at the change of every dish every man again commanded by a law to go to his woman And thus from meat to women from women to meat they beastly and brutishly entertained their Epicurial lust wherein these Gorgons reposed their chief felicity Certainly if Quéen Semitamis of Babylon had been matched with Heliogabulus Emperour of Rome it had béen as méet a match if time had served as one beast should be for another for he was not so filthy but she was as shameless not onely in procuring divers to lie with her but in alluring her own son Ninus to lust and as writers report being a beast matched her self with a beast a horse Had Pasiphae Quéen of Creet been well matched she had forsaken King Minos and come to the Emperour Caligula where she might have been as bold with others as she was with Minotaurus father Had the Empresse Mestalina been deservedly according to her life married she had been more meet for Nero then for Claudius for his life and her life did well agree together for she passed all the Courtesans of Corinth all the strumpets of Athens and all the whores of Babilon for she was onely mistresse and ruler of all the stews and brothel houses in Rome What wickednesse procéedeth from lust what ungodly incest is brought to passe by lust what secret vengeance commeth by lust Lust assured Queen Cleopatra to use her brother Ptolomy as her husband Lust deceived King Cynar to lie with his daughter Myrrha Lust brought Macarius to his sister Canaces bed By lust did Menepron defile his own mother Lust stayeth the purpose of all men hindereth and hurteth all kind of persons Lust stayed King Antiochuâ— of Syria in Chalâ—idea a whole winter for one maid he fancied there Lust stayed Hannibal in Capua a long season to his great hurt Lust stayed Julius Caesar in Alexandria a long time unto his infamy Lust was the first cause of wars between the Romans and the Sabines for Romuâ—us had hardly built Rome but he lusted to ravish the women and to steal the Sabine maids to Rome whereby the war first began The great wars between King Cambyses of Persia and King Amasis of Egypt wherein was a great slaughter and murther of men grew by lust to one woman The ten years betwixt the Thebans and the Phoceans was for the lust of one young man in Phoca towards a young woman in Thebes The cruel conflicts that was between the Troyan Prince Aeneas and stout Turnus was the lust which either of them did bear to Lavinia King Latinus Daughter What bloud what tyranny was between the Egyptians and the Assyrians betwéen Ptolomy and Alexander the one King of Egypt the other King of Assyria and all for one woman Cleopatra Augustus the Emperour made long wars for Octavia his sister whom Antonius abused to the spoyl and murther of many Romans Had Hesione King Priamus sister not lusted to go with Telamon from Troy to Greece had likewise Helen the wife of Menelaus not lusted to come with Paris from Greece to Troy the bloudy wars and ten years siege between the Greeks and the Troyans had never been writâ—en by Homer Had not lust ruled the five cities called Pentapolis where Sedom and Gomorrha were they had not been consumed with fire and brimstone from heaven to the destruction of all the people saving Lot his children If lust had not ruled all the world the deluge of Noah had not drowned the whole earth and all living creatures saving Noah his wife and children Thus lust from time to time was the onely Monster and scourge of the World And in this our Age lust is nothing diminished but much encreased and though we shall not be plagued again with Water according to promise yet to be punished with Fire most sure we be unlesse we detest and abhor this vice There is a History in Justine worthy to be noted of Princes that will not punish these offences Pausanias a Noble Gentleman of Macedonia being a very fair young man whom Attalus by lust abused and Attalus not contented to handle the young man so wickedly and ungodly did bring him also to a banquet where Attalus would have used him as before making all men privy how Pausanias was his paramour as a woman The young man being ashamed of it often complained unto Philip King of Macedonia and after many and divers complaints having no redresse but being rather flouted and scoffed at by Philip Pausanias took it so grievously that after this sort he requited his shame and injuries At the marriage of Cleopatra King Philips daughter with Alexander King of Epirus in great triumphs and pomps King Philip in the midst of his joys walking between his own son Alexander the great who then was but young and Alexander King of Epirus his son in law being married then to his daughter Cleopatra Pausanias thrust him into the heart saying Minister Iustice and punish Lust Thus died that mighty Prince as well for the bearing of Attalus fault as also for his own wickednesse using the same sin sometime with a brother in law of his natural brother to his first wife Olympias Lust and intemperancy do never escape without just punishment and due vengeance Amnon the son of King David for that he misused his own sister Tamar was afterward slain Absalom for that he did lie with his fathers Concubines died for it David was plagued for Uriah's wife The two Elders that would ravish Susanna were put to death This sin is the onely enemy of man For all sin saith St. Paul is without the body but uncleannesse and lust sinneth against the body Had not Olofernes séen the beauty of Judith yea marked the comelinesse of her slippers he had not lost his head by it Had not Herod séen Herodias daughrer dancing he had not so rashly granted her John Baptists head Had not Eve séen the beauty of the Apple she had not eaten thereof We read in Genesis that when the sons of men viewed the beauty of women many evils happened thereby By sight was Potiphars wife moved with lust toward Joseph her servant By sight and beauty was Solomon allured to commit Idolatry with false Gods By sight was Dina the daughter of Iacob ravished by Shechem These evils procéed from sudden sights therefore saith the Prophet Turn away thine eys lest they sée vanities The Philosopher likewise saith That the first offer or motion is in the eye from sight proceedeth motion from motion election from election consent from consent sin from sin death Wherefore with the Poet I say resist the violence of the first assault I mean the eys The evil that happened thereby too long it were to write Lust again hath its entrance by hearing as Justine in his twelfth Book doth testifie of Thalestris Quéen somtime of the Amazons who having heard the great commendations the fame and renown of Alexander the great ventered her life to hazard to come from Scythia to Hircania which
it is worth your observance that even in his death desiring to traduce the world with a false belief of his immortality he desired Roxane who was present with him and at that time great with child by him that she would give way that some who were most faithfull to her and to himself might take his body he finding an impossibility of recovery and death apparently to grew upon him and throw it into the River of Euphrates that the army and the world might conceive that invisibly he was advanced from mortality and translated into the number of the Gods which when Roxane by no means would give way unto affirming that the power which protected him from so many dangers would preserve him still he was passionate against her that in pretence of love she should deny him immortality and dying in the flower of his youth he acknowledged how momentary and uncertain at the best is the condition of Princes And thus Alexander you see who contended to be above the reach of mortality and to be no Pilgrim became the greatest Pilgrim in the world for he not onely living was in a perpetual travel both of body and of mind but he did not rest being dead for his body was carryed from place to place until it was brought at last to Alexandria and afterwards conveyed unto Memphis And to speak the truth the condition of Kings is more lamentable then the meanest of their subjects who may enjoy their lives with safety which is permitted but to a few Kings so true is that of Juvenal Ad generum Cereris sine caede sanguini pauci Descendunt reges sicca morte tyranni By a dry Death without a bloudy end Few Kings to Ceres son in Law descend For this reason the Honourable Sir Francis Bacon who said That God did most for Kings and that Kings did least for God did affirm That there was so many cares and dangers depending on a Crown that no wise man would take it up to have it especially considering how many excellent Princes who have been as admirable for their justice as for their fortitude and for their continence as for either have violently lost their lives by their ungratefull subjects Of this I shall give you examples pregnant enough in its due place and conclude this chapter That Princes are the greatest Pilgrims by the example of the best of Princes which was David himself And this is as easie to prove by his confession as by his sufferings He is hunted he saith like a Partridge upon the mountains he is like a Pelican in the wilderness he is as a Sparrow upon the house top You may behold him persecuted from place to place yet giving life to the King who would take his life from him You may behold him flying out of the Kingdom and disguising himself in a safe madness to protect him from the violence of his adversaries You may behold him exposed to all the dangers that malice could imagine reviled by his own wife cursed by his own servants and conspired against by his own son and driven out of his City by him so that he might well say I am a stranger in the land and my life is waxen old with heaviness and my years with mourning CHAP II. The attractive Liberality of Princes BVt before I proceed to give you examples of it I shall exhibit to you that the pleasures and the splendours which commonly attends the Court and do cast such a false shew of Glory on it are but as so many flatterers who would perswade to things which are not onely leave a dazle on the eye the easier to delude and betray the underastnding It is vertue only that maketh Princes glorious I will first give you a general survey of the vertues and vices of Princes by which in the pilgrimage of this life some have attained to the heighth of honour and others have sunk into the lowest infamy And first to deface the vice of Avarice I will in this place shew you the vertue of Liberality to put the churlish covetous out of countenance I will extol the liberal which in taking is shamefaced in giving joyfull For a measure in taking and in giving is the true nature of liberality Neither can he that taketh all things though he give much be named liberal in nothing Agesilaus King of the Lacedemonians so observed the laws and rules of Lycurgus that he was wont to say unto the Citizens of Sparta that gifts are more dangerous sometime to be received then hurtfull to be refused Which Phocion the whole glory of Athens at what time Alexander the Great had sent him great gifts wealthy presents jewels and treasures from Persia did shew a true example thereof of in refusing the same saying I will not learn to take lest I forget to give The like answered Zenocrates the Philosopher to the self same Alexander when that he did send great sums of gold and silver for love and affection unto Zenocrares he said he wanted neither gold nor silver Which when it was told unto Alexander he said Hath Zenocrates no friends then that want money Alexander hath more friends then either the substance of Darius or the wealth of Persia can suffice A Question is here to be demanded Whether of them both was more liberal the Prince in giving or the Philosopher in refusing When certain Embassadours of the Samnites came to Rome and being at Fabritius house they perceiving the liberality of Fabritius to be such as it were pity wealth should want to so noble a Gentleman at their return from Rome unto their Countrey not forgetting the free dealing of Fabritius at Rome these Embassadours minding to gratifie Fabritius with the gold of the Samnites sent gifts and presents to him unto Rome for their noble entertainment which were refused with an answer that Fabritius had rather rule and govern them that were ruled by gold then to be subject unto gold alledging the answer of M. Curius to the Embassadors of Macedonia offering large gifts and treasure after the like sort That to possess much is no wealth but covetousness to desire nothing and to give is perfect wealth and liberality A sound proof of two liberal Gentlemen When such ruled Rome then the Romans excelled all the world bountifull and free and most beneficial unto all and covetous unto none When L. Lucullus house was a common hospital to all the poor Gréeks that travelled from Athens Sparta and Thebes yea from al Greeâ—e unto Rome then Rome was liberal When Pomponius Atucus did send unto Cicero being banished two hundred thousand Sesterces unto Volumnius and Brutus as much then Rome was beneficial When the Senators restored Faucula and Oppia two poor women of Campania not onely unto their ancient liberty but doubled their wealth and riches for their true meaning and service to the Romanes the one praying and sacrificing for their good success the other toyling and travelling about the souldiers
