haply they be his parents as Agamemnon did unto Diomedes A sonne iwis sir Tideus left behinde Unlike himselfe and much growen out of kinde And ulysses in the Tragedie entituled
displeased nor to be straight laced and stiffely stand against them when they come to justifie or excuse themselves but rather both when our selves have saulted oftentimes to prevent their anger by excuse making or asking for givenesse and also by pardoning them before they come to excuse if we have beene wronged by them And therefore Euclides that great scholer of Socrates is much renowmed and famous in all schooles of Philosophie for that when he heard his brother breake out into these beastly and wicked words against him The soule ill take me if I be not revenged and meet with thee and a mischiefe come to me also quoth he againe if I appease not thine anger perswade thee to love me as well as ever thou didst But king Eumenes not in word but in deed effect surpassed all others in meekenesse and patience for Perseus king of the Macedonians being his mortall enimie had secretly addressed an ambush and set certeine men of purpose to murder him about Delphos espying their time when they sawe him going from the sea side to the said towne for to consult with the oracle of Apollo now when he was gone a little past the ambush they began to assaile him from behinde tumbling downe and throwing mightie stones upon his head and necke wherewith he was so astonished that his sight failed and he fell withall in that manner as he was taken for dead now the rumour heereof ran into all parts insomuch as certeine of his servitors and friends made speed to the citie Pergamus reporting the tidings of this occurrent as if they had beene present and seene all done whereupon Attalus the eldest brother next unto himselfe an honest and kinde hearted man one also who alwaies had caried himselfe most faithfully and loyally unto Eumenes was not onely declared king and crowned with the royall diademe but that which more is espoused and maried Queene Stratonice his said brothers wife and lay with her But afterwards when counter-newes came that Eumenes was alive and comming homeward againe Attalus laid aside his diademe and taking a partisan or javelin in his hand as his maner before time was with other pentioners and squires of the bodie he went to meet his brother king Eumenes received him right graciously tooke him lovingly by the hand embraced the Queene with all honour and of a princely and magnanimous spirit put up all yea and when he had lived a long time after without any complaint suspition and jealousie at all in the end at his death made over and assigned both the crowne and the Queene his wife unto his brother the aforesaid Attalus and what did Attalus now after his brothers decease he would not foster and bring up as heire apparant so much as one childe that he had by Stratonice his wife although she bare unto him many but he nourished and carefully cherished the sonne of his brother departed untill he was come to full age and then himselfe in his life time with his owne hands set the imperiall diademe and royall crowne upon his head and proclaimed him king But Cambyses contrariwise frighted upon a vaine dreame which he had That his brother was come to usurpe the kingdome of Asia without expecting any proofe or presumption thereof put him to death for it by occasion whereof the succession in the empire went out of the race of Cyrus upon his decease and was devolved upon the line of Darius who raigned after him a Prince who knew how to communicate the government of his affaires and his regall authoritie not onely with his brethren but also with his friends Moreover this one point more is to be remembred observed diligently in all variances and debates that are risen betweene brethren namely then especially and more than at any time else to converse and keepe companie with their friends and on the other side to avoide their enemies and evill-willers and not to be willing so much as to vouchsafe them any speech or entertainment Following herein the fashion of the Candiots who being oftentimes fallen out and in civill dissension among themselves yea and warring hot one with another no sooner heare newes of forrein enemies comming against them but they rancke themselves banding jointly together against them and this combination is that which thereupon is called Syncretesmos For some there be that like as water runneth alwaies to the lower ground and to places that chinke or cleave asunder are readie to side with those brethren or friends that be fallen out and by their suggestions buzzed into their cares ruinate and overthrow all acquaintance kinred and amitie hating indeed both parties but seeming to beare rather upon the weaker side and to settle upon him who of imbecillitie soone yeeldeth and giveth place And verily those that be simple and harmlesse friends such as commonly yong folke are apply themselves commonly to him that affecteth a brother helping increasing that love what he may but the most malicious enemies are they who espying when one brother is angrie or fallen out with another seeme to be angrie and offended together with him for companie and these do most hurt of all others Like as the hen therefore in Aesope answered unto the cat making semblance as though he heard her say she was sicke and therefore in kindnesse and love asking how she did I am well enough quoth she I thanke you so that you were farther off even so unto such a man as is inquisitive and entreth into talke as touching the debate of brethren to sound and search into some secrets betweene them one ought to answere thus Surely there would be no quarrell betweene my brother and me if neither I nor he would give care to carrie-tales and pick-thankes betweene us But now it commeth to passe I wot not how that when our eies be fore and in paine we turne away our sight from those bodies and colours which make no reverberation or repercussion backe againe upon it but when we have some complaint and quarrell or conceive anger or suspicion against our brethren we take pleasure to heare those that make all woorse and are apt enough to take any colour and infection presented to us by them where it were more needfull and expedient at such a time to avoid their enimies and evill willers and to keepe our selves out of the way from them and contrariwise to converse with their allies familiars and friends and with them to beare company especally yea and to enter into their owne houses for to complaine and blame them before their very wives frankly and with libertie of speech And yet it is a common saying That brethren when they walke together should not so much as let a stone to be betwixt them nay they are discontented and displeased in minde in case a dog chance to runne overthwart them and a number of such other things they feare whereof there is not one able to make any breach or division betweene brethren but
of one who had a cause to plead unto at the barre penned an oration for his purpose and gave it him The partie after he had read and read it over againe came unto Lysias heavie and ill-appaied saying The first time that I perused your oration me thought it was excellently well written and I wondred at it but when I tooke it a second and third time in hand it seemed very simply endited caried no forcible and effectuall stile with it Why quoth Lysias and smiled withall know you not that you are to pronounce it but once before the judges and yet see marke withall the perswasive eloquence and sweet grace that is in the writing of Lysias for I may be bold to say and affirme of him that The Muses with their broided violet haire Grac'd him with favour much and beauty faire And among those singular commendations that are given out of any Poët most true it is that Homer is he alone of all that ever were who overcame all satietie of the reader seeming evermore new and fresh flourishing alwaies in the prime of lovely grace and appeering yoong still and amiable to win favour howbeit in speaking and prosessing thus much of himselfe It greeves me much for to rechearse againe Atale that once delivered hath beene plaine He sheweth sufficiently that he avoideth what he can and feareth that tedious satietie which followeth hard at heeles laieth wait as it were unto all long traines of speech in which regard he leadeth the reader hearer of his Poemes from one discourse narration to another and evermore with novelties doth so refresh and recreate him that he thinketh he hath never enough whereas our long-tongued chatterers do after a sort wound and weary the eares of their hearers by their tautologies and vaine repetitions of the same thing as they that soile and flourry writing tables when they be faire scoured and clensed and therefore let us set this first and formost before their eies that like as they who force men to drinke wine out of measure and undelaied with water are the cause that the good blessing which was given us to rejoice our hearts and make us pleasant and merry driveth some into sadnesse and others into drunkennesse and violence even so they that beyond all reason and to no purpose use their speech which is a thing otherwise counted the most delightsome and amiable meanes of conference and societie that men have together cause it to bee inhumane and unsociable displeasing those whom they thought to please making them to be mocked at their hands of whom they looked to be well esteemed and to have their evill will and displeasure whose love and amitie they made reckoning of And even as hee by good right may be esteemed uncourteous and altogether uncivill who with the girdle and ussue of Venus wherein are allsorts of kind and amiable allurements should repell and drive from him as many as desire his companie so hee that with his speech maketh others heavie and himselfe hatefull may well be held and reputed for a gracelesse man and of no bringing up in the world As for other passions and maladies of the minde some are dangerous others odious and some againe ridiculous and exposed to mockerie but garrulity is subject unto all these inconveniences at once For such folke as are noted for their lavish tongue are a meere laughing stocke and in every common and ordinary report of theirs they minister occasion of laughter hated they be for their relation of ill newes and in danger they are because they cannot conceale and keepe close their owne secrets heereupon Anacharsis being invited one day feasted by Solon was reputed wise for that being asleepe he was found and seene holding his right hand to his mouth and his left upon his privities and natural parts for good reason he had to thinke that the tongue required and needed the stronger bridle and bit to restreine it and in very truth it were a hard matter to reckon so many persons undone and overthrowne by their intemperate and loose life as there have beene cities and mightie States ruinated and subverted utterly by the revealing and opening of some secrets It fortuned that whiles Sylla did inleaguer before the citie of Athens and had not leasure to stay there long and continue the siege by reason of other affaires and troubles pressed him sore for of one side king Mithridates invaded and harmed Asia and on the other side the faction of Marius gathered strength and having gotten head prevailed much within Rome certeine old fellowes being met in a barbars shop within the city of Athens who were blabs of their tongues clattered it out in their talk together that a certeine quarter of the citie named Heptacalchon was not sufficiently guarded and therefore the towne in danger to be surprised by that part which talke of theirs was over-heard by certeine espies who advertised Sylla so much whereupon immediately hee brought all his forces to that side and about midnight gave an hot assault made entrie and went within a very little of forcing the citie and being master of it all for he filled the whole streete called Ceramicum with slaughter and dead carcasses insomuch as the chanels ran downe with bloud Now was hee cruelly bent against the Athenians more for their hard language which they gave him than for any offence or injurie otherwise that they did unto him for they had flouted and mocked Sylla together with his wife Metella and for that purpose they would get upon the walles and say Sylla is a Sycamoore or Mulberie bestrewed all over with dusty-meale besides many other such foolish jibes and taunts and so for the lightest thing in the world as Plato saith to wit words which are but winde they brought upon their heads a most heavie and grievous penaltie The garrulitie and over-much talke of one man was the only hinderance that the citie of Rome was not set free and delivered from the tyrannie of Nero. For there was but one night betweene the time that Nero should have beene murthered on the morrow and all things were readie and prepared for the purpose but he who had undertaken the execution of that feat as he went toward the Theatre espied one of those persons who were condemned to die bound and pinnioned at the prison doore and readie to be led and brought before Nero who hearing him to make piteous moane and lamenting his miserable fortune steps to him and rounding him softly in the eare Pray to God poore man quoth he that this one day may passe over thy head and that thou die not to day for to morrow thou shalt con me thankes The poore prisoner taking hold presently of this aenigmaticall and darke speech and thinking as I suppose that one bird in hand is better than two in bush and according to the common saying that A foole is he who leaving that which readie is and sure Doth follow
dead whereas if he could have held his tongue a little while longer and mastered himselfe when the king afterwards had better fortune and recovered his greatnesse and puissance he should in my conceit have gotten more thanks at his hands and beene better rewarded for keeping silence than for all the courtesie and hospitalitie that he shewed And yet this fellow had in some sort a colourable excuse for this intemperate tongue of his to wit his owne hopes and the good will that he bare unto the king but the most part of these pratlers vndo themselves without any cause or pretense at all of reason like as it befell unto Denys the tyrants barbar for when upon a time there were some talking in his shop as touching his tyrannicall government and estate how assured it was and as hard to be ruined or overthrowen as it is to breake the Diamond the said barbar laughing thereat I marvell quoth he that you should say so of Denys who is so often under my hands and at whose throat in a maner every day I holde my rasor these words were soone carried to the tyrant Denys who faire crucified this barbar and hanged him for his foolish words And to say a trueth all the sort of these barbars be commonly busie fellowes with their tongue and no marvell for lightly the greatest praters and idlest persons in a countrey frequent the barbars shop and sit in his chaire where they keepe such chat that it can not be but by hearing them prate so customably his tongue also must walke with them And therefore king Archelaus answered very pleasantly unto a barbar of his that was a man of no few words who when he had cast his linnen cloth about his shoulders said unto him Sir may it please your Highnesse to tell me how I shall cut or shave you Mary quoth he holding thy tongue and saying not a word A barbar it was who first reported in the city of Athens the newes of that great discomsiture and overthrow which the Athenians received in Sicily for keeping his shop as he did in that end of the suburbs called Pyraeum he had no sooner heard the said unlucky newes of a certaine slave who fled from thence out of the field when it was lost but leaving shop and all at sixe and seven ran directly into the city and never rested to bring the said tidings and whiles they were fresh and fire-new For feare some els might all the honour win And he teo late or second should come in Now upon the broching of these unwelcome tidings a man may well thinke and not without good cause that there was a great stirre within the city insomuch as the people assembled together into the Market place or Common hall and search was made for the authour of this rumour hereupon the said barbar was haled and brought before the bodie of the people and examined who knew not so much as the name of the partie of whom hee heard this newes But well assured I am quoth he that one said so mary who it was or what his name might be I can not tell Thus it was taken for an headlesse tale and the whole Theatre or Assembly was so moved to anger that they cried out with one voice Away with the villaine have the varlet to the racke set the knave upon the wheele he it is onely that hath made all on his owne singers ends this hath he and none but he devised for who els hath heard it or who besides him hath beleeved it Well the wheele was brought and upon it was the barbar stretched meane while and even as the poore wretch was hoised thereupon beholde there arrived and came to the citie those who brought certaine newes in deed of the said defeature even they who made a shift to escape out of that infortunate field then brake up the assembly and every man departed and retired home to his owne house for to bewaile his owne private losse and calamity leaving the silly barbar lying along bound to the wheele and racked out to the length and there remained he untill it was very late in the evening at what time he was let loose and no sooner was he at liberty but he must needs enquire newes of the executioner namely what they heard abroad of the Generall himselfe Nicias and in what sort he was slaine So inexpugnable and incorrigible a vice is this gotten by custome of much talke that a man can not leave it though he were going to the gallowes nor keepe in those tidings which no man is willing to heare for certes like as they who have drunke bitter potions or unsavory medicines can not away with the very cups where in they were even so they that bring evill and heavie tidings are ordinarily hated and detested of those unto whom they report the same And therefore Sophocles the Poet hath verie finely distinguished upon this point in these verses MESSENGER Is it your heart or els your eare That this offends which you do heare CREON. And why do'st thou search my disease To know what griefe doth me displease MESSENGER His deeds I see offend your heart But my words cause your eares to smart Well then those who tell us any wofull newes be as odious as they who worke our wo and yet for all that there is no restreint and brideling of an untemperate tongue that is given to walke and overreach It fortuned one day at Lacedaemon that the temple of Iuno called there Chalciaecos was robbed and within it was found a certeine emptie flagon or stone bottle for wine great running there was and concourse of the people thither and men could not tell what to make of that flagon at last one of them that stood by My masters quoth he if you will give me leave I shall tell you what my conceit is of that flagon for my minde gives me saith he that these church-robbers who projected to execute so perilous an enterprise had first drunke the juice of hemlocke before they entred into the action and afterwards brought wine with them in this bottle to the end that if they were not surprised nor taken in the maner they might save their lives by drinking each of them a good draught of meere wine the nature and vertue whereof as you know well enough is to quench as it were and dissolve the vigour and strength of that poison and so goe their waies safe enough but if it chance that they were taken in the deed doing then they might by meanes of that hemlocke which they had drunke die an easie death and without any great paine and torment before that they were put to torture by the magistrate He had no sooner delivered this speech but the whole companie who heard his words thought verily that such a contrived devise and so deepe a reach as this never came from one that suspected such a matter but rather knew that it was so indeed whereupon they
dispatched his letters unto thē to this effect To know whether they would receive him into their city or no they wrote backe againe in faire great capitall letters within a sheet of paper no more but O Y that is to say No so sent it unto him but he that would make answer to the former question of Socrates a little more civilly and courteously would say thus He is not within sir for he is gone to the banke or exchange to give yet a somwhat better measure he might perhaps adde moreover say He looketh there for cerreine strangers and friends of his But a vaine prating fellow and one that loves many words especially if his hap hath beene to read the booke of Antimachus the Colophonian wil make answer to the demand afore said in this wise He is not within sir gone he is to the Burse or Exchange for there he expecteth certeine strangers out of Ionia of whom and in whose behalfe Alcibiades wrote unto him who now maketh his abode within the citie of Miletus sojourneth with Tissaphernes one of the lieutenants generall of the great King of Persia who before time was in league with the Lacedaemonians stood their friend and sent them aid but not for the love of Alcibiades he is turned from them and is sided with the Athenians for Alcibtades being desirous to returne into his owne country hath prevailed so much that hee hath altered Tissaphernes his minde and drawen him away from our part and thus shall you have him rehearse in good earnest the whole eight booke in maner of Thucydides his story untill he have overwhelmed a man with a multitude of narrations and made him beleeve that in Miletus there is some great sedition that it is ready to be lost and Alcibiades to be banished a second time Herein then ought a man principally to set his foote and stay his overmuch language so as the center and circumference of the answer be that which he who maketh the demaund desireth and hath need to know Carneades before he had any great name disputed one day in the publike schooles and place appointed for exercise Unto whom the master or president of the place sent before hand and gave him warning to moderate his voice for hee spake naturally exceeding big and loud so as the schooles rung againe therewith Give men then quoth he a gage and measure for my voice upon whom the said master replied thus not unproperly Let him that disputeth with thee be the measure and rule to moderate thy voice by even so a man may in this case say The measure that hee ought to keepe who answereth is the very will and minde of him that proposeth the question Moreover like as Socrates forbad those meats which drew men on to eare when they are not hungry and likewise those drinkes which caused them to drinke who are not a thirst even so should a man who is given to much prattle be afraid of those discourses wherein he delighteth most and which he is woont to use and take greatest pleasure in and in case hee perceive them to run willingly upon him for to withstand the same and not give them interteinment As for example martiall men and warriours love to discourse and tell of battels which is the reason that the Poët Homer bringeth in Nestor eftsoones recounting his owne prowesse and feats of armes and ordinarie it is with thē who in iudiciall trials have had the upper hand of their adversaries or who beyond the hope and opinion of everie man have obteined grace and favour with kings and princes to be subject unto this maladie that evermore followeth them namely to report and recount eftsoones the maner how they came in place after what sort they were brought in the order of their pleading how they argued the case how they convinced their accusers overthrew their adversaries last of all how they were praised and commended for to say a truth joy and mirth is much more talkative than that olde Agryppina which the Poets doe feigne and devise in their comaedies for it rouseth and stirreth up it reneweth and refresheth it selfe ever anon with many discourses and narrations whereupon ready they are to fall into such speeches upon every light and colourable occasion for not onely is it true which the common proverbe saith Looke where a man doth feele his paine and griefe His hand will soone be there to yeeld reliefe but also joy and contentment draweth unto it the voice it leadeth the tongue alwaies about with it and is evermore willing to be remembred and related Thus we see that amorous lovers passe the greater part of their time in rehearsing certeine words which may renew the remembrance of their loves insomuch that if they cannot meet with one person or other to relate the same unto they will devise and talke of them with such things as have neither sense nor life like as we read of one who brake foorth into these words O datnty bed most sweet and pleasant couch ô blessed lamp ô happie candle light No lesse than God doth Bacchus you avouch nay God you are the mightiest in her sight And verily a busie prater is altogether as one would say a white line or strake in regard of all words to wit without discretion he speaketh indifferently of all matters howbeit if he be affected more to some than to others he ought to take heed thereof and absteine from them he is I say to withdraw and writhe him els from thence for that by reason of the contentment which he may therein take and the pleasure that he receiveth thereby they may lead him wide carie him every while very farre out of the way the same inclination to overshoot themselves in prating they finde also when they discourse of those matters wherein they suppose themselves to have better experience and a more excellent habit than others such an one I say being a selfe lover and ambitious withall Most part of all the day in this doth spend Himselfe to passe and others to transcend As for example in histories if he hath read much in artificiall stile and couching of his words he that is a Grammarian in relation of strange reports and newes who hath bene a great traueller and wandred through many forren countries hereof therefore great heed would bee taken for garrulitie being therein fleshed and baited willingly runneth to the old and usuall haunt like as every beast seeketh out the ordinary and accustomed pasture And in this point was the young prince Cyrus of a woonderfull and excellent nature who would never chalenge his play-fellowes and consorts in age unto any exercise wherein he knew himselfe to be superior and to surpasse but alwaies to such feats wherein he was lesse practised than they which he did aswell because he would not grieve their hearts in winning the prize from them as also for that he would profit thereby and learne
and discommodities of our life And Plutarch entring into this matter sheweth first in generallity That men learne as it were in the schoole of brute beasts with what affection they should beget nourish and bring up their children afterward he doth particularise thereof and enrich the same argument by divers examples But for that he would not have us thinke that he extolled dumbe beasts above man and woman he observeth and setteth downe verie well the difference that is of amities discoursing in good and modest tearmes as touching the generation and nouriture of children and briefly by the way representeth unto us the miserable entrance of man into this race upon earth where he is to runne his course Which done he proveth that the nourishing of infants hath no other cause and reason but the love of fathers and mothers he discovereth the source of this affection and for a conclusion sheweth that what defect and fault soever may come betweene and be medled among yet it can not altogether abolish the same OF THE NATURALL LOVE OR KINDNES OF PARENTS to their children THat which mooved the Greeks at first to put over the decision of their controversies to forraine judges and to bring into their countrey strangers to be their Umpires was the distrust and diffidence that they had one in another as if they confessed thereby that justice was indeed a thing necessarie for mans lite but it grew not among them And is not the case even so as touching certaine questions disputable in Philosophie for the determining whereof Philosophers by reason of the sundry and divers opinions which are among them have appealed to the nature of brute beasts as it were into a strange city and remitted the deciding thereof to their properties and affections according to kinde as being neither subject to partiall favour nor yet corrupt depraved and polluted Now surely a common reproch this must needs be to mans naughtie nature and leawd behaviour That when we are in doubtfull question concerning the greatest and most necessary points perteining to this present life of ours we should goe and search into the nature of horses dogs and birds for resolution namely how we ought to make our marriages how to get children and how to reare and nourish them after they be borne and as if there were no signe in maner or token of nature imprinted in our selves we must be faine to alledge the passions properties and affections of brute beasts and to produce them for witnesses to argue and prove how much in our life we transgresse and go aside from the rule of nature when at our first beginning and entrance into this world we finde such trouble disorder and confusion for in those dumbe beasts beforesaid nature doth retaine and keepe that which is her owne and proper simple entire without corruption or alteration by any strange mixture wheras contrariwise it seemeth that the nature of man by discourse of their reason and custome together is mingled and confused with so many extravagant opinions and judgements fet from all parts abroad much like unto oile that commeth into perfumers hands that thereby it is become manifolde variable and in every one severall and particular and doeth not retaine that which the owne indeed proper and peculiar to it selfe neither ought we to thinke it a strange matter and a woonderfull that brute beasts void of reason should come neerer unto nature and follow her steps better than men endued with the gift of reason for surely the verie senselesse plants heerein surpasse those beasts beforesaid and observe better the instinct of nature for considering that they neither conceive any thing by imagination nor have any motion affection or inclination at all so verily their appetite such as it is varieth not nor stirreth to and fro out of the compasse of nature by meanes whereof they continue and abide as if they were kept in and bound within close-prison holding on still in one and the same course and not stepping once out of that way wherein nature doth leade and conduct them as for beasts they have not any such great portion of reason to temper and mollifie their naturall properties neither any great subtiltie of sense and conceit nor much desire of libertie but having many instincts inclinations and appetites not ruled by reason they breake out by the meanes thereof other-whiles wandering astray and running up and downe to and fro howbeit for the most part not very farre out of order but they take sure holde of nature much like a ship which lieth in the rode at anchor well may she daunce and be rocked up and downe but she is not caried away into the deepe at the pleasure of windes and waves or much after the maner of an asse or hackney travelling with bit and bridle which go not out of the right streight way wherein the master or rider guideth them whereas in man even reason herselfe the mistresse that ruleth and commandeth all findeth out new cuts as it were and by-waies making many starts and excursions at her pleasure to and fro now heere now there whereupon it is that she leaveth no plaine and apparant print of natures tracts and footing Consider I pray you in the first place the mariages if I may so terme them of dumbe beasts and reasonlesse creatures and namely how therein they folow precisely the rule and direction of nature To begin withall they stand not upon those lawes that provide against such as marrie not but lead a single life neither make they reckoning of the acts which lay a penaltie upon those that be late ere they enter into wedlocke like as the citizens under Lycurgus and Solon who stood in awe of the said statutes they feare not to incurre the infamie which followed those persons that were barren and never had children neither doe they regard and seeke after the honours and prerogatives which they atteined who were fathers of three children like as many of the Romains do at this day who enter into the state of matrimonie wedde wives 〈◊〉 beget children not to the end that they might have heires to inherit their lands and goods 〈◊〉 that they might themselves be inheritors capable of dignities immunities But to proceed unto more particulars the male afterwards doth deale with the female in the act of generation not at all times for that the end of their conjunction and going together is not grosse pleasure so much as the engendring of young and the propagation of their kinde and therefore at a certeine season of the yeare to wit the very prime of the spring when as the pleasant winds so apt for generation do gently blow and the temperature of the aire is friendly unto breeders commeth the female full lovingly and kindly toward her fellow the male even of her owne accord and motion as it were trained by the hand of that secret instinct and desire in nature and for her owne part she doth what
uses to make the best of them the one finding good in barren and fruitlesse plants the other in wilde and savage beasts The water of the sea is not potable but brackish and hurtful unto us howbeit fishes are nourished therewith and it serveth mans turne also to transport passengers as in a waggon into all parts and to carrie whatsoever a man will When the Satyre would have kissed and embraced fire the first time that ever he saw it Prometheus admonished him and said Thou wilt bewaile thy goats-beard soone If thou it touch t' will burne anon but it yeeldeth light and heat and is an instrument serving all arts to as many as know how to use it well semblably let us consider and see whether an enemy being otherwise harmefull and intractable or at least-wise hard to be handled may not in some sort yeeld as it were a handle to take hold by for to touch use him so as he may serve our turne and minister unto us some cōmodity For many things there are besides which be odious troublesome comberous hurtfull and contrarie unto those that have them or come neere unto them and yet you see that the verie maladies of the bodie give good occasion unto some for to live at rest and repose I meane sequestred from affairs abroad the travailes presented unto others by fortune have so exercised them that they are become thereby strong and hardy and to say more yet banishment and losse of goods hath beene the occasion unto divers yea and a singular means to give themselves to their quiet studie to philosophie like as Diogenes and Crates did in times past Zeno himselfe when newes came unto him that his ship wherein he did venture and trafficke was split and cast away Thou hast done well by me fortune quoth he to drive me againe to my scholars weed For like as those living creatures which are of a most sound and healthfull constitution have besides strong stomacks are able to concoct digest the serpents scorpions which they devoure nay some of them there be which are nourished of stones scales and shels converting the same into their nutriment by the strength and vehement heat of their spirits whereas such as be delicate tender soft and crasie are ready to cast and vomit if they taste a little bread onely or doe but sip of wine even so foolish folke doe marre and corrupt even friendship and amitie but those that are wise can skill how to use enmities to their commoditie and make them serve their turnes First and formost therefore in my conceit that which in enmitie is most hurtfull may turne to be most profitable unto such as be warie and can take good heed and what is that you will say Thine enimie as thou knowest well enough watcheth continually spying and prying into all thine actions he goeth about viewing thy whole life to see where he may finde any vantage to take hold of thee and where thou liest open that he may assaile and surprise thee his sight is so quicke that it pierceth not onely through an oke as Lynceus did or stones and shels but also it goeth quite through thy friend thy domesticall servants yea and every familiar of thine with whom thou daily doest converse for to discover as much as possibly he can what thou doest or goest about he soundeth and searcheth by undermining and secret waies what thy desseignes purposes be As for our friends it chaunceth many times that they fall extreme sicke yea and die thereupon before we know of it whiles we defer and put off from day to day to go and visit them or make small reckoning of them but as touching our enimies we are so observant that we curiously enquire hearken even after their very dreames the diseases the debts the hard usage of men to their owne wives and the untoward life betweene them are many times more unknowen unto those whom they touch and concerne than unto their enimie but aboue all he sticketh close unto thy faults inquisitive he is after them and those he traceth especially and like as the gaies or vultures flie unto the stinking sent of dead carions and putrified carcases but they have no smell or sent at all of bodies sound and whole even so those parts of our life which are diseased naught and ill affected be they that move an enemie to these leape they in great haste who are our ill willers these they seize upon and are ready to worry and plucke in peeces and this it is that profiteth us most in that it compelleth us to live orderly to looke unto our steps that we tread not awry that we neither do or say ought inconsiderately or rashly but alwaies keepe our life unblameable as if we observed a most strict and exquisite diet and verily this heedfull caution repressing the violent passions of our minde in this sort and keeping reason at home within dores engendreth a certeine studious desire an intention and will to live uprightly and without touch for like as those cities by ordinary warres with their neighbour cities and by continuall expeditions and voiages learning to be wise take a love at length unto good lawes and sound government of state even so they that by occasion of enmity be forced to live soberly to save themselves from the impuration of idlenesse and negligence yea and to do everie thing with discretion and to a good and profitable end through use and custome shall be brought by little and little ere they be aware unto a certeine setled habit that they cannot lightly trip and do amisse having their manners framed in passing good order with the least helping hand of reason and knowledge beside for they who have evermore readily before their eies this sentence This were alone for Priamus and his sonnes likewise all Oh how would they rejoice at heart in case this should befall certes would quickly be diverted turned and withdrawne from such things whereat their enimies are wont to joy and laugh a good see we not many times stage plaiers chanters musicians and such artificers in open threaters who serve for the celebration of any solemnitie unto Bacchus or other gods to play their parts carelessely to come unprovided and to carie themselves I know not how negligently nothing forward to shew their cunning and doe their best when they are by themselves alone and no other of their owne profession in place but if it chance that there be emulation and contention betweene them and other concurrents who shall do best then you shall see them not onely to come better prepared themselves but also with their instruments in very good order then shall you perceive how they will bestir themselves in trying their strings in tuning their instruments more exactly in fitting every thing about their flutes and pipes and assaying them Hee then who knoweth that he hath an enimie ready and provided to be the concurrent in
his friends being fallen into some adversitie to take a good heart and fight against fortune who when he demanded of him againe how he should combat with her made answere Marie after a Philosophicall maner even so let us also mainteine battel and be revenged of adversitie by following the rule of Philosophie being armed with patience as becommeth wise men For after what sort doe we defend our selves against raine or how be we revenged of the North winde marie we seeke for fire we go into a stouph we make provision of clothes and we get an house over our heads neither doe we sit us downe in the raine untill we be thorowly wet to the skinne and then weepe our fill and even so have you also in those things which are presently about you good meanes yea and better than any other to revive refresh and warme this part of your life which seemeth to be frozen and benummed with colde as having no need at all of any other helps and succours so long as you will use the foresaid meanes according as reason doth prescribe direct For true it is that the ventoses or cupping-glasses that Physicians use drawing out of mans body the worst most corrupt blood do disburden preserve all the rest But they that are given to heavinesse sorrow who love also evermore to whine and complaine by gathering together multiplying continually in their cogitations the worst matters incident unto them and eftsoones consuming themselves with the dolorous accidents of their fortune cause those meanes to be unprofitable unto them which otherwise are wholesome and expedient and even at such a time especially when they should do most good As for those two tunnes my good friend which Homer saith to bee set in heaven full of mens destinies the one replenished with good and the other with bad it is not Iupiter who sitteth to disperse and distribute them abroad sending unto some milde and pleasant fortunes intermingled alwaies with goodnesse but unto others continual streames as a man would say of meere misfortunes without any temperature of any goodnesse at all but even among our owne selves as many as be wise and are of any sound understanding draw out of their happy fortunes whatsoever crosse and adverse matter is mingled therewith and by this meanes make their life the pleasanter and as a man would say more portable whereas contrariwise many men doe let their fortunes runne as it were through a colander or streiner wherein the woorst sticke and remaine in the way behind whiles the better do passe and runne out and therefore it behooveth that although webe fallen into any thing that is in truth naught and grievous unto us we set a cheereful countenance on the matter and make the best supplie and recompence that we can by those good things that otherwise we have and doe remaine with us besides lenifying and polishing the strange and adverse accident which hapneth without by that which is milde and familiar within But as touching those occurrents that simply of their owne nature be not ill and wherein whatsoever doth trouble and offend us ariseth altogether and wholly upon a vaine conceit and foolish imagination of our owne we ought to doe as our maner is with little children that bee afraid of maskes and disguised visours for like as we hold the same close and neere unto them handle and turne them in our hands before them every way and so by that meanes acquaint them therewith untill they make no reckoning at all of them even so by approching neere by touching and perusing the said calamities with our understanding and discourse of reason wee are to consider and discover the false apparence the vanitie and feigned tragaedie that they pretend like to which is that present accident which now is befallen unto you to wit the banishment out of that place which according to the vulgar errour of men you suppose to be your native countrie For to say a truth there is no such distinct native soile that nature hath ordeined no more than either house land smiths forge or chirurgians shop is by nature as Ariston was wont to say but every one of these and such like according as any man doth occupie or use them are his or to speake more properly are named and called his for man according to the saying of Plato is not an earthly plant having the roote fixed fast within the ground and unmooveable but celestiall and turning upward to heaven whose body from the head as from a roote that doth strengthen the same abideth streight and upright And heereupon it is that Hercules in a certeine tragaedie said thus What tell you me of Argive or Thebain I do not vaunt of any place certain No burroughtowne nor city coms amis Through out all Greece but it my countrie is And yet Socrates said better than so who gave it out That he was neither Athenian nor Grecian but a citizen of the world as if a man should say for example sake that he were either a Rhodian or a Corinthian for he would not exclude himselfe within the precincts and limits of the promontories Sunium or Taenarus nor yet the Ceraunian mountaines But seest thou this starrie firmament So high above and infinitely vast In bosome moist of water element The earth beneath how it encloseth fast These are the bounds of a native countrie within the pourprise and compasse whereof whosoever is ought not to thinke himselfe either banished pilgrime stranger or forrener namely whereas he shall meete with the same fire the same water the same aire the same magistrates the same governors and presidents to wit the sunne the moone and the morning starre the same lawes throughout under one and the selfe-same order and conduct the solstice and tropicke of summer in the north the solstice and tropicke of winter in the south the aequinoxes both of spring and fall the starres Pleiades and Arcturus the seasons of seednesse the times of planting one King and the same prince of all even God who hath in his hand the beginning the mids and the end of the whole and universall world who by his influence goeth according to nature directly through and round about all things attended upon with righteousnesse and justice to take vengeance and punishment of those who transgresse any point of divine law which all we likewise that are men doe exercise and use by the guidance and direction of nature against all others as our citizens and subjects Now say that thou doest not dwel and live in Sardeis what matter is that surely it is just nothing No more doe all the Athenians inhabite in the burroughs or tribe Colyttus nor the Corinthians in the street Cranium ne yet the Lacedaemonians in the vilage Pytane are those Athenians then to be counted strangers and not inhabitants of the citie who have remooved out of Melite into Diomea considering that even there they doe solemnize yet the moneth
done well ô fortune quoth he to drive us to our studying gowne and Philosophers life againe even so in mine opinion there is no reason that a man unlesse he be very much besotted and transported with the vaine wind of popularity when he is confined and inclosed within an island should complaine of fortune therefore but rather praise her for that she hath rid him of much anguish of spirit and trouble of his head delivered him from tedious travell and wandring pilgrimages up and downe in the world from place to place freed him from the perils of sea remooved him from the tumultuous stirs of the multitude in judiciall courts and publicke assemblies of the citie and reduced him to a setled and staied life full of rest and tranquillitie not distracted with any superfluous and needlesse occupations wherein he may live indeed properly to himselfe being raunged within the center and circumference of those things which are required onely for necessitie For what island is there which hath not housen walking places stouphes and baines or that is without fishes or hares if a man be disposed to passe the time in fishing or hunting and that which is the greatest matter of all you may oftentimes there enjoy fully your rest and repose which other do so much thirst and hunger after for whereas when we are haply playing at dice or otherwise keeping close at home there will be some of these sycophants or busie priers and curious searchers into all our actions ready to draw us out of our houses of pleasure in the suburbes or out of our delightsome gardens to make our apparence judicially in the common place or to performe our service and give attendance in the court there will be none such about to faile into the Island where thou art confined for to trouble thee none wil come to thee to demaund or crave any thing to borrow monie to request thy suretiship or thy assistance for to second him in the sute of any office and magistracie unlesse peradventure some of thy best friends onely and neerest kinsfolke of meere love and affectionate desire to see thee saile over for thy sake for the rest of thy life besides is permitted to be as free and safe as a sanctuarie not subject to any spoile trouble or molestation if thou be willing can skill to use thy liberty and repose As for him who thinketh those to be happy who trudge up and downe in the world abroad spending most part of their time out of their owne houses either in common innes and hostelries or els in ferrying from place to place he is much like unto him that supposeth the wandring planets to be in a better state than the other starres which be fixed in the firmament and remoove not and yet there is not one of the said planets but is carried round in a peculiar and proper sphaere of the owne as it were in a certeine Isle keeping alwaies a just order in their revolution for according as Heraclitus saith The very sunne himselfe will never passe beyond his bounds and if he do the furies which are the ministers of justice will finde him out and be ready to encounter him But these and all such like reasons my good friend we are to alledge unto them and sing in their eares who being sent away and confined to some one Isle can not possibly change for another countrey nor have commerce and dealing in any place els whatsoever those I say Whom surging waves of sea both night and day Enclose perforce and cause them there to stay As for you unto whom no certeine place is limited and assigned for to inhabit but who are debarred and excluded onely out of one are thus to thinke that the exclusion out of one citie alone is an overture and ready way made unto all others Now if any man will object and say In this case of exile and banishment we are disabled for bearing rule and office of State we sit not at counsell table in the Senate house we are not presidents in the publicke plaies and solemnities c. You may answere and reply againe in this maner neither are we troubled with factions and civill dissentions we are not called upon nor charged with paiments in publike levies and exactions neither be we bound to make court unto great governors and to give attendance at their gates nor to take care and regard whether he who is chosen to succeed us in the government of our province be either hastie and cholericke or otherwise given to oppression and hard dealing but as Archilochus making no account at all of the fruitfull corne-fields and plenteous vineyards in Thasos despised and contemned the whole Isle because of some other rough hard and uneven places in it giving out thereof in these termes This Island like an asses backe doth sticke All over spred with woods so wild and thicke even so we casting our eies and fixing them upon that part onely of exile which is the woorst and vilest of the rest doe contemne and make no reckoning of the repose from businesse the libertie also and leasure which it doth afford And yet the kings of Persia be reputed happy in that they passe their winter time in Babylon the summer in Media and the most sweet and pleasant part of the spring at Susae May not hee likewise who is departed out of his owne native country during the solemnitie of the mysteries of Ceres make his abode within the city 〈◊〉 all the time of the Bacchanales celebrate that feast in Argos and when the Pythian games plaies are exhibited go to Delphos as also when the Isthmain pastimes be represented make a journey likewise to Corinth in case he be a man who taketh pleasure in the diversitie of shewes and publike spectacles if not then either sit still and rest or else walke up and downe reade somwhat or take a nap of sweet sleepe without molestation or interruption of any man and according as Diogenes was wont to say Aristotle dineth when it pleaseth king Philip but Diogenes taketh his dinner when Diogenes thinketh it good himselfe without any businesse affaires to distract him and no magistrate ruler or captaine there was to interrupt his ordinary time and maner of diet This is the reason why very few of the wisest and most prudent men that ever were have beene buried in the countries where they were borne but the most part of them without any constraint or necessitie to enforce them have willingly weighed anker and of their owne accord failed to another rode or haven to harbour in and there to lead their life for some of them have departed to Athens others have forsaken Athens gone to other places for what man ever gave out such a commendation of his owne native countrey as did Euripides in these verses in the person of a woman Our people all at first no strangers were From forraine parts who thither did arrive Time
to be afraid much more to do ill than to receive and sustaine harme for asmuch as the one is the cause of the other And this is a civill and generous feare proper and peculiar to a good prince namely to be afraid lest his subjects should ere he be aware take wrong or be hurt any way Much like as dogs that be of gentle kinde Who watchfully about the folds attend In case they once by subtill hearing finde A savage beast approch and thit her tend feare not for themselves but in regard of the cattell which they keepe In like maner Epaminondas when the Thebanes fell dissolutely to drinke and make good cheere at a certeine festivall time himselfe went all alone to survey the armour and wals of the citie saying That he would fast and watch that all the rest might quaffe the while and sleepe with more securitie Cato likewise at Utica proclaimed by sound of trumpet to send away by sea all those who escaped alive upon the overthrow which there hapned and when he had embarqued them all and made his praiers unto the gods to vouchsafe them a bon voiage he returned into his owne lodging and killed himselfe shewing by this example what a prince or commander ought to feare and what he should contemne and despise Contrariwise Clearchus the tyrant of Pontus shutting himselfe within a chest slept there as a serpent within her hole and Aristodemus the tyrant of Argos went up into a hanging chamber aloft which had a trap dore whereupon he caused a little bed or pallet to be set and there he slept and lay with his concubine and harlot which hee kept and when he was gotten up thither the mother of the said concubine came ordinarily to take downe the ladder and brought it thither againe every morning How thinke you did this tyrant tremble for feare when he was in a frequent theater in the palace in the counsell house and court of justice or at a feast considering that he made a prison of his bed chamber To say a verie truth good princes are afraid for their subjects sake but tyrants feare their subjects and therefore as they augment their puissance so doe they encrease their owne feare for the more persons that they commaund and rule over the greater number they stand in dread of for it is neither probable nor seemely as some philosophers affirme That God is invisibly subsistent and mixed within the first and principall matter which suffreth all things receiveth a thousand constreints and adventures yea and is subject to innumerable changes and alterations but hee sitteth in regard of us above and there is resiant continually in a nature alwaies one and ever in the same estate feated upon holy foundations as Plato saith where he infuseth his power and goeth through all working and finishing that which is right according to nature and like as the sunne in heaven the most goodly and beautifull image of him is to be seene by the reflexion of a mirror by those who otherwise can not endure to behold himselfe as he is even so God ordeineth in cities and societies of men another image of his and that is the light of justice and reason accompanying the same which wise and blessed men describe and depaint out of sentences philosophicall conforming and framing themselves to that which is the fairest and most beautifull thing in the world and nothing is there that doth imprint in the soules and spirits of men such a disposition as reason drawne and learned out of philosophie to the end that the same should not befall unto us which king Alexander the great did who having seene in Corinth Diogenes how generous he was esteemed highly and admired the haughtie courage magnanimitie of the man insomuch as he brake foorth into these words Were I not Alexander surely I would be Diogenes which was al one in maner as if he should have said That he was troubled encombred with his wealth riches glory and puissance as impeachments and hinderances of vertue and bare an envious and jealous eie to the homely course cloke of the philosopher to his bagge and wallet as if by them alone Diogenes was invincible and impregnable and not as himselfe by the meanes of armes harnish horses speares and pikes for surely he might with governing himselfe by true philosophicall reason have beene of the disposition and affection of Diogenes and yet continue neverthelesse in the state and fortune of Alexander and so much the rather be Diogenes because he was Alexander as having need against great fortune like a tempest raised with boisterous winds and full of surging waves of a stronger cable and anchor of a greater helme also and a better pilot for in meane persons who are of low estate and whose puissance is small such as private men be follie is harmelesse and sottish though such be yet they doe no great hurt because their might is not answerable thereto like as it falleth out in foolish and vaine dreames there is a certeine griefe I wot not what which troubleth and disordereth the mind being not able to compasse bring about the execution of her desires lusts but where might malice are met together their power addeth folly unto passion affections most true is that speech of Denys the tyrant who was wont to say That the greatest pleasure contentment which he enjoied by his tyranny was this that whatsoever he would was quickly done presently executed according to that verse in Homer No sooner out of mouth the word was gone But presently withall the thing was done A dangerous matter it is for a man to will and desire that which he ought not being not able to performe that which hee willeth and desireth whereas malicious mischiefe making a swife course through the race of puissance and might driveth and thrusteth forward every violent passion to the extremitie making choler and anger to turne to murder love to proove adultery and avarice to growe into confiscation of goods for no sooner is the word spoken but the partie once in suspition is undone for ever and presently upon the least surmise and imputation ensueth death But as the naturall philosophers do hold that the lightning is shot out of the cloud after the clap of thunder like as bloud issueth after the wound is given and incision made and yet the said lightning is seene before for that the eare receiveth the sound or cracke by degrees whereas the eie meeteth at once with the flash even so in these great rulers and commanders punishments oftentimes go before accusations and sentences of condemnation before evident proofes For wrath in such may not long time endure No more than flouke of anchor can assure A ship in storme which taketh slender hold On sand by shore whereof none may be bold unlesse the weight of reason doe represse and keepe downe licentious power whiles a Prince or great Lord doth after the manner of
and custome deserveth to be opposed partly against the solitarie life and beggerly niggardise of base misers covetous penni-fathers and such like enemies of humaine societie and in part against the excessive pompe unmeasurable sumptuo sitie dissoluter riots and fookish vanitie and gourmandise of those that love nothing but their paunch and know no other god to worship but their bellie as also against the fond laughters bragging vanteries impudent facings seurrile mockertes and dogged backbitings that senslesse lots and 〈◊〉 persons are gven unto and finally against the enormities violences and outrages of such as are wholy abandoned and given over to sinne and wickednes Moreover to come more particularly to this booke folowing Plutarch bringeth in one named Diocles who recoūteth unto Nicarchus all that was said and done at Corinth in a certeine banquet at which were these persons namely Periander the sovereigne lord of that citie and the host who bad all the guests to wit Solon Bias Thales Cleobulus Pittacus and Chilon named in those daies The seven Sages or wise men of Greece Item Anacharsis Aesope Niloxenus Cleodemus and certeine others But before that he entreth into any speech of that which passed during the banquet and afterwards he rehearseth the communication held betweene Thales and those of his company upon the way of Corinth where they talke of matters handled more at large afterwards then consequently hee treateth of that which a guest ought to do who is invited to a banquet and describeth what hapned among some of the guests proceeding a little forward he declareth what was the maner of the entrance the slint and end of the banquet to wit modest and seasoned with pleasant speeches and those most honest and civill of the host and his familie which done he entreth into the recitall of the talke that was held after the supper or banquet of which the beginning grew from the musicke of flutes and by a certeine comparison devised with a good grace he causeth audience to be given unto Niloxenus a stranger by occasion whereof Bias doth expound the riddle or darke question sent by a king of Aethiopia unto the king of Aegypt which in the same traine inferreth an excellent occasion to speake of the duetie and office of kings of which argument all the foresaid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their minds summarily together with the proper riddles and aenigmaticall questions from the king of Aegypt to the king of Aethiopia Now after the desciphering and assoiling of the said riddles the former Sages fall into a discourse as touching the gouernment popular and oeconomicall upon which point they doe opine and speake their mindes in order comming afterwards to conference together of certeine particularities of house-keeping to wit of drinking and other pleasures of the quantitie of goods that may suffice a man of the frugalitie thrift and sobrietie of men in olde time of the necessitie and delight of drinking and eating and finally of the discommodities inconveniences and miseries incident to mans life in this behalfe And for a conclusion bringeth in one Gorgias who being arrived unlooked for and comming suddenly in place relateth the strange accident of Arion saved by the meanes of a dolphin which report draweth on the companie to other like narrations and tales at the end whereof after grace said and thanks giving according to the accustomed maner of that people the guests retire themselves and depart THE BANQUET OF THE seven Sages DIOCLES CErtes the long processe and continuance of time my good friend Nicarchus can not chuse but breed and bring much darknesse obscuritie and incertitude of mens actions and affaires when as now in matters so fresh so new and so lately passed you have met with certeine false reports which notwithstanding are beleeved and received for true for there were not onely those seven guests at the table in this feast as you have heard and are borne in hand but more than twise so many of whom my selfe made one being familiar and inward with Periander by reason of mine art and profession and the host besides to Thales for by the commandement of Periander he lodged in mine house neither hath he whosoever he was that related the thing unto you borne well in minde and remembred what the speeches and discourses were which they held which maketh me verily to thinke that he was not himselfe one of them who were at the banquet But seeing we are now at good leasure and for that olde age is no suretie sufficient to give good warrantise for to defer and put off this report unto a farther time and because you are so desirous to know the trueth I will rehearse unto you all in order even from the very beginning First and formost the feast was prepared by Periander not within the citie but about the port or haven Lechaeon in a faire great hall or dining chamber neere to the Temple of Venus unto whom there was also a sacrifice offered for since the infortunate love of his mother who voluntarily made herselfe away having not sacrificed unto Venus this was the first time that he was moved thereto as being incited by certaine dreames of Melissa to worship and adore the said goddesse Now to every one of the guests invited to this banquet there was a coatch brought richly appointed and set out accordingly for to convey and conduct them to the place appointed for that it was the Summer season and all the port-way from the citie as farre as to the sea-side was full of dust and resounded with great noise by reason of a number of chariots and a world of people going to and fro betweene As for Thales seeing at my gates a coatch standing and ready to carie him he fel a smiling and laughing and so sent it backe againe he and I then put our selves in our way and went faire and softly together on foot over the fields and a third there was who bare us companie to wit Niloxenus of Naucratia a man of good woorth and one who had beene familiarly acquainted with Solon and Thales before-time in Aegypt and as then was he sent the second time unto Bias but wherefore himselfe knew not unlesse as hee suspected it were to bring unto him a second question inclosed and sealed within a packet for this charge and commandement he had That if Bias refused and would not take upon him to assoile and expound the same he should shew it to the wisest Sages of the Greeks Then began Niloxenus An happy feast quoth he is this to me my masters and unexpected wherein I shall finde you all together for I carie with me thither a packet as you see and with that he shewed it unto us Then quoth Thales smiling if you have therein any hard and untoward question to bee dissolved cary it againe to Pyrene for Bias will declare the meaning thereof like as hee assoiled the former What former question was that quoth I Mary quoth he againe hee sent unto him a sheepe
