though it be but a trifle fooles bables may serue to make wisemen sport search it to the sinews trie out his entrails though his stature be smal his heart may be big leaue what you like not beleue what you list you haue scope to scape harmles It is my theames bidding to be dainty in chusing respect or reiect to your priuate contentmentes Thus vnder protectioÌ„ of your frendly beneuolence vndoubted ascertaunce of willing attention I will proue my purpose manifestly by discoursing dispersedly through al or the most creatures extant in the world least I incur that idiots fault which intending to write the life of Priamus began many degrées of with his great grauÌ„dfathers predecessor and so spent his pith ere he came to his purpose to auoide the like néedles superfluitie I begin as followeth BE sure to those to whom you plight troth but be slow to trust any with reposed confidence for he that makes breach of his passed protestation is far worse then Pythius the deceitful Siluersmith of Syracusa and he that trustes too far though vpon some tryall is like the foolish Bearaâ—d which hauing tamde his Beare will thrust his hand into his iaws or venter so far within his gripes that sometimes he is vrged to crie for helpe ARct seemes the knot indissoluble the bond of mutuall good-will twixt the parent the child Yet Tullia Tarquins daughter for couetize of the empire not onely berefte her father of life but in spite made her couch to be drawen ore his body and with her trampling Iades brused his corpes Seruius Tullus was molested of his children Zanâ—ppus persecuted his Father Pericles Oedipus was imprisoned of Eteocles and Polinices Bassianus sought the death of his father Seuerus Although Aristotle say S. Ethickeâ— that Loue descendes rather thâ—n ascendes that parents loue children more then they requite it â—et doth not this loue alwayes indiuidually concomitate and follow parentes Iustinus the abridger of Trogus Pompeius writeth that the wife of Demetrius for desire she had to reigne betrayeth one of her sonnes who was an obstacle to her enterprise and by that horrible facte dismissing all motherly affection when another sonne of hers named Grippus had recouered his fathers dominions she as though she had bene imbased by this conquest attempted to embrew her handes in the bloud of him although it happened most diametrically opposite for offering him a cup of deadly poison when he came thirstie from exercise he of duetiful curtesie desired her to begin and vrged her so far that hee founde but great proofes of her intended purpose wherewith the Quéene being ouercome poisoned herselfe with the potion which she had prouided for her sonne Phaenix deflowred a damosell whom his father Amintor kept in cube and did affectionat for which cause his sire thundering bitter curses inuoking the fell condemned furies bequeathinge to his hire the hatefull harmes of Hell and wishing such a sonne might neuer be sire or beget babes to be his nephewes whom he might cherishe in his bosome he fled from his fathers malediction and left the hope of all his welth in Hellade where then Amintor raigned Meleager when the turretts of his natiue Cittie Calidon were battered by crewes of Cuâ—et land could not hauing taken a litle displeasure either be calâ—â—ed with the Lordes faire offers or be entreated with the Cleargies prayers or be induced by his Fathers beseechinges kneeling on his knées to saue the Cittie till time paste time almost not for their socour sake but of his owne disposition the toy tooke him in the head If that were lawe nowe which was lawfull in Sophocles his time for children to disposesse their doating parentes we should finde I doubt not no small multitude that with Sophocles his sonnes would goe about to proue their fathers fooles that they might enioy their landes and goods I cannot forget here to insert the condemnation of these children reluctant to nature by the charâ—e pietie of the storke to their dams who relieue them in age with foode of whom in youth they receyued satiate sustentation the godlie duetie of a poore woman who as Valerius writeth hauing her mother deliuered by the Praetor vnto the Iayler to be executed in the prison as a malefactour and a straight mandate giuen that none should visit her sauing that her daughter by the gentlenes of the Iayler got leaue to come to her who notwithstanding was narrowlie searched that she brought no foode bycause he purposed to kill her with famine a great while aslaked her mothers hunger with the milke of her brestes the Iayler merueyling how she liued so long at length perceiued the honest guile and reporting the straung fact to the Counsel procured her pardon When the broode of the Pellycane waxeth hore haughty they violently smite their dams and gréeuously wound them Nero made a funerall corse of his naturall mother and this Tiger Nero a straung begotten swaine was preferred by Claudius to the Imperiall throne before his owne sonne Britannick BRethren descending from the same loynes hauing copulation of neare consanguinitie should not me thinketh degenerate from kindnes