and praise who avoided the cankered state of avarice Thus from the golden world it came unto the silver world and then to that hard mettal the iron world for the covetous people can never be satisfied The young Partridge by nature is ready to flee as soon as she commeth out of the shell the wild duck to swim the Lion to go and man onely born ready to seeke and travel for money Where might a man find out such a man as Ariâ—â—ides was in all Greece now who was so liberal that having all the state of Athens under his government gave all to the poor Citizens a little excepted which brought him unto the ground Where should one méet with such a one as Pelopidas in all Sparta being blamed of his friends and counsellours for his large gifts and liberallity exhorting him to make much of money considering how necessary money is to Princes yea said Pelopidas to such Princes as Nicomedes a lame man both dumb deaf Where should a man séek in Thebes for such a man as Epaminondas who when he heard that he who carried his Target after him had taken money for the dismission of certain prisoners taken in the wars Give me said he my Target and go you to kéep an Inne for if you love money you are not fit to carry Epaminondas Target with so much honour is liberallity attended that those Princes who have béen famous for the most fortitude haue béen famous also for the most liberallity yet neither liberallity nor fame nor fortitude can reprieve a Prince from the ingratitude of death CHAP. III. What Princes were advanced one way and were oppressed by an other HOw some men are exalted and others oppressed Histories do record All the Kings that ever reigned in Rome almost from base birth and slender progeny were advanced by fortune to sit in the royal throne and injoy Princely Scepters Romulus the first King and builder of Rome born of Rhea a Vestal Virgin and daughter unto Amulius was left as a prey unto beasts forsaken of all in Rome so hated of his own grandfather that he found more friendship in a she Wolf then he had at his grandfather Amulius more kindnesse of the Wolf for his nourishment then love of his mother though he was born of her Notwithstanding contrary to the expectation of Amulius being not thought of in Rome he was by a Woolf preserved and by a poor Shepheard brought up to be a King of Rome The like hapned unto Cyrus at thrée days old when he was commanded by his grandfather King Astiages to be drowned and delivered unto Harpagus chief officer about Astiages by King Astiages own hand to be killed and destroyed yet by fortune a Bitch he being left as Romulus was fed him and gave him milk and life when his Parents appointed death for him and being thus brought up by a Bitch he was the first and most renowned King that ever reigned in Persia Even so may I alledge of Paris King Priamus son called likewise Alexander who being commanded to be killed as soon as he was born he was brought up by a Bear to be a famous Phrigian Prince Thus Cyrus by fortune found more friendship in a bitch then in his own mother Romulus more love in a Woolf then in all Rome Alexander more kindnesse in a Bear then in his father Priamus What shall I say of Pelephus the son of Hercules who was fostred by a Hart or of Camilla and Semiramis the one brought up by a Mare the other by birds of the air to be such famous Quéens as the one ruled the Volscians the other the Babylonians How fortune appointed little Ants to féed King Midas and Bees to féed Plato the wealth of the one and eloquence of the other did certifie the same but I will declare first the extolling and advancement of simple and base men unto Princely seats Tarquinius Priscus a stranger born in Corinth the son of Demaiatâ—s a banished Merchant from his country became a famous King in Rome yea so famous I say that he inlarged the confines of Italy amplified the wealth and state of Rome augmented the number of the Senatours encreased the order of Knighthood and left Rome so happy at his death that the Citizens thereof would have travelled twice as far as Corinth so that they might enjoy again so noble a Prince Tullius Servius a poor stranger was likewise advanced unto the same place by fortune and Tullus Hostillius a shepheard was from féeding of beasts extolled to be the King of Rome Thus fortune to shew her might exalteth the poor and oppresseth the proud Thus from banished strangers from simple shepheards most famous Princes and noble Kings have proceeded Fortune as Seneca saith from low birth and base conditions hath made Princes many have béen advanced from the Plough to sit in seat of Kings as Gordius who from the plough became a King in Phrygia Fortune took Agathocles from his fathers shop being a Potter and made him King in Sycilia she brought Darius from the Stable of Cyrus to be a King in Persia she brought Giges from a Shepheard to be the wealthiest King that ever reigned in Lydia Justinus a swine-heard from féeding his Swine became the mighty Emperour of Constantinople And Carpenters likewise may brag of Telephanes whom fortune advaÌ„ced to the Kingdome of Lydia Shall not Husbandmen extol fortune which made Valentianus Emperour in Rome How much did fortune favour learning how brought she the greatest Princes in the world to honour simple men and caused the cruellest tyrant to esteem and reverence the same King Dyonisius that wicked tyrant of Sicilia when he heard that divine and noble Phylosopher Plato was coming unto Sycilia he made certain of his Nobles to go méet him on the sea and in a ship bravely appointed and gorgeously apdressed with Sails of purple silk to bring him to land where Dionisius himself did attend his coming in his golden Chariot with four white horses trapped over with gold and having taken him into his own Princely Chariot he talked unto him reverently used him honourably and so entertained him that if Jupiter had descended from the skie greater honour could he not get in Creet then Plato a poor Philosopher Aristons son of Athens obtained in Sicil. Aristotle born in Stagira a poor Phisitians son named Nichomachus merited such fame that not onely Philip King of Macedonia thanked God that his son Alexander was born in his time under whose tuition Alexander five years learned Philosophy but also Alexander the great Conquerour of the world honoured and saluted him as his Master unto whom he said that he was no lesse bound for his learning and vertuous education then he was unto King Philip his father for his birth he declared the same being in India a country far from Greece in the midst of his great wars he did write unto him of the state of India of the successe of his journies and the
and pain after long felicity and pleasure even so Dionisius King of Siracusa after many Princely pleasures renowned fame great glory yet in the end was banished his country and driven to keep school in Italy In the like sort that noble and valiant Scipio Affricanus was deceived whose prowesse and magnanimity augmented much the fame of the Romans by conquering of Affrick and Carthage and notwithstanding he was driven to exilement and misery where he died after many triumphs and victories like a poor beggar O uncertain state and slippery wheel of Fortune And because fame followeth fortune and proceedeth from Fortune as the smoke cometh from the fire for as Fortune is variable so is Fame divers if we seek Histories we find the fame of poor men for their poverty is great as well as the fame of the rich for all their riches poor Codrus and ragged Irus are as famous in respect of being Beggars as Midas and Craesus two wealthy Kings of Lydia Doth not Aristophanes make as much mention of Cleonimus the Coward as Homer doth of stout Achilles Poliphemus and Enceladus two huge monstrous Giants not so famous in Virgil for their bignesse as Conopas or Molon two little dwarfs of two foot length are renowned in Plini for their smalnesse Juvenal and Claudian report no lesse of the little Pigmies then Ovid or Maro of the huge Ciclopes If Fame proceed of poor men for poverty of dwarfs for their smalnesse of cowards for their cowardize as much as it doth flow of rich men for their wealth of Giants for their bigness and of stout men for their courage What is it but a pilgrimage in which we live travel here For fortune fame run together as cōstantly as they are thēselves uncertain Plini that famous Historiographer writeth of one named Messala who was so forgetfull and weak of memory that he forgat his own name and yet he was as famous for his obliviousness as Hortensius was renowned for that he could pronounce out of hand with his tongue what he wrote with his pen. Seneca the Philosopher commendeth one called Calvisius that he was likewise so oblivious that he could not often name those dayly friends that he used company withal What greater Fame could Cyneas have for all his memory when he was sent from King Pyrrhus as Embassador to Rome where the second day in the Senate house before all the people of Rome he named all the Senators by name What greater renown could King Cyrus have for his noble memory for naming every souldier of his by name being in the Camp What Fame hath King Mithridates for his divers and sundry languages which he without an Interpretor could speak unto two and twenty Nations being his souldiers but onely that they are recorded in books where likewise Calvisius Messala and such oblivious men that forgot their own names are committed into History Doth not Homer the Trumpetter of Fame write of Militides an Idiot who after the destruction of Troy and the death of King Priamus and all his sons would come to succour the Troyans Homer I say doth not forget Militides no more then he doth Agamemnon What should I speak of silly and wicked Herostratus who for burning the Temple of Diana is everlastingly remembred And millions more of the like nature who are mentioned by ancient writers Thus you sée we travel all one way in the vale of misery and the condition is alike of the greatest Princes and the poorest Beggars and if there be any difference it is in that oftentimes the King is the more unfortunate of the two CHAP. IIII. Of magnanimity of Princes and their fortitude of mind where and when it was esteemed AS Iustice without temperance is often counted injury so magnanimity without respect unto prudence is but tyranny This vertue proceedeth from a valiant and a sober mind joyning both the body and the mind together so that the wisedome and policy of the one the strength and courage of the other are united and alwaies ready to defend the cause of their country and the quarrel of their Prince and society of friendship unto this therefore every good man is born preferring common commodities before private wealth Hercules pondering much what he might best do and to what he should apply his noble mind there appeared unto him two goodly women the one as Xenophon doth describe very gorgeous and brave rings of gold on her finger a chain of gold about her neck her hairs composed and frisled with pearls and Diamonds hanging at her ears the other in sober and comely apparel of modest behaviour of shame faced countenance they stood both before him The first said Hercules if thou wilt serve me thou shalt have gold and silver enough thou shalt féed daintily thou shalt live princely thou shalt injoy pleasures In fine thou shalt have all things at thy will to live with ease and rest The other said with comely countenance If thou wilt serve me Hercules thou shalt be a Conquerour of conquerours thou shalt subdue Kingdomes and overthrow Kings thou shalt be advanced into fame renowned in all the world and shall deserve praise both of men and women Which when Hercules understood taking into consideration the idle service of the first and the exercise of the second he took her as his mistresse and willingly became a servant to her Wherefore according unto promise made he injoyed fully the fame and praise by due deserts he overcame Lions Dragons Bears and such monstrous huge wild beasts he did destroy Kingdomes and countries he had that fortitude of mind that he conquered Giants and subdued Tyrants inlarged liberties set frée Captives and prisoners and briefly that magnanimity was in him that he never effended just men nor hurt innocent men he preserved divers Kings and countries he never spoiled good countrey nor subdued a just King but wholly addicted himself to merit fame He destroyed the Serpent Hydra the Dragon the Lion the wild Bore and terrible Bull conquering Geron Cerberus and Diomedes cruel Tyrants He took the gilded Hart he vanquished the Centaures and the ravening birds named Stimphalides was there any tyranny in these his enterprizes but Hercules they say was more aided of the Gods then helped of man With these his princely acts and renowned feats noble Theseus was much enamored insomuch that he emulated the vertuous life of Hercules he tamed wild beasts slue monsters overcame cruel Creon the Tyrant of Thebes he descended also as the Poet saith unto hell to imitate the feats of Hercules to resemble his magnanimity to augment Hercules fame erecting alters appointing sacrifice in memory of Hercules hoping that others would do unto Theseus as Theseus did unto Hercules Next unto Theseus for antiquity of time that valiant and renowned Gréek Achilles succeeded who was the onely stay and comfort of his country the very hope of Greece his magnanimity valiant courage worthy acts and famous life is at large set forth in Homers