chaunt a sonet or hymne unto Apollo Pythius for the safetie of himselfe the ship and all those fellow passengers who were within it he stood upright on his feet in the poope close to the ship side and after he had founded a certaine invocation or praier to the sea-gods he chanted the canticle beforesaid and as he was in the mids of his song the sunne went downe and seemed to settle within the sea and with that they began to discover Peloponnesus Then the marriners who could no longer stay nor tarrie for the darke night came toward for to kill him when he saw their naked swords drawen and beheld the foresaid Pilot how he covered his face because he would not see so vilanous a spectacle he cast himselfe over ship-boord and leapt as farre into the sea from the ship as he could but before that his whole bodie was under the water the dolphins made haste and from beneath were readie to beare him up for sinking Full of feare and perturbation of spirit hee was at first insomuch as being astonied thereat hee wist not what it might be but within a while after perceiving that he was carried at ease and seeing a great flote of dolphins environing gently round about him and that they succeeded and seconded one another by turnes for to take the charge of carrying him as if it had beene a service imposed upon them all and whereunto they were necessarily obliged and seeing besides that the carrike was a good way behind by which he gathered that he went apace and was carried away with great celerity He was not quoth Gorgias so fearful of death or desirous otherwise to live as hee had an ambitious desire to arrive once at the haven of safetie to the ende that the world might know that he stood in the grace and favour of the gods and that he reposed an assured beliefe and firme affiance in them beholding as he did the skie full of starres the moone arising pure and cleere with exceeding brightnesse and the whole sea about him smooth and calme but that the course of these dolphins traced out a certaine way and path so that hee thought thus within himselfe that the divine justice had not one eie alone but as many eies as there were starres in the heaven and that God beheld all about whatsoever was done both by sea and land Which cogitations and thoughts of mind quoth he mightily strengthened and sustained my bodie which otherwise was readie to faint and yeeld with travell and wearinesse finally when the dolphins were come as farre as to the great promontorie of Tenarus so high and steepe they were verie warie and careful that they ran not upon it but turned gently at one side and swom behind it a long the coast as if they would have conducted a barke safe and sound to a sure bay and landing place whereby he perceived evidently that carried he was thus by the guidance of the divine providence After that Arion said Gorgias had made all this discourse unto us I inquired of him where he thought that the ship above said intēded to arrive At Corinth quoth he without all doubt but it will be very late first for it being toward evening when I leapt into the sea I suppose that I was carried upon the dolphins backs no lesse than a course of five hundred furlongs and no sooner was I from ship-boord but there insued presently a great calme at sea Moreover Gorgias said That he having learned the names aswell of the ship-master as the pilot and withall knowen what badge or ensigne the ship carried made out certaine pinnaces and those manned with souldiours for to observe what creeks commodious baies and landing places there were upon the said coast but as for Arion Gorgias conveied him secretly with him for feare lest if the mariners should have had any advertisement of his deliverie and safetie they might flie away and escape But as God would have it every thing fell out so as we might see quoth Gorgias the very immediat hand of the divine power for at one and the same instant that I arrived here I had intelligence also that the said ship was fallen into the hands of those souldiors whom I set out and so the mariners and passengers within it were taken all prisoners Hereupon Periander commanded Gorgias presently to arise to apprehend them and lay them up fast in close prison where no person might have accesse unto them or certifie them that Arion was alive and safe Then Aesope Mocke on now quoth he at my gaies and crowes that talke and tell tales when you see that dolphins also can in this wise play their youthfull parts and atchieve such prowesses Nay quoth I then we are able to report Aesope another narration like to this which hath benefer downe in writing and received for currant and good these thousand yeeres passed and more even from the daies of Ino and Athamas Then Solon taking occasion of speech by these words Yea but these matters ô 〈◊〉 quoth he concerne the gods more neerely and surpasse our puissance but as for that which befell to Hesiodus was a meere humane accident and not impertinent unto us for I suppose you have heard the historie tolde No I assure you quoth I But woorth it is the hearing quoth Solon againe And thus by report it was A certaine Milesian with whom as it should seeme Hesiodus had familiar acquaintance in so much as they lodged eat and drunke together ordinarily in the citie of Locres kept their hosts daughter secretly and abused her body so as in the end he was taken with the manner Now was Hesiodus suspected to have beene privie to him of this vilannie from the verie beginning yea and to have kept the doore and assisted him in concealing the same whereas indeed he was in no fault at all nor culpable any way howbeit by means of false suspitions and sinister surmizes of people hee incurred much anger and was hardly thought of neither could he avoide the unjust imputations of the world for the brethren of the yoong damosell lay in ambush for him neere unto a wood about Locri set upon and slew him outright together with his servant or page Troilus who tended upon him After this murther committed and their bodies cast into the sea it chanced that the corps of Troilus being carried foorth into the river Daphnus rested upon a rocke environed and dashed round about with the water and the same not far from the sea which rocke thereupon tooke his name and is so called at this day But the dead bodie of Hesiodus immediately from the land was received by a float or troupe of Dolphins and by them carried as farre as to the capes Rhion and Molychria It fortuned at the verie same time that the citizens of Locri held a solemne assembly and celebrated festivall sacrifices called Rhia which they performe even at this daie also in the verie same place
them any true enmitie in deed or discord as did sometimes a popular man and a governour of Chios named Onomademus who after he had in a certeine seditious tumult gotten the upper hand of his adversaries would not banish out of the citie all those who had taken part against him For feare lest that quoth he we fall out with our friends when we have no more enemies for surely this were meere follie But whensoever the people shall supect any ordinance or act proposed which is of great consequence and tending to their good it behooveth not at such a time that all as it were of one complot should deliver one and the same sentence but that two or three opposing themselves without violence should contradict their friend and afterwards being convinced and overweighed by sound reasons change their minde and raunge themselves to his opinion for by this meanes they draw the people with them namely when they seeme themselves to be brought thereto in regard of a publike benefit and cōmoditie And verily in trifling matters of no great importance it were not amisse to suffer our very friends in good earnest to differ and disagree from us and to let every one take his way and follow his owne minde to the end that when some maine points and principall matters of greatest moment shall come in question and be debated it might not be thought that they have complotted together and so growen to a point and accord about the best Moreover we are thus to thinke That a wise man and a politician is by nature alwaies the governour and chiefe magistrate of a citie like as the king among the Bees and upon this perswasion he ought to have evermore the reines in his hand and to sway the affaires of State howbeit he is not very often nor too hotly for to seeke after and pursue the offices and dignities which the people doe nominate and chuse by their free voices for this office-managing and desire to be alwaies in place of authoritie is neither venerable for his person nor yet plausible to the people and yet must not he reject the same in case the people call him lawfully to it and conferre the same upon him but to accept thereof although peradventure they be offices somewhat inferiour to the reputation that he hath already yea and to employ himselfe therein willingly and with good affection for reason it is and equitie that as we our selves have bene honoured already by places of great dignitie so reciprocally we should grace and countenance those which be of meaner qualitie and whensoever we shall be chofen to supreame magistracies to wit unto the estate of L. Governour and generall captaine in the citie of Athens or the Prytanship in Rhodes or Boeotarchie which is here in Boeotia it may beseeme us very wel in modestie to yeeld and rebate a little of the sovereigne power in our port and with moderation to exercise the same but contrariwise unto meaner roomes to adde more dignity and shew greater countenance to the end that we be not envied in the one or despised in the other Now for a man that entreth newly into any office whatsoever it be he ought not onely to call to remembrance and use the speeches that Pericles made the first time that he tooke upon him the rule of State and was to shew himselfe in open place namely Looke to thy selfe Pericles thou rulest free men and not bond-slaves thou governest Greeks and not Barbarians nay thou art the head magistrate of the citizens of Athens but also he is to reason and say thus to himselfe Thou art a commander and yet a subject withall thou art the ruler of a citie under Romane Proconsuls or els the Procuratours Lieutenants and Deputies of Caesar. Here are not the plaines as he said of Lydia for to runne with the launce nor the ancient city Sardeis ne yet the puissance of the Lydians which was in times past The robe must not be made so large it must be worne more straite your eie must be alwaies from the Emperours pavilion unto the tribunall seat of justice and you are not to take so great pride nor trust so much unto a crowne standing upon the head seeing how horned shoes of the Romane Senators are above the same but herein you ought to imitate the actours and plaiers in Tragedies who adde somewhat of their owne to the roll or written part that they do play to wit their passionate affection gesture accent and countenance which is fit and agreeable to the person that they do represent and yet withall they forget not to have an eie and eare both to the prompters This I say we must do for feare lest we passe those bounds and exceed the measures of that libertie which is given us by those who have the power to command us for I assure you to goe beyond those precincts and limits bringeth with it danger I say not to be hissed from off the stage and to be laughed out of our coats but many there have bene Upon whose necks for punishment The edge of trenchant axe and gleave Hath fallen to end all their torment And head from bodie soone did reave as it befell to Pardalus your countrey-man with those about him for stepping a little at one side without their limits And such another also there was who being confined into a certaine desert isle became as Solon saith A Sicinit an or Pholegandrian Who borne sometime was an Athenian We laugh hartily at little children to see how otherwhiles they goe about to put their fathers shooes upon their owne feete or to set crownes upon their heads in sport and governors of cities relating foolishly oftentimes unto the people the woorthie acts of their predecessors their noble courage and brave minds their notable enterprises atchieved farre different and disproportioned to the present times proceedings in their daies and exhorting them to follow the same set the multitude aloft but as they doe ridiculously so afterwards beleeve me they suffer not that which deserveth to be laughed at unlesse haply they be so base minded that for their basenesse there is no account made of them For many other histories there bee of ancient Greece which affoord examples to bee recounted unto men living in this age for to instruct and reforme their manners as namely those at Athens which put the people in remembrance not of the prowesse of their ancestors in martial affaires but for example to decree of that generall abolition and oblivion of all quarrels and matters past which sometimes was concluded there after that the citie was delivered and freed from their captivitie under the thirtie Tyrants as also another act by vertue whereof they condemned in a grievous fine the Poet Phrymchus for that he represented in a Tragedie the winning and racing of the citie Miletus Likewise how by a publike ordinance every man woare chaplets of flowers upon their heads when they heard say
commeth to a feast or a rude traveller who seeketh for lodging when it is darke night for even so thou wouldest remoove not to a place nor to a region but to a life whereof thou hast no proofe and triall As for this sentence and verse of Simonides The city can instruct a man true it is if it be meant of them who have sufficient time to be taught and to learne any science which is not gotten but hardly and with much ado after great studie long travell continuall exercise and practise provided also that it meet with a nature painfull and laborious patient and able to undergo all adversities of fortune These reasons a man may seeme very well and to the purpose to alledge against those who begin when they be well stricken in yeeres to deale in publike affaires of the State And yet we see the contrary how men of great wisedome and judgement divert children and yoong men from the government of common-weale who also have the testimonie of the lawes on their side by ordinance whereof at Athens the publicke Crier or Bedle calleth and summoneth to the pulpit or place of audience not such as yoong Alcibiades or Pytheas for to stand up first and speake before the assemblie of the people but those that be above fiftie yeeres of age and such they exhort both to make orations and also to deliver their minds and counsell what is most expedient to be done And Cato being accused when he was fourescore yeeres olde and upward in pleading of his own cause thus answered for himselfe It is an harder matter my masters quoth he for a man to render an account of his life and to justifie the same before other men than those with whom he hath lived And no man there is but he will confesse that the acts which Caesar Augustus atchieved a little before his death in defaiting Antonius were much more roiall and profitable to the weale-publicke than any others that ever hee performed all his life-time before and himselfe in restraining and reforming secretly by good customes and ordinances the dissolute riots of yoong men and namely when they mutined said no more but thus unto them Listen yoong men and heare an olde man speake whom olde men gave eare unto when he was but yoong The government also of Pericles was at the height and of greatest power and authoritie in his olde age at what time as he perswaded the Athenians to enter upon the Peloponesiacke warre but when they would needs in all haste and out of season set forward with their power to encounter with threescore thousand men all armed and well appointed who forraied and wasted their territorie he withstood them and hindered their dessigned enterprise and that in maner by holding sure the armour of the people out of their hands and as one would say by keeping the gates of the citie fast locked and sealed up But as touching that which Xenophon hath written of Agesilaus it is worthy to be delivered word for word as he setteth it downe in these tearmes What youth quoth he was ever so gallant but his age surpassed it what man was there ever in the flower and very best of all his time more dread and terrible to his enemies than Agesilaus was in the very latter end of his daies whose death at any time was more joyfull to enemies than that of Agesilaus although he was very olde when he died what was he that emboldened allies and confederates making them assured and confident if Agesilaus did not notwithstanding he was now at the very pits brincke and had in maner one foot already in his grave what yoong man was ever more missed among his friends and lamented more bitterly when he was dead than Agesilaus how olde so ever he was when he departed this life The long time that these noble personages lived was no impediment unto them in atchieving such noble and honourable services but we in these daies play the delicate wantons in government of cities where there is neither tyrannie to suppresse nor warre to conduct nor siege to be raised and being secured from troubles of warre we sit still with one hand in another being roubled onely with civill debates among citizens and some emulations which for the most part are voided and brought to an end by vertue of the lawes and justice onely with words Wee forbeare I say and draw backe from dealing in these publicke affaires for feare confessing our selves herein to be more cowardly and false-hearted I will not say than the ancient captaines and governours of the people in olde time but even worse than Poets Sophisters and Plaiers in Tragedies and Comedies of those daies If it be true as it is that Simonides in his olde age wan the prize for enditing ditties and setting songs in quires and dances according to the epigram made of him which testifieth no lesse in the last verses thereof running in this maner Fourescore yeeres olde was Simonides The Poet and sonne of Treoprepes Whom for his carrols and musicall vaine The prize he won and honour did gaine It is reported also of Sophocles that when he was accused judicially for dotage by his owne children who laied to his charge that he was become a childe againe unfitting for governing his house and had need therefore of a guardian being convented before the judges he rehearsed in open court the entrance of the chorus belonging to the Tragedie of his entituled Oedipus in Colono which beginneth in this wise Wel-come stranger at thy entrie To villages best of this countrie Renowmed for good steeds in fight The tribe of faire Colonus hight Where nightingale doth oft resort Her dolefull moanes for to report Amid greene bowers which she doth haunt Her sundrie notes and laies to chaunt With voice so shrill as in no ground Elswhere her songs so much resound c. And for that this canticle or sonet wonderfully pleased the judges and the rest of the company they all arose from the bench went out of the Court and accompanied him home to his house with great acclamations for joy and clapping of hands in his honour as they would have done in their departure from the Theater where the Tragedie had bene lively acted indeed Also it is confessed for certeine that an epigram also was made of Sophocles to this effect When Sophocles this sonnet wrote To grace and honour Herodote His daies of life by just account To fiftie five yeeres did amount Philemon and Alexis both comicall Poets chanced to be arrested and surprised with death even as they plaied their Comedie upon the stage for the prize and were about to be crowned with garlands for the victorie As for Paulus or Polus the actour of Tragedies Eratosthenes and Philochorus do report That when he was threescore yeeres olde and ten he acted eight Tragedies within the space of foure daies a little before his death Is it not then a right great shame that olde men
making a solemne speech in the assembly of the people grew to these tearmes with him before them all And what are you sir if we may be so bold as to know that you beare your selfe so bigge and thinke so well of your selfe are you a man at armes are you an archer a pike man or a footman or what are you I am not indeed quoth he any of these but he I am who knowes how to command and direct all these TIMOTHEUS had the name to be a fortunate captaine rather than otherwise a speciall warriour and some who envied his good estate shewed him a picture wherein certaine cities were entrapped and of themselves fallen into the compasse of net and toile whiles hee lay asleepe whereupon he said unto them Consider now if I can catch and take such cities lying asleepe what shall I be able to doe when I am awake When one of these venturous and too forward captaines shewed upon a glorious braverie unto the Athenians what a wound he had received upon his bodie But I quoth he my selfe was greatly abashed and ashamed one day being your captaine generall before the citie of Samos that a shot discharged from the walles light but neere unto me When the oratours highly praised and recommended captaine Chares saying Lo what a brave man is here to make the generall of the Athenians shewing his goodly personage Timotheus answered againe with a loud voice Never say Generall but rather a good stout groome to carrie the truste of a captaines bedding after him CHABRIAS was woont to say that they were the best captaines who had most intelligences of their enemies desseignes proceedings Being accused together with Iphicrates of treason he gave not over for all that to frequent the publicke place of exercises and to take his dinner at his accustomed howers and when Iphicrates rebuked him for being so rechlesse standing in such danger as he did hee answered him in this manner In case the Athenians proceede against us otherwise than well they shall put you to death all foule and fasting but me full and faire cleane washed anointed and having well dined This was his ordinarie speech That an armie of stags and hindes having a lion for their leader was better than an armie of lions led by a stag HEGESIPPUS surnamed Crobylus solicited and incited the Athenians to take armes against King Philip and when one spake unto him alowd from out of the assembly What Sir will you that we draw upon us war Yea verily quoth he and bring in among us blacke mourning roabes solemne and publicke obsequies yea and funerall orations too if we desire to live free still and not to be servile and subject to the Athenians PYTHEAS being but yet verie yoong presented himselfe one day in open place to crosse and contradict the publike decrees which had passed by the peoples voices in the honour of King Alexander what saith one unto him Dare you presume so yoong as you are to speake of these so weightie matters And why not quoth he seeing that Alexander whom you will needs make a god by your suffrages is yoonger than my selfe PHOCION the Athenian was a man of so staied and constant behaviour that he was never seene of any person either to laugh or weepe Upon a time in a great assembly of the citie one said unto him You are verie sad and pensive Phocion it seemeth you are in a deepe studie Guesse againe quoth he and guesse not so for I am indeed studying and devising with my selfe how I may cut-off somewhat of that which I have to speake unto the Athenians The Athenians understood by an oracle that they had one man among them in the citie who was thwart contrary to the opinion advice of all others Now when they caused diligent search enquirie to be made for this fellow and cried out upon him in great furie whosoever he was Phocion stood up and with a loud voice I am the very man quoth he seeke no further for I am he alone who am nothing at al pleased with whatsoever the people either doth or faith One day when he had delivered his advice in a frequent assembly of the people he pleased the whole au dience very well and seeing that they all with one accord approoved his speech he was abashed thereat and turning toward his friends What quoth hee have I let fall and escaped some words that are not good and otherwise than I meant The Athenians were minded upon a time to solemnize a great and festivall sacrifice and for the better furnishing of this solemnitie they demanded of every man a contribution of money toward it all other gave liberally only Phocion after he had bene called upon by name sundry times to do the like in the end said thus unto them I would be abashed to give any thing I trow unto you and not be able to pay him there pointing with his finger to an usurer unto whom he was indebted When Demades said unto him The Athenians will one of these daies kill thee if they fall once into their furious fits True indeed quoth he they will kill me in their mad mood but thee they will put to death when they be come againe into their right wits Aristogiton the sycophant or false promotor being condemned to death for troubling men with wrongfull imputations and at the point to be executed within the prison sent unto Phocion requesting him to come and speake with him but Phocions friends would not let him goe to talke with such a leaud and wicked wretch Why quoth he unto them in what place may honest men more willingly and better speake with Aristogiton When the Athenians were highly offended and angrie with the Bizantines for that they would not receive into their citie captaine Chares whom they had sent with a power for to aid them against king Philip Phocion came among them and said That they were not to be displeased with their confederates for being mistrustfull but rather with such captaines as they mistrusted upon which remonstrance of his hee was immediatly himselfe chosen captaine who being admitted and well trusted by the Bizantines defended them so valiantly against king Philip that he forced him to raise his siege and retire from thence without effect King Alexander the great sent unto him a present of one hundred talents but he demanded of the messengers that brought it why the king their master sent unto him alone cōsidering there were so many Athenians besides himselfe they answered It was because he esteemed him to be the onely honest and vertuous man among them all Why then quoth he could not hee let me both to seeme and also to be a good man still Alexander upon a time demanded of the Athenians certeine gallies whereupon the people called unto Phocion by name for to give his advice and to counsell them what was best to be done in this case then he stood up
and said My counsell unto you is this That you make meanes either to be your selves the stronger in armes or els at the least-wise friended by them who are mightier than you When a brute was blazed abroad without any certeine authour that king Alexander the Great was deceased the oratours at Athens mounted the pulpits by-and-by and strave avie who could perswade the people most even in all haste to put themselves in armes and rebell but Phocion was of a contrarie minde to them all and his opinion was That they should stay and rest quiet until more assured newes came of his death For saith he if he be dead to day he will be so to morow yea and afterwards also When Leosthenes had set the citie all upon warre feeding the peoples hearts with great hopes of recovering their freedome and the sovereigntie of all Greece Phocion compared these projects of theirs unto the Cypres trees For they quoth hee be saire streight and tall but not a whit of fruit do they beare howbeit when the Athenians at the first sped well in sundrie battels and wan the field whereupon the citie made sacrifices unto the gods for the good newes thereof some would come unto him and say How now Phocion are you not pleased heerewith and would you wish all undone againe I am contented very well quoth he that it hath so fallen out but yet I repent never a whit of my former counsell The Macedonians immediatly after this made rodes into the countrey of Attica and beganne to overun harrie and spoile all the sea coasts for remedie whereof he caused all the lustie men of the citie who were of age to beare armes to enter into the field and when many of them came running unto him some calling upon him to seize such an hill others as instant with him to put his men in battell-ray in such a place O Hercules quoth he what a number of captaines doe I see and how few good souldiers howbeit he gave the enemies battell wan the victorie and slew Nicion the captaine generall of the Macedonians in the place Not long after the Athenians being vanquished in warre were constreined to receive a garrison from Antipater and Menillus captaine of the said garrison sent unto him in free gift certeine money wherewith he being offended said That neither Menillus was better than Alexander nor the cause so good for which he should take any gift at his hand at this present considering that he refused the like from Alexander Moreover Antipater was wont to say That he had two friends at Athens the one of whom to wit Phocion he could never perswade to take any thing and the other who was Demades he could not satisfie whatsoever he gave him When Antipater was in hand with him to do a thing which was not just You cannot quoth he ô Antipater have me to be your friend and a slatterer to After the death of Antipater when the Athenians had recovered their libertie and free state or popular government concluded it was and pronounced in a generall assembly and councell of the people that Phocion together with his friends and associats must suffer death as for the rest they went weeping and lamenting as they were led to execution but Phocion marched gravely and gave not a word now as he was going upon the way one of his enemies met him and spet upon his face whereupon he turned backe to the magistrates and said Is there no man here to represse the insolencie and villanie of this wretched varlet one of them who were to suffer with him tooke on and tormented himselfe exceedingly What quoth he to him ô Euippus doth it not thee good that thou goest to take thy death with Phocion And when the deadly cup was presented to him to drinke his last draught of hemlocke he was asked the question whether he had any more to say or no then addressing his speech unto his sonne I charge thee quoth he and beseech thee not to cary any ranckor and malice in thy heart to the Athenians for my death PISISTRATUS a tyrant of the Athaniens being advertised that some of his friends having revolted and conspired against him had seised upon the fort called Phyle went towards them carying himselfe about at his backe a fardell of his bedding and the furniture thereto belonging whereupon they demaunded of him what he would I come quoth he with an intent either to perswade you to returne with me or else with a resolution to tarrie heere with you my selfe and therefore have I brought my baggage with me He was advertised that his mother loved a yoong man who secretly kept her and used to lie with her howbeit in great feare and refusing her company many times whereupon he invited the man to supper and after supper he asked him how he did and how he liked his enterteinment Gaily well quoth he Thou shalt quoth Pisistratus finde no woorse every day so thou content and please my mother Thrasibulus cast a good liking and fancie to his daughter and as he met her on a time upon the way bestowed a kisse upon her whereat her mother was offended so as she exasperated her husband against him for it but he mildely answered her in this wise Why woman if we set our selves against them that love us and grow to malice them what shall we doe to those who hate us and so he gave the maiden in mariage to Thrasibulus Certeine lustie yoonkers after they had taken their cups well went in a maske and plaid the fooles through the citie and chauncing to meete with his wife abused her both in worde and deed very unseemely and dishonestly but the morrow after they came weeping before Pisistratus acknowledging their fault and craving pardon who made them this answer As for you endevour to be more wise and sober from hence foorth but I assure you my wife yesterday went no whither abroad nor stirred out of her dores When hee was about to marrie a second wife the children whom he had by the former demanded of him whether he were in any respect discontented with them that he should in despight of them espouse another No quoth he that is the least of my thought but cleane contrary i is because I like and love you so well I would willingly have more children to resemble you DEMETRIUS surnamed Phalereus counselled king Ptolomaeus to buy and reade those books which treated of pollicie and government of kingdomes and seigneories for that which courtiours and minions durst not say unto their princes was written within those books LYCURGUS who did set downe and establishe the lawes of the Lacedaemonians accustomed his citizens to weare their haire long For that saith he side haire maketh those who are faire seeme more faire and amiable but those who were foule more hideous and terrible In the reformation of the Lacedaemonian State some one there was
who perswaded him to erect the popular government called Democraty wherein everie one in his course hath as much authoritie as another unto whom hee answered Begin thou first to set up this government in thine owne house He ordeined that in building of houses there should be used nothing but the sawe the axe For that quoth he it were a shame to bring into houses so simplie builded any plate of silver and gold rich hangings carpets and furniture of beds or costly and sumptuous tables He forbad his citizens to fight at buffets or to enter combat in that generall exercise of hand foot teeth and all together called Pancratium to the end that they should not accustome themselves so much as in sport and game to faint give over or yeeld themselves overcome Likewise he debarred them from encountring often with their very enemies for feare they should make them more warlike and better soldiers Whereupon afterwards when king Agesilaus was brought out of the battell very greevously wounded one Antalcidas said unto him You have met with a faire reward at the Thebans hand and no lesse than you well deserve for schooling and teaching them to fight whether they will or no. CHARILLUS the king being asked the question why Lycurgus made so few lawes answered thus That they who used few words had no need of many lawes One of those slaves whom they call Elotes had behaved himselfe somewhat too insolently and knavishly against him Now I sweare by the two twins quoth he Castor and Pollux were I not angrie I would doe thee to death out of hand unto one who demaunded the reason why the Lacedaemonians ware long haire It is quoth he because of all trimming and ornaments of the bodie it costeth least TELECHUS king of Lacedaemon answered unto a brother of his who complained unto him of the citizens of Sparta saying They use me more uncivilly and uncurteously than they doe you It is for nothing else quoth he but because you know not how to endure and put up any wrongs THEOPOMPUS being in a certeine citie was shewed by one of the inhabitants the wals and demaunded whether he thought them not to be faire and high Faire quoth he no in verie truth kept though they be by none but women ARCHIDAMUS during the time of the Peloponnesian warre when as the allies and confederates of Lacedaemon requested him to set them downe a certeine taxe and rate which they were to contribute to ward the charges thereof answered them in this manner Warre knoweth not how to be gaged and feed within the teddar BRASIDAS chaunced to finde a mouse among certeine dried figs which bit him so as he was glad to let her goe and thereupon said to those about him See how there is nothing so little but it is able to make shift and save the owne life if it have but the heart to defend it selfe against those who assaile it In a certaine skirmish his hap was to be hurt with the head of a partisane or javelin which went through his shield and when he had drawne it out of his wound with the very staffe and steile of it he slew his enemie now when one asked him how it came to passe that he was thus wounded Forsooth because my shield deceived and betraied me His fortune was afterwards to die in the countrey of Thrace whither be had beene sent to deliver and set free the Greeks who inhabited those marches and the embassadours who were sent from the said parts to Lacedaemon went to visit his mother who at the first asked them whether Brasidas her sonne did valiantly and like a man the embassadors highly praised him insomuch as they said That there would never be his like againe Oh you are mightily deceived quoth she true it is that Brasidas was a brave and valiant man but Lacedaemon hath many farie better men than he by farre King AGIS was wont to say that the Lacedaemonians used not to aske how many their enemies were but in what place they were At Mantua he was forbidden to strike a battell because the enemies were many in number to one It must needs be quoth he that whosoever would rule and commaund many should likewise fight with many unto them who greatly commended the Eliens for observing such good order and formality at the Olympick games What great maruell is it quoth he if the Eliens in foure yeeres space use justice one day but when they continued still in their praise and commendations What woonder is it quoth he if the Eliens use a good thing well to wit justice A naughtie fellow there was and a troublesome who importuned him exceeding much by asking him oftentimes who was the best man of all the Spartans Mary even he quoth he that is most unlike to thee To another who questioned with him and would needs know how many the Lacedaemonians were in number Enough quoth he to drive out all leud and wicked persons And when another asked him the same question he answered Thou wouldest say they were a great number if thou sawest them fight LYSANDER would not accept of the rich and sumptuous roabes which Dionysius the Tyrant sent unto his daughters saying I am affraid that these garments will make them looke the fouler Some there were who reprooved and blamed him for that he exploited the most part of his acts by craft and subtiltie as if it were an unwoorthie thing for one who vaunted himselfe to be of the race of Hercules unto whom he answered That where the lions skin would not serve it were good to sow thereto a little piece of a foxes case There was some difference and debate betweene the Argives and Lacedaemonians about their confines and it seemed that the Argives alleaged better reasons and brought foorth more pregnant evidences for the land in question but he drawing out his sword They quoth he who are the better men at handling this are those who plead the better for the bonds of their territorie The Lacedaemonians found much difficultie in assaulting the walles of Corinth and when he sawe them draw backe and go unwillingly about that service he chanced to espie at the very same time an hare to start from within the trench and towne ditch whereupon he tooke occasion thus to say why make you doubt to give the assault unto the walles of those men who are so idle as to suffer hares to sleepe within the verie precinct of their walles There was a certaine Megarian who in the generall assembly of all the Sates of Greece spake unto him his minde freely and boldly unto whom he answered thus Thy words have need of a citie that is to say that Megara whereof he was a citizen was not able to make good and maintaine his words AGESILAUS used to say That the inhabitants of Asia to speake of free men were but bad namely so long as they enjoyed libertie marie they be passing good slaves quoth he These
from the river Cephtsus which is in Attica but he replied againe and said And we never yet chased you from the river Eurotas which is neere Lacedemon There was a certeine Rhetorician would needs rehearse an oration which he had made concerning the praise of Hercules Why quoth he was there ever any man that blamed or despised him So long as EPAMINONDAS was captaine general of the Thebans there was never seene in his campe any of these sudden foolish frights without any certeine cause which they call Panique Terrores He was wont to say that no death was so honourable as to die in the warres Also that a man of armes or warriour ought to keepe his bodie not exercised after the maner of champions for to be faire and full but rather hardned with travel and made lanke as becommeth good soldiours He loved therefore to fight with those enemies who were corpulent and such soldiours as he found in his owne bands grosse fat he would be sure to cassier displace them if it were for nothing else For he was wont to say of them that three or foure bucklers would hardly cover their grand-panch which bare out so bigge that they could not see for it their privy parts Moreover so strict and precise he was in his living and hated so much all excesse superfluity that one time above the rest being biddē to supper by one of his neighbors when he saw in the house great provision of viands cates junquets comfutures and sweet perfumes he said unto him I had thought you made a sacrifice and not an expense of superfluitie and so went his way would not stay supper When the head cooke or clerke of the kitchin gave up his account unto him and other his companions in government of their ordinary charges for certeine daies he misliked nothing in his bill but the great quantitie of oyle that was spent and when his collegues wondered that he should fare so at that he said unto them That it was not the cost and expence that hee stood upon but onely this that so much oyle should goe down mens throats The city of Thebes upon a time made a great publike feast and besides privately they were all in their bankets inviting one another and meeting in companies to make merrie together he contrariwise all this while without being either annointed with oile and sweete perfumes or clad in his best clothes all pensive and sad walked alone thorow the citie and when one of his familiar friends who met him woondered thereat and woulds needs know why he went so alone and out of order and formalitie Mary quoth he that you all might in securitie follow your drinking and good cheere and not bee troubled with thinking of any other cares He had caused a meane man and of base condition to be put in prison for some light trespasse that he had committed and Pelopidas requested him for to set him at large but he denied him flatly howbeit afterwards a woman whom he loved intreated him and at her sute he granted his libertie saying That in such pettie favours and curtesies as these it became him to gratisie concubines and harlots but not generals and great warriours When the Lacedemonians came with a puissant power to make cruell war upon the Thebans there were brought oracles unto the Thebans from sundrie parts some promising the victory others menasing an overthrow he went up therefore into the tribunall seat and commanded that the oracles of victorie should be set upon the right hand and those of discomfiture on the left when they were thus disposed and bestowed he stood up and in this wise spake unto the Thebans If you will be directed by your captaines shew obedience unto them and withall put on a resolution and good heart to encounter your enemies these heere shewing the good oracles on the right hand be yours but if for want of courage you cast doubts and start backe for seare of perils those there pointing to the bad oracles on the lefthand are for you Afterwards as he led the armie into the field for to meet with the Lacedemonians it began to thunder whereat they that were neerest unto him asked what he thought this might presage and signifie Surely quoth he it betokeneth thus much That God hath aslonished our enemies and put their braines out of temper who having such commodious places neere unto them for to encampe in have pitched here where they are Of all the honorable and happie fortunes that ever befell unto him he said This was most to his hearts joy and contentment that he had defeited the Lacedemonians in the battell at Leuctres whiles his owne father that begat him and mother who bare him were both alive Being a man who otherwise all his life time used to be seene abroad fine neat wel anointed with a cheeefull and merrie countenance also the morrow after the said battell he came foorth into the publicke place all foule sullied heavy and pensive whereupon his friends by and by were in hand with him to know whether any sinister accident was come unto him None quoth he but I perceived yesterday that for the joy of my victorie my heart was lifted up more than it ought and therefore to day I doe abate and correct that which was the day before too excessive and out of order knowing full well that the Spartans used to cover and hide as much as they could such misfortunes and being desirous to make them see and acknowledge the great losse and overthrow which they had susteined hee woulde not in any wise permit them to gather their dead all together and pile them up in one entire heape but to every citie he gave leave one after another to enterre them by which it appeered that there were more of the Lacedemonians slaine by a thousand Jason a prince and monarch of Thessalia being allied and confederate with the Thebans came one day into the citie of Tales and sent unto Epaminondas a present of two thousand pieces of gold knowing that indeed he was exceeding poore this gold would not he receive at his hands but the first time after that he saw Jason he came unto him and said You begun twise to offer me injurie and in the meane while he borrowed of a certeine burgesse of the citie fiftie drams of silver for to defray the charges of a journey or expedition which he entended and therewith entred in armes and invaded Peloponesus After this when the great king of Persia sent him thirtie thousand pieces of gold called Dariques he was displeased highly with Diomedes and sharpely checked him asking him if he had undertaken so great a voiage thinking to bribe and corrupt Epaminondas and with that commmaunded him to deliver this message backe unto the king his master That so farre foorth as he entended and procured good unto the Thebans hee should make reckoning of him to be his friend without any pennie
am advertised quoth he that thou against the lawes of military discipline usest many times to lie out of the campe and I understand likewise ful well that setting that fault aside thou art a souldier good enough well in regard of thy good services I am content to pardon all that is past but from hencefoorth thou shalt abide and tarie with me for I have a good pawne and suretie within that thou shalt not start and with that he caused the woman to come forth and appeare and so he gave her into his hands to be his wedded wife Anniball held all the citie of Tarentum with a strong garrison saving onely the castle but Marcellus by a wile and subtile stratageme trained him as farre as he could from thence and then returning with all expedition was master of the whole towne and sacked it in the execution of which service his scribe or chancellour asked him what should be done with the sacred images of the gods among the rest of the pillage Mary let us leave quoth he unto the Tarentines their gods being thus angred as they are with them When M. Livius who had the keeping of the castle vanted and boasted that by his meanes the citie was woonne all the rest who heard him laughed and mocked him but Fabius answered Thou saiest trueth indeed for if thou hadst not lost it once I had never recovered it againe After he was stepped farre in yeeres his sonne was chosen consull and as he was giving audience in open place and dispatching certaine publike affaires in the presence of many Fabius his father being mounted on horsebacke came toward him but the sonne sent one of his lictors or hushers before to command him to alight from his horse whereat all the rest there present were abashed and thought it a great shame and unseemly sight but the olde man dismounting quickely from his horse came toward his sonne as fast as his yeeres would give him leaue imbraced him and said Thou hast well done my sonne to know whom thou doest governe and to shew that thou art not ignorant what the greatnesse is of that charge which thou hast undertaken SCIPIO the elder whensoever he was at any leasure and repose either from military affaires or politike government emploied all that time in his private study at his booke whereupon he was woont to say That when he was alone he had most companie and when hee was at leasure he had greatest businesse After hee had woonne by assault the city of New Carthage in Spaine some of his souldiers brought a most beautifull damosell taken prisoner and her they offered unto him I would receive her willingly quoth he if I were a private person but being as I am a captaine generall I will none of her Lying at siege before a certeine citie situated in a low place and over which might be seene the temple of Venus he gave order unto them that by vertue of writs were to make appearance in court that they should come and plead before him within the said temple where they should have audience the third day after which hee made good for before that day hee had forced the citie When one demaunded of him being in Sicilie ready to embarke and passe over to Africke upon what confidence hee presumed so much to crosse the seas with his armada against Carthage See you not heere quoth he 300. men how they disport and exercise them selves armed all in militarie feats of armes along an high tower situate upon the sea side I tell you there is not one of all this number but if I bidde him will runne up to the top of this tower and cast himselfe downe from thence with the head forward Being passed over sea and soone after master of the field when hee had burnt the campes of his enimies the Carthaginians sent immediately unto him an embassage to treat of peace in which treatie it was concluded that they should quit all their vessels at sea abandon their elephants and besides pay a good grosse summe of money But so soone as Annibal was retired out of Italy into Africke they repented themselves of these capitulations and conditions for the trust which they had in the forces and person of Anniball whereof Scipio being advertised said unto them That although they would performe the articles of the foresaid agreement yet the accord should not stand for good unlesse over and above they paid 5000. talents because they had sent for Anniball to come over Now after that the Carthaginians had beene vanquished by him in open battell they sent new embassadors for to treat of peace againe but hee commaunded them presently to depart for that he would never give them audience unlesse they brought backe unto him lord Terentius a knight of Rome and a man of woorth and honor who by the fortune of warre was taken prisoner and fallen into the hands of the Carthaginians now when they had brought Terentius he caused him to sit close by his side in the counsell and then gave he audience to the foresaide embassadors and graunted them peace Afterwards when he entred Rome in triumph for this victorie the said Terentius followed hard after his triumphant chariot wearing a cap of libertie on his head like an affranchised slave and avowing that he held his freedome by him and when Scipio was dead unto all those who accompanied his corps when it was caried foorth to sepulture Terentius allowed to drinke a certeine kinde of mede made of wine and honie and for all other complements belonging to an honorable funerall he tooke order with great diligence but this was performed afterwards Moreover when king Antiochus saw that the Romanes were passed over into Asia with a puissant armie to make warre upon him he sent his embassadors to Scipio for to enter into a treatie of peace unto whom he answered This you should have done before and not at this present now that your king and master hath already received the bit of the bridle in his mouth and the saddle with the rider upon his backe The Senat had graunted out a commission unto him that he should take foorth certeine money out of the publick chest and chamber of the citie but when the treasurers would not suffer him that day to open the treasury for to be furnished from thence he said He would be so bold as open it himselfe Which quoth he I may well doe considering that by my meanes it was kept fast shut and locked first for the great quantitie of gold and silver which I have caused to be brought into it Petilius and Quintus two Tribunes of the commons accused him before the people and laid many grievous matters to his charge but he in stead of pleading his owne cause and justifying himselfe said thus My masters of Rome upon such a day as this I defaited in battell the Carthaginians and Annibal and therefore will I goe my selfe directly from hence with a chaplet
aids upon a sudden but from the Celtiberians who for to succour him demaunded two hundred talents now the other Romane captaines would not yeeld that hee should make promise unto those barbarous nations of this money for their hire and sallarie but Cato said They were much deceived and out of the way for if we winne quoth he we shall be able to pay them not of our owne but of our enemies goods if we lose the day there will be none left either to be paied or to call for pay Having woon more townes in Spaine than he had beene daies there according as he said himselfe he reserved of all that spoile and pillage for his owne use no more than he did eat and drinke but hee divided and dealt to every one of his souldiers a pound weight of silver saying That it were better that many should returne home out of warre with silver in their purses than a few with golde for that rulers and captaines ought not to grow rich themselves by their provinces and places of government in any thing but in honour and glorie In that expedition or voiage of his hee had with him in his traine five of his owne servitours of whom one there was who bought three prisoners taken in warre but when he knew that his master had intelligence thereof before that ever he came in his sight he hung and strangled himselfe Scipio surnamed Africanus praied him to favour the causes of the banished and fugitive Achoeans and to be good unto them namely that they might be recalled and restored againe to their owne countrey but he made semblance as though hee tooke no great heed and regard to such affaires and when hee saw that the matter was followed hotly in the Senate and that there grew much speech and debate about it he stood up and said Here is a great stirre indeed and as though we had nothing els to do we sit here spend all the long day disputing about these old gray-beard Greeks and all forsooth to know whether they shal be caried forth to their buriall by our porters and coresbearers heere or by those there Posthumius Albius wrote certeine histories in Greeke in the Preface and Proeme whereof he praied the readers and hearers to pardon him if he had committed any soloecisme or incongruitie in that language but Cato by way of a mocke scoffed at him and said That he deserved indeed to be pardoned for writing false Greeke in case that by the ordinance and commandement of the high commission of the Amphyctiones who were the chiefe Estates of all Greece he had bene compelled against his will to enterprise and goe in hand with the said histories SCIPIO the yoonger in foure and fiftie yeeres for so long he lived neither bought nor solde nor yet built and it is for certaine reported that in so great an house and substance as his might seeme to be there was never found but three and thirtie pound weight of silver plate and two of golde notwithstanding the city of Great Carthage was in his hand and he had enriched his souldiers more than ever any captaine did before him Observing well the precept which Polybius gave he hardly without much ado would not returne out of the market place before he had assaied to make in some sort one new friend and familiar or other of those whom he met withall Being but yet yoong he was of such reputation for his valour and wisedome that Cato the elder being demanded his opinion as touching others that were in the campe before Carthage among whom he was one delivered this commendation of him Right wise and sage indeed alone is he The rest to him but slitting shadowes be whereupon after his returne to Rome from the campe they that remained behinde called for him againe not so much by way of gratification and to do him a pleasure but because they hoped by his meanes more speedily and with greater facilitie to win Carthage now when he was entred to the very walles and yet the Carthaginians fought from the castle Polybius gave coūsel to scatter in the sea betweene which was not very deepe betweene his campe and the said castle certaine colthrops of yron or els planks beset with naile points to overcast and spread the shallow shelves with sticking upon them for feare lest that the enemies passing that arme or firth of the sea might come to assaile their rampars but he said It was a meere mockery considering that they had already gained the walles and were within the citie of their enemies to make meanes not to sight with them Finding the citie full of statues and painted tables which were brought out of Sicilie he made proclamation that the Sicilians from al their cities should come for to owne and cary away whatsoever had bene theirs but of all the pillage he would not allow any one either slave or newly affranchised of his owne traine to seize upon nor so much as buy ought notwithstanding that there was driving and carying away otherwise on all hands The greatest and most familiar friend that he had Laelius sued to be consull of Rome him he favoured and set forward his sute in all that hee could by which occasion hee demanded of one Pompeius who was thought to make labour for the same dignitie whether it were true that hee was a competitor or no now it was supposed that this Pompeius was a minstrels sonne that used to play on the flute who made answere againe that he stood not for the consulship and that which was more hee promised to assist Laelius and to get all the voices that hee could for him thus while they beleeved his words and expected his helping hand they were deceived in the end for they were given to understand for certeine that this Pompieus was in the common hall labouring hard for himselfe going about unto every citizen one after another requesting their voices in his owne behalfe whereat when all others tooke stomacke and were offended Scipio laughed apace and said We are even well enough served for our great follie thus to stay and wait all this whiles upon a fluter and piper as if we had bene to pray and invocate not men but the gods Appius Claudius was in election and concurrence against him for the office of cenfourship saying in a braverie That he used to salute all the Romans by name and by surname upon his owne knowledge of them without the helpe of a prompter whereas Scipio scarse knew one of them all Thou saiest trueth quoth Scipio for I have alwaies beene carefull not to know many but rather not to be unknowen of any He gave counsell unto the Romane citizens at what time as they warred against the Celtiberians for to send both him and his competirour together into the campe in qualitie either of lieutenants or of colonels over a thousand foot to the end that they might have the testimonie of other captaines and
in all of the Lceadaemonians As many quoth he as are enough to chase and drive away wicked persons In passing a long the wals of Corinth when he saw them so high so wel built and so large in extent What maner of women quoth he be they that inhabit within To a great master of Rhetorick who praising his owne skill profession chaunced to conclude with these words When all is done there is nothing so puissant as the speech of man Why then be like quoth he so long as you hold your peace you are of no worth The Argives having bin once already beaten defaited returned neverthelesse into the field shewed themselves in a bravado more gallantly than before and prest for a new battell and when therupon he saw his auxiliaries and confederates to be some what troubled and frighted Be of good cheere quoth he my masters and friends for if we who have given them the foile be affraid what thinke you are they themselves A certaine embassador from the citie Abdera came to Sparta who made a long speech as touching his message and after he had done and held his toong a little he demaunded at last a dispatch and said unto him Sir what answer would you that I should carry backe to our citizens You shall say unto them quoth Agis that I have suffred you to speake all that you would and as long as you list and that I lent you mine eare all the while without giving you one word againe Some there were who commended the Eliens for most just men and precise in observing the solemnitie of the Olympick games And is that so great a matter and such a wonder quoth he if in five yeeres space they exercise justice one day Some buzzed into his eares that those of the other roiall house envied him Then quoth he doe they suffer a double paine for first and formost their owne evils will vexe and trouble themselves then in the second place the good things in me and my friends will torment them Some one there was of advice that he should give way and passage to his enemies when they were put to flight Yea but marke this quoth he if we set not upon them who runne away for cowardise how shall we fight against them that staie and make good their ground by valour One there was who propounded a meanes for the maintenance of the Greekes libertie which no doubt was a generous and magnanimous course howbeit very hard to execute unto whō he answered thus My good friend your words require great store of money and much strength When another said that king Philip would watch them well enough that they should not set foote within other parts of Greece My friend quoth he it shall content us to remaine and continue in our owne countrey There was another embassador from the city Perinthus came to Lacedaemon who having likewise made a long oration in the end demaunded of Agis what answer he should deliver backe to the Perinthians Mary what other but this quoth he that thou couldest hardly finde the way to make an end of speaking and I held my peace all the while He went upon a time sole embassador to king Philip who said unto him You are an embassador alone indeed True quoth he and good enough to one alone as you are An auncient citizen of Sparta said unto him one day being himselfe aged also and far stept in yeeres Since that the old lawes and customes went every day to mine and were neglected seeing also that others farre woorse were brought in and stood in their place all in the end would be naught and runne to confusion unto whom he answered merilie thus Then is it at it should be and the world goes well enough if it be so as you say for I remember when I was a little boy I heard my father say that every thing then was turned upside downe and that in his remembraunce all wentkim kam and he also would report of his father that he had seene as much in his daies no marvell therefore if things grow woorse and woorse more woonder it were if they should one while be better and another while continue still in the same plight Being asked on a time how a man might continue free all his life time he answered By despising death AGIS the yoonger when Demades the oratour said unto him That the Lacedaemonians swords were so short that these juglers and those that plaied legerdemain could swallow them downe all once made him this answere As short as they be the Lacedaemonians can reach their enemies with them wel enough A certaine leud fellow and a troublesome never linned asking him who was the best man in all Sparta Mary quoth Agis even he who is unlikest thy selfe AGIS the last king of the Lacedaemonians being forelaid and surprised by treachery so that he was condemned by the Ephori to die as he was ledde without forme of law and justice to the place of execution for to be strangled with a rope perceiving one of his servants and ministers to shed teares said thus unto him Weepe not for my death for in dying thus unjustly and against the order of law I am in better case than those that put me to death and having said these words he willingly put his necke within the halter ACROTATUS when as his owne father and mother requested his helping hand for to effect a thing contrarie to reason and justice staied their sute for a time but seeing that they importuned him still and were very instant with him in the end said unto them So long as I was under your hands I had no knowledge nor sence at all of justice but after that you had betaken me to the common-weale to my countrey and to the lawes thereof and by that meanes informed and instructed me in what you could in righteousnesse and honestie I will endevour and straine my selfe to follow the said instruction and not you and for that I know full well that you would have me doe that which is good and considering that those things be best both for a private person and much more for him who is in authoritie and a chiefe magistrate which are just sure I will doe what you would have me and refuse that which you say unto me ALCAMENES the sonne of Teleclus when one would needs know of him by what meanes a man might preserve a kingdome best made this answer Even by making no account at all of lucre and gaine Another demanded of him wherefore he would never accept nor receive the gifts of the Messenians Forsooth quoth he because if I had taken thē I should never have had peace with the lawes And when a third person said That he marvelled much how he could live so straight and neere to himselfe considering he had wherewith and enough It is quoth he a commendable thing when a man having sufficient and plentie can neverthelesse live within
