C. Sir I would neuer be subiect to marriage as well because I would auoide the lime-twigs of deceites as also because I would not be exposed to the nets of infinite delusions which are of force to change a man into a Satire and also to make him a â—olly horne-man as also moreouer because I would haue no children for knowing my selfe to be defectiue if I had not brought them vp after vertuous example I should haue reputed my selfe rather their scandall and murderer then otherwise because the Father should be the sonnes voice and direction for it sufficeth not that hee exhort his sonne by other mens meanes but he himselfe must be the voice that is hee must first performe what hee preacheth to him or else it will be but an vnhappy and dead sound P. Man is a reasonable creature and therefore with words and reason he may be ruled C. The heart heares and vnderstands and the heart moues the hart naked words only come out of the mouth they goe not beyond the hearers eare nor come not to the heart except they come from the heart neither burne they except they be kindled neither being kindled can they consume the straw and hay and therefore whosoeuer being ill doth ill and speakes well hee fructifies nothing in his attendants they blame errours giue good instruction still sleepe in their owne minunidicities and so not speaking from the heart they speake nothing P. There is no doubt but whosoeuer disputes of vices and seekes not to shunne them nor make any resistance he sowes the good seede among thornes and hee that knowes many things and obserues none of them may be said to rise from a plentifull and aboundant Table altogether hungrie and therefore the text saith Drinke of the water of thine owne Cesterne and then giue it to the people The father therefore must first receiue instruction and obserue it afterwards put it into his sonne but if I my selfe be destitute of vertue how can I teach it vnto others and therefore to performe mine owne duty I giue him good documents C. Christ satisfied with a few loaues many thousands of men and before he distributed he tooke it in his hands to shew himselfe a father in that he meant to profit both with doctrine the bread and nourishment hee first tooke it in his hands and first acted before he taught his children and therefore Dauid before he said that hee would teach the wicked the way required of God a pure heart and that hee might be confirmed in an vpright and principall spirit and so a Father must first haue a spirit to instruct himselfe and then others for science teacheth vs what we should doe but giues no force when spirit is wanting P. I cannot denie but in that the Fathers actions must be the sonnes true path himselfe must first operate by vertue and if he hath faith he hath also vertue which doth appeare in operation for then he will operate but when hee doth but onely talke he doth but like these that halt or are lame of a legge who when they stand still seeme comely and sound but when they rise vp and walke then may they easely be discerned to be what they are And so a father teaching his sonne how to gouerne his life that is to gouerne himselfe and in the course of a life giues ill example in himselfe of an irregular life hee ouerthrowes and casts all downe to the ground the obiect present mouing farre more then that absent all this I confesse and know to be true yet can I not giue ouer my delight in hunting peraduenture out of an habite I haue taken therein C. If you vnderstand knowledge requires amendment and that amendment ought to produce in you zeale not to blemish your progente nor with your bad example to inuite others to euill Fish as you know beginning euer to smell at the head P. And what if I cannot correct my selfe C. If you haue wisedome reason and free will Saint BÃ sils saying should make you refraine Magis necessarijs magis attendendum est For certainly a father of an houshold hauing no regard of the necessarie affaires of his owne family or being a publique person of publique good nor of most necessarie particular occasions but onely to attend his pastimes is not onely worthy of diuine and humane punishment but as one ingratefull to God he demerits perpetuall infamie P. But yet as before I said sometimes wee must recreate our selues C. Euery like loues his like a noble spirit and heart loues also noble things and will not so much as open his eares to base Syrenes hee entring well into this point that the more they commend him the more they would deceiue him and that if they haue not they will at last deceiue him P. Faine would I make defence but haue no armes I clearely see and can discerne the truth The bad I know and doe it not excuse The good I see but yet performe the worst C. If man free by nature can be drawne to nothing against his will and if Guerino saith that libertie is the gift of the heauens which forceth not him who receiueth force also the text saith Trahit volentem it forceth him that freely will not because properly hee forceth but because God vseth so many meanes that Will by vse and by sence corrupted freely followeth Grace and walketh according to the spirit and neuerthelesse worketh freely But to our purpose All consists in not consenting to the assaults of his first thoughts the which oftentimes without any reason doe come and possesse an idle minde or else are propounded by people that speake thereof by chance and neither wisedome nor reason taking any further place in vs wee doe not percieue how euery opnion is false that comes from our will before it be examined by intellect P. I must needes confesse that this is the rocke of all our errours but this is the maine point if I goe not abroad on hunting I am vnquiet and altogether vexed in my minde C. This proceedes from a defect in vertue for he that cleares his hart from all worldly vanities and sensible corruptions he shall be quiet and he cannot be troubled in his thoughts that hath vertue to driue them away the which he not doing he will be hunted and driuen away by them and as one vnquiet he must hunt himselfe and hunting himselfe chace others also but surely hee should be much more vertuous with his spirit to hunt vanities out of his hart then beasts in the woodes P. You say true but I see no remedy for it My constancy a custome hath it made C. Euery one is vnquiet that seekes not after God who can onely pacifie our mindes and therefore the onely remedie is to thinke on God with a pure and vnfained hart For if you desire riches he is onely rich if health it depends on him if peace hee is the King thereof if honor hee
concealed in this life with an externall counterfait mirth n. 11 A Traueller must apply himselfe to time and occasions n. 12 All things proceed from Gods omnipotent hand n. 13 An ill Inne is most costly and least commodious n. 14 Man is the womans head and shee is not his Mistresse but his Ministresse n. 15 In a briefe and pleasant tale the conscience and honestie of Hoasts is wittily implyed n. 16 All Courtezan sleights are onely frustrated by flying them n. 17 The qualitie of feminine beauty n. 18 Name fame and credit deceiue men many times n. 19 Vertue is discerned by his contrarie n. 20 Italian oppression n. 21 Italian reproach and obloquie in tolerating such aggrauations n. 22 Italian blindnesse and infelicitie n. 23 The ancient Italian valour should rowze vp those of these times n. 24 Declination of Italian virtue n. 25 An incitementto Italians n. 26.28 38 He dyes nobly that dyes for his countryes cause n. 27 An honourable and iust beginning compasseth any thing n. 29 Long custome in subiects and little state of great men blindeth euery one n. 30 Libertie is a diuine gift neyther is it well knowne nor esteemed by him that neuer had tryall and proofe thereof n. 31 Rome was sometimes triumphant c. n. 32 Italies vnhappinesse proceedeth from her owne Princes disvnion n. 33 The blindnesse of Princes in tyrannizing ouer their people n. 34 The more slowly the more soundly God punisheth n. 35.48 The Romaine religion is the principal cause of Italies miserie n. 36 Vnder pretext of conscience infinite deceits and frauds n. 37 Briefe aduertisements for a Traueller n. 38 God created all things good but through humane fragilitie and wickednesse euery thing with time deelines and corrupts n. 39 The difference betweene a good and a bad Prince n. 40 To what end toles and customes were first inuented n. 41 The crueltie of the Romaine Inquisition n. 42 The worlds ignorance in discerning of truth this is onely a gift diuine 43 Worldly blindnesse n. 44 A shadow of the declination of the Romaine Church n. 45 Tyrannie in all times hath had a pernicious end n. 46 Though an ill counsellour be a leprosie to a State yet onely the Prince receiues the infamie thereof n. 47 Want of exercise makes youth vaine soft and effeminate n. 49 An Allegoricall Italian horse n. 50 The courtesie of an Hoste comprehends nothing in it but a thousand deceits and frauds n. 51 How to be prouided of a chamber c. n. 52 The hollownesse of Hostes n. 53 The knauery and villanie of Hackey-men n. 54 A Traueller must be valiant and patient n. 55 To looke out for a Barke or passage-boate n. 56 Diuers titles and names of wicked women n. 57 The beauty of Genoa and parting complements n. 59 A breuiate of the fift Dialogue CErtaine familiar phrases n. 1 We cannot together attend God and worldy vanities n. 2 The vnhappie breuitie of humane delights n. 3 An excellent remedie to driue away melancholy n. 4 A man euer growes like to the company that he keepes n. 5 The Fathers good life is a liuely example to the sonne n. 6 One heart vnderstands another and hee doth but little good that speakes with his tongue and not with his heart pag. 340 He that liues viciously and discourseth and instructeth well effects nothing n. 7 Knowledge requires amendment and we must set our mindes on most necessary things pag. 340 A man is disturbed in minde because he seekes not after a true end n. 10 The excellencie of a work is not measured by the labour but by the good end thereof n. 11 Offence deserues no excuse but onely amendment and so to the end A Summarie of the first Dialogue of the second part of the first Part. PHrases to visit and talke with any Gentleman n. 1 Complements in the case of any tribulation n. 2 Complements in case of death n. 3 Philosophicall friendly sententious and pleasant complements in signe of true friendship and by what meanes friendship is preserued n. 4 More particular complements of amorous affection n. 5 Sententious complements of reciprocall praise and loue n. 6 Complements of offer n. 7 Complements of thanksgiuing n. 8 Complements of eloquence n. 9 Complements of offer and free exposition n. 10 Briefe complements n. 11 Complements and ceremonies are reproued n. 12 Plato and Hermes errour and of the puritanes n. 13 From whence diuersitie of Sects proceedes n. 14 Before deceits crept into the world complements were not vsed n. 15 Plaine and honest complement and ceremonie proceed from loue and what ceremonie and complement is n. 16 Fained hipocriticall ceremonies and false complements are reproued n. 17 What ceremonies and complements the Ancients vsed n. 18 The vanitie of fained complements in Europe n. 19 Moderne complements as they are false so they are most of all vsed by the vulgar sort n. 20 Superfluitie of complement in the aboue-mentioned n. 21 From whence it proceedes that some are altogether vnciuil and without complement n. 22.23.24 What temperature is n. 25 What Nobilitie is and why commended n. 27 Customes proceede not from complexion n. 28 Hippocrates error about the soule which hee holds to be mortall n. 29. And hee is confuted n. 33 Good customes are our owne good and those bad our euill n. 30 The Lawes iudge those cases depending on Customes and not on Nature n. 31 Why God is onely best and immortall n. 32 Their error according to some men who deny Free-will n. 34 The Stoicks would haue euery thing proceed from Fate but so that all things were immutable and what Fate is n. 35 The Astrologians errour about our actions and Customes and whether customes doe proceed from Nature or no. n. 36 Man being of a reasonable nature in following Nature he followeth reason and wherefore man is more inclined to vice then to vertue n. 37 How customes follow temperature what they be that follow temperature and why a foole is not subiect to penall Lawes n. 38.39.40.41 Whether the first motiues of Loue be in our owne power or no. n. 42 How temperature is an instrument of customes and the influence of the Stars Fate and nature helpe a man in his customes of life n. 43.44 How one is ciuill and accustomed and well obserueth complements for diuers causes and ends in fine n. 44 n. 45 A man liuing in the world must be worldly if he will please euery one being naturally affected to be more commended and honoured then he desciues pag. 464 A Breuiate of the second Dialogue of the second Part of the first Part. DIuers familiar Phrases n. 1 Wherein the beautie of a Court consists n. 2 The qualities that make an honourable Courtier n. 3. infra 6 What principall obiect a Courtier should propound vnto himselfe in all his actions n. 4 Enuy makes a Courtier vnhappy n. 5 infra n. 11 A Seruant to a Prince that followeth him not for
and stinch of the Harpies and in the opening of their mouthes the bitternesse of Sulmo against Orbecca commixing all their discourse with Epaticke Aloes and yet notwithstanding these wide open doores these vnwalled townes these rudderlesse ships these vncouered vessels these vnbridled horses doe not consider that the tongue being a very little member without some speciall cause according to the saying of Bias and Hesiod it should neuer goe out of that gate withni which not without a great mysterie diuine Wisdome and Nature together his ministresse hath enclosed it amongst many other to note specially vnto vs this one thing that a man should giue himselfe to a vertuous speech or a prudent silence which by these men is so slightly obserued that no Writer whatsoeuer can auoide the stingings of Zoilus the spunges of Hoponace the prickes of Archilochus the gnawings of Momists And if most louing Reader no man hath beene euer able notwithstanding what Art soeuer hee vsed to this end to keepe himselfe vntoucht of the detractours poyson and venemous tongue how can my Traueller exposed as it were to all vexation and annoyance scape free from this mans poysoned dart Before hee opened his eyes in this world they sought to see and censure him to the end that as in the hands of one infected with the plague euery thing how healthfull or sound otherwise soeuer it be growes pestiferous and mortall so being contaminated by their peruerse opinions and by their false relations infected euery thing is sodainely turned into Vipers poyson the more easily to open vnto him a large and spacious way to his perpetuall infamie O Faith O Religion O Conscience where are you to be found In what close corner of the earth in what profound bottome of the Sea vnder what part of Heauen doe you lye hidde that I may seeke and finde you out I know this commeth to passe for a cleere testimonie that as a flame can hardly be so shut in and enclosed but that eyther light smoake brightnesse or vapour will giue some notice thereof euen so with great difficultie can anger be so couered but that it may be read in ones countenance and in his actions or else in a tongue that is loose and like that of an impudent Harlot babling and incontinent And it being very requisite that hee who would sowe Thornes should himselfe goe vpon them bare legged and bare-footed so let such a tongue be vnhappily borne in all ages no lesse vnfortunate be it out of his owne neast and amongst other strange Nations neyther may it finde any other reward then his owne hurt and preiudice Although for my part though one should no more trust an infamous Detractor then a wilde and vntamed Horse and though sufferance may seeme to be a certaine consent and recognition of errour or somewhat inclining thereto so as some supposed it to be a kinde of distributiue Iustice to be as it were a rocke to bad men and an Harbour and Port to the good this present life being no other then a very hard warre-fare and the vertuous tolleration and subiugation of ones selfe is a glorious victorie I am but too willing to pardon their tongues marry not their hearts But true it is that hee is but foolish who knowing what belongeth to a Worke yet makes it not perfect as also