which are most strange and marvellous CHAP. VIII Of Painting and Poetry and how much they were countenanced by Princes HOrace that learned Poet affirmeth that the like reputation and dignitie is given unto a Poet as unto a Painter naming the one a speaking picture and the other dumb poeste For painting unto the ignorant was as printing unto the learned Where the one viewed with the eye and the other read with the tongue Painting and graving were the ancient monuments of Gréece and so much estéemed that Phrydias waxt so famous as Plini doth witnesse for that he made the Image of Minerva in Athens so artificially and so subtilly with a great Target in her hand wherein were graven the wars of the Amazons and the combat of the Giants the rebellion of Centaures and the Lapitheans that all Gréece wondred much thereat Nealces in like sort did set forth the wars betwixt the Egyptians and the Persians so lively to behold and so worthily wrought that the beholder thereof might be as well instructed in sight as the learned in reading the history thereof That cunning Philoxenus did also as effectually set forth the wars between Alexander the great King of Macedonia and Darius King of Persia in colours as either Curtius or Diodorus did expresse it with writing The noble Painter Timantes at what time that worthy Gréek Agamemnon at the siege of Troy was inforced by an Oracle to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to mitigate the fury of the Gods he beholding the wofull hap of Agamemnon and the sorrowfull state of the Gréeks the solemn sadnesse of the sacrifice the order and state of of Iphigenias death did so set it forth that it was more lamentable to behold it in colours then rufull to read it in letters A science belonging unto noble minds and sometimes so estéemed of the Gréeks that their fame thereby much was augmented What almost was done or written in Gréece but it was streight set forth in colours No war any were but it it was painted out in Greece No strange history of any thing but it was expressed in common colours insomuch that philosophy it self which was so honoured then in Greece was set forth in Tables That learned Zeuxis did paint in a table the picture of Jupiter sitting in his throne with the rest of the Gods about him where likewise was shewed the history of Hercules how he yet in his cradle slew the two great Snakes or rather Dragons where his mother Alemena and his supposed father Amphytrio did fearfully behold the death of the two Dragons and the escaping of young Hercules their son being a child Nichomachus did lively expresse the boldnesse of Theseus and Perythous in attempting their voyage to King Plutoes region blazing in Tables their high enterprize taking away Queen Proserpina from her husband Pluto So skilfull was Licias so cunning was Philiscus that they made a subtile Chariot wherein Apollo and his sister Diana and his mother Latona were perfectly graven and the nine muses orderly set and that upon one stone Praxiteles excelled all men in the like for he graved in marble stone the image of Venus so perfectly and so lively in each point that a certain young man saith Plini fell in love with the image and came often in the night when none know to kisse and clip the image of Venus as sometime was read of Pigmalion the cunning Greek who likewise fell in love with his own handy work in garnishing and decking with fresh flowers his own handy work But to speak of Apelles Pirgoteles and Lisippus their fame was spread over the whole world insomuch that Alexander the great commanded that none should paint him in colors but Apelles none to grave him in stone but Pirgoteles and none to carbo any part of his Princely person but Lisippus It were too much to speak of Calycratis Pâ—yâ—aerides and divers famous men more wherewith Gréece sometime flourished whose fames and worthy reports made Paulus Aemilius that noble Roman from Rome to send unto Athens for two men the one a Philosopher to teach his sons the other a Pointer to set forth in tables the great triumphs and victories which he got over the Ligurians and Persians and one man being an excellent Philosopher and an excellent Painter named Metrodotus was sent from Athens unto Rome for the purpose Poets and Painters were much set by in ancient time for even as these aforesaid Painters were famous and renowned so were Poets honored and estéemed For we read that Alexander the great would never go unto his bed without Homers Iliads and his dagger under his pillow He so much esteemed Pindarus the Poet that he spared a whole street in Thebes from burning for Pindarus house which was in that street That renowned Emperour Augustus so honoured Virgil that being dead his books were worthily honoured and imbraced of Augustus So that noble Emperour Gratianus advanced the poet Auâ—onius unto the office of a Consul for his learning and knowledge in poetry The fable of Chaos the deluge of Deucalion the rebellion of Giants with innumerable more under the shadow of fables have great wisedome and knowledge At what time King Philip of Macedon the long enemy of Athens had demanded upon condition of peace ten Orators of Athens to serve him and to remain with him in Macedonia Demosthenes that sugred Orator made an open Oration before King Philip where he brought the fable of the Woolf and the Sheep that as the Woolf did offer peace unto the Sheep upon condition the dogs should tarry at home so King Philip offered peace unto the Athenians upon conditions that the Orators which as dogs do bark at the Woolf barked at him should be taken away and so soon he would destroy Athens being spoiled from their Orators as the Woolf would the sheep without dogs This fable much edifieth the vulgar people Menenius Agrippa a Romane Counsellour rehearsed oftentimes the fable of the belly and the other members when he went to make any foes friends or to bring rude rebels against their Prince and their countrey unto amity again With the which fable he reduced and brought againe those that offended most against their countrey to be the chief assistance and helpers unto their countrey Thucidides doth witnesse that by a fable that noble Captaine Peticles put such a courage into the Athenians being sore oppressed and vexed and in a manner become a spoyle unto their enemies that they did winne the victory when before they were almost overthrowne The noble Consul Cicero by the fable of Giges ring how he went invisible unto King Candaules wife and made him a cuckold made application of it unto those glorious persons that often delight in their folly and evill behaviours as sometimes the Poets faine of Ixion who bragging and boasting of Juno he got the centaurs engendred of a cloud in stead of Juno Quintilian saith that fables containe under feigned words most excellent wisedome for Erasmus doth often
suffered in free Cities and Towns free tongues Philip King of Macedonia when certain Embassadours of Athens came to him he required of them if he might stand in any stead to Athens to certifie him of the same to whom Demochares one of the Embassadours answered that the greatest pleasure that he could do to Athens was to hang himself the King most patient in such scoffs and taunts said the reproachfull slander of the Athenians do make King Philip better able to revenge their malice by wars then to move him to answer their back-biting in words A Prince not onely patient in hearing but also wise in answering As sometime the Emperour Alexander Severus in Rome when it was signified unto him after Antonius was dead that the barbarous nations were ready to enter the City of Rome and that he was much rebuked of the people and blamed of the Senators for the slender care he had to the City he as Herodianus affirms answered that it belongeth to Princes to requite the good and not to answer the evill for wisemen will speak evil of no man in the beginning least they should be judged fooles in the end whereunto all things are directed and whereby all things are proved So patient was Anaxagoras when it was told him that his son was dead to answer merrily I know my son was mortal So patient was King Antigoâ—us being certified of his son Alcâ—onus death to answere I looked no other than for his death So patient was Pericles whon he heard that both his sons died in one day to kéep his countenance merry his cheere unchanged and his businesse about the state of his countrie not delayed But Harpalus was of passing patience being bidden of Astiages King of Persia to supper where he had two sons of his ready drest and layd in a silver dish before him on the table to be eaten by their owne father The King nay the tyrant marking the countenance of Harpalus and perceiving him not to be moved much at the matter asked him how he liked his supper he without alteration of colour or change of countenance framed himselfe to answer the king merrily commending much the supper as one that knew that patience was the onely remedy in tyranny A second Iob in patience nay hee passed Iob for Iob knew that his God did suffer Satan to punish him for love he had to Iob but Harpalus perceived that this tyrant did this to him of tyranny and evil will far from christianity for in this vale of misery we count him wise and certain we may cal him most wise that can in prosperity be gentle and in adversity be patient Both these examples were seen in one man in one day at Rome Paulus Aemilius having two sons the hope of Rome and comfort of the father the one dead foure dayes before the triumphs of Macedonia the other three dayes after the triumph returning from Macedonia with that noble victory and such triumphs unto Rome that no man could finde in his heart to tell this noble Romane of the heavinesse in Rome by reeson of the death of his children he perceiving the people of Rome to be sad and he so merry they so heavy with sobs and sighes and he so glad by reason of his triumphs and victories demanded the cause which being at length made known he then comforted them that should comfort him saying I thank the Gods more to give me victory over my enemies to the glory and prayse of Rome then I accuse fortune to spoyl me of my children which by nature were borne to dye and though much it be to my griefe yet wish I the Gods to do the like to the father as they did the sons so that the like conquest and glory may happen to Rome In this was both magnanimity and patience Some men are patient in some things as in a corporal paine some in torments another is patient of injuries done I commend them both but to be patient in all kinde of aflictions and adversity heaven and earth commendeth that man Plyny speaketh of one man Anarchus Augustus most patient in torments Of one Woman Laena to kéep silence So were the Egyptians people of great patience when they had rather dye in torments with patience then to betray any man The Gymnosophistes of India were so patient that from sun rising untill night upon the hot sanâ— they continued without meat and drink saith Plyny going from one seat to an other to behold the heavens the Sun the Moon c. The Lacedemonians were most patient in travel paine winde weather and wars The people of Sparta at what time certaine men of Chios came to pilgrimage understanding the wise men of Sparta called Ephori to be in all things most patient to move them to anger they vomited before them and then went where the Ephori sate in judgement and used it as a common stoole to discharge nature When they came to Chios againe they said that the wise men of Sparta were fooles and blocks because they could not move them to be angry but not more patient then the other were beastly For this kinde of patience was Mithridates king of Pontus renowned so was Agesilaus king of the Lacedemonians so was Masissima king of Numidia So patient was the Emperor Augustus that he suffered a young man of Sycilia to answer him as boldly as he had demaÌ„ded of him merrily whether ever his mother had been in Rome he being like to the Emperour in countenance and proportion meaning thereby that he might be his father if she had been there the young man perceiving the sleight of Augustus answered boldly and said My mother was never in Rome but my father hath béen divers times in Rome meaning that the Emperour might rather be his brother that way then he to be his son the other way by his mother But because patience is better known by reading of divers Princes anger where they shall see what hurt was done what wickednesse was committed by impatience which might have bin redressed and saved by patience therefore to avoyd prolixity it shall be spoken in the one what wanteth in the other but I will first speak of the humanity and sobriety and other vertues famous in Kings and Princes CHAP. XV. Of humanity and clemency of Princes LIke as pride oppresseth love provoketh disdain kindleth malice confoundeth justice and at length subverteth states even so humanity stirreth up affection augmenteth amity maintaineth love supporteth equity and preserveth Cities and countries Nothing saith the godly Emperour Alexander Severus so joyneth the hearts of subjects unto their Prince as humanity Nothing doth purchase honour so much to the noble man as affability Nothing so much kindleth love amongst the Commons as mutual humanity How gently did Cyrus king of Persia handle Croesus king of Lydya who being vanquished and convicted was by the law as Herodotus doth witnesse appointed to dye he being brought to the place of execution began heavily
