of thy libertie forasmuch as bonde men are made so soone not only of free men but of kynges And maruayle not at it seeyng that according to the saying of Plato Kinges are no lesse made of seruauntes humane thynges are chaunged dayly There is nothyng vnder heauen permanent who wyl hope that any thyng can be fyrme or stable in so great an vncertayntie Neyther thynke thy selfe to be a free man in this respect because thou hast no maister because thou art borne of free parentes neyther wast euer taken prysoner in warre nor solde for a slaue Ye haue inuincible maisters of your myndes and there is a secrete poyson and infection whiche lurketh in the first Original of man The generation of you in the very byrth is subiect to sinne a greater bondage then which cannot be imagined Ye haue hydden enemies and priuie warres There be same that sel miserable soules whiche alas for to small a price ye make sale of Yea some of you are subiect to outragious mistresses to wyt most fylthy pleasures whereunto you are tyde with an vndissoluble knot Goe your way now vaunt of your freedome But you beyng blynde see nothyng but that which belongeth to the body so that ye iudge hym to be bounde that is subiect to one mortal maister As for hym that is oppressed with a thousande immortall tyrantes ye accompt to be free euen finely as ye doo all other thynges Veryly it is not fortune that maketh a man free but vertue Ioy. I am a free man. Reason In deede thou art so if thou be wyse yf thou be iust if thou be valiaunt yf thou be modest if thou be innocent yf thou be godly If any of these be wantyng knowe thou that in that respect thou art bonde Ioy. I was borne in a free countrey Reason Thou hast also knowne in thine age certayne free cities which in short tyme haue become bonde But yf auncient examples be more knowne and renowmed the most free cities of Lacedemon and Athens first suffered a ciuil and afterward a forraigne yoke The holy citie of Ierusalem and the mother of euerlastyng libertie was in temperall subiection to the Romanes and the Assyrians and at this present is in captiuitie to the Egyptians Rome it selfe beyng not only a free citie but the Lady of nations was first bond to her owne citizens and after to other most vyle persons so that no man can euer trust to his owne freedome or his owne Empire Of a gloryous Countrey The xv Dialogue IOY I Was borne in a glorious countrey Reason Thou hast the more trauayle to come into the lyght For the smal starres do shyne by nyght and the Star Bootis and the day star lykewyse are dull in comparyson of the beames of the Sunne Ioy. I am a citizen of a famous countrey Reason It is wel if thou be an harborer of vertues and an enimie to vice the one of these proceedeth of fortune the other of thy selfe Ioy. My countrey is fortimate and noble Reason It skilleth much by what nobilitie For a countrey is made noble by the number of inhabitauntes by the aboundaunce of rychesse by the fertilitie of the soyle and the commoditie of situation holsome ayre cleere sprynges the sea nygh safe hauens conuenient riuers A noble countrey is commonly called suche an one as is fruitful of Wyne other commodities as corne cattayle flockes of sheepe heardes of rudder beastes mynes of golde and siluer Ye cal that a good countrey wherein are bread strong Horses fat Oxen tender Ryddes and pleasant fruites But where good men are bred ye neyther enquyre after neyther thynke it woorth the enquiryng so excellent iudges of matters ye be Howbeit only the vertue of the inhabitauntes is the chiefe commendation of a countrey And therfore dyd Virgill very wel who in describyng the Romane glory and felicitie dyd not so muche as touche one of these thynges whiche ye doo only respect but declared the mightinesse of the Citie and Empire and the valiantnesse of the peoples myndes He called them men also happy in respect of theyr chyldren and issue This is the true felicitie and nobilitie of a Citie Ioy. My countrey is famous for good Citizens Reason What if thou thy selfe be obscure But what yf thine owne fame bewray thee and bryng thee out of darknesse and leade thee abroade into the lyght thou shalt then be the sooner noted Ioy. My countrey is very famous Reason Catiline had not ben so infamous vnlesse he had ben borne in so famous a countrey Vnto Gaius and Nero there happened another heape of infamie to wit an Empyre fauour aduaunced the worlds children vnto the top of fortune that they might be the farther knowen Ioy. I lyue in a most noble countrey Reason Eyther sufferyng the contempt or enuie of many For without one of these a man cannot lyue in a great Citie the first is the safer the other the more famous euyl and the noblenesse of the countrey whereof thou speakest is cause of them both Among so many eyes there is no lurkyng Ioy. I am of a well knowen countrey Reason I had rather that thy countrey were knowen by thee then thou by thy countrey vnlesse thou glister of thy selfe what other thing will the brightnesse of thy countrey bring vnto thee but darkenesse A famous Citie hath accompted of many as obscure persons who if they had ben in the darknes of some poore corner of the countrey had been sufficiently famous and noble Ioy. My countrey is renowmed Reason It hath then it owne peculyar commendation and it taketh part also of thyne What so euer thou dooest wel the chiefe prayse thereof redowneth in a maner to thy countrey There was one that went about to ascribe Themistocles glory vnto the citie of Athens who answered very grauely and as it became suche a man to doo For when a certayne felowe called Seriphius an inhabitour of a certayne smal and obscure Ilande in heat of wordes obiected hym in the teeth that it was his countreys glory and not his owne that made hym famous Veryly answered he neyther shoulde I be obscure if I were Seriphius neyther thou be renowmed yf thou were an Athenian He trusted not to the glory of his countrey but to the glory of his owne vertue muche more manlyke then Plato although he were the greater Philosopher Howbeit sometymes in great wits there be great and wonderful errours He therefore among other thinges ascribeth the renowme of his countrey to his felicitie And that thou mayest knowe the whole mynd of this most excellent man in this respect Plato sayd that he gaue thankes for many thynges Truely this was wel sayde if so be that he vnderstood to whom and for what gyftes he should geue thankes He gaue thankes to nature First for making hym a man and not a dumbe beast of the male kind not a woman a Greeke not a Barbarian an Athenian not a Thebane lastly that he was borne in