and turne natiue Loue to defiant Hostilitie It were straung in these dayes to see their natures peruerted but that it hath bene so among our forefathers yet it was no woonder in their golden daies for so it hath bene from the worldes first foundation Petosiris the Iunior sonne of Calasiris Priest at Memphis by guyle ment to defraude his elder brother Thyamis of the succession of his Fathers Priesthood for the which they sought a combat or at least should haue fought if Petosiris his héeles had not serued him better then both his handes and heart were able to doe The Empire of Rome being left in euen moytie to the two brethren Bassianus and Geta Bassinus to the intente to haue the sole regiment fraudulentlie butchered his brother Geta. Abimilech slewe thréescore of his brethren that he might raigne alone when onelie Ionathas by Gods prouision scapte the sckowring Record the quarrells of Marcus and Lucius Titus and Domitian Tyberius and Germanicus Numitor and Amulius Saturne Titan who vpon the point of commaundement gouernment were not as though they had bene brethren but mainteined wars as most cruell enimies Ouid saith in the first of his Metamorphosis that the violence of the boisterous winds which brothers are by kind are so turmoilous and so cruell that euerie one is pent pur partiewise in sundrie place and therefore to the gray Morning and to the realme of Nabathie and Persis and other landes far vnderneath the morning starre did Eutus take his flight the setting of the Sun and shutting in of nighte belong to Zephyr that braies his balming breath the blastes of blustering Boreas raigne in Scithia and in other landes vnder Charlsis wayne to Auster is appendaunt all the Sotherne coast who beareth showers and mists continually in his mouth FEw Husbandes marrie wiues vnlesse
driues the starrs their breper course to shift yet doth Phaeb kéepe his beaten path doth withstand the stoutest brute By blynde bywayes and vgly shapes of monsters must he treade betwene the dredefull bulls sharpe horns against the cruel bow the which the Aemonion archer drawes against the ramping Lyon armde with greedy pawes and tusks against the Scorpions venimd clawes eke the awry crabs crooked clees he weals his way Through all fiue zones directe he must not ride but out askew a broade by way that bendeth on the side conteined within the bonds of three the midmost zones doth ly which from the Northren beere and Southren pole doth â—lye that is his ready waye not mounting ouer hy lest he inflame the heauens nor drowping ouer low lest he adure the earth the golden meane is safest not to the right hand ouermuch leaste he be driuen vpon the wauy sealed snake nor to much wresting to the least lest to the Aulter he be pusht that pitcht against it stands It is no moment of time that brings mountaines of treasure but laboure and leasure prudence and policy must do the déede Iupiter in his moode spared not his owne sonne Vulcane but by the foote threw him downe from the skyes wherein the ayer he tumbbled too 〈◊〉 a whole day through fell at last with brused bones in Lemnos I le at which soule clap he caught his haultyng haunch Iupiters stéedes of heauenly race did sometime nede the ierke of golden whip The smith cooleth his yron to straight it strenghthen it God corrects thée with his rodd to make thee recke more of his read Thou hast heard I am sure how Phenix Aiax Vlisses Achilles Patroclus Antomddon all grecian Lords haue vppon necessity abased them selues without any muttering to execute the function of sculls to make the fire and broche their meate yea woorse then this It is not with thée as with those who haue defect in the principles of nature whose paines are no boote to obtaine theÌ„ blisse vnlesse some vibootye do happ theÌ„ by hazarde Thou art not now to be made of the masse but to be cast in the mould and burnished a new thou hast exteriour matter and interiour forme and if thou haddest a lytle pollishing thou might be published for perfite The heauenly bodies ar sooner healed then mans corrupted carcasses as wounded Mars immediatly was cured by Peon phisition to the Gods and Hebes her swéete baines Then sith thou hast infusion of celestiall influence thou maist quickly haue conclusion of these terrene afflaightinges God in a tryce can make thee thryce happye Those whoÌ„ vertuous constancie doth controule saith Horace lib. 3. Odisse 3. are neither remoued with vulgar Rumour nor greatly fretted with threats of Tyrants and though that hills and dales should mete do neuer change their moods But since that we are heare in this vacation of busines to imploye our deuoyres to deuoyd our ill plights I wil recite that a story to the purpose of Melanthus his inditing and his poore posse Per. of Melanthus his our olde playe fellowe now only plaining fellowe gramercye by my honestye good Pandol. we shall now bee ouer pearears of his closets close commentaries which hee hath kept so obscure from all our scanninges eyther repining the others should reape good of his trauailes or mistrusting his ability miscoÌ„struing his good qualityes But I