lamentacion of the Ladies and Matronâ—â—â— Grecâ— would haue hindered soche a foolishe enterprise seyng their owne beautie neclected their honestie of life caste vp to perilles one harlot of innumerable people followed and hunted after in whom neither honestie vertue nor chastite was harbored ¶ Vncredible ALthough the folie of men is greate and the will of princes and gouernours beastlie and rashe yet by no meanes it can be so many yeres so greate folie to take roote in their hartes and that the wisedom of the GreciaÌ„s should not rather caste of as naught the beautie of Helena rather then the whole multitude the state of the Prince the welfare of the subiecte to stande in perill for the beautie of one What is beautie when a beastlie and adulterous minde is possessed Beautie without chastitie harboreth a monsterous rabelmente of vices a snare and haire to poison other Beautie in fewe yeres is not onely blemished but decated and wholie extinguished it is vncredible that the Grecians would seeke to bryng home Helena who had loste the chaste loue toward her housband beyng caught with the adulterous loue of Paris soonne to Priamus kyng of Troie The lande of Phrigia was a mightie Region the people noble puissaunte in warre the kyng for nobilitie of actes famous The Citee of Troie wherein the kyng helde his Scepter of gouernement was riche mightie and populous ruled and gouerned by the wisedome and policie of famous counsailours so that by all meanes it is vncredible without any possibilitie Thei neclectyng their owne state and kyngdoÌ„ so to preferre the beautie of one that the whole multitude of Grece thereby to perishe It is a matter vncredible in all Grece whiche for the fame of wisedome is moste celebrated emong all nacions not one wiseman at the same tyme to be therein whose couÌ„saile and politike heddes might ponder a better purpose Grece whiche was the mother and fountaine of all artes and sciences all Eloquence Philosophie wisedome flowyng from them and yet wisedome to want in their breastes Reason can not make any parswasion that any probabilitie can rise of any soche matter enterprised what could the intent be of the Grecians as concerning Menelaus In Menelaus there was no wisedom to seke and hunte after Helena or by any meanes to possesse her she beyng a harlotte her loue alienated her hart possessed with the loue of an other manne foolishlie he hopeth to possesse loue that seeketh to enioye the cloked poisoned and dissembled harte of a harlotte Grece was well ridde of a harlotte Troie harbouryng Helena In the Troians it is not to be thought that either the kyng or nobles for a harlotte would see the the people murthered their owne state the king to be in danger of ruine In the Grecians there was neither wisedome neither commendacion to pursue with a maine hoste with a greate Nauie of Shippes to bryng backe againe a harlotte whose enterprise rather might better bee borne to banishe exile soche a beastlie disposed persone The Troians mighte well scorne the Grecians if that the possession of a beautifull moste amiable and minsyng harlotte was of soche valour estimacion and price with theim not onely the beautie of all other to bee reiected But moste of all the vertuous life and chastitie of all their matrons and honourable Ladies to bee caste of as naught Grece that had the name of all wisedome of all learnyng and singularitie might rather worthelie bee called a harbouryng place of harlottes a Stewe and vpholder of whoredome and all vncleanes Wherefore these absurdities ought to bee remoned from the minde and cogitacion of all menne that should worthelie ponder the state of Grece Troie of like sorte to bee a kyngdome and common wealthe of all vice whoredome in soche price with the kyng and people that moste fortunate should the harlotte bee and the adulterour in soche a common wealthe that for adulterous loue putteth rather all their state to hasarde and perill for the maintenaunce of beastlie loue brutishe societie moste in price with soche a 〈◊〉 chastitie and moderacion of life abandoned and caste of ¶ Vnpossible and not agreyng IF wee weigh naturall affeccion it can not bee that the Grecians so moche abhorring froÌ„ nature should cast of the naturall loue of their wifes their children and countrie to bryng home againe by slaughter of infinite people soche an one as had lefte honestie and chaste loue of her housbande For what praise can redounde to the Grecians by warre to bryng home Helena though she of all creatures was moste beautifull beyng a harlotte followyng the bridell and will of an other man Maie shame or commendacion riseto the Troians can wisedome counsaile or grauitie defende the adulterous luste of Priamus soonne yea could Priamus so loue Helena for Paris his sonnes sake as that he had rather venter the ruine and destruccion of his citee and the falle of his people the murder and ruine of his children and wife for the beautie of one For what is beautie where honestie and vertue lacketh it is an vncomply matter though the Poetes so faigne it not onely that in heauen a contencioÌ„ should fall emong the Goddises of their beautie or that Iupiter of whom thei make an ignoraunt God to chuse Paris the kynges sonne of Troic chief arbitratour Iudge of that matter to whoÌ„ he should giue the goldeÌ„ Apell to her beautie as chief of al other was ascribed these thynges are vndecent to thinke of the Goddeses and moste of all to thinke there is more Goddes then one And euen as these are vanities and forged imaginacions of the Goddes so of the hattaile ¶ Vncomelie and vnprofitable THE daunger of many people doeth shewe that no soche thyng should happen either of the Grecians or of the Troians for it is a matter dissonaunt froÌ„ all truthe that thei should so moche neclecte the quiete state and prosperous renoume of their kyngdome in all tymes and ages since the firste can stitucion of all Monarchies and kyngdomes Who euer harde soche a forged matter to be Chronicled and set forthe Or who can giue credite to soche warre to be enterprised of so small a matter to leaue the state of waightier thynges for one woman All the women of that countrie to stande in perill the slaughter of their deare housbandes the violent murder of their children to insue Therefore the wilfulnesse of people and princes are the cause of the falle and destruccion of many mightie kyngdomes and Empires The fall of Grece ensued when the chief citees Athenes and Lacedemonis tooke partes and did consederate diuers citees to them to assiste theim and aide theim in battaile onely ambicion and desire of glorie moued bothe the Athenians and Lacedemonians froÌ„ concorde and vnitie by whiche meanes the power glory and streÌ„gth of all kingdomes falleth Ambicion was the cause that mightie Pompey