another should shew himselfe much more foolish who knowing what an errour publicke folly is will yet commit it therefore though in euery complete obseruance which like the apple of the eye must be respected by an Authour I haue not forborne to vse all possible industry that no errour might be found yet notwithstanding many hauing past you shall in the end of the Booke see them corrected vnto which inconuenience hauing a very carefull eye I remained all the last Summer in the Cittie partly for this end to the end that hauing vacancie I might the more quietly and without other destractions attend thereunto but being surprised by a very grieuous infirmitie it was a cause that some things confused and cut off could not be reduced to a better forme nor be set downe in more intelligible Characters so that the Printer notwithstanding otherwise hee is no lesse a discreete then an honest man being but a stranger in the Italian Tongue in the Copie he was much troubled also then this businesse came to be dispatched in vnfit and short dayes and amidst mine owne great affaires it hath ineuitably happened that conformable to the issue of euery Worke this also cannot want his errours and defects especially in two or three Dialogues first placed but in the rest it hath not so fallen out after I saw how the matter went Although I must needes affirme that it is not very requisite for an Authour to correct his owne Worke both because apprehending well the argument and hauing the Idea thereof deeply imprinted in his vnderstanding his head goes before his wit so as hee perswades himselfe that it is the same in writing euen as in his owne apprehension hee hath corrected and amended it as furthermore because an Authour being principally intentiue on the Inuention to the production and application of the conceits of the sentences together with the concatenation of the whole with all reciprocall correspondencie so peraduenture hee may not easily discerne euery errour though in it selfe euident enough so as finally the Authour in obseruing so many circumstances as to inuent compound augment elect put out change correct polish set forth to write and write out often and oftentimes to recopie and renew the whole growing now as it were faint and weary it fareth iustly with him as it doth many times with a surbated and weary Passenger who is apt easily to stumble and trip at those stumps and stones which are apparant enough and euen against those that are much higher and more visible then the rest the which peraduenture a wary blinde man would readily auoid and shunne whereas a third a stranger to such an enterprise who peraduenture doth not so well know the beginning the middest the end nor the principall obiect thereof neyther so cleerely apprehendeth the whole scope of the Worke hee may be more circumspect ouer euery word more diligently consider of the same and so better meditating thereon and not being so much employed in his inward parts and offices of the minde but fixing his minde wholy vpon wordes when hee well vnderstandeth them not hee earnestly considers thereupon as also discernes and corrects them the better Wherefore I was very willing to haue left this enterprise of Correction to some other but that for many speciall reasons I feared by seeking to auoid some to slip vnwarily not onely into these but further into farre greater errours and inconueniences Concerning the Translation hereof into English by Mr. King not being able of my selfe perfectly to iudge therein I leaue the censure thereof to those that can better vnderstand it then my selfe For the rest I
fell out P. Aristotle also leaueth written vnto vs of Eudimus his great friend who going into Macedonia he arriued in that goodly Citie called Pheu of Thessalonia which was at that instant cruelly oppressed by Alexander the Tyrant where Eudimus fell sicke to death one night he thought that he saw a yong man of most faire aspect who comforting him said that shortly he should be cured and the Tyrant should be slaine which succeeded A. Tullius in like manner writes how Sophocles a famous Poet dreamed of the theefe that had stolne a cup of gold out of Hercules temple which he hauing related to the Magistrate the malefactor was put into prison and so the dreame was verified P. But what say you to my selfe that for two or three dayes before any vnhappy successe or some misfortune shall see it in my dreame and it will infallibly follow A. Sicâ—rat in Fatis Your stable Destinie commeth from the starres And your swift vnderstanding is more then the bow P. To this I cannot tell what to say This I onely finde that though I vse all the caution or circumspection possible yet my dreame will proue true onely the fore-seeing of it produceth this good effect that the occasion occurring so that I can inforce my selfe bending my selfe like a reede I suffer the dint of my Starre to passe ouer A. Call you this a dreame or but rather a vision P. I know not what it is neither for my further health doe I desire to know A. But if melancholick humour be predominant in you which according to the opinion of many learned men hath a kind of prerogatiue to make one foresee truth in dreames I durst be bold to affirme that it would bring forth such an effect P. Certainely I thinke this proceeds not from nature but rather by change by mutation of country of aire of customs of life of stare and of other such like circumstances the which I take not onely to be sufficient to change the complexion of an humane body but to transforme and sublimate any hard mettall whatsoeuer A. I enuy those of Africke who according to Herodotus dreame not at all P. Rather man being for his similitude to God almost diuine and by the vnderstanding different from other creatures whereupon the diuine Poet saith That which our nature hath most worthy in it in this world is from God by the which the nature of man is in part distinguished from other creatures that is to say the intellectuall vnderstanding Therefore the same in another place My minde which doth presage of thy harmes Moreouer Guirinus The soule is not alwayes with senses darkened but rather is most wakefull when it is least troubled with the false forme of the sense now that it sleepeth That novv the minde is not distracted and in it selfe vvholy retyred alone to open vvith darknesse the eyes of Linceus I beleeue that many see in their dreames things to come or by too much dating they doe darken them or through carelesnesse doe not attend them and no lesse through ignorance they know them not therefore I could wish that I did know them and could expound them A. You would expound them according to your owne inclination as that silly or loathsome woman did who hauing a furious longing to be married and a match being offered to her of a man scarse worth the taking vp she went to take aduise of a certaine friend of hers a Monke P. Surely she happened well A. This religious man who was young and a good Philosopher and of no lesse a subtill wit P. Au you said well in saying subtill or warie for to a man little circumspect all the learning in the world little helpes A. After he had penetrated into this her hungry feminine enclination hauing heard all to set her from the dores hee said My spirituall Mistresse goe your wayes home and the next night attentiuely hearken after our Mattins bell which will vndoubtedly instruct you in whatsoeuer you are to performe P. Oh good oh good A. Hauing heard this the poore soule reuerently thanking the Frier tooke her leaue and wholly attentiue those few houres which were to runne before the morning seemed to her a thousand yeares finally behold in an happie houre she heard the Bell. P. And what good newes then A. This young woman whose heart was set vpon nothing else but to iocund with loose raines and open mouth was perswaded that euerie little perswaded her thereunto P. And not without some reason neither A. The Mattins bell sounding she sodainely thought that like the Angell Gabriel it clearely said vnto her marrie marrie marrie and thus as it perseuered sounding that it continued likewise in exhorting her P. Is it possible A. Without either oyle or salt in the morning following she concluded the businesse of consolemini P. Oh then she would be a little quieter I thinke A. Quiet quoth you the Cow that hunteth after the Bull must haue other besides fresh grasse driuing away from a little braine a thousand toyes the Crickets from the head the heart-beatings from the breast interposing the new Ghost with a most large pattent omnibus singulis et quibus cunque did giue him the vsuall fruit and put him in free possession of the pompe of the Ship P. Yet ought she afterwards to be happie A. Say vnhappie P. O hope O desire alwayes deceitfull certainly we are dust and a shadow certainely our will is blinde and greedie certainlie hope is deceitfull A. The world a deceauer of his followers after the sweetnesse filles them with bitternesse for a little honey with much aloes and gall P. The hope of Louers is doubtfull and their ioy is short repentance and griefe follow after But how after the marriage was she vnhappie A. Her husband being a fleshly fellow after a few dayes he began inwardly to loathe her after to hate her then not to esteeme her and then to iniurie her and long time went not ouer her head but that her beating was so ordinarie that blowes were to her in stead of bread and meate P. Obserue my English Gentleman that blowes haue a wonderfull prerogatiue in the feminine sex for if shee be a bad woman there is no more proper plaister to mend her then this but if which is a rare chance she be good to dust her often hath in it a singular vnknowne and as it were an inscrutable vertue to make her much better and to reduce her if possible to perfection A. Why take you her to be of the nature or complexion of the Cat of Mountaine from whom you can haue no ciuer except she be first well bound and often whipt and euen so from some women there is no fruit of honestie fidelity or goodnesse to be hoped for if they be not guarded and kept with walles gates and windowes and as occasion serues beaten and well beaten againe being held in with a
boyled in wine though they are more behouefull they are very hurtfull for cholericke men and good for them that are old and cold they are also the more healthfull sodden in fat broth A. Will you haue any of this other sallet Sir P. In truth I see in it borage bettonie dragon wort succorie endiue fennell lettice baulme mint dogs caule parsley pimpinell purslaine rosemary rocket sage wild time and spinage A. Why doe you thinke that these are more holsome then others P. O God Sir why doe you not know how Borage is called courage because it hath a certaine proprietie in the passions of the heart which is the fountaine of life whereupon it or the flowers thereof being infused into wine it much reioyceth the minde and comforts the heart remoues melancholy and creates pleasant conceits besides it nourisheth and engenders good humours clarifieth the bloud and the spirits comforteth the bowels molifieth the breast although indeed the flowers doe not so well digest as the leaues which leaues being mingled with beetes or spinage they loose their asperitie A. These capers please my pallate farre better P. If they be preserued in vineger they are not so hot but yet commonly verie healthfull those preserued in pickle doe astringe subtilize cut obsterpe and open they excite appetite open the opilations of the liuer and milt prouoke menstrues and vrine kill the wormes cure the Emrods excite venerie but if they be steept in oyle and vineger they help those that haue the gout the flegmatickes splenetickes and Ieratickes whosoeuer vseth them shall feele no griefe of the mylt nor dissolution of nerues although they are rather medicine then meate A. And what thinke you of Dragonwort P. It is dry cold it procures good appetite encreaseth sperme wonderfully comforts the stomacke and the head and cuts flegme being eaten it preserues from the plague and from all corruption it cures the cold griefes of the teeth gums in washing them with the decoction thereof made of white wine yet so it is true that it heales the Lyuer and purifies the bloud it is alwayes good for old men and hurtfull for the cholericke and sanguine young men A. I thinke Cicorie also is not without his vertue P. It preuailes greatly against the heate and inflamation of the stomacke it opens the opilations of the Lyuer and aboue all other things keepes the Lyuer cleane and the wayes thereof open being also very helpfull to the reynes but so it hurts a weake and cold stomacke and those that are subiect to catarres if we will take it in a sallet it must be mingled with other hot hearbes and those seasoned with good oyle salt and vinegar A. I suppose according to common opinion that Betonie is full of infinite vertues P. Know you not the Prouerbe Thou hast more vertue in thee then Betonie The best growes on the top of pleasant fresh hils and is gathered in Aprill it is incitiue it may be eaten sodden together with the flowers in a good broth or else seething it in wine and then drinking the decoction therof but the vessell must be well stopt wherein it boyles it is good against all inward passion of the body howsoeuer it be taken it is auaileable against poyson it helps the yealow laundesse paraliticke flegmaticke those subiect to the falling sicknesse and Icraticke but so it is but hard of digestion A. In Sommer I many times eate Endiue P. This refresheth the Lyuer and euery enflamed member it quencheth thirst prouokes vrine stirs vp good appetite drieth opilations purgeth the bloud cures the itche slaketh the heate of the stomacke and in Summer being eaten sodden in broth of flesh it comforts all the bowels but hurts a cold stomacke sloweth digestion offendeth those possest with the Palsey or that haue the heart tremblings A. I thinke Lettuce be of another temper P. Endiue is cold and dry and this cold and moist then imagine you of the rest The Lettuce top tender and without milke and being set with a delicate hand exceedes all other hearbs in goodnesse it breedes milke in women quencheth the inflamation of the stomacke extinguisheth thirst prouokes sleepe it staies the running of the reines so it proceed not from the corruption of that solemne disease it bridles the sharpnesse of choler corroborateth the stomacke and disburdeneth it it is opposite to all luxurie obscureth the eye-sight debilitates natural heate corrupteth sperme and makes one beget foolish and blockish children it causeth a man to be sloathfull it is ill for weake stomackes and so consequently for old men A. To tell you the truth you haue kindled such a loue in mee towards it by repeating of these many good properties as beleeue me I le eate but little and vnlesse it be for the aboue named dispositions none at all P. But yet you will taste of this Balme mint which comforteth the heart it remoues the trembling thereof easeth the breast opens the opilations of the braine cures throbbings helpes the biting of venemous beasts and flegmatickes and those troubled with melancholy but by reason of his ventositie it excites venerian appetite A. I thinke mint is better P. It mightily excites appetite prohibites that milke cannot be taken into the stomacke nor into the dugs it kils the wormes being vsed with meates or giuen to little boyes or little girles a dramme of the iuyce thereof with halfe an ounce of the sharpe iuyce of cedar or of the syrrope of the barke of Cedar it remoues also rising in the stomacke and vomite and fortifies the stomacke wherevpon comes the verse Nunquam lenta fuit stomacho succurrere mentha But it inflames the Lyuer and stomacke purifies the bloud and excites Venus And yet it is not good for Souldiers who by the exercise of Venus become leane debile and cowards A. By the Physitians aduise I vse Mercurie what say you to that P. The decoction thereof dissolues choler and all watrish humours but so take heede in any wise you vse it not but onely sometime it weakening the stomacke and bowels A. But from what proceedes it that they vse Parsley and Pympernell so much P. The first boilde or raw prouokes vrine menstrues sweate it mundifies the reynes the lyuer and the matrixe it remoues their opilations and dissolues ventosities the decoction therof helpes coughes and empoysonings it hath the same vertues that Coriander hath it is acceptable to the mouth of the stomacke it dissolues the stones in the reines or bladder it opens opilations helps coughes and the defects of the breast but it is hard to digest obfuscates the sight generates bad humours it hurts the head and so is euill for the falling sicknesse Pympinell is reduced vnder the kindes of Saxafrage for the great vertue it containes to cleanse the reynes and the bladder and to dissolue and expell stones and grauell out of the same parts to prouoke vrine and to open the opilations of the Lyuer moreouer it