Reason We haue both seene the sonnes of bondmen sittyng in princes thrones and the sonnes of princes fast fettered in chaynes Of Sumptuous fare The .xviii. Dialogue IOY I Am brought vp in a plentiful house Reason This seemeth vnto thee to be a great matter but in deede it is litle and anon wylbe nothyng Wyl the wormes therefore spare thee more then the hard husbandman Or wyl they feede vpon the softer meate more greedily I doo neyther iest with thee nor terrifie thee Thou knowest although thou doe dessemble it that thou art foode prepared for that banquet and perhaps that it is nowe almost supper tyme or that at the least wyse it cannot be farre of For the day is short and the ghestes be hungrie and death which layeth the table is redy and therefore consyder what this dayntie banquetyng wyl auayle thee Ioy. I haue been brought vp most plentifully from myne infancie Reason Oh euyl begynnyng of chyldhood wherein neglecting good artes and accustoming thy selfe to exquisite fare and delicate forraigne drinkes euen from thy tender yeeres thou art growen vp to a woorthie expectation to knowe theyr tastes and smelles and with experience to woonder at deintily prepared banquettes and to reuerence the glysteryng Plate neyther late as was the maner of valiaunt men to asswage the hunger and thyrst with ordinarie meates but with busie loathsomenesse and payneful burdened stomacke to begynne agayne with them in the mornyng When so many holy Fathers haue hungred in the wyldernesse and so many famous Captaynes haue lyued hardly sparyngly and soberly When thou art beset about with thy Iewelles and deyntie dyshes at the Table yf at one syde of thee were Curius Fabritius Corumcanius feedyng in earthen vesselles on Hearbes geathered with his owne handes and goeyng to plowe fastyng tyl nyght and on the other syde Quintinus and Seranus or he that was after these twayne Cato Censorius Consul saylyng into Spayne from whence he returned in triumph who dranke none other wyne then his Saylers dyd or yf al these shoulde meete thee beyng most knowne enimies vnto pleasure with Paulus also and Antonius sittyng by a fountayne syde and diuiding the bread whiche was sent them from heauen would not thy superfluous meate for shame and sorowe cleaue to thy lawes and the delight of thyne amazed taste abate Thou wouldest call to mynde how that by these men which were contented with so slender fare and so base toyle both theyr countrey was defended and most noble kynges and peoples subdued and which is the most hardest conquest of al their owne flesh the world and the inuisible enimies of the soule vanquished and howe thou thy selfe walowest in thy costly iunkets and sumptuous idlenesse ouercome with filthy voluptuousnesse Ioy. My fare is most delicate Reason I perceiue wel this that al thyne endeuour is that thy lothsome curiositie may come to the bottome of miserie There is nothing brought to passe by ▪ the excellencie of meate and drynke vnlesse there be also plentie yea rather to much and quatting Doest thou not cal to mynd how that Augustus Caesar who perhaps if he had list could haue fared more delicately than thou was as it is written of hym a smal meate man and that almost also of a common diet I say nothing of the meates whereon he vsed to feede to the intent thou shouldest not disdayne hym as some olde rusticke father of the countrey and among thy Feasauntes and Partridges and Peacockes laugh at the course bread and symple cheese and smal fyshes which that prince was wont to eate But how much better had it been yf so he these your Feasances and this great furniture of your tables the great felicitie of your throates had lyen styl vnknowne at Colanos the riuer Phasis rather then to haue flowne hyther to corrupt our age to prouoke lasciuiousnesse How much more honest was that worlde wherof Ouid sayth Among those people the fyshes yet did swim without taking by deceite and the Oysters lay safe in theyr shels neither dyd talie know the cōmoditie which wel◠thy Iouia yeldeth nor the foule which delighteth to kil the Pigmees Ioy. I enioy most choyce wyne Reason Euylly but properly thou hast sayde I enioy that is your ende and to that were ye borne How much better woulde smal wyne or wyne delayed with water or a draught of the pure runnyng streame asswage your thyrst Truely the Prince of whom I spake erewhyle vsed also very seldome for so it is written of hym to drynke wyne neuer drinking aboue thrise at a supper while he was in the campe As for you ye quaffe ten tymes before meate and at meate an hundred tymes and the quantitie of your carousses cannot be measured and your tentes be more full of wyne then your cities There is no enterpryse nor skyrmyshe made but by suche as are drunke He absteyned from wyne in the day tyme and you ceasse not to drinke both day and nyght He when he was a thyrst in steede of drynke dyd eate bread dypped in colde water or receyued the top of a Lettice or a hyt of a moyst Apple or a slice of a Cucumber but you prouokyng thyrst by al meanes do quenche the same with hoat burnyng wynes which do prouoke another thyrst by drynking of them or rather to say the trueth ye inflame it the more neyther doo ye remember in the meane whyle that ye drynke the blood of the earth and the poyson of Hemlock whyle in suche sort ye drynke wyne as Androcides wrote to kyng Alexander of Macedonie Whose counsayle yf he had folowed truely he shoulde not haue slayne his friendes in his drunkennesse as Plinius sayth nether shoulde he hymselfe in his drunkennesse at length haue peryshed The same vse of indifferent meates and abstinencie in drinkyng hath alwayes for the most part ben founde in all the worthie and famous captaynes and princes and in Iulius Caesar it was singular which howe muche it is to be preferred before your riotousnesse your sleepe being compared with theyr diligence and glory of aduentures atchieued may be iudge Ioy. I enioy most bountifull fare Reason If men be forbyddento enioy honest thynges howe muche more dishonest and filthy thinges Art thou not ashamed in that thou applyest the fruite of thyne immortall soule to the seruice and slauery of the transitorie bodie This is an Epicureal perswasion but heretofore infamous and abandoned To be short among al the pleasures which creepe from the body to the soule they are concluded to be most vyle whiche are accomplyshed by feelyng and tastyng for as much as these senses are common vnto vs with beastes and crooke downe the reasonable creature vnto beastly conditions a more contemptible and abiect thyng then which the state of mankinde cannot incurre Ioy. I am delighted in deintie sundry kyndes of meates Reason Be delighted in them and enioy them yf thou know nothyng better but yf thou know nothyng worse then be ashamed to reioyce