fell and died violently Cesar likewise caught with ambicion not bearyng the equalitée or superioritie of Pompei was tourned of violentlie froÌ„ Fortunes whéele Many princes of like sorte and kingdomes By ambicion onely had the cause of their ruine The glorie of the Assirian Monarchie grewe moste mightie by the ambicion of Ninus kyng of Babilon the offpryng of Ninus whiche were kynges lineallie descendyng to the firste kyngdome of the Medes bothe inlarged their kyngdomes and also had the decate of theim by ambicion Let the Medes also assoriate them selues to theÌ„ from Arbactus the first kyng vnto Astiages the laste the beginnyng and falle of the Persian Monarchie The mightie state of Grece the seate Imperiall of Rome by ambicioÌ„ first extolled theim selues and also by it their glorie scepter and kyngdome was translated but the falle of Troie came not by ambicion that the Grecians sought But as the Poetes doe saigne the beautie of one women so wounded their hartes that the Grecians did hasarde the perilles of theiâ—â—â—untrie The Troians so moche estemed the beautie oâ—â—â—â—ena as that the state of all their kyngdome perished I alas no glorie nor honour to the Grecians to resiste by armour and to defende the violente takyng awaie of Helena from her housbande nor it was no honour the Grecians to pursue by armour the takyng awaie of Helena beyng a harlotte So that by no meanes it can followe these thynges to bee true of the battaile of Troie ¶ Confirmacion The other part contrary to destruccion or subuersion is called confirmacion Confirmacion hath in it so greate force of argumente to stablishe and vpholde the cause or proposicion as destruccion hath in castyng doune the sentenÌ„ce or proposicion Confirmacion is a certain oracion whiche with a certain reprehension of the persone or facte by order and waie of art casteth doune the contrary propounded As in the other parte called destruccion those proposicions are to bee subuerted whiche are not manyfestlie true with all other notes before specified so in contrariwise this oracion by contrary notes is declaimed by as for example 1. It shall behoue you first for the entring of the oracion to induce a reprehension againste those whiche haue confutid as a truthe that whiche you will confirme 2. In the seconde parte place the exposicion and meanyng of the aucthours sentence 3. Shewe the matter to be manifest 4. Credible 5. Prossible 6. Agreyng to the truthe 7. Shewe the facte comelie 8. Profitable This exercise of Rhetotike doeth contain in it all streÌ„gth of arte as who should saie all partes of Rhetorike maie 〈…〉 â—ee handled in this parte called confirmacion You 〈…〉 matter riseth ioigne twoo notes together as the reason â—â— the argumente cometh in place whiche Apthonius a Greke aucthour herein vseth As manifest and credible possible and agreyng to truthe comelie and profitable but in al these as in all the reste the theme or proposicion by itself is to bee placed the reprehension of the aucthour by itself the exposicion of the theme by itself ¶ The theme or proposicion IT is true that is saied of Zopyrus the noble Persian who veÌ„tered his life did cause the deformitie of his bodie for the sauegarde of his countrie ¶ The praise Iustinus the Historiographer for worthinesse of fame and wisedome deserueth to the posteritie of all tymes immortall fame by whom the famous actes of Princes and other noble men doe remaine Chronicled Giuyng examples of all valiauntnesse and vertue for bothe the actes and worthie feares of Princes would passe as vnknowen in all ages excepte the worthinesse of them were in monumentes of writyng Chronicled For by the fame of their worthines and vertues coÌ„mon wealthes and kyngdomes doe stablishe and make Lawes the hartes of people are incensed and inflamed to the like nobilitie of actes and famous enterprices Histories of auncient tymes bee vnto vs witnesses of all tymes and ages of kyngdomes and common wealthes a liuely example A light to all truthe and knowledge a scholemaister of maners a memorie of life for by it we se the wisedom of all ages the forme of the beste and florishing common wealthes We learne by the vertues of Princes and gouernours to followe like steppe of vertue to flie and auoide vices and all soche thynges as are to the destruccion and decaie of realme and countrie How brutishe wer our 〈◊〉 if 〈◊〉 knewe no more then we se presently in the state of 〈…〉 wealthe and kyngdome The kyngdome◠〈…〉 and common wealthes that 〈…〉 by the longe experience wisedome pollicy counsaile and godlie lawes of Princes of auncient times no smal praise and commendation can be attributed to all suche as doe trauell in the serching out the veritie of auncient Histories for bi the knoledge of them we are as it were liuyng in all ages the fall of all kyngdomes is manifeste to vs the death of Princes the subuersions of kingdomes and common wealthes who knoweth not the first risyng ende of the Assiriane monarchie the glorie of the Persians and the ruynge of the same the mightie Empire of the Grekes risyng fallyng the Romane state after what sorte florishyng and decaiyng so that no state of common wealthe or