held for sage and wise persons who could modestly endure any reasonable iest or mocquerie And that those who were prompt in pretie iests and meriments were to be reputed men of a good spirit The ansvver vvhich Barba the vvidovv of Sigismond made to those that persvvaded her to continue a vvidovv AFter that the Emperour Sigismond was deceased the Ladie Barba his widow was perswaded by one to liue still a widowe in imitation of the example of the Turtle which after the death of the male doth keepe continuall chastitie Whereunto she made this answer If so be thou wilt counsel me to follow the conditions of the birdes of the aire which are destitute of reason why doest not thou as well tell me of the Doue and the Sparrow A sentence of the Emperour Rodulph the first ROdulph Emperor who first translated the Empire of Almaine into the house of Austria as he was deuising with his familiar friends vpon that matter how the same had bene effected It is no maruell said he if they be accompted fooles that know not how to raigne for there is not any man liuing that iudgeth himselfe to be a foole A Sentence of the Emperour Albert. THe Emperour Albert was wont to say That the delight of hunting was an exercise fit for a man but dauncing and leaping did appertaine to women And howbeit he could temper himselfe to abstaine from all other pleasures yet he could not restraine himselfe from the exercise of hunting The Fable of the Emperour Fredâ—ricke the third propounded to the Embassadour of kâ—ng Levvis the eleuenth CHarles duke of Burgundy hauing planted his siege before the city of Nuce which was succoured by the Emperour Fredericke the third and the Almaines King Levvis the eleuenth of France who sought nothing more then the ruine of the said Duke of Burgundie sent his Embassadour to the Emperour Fredericke to practise and perswade with him to seize and confiscate into his owne hands all those lands and Seignories which the Duke of Burgundie held of the Empire and that he for his part wold do the like for the countries of Flanders Artois Burgundie and others dependants of the Crowne of Fraunce The Emperour vpon this motion made the Ambassadour this answer Neare vnto a certaine citie in Almain did once haunt a most cruell and daÌ„gerous Beare which did many mischiefes and displeasures to the inhabitants adioyning Now it happened that three merrie companions as they were drinking in a Tauerne hauing litle mony to pay their shot they agreed with their host to make sale of the Beares skinne and to pay him out of the money and for the performance thereof they prepared themselues presently to go and take him The bargaine being made and the dinner ended they put theÌ„selues in quest of the beast and approching to the Caue where he was lodged the Beare issued out vpon them so fiercely that being surprised with a sudden feare one of them fled away backe towards the towne another saued himselfe by climing of a tree and the third being ouertaken by the Beare fell downe vnder him as dead And the Beare without doing him any other hurt did often put his mouth to the eares of the poore fellow who all the while held his wind and abstained from breathing for the nature of the Beare is not to touch or to offend any dead bodie Now the Beare being gone the man got vp and went his way also after which he that was aloft in the tree came downe and hauing ouertaken his companion demanded of hm what it was that the Beare told him in his eare marrie quoth the fellow he bad me that I should neuer after vse to sell a Beares skin till the beast were dead By this fable the Emperor payed the Embassadour with an answer as if he should haue said Let vs first be sure to take the Duke and then afterwards let vs make partition of his dominioÌ„s Graue sentences and answers of the Emperour Fredericke THe Emperour Fredericke being demaunded whom he accompted his greatest friends He answered Those men which feare me lesse then God Being likewise asked what he thought was the best thing which could happen to a man he answered A happie and good departure out of this mortall life If the end of a mans life be not good and in the feare of God all the rest is little worth He said That those Princes which are giuen to be cruell and too rigorous haue great cause to feare death For with the same iudgement they haue adiudged others in their life themselues are like to be adiudged after their death The same Fredericke hauing subdued the Guntians a people in Hungarie he said We haue now done a great deed it remaines yet that we do another deede more great that is That we vanquish our selues by refraining from auarice and from the desire of reuenge This Emperour Fredericke did bring vp in his Court euen from an infant Ladislaus the sonne of the king of Hungâ—rie and of Boheme and there were mâ—ny which perswaded and counselled him to â—â—ke away the child and to put him to deaâ—h because in processe of time his life might cause him great hurt and