praye you of what or whom is this treatise comprised or what opportunity had he to compile it Pand. two daies agoe I receiued his letters of salutations not forgetting therein thy recommendations and therewithall he sent vs this present as a preseruatiue to preuent vs of ioye-wrack The contentes of his epistle were these that he hauing spent his thrifte on that baude Misfortune common to vs three and hauing craâ—ed his braine with the abstruce studie of some intricate quirkes he thought that the composing of this was a relaxation to his minde that it being compassed would be a refection to vs with this certificate moreouer he gaue me intelligence that though it might seme a fiction figured by his imaginatiue conceite yet it was not framed without allusion to a proper subiect Herein shalt then see decyphred by the princely gallant nature of forwâ—rd Philotimus the pinching galling thwartings of frowarde fortune and by some pamplets penned to the same effect of the said Philotimus what bitter debate doth euer abide betwext good Nature and dame Fortune Per. Good â—an let vs heare this worke that will proue vs wise because wee are infortunate then perhapps by this wisdome we shall contemne fortune Pan. I am pleased Per. then I I hope I shal be eased Pandolpho his posie Sapit qui suflinet The warr betwixt Nature and Fortune The historye of Philotimus NOt farr from the confines of the south parte of Italye abuts a certaine Cittie surnamed Mantua neyther contemptible for basenes nor desolate for barrennes but so well fraughte with trafficke for all affaires and pleasantly situated for the verdure of the ayre as both the poore by paines may here finde reliefe and he that is destitute of other delytes maye yet haue these obiects to refreshe his senses The cheefe-taine and gouernour of this Citye Mantua was a noble yonge gentleman called Cleâ—â—ritus who latelye had espoused his long betrothed wyfe the princelye gallant paragon Lady Castibula daughter and heire to the Duke of Bononia These two imps in their royall ruffe newelye surprised with vncouth Ioyes for a longe season and tract of time during the space of full fiue yeares with many an imbracing and sporting pastime ledd such a Lordlye lyfe as he woulde wishe that can wyshe aright and you not knowinge it maye possiblye imagine Of countenaunce and office among their compeares though rather worthy then willinge to beare any swaye for competent wealth of superfluous aboundance when lesse might haue wrought their setled contentation Now when all thinges were patt for euery purpose and nothing amisse that might be amended to the absolute finishinge of a perfite Felicytye the greatest matter of all in which the fruite of their laboures the staffe of their age the ende of their life were ioyntlye comprised were all this whyle a wantinge children I meane wherein we are as it were regenerated and borne a new euen budding after death by the springing of our seede which canonizeth our memorye with euerlusting eternitye by continuance of their linage and propagatioÌ„ of our petegree Which one backwarde let amongest other good successes was as it were aiarring discorde in a swete Diapason a prickinge nettle in a pleasant nosegaye a fowle mayme in a faire man Yet they measured Gods might not by the aptnesse of their age nor his fatherly prouidence by present occasion but referring his power to his maiestyes pleasure neuer repined against his iudgmentes but praied for his mercy So in processe he which maketh an ende where he doth begin and plentifully blesseth the
bene daggers to their own throat or like that prince who for that Quintianus the sonne of a senatour was detreted of a conspiracie against him bare such immortall hatred to al the senators that whosoeuer named himselfe a senator was helde for a traitoure or like Brutus who that all the stock of Superbus and the name of Tarquinâ— might be abolished tooke the gouerment from his fellowe Collatinus Tarquinius that had bene a partner of his counsaile in expelling the kinges The graue Ephori among the Lacedomonians which were as an anticipation to the kinges that they should vse no oppression or burden the people with impositions were all ould men Natures hye derree hath appointed that yong lambes should vse their pastaunce on sunny hills when ould sheepe are lyther and lustles Sprigging flowers ar in their baine and tender groweth better for poesies to delight then medicines for diseases Therefore saie I with the yong man in Terence that those ould men haue left many a good lessone behinde them for want of learning that would haue a boye by some straunge metamorphosis conuert into an ould grandsire vsing an aldermans pace before he can wel gange and speaking at euery word a sentence of eleauen when he hath scarcely learned his Christ-crosse-rowes No man will lend a lock of haye but for to gaine a-loade then why shoulde I take paines all my lyfe and haue no more assuraunce of my promised profite but peraduenture yea peraduen nay if I chaunce to gett it bee glad I haue mine owne much like a twhackinge thresher or a thumpinge