kyngdome is vnknowen to vs therefore Iustine and all suche as doe leue to the posteritie the state of al things chronicled deserue immortal commendacions ¶ The exposicion IN the time of Darius kyng of the Persians the AssyriaÌ„s who ware subiects to him sence the time of Cirus the firste kynge of the Persians rebelled inuaded and toke the myghtie Citie of Babilon whiche beyng possessed with much difficultie and not withoute greate daungers coulde bee attained Darius the kynge hearyng of the treason of the Assyrians and that the mightie Citie of Babilon was taken was very wroth waiynge with himselfe that there by the ruyne of the Persian Kyngdome mighte happen Zopyrus one of the .vij. noble Peres of Persia seing the daunger of the countrie the state of the Prince and the welfare of the subiectes to decaie in the safegarde of his countrie leuyng all priuate commoditie for the behoufe and felicitie of the Persian kyngdome did venter his owne life commaunded his seruauntes at home to 〈…〉 reÌ„te his bodie with whippes to cut of his nose his 〈…〉 his eares these thinges being vnknowen to Darius 〈…〉 â–ª As sone as Darius sawe Zopyrus so torne and deformed bewailed his state being astonished at so horrible a faict but Zopyrus shewed to the kynge his hole intente and purpose that he mynded to go to Babylon whiche the Assyrians dyd traitorouslie possesse complained as that these things had ben don by the tyrannte and crueltie of Darius be weÌ„t to Babilon and there complained of the crueltie of his Kyng whereby purchasyng the fauor and loue of the Assyrians he shewed them how Darius came to be kyng not by worthines not by vertue not by the common
other to grounde profunde and subtill argument to fortifie make stronḡe our assercion or sentence to proue and defende by the force and power of arte thinges passyng the compasse reach of our capacitée and witte Nothyng can bee more excellently giuen of nature then Eloquence by the which the florishyng state of commonweales doe consiste kyngdomes vniuersally are gouerned the state of euery one priuatlie is maintained The commonwealth also should be maimed and debilitated except the other parte be associate to it Zeno the Philosopher comparing Rhetorike and Logike doeth assimilate and liken them to the hand of man Logike is like saith he to the fiste for euen as the fiste closeth and shutteth into one the iointes and partes of the hande with mightie force and strength wrappeth and closeth in thynges apprehended So Logike for the deepe and profounde knowlege that is reposed and buried in it in soche sort of municion and strength fortified in few wordes taketh soche sorce and might by argumente that excepte like equalitée in like art and knowledge doe mate it in vain the disputacion shalbe and the repulse of thaduersarie readie Rhetorike is like to the hand set at large wherein euery part and ioint is manifeste and euery vaine as braunches of trées sette at scope and libertée So of like sorte Rhetorike in moste ample and large maner dilateth and setteth out small thynges or woordes in soche sorte with soche aboundaunce and plentuousnes bothe of woordes and wittie inuencion with soche goodlie disposicion in soche a infinite sorte with soche pleasauntnes of Oracion that the moste stonie and hard hartes can not but bee incensed inflamed and moued thereto These twoo singuler giftes of nature are absolute and perfect in fewe for many therebe whiche are exquisite and profound in argument by art to reason and discusse of any question or proposicion propounded who by nature are disabled smallie adorned to speake eloquently in whom neuertheles more aboundaunt knowledge doeth somtymes remaine then in the other if the cause shalbe in controuersie ioined and examined to trie a manifeste truthe But to whom nature hath giuen soche abilitée and absolute excellencie as that thei can bothe copiouslie dilate any matter or sentence by pleasauntnes and swetenes of their wittie and ingenious oracion to drawe vnto theim the hartes of a multitude to plucke doune and extirpate affecciōs and perturbacions of people to moue pitee and compassion to speake before Princes and rulers and to perswade theim in good causes and enterprises to animate and incense them to godlie affaires and busines to alter the coūsaill of kynges by their wisedome and eloquence to a better state and also to be exquisite in thother is a thing of all most noble and excellent The eloquence of Demosthenes I socrates Tisias Gorgias Eschines were a great bulwarke and staie to Athens and all Grece Rome also by the like vertue of Eloquence in famous and wise orators vpholded the wise and eloquente Oracions of Tullie againste Catiline The graue and sentencious oracions of Cato in the Senate haue been onelie the meane to vpholde the mightie state of Rome in his strength and auncient fame and glorie Also the Chronicles of auncient time doe shewe vnto vs the state of Rome could by no meanes haue growen so meruailous mightie but that God had indued the whole line of Cesars with singuler vertues with aboundaunt knowlege singuler Eloquence Thusidides the famous Historiographer sheweth how moche Eloquence auailed the citees of Grece faliyng to dissenciō How did the Corcurians saue them selues from the inuasiō and might of the Poloponesians their cause pleated before the Athenians so moche their eloquence in a truthe preuailed The Ambassadours of Corinth wanted not their copious wittie and ingenious Oracions but thei pleated before mightie wise and graue Senators whose cause accordyng to iudgemēt truthe and integritée was ended The eloquēt Embassages of the Corinthiās the Lacedemoniās the Mituleneans the Athenians who so readeth shall sone sée that of necessitee a common wealth or kyngdome must be fortefied with famous graue and wise counsailours How often did Demosthenes saue the cōmon wealthes of Athens how moche also did that large dominion prospere and florish by I socrates Tullie also by his Eloquēt please