hinderance and by his death he might succeede him in his Realmes and riches To whom the Emperour made this answer I perceiue then that you had rather haue me a rich King then a iust Prince and a pitifull But for my part I had rather haue an honourable report and good renowme then all the riches and treasures of the world A sentence of Martian MArtian Emperour of Constantinople would neuer enterprize any warres except it were vpon great necessitie saying That whatsoeuer Prince would liue in peace and quietnesse he ought not in any case to entertaine warres The title of Otho the third OTho the third of that name Emperour of Almaine was of so great a spirite as he was commonly called The wonder of the world The praise of Septimius Seuerus SEptimius Seuerus Emperour of Rome was a Prince so well beloued and ruled so well and commendably that the Senate said of him That it had bene good either that he had neuer bene borne or that he might neuer dye A sentence of Alexander Seuerus ALexander Seuerus the Romaine Emperour whensoeuer he appointed any one to be punished opeÌ„ly he caused the common Cryer with a loud voice to pronounce this sentence Do not that to another which thou wouldest not haue done to thee And the same sentence did he cause to be engrauen in his Pallace in the publique Edifices A sentence of Gordian GOrdian the younger Emperour of Rome had a saying somtimes That the Emperour of all other men is most miserable because commonly the truth is concealed from him The answer of Maximilian to one that would be made a Gentleman THe Emperor Maximilian being at Bologna a citizen of that Citie exceeding rich and wealthie but of base parentage presented himself before the Emperour saying May it please
a man to recite things that are another mans and to vsurpe them for his owne so it is a good thing and a token of humanitie to make their names knowne and manifest by whō a man commeth to learning and knowledge 12 Iulius Caesar was wont to forget nothing more soone and readily then the iniuries which he had receiued 13 No man can be good by the will and pleasure of another but only of his owne will and disposition 14 Titus Vespasian being crowned King of Ierusalem by the people said That he was not worthie of so great honour because it was not he that had gotten that victorie but that God had fauoured him against the Iewes 15 Octauian Augustus would neuer recommend his children to the people but onely in vsing these words vz. If they deserue well 16 There be three sorts of humanitie the first when one saluteth others courteously the second when one aideth those which are in misery and which haue lost their goods by ill fortune the third when men do frankely of their owne freewils make banquets and feast their friends and acquaintance 17 A certaine man came to tell Octauian that Aemilius Elian spake very ill of his vncle Iulius Caesar to whome Augustus answered I would wish that thou make good proofe of that which thou sayest for I will make Aemilius Elian to know that I haue a toung left me 18 Cecilius Metellus a Senatour was a great enemie to Scipio African as long as he liued howbeit when he vnderstood of the death of Scipio he grew very sorrowfull and commaunded his sonnes presently to go and helpe to carrie the corps of so worthie a personage to the sepulture vsing these or the like speeches I yeeld infinite thankes to the immortall Gods for the loue which I haue to Rome that it is thus happened that Scipio the African was not born in another nation 19 It is in our owne power to be either good or euill 20 Courtesie and faire behauiour is a meane to appease wrath 21 Humanitie amongst men is a strong bond he which breaketh it is a most wicked man and a murtherer 22 The office of humanitie is to relieue men in time of necessitie and perill 23 The soueraigne good of a man is life eternall and the soueraigne and chiefest ill of man is death euerlasting Of Good deedes and honour CHAP. 18. 1 IN doing good to good men it seemeth that this is not to giue but to receiue 2 He which receiueth any good turne especially of one that is his seruant the which he maketh any reckening of let him regard not of whō he receiueth it but what it is which he hath receiued 3 It behooueth each man to be forward to do good vnto another to haue a care also that such fauor be not concealed 4 When mortall men become benefactors they imitate the gods 5 Benefites receiued by importunate requests are little or nothing worth 6 It is no benefite to giue a mā that hath no need nor necessitie 7 To giue more honour to a man then he deserueth is to make way to fooles both to perceiue and to thinke ill 8 In my opinion it is an honourable action to accuse the wicked to defend the good 9 Honour ought to be gotten by vertue and not by deceipt for the one is the office of wicked and leude persons and the other of good and honest men 10 Conon the Athenian being sent Ambassadour by Pharnabazus to the king Artaxerxes was counselled by