you This is a renerall rule amongst you this is your fantasie this is your disposition this is your studie and the commendation of your iudgement Of Peacockes Chyckens Hennes Bees and Pigions The Lxii. Dialogue IOY I Haue stoare of Peacockes Reason By their tayles I wou'd aduise thee to thinke vppon Argos eyes least the most famous plague that foloweth the neglecting of good rules do hurt thy feete Ioy. I haue many Peacockes Reason I confesse it is a beautiful and comely byrde to beholde but this pleasure of the eyes is requited with great weerysomnesse of the â—aâ—â—â— agaynst the horriblenesse of whose most hellysh noyse it were â—eedeful for men to run away or to stoppe theyr eares with Vâ—â—â—ses waxe I wyl say nothyng of the griefe and complaintes of the neyghbours whiche are more hateful then any thyng els But you whilest imperiously and leauyng nothyng vnassayed ye tender your throate and belly ye thynke neyther vppon your owne nor your neyghbours discommodities forgettyng how that in olde tyme the most valiant and woorthie men had no such care or desyre when as fyshes and wylde beastes and foules were 〈◊〉 â—uedled withal besydes the feathers there is nothyng to be lyâ—â—â— of as Ouid sayth And now truely I can perceiue nothing in this foule that may delyght a man besides the excellencie of the â—â—esh whiche some say wyll neuer putrifie though it be kept long whyle which thou mayst prooue yf thou lyst and S. Augustine sayth he hath proued Thus vnlesse ambition and prodigalitie be present neyther your meate nor your delyght can satisfie you Truely it is reported that Hortentius the Oratour was the fyrst that euer kylled a Peacocke at Rome to be eaten for meate a man of great eloquence in manners delicate and soft as a woman but such a one whose manners very many whose eloquence very fewe do imitate Ioy. I noorysh Poultrie and chickins Reason A trouble to thy house meate for Foxes scrapers of the floore by meanes of whose talentes thou shalt alwayes haue dust and neuer an euen floore Ioy. I haue great store of Hennes Reason To omit their noysomnes the commoditie charges almost al one one egge is dearely bought and casteth much cacklyng Ioy. But I haue plentie of Bees Reason Thy felicitie is not only mortal but flying on the wyng and fugitiue Ioy. I haue many Hyues Reason There is as much busynesse and noyse in euery one of them as in a great Citie or an armie of men Now the swarmes are redy to tâ—â—e away now the kynges wyl fight nowe they neede ringing of a â—â—an or brasen Bason nowe castyng of dust that they may be saueâ— â–ª Many tymes when thou hast doone al that thou canst thou shalt be neuer the neare And thus thynkyng thy selfe to be rych shalt finde thy selfe naked and therefore yf thou compare the carefulnesse of the kepyng with the hony thou wylt say It is bytter Hony. Ioy. I haue plentie of Pigeons Reason By night the Bees be whist in theyr bedchambers fayth Virgyl but Pigeons be neuer at quiet for there is no lyuyng thyng more vnquiet then a Pigeon Ioy. My Pigeon houses are full Reason Then hast thou some that striue and fight some that mone some that foule the house by day some that breake thy sleepe by night behold what a great matter this is of reioycing Of Fyshpondes The .lxiii. Dialogue IOY I Reioyce in my fyshpondes whiche I haue made Reason I doo not thynke that thou hast made them with more felicitie then dyd Solomon And therefore when thou shalt turne thy selfe to beholde al the woorkes which thy handes haue made the traueyles wherein thou hast swe at in vayne in them al thou shalt perceyue vanitie and affliction of mynde that perhaps thou mayest be sorie in that wherein thou hast taken pleasure reputing it both losse of tyme and of expences Ioy. I haue made me fyshpondes Reason It is not sufficient for the belly to haue searched through al landes but the waters also are assayed and there is a prison made for fishes in their owne kyngdome Ioy. I haue stored my fishpondes Reason Thou hast depriued fishes of their libertie and natural habitation and those whom nature made whole thou haft taught to be sicke Ioy. I haue let in the water into my fishpondes Reason Thou seest howe to haue enforced the waters it was noted and ascribed vnto price in Iulius Caesar as great a man as he was what doest thou then thinke of thy selfe Ioy. I haue enclosed fishes with in my Weares Reason Ye keepe flying foules in prysons at your pleasure what marueile is it then if you haue the flowe fishes at your commaundement All thinges are in your power and subiect vnder your feete ye most painful and couetous mortall men except your owne minde only which either ye cannot bridle and gouerne or whiche more true is ye care not to doo it And therefore beyng wylde and vagrant he dryueth you about and enforceth you to al kyndes of vanitie and mischiefe which yf it were obedient vnto you or rather subiect to reason he would then leade you in a more redy path to a better ende and cause you to contempne many thynges whiche ye couet Ioy. I haue fysh shut vp in my pondes Reason Forasmuche as all thynges are subiect vnto you see howe seemely a thyng it is for you to be subiect to pleasure vnto the most vylest thyng of all other the most noblest thyng that is vnder heauen But thus it fareth you wyl rule al to be seruantes your selues to sensualitie And this folly is not newe nor of the common sort but auncient and of the chiefest Fyshpondes and Weares for Oysters dyd Sorgius Orata fyrst appoynt at the shore Barane About the same tyme Licinius Muraena began the Weares for other fishes who both tooke theyr surnames of a fyshe These are woorthy causes of a surname to wyt for that one of them loued the Gysthead the other the Lamprey These be they that haue deserued the tytles to be called Africani or Macedonici and perhaps these men haue taken no lesse paynes in takyng and bestowyng theyr fyshe and in buyldyng theyr Weares then Scipio and Paulus dyd in deliueryng and beautifiyng theyr countrey with theyr conquestes and triumphes And therefore it is very true whiche some say In quantitie al mens cares are almost equall but in qualitie farre vnequal And as euyll examples haue alwayes plentie of folowers after this Licinius there folowed noble men Philip Hortentius and Lucullus also a man otherwise of famous memorie who not being contented with a simple Weare neere vnto Naples he caused an Hill to be cut away whiche stoode hym in as great charges as the buylding of his countrey house or vyllage deuising a place of rest for the fyshes whiche he had taken by the cutting away of a stop whiche was made of hard rocke and lettyng in the Sea as it were a cauline Hauen