is a most singular remedy against the plague by being onely infused into wine with bole Armoniacke otherwise being drunke in wine it cheares vp the heart and helps Tissickes but so it is difficult to digest it heales the Lyuer and nourisheth but a little but in a sallet with cold hearbs it alwayes helps old men and melancholickes A. But what say you to those that vse Purcelaine P. Marry they doe it not without reason this being of notable assistance to dissenteryes to menstruall fluxes to the spetting of bloud and heate of the stomacke it cooleth Venus and the sorenesse of the teeth but being eaten in great quantity because it is moist and cold it hurts the stomacke and sight and nourisheth little but in Summer it is good for cholericke sanguine young men but old men it helps A. And what if wee should mingle Rosemary with our other hearbes P. That with honey cureth all Asmatickes and the cough it stayes fluxes the flowers thereof conserued in sugar comfort the stomacke the heart and the matrixe but it exasperates the arteries if it be not rectified with honey A. By the report of many Sage giues place in vertue to no other hearbe P. It comforts the stomacke and the head helps vertiginall dizinesse and the Megrim both paralitickes and epileptickes it prouokes vrine and menstrues and stayes the white fluxes of women the pouder thereof is excellent for all cold infirmities of the head or ioynts it makes the sterile plentifull and the decoction thereof cures the scabbe of the genetals it fortifieth the vitall spirits it helps much to detaine the creature within the womans wombe the conserues thereof with Sugar produceth the same effects and is excellent to mortifie Mercury but all venemous creatures creepe willingly vnder it except it grow hard by Rue A. I haue many times obserued Spinage to be much vsed P. It dilates the breast helpes coughes the heate thereof refresheth the Lights Lyuer and choler it moues the bodie though but little and yet they are not of very bad nourishment but so they are windie and hurt a cold stomacke As for Watercresses sodden or raw if it grow in cleare waters it breakes and expels both the one and other stone causeth vrine and prouokes womens flowers it helpes to bring forth the dissenterie all Hydropickes greene sicknesse and opilations of the Liuer making a good sight A. Let there be in them what vertue soeuer hearbes haue alwayes pleased me little or nothing at all except when I haue beene vrged by some necessitie or by the Physitians opinion who in my opinion are the readyer to perswade others to vse the decoction of hearbes to the end that at the better rate they may fill their owne bellies with Pullets P. I doe not thinke so but how like you Raddish A. Sometimes I eate them but very seldome what thinke you of them P. In the Spring Sommer their vertue is in the leaues flowers and seedes but in Autumne and Winter they are powerfull and vigorous but yet their vse serues more for medicine then meate because they are all of them in a manner of bad iuyce hard to digest but yet those that grow neare home and be tender and young and newly gathered may be eaten more securely and the middle part of them is for the most part the best A. O Lord how my head paines me P. Peraduenture your Cooke importuned by the harsh voyce of that blinde man who continually like a desperate man cryes in euery hole and corner of the citie Garlicke Garlicke Garlicke hee I say peraduenture hauing bought some of his fopperies it belongeth to you sir to pay the penaltie thereof A. In very truth I feede little on this meate P. It hath a facultie mordificatiue as it were of the race of backbiters and slanderers degestiue apertiue and incesiue The greene is best and it will serue you for Treacle against any poyson if you haue wormes it will driue them away it will prouoke vrine and if you haue an old cough it will helpe it especially if it be rosted vnder hot ashes it will also make you haue a good voice and happie were you if you should be vpon the Ocean Sea for it will stand you in great stead because it resisteth sea vomite and rectifies the corrupt aire of stenches It excites Venus but it is verie hurtfull to the vertue expulsiue to the braine to the sight to the head it procures thirst it is very detrimentall to women great with childe with other such like qualities but aboue all other it makes the breath to stincke which may sodainely be reformed by eating of raw beanes greene water parsley or the leaues of fresh rue A. But I will taste of these sponges or mushromes P. This is the miserable condition of man that while he lalabours to auoide an inconuenience he runnes into a thousand other for oftentimes these things doe kill although those of the Apennines and the mushromes which do spring in madorre which in Aprill grow in meddowes with others called boleti are reputed good and pleasing to the stomacke but if they be made into a sallet or cleansed and well boyled with wilde peares basill bread garlike and calamint and then seasoned with oyle salt and pepper they may securely be eaten and then withall we must drincke very strong wine with them but whosoeuer vseth them too often they cause dulnesse appoplexies and doe suffocate but those which grow vpon the hill Collepardo being more dryed in the shadow and puluerized and taken in wine or broth to the waight of a scruple they mitigate choler and the griefes of the reines prouoking vrine and expelling both stones and grauell but it must be taken foure houres before meate A. But how like you Parsenep rootes P. So so it is very hot abstersiue and rarifying and opens much but so it yeelds but little and that bad nourishment they digest slowly they excite Venus generate bad bloud and oftentimes the itch but being well boild and seasoned with oyle vineger or mustard or fryed with butter it is much corrected and yet notwithstanding it hurts both flegmatick and old men A. Amongst all others the house Radish roote espeacially if it haue a blacke rinde pleaseth me well P. If you eate it in the beginning it prouokes vrine mollifies the belly expels stones and being cut small and put in water and so made into a sallet they increase milke they make your drinke taste well and if they be sodden they preuaile much against an olde cough but it makes leane is windy and raiseth vp stincking raspings it digests slowly offends somewhat the head and the teeth and augments artericall griefes A. This same Turnep pleaseth my taste very well P. Quod sapit nutrit being boild in broth they procure nourishment the tops thereof being sodden and eaten prouoke vrine encrease venerie and make cleare sight and the roote thereof is good against the quartane Feuer and such like
melancholicke infirmities whereunto if you adde Fennell it quickens the sight but so they engender ventositie and aquosities in the veines opilation in the pores digest slowly heale the reynes and oftentimes make the body to swell to correct their vice in the boyling of them you must twice change their water and then let them boyle in fresh broth with Fennell A. Flesh makes bloud and bloud makes flesh take away those sallets and rootes whether they be sod or fryed and reach vp those dishes of flesh the which in conclusion are they that maintaine our life P. To say the truth flesh nourisheth more then any other meat the which because it is hot and moist is easily transmuted into bloud and bringeth great nourishment but yet notwithstanding in eating of it some rule should be obserued A. But how can we hold Hipocrates or the Physitian on the one hand and the dish on the other P. My meaning is that the flesh wines and corne of high places so the Sunne haue power vpon them are more healthfull then those of pooles marshes and lakes Moreouer the flesh of such beasts as are too young doe abound in too much humiditie but so they are more easie of digestion that againe which is too old is very bad hard and dry of little nourishment and hard of coacoction and the flesh of males because it is more hot and dry is better then that of females being of a contrary nature and yet the last is best for Febricitantes but the shee-Goate is farre more commendable nourishment then any other female A. You haue so confounded my iudgement with your many rules and obseruations as I know not where to begin to eate P. Let vs eate some Lambe which is hot and moist so it be of a yeere old otherwise it hath much viscisitie and humiditie but yet if it generate good nourishment as I said it doth easily digest it is excellent for humour melancholicke as also for the sanguine and those of a cholericke and adust complexion and it is the better if it haue left sucking feeding and growing with odiriferous hearbes for if it be sucking it begets grosse humours hurts old and flegmaticke men procures viscositie in the stomacke through superfluous humiditie and is preiudiciall to the falling euill and other passions of the braine and nerues A. Taste a little of this Goate P. I would to God that I taste not more then I beleeue if it were such flesh it would helpe those that are too fat by reason of the little nourishment it brings but yet it is exceeding euill for the falling sicknesse it engenders much melancholy A. Hold here this is better P. This varietie of meates annoyes me greatly they procuring diuers infirmities especially when they are of a contrary qualitie for so their concoction being hindred they corrupt and putrifie and therefore though it like my palate yet it preiudiceth my health and heare a wise man being demaunded why he would haue no more but one kinde of meate vpon the table he answered because he would not haue too much need of a Physitian the diuersitie of meates then being hurtfull it will be healthfull to vse but one And therefore many yeeres agoe men liued longer because they were more regular and lesse licourish then wee but now idlenesse and gurmondize is risen to such an height that he is counted foolish miserable and abiect that doth not euen drowne himselfe and his whole familie in this vice and the greater foole gull and woodcocke indeed that one is the greater man he is accounted but why should we affect singularitie let vs eate merrily A. But if this please you not see here is Oxe or Cowes flesh I know not whether and here is also shee or rather not to erre hee-calfe indeed P. If it be of a young Oxe fat and accustomed to the plough it is wonderfull good nourishment for labourers it generates great abundance of bloud stayes the collericall fluxe but so it engenders bad nourishment it concocts slowly it breeds wambling and rising of the stomacke and melancholike infirmities it ought to lye in salt one whole day A. But for your Cowes beefe which is very old P. Why it is very bad as all other old flesh is but yet sucking veale breeds excellent blood it easily digesteth and that of the mountaine is better then the other bred in the champions A. But what if it were Buls flesh P. O God that 's worst of all it is an aguie grosse hard stincking and dry flesh of bad nourishment and is neuer well rosted by the fire nor concocted by the stomake and in a word it is worse then Buffles flesh A. Well to auoid all this danger we will eate of this Kid. P. It is of hot temperature euen to the second month of very commendable temper betweene humidity and drynesse the blacke and red is alwaies best and the sucking males of foure or fiue months are most excellent it nourisheth well digests quickly furthers health wonderfully helps the sicke and sound and such as be students and labour but little neuertheles it hurts men decrepit a cold or watry stomacke to those troubled with the collicke with the Epilepticke and those which labour or take bodily paines But if it be well rosted specially the hinder parts which are the more moist and seasoned with Oranges his qualitie is much corrected A. This Goate or Kid or Doe howsoeuer you please to call it pleaseth me very well P. T is hot and dry the young ones which are fat and much vp and downe the fields by meanes whereof they dissolue the bad humours are more easie to digest they engender blood vvith very little superfluitie but yet bending alittle to melancholie as in a manner all wilde beasts doe all which notwithstanding this doth exceede in nourishment it preuailes against the Paralasie and cholicke and extenuates fat men but so it hurts those already extenuated for it brings detriment to the nerues by drying them vp especially if it be old for then it hardly digests and it is best in winter A. Surely by the smell this should be mutton P. It is temperately hot and moist flesh the young ones of a yeere old especially that feed on hils breeds good bloud because it is sweete in taste of good nourishment and digests quickly the broth thereof is excellent against the melancholicke humour being sod it must be eaten with parsley and the hinder parts roasted and let them first be well beaten with a cudgel if it be old for want of stones and through age it hurts in his drynesse and is hard of digestion A. But what if we should tast of Harts flesh See where it is for your vse doubt not it cannot flye away P. Why it is hot and dry if it be sucking or gelt it is good nourishment for by the aboue said meanes he looseth his vitiousnesse an Harts horne being burnt in the fire driues away all venemous beasts the bone of
feedeth himselfe onely with arrogancie and blinde presumption of himselfe but in the time to come holding him more short I shall be more wary I shall make him euen P. Excuse me Sir I am afraid that conferring too much in dinner while we prolong our table too farre and that the first meate will be digested before the last and so the parts of our meate will be made vnlike in their digestion whereupon proceeds corruption and putrefaction little lesse in a manner then as if eating betwixt meales wee should adde one meale to another A. But see here is better meates rosted Capons Connies Fowle other such like meates euen created for the sonnes of God be not afraid of the dead be of good courage P. I would I had as good an appetite as I haue a courage A. Note how that with one onely clap I take away a thigh with a cleauing blow I cut off a whole wing and with a false redoubled blow and one right downe together I split this capon Take and enioy this for my sake and in the meane while behold a souldier of our age P. I take it not onely for yours but also for mine owne sake too A. Ah ah you tast it and yet it gets vpon you ah P. The gelt Cocke is temperate in all qualities but this is one of the best because it is young well fed and brought vp in the open fields A. Sure I like it well P. Not without good cause by reason it yeelds better nourishment then any other meate it encreaseth venerie it exceedes all other flesh in goodnesse generating perfect bloud making equall all the humours causing a good braine exciting appetite agreeing with all complexions helping the sight fortifying naturall heate so it be not too far for then it is good in all times in all ages and to all complexions wherevpon by many it is called Quapone notwithstanding it is hurtfull to all idle persons to eate much for generating great abundance of bloud it causeth the gout to which infirmitie it is somewhat subiect A. Then wee le taste of some little bird what say you to this P. Vndique angustiae the difference of the nature of birds may be discerned by their season age meate place of residence aire being gelt for when they seeke their Makes whether they be domesticall or wilde they are not fit to feede our bodies Hens being fatted in the Winter and then made tender are best as also the Owsell wilde-Geese Cranes and all kinde of watrish fowle other fowle are better in time of haruest and fruits A. But from whence comes it that their flesh hath diuers tastes P. From the diuersitie of their meates and they are best that continue vpon the hils and that are gelt if it may be done as wee see in Capons and the young are better then the