sacrifice unto death for a pledge of their true and faithfull love What means doth love séek to save it self and to be acquainted with ease and pleasure how carefully the Greek Poet Antimachus bewailed the death of his wife Lisidides in such mourning verses and wofull plaints that whosoever did read them he would be as ready to weep in reading the dolefull Epitaph of Lisidâ—des as was Antimachus her husband sorrowfull for her death Pericles was so loving to his wife being a noble Captain of Athens and he was withal so chast that when Sophocles espied a marvellous beautifull young maid saying Behold a passing fair young maid Pericles answered and said Not onely the heart and the hands of a Magistrate must be chast but also his eys must refuse the sight of any but his wife It is read that Pericles being at Athens he was found kissing and making much of his wife and being from Athens he was found as sad to depart from his wife as he was willing to die for his countrey Orpheus loved so well his wife Euridice that as the Poets feign he feared not the power of King Pluto to redéem his wife with hazard and danger of his own body Innumerable are they that deserve the like fame so that these few may be a sufficent proof of others And now I will produce a few examples to prove the like good will and love from the wives shewed toward their husbands as hitherto you heard the great love of husbands towards their wives Alcestes a noble Qu. of Thessaly at what time K. Admetus her husband should die having received an answer by an Oracle that if any would die for the King he should live which when all refused his wife Queen Alcestes offered her self to die to save her husbands life Julia the wife oi Pompey the great and onely daughter to that famous and renowned Julius Caesar Emperour of Rome was no lesse obedient to her father Caesar then she was loving to her husband Pompey who though they both were enemies one to to another yet she shewed her self a loving daughter unto her father and a true wife to her husband and so true that when she saw her own Pompey coming bloudy from the field as his apparel made a shew a great way off she supposing that her husband was hurt being great with child did straight fall into travel and died before Pompey had yet come in The love of Artemisia Quéen of Caria towards her husband King Mausolus is as well declared by the sumptuous Tomb. and gorgeous Grave which she made for him when he died counted for the excellency thereof to be one of the seven wonders of the world it was also truly verified by ceremonies at his death in making the scull of his head her drinking cup in drinking all the ashes of his body as sugar to her wine and in knitting of his heart to her body saying Though our bodies be parted yet our hearts shall never be asunder That noble Greek Laodamia loved her husband so well that when she heard that her husband Protesilaus was slain by Hector at the siege of Troy she desired onely of God that she might see his shadow or likenesse once before she died which when she saw embracing the likenesse of her husband as she thought in her arms she then presently died We read that Quéen Ipsicratea loved her husband King Mithridates so entirely that she shaved off all the hairs of her head and did wear mans apparel and followed him like a Lackey for that he should not know her to be his wife she had rather go to the wars with her husband like a Lackey then tarry from her husband in Pontus like a Quéen Paulina when she heard that her husband Seneca was put to death by that cruel Emperour and Tyrant Nero whom Seneca sometime taught in his youth but was at length requited with death when I say Paulina heard thereof she enquired what kind of death her husband suffered which being known she attempted to die the same kind of death her self as Seneca her husband Likewise that noble Portia daughter to Cato and wife to Brutus hearing that her husband was slain at Phillipi for that she could not procure a knife she choaked her self with coals The like History is read of Triata who when she knew by letters that her husband Vitellius was environed by his enemies and no way able to escape his wife rushed into the Camp and preast near her husband ready to die or to live in the field with him What can be so hard to take in hand but love will hazard it What can be so perilous but love will venter it Neither water can stay it nor fire stop it Sulpitia the wife of Lentulus the daughter of that worthy Roman Paterculus when she perceived that her husband was appointed by the Magistrates of Rome to passe unto Sicilia as an Embassador and there to continue for a season though her mother had great charge over her and very carefull and studious she was to comfort her daughter in the absence of her husband yet she deceived her mother she changed her apparel and caused her two maids likewise to be disguised and went all by night from Rome to Sicily Aemilia the wife of Affricanus and mother to the noble Cornelia who was mother to those famous Romans called Gracchi perceiving her husband to be in love with one of her maids in the house and often to use the maid as his wife though Aemilia knew well of it yet she never hated the maid nor opened it unto her husband But after that her husband was dead she gave unto this Maid a great summe of money and married her wealthily in Rome A rare thing to be found in a woman What shall I speak of the love of Penelope in Gréece towards her husband Ulysses or shew the constancy of Lucreece in Rome towards her husband Collatine the one twenty years was proved by divers noble Greeks yet she remained true unto Ulisses the other through force being ravished by proud Tarquinius son named Sextus would not be false to Collatinus but opened the same and revenged it with her own death Now again how well did Queen Tomiris love her son Margapites the death of great Cyrus King of Persia with two hundred thousand of his souldiers can testifie or how Aegeus loved his son Theseus who when he had perceived the black sail he supposing his son was slain in that Labyrinth he threw himself from a high rock into the sea Why should I molest the Reader herein since an end can hardly be found I will but onely recite one worthy History out of Valerius of a servant to one named Panopion who hearing that certain souldiers came to the City of Reatina in purpose to kill his master he changed apparel with his master and conveyed his master first away safe from the enemies and he went unto his masters bed as though he had béen
the God of théeves and for the antiquity of theft it is thought that Prometheus Deucalions father as Poets do feign by the aid of Minerva stole first fire from Phoebus for the which fact he was punished in mount Caucasus after this sort he was bound fast and an Eagle appointed to eat up his heart and to hale his puddings along in furtherance and memory of his theft Hercules and Jason two of the most famous Princes that ever Greece fostred went unto Colchis to steal the golden Fléece Theseus and Perithous went unto the Kingdome of Pluto to steal Proserpina away There was dwelling in a rock near Athens a famous théef named Sciâ—on who was wont to throw headlong strangers that were his guests from a rock into the sea and after that he had continued a long time in spotling and murthering of men that passed by in taking their goods and lives away he was in theÌ„ same sort by Theseus put himself to death Cacus of whom Virgil makes mention the son of Vulcan was so crafty a théef that having a den in mount Aventine he used to draw any thing backward by the tail unto his cave where he spoiled it whether it were man or beast there should he be brought by flight of Cacus to he destroyed till he attempted to spoil Hercules by stealth who after long wrastling in his den with his club slew him The famous theef Sinius used such seats and thefts about Corinth that he would bind any passer by or strangers unto trees and there would hew them into small gobbets for their money and substance These three last renowned theeves are much mentioned of writers So Capiton kept himself fifty years in a den as a common robber to steal and to spoil all that came near his violence The Argives were men most noted and infamous for this fault insomuch that a proverb grew of the Argives Argivi fures that is the Argives are theeves Amongst the Persians there were certain theeves called Cardaces permitted without punishment to steal and to rob The old Germans and ancient Egyptians might somtime by law and the liberty of their country be allowed to steal Lycurgus made laws in Sparta amongst the Lacedemonians that he that did steal without reprehension or being taken with the theft should be free and he which could not artificially steal being taken should be punished insomuch that Brusonius in his second book doth speak of a young man that stole a young Fox the owner thereof following after demanded of the young man whether he saw a little for or no the young man denied it hiding the Fox under his cloak but the Fox a subtil beast willing to shew himself to his master did bite and scratch the young man so sore that his puddings gushed out of his side who thus suffered himself to die rather then he would manifest his theft Wherefore Theophrastus a noble philosopher having the examination of a subtile théef demanded whether he could blush or no to the which the théef answered that he could not for he néeded not to blush in a true matter therefore saith Theophrastus thou art the liklier to be a théef for truth alwaies appeareth in a shamefast countenance Wherefore the wise Cato the Senior was wont to say that young men that waxed red were better to be trusted then those that would wax pale for the one signifieth shamefastnesse and the other deceit For Pithias Aristotles daughter being demanded what colour was best in man or woman she answered that colour that shamefastnesse bringeth which is a blushing countenance But to speak of Pyrates Sextus Pompey the son of Pompey the great kept under him divers and sundry Pyrates about the borders of Italy and Sicily to rob and spoil upon the seas to his great infamy and reproach being the son of so famous a Roman whom Rome a long time so estéemed that Caesar hardly might be superiour to him What shall I say of King Pyrrhus and Caius Verres whom Cicero for his sundry thefts and spoil and for divers sacriledges by Verres committed compared unto the foresaid Tyrant To speak of infinite Pyrates and divers Sacriledgers it were to none effect because it is a common practise in all Countreys Therefore as Diogenes the Philosopher said when he saw a poor man led between the Magistrates to the place of execution Behold saith he a little theef betwéen a number of great theeves God grant that it may not truly be spoken of divers Magistrates in sundry places CHAP. XXXVII Of Lust THe spoil and slaughter of Lust did always far surpasse all other vices it hath suppressed Castles and Countreys it hath vanquished Kings and Cesars overthrown the pomp of Asia Affrica and Europe and almost depopulated the whole