thatcher who must plye their bones all the daye stand at night with cap knee before their good maister for their three halfe-peny hyre When I haue slipt the flowere that fairest is of hew when I haue reapt my crop of corne I can be content you take the stalke and make aduantage of my chaffe Thou saist that the roote of a figtree is sowre and the fruite sweet therefore do wee vse to eate the fruite referringe the root to other necessaries The custome of feasts is as you infer for want of other proofes to begin with grosse fare and ende with banqueting dishes I say the vsers of such a methode are not so wise as the priest that eate his best plummes first and let the woorst bee mending It was prophesied to Anceus that he should neuer drinke of his planted vineyarde whiche hee to falsifie the grapes beinge ripe and prest got a bowle of wyne in his hand asking where his coulde prophets were that made such a blazon of a false supposition at that very instant one running into the house cryed a maine that the vine yarde was like to bee spoyled which hee to preueÌ„t left his wyne â— there being slaine verified the prophesy whereupon this prouerbiall adage is grounded many thinges ar betwene the cup and the lip Lucius was adopted to the Romaine Empire but before he had power to commaunde in the state of Rome he was buried in his sepulture Pills ywrapt in sugar yeeld no bitter rellishe one comming late from warminge himselfe is bettter able to abide astormie morning to which two similitudes my theame is HomogeneoÌ„ that he that hath past his time in iollity is in better case to match with misery The refuser of his meat when he is hungrie meaninge to take refection another time deserues no prayse in meede of his abstenency but as an enemie to nature is well worthy to pine Such a thinge is pleasure so glorious in shewe so noble in name so effectuall in force that all thinges at all tymes in all exploites worke for her hire bend at her becke and quaile in their attempts if she faile their expectation Well doth she resemble the Pole articke which leadeth the ship-maister and she with the Astronomer the way to all other stars and therefore must be first in euery ones intention before he begin the pursuite of his ende Verely wise were the inhabitantes of a certaine Cittie bordering a little from the prouince of Machai in the East partes which are reported to kepe holy day thrée daies a wéeke Neither is the drift of my deuise directed to an Apology of elds vnsauery pleasure which thou fondlye enduest with with a priuiledge of principallitie Heauie is their happines vnlesse they be happie bicause they are so perswaded of themselues as Tully speakes of the Epicures which lurke all their liues in mourning Tunnes constituting their felicitie in vaine speculations How many sporting houres were sorted to the Astronomer C. Gallus who like the hard old Demea which neither in the twilighte of day nor in the edge of any euening coulde euer be founde idle from his Husbandrie so neither in the vaile of night nor the heat of day would lend himself one laughing minute from dimension of his spheares Doe not you thinke that if Isocrates his Soule might rise again from death and enter into an other body as the Pythagoreans sect surmise for Pythagoras said that in the Troian warre he was Euphoâ—bus Pantheus his sonne slaine by Menelaus and that in Iunoes charge at Argos hee did see and knewe the Target which in his lefte hand there he helde whose Soule disâ—allâ—sâ— of that body did enter this in which he now was that he would redeme his mispent time with pleasure who at ninety and foure yeares of age writ the Oration Panathenaicus Muche ioye iwis had Leontinas Gorgias his maister who in the tracte of an hundred and seauen yeares neuer fadged in his infinite studies The purpose of their conceit was no pleasaunt contentation but a pining desire to reach renowne a vaine toye for so greate toyle It is disputed of all the Schoolemen in Philosophy of Arist their chieftein as I haue heard that nothing is in the intellectuaâ— part which hath not bene conducted thither by the Senses Of thiâ— I gather that your solide pleasure which you doe limitte in the mindes muses is first deriued from the exterior sences as from their fountaine Now you sée how olde ages sences be be-dimmed in so muche that they haue no tast of their meate and drinke vnlesse as it is in Zenophons symposion rorantia et minuta pocula do now than relieue them which tast of theirs is like salt water which maketh fresh béefe salt and salt béefe fresh Their eies doe looke by a paire of spectacles like one through a cazement so that beautie mighte goe a begging for their buying vnlesse there were some other courts to entertaine our curtizans When one asked Sophocles whether he did not vse to accompany Venus no quoth the oulde dizzard God forbid I haue willingly taken my flight from her as from a shrewde churlish mistris Tyresias in his doting daies for varying against Iuno was strirken blind Their eares be closed vp like the serpents with her taile that neither Naecastron who by his harmony entangled euery one with his loue nor Amphion who with melodye gathered