old A. Behold here a wilde Ducke I will make a Chirurgicall Anatomie of it P. The Cooke by cutting off her head hath taken away her motion and by taking out her heart taken away her life and the fire hath consumed all the radicall humour of her body and of her little parts and members so that sir you are come vpon her somewhat too late A. We will eate a little of the breast and for the rest we will follow Martials counsell Caetera redde Coquo P. The Poet entering into the Kitching hath incensed Poetrie with wit The wilde-Ducke is hot and moist in the second degree and is more hot then any other domesticall Bird her wings and lyuer are very commendable they yeelding ready and good nourishment if it be fat it fattens and nourisheth much it makes a good colour with the heate of it it cleareth the voyce augmenteth sperme enflameth lust driues away ventosities and fortifieth the body the lyuer thereof is most delicate and heathfull and cures the hepaticke fluxe her breast and necke is very commendable meate but yet it is hard to digest of grosse nourishment and nourisheth excrements A. But which are least hurtfull P. The wilde and young ones and such as are nipt with faire frosts and if they be eaten in Winter and roasted full of odoriferous hearbes and spices the old ones are as bad but those that roue vp and downe the fields are somewhat the better A. Take away this dish and reach me those same Gold-finches and peck-figges P. Blessed be the winde that brings in such merchandise with a blacke head they are moist and hot in the first degree and they are alwayes welcome to the tables of great men because they are delicate in taste easily digest and nourish preualently they burden not the stomacke but rather comfort restore and fortifie it they rouze vp appetite especially in them that are recouering of any sicknesse they are cordiall they beget vitall spirits and make vs merry but yet they hurt febricitants for by reason of their subtile substance they easily conuert into those putrified humours that are in the stomacke A. Here be fiue two for me and three for you P. But why three for me and two for you A. Because by the praise ascribed to them out of iustice destributiue and merit of superarrogation you ought to haue one more then I. P. Oh oh as you giue them with a good heart so doe I accept them at your hands A. You good man Oxe head reach me that dish of Doues or Pigeons whether you will haue it sir while you may you must needes eate for when death layes hold of vs we shall be eaten P. The more we deuoure with so much the more hast we procure it and doe but fat our selues for the wormes A. Let vs leaue the meditation of these things to melancholick men taste of this Doue for beleeue me it is sauourie P. They are hot and moist in the second degree your wild ones are lesse moist but those of the Doue-house are more hot that beginne to seeke abroad for their meate these are fatter but both these and house ones nourish well make good bloud are excellent for old men and flegmatickes they corroborate the legges cure paraletickes augment heate in the weake help Venus purge the reynes and easily digest Being vsed in time of the plague without eating any other flesh they preserue from contagion assists the spirits of the sight aide the trembling of the body and encrease force but yet enflaming the bloud they offend those that are hot of complexion Your vvilde ones and those of the house tame are hardest of digestion and inclining to agues A. We will then leaue them to paraliticks old men and flegmatickes to the end they may not affect our heads with griefe vvhere is the Pheasant vvhich I appointed should be made ready P. It is at the fire A. This is but your tricke sir to steale it for your selfe vvhat mouth of a Pheasant ah set it vpon the table that it may be swept vp P. Oh well met I am afraid this good companion comming as
with nuts almonds peares and honny it is lesse hurtfull A. Will you take three or foure stalkes of Anise P. They mend the stinch of the breath they are good for hydropickes and opilations of the Lyuer they prouoke vrine stay the white fluxes of women the decoction thereof dissolues the ventosities of the body helpes the stomacke Lyuer and Lights as also the Matrixe it hinders the vapours that ascend vp into the braine being taken before you drinke water it rectifies it it helpes all baked meates it stimulates Venus and hurts sanguine and chollericke men A. See here Teazels or Hartichoakes P. The tender ones are better then the hard but yet they are windie procure opilations and encrease lust A. Your Teazels made white by Art please me much better burying them in the Autumne with thinne earth they are eaten in the end of supper with pepper and salt to seale vp and corroborate the stomacke but I thinke that Coriander or Coriandolet hath a greater vertue P. That of Egypt is the best it is very good for the stomacke repressing the venemous exhalation that ascend vp into the head being drunke with sweet wine it kils wormes keepes the flesh vncorrupt Coriander comfits at the end of meate detained in the stomack aide digestion and fortifie the head and braine A. Then I will take a glutting of them P. Their superfluous vse offends the head obfuscates vnderstanding and disburdens the minde the iuyce thereof being drunke is mortall poyson and they which drinke thereof become dumbe or fooles A. But it being otherwise of such vertue how may the vice of it be remoued P. You must keepe it for one night in vineger then couer it with Sugar for so they are good but if any drinke of the iuyce thereof he may be cured with the powder of egge-shels with Salemonia or Treacle and wine A. I like Fennell very well and how doth it please you sir P. I haue euer delighted much in the sweet Fennell which is hot in the second degree and dry in the first but the wilde doth dry and heate more effectually but that which is new gathered and sweet breedes milke in women and menstrues and in all generally vrine it remoues ancient opilations it greatly helps the eyes A. What if it should be dry P. It is good for the Winter but let it be taken soberly for it enflames the Lyuer and hurts the eyes but yet it opens the opilations of the lyuer mylt breast and braine but both one and other hurt sanguine cholericals and it produceth blacke choler so as it is fitter for medicine to the sicke then meate to the sound In this point I commend your English Gentlemen who are not much delighted with such fruits A. In troth the very odour of that Cytron comforts my smell and the colour of it my sight if it were not hurtfull I would faine eate a little of it P. The skinne therof eaten causeth digestion the seed remedies all poysons prouokes menstrues kils wormes in the belly being beaten and giuen with the iuyce of it fasting being eaten whole it preuailes against the plague and the corruption of the ayre as also against poison the water of Cytrons distilled is pleasant to the taste and beneficiall to the heart and braine and being giuen with the conserues of Cydron it is admirable against pestilentiall feauers it extinguisheth thirst and the feauer and it resists putrifaction the water of the flowers therof distilled is very preualent against the plague and such like accidents it is a friend to the heart and effectually prouokes sweating the skinnes thereof seasoned preuailes against the aboue-named things and the oyle that is extracted out of the skinne and seede is very cordiall by annointing the pulses therewith as also it is good for the circumferentiall region of the heart but yet Cytrons being eaten in the euening they cause dizinesse and are troublesome to hot heads but the preserue of Violets being eaten after them corrects their hurtfull qualitie A. Reach me those Mulburies P. They mollifie the harshnesse of the throate remoue thirst moysten the body excite appetite slake choler they are better eaten before meate then after they sodainely corrupt the which they likewise doe when they encounter with other humours but to the end they may not breede ventosities let them be washed in wine and let hot young men eare also the sowrer sort of them with sugar in Sommer and such shall haue in them no bad humours A. Will you please sir to haue any of these Arbutes or Strawburies or Sea-cherries or Africans or Italian Corbezzuole P. Out alas the very thinking of them obstructs bindes and stitches mee corroborating my body but too much notwithstanding the water of them distilled from the leaues or flowers with the powder of the bone in an Harts heart or of the horne of the same beast thinly grated helpes in time of the plague especially before the disease be confirmed and the decoction or powder of their leaues preuaileth against the selfe same disease and their fruites stay fluxes A. Enough enough enough at this time I will no more to tell you a very secret I finde in my selfe daily a great desire to these figges or fat figlins P. They nourish more then any other fruit they quench thirst discharge the breast fatten aide sperme and being very ripe are most secure A. Seeing in our Countrey by reason of the abundant humiditie and defect of heate we cannot haue greene ones wee will eate dride ones P. They help the cough and with Nuts leaues of Rue and salt they are good against the plague besides they are good for all complexions but many of them offend the stomacke they excite collickes cause thirst hurt the Lyuer and the Milt and cause the itch with lice and opilations to come when they are too much vsed and I find in my selfe that they produce great abundance of yealow choler A. But what will you taste of no Apples P. Of what taste are they A. Some are sharpe and tart others are pleasant P. These are hot in the first degree and temperately moist but the others are cold and dry so as the great sweet and wel-coloured are the best the greene apples amongst all others hold the first place the red ones the second and the russet the third they comfort the heart much extend the breast they open the Catarre cause one to spit and being roasted in ashes they comfort a weake stomacke and therefore they are good for them that are in recoueries when they be eaten with Aniseede comfits or sugar and synnamon the syrupe of them is cordiall and most of all against melancholike passions but raw ones being eaten in any quantitie hurt the nerues and a weake stomacke and they must ripen vpon the tree or otherwise they are of very bad nourishment your sowre doe make one loose memorie and generate much flegme and ventositie they are preserued in Wheat straw but so as they
on horse-backe in Gods name Who beginneth well hath halfe the worke Nor one beginneth not well but from heauen A mortall enterprise cannot haue a fortunate issue If the heauens doth not prosper it B. Doe you please to haue any thing else sir F. No but get you vp likewise marrie first tell me one thing did you aske which way we should goe and turne B. I haue set downe in order the names of the Villages and Townes the miles and distance from one place to another F. See how pleasant it is in this hot season to ride in the coole of the morning B. So me thinkes likewise but God and heauen helpe vs in so many turnings and by-wayes F. I beleeue the heauens can make easie the way B. Here is a crosse from the which commeth so many wayes that now at the last euery one resteth in such manner dazeled that one knoweth not surely which way to goe F. Not the crosse but men with their varying make others to stray but let it be as it will be for by some one we must goe wherefore doe you feare Doest thou not know with how many forces God helpeth me B. But yet by that which in truth seemeth to me most secure large and beaten I see no body goe there truly but onely in appearance F. Be not astonished at it that Direction wanteth not to a Pilgrim that hath a tongue B. But if hee were one of those that in the manner of Merchants did seeke not onely to liue but to inrich himselfe with his merchandise and with his tedious and superfluous discourse perswadeth that such a path is the most secure when he knowes it worse then my selfe and yet playing the Reynald he will himselfe faine to goe by it setting me in the steepe way which cannot be plainely discerned but at certaine times when he with raynes in the necke keepes alwaies the lower I looking about me and perceiuing that in truth he auoides all that which with naked words hee perswaded me vnto and therefore beleeue me I beleeue him not F. And yet sure it is as necessarie there should be one good way for vs if thou wilt not say that alone there is one saluation for the desperate is to dispaire of saluation Are you a Pilot ah looke vp to heauen and be of good cheere away forward follow on without interest or any peruersenesse that which by the true footings seemes to thee to be the truest way B. But my heart throbs least any body should see vs. F. Doubt not For vertue neuer failes a valiant man and He that hath swarued from the right way must thither returne againe Who hath no Plate or else the same hath lost Must quench his thirst out of a drinking glasse B. Why then hereafter I must be more bold F. Yes bolde and yet with circumspection B. But what would you say sir while we stand thus in the Sunne to his owne good hap and our bad fortune some famished Wolfe should come vpon vs. F. We would doe contrarie to the Poets aduise Doe not remaine in any darksome night Vnder the poore skie by light of waterish Moone But we must looke out further for a bad night a worser day succeedes yet be not daunted seeing euery one from his birth-day hath his Fortunes set downe B. So me thinks I haue obserued and yet they said that euery one is the framer of his owne hap F. It often happens that one wise and valiant Is the Author of some happy fortune to himselfe but So haue you not seene that when I will I haue astonishment In my eies and death in my hand besides in truth nothing can terrifie me for I haue often made triall of The diuers assaults and cruell feare of death The great vncertainties of chance and of instable lot and yet if I were to die I would in dying seeme vnvanquished but whereat laugh you doe you thinke it would be a worke rather of furie then of hope B. Let vs confesse the truth we not hauing supped we shall be readie for a dainty supper for him and this I take to be the worldly prouidence so much exalted to beautifie as it were one with the extreame misery of many but to auoide this danger let vs hasten our pace F. Amidst all daunger valour is secure In vertue lyeth all my happinesse Valour from vertue vertue from faith proceedes and therefore you feare because you wauer in faith and that you beginne not where you should and ought And trust not in that Lord who good men helpes And doth preuent your prayers with his grace But why stay you alight for we will ease our beasts while some desperate fellow comes that may shew vs the way whether good or bad B. Oh what faire sightly and pleasant fields are here In beholding their beautie my heart euen growes young againe F. There shines in vs a fauour new deuine Did you euer feele such a sweet aire O goodly countries and delightsome streames O pleasant hils Flowers chearefull happy and sweet springing grasse Most louely and pale violets Vmbragious vines whereon the Sunne doe beate Who vvith his beames you proud and pleasant makes B. Surely if there be any Paradise in the world this is one F. Zipherus returnes and brings with him faire weather With flowers and hearbes his pleasant familie Progne does prattle and Philomell laments It 's now the faire virmilion pleasant spring When meadowes laugh and heauen serenefies Ioue smiles to see his louely daughter faire The aire earth water is with loue possest Tree-barkes grow tender and so each greene plant More ioyfully his verdure reassumes The Doues their kisses doe redouble oft All creatures are by loue now reconcilde Me thinkes the hard Oake and the Laurell chaste With all the leafie ample familie And earth and water doe both forme and breath sweet sighes and sents of an inflamed loue B. Oh what a goodly country what faire grounds are here F. Heere 's pleasant aire faire skie with pleasant Meadowes trees and waters pure and cleare Where midst the myrtles beautifull A fount doth rise a little brooke ore runnes Which raine into her bosome hearbs and still sweet sounds With murmuring noise of leaues that shake and stir The birds do sing the marbles and the gold I doe conceale For Art and workemanship most wonderfull The Elme Trees to whom sometime the Vine doe leane And with his crooked feete climes toward heauen B. The aire odour shaddow and refreshings all to you doe seeme to bend and to incline F. To tell thee my thoughts to an haire my deare Bulugante I ruminate and midst my tossed thoughts I am assailde with pittie of my selfe and In so diuers thoughts I know not which to choose For sad I passe the day and sad and sorrowfull The night while morning peepes againe Neither in