world This vice of all vices is to be abhorred and detested for there is no vice but hath its center as pride chiefly hath her seat appointed in puissant Princes and Noble men Covetousnesse resideth with old men that be Magistrates and Officers Envy with men of sciences and faculties Vsury with Citizens Symony with Bishops and Priests Hypocrisie with Religious men Deceit with Merchants but Lust is common to all men as well to the subject as to the Prince to the learned as to the ignorant to the wise as to the foolish For David and son Salomon to whom God gave singularity of wisdome dexterity of wit to govern the Israilites yet the sacred Scriptures do witness of their horrible lust David lusted for Bathsheba and that so wickedly that he appointed a way to put to death her husband Uriah Solomon lusted so much that he did forget his God that did guide his steps all the while he ruled justly and lived godly in Israel Aristotle and Socrates in despight of their Philosophy and great knowledge the one became a slave to Hermia the other a subject to Aspasia Sampson and Hercules for all their strength and conquest of Giants and monsters the one prostrated his Club at Deianiraes foot the other committed his strength to the beauty of Delilah The renowned and sugred Oratours Demosthenes and Hortensitis the one from Athens came to Corinth to compound for a nights lodging with Lais the other in Rome with nicenesse and wantonnesse was judged more subject to lust then Lord over himself If then witty and wise men if learned and discreet men if eloquent and subtil men if strong and mighty Conquerours have been ruled by lust deceived by beauty overcome with women what should I speak of Heliogabulus not well named Emperour but worthily called the beast of Rome What should I recite that Monster and Tyrant Nero What should I recite that filthy and vile Emperour Caligula the onely sink of sin and shame not Emperors but Monsters not Princes but Tyrants not men but beasts which defiled their own sisters kept open stews and brothel houses maintaining Whores and Harlots made Laws at their banquets every man to his woman first and then to his meat and
but one year a ruler in the Empire was poysoned by his mother in Law named Martina The very cause of the Emperor Conradus death who was Fredericks son was onely the Empire and rule of Rome for Manfredus his successour hired the Physitians to poyson him that he might have the onely sway O unhappy state of Princes whose lives are desired both of friends and foes No lesse danger it is to be in favour with Princes sometime then perillous to be Princes We read of a Quéen named Rosimunda the daughter of King Cunimund of Gepida who after she had poysoned Albonius King of the Longobards her first husband did marry a Prince of Ravenna named Helinges whom likwise she thought to poison but being warned in the middest of his draught he caused his wife to drink the rest which drink was the cause of both their deaths How many noble Princes in the middest of their pilgrimages have died that death as Dioclesian the Emperour of Rome Lotarius King of France Charls the eight of that name with divers others as Hannibal prince of Carthage Aristobulus King of Iudea and Lucullus Generall of Rome Princes and noble men do sometime poison themselves lest they should be inforced to serve their foes as Themistocles being banished from his country of Athens being in service under Artaxerxes King of Persia poisoned himself with the bloud of a Bull in presence of all the Persians lest he should be compelled to fight in wars against Gréece his country Even so Aratus prince of Sicionia perceiving Philip the younger would banish and exile him out of his country was inforced with poison to drink his own death out of his own hand Even after this sort after long administration of the Commonwealth did noble Socrates learned Anaxagoras worthy Seneca and famous Demosthenes poison themselves Thus their pilgrimages were ended and their lives finished their honour and dignity their fame and renown did purchase them death Happy then are those whom the world knows not who desire not to be acquainted with the world but quiet and contented do finish the course of their pilgrimages Had not Jugurthus thirsted for the Kingdom of Numidia he had not slain his two brethren Adherbal and Hempsal which were partakers of the Crown for the which vengeance fell upon him being subdued by Marius and dying afterwards in prison Had not King Siphax thirsted after the Empire of Rome he had never béen taken captive and prisoner by Tiberius where he at length out of his Kingdome died in prison Henry the third was of his own son named Henry put again in prison where he died Aristonicus for all his businesse and great doings was vanquished by the Consull Aquilius and put in prison where likewise he died In prison divers princes have ended their lives in forrein countries Strange kinds of deaths happen upon Princes more then on any other men as orderly I shall prove by their pilgrimages and lives Some by fire as the Tyrant Phalaris of Agrigentum who was burned with all his children and his wife in the Brasen Bull which Perillus made for others was first of all put into it himself By fire was the Emperour Valentine burned by the Goths by fire was that famous Greek Alcibiades destroied in Phrygia and burned in bed with his mistresse Timandra after he had ruled Athens and all Greece a long while Sardanapalus that great King and last prince of Assyria fearing to fall into the hands of Arbactus and detesting to die by his enemies made a solemn fire when after his lewd life wantoning in lust and following his desires he burned himself it was the end of the renowned Hercules who conquered Monsters subdued Serpents Lions Dragons and wild beasts at the last he put on the shirt of Nestus the Centaur which burned him alive What shall I speak of Boges the dear friend sometime of King Xerxes who when he knew that he could not escape the hand of Cimon and the power of Atâ—ens he made a great fire where he caused his wife and concubines his children and family to be burned and then his gold silver and treasure and last of all he burned himself Empedocles Catullus Luctatius Asdrubal and Poâ—tia died this death So desirous were men alwaies to become princes so ambitious of honour so greedy of wealth that having the name of a King they thought to avoid and escape that which alwaies waits on the heels of Princes I mean death Were not princes hanged by their own subjects which is the vilest and most ignominious death that can be Achaeas King of Lidia for that he troubled his subjects with new taxes and subsedies was hanged by his own subjects at the river of Pactolus Bomilchar a Prince of Libia being suspected by the Carthaginians that he had conspired with Agathocles unto the annoiance of the subjects was hanged in the City of Carthage in the middest of the Market Policrates who was supposed to be the happiest Prince that ever reigned in Samos and never sustained any losse by fortune was at last by Orontes the Persian King Darius General hanged in sight of Samos Herodotus doth affirm that Leonides that famous King of Sparta who long ruled the Lacedemonians with great fame and renown was by Xerxes King of Persia after his head was smitten off commanded notwithstanding to be hanged Trogus doth write of Hanno a prince of Carthage which flourished in the time of King Philip father to Alexander the great who for his prosperous successe that he had in all his attempts waxed to be such a tyrant that his own people first bound him with cords whipt him with rods pluckt out his eys brake his legs cut off his hands and at last to recompence his tyranny they hanged him up in Carthage These were no mean men that thus were hanged in their own country and by their own people Thus Princes in the middest of their lives have béen arrested by death and by divers kinds of death Some as you have heard by poison some by fire some by hanging have ended their pilgrimages some again have been devoured by their own horses as Diomedes King of Thracia became food himself to those beasts which before he fed with mens bodies The King of Eubea for his tyranny in Boetia was given by Hercules to be eaten by his own horses Licinius the Emperour at what time he had appointed that his daughter Hâ—rina should be given to his horses to be eaten he himself giving her as food unto them was torn in pieces It hâ—ppened that Neocles the son of that noble Greek Themistocks was by a horse likewise devoured And this was not strange unto princes for they were alwaies subject unto all kind of deaths After that the famous prince Mâ—â—us Captain of the Lybians had broken truce with the Romans he was afterward as Livi doth witnesse taken and drawn by four great horses alive at the cemmandement of Tullus Hostilius being then King of Rome Hâ—ppâ—litus son
son to Theseus being falsly accused by his mother in law Quéen Phedra and flying to avoid the fury and rage of his father at the request of the Queen was torn in pieces by wild horses But let us passe further and we shall read that as some were devoured by horses so others were by Serpents stung to death as Laocoon that worthy Troyan was by two Serpents destroyed yea that famous and warlike woman Cleopatra Quéen of Egypt after her lover and friend Marcus Antonius was overcome by Augustus Caesar the Emperour did chuse rather to be overcome with Serpents then subdued by Caesar With this death was Opheltes the son of Licurgus King of Menea vanquished Again some have perished by wild Bores and raging Lions as Anceus King of Samos and Paphages King of Ambracia the one by a Bore the other by a Lion Some have béen devoured by dogs as Linus the son of Apollo Pliny in his seventh book metions a Quéen in Bithinia named Cosinges K. Nâ—comedes wife whom her own dogs flew tare in pieces Euripides that learned Gréek coming in the night time from Archelaus King of Macedonia with whom he had been at supper was incountered by his enemy Promerus who set his dogs on him and did tear him to pieces Even so were Herachtus and Diogenes both Philosophers by dogs likewise killed I may not forget so great a prince as Basilius the Emperour of Macedon who in hunting amongst his Lords and Nobles yea amongst thousands of his Commons he onely meeting a Hart in the chase was hurt by him in the leg whereof he died As for Seleucus King of Syria son to Antiochus surnamed the Great and Bâ—la King of Panonia they were both thrown by their horses and died If these mischance happen unto princes in the midst of their state what is their glory but misery since nothing expelleth fate nor can avoid death Some have been so weary of life some so fearfull of death that they have thrown themselves into the water to be drowned others for all their diligent fear and watching for death have most shamefully notwithstanding been by death prevented Frederick the Emperour marching towards Ierusalem after that he had taken several Cities and Townes in Armenia in passing through a little river was drowned Decius that noble King being enforced to take his flight from the Goths with whom he then was in wars was drowned in the Marish ground Marcus Marcellus after that he had béen a Consul in Rome thrée times before the third wars betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians was likewise by shipwrack cast away How many noble Princes have béen drowned as Pharaoh King of Egypt in the red sea of whom we read in the sacred scriptures How many have the seas despoyled of life and with their own names christened the names of seas and waters in which they were drowned As by the death of Aegeus King of Athens the sea Aegeum was so called by the death of Tyrrhenus King of Lydia the sea was called The Tyrrhen Sea And so King Tyberinus altered the river called Aelbula by his death to be the river of Tyber Again the sea Hellespont was so called by a woman named Helle drowned in it So by Iâ—arus and Myrtilus the sea of Icarus and the sea Myrton were so called Divers Princes have also perished by famine and have been compelled to eat their own flesh as Erisicthon and Neocles a Tyrant of Scicioma It is written in Curtius that Sysigambis King Darius mother died of hunger Ulysles the Gréek lest any off-spring of Hector should rise in Phrygia to revenge the fall of Troy and his countrey did cast Astianax the son of Hector over the walls alive Lycurgus King of Thrace was by his own subjects thrown headlong into the sea for that he first mingled water with wine How many famous and noble Princes have been stoned to death as valiant Pyrrhus King of the Epyrotes being in wars with Antigonus was slain by an old woman with a a tile-stone at Argos Pyrander at what time the Athenians warred against Eumolpus for that he feared famine hiding the wheat from his