bellies of Horses or Oxen sowen vp againe there rot till they were dead for those which came vnder the rodde of the Tyrant Maxentius of whom Virgil entreateth Faustine the wife of Aurelius louinge a Fencer coulde not bee brought to hate him by any Apothecaries drugges till one deuised the Fencer should be closly slaine she not witting his bloud giuen her warme to drinke as a potion which indéed immediatly made her loth him so if nothing can mitigate your affectioÌ„ but my vtter confusion I rather yéelde to dye and geue yow a confection of my bloud then so oppositelye to my foreled life degenerate from honestie and derogate from myne honour Seneca his wife prosecuted her Husbande with so deare loue that after Seneca was slaine shee did not onelye offer to kill her selfe for his sake if she had not bene staied but also after the same maÌ„ner that he was slaine And let this hastie warninge wreste shee from thy suite that I would not onely bee as desperate if any mischaunce should befall my husband but if it mighte pleasure him incurre the like at his commaund therefore desiste Tel. As it is death to women to be denied of that they demaund so is it naturall to them to dispise the thing is giuen theÌ„ vnasked Iulius Caesar the Emperour was blamed bycause as the custâ—m was he rise not vp curteously to the Senate that saluted him on their knees And I might impute it to thée for discurtesy that thou guerdonest not my kindnes with equiualente clemencie Yet that yow maye knowe it is not your beautie alone hath bleared mine eies but your vertues rather that haue subdued my affection and that it may be proofe howe well I loue yow I promisse neuer hereafter to sollicite this suite but moderate my selfe according to your mind This contented Castibula well who after this vsed his company many a time neuer heard word of former toies But wicked Telamon went an other way to work For wheras he saw Castibula vse him more familiarly theÌ„ all other meÌ„ himselfe in despaire to atchieue his wi h he after some interâ—ission of time indented with 2. cut throat vâ—cabonds for a 1000 crownes to wâ—ite one night for Cleocritus in 1 litle groue where hee vsed to walke after supper in summer eueninges and there slay him and that they mighte knowe when he was alone he would giue them inckling of it All these contriuementes were accomplished out of hande Cleocritus slaine the murtherers fled neuer heard on neither who nor wher they were great search was made and Telamon moste busye amonge the reste to examine before the Iustices suspected persons and those who had bene at any oddes with Cleocritus But woe begone Castibula misdéemed the worste and gessed a troth that selfe Telamon was accersary to his death But waiting for a time of reuenge saide litle onely closetting her selfe in her bed-chamber vexed her mind body with x. thowsand cares and in her racking tormentes scâ—itcheâ— out these woordes O day which ay shall me annoy Castibula alas Castibula now straine thy howling Himâ—es let grief be-wraied by grisly laies surmounting seaisâ— Alcyones and passing Pandions foules Not Tellus fretting at the Gods to their despite and to our paine vp-hurld more vâ—ly monstruous féend whom syphon men ar wont to call whose bloudy pawes purgd Citties boundes and skowring scourged poore sackeles Soules then is this No man Telamon O Father of Heauen why dost thou throw thy ratling boults in vaine vpon the whistlinge woodds and wilte not deigne to spend one Brande on this pernitious freake to wreake thy gawly ire My plighte more piteous is then was Octauiaes earst whose Sire was slaine Mother bereâ—te of breathinge life of Brother eke depriued was she by Treason not by guilt And more vnluckye is Castibula then was vnfortunate Deianira whose Father was at last decay Tydeus her brother a poore exiled Squire Hercules her husband killed by the shirt that Nessus gaue her to make him loue her as he saide and Hil her prety boy lefte a poore Orphan When slumber sweete in pensiue partes doth reigne sleepe in eyes all tired with teares doth rest I appreheÌ„d Cleocritus genial face me thinkes these armes they claspe their wonted phere me thinkes his foming foes pursue his flighte and then me thinkes he doth recoyle a backe and fenceth blasing brondes with naked fistes O state wherein I stand O present pining paine O death no death but euer dying griefe With ease Electra I repeate thy case whose father slaine thy brother yet might venge but nothinge canne reuenge this haggishe deuelishe facte But be sure Cleocritus that if Portia Cato his doughter and Brutus his wife hir husband being slaine among the Phillipians when she could not get a knife to kill her selfe eate hot coales to reaue her of her life If Turia the wife of Quintus Lucretius put her selfe in deathes hazard for her husbandes sake that thy Castibula will not bee saide lagge in as bolde attemptes These matters a litle ouerblowen Telamon began to comfortâ— her and tell great tokens of his good will and though vnworthy of such successe