ouerwhelmed in tyrannies and blinded with false opinions that partly out of his owne valour and partly excited by another mans example dare but say with Liberius Porrò Quirites libertatem perdimus B. I pray you see what a goodly horse that is F. How he stampes beates his feete and windes about Swelles his nostrills and breathes fire and smoake but in conclusion he does nothing that should shew his exercised discipline or that deserues commendation he is not of the right Italian race but of some bastard sire for you may onely obserue in him a little apparence a presumption of himselfe an outward pride to dazle euery ones eye but I would see him breake the yron headed launce or clad in a coate of male with gauntles on his hands without a scull on his head and without ceremonies abroad out of the Citie to fight in the plaine field like a valiant Combatant onely with his sword For that 's enough where courage wanteth not B. I thinke t were good that hee informed mee which is the best Inne F. Know you not that a Trauailer must neuer spare his tongue in demaunding nor his purse in spending vpon necessarie things B. You courteous Gentleman I pray you tell me which is the best Inne H. Goe to the signe of the Angell for by common report it is thought the best of them all F. Indeede it is a fine place and hath a faire outâ—side and a very good earnest H. But stay sir haue you your ticket to lodge withall F. Yes here it is H. T is well you are now sir a thousand times welcome to your Inne F. God a mercie heartily goe thy wayes to the Host and if there be none speake to the Hostesse that in my name shee would doe vs the fauour to afford mee a good Chamber in a quiet part well furnished and another for thy selfe and let there be lock and key to them both but returne againe quickly B. Sir let 's be heartily merrie for I haue spoken to the Host who is courtesie it selfe and humanity and certainly for his ciuill entertainment proffers and complements I am wholly in loue with him F. Oh what a feminine braine thou hast did hee giue thee nothing B. Nothing in troth F. Surely then by his flatteries hee pretends to haue somewhat from thee B. He enioynde the chamberlaine to come quickly and serue vs to our owne liking in euery thing F. O how simple thou art doest thou not vnderstand their gibbrige talke the wolfe preached to the Foxe This by and by by and by of your Innes hath neuer no end B. Here hee comes F. Let him come in a fooles name so he would come sooner H. Gentlemen pardon me if I haue made you stay too long but now what 's your pleasure F. Why I would haue a faire quiet and well furnished chamber which is shut with locke and key and another neere hand for my man haue you such an one H. Looke vpon this this is a very faire one F. If thy mother had beene as louely to looke vpon as this chamber I thinke shee had neuer brought forth an heire I pray thee doe not weary me thus with hayling me from Herod to Pilate take this for my sake and vse me friendly H. I humbly kisse your hand but indeed Sir you are too courteous as I on the contrary should be too discourteous if I vsed you not courteously well come along with mee I will let you haue a chamber fit for a Prince How like you this F. I haue long since learnt that euery thing is obtayned with mony May we shut these chamber dores H. The best and worst dores in all this Inne may both day and night by a little thrust forward with your finger be lockt F. It is good goe and looke to the horses and returne to take off my riding coate B. I am here at hand sir F. VVhat kinde of strangers are these in this Inne did you aske or marke them B. They told me they were Marchants and Gentlemen F. Goe and request the Host that he will call me at supper time B He saith he will not faile to doe it F. Bring a little storax or Aloes with a little Amber and Ciuet to perfume the chamber B. Excuse me sir this is one of the delicatest cities in all Europe F. It is true and yet good sauours comfort and refresh my spirits But tell me be the stables good the hay straw prouander and watering place for the horses B. Here is whatsoeuer is needfull with all conueniencie F. But why stay you and tarry so long you are present potentially but not in act B. I am so dazeled with the Sunne that my wits goe a woolgathering F. Make all ready and plucke off my bootes brush my hat and then doe all the rest B. They had need so to be F. Remember hereafter to doe whatsoeuer belongs to you if you will liue vpon my purse and remember that the Maisters eye fattens the horse B. I goe presently F. Doe so but returne to waite on me at the Table and see you doe not leaue me like an Owle vpon the stage B. Sir there be some Marchants and Gentlemen which desire your company at supper if you please and therefore they expect you F. I come presently shut the dore and follow me B. You must goe in Sir at that dore on the right hand F. Good-euen to all these Gentlemen H. You are exceeding welcome Sir F. Among many other fauours I hold my selfe bound to thank God specially this day for three in particular first because I am so safely arriued in a rich and worthy country then because I now enioy the amenity and sweet delights of Naples called the gentile and thirdly which notwithstanding is not the least because I haue met with such good company H. Nay but we ought rather to thanke him for the inioying of yours Sir But why stay you so long ere you wash your hands F. I pray you sir begin you and I le follow what delicate water is this it refresheth and wholly comforts my heart H. Know sir that in the whole world there is one Italy and in Italy for all delicacie and delight regard had to the honour of all other Cities there is but onely one Naples F. So me thinkes it begins to appeare vnto me But what shall wee doe after supper shall we follow the Phisitians counsell to walke while it be time to goe to bed H. To him that vvere vvearie I suppose it could not be verie healthfull F. With their leaue I will retire my selfe into my chamber You may goe sir at your owne pleasure and quietly may you take your rest F. To morrow goe and prouide mee of two horses and looke to that you haue in hand with your Hackney men and Hosts they being a very bundle of lyes and a Ware-house of deceit hast thou prepared for euacuation B. All is readie in the by Chamber sir
case were a Cuckold or no H. He wore hornes and yet was no Cuckold B. Maister haue you slept all this while behold wee are now at Genoa F. By the beautifull prospectiue of the Port the magnificence of the place the height and riches of the houses Palaces and Gardens I am euen confounded You whither are you gone that I cannot see you disburse as much as these Gentlemen demaund both for our charges and for our passage and giue eighteene pence more then due for mee amongst the Oares H. Gentle sir now we must leaue you and that we doe in troth with great griefe because thus wee shall be depriued of your ciuill and pleasing company yet conceiuing some comfort that is we hope if it please God to see you againe F. O God sir but I am the man that should rather complaine of his hard fortune which euer being hard to me and more then cruell cuts off like a mischieuous step-mother or impious destenie all my content There doth this rebellious queane neuer cease to nourish and feede me against my will with her bitter fruites this onely remaines vnto mee for a comfort that if you will but vouchsafe to direct mee to some good Inne where you are acquainted if I can but see you or vnderstand where you remaine I shall be wonderfully pleased in all kindnesse to visite you H. Why sir goe to the Angell for there you shall be well vsed F. Pardon me sir I le neuer while I liue beleeue in Angels or Archangels it is enough that I was once deceiued already H. You may goe to the Faulcon F. This is a signe of ill presagement H. Lye at the signe of Saint George F. Well I will try whether hee be the same in deedes that hee seemes to be in appearance With a thousand and a thousand thankes I here leaue you H. God alwayes remaine with you and accompany you in your affaires DIALOGVE V. VVherein a Citizen and a Country-man discoursing together they argue whether is the greater Idoll either pleasure that a Gentleman followes or gaine affected by a Citizen Moreouer that the true Instruction of a Sonne consists of the Fathers good life led and finally they reason of hunting with corrected breuitie Citizen GOod night good sir P. May all nights be euer good to you also C. When came you out of the Country P. Yester-night readie to doe you seruice C. You were no lesse desired sir then expected and now you are a thousand times welcome P. This is out of your fauour sir and I thanke you for it C. But what doe our friends the Gentlemen in the Country P. You hit vpon our humane humour better then I thought for without some recreation wee cannot passe ouer present calamities C. But so what would you call continuall recreation mirth P. Because I am wholly corrupted me thinkes it were better to censure my selfe then iudge of another C. Euen as it is vnpossible with one eye to behold heauen and with the other the center of the earth no lesse vnpossible is it to serue two Maisters and therefore Iacob commaunded his posteritie that they should leaue all false Gods sacrifice to the true God neither would the same God that the Arke and Dagon should haue alters together hereby to instruct vs that none can follow God and his present delights neither attend both his pleasure and his saluation there being no correspondencie betwixt these things with the humour therefore of vertue we must altogether kill the idoll of pleasure for the honouring of God and giuing good example to others P. I affirme that the intellect being actually intentiue on one thing it cannot at the same time perfectly intend another and hereupon you open a way to my vnderstanding to conceiue that by how much the more intentiue and ardent the idoll of your gaine is more then of hunting by so much the more it deserues to be ouerthrowne considering that from the wombe to the graue and from morning to euening Citizens are neuer satisfied with gaine If a huntsman spares no labour to seeke a little pleasure mixed with a thousand annoyances much more will the other spare no deceit to heape vp wealth so that oftentimes in the Church they sing with their mouthes but in their harts meditate on nothing but profit euen as God sometime reproued the proud Pharisies saying This people worshippeth me with their lippes but their harts is farre off from mee And the truth is that where your treasure is there will you hart be also And the antient Father S. Augustine saith The soule is not where it recides but where it loues C. The Gentleman in hunting and his other recreations hath pleasure for his obiect the which being voluntarie when he is willing if it be hurtfull he may leaue it but trafficke and commerce in a Citizen is neither a pleasure nor voluntarie but a continuall necessary labour which rather procures vnto him a troublesome discontent neither doth he it for a recreation but partly to maintaine the state wherein hee was brought vp in which hee declining it would be an immortall infamie to him in the world as also to keepe himselfe and his family and that as a good Citizen hee may be able amongst others to liue honestly and ciuilly P. I speake onely of extreames for many being worse then meanely borne God knowes how humane wealth being nothing but a secret fraud they are neuer satisfied while of seruants and vsurers they become great Lords not respecting a whit that most true Cannon Non remittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum and not for the world to loose heauen for gold God nor their owne soules for goods but before the body dies the soule hauing formerly beene solde for vile gaine they depart out of this world quietly without any remorse onely setled in this imagination that their eternall torment shall be a perpetuall ioy to their posteritie and that vpon their owne perdition their base family with wealth and Titles erecting vp their hornes amongst others may discouer their painted countenances C. Obserue sir humane iudgement being blinde is often deceiued P. I finde it true not onely in words but in deedes and therefore I certainely beleeue you C. Besides this euen as it is proper to fire and smoake to ascend so is it no lesse naturall to a man except hee be gouerned by reason neuer to be satisfied neither meane I nor will I defend any men but onely such as by lawfull gaines maintaine themselues honestly P. But with the fauour of honest men where are such now a dayes in Europe for if one hauing greater regard to heauen then to earth would onely affect honest profit he shall neuer be able to build an house of two Stories high nor with vsuries to enlarge his bounds but rather comming to breake he shall be held by others but a coxcombe for vsing no fraudulent deuises and not digging with countermines of deceite euery
one will bite him to the bone and at last oâ—erthrow him cleane C. This is proper to euery one to leaue his owne and neerely to examine another mans defect and this is the proper note and Caracter of hypocrites and idle men who when others obserue them not not to trouble their heads with their owne affaires they giue themselues ouer altogether as a pray to worldly pleasures making it knowne to euery one how their stomackes are full of bad humours and their harts voide of the hope of any heauenly good P. Yea and you with the continuall disturbance of multiplication shew that your heart also is onely chained to humane interests C. Conceiue sir a little money would serue the turne but when we consider that besides our necessarie our superfluous and excessiue occasions must also be furnished as our pomps and vaine toyes it makes vs much more neere in buying and couetous in selling whereupon you depriue vs of a common good and an inward peace P. A little money say you a loftie woman or a proud and vaine man like one that hath the dropsie haue neuer their thirst quenched nor like a Cesterne with many holes can neuer be filled C. Euen as pleasure so commoditie greatnesse and honour come they apparrelled how so euer euery one likes them but finally our traffique redounds to the augmentation of Common-wealths renowne reputation and strength but yet your pleasures dissipate and confound all Moreouer they begin in pleasure and end in discontent the entring into them is with laughter but the comming out of them is sorrowfull with lamentation as it is prefigured in Nabuchadonozers statue with the head of golde and feete of earth your pleasures hauing for the most part a goodly beginning and an honourable head but oftentimes an vnhappy and dishonourable end Beleeue me our Sauiour laments ouer you as sometimes he did ouer Ierusalem which being lulled a sleepe with present delights thought on nothing else nor foresaw not her future ruine so that if any thing can induce a manly heart to lament it is when he sees the blindnesse of a man that neuer meditates but onely faine to meditate on the issue of vaine delights so as they are plunged and ouerwhelmed in them P. It is more then a fruitlesse labour without inward vertue to preach vnto others I know earthly pleasures bring with them a dainty dinner but a bitter supper And they are like those vvhich Leoâ—iâ—aâ— being merrie propounded to his people An hard dinner and a terrible supper In the morning they are fresh but in the euening withered but yet euery one is delighted with them and many times the Citizen hunts as much as any great Lord. C. Euery offence is voluntarie yet doth it not admit excuse and though man couer yet God discouers it P. I cannot defend pleasure it being so short and momentarie a thing euen as also our life is which with a most swift course comes to meete with the sharpe sickle of implacable death for we were borne lamenting wee liue in afflictions and with griefe and teares