souldiers was therefore by them stoned to death Even so was Cinna the Roman in the wars betwixt the Gauls and the Romans for the like offence stoned to death Stout Cebrior King Priaâ—'s son was slain by a stone hurled at him by Patroclus at the siege of Troy so died Cygnus the son of Achilles at the same time O unstedfast fortune that stones should end the many lives of famous princes O imprudent princes that know not how nigh ye are always to death How many hath God punished with sudden death for their offences as Mithridates King of Pontus and Nicanor the son of Parmenio of Macedonia died suddenly Sertorius was slain suddenly at a banquet by Upenna The Emperour Heliâ—gabalus was killed upon his stool at his easement and thrown into Tyber That renowned and famous Conquerour Julius Caesar was in the middest of the City of Rome where he was Emperor yea in the Senate-house murthered and mangled by Brutus and Cassius Divers Consuls in Rome died this death as Fabius Maxâ—mus Gurges the Senator And Manlius Torquatus even at his supper died presently Some with Thunder-bolts did God likewise punish thus Capaneus was slain at the wars of Thebes Tullus Hostilius King of Rome was with a Thunderbolt for his insolency and pride slain Zoroastres King of the Bactrians the first inventer of Magick was likewise by that kind of death encountred Pride in princes was the onely cause of their falls insomuch that the poets feign that the great and monstrous Giant Eâ—câ—ladus for his proud enterprise against Jupiter was thrown by a Thunderbolt into the bottome of Aetna a fiery and flaming mountain The uncertain state of princes is séen and tried by their death Who liveth so short a time as a prince who dieth so strange a death as a prince Who liveth in care who dieth living but a prince Was not Sergius Galba and Commodus the son of Marcus sirnamed Anbilius two Emperors of Rome the one by Otho strangled in the Market place of Rome the other imprisoned by Martia his own concubine Minos King of Creet travelling after Dedalus into Sicily was by his great friend King Cocalus slain by deceit So was Alebas chief governour of Larissa murthered by his own souldiers The desire that men bear unto honour and dignity is commonly accompanied with death as Spurius Cassius and Spurius Melius for their greedinesse of the Empire of Rome were both worthily beheaded God hath shewed just vengeance upon Princes for their iniquity with plagues and pestilences which spoiled the Emperor Constantine and the Empresse Zoae his wife And by this were Marcus Antonius Alphonsus and Domitius justly and worthily punished God hath wonderfully punished the pride of Princes even with shamefull and horrible deaths insomuch that Lice and vermine have consumed their bodies alive As Maximilian the Emperour Arnulphus
profession of sacred viginitie which she vowed unto Diana was so famous for her magnanimity that when Turnus Aeneas were in wars for the marriage of Lavinia King Latinus daughter she came Bellona like unto the field resisting the violence and puissance of the Troyans with the Rutils and brought aid unto Turnus That noble Zenobia the famous Quéen of the Palmyrians a Princess of rare learning of excellent vertues of most valiant enterprises after that her Husband named Odenatus had died took the Empire of Syria and attempted the magnanimity of the Romans and a long time she withstood in wars that noble and renowned Emperor Aurelian by whom the Emperor was wont to say when it was objected to him that it was no commendation for a Prince to subdue a woman That it is more valiant to conquer a woman being so stout as Zenobia then to vanquish a King being so fearfull as Xerxes The ancient Gréeks as Herodotus doth witnesse were much amazed at the magnanimity of Artemisia Queen of Caâ—ia who after that the King her husband died did shew such fortitude against the inhabitants of Rhodes that being but a woman she subdued their stoutness she burned their Navies wasted their wealth vanquished and destroyed the whole Isle entred into the City of Rhodes caused her Image to be set up for a monument of her chivalry the perpetual memory of her victory O renowned Ladies O most worthy women that with feminine feats have merited manly fame How did famous Teuca Queen of the Illyrians govern her subjects after the death of her husband King Argon who being warred on by the Romans repelled their force broke their bonds and discomfited their armies to her perpetual fame and commendation she governed the people of Illyria no lesse wisely then she defended the puissant force of the Romans stoutly She lived as Histories report as soberly and chastly without the company of man as she governed her countrey wisely and stoutly without the counsel of man It were sufficient to repeat the ancient Histories of two women to prove fully an everlasting prâ—ise and commendation unto all women The one written in Herodotus in his first book of Quéen Tomyris of Scythia the other mentioned by Valerius and Justine of Cleopatra Queen somtime of Egypt The first after that Cyrus had made havock in her Kingdome of Scythia killing destroying and burning all without any regard of Princely clemency or respect unto a womans government and not satisfied therewith he slew also the Queens own son named Margapices thirsting more and more for bloud Insomuch that the valiant Queen being much moved to revenge Margapices death weighing the gréedy rage of Cyrus came Lion like to field either to lose her own life or else to revenge her sons death and prest upon Cyrus at that time more like a grim Gorgon then a silly Scythian and â—lew him in the field and haling him up and down the field she cut off his head and bathed it in a great Tun full of bloud appointed for that purpose saying Now Cyrus drink thy belly full of that which thou couldest never have enough of Thus valiant Tomyris revenged tyranny requiting the death of her son with the death of two hundred thousand Persians The other was Cleopatra who after that Julius Caesar was murthered by Brutus and Cassius and that Marcus Antonius was by Augustus invaded with a puissant Army for his perjury and falshood shewed unto his Vncle Caesaâ— she I say Cleopatra having the most part of Arabia and Syria confederated with her friend and lover Antonius against Augustus being then the second Emperor of Rome and having with the forces of Egypt aided him a long time until that she perceived that Augustus prevailed and that Antonius was vanquished lest she should be conquered by Augustus she conquered her self yeelding rather her body a prey unto Serpents then to become a subject unto Augustus Hannibal could do no more but to poylon himself rather then to yeeld to Scipio Let Semiramis with her valiant force and stoutness be commended at Babylon where she reigned fourty years a Widdow after King Ninus her Husbands death Let noble and famous Atalanta with her Bows and Spears and feats of Arms be praised in Arcadia Let Hypsieratea that followed her Husband King Mithridates in the wars as a Lackey unknown be extolled in Ponius Lot Helerna Janus daughter with all her fortitude be spoken of in Latine And let Deborah be famous amongst the Israelites These women were no lesse famous for their pilgrimâ—ge thâ—n the worthy Conquerors and Champions of the world They were in no point inferiour to men and in many points far excelled Princes and Kings Surely the world was then very weak or women were very strong and resolute And to omit particularly to touch any more of women I will open and declare their vertues in several Countreys The women of Lacena would together with their husbands go unto the field yea they went souldier like unto Missena to fight in field The women of Cimbria would kill those that first fled the field though they were the next friends or kinsmen unto them The women of Saca had this custome either at their marriage to be conquered by their husbands the first day or else to be conquerors over their husbands all the days of their life their combat saith Aelianus was for victory and not for life The women of Persia would meet their husbands and sons flying the field lifting up their cloaths shewing their nakedness saying Whither flée you O you Cowards will you again enter into your mothers wombs will you créep into your wives bellies This they â—id in the wars betwixt Cyrus and his Grandfather Astyages The women of Sparta would go unto the field to sée in what place their Husbands and friends were wounded if it were before they would with gladness and joy shew the same unto every man and bury the body solemnly if their wounds were behind they would be so ashamed of the same that they would leave them unburied in the field The women of Scythia called Amazons lived as conquerours over men and not conquered by men untill Alexander the Great destroyed them and their Countrey which before were so valiant that they weighed not to encounter with Hercules in the field and after with Theseus in open battel they blushed not to meet the valiant Greeks at the destruction of Troy Magnanimity which was then for the defence of countreys is now turned into Tyranny to destroy countreys so that the toyl and travel the great dangers and high attempts that men took in hand was nothing but a pilgrimage of life some going some comming some born some dying some winning some losing some beginning their race and some ending their life much like a Comedy played on stages where every man acteth his appointed part shifting himself into sundry shapes and fashions To make an end of this subject whatsoever we do we do like pilgrims whersoever
good Archers to shoot at High towers and lofty buildings are sooner fired with lightnings then low houses and small cottages Tiberius Caesar Emperour of Rome being in the Senate house to punish those evills and to revenge those harms that were by same of the City threatned to his estate God forbid said he that Tibâ—rius should have so much idle time to hear EVIL spoken much lesse to revenge EVIL done Antâ—gonus King of Macedonia besieging a Castle in Gréece wherein a number of hold Gréeks used for their pastime and sport to scoff at this King knowing the scituation of the Castle to be in such a place that it might not be subdued they therefore laughed him to scorn as well for his enterprise therein as also for his slender person and crooked nose which King Antigonus perceiving said He would revenge all their doings by sufferance and hoped therby to molest the enemies double Divers heathen Princes were acquainted with this revenge as Lysander Agesilaus and others for to God onely belongeth vengeance I will not speak here of such revenging of Princes of Countreys of friends that all men know But of rare revenge which Philosophy taught unto Socrates toward Xantippe who being at supper having a strange guest named Enthidemus his wife Xantippe began to take her husband up with taunting and opprobrious words which because he would not answer and be moved by her chiding she overthrew the Table with all the Meat and the Cups Which when Enthidemus saw he was amazed at the raging of Xantippe and beheld Socrates in the face to see how he thought of the matter But Socrates understanding that his guest did marvel at his wife said Have not you sometime at home a Hen that will after long clocking with a sudden flight throw down your cups with her wing wherewith Enthidemus was fully satisfied with the wise answer of Socrates in not revenging so great a fault Phocion a learned man of Athens was wont to say That he had rather suffer injury wrongfully then to revenge injury sometime rightfully This man Phocion by whom Athens long flourished at what time he was put to death most wrongfully of the Athenians even a little before he should die being demanded whether he would command any thing to his son standing hard by to sée his fathers end did speak to his son after this sort My son said he this I charge and require thée and moreover beséech thée that thou wilt never revenge the wrongfull death of thy father Phocion on the Athenians Solon that noble and learned Athenian was wont to revenge his wrongs with these words If the Fisherman do suffer the salt water of the Sea to sprinkle upon his face and upon his cloaths and to wet him when he taketh fish how much more ought Solon to forbear to speak to win men to be friends unto him Surely these thrée Philosophers deserve more praise and commendation I mean Socrates Phocion and Solon for the revenging of the evil with goodnesse and vertue then ever Alexander or Julius Caesar or Theseus which revenged evil with evil Wherefore Chilon the Lacedemonian being one of the Officers called Ephoti in the City of Sparta his brother demanding why he might not be likewise one of the five Ephoti as well as his brother said unto his brother Because I can suffer wrong and thou