Chiliarchus that when he should come vnto his presence he ought to encline and prostrate himselfe before him to whome Conon answered It will not grieue me to do that honor vnto the king which thou aduisest me but I doubt lest I shall dishonour my countrey in so doing because the citie wherein I was borne is such a place as it hath vsed to rule and commaund ouer all other cities 11 It is the part and dutie of a friend to do good especially to those that stand in neede of it and that before they require and aske it because both to the one and to the other it will then be a thing both more honest and more pleasing and acceptable 12 There is no doubt but that rare vertue cannot haue too much honour and reuerence done vnto it Of Exercise and industrie CHAP. 19. 1 HE which hath begunne to purchase himselfe praise and commendation with glorie ought to take great paine and trauell to continue it for in truth slouth and negligence do vse to bring foorth at the first a kind of pleasure and delight but the end therof is grief sorrow 2 Labour and trauell by vse and custome commeth to be more easie light and lesse burthensome 3 There are many more men that grow and become good by exercise then by nature 4 Cuus king of the Persians did not loue that glorie for which he had not first endured labour and trauell and he neuer dined nor supped except he had first by some vehement labour euen wearied himselfe 5 Pithagoras said that art without exercise is nothing and that exercise without art likewise is nothing 6 Demosthenes being demanded by what means he became more excellent then others in the art of eloquence answered In consuming more oyle then wine 7 Demades the Oratour being demaunded who was his schoolemaister answered The Parliament of Athens shewing that experience is more noble and of more worth then all discipline 8 Denis the tyrant hauing entertained a Cooke out of the countrey of Laconia and supping of a certaine broath which he had prepared for him cast away from him the dish immediatly and demanded of him what should make the Laconians to delight in eating such a kind of pottage the same being so sharpe and without any pleasant tast The Cooke answered him Sir this broath hath not that kind of tast which the broth of the Laconians is accustomed to haue and that is the matter that you thinke it so vnsauorie Denis replyed why what tast then haue their broths Certes sir said the Cooke before they euer vse to sit downe to meate they vse first to exercise the body 9 Continuall exercise surmounteth the ensignements and instructions of all schoolemaisters 10 No man ought to labour to make himself eloquent by the good of another 11 Exercise is the most artificiall and best mistresse of eloquence to learne to speake well 12 Exercise in youth is a great ayde and furtherance to any man Of Wrath and anger CHAP. 20. 1 PLato said vnto a seruant of his Thou maiest thanke God for that if I had not bene angrie thou haddest surely felt the punishment of thy misdeeds 2 The Philosopher Naucrates did resemble angry men vnto a lampe which if the oyle therein be too much and ouer aboundant will yeeld little or no light or rather putteth out the flame 3 It must be of necessitie that all things which angry men do must needes be full of blindnesse
and necessitie because it is no easie matter for a man troubled with anger to haue the true vse of reason and whatsoeuer is without reason is without art It behooueth vs therefore to take reason as our guide in al our actions and to remoue wrath and anger vtterly from vs. 4 Wrath is the enemie of counsell and victorie naturally is proud 5 Wrath is commendable wheÌ„ the occasion is iust 6 Anger is an euill desire of reuenge 7 Darius king of Persia being very angry for that he was vanquished of the Athenians by fraud commaunded one of his seruants that as often as he shoâ—ld see him sit downe at meales he should vse these words vnto him Sir remember the Athenians 8 Anger is no infirmitie nor yet to be offended but for a man to perseuer in his anger that is an infirmitie 9 If a man subiect to wrath and anger haue any power of command or imperiall authoritie he will soone bring al things to destruction he will fall to bloudshedding ouerthrowing of cities murthering of people and making whole Prouinces and countries solitarie and desert 10 That man that can dispute or discourse well ought to speake without choler 11 Certainely they are much to be blamed who are not moued with anger in such things as are requisite and when necessitie and occasion requireth it 12 It is a goodly thing for a man to conquer his anger and wrathfull passions 13 There is nothing that maketh a more enclining to anger then delicate nourishment full of nicenesse and flatterie for it is an vsuall thing with prosperitie to nourish choler and wrathfulnesse 14 It is a more difficult thing said Heraclitus to striue and contend against luxuriousnesse and lasciuiousnesse then against wrath and anger Of Patience CHAP. 21. 