nor honestie in men that folowe the warres Ioy. I am Lord gouernour of a great Armie Reason Perhaps thou were better be a sheapheard among Tygers Beares The furie of wilde beastes may be tamed but the hartes of some men can neuer be reclaimed and wilde beastes do threaten before they strike but the malice of men doth suddenly breake foorth These whom thou tearmest thine call thee Lord alas this hireling inconstant generation for how smal a price and vppon how light occasion wyll they be changed and of thine owne souldiours become thine enimies Their flattering countenances shal be turned into horrour their right handes which they deliuered vnto thee perhaps shal be conuerted to thy destruction and if this happen it is no rare nor vnaccustomed matter At Placentia was that terrible commotion when as Iulius Caesars armie rebelled against him wherof this was spoken What Captaine woulde not that tumult haue made afrayde Howbeit Caesar through his wonderful constancie and fortitude repressed the vproare punishing the aucthours appeased the armie brought them to obedience Te like did Alexander that was Emperour of Rome at Antioche it tooke magnificall effect But goe forwarde a lytle and thou shalt see that shortly after he was slayne by none other then his owne Souldiours In the same maner Pertinax perished before in lyke sort afterward the two Maximi the father and the sonne so Balbinus and Maximus so Probus a most valient Captayne so Gratiane and Valentinian the younger a couple of good brethren the one betrayed by his legions the other by his companion so likewyse others innumerable whom their enimies coulde not ouercome haue perished by their owne armies and those whom they called their Souldiours they founde eruell Butchers Take heede therefore wherein thou reioycest For this thy cruel and vnmerciful armie as he sayeth is a beast with many heades and dareth to aduenture any thyng beyng thereunto prouoked by anger want or couetousnesse Ioy. I haue an huge armie Reason At the Thessalike battayle sayth Florus there was nothyng that ouerthrewe Pompei so muche as the greatnesse of his armie and it fortuneth almost in all battayles that the greater armie is vanquished and the lesser vanquisheth Of a well appoynted Nauie The .xcviii. Diaalogue IOY I Haue a well appoynted Nauie Reason And the Ayre hath well appoynted Windes the Sea well appoynted Waues and Rockes Thou creature of the Land why medlest thou with the Sea Ioy. I haue a well furnished Nauie Reason There be also tempestes for thee shypwrackes wel furnished thou ioyest in thyne owne daungers toyle and expences whereof there is no ende nor measure of all your madnesses a Nauie is the most chargeable Ioy. My Nauie is furnished Reason The violence of the heauen and sea wyll shake it and be it neuer so well appoynted a suddayne storme wyl scatter and destroy it whereof not to consyder whyle thou saylest on the Sea is the part of a foole Ioy. I haue a Nauie vpon the Sea. Reason Are ye not in daungers enough vpon the Lande but must ye trouble the Seas also It is not sufficient for you to digge the earth from whence is fette the hurtfull Iron and Golde that is more hurtful then iron as Ouid sayth but yee haue also ventured vpon the rough and horrible seas which the first men did only wonder at in euerie place seeking your owne trouble and in euerie place your owne danger and in this poinct yee be wakeful and diligent and in al other thinges slouthful and negligent Ioy. I haue entred vpon the Sea with a great armie Reason Thynke vpon thy returne for it is an easye matter to â—â—t foorth The Sea is commonly calme at the first settyng forward but when men are once entred it waxeth monstruous and â—â—â—ible notwithstandyng for one that was borne among men to couet to lyue among Dolphins and Monsters of the Sea is doubtlesse a wonderful delyght of a wyld and rough mynd Ioy. I haue a great and valiant Nauy Reason Perhaps it were more for thy profite and safetie eyther to syt in a litle Boate or to stand vpon the Shore and angle for fyshes then with an armed Nauy to offer violence vnto nations Many by theyr great Naâ—es hath been pricked forth to dangerous boldnesse which hath enforced them thyther where they haue wyshed them selues at home This the Grecians learned to be true at the mountayne Caphareus when they returned from Troy namely the Lacedemonians at Arginusis the Athenians at the shore of Syracusâ—e and the Carthagiens at the Ilandes Egrates Many dangers happen vnto Nauies not only by enimies but also by the Sea. To conclude when as there were before sundry kyndes of death this one kynde more is now added to the number O blind fooles and to to lauysh of your lyues which ye loue so dearely seekyng for death euery where which ye feare aboue all thinges Of Engines and Artillerie The .xcix Dialogue IOY I Haue al kynds of Engines Reason This is also a princely madnesse to haue wherewith to hurt men when ye lyst who of duetie ought to be most beneficial of al men And for this consyderation only kinges were first chosen and set ouer kingdomes to gouerne men and of them agayne to be honoured and loued as parentes Some also that are called fathers of their countrey do euery thyng quite contrary and are feared and hated of all men as common theeues and tormentours Ioy. I haue store of engines to ouerthrow townes with al. Reason How much better were it to buylde them and preserue them with all But perhaps thou thynkest it a more glorious matter to destroy and haddest rather seeme to be the Policertes of thy age but Townes are not alwayes ouerthrowne with engynes When Caesar in his warres in Fraunce had erected very great fortes agaynst the Hadriaticiâ— first his enimies contemned hym as though he attempted far vnpossible for humane power to archiue but then they saw them mooued brought close to their walles turnyng theyr contempt to astonishment and feare they gaue vp theyr defence and conuerted them selues to conditions of yeeldyng And lykewyse in Caesars ciuyl warres Brutus beyng captayne when he had erected and brought the lyke vnto the walles of Missilia he cast the besieged into as great astonishment but not into as great feare and therfore issuyng foorth in the nyght they set on fire the turrets and engynes Ioy. I abound with engynes and artillery Reason Al these thinges wherof thou boastest apparteyne rather to the iniuryng of other then to the encreasing of thyne owne honour How much more commendable were it and worthy for a man to abounde rather with the instrumentes of mercy then of crueltie and rather to possesse that wherwith he may geue entertaynment to his friendes and those that are in necessitie then by besiegyng innocent townes to disturbe the common tranquilitie Ioy. I haue engines that do cast great stones Reason To cast stones