Also when hee permitted his citizens to practise those exercises of the bodie onely wherein they never stretched foorth their hands he was required by one to yeeld a reason thereof Because quoth he none of us should in taking paines be accustomed to be wearie or to saint and give over at any time Likewise being asked the reason why he gave order oftentimes to change the campe and not in one place to lie long encamped To the end quoth he that we might doe the greater damage to our enemies and hurt more of them Another was desirous to know of him why he forbad to give the assault unto any walles unto whom he answered For feare that the best men might not be killed by a woman a child or some such like person Certaine Thebanes craved his advice and opinion touching the sacrifice divine service and dolefull moane which was solemnely made in the honour of Leucothea unto whom he answered thus If you take her for a goddesse weepe not for her as if she were a woman if you suppose her to be a woman sacrifice not unto her as to a goddesse Unto his citizens who demaunded of him how they might put backe and repulse the invasions of their enemies Marie quoth he if you continue poore and none of you do covet to have more than another Againe when they would needs know why he would not have their citie to be walled about Because saith he that citie is never without a wal which is environed and compassed about with valiant men and not with bricke or stone The Spartanes also were verie curious in trimming the haire of their heads alledging for their warrant a certaine speech of Lycurgus as touching that point who was woont to say That sidehaire made them who were faire more beautifull and those that were foule more hideous and terrible Likewise he gave commaundement that in their warres when they had discomfited their enemies and put them to flight to follow the chase so hardly untill they were fully assured of the victorie and then to retire withall speed saying That it was no act of a generous spirit nor beseeming the brave minde of the Greekish nation to massacre and execute those who had quit the place and were gone besides this also would be safe and commodious for themselves forasmuch as the enemies who knew once their custome namely to put those to the sword who obstinately resist and make head and to spare those and let them escape who flie before them find by that meanes that flight is better than to stand to fight A certaine man asked him for what cause he would not suffer the souldiers to rifle and spoile the bodies of their enemies as they fell dead For feare quoth hee lest while they busie themselves and stoupe forward to gather the spoiles they should neglect their fight in the meane time but rather entend onely with their povertie and want to keepe their range The Tyrant of Sicilie Dionysius had sent unto LYSANDER two sutes of womens roabes that he might choose whether of them he liked better to carrie unto his daughter but hee said unto him That she herselfe knew best which to choose and what was fittest for herselfe and so he tooke both away with him This Lysander was a verie craftie and subtile foxe who ordered and managed most part of his affaires by cunning casts and deceitfull devices esteeming justice onely by utilitie and honestie by profit confessing in word that truth was better than falshood but measuring in deed the worth and price as well of the one as the other by commoditie To them who reprooved and blamed him for conducting the most part of his enterprises by fraud and guile and not by plaine direct force a thing unwoorthy the magnanimity of Hercules hee would laugh and answere That where he could not atchieve a thing by the lions skin hee must needes sow thereto a piece of the foxes case And when others charged and accused him mightily for that he had violated and broken his oath which he had made in the citie Miletum he used to say That children were to be deceived with cock-all-bones but men with oaths Having defaited the Athenians in a battell by meanes of an ambush in a certaine place called the Goats-rivers and afterward pressed them so sore with famine that he forced them to yeeld the citie unto his mercie he wrote unto the Ephori thus Athens is woon The Lacedaemonians in his time were at some difference with the Argives about their confines and it seemed that the Argives alledged better reasons and brought forth more direct evidences for themselves than the other whereupon he came among them and drew his sword saying They that are the mightier with this plead best for their confines Seeing the Boeotians as he passed thorow their countrey hanging in equall ballance and as yet not resolved and certaine to which side for to range themselves he sent one unto them for to know whether they would chuse that he marched thorow their lands with speares and pikes upright or bending downeward and trailing In a certaine assembly of the estates of Greece there was a Megarian who spake bravely and audaciously unto him Thy words my friend quoth he have need of a citie meaning thereby that he was of too weake and small a citie as to give such glorious words The Corinthians rebelled upon a time whereupon he advaunced with his forces against their walles which the Lacedaemonians seemed to assaile verie coldly but at the verie instant there was espied an hare running crosse over the towne ditch whereupon he tooke occasion to say Are yee not ashamed in deed ô yee Spartanes to feare such enemies who are so idle and stirre so little abroad that hares can sleepe quietly even under their verie walles When hee was at Samothrace to consult with the oracle there the priest was in hand with him to confesse what was the most wicked and enormious act that ever hee did in all his life time whereupon hee asked the priest againe Whether is it your selfe or the gods that would know thus much and imposeth this confession upon mee The gods quoth the priest would have it so Why then quoth he retire you aside out of my sight and if they demaund the same of mee I will answere them A certaine Persian asked him what kinde of government hee liked best and praised most Even that quoth hee which ordeineth for cowards and hardy men that reward and hire which is meet for them Another said unto him That in every place where he came hee was ready to commend and defend him I have quoth he againe in my grounds two oxen and neither of them speaks a word howbeit I know for al that which is good of deed and which is idle and lazie at his worke There was one who let flie at him divers odious and reprochfull words Speake on good fellow quoth he out with it hardly and spare not
vomit up all and leave nothing behinde if haply thou canst rid and purge thy heart of all the wicked venim wherewith thou seemest to swell Some time after when he was dead there arose variance betweene the allies of Sparta as touching certaine matters and for to know the truth and settle all causes among them Agesilaus went to Lysanders house for to search certaine papers that might give light and evidence to the thing in controversie and among other writings he chaunced to light upon an oration or pamphlet penned by him as touching policie the State wherein he seemed to perswade the Spartans to take the roialtie and regall dignitie from the houses of the Eurytionida and Agiadae and to bring it to a free election of the citizens that they might chuse for their kings out of all the citie those who were approoved and knowen for the woorthiest men and not to be obliged for to take and admit of necessitie one of Hercules line so as the crowne and regall state might be conferred as a reward and honour upon him who in vertue resembled Hercules most considering that it was by the meanes thereof that unto him were assigned the honors due unto the gods now was Agesilaus fully bent to have published this oration before al the citizens to the end that they might take knowledge how Lysander was another kind of man than he had beene taken for and withall to traduce those that were his friends and bring them into obloquie suspicion and trouble but by report Lacratidas the principall man and president of the Ephori fearing lest if this oration were once divulged openly read it might take effect and perswade that indeed which it pretended staied Agesilaus and kept him from doing so saying That he should not now rake Lysander out of his grave but rather enterre and burie the oration together with him so wittily and artificially composed it was and so effectuall to perswade Certaine gentlemen there were of the citie who during his lise were suters to his daughters in mariage but after his death when his estate was knowen to be but poore they desisted and cast them off whereupon the Ephori condemned them in great sines for that they made court unto them so long as they esteemed him wealthy but afterwards when they found by his poore estate that he was a righteous and just man they made no more reckoning of his daughters but disdained them NAMERTES being sent as embassadour into a forren countrey there chanced to be one of those parts who said unto him That he held and reputed him for an happie man because he had so many friends unto whom he replied and asked Whether he knew the true proofe whereby a man might be assured that he had many friends the other answered No but I pray you tell me Why then quoth he it is adversitie NICANDER when one brought him word that the Argives spake ill of him It makes no matter quoth he are they not sufficiently chastised and punished for railing upon good men One asked of him wherefore the Lacedaemonians wore their haire long of their heads suffred likewise their beards to grow side unto whom he answered Because a mans owne proper ornament is of all other the fairest and costeth least A certaine Athenian being in communication with him cast out this word All you Lacedaemonians Nicander love your ease well and are idle You say true indeed quoth he but we busie not our selves as you doe in every trifling matter PANTHOIDAS being sent in embassage into Asia was shewed by the people of those parts a certaine strong citie well fortified with high and goodly wals Now by the gods quoth he my friends this seemes to be a trim cloister to mue up women in In the schoole of Academie the philosophers discoursed and disputed as touching many good themes and after they had made an end they said unto him Now good sir ô Panthoidas how like you these discourses What should I thinke of them else quoth he but that they are goodly and honest in shew but surely profitable they are not nor edifie at all so long as your selves doe not live accordingly PAUSANIAS the sonne of Cleombrotus when the inhabitants of the isle Delos were at debate and pleaded for the proprietie of the said isle against the Athenians alleaging for themselves that by an old law time out of minde observed among them there might none of their women beare children within the said island nor any of their dead be buried there How then quoth he can this isle be yours if none of you were ever borne or buried there When certaine exiled persons from Athens sollicited him to leade his armie against the Athenians and for to provoke him rather thereto said That they were the onely men who hissed and whistled at the naming of him when he was declared victor in the solemnitie of the Olympick games But what thinke you quoth he will they doe when we have wrought them some shrewd turne since they sticke not to hisse at us being their benefactors Another asked of him wherefore the Lacedaemonians had enfranchized the poet Tyrteus their denizen Because quoth he we never would be thought to have a stranger or alien our leader and governour There was a very weak and feeble man of bodie who neverthelesse seemed very earnest and instant to make warre upon the enemies and to give them battell both on sea and land Will you quoth he strip your selfe out of your clothes that we may see what a goodly man of person you are to moove and perswade us for to fight Some there were who seeing the spoiles that were taken from the dead bodies of the Barbarians after they were slaine in the field marveiled much at their sumptuous and costly clothes It had been better quoth he that themselves had beene of more valour and their habilements of lesse valew After the victorie which the Greeks wan of the Persians before the citie Plateae he commaunded those about him to serve him up to the table that supper which the Persians had provided for themselves which being woonderfull excessive and superfluous Now Par-die quoth he the Persians are great gourmaunders and greedy gluttons having so great store of viands come hither among us for to eate up our browne bread and course bisket PAUSANIAS the sonne of Plistonax unto one who asked him why it was not lawfull in their countrey to alter any of their auncient statutes made this answer Because lawes ought to be mistresses of men and not men masters of the lawes Being exiled from Sparta and making his abode within the citie Tegea he highly praised the Lacedaemonians one of the standers by said unto him And why then staied not you at Sparta if there be so good men there why I say fled you from thence Because quoth he physicians doe not use to keepe where folke be sound and whole but where they are sicke and diseased
they shew in your behalfe notwithstanding we are the sonnes of one father and mother but they misuse me most injuriously The reason is quoth he because you know not how to put up a wrong as I doe Being demaunded why the custome was in their country that yoong men should rise up from their places where they were set and do reverence unto their elders It is quoth he to this end that in doing this honor unto those who nothing belonged unto them they might learne so much the more to honour their parents unto another that asked him of what wealth he was and how much goods he had he answered I have no more than will suffice CHARILLUS being asked the question why Lycurgus had given them so few lawes Because quoth he they have no need at all of many lawes who speake but little Another demaunded of him the cause why as Sparta they suffered to goe foorth into publick place virgins with their faces open but wives vailed and covered For that quoth he maidens might finde them out husbands to be wedded unto and wives keepe those whom they have maried already One of the slaves called Ilotes behaved himselfe vpon a time over boldly and malapertly with him unto whom he said Were I not angrie I would kill thee at my foot One asked him what kind of government he esteemed best Even that quoth he wherein most men in managing of publicke affaires without quarrels and sedition strive a vie who shall be most vertuous And unto another who would needs know the reason why at Sparta the images and statues of the gods were made in armor he shaped this answer To the end that the reproches which are fastned upon men for cowardise might not take hold of them also that yoong men should never without their armes make their praiers unto the gods The Samiens had sent certaine embassadors unto Sparta who after audience given were very long and somewhat tedious in their orations but when they had found the way to make an end THE LORDS OF SPARTA made them this answer The beginning of your speech we have forgotten and we conceived not the rest because the beginning was out of our remembrance The Thebanes upon a time had contested bravely and contradicted them stoutly in certaine points in question unto whom they answered thus Either lesse hearts or more puissance There was one asked a Lacedaemonian upon a time why he let his beard grow so long Because quoth he whensover I see my hoary and grey haires I might be put in minde to doe nothing unbeseeming them When another highly praised certaine men for most valiant a Lacedaemonian heard him and said Oh such were sometime at Great Troy Another of them hearing it spoken that in certaine cities men were forced to drink after supper And doe they not quoth he compell them also to eate The poet Pindarus in one of his canticles nameth the citie of Athens the prop of al Greece Thē wil Greece quickly come tumbling down quoth a Laconian if it beare but upon so sleight a pillar Another beheld a painted table wherin was the pourtrature of the Lacedemonians how they were killed by the Athenians and when one that stood by said Now surely these Atheniās be valiant men Yea mary quoth he in a picture There was one seemed to take pleasure in hearing certaine opprobrious and slanderous words untruely given out against a Laconian to beleeve the same but the partie thus misused said Cease to lend your eare against me Another when he was punished went crying If I have don amisse it was against my wil Why then answered a Laconian let it be against thy wil also that thou art punished Another seeing men going forth of the countrey set at their ease within coches God forbid quoth he that I should sit there where I can not rise up to doe my dutie unto him that is elder than my selfe Certaine Chians there were who being come to see the citie of Sparta chaunced to be well whittled and starke drunke who after supper went to see also the consistorie of the Ephori where they cast up their gorges yea and that which more is both vomited and discharged their guts even upon the very chaires where the Ephori was wont to sit the morrow after the Lacedaemonians made great search and diligent enquirie at the first who they were that thus had plaid the slovens and beasts and namely whether they were any of their owne citie or no but when they understood that they were these strangers and travellers from Chios they made open proclamation with sound of trumpet That they gave the Chians leave thus filthily to abuse themselves Another Laconian seeing hard almonds sold at the double price What quoth he are stones so geason heere Another having plucked all the feathers off from a nightingale and seeing what a little body it had Surely quoth he thou art all voice and nothing else There was likewise a Lacedaemonian who seeing the cynick philosopher Diogenes in the mids of winter when it was extreme cold embrasing and clipping a brasen statue very devoutly asked him if he chilled not for cold and when the other answered No Why then quoth he what great matter doe you A certaine Laconian reproched upon a time one borne in Metapontium saying They were all cowards and false-hearted like women If it be so quoth the Metapontine how is it that wee hold so much of other mens lands as wee doe Why then replied the Laconian I see that you are not cowards onely but unjust also A traveller being come to Sparta for to see the citie stood upright a long while upon one foore onely and said unto a Laconian I doe not thinke thou canst stand so long of one leg as I do Not I indeed quoth the other but there is not a goose but can do as much There was one vaunted greatly what a Rhetorician he was and namely that he was able to perswade what he would Now by Castor and Pollux I sweare quoth a Laconian there never was nor ever will be any arte indeed without verity A certaine Argive boasted much that there were in their citie many graves tombes of the Lacedaemonians And contrariwise quoth a Laconian there is not among us one sepulcher of the Argives giving him thus much to understand that the Lacedaemonians had many times entred with a puissant armie into the countrey of Argos but the Argives never into the territorie of Sparta A Laconian being taken prisoner in warre when hee should bee sold in port sale as the crier began with a loud voice to pronounce Who will buy a Laconian who put his hand to the criers mouth and said Cry for Gods sake who wil buy a prisoner One of those mercenary soldiers whom king Lysimachus waged being demanded of him this question Art thou one of these Lacedaemonian Ilots Why thinke you quoth the other that a Lacedaemonian will deigne to come and
whom he had in his hands Because quoth he it is better to obey a captaine than to kill an enemie There was a Laconian tooke the foile in wrestling at the Olympicke games and when one cried aloud Thy concurrent is better than thou Laconian Better quoth he not so but in deed he can skil better than I of supplanting and tripping THE CVSTOMES AND ORDINANCES AMONG THE LACED AEMONIANS THE manner and custome was at Lacedaemon that when they entred into their publicke halles where they tooke their meats and meales together the eldest man of the whole companie should shew the doores unto everie one as they came and say unto them At these doores there goeth not forth so much as one word The most exquisite dish among them was a messe of broth which they called Blacke-pottage insomuch as when that was served up to the table the elder folke would not care for any flesh meats but leave all them same for the yoonger sort And as it is reported Denys the Tyrant of Sicily for this purpose bought a cooke from Lacedamon and commaunded him to make him such pottage and spare for no cost but after he had a little tasted thereof he found it so bad that he cast up all that he had taken of it but his cooke said unto him Sir if you would finde the goodnesse of this broth you must be exercised first after the Lacedaemonian manner all watred and be well washed in the river Eurotas Now after the Laconians have eat drunk soberly at these ordinaries they returne home to their houses without torch or any light before them for it is not lawfull for any man at Lacedaemon to go either from thence or to any place else with a light carried before him in the night because they should bee accustomed to keepe their way and goe confidently without feare all night long in the darke without any light at all To write and reade they learned for necessitie onely as for all other forrein sciences and literature they banished them quite out of their coasts like as they did all strangers and aliens and in verie truth their whole studie was to learne how to obey their superiours to endure patiently all travels to vanquish in fight or to die for it in the place All the yeere long they went in one single gaberdine without coat at all under it and ordinarily they were foule and sullied as those who used not the stouphes baines ne yet annointed themselves for the most part Their boies and yoong men commonly slept together in one dorter by bands and troupes upon pallets and course beds which they themselves gathered breaking and tearing with their owne hands without any edged toole the heads of canes and reeds which grew along the bankes of the river Eurotas and in winter time they strewed and mingled among a certaine kind of Thistle downe which they call Lycophanes for they are of opinion that such stuffe hath in it I wot not what which doth heat them It was lawfull and permitted among them to love yoong boies for their good minds and vertuous natures but to abuse their persons wantonly and fleshly was reputed a most infamous thing as if such were lovers of the bodie and not of the minde in such sort as whosoever was accused and attaint thereof became noted with infamie and shame followed him wheresoever he went all his life time The custome was that elder folke when and wheresoever they met with yoonger should demaund whither and whereabout they went yea and checke and chide them if they were to seeke of a good answere or if they went about to devise colourable excuses and whosoever he was that did not reproove him that did a fault in his presence incurred the same reprehension and blame as he did who transgressed yea and if he chafed and shewed himselfe discontented when he was reprooved he sustained reproch disgrace and discredit thereby If peradventure one were surprised and taken tardie in some fault he must be brought to a certaine altar within the citie and there forced to go round about it singing a song made of purpose for his owne reproofe and conteining naught else but the blame and accusation of himselfe Moreover yoong folke were not onely to honor their owne fathers and to be obedient unto them but also to shew reverence unto all other elder persons namely in yeelding them the better hand in turning out of their way when they met them and giving them the wall in rising up from their seats before them when they came in place and in standing still when they passed by and therefore everie man had a certaine hand of government and dispose not onely as in other cities over their owne children their proper servants and goods but also they had a regard of their neighbours children servants and goods as wel as if they had beene their owne they made use also of them as of things common to the end that to each one everie thing might be as it were his owne in proprietie Whereupon if it fortuned that a child having beene chastised by another man went to complaine therof to his owne father it was a shame for the said father if he gave him not his payment againe for by the ordinarie course of discipline in that countrey they were assured that their neighbors would impose nothing upon their children but that which was good and honest Yoong lads were used to filtch and steale whatsoever they could come by for their food and victuals yea and they learned from their verie infancie to forelay and lie pretily in ambush for to surprise those who were asleepe stood not well upon their guards but say that one were taken in the maner when he stealeth this was his punishment namely to be whipped and to fast from meat expresly therefore and of very purpose they were allowed verie little to eate to the end that they might be driven upon verie extreame necessitie to make shifts and expose themselves venturously into any danger yea and to devise alwaies some cunning cast or other to steale more cleanly but generally the reason and effect of this their straight diet was that they should long before accustome their bodies never to be full but able to endure hunger for that in deed they were of opinion that they should be the meeter for souldiarie if they could take paines and travell without food yea and that it was a good meanes to be more continent sober and thriftie if they were taught inured to continue a long time smal cost expense to be briefe perswaded they were That to abstaine eating of flesh or fish dressed in the kitchin or to feed savorly of bread or any other viands that came next to hand made mens bodies more healthy caused them to burnish and grow up for that the naturall spirits not pressed nor over-charged with a great quantitie of meat and so by that meanes not kept and depressed
after that her sonne was slaine when certaine embassadors from the citie Amphipolis came to Sparta and visited her demaunded of them whether her sonne died like a valiant man and as became a Spartan now when they praised him exceedinly saying that he was the bravest man in armes in all Lacedaemon she said againe unto them My sonne was indeed a knight of valour and honour my good friends but Lacedaemon hath many others yet more valiant than he was GORGO the daughter of king Cleomenes when Aristagoras the Milesian was come to Sparta for to sollicit Cleomenes to make warre upon the king of Persia in the defence of the Ionians freedome and in consideration heereof promised him a good round summe of money and the more that he contradicted and denied the motion the more he still augmented the summe of money which he promised Father quoth she this stranger heere will corrupt you if you send him not the sooner out of your house Also when her father willed hir one day to deliver certaine corne unto a man by way of a reward and recompence saying withall For this is he who hath taught me how to make wine good How now good father quoth she shall there be more wine drunke still considering that they who drinke thereof become more delicate and lesse valorous When she saw how Aristagoras had one of his men to put on his shooes Father quoth she heere is a stranger that hath no hands When she saw a foreiner comming toward her who was wont to goe softly and delicatlie shee thrust him from her and said Avaunt idle luske as thou art and get thee gone for thou art not so good of deed as a woman GYRTIAS when Acrotatus her nephew or daughters sonne from out of a braule and fray that was betweene him and other yoonkers his companions was brought home with many a wound insomuch as no man looked for life seeing his familiar friends and those of his acquaintance waile and take on piteously What quoth she let be this weeping and lamentation for now hath he shewed of what bloud he is descended neither ought wee to crie out and bewaile for the hurts of valiant men but rather to goe about their cure and salve them if haply we may save their lives When a messenger comming out of Candia where he served in the warres brought newes that the said Acrotatus was slaine in fight Why quoth she what else should he do being once gone foorth to warre but either die himselfe or else kill his enemies yet had I rather heare and it doth me much more good that he died woorthy my selfe woorthy his native countrey and his progenitours than that he should live as long as possiblie a man could like a coward and man of no woorth DEMETRIA hearing that her sonne prooved a dastard and indeed not woorthy to be her sonne so soone as ever he was returned from the wars she killed him with her owne hands whereupon was made this epigram of her By mothers hand was slaine one Demetrie For that he brake the lawes of chivalrie No marvell she a noble Spartan dame Disclaimd her sonne unwoorthy of that name Another woman of Lacedaemon being given to understand that her sonne had abandoned his ranke made him likewise away as unwoorthy of that countrey wherein he was borne saying That he was no sonne of hers And thereupon this epigram also was composed of her Amischiefe take thee wicked impe be gone in divils name Through balefull darknesse Hatredis too good and earthly shame For cowards such of craven kind like hinds are not to drinke Nor wash in faire Eurotas streame their bodies as I thinke Avaunt thou cur-dogge whelpe to hell thou divils limme unmon'd Unwoorthy Sparta soile thou art ' for thee I never gron'd Another hearing that her sonne was saved and had escaped out of the hands of his enemies wrote thus unto him There runneth a naughtie rumor of thee either stop the course thereof or else live not There was another likewise whose children had fled out of the battell and when they came home unto her she welcomed them in this manner Whither goe you running leawd lozels and cowardly slaves as you are thinke you to enter hither againe from whence you first came and therewith plucked up her cloaths and shewed them her bare belly Also another espying her sonne new returned from the wars and comming toward her What newes quoth she how goeth the world with our countrey and common-wealth and when he answered We have lost the field and all our men be slaine she tooke up an earthen pot let it fly at his head killed him out-right saying And have they sent thee to bring us the newes There was one brother recounted unto his mother what a noble death his brother died unto whom his mother answered And wert not thou ashamed that thou didst not accompanie him in so faire a journey Another there was who had sent her sonnes and five they were in number to the warres and she stood waiting at the townes end about the suburbs and hamlets neere unto them for to hearken what was the issue of the battell and of the first man whom she encountred from the campe she asked what newes and who had the day hee told her that her sonnes were slaine all five Thou leaud varlet quoth shee and base slave as thou art I did not demaund that question of thee but in what state the affaire of the common-wealth stood The victorie quoth he is ours Then am I well appaid saith shee and contented with the losse of my children Another there was unto whom as she buried her sonne slaine in the warres there came a silly old woman and moaned her saying Ah good woman what fortune is this Why good quoth she by Castor and Pollux I sweare for I bare him into this world for nothing else but that he should spend his life for Sparta and loe this is now hapned A ladie there was of Ionia who bare herselfe verie proud of a worke in tapistrie which she herselfe had made most costly and curiously but a Laconian dame shewed unto her foure children all verie well given and honestly brought up Such as these quoth she ought to be the works of a ladie of honour and herein should a noble woman in deed make her boast and vaunt herselfe Another there was who heard newes that a sonne of hers behaved himselfe not well in a strange countrey where hee was unto whom she wrote a letter in this wise There is blowen a bad brute of thee in these parts either proove it salfe or else die I advise thee Certaine fugitives or exiled persons from Chios came to Sparta who accused Paedaretus and laid many crimes to his charge his mother Teleuria hearing thereof sent for them to come unto her at whose mouthes when she heard the severall points of their imputations and judging in herselfe that hee was in fault and had done great wrongs
should salute their kinsfolke and those that be joined in blood to them by kissing their lips for the Trojan men seeing as it should seeme in what necessitie they stood were well enough content and withal finding the inhabitants of the sea-coasts courteous and ready to receive and entertaine them friendly approoved that which the women had done and so remained and dwelt in the same part of Italy among the Latines THE DAMES OF PHOCIS THE woorthy act of the dames of Phocis whereof we now meane to make mention no Historiographer of name hath yet recorded and set downe in writing howbeit there was never a more memorable deed of vertue wrought by women and the same testified by the great sacrifices which the Phocians do celebrate even at this day neere unto the citie Hyampolis and that according to the ancient decrees of the countrey Now is the totall historie of this whole action from point to point particularly recorded in the life of Daiphantus as for that which the said women did thus stood the case There was an irreconcilable and mortall warre betweene the Thessalians and those of Phocis for that the Phocians upon a certaine fore-set day killed all the magistrates and rulers of the Thessalians who exercised tyrannie in the cities of Phocis and they againe of Thessalia had beaten and bruised to death two hundred and fiftie hostages of the Phocaeans whom they had in custodie and after that with all their puissance entred and invaded their countrey by the way of the Locrians having before hand concluded this resolution in their generall counsell not to pardon nor spare any one that was of age sufficient to beare armes and as for their wives and children to leade them away captives as slaves whereupon Daiphantus the sonne of Bathyllus one of the three soveraign governours of Phocis mooved and perswaded the Phocaeans as many as were of yeeres to fight for to go forth and encounter the Thessalians but their wives and children to assemble all together unto a certaine place in Phocis environe the whole pourprise and precinct thereof with a huge quantity of wood and there to set certaine guards to watch and ward whom hee gave in charge that so soone as ever they heard how their countrey-men were defaited they should set the wood on fire and burne all the bodies within the compasse thereof which desseigne when all others had approoved there was one man among them stood up and said It were just and meet that they had the consent also of the women as touching this matter and if they would not approve and allow of this counsell to leave it unexecuted and not to force them thereto this consultation being come to the eares of the said women they held a counsell together apart by themselves as touching this entended action where other resolved to follow the advice of Daiphantus and that with so great alacritie and contentment that they crowned Daiphantus with a chaplet of flowers as having given the best counsell that could be devised for Phocis It is reported also that their verie children sat in counsell hereabout by themselves and concluded the same but it fortuned so that the Phocaeans having given the Thessalians battell neere unto a village called Cleonae in the marches or territorie of Hyampolis defaited them This resolution of the Phocaeans was afterwards by the Greekes named Aponaea that is A desperat desseigne and in memoriall of the said victorie all the people of Phocis to this day do celebrate in Hyampolis the greatest and most solemne feast that they have to the honour of Diana and call it Elaphebolia THE WOMEN OF CHIOS THE men of Chios inhabited sometime the colonie Leuconia upon such an occasion as this A gentleman one of the best houses in Chios chanced to contract a marriage and when the bride was to be brought home to his house in a coach King Hippoclus being a familiar friend unto the bridegroom one who was present with others at the espousales and wedding after he had taken his wine wel being set upon a merrie pin and disposed to make sport leapt up into the coach where the new wedded wife was not with any entent to offer violence or vilanny but only to dallie toy make pastime in a meriment as the maner was at such a feast howbeit the friends of the bridegroome tooke it not so but fell upon him and killed him outright in the place upon which murder there appeered unto those of Chios many evident tokens and signes of Gods anger yea and when they understood by the oracle of Apollo that for to appease their wrath they should put all those to death who had murdered Hippoclus they made answere That they all were guiltie of the fact and when the god Apollo commanded them that if they were all tainted with the said murder they should all depart out of the citie Chios they sent away as manie as either were parties and principals or accessaries and privie to the said blood-shed yea and whosoever approoved and praised the fact and those were neither few in number nor men of meane qualitie and power as far as to Leuconta which citie the Chians first conquered from the Coroneans and possessed by the helpe of the Erythraeans but afterwardes when there was warre betweene the said Chians and the Erythraeans who in those daies were the mightiest people in all Ionia insomuch as the Erythraeans came against Leuconia with a power intending to assault it the Chians being not able to resist grew to make a cōposition in which capitulated it was agreed that they should quit the city depart every person with one coat cassock only without taking any thing els with them The women understanding of this agreement gave them foule words bitterly reproched them for being so base minded as to lay off their armor thus to go naked thorow the mids of their enimies but when their husbands alleaged that they had sworn taken a corporal oth so to do they gave them counsel in any wise not to leave their armes and weapons behind them but to say that a javelin was a coat and a shield the cassocke of a valiant and hardie man The Chians perswaded hereunto spake boldly to the Erythraeans to that effect and shewed them their armes insomuch as the Erythraeans were affraid to see their resolute boldnesse and there was not one of them so hardie as to come neere for to empeach them but were verie well content that they abandoned the place and were gone in that sort Thus you may see how these men having learned of their wives to be couragious and confident saved their honours and their lives Long after this the wives of the Chians atchieved an other act nothing inferiour to this in vertue and prowesse At what time as Philip the sonne of Demetrius holding their citie besieged caused this barbarous edict and proud proclamation to be published That all the slaves of the
and wives of the towne fearing lest the enemies would search and rifle their husbands as they went forth of the gates and not once touch and meddle with them tooke unto them short curtelasses or skeines hid them under their clothes and so went forth together with their husbands When they were all out of the towne Annibal having set a guard of Mafaesylians to attend them staied them at the end of the suburbs meane while the rest of his armie without all order put themselves within the citie and fell to the spoile and sackage of it which when the Masaesylians perceived they grew out of all patience could not containe themselves nor looke wel unto their prisoners but were woonderous angrie and in the end meant for to have as good a part and share as the rest of the spoile hereupon the women tooke up a crie and gave unto their husbands the swords which they had brought with them yea some of them fel upon the guard or garrison insomuch as one of them was so bold as to take from Banon the Truchman or interpretor the speare which he had and thrust at him with it but he had on a good corps of a cuirace which saved him but their husbands having wounded some of them and put the rest to flight escaped by this meanes away together in a troupe with their wives which when Annibal understood he set out immediately after them and surprised those who were left behind whiles the rest got away and saved themselves for the present by recovering the mountaines adjoining but after they sent unto Annibal and craved pardon who graciously granted it yea and permitted them to returne in safetie and reinhabit their owne citie THE MILESIAN WOMEN THE Milesian maidens upon a time were surprized with a verie strong passionate fit of a fearfull melancholicke humour without any apparant cause that could be rendred thereof unlesse it were as men most conjectured that the aire was infected and empoisoned which might cause that alienation of the mind and worke a distimperature in their braines to the overthrow of their right wits for all on a sudden every one had a great desire to die and namely in a furious rage would needs hang themselves and in truth many of them secretly knit their neeks in haltars and so were strangled no reasons and remonstrances no teares of father and mother no perswasions and comfortable speeches of their friends would serve the turne but looke what keepers soever they had and how carefully soever they looked unto them they could find meanes of evasion to avoide and goe beyond all their devices and inventions in such sort that it was thought to be some plague and punishment sent from the gods above and such as no humaine provision could remedie untill such time as by the advice of a sage and wise citizen there went foorth a certaine edict and the same enacted by the counsell of the citie That if any one more hapned to hang herselfe she should be carried starke naked as ever she was borne throw the market place in the view of the whole world this proclamation being thus ratified by the common-counsell of the citie did not onely represse for a while but also staied for altother this furious rage of the maidens and their inordinate desire to make themselves away Thus we may see that the fear of dishonor shame infamy is a great signe infallible token of good nature and vertue considering that they feared neither death nor paine which are the most horrible accidents that men can endure howbeit they could not abide the imagination of vilannie shame and dishonor though it hapned not unto them untill they were dead and gone THE WOMEN OF CIO THe maner and custome was for the yoong virgins of Cio to goe altogether unto their publick temples and churches and so to passe the time al the long day there one with another where their lovers who wooed them for marriage might behold them disport and daunce and in the evening they went home to each of their houses in order where they waited upō their fathers and mothers yea and the brethren one of another even to the very washing of their feet Now it hapned sometimes that many yoong men were enamoured of one and the same maide but their love was so modest good and honest that so soone as a maiden was affianced and betrothed unto one all the rest would give over sute so cease to make any more love unto her In summe the good order and cariage of these women of Cio might be knowen in this that in the space of seven hundred yeeres it was never knowen nor appeered upon record that anie wife committed adulterie nor maiden unmaried lost her virgnitie THE WOMEN OF PHOCIS THe tyrants of Phocis surprized upon a time and seized the citie of Delphos by occasion whereof the Thebans made that warre upon them which was called the Holy warre at which time it so befell that the religious women consecrated unto Bacchus named Thyades being bestraught and out of their right wits ranne wandring like vargrants up and downe in the night and knew not whither untill ere they were aware they ranne unto the citie Amphissa where being wearie but yet not come againe to their senses they lay along in the mids of the market place and couched themselves scattering heere and there to take their sleepe the wives of Amphissa being advertised heereof and fearing lest their bodies should be abused by the soldiers of the tyrants whereof there lay a garrison within the citie for that Amphissa was of the league and confederate with the Phocaeans ranne all thither to the place standing round about them with silence and not saying one word and so long as they slept troubled them not but soone as they wakened of themselves and were gotten up they tooke the charge of them gave them meat and each of them looked to one yea and afterwards having gotten leave of their husbands they conveighed and accompanied them in safetie so farre as to the mountains and marches of their owne territorie VALERIA and CLOELIA THe outrage committed upon the person of a Roman ladie named Lucretia and her vertue together were the cause that Tarquinius Superbus the seventh king of the Romanes after Romulus was deprived of his roiall estate and driven out of Rome This dame being married unto a great personage descended of the bloud roiall was abused and forced by one of the sons of the said king Tarquin who was enterteined and friendly lodged in her house by occasion of which villanous fact she called all her kinsfolke and friends together about her unto whom after she had delcared and given them to understand the shamefull dishonour that he had done upon her body she stabbed herselfe in the place before them and Tarquin the father for this cause being deposed from his princely dignitie and chased out of his kingdome levied manie warres against the
drunkennesse killed this silly poore girle even as she couched her face in the very lap and bosome of her father howbeit for all this and such like wicked pranks plaied the tyrant was nothing at all moved to pitie and compassion but many citizens he murdered and more he banished and caused to leave their countrey in such sort that as the speech went no fewer than eight hundred fled to the Aetolians craving at their hands to make meanes unto the tyrant that they might have away their wives and little children also Not long after the tyrant of his owne accord caused proclamation to be made by sound of trumpet that as many women as were willing to go unto their husbands should make them ready and depart yea and cary with them as much of their goods as they would now when he understood that they all with great joy of this proclamation thus published and that they were assembled together with much contentment of minde to the number of sixe hundred he commanded that they should depart and put themselves in their journey all together on a certeine day by him prefixed making semblant against that time to provide a good convoy for their better security when the time appointed was come they flocked thicke to the gates of the city having brought with them their trusses and fardles of such goods as they meant to have away with them carying some of their little babes in their armes taking order for others for to be brought in waggons and so they staied there attended one anothers comming but suddenly many of the souldiers and those of the tyrants guard came running toward them and crying aloud afarre off Stay stay now when they approched nere all the women they commanded to go backe againe but the waines and waggons they turned together with the horses full upon them and drave them amaine thorow the mids of the troupe and throng of the women not suffering them either to follow or to stay or succor their poore little infants whom they saw to die before their faces for some of them perished with falling out of the chariots to the ground others were destroied and trampled under the horse feet and all this while these pensioners of the guard with loud out-cries and with whipping drave the women before them like as they had bene so many sheepe and thronged them so hard that one tumbled upon another and thus they chased them untill such time as they had cast them all into prison but all their bag and baggage was seized upon and brought unto Aristotimus Now when the men of Elis were were heerewith mightily offended the religious women consecrated to the service of Bacchus whom they call the Sixteene carrying in their hands boughs of olive trees like suppliants and chaplets of vine branches about their heads which they tooke from the god whom they served went to meet with Aristotimus about the market-place of the citie his squires and pensioners about him for the guard of his bodie made a lane for them and seemed upon some reverence to give them way that they might come nere and the women at first kept silence doing nought els but in most humble and deuout maner tender unto him their branches like suppliants but after that the tyrant understood that it was for the Eliens wives that they came thus to make supplication and namely that hee would take some commiseration of them being wroth displeased with his guard he cried out upon them for suffering the said women to approch so neere unto his person and thereupon commanded them to drive some and to beat others untill they were all chased out of the market-place and more than all this he condemned these religious votaries in a fine of two talents a piece During these occurrences there was within the citie one of the burgesses named Hellanicus a man very farre stept in age who was the authour of a conspiracie and insurrection against the tyrant one that of all others he least distrusted and whom he never thought likely to practise against him both for that he was very aged and also because but a little before he had buried two of his children and it fortuned at the very same time that frō Aetolia the exiles before named passed into the territorie of Elis and seized upon a fort called Amymom situate in a very commodious place for to mainteine warre where they received and enterteined many other inhabitants of the citie who immediatly resorted thither and ran apace upon these tydings the tyrant Aristotimus much fearing the sequel hereof went unto their wives in prison and thinking to compasse his desseignes better by feare than favor and love he commanded them to send unto their husbands to write unto them for to abandon their holde and depart out of the countrey menacing the poore women that if they did not so he would cause their children first to be mangled with whips and so killed before their face and then put themselves also to death all of them were silent a good while notwithstanding he importuned them a long time and urged them to speake at once whether they would doe it or no they looked one upon another without saying a word giving him thereby to understand that they stood in no feare and were not astonied for all his threats at the last one of them named Megisto wife to Timoleon and a woman whom the rest regarded and held as their captainesse aswell in respect of her husbands honour as her owne vertue deigned not to rise up from her seat herselfe nor suffered any of the rest to stand up but sitting still in her place thus said If thou wert a wise man thou wouldest not deale thus as thou doest betweene women and their husbands but rather send unto them as to those who have the power and authoritie over their wives and to deliver unto them better speeches than such whereby thou hast deceived us now if being past hope to perswade them thou thinkest to circumvent and delude them by the meanes of us never looke that thou shalt abuse us any more nor thinke that they will be so ill advised or so base minded as that for to spare their wives and little children they will abandon and lose the libertie of their countrey for surely the losse of us will not be to them so much considering that they now enjoy us not as the gaine and benefit in delivering their countrey and fellow-citizens from such outrageous crueltie Whiles Megisto enterteined Aristotimus with these speeches he could no longer endure but commanded her little sonne to be brought before him for to murder him before her eies and when the pensioners about the tyrant searched for him among other little boies that were playing wrestling together his mother called unto him by name saying Come hither to me my boy that thou maiest be delivered from the crueltie of this tyrant before thou hast any sense or understanding to
other meanes became enamoured upon her so farre that he was ready to give unto her and to do for the love of her whatsoever she would also that she promised to go with him in case he would agree and graunt one thing and as the said philosopher telleth the tale thereupon she required of him an obligation of his oth and after he had faithfully sworne unto her she demaunded that hee should deliver unto her the castle Delio for that was the name of the fort or piece whereof hee had the charge otherwise she said that she would never come in bed with him whereupon he aswell for the great desire that he had to enjoy her love as in regard of his foresaid oath by which he was bound and obliged quit the place and rendred it into the hands of Polycrite who presently delivered it up unto her countrey-men and fellow-citizens by which meanes they being now able once againe to make their parts good with the Milesians made an accord and concluded peace under what conditions they desired themselves LAMPSACE IN the citie Phocaea there were sometimes two brethren twinnes of the house and family of the Codridae the one named Phobus the other Blepsus of which twaine Phobus was the first that according as Charon the Chronicler of Lampsacum doth record cast himselfe from the high rocks and cliffes of Leucas into the sea This Phobus being of great puissance and royall authoritie in his countrey hapned to have some private affaire and negotiation of his owne in theisle of Paros and thither he went where he contracted amitie alliance and hospitalitie with Mandron king of the Bebrycians surnamed Pityoessenes and by vertue of this new league he aided them and in their behalfe made warre with them against other barbarous people their neighbours who did them wrong and wrought them much damage afterwards when he was upon his departure and returne home Mandron among many other courtesies and tokens of kindnesse which he bestowed upon him now ready to embarke and take the sea offered him the one moitie of his country and city if he would come dwel in the citie Pityoessa with some part of the Phocaeans for to people the place whereupon Phobus after he was come home againe to Phocaea proposed this matter unto the Phocaeans his citizens having perswaded them to accept of the offer he sent his owne brother as leader and captaine to conduct this colonie of new inhabitants who upon their first arrivall and comming thither found themselves as well entreated as courteously entertained as they could wish or looke for at Mandron his hands but in tract of time after that they had gotten many advantages at the Barbarians hands their neighbours borderers wan divers booties from them and gained much pillage spoile they began to be envied first and afterwards to be dread and feared of the Bebrycians who being desirous for to be rid and delivered of such guests durst not addresse themselves unto Mandron whom they knew to be an honest and just man for to perswade him to practise any disloyaltie or treacherie against men of the Greek nation but espying a time when he was absent and out of the countrey they complotted and prepared to surprize the Phocaeans by a wile and so to dispatch them al to once out of the way but Lampsace the daughter of Mandron a maiden yet unmarried having some fore-inkling and intelligence of this forelaied ambush laboured dealt first with her familiar friends to divert them from so wicked an enterprise shewing and prooving unto them that it was a damnable act before God and abominable among men to proceed so treacherously against their allies and confederates who had beene ready at all times to aid and assist them in their need against their enemies and besides were now incorporate with them and their fellow-citizens but when she saw that there would no good be done and that she could not disswade them from it she acquainted the Greeks under-hand with this treason which was a warping against them advised them to look unto themselves stand upon their own guard so the Phocaeans made a solemn sacrifice a publick feast invited the Pityoessenes to come out of the citie into the suburbes to take part therof themselves they divided into two troupes whereof the one seised the wals of the citie whiles the inhabitants were at the feast meane time the other were busie in massacring the guests that were bidden to it and by this meanes they became masters of the whole citie and sent for Mandron whom they desired to participate with them in their counsels and affaires as for Lampsace his daughter who fortuned to die of sicknesse they interred magnificently and in memoriall of that good which she did unto them called the citie after her name Lampsacum howbeit Mandron because he would not be suspected to have beene a traitour unto his owne people would not consent to dwell among them but required to have of them the wives and children of them who were dead whom they sent unto him with all speed and diligence without dooing any harme or displeasure at all unto them as for Lamsaca unto whom before they had ordeined heroick honors they decreed for ever to sacrifice unto her as unto a goddesse and even to this day they doe continue and observe the same divine worship unto her ARETAPHILA ARetaphila of Cyrene was none of them that lived in ancient time but lately in the daies of king Mithridates but she shewed vertue performed an act comparable to the magnanimous counsels and desseignes of the most autike demi-goddesses that ever were daughter she was to Aeglator and wife to Phaedimus both noble men and great personages faire beautifull of visage of deepe conceit and high reach and namely in matters of estate affaires of government well experienced the publike calamities of her countrey did illustrate her name and caused her to be well knowne and voiced in the world for Nicocrates having usurped the tyrannie of Cyrene put to death many of the chiefe and principall men of the citie and among the rest one Melanippus the high priest of Apollo whom he slew with his owne hands for to enjoy his priesthood he did to death also Phaedimus the husband of Aretaphila and not content therewith married her perforce and against her will this tyrant over above an infinit number of other cruelties which he daily committed set certaine warders at every gate of the city who when there was caried foorth any dead corps to buriall out of the citie abused the same with digging into the soles of their feet with the points of their daggers and poinards or else with searing them with red hot irons for feare that any of the inhabitants should be conveied alive out of the citie under colour of being borne to the grave as dead private and particular crosses had Aretaphila no doubt which were greevous unto her
all just and honest actions when it hath chased and removed out of the way ire and wrath and therefore men are mollified appeased and become gentle by examples of men when they heare it reported how Plato when hee lifted up his staffe against his page stood so a good while and forbare to strike which hee did as he said for to represse his choler And Architas when he found some great negligence and disorder at his ferme-house in the countrey in his houshold servants perceiving himselfe moved and disquieted therewith insomuch as he was exceeding angrie and readie to flie upon them proceeded to no act but onely turning away and going from them said thus It is happie for you that I am thus angrie with you If then it be so that such memorable speeches of ancient men and woorthy acts reported by them are effectuall to represse the bitternesse and violence of choler much more probable it is that we seeing how God himselfe although he standeth not in feare of any person nor repenteth of any thing that he doth yet putteth off his chastisements and laieth them up a long time should be more wary and considerate in such things and esteeme that clemencie long sufferance and patience is a divine part of vertue that God doth shew and teach us which by punishment doth chastise and correct a few but by proceeding thereto slowly doth instruct admonish and profit many In the second place let us consider that judiciall and exemplarie processe of justice practised by men intendeth and aimeth onely at a counter change of paine and griefe resting in this point That he who hath done evill might suffer likewise proceeding no farther at all and therefore baying and barking as it were like dogges at mens faults and trespasses they follow upon them and pursue after all action by tract and footing but God as it should seeme by all likelihood when hee setteth in hand in justice to correct a sinfull diseased soule regardeth principally the vicious passions thereof if haply they may be bent wrought so as they will incline turne to repentance in which respect he staieth long before that he inflict any punishment upon delinquents who are not altogether past grace incorrigible for considering withall and knowing as he doth what portion of vertue soules have drawen from him in their creation at what time as they were produced first and came into the world as also how powerfull and forcible is the generositie thereof and nothing weake and feeble in it selfe but that it is cleane contrary to their proper nature to bring forth vices which are engendered either by ill education or els by the contagious haunt of leaud company and how afterward when they be well cured and medicined as it falleth out in some persons they soone returne unto their owne naturall habitude and become good againe by reason heereof God doth not make haste to punish all men alike but looke what he knoweth to be incurable that he quickly riddeth away out of this life and cutteth it off as a very hurtfull member to others but yet most harmefull to it selfe if it should evermore converse with wickednesse but to such persons in whom by all likelihood vice is bred and ingendred rather through ignorance of goodnesse than upon any purpose and will to chuse naughtinesse hee giveth time and respit for to change and amend how beit if they persist still and continue in their leaud waies hee paieth them home likewise in the end and never feareth that they shall escape his hands one time or other but suffer condigne punishment for their deserts That this is true consider what great alterations there happen in the life and behaviour of men and how many have beene reclaimed and turned from their leaudnesse which is the reason that in Greeke our behaviour and conversation is called partly 〈◊〉 that is to say A conversion and in part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the one because mens maners be subject to change and mutation the other for that they be ingendered by use or custome and the impression thereof being once taken they remaine firme and sure which is the cause also as I suppose that our ancients in olde time attributed unto king Cecrops a double nature and forme calling him Double not for that as some said of a good element and gracious prince he became a rigourous fell and cruell tyrant like a dragon but contrariwise because having bene at the first perverse crooked and terrible he proved afterward a milde and gentle lord and if we make any doubt hereof in him yet we may be sure at leastwise that Gelon and Hiero in Sicilie yea and Pisistratus the sonne of Hipocrates all usurpers who atteined to their tyrannicall dominion by violent and indirect meanes used the same vertuously and howsoever they came unto their sovereigne rule by unlawfull and unjust meanes yet they grew in time to be good governours loving and profitable to the common weale and likewise beloved and deare unto their subjects for some of them having brought in and established most excellent lawes in the countrey and caused their citizens and subjects to be industruous and painfull in tilling the ground made them to be civill sober and discreet whereas before they were given to be ridiculous as noted for their laughter and lavish tongues to be true labourers also and painfull who had bene idle and playfull And as for Gelon after he had most valiantly warred against the Carthaginians and defaited them in a great battell when they craved peace would never grant it unto them unlesse this might be comprised among the articles and capitulations That they should no more sacrifice their children unto Saturne In the citie also of Megalopolis there was a tyrant named Lydiades who in the mids of his usurped dominion repented of his tyrannie and made a conscience thereof detesting that wrongfull oppression wherein he held his subjects in such sort ' as he restored his citizens to their ancient lawes and liberties yea and afterwards died manfully in the field fighting against his enemies in the defence of his countrey Now if any one had killed Miltiades at the first whiles he exercised tyrannie in Chersonesus or if another had called judicially into question Cimon enditing him for keeping his owne sister and so being condemned of incest had caused him to be put to death or disfranchised and banished Themistocles out of the citie for his loose wantonnesse and licentious insolencie shewed publickly in the Common place as Alcibiades afterwards was served and proscribed for the like excesse and riot committed in his youth Where had bene then that famous victorie At chieved on the plaines of Marathon Where had bene that renowmed chivalrie Performed neere the streame Eurymedon Or at the mount faire Artemision Where Athens youth as poet Pindare said Freedome first the glorious ground-worke laid For so it is great natures and high minds can bring foorth no meane matters nor the