Cato Crassus Antonius Catulus Cesar with many other did support and vphold the state of that mightie kyngdō No doubte but that Demosthenes made a wittie copious and ingenious oracions when the Athenians were minded to giue and betake to the handes of Philip kyng of the Macedonians their pestiferous enemie moste vile and subtell the Orators of Athens This Philip forseyng the discorde of Grece as he by subtill meanes compassed his enterprices promised by the faithe of a Prince to be at league with the Athenians if so be thei would betake to his handes the eloquente Oratours of Athens for as long saith he as your Oratours are with you declaryng so longe your heddes and counsaill are moued to variaunce and dissencion this voice ones seased emong you in tranquilitée you shal bee gouerned Demosthenes beyng eloquente and wise foresawe the daungers and the mischieuous intent of him wherevpon he framed a goodly Oracion vpon a Fable whereby he altered their counsaile and repulsed the enemie This fable is afterward set forth in an Oracion after the order of these exercises profitable to Rhetorike ¶ A Fable FIrste it is good that the learner doe vnderstand what is a fable for in all matters of learnyng it is the firste grounde as Tullie doeth saie to knowe what the thing is that we may the better perceiue whervpō we doe intreate A fable is a forged tale cōtaining in it by the colour of a lie a matter of truthe The moralle is called that out of the whiche some godlie precepte or admonicion to vertue is giuen to frame and instruct our maners Now that we knowe what a fable is it is good to learne also how manifolde or diuers thei be I doe finde three maner of fables to be The first of theim is wherein a man being a creature of God indued with reason is onely intreated of as the Fable of the father and his children he willing thē to concorde and this is called Rationalis fabula whiche is asmoche to saie as a Fable of men indued with reason or women The second is called a morall fable but I sée no cause whie it is so called but rather as the other is called a fable of reasonable creatures so this is contrarilie named a fable of beastes or of other thinges wanting reason or life wanting reason as of the Ante and the Greshopper or of this the beame caste doun and the Frogges chosyng their king The thirde is a mixt Fable so called bicause in it bothe man hauyng reason and a beaste wantyng
emploied studie therein Iulius Cesar the Emperour commendeth this Poete for his singularitie his commendacion giueth ample argument in this singulare sentence whiche preferreth a Monarchie aboue all states of common wealthes or kyngdome ¶ The exposicion HOmere the Poete signified by this one sentence no kyngdome or common wealthe can prospere or florishe to continue where many holde gouernement as kynges For the mindes of many rulers and princes doe moste affecte a priuate wealthe commoditie and glorie and where many doe beare soche swaie and dominion the common wealth can not be good For thei priuatly to theim selues doe beare that regiment and alwaie with the slaughter of many do seke to attain and clime to the whole gouermeÌ„t ¶ The cause MAny occasions dooe rise whereby many princes and gouernours in a common wealth be diuerslie affected so that the gouernmeÌ„t of many can not prosper For bothe in quiete state their counsailes must bee diuerse and vncertaine and where thei so differ the kyngdome standeth in great ieopardy and daunger Isocrates intreatyng of a Monarchie sheweth that the common wealth of Athenes whiche detested and refused that forme and state after the ruine and fall of their citee beyng vnder the thraldome of the LacedemoniaÌ„s bothe in their externall chiualrie and seates bothe by sea and by lande and also in regimente otherwise their citee grewe mightie and state stedfast The Carthagineans also gouerned by one had their gonernment stedfaste and kyngdome totall who in puisaunte actes might compare with the noble Romaines As the obedience to one ruler and chief gouernour sekyng a common wealth is in the hartes of the subiectes feruent and marueilous with loue embraced â—â— the Maiestie of hym is dreade with loue serued and with sincere barte and fidelitie obeied his maners folowed his lawes imitated Many gouernours bearyng regiment as their maners be diuers and fashion of life euen so the people bee like affected to the diuersitie of diuers princes And if we weigh the reuolucion of the heauens and the marueiles of God therein the maker of the same who beyng one God ruleth heauen and yearth and all thynges coÌ„tained in the same The heauen also adorned with many a starre and cleare light haue but one Sunne to gouerne theÌ„ who being of a singulare vertue aboue the rest by his vertue and power giueth vertue to the reste Also in small thynges the Ante and the Bee who for prouidence and wisedome at moche commended haue as it were a common wealth and a king to gouerne theÌ„ so in all thinges as a confusion the state of many kings is abhorred in gouernmeÌ„t After the death of Constantinus the greate Constancius his sonne was made Emperour and Licinius with him partaker in felowship of the Empire But forthwith what blood was shed in Italie with all crueltie vntill Constancius had slaine Licinius partaker of the Empire and Marabodius was slaine also whom Licinius did associate with hym in the gouernment So moche princes and chief gouernours doe hate equalitie or felowship in kingdomes After the same sort in this mightie Monarchie of Rome diuerse haue attempted at one and sondrie tymes to beare the scepter and regiment therein but that mightie Monarchie could not suffer but one gouernor The kyngdome of Thebes was in miserable state the twoo sonnes of Dedipus Eteocles and Polunices striuing bothe to be Monarche and onely kyng The kyngdome of Assiria whiche was the golden kyngdome and the first Monarchie hauyng 36. kynges by succession continued 1239. yeres this kyngdome for all nobilitie