and heresie haue at length become as it were wilde people many finally that fyrst by meanes of this exercise lost the eyes of theyr mynde haue afterwarde also by the same lost their bodyly eyes Hope I hope for golde whiche my woorkeman hath promised Reason It is hehofefull to vnderstande what euery artificer in euery art promiseth There be some that can not be beleeued whatsoeuer they promyse and so muche the lesse as they bynde theyr promyse the more with an othe But O you foolyshe men is it not sufficient for you to be madde in true mettalles which the earth bryngeth foorth but that other mineralles vexe you with counterfeiting Is it a small matter to haue wandred from vertue but that also losse be added to your errour and toyle to your losse and shame to your toyle He that promiseth thee his golde wyll suddenly runne away with thy golde It is no newe tale I tell thee but a common custome although the deceyt that is committed by fyre is often also purged by fyre notwithstandyng when thou art deluded by the subteltie of thy deceyuer art nothyng damnified by his punishment but shalt be the better knowen and poynted at for a couetous and foolyshe person consumed with blowyng of Coales singed with the fyre smutched with the smoke Hope The Alchimiste promiseth me great matters Reason Byd hym fyrst perfourme that for hym selfe whiche he promiseth to others and that first he relieue his owne pouertie For for the most part they are a beggerly kynde of people and confessyng them selues to be poore they wyll enryche others as though other mens neede were more greeuous vnto them then theyr owne so that beyng wretched them selues they vse most impudently to say that they take pitie vpon others and do promise great matters some time to them that they know not O shameful promise O foolysh beleefe Hope I haue learned the art of Alchimie I shal be riche Reason Nay rather yf thou were ryche thou shalt waxe poore for I say that this art whereof thou speakest is none other then the art of lying and deceyuing But goe to forasmuch as thy minde is so bent followe it and I tell thee before hand that thou shalt reape profite by this art thy house shall swarme with strange gheastes and wonderfull kindes of implementes thou shalt haue store of eaters and drinkers and that by good reason as beyng incensed with heate of the fire and greedinesse of desire there shal be blowers deceiuers and mockers euery corner shal stande ful of vessels and pottes and basons and pannes glasses of stinking waters moreouer strange heathes and outlandy she saltes and sulphure and stilles and furnaces by meanes of all whiche in the ende thou shalt procure vnto thy selfe vayne cares follie of minde deformitie of countenaunce filthinesse of body dimnesse of sight carefulnesse and pouertie and that which is woorst of all the name of a Iugler or Sorcerer a lyfe continually to be ledde in darkenesse among the secret infamous lurkyng corners of Theeues Hope I hope to obteyne the effect of my desire Reason Perhaps thou mayest conceyue matter to hope and be glad hereof but not to reioyce Hope I drawe neare to the ende of my perpose Reason Hast thou fixed Mercurie or brought any other vayne conclusion to effect Notwithstandyng thou art very farre from thy purpose thou shalt alwayes lacke some necessarie matter but neuer want deceyt Of the promises of VVysemen and Southsayers The Cxii Dialogue HOPE DIuinours and Southsayers promise me many thinges Reason Loe thou hast found out another kynde of men to whom if thou geue credite thou shalt alwayes hang in suspense and lyue in Hope for the thynges shall neuer come to passe whiche they promise and thou shalt neuer lacke promisers so that on the one side gapyng after the runaway promised thynges and on the other syde prouoked by promises thou shalt continually be tossed to and fro after the maner of Ixion Hope The Southsayers put mee in good hope Reason It is as easie a matter to bryng the credulous into hope as the timerous into feare as for constant mindes they are not easily mooued vnto eyther side Hope Mathematicians promise me manie matters Reason There is nothyng more redie vnto them that want honestie then to abounde with promises but who so are ashamed to lye are flowe in promising Hope The Mathematicians promise me happie fortune Reason Choose other auowers as a pledge the kynde of promises is brittle a bare woorde is scarcely to be trusted Hope Mathematicians promise me many thynges Reason Seeke some that may fulfyll those promises it is sufficient for them to haue put thee in hope no one man canne doo all thynges Hope I am awaked by the Southsayers answers Reason Thou shalt be brought a sleepe by the euentes for nothing shall happen that is promised thee Hope I am willed to hope for great matters Reason It is strange that the mind of man that is stubberne to vertue should be so much obedient to vanitie If vertue commaund any one thing be it neuer so good it is not regarded but if vanitie wyl any thing although it be difficult and most vile it is obeyed Hope The Mathematicians promise me happie fortune Reason These be woonderful felowes that know only what is to come and are ignorant of that which is past and present and do so pronounce of thinges that are in heauen as though they had been called to counsell among the goddes and were now come downe from thence with a fresh memory when as in the meane whyle they be ignorant what is doone vppon the earth in theyr owne countrey in theyr house and in theyr chamber so that it is very true whiche thou readest in Tullie No man seeth what is before his feete but they searche the regions of heauen Hope A certayne notable and true Mathematician telleth me of great matters Reason The more notable the diuinour is the greater is his libertie of lying and his credite more prone to a false tale Truely I vse often tymes to marueyle and our countrey man Tully not without cause marueyled also what newe or vnaccustomable accident is happened in this matter that when as in al sortes of men many true matters are obscured by one notable lye and the credite of the reporter is euer more afterward had in suspition it fareth otherwyse in this kynde of people that one slender and casuall true tale as it were a veyle beyng set agaynst many fittens notwithstandyng purchaseth credite to a publique lye yf it be founde that he once tolde true wherein there was neuer any so impudent a lyar but some tyme hath told trueth eyther agaynst his wyl or vpon ignorance but yf any of those by chaunce doo hyt vpon the trueth then is the matter cocke he shal be beleeued yf he foretel that there shal fall a Star this day from heauen finally he may lye in all cases without suspition of lying