parents being wicked and vicious were themselves honest and very profitable to the common-wealth Are we not then to thinke that it were far better to punish in due time and maner convenient than to proceed unto revenge hastily and out of hand like as that was of Callippus the Athenian who making semblance or friendship unto Dion stabbed him at once with his dagger and was himselfe afterwards killed with the same by his friends as also that other of Mitius the Argive who was murdered in a certeine commotion and civill broile for it hapned so that in a frequent assembly of the people gathered together in the market place for to beholde a solemne shew a statue of brasse fell upon the murderer of Mitius and killed him outright And you have heard I am sure ô Patrocleas have you not what befell unto Bessus the Poeonian and Ariston the Oeteian two colonels of mercenarie and forren souldiers No verily quoth he but I would gladly know This Ariston quoth I having stollen and caried away out of this temple certeine jewels and costly furniture of queene Eriphyle which of long time had there bene kept safe by the grant and permission of the tyrants who ruled this citie carried them as a present to his wife but his sonne being on a time upon some occasion displeased and angrie with his mother set fire on the house and burnt it with all that was within it As for Bessus who had murdered his owne father he continued a good while not detected until such time as being one day at supper with certeine of his friends that were strangers with the head of his speare he pierced and cast downe a swallowes neast and so killed the yong birds within it and when those that stood by seemed as good reason there was to say unto him How commeth this to passe goood sir and what aile you that you have committed so leud and horrible an act Why quoth he againe doe these birds crie aloud and beare false witnesse against me testifying that I have murdered mine owne father hee had no sooner let fall this word but those who were present tooke holde thereof and wondering much thereat went directly to the king and gave information of him who made so diligent inquisition that the thing upon examination was discovered and Bessus for his part punished accordingly for a parricide Thus much I say have we related that it may be held as a confessed trueth and supposition that wicked men otherwhiles have some delay of their punishment as for the rest you are to thinke that you ought to hearken unto Hesiodus the Poet who saith not as Plato did that the punishment of sinne doth follow sinne hard at the heeles but is of the same time and age as borne and bred in one place with it and springing out of the very same root and stocke for these be his words in one place Bad counsell who deviseth first Unto himselfe shall finde it worst And in another Who doth for others mischiefe frame To his owne heart contrives the same The venimous flies Cantharides are said to conteine in themselves a certeine remedie made and compounded by a cōtrarietie or antipathie in nature which serveth for their owne counterpoison but wickednesse ingendering within it selfe I wot not what displeasure and punishment not after a sinfull act is committed but even at the very instant of committing it beginneth to suffer the paine due to the offence neither is there a malefactour but when he seeth others like himselfe punished in their bodies beareth forth his owne crosse whereas mischievous wickednesse frameth of her selfe the engines of her owne torment as being a wonderfull artisan of a miserable life which together with shame and reproch hath in it lamentable calamities many terrible frights fearefull perturbations and passions of the spirit remorse of conscience desperate repentance and continuall troubles and unquietnesse But some men there be who for all the world resemble little children that beholding many times in the theater leaud and naughtie persons arraied in cloth of golde rich mantles and robes of purple adorned also with crownes upon their heads when they either dance or play their parts upon the stage have them in great admiration as reputing them right happie untill such time as they see them how they be either pricked and pierced with goads or sending flames of fire out of those gorgeous costly and sumptuous vestments For to say a trueth many wicked persons who dwel in stately houses are descended from noble parentage sit in high places of authoritie beare great dignities and glorious titles are not knowen for the most part what plagues and punishments they susteine before they be seene to have their throats cut or their necks broken by being cast downe headlong from on high which a man is not to tearme punishments simply but rather the finall end and complishment of thereof For like as Herodicus of Selymbria being fallen into an incurable phthisicke or consumption by the ulcer of his lungs was the first man as Plato saith who in the cure of the said disease joined with other Physicke bodily exercise and in so doing drew out and prolonged death both to himselfe and to all others who were likewise infected with that maladie even so may we say that wicked persons as many as seeme to have escaped a present plague and the stroke of punishment out of hand suffer in truth the paine due for their sinfull acts not in the end onely and a great time after but susteine the same a longer time so that the vengeance taken for their sinfull life is nothing slower but much more produced and drawen out to the length neither be they punished at the last in their olde age but they waxe olde rather in punishment which they have endured all their life Now when I speake of long time I meane it in regard of our selves for in respect of the gods the whole race of mans life how long soever it be thought is a matter of nothing or no more than the very moment and point of the instant For say that a malefactour our should suffer the space of thirtie yeres for some hainous fact that he hath committed it is all one as if a man should stretch him upon the racke or hang him upon a jibbet in the evening toward night and not in the morning betimes especially seeing that such an one all the while that he liveth remaineth close and fast shut up as it were in a strong prison or cage out of which he hath no meanes to make an escape and get away Now if in the meane while they make many feasts manage sundry matters and enterprise divers things if they give presents and largesses abroad and say they give themselves to their disports and pleasures it is even as much and all one as when malefactours during the time they be in prison should play at dice or cockall game having continually over head the rope
oracle to go to the house habitation of Tettix there by certaine expiatorie sacrifices oblations to appease pacifie the ghost of Archilochus now this house of Tettix was the cape or promontory Taenarus for it is said that Tettix the Cādian arriving with his fleet in times past at the head of Taenarus there built a citie inhabited it neere unto the place where the maner was to conjure spirits raise the ghosts of those that were departed The semblable answer being made to those of Sparta namely that they should make meanes to pacifie the soule of Pausanias they sent as farre as into Italy for sacrificers exorcists who had the skil to conjure spirits they with their sacrifices chased his ghost out of the temple This is one reason therefore quoth I that doth confirme and proove that both the world is governed by the providence of God and also that the soules of men do continue after death neither is it possible that we should admit the one denie the other If it be so then that the soule of man hath a subsistence being after death it is more probable soundeth to greater reason that it should then either taste of paine for punishment or enjoy honor for reward for during this life here upon earth it is in continuall combat in maner of a champion but after al combats performed finished then she receiveth according to her deserts Now as touching those honors or punishments which it receiveth in that other world 〈◊〉 by her-selfe and separate from the bodie the same concern and touch us nothing 〈◊〉 who remaine alive for either we know them not or give no beliefe thereto but such as be either conferred or inflicted upon their children or posteritie for that they be apparant and evident to the world those doe containe and curbe wicked men that they doe not execute their malicious desseignes And considering that there is no punishment more ignominous or that commeth neerer to the quicke and toucheth the heart more than for men to see their ofspring or those that depend upon them afflicted for their sake punished for their faults that the soule of a wicked person enemie to God and to all good lawes seeth after his death not his images statues or any ensignes of honor overthrowne but his owne children his friends kinsfolk ruinate undone persecuted with great miseries tribulations suffring grievous punishment for it there is no man I thinke but would chuse rather to forgoe all the honors of Jupiter if he might have them than to become again either unjust or intemperate lascivious And for the better testimonie truth hereof I could relate unto you a narration which was delivered unto me not long since but that I am afraid you will take it for a fabuolus tale devised to make sport In regard wherof I hold it better to alledge unto you nothing but substantial reasons and arguments grounded upon very good likelihood and probabilitie Not so quoth Olympiacus in any case but rehearse unto us the narration which you speake of And when others also requested the same at my hands Suffer me yet first quoth I to set abroad those reasons which carie some good shew of truth and then afterwards if you thinke well of it I will recite the fable also if so be it is a fable As for Bion when he saith that God in punishing the children of wicked men and sinners for their fathers is much more ridiculous than the physician who for the maladie of father or grandsire goeth about to minister medicine unto the child or nephew surely this comparison faulteth heerein that things be partly semblable and in part divers and unlike for if one be cured of a disease by medicinable meanes this doth not by and by heale the maladie or indisposition of another For never was there man yet being sicke of a feaver or troubled with bleered and impostumate eies became cured by seeing an ointment applied or a salve laid unto another But contrariwise the punishment or execution of justice upon malefactors is for this cause done publikely before all the world that justice being ministred with reason and discretion should effect thus much namely to keepe in and retaine some by the chasticement and correction of others But that point wherein the foresaid comparison of Bion answereth to our matter in question himselfe never understood for many times it falleth out that a man being fallen sicke of a dangerous disease how beit not incurable yet through his intemperance and disorder afterwards suffreth his bodie to grow into greater weaknesse and decay untill at last he dieth whereupon his sonne after him being not actually surprised with the same disease but onely disposed thereto a learned physician some trustie friend or an expert annointer and master of exercises perceiving so much or rather indeed a kind friend and gentle master governor who hath a carefull eie over him taketh him in hand bringeth him to an exquisite maner of austere diet cutteth off all superssuity of viands deintie cates banketting dishes debarreth him of unseasonable drinkings and the company of women purgeth him continually with soveraigne medicines keepeth his body downe by ordinarie labour and exercise and so doth dissipate and dispatch the first beginning and small inclination to a dangerous disease in not permitting it to have head to grow forward to any greatnesse And is not this an usual practise among us to admonish those who are borne of sickly and diseased parents to take good heed unto themselves and not to neglect their indisposition but betimes and even at the very first to endevor for to remoove and rid away the root of such inbred maladies which they bring with them into the world for surely it is an easie matter to expell and drive out yea and to conquer and overcome the same by prevention in due time Yes verily answered they all Well then quoth I we commit no absurditie nor doe any ridiculous thing but that which is right necessarie and profitable when we ordeine and prescribe for the children of those who are subject to the falling sicknesse to madnesse phrenesie and the gout exercises of the bodie diets regiments of life and medicines appropriate for those maladies not when they are sicke thereof but by way of precaution to prevent that they should not fall into them for the bodie ingendred of a corrupt and diseased bodie neither needeth nor deserveth any punishment but physicke rather by good medicines and carefull attendance which diligence and heedfull regard if any one upon wantonnesse nicetie and delicacie doe call chastisement because it depriveth a man of pleasures and delights or haply inferreth some pricke of dolour and paine let him goe as he is we passe not for him Now if it be expedient to cure and medicine carefully one body issued and descended from another that is corrupt is it meet and convenient
to mount Palatine and when she had passed over the river Tiber even there as it should seeme she cast off her wings then she put off her flying patins her boule so inconstant turning and rolling to and fro she forsooke and so entred Rome as to make her stay and abode there and in this guise and maner sheweth she her selfe now and maketh her apparance for to heare justice have this quarrell decided Not as a base unknowne and obscure person as Pindarus saith nor guiding and resting with her hand two helmes but rather as the sister of Eunomia that is to say Aequitie and of Peitho that is to say Perswasion and the daughter of Promethia that is to say Providence according as Alcinus the poet deriveth her genealogie and pedigree Moreover she holdeth betweene her hands that plentifull Horne of all aboundance so much celebrated and renowmed and the same filled not with store of frutes alwaies fresh and verdant which Autumue yeeldeth but brim full of all those pretious and exquisite commodites Which any land or sea doth breed or out of rivers spring Which in deepe mines by delfe are found or hauens by vessels bring And those powreth she foorth aboundantly and giueth abroad in great largesse There are about her also to be seene in her traine a number of most noble and right excellent personages to wit Numa Pompilius descended from the Sabines Tarquinius Priscus from the citie Tarquinii whom being aliens and meere strangers she enstalled kings and enthronized in the roiall seat of Romulus Also Paulus Aemilius who brought backe his armie safe and sound from the defaiture of Perseus and the Macedonians where he atchived so fortunate a victorie that there was not seene one Romane with a weeping eye for the losse of any friend in that warreand when he returned in triumph magnified Fortune Even so did that good olde knight Caecilius Metellus surnamed Macedonicus aswell in regard of his brave victories as of this rare felicitie of his that he was caried unto his sepulture by foure of his owne sonnes who had bene all consuls namely Quintus Balearius Lucius Diadematus Marcus Metellus and Caius Caprarius there attended also upon his corps two sonnes in law of his that married his daughters both consular men and as many nephewes his daughters children men of marke and name all both for great prowesse in feats of armes and also for their high place which they held in government of State and commonweale Aemilius Scaurus likewise who being of a low degree and condition of life yet came from a stocke more base than it a new upstart and of the first head was raised and advanced by her and by the meanes of her favour made a great lord and prince of that high court and honourable counsell called the Senate Cornelius Sylla likewise whom she tooke out of the lap bosome of Nicopolis a courtisan for to exalt him above all the Cunbricke Trophees and Laureat Triumphs yea and the seven consulships of Marius to raise him to that high pitch and sovereigne degree of an absolute monarch in the world and a dictatour he I say openly and directly gave himselfe as it were by way of adoption unto Fortune and attributed his whole estate and all his actions to her favour crying with a loud voice with Oedipus in Sophocles To Fortunes court I owe all sutes And her good sonne my selfe reputes Insomuch as in the Romane language he surnamed himselfe Felix that is to say Happie and unto the Greeks he wrote thus in their tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Lucius Cornelius Sylla beloved of Venus and the Graces And verily those trophees of his which are to be seene in our countrey of Chaeronea in regard of those noble victories which he gained against the lieutenants generall of king Mithridates have the like inscription and that right worthily For it is not the night as Menander saith but Fortune that is best acquainted and in greatest favour with Venus Should not he therefore who is desirous to plead the cause of Fortune doe very well to lay this for a good ground of his plea and in the forefront and Exordium of his oration bring in very fitly and properly for his witnesses to depose the Romans themselves who have ascribed more unto Fortune than to Vertue Certes late it was among them after many ages ere Scipio Numantinus builded a temple to Vertue after him Marcellus caused to be built that chapel bearing the name Virtutis Honoris that is to say Of Verand Honour like as Aemilus Scaurus gave order for another to be reared by the name of Mentis that is to say of understanding even about the time of the Cunbricke warre in which age when literature and professors of learning eloquence flocked thicke as it were and resorted to the citie of Rome they beganne to have in price and reputation such matters and yet to this very day there is not one chapell of Wisdome Temperance Patience Magnanimitie ne yet of Continence whereas of Fortune there be temples so stately so glorious and so ancient withall that a man would take them to have bene edified even in maner when the first foundations of the citie were laid For first and formost Ancus Martius the nephew or daughters sonne of king Numa and the fourth king of Rome after Romulus founded one in the honour of Fortune And peradventure he it was that surnamed Fortune Virilis and derived it of Fortis for that Virility that is to say Manhood and Fortitude that is to say Prowesse and Valour have most helpe by Fortune to the atchieving of victorie As for that temple of Feminine Fortune named otherwise Muliebris they built it also before the daies of Camillus at what time as Martius Coriolanus who led under banners displaied against the city of Rome a puislant power of the Volscians was turned backe and retired by the meanes and intercession of certeine noble dames that encountered him for those ladies went in a solemne ambassage toward him accompanied with his wife and mother and so earnestly intreated and effectually perswaded with him that in the end they prevailed insomuch as for their sakes he pardoned and spared the citie and so withdrew the forces of that barbarous nation and then it was by folks sayings that the statue or image of Fortune at the dedication thereof pronounced these words You have good Romane dames according to the ordinance of the citie consecrated me right devoutly And verily Furius Camillus at what time as he had quenched the flaming fire of the Gaules and recovered the city of Rome out of the very scoles of the balance where it was to bee weighed in counterpoise against a certeine quantitie of golde erected a temple neither to Good counsell nor to Valour but unto Fame and Rumour even in that very place by the new street where by report Marcus Caeditius as hee went by the way heard in
yet ready to wag and shake every way such a quiet and still season void of all busie affaires without warres without mortalitie without danger or feare of danger gave good meanes unto the citie of Rome to take root and set sure footing growing still in repose with all securitie and without any hinderance and impeachment whatsoever Much like therefore as a great carraque hulke or gallie is framed wrought and set together by many a knocke and stroke and that with great violence whiles it feeleth the blowes of sledges and hammers is pierced with spikes and great nailes cut with sawes axes and hatchets and when it is once made and finished by the shipwright ought to rest quiet and in repose for a competent time untill the braces be well setled and fastened and the joints firmly knit and compact for otherwise he that should stirre it and shoot it into the sea whiles yet the junctures and commissures be yet greene fresh loose and not well consolidate all would chinke cleave and open when it came to be never so little shaken and tossed by the boisterous billowes of the sea so that she would leake take in water thorowout even so the first prince authour and founder of the city of Rome having composed it of rusticall peisants and herdmen as it were of rough-hewen planks and posts of tough and stubburne oake had much adoe and tooke no small paines but engaged himselfe farre into sundry warres and exposed his person and estate to manifold and great dangers being of necessity enforced to encounter and fight with those who opposed themselves and withstood the nativitie as it were and foundation thereof before he could bring his worke to an end but the second king receiving the same at his hands gave it good time and leasure to gather strength and to confirme the growth and augmentation thereof by the favour of happie Fortune who affoorded him the meanes to enjoy great peace and long repose But if at that time some such as king Porsenna had come against it pitching his campe before it and leading a strong armie of Tuskans to give assault thereto whiles the walles were yet greene soft and ready to shake with every small thing or if some puissant prince and potentate or woorthy warriour from among the Marsians upon apostasie and revolt or els some Lucan for envie or upon a troublesome spirit and desire of contention a busi-headed person factious and quarelsome such an one as afterwards Mutius or stout Silon was surnamed the Bolde or last of all Telesinus with whom Sylla scuffled an found himselfe somewhat to do him I meane who as it were with one signall could make all Italie rise and take armes if one of these I say had come and given the alarme environing and assailing with sound of trumpets this Sage-like prince and philosopher Numa whiles he was at sacrifice or in his devotions and praiers to the gods surely the citie in that infancy of hers and first beginnings had never bene able to have held out and withstood so great a storme and tempest neither had it growen up as it did to so goodly a number of lustie and serviceable men whereas it seemeth that the long peace which continued under this king served in stead of a provision of furniture and all sorts of munition for innumerable warres ensuing and the people of Rome much like unto a champion who hath to fight a combat having bene exercised and enured at leasure in a peaceable time for the space of three and forty yeeres after the warres which they had fought under Romulus became strong enough and sufficient to make head against those that afterwards assailed them for it is for certeine recorded that during all that time there was neither pestilence nor famine no unkinde barrennesse of the earth nor unseasonable distemperature of Winter or Summer to afflict or trouble the city of Rome as if there had beene no humane providence but onely a divine Fortune which tooke the care and government of all those yeeres In those daies likewise it was that the two-leaved doores of the temple of Janus were shut up and locked fast those I meane which they call the gates of warre for that they were set open in the time of warre and kept shut when it was peace No sooner was king Numa dead but these gates were opened for the Albane warre which brake out suddenly and with great violence and so stood open still during an infinit number of other warres ensuing continually one after another thereupon but in processe of time namely about foure hundred and foure score yeres after they were shut againe when the first Punicke warre was ended and peace concluded with the Carthaginians even that yeere wherein C. Attilius and Titus Manlius were consuls After this they were set open by occasion of new warres which lasted untill the very time that Caesar Augustus wan that noble victorie under the Promontory Actium Then had the Romans a cessation or surcease of armes but the same continued not long for that the tumultuous stirres of the Biscains the Galatians and Germains comming all together troubled the peace And thus much may serve out of histories for testimonies in behalfe of the felicity and good Fortune of king Numa But the Kings also that raigned in Rome after him highlie honoured Fortune as the chiefe patronesse nourse and the prop or piller as Pindarus saith which supported and upheld the citie of Rome as we may judge by the reasons and arguments following There is at Rome I wot well the temple of Vertue highlie honored but founded it was and built of late daies even by Marcellus who forced and won the citie of Syracusa There was another also in the honor of reason understanding or good advice which they called by the name of Mentis but Aemilius Scaurus was the man who dedicated it about the time of the Cimbricke warres For that by this the learning the artes and pleasant eloquence of the Greekes were crept already into the citie but to wisdome there is not yet to this day so much as one temple or chappell neither to temperance not patience ne yet to magnanimitie wheras of Fortune there be many churches and temples verie auncient and those much frequented and to speake in one word celebrated with all kinds of honor as being founded and erected amid the noblest parts and most conspicuous places of the citie For there is the temple of Masculine Fortune called Fortuna virilis which was built by Martius Ancus the fourth king of Rome and by him so called for that he thought that Fortune availed as much as Fortitude to the obtaining of victorie As for the other entituled by the name of Fortune Feminine otherwise called Fortuna Muliebris everie man knoweth that they were the dames of the citie who dedicated it after they had averted and turned backe Martius Coriolanus who was come with a puisant power of enemies and presented himselfe
toward that place which he saw was without all light conjecturing by the darknesse and silence withall that he should not light upon any of the watch or ward there thus he began to climbe up the steepe rocke whereas he could find any way to set sure footing upon the stones that stuck out or wheresoever he found a place to yeeld better accesse and ascent than another so fetching a compasse and catching hold with his hand upon the rough cragges and bearing himselfe as well as possibly he could he made such shift that in the end he crawled up to the toppe thereof and there those Romans that kept watch and ward and were foremost of the corps-de-guard having espied him helped to pull him up then declared hee unto those within the place what had beene set downe and agreed upon by them who were without from whom hee had no sooner received their assent and approbation of the foresaid ordinance concluded but the verie same night he made his returne the way that he came unto Camillus the next morning one of the barbarous enemies as hee walked about that place thinking of no such thing perceiving by very chaunce partly the print of a mans tiptoes together with the marks of unsteady footing and partly the grasse and weeds crushed and broken which grew heere and there in such places where they had some little earth to mainteine them as also the tracts and traces where he had leaned and wrestled with his bodie either in clambring up or striving overthwart went straight waies and related unto his fellow-souldiors what he had seene who taking it thus that the enemies themselves shewed them the way and trode it out before them 〈◊〉 presently to doe the like and to gaine the toppe of the rocke In the night time therefore having observed where the place was most solitary and void of watchmen they mounted up without being descried and discovered not onely by the men who were in guard and sentinell but not so much as by the dogges which were set a front before for to assist the watch so sleepie they were all both the one and the other Howbeit the good Fortune of Rome wanted no voice to bewray so imminent a danger and to give warning thereof for there were within the Capitoll certeine geese consecrated unto the goddesse Juno kept at the cities charges in the honour of her close under her temple now is this creature of all others by nature very timorous and at every little noise that is made ready to be affrighted and at that time especially by reason that there was within the place great scarcitie of victuals they were neglected and for that they were kept somewhat hungry slept not so soundly as they were wont to doe by reason whereof at the first being aware of the enemies comming even so soone as they had gotten over the battlements of the wals they came ful but upon them being affrighted besides to see their bright armour set up such a gagling note after their manner that all the court of the castle rung with their violent and disonant noise whereat the Romans were awakened and suspecting deepely what the matter was ranne incontinently to the wall gave the enemies the repulse and turned them downe with their heads forward in memoriall of which accidents and occurrents Fortune goeth as it were in triumph even at this day For at Rome they are woont upon a certeine set day of the yeere in a solemne procession to have a dogge carried in a shew crucisied and a goose borne in a gorgeous litter upon a rich cushion most sumptuously dight and set out which spectacle representeth and sheweth unto us the puissance of Fortune and the great meanes that she hath to effect all those things with ease and facilitie which in mans reason seeme unpossible considering that she giveth a kinde of wittie perceivance and understanding to brute beasts otherwise foolish and voide of reason yea and infuseth bold courage and strength to those which by nature are fearefull weake and cowardly For what man is there unlesse he be altogether deprived of naturall sense and affection who would not be astonied and ravished againe with a woonderfull admiration to consider and discourse after a sort with himselfe comparing the heavie cheere and mournefull condition of this citie in those daies with the felicitie and statelie port thereof at this present to looke up I saie to the Capitoll and behold the riches there the sumptuositie and magnificence of the monuments and oblations there to bee seene the excellent pieces of worke wrought by most cunning artificers striving who might doe best the presents of cities contending who should bee most bounteous and liberall the crownes sent by kings and princes and what precious things soever the earth the sea the islands the firme lands of the continent the rivers trees beasts champain fields mountaines and metall-mines doe affoord and in one word the first fruits and choise parcels of all things in the world which seeme all to strive one with another to embelish grace adorne enrich and beautifie this onely place and withall to looke backe unto those times past and consider how it went within a very little that all this should never have beene or at least-wise not extant at this day seeing that all being within the power of mercilesse fire fearefull darknesse of the mirke night cruell and barbarous swords and most bloudy minds and inhumane hearts of these Gaules the poore contemptible beasts foolish reasonlesse and timorous made the overture to save all and were the principall instruments of preservation also how those brave gallants valourous knights and great captaines and commanders the Manlii the Servii the Posthumii and Papyrii the ancestours and progenitours of so many noble houses afterwards were very neere and at the point to have beene undone for ever and come to nothing had not these silly geese awakened and started up to fight for their countrey and to defend the god patron and protectour of the city And if it be true that Polybius writeth in the second booke of his historie as touching those Gaules who at that time surprised the city and were lords of Rome That when newes came suddenly unto them how certeine of their barbarous neighbous neere at hand were entred in armes within their owne countrey and won all before them as they went they had returned in hast backe and made peace with Camillus certes without all doubt Fortune even then had bene the cause also of the cities safetie in distracting the enemies or rather in withdrawing them another way contrary to all hope and expectation of man But what need we to stand thus upon these old histories wherein there is no certeintie to build upon delivered considering that the state of Rome was then ruinate and all their annales records registers and memorials either perished or confounded according as Livie himselfe hath left in writing seeing that the affaires of the Romans
to withstand the appetite and to represse the same when it doth exceed is not so hard and difficult a matter but to stirre up to provoke corrobrate the same when it is lost decaied before due time or to give an edge unto it being dull and faint is a mastrie indeed and a piece of worke my friend I may say unto you not so easily done whereby it appeares that the nouriture of divers viands is better than the simple food and that which by reason is alwaies of one sort doth soone satisfie and give one enough by how much more easie it is to stay nature when she is too speedie and hastie than to set her forward being weary and drawing behinde and whereas some haply there bee who say that repletion and fulnesse is more to be feared and avoided than inanition and emptinesse that is not true but rather the contrary in deed if repletion and surfet grow to corruption or to some maladie it is hurtfull but emptinesse if it bring and breed none other harme els is of it selfe adverse and contrary to nature Let these reasons therefore be opposed as it were dissonant and sounding of a contrary string against those which you Philinus have phylosophically discoursed as for others of you heere that for saving money and to spare cost sticke to salt and cumin you are ignorant for want of experience that varietie is more pleasant and the more delectable that a thing is the more agreeable it is to the appetite provided alwaies that you shunne excesse and gourmandise for surely it cleaveth quickly to the body which is desirous of it going as one would say before and ready to meet it halfe-way for to receive it having the eie-sight to prepare the way whereas contrariwise that which is lothsome or not pleasing to the appetite floteth and wandereth up and downe in the bodie and findeth no enterteinment in such sort as either nature rejecteth it quite or if she receive it the same goes against her heart she doth it for pure need and want of other sustenance now when I speake of diversitie variety of viands note thus much and remember that I meane not these curious works of pa stry these exquisit sawces tarts and cakes which go under the name of Aburtacae Canduli Carycae which are but superfluous toies and vanities for otherwise Plato himselfe alloweth varietie of meats at the table to these generous and noble-gentlemen his citizens whom he describeth in his common-wealth when hee setteth before them bulbs scalions olives salade herbes cheese and al manner of deinties that woorth would affoord and over above al these he would not defraud nor cut feasts short of their junckets banquetting dishes at the end of al. THE SEGOND QUESTION What is the reason of this opinion so generally received that Mushromes be engendred of thunder and that those who lie asleepe are not thought to be smitten with lightning AT a certeine supper where we were in the city Elis Agemachus set before us Mushromes of an exceeding bignesse whereat when the companie seemed to woonder one who was there present smiled and said Certes these may beseeme well the great thunders that we have lately had within this few daies by which words he seemed pleasantly to scoffe at this vulgar opinion That Mushromes should breed of thunder Now some were there who said That thunder caused the earth to chinke and open using the meanes of the aire as it were a wedge to cleave it and withall that they who seeke for Mushromes by those crevices guesse where they are to be found whereupon arose this common opinion That they were engendred of thunder and not shewed thereby as if a man should imagine that a showre of raine breedeth snailes and not rather cause them to creepe foorth and be seene abroad But Agemachus seemed then in good earnest to confirme the said received opinion by experience praying the company not to conclude by by that a thing was incredible because it was strange and wonderfull For quoth hee there be many other effects of thunder lightning and other meteores or celestial impressions right admirable whereof it were very hard if not altogether impossible to comprehend the causes and the reasons For this ridiculous round root called the Bulb which maketh us so good sport and is growen into a by-word little though it be escapeth not by that meanes from thunder but because it hath a propertie cleane contrary unto it like as the figge tree also and the skin of the seale or sea-calfe and of the beast Hyena with whose skinnes mariners and sailers are wont to clothe the ends of their crosse-saile yards whereupon they hang their sailes gardeners also and good husbandmen call those showres that fall with thunder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say good to water their grounds and so they thinke them to be In summe it were great simplicity and meere folly to woonder heereat considering that we doe see before our eies things more admirable than this and indeed of all other most incredible namely out of moist clouds fire to flash and from the same soft as they be so great cracks and horrible claps of thunder Well I am quoth he in these matters somewhat talkative and full of words because I would sollicit and move you to be more willing to search into the cause for that I meane not to deale hardly otherwise with you and seeme to presse you every one to lay downe your part toward the paiment for these my great Mushromes Why quoth I Agemachus himselfe seemeth in some sort to have pointed with his very finger to the reason hereof for I assure you at this present I can not thinke of any one more probable than this namely that together with thunder there falleth downe many times a certeine genitall water apt to ingender and the cause thereof is heat mingled among for that pure light piercing substance of the fire being now converted into lightning is gone and passed away but the more weightie grosse and flatilent part remaining behinde enwrapped within the cloud altereth and taketh quite the coldnesse away and drinketh up the moisture making it more flateous and windie in such sort as by this meanes especially these raines gently and mildly enter pierce into plants trees and herbs upon which they fall causing them within a while to thrive in bignesse and infusing within them a particular temperature and a peculiar difference of juice As we may observe otherwise that the dew maketh the grasse to be better seasoned as it were and fitter to content the appetite of sheepe and other cattell yea and those clouds upon which that reflexion is made which we call the rain-bow fill those trees and wood upon which they fall with a passing sweet and pleasant odor wherof the priests of our countrey be not ignorant but acnowledge as much calling the same Irisiseepta as if the rain-bow
that a stone hath beene ingendred in the paunch or guts and yet good reason it were that moisture there should congeale or gather to a stone as it doth within the bladder if true it were that all our drinke descended into the belly and the guts by passing through the stomacke onely but it seemeth that the stomacke incontinently when we begin to drinke sucketh and draweth out of that liquor which passeth along by it in the wezill pipe as much onely as is needfull and requisit for it to mollifie and to convert into a nutritive pap or juice the solid meat and so it leaveth no liquid excrement at all whereas the lungs so soone as they have distributed both spirit and liquor from thence unto those parts that have need thereof expell and send out the rest into the bladder Well to conclude more likelihood there is of truth by farre in this than in the other and yet peradventure the truth in deed of these matters lieth hidden still and incomprehensible in regard whereof it is not meet to proceed so rashly and insolently to pronounce sentence against a man who as well for his owne sufficiency as the singular opinion of the world is reputed the prince and chiefe of al philosophers especially in so uncerteine a thing as this and in defence whereof there may bee so many reasons collected out of the readings and writings of Plato THE SECOND QUESTION What is meant in Plato by this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and why those seeds which in sowing light upon oxe hornes become hard and not easie to be concoted THere hath beene alwaies much question and controversie about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not who or what is so called for certeine it is that seeds falling upon ox hornes according to the common opinion yeeld frute hard and not easily concocted whereupon by waie of Metaphor a stubborne and stiffe-necked person men use to tearme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but as touching the cause why such graine or seeds hitting against the hornes of an ox should come to be so untoward And many times refused I have yea and denied my friends to search into the thing the rather for that Theophrastus hath rendred so darke and obscure a reason raunging it among many other examples which he hath gathered and put downe in writing of strange and wonderfull effects whereof the cause is hard to be found namely That an henne after that she hath laid an egge turneth round about and with a festure or straw seemeth to purifie and halow her-selfe and the egge also that the sea-calfe or seale consumeth the pine and yet swalloweth it not downe semblably that stagges hide their hornes within the ground and burie them likewise that if one goat hold the herbe Eryngium that is to say sea-holly in his mouth all the rest of the flocke will stand still Among these miraculous effects Theophrastus I say hath put downe the seeds falling upon the hornes of an ox a thing knowen for certeine to be so but whereof the cause is most difficult if not impossible to be delivered But at a supper in the citie Delphi as I sat one day certeine of my familiar friends came upon me in this maner that seeing not onely according to the common saying From bellie full best counsell doth arise And surest plots men in that case devise but also we are more ready with our questions and lesse to seeke for answeres when as wine is in our heads causing us to be forward in the one and resolute in the other they would request me therefore to say somewhat unto the foresaid matter in question howbeit I held off still as being well backed with no bad advocates who tooke my part and were ready to defend my cause and by name Euthydemus my colleague or companion with me in the sacerdotall dignitie and Patrocleas my sonne in law who brought foorth and alledged many such things observed aswell in agriculture as by hunters of which sort is that which is practised by those who take upon them skill in the foresight and prevention of haile namely that it may be averted and turned aside by the bloud of a mould-warpe or linnen ragges stained with the monethly purgations of women Item that if a man take the figs of a wilde fig-tree and tie them to a tame fig-tree of the orchard it is a meanes that the fruit of the said fig-tree shall not fall but tarrie on and ripen kindly also that stags weepe salt teares but wilde bores shed sweet drops from their eies when they be taken For if you will set in hand to seeke out the cause hereof quoth Euthydemus then presently you must render a reason also of smallach and cumin of which the former if it be troden under foot and trampled on in the comming up men have an opinion it will grow and prosper the better and as for the other they sow it with curses and all the fowlest words that can be devised and so it will spring and thrive best Tush quoth Florus these be but toies and ridiculous mockeries to make sport with but as touching the cause of the other matters above specified I would not have you to reject the inquisition thereof as if it were incomprehensible Well quoth I now I have found a medicine and remedie which if you do use you shall bring this man with reason to our opinion that you also your selfe may solve some of these questions propounded It seemeth unto me therefore that it is colde that causeth this rebellious hardnesse aswell in wheat and other corne as also in pulse namely by pressing and driving in their solid substance untill it be hard againe for heat maketh things soft and easie to be dissolved and therefore they do not well and truely in alledging against Homer this versicle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The yeere not field Doth beare and yeeld For surely those fields and grounds which are by nature hot if the aire withall affoord a kinde and seasonable temperature of the weather bring forth more tender fruits and therefore such corne or seed which presently and directly from the husbandmans hands lighteth upon the ground entring into it and there covered finde the benefit both of the heat and moisture of the soile whereby they soone spurt and come up whereas those which as they be cast do hit upon the hornes of the beasts they meet not with that direct positure or rectitude called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Hesiodus commendeth for the best but falling downe I wot not how and missing of their right place seem rather to have bene flung at a venture than orderly sowen therfore the cold comming upon them either marreth and killeth them outright or els lighting upon their naked husks causeth them to bring fruit that proveth hard and churlish as drie as chips and such as will not be made tender sidow without they
carrying a sense and understanding therewith howbeit with certeine whistles or chirts done by lips or hands or with the sound of some pipe or shell the shepheards and other heardmen can tell how to raise them or make them lie downe and couch even so the brutish part of our soule which hath no understanding nor is capable of reason may be appeased ranged and disposed as it ought to be by songs and sounds by measures tunes and notes as if it were charmed and enchanted by them but to speake what I thinke this is my conceit that neither sound of flute nor lute and harpe by it selfe without mans voice and song to it can make merrie the companie met together at a feast so much as a good speech well and properly fitted for so we must accustome our selves in good earnest to take our principall pleasure and delight in speech and to spend the most part of that time in discourse and communication as for song and harmome we are to make as it were a sauce to our speech not to licke them up and swallow them downe alone by themselves for like as no man will reject and refuse the pleasure that commeth by wine viands taken for the necessitie of our nouriture and bringing therewith commoditie of our health but that which entreth by sweet sents and perfumes is not necessarie but superfluous delicate Socrates sent away as it were with a box of the eare even so we ought not to heare the sound of a flute or psalterie which striketh and beateth upon our eares onely but if it follow or accompanie our speech which doth feast and exhilarat the reason that is in our soule we may well admit and receive the same And verily for mine owne part I thinke that the reason why in old time Apollo punished that presumptuous Marsyas was this that when he had closed up his mouth with his pipe and muzzle together he presumed to contend and strive having nothing but the bare sound of the naked flute against him who together with the sound of the harpe had the song also and musicke of the voice let us therefore in this one thing especially beware and take heed that in the companie of those men who by their speech and learned discourses are able to delight and pleasure one another we bring not in any such thing to enter in at their eares which may be an impeachment and hinderance rather of their delight than a delectation it selfe for not onely they be foolish and ill advised as Euripides saith Who having of their owne at home enough themselves to save Will seeke els where and from abroad their remedie to have but also that they being provided sufficiently of meanes in themselves to make their recreations of and to solace their hearts labour neverthelesse all that ever they can to have their delights from others For the magnificence of that great king of Persia wherewith he meant to enterteine Antalcides the Lacedaemonian seemed I assure you very grosse absurd and impertinent namely when he dipped and wet a chaplet of roses saffron and other odoriferous flowers intermingled together in a precious oile and so sent it unto him doing injurie by that meanes to the flowers and utterly quenching and marring that native beautie and fragrant sweetnesse of their owne semblably no lesse absurditie it were when a feast hath mirth and musicke enough in it selfe to goe about for to enchant and encharme it with other minstrelsie from abroad and so for a strange and borrowed delight to bereave the guests of their owne and proper and as one would say change the principall for the accessorie I conclude therefore that the fittest season for such amusement and occupying of the eares is when the feast beginneth a little to grow turbulent and to fall into some contentious debate and braule by heat of opinionative arguing for to alay and quench all that it breake not out to opprobrious tearmes or to represse a disputation which is like to passe the bounds of reasoning and to grow unto an unpleasant and sophisticall alteration yea and to stay all litigious wrangling and vehement invectives beseeming rather pleas at barre or the orations in the publicke hall of a city untill such time as the banquer be reduced into the former calme and tranquillitie THE NINTH QUESTION That to consult at the table while men are drinking wine was an ancient custome among the Greeks as well as Persians NIcostratus upon a time invited us to a supper and when we were set there arose some speech as touching certeine matters upon which the Athenians were the morrow after to sit in councell and to debate in a generall assemblie of the citie now as one of our companie cast out this word and said This is the Persian fashion my masters thus to consult and holde a councell at the boord And why Persian rather than Grecian quoth Glaucias for a Grecian I am sure he was that said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say From bellie full best counsell doth arise And surest plots men in that case devise And Greeks they were who under the conduct of Agamemnon held Troy besieged who as they were eating and drinking together The good old Nestor first began Wisely upon the point to scan who also was himselfe the author of this meeting and advised the king to invite his nobles and the principall captaines of the armie to a dinner for to sit in counsell in these tearmes Make now a feast I you advise my lord And bid your auncient peeres who when at bord They be all set marke who gives counsell best Obey his reed and see therein you rest And therefore the most nations of Greece which were ruled under the best lawes and most constantly reteined their auncient ordinances and customes laid the first foundation of their government and counsell of State upon wine for those guilds and societies in Candy which they called Andreia as also the Phiditia in Sparta were instituted and held for privie counsels and assemblies of senators like unto that if I be not deceived which even in this citie heere of Athens goeth under the name of Prytaneion and Thesmothesion and not farre different from these in that night assemblie of the principall personages and most politicke States-men whereof Plato speaketh in his books unto which he referreth the causes and affaires of most importance which require greatest consultation those counsellers of State also in Homer Who offer wine to Mercurie the last of others all What time as now bed-time it is and them to sleepe doth call doe not they I pray you joine wine and words together when they are about therefore to depart and retire themselves into their bed-chambers the first thing that they do is to make their praiers and powre out their libations of wine unto the wisest God of all others as if he were present with them and their superintendent to oversee them but they who were
that outwardly appeere as for example wounds inflammations impostumes biles and botches in the share and other emunctories CHAP. XXX Of Health Sicknesse and old age ALCMAEON is of opinion that the equall dispensing and distribution of the faculties in the body to wit of moisture heat drinesse cold bitter sweet and the rest is that which holdeth maintaineth Health contrariwise the monarchie that is to say the predominant soveraignty of any of them causeth sicknesse for the predomination and principality of any one bringeth the corruption of all the other and is the very cause of maladies the efficient in regard of excessive heat or cold and the materiall in respect of superabundance or defect of humors like as in some there is want of bloud or brain whereas Health is a proportionable temperature of all these qualities DIOCLES supposeth that most diseases grow by the inequality of the elements and of the habit and constitution of the body ERASISTRATUS saith that sicknesse proceedeth from the excesse of feeding from crudities indigestions and corruption of meat whereas good order and suffisance is Health The STOICKS accord heereunto and hold that Old age commeth for want of naturall heat for they who are most furnished therewith live longest and be old a great time ASCLEPIADES reporteth that the Aethiopians age quickly namely when they be thirtie yeeres old by reason that their bodies bee over-heat and even burnt againe with the sunne whereas in England and all 〈◊〉 folke in their age continue 120. yeeres for that those parts be cold and in that people the naturall heat by that meanes is united and kept in their bodies for the bodies of the Aethiopians are more open and rare in that they be relaxed and resolved by the sunnes heat Contrariwise their bodies who live toward the North pole bee more compact knit and fast and therefore such are long lived ROMANE QVESTIONS THAT IS TO SAY AN ENQUIRIE INTO THE CAUSES OF MANIE FASHIONS AND CUSTOMES OF ROME A Treatise fit for them who are conversant in the reading of Romane histories and antiquities giving a light to many places otherwise obscure and hard to be understood 1 What is the reason that new wedded wives are bidden to touch fire and water 1 IS it because that among the elements and principles whereof are composed naturall bodies the one of these twaine to wit fire is the male and water the female of which that infuseth the beginning of motion and this affoordeth the propertie of the subject and matter 2 Or rather for that as the fire purgeth and water washeth so a wise ought to continue pure chaste and cleane all her life 3 Or is it in this regard that as fire without humidity yeeldeth no nourishment but is dry and moisture without heat is idle fruitlesse and barren even so the male is feeble and the female likewise when they be apart and severed a sunder but the conjunction of two maried folke yeeldeth unto both their cohabitation and perfection of living together 4 Or last of all because man and wife ought not to forsake and abandon one another but to take part of all fortunes though they had no other good in the world common betweene them but fire and water onely 2 How is it that they use to light at weddings five torches and neither more nor lesse which they call Wax-lights 1 WHether is it as Varro saith because the Praetours or generals of armies use three and the Aediles two therefore it is not meet that they should have more than the Praetours and Aediles together considering that new maried folke goe unto the Aediles to light their fire 2 Or because having use of many numbers the odde number seemed unto them as in all other respects better and more perfect than the even so it was fitter and more agreeable for marriage for the even number implieth a kinde of discord and division in respect of the equall parts in it meet for siding quarrell and contention whereas the odde number cannot be divided so just equally but there will remaine somwhat still in common for to be parted Now among al odde numbers it seemeth that Cinque is most nuptial best beseeming mariage for that 〈◊〉 is the first odde number Deuz the first even of which twaine five is compounded as of the male and the female 3 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 because light is a signe of being and of life and a woman may beare at the most five children at one burden and so they used to cary five tapers or waxe candels 4 Or lastly for that they thought that those who were maried had need of five gods and goddesses namely Jupiter genial Juno genial Venus Suade and above all Diana whom last named women in their labour and travell of childe-birth are wont to call upon for helpe 3 What is the cause that there being many Temples of Diana in Rome into that onely which standeth in the 〈◊〉 street men enter not 1 IS it not because of a tale which is told in this maner In old time a certeine woman being come thither for to adore and worship this goddesse chaunced there to bee abused and suffer violence in her honor and he who forced her was torne in pieces by hounds upon which accident ever after a certeine superstitious feare possessed mens heads that they would not presume to goe into the said temple 4 Wherefore is it that in other temples of Diana men are woont ordinarily to set up and fasten Harts hornes onely in that which is upon mount Aventine the hornes of oxen and other beefes are to be seene MAy it not be that this is respective to the remembrance of an ancient occurrent that sometime befell For reported it is that long since in the Sabines countrey one Antion Coratius had a cow which grew to be exceeding faire and woonderfull bigge withall above any other and a certeine wizard or soothfaier came unto him and said How predestined it was that the citie which sacrificed that cow unto Diana in the mount Aventine should become most puissant and rule all Italy This Coratius therefore came to Rome of a deliberate purpose to sacrifice the said cow accordingly but a certaine houshold servant that he had gave notice secretly unto king Servius Tullius of this prediction delivered by the abovesaid soothfaier whereupon Servius acquainted the priest of Diana Cornelius with the matter and therefore when Antion Coratius presented himselfe for to performe his sacrifice Cornelius advertised him first to goe downe into the river there to wash for that the custome and maner of those that sacrificed was so to doe now whiles Antion was gone to wash himselfe in the river Servius steps into his place prevented his returne sacrificed the cow unto the goddesse and nailed up the hornes when he had so done within her temple Juba thus relateth this historie and Varro likewise saving that Varro expressely fetteth not downe the name of Antion neither doth he write
their registers IS it for that Saturne himselfe was a stranger in Italy and therefore all strangers are welcome unto him Or may not this question besolved by the reading of histories for in old time these Questors or publick Treasurers were wont to send unto embassadors certeine presents which were called Lautia and if it fortuned that such embassadors were sicke they tooke the charge of them for their cure and if they chanced to die they enterred them likewise at the cities charges But now in respect of the great resort of embassadors from out of all countries they have cut off this expense howbeit the auncient custome yet remaineth namely to present themselves to the said officers of the treasure and to be registred in their booke 44 Why it is not lawfull for Jupiters priest to sweare IS it because an oth ministred unto free borne men is as it were the racke and torture tendred unto them for certeine it is that the soule as well as the bodie of the priest ought to continue free and not be forced by any torture whatsoever Or for that it is not meet to distrust or discredit him in small matters who is beleeved in great and divine things Or rather because every oth endeth with the detestation and malediction of perjurie and considering that all maledictions be odious and abominable therefore it is not thought good that any other priests whatsoever should curse or pronounce any malediction and in this respect was the priestresse of Minerva in Athens highly commended for that she would never curse 〈◊〉 notwithstanding the people commanded her so to doe For I am quoth she ordeined a priestresse to pray for men and not to curse them Or last of all was it because the perill of perjurie would reach in common to the whole common wealth if a wicked godlesse and forsworne person should have the charge and superintendance of the praiers vowes and sacrifices made in the behalfe of the citie 45 What is the reason that upon the festivall day in the honour of Venus which solemnitie they call Veneralia they use to powre foorth a great quantitie of wine out of the temple of Venus IS it as some say upon this occasion that Mezentius sometime captaine generall of the Tuscans sent certeine embassadors unto Aeneas with commission to offer peace unto him upon this condition that he might receive all the wine of that yeeres vintage But when Aeneas refused so to doe Mezentius for to encourage his souldiers the Tuskans to fight manfully promised to bestow wine upon them when he had woon the field but Aeneas understanding of this promise of his consecrated and dedicated all the said wine unto the gods and in trueth when he had obteined the victorie all the wine of that yeere when it was gotten and gathered together he powred forth before the temple of Venus Or what if one should say that this doth symbolize thus much That men ought to be sober upon festivall daies and not to celebrate such solemnities with drunkennesse as if the gods take more pleasure to see them shed wine upon the ground than to powre overmuch thereof downe their throats 46 What is the cause that in ancient time they kept the temple of the goddesse Horta open alwaies WHether was it as Antistius Labeo hath left in writing for that seeing Hortart in the Latine tongue signifieth to incite and exhort they thought that the goddesse called Horta which stirreth and provoketh men unto the enterprise and execution of good exploits ought to be evermore in action not to make delaies not to be shut up and locked within dores ne yet to sit still and do nothing Or rather because as they name her now a daies Hora with the former syllable long who is a certeine industrious vigilant and busie goddesse carefull in many things therefore being as she is so circumspect and so watchfull they thought she should be never idle nor rechlesse of mens affaires Or els this name Hora as many others besides is a meere Greeke word and signifieth a deitie or divine power that hath an eie to overlooke to view and controll all things and therefore since she never sleepeth nor laieth her eies together but is alwaies broad awake therefore her church or chapel was alwaies standing open But if it be so as Labeo saith that this word Hora is rightly derived of the Greeke verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to incite or provoke consider better whether this word Orator also that is to say one who stirrith up 〈◊〉 encourageth and adviseth the people as a prompt and ready counseller be not derived likewise in the same sort and not of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say praier and supplication as some would have it 47 Wherefore founded Romulus the temple of Vulcane without the citie of Rome IS it for the jealousie which as fables do report Vulcane had of Mars because of his wife Venus and so Romulus being reputed the sonne of Mars would not vouchsafe him to inhabit and dwell in the same citie with him or is this a meere foolerie and senselesse conceit But this temple was built at the first to be a chamber and parlour of privie counsell for him and Tatius who reigned with him to the end that meeting and sitting there in consultation together with the Senatours in a place remote from all troubles and hinderances they might deliberate as touching the affaires of State with ease and quietnesse Or rather because Rome from the very first foundation was subject to fire by casualtie hee thought good to honour this god of fire in some sort but yet to place him without the walles of the citie 48 What is the reason that upon their festivall day called Consualia they adorned with garlands of flowers aswell their asses as horses and gave them rest and repose for the time IS it for that this solemnitie was holden in the honour of Neptune surnamed Equestris that is to say the horseman and the asse hath his part of this joyfull feast for the horses sake Or because that after navigation and transporting of commodities by sea was now found out and shewed to the world there grew by that meanes in some sort better rest and more case to poore labouring beasts of draught and carriage 49 How commeth it to passe that those who stood for any office and magistracie were woont by anold custome as Cato hath written to present themselves unto the people in a single robe or loose gowne without any coat at all under it WAs it for feare lest they should carrie under their robes any money in their bosomes for to corrupt bribe and buy as it were the voices and suffrages of the people Or was it because they deemed men woorthy to beare publicke office and to governe not by their birth and parentage by their wealth and riches ne yet by their shew and