yet did he craue Cleocritus his succession Castibula was very tractable and consented to contract her selfe thinking this a trick time to worke her téene When the matrimoniall rites were pompously consummated in the open congregation Castibula as the Brides are woont drunke to her husbande which drinke shee had prouided for the nouce and brued it of deadlye poyson both of them hauing drunken in Propatulo she vnfolded the primordies of his adulterous sollicitinges assuring them and her self that the dart that thirld her husband came from his deuice and this was all the amerciment she could exact The Lawe of Talio is a good Lawe quoth she and therefore none can attach me of crueltie What musings and mazinges there were in the Church what teares and outcryes cursing Telamon and playning Cleocritus Castibula I will not recite Telamon with heauie cheare repayred home and immediatly dyed Castibula returned home cast her selfe vpon her bed and calling for the remnaunt of her children Philotimus and Fuluia bespake Come litle Orphans and take your last congè of your lost mother You are a small mease left for so great a familie therefore my hope is that I néede not doubt of your good demeanour after my departure If yow can agrée about the participation of your goods and lette your goodwill be interchaungeable it will bee a blisse to your other banes but if yow disagre and serue strife your famelie will be ruinated your substance dissipated yow confounded Sevlurus Cheronensâ—s bed-rid and reâ—â—y to appeare at the Tribunall of death hauing liued the reuolution of manye a winter called his Sonnes which were 80 in number and had euerye one take an arrow breake it when they had done he bad euery one of them take a sheafe of arrowes and breake them whiche they coulde not doe
the wit and stunts the stomacke Follie aduauncing herselfe in that best book of Erasmus his Encomion moriae bragging her to be the mistris of al noble exploits will admit none but monsters into her muster small men are scarse sufficient for a foote garrison to watch the walles not able to endure one nightes colde without a well defencing shelter She leuieth her army of huge boisterous hobs wel beâ—eming for their vnderstanders to bee the ofspringe of Giauntes who not onely will couragiously forrige vppon their enemies but durste and would for their bignes and follie lay a seconde siedge to the hould of the Gods The politicke Prince Agamemnon was of a middle pitche widly Vlisses of somwhat lesse stature whose woords came forth like winter snow such store he had as good Antenor describs him in Homer Those therefore of hot composition and of mean rate in stature liuelye neate and nimble doe as Virgil speaketh of Bées in the fourthe of his Georgickes within that little corpes of theirs right noble stomackes beare For though they be not so rash and feareles as they of the other sorte yet by reading or reason experience or pollicie they dare in time doe as much as they and for the others one matter well compassed with successe they will bring ten thowsand to happie end if lucke be aunswerable Lycurgus not one clad with the stuntliest courage of all other and far beyond Aereithous in strength I meane that Aereithous that bare the massy club wherewith he fighting got such praise that hee christened himselfe by the name of Clubber slue him tho by sleight to whom he found himselfe inferiour in force and Ereuthalion that mightie champion was slaine by good foresight of the wiâ—e Nestor I haue red that in an old smokie authour which theÌ„ I thought worthie noting and here I meane to insert and this it is in our vulgar tongue I haue seldome sene a long man wise or a lowe man lowlie Nowe this aspiring haughtines is vsuallye ioyned with an excelling wit whereof it proceedes For hauing a sharp capacitie wherein he doth most resemble the Gods he desireth to be seated in some exalted throne neare to the Gods and therfore saith one of Alexander if he had had a quantitie of body measured out to the qualitie of his minde with the one hande hee had caught the East and with the other he had raught the West I meane not to make an Inuectiue against goodlie corporall men of whom for my part I thinke very substancially nor think not but that as Aristotle saieth great heades if they be not too great haue the best capacities so great men if they be not monsters haue no want of wit For Paulus Eginetus I remember in his first booke De medicina saith that a verie litle heade is a certaine signe of a weake iudgement want in quantitie of braine and I suppose that if their frame and match be euen and equall Nanes and Dwarfes muste needes be topped with such heades I can vse no sharpe aunsweres to excuse my selfe to these huge Polyphems neither haue I any sound argumentes to polishe the praises of such as be of the litle reasonable sise but this I can aledg drawen froÌ„ Naturall Philosophie that the wittiest sconce hath the greatest inclination to Venerie wherewith beginning to dallye too soone though for a season it helpe the grouth yet doth it preueÌ„t the naturall grouth and if Apolloes