not a miserable but an honest cause not of exile but of absence hatefull to the wycked and gratefull to the vertuous Pythagoras voluntarily forsooke Samos and Solon Athens and Lycurgus Lacedemon and Scipio Rome Sorowe I am condemned vnto exile Reason Many haue wonne credite by theyr banishment not fewe there are whom some sharpe storme and iniurie of fortune hath made knowne and notable and what letteth thee but that thou mayest be reckoned in the number of them who haue gayned singuler fame by sufferyng troubles euen as by knocking Flintes together fire is engendred Sorowe I am driuen into exile Reason In histories thou shalt perceiue that thou hast notable companions in this accident whose most honourable felowshyp may not only deminish the feeling of the griefe but also bring forgetfulnesse Camillus was no lesse regarded in his banishment then if he had taried at home as famous an exiled person as he was woorthie Citizen who had brought into the Capital house of Rome victories and triumphes no lesse renowmed for iustice then famous for felicitie and being shortly after driuen into banishment in reuenge of the iniurie whiche he receiued he saued his vnthankfull Countrey from destruction It is not easie I confesse to finde suche another example of so notable a banished personage howbeit Rutilius and Metellus were so smally greeued with their banishment that when Rutilius was sent for home by hym whose commaundement not to obey was present death rather choosing banishment he refused to returne eyther to the entent he would not in any respect disobey the Senates decree and the lawes of his Countrey though they were vniust or els for doubt he might haply be banished agayne But Metellus returned with the very same countenaunce wherewith he departed into exile Vnto these may Marcellus be added euen the same younger Marcellus that hapned in the tyme of the last ciuile warre who beyng dryuen out of his countrey reteined not only his auncient constancie and studie of liberall sciences but also applied them more earnestly then before and beyng free from publique cares with such feruencie pursued the beautifying of his minde onely that he seemed rather to haue been sent to the schooles of Vertue then into banishment which being much more eminent in Cicero was by the woorthynesse of his woorkes and his great learning made the more famous whereby he found no smal comfort not only in banishment but also in pryson Sorow I suffer banishment Reason A short banishment wyll soone restore thee to thy Countrey but a long banishment wil purchase thee another Countrey so that they shal be banished from thee that woulde haue banished thee from them which is now alredy accomplished yf thou haue respect to the nature of the thinges and not to the opinions of men For that is a very base minde that is so bounde to one sillie corner of the earth that whatsoeuer is out of that it thinketh it banishment whoso bewayleth his exile is farre from that loftinesse of mynde whiche was in hym vnto whom the whole worlde seemed to be a strayght prison Socrates beyng demaunded what Countreyman he was answeared I was borne in the world A ryght Socratical answere some other peraduenture in that case woulde haue answeared that he was an Athenian but Socrates Countrey was that which is lykewyse all mens to wit the worlde not only this part which you commonly cal the worlde whiche in deede is but the lowest part of the worlde but Heauen it selfe which is more truely tearmed by that name That is the Countrey whervnto you are appoynted vnto whiche if your minde doo aspire it wyll acknowledge it selfe to be a stranger and banished in whatsoeuer part of the earth it remayne For who wyl call that his Countrey where he dwelleth but for a very short tyme But that is truely to be called a mans Countrey where he may dwell continually in rest and quietnesse seeke for this vppon earth and I suppose thy seeking wil be in vaine According to the law of nature as it was geuen vnto men and the limittes thereof prescribed whilest you liue here euery lande is your Countrey wherein whoso maketh himselfe a banished man is not so sicke in effect as diseased in minde We haue not here any perpetual Citie of abode as sayth the Apostle S. Paul. Euery land is the natiue Countrey vnto a valient man sayth Ouid the Poet. To a man euery Countrey is his natural soyle sayth Statius With these speeches I would haue thee armed whereby thou mightest be alwayes one man and eyther neuer or euer be in thine owne Countrey Sorowe I am commaunded to go into banishment Reason Goe willingly then it shall be but a trauayle and no banishment and remember that banishment hath ben vnto some in steede of a departure and vnto other some in steede of a returne and there be some also that are neuer in woorse case then when they be in their owne Countrey Sorow I am enforcedly dryuen into banishment Reason In couetyng to do that which thou art enforced thou shalt seeme not to be constrayned All violence is ouercome by patience and that surceaseth to be violence whiche is suffered willingly Sorowe I must needes goe into exile Reason See thou do willingly which thou must els do nillingly and suffer al thyng meryly that thou seeme to suffer nothyng heauily so shalt thou escape the force of necessitie and al the Adamantine nayles chaines that are ascribed thervnto and the loathsomnesse and vexation thereof But you couet impossible thinges and flee from the necessarie but both in vayne Sorow I goe into banishment Reason Perhaps into rest and peraduenture vnder pretence of false miserie lurketh true felicitie at leastwise thou shalt now be safe from enuie make haste and take holdfast of glory that is entermedled with securitie There is nothyng sweeter then honest and safe lurkyng with whiche no streetes of Cities are comparable Sorowe I am dryuen out of my Countrey Reason Beyng dryuen away of the woorst insinuate thy selfe into the companie of the best sorte and make it euident by good proofes that thy Countrey was vnwoorthie of thee and not thou of thy Countrey Let it perceyue what it hath lost and knowe thou howe that thou hast lost nothyng Let the euyll Citizens want the weerisomnesse and also the hatred and suspicion of thy presence and let the good prosecute thine absence with loue and desire and with their eyes and mindes folow after thy departure Let them be sorie for that thou hast forsaken them and be thou gladde for that thou art departed with companie and thinke not vpon thy returne neither desire to be with them that desire to be without thee and finally be not sorie that another hath done that vnto thee whiche thou oughtest to haue done thy selfe thou oughtest to haue geuen place to the enuie of the people and therefore to auoyde the same thou willingly wentest into exile Of this deuice I was the