and roialnes excelled and all in a Monarchie The kyngdome of the Medes in a Monarchie florished in wealthe and glorie and all felicitie who in dominion had gouernmente 300. lackyng 8. yeres After that the monarchie of the Medes ceased the PersiaÌ„ people rose mightie bothe in people and Princes and continued in that state 236 and 7 monethes Macedonia rose from a base and meane people to beare the whole regiment and power ouer all kingdomes So God disposeth the state and seate of princes ouerthrowyng often tymes mightier kyngdomes at his will the continuaunce of this Monarchie was 157. and eight monethes ten kynges linealie descendyng Asia and Siria was gouerned by one succedyng in a sole gouernement Nicanor gouerned Siria 32. yeres In the other Antigonus raigned Demetrius Poliorchetes one yere Antiochus Soter also the scepter of gouernment left to the succession of an other then Antiochus Soter ruled all Asia and Siria hauyng 16. kinges whiche in a monarchie coÌ„tinued 189. yeres The Egipcians had famous wise and noble princes whose kyngdome and large deminion in all felicitée prospered whiche was in the tyme of Ninus the first king of the AssiriaÌ„s who hauing 10 â–ª princes one by one succedyng Cleopatra their Quéene gouerning stoode in a monarchie 288. This one thyng sheweth that kinde of gouernmente to bee roiall and moste famous not onely for the felicitée and glory therof but also for the permanent and stedfast state thereof Aristotle and Plato setteth forthe thother formes of gouernmeÌ„t But in all those no long coÌ„tinuaunce of felicitee nor of happy state can appere in them as for the contrarie to a Monarchie is tirannis pestiferous and to be detested where one man gouerneth to his priuate gaine pillyng and polyng his subiectes murderyng with all crueltie neither Lawe nor reason leadyng thereto but will bearyng regiment ouer lawe Iustice and equitee whiche princes often tymes see not How the wilfull rashenes or tirannicall minde doeth abase them and make them though in vtter porte the same princes yet in verie déede thei bee thrall and slaue to beastlie affeccion Nothyng dooeth so moche adorne and beautifie the seate and throne of a prince as not onely to beare dominion ouer mightie people and regions then to be lorde ouer hymself The state of a fewe pèeres or nobles to holde the chief and whole gouernment who bothe in vertue learnyng and experience dooe excelle is a goodlie state of common wealth But the profe of that common wealthe and ende sheweth and the maner of Princes who although thei be of life godlie wise graue expert and politike For these vertues or ornamentes ought to be reposed in soche noble personages thei doe marueilously chaunge and alter So honour and preeminente state puffeth theim vp and blindeth theim that euery one in the ende seeketh to climbe ouer all as hed and gouernour Shewe me one kinde of this state and forme of gouernmente whiche either longe prospered or without bloodshed and destruccion of the rest of the nobles and peres haue not caught the whole regimente Seyng that in all common wealthes and kingdomes equalitee or felowshippe will not be suffred in gouernmente for it can not bee that this forme of common wealthe maie bée good as Aristotle and Plato sheweth The ende of this gouernemente fell euer to one with a ruine of the
pollicie soche a one was Epaminundas to his enemies and coūtrée ¶ The comparison NEither Hector of Troie nor Achilles of Grece might bee compared with Epaminundas Numa Pompilius was not more godlie Adriane the Emperour of Roome no better learned nor Galba the Emperour more valiaunte Nerua no more temperate nor Traianus more noble neither Cocles nor Decius Scipionor Marcus Regulus did more valiauntly in the defence of their countrie soche a one was this Epaminundas ¶ The conclusion OF many thynges these fewe are recited but if his whole life and vertues wer worthely handeled fewe would beleue soche a rare gouernour so vertuous a Prince so hardie and valiaunte a capitaine to haue remained in no age ¶ The parte of Rhetorike called dispraise THis parte of Rhetorike which is called dispraise is a suuectiue Oracion made againste the life of any man This part of Rhetorike is contrary to that whiche is before set called laus that is to saie praise and by contrary notes procedeth for the Oratour or declaimer to entreate vpō This parte of Rhetorike is called of the Grekes Psogos In praise we extoll the persone First by his countrée Then by his auncestours and parentes In the third place by his education and institucion Then in the fowerth place of his actes in life In the fifte place vse a comparison comparyng the persone with other whiche are more inferiour Then the conclusion Now in dispraise contrarily we doe procede Firste in the dispraise of his countrée Of his auncetours and parentes His educacion is dispraised Then his actes and deedes of life Also in your comparison with other dispraise hym Then in the laste place adde the conclusion All thynges that maie be praised maie be dispraised ¶ The dispraise of Nero. AS vertue meriteth commendacion and immortall renoume for the nobilitée and excellencie reposed in it so ougle vices for the deformitée of them are in mynd to be abhorred and detested and with all diligence counsaile and wisedome aucided As pestiferous poison extinguisheth with his corrupcion and nautinesse the good and absolute nature of all thinges so vice for his pestiferous nature putteth out vertue and rooteth out with his force all singularitée For vice and vertue are so of nature contrary as fire and water the violence of the one expelleth the other for in the mansion of vertue vice at one tyme harboreth not neither vertue with vice can be consociate or vnited for vertue is a singuler meane or Mediocrite in any good enterprise or facte with order and reason finished Whose acte in life doeth repugne order and reason disseuered from all Mediocrite soche do leaue iustice equitée wisedome temperaunce