Macellus who after he had committed many outrages and robberies was with much ado in the end taken and punished and of his goods which were forfeit to the State there was built a publike shambles or market place to sell flesh-meats in which of his name was called Macellum 55 Why upon the Ides of Januarie the minstrels at Rome who plaied upon the haut boies were permitted to goe up and downe the city disguised in womens apparell A Rose this fashion upon that occasion which is reported namely that king Numa had granted unto them many immunities and honorable priviledges in his time for the great devotion that hee had in the service of the gods and for that afterwards the Tribunes militarie who governed the citie in Consular authority tooke the same from them they went their way discontented and departed quite from the citie of Rome but soone after the people had a misse of them and besides the priests made it a matter of conscience for that in all the sacrifices thorowout the citie there was no sound of flute or hautboies Now when they would not returne againe being sent for but made their abode in the citie Tibur there was a certeine afranchised bondslave who secretly undertooke unto the magistrates to finde some meanes for to fetch them home So he caused a sumptuous feast to be made as if he meant to celebrate some solemne sacrifice and invited to it the pipers and plaiers of the hautboies aforesaid and at this feast he tooke order there should be divers women also and all night long there was nothing but piping playing singing and dancing but all of a sudden this master of the feast caused a rumor to be raised that his lord and master was come to take him in the maner whereupon making semblant that he was much troubled and affrighted he perswaded the minstrels to mount with all speed into close coatches covered all over with skinnes and so to be carried to Tibur But this was a deceitfull practise of his for he caused the coatches to be turned about another way and unawares to them who partly for the darkenesse of the night and in part because they were drowsie and the wine in their heads tooke no heed of the way he brought all to Rome betimes in the morning by the breake of day disguised as they were many of them in light coloured gownes like women which for that they had over-watched and over-drunke themselves they had put on and knew not therof Then being by the magistrates overcome with faire words and reconciled againe to the citie they held ever after this custome every yeere upon such a day To go up and downe the citie thus foolishly disguised 56 What is the reason that it is commonly received that certein matrons of the city at the first founded and built the temple of Carmenta and to this day honour it highly with great reverence FOr it is said that upon a time the Senat had forbidden the dames and wives of the city to ride in coatches whereupon they tooke such a stomacke and were so despighteous that to be revenged of their husbands they conspired altogether not to conceive or be with child by them nor to bring them any more babes and in this minde they persisted still untill their husbands began to bethinke them selves better of the matter and let them have their will to ride in their coatches againe as before time and then they began to breed and beare children a fresh and those who soonest conceived and bare most and with greatest ease founded then the temple of Carmenta And as I suppose this Carmenta was the mother of Evander who came with him into Italy whose right name indeed was Themis or as some say Nicostrata now for that she rendred propheticall answeres and oracles in verse the Latins surnamed her Carmenta for verses in their tongue they call Carmina Others are of opinion that Carmenta was one of the Destinies which is the cause that such matrons and mothers sacrifice unto her And the Etymologic of this name Carmenta is as much as Carens mente that is to say beside her right wits or bestraught by reason that her senses were so ravished and transported so that her verses gave her not the name Carmenta but contrariwise her verses were called Carmina of her because when she was thus ravished and caried beside herselfe she chanted certeine oracles and prophesies in verse 57 What is the cause that the women who sacrifice unto the goddesse Rumina doe powre and cast store of milke upon their sacrifice but no wine at all do they bring thither for to be drunke IS it for that the Latins in their tongue call a pap Ruma And well it may so be for that the wilde figge tree neere unto which the she wolfe gave sucke with her teats unto Romulus was in that respect called Ficus Rumtnalis Like as therefore we name in our Greeke language those milch nourses that suckle yoong infants at their brests Thelona being a word derived of 〈◊〉 which signifieth a pap even so this goddesse Rumina which is as much to say as Nurse and one that taketh the care and charge of nourishing and rearing up of infants admitteth not in her sacrifices any wine for that it is hurtfull to the nouriture of little babes and sucklings 58 What is the reason that of the Romane Senatours some are called simply Patres others with an addition Patres conscripti IS it for that they first who were instituted and ordeined by Romulus were named Patres 〈◊〉 that is to say Gentlemen or Nobly borne such as we in Greece tearme Eupatrides Or rather they were so called because they could avouch and shew their fathers but such as were adjoined afterwards by way of supply and enrolled out of the Commoners houses were Patres conscripti thereupon 59 Wherefore was there one altar common to Hercules and the Muses MAy it not be for that Hercules taught Evander the letters according as Juba writeth Certes in those daies it was accounted an honourable office for men to teach their kinsefolke and friends to spell letters and to reade For a long time after it and but of late daies it was that they began to teach for hire and for money and the first that ever was knowen to keepe a publicke schoole for reading was one named Spurius Carbilius the freed servant of that Carbilius who first put away his wife 60 What is the reason that there being two altars dedicated unto Hercules women are not partakers of the greater nor tast one whit of that which is offered or sacrificed thereupon IS it because as the report goes Carmenta came not soone enough to be assistant unto the sacrifice no more did the family of the Pinarij whereupon they tooke that name for in regard that they came tardie admitted they were not to the feast with others who made good cheere and therefore got the name Pinarij as if one
even so the Romane lawgiver would hide in the obscuritie of darkenesse the deformities and imperfections in the person of the bride if there were any Or haply this was instituted to shew how sinfull and damnable all unlawfull companie of man and woman together is seeing that which is lawfull and allowed is not without some blemish and note of shame 66 Why is one of the races where horses use to runne called the Cirque or Flaminius IS it for that in old time an ancient Romane named Flaminius gave unto the citie a certeine piece of ground they emploied the rent and revenues thereof in runnings of horses and chariots and for that there was a surplussage remaining of the said lands they bestowed the same in paving that high way or causey called Via Flaminia that is to say Flaminia street 67 Why are the Sergeants or officers who carie the knitches of rods before the magistrates of Rome called Lictores IS it because these were they who bound malefactors and who followed after Romulus as his guard with cords and leather thongs about them in their bosomes And verily the common people of Rome when they would say to binde or tie fast use the word Alligare and such as speake more pure and proper Latin Ligare Or is it for that now the letter C is interjected within this word which before time was Litores as one would say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say officers of publike charge for no man there is in a maner ignorant that even at this day in many cities of Greece the common-wealth or publicke state is written in their lawes by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 68 Wherefore doe the Luperci at Rome sacrifice a Dogge Now these Luperci are certeine persons who upon a festivall day called Lupercalia runne through the citie all naked save that they have aprons onely before their privy parts carying leather whippes in their hands where with they flappe and scourge whom soever they meet in the streets IS all this ceremoniall action of theirs a purification of the citie whereupon they call the moneth wherein this is done Februarius yea and the very day it selfe Febraten like as the maner of squitching with a leather scourge Februare which verbe signifieth as much as to purge or purifie And verily the Greeks in maner all were wont in times past and so they continue even at this day in all their expiations to kill a dogge for sacrifice Unto Hecate also they bring foorth among other expiatorie oblations certeine little dogges or whelpes such also as have neede of clensing and purifying they wipe and scoure all over with whelpes skinnes which maner of purification they tearme Periscylacismos Or rather is it for that Lupus signifieth a woolfe Lupercalia or Lycaea is the feast of wolves now a dogge naturally being an enemie to woolves therefore at such feasts they facrificed a dogge Or peradventure because dogges barke and bay at these Luperci troubling and disquieting them as they runne up and downe the city in maner aforesaid Or else last of all for that this feast and sacrifice is solemnized in the honor of god Pan who as you wot well is pleased well enough with a dogge in regard of his flocks of goates 69 What is the cause that in auncient time at the feast called Septimontium they observed precisely not to use any coaches drawen with steeds no more than those doe at this day who are observant of old institutions and doe not despise them Now this Septimontium is a festivall solemnity celebrated in memoriall of a seventh mountaine that was adjoined and taken into the pourprise of Rome citie which by this meanes came to have seven hilles enelosed within the precinct thereof WHether was it as some Romans doe imagine for that the city was not as yet conjunct and composed of all her parts Or if this may seeme an impertinent conjecture and nothing to the purpose may it not be in this respect that they thought they had atchieved a great piece of worke when they had thus amplified and enlarged the compasse of the citie thinking that now it needed not to proceed any further in greatnesse and capacitie in consideration whereof they reposed themselves and caused likewise their labouring beasts of draught and cariage to rest whose helpe they had used in finishing of the said enclosure willing that they also should enjoy in common with them the benefit of that solemne feast Or else we may suppose by this how desirous they were that their citizens should solemnize and honour with their personall presence all feasts of the citie but especially that which was ordained and instituted for the peopling and augmenting thereof for which cause they were not permitted upon the day of the dedication and festival memorial of it to put any horses in geeres or harnesse for to draw for that they were not at such a time to ride forth of the citie 70 Why call they those who are deprehended or taken in theft pilferie or such like servile trespasses Furciferos as one would say Fork bearers IS not this also an evident argument of the great diligence and carefull regard that was in their ancients For when the maister of the family had surprised one of his servants or slaves committing a lewd and wicked pranck he commaunded him to take up and carrie upon his necke betweene his shoulders a 〈◊〉 piece of wood such as they use to put under the spire of a chariot or waine and so to go withall in the open view of the world throughout the street yea and the parish where he dwelt to the end that every man from thence forth should take heed of him This piece of wood we in Greeke call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Romanes in the Latin tongue Furca that is 〈◊〉 say a forked prop or supporter and therefore he that is forced to carie such an one is by reproch termed Furcifer 71 Wherefore use the Romans to tie a wisp of 〈◊〉 unto the bornes of kine and other beefes that are woont to boak and be curst with their heads that by the meanes thereof folke might take heed of them and looke better to themselves when they come in their way IS it not for that beefes horses asses yea and men become fierce insolent and dangerous if they be highly kept and pampered to the full according as Sophocles said Like as the colt or jade doth winse and kick In case he find his provender to prick Even so do'st thou for lo thy paunch is full Thy cheeks be puft like to some greedie gull And thereupon the Romans gave out that Marcus Crassus caried hey on his horne for howsoever they would seeme to let flie and carpe at others who dealt in the affaires of State and government yet be ware they would how they commersed with him as being a daungerous man and one who caried a revenging mind to as many as medled with him
at the doore but flung over the verie roofe thereof But to what purpose served all this and what good would this have done that he shoud shew himselfe so gentle so affable and humane if he had a curst dog about him to keepe his doore and to affright chase and scarre all those away who had recourse unto him for succour And yet so it is that our ancients reputed not a dog to be altogether a clean creature for first and formost we do not find that he is consecrated or dedicated unto any of the celestial gods but being sent unto terrestrial infernall Proserpina into the quarresires and crosse high waies to make her a supper he seemeth to serve for an expiatorie sacrifice to divert and turne away some calamitie or to cleanse some filthie 〈◊〉 rather than otherwise to say nothing that in Lacedaemon they cut and slit dogs down along the mids and so sacrifice them to Mars the most bloody god of all others And the Romanes themselves upon the feast Lupercalia which they celebrate in the lustrall moneth of Purification called February offer up a dog for a sacrifice and therefore it is no absurditie to thinke that those who have taken upon them to serve the most soveraigne and purest god of all others were not without good cause forbidden to have a dog with them in the house nor to be acquainted and familiar with him 112 For what cause was not the same priest of Jupiter permitted either to touch an ivie tree or to passe thorow a way covered over head with a vine growing to a tree and spreading her branches from it IS not this like unto these precepts of Pythagoras Eat not your meat from a chaire Sit not upon a measure called Choenix Neither step thou over a broome or besoome For surely none of the Pythagoreans feared any of these things or made scruple to doe as these words in outward shew and in their litterall sense do pretend but under such speeches they did covertly and figuratively forbid somewhat else even so this precept Go not under a vine is to be referred unto wine and implieth this much that it is not lawfull for the said Priest to be drunke for such as over drinke themselves have the wine above their heads and under it they are depressed and weighed downe whereas men and priests especially ought to be evermore superiors and commanders of this pleasure and in no wise to be subject unto it And thus much of the vine As for the ivie is it not for that it is a plant that beareth no fruit nor any thing good for mans use and moreover is so weake as by reason of that feeblenesse it is not able to sustaine it selfe but had need of other trees to support and beare it up and besides with the coole shadow that it yeelds and the greene leaves alwaies to be seene it dazeleth and as it were be witcheth the 〈◊〉 of many that looke upon it for which causes men thought that they ought not to nourish or entertaine it about an house because it bringeth no profit nor suffer it to claspe about any thing considering it is so hurtfull unto plants that admit it to creepe upon them whiles it sticketh fast in the ground and therefore banished it is from the temples and sacrifices of the celestiall gods and their priests are debarred from using it neither shall a man ever see in the sacrifices or divine worship of Juno at Athens nor of Venus at Thebes any wilde ivie brought out of the woods Mary at the sacrifices and services of 〈◊〉 which are performed in the night and darknesse it is used Or may not this be a covert and figurative prohibition of such blind dances and fooleries in the night as these be which are practised by the priests of Bacchus for those women which are transported with these furious motions of Bacchus runne immediately upon the ivie and catching it in their hands plucke it in pieces or else chew it betweene their teeth in so much as they speake not altogether absurdly who say that this ivie hath in it a certaine spirit that stirreth and mooveth to madnesse turneth mens mindes to furie driveth them to extasies troubleth and tormenteth them and in one word maketh them drunke without wine and doth great pleasure unto them who are otherwise disposed and enclined of themselves to such fanaticall ravishments of their wit and understanding 113 What is the reason that these Priests and Flamins of Jupiter were not allowed either to take upon them or to sue for any government of State but in regard that they be not capable of such dignities for honour sake and in some sort to make some recompense for that defect they have an usher or verger before them carrying a knitch of rods yea and a curall chaire of estate to 〈◊〉 IS it for the same cause that as in some cities of Greece the sacerdotall dignitie was equivalent to the royall majestie of a king so they would not chuse for their priests meane persons and such as came next to hand Or rather because Priests having their functions determinate and certaine and the kings undeterminate and uncertaine it was not possible that when the occasions and times of both concurred together at one instant one and the same person should be sufficient for both for it could not otherwise be but many times when both charges pressed upon him and urged him at ones he should pretermit the one or the other and by that meanes one while offend and fault in religion toward God and another while do hurt unto citizens and subjects Or else considering that in governments among men they saw that there was otherwhiles no lesse necessitie than authority and that he who is to rule a people as Hippocrates said of a physician who seeth many evill things yea and handleth many also from the harmes of other men reapeth griefe and sorrow of his owne they thought it not in policy good that any one should sacrifice unto the gods or have the charge and superintendence of sacred things who had been either present or president at the judgements and condemnations to death of his owne citizens yea and otherwhiles of his owne kinsfolke and allies like as it befell sometime to Brutus DEMAVNDS AND QUESTIONS AS TOUching Greeke Affaires THAT IS TO SAY A Collection of the maners and of divers customes and fashions of certaine persons and nations of Greece which may serve their turne verie well who reading old Authors are desirous to know the particularities of Antiquitie 1 Who are they that in the citie Epidaurus be called Conipodes and Artyni THere were an hundred and fourescore men who had the managing and whole government of the Common weale out of which number they chose Senatours whom they named Artyni but the most part of the people abode and dwelt in the countrey and such were tearmed Conipodes which is as much to say as Dusty-feet for that when
they came downe to the citie as a man may conjecture they were knowen by their dustie feet 2 What was she who in the citie of Cumes they named Onobatis WHen there was any woman taken in adultery they brought her in to the publick market-place where they set her upon an eminent stone to the end that she might be seene of all the people and after she had stood there a good while they mounted her upon an asse and so led her round about the city which done they brought her backe againe into the market-place where she must stand as she did before upon the same stone and so from that time forward she led an infamous and reprochfull life called of every one by the name of Onobatis that is to say she that hath ridden upon the asse backe But when they had so done they reputed that stone polluted and detested it as accursed and abominable There was likewise in the same city a certeine office of a gaoler whom they called Phylactes and looke who bare this office had the charge of keeping the prison at all other times onely at a certeine assembly and session of the counsell in the night season he went into the Senat and brought forth the kings leading them by the hands and three held them still during the time that the Senat had made inquisition and decreed whether they had deserved ill and ruled unjustly or no giving thus their suffrages and voices privily in the darke 3 What is she whom they name in the city of Soli Hypeccaustria SO call they the priestresse of Minerva by reason of certeine sacrifices which she celebrateth and other divine ceremonies and services to put by and divert shrewd turnes which otherwise might happen the word signifieth as much as a chaufeure 4 Who be they in the city Gnidos whom they call Amnemones as also who is Aphester among them THere are three score elect men out of the better sort and principall citizens whom they imploid as overseers of mens lives and behaviour who also were consulted first and gave their sentence as touching affaires of greatest importance and Amnemones they were named for that they were not as a man may very well conjecture called to any account nor urged to make answer for any thing that they did unlesse haply they were so named quasi Polymnemones because they remembred many things and had so good a memorie As for Aphester he it was who in their scrutinies demanded their opinions and gathered their voices 5 Who be they whom the Arcadians and Lacedemonians tearme Chrestos THe Lacedemonians having concluded a peace with the Tegeates did set downe expresly the articles of agreement in writing which they caused to be ingraven upon a square columne common to them both the which was erected upon the river 〈◊〉 in which among other covenants this was written That they might 〈◊〉 the Messenians out of their countries howbeit lawfull it should not be to make them Chrestos which Aristotle expoundeth thus and saith That they might kill none of the Tegeates who during the warre had taken part with the Lacedaemonians 6 What is he whom the Opuntians call Crithologos THe greatest part of the Greeks in their most auncient sacrifices use certeine barley which the citizens of their first fruits did contribute that officer therefore who had the rule and charge of these sacrifices and the gathering and bringing in of these first fruits of barley they named Crithologos as one would say the collectour of the barley Moreover two priests they had besides one superintendent over the sacrifices and ceremonies for the gods another for the divels 7 Which be the clouds called Ploïades THose especially which are 〈◊〉 and disposed to raine and withall wandering too and fro and caried heere and there in the aire as Theophrastus in the fourth booke of Meteors or impressions gathered above in the region of the aire hath put it downe word for word in this manner Considering that the clouds Ploïades quoth hee and those which be gathered thicke and are setled unmooveable and besides very white shew a certeine diversitie of matter which is neither converted into water nor resolved into winde 8 Whom doe the Boeotians meane by this word Platychaetas THose whose houses joine one to another or whose lands doe border and confinetogether in the Aeolique language they called so as if they would say being neere neighbours to which purpose one example among many I will alledge out of our law Thesmophylacium c. **** 9 What is he who among the Delphians is called Hosioter and why name they one of the moneths Bysios THey name Hosioter that sacrificer who offreth a sacrifice when he is declared Hosios that is to say holy and five there be who are all their life time accounted Hosioi and those doe and execute many things together with their prophets and joine with them in divers ceremonies of divine service and gods worship inasmuch as they are thought to be descended from Deucalion And for the moneth called Bysis many have thought it to be as much as Physius that is to say the springing or growing moneth for that then the spring beginneth and many plants at that time do arise out of grownd and budde But the truth is not so for the Delphians never use B. instead of Ph. like as the Macedonians do who for Philippus Phalacros and Pheronice say Bilippus Balacros and Beronice indeed they put B. for P. and it as ordinarie with them to say Batein for Patein Bicron for Picron and so Bysius is all one with Pysius that is to say the moneth in which they consult with their god Apollo and demand of him answeres and resolutions of their doubts for this is the custome of the countrey because in this moneth they propounded their demands unto the Oracle of Apollo and they supposed the seventh day of the same to be his birth-day which they surnamed also Polypthous not as many do imagine because they then do bake many cakes which are called Phthois but for that it is a day wherein divers do resort unto the Oracle for to be resolved and many answeres are delivered for it is but of late daies that folke were permitted to consult with the Oracle when they list in everie moneth but before time the religious priestresse of Apollo named Pythia opened not the Oracle nor gave answere but at one time in the yeere according as Callistenes and Alexandrides have recorded in writing 10 What signifieth Phyximelon LIttle plants there be which when they burgeon and shoot out first the beasts love passing well their first buds and sprouts which they put forth but in brouzing and cropping them great injurie they do unto the plants and hinder their grouth when as therefore they are growen up to that height that beasts grasing thereabout can do them no more harme they be called Phyximela that is as much to say as having escaped the danger of cattell as
witnesseth Aeschylus 11 Who be they that are named Aposphendoneti IN times past the Eretrians held the Island Corcyra untill Charicrates arrived there with a fleet from Corinth and vanquished them whereupon the Eretrians tooke sea againe and returned toward their naturall countrey whereof their fellow-citizens being advertised such I say as stirred not but remained quiet repelled them and kept them off from landing upon their ground by charging them with shot from slings Now when they saw they could not win them by any faire language nor yet compel them by force of armes being as they were inexorable and besides many more than they in number they made saile to the coasts of Thracia where they possessed themselves of a place wherein they report Methon one of the predecessors and progenitors of 〈◊〉 sometime dwelt and there having built a citie they named it Methone but themselves were surnamed Aposphendoneti which is as much to say as repelled and driven backe by slings 12 What is that which the Delphians call Charila THe citizens of Delphos do celebrate continually three Enneaterides that is to say feasts celebrated every ninth yeere one after another successively Of which the first they name Septerion the second Herois and the third Charila As touching the first it seemeth to be a memorial representing the fight or combat that Phoebus had against Python and his flight after the conflict and pursuit after him into the valley of Tempe For as some do report he fled by occasion of a certaine manslaughter and murder that he had committed for which he sought to be purged others say that when Python was wounded and fled by the way which we call Holy Phoebus made hot pursuit after him insomuch as he went within a little of overtaking him and finding him at the point of death for at his first comming he found that he was newly dead of the wounds which he had received in the foresaid fight also that he was enterred and buried by his sonne who as they say was named Aix this novenarie feast therefore called Septerion is a representation of this historie or else of some other like unto it The second named Herois containeth I wot not what hidden ceremonies and fabulous secrets which the professed priests in the divine service of Bacchus called Thyades know well enough but by such things as are openly done and practised a man may conjecture that it should be a certaine exaltation or assumption of Semele up into heaven Moreover as concerning Charila there goeth such a tale as this It fortuned upon a time that after much drougth there followed great famine in the citie of Delphos insomuch as all the inhabitants came with their wives and children to the court gates crying out unto their king for the extreame hunger that they endured The king thereupon caused to be distributed among the better sort of them a dole of meale and certaine pulse for that he had not sufficient to give indifferently to them all and when there came a little yong wench a siely orphane fatherlesse and motherlesse who instantly besought him to give her also some reliefe the king smote her with his shoe and flung it at her face The girle poore though she was forlorne and destitute of all worldly succour howbeit carying no base mind with her but of a noble spirit departed from his presence and made no more a doe but undid her girdle from her wast and hanged her selfe therewith Well the famine daily encreased more and more and diseases grew thereupon by occasion whereof the king went in person to the Oracle of Apollo supposing to finde there some meede and remedie unto whom Pythia the prophetesse made this answere That the ghost of Charila should be appeased and pacified who had died a voluntarie death So after long search and diligent enquirie hardly found in the end it was that the young maiden whom he had so beaten with his shoe was named Charila whereupon they offered a certaine sacrifice mixed with expiatorie oblations which they celebrate and performe from nine yeers to nine even to this day For at this solemnity the king sitting in his chaire dealeth certaine meale and pulse among all commers as well strangers as citizens and the image of this Charila is thither brought resembling a young girle now after that everie one hath received part of the dole the king beateth the said image about the eares with his shoe and the chiefe governesse of the religious women called Thyades taketh up the image and carieth it into a certaine place ful of deepe caves where after they have hung an halter about the necke of it they enterre it under the ground in that verie place where they buried the corps of Charila when she had strangled her selfe 21 What is the meaning of that which they call among the Aeneians Begged-flesh THE Aeneians in times past had many transmigrations from place to place for first they inhabited the countrey about the Plaine called Dotion out of which they were driven by the Lapithae and went to the Aethicae and from thence into a quarter of the province Molossis called Arava which they held and thereof called they were Paravae After all this they seized the citie Cirrha wherein after that they had stoned to death their king Onoclus by warrant and commandement from Apollo they went downe into that tract that lieth along by the river Inachus a countrey inhabited then by the Inachiens and Achaeans Now they had the answere of an oracle on both sides to wit the Inachiens and Achaeans that if they yeelded and gave away part of their countrey they should lose all and the Aeneians that if they could get once any thing at their hands with their good wils they should for ever possesse and hold all Things standing in these tearmes there was a notable personage among the Aeneians named Temon who putting on ragged clothes and taking a wallet about his necke disguised himselfe like unto a begger and in this habite went to the Inachiens to crave their almes The king of the Inachiens scorned and laughed at him and by way of disdaine and mockerie tooke up a clod of earth and gave it him the other tooke it right willingly and put it up into his budget but he made no semblance neither was he seene to embrace this gift and to joy therein but went his way immediately without begging any thing else as being verie well content with that which he had gotten already The elders of the people woondring hereat called to mind the said oracle and presenting themselves before the king advertised him not to neglect this occurrent nor to let this man thus to escape out of his hands But Temon having an inckling of their desseigne made haste and fled apace insomuch as he saved himselfe by the meanes of a great sacrifice even of an hundred oxen which he vowed unto Apollo This done both kings to wit of the Inachiens and the Aeneians sent
lustie tall and strong man would needs chalenge Hercules to wrestle with him upon this condition that if Hercules could overthrow him and lay him along on the ground the ram should be his Hercules accepted the offer and when they were close at hand-gripes the Meropians certaine inhabitants of the Isle came in to succour Antagoras and the Greekes likewise to aide Hercules in such sort as there ensued a sharp and cruell fight wherein Hercules finding himselfe to be overlaid and pressed with the multitude of his enemies retired and fled as they say unto a Thracian woman where for to hide and save his life he disguised himselfe in womans apparell But afterwards having gotten the upper hand of those Meropians and being purged he espoused the daughter of Alciopus and put on a faire robe and goodly stoale Thus you may see whereupon his priest sacrificeth in that verie place where the battell was fought and why new married spouses being arraied in the habit of women receive their brides 50 Whereof commeth it that in the citie of Megara there is a linage or family named Hamaxocylysta IN the time that the dissolute and insolent popular State of government called Democratie which ordained that it might be lawfull to recover and arrest all monies paid for interest and in consideration of use out of the usurers hands which permitted sacriledge bare sway in the citie it hapned there were certaine pilgrims named Theori of Peloponesus sent in commissizzon to the oracle of Apollo at Delphos who passed thorow the province of Megaris and about the citie Aegiri neere unto the lake there lay and tumbled themselves upon their chariots here and there together with their wives and children one with another as it fell out where certaine Megarians such as were more audacious than the rest as being thorowly drunke full of insolent wantonnesse and cruel pride were so lustie as to overturne the said chariots and thrust them into the lake so as many of the said Theori or commissioners were drowned therein Now the Megarians such was the confusion and disorder in their government in those daies made no reckoning at all to punish this injurie and outrage but the counsell of the Amphyctiones because the pilgrimage of these Theori was religious and sacred tooke knowledge thereof and sate upon an inquisition about it yea and chastised those who were found culpable in this impietie some with death others with banishment and hereupon the whole race descending from them were called afterwards Hamaxocylysta THE PARALLELS OR A BRIEFE COLLATION OF ROMANE NARRATIONS WITH THE SEMBLABLE REPORTED OF THE GREEKS In the margin of an old manuscript copie these words were found written in Greeke This booke was never of PLUTARCHS making who was an excellent and most learned Author but penned by some odde vulgar writer altogether ignorant both of Poetrie and also of Grammar MAny doe thinke that ancient histories be but fables and tales devivised for pleasure For mine owne part having found many accidents in our daies semblable unto those occurrents which in times past fell out among the Romans in their age I have collected some of them together and to everie one of those ancient Narrations annexed another like unto it of later time and therewith alledged the Authors who have put them downe in writing 1 Datys lieutenant generall under the king of Persia being come downe into the plaine of Marathon within the countrey of Attica with a puissant power of three hundred thousand fighting men there pitched his campe and proclaimed warre upon the inhabitants of those parts The Athenians making small account of this so great a multitude of Barbarians sent out nine thousand men under the conduct of these foure captains namely Cynegyrus Pollizelus Callimachus and Miliiades So they strucke a battell during which conflict Polyzelus chanced to see the vision of one represented unto him surpassing mans nature and thereupon lost his sight and became blind Callimachus wounded through divers parts of his bodie with many pikes and javelins dead though he was stood upon his feet and Cynegyrus as he staied a Persian ship which was about to retire backe had both his hands smitten off Asdruball the king being possessed of Sicily denounced warre againg the Romans and Metellus being chosen lord generall by the Senate obtained a victorie in a certaine battell against him in which battell lord Glauco a noble man of Rome as he held the admirall-ship of Asdruball lost both his hands as Aristides the Milesian writeth in the first booke of the annales of Sicily of whom Diodorus Siculus hath learned the matter and subject argument of his historie 2 Xerxes being come to lie at anchor neere the cape Artemsium with five hundred thousand fighting men proclaimed warre upon the people of that countrey whereat the Athenians being much astonied sent as a spie for to view survey his forces Agesilaus the brother of Themistocles albeit his father Neocles had a dreame in the night and thought that he saw his sonne dismembred of both his hands who entring the campe of the Barbarians in habit of a Persian slew Mardonius one of the captains of the kings corps de guard supposing he had beene Xerxes himselfe and being apprehended by them that were about him was brought tied and bound before the king who was then even readie to offer sacrifice upon the altar of the Sunne into the fire of which altar Agesilaus thrust his right hand and endured the force of the torment without crying or groning at all whereupon the king commaunded him to be unbound and then said Agesilaus unto him We Athenians be all of the like mind and resolution and if you will not beleeve me I will put my left hand also into the fire whereat Xerxes being mightily afraid caused him to be kept safely with a good guard about him This writeth Agatharsides the Samian in his second booke of the Persian Chronicles Porsena king of the Tuscans having encamped on the further side of the river Tyber warred upon the Romans and by cutting off the victuals and all provision that was wont to be brought to Rome distressed the said Romans with famine and when the Senat hereupon was wonderfully troubled Mucius a noble man of the citie taking with him foure hundred other brave gentlemen of his owne age by commission from the Consuls in poore and simple array passed over the river and casting his eie upon the captaine of the kings guard dealing among other captains victuals and other necessaries supposing he had beene Porsena killed him whereupon he was presently taken and brought before the king who put his right hand likewise into the fire and induring the paines thereof whiles it burned most stoutly seemed to smile thereat and said Thou barbarous king lo how I am loose and at libertie even against thy will but note well this besides that we are foure hundred of us within thy campe that have undertaken to take away thy
within the ground Then Paulus Aemylius caused an altar to be reared and wan the battell wherein he tooke alive an hundred and threescore elephants carying turrets upon their backs whom he sent to Rome This altar useth to give answer as an oracle about that time that Pyrrhus was defeated according as Critolaus writeth in the third booke of the Epirotick historie 7 Pyraichnes king of the Euboeans whom Hercules being yet but a young man vanquished and tying him betweene two horses caused his bodie to be plucked and torne in pieces which done he cast it forth for to lie unburied now the place where this execution was performed is called at this day Pyratchmes his horses situate upon the rriver Heraclius and whensoever there be any horses wattered there a man shall sensibly heare a noice as if horses neighed thus we find written inthe third booke entituled Of rivers Tullius Hostilius king of the Romans made warre upon the Albanes who had for their king Metius Sufetius and many times he seemed to retire and lie off as loth to incounter and joine battell insomuch as the enemies supposing him to be discomfited betooke themselves to mirth and good cheere but when they had taken their wine well he set upon them with so hot a charge that he defeated them and having taken their king prisoner he set him fast tied betweene two steeds and dismembred him as Alexarchus writeth in the fourth booke of the Italian histories 8 Philip intending to force and sacke the cities of Methone and Olynthus as he laboured with much a doe to passe over the river Sandanus chanced to be shot into the eie with an arrow by an Olynthian whose name was Aster and in it was this verse written Philip beware have at thine eie After this deadly shaft lets slie Whereupon Philip perceiving himselfe to be overmatched swam back againe unto his owne companie and with the losse of one eie escaped with life according as Callisthenes reporteth in the third booke of the Macedonian Annales Porsena king of the Tuskans lying encamped on the other side of Tybris warred upon the Romans and intercepted their victuals which were wont to be conveighed to Rome whereby he put the citie to great distresse in regard of famine but Horatius Cocles being by the common voice of the deople chosen captaine planted himselfe upon the woodden bridge which the Barbarians were desirous to gaine and for a good while made the place good and put backe the whole multitude of them pressing upon him to passe over it in the end finding himselfe overcharged with the enemies he commaunded those who were ranged in battell-ray behind him to cut downe the bridge meane while he received the violent charge of them all and impeached their entrance untill such time as he was wounded in the eie with a dart whereupon he leapt into the river and swam over unto his fellowes thus Theotinus reporteth this narration in the third booke of Italian histories 9 There is a tale told of Icarius by whom Bacchus was lodged and intertained as Eratosthenes in Erigone hath related in this wise Saturne upon a time was lodged by an husbandman of the countrey who had a faire daughter named Entoria her hee deslowred and begat of her foure sonnes Janus Hymnus Faustus and Foelix whom hee having taught the manner of drinking wine and of planting the vine enjoyned them also to empart that knowledge unto their neighbours which they did accordingly but they on the other side having taken upon a time more of this drinke than their usuall manner was fell a sleepe and slept more than ordinarie when they were awake imagining that they had drunke some poyson stoned Icarius the husbandman to death whereat his nephewes or daughters children tooke such a thought and conceit that for verie griefe of heart they knit their neckes in halters and strangled themselves Now when there was a great pestilence that raigned among the Romanes the oracle of Apollo gave answer that the mortality would stay in case they had once appeased the ire of Saturne and likewise pacified their ghosts who unjustly lost their lives Then Lutatius Catulus a noble man of Rome built a temple unto Saturne which standeth neere unto the mount Tarpeius and erected an altar with foure faces either in remembrance of those foure nephewes above said or respective to the foure seasons and quarters of the yeere and withall instituted the moneth Ianuarie But Saturne turned them all foure into starres which be called the foretunners of the Vintage among which that of Janus ariseth before others and appeareth at the feet of Virgo as Critolaus testifieth in his fourth booke of Phaenomena or Apparitions in the heaven 10 At what time as the Persians overranne Greece and wasted all the countrey before them Pausanias generall captaine of the Lacedaemonians having received of Xerxes five hundred talents of gold promised to betray Sparta but his treason being discovered Agesilaus his father pursued him into the temple of Minerva called Chalcioecos whither he fled for sanctuarie where he caused the doors of the temple to be mured up with brick so famished him to death His mother tooke his corps and cast it foorth to dogs not suffering it to be buried according to Chrysermus in the second booke of his storie The Romanes warring against the Latines chose for their captaine Publius Decius Now there was a certaine gentleman of a noble house howbeit poore named Cessius Brutus who for a certaine summe of money which the enemies should pay unto him intended in the night season to set the gates of the citie wide open for them to enter in This treacherie being detected he fled for sanctuarie into the temple of Minerva surnamed Auxiliaria where Cassius his father named also Signifer shut him up and kept him so long that he died for verie famine and when he was dead threw his bodie foorth and would not allow it any sepulture as writeth Clitonymus in his Italian histories 11 Darius king of Persia having fought a field with Alexander the Great and in that conflict lost seven of his great lieutenants governours of Provinces besides five hundred and two war charriots armed with trenchant sithes would notwithstanding bid him battell againe but Ariobarzanes his sonne upon a pitifull affection that he carried to Alexander promised to betray his father into his hands whereat his father tooke such displeasure and indignation that he caused his head to be smitten off Thus reporteth Aretades the Gnidian in his third booke of Macedonian histories Brutus being chosen Consull of Rome by the generall voice of the whole people chased out of the citie Tarquinius Superbus who raigned tyrannically but he retyring himselfe unto the Tuskanes levied warre upon the Romanes The sonnes of the said Brutus conspiring to betray their father were discovered and so he commanded them to be beheaded as Aristides the Milesian writeth in his Annals of Italie 12 Epaminondas captaine of the Thebanes
in pursuit after him for which victorie all other Romanes made great joy only his owne sister Horatia shewed herselfe nothing well pleased herewith for that to one of the other side she was betrothed in marriage for which he made no more ado but stabbed his sister to the heart this is reported by Aristides the Milesian in his Annales of Italy 17 In the citie Ilium when the fire had taken the temple of Minerva one of the inhabitants named Ilus ranne thither and caught the little image of Minerva named Palladium which was supposed to have fallen from heaven and therewith lost his sight because it was not lawfull that the said image should be seene by any man howbeit afterwards when he had appeased the wrath of the said goddesse he recovered his eie sight againe as writeth Dercyllus in the first book of Foundations Metellus a noble man of Rome as he went toward a certaine house of pleasure that hee had neere unto the citie was slaied in the way by certaine ravens that slapped and beat him with their wings at which ominous accident being astonied and presaging some evill to be toward him he returned to Rome and seeing the temple of the goddesse Vesta on fire he ran thither and tooke away the petie image of Pallas named Palladium and so likewise suddenly sell blind howbeit afterwards being reconciled unto her he got this sight againe this is the report of Aristides in his Chronicles 18 The Thracians warring against the Athenians were directed by an oracle which promised them victorie in case they saved the person of Codrus king of Athens but he disguising himselfe in the habit of a poore labourer and carrying a bill in his hand went into the campe of the enemies and killed one where likewise he was killed by another and so the Athenians obtained victorie as Socrates writeth in the second booke of Thracian affaires Publius Decius a Romane making warre against the Albanes dreamed in the night and saw a vision which promised him that if himselfe died he should adde much to the puissance of the Romans whereupon he charged upon his enemies where they were thickest arranged and when he had killed a number of them was himselfe slaine Decius also his sonne in the warre against the Gaules by that meanes saved the Romans as saith Aristides the Milesian 19 Cyanttpus a Siracusian borne sacrificed upon a time unto all other gods but unto Bacchus whereat the god being offended haunted him with drunckennesse so as in a darke corner he deflowred forcibly his owne daughter named Cyane but in the time that he dealt with her she tooke away the ring off his finger and gave it unto her nourse to keepe for to testifie another day who it was that thus abused her Afterwards the pestilence raigned fore in those parts and Apollo gave answere by oracle that they were to offer in sacrifice unto the gods that turned away calamities a godlesse and incestuous person all others wist not whom the oracle meant but Cyane knowing full well the will of Apollo tooke her father by the haire and drew him perforce to the altar and when she had caused himto be killed sacrificed her selfe after upon him as writeth Dositheus in the third booke of the Chronicles of Cicily Whiles the feast of Bacchus called Bacchanalia was celebrated at Rome there was one Aruntius who never in all his life had drunke wine but water onely and alwaies despised the power of god Bacchus who to be revenged of him caused him one time be so drunke that he forced his owne daughter Medullina abused her bodie carnally who having knowledge by his ring who it was that did the deed and taking to her a greater heart than one of her age made her father one day drunke and after she had adorned his head with garlands chaplets of flowers led him to aplace called the altar of Thunder where with many teares she sacrificed him who had surprised her takē away her virginity as writeth Aristides the Milesian in his third booke of Italian Chronicles 20 Erechiheus warring upon Eumolpus was advertised that he should win the victorie if before he went into the field he sacrificed his owne daughter unto the gods who when he had imparted this mater unto his wife Praxithea he offered his daughter in sacrifice before the battell hereof Euripides maketh mention in his tragoedie Erechtheus Marius maintaining warre against the Cimbrians and finding himselfe too weake saw a vision in his sleepe that promised him victory if before he went to battell he did sacrifice his daughter named Calpurnis who setting the good of the weale publicke and the regard of his countrimen before the naturall affection to his owne blood did accordingly and wan the field and even at this day two altars there be in Germanie which at the verie time and hower that this sacrifice was offered yeeld the sound of trumpets as Dorotheus reporteth in the third booke of the Annales of Italy 21 Cyanippus a Thessalian borne used ordinarily to go on hunting his wife a young gentle woman intertained this fancie of jealousie in her head that the reason why he went forth so often and staied so long in the forrest was because he had the companie of some other woman whom beloved whereupon she determined with her selfe to lie in espiall one day therefore she followed and traced Cyanippus and at length lay close within a certaine thicket of the forrest waiting and expecting what would fall out and come of it It chanced that the leaves and branches of the shrubs about her stirred the hounds imagining that there was some wild beast within seised upon her and so tare in pieces this young dame that loved her husband so well as if she had beene a savage beast Cyanippus then seeing before his eies that which he never would have imagined or thought in his mind for verie griefe of heart killed himselfe as Parthenius the Poet hath left in writing In Sybaris a citie of Italy there was sometime a young gentleman named Aemilius who being a beautifull person and one who loved passing well the game of hunting his wife who was young also thought him to be enamoured of another ladie and therefore got her selfe close within a thicket and chanced to stirre the boughes of the shrubs and bushes about her The hounds thereupon that ranged and hunted thereabout light upon her and tare her body in pieces which when her husband saw he killed himselfe upon her as Clytonimus reporteth in his second booke of the Sybaritick historie 22 Smyrna the daughter of Cinyras having displeased and angred Venus became enamored of her owne father and declared the vehement heat of her love unto her nourse She therefore by a wily device went to worke with her master and bare him in hand that there was a faire damosell a neighbours daughter that was in love with him but abashed and ashamed to come unto him openly or to be
named Florentia her Calphurnius a Romane deflowred whereupon he commaunded the yoong maid-childe which she bare to be cast into the sea but the souldiour who had the charge so to doe tooke compassion of her and chose rather to sell her unto a merchant and it fortuned so that the ship of a certeine merchant arrived in Italy where Calphurinus bought her and of her body begat Contruscus 28 Aeolus king of Tuskan had by his wife Amphithea six daughters and as many sonnes of whom Macareus the yoongest for very love defloured one of his sisters who when the time came brought foorth a child when this came once to light her father sent unto her a sword and she acknowledging the fault which she had committed killed her-selfe therewith and so did afterwards her brother Macareus as Sostratus reporteth in the second booke of the Tuscan storie Papyrius Volucer having espoused Julia Pulchra had by her six daughters and as many sonnes the eldest of whom named Papyrius Romanus was enamoured of Canulia one of his sisters so as she was by him with childe which when the father understood hee sent unto her likewise a sword wherewith she made away her-selfe and Romanus also did as much thus Chrisippus relateth in the first booke of the Italian Chronicles 29 Aristonymus the Ephesian sonne of Demostratus hated women but most unnaturally he had to doe with a she asse which when time came brought foorth a most beautifull maide childe surnamed Onoscelis as Aristotle writeth in the second booke of his Paradoxes or strange accidents Fulvius Stellus was at warre with all women but yet he dealt most beastly with a mare and she bare unto him after a time a faire daughter named Hippona and this is the goddesse forsooth that hath the charge and overseeing of horses and mares as Agesilaus hath set downe in the third booke of Italian affaires 30 The Sardians warred upon a time against the Smyrneans encamped before the walles of their city giving them to understand by their embassadors that raise their siege they would not unlesse they sent unto them their wives to lie withall the Smyrneans being driven to this extremity were at the point to doe that which the enemies demaunded of them but a certeine waiting maiden there was a faire and welfavoured damosell who ranne unto her master Philarchus and said unto him that he must not faile but in any case chuse out the fairest wenches that were maide-servants in all the citie to dresse them like unto citizens wives and free borne women and so to send them unto their enemies in stead of their mistresses which was effected accordingly and when the Sardians were wearied with dealing with these wenehes the Smyrneans issued foorth surprized and spoiled them whereupon it commeth that even at this day in the citie of Smyrna there is a solemne feast named Eleutheria upon which day the maide-servants weare the apparell of their mistresses which be free women as saith Dositheus in the third booke of Lydian chronicles Antepomarus king of the Gaules when he made warre upon the Romans gave it out flatly and said that he would never dislodge and breake up his campe before they sent unto them their wives for to have their pleasure of them but they by the counsell of a certeine chamber maide sent unto them their maid-servants the Barbarians medled so long with them that they were tired and fell sound asleepe in the end then Rhetana for that was her name who gave the said counsell tooke a branch of a wilde figge tree and mounting up to the toppe of a rampier wall gave a signall thereby to the Consuls who sallied foorth and defeated them whereupon there is a feastivall day of chambermaids for so saith Aristides the Milesian in the first booke of the Italian historie 31 When the Athenians made warre upon Eumolpus and were at some default of victuals Pyrander who had the charge of the munition was treasurer of the State for to make spare of the provision diminished the ordinary measure and cut men short of their allowances the inhabitants suspecting him to be a traitor to his country in so dooing stoned him to death as Callistratus testifieth in the third booke of the Thracian history The Romans warring upon the Gaules and having not sufficient store of victuals Cinna abridged the people of their ordinary measure of corne the Romans suspecting therupon that he made way thereby to be king stoned him likewise to death witnesse Aristides in his third booke of Italian histories 32 During the Peloponnesiack warre Pisistratus the Orchomenian hated the nobles and affected men of base and low degree whereupon the Senators complotted and resolved among them selves to kill him in the Counsell house where they cut him in pieces and every one put a gobbet of him in his bosome and when they had so done they scraped and clensed the floore where his blood was shed The common people having some suspition of the matter rushed into the Senat house but Tlesimachus the kings youngest sonne who was privy to the foresaid conspiracie withdrew the multitude from the common place of assembly and assured them that he saw his father Pisistratus carying a more stately majesty in his countenance than any mortal man ascending up with great celerity the top of mount Pisaeus as Theophilus recordeth in the second of his Peloponnesiackes In regard of the warrs so neere unto the city of Rome the Roman Senat cut the people short of their allowances in corne whereat Romulus being not well pleased allowed it them a gaine rebuked yea and chastised many of the great men who thereupon banded against him and in the middest of the Senat house made him away among them cut him in pieces and bestowed on every man a slice of him in his bosome Whereupon the people ran immediatly with fire in their hands to the Senat house minding to burne them all within but Proculus a noble man of the city assured them that he saw Romulus upon a certeine high mountaine and that he was bigger than any man living and become a very god The Romans beleeved his words such authority the man caried with him and so retired back as Aristobulus writeth in the third booke of his Italian Chronicles 33 Pelops the sonne of Tantalus and Eurianassa wedded Hippodamia who bare unto him Atreus and Thyestes but of the Nimph Danais a concubine he begat Chrysippus whom he loved better than any of his legitimate sonnes him Laius the Theban being inamoured stole away by force and being attached and intercepted by Atreus and Thyestes obteined the good grace and favour of Pelops to enjoy him for his love sake Howbeit Hippodamia perswaded her two sonnes Atreus and Thyestes to kill him as if she knew that he aspired to the kingdome of their father which they refusing to doe she her selfe imploied her owne hands to perpetrate this detestable fact for one night as Layus lay sound asleepe she
honoured and worshipped among the Samnites His wife Fabta had committed adulterie with a faire and well favoured yoong man named Petronius Valentinus and afterwards treacherously killed her husband Now had Fabia his daughter saved her brother Fabricianus being a verie little one out of danger and sent him away secretly to be nourished and brought up This youth when he came to age killed both his mother and the adulterer also for which act ofhis acquit he was by the doome of the Senate as Dositheus delivereth the storie in the third booke of the Italian Chronicles 38 Busiris the sonne of Neptune and Anippe daughter of Nilus under the colour of pretended hospitalitie and courteous receiving of strangers used to sacrifice all passengers but divine justice met with him in the end and revenged their death for Hercules set upon him and killed him with his club as Agathon the Samian hath written Hercules as he drave before him thorow Italy Geryons kine was lodged by king Faunus the sonne of Mercurie who used to sacrifice all strangers and guests to his father but when hee meant to do so unto Hercules was himselfe by him slaine as writeth Dercyllus in the third booke of the Italian histories 39 Phalaris the tyrant of the Agrigentines a mercilesse prince was wont to torment put to exquisite paine such as passed by or came unto him and Perillus who by his profession was a skilfull brasse-founder had framed an heyfer of brasse which he gave unto this king that hee might burne quicke in it the said strangers And verily in this one thing did this tyrant shew himselfe just for that he caused the artificer himself to be put into it and the said heyfer seemed to low whiles he was burning within as it is written in the third booke of Causes In Aegesta a citie of Sicilie there was sometime a cruell tyrant named Aemilius Censorinus whose manner was to reward with rich gifts those who could invent new kinds of engines to put men to torture so there was one named Aruntius Paterculus who had devised and forged a brasen horse and presented it unto the foresaid tyrant that he might put into it whom he would And in truth the first act of justice that ever he did was this that the partie himselfe even the maker of it gave the first hansell thereof that he might make triall of that torment himselfe which he had devised for others Him also hee apprehended afterwards and caused to bee throwen downe headlong from the hill Tarpeius It should seeme also that such princes as reigned with violence were called of him Aemylii for so Aristides reporteth in the fourth booke of Italian Chronicles 40 Euenus the son of Mars Sterope tooke to wife Alcippe daughter of Oenomaus who bare unto him a daughter named Marpissa whom he minded to keepe a virgin still but Aphareus seeing her carried her away from a daunce and fled upon it The father made suce after but not able to recover her for verie anguish of mind he cast himselfe into the river of Lycormas and thereby was immortalized as saith Dositheus in the fourth booke of his Italian historie Anius king of the Tuskans having a faire daughter named Salia looked straightly unto her that she should continue a maiden but Cathetus one of his nobles seeing this damosell upon a time as she disported herselfe was enamoured of her and not able to suppresse the furious passion of his love ravished her and brought her to Rome The father pursued after but seeing that he could not overtake them threw himselfe into the river called in those daies Pareüsuis and afterwards of his name Anio Now the said Cathetus lay with Salia and of her bodie begat Salius and Latinus from whom are discended the noblest families of that countrey as Aristides the Milesian and Alexander Polyhistor write in the third booke of the Italian historie 41 Egestratus an Ephesian borne having murdered one of his kinfmen fled into the citie Delphi and demaunded of Apollo in what place he should dwell who made him this answere that he was to inhabit there whereas he saw the peasants of the countrey dauncing and crowned with chaplets of olive branches Being arrived therefore at a certaine place in Asia where he found the rurall people crowned with garlands of olive leaves and dauncing even there hee founded a citie which he called Elaeus as Pythocles the Samian writeth in the third booke of his Georgicks Telegonus the sonne of Vlysses by Circe being sent for to seeke his father was advised by the oracle to build a citie there where he should find the rusticall people and husbandmen of the countrey crowned with chaplets and dauncing together when he was arrived therefore at a certaine coast of Italie seeing the peasants adorned with boughes branches of the wild olive tree passing the time merily and dauncing together he built a citie which upon that occurrent he named Prinesta and afterwards the Romans altering the letters a little called it Preneste as Aristotle hath written in the third booke of the Italian historie THE LIVES OF THE TEN ORATOVRS The Summarie IN these lives compendiously descibed Plutarch sheweth in part the government of the Athenian common-weale which flourished by the meanes of many learned persons in the number of whom we are to reckon those under written namely Antipho Andocides Lysias Isocrates Isaeus Aeschines Lycurgus Demosthenes Hyperides and Dinarchus but on the other side he discovereth sufficiently the indiscretion of cretaine oratours how it hath engendred much confusion ruined the most part of such personages themselves and finally overthrowen the publick estate which he seemeth expresly to have noted and observed to the end that every one might see how dangerous in the managemēt of State affaires he is who hath no good parts in him but onely a fine and nimble tongue His meaning therefore is that lively vertue indeed should be joined unto eloquence meane while we observe also the lightnesse vanitie and ingratitude of the Athenian people in many places and in the divers complexions of these ten men here depainted evident it is how much availeth in any person good in struction from his infancie and how powerfull good teachers be for to frame and fashion tender minds unto high matters and important to the weale publicke In perusing and passing through this treatise a man may take knowledge of many points of the ancient popular government which serve verie well to the better understanding of the Greeke historie and namely of that which concerneth Athens As also by the recompenses both demanded and also decreed in the behalfe of vertuous men we may perceive and see among the imperfections of a people which had the soveraigntie in their hands some moderation from time to time which ought to make us magnifie the wisedome and providence of God who amid so great darkneffe hath maintained so long as his good pleasure was so many States and governours in Greece which