depart from hence but whither no man knowes much lesse can discerne C. Your pleasures passe and â—ke your pompes Your Signories and Kingdomes passe Time euery mortall thing cuts off More then a day what 's mortall life A little cloud much colde full of annoy Which may well seeme but is not faire in deede yet here lies humane hope here worldly ioyes Here mortall men lift vp their hornes on hie But how long shall he liue when must he die Hee questionlesse that did but duely thinke on this it would serue him for a looking glasse wherein he might discerne humane miseries it would be as a rudder to stirre and conduct him into a secure port and an effectuall flapper to driue away the Flies of all worldly vanities but now I see man reduced to such a luke-warmnesse that he reputes the aboue mentioned things for a meâ—re and vaine dreame or a shadow and pleasure for the true body P. We ride not all by the same poste yet neuertheles we must haue some kinde of refreshment to driue away melancholy C. Me thinkes it was an excellent remedy that Plato set downe who said to Dionisias if thou wilt ouercome sadnesse goe about the graues and thou shalt finde a fit cure for thy passions for so thou shalt discerne mens vnhappinesse for more then dust they possesse nothing but miserie P. But yet sometime wee must needes take a little breath C. Cretese writing to some of his friends said Philosophize alwayes so much as to take breath for that life is farre better which proceedes from Philosophie then that which wee receiue from breathing P. T is true yet a bow continually shot in cannot long last C. It is better to liue a little and well then much and ill and herevpon the same Cretese was wont to say to his familiar friends haue a care of your mindes and for the body onely care for that which is necessary and nothing so much for othings Felicity not consisting so much in the contentment that we take in outward things as in Vertue which without them is of her selfe perfect P. All naturall things please euery one and pleasure being so vpon this it pleaseth euery one C. Surely he stumbles on a great blocke that by the example of a common errour seekes to defend his mortall enemie that is sinne with apparenticall and forced reasons embellishing he deformitie P. Conceiue sir any one that hunts or takes other pleasure hee doth it oftentimes more to please anothers humour then his owne and therefore hee is not altogether vnworthie of excuse C. Vnderstand sir that it is greatest folly when wee may doe otherwise to obserue other mens lenities rather then our owne but for your sonnes sir how doe they follow they the same vertues you doe P. Thankes be to God they are well and be in the Country C. Neither Towne nor Citie haue the priuiledge to make one vertuous or vicious the law affirming and experience prouing Quod conuersatio obligat ad mores for a young man conuersing with vaine fellowes becomes vaine himselfe if with the learned learned with the politicall politick if vvith warriours a good souldier with wise men wise and discreete and if with one vertuous vertuous practise begetting vertue in vs together with example and not by chance as vice doth and hereupon the Poet saith Vertue comes not by chance but is a goodly Art P. It is true but yet he wants no good counsell C. Example and actions giue authoritie to learning and without all comparison stirre vp more then any wise or elegant Instruction whatsoeuer And therefore Christ cursed the figge tree voide of fruit and abounding in leaues and hee himselfe wrought thirty and preached but three yeeres shewing herein that the efficacie of workes and example was greater then that of speach P. And yet speech may preuaile much
onely obtaines true honor that is his true friend if pleasure without him all pleasure is but vaine if glory hee is the Lord thereof But here is the maine point that God in truth is sought after but onely in apparance but yet God discouers our hipocrisie and inward defects when man can no wayes be at quiet in his owne minde but only intends his continuall pleasures proper interests and worldly reasons and for that which pertaines to the truth of the spirit he leaues it for a reliefe to the poore and with loose reynes followes the world and the flesh and death at last catches both one and other but the matter thus standing I pray you in what manner passed you ouer all the hot dayes for I dissolue into sweat with onely thinking of them P. Partly with haulking and partly with hunting C. Oh God what a tedious laboursome and dangerous pastime is that P. The more industrious and laboursome the more vertuous All ioy is not good Nor all things ill that doe annoy That may rather be counted true ioy That springs from vertue after much endurance C. Euery action is measured not by the labour but by the excellencie of the end P. If that be true which you said from greatest gaine greatest wealth proceedeth and from greatest wealth greatest felicitie and nothing being more to be desired then felicitie nothing likewise should be more appetible or more excellent then gaine which you so much desire but these being no points for me to decide I referre my selfe to the more learned C. Whensoeuer profit goes before honestie the more gaine hee obtaines the more happy hee shall be but to conclude you answere more subtiltie then learnedly in that among the leauie Oakes you can hardly haue leasure to be conuersant among dead Authors P. Studie requires ease and vacancie C. And most of all of minde which is much distracted by all bodily agitation From hence it proceedes if I erre not that the greatest of vs being wauering and inconstant few minde their studies and fewest of all make any great profit in them and those few that doe are very rare P. I will answere you at further leasure For he 's not alwayes ouercome In truth that is in words subdu'd C. A fault requires no excuse but onely amendment Where deedes accuse all defence offends P. God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse illuminate vs grant vs his spirit by vertue whereof flying the world as his true sonnes we may aspire to heauen FINIS DIALOGVE I. Of the second part of the first part of the Passenger of Benuenuto Italian professour of his owne naturall tongue in London VVherein Eutrapelus Alatheus and Vrbanus a Seruant discoursing together they vse all ceremonie and complement possible and to that end discusse of that which any wayes concerneth ceremonious entertainments wherein the Author doth briefely argue partly as a Courtier and partly as a Philosopher Eutrapelus HOnest youth are you belonging to the house V. Yes indeede sir readie to doe you any seruice what pleaseth it you sir to command me E. I desire to speake with your Maister so he be not otherwise busied V. He is arfull leasure sir and therefore it will be no trouble to him E. I pray thee then impart so much vnto him on my behalfe V. Very willingly and I will presently goe E. Well my good friend what is his answere V. Sir he requests you to come vp E. Goe afore for I know not the way V. I doe obserue you Sir and therefore you may follow if you please Sir here is the Gentleman that would speake with you E. Good morrow gentle Sir A. The like good day with a thousand happy yeers betide your worthy selfe E. Sir I wish no lesse to you and also am glad of your prosperous returne out of the country A. I wish you no lesse as also your welcome is vnfayned E. And how haue you done Sir since I last saw you A. A few dayes since God visited mee with a very grieuous sicknesse E. God once apparelled in our flesh spake therof in operations blood and euen in his owne pretious death but now crying out vnto vs with his voice and not with his actions hee stirreth vs vp to be mindefull of him and by sufferance to follow his steps A. Out alas hath Christ shed for my good of his owne blood with a thousand stripes and haue not I out of both these eyes powred forth one teare of repentance though hee hath scourged me and that which is worse I am now reduced to such a point as I make a scruple in my conscience to see him painted or ingrauen E. God will not haue his vertue and power lye hid nor that the memoriall of him should be blotted out wherefore hee afflicts vs with continuall molestations A. He thunders a thousand times for our terrification but so as the fountaine of pittie it selfe he neuer lightens because he would not destroy vs. E As being most iust with one hand he smites vs but then with the other as a most mercifull Father he sustaynes vs to the end we may not fall A. He offreth to his elect of the fruits of his crosse to be tasted of which is the true medicine of the soule E. Let vs giue God thankes for euery worke of his which euer hath reference to our saluation A. I bend all my thoughts to the doing of good and to take all at his gratious hand with meekenes and thanksgiuing E. But now sir I hope you are very well A. Thankes be to God for as long as it shall please him I am reasonable well E. I am much comforted in this your comming but a great deale the more because it is with your health A. I giue you infinite thankes sir E. I am sorry for your griefe past but yet I am farre more ioyfull for your present good A. What is past is gone what is present is inioyed and that which is future cannot be perceiued but is onely expected or hoped after E. God grant that we long and quietly enioy this present estate A. I make no doubt but you would herein inferre that which an honourable man said who being visited by one of his own degree and in departing from him he saying God be with you while we meete in Rome or in Paradise the other replyed well but may it be as late as can be E. Oh the good God pardon me my offences which are not small nor few in number but I did not once thinke of this A. Then you would haue said and that with good reason that some enioy with ioy and others with annoy E. These are but worldly discommodities for one laughes in his heart and not in his countenance another with his mouth and not inwardly others both in countenance and secretly together But many againe rather lamenting in both doe yet frame in their visage an artificiall Cour-like smyle A. There is more bitternes
but a prepared soule A. I would willingly be of that nation of which the said Petrarch spake There 's borne a people whom death not grieues E. As for my selfe according as I can iudge of my selfe I see that So weake's the thread That holdes my painefull life As without others helpe Before due time his end it doth obtaine Therefore This gift of God I onely doe demand That when out of his sacred will The houre of my death shall draw neere hand He will renowne me with a worthy end A. Soft and faire this wood of the world spoileth it selfe and reuesting it selfe with new leaues all things by little and little change their countenance E. God receiue the dead into his glory and giue true contrition to the liuing and to me a fresh memory of dying A. Seeing all our hope In death we put So that both when and where We meet with it we may be ready found And they which hitherto haue blindly slept Now let them ope their eyes and stand for feare Each day and houre prepared for the same Let none in force trust or in younger yeares Or in high dignities Seeing nothing is more certaine Then our mortall death And yet vncertain nothing more then th' houre therof E. To doe well is the onely meanes to prepare a mans selfe to die well A. O time O turning heauen thou doest in flying Deceiue the blinde and miserable mortall man Oh euery one admires the sodaine night of life Which in the Sunnes-continuall declining The ruine of the world doth manifest to all E. This is the onely ioy of euery faithfull liuing since that Life gaue death to vs and death onely can giue life A. This is not life but a long death But against death no hope saue death But I pray you sir tell mee so it be lawfull to know what make you in these parts E. Why surely I came with all obseruance to visite you not to stirre vp loue but to awake the louer A. Although fire not reuiued will goe out vnder the ashes of a long silence yet so doth not loue in the forge of a louers breast E. By loue we onely vnderstand the language of loue but for you sir who I know loues me better then I deserue you cannot but euery day haue heard with the eares of your thoughts newes of me who with the wings of my minde flie continually vnto you A. The principall vertue of him that answeres is to know the meaning of him that propounds for with the eyes of my vnderstanding I haue alwaies seene you you were euer really in my presence and in my heart I continually einoyed you and knew your desires E. He that should haue forgot you must needes haue forgotten vertue her selfe I was onely absent from you in body but not in minde A. Neither did I euer conferre with mine owne memorie but I discoursed with your selfe as also I neuer conuersed vvith bookes but I entreated of your vertues as also you can procure me no more inestimable ioy then the liuely memoriall you seemed to retaine of me E. Sir your departure which like lightning Prius tenuit quam tonuit and your absence made me offer vnto you that obseruance which so often I performe with my heart but now your presence spurres me forward to as much as my entire affection demands A. As I discerne the integritie of your minde in the sinceritie of your words so haue I proued and found no lesse in your actions E. Sir you left your selfe behinde with so fresh a memoriall of your loue and courtesie as I may confidently affirme that you neuer departed from me or rather that I neuer left you but that together with you I my selfe departed likewise A. When you seperate me from your sweet selfe you leaue me without departure E. When I leaue you sir I know not whether I am possest with a greater griefe for your departure or a greater desire after your returne or if you loose me with your eyes yet loose I not you with my heart A. Many times I haue receiued you with my minde and oftentimes you haue beene resident in the aboade of my hart but now visibly entertaining you I behold honor admire you E. Now I see sir that you are arriued in good health who was inwardly before vnited to my selfe I thanke God with my whole heart and tongue together and am come both to reioyce and thanke you that you haue thus vouchsafed to mitigate the griefe of your absence A. Through my departure there was no absence of ioy nor by my returne they haue no renouation for they neuer yet came nor which is more I looke not for them in this life E. He hath true ioy that possesses vertue which is better knowne by the want then the enioyance thereof A. Friendly visitations afford no small recreation but yours sir serue me for an excellent remedy they prouoking and stirring me vp to vertue E. It is my proper inclination to visite the vertuous as it is your property to deserue it A. Oh good sir this is rather a confounding then honouring of me E. No in troth Sir I thinke it to be the least part of my dutie and your vertue I was absent from you with obligation but am present both with obligation and affection and so together with them both and my presence I come to visit you A. Now I perceiue that my continuall desire was no little hope of obtayning and inioying your presence E. The courtesie of friends and discourtesie of time haue hitherto delayed my comming to visite you A. Your courtesie is an authentike Patent and perpetual Record of the fauour wherein you please to retaine me E. The same carefull desire which liues in me to serue you the same I say will not permit that I should deferre the doing of you all reuerence A. And the liuing without your presence hath beene as vnacceptable to me as now your presence is gratefull E. There can be nothing more deare vnto me then your comming euen as nothing more dâ—spleasing then your departure A. As likewise your viâ—itation is to me which confirmes the ancient worthinesse of your minde and fastneth a knot vpon another E. What is but deferd is not quite laide aside my intent was to come sooner A. And I O bad fortune when you came to salute mee prepared to visite you and therefore Sir you are the more welcome the slacker my visitation fell out E. And yet in common opinion he that failes in diligence failes in loue A. Excuse me sir delay doth not alwayes pretend negligence E. Loue and affection like flame operates without all delay A. I beseech you sir doe me the fauour as in stead of seruice to accept of my intentiue desire to serue you E. Your requesting of my fauour is the doing of me many A. And affection supplies defect for though you preuent mee in courtesie yet can you not doe it in