fortitude magnanimitée and al other vertues bothe of minde and body onely by vertues life men shewe theimselues as chief creatures of God with reason as a moste principall gifte beautified and decorated In other giftes man is farre inferiour to beastes both in strength of bodie in celeritée and swiftnesse of foote in labour in industrie in sense nothyng to bee compared to beastes with beastes as a peculier and proper thyng wee haue our bodie of the yearth but our minde whiche for his diuinitée passeth all thynges immortall maketh vs as gods emōg other creatures The bodie therefore as a aliaunt and forain enemie beyng made of a moste base moste vile and corruptible nature repugneth the mynde This is the cause that wickednesse taketh soche a hedde and that the horrible facte and enterprise of the wicked burste out in that reason exiled and remoued from the minde the ougle perturbacions of the minde haue their regiment power and dominiō and where soche state of gouernemente is in any one bodie in priuate and domesticalle causes in forraine and publike affaires in kyngdome and cōmon wealthe Vertue fadeth and decaieth and vice onely beareth the swaie Lawe is ordered by luste and their order is will soche was the tyme and gouernment of this wicked Nero. ¶ Of his countres NEro was a Romaine borne though in gouernement he was wicked yet his coūtrée was famous and noble for the Romaines wer lordes and heddes ouer all the worlde The vttermoste Indians the Ethiopes the Persians feared the maiestie and aucthoritée of the Romaines From Romulus who was the firste founder and builder of that Citee the Romaines bothe had their name of hym and grew afterward to marueilous puisaunt roialnes There was no nacion vnder the Sunne but it dreaded their Maiestie or felte their inuincible handes there hath been many mightie kyngdomes on the face of the yearth but no kyngdome was able with like successe and felicitée in their enterprise or for like famous gouernors and continuance of their state to compare with them This was and is the laste mightée Monarchie in the worlde Roome a olde aunciente citee inhabited firste of the Aborigines which came from Troie The prouidence of God so disposeth the tymes and ages of the world the state of kyngdomes by the fall of mightier kyngdomes meaner grewe to power and glorie The Carthagineans contended by prowes and magnanimitee to be lordes ouer the Romaines Carthage was a greate mightie olde auncient famous citee in the whiche valiaunte wise and pollitike gouernours helde therein regiment long warres was susteined betwene the Romaines and Carthagineans emong whom infinite people and many noble péeres fell in the duste Fortune and happie successe fell to the Romaines the people of Carthage vāquished and prostrate to the grounde Scipio the noble Consull beyng at the destruccion of it seeyng with his iye Carthage by fire brunte to ashes saied Talis exitus aliquando erit Rome euē as of Carthage like shall the destruccion of Rome bee as for continuaunce of the Romaine state of their glorie power and worthie successe no nacion vnder the Sunne can compare with theim soche was the state of Rome wherein wicked Nero raigned ¶ Of his anncestours DOmitianus Nero the sonne of Domitius Enobarbus Agrippina was his mothers name this Agrippina was Empresse of Rome wife to Claudius Tiberius the daughter of his brother Germanicus This Agrippina the Chronicle noteth her to be indued with al mischief and crucltée For Tiberius her housbande hauyng by his firste wife children thei were murthered by her because she might thei beyng murthered with more facilitée further the Empire to her soonnes handes many treasons conspired against them oftentimes Agrippina poisoned her husbande then Nero succeded ¶ Of his educacion SEneca the famous Poete Philosopher was scholemaister to Nero who brought hym vp in all nobilitie of learnyng mete for his state though that Nero was wickedlie of nature disposed as his beastlie gouernement sheweth yet wickednes in him was by the seueritie of Seneca and his castigacion depressed for Traianus Emperour of Rome would saie as concernyng Nero for the space of fiue yeres no Prince was like to hym for good gouernement after fiue yeres losely and dissolutly he gouerned ¶ Of his actes THis
wealthe for grauitée and coūsaile nor the posteritée of ages twoo more worthie celebracion Thusidides speakyng in the commendacion of famous men sheweth as concernyng the fame of noble men whose vertue farre surmounteth thē and passeth al other Thenuious man seketh to deprane the worthinesse of fame in other his bragging nature with fame of praise not decorated The ignoraunte and simple nature accordyng to his knowlege iudgeth all singularitée and tempereth by his owne actes the praise of other But the fame of these twoo Oratours neither the enuious nature can diminishe their praise nor the ignoraunt be of them a arbitrator or iudge so worthely hath all ages raised fame and commendacion of their vertues ¶ Of their countree IN Grece Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes was borne whose Countrée or Citee lacketh no cōmendacion either for the nobilitée of the lande or glorie of the people What nacion vnder the Sunne hath not heard of that mightie Monarchie of Grece of their mightie citees and pollitike gouernaunce What famous Poetes how many noble Philosophers and Oratours hath Grece brede What science and arte hath not flowne from Grece so that for the worthinesse of it it maie bee called the mother of all learnyng Roome also in whom Tullie was brought vp maie contende in all nobilitee whose power and puisant glorie by nobilitee of actes rose to that mightie hed In bothe soche excellencie is founde as that no nacion might better contende of their singularitée and honour of countrée then Grece and Rome yet first from the Grekes the light of Philosophie and the aboundant knowledge of all artes sprange to the Romaines from the Grecians The Godlie Lawes wherewith