we find how he answereth to those imputations which were charged upon him for violating of the foresaid holy mysteries in others he generally craveth for the favour of the judges and standeth upon the tearmes of mercie there is an oration also of his extant as touching the appeaching or discoverie of those who were faultie for those sacred ceremonies as also his Agologie or defence against Phaeax and cōcerning peace He flourished at the very same time that Socrates the Philosopher was in so great name But borne he was in the 78 Olympias that yeere wherein Theagenides was provost or chiefe ruler of Athens so that by this computation he must needs be more ancient than Lysias by some hundred yeeres There was one of the Hermes that caried his name and was called Hermes of Andocides for that this image being dedicated by the tribe or linage Aegeis stood neere unto the house where Andocides dwelt This Andocides defraied the charges of a solemne round dance in the name of the line or kinred Aegeis which contended for the prise in the honor of Dithyrambicus at the feast of Bacchus where having obtained the victorie he consecrated a trefeet and set it up an high just against Porinus Selinus His stile is plaine and simple without all art bare and naked without any figures whatsoever LYSIAS III. LYsias the sonne of Cephalus the sonne of Lysanias who had likewise for his father Cephalus borne in Syracuse but he went to dwell at Athens partly for the affection that he bare to the citie and in part through the perswasion of Pericles the son of Xantippus who being his friend guest perswaded him thereto and the rather for that he was a mightie man there and exceeding rich or as some think he came to Athens by occasion that he was banished out of Syracuse at what time as the citie was tyrannically oppressed by Gelon so he arrived at Athens that yeere wherein Philocles was provost next after Phrasicles in the second yeere of the 82 Olympias at his first cōming brought up he was taught with the noblest Athenians but after that the citie sent out the colonie of Sybaris which afterwards was named Thurij he wēt with his eldest brother Polemarchus for he had besides him 2. other brethrē Eudemus Brachillus their father being now departed this life to have his part set out allotted unto him out of his fathers lands being not fifteene yeeres old that verie yeere when as Praxiteles was provost where he remained and was instructed by Nicias Tisias two Syracusans Now having bought him an house with the portion of land which fell unto his share he lived there in state of a citizen and was called to government of common weale when his lot came for the space of 63 yeeres untill the time that Clearchus was provost of Athens but the yeere next following when Callias was provost namely in the 92 Olympias when as the Sicilians and Athenians fought a field by reason whereof many of their allies stirred and revolted and especially those who dwelt in Italy and coasted thereupon accused he was to have favoured the Athenians and sided with them and thereupon was banished with three other Now being arrived at Athens in the yeere wherein Callias was provost next after Cleoritus while the foure hundred usurpers were possessed of the State hee there rested but after the navall battell was stricken neere to a place called the Goats rivers when as the thirtie tyrants had the administration of the common weale in their hands banished he was from thence for the space of seven yeeres lost his goods and his brother Polemarchus himselfe escaped with life narrowly out of the house at a posterne gate or backe-doore in which house he had beene beset with a full purpose that he should end his life there and then he retired himselfe to the citie Megara where he abode When as those of Phila had made a reentrie into the citie and chased out the tyrants for that he shewed himslefe above all others most forward in this enterprise as having contributed for the exploiting of this service two thousand dragmes weight in silver and two hundred targuets and being sent besides with Herman waged three hundred and two souldiers and wrought so effectually with Thrasylaeus the Elian his friend and old host that he helped him unto certeine talents of silver in regard wherof Thrasibulus upon his returne and reentry into the city proposed unto the people That for and in consideration of these good services the right of free burgeosie should be granted unto him This hapned in the yeere of the Anarchie when there was no provost elected next before the provostship of Euclides This was granted and ratified by the people onely there was one Archinus stood up and impeached the proceeding thereof as being against the law because it was proposed unto the people before it was consulted upon in the Senate so the foresaid decree was anulled and revoked Thus being disappointed of his ritht of burgeosie he remained neverthelesse during his life as a citizen and enjoyed the same rights franchises and priviledges that other burgesses did so died in the end when he had lived the space of foure score and three yeeres or as some say three score and sixteene and as others write foure score so that he lived to see Demosthenes a childe It is said that he was borne the yeere that Philocles was provost There goe in his name foure hundred orations of which number according to Dionysius and Cecilius two hundred and thirtie be of his owne making in deed in the pronouncing of all which he failed but twice and had the foile There is extant also that very oration which he made against Archinus in the maintenance and defence of the said decree by vertue whereof the right of burgeosie was given unto him also another against the thirtie tyrants Apt he was to perswade and in those orations which he gave out to others very briefe and succinct There be found likewise of his making certeine introductions to Rhetoricke and speeches delivered publickly before the people letters missive solemne praises funerall orations discourses of love and one defence of Socrates which directly seemed to touch the judges to the quicke His stile was thought to be plaine and easie howbeit inlmitable Demosthenes in one oration which he made against Neaera saith That he was enamoured of one Metaneira servant with Neaera but afterwards he espoused and tooke to wise the daughter of his brother Brachyllus Plato himselfe maketh mention of him in his booke entituled Phaedrus as of an oratour passing eloquent and more ancient than Isocrates Philiscus who was familiar with Isocrates and the companion of Lysias made an Epigram upon him wherby it appeareth that he was more ancient as also it is evident by that which Plato hath said the Epigram is to this effect Now shew Callippes daughter thou that art so eloquent If
which begin three tragoedies of Euripides 1 King Danaus who fiftie daughters had 2 Pelops the sonne of Tantalus when he to Pisa came 3 Cadmus whilom the citie Sidon left He lived 98 yeeres or as some say a full hundred could not endure for to see Greece fower times brought into servitude the yeere before he died or as some write fower yeeres before he wrote his Panathenaick oration as for his Panegyrik oration he was in penning it tenne yeeres and by the report of some fifteene which he is thought to have translated and borrowed out of Gorgias the Leontine and Lysias and the oration concerning the counterchange of goods he wrote when he was fourescore yeeres old twaine but his Philippike oration he set downe a little before his death when he was farre stepped in yeeres he adopted for his sonne Aphareus the yoongest of the three children of Plathane his wife the daughter of Hippias the oratour and professed Rhetorician He was of good wealth as well for that he called duely for money of his scholars as also because he received of Nicocles king of Cypres who was the sonne of Euagoras the summe of twenty talents of silver for one oration which hee dedicated unto him by occasion of this riches he became envied and was thrice chosen and enjoined to be the captaine of a galley and to defray the charges thereof for the two first times he feigning himselfe to be sicke was excused by the meanes of his sonne but at the third time he rose up and tooke the charge wherein he spent no small summe of money There was a father who talking with him about his sonne whom he kept at schoole said That he sent with him no other to be his guide and governour but a slave of his owne unto whom Isocrates answered Goe your waies then for one slave you shall have twaine Hee entred into contention for the prize at the solemne games which queene Artemisia exhibited at the funerals and tombe of her husband Mausolus but this enchomiasticall oration of his which he made in the praise of him is not extant another oration he penned in the praise of Helena as also a third in the commendation of the counsell Areopagus Some write that he died by absteining nine daies together from all meat others report but fower even at the time that the publike obsequies were solemnized for them who lost their lives in the battell at Chaeronea His adopted sonne Aphareus composed likewise certeine orations enterred hee was together with all his linage and those of his bloud neere unto a place called Cynosarges upon a banke or knap of a little hill on the left hand where were bestowed the sonne and father Theodorus their mother also and her sister Anaco aunt unto the oratour his adopted sonne likewise Aphareus together with his cousen germain Socrates sonne to the a foresaid aunt Anaco Isocrates mothers sister his brother Theodorus who bare the name of his father his nephewes or children of his adopted sonne Aphareus and his naturall Theodorus moreover his wife Plathane mother to his adopted sonne Aphareus upon all these bodies there were six tables or tombs erected of stone which are not to be seene as this day but there stood upon the tombe of Isocrates himselfe a mightie great ramme engraven to the height of thirtie cubits upon which there was a syren or mere-maid seven cubits high to signifie under a figure his milde nature and eloquent stile there was besides neere unto him a table conteining certaine poets and his owne schole-masters among whom was Gorgias looking upon an astrologicall sphaere and Isocrates himselfe standing close unto him furthermore there is erected a brasen image of his in Eleusin before the entrie of the gallery Stoa which Timotheus the sonne of Caron caused to be made bearing this epi gram or inscription Timotheus upon a loving minde And for to honour mutuall kindnesses This image of Isocrates his friende Erected hath unto the goddesses This statue was the handi-worke of Leochares There goe under his name threescore orations of which five and twentie are his indeed according to the judgement of Dionysius but as Cecilius saith eight and twentie all the rest are falsly attributed unto him So farre was he off from ostentation and so little regard had hee to put foorth himselfe and shew his sufficiencie that when upon a time there came three unto him of purpose to heare him declame and discourse he kept two of them with him and the third he sent away willing him to returne the next morrow For now quoth he I have a full theater in mine auditorie He was wont to say also unto his scholars and familiars That himselfe taught his art for ten pounds of silver but hee would give unto him that could put into him audacity and teach him good utterance ten thousand When one demanded of him it was possible that he should make other men sufficient orators seeing himselfe was nothing eloquent Why not quoth he seeing that whet-stones which can not cut at all make iron and steele sharpe enough and able to cut Some say that he composed certeine books as touching the art of rhetorick but others are of opinion that it was not by any method but exercise onely that he made his scholars good oratours this is certeine that he never demanded any mony of naturall citizens borne for their teaching His maner was to bid his scholars to be present at the great assemblies of the citie and to relate unto him what they heard there spoken and delivered He was wonderfull heavy and sorrowfull out of measure for the death of Socrates so as the morrow after he mourned put on blacke for him Againe unto one who asked him what was Rhetorick he answered It is the art of making great matters of small small things of great Being invited one day to Nicocreon the tyrant of Cypres as he sat at the table those that were present requested him to discourse of some theame but he answered thus For such matters wherein I have skill the time will not now serve and in those things that sit the time I am nothing skilfull Seeing upon a time Sophocles the tragicall poet following wantonly and hunting with his eie a yoong faire boy he said O Sophocles an honest man ought to conteine not his hands onely but his eies also When Ephorus of Cunes went from his schoole non proficiens and able to doe nothing by reason whereof his father Demophilus sent him againe with a second salary or minervall Isocrates smiled thereat and merily called him Diphoros that is to say bringing his money twice so hee tooke great paines with the man and would himselfe prompt him and give him matter and invention for his declamatorie exercise Inclined he was and naturally given unto the pleasures of wanton love in regard whereof he used to lie upon a thinne and hard short mattresse and to have the pillow and bolster under his
affaires which passed about the time of the battell at Mantinea or a little after namely in that yeere when Charicles was provost and Demosthenes somewhat before that had given his tutors and guardians the overthrow at the barre When as Aeschines upon his condemnation was fledde toward Athens there to live in exile Demosthenes being advertised thereof made after him on horse-backe whereupon Aeschines imagining that he should be taken prisoner fell downe at his feet and covered his face but Demosthenes willed him to arise and stand up gave him comfortable words and besides put a talent of silver into his hands He gave counsell unto the Athenians to enterteine a certeine number of mercenarie souldiers strangers in the isle of Thasos and to this effect he sailed thither as captaine with the charge of a great galley under his hands He was chosen another time chiefe purveior of corne and being accused for demeaning himselfe badly and purloining the cities money he cleared himselfe and was acquit When Philip had forced the city Elatia and was master of it Demosthenes abandoned the said city together with those who had sought in the battell of Cheronaea whereupon is thought that he forsooke his colours and sledde now as he made haste away there chanced a bramble to take hold of his cassocke behinde whereat he turned backe and said unto the bramble Save my life and take my ransome Upon his target he had for his mot or device Good fortune And verily he it was that made the oration at the funerals of those who lost their lives in the said battell After this he applied his minde and bent his chiefe care to the reparations of the citie and being chosen commissarie for repairing the walles he laide out of his owne besides the defraying of the cities money an hundred pounds of silver over and above that he gave ten thousand for to be emploied in the setting out of shewes games and plaies which done he embarked himselfe in a galley and sailed up and downe from coast to coast for to levie money of the allies and confedetates for which good services hee was crowned many times first by the meanes and motion of Demoteles Aristonicus and Hyperides who propounded that he should be honoured with a coronet of gold and last of all at the instant sute of Ctesiphon which decree was empeached and blamed as contrarie to the lawes by Diodotus and 〈◊〉 against whom he defended and maintained it so well that he carried it cleane away so as his accuser had not the fifth part of the suffrages and voices of the people on his side Afterwards when Alexander was passed onward his voyage into Asia Harpalus sled into Athens with a great summe of money at the first hee would not suffer him to bee entertained and kept safely but after he was once arrived and set aland and that he had received of him a thousand good pieces of gold called Dariks then he changed his note and sung another song for when the Athenians were minded to deliver the man into the hands of Antipater he withstood them and withall set downe under his hand-writing that his money was laid up safe in the Citadel the summe whereof he had declared already unto the people whereas Harpalus had specified it to be seven hundred and fiftie talents or somewhat above as saith Philocharus But after this when Harpalus had broken prison wherein hee should have beene kept untill some messenger and newes came directly from Alexander and was escaped and retired as some say to Candie or as others to Tenarus in Laconia Demosthenes was called into question for corruption briberie and taking his money for that he neither declared the just quantitie and summe of coine that thither was brought not the negligence of those who had the custodie of it and him thus I say was he brought to his answere judicially by Hyperides Pytheus Menesechmus Hymeraeus and Patrocles who followed the sute so hard that they caused him to be condemned in the high court and chamber of Ariopagus and thus condemned he went into exile being not able to pay five fold for charged he was to have taken thirtie talents others say that he would not abide the issue of judgement and therefore went voluntarie before the day of triall into banishment After this time the Athenians sent Polyeuctus in embassage to the communaltie of the Arcadians for to divert and withdraw them from the league and confederacie of the Macedonians but when Polyeuctus could not perswade them to revolt Demosthenes came upon them and shewed himselfe to second the motion where he spake so effectually that he prevailed with them for which service he was highly admired and thereby wanne such favour and reputation that after a certaine time by vertue of a publicke decree he was called home againe out of exile and a galley was set out of purpose to bring him backe to Athens and the Athenians moreover ordained that whereas he owed unto the State thirtie talents in which he was condemned he should cause an altar to be built unto Jupiter the Saviour in the port Pyreaeum in so doing be held aquit and discharged This decree was propounded by Daemon the Paeanian his cousen germain By this meanes he returned to the politicke mannaging of affaires as before Now when as Antipater was streightly besieged by the Greeks and enclosed within the citie Limia whereupon the Athenians offered sacrifices for the good and joyfull tidings thereof he chaunced to let fall a word in talking with Agesistratus a familiar friend of his and to say that he was not of the same mind and opinion with other as touching the State For I know full wel quoth he that the Greeks are skilfull and able both to run a short carriere and good to make a skirmish for a spurt and away but to hold on a long race and to continue the warre unto the end they can never abide But afterwards when Anipater had wonne Pharsalus and threatned the Athenians to lay siege unto their citie unlesse he would deliver into his hands those oratours who had inveighed against him Demosthenes for feare of himselfe left the citie of Athens and fled first into the Isle Aegina for to put himselfe within the liberties and franchises of the temple or sanctuarie called Aeacium but afterwards being affraid that he should be fetched out from thence by the eares he passed over into Calauria where having intelligence that the Athenians were resolved and had concluded to deliver those oratours and himselfe principally among the rest hee rested as a poore distressed suppliant within the temple of Neptune and when there came unto him thithere Archias the pursuvant surnamed Phygadotheres that is to say the hunter of Fugitives who was a disciple and sectarie of Anaximenes the philosopher perswading him to arise and that no doubt he should be reckoned one of the friends of Antipater he answered thus When you play a part in a
this request That he might be allowed his diet in the palace Prytanaeum according to the free gift granted before time to his father Lycurgus by the people in that yeere wherein Anaxicrates was Provost of the citie and the tribe Antiochis President of Prytanaeum which Stratocles the son of Euthydemus of the borrough Diomeia proposed it in this forme Forasmuch as Lycurgus the sonne of Lycophron of Buta hath received of his ancestors as it were from hand to hand a certaine hereditarie love and affection to the people of Athens and his progenitours likewise Diomedes and Lycurgus both during their lives were esteemed and highly honoured by the people and after their death had this honour done unto them in testimonie of their vertue and valour as to be enterred at the publike charges of the citie in that conspicuous street called Ceramicum considering also that Lycurgus himselfe whiles he managed the affaires of the State enacted many good and holsome lawes for his countrey and being treasurer-generall of all the cities revenues by the space of fifteene yeeres during that time had the receit and laying out of the publicke moneys to the summe of eighteene thousand and nine hundred talents and for that many private mens stocks were put into his hands upon trust for the considence they had in him in regard of his fidelitie in regard also that he hath disbursed and laied foorth of his owne moneys at sundry times and upon divers occasions for the benefit of the citie and communaltie as much as amounteth in all to sixe hundred and fiftie talents for that likewise in all his imploiments having beene ever found most trustie just and loyall and to carie himselfe as an honest man and good citizen he hath bene many times crowned by the city moreover in this respect that having beene chosen by the people the receiver of the finances hee gathered together a great masse of money and brought the same into the common chest within the citadell and besides provided ornaments for the goddesse Minerva to wit images of victorie all of beaten gold vessels to carie in procession both of golde and silver besides other jewels of fine gold for the service and worship of the said goddesse and namely to the number of one hundred Canephorae that is to say Virgins carrying paniers or baskets with sacred reliques upon their heads Item for that being elected commissarie for the munitions and provisions necessarie for the warres he brought into the citadell a great number of armours and weapons and among the rest fiftie thousand shot rigged and set a float foure hundred gallies some new built others repaired and trimmed over and besides for that finding certeine of the citie works unperfect to wit the Arcenall the Armorie and the Theater of Bacchus he caused them to be made up and withall finished both the Cirque or running place Panathenaicurn and also the empaled parke for publicke exercises and built the Lycium likewise and adorned the citie with many faire buildings and publicke edifices whereas also king Alexander the Great having already subdued all Asia and intending generally to be commander over all Greece demanded to have Lycurgus delivered up into his hands for that he onely stood in his way and crossed his desseignes the people would not deliver him for any feare they had of Alexander and for that being oft times called judicially to his answere and to render an account of his government and administration in a free citie and governed by a popular State he was alwaies found innocent and unreproveable not tainted with any briberie nor spotted with corruption and taking gifts for to pervert justice all his life time To the end therefore that all men might know that they who are well affected to the maintenance of liberty and popular government be highly acounted of by the people whiles they live and that after their death the citie is willing to render unto them immortall thanks in a good and happie houre let it be ordeined by the people that Lycurgus the sonne of Lycaphron of Buta be honoured for his vertue and righteousnesse and that the people erect his statue all of brasse in the market-steed unlesse it be in some place where the trade expresly forbiddeth it to stand Item that there be allowance of diet in the Prytanaeum to the eldest of his house in every descent for ever Also that the decrees by him proposed shal be ratified and engrossed by the publicke notarie of the citie yea and engraven in pillars of stone and set up in the citadell neere unto the offerings consecrated unto the goddesse Minerva and for the engraving of the said pillars the treasurie of the citie shall defray fiftie drachmes of silver out of those moneys which are allowed for the citie decrees OF THREE SORTS OF GOVERNMENT MONARCHIE DEMOCRATIE AND OLIGARCHIE ASI devised with my selfe and purposed to put to question for to be decided by this judicious companie a matter which yesterday I discoursed of before you me thought that I heard politicke vertue in a true vision in deed and not in the vaine illusion of a dreame thus to say unto me The golden base and ground that now belongs Unto our worke is laied with sacred songs I have already laied the foundation of a discourse perswading and exhorting to the management of State affaires if now we can proceed to build upon it the doctrine fit for such an exhortation which is a due debt unto Articus for meet it is and requisit that after a man hath received an admonition inciting him to deale in politicke matters of common-weale there should consequently be given unto him and sounded in his eares the precepts of policie the which he observing and following may as much as lieth in man to performe be profitable to the common-weale and withall in the meane time manage his owne private businesse both in safetie and also with such honour as is just and meet for him First and formost therefore we are to consider and discourse of one point which as it is a very materiall precedent unto all that shall be said so it dependeth and is necessarily to be inferred of that which hath bene delivered already namely What maner of policie and government is best for as there be many sort of lives in particular men so there are of people in generall and the life of a people or commonaltie is the politicke state and government thereof Necessarie it is therefore that we declare which is simply the best that a man of State may chuse it from among the rest or at leastwise if that be impossible take that which most resembleth the best Now there is one signification of this word Politia that is to say Policie which is as much as Burgeosie that is to say the indument and enjoying of the right and priviledges of a citie as for example when we say that the Megarians by a publicke ordinance of their city gave unto Alexander the great
Not long after there fell out to be a great drouth and the the citie was sore visued with famine insomuch as the Corinthians sent unto the oracle for to know by what meanes they might be delivered from this calamitie unto whom the god made this answer That the wrath of Neptune was the cause of all their miserie who would by no meanes be appeased untill they had revenged Actaeons death which Archias hearing who was himselfe one deputed to this embassage he was not willing to returne againe to Corinth but crossed over the seas into Sicily where he founded and built the city Syracusa and there hee begat two daughters Ortygia and Syracusa but in the end was himselfe trecherously murdred by one Telephus whom in his youth he had abused as his minion and who having the conduct of a shippe had sailed with him into sicilie 3 A poore man named Scedasus who dwelt in Leuctra a village within the territorie of the Thespians had two daughters the name of the one was Hippo and of the other Miletia or as some write clepid they were Theano and Enippe Now this Scedasus was a bounteous and kind person yea and a good fellow in his house and curteous to all strangers notwithstanding he had but small store of goods about him So there fortuned to visit him two yoong men of Sparta whom hee friendly and lovingly enterteined who being fallen into fancie with his two daughters had thus much power yet of themselves that in regard of their father Scedasus and his kindnesse unto them they attempted nothing prejudiciall unto the honest pudicitie of the virgins for that time but the next morning tooke their leave and went directly toward the city of Delphos unto the oracle of Apollo Pythius for to that purpose expresly tooke they this journey and pilgrimage after that they had consulted with the god about such matters as they came for they returned backe againe into their owne country as they passed thorough Baeotia tooke Scedasus house by the way there for to lodge who at that time was not at Leuctra but gone forth howbe it his daughters according to their courteous bringing up their usual maner of intertainment received these two guests into the house who seeing their opportunitie that they were alone forced defloured the silly maidens and after this deed seeing them exceedingly offended and angry for this villany offered unto them so as by no meanes they would be appeased they proceeded farther murdred them both and when they had so done threw them into a certeine blinde pit and so departed Seedasus being returned home found all things else in his house safe and sound as hee left them onely his two daughters hee could not meet with neither wist he what to say or doe untill such time as a bitch that he had began to whine and complaine running one while to him and another while training him as it were to the pit side whereupon at length he suspected that which was and so drew foorth the dead bodies of his two daughters understanding moreover by his neighbors that the day before they had seene going into his house those two yoong men of Lacedaemon who not long before had beene lodged with him he doubted presently that they were those who had committed this crime and namely when he called to minde that the first time they came they did nothing but praise the maidens saying That they reputed them most happy whose fortune should be to espouse them for their wives Well to Lacedaemon he went for to conferre with the Ephori about this matter and by that time that he entred within the territory of Argos he was benighted so that he took up his lodging in a common inne or hostelry within which he found another poore old man borne in the city Oreos within the province Hestraea whom when Scedasus heard to sigh and groane grievously yea and to fall a cursing of the Lacedaemonians he demaunded what the Lacedaemonians had done unto him that he fared thus against them the old man set tale an end and said That a subject he was of the Spartans and that when one Aristodemus was sent as governour from the State of Sparta into the citie Oreum he had dealt very cruelly and committed many outrages and enormites for being quoth he wantonly fallen in love with a sonne of mine and seeing that he would not frame nor be induced to satisfie his will he assaied to enforce him and by violence to hale him out of the publicke wrestling place where he exercised himselfe with other his feeres and companions the warden of the exercises empeached the said governour with the assistance of many yoong men who ranne into the rescue in such sort as for that present Aristodemus retired without effect but the next morrow having set out and manned a galley of purpose hee came with a second charge and caried away my childe and no sooner was he rowed from Oreum to the otherside of the water but he offred to abuse his body which when the youth would in no wise abide nor yeeld unto he made no more adoo but cut his throat and killed him outright in the place which done he returned backe to Oreum where hee feasted his friends and made great cheere This accident was I soone advertised of quoth the old man whereupon I went and performed the last dutie unto my sonne and solemnized his funerall and so immediately put my selfe upon my journey toward Sparta where I complained unto the Ephori or lords controulers declaring unto them the whole fact but they gave no eare unto me nor made any reckoning of my grievance Seedisus hearing this tale was il appaid troubled in his mind imagining that the Spartans would make as little account of him and therewith to requite his tale related for his part likewise unto the stranger his owne case who thereupon gave him counsel not so much as once to go unto the Ephori but to returne immediately backe into Boeotia and to erect a tombe for his two daughters Howbeit Seedasus would not be ruled by him but held on his journey forward to Sparta opened his griefe unto the lords cōtroulers before said when he saw that they tooke small heed of his words he addressed himselfe to the kings of Sparta yea and afterwards to some particular burgeosies of the citie unto whom he declared the fact and bewailed his owne infortunitie But seeing that all booted not heran up and downe the streets of the citie stretching forth his hands up to heaven and to the sun and stamping upon the ground with his feet calling upon the furies of hell to be revenged and at the last killed himselfe But in processe of time the Lacedaemonians paid deerely for this their injustice for when they were growen to that greatnes that they commanded all Greece and had planted their garrisons in everie citie first Epaminondas the Theban cut the throtes of
those souldiers who lay in garrison at Thebes whereupon the Lacedaemonians made warre upon the Thebanes who went out with a power to encounter them as far as to the village of Leuctra taking that place for a good presage unto them for that before time they had been there delivered out of servitude what time as Amphictyon chased by Sthenelus fled and retired himselfe unto the citie of Thebes where finding them subdued by the Chalcidians and made their tributaries after he had slaine Chalcodon the king of the Eubaeans he eased the Thebanes of the tribute which they before had paid So it fortuned that the Lacedaemonians were discomfited and defeated neere unto the verie same monument or tombe of the said two daughters of Scedasus It is reported moreover that a little before this battell Scedasus appeared in a vision or dreame unto Pelopidas one of the captaines of the Thebane army who had beene altogether discouraged with certaine signes and foretokens which he judged and interpreted to portend ill whom Scedasus willed to take a good heart for that the Lacedaemonians were thither come for to suffer that punishment which they owed to him his caughters advising him withal the day before he encountred with the Lacedaemonians to sacrifice a yoong white fole or colt which he should find readie even before the sepulcher of his two daughters And then Pelopidas whiles the enemies lay yet encamped at Tegea sent before unto Leuctra for to enquire of the said tombe and being enformed thereof by the inhabitants of the countrey advanced forward boldly with his army and wan the field 4 Phocus a Baeotian borne for descended he was from Gleisas had a daughter named Callirrhoe a maiden of singular beautie and surpassing honesty and sobrietie withall So there were to the number of thirtie yoong gentlemen the noblest and best reputed of all Boeotia who were all suters unto her in the way of marriage But Phocus her father made alwaies some delay or other and found meanes to put off still from day to day as fearing lest shee should be forced At last seeing how he was overpressed with these instant wooers he requested them to referre the election of him that should be her husband unto the oracle of Apollo The yoong men taking indignation at these words and answere of his fell upon him and slew him but in this affray and tumult the yoong maiden escaped and ran thorow the fields into the countrey but the yoong lustie suters made after and pursued her and shee lighting upon certaine husbandmen who were laying together and piling up of wheat upon a floore in a ricke by the meanes of them saved herselfe for the said husbandmen hid her within the come so as they passed by who followed in chase after her Thus having escaped this danger shee expected the solemne feast and generall assembly called Pambaetia for that all the Boeotians met together then came shee to the citie of Coronea and there in habite and forme of a suppliant she sat before the altar of Minerva Itonia where she related unto all commers the enormious wickednes and mischiefe committed by her wooers rehearsing them everie one by name and shewing in what countrey ech one was borne The Boeotians tooke pitie of the damosell and were highly displeased and incensed against those yoong gentlemen which they hearing fled into the citie Orchomenus but the Orchomenians would not receive them by occasion where of they meant to put themselves within Hippotae a pretie towne neere unto Helicon situate betweene Thebes and Coronea which gave them entertainment Then sent the Thebanes unto the inhabitants thereof certaine persons to calupon them for to deliver up the murderers of Phocus that they might receive justice accordingly but when they would not yeeld so to do the Thebanes with other Boeotians gathered an armie and went against them under the leading of Phoedus who at that time was the chiefe ruler of Thebes and laid siege unto the said towne which being otherwise strongly fortified was in the end forced for want of water where they stoned to death the murderers brought the inhabitants unto bondage and slaverie rased their walles overthrew their dwelling houses and devided their whole territorie among the Thebanes and Coronaeans The report goeth that over-night before that this towne of Hippotae was wonne there was a voice heard from the mount Helicon of one eftsoones itterating these words Here I am Here I am which voice the thirty wooers knew all verie well to be the speech of Phocus Also the same day that they were stoned it is said that the monument or toombe of this old man which stood at Gleisas flowed and ran with saffron Thus when Phaedus the captaine and ruler of the Thebanes returned from warre with victorie newes came unto him that his wife was delivered of a daughter which he taking to be a good presage named her thereupon Nicostrata 5 Alcippus a Lacedaemonian borne espoused a ladie named Democrita by whom hee was the father of two daughters who alwaies both giving counsell unto the citie for the best things and also ready in person to serve execute the same in al occurrences presented for the good of his countrey incurred the envie and emulation of his concurrents in the government of the State who with false surmises and slanderous imputations went about to seduce the Ephori buzzing into their heads how this Alcippus would overthrow the lawes and change the whole State and common-wealth of Sparta insomuch as they banished him out of his countrey and would not suffer his wife with her daughters to follow him and that which woorse is they did confiscate his goods to the end that his daughters might have no portions to bestow them for their advancement in marriage And notwithstanding that divers yoong men in regard of their fathers vertue made meanes for to marrie these maidens without any dowry yet his adversaries wrought so cunningly that they passed an act and publicke edict forbidding expresly that any man should seeke unto them for marriage for they alledged and pretended that their mother Democrita had often times made her praiers unto the gods that her daughters might quickly bring foorth children who might be revenged for the injurie done unto their father Democrita then perceiving how on every side she was hardly bested driven to a straight observed her time and waited a certeine solemne and festivall day which the dames of the citie with their daughters virgins with their maid-servants likewise and little children did celebrate on which day the wives of magistrates and men of honour watched and passed the whole night by themselves in a great and spacious hall When this day was come she girded herselfe with a dagger or skeine under her clothes and taking her daughters with her when night came went into the temple and observing the opportunitie of the time when all the said dames were busie in their divine service and hard at their devotions
notwithstanding that he cast him bread and other meat he would none so the night following the theese laid him downe to sleepe the dog likewise kept all night hard by him and the morrow morning when he tooke his way againe the dog likewise arose and went after Met he any passengers or waifaring men hee would fawne upon them and wag his taile contrariwise he barked eagerly at the theese and was readie to fly upon him They who had the charge to follow with huy and crie being enformed thus much by the travellers whom they met as also of what bignes colour and haire the dog was continued their chase more willingly and made such hot pursute that they evertooke the fellow at Crommyon from thence brought him to Athens The dog he marched before them all and leade them the way as jocound pleasant and gamesome as possibly could bee as taking great joy that this church-robber had beene the game and prey that he had hunted and gotten The Athenians when they heard the truth of this matter related unto them ordained that the said dog should have a certaine measure of corne allowed him at the cities charges for his bread and gave an especially charge to the priests of that temple to have a care of him so long as he lived following herein the kindnesse and liberallitie of their ancestours which they extended in times past to a mule For what time as Pericles caused to be built the temple of Minerva named Hecatompedon within the castle of the citie there were is ordinarie for such buildings conveighed thither daily stones timber and other stuffe in carts and wagons drawen with beasts Now when many of those mules which before time had willingly and painefully served were now for verie age discharged and sent away to pasture one there was among the rest who everie day would come into the high broad street Ceramicum and go before those draught beasts which drew up stones to the mount yea accompanie them as if he encouraged and hartned them to labour and travell The people of Athens commending and admiring the good heart and industrious mind of the beast gave order by a publike decree for his maintenance and keeping at the cities cost no lesse than they would have done for an old bruised souldier who now was past service And therefore we must say that those philosophers who hold That there is no communion nor societie of justice betweene us and bruit beasts say true if they restraine theirspeech unto those creatures onely which live in the sea and deepe bottomlesse waters with who m in deed we can have no fellowship at all of good will love and affection as being beasts farre remote from all gentlenesse sweet converse and good nature and therefore Homer speakingunto a man who seemed to be inhumane cruell and unsociable said elegantly thus The blackish blew sea Ithinke well Engendred thee thou art so fell as if he would thereby give us to understand that the sea brings forth no creature that is milde lovely meek and gentle but he that should say as much and apply the former proposition unto the land-beasts were himselfe cruell and savage if I say he denied that there was no reciprocall commerce of amitie and justice betweene king Lysimachus and his dog Hyrcanus who remained continnally alone about his corps when he was dead yea and at the time that it was burned in the funerall fire lept into it and was consumed into ashes with him for company And reported it is that there was another dog named Actus did no lesse which Pyrrhus kept I meane not the king of that name but another private person for after his master was dead he would never stirre from the bodie and when the corps was carried forth in a couch upon the biere he leapt upon it and was borne withall and finally sprung himselfe into the fire and was burnt with him When king Porus was sore wounded in a battell against king Alexander the Great the elephant upon whose backe he rode and fought drew foorth with his trunke right gently for feare of doing harme many darts arrowes and javelins wherewith hee was shot and albeit himselfe was grievously hurt yet never fainted he and gave over before he perceived that his lord the king was readie to reele and sinke downe by reason of the effusion of blood which hee had lost and then fearing that he would fall from on high to the ground he gently couched and yeelded with his bodie downeward to the earth that he might alight with ease and without all danger King Alexanders horse called Bucephalus all while he was bare without his saddle and caparison would wel enough abide that his keeper should mount upon his backe was he trapped once and richly set out with the kings royall furniture harnesse and ornament hee would suffer none to sit him but Alesander alone And if others came neere him and went about to get upon his backe he would runne a front upon them snuffing snorting and neighing rising up all afore at them and if they made not good haste to retire behind him and fly hee would bee sure to have them under his feet and trample over them I know full well that you thinke these examples are hudled together in a confused varietie but surely it is no easie matter to find any action of these noble beasts which representeth one bare vertue and no more for together with their kindnesse and naturall love there is to be seene a certaine desire of honour amid their generositie a man may perceive a kind of industrious sagacitie and wisedome neither is their wit and subtiltie void of courage and magnanimitie howbeit if men be disposed to distinguish and separate one from another by themselves the dogs do represent an example of a mild and gentle nature together with an haughtie courage and high mind namely when they passe by and turne aside from those that submit themselves before them according to that which Homer saith in one place The dogs ran foorth with open mouth they cried and bark't amaine Ulysses wise his slafe let fall and stirred not againe For their manner is not to fight any longer against those who humbly fall downe prostrate or shew any semblance of lowly suppliants Certes the report goeth of a principall Indian dogge who being for a singularitie above all other sent to fight a combat before king Alexander the Great when there was let loose at him first a stag then a wild boare and afterwards a beare made no reckoning of them nor deigned once to stirre out of his place nor rise up but when hee saw a lion presented unto him then incontinently he stood upon his feet and addressed himselfe to the combat shewing evidently that he esteemed the lion alone worthie to fight with him and disdained all the rest As for those here among us which are woont to hunt hares if they themselves chaunce to kill them with faire
patrons and advocates of so detestable a cause such I meane as in this booke are brought in under the persons of Protogenes and Pisias Meane while they may perceive likewise in the combot of matrimoniall love against unnaturall Poederastie not to be named that honestie hath alwaies meanes sufficient to defend it selfe for being vanquished yea and in the end to go away with the victorie Now this Treatise may be comprised in foure principall points of which the first after a briefe Preface wherein Autobulus being requested to rehearse unto his companions certeine reports which before time hee had heard Plutarch his father to deliver as touching Love entreth into the discourse conteineth the historie of Ismenodora enamoured upon a yoong man named Bacchon whereupon arose some difference and dispute of which Plutarch and those of his companie were chosen arbitratours Thereupon Protogenes seconded by Pisias and this is the second point setting himselfe against Ismenodora disgraceth and discrediteth the whole sex of woman kinde and praiseth openly enough the love of males But Daphnaeus answereth them so fully home and pertinently to the purpose that he discovereth and detecteth all their filthinesse and confuteth them as be hoovefull it was shewing the commodities and true pleasure of conjugall love In this defence assisted he is by Plutarch who prooveth that neither the great wealth nor the forward affection of a woman to a man causeth the mariage with her to be culpable or woorthy to be blamed by divers examples declaring that many women even of base condition have beene the occasion of great evils and calamities But as he was minded to continue this discourse newes came how Bacchon was caught up and brought into the house of Ismenodora which made Protogenes and Pisias to dislodge insomuch as their departure gave entrie into the third and principall point concerning Love what it is what be the parts the causes the sundry effects and fruits thereof admirable in all sorts of persons in altering them so as they become quite changed and others than they were before which is confirmed by many notable examples and similitudes In the last point Plutarch discourseth upon this argument and that by the Philosophy of Plato and the Aegyptians conferring the same with the doctrine of other Philosophers and Poets Then having expresly and flatly condemned Paederastie as a most 〈◊〉 and abhominable thing and adjoined certaine excellent advertisements for the entertening of love in wedlocke betweene husband and wife of which he relateth one proper example his speech endeth by occasion of a messenger who came in place and drew them all away to the wedding of Ismenodora and Bacchon beforesaid OF LOVE FLAVIANUS IT was at Helicon ô Autobulus was it not that those discourses were held as touching Love which you purpose to relate unto us at this present upon our request and intreaty whether it be that you have put them downe in writing or beare them well in remembrance considering that you have so often required and demanded them of your father AUTOEULUS Yes verily in Helicon it was ô Flavianus among the Muses at what time as the Thespians solemnized the feast of Cupid for they celebrate certeine games of prise every five yeeres in the honour of Love as well as of the Muses and that with great pompe and magnificence FLAVIANUS And wot you what it is that we all here that are come to heare you will request at your hands AUTOBULUS No verily but I shall know it when you have tolde me FLAVIANUS Mary this it is That you would now in this rehersall of yours lay aside all by-matters and needlesse preambles as touching the descriptions of faire medowes pleasant shades of the crawling and winding Ivie of rils issuing from fountaines running round about and such like common places that many love to insert desirous to counterfeit and imitate the description of the river Ilissus of the Chast-tree and the fine greene grasse and prety herbs growing daintily upon the ground rising up alittle with a gentle assent and all after the example of Plato in the beginning of his Dialogue Phaedrus with more curiositie iwis and affectation than grace and elegancie AUTOBULUS What needs this narration of ours my good friend Flavianus any such Prooeme or 〈◊〉 for the occasion from whence arose and proceeded these discourses requireth onely an affectionate audience and calleth for a convenient place as it were a stage and scaffold for to relate the action for otherwise of all things els requisit in a Comedie or Enterlude there wanteth nothing onely let us make our praiers unto the Muses Mother Ladie Memorie for to be propice unto us and to vouchsafe her assistance that we may not misse but deliver the whole narration My father long time before I was borne having newly espoused my mother by occasion of a certeine difference and variance that fell out betweene his parents and hers tooke a journey to Thespiae with a full purpose to sacrifice unto Cupid the god of Love and to the feast hee had up with him my mother also for that 〈◊〉 principally apperteined unto her to performe both the praier the sacrifice So there accompanied him from his house certeine of his most familiar friends Now when he was come to Thespiae he found Daphnaeus the sonne of Archidamus and Lysander who was in love with Simons daughter a man who of all her woers was best welcome unto her and most accepted Soclarus also the sonne of Aristion who was come from Tithora there was besides Protogenes of Tarsos and Zeuxippus the Lacedaemonian both of them his olde friends and good hosts who had given him kinde enterteinment and my father said moreover that there were many of the best men in 〈◊〉 there who were of his acquaintance Thus as it should seeme they abode for two or three daies in the citie enterteining one another gently at their leasure with discourses of learning one while in the common empaled parke of exercises where they youth used to wrestle and otherwhiles in the Theaters and Shew-places keeping companie together But afterwards for to avoid the troublesome contentions of Minstrels and Musicians where it appeared that all would go by favour such labouring there was before hand for voices they dislodged from thence for the most part of them as out of an enemies countrey and retired themselves to Helicon and there sojourned and lodged among the Muses where the morrow morning after they were thither come arrived and repaired unto them Anthemion and Pisias two noble gentlemen allied both and affectionate unto Barchon surnamed The Faire and at some variance one with another by reason of I wot not what jealousie in regard of the affection they bare unto him For there was in the city of Thespiae a certeine Dame named Ismenodora descended of a noble house and rich withall yea and of wise and honest carriage besides in all her life for continued shee had no small time in widowhood without blame
wise Convey unto me that Musicall wench of thine that sings so daintily and receive for her ten talents which I send by this bearer let me have her I say unlesse thou thy selfe be in love with her When Antipatrides another of his minions came in a maske on a time to his house accompanied with a prety girle that plaied upon the psaltery sung passing well Alexander taking great delight contentment in the said damosell demanded of Antipatrides whether he were not himselfe enamoured of her And when he answered Yes verily and that exceeding much A mischiefe on thee quoth he leud varlet as thou art and the divell take thee but the wench he absteined from and would not so much as touch her But marke moreover besides of what power even in martiall feats of armes Love is Love I say which is not as saith Euripides Of nature slow dull fickle inconstant Nor in soft cheeks of maidens resiant For a man that is possessed secretly in his heart with Love needeth not the assistance of Mars when he is to encounter with his enemies in the field but having a god of his owne within him and presuming of his presence Most prest he is and resolute to passe through fire and seas The blasts of most tempestuous windes he cares not to appease And all for his friends sake and according as he commandeth him And verily of those children aswell sonnes as daughters of lady 〈◊〉 who in a Tragoedie of Sophocles are represented to be shot with arrowes and so killed one there was who called for no other to helpe and 〈◊〉 her at the point of death but onely her paramor in this wise Oh that some god my Love would send My life to save and me defend Ye all know I am sure doe ye not how and wherefore Cleomachus the Thessalian died in combat Not I for my part quoth Pemptides but gladly would I heare and learne of you And it is a storie quoth my father worth the hearing and the knowledge There came to aide the Chalcidians at what time as there was hot warre in Thessalie against the Eretrians this Cleomachus now the Chalcidians seemed to be strong enough in their footmen but much adoe they had and thought it was a difficult piece of service to breake the cavallerie of their enemies and to repell them So they requested Cleomachus their allie and confederate a brave knight and of great courage to give the first charge and to enter upon the said men of armes With that he asked the youth whom he loved most entirely and who was there present whether he would beholde this enterprise and see the conflict and when the yong man answered Yea and withall kindly kissing and embracing him set the helmet upon his head Cleomachus much more hardy and fuller of spirit than before assembled about him a troupe of the most valourous hosemen of all the Thessalians advanced forward right gallantly and with great resolution set upon the enemies in such sort as at the very first encounter he brake the front disarraied the men of armes and in the end put them to flight Which discomfiture when their infanterie saw they also fled and so the Chalcidians woon the field and archieved a noble victorie Howbeit Cleomachus himselfe was there slaine and the Chalcidians shew his sepulchre and monument in their Market place upon which there standeth even at this day a mighty pillar erected And whereas the Chalcidians before-time held this paederastie or love of yoong boies an in famous thing they of all other Greeks ever after affected and honoured it most But Aristotle writeth that Cleomachus indeed lost his life after he had vanquished the Eretrians in battell but as for him who was thus kissed by his lover he saith that he was of Chalcis in Thrace sent for to aide those of Chalcis in 〈◊〉 and hereupon it commeth that the Chalcidians use to chant such a caroll as this Sweet boies faire impes extract from noble race Endued besides with youth and beauties grace Envie not men of armes and bolde courage Fruition of your prime and flowring age For here aswell of Love and kinde affection As of prowesse we all do make profession The lover was named Anton and the boy whom he loved Philistus as Dionysius the Poet writeth in his booke of Causes And in our city of Thebes ô Pemptides did not one Ardetas give unto a youth whom he loved a complet armour the day that he was enrolled souldier with the inscription of Ardetas his owne name And as for Pammenes an amorous man and one well experienced in love matters he changed and altered the ordinance in battell of our footmen heavily armed reprooving Homer as one that had no skill nor experience of love for ranging the Achaeans by their tribes and wards and not putting in array the lover close unto him whom he loveth for this indeed had beene the right ordinance which Homer describeth in these words The Morians set so close and shield to shield So iointly touch'd that one the other held And this is the onely battalion and armie invincible For men otherwhiles in danger abandon those of their tribe their kindred also and such as be allied unto them yea and beleeve me they forsake their owne fathers and children but never was there enemie seene that could passe through and make way of evasion betweene the lover and his darling considering that such many times shew their adventerous resolution in a bravery and how little reckoning they make of life unto them being in no distresse nor requiring so much at their hands Thus Thero the Thessalian laying and clapping his left hand to a wall drew forth his sword with the right and cut off his owne thumbe before one whom he loved and challenged his corrivall to doe as much if his heart would serve him Another chanced in fight to fall groveling upon his face and when his enemie lifted up his sword to give him a mortall wound he requested him to stay his hand a while untill he could turne his body that his friend whom he loved might not see him wounded in his backe part And therefore we may see that not onely the most martiall and warlicke nations are most given to Love to wit the Boeotians Lacedaemonians and Candiots but also divers renowmed princes and captaines of olde time as namely Meleager Achilles Aristomenes Cimon Epaminondas And as for the last named he had two yong men whom he deerely loved Asopicus and Zephiodorus who also died with him in the field at Mantinea and was likewise interred neere unto him And when Asopicus became hereupon more terrible unto his enemies and most resolute Euchnanus the Amphyssian who first made head against him resisted his furie and smote him had heroique honors done unto him by the Phocaeans To come now unto Hercules hard it were to reckon and number his loves they were so many But among others men honour and worship to
them at a very venture For there is a great difference in my judgement betweene saying thus that a thing is hapned which hath bene spoken and a thing is spoken that shall happen for that speech which uttereth things that are not extant conteining in it selfe the fault and error attendeth not by any right the credit and approbation thereof by the accidentall event neither useth it any true and undoubted token of praediction with a certeine foreknowledge that happen it will when it hath bene once foretold considering that infinity is apt to produce all things but he who guesseth well whom the common proverbe pronounceth to be the best divinor For whose conjecture misseth least Him I account the wisard best resembleth him who traceth out and followeth by probabilities as it were by tracts and footings that which is to come But these propheticall Sibils and furious Bacchides have cast at all aventure as it were into a vast ocean without either judgement or conjecture the time yea and have scattered at random the nownes and verbs the words and speeches of passions and accidents of all sorts And albeit some of them fortune so to happen yet is this or that false alike at the present time when it is uttered although haply the same may chance afterwards to fall out truely When Boethus had thus discoursed Serapion replied upon him in this wise Boethus quoth he giveth a good verdict and just sentence of those propositions which are indefinitly and without a certeine subject matter in this maner pronounced If victorie be foretolde unto a Generall he hath vanquished if the destruction of a citie it is overthrowen but whereas there is expressed not onely the thing that shall happen but also the circumstances how when after what sort and wherewith then is not this a bare guesse and conjecture of that which peradventure will be but a praesignification and denouncing peremptorily of such things as without faile shall be as for example that prophesie which concerned the lamenesse of Agesilaus in these words Though proud and haughtie Sparta now and sound of foot thou bee Take heed by halting regiment there come no harme to thee For then shall unexpected plagues thy state long time assaile The deadly waves of fearefull warres against thee shall prevaile Semblably that oracle as touching the Isle which the sea made and discovered about Thera and Therasia as also the prophesie of the warre betweene king Philip and the Romans which ran in these words But when the race of Trojan bloud Phoenicians shall defeat In bloudy fight looke then to see strange sights and wonders great The sea shall from amid the waves yeeld firie tempests strong And flashes thicke of lightning bright with stony stormes among With that an Iland shall appeare that never man yet knew And weaker men in battell set the mightier shall subdue For whereas the Romans in a small time conquered the Carthaginians after they had vanquished Aniball in the field and Philip king of the Macedonians gave battell unto the Aetolians and Romans wherein he had the overthrow also that in the end there arose an Iland out of the deepe sea with huge leames of fire and hideous ghusts a man can not say that all these things hapned and concurred together by fortune and meere chance but the very traine and orderly proceding thereof doth shew a certeine prescience and fore-knowledge Also whereas the Romans were foretolde the time five hundred yeeres before wherein they should have warre with all nations at once the same was fulfilled when they warred against the slaves and fugitives who revolted and rebelled For in all these there is nothing conjecturall and uncerteine nothing blinde and doubtfull that we need infinitly to seeke after fortune therefore whereas many pledges there be of experience giving us assurance of that whcih is finite and determinate shewing the very waqy whereby fatall destinie doth proceed Neither do I thinke any an will say that these things being foretolde with so many circumstances jumped altogether by fortune For what els should hinder but that a man may aswell say ô Boethus that Epicurus wrote not his books of principall opinions and doctrines so much approoved of you but that all the letters thereof were jumbled and hudled together by meere chance and fortune that went to the composing and finishing of that volume Thus discoursing in this maner we went forward still And when in the Corinthian chapell we beheld the date tree of brasse the onely monument there remaining of all the oblations there offered Diogenianus woondred to see the forgges and water-snakes which were wrought artificially by turners hand about the but and root thereof and so did we likewise because neither the Palme tree is moorie plant and loving the waters like as many other trees are neither doe the frogges any way perteine to the Coringthians as a marke or ensigne given in the armes of their city like as the Selinuntians by report offered sometimes in this temple the herbe Smalach or Parsley called Solinum all of gold and the Tenedians an hatcher taken from the Crabfishes bred in their Island neere unto the Promontorie called Asterion for those Crabs onely as it is thought have the figure of an hatchet imprinted upon their shell And verily for Apollo himselfe we suppose that ravens swannes wolves hawks or any other beasts be more acceptable than these Now when Serapion alledged that the workman heereby meant and covertly signified the nouriture and rising of the Sunne out of humors and waters which by exhalation he converteth into such creatures whether it were that he had heard this verse out of Homer Then out of sea arose the Sun And left that goodly lake anon Or seeme the Aegyptians to represent the East or Sun-rising by the picture of a childe sitting upon the plant Lotos Thereat I laughed heartily What meane you thus good sir quoth I to thrust hither the sect of the Stoicks came you indeed to foist slily among our speeches and discourses your exhalations and kindlings of the starres not bringing downe hither the Sunne and the Moone as the Thessalian women doe by their inchantments but making them to spring and arise as from their first originall out of the earth and the waters For Plato verily called mana celestiall plant as rising directly from his root above which is his head But you in the meane time mocke and deride Empedocles for saying that the Sunne occasioned by the reflexion of the heavenly light about the earth His raies with fearlesse visage sends againe Vp to the heavens and there doth brightly shine while your selves make the Sunne terrestriall or a fennish plant ranging him among the waters and the native place of frogs But let vs betake all these matters to the tragicall and strange monstruosities of the Stoicks meane while treat we cursarily and by the way of these accessary and by-works of mechanicall artisans and handicrafts men for surely in many things