succeeded or confirmed and so this our Courtier not for ambition nor for gaine but as a true Courtier for honour that is as one vertuous following this his Lord or Prince that such a Court would be a liuely figure of the glorious future and celestiall Court E. But doe you omit to mention enuie vvhich makes euery Court an hell A. Why there is remedie for euerie thing the young man with good will the olde man with grauitie and discretion must fore-see and prouide for vvhatsoeuer euill may succeede and with the hope of sweet to come temper all present bitternesse E. A thousand thousand times most fortunate is he That can so bound and limit his high thoughts As through vâ—ine hopes of good immoderate He loose not wholy that which is in meane A. To tell you freely my conceit those Fathers seeme vnto mee verie iudicious vvho desiring to place their Sonnes in the seruice of some Prince doe first make them follow their learning and other conuenient exercises for a Courtier and then to conuerse in Court to the end they may thus learne the manners obserue the fashions and become expert in those places and amongst people vvith vvhom they are to conuerse and liue and in the meane vvhile they grow to a proportionable bodie to graue and ciuill customes and to maturitie of iudgement For questionlesse the Court is not a place for children a schoole for Infants nor a Market-place for boyes hoytings and knaueries but a place of vertue vvisedome and prudence E. All this is true and yet I know many Gentlemen in Italy the which neuer permit their sonnes very young to frequent the Court. A. This peraduenture was because they were rude and incapable of all ciuilitie E. You may rather say that many Courts at this day are so corrupted that there is no goodnesse in them but onely vanity pompe and deceit A. Doe you not remember that which the diuine Poet as diuinely singeth of that Court vvhich openly confesseth that euery Court is subiect vnto it Fountaine of griefe and harbour of fowle ire All errors schoole and Temple of Heresie Rome sometime but now wicked Babilon For whom so much wee sigh and doe lament The forge of all deceit the prison of ire Where good doth dye and ill is nourished The liuings hell great wonder it will be If Christ at last gainst thee be not prouokt Founded in chaste and humble pouerty Against thy founders thou rear'st vp thy hornes Most greedy whore where pleasest thou thy hopes In thy adulteries or in so great wealth Ill got Good Constantine doe thou returne no more The world embraceth him who doth her maintaine And hereupon I may with reason say That which the selfe-same Authour said else-where From wicked Babilon where out is banished All shame and euery good thing quite shut out Harbour of griefe mother of errours all Am I now fled for to prolong my life E. Wittie Guirinus speaking of other Courts or peraduenture alluding to the same spake most sincerely and truely A. I know he aduiseth euery one after this manner Who euer thought for to impaire his state in greatnesse and middest heapes of gold to want I euer thought in Royall Palaces the people had euer beene the more humane by how much more these riches they possesse whereby humanitie so honoured is but sure I found it all quite contrary People in words and speech most courteous but slow in deedes to pittie enemies People in countenance milde and affable but inwardly more raging then the deepest seas onely men in appearance in whom vvee see a faire face but a very enuious minde Then found I in cleere lookes but a darke minde and the least faith where appeared most flattery that which else-where is vertue here is defect their speech good deeds and most vnfained loue pittie sincere inuiolable faith a life in heart and hand most innocent They iudge a base minde and a rude conceit vaine folly vvorthy to be laughed at but fraud theft lying and all close deceit rapine all clad in fained pietie to be enricht by anothers losse and downe fall and in anothers disgrace to be graced these are the vertues of that Protean troupe not merit valour or yet reuerence of age of honour or of any Law no whit of shame as also no respect of loue or bloud no gratefull memory of any good receiued nor finally can any thing so sacred venerable or iust be found which to this hot desire of honours and to this insatiable maw of hauing more inuiolable is but who lesse wise and skilfull in their artes liues there and in his fore-head written hath his thoughts and openly his heart reueales iudge if this man be not an open marke to enuious men and priuie arrowes shot E. Vnderstand sir nay I remember that Guirinus finding no complete entertainment at the Duke of Ferraraes hands being much distasted retired to the Court of the Duke of Piomont and Sauoy and in the nuptials of that renowned Prince vnder whose protection hee liued composing his Pastorall Tragical-comedie he seemes both in this and in many other places to bestow many sound bobs both vpon the Court and consequently vpon the Duke of Ferrara himselfe but yet in reading you may finde many Authours who haue honoured and celebrated the Court. A. You say well for at this instant I remember Tasso who with wonderfull Art sets it out that is the Court Knights and Ladyes he thus saying in his Anintas Be vvarie and roughly doe not presse neere hand where there be coloured cloaths glittering with gold with plumes deuises and new fashions but aboue all take heed least some euill destinie fresh youthfull beautie doe not thee diuert vnto the ware-house of all toyes but flye flye I say this inchanted residence I asked what place this was he answered mee here dwell the hagges that doe inchant and charme make each one falsely heare and falsely see That which seemes polished gold or Diamant is glasse or Copper and those siluer chests which you suppose to be full of treasure are onely filled with bladders and puft with lies Here wals are made and framed all of arte which speake and answere to intergotants neyther doe they so answere in halfe words as ecchoes vse to doe in woods but they reply them whole and absolute and adding more then formerly was said The stooles the tables and the benches round the low stooles curtaines and so bed-steads all the furniture of chambers and of hals haue each a tongue and euen speake here lyes a forme where little infants doe both sport and play and if one that is dumb doe but enter hee must needes prattle whether hee will or no yet this is the least ill that encounters thee for there thou maist remaine transformed and changed into a beast a willow water or fire into a floud of teares and a fire of sighes E. Tasso in the place aboue-mentioned alluded also to the court
little braines curious humorous disdainefull despightfull capricious strange passionate headstrong idle sloathfull dead stupide insensible blockish lourdish foolish ill-mannered fearefull irresolute entangled weake in braine base rude obliuious carelesse ninnie-hammers void and hollow-brained pratlers tatlers stingers pedanticall vaine-glorious selfe-conceited and endued rather with conceit then true wit harsh and vnciuill ignorant other whiles double-hearted and malicious flatterers no lesse in their sports then in Tauernes in gluttonie and dishonesties of the world dissolute and immoderate in auarice or in spending prodigall ambitious proud stately rash and impudent vitious fantasticall vnquiet swaggering strange litigious contentious entangled alwayes in a thousand quarrels some are malignant peruerse perfidious periured maledicents enuious hard froward and like obstinate Asses ingrate pertinacious rigorous and seuere and of a cruell nature melancholicke sauage Astrologicall who alwayes framing and building something in the ayre goe for the most part alone other absolute fooles altogether extrauagant and yet in these extrauagancies very vaine-glorious and vaine And of such like as these there are no small but a great number others on the contrarie are so furious and brutish foolishly flattering themselues herein as if they were valiant magnanimious men that this their bestialitie is worthy to be celebrated in some famous History not calling to minde as we will auerre and in discourse of my Duello that this is rather vituperable in a man not onely hurtfull to themselues but also to many more being terrible intameable diabolicall thwart headlong toyish light-heeled heteroclite men by forme of statute composed altogether of their own fashions who can neither for law for good orders nor for equity it selfe with whom the diuel himselfe would haue nothing to doe E. In all parts of the vvorld you shall finde diuersitie in euery thing neuerthelesse amongst many honourable gallants you shall obserue many of them well experienced and manlike who will reply prudently vpon any vvorthie occasion generall in their discourses ingenious vvise and resolute A. For my part though I may sometimes seeme to be bitter yet my meaning is farre there-from for no man creating himselfe but being created I dare not in good earnest be so bold as to reproue any one in that wee see Nature and secondarie causes to haue operation in euery one so as in the heat of youthfull bloud to bridle one beyond his naturall and elementall temperature is as it vvere impossible so that neither blowes stockes chaines manicles scourgings nor any cruell torments nay nor the feare of an horrible death it selfe except dissemblingly but onely by yeares as vvee daily may proue and trie is able to reforme them E. It is true but reason is giuen vnto vs as a square whereby to gouerne our selues A. Reason springing from wit wit from vnderstanding and vnderstanding from a temperature of the braine looke what temperature he is of of such an vnderstanding he is and wit and according to his wit hee hath a proportionable capacitie of reason the vvhich may be further illuminated with endeauours but to ouercome and subdue himselfe it neuer or very seldome as I haue proued falles out A. O young men while your Aprill greene and May Clad you with greene and flourishing faire leaues Let not the beames of deceitfull glory and vertue Your tender mindes abuse and carie away He onely is wise that followes what he likes And in due season reapes fruit of his yeares Thus Nature sayes but you must obdurate Your mindes to these her too licentious words Oh fooles why cast you away the good deare gift Which is so short of your more tender yeares Titles and Idols without sence they are What this world termes honour and valour true The pompe that so transports each vaine fond heart Of mortall men so proud and seemes so faire Is but an Eccho a dreame nay a shaddow of a dreame Which euery winde dissolues and dissipates E. Blinde is the man relies on vanity But happy he that can finde out the Ford Of this steepe falling and outragious streame Which is termed life and pleaseth most so well A. He 's blinde that onely loues base worldly things For he that would his minde and soule retaine In the last day quiet and disburdened The fewer must follow and not the vulgar vaine E. But see here what a pretty house a Citizen hath built A. I begin to take delight in these moderne edifices for leauing lome with straw and wood somwhat after the ancient forme they begin now more often to vse lime brickes free stone and thus with more stately building both in height beauty they day by day more and more adorne the Citie E. When the neast is made the Magpie is dead all consists in building well for heauen A. This care they commit to pulpitrian Architects but haue you euer seene the famous houses which some of our rich men built in the Country E. I haue seene them sure but vvhere did you euer learne to build in woods A. Why this is an ancient custome and an olde custome is kept for a law E. May you not perceiue it a little to smell and to retaine a lustre of the fashion of that age during which men liuing amongst wilde beasts in the shady woods they knew not what humane commercement policie nor any law was A. You speake this of the golden age wherein golde not yet raigning man was not subiect to the greedy famine of deceit know sir that as rich men doe ouer all the world so do they here likewise this is made for their commodity and pleasure where profit ioynes with their ease then they spare neither cost nor labour respecting no trauaile to the end they may be accommodated in all things as if they were here to liue for euer E. I affirme the like for I haue seene in diuers Prouinces of this noble Kingdome Palaces built with no lesse pompe then Art and passing ouer all others euen now I call to minde that the honourable and illustrious Baron Cauendish which is seated on a reasonable lofty foundation built of free marble stone cut in square forme and with excellent order being raised with faire Architecture which is adorned with a faire and beautifull Frontispice hauing an honorable entry correspondent to the same within it is also set forth with all commodious offices very large stayres spacious roomes corredores with many and diuers roomes vnderneath and aboue orderly distributed into sundry partitions whereunto is added a long high sightly and stately gallerie A. So euery one tels me E. Moreouer as a goodly body without heart out of question is worth nothing likewise it not sufficing that the foresaid Palace is faire for the aboue-mentioned or other reasons to make it compleat it is much the more honourable for the inward preparations for it is furnished with diuers rich vessels both of gold siluer with sumptuous tapestries and other of cloath of gold siluer
heard these words and saw the writings but receiued no money he cast them in a corner saying there is time there is time enough The morning following my friend met with his Aduocate who partly for common courtesie partly for ciuilitie and partly also for his owne necessary occasions very orderly saluting him he presently demanded what hee thought of his writings to whom the Lawyer with a faint sigh and the eyes of a dead hogge in his head made answere that as yet hee could finde out no good foundation wherupon in conscience he could moue that the sute hung yet doubtfull and that he prayed God his case proued not desperate A. God grant with a poxe to him God in his mouth and an old fistula in his heart E. The Gentleman who was very circumspect and knew vvell of vvhat legge his Asse halted and where his shooe wroung him when he vnderstood all vvent home and because his matter vvas very important he put three hundred crownes of gold into a bagge and tooke withall some other writings nothing at all to the purpose and so tying the bagge he with his seruant vvent to the Lawyers house A. Marry this vvas the vvay to make him vveepe for ioy E. Not finding him at home now as before hee deliuered this bagge to Mistresse Doctoresse requesting her as before that shee should entreat her husband to looke on those writings and that hee would shake the bagge well for he might finde very preualent reasons for his defence vvhen the Doctor heard this newes more for disdaine then for any other respect he emptyed the bagge and found that without which he had sworne to doe nothing A. As soone as the hungry Wolfe hath met with the sheepe she serues him for a pray E. Not long time after they meeting both together the Aduocate presently with many complements preuenting this partie said be of good cheare man I haue sound out such a point as vndoubtedly I thinke all vvill goe vvell vvith you and then hee framed him such a trauerse vvith so many reasons authorities glosses common opinions tryals of cases and adiudgements as vvere able to haue amazed a Milan Senate to haue plunged all the Professours of Padua and bring to a non-plus all the learned Maisters of Paris A. Gold makes a golden tongue and sentence what thinke you of those Oracles of Belzebub E. I tell you in truth that when I was a young man I read in a booke held very authentick in Italy that an Aduocate Procuror Sollicitor or Notarie whether he were being one euening in a certaine street at the window about Sun-set hee saw a Country-man who not onely with his voice and cries but also with good thumps and blowes forced an Heard of diuers beasts to enter into a Stable but when hee could not being all in choler he said get yee in in the Diuels name as