canst not Therefore Princes ought not to do wrong nor yet revenge wrong with wrong but with patience sufferance and goodnesse and by doing good for evill For thus they shall make foes to become friends evill men to become good by preventing evill with lenity and gentlenesse It behoveth not a wise man to revenge injuries neither doth it become a Prince to requite evill with the like but to overcome rather evill with good Therefore was it truly spoken of the wiseman Sapit qui sustinet he that can suffer he is wise CHAP. XXXVI Of Theft and Sacriledge AFter that greedy desire unto wealth had possest a place in mans heart and after that the world was altered from a wealth in common unto a private wealth every man went about with study and industry to augment his own with the spoile of others For this cause Princes began one to suppresse an other to spoil and destroy either others Dominions moving first noble men to imitate them in stealing and taking away perforce others wealth and though it be not an apt Epithete for Princes to be called theeves and spoilers yet truly by Princes it began by Nobles imitated and by all the world at length practised that some became Pyrats upon the seas some sacriledgers of temples and some grand théeves of countries and kingdomes For after the deluge of Noah there was neither theft nor sacriledge known almost 300. years till Ninus the third King of the Assyrians who first began to play the théef in Asia Dionisius King of Sicilia and tyrant of all the werld the greatest robber that reigned upon earth being not satisfied with spoil and theft on lands and seas became also a sacriledger in the Temples of the Gods which he so practised that after he robbed the Temple of Jupiter in Olimpia he passed forth to Locris to spoil the Temple of Proserpina and from thence unto Epidaurus to steal the golden beard of Aesculapius The tyrant King could not satisfie himself till worthily he had merited the name of a théef a Pyrate and a sacriledger Xerxes spared not amongst other wilfull robberies to send four thousand of his souldiers to Delphos to rob the Temple of Apollo Spartacus a great Prince and a maintainer of theeves gathered a whole army of fugitive persons vagabonds theeves and robbers and marched toward Rome with a resolution either to conquer Rome or to be conquered by Rome but there was he and all his rogues vanquished by Pu. Crassus The City of Rome was often in perill by théeves and robbers as by Silla Catelin and Marius famous spoilers of Italy And as Cercion did rob and spoil the country of Athens so Tiâ—â—gias in Arcadia was renowned for theft I might in this place speak of the robbery of the Emperour Nero of the spoil and wast of that beastly Emperour Heliogabalus and of the sacriledge and theft of Caligula These three Emperours did steal spoil and tooke from Rome more then ever they gave to Rome Marcellinus writeth that there was sometimes a King of the Parthians named Arsaces which in the beginning of his reign was then named the master of theeves a teacher and a school-master unto all robbers and spoilers but after that he had subdued Seleucus Alexanders successour he became famous and renowned in martiall feats and civill policy Herodotus likewise doth report of one Amazis a King of Egypt when at any time money wanted he was wont to spoil wast and take away all that ever he might either by stealth or force Thus the names of Princes were first corrupted that the Poets judged well and worthily Mercury to be
come from his son Demetrius being desirous of the newes and to heare of the Wars and successe of his son sent divers to méet him on the way to know the truth and effect of his comming He saluted all men as one very sad and so sad that all men judged that either Demetrius was slain or else had lost the field The King being certified that Aristodemus was very sad and that there was no likelihood of good news came hastily to meet him which when Aristodemus saw he cryed out with a loud voice a far off saying Most happy art thou King Antigonus beloved of the Gods saluted by Demetrius and this day feared of all the world Thy son is Conquerour over Conquerours and King over Kings a triumphant victor in the wars at Salamina thus artificially did Aristodemus use his flattery before King Antigonus that the King had as great a delight to hear Aristodemus flattering phrase as he had joy and gladnesse in the prosperity of his son Demetrius Thus he did win the heart and dived into the soul of King Antigonus that his reward was as much by his flattery as his thanks was for his news Marcus Antonius was delighted so much in the flattering spéech of the Athenians at what time he was inforced to forsake Rome by means of Augustus Caesar that the Citizens of Athens went to méet him out of the City having an Oration in commendation of his wisedom saying that he was well worthy to have Minerva in marriage He joied so much in this their adulation that they won this Roman by flattery to do more honour unto Athens then nature could crave at his hands to love Rome Such force hath flattery that when Alexander the great would have died for sorrow yea would have killed himself for that he slew Clitus in his anger Anâ—xâ—â—chus with sugred words and fair sentences asswaged his sorrow Aristippus when he might not obtain his purpose at Dionisius hand with flattery and fair words he would knéel down and imbrace and kisse his féet and being accused of his friends that he being a Philosopher he was a flatterer he answered them in this sort Aristippus is not in fault to speak unto any man where his ear is Dionisius rather is to be blamed to hear at his féet or to have his ears at his héels Diogenes therefore being demanded what beast was most hurtfull to man of wild beasts a tyrant of tame beasts a flatterer What subject is he that delighteth not in flattery what Prince is he that is not pleased with adulation What God is he saith the Poet that loveth not his commendation and praise Hercules was glad to hear the adulation of Cecropes Bacchus was joyfull to hear the flattery of Silenus even Jupiter himself the King of Gods was delighted in Vulcan The remedy therefore to avoid this Gorgon to expell this monster to exile this murtherer is as Cato the wise man saith to use truth for he that useth to hear good talk alwaies will never himself speak evill at any time The nature of flattery was so known and was so hated by Augustus the Emperour that he lothed the knéeling of his houshold servants Tiberius the Emperour likewise would in no wise suffer any of his own men to call him Lord. Flattery was sometimes so abhorred in Athens that when Timagoras was sent as an Embassadour to Darius K. of Persia for that he flattered the King in talk at his return he was beheaded Even so Evagoras because he called Alexander the son of Jupiter was put to death The Lacedemonians feared flattery so much that they banished Archilogus onely for his eloquence in a book which he composed Flattery was so odious in Rome that Cato the Censor gave commandement to expell certain fine Oratours of Athens out of Rome lest by their fair spéech and flattery they might annoy the state of Rome What is it but flattery can compasse what may not sugred Oratours move what could not Demosthenes do in Athens what might not Cicero perswade in Rome King Pyrrhus was wont to say that he won more Cities Towns and Countries through the flattering perswasions of Cineas then he ever subdued with the strength and force of all the Kingdome of Epire. But to avoid too much striking on one string which as Plutarch saith is tedious to the Reader for nature is desirous saith Plautus of novelties I wil speak a little of those that fled flattery it was the onely cause that Pythagoras that noble Philâ—sopher forsook his country Samos the onely occasion that the worthy and learned Solon fled from Athens the chief cause that made Licurgus to renounce Lacedemon and the onely cause that made Scipio Nasica forsake Rome for where flattery is estéemed there truth is banished where flattery is advanced and honoured there truth is oppressed and vanquished in fine flattery findeth friendship when truth doth purchase hatred as is proved in the histories of Seneca and Calisthenes two famous Philosophers the one master unto Nero Emperour of Rome the other appointed by Aristotle to attend upon Alexandeâ— the great these Philosophers because they would not féed the corrupt natures and insolent minds of these proud Princes with adulation and flattery they were put to death Seneca by Nero for his pain and travel taken with the Emperour in reading him Philosophy Calisthenes by Alexander because he reproved the customes of the Medes and Persians who used such flattery that Alexander commanded all men to call him the son of Jupiter Even so Cicero and Demosthenes the one the soveraign Oratour and the Phenix of Rome the other the sugred anchor and the patron of Athens and protector of all Gréece who having sundry times saved the two famous Cities Rome and Athens the one from the pernicious and privy conspiracy of that wicked Catelin and his adherents the other from the proud attempts and the long wars of Philip King of Macedon yet were they both banished and exiled their own countries Cicero for Clodius sake which the Romans took so heavily that twenty thousand did wear mourning apparel with no lesse heavinesse in Rome then tears were shed for Demosthenes in Athens Flattery was of some then so hated that noble Phocion a learned Athenian was went to say to his friend Antipater that he would take no man to be his friend whom he knew to be a flatterer And most certain it is that he that at this day cannot flatter can get no friendship according to that saying of Terence obsequium amicos c. For even as Aristides of Athens for his manifold benefits to the Athenians was by flattery prevented and for truth banished so likewise Thucidides being sent as an Embassadour from Athens to Amphipolis a City betwixt Thracia and Macedonia which King Philip kept by force was by flattery circumvented True service is often rewarded with anger and the rage of Princes as Thrasibulus a noble Captain and famous for his truth was banished out of
Honorificus King of the Vandales and Herode King of the Iews were eaten up alive with vermine and Lice Pliny and Plutarch say that proud Sylla which sore plagued Rome and Italy had all his flesh converted into Lice and so died Herodotus doth likewise report of one Pheretrina a Quéen of the Barceans who died of this filthy and horrible death God hath taken them away in the midst of their pleasure even eating and drinking as Septimus and Valentianus two famous Emperours who died both of a surfeit for want of digestion Archesilaus died presently with one draught of wine What is the life of Princes but an uncertain Pilgrimage Nay women are famous for their pilgrimage therein As the Queen of Sheba came from Ethiopia to hear and to learn Solomon's wisdome Cornelia from Rome being a noble woman went to Palestina to hear Saint Hierome teach Christians The pilgrimage of our life is nothing else but a continual travel until we come to our last journey which is Death then is the end of all pilgrimage and just account to be made for the same CHAP. XLV Of Death the End of all Pilgrimage THe last line of all things is death the discharge of all covenants the end of all living creatures the onely wish of the good and the very terrour of the wicked And for that the life of man is divers so is death variable after sundry manners and fashions as by experience is séen and known in all Countreys Nothing is surer then death yet nothing is more uncertain then death For Pindarus that wise King of the Liricans being demanded of certain Beotians what might best happen to man in this world Even that said he which chanced to Trophonius and Agâ—medes meaning Death For these men after they had builded a new Temple to Apollo demanded of Apollo the best reward that he could give them they thinking to enjoy some dignity or worldly substance were seven days after rewarded with death The like we read in the first Book of Herodotus where the mother of Biton and Cleobes two young men of Argos knéeling before the Image of Juno besought the Goddesse to bestow some excellent good thing upon her two sons for their pain and travel that they shewed toward her in drawing her Chariot ten miles in stead of horses The Goddesse willing to grant them the best thing that could be given to man the next night quietly in bed as they slept they both died Wherefore very well did Aristippus answer a certain man who asked how Socrates died Even in that order said he that I wish my self to die Giving to understand that any death is better then life That noble Philosopher Plato a little before he died as Sabellicus doth write did thank nature for three causes