the Romaine Empire was decorated and gouerned was brought from the Grecians If the citee maie bee a honour and glorie to these twoo Oratours or their Eitees a singuler commendacion there wanteth in bothe neither honour or nobilitee ¶ Of their auncestours and parentes BOthe Demosthenes and Tullie were borne of verie meane parentes and auncestours yet thei thorowe their learnyng and vertues became famous ascendyng to all nobilitee Of their vertues and learnyng not of their auncestours nobilitée rose to them ¶ Of the educacion THE singuler vertues of theim bothe appered euen in their tender youth wherupon thei being brought vp in all godlie learnyng and noble Sciences theibecame moste noble Oratours and by their copious Eloquence counsaile and wisedom aspired to nobilitée honor ¶ Of their 〈…〉 BOthe were taught of the mouthe of the best learned Demosthenes of Iseus a man moste Eloquent Cicero of Philo and Milo famous in wisedome and Eloquence ¶ Of their exercise CIcero did exercise hymself verie mothe to declaime bothe in Greke and Latine with Marcus Piso and with Quintus Pampeius Demosthenes wanted not industrie and labour to attain to that singularitée whiche he had bothe in Eloquence and pronounciacion ¶ Of the giftes of their minde IN bothe integritee humanitee magnanimitee and all vertue flowed at what time as Demosthenes was commaunded of the Athenians to frame a accusacion againste a certaine man Demosthenes refused the acte But when the people and the whole multitude were wrothe with hym and made a exclamacion against hym as their maner was Then Demosthenes rose and saied O ye men of Athenes againste my will you haue me a counsailer or pleater of causes before you but as for a accuser calumniator no not although ye would Of this sorte Tullie was affected excepte it were onely in the sauegard of his countrée as against Catiline bothe were of godlie and of vpright conuersacion altogether in Mediocrite and a newe leadyng their life ¶ Of their actes DEmosthenes and Tullie bothe gaue themselues to trauail in the causes and affaires of their common wealthe to the preseruacion of it How vehemently did Demosthenes pleate and ingeniouslie handle the cause of all his countree against Philip for the defence of their libertee whereupon he gatte fame and greate glory Whereby not onely he was coumpted a great wise counsailour but one of a valiaunte stomacke at whose wisedome all Grece stode in admiracion The kyng of Persia laboured to enter fauour with him Philip the king of the Macedonians would saie often tymes he had to doe against a famous man notyng Demosthenes Tullie also by his Eloquence and wisedome saued Roome and all partes of that dominion from greate daungers ¶ Of their aucthoritee THeir aucthoritee and dignitee was equalle in the common wealthe For at their twoo mouthes Roome and Athenes was vpholed Demosthenes was chief in fauour with Caretes Diophetes Leostines Cicero with Pompei Iulius Cesar ascending to the chief seate and dignitee of the Consulship ¶ Of a like fall that happened to them before their death YOu can not finde soche twoo Orators who borne of meane poore parentes that attained so greate honour who also did obiecte themselues to tyrantes a like thei had losse of their children a like bothe were out of their countree banished men their returne was with honour bothe also fliyng happened into the haudes of their enemies ¶ Of their death BOthe a like Demosthenes and Tully wer put to death Demosthenes died Antipater gouernyng by the handes of Archias Cicero died by the commaundement of Marcus Antonius by Herenius his hedde was cutte of and sette in Marcus Antonius halle His handes also were cutte of with the whiche he wrote the vehement Oracions against Marcus Antonius ¶ The conclusion TO speake as moche as maie bee saied in the praise of theim their praise would rise to a mightie volume but this is sufficiente ¶ Ethopoeia Ethopoeia is a certaine Oracion made by voice and lamentable imitacion vpon the state of any one This imitacion is in iij. sortes either it is Eidolopoeia Prosopopoeia Ethopoeia That parte whiche is called Ethopoeia is that whiche hath the persone knowne but onely it doeth faigne the maners of the same and imitate in a Oracion the same Ethopoeia is called of Priscianus a certaine talkyng to of any one or a imitaciō of talke referred to the maners aptly of any certaine knowen persone Quintilianus saieth that Ethopoeia is a imitacion of other meane maners whom the Grekes dooe calle not onelie Ethopoeia but mimesis this is in the maners and the fact This parte is as it were a liuely expression of the maner and affeccion of any thyng whereupon it hath his name The Ethopoeia is in three sortes The firste a imitacion passiue whiche expresseth the affection to whom it parteineth whiche altogether expresseth the mocion of the mynde as what patheticall and dolefull oracion Hecuba the quene made the citee of Troie destroied her housbande her children slaine The second is called a morall imitaciō the whiche doeth set for the onely the maners of any one The thirde is a mirt the whiche setteth for the bothe the maners and the affection as how and after what sorte Achilles spake vpon Patroclus he beyng dedde