who although they returned both into their Countrey yet dyed they both farre from their Countrey Drusus in Germanie and Marcellinus in Baion And tell me nowe are thou prouder then Tarquinius or myghtier then Sylla Yet the fyrst of these dyed a bannished man at Cumae the other beyng a great Lorde gaue vp the ghost at Puteoli What shall I speake of men of meaner degree Augustus Caesar who was called Father of his Countrey dyed out of his Countrey at Nola in Campania Tyberius that was vnlyke in Manners but equall in Empire deceassed at Misenum in Campania Vespasian and Titus two most excellent Princes as it well became the father and the sonne dyed in one Village yet without of the Citie of Rome â–ª though not farre But â—raian being borne in the West part of the worlde dyed in the East Septimus Seuerus came but of a base parentage in Africa and had a proude Empire at Rome â–ª and was buried at Yorke in Englande Theodosius that was borne in Spayne and dyed at Millain Constantinople receyued whiche Citie also had in it before the founder thereof beyng of the same name but borne in another place What shall I neede to recite others Lycurgus who fledde from Sparta Creta receyued which long before had seene Kyng Saturne bannished out of his Kyngdome and flying from his sonne and hearde howe he hyd hym selfe in the confines of Italie and was there buried A poore graue of Bithynia couereth Hannibal the lyght of all Africa Theseus Themistocles and Solon the three Diamondes of all Athens were so scattered by Fortune that the fyrst was buried in Syria the seconde in Persis and the thyrde in Cyprus in farre vnfitte Graues for so woorthie Carcasses The day woulde sooner fayle mee then matter yf I shoulde stande to reporte euery example But my purpose was not to weerie thee with Histories but onely to instructe thee Sorowe I vnderstande thy meanyng and I confesse that all these and as many moe as thou canst recken dyed out of theyr Countreyes in deede but I denie that it was with their wylles but rather I suppose to theyr great greefe Reason Whereby speakest thou this but onely for that all fooles iudge other lyke them selues and thynke that to be impossible for others to doo which they them selues can not attayne to And perhappes thou hast hearkened to the olde prouerbe It is good to lyue abrode in strange Countries but yll to dye there when as in deede they are both good so that they be orderly doone with patient forbearyng and comlinesse but both euyl yf they be yll handled lamentably and without discretion I wyll tell thee that which thou wylt marueyll at and is quite repugnant to the olde prouerbe If there be any iust occasion to complayne of the cause I had rather impute the same to the lyuyng whom perhaps in some respect it may concerne then hym that lyeth a dying who hath now no regarde of any place seeyng that he is vpon departyng from all places Sorowe Somewhat thou moouest my minde neuerthelesse I am yet desirous to dye in my Countrey Reason The wyll of man vnlesse it be bridled by vertue and wysedome of it selfe is wylde and vnreclaymed And yf thou consider of the matter deepely thou wylt confesse that none of all this appertayneth vnto thee seeyng that thou thy selfe canst remayne heere no longer nor thy boanes retayne any sense after thy deceasse to discerne where thou myghtest haue lyen harder or softer and also vnto that place whyther thou departest which had been the shorter or easier way When Anaxagoras lay a dying in a farre forraine Countrey and his freendes demaunded of hym whether after his death he woulde be carried home into his owne natiue soyle he answeared very finely saying that it shoulde not neede and he added the cause why for that the way to Heauen is of lyke distaunce from all places Whiche answeare serueth as well for them that goe downe to Hell as for those that goe vp to Heauen Sorowe I woulde GOD I myght dye at home Reason If thou were there perhappes thou wouldest wyshe thy selfe in another place perswade thy selfe so Learne to doo that dying whiche thou oughtest to haue doone lyuyng An hard matter it is for you O ye mortall men to beare your selues vpryghtly ye are so dayntie and faultfyndyng euermore makyng none account of that whiche ye haue and alwayes iudging best of that whiche ye want Sorowe O that I myght dye at home Reason Peraduenture thou shouldest see many thynges there that woulde make thy death more greeuous vnto thee for whiche cause thynke that thou art remooued to the intent that all other cares beyng set apart thou myghtest onely thynke vpon GOD and thyne owne soule Of one that dyeth in Sinne. The Cxxvj. Dialogue SOROWE I Oye in sinne Reason This is neyther Natures nor Fortunes but thyne owne fault Sorowe I dye in sinne Reason Fyrst who enforced thee to commit sinne And next who forbydde thee to bewayle it when it was committed And last of all who letteth thee from repentyng though it be late fyrst For vnto the last gaspe the spirite and minde is free Sorowe Whyles I am dying I carrie my sinnes with mee Reason Beware thou doo not so lay downe that venemous and deadly carriage whyle thou hast tyme and there is one that wyll take it away and blotte it out accordyng as it is written and wyll cast it behynde his backe into the bottome of the Sea and wyll abandon it as farre from thee as the East is distant from the West If thou neglect this houre when it is once past it wyll neuer returne agayne Whith qualitie although it be common to all houres that alwayes they passe away and neuer returne yet many tymes that which hath been omitted in one houre may be perhappes recouered in another but yet the neglectyng of the last houre of a mans lyfe is irrecurable And therefore as some report it to be found in the secret disputations of the soule the errours of this lyfe are as it were softe falles vpon the playne grounde after which a man may soone ryse vp agayne but the sinne vnto death is compared vnto a greeuous fall from some hygh and craggie place after which it is not possible to aryse any more the hurt therein taken is so great that it can not be salued Wherefore helpe thy selfe nowe whyle thou mayest and call to remembraunce not onely what your owne writers say but also what Cicero counselleth who in his woorke de Diuinatione of Diuination disputing of those that are dying Doo thou cheefely quod he studie to winne commendation and thynke that they which haue lyued otherwyse then they ought doo most bitterly repent them of their sinnes What I pray thee coulde be vttered by any man more religiously or profitably yf so be that be followed which is commaunded and thou repent thee though it be late fyrst A difficult and dangerous matter it is truely to