place and tooke me as his manner was by the hand beginning with open mouth to mocke our exercises of the body and our wrestling but afterward drawing me aside a good way from the others asked me whether the banished persons would keepe that appointed day or no I made him answere Yea. Then have I quoth he to very good purpose prepared a feast this day for to entertaine Archias in my house and so to deliver him with ease into their hands when he shall have eaten freely and drunke wine merily Passing well done quoth I ô Phyllidas but I beseech you withall for to bring together all our enimies or as many as you can That is no easie matter quoth he to compasse but rather altogether impossible For Archias hoping that some great lady of honor and estate will come thither unto him in no wise can abide that Leontidas should be there so that of necessity we must divide them into sundry houses Now if Archias and Leontidas both be once apprehended I suppose that the rest will soone flie or else remaine quite and be very highly contented if any man will grant them safety and security of their lives Well quoth I we will so doe but I pray you what businesse have they with Thcocritus that they are so long in talke with him I know not for a trueth quoth Phyllidas but I have heard that there be certaine prodigious signes of unluckie and unfortunate presage unto the citie of Sparta When Theocritus was returned unto us againe Phidolaus the Haliertian comming toward us Simmias quoth he requesteth you to stay here a while for his sake for he is an intercessor in the behalfe of Amphiteus by the meanes of Leontidas that his life may be pardoned and that instead of death the man might be banished This is fallen out quoth Theocritus in very good time and fitly to the purpose as a man would have it for I was minded to enquire of you what things were found within the tombe of Alcmena and what shew it caried when it was opened among you and also whether you were present when Agesilaus sent of purpose for to translate and carry the reliques unto Sparta Present I was not my selfe Phidolaus in person and I was very much angry and offended with my fellow citizens in that I was so discarded and left out Howbeit found there was with the bones and other reliques of the corps a certaine carquanet of brasse and that of no great bignesse and two earthen pots containing amphors a piece full of earth which in continuance of time was growen hard and converted into stone Over the sepulcher there was a table of brasse likewise wherein were written many letters and those of a strange and wonderfull forme as being of right great antiquity for nothing could we picke out of them notwithstanding the letters appeared very well after that the brasse was faire washed and scoured cleane the characters were of such a making by themselves after a barbarous fashion and resembling neerest those of the Aegyptians Whereupon Agesilaus also as men say sent a copy of them unto the king of Aegypt praying him to shew the same unto their priests to see whether they understood them or no But peradventure of these matters Simmias also is able to tell us some newes because about that time he conversed much with the said priests in points of Philosophie And those of the citie Aliartos are of opinion that their great sterility and scarcitie as also the swelling and inundation of the lake hapned not by chance but was the vengeance divine upon those who suffered the monument of this sepulchre to be digged up and opened Then Theocritus after he had paused a little The Lacedaemonians likewise quoth he seeme to have beene threatned by the ire of the gods as the prodigious signes and tokens presage no lesse wereof Lysanoridas ere while talked with me who even now is gone into the citie Aliartos to cause the said monument to be filled up againe and there to offer certeine funerall effusions and libaments to the ghost of Alcmena and Aleus according to a certeine oracle but who this Aleus should be he knoweth not and so soone as he is from thence returned he must search also the sepulchre of Dirce which none of the Thebanes doe know unlssse they be those who have beene captaines of the horsemen For looke who goeth out of this office taketh with him his successor that entreth into place by night and when they two be alone together he sheweth it unto him and there they performe certeine religious ceremonies without fire the tokens and marks whereof they shuffle together and confound so as they be not seene which done they depart in the darke and goe diverswaies one from the other But for mine owne part ô Phidolaus I beleeve verily he will never finde it out for the most of those who have beene lawfully called to the captainship of the cavallerie or to say more truely even all of them are in exile except Gorgidas and Plato whom they will never aske the question because they are afraid of them And as for those who are now in place well may they take the launce and the signet within the castle of Cadmus for otherwise they neither know nor can shew ought As Theocritus spake these words Leonttdas went foorth with his friends and we entring in saluted Simmias being set upon his bed but I suppose he had not obteined his request for very pensive and heavie he was and looking wistly in the face upon us all he brake out into thses words O Hercules what a world is this to see the barbarous us and savage maners of men And was not this then a very good answere made by old Thales who being returned home after a long voiage from out of a forren countrey and demanded what was the strangest newes that he could make relation of answered That he had seene a tyrant live to be an old man For thus you see that himselfe who in his owne particular had never received wrong by a tyrant yet in regard of the odious trouble in conversing and having to doe with them is offended and become an enemie to all soveraigne and absolute governments which are not subject to render an account unto the lawes But haply God will see to these matters and provide in time convenient But know you Caphisias who this stranger may be that is come unto you I wot not quoth he whom you meane Why quoth he againe Leontidas came and told us of a man who was seene by night to arise from about the tombe of Lysis accompanied in stately wise with a great traine of men in good order and well appointed who lodged there and lay upon pallets for that there were to be seene in the morning little beds hard by the ground made of chast tree and of heath or lings There remained also the tokens of fire and of the libaments and oblations of
stranger followed after a man of a good and ingenious countenance to see to and who carried in his visage great mildnesse and humanity besides went in his apparel very gravely and decently Now when he had taken his place and was set downe close unto Simmias and my brother next unto me and all the rest as every one thought good after silence made Simmias addressing his speech unto my brother Go to now Epaminondas quoth he what stranger is this from whence commeth he and what may be his name for this is the ordinary beginning and usuall entrance to farther knowledge and acquaintance His name quoth my brother is Theanor ô Simmias a man borne in the city Croton one of them who in those parts professe Philosophy and 〈◊〉 not the glory of great Pythagoras but is come hither from out of Italy a long journey to confirme by good works his good doctrine and profession But you Epaminondas your selfe quoth the stranger then hinder me from doing of all good deeds the best For if it be an honest thing for a man to doe good unto his friends dishonest it cannot be to receive good at their hands for in thanks there is as much need of a receiver as of a giver being a thing composed of them both and tending to a vertuous worke and he that receiveth not a good turne as a tennis ball fairely sent unto him disgraceth it much suffring it to fall short and light upon the ground For what marke is there that a man shooteth at which he is so glad to hit and so sory to misse as this that one worthy of a benefit good turne he either hath it accordingly or faileth thereof unworthily And yet in this comparison he that there in shooting at the marke which standeth still and misseth it is in fault but heere he who refuseth and flieth from it is he that doth wrong and injury unto the grace of a benifit which by his refusall it cannot attaine to that which it tendeth unto As for the causes of this my voiage hither I have already shewed unto you and desirous I am to rehearse them againe unto these gentlemen heere present that they may be judges in my behalfe against you When the colledges and societies of the Pythagorean Philosophers planted in every city of our country were expelled by the strong hand of the seditious faction of the Cyclonians when those who kept still together were assembled and held a counsell in the city of Metapontine the seditious set the house on fire on every side where they were met and burnt them altogether except Philolaus and Lysis who being yet yong active and able of body put the fire by and escaped through it And Phylolaus being retired into the countrey of the Laconians saved himselfe among his friends who began already to rally themselves and grow to an head yea and to have the upper hand of the said Cyclonians As for Lysis long it was ere any man knew what was become of him untill such time as Gorgias the Leontine being sailed backe againe out of Greece into Sicelie brought certeine newes unto Arcesus that he had spoken with Lysis and that he made his abode in the city of Thehes Whereupon Arcesus minded incontinently to embarke and take the sea so desirous he was to see the man but finding himselfe for feeblenesse and age together very unable to persorme such a voiage he tooke order expresly upon his death bed with his friends to bring him over alive if it were possible into Italie or at leastwise if haply he were dead before to convey his bones and reliques over But the warres seditions troubles and tyrannies that came betweene and were in the way expeached those friends that they could not during his life accomplish this charge that he had laied upon them but after that the spirit or ghost of Lysis now departed appearing visibly unto us gave intelligence of his death and when report was made unto us by them who knew the certeine trueth how liberally he was enterteined and kept with you ô Polymnis and namely in a poore house where he was held and reputed as one of the children and in his old age richly mainteined and so died in blessed estate I being a yoong man was sent alone from many others of the ancient sort who have store of money and be willing to bestow the same upon you who want it in recompense of that great favor and gracious friendship of yours extended to him As for Lysis worshipfully he was enterred by you and bestowed in an honourable sepulchre but yet more honourable for him will be that courtesie which by way of recompense is given to his friend by other friends of his and kinsfolke Whiles the stranger spake thus the teares trickled downe my fathers cheeks and he wept a good while for the remembrance of Lysis But my brother smiling upon me as his maner was How shall we do now Caphisias quoth he shall we cast off and abandon our poverty for money and so say no more but keepe silence In no wise quoth I let us not quit and forsake our olde friend and so good a fostresse of yoong folke but defend you it for your turne it is now to speake And yet I quoth he my father feare not that our house is pregnable for money unlesse it be in regard onely of Caphisias who may seeme to have some need of a faire robe to shew himselfe brave and gallant unto those that make love unto him who are in number so many as also of plenty of viands and food to the end that he may endure the toile and travell of bodily exercises and combats which he must abide in the wrestling schooles But seeing this other heere of whom I had more distrust doth not abandon povertie nor reseth out the hereditary indigence of his father house as a tincture and unseemly slaine but although he be yet a yoong man reputeth himselfe gaily set out and adorned with srugality taking a pride therein and resting contented with his present fortunes Wherein should we any more employ out gold and silver if we had it and what use are we to make of it What would you have us to gild our armor and cover our shields as Nicias the Athenian did with purple and gold intermingled therewith And shall we buy for you father a faire mantle of the fine rich cloth of Miletus and for my mother a trim coat of scarlet coloured with purple For surely we will never abuse this present in pampering our bellie feasting our selves and making more sumptuous cheere than ordinary by receiving riches into our house as a costly and chargeable guest Fie upon that my sonne quoth my father God forbid I should ever see such a change in mine house Why quoth he againe we will not sit stil in the house keeping riches with watch and ward idle for so the benefit were not beneficiall but without all grace and
quoth he to the number of thirty at the least If there be so many quoth he how commeth it to passe that you onely crosse and gainsay yea and hinder that which hath beene concluded and agreed upon by us all and to this purpose have dispatched a light-horseman to ride in poste unto the banished persons who had put themselves in their journey hitherward charging them to returne backe and that in no wise they should goe forward this day considering that the most part of those things which went to this journey fortuneit selfe had procured prepared fit for their hands upon these words of Phyllidas we were all much troubled and perplexed but Charon aboue the rest fastning his eie upon Hipposthenidas and that with a sowre and sterne countenance Most wicked wretch that thou art quoth he what hast thou done unto us No harme said Hipposthenidas in case leaving this curst angrie voice of yours you can be content and have patience to heare and understand the reasons of a man as aged as your selfe and having as many gray haires as you have for if this be the point to shew unto our fellow citizens how hardy and couragious we are that we make no reckoning of our lives and care not for any perill of death seeing we have day enough Phyllidas let us never stay for the darke evening but presently and immediately from this place run upon the tyrants with our swords drawen let us kill and slay let us die upon them and make no spare of our selves for it is no hard matter to do and suffer all this mary to deliver the citie of Thebes out of the hands of so many armed men as hold it to disseize and expell the garrison of the Spartanes with the murder of two or three men is not so easie a thing for Phyllidas hath not provided so much wine for his feast and banquet as will be sufficient to make fifteene hundred souldiers of Archius guard drunken and say we had killed him yet Crippidas and Arcesus are ready at night both of them sober enough to keepe the corps du guard why make wee such haste then to draw our friends into an evident and certeine danger of present death especially seeing withall that our enemies be in some sort advertised of their comming and approch for if it were not so why was there commandement given by them to those of Thespiae for to be in their armes upon the third day which is this and readie to goe with the Lacedaemonian captaines whensoever they gave commandement And as for Amphitheus this very day as I understand after their judiciall proceeding against him they minded to put to death upon the comming of Archias And are not these pregnant presumptions that the plot and enterprise is to them discovered Were it not better then to deferre the execution of our designments a while longer untill such time as the gods be reconciled and appeased for our divinors and wisards having sacrificed a beese unto Ceres pronounce that the fire of the sacrifice denounceth some great sedition and danger to the common weale and that which you Charon particularly ought to take good heed of is this Yesterday and no longer since Hippathodorus the sonne of Erianthes a man otherwise of good sort and one who knoweth nothing at all of our enterprise had this speech with me Charon is your familiar friend Hippathodorus but with me not greatly acquainted advertise him therefore if you thinke so good that he beware and looke to himselfe in regard of some great danger strange accident that is toward him for the last night as I dreamed me thought I saw that his house was in travell as it were of childe that he and his friends being themselves in distresse praied unto the gods for her delivery standing round about her during her labour and painfull travell but she seemed to loow and rore yea and to cast out certeine inarticulate voices untill at the last there issued out of it a mightie fire wherewith a great part of the citie was immediately burnt and the castle Cadmea covered all over with smoke onely but no part of the sire ascended thereto Loe what the vision was which this honest man related unto me Charon which I assure you for the present set me in a great quaking and trembling but much more when I once heard say that this day the exiled persons were to returne and be lodged here within an house of the citie In great anguish therefore I am and in a wonderfull agonie for feare least we engage our selves within a world of calamities and miseries without being able to execute any exploit of importance upon our enemies unlesse it be to make a garboile and set all on a light fire for I suppose that the citie when all is done will be ours but Cadmea the castle as it is already will be for them Then Theocritus taking upon him to speake and staying Charon who was about to reply somewhat against this Hipposthenidas I interpret all this quoth he cleane contrary for there is not a signe that confirmeth me mor ein following of this enterprise although I have had alwaies good presages in t eh behalfe of the banished in all the sacrifices that I have offred than this vision which you have rehearsed if it be so as you say that a great and light fire shone over all the citie and the same arising out of a friends house and that the habitation of our enemeis and the place of their retreat was darkned and made blacke againe with the smoke which never brings with it any thing better than teares and troublesome confusion and whereas from amogn us there arose in articulate vocies in case a man should construe it in evill part and take exception thereat in regard of the voice the same will be when our enterprise which now is enfolded in obscure doubtfull and uncerteine suspicion shall at once both appeere and also prevaile as for the ill signes of the sacrifices they touch not the publike estate but those who now are most powerfull and in greatest authoritie As Theocritus thus was speaking yet still I said unto Hipposthenidas And whom I pray you have you sent unto the men for if he be not too farre onward on his way we will send after to overtake him I am not able to say of a trueth Caphisias whether it be possible to reach him quoth Hipposthenidas for he hath one of the best horses in all Thebes under him and a man he is whom yee all know very well for he is the master of Melons chariots and his chariot men one unto whom Melon himselfe from the very first discovered this plot and made privie unto it With that I considering and thinking with my selfe what man he should speake of It is not Chlidon quoth I ô Hipposthenidas he who no longer since than the last yeere wanne the prise in the horse running at the solemne feast of
regard and take in protection those who adventure thus for righteousnesse and justice sake Many of us there were Archidamus whose teares trickled downe their cheeks to heare Charon deliver these words but himselfe being inflexible and not relenting one jote with an undanted heart a setled countenance and eies still drie put his sonne into Pelopidas hands embraced every one of us shooke us by the hands and so encouraging us to proceed went forth of the doores Woonderfull was this but much more you would have woondred to have seene the alacrity cheerefull and constant resolution of his sonne as if he had beene another Neoptolemus who never looked pale nor changed colour for the matter notwithstanding so great danger presented neither was he one jote astond but contrariwise drew forth Pelopidas sword out of his scabberd to see and trie whether it was keene enough Whiles these matters thus passed there comes towards us Diotonus one of Cephisodorus friends with a sword by his side and a good cuirason of steele under his robe who having heard that Charon was sent for to come to Archias blamed much our long delay whetned us on to go forthwith to the tyrants houses For in so doing quoth he we shall prevent them by comming suddenly upon them if not yet better were it for us to set upon them without dores separate one from another and not all in one plumpe than to stay for them enclosed all within one parlour and be there taken by our enemies like a swarme of bees and have all our throats cut In like maner Theocritus the divinor urged us to make haste saying that all the signes of sacrifices were good and presaged happy successe with all security Whereupon we began on all hands to take armes and to prepare our selves by which time Charon was returned to us with a merrie and cheerefull countenance who smiling and looking upon us Be of good chere quoth he my masters and friends all is well there is no danger and our affaire proceedeth well for Archias and Philippus so soone as they heard that I was come upon their sending for me being already well cup-shotten and halfe drunke with wine so as both their minds and bodies were very farre out of tune with much adoe they rose from the boord and came foorth to the dore unto me Now Charon quoth Archias we heare that our banished men lie lurking here within the citie being secretly and by stealth entred into it Whereat I seeming to be much amazed Where quoth I are they said to be and who That we know not quoth Archtas and that is the cause why we sent for you to come before us if haply you have heard any thing of it more certeinly Heereupon I remaining for a while as one somewhat astonied and pensive comming againe to my selfe began thus to thinke that this must needs be some headlesse rumour and arising from no good ground nor certeine author neither was it like to be any one of them that were privy to the complot who had discovered it because they would not then have beene ignorant of the house where they were assembled and therefore it could not chuse but be some blinde brute blowen abroad through the citie and come to their eares So I said unto him that during the life of Androclides we had heard many such flying tales and vaine false rumors that ranne about the city and troubled us But now quoth he ô Archtas I have heard no such thing howbeit if it please you to command me I will enquire and hearken farther into the thing and if I find any matter of importance I will come and enforme you of it It is well said of you quoth Phyllidas and it were very good Charon that in these cases you be very inquisitive and leave nothing unsearched for why should we be carelesse and negligent in any thing but rather it behooveth us to be circumspect and to looke about us on every side providence in these cases is very requisite and good it is to make all sure and when he had so said he tooke Archias and had him into the parlour where they be now drinking hard and therefore my good friends let us stay no longer but after we have made our praiers unto the gods for our good speed go about our businesse Charon had no sooner said this but we praied unto the gods for their assistance and encouraged one another to the enterprise It was the very just time when all men use to be at supper and the whistling winde arising stil more more had brought some snow or sleet mingled with a drisling raine so as there was not one person to be seene in the streets as we passed along Those therefore who were appointed to assaile Leontidas and Hippates who dwelt neere together went out in their cloakes having no other armes or weapons but ech of them their swords and those were Pelopidas Democlidas and Cephisodorus But Charon Melon and others ordeined to set upon Archis had their brest-plates or demy-cuiraces before them and upon their heads thicke chaplets some of firre others of the pine or pitch tree branches and part of them were clad in womens apparell counterfeiting drunken persons as if they were come in a maske and mummerie with their women And that which more is ô Archidamus fortune also making the beastly cowardise and sottish ignorance of our enemies equall to our hardinesse and resolute preparations and having diversified and distinguished even from the beginning our enterprise like a plaie or enterlude with many dangerous intercurrents was assistant ran with us at the very point and upshot of the execution thereof presenting unto us even then a doubtfull dangerous occurrent of a most sudden unexpected accident for when Charen after he had talked with Archias Philippus was returned to the house and had disposed us in order for to go in hand with the execution of our dessignment there was brought from hence a letter written by Archias the high priest heere among you unto that Archias his old hoast and friend which declared unto him as it should seeme by all likelihood the returne of the banished and the surprise which they were about the house also wherein they were assembled and all the complices who were of the conspiracy Archias being by this time drenched and drowned in wine and besides that transported and past himselfe with the expectation of the women whose comming he attended albeit the messenger that brought the letter said it contained serious affaires of great consequence yet he onely received it and made no other answer but this What tellest thou me of serious affaires we shall thinke of them to morrow and with that put the letters under the pillow whereon he leaned calling for the pot againe and commanding that it should be filled sending Phyllidas ever and anon to the dore to see if the women were yet comming Thus whiles this hope enterteined and held
this matter thus word for word Pactyas quoth he being advertised that the Persian army approched fled first to Mitylenae and afterwards to Chios and there he fell into the hands of Cyrus Moreover this our author in his third booke describing the expedition or journey of the Lacedaemonians against Polycrates the tyrant saith that the Samians both are of opinion and also report that it was by way of recompence and requitall because they had sent them aid in their warre against Messene that the Lacedaemonians entred into armes and warred upon the tyrant for to reduce the exiled persons home againe and restore them to their livings and goods but he saith that the Lacedaemonians deny flatly this to have bene the cause saying it was neither to set the Isle Samos at liberty nor to succour the Samians that they enterprised this warre but rather to chastice the Samians for that they had intercepted and taken away a faire standing cup of gold sent by them as a present unto king Croesus and besides a goodly cuirace or brestplate sent unto them from king Amasis And yet we know for certaine that in all those daies there was not a city in Greece so desirous of honour nor so infest and deadly bent against tytants as Lacedaemon was for what other cuppe of gold or cuirace was there for which they chaced out of Corinth and Ambracia the usurping race of the Cypselidae banished out of Noxos the tyrant Lygdamis expelled out of Athens the children of Pisistratus drave out of Sicyone Aeschines exiled from Theses Symmachus delivered the Phocaeans from Aulis and turned Aristogenes out of Miletus as for the lordly deminions over Thessaly they utterly ruinated and rooted out which Aristomedes and Angelus usurped whom they suppressed and defaited by the meanes of Leotychidas their king But of these things I have written else where more exactly and at large Now if Herodotus saith true what wanted they of extreame folly and wickednesse in the highest degree indisavowing and denying a most just and honorable occasion of this warre to confesse that they made an invasion upon a poorer and miserable nation oppressed and afflicted under a tyrant and all in remembrance of a former grudge to be revenged for a small wrong upon a base minde and mechanicall avarice Now haply he had a fling at the Lacedaemonians and gave them a blur with his pen because in the traine and consequence of the story they came so just under it but the city of the Corinthians which was cleane out of his way he hath notwithstanding taken it with him and bespurted and dashed as he passed by with a most grievous slander and heavy imputation The Corinthians also quoth he did favor and second with great affection this voiage of the Lacedaemonians for to requite an hainous outrage and injury which they had received before time at the Samians handes And that was this Periander the tyrant of Corinth sent three hundred yoong boies that were the sonnes of the most noble persons in all Corfu to king Aliattes for to be guelded These youths arrived in the Isle Samos whō being landed the Samians taught how to sit as humble suppliants within the temple and sanctuary of Diana set before them for their nourishment certaine cakes made of Sesam seed hony And this forsoth was it that our trim historiographer calleth so great an outrage abuse offred by the Samians unto the Corinthians for which he saith the Lacedaemonians also were stirred up and provoked against them because they had saved the children of Greeks from eviration But surely he that fasteneth this reproch upon the Corinthians sheweth that the city was more wicked than the tyrant himselfe As for him his desire was to be revenged of the inhabitants of Corfu who had killed his sonne among them but the Corinthians what wrong received they of the Samians for which they should in hostile maner set upon them who opposed themselves and empeached so inhumane and barbarous crueltie to be committed and namely that they should revive and raise up againe an old cankred grudge and quarrels that had lien dead and buried the space of three generations and all in favour and maintenance of tyranny which had laine very grievous and unsupportable upon them and whereof being overthrowen and ruined as it is they cease not still to abolish and doe out the remembrance for ever Loe what outrage it was that the Samians committed upon the Corinthians but what was the revenge and punishment that the Corinthians devised against the Samians For if in good earnest they tooke indignation and were offended with the Samians it had beene meet not to have incited the Lacedaemonians but to have diverted them rather from levying warre upon Polycrates to the end that the tyrant not being defaited and put downe they might not have beene freed nor delivered from tyrannicall servitude But that which more is what occasion had the Corinthians to bee angrie with the Samians who though they desired yet could not save the Corcyreans children considering they tooke no displeasure against the Cnidians who not onely preserved but also restored them to their parents And verily the Corcyreans make no great regard nor speake ought of the Samians in this behalfe mary the Cnidians they remembred in the best maner for the Cnidians they ordeined honours priviledges and immunities and enacted publicke decrees to ratifie and confirme the same For these Cnidians sailing to the Isle of Samos arrived there drave out of the foresaid temple the guard of Pertander tooke the children foorth and brought them safe to Corfu according as Antenor the Candiot and Dionysius the Chalcidian in the booke of Foundations have left in writing Now that the Lacedaemonians undertooke this expedition not for to be quit with the Samians and to punish them but to deliver them rather from the tyrant and for to save them I will beleeve no other testimonie but the Samians themselves For they affirme that there is among them now standing a tombe or monument by them erected at the publike charges of the citie for the corps of Archias a citizen of Sparta whose memoriall they doe honour for that in the said service he fought valiantly and lost his life for which cause the posteritie descended from that man doe yet unto this day beare singular affection and do all the pleasures they can unto the Samians as Herodotus himselfe beareth witnesse Furthermore in his fifth booke he writeth that Clisthenes one of the most noble and principall personages of all Athens perswaded the priestresse Pythia to be a false prophetesse in mooving the Lacedaemonians alwaies by her answers that she gave out for to deliver the citie of Athens from the thirtie tyrants and thus unto a most glorious peece of worke and right just he adjoineth the imputation of so great an impietie and a damnable device of falshood and withall bereaveth god Apollo of that prophesie which is so good and honest yea
his body to be hanged up when he was dead and the other to be pricked whiles he was alive And this our Historiographer hath used this cruelty which they shewed unto Leonidas dead for a manifest proofe that the Barbarous king hated Leonidas in his life time above all men in the world And in avouching that the Thebans who sided with the Medes at Thermopylae were thus branded marked as slaves and afterwards being thus marked fought egerly in the behalfe of the same Barbarians before Plateae me thinks he may well say as Hippoclides the feat moriske dancers unto whom when at a feast he bestirred his legges and hopped artificially about the tables one said unto him Thou dancest truly Hippoclides answered againe Hippoclides careth not greatly for the trueth In his eighth booke he writeth that the Greeks being affrighted like cowards entred into a resolution for to flie from Artemisium into Greece and that when those of Euboea besought them to tarry still a while untill such time as they might take order how to bestow their wives children and familie they were nothing moved at their praiers nor gave any eare unto them untill such time as Themistocles tooke a peece of mony of them and parted the same betweene Eurybiades and Adimantus the Pretour or captaine of the Corinthians And then they staied longer and fought a navall battell with the Barbarians And verily Pindarus the Poet albeit he was not of any confederate city but of that which was suspected and accused to hold of the Medians side yet when he had occasion to make mention of the battell at Artemisium brake forth into this exclamation This is the place where Athens youth sometime as writers say Did with their bood of liberty the glorious groundworke lay But Herodotus contrariwise by whom some give out that Greece hath bene graced and adorned writeth that the said victory was an act of corruption bribery and mere theft and that the Greeks fought against their wils as being bought and sold by their captaines who tooke mony therefore Neither is here an end of his malice For all men in maner doe acknowledge and confesse that the Greeks having gotten the upper hand in sea fight upon this coast yet abandoned the cape Artemisium and yeelded it to the Barbarians upon the newes that they heard of the overthrow received at Thermopylae For it had bene no boot nor to any purpose for to have sitten still there and kept the sea for the behoofe of Greece considering that now the warre was hard at their dores within those straights and Xerxes master of all the Avenies But Herodotus feigneth that the Greeks before they were advertised of Leontidas death held a counsell and were in deliberation to flie For these be his words Being in great distresse quoth he and the Athenians especially who had many of their ships even the one halfe of their fleet shrewdly brused and shaken they were in consultation to take their flight into Greece But let us permit him thus to name or to reproch rather this retrait of theirs before the battell but he termed it before a flight and now at this present he calleth it a flight and hereafter he will give it the name of flight so bitterly is he bent to use this vile word flight But quoth he there came to the Barbarians presently after this in a barke or light pinnace a man of Estiaea who advertised them how the Greeks had quit the cape Artemisium and were fledde which because they could not beleeve they kept the messenger in ward and safe custody and thereupon put forth certaine swift foists in espiall to discover the trueth What say you Herodotus What is it you write That they fled as vanquished whom their very enimies themselves after the battell could not beleeve that they fled as supposing them to have had the better hand a great deale And deserveth this man to have credit given him when he writeth of one perticular person or of one city apart by it selfe who in one bare word spoileth all Greece of the victory He overthroweth and demolisheth the very Trophaee and monument that all Greece erected He abolisheth those titles and inscriptions which they set up in the honor of Diana on the East side of Artimisium calling all this but pride and vaineglory And as for the Epigram it ran to this effect From Asia land all sorts of nations stout When Athens youth sometime in navall fight Had vanquished and all these coasts about Disperst their fleet and therewith put to flight And staine the hast of Medes Loe heere in sight What monuments to thee with due respect Diana virgin pure they did erect He described not the order of the battels and how the Greeks were ranged neither hath he shewed what place every city of theirs held during this terrible fight at sea but in that retrait of their fleet which he termeth a flight he saith that the Corinthians sailed formost and the Athenians hinmost he should not then have thus troden under foot and insulted too much over those Greeks who tooke part with the Medes he I say who by others is thought to be a Thurian borne and reckoneth himselfe in the number of the Halicarnasseans and they verily being descended from the Dorians come with their wives and children to make warre against the Greeks But this man is so farre off from naming and alledging before the streights and necessities whereto those states were driven who sided with the Medians that he reporteth thus much of the Medians how notwithstanding the Phocaeans were their captiall enemies yet they sent unto them aforehand that they would spare their countrey without doing any harme or damage unto it if they might receive from them as a reward fifite talents of silver And this wrote he as touching the Phocaeans in these very termes The Phocaeans quoth he were the onely men who in these quarters sided not with the Medians for no other cause as I finde upon mature consideration but in regard of the hatred which they bare against the Thessalians for if the Thessalians had bene affected to the Greeks I suppose the Phocaeans would have turned to the Medes And yet a little after himselfe wil say that thirteene cities of the Phocaeans were set on fire and burnt to ashes by the Barbarian king their countrey laid waste the temple within the citie Abes consumed with fire their men and women both put to the sword as many as could not gaine the top of the mount Pernassus Neverthelesse he rangeth them in the number of those that most affectionatly tooke part with the Barbarians who indeed chose rather to endure all extremities and miseries that warre may bring than to abandon the defence and maintenance of the honour of Greece And being not able to reproove the men for any deeds committed he busied his braines to devise false imputations forging and framing with his pen divers surmises and suspicions against them not
be blamed if haply they be not well used but impure all the fault unto them that abuse the same And therefore if any one from his childhood shall be well instructed and trained up in Musicke and withall employ his labour and diligence therein he will receive and approove that which is honest and commendable blame also he will and reject the contrary not in musicke onley but in all things else and such a one will decline all unhonest and unwoorthy actions and thus reaping from musicke the greatest and best contentment that can be he may benefit exceeding much as well himselfe as his whole countrey using no word nor deed unseemely but observing at all times and in every place that which is befitting decent temperate and elegant Moreover that cities and states best governed by pollicie and good lawes have alwaies had a speciall regard of generous and good musicke many and sundry testimonies may be alledged and namely a man may very well cite to this purpose Terpander who suppressed in times past the great sedition and civill descord that was in Lacedaemon Thales also the Candiot who went as it is said by the commandement and oracle of Apollo to Lacedaemon and there cured the citizens and delivered them from that great pestilence which reigned in that citie and all by the meanes of musicke as writeth Pratinas Homer also himselfe saith that the plague which afflicted the Greeks was by musicke staied and appeased Then all day long the Grecian youth in songs melodious Besought god Phoebus of his grace to be propitious Phoebus I say who from a farre doth shoot his arrowes nie They chaunt and praise who takes great joy to heare such harmonie with these verses as with Corollarie good master I will conclude this my discourse of Musicke and the rather because you first by the very same verses commended unto us the force and power of Musicke for in very trueth the principall and most commendable worke thereof is thanksgiving unto the gods and the acknowledgement of their grace and favour the second and that which next followeth is a sanctified heart a pure consonant and harmonicall estate of the soule When Soterichus had said Thus you have quoth he my good master heard us discourse of Musicke round about the boord as we sit And verily Soterichus was highly admired for that which he had delivered for he shewed evidently both by his voice and visage how much he was affected unto Musicke what study he had emploied thereto Then my master Over and above other things this also I commend in you both that you have kept your owne course and place the one as well as the other For Lysias hath furnished our feast with those things which are proper and meet for a Musician who knoweth onely to handle the lute or harpe and hath no farther skill than manuall practise Soterichus also hath taught us whatsoever concerneth both the profit and also the speculation thereof yea and withall comprehendeth therein the power and use of Musicke whereby he hath mended our fare and feasted us most sumptuously And I suppose verily that both of them have of purpose and that right willingly left thus much unto me as to draw Musicke unto feasts and banquets neither will I condemne them of timidity as if they were ashamed so to doe For if in any part of mans life certes in such feasts and mery meetings it is right profitable For according as good Homer saith Both song and daunce delight affoord And things that well beseeme the boord Neither would I have any man to inferre heereupon that Homer thought Musicke good for nothing else but to delight and content the company at a feast considering there is in those verses couched and hidden a more deepe and profound meaning For he brought Musicke to those times and places wherein it might profit and helpe men most I meane the feasts and meetings of our ancients and expedient it was to have her company there for that she is able to divert and temper the heat and strength of wine according as our Aristoxenus also else where saith Musicke quoth he is brought in thither because that whereas wine is wont to pervert overturne as well the bodies as the minds of those who take it immoderatly Musicke by that order symmetry and accord which is in it reduceth them againe into a contrary temperature and dulceth all And therefore Homer reporteth that our ancients used Musicke as a remedy and helpe at such a time But that which is principall and maketh Musicke above all things most venerable you have my good friend let passe and omitted For Pythagoras Archias Plato and all the rest of the old Philosophers doe hold that the motion of the whole world together with the revolution of the starres is not performed without Musicke For they teach that God framed all things by harmonie But to prosecute this matter more at large this time will not permit and besides it is a very high point and most Musicall to know in every thing how to keepe a meane and competent measure This said he sung an hymne and after he had offered a libation of wine unto Saturne and to all the gods his children as also to the Muses he gave his guests leave to depart OF THE FORTVNE OR VERTUE OF K. Alexander The Summarie IN this treatise and that which followeth framed both in forme of a declamation Plutarch magnifieth Alexander a praise worthy prince for many good parts that were in him wherein he sheweth also that we ought to attribute unto vertue and not to fortune those brave exploits which he performed By fortune he meaneth that course of the affarres in this world whereby it falleth out many times that the wisest men are not alwaies most happy and best advanced To proove therefore that Alexander was endued with exquisit qualities for execution of those enterprises which by him were atchieved afterwordes and brought to an end he compareth him in the beginning of this treatise with the kings of Persia raised up to their greatnesse by fortune and then sheweth that Alexander being an excellent Philosopher we ought not to wonder or be astonished if by his vertue he saw the end of many things which the most fortunate princes of the world durst never take in hand and begin Now the better to set out the excellencie of this Philosophy of Alexander he compareth his scholars with the disciples of Plato and Socrates proving that those of this prince surpassed the others as much as a good deed or benefit done to an infinit number of men surmounteth a good speech or instruction given to some perticular persons the most part of whom make no account thereof He proceedeth forward and discribeth the wisdome and sufficiencie of Alexander in politicke government which he amplifieth by the consider ation of his amiable behaviour and lovely cariage toward those nations which by him were subdued also by the recitall of some notable
were so fierce and untractable used those robes and habillimonts which were proper usuall and familiar to them and all to gaine their hearts by little and little mollifying by that meanes the fiercenesse of their courage pacifying their displeasure and dulcing their grimnesse and austeritie would any man blame or reproove and not rather honour and admire his politicke wisdome in that with a little change and altering of his garments he had the dexteritie and skill to gaine all Asia and lead it as he would making himselfe thus by his armour master and lord of their bodies and by his apparell alluring and winning their hearts And yet these men commend Aristippus the Philosopher and disciple of Socrates for that one while wearing a poore thinne and thred-bare cloke and another while putting on a rich mantell of tissew wrought and died at Miletus he knew how to keepe decorum and decently to behave himselfe as well in the one garment as the other meane while they blame and condemne Alexander in that as he honored the habit of his owne countrey so he disdained not the apparell of another which he had conquered by armes intending therby to lay the ground-worke foundation of greater matters for his desseigne and purpose was not to over-runne and waste Asia as a captaine and ring-leader of a rable of theeves and robbers would doe nor to sacke and racke harry and worrie it as the praie and booty of unexpected and unhoped for felicity like as afterwards Anniball did by Italy and before time the Trierians delt by Ionia and the Scythians by Asia who made havocke and waste as they went but as one who meant to range all the nations upon earth under the obedience of one and the same reason and to reduce all men to the same policie as citizens under government of a common-weale therefore thus he composed and transformed himselfe in his raiment and habit And if that great God who sent the soule of Alexander from heaven to earth below had not so suddenly called it away againe unto himselfe peradventure there had beene but one law to rule and overlooke all men living the whole world haply had beene governed by one and the same justice as a common light to illustrate all places whereas now those parts of the earth which never had a sight of Alexander remaine in the shadow of darknesse as destitute of the very light of the sunne and therefore the very first project of his expedition and voiage sheweth that he caried the minde of a true Philosopher indeed who aimed not at the gaining for himselfe daintie delights and costly pleasures but intended to procure and compasse an universall peace concord unitie and societie of all men living one with another In the second place consider we his words and sentences for that in other kings and potentates also their maners and intentions of their minde are principally bewraied by their speeches Antigonus the elder when a certeine Sophister upon a time presented and pronounced unto him certeine commentaries and treatises which he had composed as touching justice Good fellow quoth he thou art a foole to come and preach unto one of justice when thou seest me bending mine ordinance against the cities of other princes and battering their wals as I do Denys also the tyrant was wont to say that we should deceive children with dies and cockal bones but beguile men with othes And upon the tombe of Sardanapalus was engraven this epitaph What I did eat and drinke I have the sports also remaine Which lady Venus did vouchsave all else I count but vaine Who can denie but that by the last of those speeches and apophthegmes sensuall lust and voluptuousnesse was authorized by the second Atheisme and impietie and by the first injustice and avarice Now if you take away from the sayings of Alexander his roiall crowne and diademe the addition of Jupiter Amnion whose sonne he was stiled to be and the nobility of his birth certes you would say they were the sage sentences of Socrates Plato or Pythagoras For we must not stand upon the brave titles and proud inscriptions which Poets have devised to be imprinted or engraven upon his pictures images and statues having an eie and regard not to shew the modestie but to magnifie the puissance of Alexander as for example This image here that stands in brasse so bright Of Alexander is the portraict right Up toward heaven he both his eies doth cast And unto Jove seemes thus to speake at last Mine is the earth by conquest I it hold Thou Jupiter in heaven mayst be bold And another Of Jupiter that heavenly God of might The sonne am I Great Alexander hight These were the glorious titles which glavering Poets I say in flattery of his fortune fathered upon him But if a man would recount the true apophthegmes indeed of Alexander he may do well to beginne first at those which he delivered in his childhood for being in footmanship the swftest of all other yoong lads of his age when his familiar play-feeres and mates were in hand with him very earnestly to runne a course at the Olympian games for a prise he demanded of them againe whether he should meet with kings there for his concurrents in the race and when they answered No Then were the match quoth he not equally nor indifferently made wherin if I have the woorse a king shall be foiled and if I gaine the victorie I shall but conquer private persons When his father Philip chanced in a battell against the Triballians to be runne thorow the thigh with a launce and albeit that he escaped danger of death yet was much grieved and dismaied to limpe and halt thereupon as he did Be of good cheere good father quoth he and go abroad hardly in the sight of the whole world that at every step you tread and set forward you may be put in minde of your valour and vertue How say you now proceed not these answeres from a Philosophicall minde and shew they not an heart which being ravished with a divine instinct and ardent love of good and honest things careth not for the defects of the bodie for how greatly thinke you joyed and gloried he in the wounds that he received in his owne person who in every one of them bare the testimony and memoriall of some nation subdued some battell won of some cities forced by assaile or of some kings that yeelded to his mercie Certes he never tooke care to cover and hide his scarres but caried them about him and shewed them where ever he went as so many marks and tokens engraved to testifie his vertue and prowesse And if at any time there grew some comparison either by way of serious disputation in points of learning or in table talke as touching the verses of Homer which of them were best when some seemed to commend this verse others that he would evermore preferre this above all other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A
seeme that it is found what time as Nilus beginnes to flow and therefore the said fish by his appearing signifieth the rising and inundation of Nilus whereof they be exceeding joious holding him for a certeine and sure messenger But the priests absteme from all fishes ingenerall and whereas upon the ninth 〈◊〉 of the first moneth all other inhabitants of Aegypt seede upon a certeine broiled or rosted fish before their dores the priests in no wise taste thereof mary they burne fishes before the gates of their houses and two reasons they have the one holy fine and subtile which I will deliver hereafter as that which accordeth and agreeth very well to the sacred discourses as touching Osiris and Typhon the other plaine vulgar and common represented by the fish which is none of the viands that be necessary rare and exquisit according as Homer beareth witnesse when he brings not in the Phaeacians delicate men loving to feed daintily nor the Ithacesians Ilanders to eat fish at their feasts no nor the mates and fellow travellers with Ulysses during the time of their long navigation and voiage by sea before they were brought to extreame necessity To be briefe the very sea it selfe they thinke to be produced a part by fire without the bounds limits of nature as being no portion nor element of the world but a strange excrement a corrupt superfluity and unkinde maladie For nothing absurd and against reason nothing fabulous and superstitious as some untruly thinke was inserted or served as a sacred signe in their holy ceremonies but they were all markes grounded upon causes and reasons morall and the same profitable for this life or else not without some historicall or naturall elegancy As for example that which is said of the oinion for that Dictys the foster father of Isis fell into the river of Nilus and was there drowned as he was reaching at oinions and could not come by them it is a mere fable and carieth no sense or probability in the world but the trueth is this the priests of Isis hate the oinion and avoid it as a thing abominable because they have observed that it never groweth nor thriveth well to any bignesse but in the decrease and waine of the Moone Neither is it meet and fit for those who would lead an holy and sanctified life or for such as celebrate solemne feasts and holidaies because it provoketh thirst in the former and in the other causeth teares if they feed thereupon And for the same reason they take the sow to be a prophane and uncleane beast for that ordinarily she goeth a brimming and admitteth the bore when the Moone is past the full and looke how many drinke of her milke they breake out into a kinde of leprosie or drie skurfe all over their bodies As touching the tale which they inferre who once in their lives doe sacrifice a sow when the Moone is in the full and then eat her flesh namely that Typhon hunting and chasing the wilde swine at the full of the Moone chanced to light upon an arke or coffin of wood wherein was the body of Osiris which he dismembred and threwaway by peece meale all men admit not thereof supposing that it is a fable as many others be misheard and misunderstood But this for certaine is held that our ancients in old time so much hated and abhorred all excessive delicacy superfluous and costly delights and voluptuous pleasures that they said within the temple of the city of Thebes in Aegypt there stood a square columne or pillar wherein were engraven certaine curses and execrations against their king Minis who was the first that turned and averted the Aegyptians quite from their simple and frugal maner of life without mony without sumptuous fare chargeable delights It is said also that Technatis the father of Bocchoreus in an expedition or journey against the Arabians when it chaunced that his cariages were far behind and came not in due time to the place where he incamped was content to make his supper of whatsoever he could get so to take up with a very small and simple pittance yea and after supper to lie upon a course and homely pallet where he slept all night very soundly and never awoke whereupon he ever after loved sobrietie of life srugality cursed the foresaid king Minis which malediction of his being by the priests of that time approved he caused to be engraven upon the pillar abovesaid Now their kings were created either out of the order of their priests or else out of the degree of knights and warriors for that the one estate was honored and accounted noble for valour the other for wisdome and knowledge And looke whomsoever they chose from out of the order of knighthood presently after his election he was admitted unto the colledge of priests and unto him were disclosed and communicated the secrets of their Philosophy which under the vaile of fables and darke speeches couched and covered many mysteries through which the light of the trueth in some sort though dimly appeare And this themselves seeme to signifie and give us to understand by setting up ordinarily before the porches and gates of their temples certaine Sphinges meaning thereby that all their Theologie containeth under aenigmaticall and covert words the secrets of wisdome In the citie of Sais the image of Minerva which they take to be Isis had such an inscription over it as this I am all that which hath beene which is and which shall be and never any man yet was able to draw open my vaile Moreover many there be of opinion that the proper name of Jupiter in the Aegyptians language is 〈◊〉 of which we have in Greeke derived the word Ammon whereupon 〈◊〉 Jupiter Ammon but Manethos who was an Aegyptian himselfe of the citie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that by this word is signfied a thing hidden or occulation and 〈◊〉 the Abderite 〈◊〉 that the Aegyptians used this terme among themselves when they called one unto another for it was a vocative word and for that they imagined the prince and soveraigne of the gods to be the same that Pan that is to say an universall nature and therefore unseene hidden and unknowen they praied and be sought him for to disclose and make himselfe knowen unto them by calling him 〈◊〉 See then how the Aegyptians were very strict and precise in not profaning their wisdome nor publishing that learning of theirs which concerned the gods And this the greatest Sages and most learned clerkes of all Greece do testifie by name Solon Thales Plato Eudoxus Pythagoras as some let not to say Lycurgus himselfe who all travelled of a deliberate purpose into Aegypt for to confer with the priests of that country For it is constantly held that Eudoxus was the auditour of Chonupheus the priest of Memphis Solon of Sonchis the priest of 〈◊〉 Pythagoras of Oenupheus the priest of Heliopolis And verily this Pythagoras last named was highly
esteemed among those men like as him selfe had them in great admiration in so much as he of all others seemed most to imitate their maner of mysticall speaking under covert words to involve his doctrine and sentences within figurative aenigmaticall words for the characters which are called Hieroglyphicks in Aegypt be in maner all of them like to these precepts of Pythagoras Eat not upon a stoole or chaire Sit not over a bushell Plant no date tree Stirre not the fire in the house nor rake into it with a sword And me thinks that whereas the Pythagoreans call unitie Apollo Tiro Diana the number of seven Minerva and the first cubicke Neptune this resembleth very neere that which the Aegyptians consecrate dedicate in their temples and agreeth with that which they both do write For their king and lord Osiris they depaint and pourtray by an eie and a scepter and some there be who make this interpretation of the name Osiris as if it signified having many eies for that Os in the Aegyptian tongue betokeneth many and Iri an eie As for heaven they describe by a yoong countenance by reason of the perpetuity thereof whereby it never waxeth old An eie they set out by an heart having under it an hearth with fire burning upon it In the city of Thebes there stood up certeine images without hands resembling Judges and the chiefe or President among them was blindfolded or hoodwincked to give us to understand that justice should neither be corrupted with briberie nor partiall and respective of persons In the signet or seale ring of their 〈◊〉 and militarie men there was engraven the portracture of the great flie called the Beettill because in that kinde there is no female but they be all males they blow or cast their seed in forme of a pellet or round ball under dung which they prepare to be a place not for their food more than for their brood Whensoever therefore you shall heare the Aegyptians tell tales of the gods to wit of their vagarant and wandring perigrinations or of their dismembrings and other such like fabulous fictions you must call to minde that which we have before said and never thinke that they meane any such thing is or hath beene done according to that litterall sense for they do not say that Mercurie properly is a dog but forasmuch as the nature of this beast is to be wary watchfull vigilant and wise able to distinguish by his taking knowledge and semblance of ignorance a friend and familiar from an anemy and stranger therefore as Plato saith they attributed and likened him to the most eloquent of all the gods Neither doe they thinke when they describe the Sunne that out of the barke of the tree Lotus there ariseth a babe new borne but in this wise doe they represent unto us the Sunnerising giving thus much to understand covertly that the light and illumination of the Sunne proceedeth out of the waters of the sea for even after the same maner the most cruell and terrible king of the Persians Ochus who put to death many of his nobles and subjects and in the end slew their beefe Apis and eat him at a feast together with his friends they called The sword and even at this day in the register and catalogue of their kings he goeth under that name not signifying thereby his proper substance but to expresse his hard and fell nature and his mischievous disposition they compared him to a bloudy instrument and weapon made to murder men In hearing then and receiving after this maner that which shal be tolde unto you as touching the gods after an holy and religious maner in doing also and observing alwaies diligently the accustomed rites ordeined for the sacred service of the gods and beleeving firmely that you can not performe any sacrifice or liturgy more pleasing unto them than to study for to have a sound and true opinion of them by this meanes you shall avoid superstition which is as great a sinne as impietie and Atheisme Now the fable of Isis and Osiris is as briefly as may be by cutting off many superfluous matters that serve to no purpose delivered in this wise It is said that dame Rhea at what time as Saturne lay secretly with her was espied by the Sunne who cursed her and among other maledictions praied that she might not be delivered nor bring forth child neither in any moneth nor yeere but Mercurie being inamoured of this goddesse companied likewise with her and afterwards as he plaied at dice with the Moone and won from her the seventieth part of every one of her illuminations which being all put together make five entire daies he added the same unto the three hundred and threescore daies of the yeere and those odde daies the Aegyptians do call at this present the daies of the Epact celebrating and solemnizing them as the birthdaies of their gods for that when the full time of Rhea was expired upon the first day of them was Osiris borne at whose birth a voice was heard That the lord of the whole world now came into light and some say that a certeine woman named Pamyle as she went to fetch water for the temple of Jupiter in the city of Thebes heard this voice commanding her to proclaime aloud That the Great King and Benefactour Osiris was now borne also for that Saturne committed this babe Osiris into her hands for to be noursed therefore in honour of her there was a festivall day solemnized named thereupon Pamylia much like unto that which is named Phallephoria unto Priapus On the second day she was delivered of Aroueris who is Apollo whom some likewise call the elder Orus Upon the third day she brought forth Typhon but he came not at the just time nor at the right place but brake thorow his mothers side and issued foorth at the wound On the fourth day was Isis borne in a watery place called Panhygra And the fifth day she was delivered of Nephthe who of some is named also Teleute and Venus others call her Nice Now it is said that she conceived Osiris and Aroueris by the Sunne Isis by Mercurie Typhon and Nephthe by Saturne which is the cause that the kings reputing the third of these intercalar daies to be desasterous and dismall dispatched no affaires thereupon neither did they cherish themselves by meat and drinke or otherwise untill night that Nephthe was honoured by Typhon that Isis and Osiris were in love in their mothers bellie before they were borne and lay together secretly and by slealth and some give out that by this meanes Aroueris was begotten and borne who by the Aegyptians is called Orus the elder and by the Greeks Apollo Well during the time that Osiris reigned king in Aegypt immediatly he brought the Aegyptians from their needy poore and savage kinde of life by teaching them how to sow and plant their grounds by establishing good lawes among them and by shewing