1 DEmosthâ—nes said vnto one that vsed him reprochfully My friend I list not enter into this contention with thee wherein the vanquished is better then the vaâ—quisher 2 Plato being groâ—â—ely iniuried by one with most vile tearmes said vnto him Thou speakest ill because thou hast not yet learned to speake well 3 Aristippus the Philosopher being abused by a fellow with most opprobrious speeches said thus vnto him Thou art a maister of ill speaking and I of ill hearing 4 Euripides seeing two men reuiling each other with iniurious termes said He of you which abstaineth most from villanous leud speeches is to be held the most sage and wisest of the two 5 That man must needes be reputed of the greatest and best courage who can rather endure and beare out an vnhappie and miserable life then shunne and auoid it 6 Archilocus said That patience is the inuention of the Gods 7 Denis the tyrant being exiled for his tyrannie was demaunded wherein Plato his Philosophie had benefited him He answered They haue taught me quietly and with a patient spirit to beare and endure the chaunge and mutabilitie of fortune 8 That body which is accustomed to patience will neuer quit or forsake any place for any paine or trauell whatsoeuer 9 He is to be esteemed patient and valiant who is not easily drawne to be tender and delicate in the time of his prosperitie 10 The Philosopher Chilon seeing one that was very pensiue by reason of some misfortune that had befallen him and that in more vnfit vnseemely sort then was conuenient he said vnto him Assutedly if thou knewest the misfortunes of all other men thou wouldest not beare thine owne aduersitie so impatiently 11 Pittacus the Philosopher said That the office of a wise man was to take to himselfe good aduice and counsell to the end no euill might befall and happen vnto him and if it did afterwards happeÌ„ that any misfortune did betide him then to beare it couragiously and patiently 12 Socrates being in a disputatioÌ„ and hauing in the middest of his discourse heard tidings of the death of his sonne was not any thing at all therewith moued but after that his disputation was ended he then said vnto those which were with him Come on let vs now go and accompanie the corps of my sonne Sophronison to his funerals 13 Democritus said That it was a notable good thing to know how to prouide a remedie for calamitie 14 Xantippe the wife of Socrates was wont to say That albeit many chaunges and variable chaunces did daily trouble and perplexe the whole citie of Athens yet she neuer saw the countenance of her husband Socrates for any matter euer changed or troubled but that he continued still one and the selfe same man in all fortunes And indeede Socrates did so frame his mind that he alwaies bore his visage in one sort as well in aduersitie as prosperitie 15 As Xenophon was sacrificing in the citie of Mantinea there came a missenger to bring him tidings how his sonne Grillus was dead vpon the receipt of which newes he presently tooke the crowne from off his head without further interrupting of the sacrisice But the messenger hauing added this vnto his tale that his sonne died victoriously he tooke vp the crown set it againe vpon his head so went on with the finishing of his sacrifice Of the praise of riches CHAP. 22. 1 THe Poet Simonides being demaunded which of these two things he had rather choose either riches or wisedome answered I cannot tell whether but certaine it is that I see wise men euer attending about the gates of rich men 2 It is a thing most requisite necessarie for a man to haue money without which it is impossible to do or effect any thing with oportunitie or in time conuenient 3 Money amongst mortall men is as the bloud and the soule of a maÌ„ and he which hath it not is as one that walketh dead amongst the liuing 4 Onely gold and riches establisheth customes and manners maketh and giueth beautie nobilitie friendship and all other things whatsoeuer 5 Ha father speake not to me of gentrie or nobilitie for it relyeth altogether vpon wealth and riches giue me my house stored with gold and if I were left a slane I shall then soone become and be reputed noble 6 Mony is it that findeth friends and bringeth men into fauour and dignitie neare about Princes 7 Riches are the sure friends but they which are commonly reputed for friends do soone forsake him which is poore 8 Great riches are to be bestowed vpon friends 9 I see it is an ordinarie humor in women to take pleasure in riches and iewels 10 Apollonius of Thianea said vnto Denis the tyrant Thou shalt be sure to employ thy riches very well and in better sort then all other kings vse to do if thou bestow them vpon the poore and needie 11 Riches do hurt exceedingly except the possessor of them vse them well and rightly Riches dispraised coÌ„deÌ„ned CHAP. 23. 1 THe common Prouerhe is that a man shold not put a knife into a childs hand and I say that thou shouldst neither giue him knife nor yet riches 2