the first that he was born a man and not a beast the second that he was born in Gréece and not in Barbary the third that he was born in Socrates time who taught him to die well Hermes that great Philosopher of Egypt even dying so embraced death that he called upon that that divine spirit which ruled all the heavens to have mercy upon him being right glad that he had passed this toyling life Such is the uncertainty of death that some in the half of their days and in the midst of their fame and glory die So Alexander the great died in Babilon Pompey died in Egypt and Marcellus being a young man of great towardnesse and by adoption heir unto the Empire of Rome died It is strange to sée the varieties of death and in how divers and sundry fashions it hath happened unto Great men always Some being merry in their banquets and drinking were slain so Clitus was slain by Alexander the great being his chief friend Amnon being bidden to a banquet by Absalom was slain by him Yea all the Embassadors of Persia were commanded to be slain even drinking at the table by Amintas King of Macedonia Some end their lives wantonning with women and playing in chambers as that renowned Alcibiades being taken in wantonnesse with Timandra was slain by Lisander Even so Phaon and Speusippus the Philosopher died likewise Some bathing and refreshing themselves have perished by their own wives so Agamemnon that famous Gréek was killed by his wife Clitemnestra and Argirus Emperor of Rome by his wife Zoe Divers in prison have died as captives so Aristobulus Eumenes Aristonicus Marius Cleomenes Jugurth Siphax famous and renowned Princes Divers have béen slain in the draught as that beast Heliogabalus whom Rome so hated that he fled to a draught and there was slain and after was drawn through the streets and thrown into the river of Tyber Cneius Carbo a man of great dignity and power in Rome was commanded that he should be slain as he was sitting on his stool of ease by Pompey in the third time of his Consulship in Rome Thus shamefully have some died and thus famously others died Patroclus knew not that he should be slain by Hector Hector never thought he should be killed by Achilles Achilles never doubted his death by Paris Paris never judged that he should be vanquished by Pirrhus Neither did Pirrhus know that he should be overcome by Orestes so that no man knoweth his end where how and when he shall die and yet all men are certain and sure that they have an end that they must néeds die And yet the fear of death hath overcome the stoutest souldiers We read that Asdrubal of Carthage a noble and a famous Captain â—verthrown by Scipio for fear of death knéeled before Scipio embracing his féet and was so fearfull that his own wife was ashamed of his doings Yet had this famous Generall rather be a laughing stock to the Romans a bond man to Scipio running a foot like a lacky after his triumph then to die manfully in the behalf of his countrey which valiantly for a time he defended Perpenna likewise a famous Roman being taken in Spain by the souldiers of Pompey in a place full of Groves fearing lest at that instant he should be slain by Pompey's souldiers he made them believe that he had divers things to speak to Pompey of some designs that the enemies had in hand against him rather had Perpenna betray his friends and his fellows yea and all his country to his enemy then suffer a sudden death A greater fear of death we read in that book of Fulgosius of the Emperour Vitellius who after he had vanquished and slain divers nobles and shewed great wrongs unto the Emperour Otho and to Sabinus brother to Vespasian the Emperour being in fear of his life by Vespasian and being taken by the souldiers hee besought them rather then die presently that hee might be kept safe in prison untill he might sée and speak with Vespasian the Emperour such was his fear that he did hide himself in a chest to prolong his wretched life So fearful was Caligula of death that he would never go abroad at any
Lightning or Thunder but had his head covered with all such things as might resist the violence of Lightning Misa King of the Moabites and Joram King of Iewry being besieged by the enemies and in danger of death they practised devises and invensions to save their lives and sacrificed their children to mitigate the rage of the Gods The love that divers had unto life and the fear they had of death were to be noted worthily considering how much men are vexed with the fear of death Antemon was so desirous to live and so fearfull to die that he hardly would travel out of his house any where and if he were compelled to go abroad he would have two of his servants to bear over his head a great brasen Target to defend him from any thing which might happen to do him hurt Theagenes in like sort would not go out of his house without he had consulted with the Image of Hecate to know what should happen to him that day and to understand whether he might escape death or no. Commodus the Emperour would never trust any Barber to shave his beard lest his throat should be cut Masinissa King of Numidia would rather commit his state and life unto dogs then unto men who was as his guard to kéep and defend him from death I might here speak of Bion of Domitianus of Dionisius of Pisander and of a thousand more who so feared death that their chief care and study was how they might avoid the same The fear of death causeth the son to forsake the father the mother to renounce the daughter one brother to deny another and one friend to forsake another Insomuch that Christ himself was forsaken of his disciples for fear of death Peter denied him and all the rest fled from him and all for fear of death Behold therefore how fearfull some are and how joyfull others are Some desperately have died being weary of life As Sabinus â—uba Cleomenes some have hanged some have burned and some drowned themselves and thus with one desperate end or other perished But since every man must die it were reason that every man should prepare to die for to die well is nothing else but to live again Wherefore certain philosophers of India called the Gymnosophislae being by Alexander the great commanded to answer to cercertain hard questions which if they could absolve they should live otherwise they should die The first question propounded to know whether there were more living or dead to the which the first philosopher said that the living are more in number because the dead have no being no place nor number The second question was whether the land produced more creatures or the sea to this answered the second philosopher and said the land doth ingender more for that the sea is but a portion of the land The third question was to know what beast was most subtil that beast answered the third philosopher whose subtilty man cannot discern Fourthly it was demanded why they being philosophers were so induced to perswade the Sabians to rebellion because said the philosophers it is better to die manfully then to live miserably The fifth question was whether the day was made before the night or the night before the day to the which it was answered the day The sixt was to understand how Alexander the Great himself might get the good wil of the people in shewing said that sixth philosopher thy self not terrible to the people The seveÌ„th question was whether life or death were stroÌ„ger to which it was aÌ„swered life The eight was to know how long a man should live till said the eight philosopher a maÌ„ thinks death better theÌ„ life The last question proposed by Alexander was how might a mortal man be accounted in the number of the Gods In doing greater things said all the Philosophers then man is able to do For they knew this proud Prince would be a God and that he would learn of the sage Philosophers how he might eschew mortality he was answered roundly because he should know himself to be a man and being a man he should make himself ready to die for death is the reward of sin and death is the beginning again of life unto the good As Aulus Posthumius in an Oration which he made unto his souldiers said it is given to both good and bad to die but to die gâ—dly and gloriously is onely given unto good men So Hector speaking in Homer said unto his wife Andromache that she should not be sorry for his death for all men must die Some with the Galatians do so contemn death that they fight naked and are perswaded with the Pythagoreans that they shall never die but passe from one body to another Some again die joyfully as the brethren of Policratâ— who being taken captive by Diognitus the King of Milesia she was so ill intreated by him that she did send Letters to Naxus to her brethren at what time the people of Milesia were feasting drinking and banquetting at a solemn feast Her brethren embracing the opportunity came and found the Emperor drinking and all his people overcharged with wine and slew the greatest part of them and having taken many of them prisoners they brought their sister home to Naxus where as soon as they came home they died for joy of the victory Even so Phisarchus sometime in his great triumph crying out O happy hours and joyful days was taken with such an extasie of joy that he brake his veins at that very instant with the excesse of gladnesse He is counted most wise that knoweth himself To joy too much in prosperity to be advanced and extolled when fortune favours without all fear of ill haps to come is folly To be vanquished and subdued in adversity without hope of solace to ensue is meer madnesse Therefore the Wisemen knowing that death was the last line of life did endeavour in their lives how they might die well And briefly for the examples of our lives I will here note a few sentences of these wise men which they used as their Posies and think good to shew their answers to divers questions propounded to them Bias dwelling in the City of Prienna after the City was destroyed by the Mutinensians escaped and went to Athens whose Poesie was Maximus improborum numerus He willed all young men in their youth to travel for knowledge and commanded old men to embrace wisedome This Bias being demaunded what was the difficultest thing in the world he said to suffer stoutly the mutability of fortune Being demanded what was the most infamous death that might happen to man to be condemned said he by law Being asked what was the swéetest thing to man he made answer Hope Being again demanded what beast was most hurtfull Amongst wild beasts a Tyrant said Bias and amongst tame beasts a Flatterer And being demanded what thing it was that feared nothing in all the world he answered A good Conscience And again in the second Olympiade he was demanded many other questions as who was most unfortunate in the world the impatient man said Bias. What is most hard to judge Debates betwéen friends What is most hard to measure he answered Time Thus having answered to these and divers other questions Bias was allowed one of the seven Wise men of Gréece Chilo the second of the Sages being asked what was the best thing in the world he answered Every man to consider his own state And again being demanded what beast is most hurtfull he said Of wild beasts a Tyrant of tame beasts a Flatterer Being asked what is most acceptable to man he said Time And being asked of the Gréek Myrsilas what was the greatest wonder that ever he saw he said An old man to be a Tyrant The third was Chilo the Lacedemonian who being demanded what was a difficult thing for a man to do he answered Either to kéep silence or to suffer injuries Being demanded what was most difficult for a man to know he said For a man to know himself And therefore he used this Poesie Nosce teipsum This Chilo being of Aesop demanded what Jupiter did in heaven he said He doth throw down lofty and proud things and he doth exalt humble and méek things S. Ion said that in knowing and considering what we are and how vile we are we shall have lesse occasion ministred to us to think wel of our selvs for there is nothing good nor beautifull in man This Solon being asked by King Cyrus sitting in his chair of state having on his most royal habiliments and Princely robes covered with Pearls and Precious stones Whether ever he saw a more beautifull sight then himself sitting in heighth of his Majesty Solon answered that he saw divers Birds more glorious to behold then Cyrus And being demanded by Cyrus what Birds were they Solon said the little Cock the Peacock and the Pheasant which are decked with natural garments and beautified with natural colours This Solon was wont to say I wax dayly old learning much He noted nothing so happy in man as to Live well that he might Die well applying the Cause to the Effect as first to Live well and then to Die well FINIS LONDON Printed by Elizabeth Alsop dwelling in Grubstreet near the Upper Pump 1653.