who hold and affirme such fables as these touching the blessed and immortall nature whereby especially we conceived in our minde the deity to be true and that such things were really done or hapned so indeed We ought to spit upon their face And curse such mouthes with all disgrace as Aeschylus saith I need not say unto you for that you hate and detest those enough alreadie of your selfe who conceive so barbarous and absurd opinions of the gods And yet you see verie well that these be not narrations like unto old wives tales or vaine and foolish fictions which Poets or other idle writers devise out of their owne fingers ends after the maner of spiders which of themselves without any precedent subject matter spin their threeds weave and stretch out their webbes for evident it is that they conteine some difficulties and the memorials of certeine accidents And like as the Mathematicians say that the rainbow is a representation of the Sunne and the same distinguished by sundry colours by the refraction of our eie-sight against a cloud even so this fable is an apparence of some doctrine or learning which doeth reflect and send backe our understanding to the consideration of some other trueth much after the maner of sacrifices wherein there is mingled a kinde of lamentable dole and sorrowfull heavinesse Semblably the making and disposition of temples which in some places have faire open Isles and pleasant allies open over head and in other darke caves vaults and shrouds under the earth resembling properly caves sepulchers or charnell vauts wherein they put the bodies of the dead especially the opinion of the Osirians for albeit the bodie of Osiris be said to be in many places yet they name haply Abydus the towne or Memphis a little citie where they affirme that his true body lieth in such sort as the greatest and welthiest persons in Aegypt usually doe ordeine and take order that their bodies be interred in Abydus to the end they may lie in the same sepulchre with Osiris and at Memphis was kept the beese Apis which is the image and figure of his soule and they will have his body also to be there Some likewise there be who interpret the name of this towne as if it should signifie the haven and harbour of good men others that it betokeneth the tombe of Osiris and there is before the gate of the citie a little Isle which to all others is inaccessible and admitteth no entrance insomuch as neither fowles of the aire will there light nor fishes of the sea approch thither onely at one certeine time the priests may come in and there they offer sacrifices and present oblations to the dead where also they crowne and adorne with flowers the monument of one Mediphthe which is overshadowed and covered with a certeine plant greater and taller than any olive tree Eudoxus writeth that how many sepulchres soever there be in Aegypt wherein the corps of Osiris should lie yet it is in the citie Busiris for that it was the countrey and place of his nativitie so that now there is no need to speake of Taphosiris for that the very name it selfe saith enough signifying as it doeth the sepulture of Osiris Well I approove the cutting of the wood and renting of the linnen the effusions also and funerall libaments there performed because there be many mysteries mingled among And so the priests of Aegypt affirme that the bodies not of these gods onely but also of all others who have beene engendred and are not incorruptible remaine among them where they honoured and reverenced but their soules became starres and shine in heaven and as for that of Isis it is the same which the Greekes call Cyon that is to say the dogge-starre but the Aegyptians Sothis that of Orus is Orion and that of Typhon the Beare But whereas all other cities and states in Aegypt contribute a certeine tribute imposed upon them for to pourtray draw and paint such beasts as are honored among them those onely who inhabite the countrey Thebais of all others give nothing thereto being of opinion that no mortall thing subject to death can be a god as for him alone whom they call Cneph as he was never borne so shall he never die Whereas therefore many such things as these be reported and shewed in Aegypt they who thinke that all is no more but to perpetuate and eternize the memorie of marvelous deeds and strange accidents of some princes kings or tyrants who for their excellent vertue mighty puissance have adjoined to their owne glory the authoritie of deitie unto whom a while after there befell calamities use heerein a very cleanly shift and expedite evasion transferring handsomly from the gods unto men all sinister infamie that is in these fable and helpe themselves by the testimonies which they finde and read in histories for the Aegyptians write that Mercurie was but small of stature and slender limmed that Typhon was of a ruddy colour Orus white Osiris of a blackish hew as who indeed were naturally men Moreover they call Osiris captaine or generall Canobus pilot or governor of a ship after whose name they have named a starre and as for the shippe which the Greeks name Argo they hold that it was the very resemblance of Osiris ship which for the honour of him being numbred among the starres is so situate in heaven as that it mooveth and keepeth his course not farre from that of Orion and the Cyon or dogge-starre of which twaine the one is consecrate unto Horus the other to Isis. But I feare me that this were to stirre and remoove those sacred things which are not to be touched and medled withall and as much as to fight against not continuance of time onely and antiquitie as Simonides saith but also the religion of many sorts of people and nations who are long since possessed with a devotion toward these gods I doubt I say lest in so doing they faile not to transfer so great names as these out of heaven to earth and so goe very neere and misse but a little to overthrow and abolish that honour and beliefe which is ingenerate and imprinted in the hearts of all men even from their very first nativitie which were even to set the gates wide open for a multitude of miscreants and Atheists who would bring all divinity to humanity and deitie to mans nature yea and to give a manifest overture and libertie for all the impostures and jugling casts of Euemerus the Messenian who having himselfe coined and devised the originals of fables grounded upon no probability nor subject matter but even against the course of reason and nature spred and scattered abroad throughout the world all impietie transmuting and changing all those whom we repute as gods into the names of admirals captaines generall and kings who had lived in times past according as they stand upon record by his saying written in golden letters within the citie
gratifieth them nothing at all nor deserveth any thanks and that which worse is because no man will beleeve that he giveth be it never so little for nothing he incurreth the suspicion and obloquie of being cautelous illiberall and simply naught But forasmuch as the gifts that be in the nature of silver gold and temporall goods be in regard of beautie and liberall courtesie farre inferiour to those which go in the kinde of good letters and proceed from learning it standeth well with honesty both to give such and also to demand the like of those who receive the same And therefore in sending presently unto you and for your sake unto those friends about you in those parts certeine discourses gathered together as touching the Temple and Oracle of Apollo Pythius as an offering of first fruits I confesse that I expect from you others againe both more in number and better in value considering that you live in a great city have more leasure and enjoy the benefit of more books and all sort of scholasticall conferences and learned exercises And verily it seemeth that our good and kinde Apollo doth indeed remedy ease and assoile the doubtfull difficulties ordinarily incident to this life of ours by giving answer unto those who repaire unto his Oracle but such as concerne matter of learning he putteth forth and proposeth himselfe unto that part of our minde which naturally is given to Philosophize and study wisedome imprinting therein a covetous desire to know and understand the trueth as may appeare by many other examples and namely in this petie mot EI consecrated in his temple For it is not like that it was by meere chance and adventure nor by a lotterie as it were of letters shuffled together that this word alone should have the preeminence with this god as to precede and goe before all others ne yet that it should have the honour to be consecrated unto God or 〈◊〉 in the temple as a thing of speciall regard for to be seene and beheld but it must needs be that either the first learned men who at the beginning had the charge of this temple knew some particular and exquisit propertie in this word or els used it as a device to symbolize some matter of singularity or covertly to signifie a thing of great consequence Having therefore many times before cleanly put by and avoided or passed over this question proposed in the schooles for to be discussed and discoursed upon of late I was surprized and set upon by mine owne children upon occasion that I was debating with certeine strangers as desirous to satisfie them whom being ready to depart out of the city of Delphi it was no part of civility either to deteine long or altogether to reject having so earnest a minde to heare me say somewhat When therefore as we were set about the temple I beganne partly to looke unto some things my selfe and partly to demand and enquire of them I was put in minde and admonished by the place and matters then handled of a former question which before-time when Nero passed thorow these parts I heard Ammonius to discourse and others besides in this very place and as touching a question of the same difficultie likewise propounded For consideting that this god Apollo is no lesse a Philosopher than a Prophet Ammonius then delivered that in regard thereof the surnames might very well be fitted and applied which were attributed unto him very rightly and with good reason shewing and declaring that he is Pythius a Questionist to those who begin to learne and enquire Delius and Phanaeus that is to say cleere and lightsome unto such as have the trueth a little shining and appearing unto them Ismenius that is to say skilfull and learned unto as many as have atteined unto knowledge already and Leschenorius as one would say Eloquent os Discoursing when they put their science in practise and make use thereof proceeding for to conferre dispute and discourse one with another And for that it apperteineth unto Philosophers to enquire admire and cast doubts by good right the most part of divine matters belonging to the gods are couched hidden under darke aenigmes and covert speeches and thereupon require that a man should demand why and whether as also to be instructed in the cause As for example about the maintenance of the immortall or eternall fire Why of all kinds of wood they burne the Firre only Also Wherefore they never make any perfume but of the Laurell Likewise What is the reason that in this temple there be no more but two images of two destinies or fatall sisters named Parcae whereas in all places els there be three of them Semblably What should be the cause that no woman whatsoever she be is permitted to have accesse unto this Oracle for counsell or resolution Againe What is the reason of that fabricke or three footed table and such other matters which invite allure and draw those who are not altogether witlesse void of sense and reason to aske to see and heare somewhat yea and to dispute about them what they should meane And to this purpose doe but marke and consider these inscriptions standing in the forefront of this Temple Know thy selfe and Nothing too much what a number of questions and learned disputations they have moved also what a multitude of goodly discourses have sprung proceeded from such writings as out of some seed or graine of corne And this will I say unto you that the matter now in question is no lesse fertile and plentifull than any one of the other When Ammonius had thus said my brother Lamprias began in this wise And yet quoth he the reason which we all have heard as touching this question is very plaine and short For reported it is that those ancient Sages or wise men who by some are named Sophisters were indeed of themselves no more than five to wit Chilon Thales Solon Bias and Pittacus But when first Cleobulus the tyrant of the Lindians and then Periander the tyrant likewise of Corinth who had neither of them any one jot of vertue or wisdome by the greatnesse of their power by the number of their friends and by many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents acquired forcibly this reputation in despite of all usurped the name of Sages and to this purpose caused to be spred sowen and divulged throughout all Greece certaine odde sentences and notable sayings as well as those of the others wherewith the former Sages above named were discontented Howbeit for all this these five wisemen would in no hand discover and convince their vanity nor yet openly contest and enter into termes of quarell with them about this reputation ne yet debate the matter against so mighty personages who had so great meanes of countenance in the world but being assembled upon a time in this place after conference together they consecrated and dedicated here the letter E which as it standeth fifth
be made much of and loved for their good conceit and pleasant wit because they repose the notion of god in that which of all things that they know and desire they honour and reverence most And now so long as we are in this life as if we dreamed the most beautifull dreame that a man could imagine of this god Apollo let us excite and stirre up our mindes to passe yet farther and mount higher for to contemplate and behold that which is above our selves in adoring principally indeed his essence but yet honoring withall his image to wit the Sunne and that generative vertue which he hath infused into it for to produce and bring forth representing in some sort by his brightnesse some obscure resemblances and darke shewes of his clemency benignity and blessednesse as far forth as it is possible for a sensible nature to shew an intellectuall and for that which is movable to expresse that which is stable and parmanent Moreover as touching I wot not what extasies and leapings forth of 〈◊〉 and his owne nature certaine strange alterations likewise as namely when he casteth fire and withall dismembreth and teareth himselfe as they say as also that he stretcheth dilateth and spreadeth forth and contrariwise how he gathereth and draweth in himselfe heere below into the earth the sea the windes the starres and uncouth accidents of beasts and plants they be such absurdities as are not to be named without impiety Or else if we admit them he will become worse than the little boy whom the Poets seigne playing upon the sea shore with an heape of sand which he first raised and then cast downe againe and scattered abroad if I say he should continually play at this game like fast and loose namely in framing the world first where before it was not and then anon destroying it so soone as it is made For contrariwise how much or how little soever of him is infused into the world the same in some sort containeth and confirmeth the substance thereof maintaining the corporall nature of it which otherwise by reason of infirmity and weakenesse tendeth alwaies to corruption In my conceit therefore against this opinion principally hath beene directly opposed this Mot and denomination of god EI that is to say Thou art as giving good testimony in his behalfe that in him there is never any change or mutation But either to do or suffer this as is beforesaid belongeth to any other god or rather indeed to any other Daemon ordained to have the superintendance of that nature which is subject both to generation and corruption as may appeare immediately by the significations of their names which are quite contrary and directly doe contradict one the other For our god here is named Apollo the other Pluto as if one would say Not Many and Many The one is cleped 〈◊〉 that is cleere and evident the other Aïdoneus that is to say obscure blinde and unseene Againe the former is named Phoebus which is as much as Shining or resplendent but the latter Scotius which is all one with Darke About him are seated the Muses and Mnemosyne that is to say Memory but neere to this are Lethe that is to say Oblivion and silence Our Apollo is surnamed Theorius and Phanaus of Seeing and shewing but Pluto is The Lord of night so bleake and darke Of idle sleeps that can not warke who also is To gods and men most odious And to them as malicious Of whom Pindarus said not unpleasantly Condemn'd of all he was for that He never any childe begat And therefore Euripides to this purpose spake right well Soule-songs dirges libations funerall Faire Phoebus please not he likes them not at all And before him Stesichorus Apollo joies in mery songs in dances sports and plates But Pluto takes delight in sighs in groanes and plaints alwaies And Sophocles seemeth evidently to attribute unto either of them their musicall instruments by these verses The Psalterie and pleasant Lute With dolefull mones do not well sute For very late it was and but the other day to speake of that the pipe and hautboies durst presume to sound and be heard in matters of mirth and delight but in former times it drew folke to mourning and sorrow to heavie funerals convoies of the dead and in such cases and services emploied it was as it were not very honourable nor jocund and delectable howsoever after it came to be intermingled in all occasions one with another Mary they especially who confusedly have hudled the worship of the gods with the service of Daemons brought those instruments in request and reputation But to conclude it seemeth that this Mot EI is somewhat contrary unto the precept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet after a sort to accord and agree therewith For as the one is a word of devout admiration and reverent worship directed to God as eternall and everlasting so the other is an advertisement given unto men mortall to put them in minde of their fraile and weake nature AN EXPLANATION OF SUNDRY TEARMES SOMEWHAT obscure in this translation of Plutarch in favour of the unlearned Reader after the order of the Alphabet A. AUlus A forename among the Romans Abyrtace A deintie kinde of meat with the Medes other Barbarous nations sharpe quicke of taste to provoke and please the appetite composed of Leeks Garlike Cresses Senvie Pomgranate kirnels and such like Academie A shadowy place full of groves a mile distant from Athens where Plato the Philosopher was borne and wherein hee taught Of it the Academicke Philosophers tooke their name whose maner was to discourse and dispute of all questions but to determine and resolve of nothing And for the great frequence and concourse of scholars to that place our Universities and great schooles of learning be named Academies Aediles Certeine magistrates or officers in Rome who were of two sorts Plebeij and Curules Plebeij of the Commons onely two in number more ancient than the other chosen by the people alone to second and assist the Tribunes of the Commons as their right hands This name they tooke of the charge which they had to mainteine temples and chapels albeit they registred the Sanctions and Acts of the people called Plebiscita and kept the same in their owne custodie were Clerks of the Market and looked to weights and measures c. yea and exhibited the games and playes named Plebeij Curules were likewise twain elected out of the order and degree of the Patritij so called of the Yvorie chaire wherein they were allowed to sit as officers of greater state and by vertue whereof in some cases and at certein times they might exercise civill jurisdiction It belonged unto these to set forth the solemnities called Ludi Magni or Romani overseers they were likewise of the buildings thorowout the city aswell publike as private in maner of the Astynomi in Athens they had regard unto the publike vaults sinks conveiances and conduits
of the waters that served the city as also to the Arcenall c. Moreover they had power to attach the bodies of great persons and were charged to see unto the provision of corne and victuals At the first none but of noble families or Patricians were advanced to this place but in processe of time Commoners also atteined thereto More of them how in Iulius Casars time there were elected six Aediles whereof two were named Cereals See Alexander at Alexander lib. 4. cap. 4. Genial dieth Aegineticke Mna or Mina Seemeth to be the ancient coine or money of Greece for they were the first that coined money and of them came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caelius Rhodig Aeolius Modus In Musicke a certeine simple plaine and mild tune apt to procure sleepe and bring folke to bed Aequinox That time of the yeere when the daies and nights be of equall length which hapneth twice in the yeere to wit in March and September Aestivall that is to say Of the Summer as the Aestivall Solstice or Tropicke of the Sunne when he is come neerest unto us and returneth Southward from us Aloïdae or Aloïadae were Othus and Ephialtes two giants so named of Aloëus the giant their supposed father for of his wife Iphimedia Neptune begat them It is said that every moneth they grew nine fingers Alphabet The order or rew of Greeke letters as they stand so called of Alpha and Beta the two formost letters and it answereth to our A.B.C. Alternative By course or turnes one after another going and comming c. Amphictyones Were a certein solemne counsell of State in Greece who held twice in the yeere a meeting in the Spring and Autunne at Thermopyle being assembled from the 12 flourithing cities of Greece there to consult of most important affaires Amphitheatre A spacious shew place in forme round and made as it were of two Theaters See Theater Amphora A measure in Rome of liquors only It seemeth to take that name of the two eares it had of either side one it conteined eight Congios which are somewhat under as many of our wine gallons Amnets Preservatives hung about the necke or otherwise worne against witchcraft poison eiebiting sicknesse or any other evils Anarchie The state of a city or countrey without government Andria A societie of men meeting together in some publicke hall for to eat and drinke Instituted first among the Thebans like to the Phiditia in Lacedaemon Annales Histories Records or Chronicles conteining things done from yere to yeere Anniversarie Comming once enery yeere at a certeine time as the Nativity of Christ and Sturbridge faire c. Antarcticke That is to say Opposit unto the Arcticke See 〈◊〉 Antidote A medicine properly taken inwardly against a poison or some pestilent and venimous disease A counterpoison or preservative Antipathie A repugnance in nature by reason of contrarie affections whereby some can not abide the smell of roses others may not endure the sight of a Cat c. Antiparistasis A 〈◊〉 or restraint on every side whereby either colde or heat is made stronger in it selfe by the restraining of the contrary as the naturall heat of our bodies in Winter through the coldnesse of the aire compassing it about likewise the coldnesse of the middle region of the aire in Summer by occasion of the heat on both sides cansing thunder and haile c. Antiphonie A noise of contrarie sounds Antipodes Those people who inhabit under and beneath our Hemisphaere and go with their feet full against ours Apathte Impassibilitie or voidnesse of all affections and passions Apaturia A feast solemnized for the space of foure daies at Athens in the honour of Bacchus So called of Apate that is to say Deceit because Xanthius the Boeotian was in single fight slaine deceitfully by Thimoeles the Athenian For the tale goeth that whiles they were in combat Bacchus appeared behind Xanthius clad in a goats skinne and when Thimoeles charged his concurrent for comming into the field with an assistant as he looked backe he was killed by Thimoeles abovenamed Apologie A plea for the defence or excuse of any person Apothegme A short sententious speech Apoplexie A disease comming suddenly in maner of a stroke with an universall astonishment and deprivation of sense and motion which either causeth death quickely or else endeth in a dead palsey Archontes Were chiefe magistrates at Athens at first every tenth yeere and afterwards yeerely chosen by lot unto whom the rule of the common-welth in their popular state was committed of whom the first was named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say King the second Archon that is to say Ruler the third Polemarchus and the other six Thesmothelae Arctick that is to say Northerly so called of Arctos in Greeke which signifieth the Beare that is to say those conspicuous seaven starres in the North named Charlematns waine neere unto which is that pole or point of the imaginarie axell-tree about which the heavens turne which thereupon is named The pole Arctick and over against it underneath our Hemisphaere is the other pole called Antarctick in the South part of the world Aristocratre A forme of Government or a State wherein the nobles and best men be Rulers To Aromatize that is to say To season or make pleasant by putting thereto some sweete and odoriferous spices Astragalote Mastis A scourge or whip the strings whereof are set and wrought with ankle-bones called Astragali thereby to give a more grievous lash Atomi Indivisible bodies like to motes in the Sunne beames of which Democritus and Epicurus imagined all things to be made Atticke pure that is to say The most fine and eloquent for in Athens they spake the purest Greeke insomuch as Thucydides called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Greece of Greece as one would say the very quintenssence of Greece Averrunct or Averruncani Were gods among the Romans supposed to put by and chace away evils and calamities such as Hercules and Apollo among the Greekes called thereupon Apotropaei Auspices Plutarch seemeth to take for Augures that is to say Certeine priests or soothsaiers who by the inspection and observation of birds did foretell future things Axiomes Were principal propositions in Logicke of as great authoritie and force as Maximes in law and it should seeme that those Maximes be derived corruptly from Axiomes B BAcchanalta named also 〈◊〉 Certein licentious festivall solemnities in the honor of Bacchus performed at the first by day light and afterward in the night season with all maner of filthy wantonnesse instituted first in Athens and other cities of Greece euery three yeeres in Aegypt also at last they were taken vp in Italy and at Rome Bacchiadae A noble familie in Corinth who for the space almost of 200. yeeres there ruled Bachyllion A song or daunce which seemeth to take the name of a famous Tragoedian poet named Bachyllus who devised and practised it like as Pyladion of Pylades as notable a Comoedian
Barbarisme A rude and corrupt maner of speech full of barbarous and absonant words Basis The flat piedstall or foote of a Columne pillar statue or such like whereupon it standeth Baeotarches or Baeotarchae The soueraigne magistrate or Ruler of the Boeotians Baeotius a kinde of Mesure or Note in Musick used in Baeotia C CAius A common forename to many families in Rome and Caia to the woman kinde as usuall as John and Jone with us as appeereth by this forme of speech ordinary in mariage Where thou art Caius I will be Caia Calends See Kalends Callasitres Hardnesse in maner of brawn as in the skinne of hands or feet occasioned by much labour and trauell Cancerous that is to say Resembling a certeine hard tumor or swelling occasioned by melancholicke bloud named a Cancer for the likenesse it hath to a crab-fish named in Latine Cancer partly for the swelling veines appearing about it like unto the feet or cleis of the said fish and in part for that it is not easily remooved no more than the crab if it once settle to a place lastly because the colour is not much unlike This swelling if it breake out into an ulcer hardly or unneth admitteth any cure and by some is called a Wolfe Candyli A kind of dainty meat made with hony and milke Candys an ornament of the Persians Medians and other East nations much like to a Diademe Catamite A boy abused against kinde a baggage Cataplasme A pultesse or grosse maner of plaster To Cauterize To burne or seare with a red hot iron or other mettall Cenotaph An emptie Tombe or Sepulcher wherein no corps is interred Censours Magistrates of State in Rome whose charge was to valew and estimate mens goods and enroll them accordingly in their seuerall ranges Also to demise unto certaine farmers called Publicanes the publicke profits of the city for a rent and to put foorth the city works unto them to be undertaken at a price Likewise their office it was to oversee mens maners whereby oftentimes they woulde deprive Senatours of their dignitie take from Gentlemen their horses of service and rings displace commanders out of their owne tribe disable them for giving voices and make them AErarij Centre The middle pricke of a circle or globe equally distant from the circumference thereof Centumviri A certeine Court of Judges in Rome chosen three out of every tribe And albeit there were 35. tribes and the whole number by that account amounted to an hundred and five yet in round reckoning and by custome they went under the name of an hundred and therefore were called Centumviri Cercopes Certaine ridiculous people inhabiting the Iland Pitherusa having tailes like monkeys good for nought but to make sport Chalons A small piece of brasse money the eighth part or as some say the sixth of the Atticke Obolus somewhat better than halfe a farthing or a cue Chromaticke Musicke Was soft delicate and effeminate ful of descant fained voices and quavering as some are of opinion Cidaris An ornament of the head which in Persia Media and Armenia the Kings and High priests wore with a blew band or ribband about it beset with white spots Cinaradae A familie descended from Cinaras Some read Cinyradae and Cinyras Circumgyration A turning or winding round Cn. A forename to some houses in Rome Colian earth So called of Colias a promontory or hill in the territorie of Attica Colleague A fellow or companion in office Colonies Were townes wherein the Romanes placed citizens of their owne to inhabit either as Free-holders or tenants undertakers endowed with franchises and liberties diversly Erected first by Romulus Comoedia vetus Licentiously abused all maner of persons not forbearing to name and traduce upon the Stage even the best men such as noble Pericles wise Solon and just Aristides nay it spared not the very State it selfe and bodie of the Common-weale whereupon at length it was condemned and put downe Conctons Orations or speeches made openly before the body of the people such properly as the Tribunes of the Commons used unto them Congiarium a dole or liberall gift of some Prince or Noble person bestowed upon the people It tooke the name of that measure Congius much about our gallon which was given in oile or wine by the poll but afterwards any other such gift or distribution whether it were in other victuals or in money went under that name Consuls two in number Soveraigne Magistrates in Rome succeeding in the place of Kings with the same authoritie and roiall ensignes onely they were chosen yeerely Contignate Close set together so as they touch one another as houses adjoining Contusions Bruises dry-beatings or crushes Convulsions Plucking or shooting paines Cramps Cordax A lascivious and unseemly kinde of daunce used in Comoedies at the first but misliked afterwards and rejected Criticks Grammarians who tooke upon them to censure and judge Poemes and other works of authors such as Aristarchus was Criticall daies In Physicke be observed according to the motion of the humour and the Moone in which the disease sheweth some notable alteration to life or death as if the patient had then his dome In which regard we say that the seventh day is a king but the sixth a tyrant Cube A square figure as in Geometrie the Die having sixe faces foure square and even in Arithmeticke a number multiplied in it selfe as nine arising of thrice three and sixteene of foure times foure Curvature that is to say Bending round as in the felly of a wheele Corollarie An overdeale or overmeasure given more than is due or was promised Curule chaire A seat of estate among the Romans made of Ivorie whereupon certaine Magistrates were called Curules who were allowed to sit thereon as also Triumphes were named Curules when those that triumphed were gloriously beseene in such a chaire drawen with a chariot for distinction of Oration wherein Captaines rode on horsebacke onely Cyath A small measure of liquid things the twelfth part of Sextarius which was much about our wine quart So that a Cyath may go for three good spoonefuls and answereth in weight to an ounce and halfe with the better Cynicke Philosophers Such as Antisthenes Diogenes and their followers were so named of Cynosarges a grove or schoole without Athens where they taught or rather of their dogged and currish maner of biting barking at men in noting their lives over rudely D DEcius A forename For Decius although it were the Gentile name of an house in Rome yet grew afterwards to be a forename as Paulus and likewise forenames at the first in processe of time came to name Families D. Decimus A forename to certeine Romans as namely to Brutus surnamed Albinus one of the conspiratours that killed Iul. Caesar. Decade That which conteineth tenne as the Decades of Livie which consist every one of tenne books Democratie A free State or popular gouernment wherein every citizen is capable of soveraigne Magistracy Desiccative that is
cover or hide and so such cures be called Palliative which search not to the roote or cause of the disease but give a shew onely of a perfect cure as when a sore is healed up aloft and festereth underneath And thus sweet pomanders doe palliat a stinking breath occasioned by a corrupt stomacke or diseased lungs and such like P. Publius A forename to some Romane families Panathenaea A solemnity held at Athens wherein the whole city men women and children were assembled And such games dances and plaies as were then exhibited or what orations were then and there made they called Panathenaik Of two sorts these solemnities were once every yeere and once every fifth yeere which were called the greater Pancratium Plutarch taketh for an exercise of activity or mixt game of fist-fight and wrestling Howbeit other writers will have it to be an exercise of wrestling wherein one indevoureth with hand and foot and by all parts of his body to foile his adversary as also the practise of all the five feats of activity which is called Pentathlon and Quinquertium to wit buffetting wrestling running leaping and coiting Pancratiast One that is skilfull and professed in the said Pancration Paramese Next the meane or middle string A note in musicke B PA 〈◊〉 MI in space Paranete Hyperbolaean A treble string or note in musicke the last save one of trebles G SOL RE UT Panegyricke Feasts games faires marts pompes shewes or any such solemnities performed or exhibited before the generall assembly of a whole nation such as were the Olympicke Pythicke Isthmicke and Nemian games in Greece Orations likewise to the praise of any person at such an assembly be called Panegyricall Paradox A strange or admirable opinion held against the common conceit of men such as the Stoicks mainteined Periode A cercuit or compasse certeinly kept as we may observe in the course of Sunne and Moone and in the revolution of times and seasons in some agues also and other sicknesses that keepe a just time of their returne called therefore Periodicall Also the traine of a full sentence to the end and the very end it selfe is named a Periode Paranete 〈◊〉 A treble string or note in Musicke the last save one of disjuncts D LA SOL RE. Paranete Synemmenon or 〈◊〉 C SOL FA. Parhypate hypatōn that is to say Subprincipall of principals A string or note in Musicke C FA UT Parhypate Mesōn that is to say Subprincipall of meanes a string or note in Musicke F FA UT Peripateticks A sect of Philosophers the followers of Aristotle See Liceum Phiditia Were publicke hals in Lacedaemon where all sorts of citizens rich and poore one with another met to eat and drinke together at the publicke charges and had aequall parts allowed Philippicks Were invective orations made by Demosthenes the Oratour against Philip king of Macedony for the liberty of Greece And heereupon all invectives may be called Philippicke as those were of M. Tullius Cicero against Antonie Phrygius Modus Phrygian tune or musicke otherwise called Barbarian mooving to devotion used in sacrifices and religious worship of the gods for so some interpret Entheon in Lucianus others take it for incensing and stirring to furie To Pinguifie that is to say To make fat Plethoricall plight that is to say That state of the body which being full of bloud and other humours needeth evacuation whether the said fulnesse be ad vasa as the Physicians say when the said bloud and humours be otherwise commendable but offending onely in quality or ad vires when the same be distempered and offensive to nature and therefore would be ridde away which state is also called Cacochymie Polemarchus One of the nine Archontes or head magistrates in the popular state of Athens chosen as the rest yeerely Who notwithstanding that he reteined the name of Polemarchus that is to say a Captaine generall in the field such as in the Soveraigne government of the kings were emploied in warres and martiall service under them yet it appeareth that they had civill jurisdiction and ministred justice between citizens aliens of whō there were many in Athens like as the Archon for the time being was judge for the citizens onely Assistants he had twaine named Paredri who sat in commission with him Poliorceles A surname of Demetrius a valiant king of Macedonie and sonne of king Antigonus which addition was given unto him for beseeging of so many cities Polypragmon A curious busie body who loveth to meddle in many matters Pores The little holes of the skinne through which sweat passeth and fumes breath foorth Positions Such sentences or opinions as are held in disputation Praetour One of the superiour Magistrates of Rome In the citie he ruled as L. chiefe Justice and exercised civill jurisdiction Abroad in the province he commanded as L. Governour Deputie or Lieutenant Generall In the field he was L. General as well as the Consull At first the name of Consul Praetor and Judge was all one Primices First fruits Problemes that is to say Questions propounded for to be discussed Procatar cticke causes of sicknesse Be such as are evident and comming from without which yeeld occasion of disease but do not mainteine the same as the heat of the Sunne causing headach or the ague Prognosticke that is to say Foreknowing and foreshewing as the signes in a disease which foresignifie death or recovery Proscription an outlawing of persons in Rome with confiscation of their goods and selling the same in portsale and depriving them of publicke protection Prostambomene A RE a terme in Musicke signifying a String or Note taken in or to for otherwise of two Heptachords there would not arise 15. to admit a place in the middle for Mese that is to say the Meane to take part of two Eights or two Diapasons Prosodia A certeine hymne or tune thereto in maner of supplication to the gods and namely to Apollo and Diana at what time as a sacrifice was to be brought and presented before the altar Proteleia The sacrifice before mariage as also the gifts that ceremoniously went before Prytaneum A stately place within the castell of Athens wherein was a court held for judgement in certeine causes where also they who had done the Common-wealth singular service were allowed their diet at the cities charges which was accounted the greatest honour that could be Parhypate Hypaton A base string or note in musicke Subprincipall of principals C FA UT Parhypate Meson Subprincipall of meanes a meane string or note F FA UT Pyladion In musicke a kinde of note bearing the name of Pylades a Poet comicall and skilfull master in musicke Pyramidal Formed like unto the Pyramis which is a geometricall body solid broad beneath and rising up one all sides which be flat and plaine unto a sharpe point like a steeple It taketh the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Fire which naturally hath that figure Pythia or Phoebas The
and understanding the elephants as king Juba writeth shew unto us an evident example for they that hunt them are woont to dig deepe trenches and thatch them over with a thinne cote of light straw or some small brush Now when one of the heard chanceth to fall into a trench for many of them use to go and feed together all the rest bring a mighty deale of stones rammell wood and whatsoever they can get which they fling into the ditch for to fill it up to the end that their fellow may have meanes thereby to get up againe The same writer recordeth also that elephants use to pray unto gods to purifie themselves with the sea water and to adore the sunne rising by lifting up their trunked snout into the aire as if it were their hād all thus of their own accord untaught And to say a truth of all beasts the elephant is most devout religious as K. Ptolemaeus Philopater hath wel testified for after he had defaited Antiochus was minded to render condign thanks unto the gods for so glorious a victorie among many other beasts for sacrifice he slew foure elephants but afterwards being much disquieted and troubled in the night with fearefull dreames and namely that God was wroth and threatned him for such an uncouth and strange sacrifice hee made meanes to appease his ire by many other propitiatorie oblations and among the rest hee dedicated unto him fower elephants of brasse in steed of those which were killed no lesse is the sociable kindnesse and good nature which lions shew one one unto another for the yoonger sort which are more able and nimble of body lead forth with them into the chace for to hunt and prey those that be elder and unweldy who when they be weary sit them downe and rest waiting for the other who being gone forward to hunt if they meet with game and speed then they all set up a roaring note altogether much like unto the bellowing of bulles and thereby call their fellowes to them which the old lions hearing presently runne unto them where they take their part and devour they prey in common To speake of the amatorious affections of brute beasts some are very savage and exceeding furious others more milde and not altogether unlike unto the courting and wooing used betweene man and woman yea I may say to you smelling somewhat of wanton and venerious behaviour and such was the love of an elephant a counter suter or corrivall with Aristophanes the grammarian to a woman in Alexandria that sold chaplets or garlands of flowers neither did the elephant shew lesse affection to her than the man for hee would bring her alwaies out of the fruit market as he passed by some apples peares or other fruit and then he would stay long with her yea and otherwhiles put his snout as it were his hand within her bosome under her partlet and gently feele her soft pappes and white skinne about her faire brest A dragon also there was enamoured upon a yoong maiden of Aetolia it would come to visit her by night creepe along the very bare skinne of her body yea and winde about her without any harme in the world done unto her either willingly or otherwise and then would gently depart from her by the breake of day now when this serpent had continued thus for certeine nights together ordinarily at the last the friends of the yoong damosel remooved her and sent her out of the way a good way off but the dragon for three or fower nights together came not to the house but wandred and sought up and downe heere and there as it should seem for the wench in the end with much adoo having found her out he came and clasped her about not in that milde and gentle maner as before time but after a rougher sort for having with other windings and knots bound her hands and armes fast unto her body with the rest of his taile he flapped and beat her legges shewing a gentle kinde of amorous displeasure and anger yet so as it might seeme he had more affection to pardon than desire to punish her As for the goose in Aegypt which fell in love with a boy and the goat that cast a fansie to Glauce the minstrell wench because they are histories so wel knowen and in every mans mouth for that also I suppose you are wearie already of so many tedious tales and narrations I forbeare to relate them before you but the merles crowes and perroquets or popinjaies which learne to prate and yeeld their voice and breath to them that teach him so pliable so tractable and docible for to forme and expresse a certeine number of letters and syllables as they would have them me thinks they plead sufficiently and are able to defend the cause of all other beasts teaching us as I may say by learning of us that capable they be not onely of the inward discourse of reason but also of the outward gift uttered by distinct words and an articulate voice were it not then a meere ridiculous mockerie to compare these creatures with other dumbe beasts which have not so much voice in them as will serve to houle withall or to expresse a groane and complaint but how great a grace and elegancie there is in the naturall voices and songs of these which they resound of themselves without learning of any masters the best musicians and most sufficient poets that ever were do testifie who compare their sweetest canticles and poems unto their songs of swannes and nightingals now forasmuch as to teach sheweth greater use of reason than to learne wee are to give credit unto Aristotle who saith that brute beasts are endued also with that gift namely that they teach one another for hee writeth that the nightingale hath beene seene to traine up her yoong ones in singing and this experience may serve to testifie on his behalfe that those nightingales sing nothing so well which are taken very yong out of the nest and were not fedde nor brought up by their dammes for those that be nourished by them learne withall of them to sing and that not for money and gaine nor yet for glory but because they take pleasure to sing well and love the elegance above the profit of the voice and to this purpose report I will unto you a storie which I have heard of many as well Greeks as Romans who were present and eie witnesses There was a barber within the city of Rome who kept a shoppe over against the temple called Grecostisis or Forum Graecum and there nourished a pie which would so talke prate and chatte as it was woonderfull counting the speech of men and women the voice of beasts and sound of musicall instruments and that voluntarily of her selfe without the constreint of any person onely she accustomed her selfe so to doe and tooke a certeine pride and glory in it endevouring all that she could to leave nothing
unspoken or not expressed now it hapned that there were solemnized great funerals of one of the welthiest personages in the city and the corps was caried foorth in a great state with the sound of many trumpets that marched before in which solemnitie for that the maner was that the pompe and whole company should stand still and rest a time in that verie place it fell out so that the trumpetters who were right cunning and excellent in their arte staied there founding melodiouslie all the while the morrow after this the pie became mute and made no noise at all nor uttered not so much as her naturall voice which she was wont to doe for to expresse her ordinarie and necessarie passions insomuch as they who before time woondered at her voice and prating marvelled now much more at her silence thinking it a very strange matter to passe by the shop and heare her say nothing so as there grew some suspition of others professing the same art and trade that they had given her some poison howbeit most men guessed that it was the violent sound of the trumpets which had made her deafe and that together with the sense of hearing her voice also was utterly extinct but it was neither the one nor the other for the trueth was this as appeared afterwards she was in a deepe studie and through meditation retired within herselfe whiles her minde was busie and did prepare her voice like an instrument of musicke for imitation for at length her voice came againe and wakened as it were all on a sudden uttering none of her olde notes nor that which she was accustomed before to parle and counterseit onely the sound of trumpets she resembled keeping the same periods the same stops pauses and straines the same changes the same reports and the same times and measures a thing that confirmeth more and more that which I have said before namely that there is more use of reason in teaching of themselves than in learning by another Yet can I not conteine my selfe but I must needs in this place recite unto you one lesson that I my selfe saw a dogge to take out when I was at Rome This dog served a plaier who professed to counterfeit many persons and to represent sundry gestures among sundry other prety tricks which his master taught him answerable to divers passions occasions and occurrents represented upon the stage his master made an experiment on him with a drogue or medicine which was somniferous indeed and sleepie but must be taken and supposed deadly who tooke the piece of bread wherein the said drogue was mingled and within a little while after he had swallowed it downe he began to make as though hee trembled quaked yea and staggered as if he had beene astonied in the end he stretched out himselfe and lay as stiffe as one starke dead suffering himselfe to be pulled haled and drawen from one place to another like a very blocke according as the present argument and matter of the place required but afterwards when hee understood by that which was said and done that his time was come and that he had caught his hint then beganne he at the first to stirre gently by little and little as if hee had newly revived or awakened and stared out of a dead sleepe and lifting up his head began to looke about him too and fro at which object all the beholders woondered not a little afterwards he arose upon his feet and went directly to him unto whom he was to goe very jocund and mery this pageant was performed so artificially I cannot tell whether to say or naturally that all those who were present and the emperour himselfe for Vespasian the father was there in person within the theater of Marcellus tooke exceeding great pleasure and joied woonderfully to see it But peradventure we may deserve well to be mocked for our labour praising beasts as we doe so highly for that they be so docible and apt to learne seeing that Democritus sheweth and proveth that we our selves have beene apprentises and scholars to them in the principall things of this life namely to the spider for spinning weaving derning and drawing up a rent to the swallow for architecture and building to the melodious swanne and shrill nightingale for vocall musicke and all by way of imitation As for the art of physicke and the three kindes thereof we may see in the nature of beasts the greatest and most generous part of each of them for they use not onely that which ordeined drogues and medicines to purge ill humours out of the body seeing that the tortoises take origan wezels rue when they have eaten a serpent dogges also when they be troubled with choler of the gall purge themselves with a certeine herbe thereupon called dogges-grasse the dragon likewise if he finde his eies to be dimme clenseth scoureth and dispatcheth the cloudinesse thereof with fenell and the beare so soone as she is gone out of her denne seeketh out the first thing that she doth the wilde herbe called Aron that is to say wake-robin for the acrimonie and sharpnesse thereof openeth her bowels when they are growen together yea and at other times finding herselfe upon fulnesse given to loth and distaste all food she goes to finde out ants nests where she sits her downe lilling out the tongue which is glibbe and soft with a kinde of sweet and slimy humour untill it be full of ants and their egges then draweth she it it againe swalloweth them downe and thereby cureth her lothing stomacke Semblably it is said that the Aegyptians having observed their bird Ibis which is the blacke storke to give herselfe a clister of sea water by imitation of her did the like by themselves Certeine it is that their priests use to besprinkle purifie and hallow themselves with that water out of which she hath drunke for let any water be venemous or otherwise hurtfull and unholsome the Ibis will none of it but also some beasts there be which feeling themselves ill at ease are cured by diet and abstinence as namely woolves and lions when they have devoured too much flesh and are cloied or glutted therewith they lie me downe take their ease cherishing and keeping themselves warme It is reported likewise of the tygre that when a yoong kidde was given unto her she fasted two daies according to the diet which she useth before she touched it and the third day being very hungry called for other food ready to burst the cage wherein she was enclosed and forbare to eat the said kid supposing that now she was to keepe it with her as a familiar domesticall companion Nay that which more is recorded it is that elephants practise the feat of chirurgery for standing by those that are wounded in a battell they can skill of drawing out tronchions of speares javelin heads arrowes and darts out of their bodies with such dexterity and ease that they will neither teare and
Afterwards the said Caeranus himselfe died and when his kinsfolke friends burned his corps nere to the sea side in a funerall fire many dolphins were discovered along the coast hard by the shore shewing as it were themselves how they were come to honour his obsequies for depart they would not before the whole solemnitie of this last dutie was performed That the scutchion or shield of Ulysses had for the badge or ensigne a dolphin Stesichorus hath testified but the occasion and cause thereof the Zacynthians report in this manner as Criteus the historian beareth witnesse Telemachus his sonne being yet an infant chanced to slip with his feet as men say to fall into a place of the sea where it was very deep but by the means of certaine dolphins who tooke him as he fell saved he was and carried out of the water whereupon his father in a thankfull regard and honour to this creature engraved within the collet of his signet wherewith hee sealed the portrait of a dolphin likewise carried it as his armes upon his shield But forasmuch as I protested in the beginning that I would relate to you no fables and yet I wot not how in speaking of dolphins I am carried farther than I was aware and fallen upon Ulysses and Caeranus somewhat beyond the bounds of likelihood and probabilitie I will set a fine upon mine owne head and even here for amends lay a straw and make an end You therefore my masters who are judges may when it pleaseth you proceed to your verdict SOCLARUS As for us we were of mind a good while since to say according to the sentence of Sophocles Your talke ere while which seem'd to disagre Will soone accord and joint-wise framed be for if you will both of you conferre your arguments proofes and reasons which you have alledged of the one side and the other and lay them all together in common betweene you it will be seene how mightily you shall confute and put downe those who would deprive bruit beasts of all understanding and discourse of reason WHETHER THE ATHENIANS WERE MORE RENOWMED FOR MARTIALL ARMES OR GOOD LETTERS The Summarie WE have here the fragments of a pleasant discourse written in the favour of Athenian warriours and great captaines which at this day hath neither beginning nor end and in the middle is altogether maimed and unperfect but that which the infortunitie of the times hath left unto us is such yet as thereout we may gather some good and the intention of Plutarch is therein sufficiently discovered unto us for he sheweth that the Atheutans were more famous and excellent in feats of armes than in the profession of learning Which position may seeme to be a strange paradox considering that Athens was reputed the habitation of the muses and if there were ever any brave historians singular poets and notable oratours in the world we are to looke for them in this citie Yet for all this he taketh upon him to proove that the prowesse of Athenian captaines was without all comparison more commendable and praisewoorthie than all the dexteritie of others who at their leasure have written in the shade and within house the occurrents and accidents of the times or exhibited pleasures and pastimes to the people upon the stage or scaffold And to effect this intended purpose of his be considereth in the first place historiographers and adjoineth thereto a briefe treatise of the art of painting and by comparison of two persons bringing newes of a field fought where of the one was onely a beholder and looker on the other an actor himselfe and a souldier fighting in the battell he sheweth that noble captaines ought to be preferred before historians who pen and set downe their desseignes and executions From history he passeth on to poesie both comicall and tragicall which he reproveth and debaseth notwithstanding the Athenians made exceeding account thereof giving to understand that their valor consisted rather in martiall exploits-In the last place he speaketh of oratours and by conference of their or ations and other reasons proveth that these great speakers deserve not that place as to have their words weighed in ballance against the deeds of many politike and valiant warriours WHETHER THE ATHENIANS were more renowmed for martiall armes or good letters WEll said this was in trueth of him unto those great captaines and commanders who succeeded him unto whom hee made way and gave entrance to the executions of those exploits which they performed afterwards when himselfe had to their hands chased out of Greece the barbarous king Xerxes and delivered the Greeks out of servitude but aswell may the same be said also to those who are proud of their learning and stand highly upon their erudition For if you take away men of action you shall be sure to have no writers of them take away the politike government of Pericles at home the navall victories and trophaes atchieved by Phormio neere the promontorie of Rhium the noble prowesses of Nicias about the isle Cythera as also before the cities of Corinth and Megara take away the sea-sight of Demosthenes before Pylos the foure hundred captives and prisoners of Cleon the worthy deeds of Tolmias who scowred all the coasts of Peloponnesus the brave acts of Myronides and the battell which he woon against the Boeotians in the place called Oenophyta and withall you blot out the whole historie of Thucydides take away the valiant service of Alcibtades shewed in Hellespont the rare manhood of Thrasylus neere unto the isle Lesbos the happie suppression and abolition of the tyrannicall oligarchie of the thirty usurpers by Theramenes take away the valourous endevours of Thrasybulus and Archippus to gether with the rare desseignes and enterprises executed by those seven hundred who from Phyla rose up in armes and were so hardie and resolute as to levie a power and wage warre against the lordly potentates of Sparta and last of all Conon who caused the Athenians to go to sea againe and maintaine the warres and therewithall take away Cratippus and all his Chronicles For as touching Xenophon he was the writer of his owne historie keeping a booke and commentarie of those occurrents and proceedings which passed under his happie conduct and direction and by report he gave it out in writing that Themistogenes the Syracusian composed the said narration of his acts to the end that Xenophon might win more credit and be the better beleeved writing as he did of himselfe as of a stranger and withall gratifying another man by that meanes with the honour of eloquence in digesting and penning the same All other historians besides as these Clinodemi and Diylli Philochorus and Philarchus may be counted as it were the actors of other mens plaies who setting downe the acts of kings princes and great captaines shrowded close under their memorials to the end that themselves might have some part with them of their light and splendor For surely there is a certaine
image of glorie which by a kinde of reflexion as in a mirrour doth rebound from those who have atchieved noble acts even unto them that commit the same to writing when as the actions of other men are represented by their reports and records Certes this city of Athens hath beene the fruitfull mother and kinde nourse of many and sundry arts whereof some she first invented and brought to light others she gave growth strength honour and credit unto And among the rest the skill of painters craft hath not beene least advanced and adorned by her For Apollodorus the painter the first man who devised the mixture of colours and the manner of darkning them by the shadow was an Athenian over whose works was set this epigram by his owne selfe Sooner will one this carpe and twit Than doe the like or sample it So were Euphranor and Nicias Asclepiodor us also and Plistaenetus the brother of Phidias whereof some portraied victorious captaines others painted battels and others drew to the life the worthies and demigods like as Euphranor who painted noble Theseus and set this picture as a paragon in comparison with another of Parrhasius making saying that the Theseus of Parrhasius had eaten roses but his Theseus had beene fed with good oxe beefe for to say a trueth that picture of Parrhasius was daintily and delicately made resembling in some sort that which Euphranor talketh of but he that should see this of Euphranors doing might say not unfitly these verses out of Homer The people of Erechtheus slout whom Pallas daughter deare Of Jupiter that mighty god sometime did feed and reare Euphranor also depainted the battell of horsemen before the citie Mantinea against Epaminondas which seemeth not to be without some furious and divine instinct The argument and subject matter whereof was this Epaminondas the Theban after the battell which he won before the towne Leuctra puffed up with glory in this greatnesse of his determined resolutely to insult over Sparta which now was already downe the winde and at once to tread and trample under foot the high spirit and reputation of that city First therefore he invaded Laconia with a mightie power of threescore and ten thousand fighting men spoiling and harrowing the countrey as he went whereby he withdrew all the neighbour-nations from their confederacie and alliance with the Lacedaemonians After this when they put themselves in battell ray and made head against him before Mantinea hee challenged and provoked them to fight which they neither would nor durst accept expecting aid that should come unto them from Athens Whereupon he brake up his campe and dislodging in the night season secretly and contrary to all mens expectation entred againe into Laconia in which journey and expedition he went within a little of surprising the citie of Sparta and winning it naked as it was and without defendants But the ir allies and confederates having intelligence of his comming came with all speed to succour the citie Then Epaminondas made femblance that hee would turne and bend his forces to the wasting and spoiling of their territorie as hee had done before Thus having by this stratageme deluded his enemies and lulled them asleepe in securitie hee departed suddenly by night out of Laconia having over-runne and destroied all before him with great celeritie and presented himselfe with his whole armie before them of Mantinea who looked for nothing lesse than such a guest but were in consultation for to send helpe to Lacedaemon but he interrupting breaking their counsels immediatly commanded the Thebanes to arme who being brave couragious souldiors invested the city of Mantinea round about stroke up the alarme and gave an assault The Mantineans heereat astonied ran up and downe the streets howling and wailing as being not able to sustaine and much lesse put backe so great a puissance which all at once in manner of a violent streame came running upon them neither did they thinke of any aid or meanes to relieve themselves in this distresse But at the very point of this extremity the Athenians were discovered descending from the hilles downe into the plaines of Mantinea who knowing nothing of this sudden surprise and present danger wherein the citie stood marched softly and tooke leisure but when they were advertised heereof by a vaunt courrier who made meanes to get foorth of the city notwithstanding they were but a handfull in comparison of the great multitude of their enemies and withall somewhat wearie with their journey and not seconded with any other of their allies and associates they advaunced forward and put themselves in order of battell against their enemies who were in number many for one the hors-men also for their parts being likewise arranged set spurres to their horses and rode hard to the gates and walles of the city where they charged their enemies so hotly with their horses and gave them so cruell a battell that they gat the uppeer hand and rescued Mantinea out of the danger of Epaminondas Now had Euphranor painted this conflict most lively in a table wherein a man might have seene the furious encounter the couragious charge and bloudie fight wherein both horse and man seemed to puffe and blow againe for winde But I suppose you will not compare the wit or judgement of a painter with the courage and policy of a captaine nor endure those who preferre a painted table before a glorious trophae or the vaine shadow before the reall substance and thing indeed howsoever Simonides said that picture was a dumbe poesie and poesie a speaking picture for looke what things or actions painters doe shew as present and in manner as they were in doing writings doe report and record as done and past and if the one represent them in colours and figures and the other exhibite the same in words and sentences they differ both in matter and also in manner of imitation howbeit both the one and the other shoote at one end and have the same intent and purpose And hee is counted the best historian who hath the skill to set out a narration as in a painted table with divers affections and sundry conditions of persons as with many images and pourtraictures And verily this may appeere in Thucydides who throughout his whole history contendeth to attaine unto this diluciditie of stile striving to make the auditour of his wordes the spectatour as it were of the deeds therein conteined and desirous to imprint in the readers the same passions of astonishment woonder and agony which the very things themselves would worke when they are represented to the eie For Demosthenes who put the Athenians in ordinance of battell even upon the very sands and shore within the creeke of Pylos and Brasidas who hastening the pilot of his galley to runne with the prow a land walking along the hatches himselfe and being there wounded and ready to yeeld up his vitall breath sunke downe among the seats of the rowers also the Lacedaemoninas who