Phisicke be not wouen with Apolloes wit cuttes of the course of his yeares before the fates haue halfe runne their date vnlesse his peragons had the power of Dan Aurora who prolonged the youth of her frende Tithonus with supply of her moisture Yet this may be his comfort that though hee wante Paris his personage which is common to manie hee may haue parte of Achilles his prowesse which hath fellowship with few and be endewed with Vlisses his wit which I will not say is appropriate to himselfe The hilles are not fertile nor the valleyes barren The Sun in the highest delighteth in the shadowe which is shortest nourisheth the Trée whose roote groweth deepest not whose toppe springeth loftiest Naythelesse that seasonable aire and bréeding vp and worthie race may quallifie a coward with courage and portcolize the pate with pollicie Aiax Telamon was wont to say and I assent And therefore those 9. worthies of the Greekes who at Hectors challenge to combat with anye one single man offred themselues to wage battaile ech of them seuerallie had not onelie braund boisterous bodies but well bumbast also with acute pollicie I dare not be too vehement against these champions bycause as they be fooles so commonly they bee fortunate whereas the other sorte their coâ—riualls in the former comparison are God knoweth more loftie then luckie Which howe it comes to passe I know not but that we see ragged walles haue painted clothes when sound marble is naked a crooked backe must haue a bumbast dublet when a streight body weares no suche bolsteringes that ill woodes grow apace when good hearbes sproute at ease and that Nick Noddie hath the lucke when Welladay Wit liues in lacke Bellerophon whose shape wit and mind were more méete for a demy God then for a mortlinge whose semine race and patrie bréede foreheld deaurate scepters in Ephyra of Argos I le with how manie forraies of enemies was he afronted and worse theÌ„ any driuill assailed with azerd steele to reaue his life by stealth What monsters had he ministred to be his combatantes What veins of lanes enforced to thréede but that God whome he implored to be his gardaine renforced him with armipotente and impugnable marte to bringe the palme away and proue them dastard parnels He spending his young yeares with a Kinge in Graece the hight Proetus had caught not cautele of it in his loue the Queene Andia to whose disloialtie bycause he would not coÌ„sent she bare her husband in hand that he sought her dishonour besought him to reueng it with austeritie of punishment Proetus woulde not murther him in hugger mugger in his owne house but forged letters of guile wherwith he sent Bellerophon to his Father in law King Rheon the Lycian prince with this tenure to reiourne the bearers returne from time to time and by some occasion to put him to death Rheon to giue good enterteinment to his sonne in lawes entreatie inioynes this Bellerophon to slay the dire monster Chimere a ghastfull thing and for no man to doe as he supposde The heade and brest of him were like a Lyon the middle like a goat behind like a Dragon his breathinges terrible flames him after much tiring toyle Bellerophon slue That done the Solymes downe he hackt Then the King appointed him to trye with manie an Amazon but stil he was so steeld with hardie heart that he laid the life of these Amazons in morgage with Pluto for his fauour at such atttempts At length to make a sure
flowter as one without escapes may be a cunning skogin in his own conceit but shall become a common scoffe to all that knowe him But I am impudente in coniecting the worste bycause I nowe am impotent and haue reiected his goodwil Though honour harborow that vs but for on houre yet homely honestie will kéepe her old nest though my currishnes be a signe that hee should delude me yet his constancie hath sined to perpetuitie of loue Howe can it be that he should seeke meanes to bereaue mee of breath who studieth to strengthen and lengthen my life No no his frendship is firme my affection shal be reciprocal he endeuoreth to broch a better tap to make my beare go better downe therfore I wil not say nay but assay to drinke apply me to his pleasure and be correspondent to his counsaile Vpon this confidence of Archaretos his fidelitie Philotimus at the day prefixed repaired to the foresaid place what their méeting communication the drift of their conference was I wil giue you notice by their mutual colloquy which I haue enterlaced dialogue wise Archaretos Philotimus PHilotimus my wished frend and welcomde guest how dost thou Phil. O Archaretos my sauiour ill to all and worst to my selfe all the world is otemeale and my poke left at home I will not say to to thee as the olde begger man saide to his dame God sende you your health as longe as I liue but I wish that his life may be set on a long last whose loue hath eased the wrenching of my heart and that his prosperitie may neuer quaile whose comfort as a cullisse preserueth my weale Deare Archaretos forget and forgeue my passed ingratitude for then for want of yeares good discretion I could not discerne my frendes