thynges But as for them that goe downe into hel casting of al charitie it is to be entended that they hate both God and men and also al the workes of God and man. Of one that at his death is carefull of his fame and good report The Cxxx. Dialogue SOROWE WHAT wyll men speake of me when I am dead Reason An vnseasonable care thou shouldest haue prouided for this in thy youth for looke what a mans life is suche is his fame Sorowe What wyll they say of me Reason What shall I answeare thee other then that which the most learned and eloquent Marcus Cicero sayeth What other men shall speake of thee let them see to that them selues but they wyl speake notwithstanding howbeit all their talke is comprehended within the narrowe boundes of these regions which thou seest neyther was it euer continual of any but is extinguished by the death of men and forgetfulnesse of posteritie Sorow What wil they speake of me that shal be borne herafter Reason I would tel thee otherwyse then Cicero doeth yf I thought that any thing could be better vttered then is by him And what skilleth it sayth he if thou be spoken of by them that shal be borne hereafter seeing there nowe remayneth no fame of them that were borne before thee One thing he addeth moreouer which perhaps at that time was doubtful peraduenture false but now very sure most true without doubt Who sayth he were as many in number as you are now and truely better men to For who is he that doubteth but that there wyl neuer come so good men as there haue ben Thus al thinges waxe woorse woorse and tend euery day toward their final ruine A merueilous care then it is which thou hast to stande in feare of the speeches of those whom thou knowest not are thy youngers as not liuing in the same age with thee seeing thou now contemnest the iudgement and woordes of excellent men of thine owne time and acquaintance Sorow What fame shal there be of me when I am dead Reason Far better then while thou liuest when enuie once holdeth her peace For enuie and malice seldome last longer then a mans life and as vertue is the roote of glorie so is enuie the cutter downe of it and as the enuious hand being present hindreth the growth of it so when it is taken away it restoreth the encrease of true commendation And therfore vnto many as the entrance into their graues hath been a bar vnto enuie so hath it ben the beginning of great glorie Sorow Howe long wyl my fame continue Reason A long time perhaps as you call long But that all thinges may not only be long but also euerlasting vertue alone is able to bring that to passe and specially Iustice of which it is written The iust man shal be had in euerlasting memorie Which meaning also your countrey Poet expressed as wel as he could where he sayth But by mens deedes their fame to stretch that priuiledge vertue geues Sorow What fame shal I haue after my deceasse Reason What skilleth it what it be which shortly shal be forgotten or contemned What shall the breath of men apperteyne vnto thee when thou thy selfe shalt be without breath For one that breatheth to be nourished and delyghted with the winde and ayre it is no meruaill but for a dead man to be so it is a woonder Sorowe What shal be sayde of me when I am dead Reason No goodnesse be sure vnlesse thou haue deserued it but muche euyl peraduenture not merited and perhappes lytle or nothyng at all For in many thynges fame is a lyer but in the most a true reporter otherwyse it could not long continue For trueth is the foundation of continuance and as for a lye it is weake and transitorie Sorowe What fame shall I haue after my death Reason Suche as thy lyfe was before and at thy death Concernyng this matter therefore let the tyme to come but specially the tyme present looke to that And thus perswade thy selfe assuredly that what report and fame a man is woorthy to haue after his death it is no way better discerned then at his death when as in deede which is a strainge thyng to be spoken many that haue lyued all theyr tyme obscurely and without glorie death onely hath made famous Of one that dyeth without Children The Cxxxj. Dialogue SOROWE I Die without children Reason For that cause thou oughtest to die the more willingly and with the more expedition to goe foorth on thy iourney for that thou hast nothyng behinde thee to stay thee or cal thee backe The greatest greefe which they that lie a dying haue surceaseth in thee whiche riseth vpon the sorowe and compassion of leauing their children specially when they be young neede the asistance and counsel of their parentes being at those yeeres destitute of aduice subiect vnto iniuries many other casualties Sorow My children whom I wished hoped should haue liued after me are gone before me Reason Then hast thou some to whom thou art desirous to goe from whom thou art not willing to depart which is no smal comfort vnto thee Sorowe Bitter death constraineth me to dye without chyldren Reason If thou thinke this to be so miserable a matter what cause hast thou either to die now or heretofore to haue liued without children seeing there is such choise of young Gentlemen towardly youthes among whom thou maiest choose and adopt thee sonnes who perhaps wyl be more louing and obedient vnto thee then thine owne natural children descended of thy flesh blood for they come vnto thee by chaunce but these are elected out of many by exquisite iudgment The other were thy children before thou knewest them but these thou knewest chosest and louedst before thou madest them thy children And therefore the one sort of them wil wholy impute it to nature that they are thy children but the other to thy special good liking Whereby it hath hapned many times that the succession by adoption hath ben very fortunate vnto the heyres in which kind not only meane inheritances but also whole Empires haue ben committed in trust Thou knowest howe Iulius Caesar wanting issue adopted Augustus to be his sonne Augustus againe adopted Tyberius almost against his wyl And likewise afterward how Nerua adopted Vlpâ—us Traianus and he Elius Hadrianus be againe Antonius pius he likewise toke vnto him Marcus Aurelius to be his sonne which Marcus I would to God he had more happily adopted any other then vnluckely begotten his sonne Commodus commodious to none but discommodiouss to the whole world the only disgracing of so good a father one among a few of them that were no small shame reproch to the Romane Empire also a most apparent argument how much adoption is more fortunate then procreatioÌ„ For whereas the first princes had in order one after another raigned long time in happie