when for his sake he determined to fight the determinacion of hym sheweth the maner The frende slaine the affection In the makyng of Ethopoeia lette it be plaine and without any large circumstaunce In the makyng of it ye shall diuide it thus to make the Oracion more plaine into three tymes A presente tyme. A tyme paste A tyme to come Eidolopoeia is that part of this Oracion whiche maketh a persone knowne though dedde and not able to speake Eidolopoeia is called of Priscianus a imitacion of talke of any one vpon a dedde manne it is then called Eidolopoeia when a dedde man talketh or communicacion made vpon a dedde manne Eidolopoeia when a dedde manne talketh is set forthe of Euripides vpon the persone of Polidorus dedde whose spirite entereth at the Prologue of the tragedie Hector slain speaketh to Eneas in Eidolopoeia O Eneas thou goddes sonne flie and saue thy self from this ruine and fire the enemies hath taken the walles and loftie Troie is prostrate to the grounde I would haue thought I had died valiantlie inough to my countrée and my father Priamus if with this my right hande Troie had bee defended Polidorus beyng dedde in Eidolopoeia talketh to Eneas whiche Virgil sheweth in his thirde booke of Eneados Iulia the wife of Pompei beyng dedde spake to Pompe preparyng his arme against Cesar Eidolopoeia Reade Lucane in the beginnyng of his thirde booke Tullie vseth Eidolopoeia when he maketh talke vpon Hiero beyng dedde If that kyng Hiero were reduced frō his death who was a aduauncer of the Romaine Empire with what countenaunce either Siracusa or Rome might be shewed to hym whom he maie beholde with his iyes His countree brought to ruin spoiled if that kyng Hiero should but enter Rome euen in the firste entryng he should beholde the spoile of his countree Tullie also vseth the like Eidolopoeia as thus vpon Lucius Brutus dedde If it so wer that Lucius Brutus that noble and famous manne were on liue and before your presence would he not vse this oracion I Brutus somtyme did banishe and cast out for crueltee the state and office of kinges by the horrible fact of Tarquinius againste Lucretia and all that name banished but you haue brought in tyrauntes I Brutus did reduce the Romain Empire to a fredome and libertée but you foolishly can not vphold and maintein the same giuen to you I Brutus with the daunger of my life haue saued my countree of Roome but you without all daunger lose it ¶ Prosopopoeia AS cōcerning Prosopopoeia it is as Pristianus saith when to any one againste nature speache is feigned to bee giuen Tullie vseth for a like example this when he maketh Roome to talke againste Cateline ¶ Prosopopoeia of Roome NO mischief hath been perpetrated this many yeres but by thee Catiline no pestiferous acte enterprised without thee thou a lone for thy horrible murther perpetrated vpon the citee of Rome for the spoile and robberies of their gooddes art vnpunished Thou onelie haste been of that force and power to caste doune all lawes and aucthoritee Although these thinges were not to be borne yet I haue borne them but now thy horrible factes are come to soche an issue that I feare thy mischiues Wherfore leaue of Cateline and deminishe this feare from me that I maie be in securitée Lucane the Poete intreating of mightie and fearce warres againste Pompei and Cesar maketh Roome to vse this Prosopopoeia againste Cesar Quo tenditis vltra quo fertis mea signa viri Si iure venitis si aues hucusque licet Prosopopoeia is properlie when all thinges are faigned bothe the maners the persone as of Roome in this place ¶ what lamentable Oracion Hecuba Quene of Troie might make Troie being destroied WHat kyngdome can alwaies assure his state or glory What strength can alwaies last What power maie alwaies stande The mightie Okes are somtyme caste from roote the Ceadars high by tempestes falle so bitter stormes dooe force their strength Soft waters pearseth Rockes and ruste the massie Iron doeth bryng to naught So nothyng can by strēgth so stande but strength maie ones decaie yea mightie kingdoms in time decaie haue felt Kingdomes weake haue rose to might and mightie kyngdomes fallen no counsaile can preuaile no power no strength or might in lande God disposeth Princes seates their kyngdome there with standes I knewe before the brickell state how kyngdomes ruine caught my iye the chaunge of fortune sawe as Priamus did aduaunce his throne by fauour Fortune gat on other Fortune then did froune whose kingdom did decaie Well now I knowe the brickle state that fortune hath no staie all rashe her giftes Fortune blind doeth kepe no state her stone doth roule as floodes now flowe floodes also ebbe So glory doth remaine sometyme my state on high was sette in Princelie throne my porte and traine ful roiall was a kyng my father also was my housband scepter held Troie and Phrigia serued his becke many kynges his power did dreade his wille their power did serue The fame of Troie and Brute his glorie and renouine what landes knoweth not But now his falle all toungues can speake so greate as glorie was though kyngdomes stronge was sette loftie Troie in duste prostrate doeth lye in blood their glorie people kyng are fallen no Quene more dolefull cause hath felte The sorowes depe doe passe my ioyes as Phebus light with stormes caste doune Hectors death did wounde my hart by Hectors might Troie stiffe did stande my comforte Hector was Priamus ioye of Troie all the life the strength and power his death did wound me for to die but alas my dolefull and cruell fate to greater woe reserueth my life loftie Troie before me felle sworde and fire hath seate and throne doune caste The dedde on heapes doeth lye the tender babes as Lions praies are caught in bloode before my sight Priamus deare murdered was my children also slain who roiall were and princes mates No Queene more ioye hath tasted yet woe my ioyes hath quite defaced My state alwaie in bondage thrall to serue my enemies wille as enemie wille I liue or dye No cruell force will ridde my life onely in graue the yearth shal close my woes the wormes shall gnawe my dolefull hart in graue My hedde shall ponder nought when death hath sence doune caste in life I sought no ioye as death I craue no glorie was so wished as death I seeke with death no sence In prison depe who dolefull lieth whom Fetters sore dooeth greue Their dolefull state moste wisheth death in dongion deepe of care my harte moste pensiue is vnhappie state that wisheth death with ioye long life eche wight doeth craue in life who wanteth smart Who doeth not féele or beare somtime a bitter storme to doleful tune mirth full oft chaunged is the meaner state more quiet rest on high who climes more deper care more dolefull harte doeth presse