as whelpes cannot see till they bee nine dayes olde and nowe for shame I coulde eate mine owne eares as Aiax after the slaughter perpetrated in his madnes at the recouerie of his wits killed himselfe Philotimus quoth Archaretos ingrate men men indéed deserue hate yet would I bee loth to minister you cumber for a medicine of comfort or followe your hresident of former mallice since I mean to giue you preceptes of new goodwill Thy hot choller I perceiue is turnd to cold coals and the remnaunt of the ashes vtterlie dispersed though therefore I cannot appease thy paines with pleasure yet will I please thee if I can with my presente parlie and though I cannot effectually furnishe thy wantes yet will I most faithfully further thy wish Alas good Philotimus my feare did euer deuine this hap though my well wishing impugned my presagings But a man shal hardly be deceiued where his heart doth fully aduertise him For neither did Silla erre in that whiche hee prophesied of Iulius Caesar neither Ptololomeus faile in that he foredeemed of Alcibiades bicause the one depriued Rome of her libertie the other depraued the glorie of Graece The Romaines puissance could not be infringed or brought to expuguation either by the Carthagenians or the Frenchmen the Huns or the Epirotes the Sabines the Samnites or the Etrurians but by reckles pride and licentious liuing it was remunerated with vtter ruine I speake it to this purpose Philotimus bicause if thou haddest bene as warie in thy life as thou art wise in thy learning or as frugall in expences as thou waste frolicke in thy sportes thy state had bene firme thou haddest néeded no frendes and all then too Well had not now turned to Woe But no man is borne without a blemishe and the Gods themselues had their imbecilities Saturne was peuishe Iupiter adulterous Apollo wanton and Titan enuious Alexander was furious Archidamus ambitious Demetrius vicious Hannibal periured Traian a wine bibber and Homer a vaine talker Then my good Philotimus since as I hope thou art penitent for preter ouersights◠be not dismaied in thy selfe nor despaire in thy fortune But first of all I straightlie inhibit you for your better thriuing neuer once to enterteine one thoughte of Aurelia Mamea was prowde Medaea cruell Martia contumacious Poplia vnchaste Myrrha malicious Domitia rashe Assiria complayned of her scandale Semyramis Armenia of Pincia Graece of Helen Germany of Vxodonea Rome of Agrippina Spayne of Hecuba but all these iointlie with euerie their seuerall faults may not compare with thy compéere Aurelia of whose wickednes thy testimonie is a perfect proofe Muse not Philotimus that I dehorte thee from loue and perswade thee to libertie for I haue red more in Hossienus that instructeth to giue counsaile then in Ouid that learneth to be enamoured and more shalt thou profit in following a Stoycke then in practising the toies of coy Dorcatius Philotimus aunswered My dearest Arcaaretos as I had rather pledge thee in water then anye other in wine so one sillable of thine shall more perswade mee then the sage sentences of anye other The woordes of the Philosopher Theomastes did more preuaile with some of the Graeciaus then the huge armies of king Phillip and more effectuall good Archaretos are thy gentle exhortations then the threatening tormentes of any calamities But alas this haste thou hearde and I haue tryed it that the cruell beast Loue doth suffer herselfe to be taken with a threed but will not be thrust away with a percing launce In this case I remit you to Hermogenes to Tesiphontes and to Plutarch who haue spent much time in writing of Loues remedies and yet at length haue bene vrged to say and confesse that it is a more incurable disease in the mind then the goute or plague is in the bodie Let Ouid say what him pleaseth Nigidius what he dreameth Samocratius what he thinketh but in fine they shall finde it harder to get a salue for this sore then for the Alcumistes by their art and creticke daies to find the Philosophers stone the Quintiscence of nature Nay Archaretos these thrée vsurping phisitions died persecuted and banished from their natiue countrie not for the offences they cōmitted in Rome but for the loues they attempted in Capua Oh how many times did Hercules desire to bee deliuered from his loue Mithridata Menelaus from Dorrha Pirrhus from Helena Alcibiades from Sabina and M. Antonius from Cleopatra whom they would neuer not onely forsake but with them or for them yeelded to death Good counsell and affection agre like iron and clay which by no meanes can be brought to sticke together Though I were as light of foote as an Hinde as swift as Polite Priams son or as spéedie as the coursers of Eumelus yet could I neuer leape ouer suche a blocke as is Loue or ouerrun suche a mate as is Affection or kepe pace with that precise iniunction the prohibites all fancies But yet me thinketh that a deniall to any of thy requests must needes be a prescription to my honestie And therfore since thou art no otherwise to me then Solon was to the Athenians Lycurgus to the Lacedemonians Asclepius to the Rhodians