all Aduocates Procurors and Lawyers goe into hell which when he had said the beasts sodainly entred wherefore this good Lawyer abandoning the vvorld made himselfe one of the poorest and desperatest Friers that was in the Country A. To tell you my opinion it cannot be denied but that the Cinthian law of the Romanes was in part lawfull by which Lawyers were forbidden to take any reward the which Law was disanulled through the reasons and entreatie of Appius Claudius to the end that all hope of reward being remoued young men should not giue ouer this practise or else plead with the more frigiditie and negligence E. To this one might reply that if Lawyers were negligent to proceede Cliants would also be as slow and backward to sue and contend A. Let vs suffer the world to flie with her waight and runne with her feet Sutes are the pennance of some who are like Hiberbolus Procles for they are of so litigious a nature as they are neuer satisfied with ioyning sute to sute and to pick quarrels with their neighbours and if they could euen like bloud-suckers they would suck the substance of euery one and strip euery one to furnish themselues E. God sends such as sacrifices to Notaries Sollicitors Procurors and Aduocates to the end that with their haire they may flay off their skinnes vvith their skinne their flesh and with their flesh that they may deuoure their very entrailes and with such subtilty that the silly sheepe neither bleathing nor complaining are not only flayed but deuoured as a sacrificiall offering is consumed in the fire neither which is worse being vnder a colour of dispatching one sute craftily brought into many others know their miserie but in the end Therefore truly To these men may be sayd is giuen th' art Of selling words or rather lies and trickes A. Notwithstanding I haue knowne many of them which haue beene and are the true likenesse of a fayre Image of a goodly white and pure Virgin of a royall aspect with eyes that sparkle foorth most sweet flames of fire in an honourable mysteriall and ciuill habit of a kingly and rare iesture conformable to her rare beauty amongst whom I remember that famous Sir Chistopher Yeluerton a most worthy Iudge of the Kings Bench and a deseruefull Knight of a vertuous faire and pure minde and not lesse pious and clement in equitie then vehement in administring incorrupted Iustice of a deepe insight in euery thing eloquent sage graue and in a word the true effigie of his Maiestie whom he representeth of whom and his like me seemeth that S. Ierome spake saying It is not for euery man to iudge but for those that are wise whom therefore I doe worthily reuerence and shall deseruedly honour for euer But in good faith not those amongst whom that saying is verified Pauper dum non habet quod offerat non solum audiri contemnitur sed etiam contra iustitiam opprimitur And of such citò auro violatur iustitia iustificatur impius pro muneribus iustitia iusti aufertur ab illo And all this commeth to passe for the not obseruing of the precept in Exodus non accipietis munera quae excaecant occulos sapientium peruertunt verba iustorum And such did vnworthily begin to studie the lawes and sit amongst the others the text saying noli querere fieri Iudex nisi valeas virtute irrumpere iniquitates ne forte extimescas faciem potentis or if they feare not the great ones nor be corrupted with gold be yet oftentimes blinded with affection for Personam iudicis exuit qui amicum induit which truly is a capitall crime preferring his owne priuate gaine to the publique good his owne interest to scandall iniustice to iustice and profit to honestie E. But marke I pray you how we goe from bad to worse hee is gone who with his owne or vnder a pretext of defending doth much more confound the lawes and behold shee commeth who first breaking caused and doth cause what lawes she will to be violated and transgressed
I meane a faire woman which commeth to meete vs. A. Oftentimes so much the vvorse by how much the more faire a bad augurie of a bad thing God helpe vs. E. What doe you feare it may be such a gracious encounter A. What faithfull soule vvould not feare feeling his bloud tickle in euery small veine Therefore Dauid saith Turne away mine eies that they see not vanitie and Salomon Turne away mine eies from a faire woman E. They kill the liuing and reuiue the dead But be merrie for she is not lesse faire then courteous ha ha doe you behold her A. I doe indeede looke vpon her but with an honest minde and standing farre off To stand farre off from my extreamest losse E. What I thinke you haue alwaies had an amorous breast and perswading my selfe that not onely in the Theoricke but rather in the Practick you know what a thing Loue is I am determined in my selfe to demand of you what it should be to the end that I might be able to moderate my selfe in the Labirinth thereof A. A man can hardly expect the true definition of Loue from a false and olde Louer alreadie vvaxen gray in the troubles of the vvorld and not in vvomens loue Notwithstanding I will tell you according to Orpheus and others that Loue is a great GOD rather as Diuine Petrarch sayth the triumpher ouer the other Gods a God aboue all Gods Hence with Tasso in his Amintas Not onely a God Oth'woods or of the common sort of Gods But mongst the celestials a most potent one Who oftentimes makes fall from Mars his hand The bloudy sword and Neptune forceth eke That Maker of the earth his trident for to leaue And thundring Iupiter his lightnings all forsake And others for breuity I omit E. Euripides addeth yet that Loue is the most auncient God of all the rest and most pleasing to mortall men therefore others called it youthfull tender and delicate A. And Ansimacus answereth that good loue is concord but bad discord Zeno called it the God of friendship peace and concord and Picus Athaneus affirmeth that the Auncients haue made him a great God and farre off all filthinesse E. I remember that I haue reade that the Athenians did erect the statua of Loue in their vniuersitie dedicated to Pallas to note that he was a most wise God and that those of Samos haue consecrated a Schoole vnto him and they call his feast the feast of liberty A. Theâ—phrastus painted out Loue with two bowes one of the which he is said to vse in good fortune and the other in killing the vnhappy and vnfortunate louers E. Socrates and Plato concluded that loue was rather a great Diuell then a great God and that it was not faire like the other Gods nor yet eternall but a meane betwixt the faire and foule things and betwixt the mortall and immortall from whence others defined it to be a desire of fairenesse and because euery desire presupposeth a priuation I may say that it was depriued of faire things A. Mee thinkes Aristofanes in his Pythagorista said very well teaching that loue was excluded from the counsell of the other Gods as seditious and a disturber of the peace and that in scorne his winges were cut off that hee might no more returne into heauen but was forced to dwell amongst the men of the world men of wickednesse and villanie like himselfe E. The Phisitians call it a certaine infirmitie which as others is often cured by fasting drunkennesse and letting of bloud A. The naturall Philosophers call it the first affection of matter vvhich being imperfect and vvithout forme desireth perfection and forme E. Aristophanes reciteth in his Fables that men by the anger of Iupiter vvere disioyned and euery one brought into halfe which halfe seeketh alwayes to vnite it selfe vnto the other part and so be made perfect A. If vvee would imitate Lucretius wee should call it a desire of being transported the louing desiring to passe into the thing loued and Hiorotheus calleth it a certaine in-bred vertue by vvhich the superiour things haue the prouidence of the inferiour and the inferiour lift themselues vp to the superiour and being made equall ioyne themselues E. Some iudge Loue to be a stretching forth by vvhich the good vvill extendeth it selfe towards the thing beloued and desired A. Others call it that first suffering and that first pleasure which wee haue when the thing wee desire commeth to our sight and delighteth vs. E. Plotinius said that it was an action of the soule that desired what is good and Dante a gentle heart and vvee vvill say that Loue is the same Pâ—trarch saith sometimes one thing sometimes another A. Bembus a gracious and free-vvill and Hanniball of Ferara a great perturbation of the minde stirred vp by a knowne beautie by a certaine hidden conformitie of Nature that the louing hath vvith the thing loued resoluing vvith a desire of vniting themselues in faire and perfect Loue. E. And not farre from the purpose did the Knight Guirinus paint it out saying A rare and wonderfull Monster of humane And diuine aspect Blinde in sight in wisedome also mad In sense and vnderstanding In reason and desire the confus'd aspect Wherefore to goe no farther we will content our selues with the Plantonicall sentence and his followers they holding Loue to be a wonderfull God faire a louer of good and honestie of his owne nature And another added that Loue was that vvhich giueth peace and tranquillitie to the Sea quietnesse to the vvindes a secured bed to the creatures it remoueth clownishnesse reconcileth discord vniteth friendship enduceth good vvill exterminateth vvildnesse maketh to liue againe the dead mindes comforteth the wearied spirits restoreth the famished soules and doth not onely make happie the vvhole life but also rendereth it perfectly blessed vvherefore vvee vvill conclude vvith Diogenes Areopagita that Loue is a good circle perpetually reuolued from good to good But that vvee may haue a new definition what doe you call it A. Although heretofore in my vnguided age Loue did onely binde mee vvith such a burning knot and more then cruell hit mee vvith so deepe a vvound that it set me for a marke for the arrowes as snow to the Summer Sunne or as vvaxe to the fire or like a cloude in front of an impetuous vvinde so that I vvas become not lesse vvearie then hoarse louing turning hoping demaunding pittie and ayde from my Mistresse vvho fained her selfe cruell in vvhom outwardly there appeared no commiseration euery vvoman well borne hauing by nature shamefastnesse but not cruelty wherefore if much be consumed by her beauty she like a Bee hurting dieth and if to the naturall feare there be ioyned good manners and honestie blushing to giue a certainty desireth that the Louer choose rather to die valiant then a coward And vse in greater enterprises greater boldnes For Shamefastnesse holdeth in weake Loue But is a weake bridle of a potent Loue. The vvoman
is imprinted in our hearts neyther is it eyther learned or taught but euen in humane hearts without any maister Nature of her selfe doth print it with her owne hand and when shee commandeth heauen must obey much more this lower earth Let vs therefore follow Nature and let vs loue the Sunne goes downe and shines againe so short a light is quickly coucht and hid eternall night hasts on eternall sleepe and man hath no truer ioy then louing A. Let others pursue the delights of Loue if so in Loue a man may finde delight I shall no doubt finde pleasures far more firme E. Oh sir you know not yet what force loues fire hath in an humane breast which is a breast of flesh and not of stone as yours seemes to me to be A. I know too much and therefore iustly say Pittie is but crueltie to one that is more cruell then all others E. A sweete but cruell yoake of seruitude Loue surely is Afflictions past and perils seeme but sweet they sauour all things to the Louers taste A. The Louers state is doubtlesse very hard for let him turne him round about and hee shall heare nothing which doth not both daunt terrifie him and a Louers hope is nothing else but when one euill is past to expect a greater E. Will you liue so sloathfully without content the man that loues onely knowes delight A. One safety Louers haue which is despaire for hopes doe for the most part vndoe them and they liue wretched in misery they haue vaine hopes and yet most certaine griefes with doubtfull performance in their promises neyther doth any man lend his helping hand to the tossed and perplexed minde of a louer E. Loue onely is a most quiet peace without all molestation which Loue can kill and heale Loue with delights doth prick and then annoint a wound of Loue will cure the darts deepe wound A. Death is the onely medicine for the heart and yet that loue is most quicke which from affliction springs neuer let him vaunt that I am one of his nor out his kingdome let him set his foote E. Loue turnes bitter things into sweete and teares to ioy sweete angers and sweete peace as sweete disdaines sweete ill sweete griefe and burden that is most light sweete speech and sweetly heard with outward eare when from her mouth it comes and in her eyes is read A. Each one the paine feeles of his louing well and eyther loue or death his pennance is Loue hath euer beene an enemie vnto man and therefore the Poet saith oh happie man so in my death this plague reach not so farre as to infect darke hell E. Vexe not your selfe the sweete tempers the sower for Loue it selfe doth heale the wound of Loue but more if onely once your selfe might taste the thousand part of all those endlesse ioyes which doth the louing heart beloued againe then grieuing you would sigh and say I doe account all the time to be lost that is not spent in Loue oh yeeres now fled and gone How many widdow-nights how many solitarie dayes haue I spent in vaine that might haue beene employed in this vse which is more sweet the oftner it is replyed A. When riuers shall both sigh and turne vnto their fountaines or Wolues shall flye from Lambes or the gray-hound from the fearefull Hare when Beares shall loue the sea or the Dolphin the Alpes and when from Plants sighes may be heard then to be a Louer I will be content E. Will you be so cruell vnto your selfe as to denie so high contentment vnto your selfe in taking from her the labour of denying it you A. I call her an enemie whom you call a louer and that briefe content a great pennance E. There is in Loues necessitie no Law me let my Mistresse entertaine after short prayers and seruice short or peace or truce restoring both our hearts A. Ah it is a false sweete flitting good The treacherous world can giue vnto a man That doth in it repose his confidence Wherein no peace is nor stabilitie E. T is a prouerbe olde loue him that loues againe A. The youthfull heart enamoured Now smiles then weepes now feares then is secure And when he would not doth repent his fault But farre from loue remou'd from torments all E. I doubt some pleasing enuie doth you tempt A. We cannot thinke this to be enuies case seeing deere is the loue that gets both heart and gold and doe you not remember the saying a Louer mony-lesse no other seemes then like a scholler without bookes a Pilot without skill a Fencer blinde a Warriour without Armes E. That whore may goe to the Hospitall that prostitutes her selfe and will not scrape For little pleasure he suffers great paine that lets his Bagpipe out vpon credite who ere thou wert that first didst learne teach to sel proud loue accursed be thy state thy buried ashes and thy bones so cold and towards them inhumane be all men not saying passing by remaine in peace the raine them wet and let the winde them scatter Heards tread on them with feet vncleane and strangers eke for thou didst first corrupt Loues true Nobilitie thou his sweet delights didst bitter make Loue mercenarie Loue seruant vnto gold a Monster huge most sauage and more terrible then either earth or waues of Sea brings forth why crie I thus in vaine let each one vse those armes by nature graunted vnto him for greater safetie so the Hart may runne the Lyon vse his pawes the foamie Boare his tuskes in women beautie and comelinesse are force and Armes wherewith to ouercome We because we vse not to our good this violence Nature hath made vs apt to offer violence rapines to commit A. Admit that women were an hell a fire a flame most visible to such a perill would you expose your selfe E. What ere she were gentle were she faire more bold I would be goe more readily then the wounded Hart doth to the fountaine cleare I would not feare midst fire flame to goe yea into hell or yet in hell to liue if hell may be where things so faire are seene to taste that which once tasted oft inuites to tast so my liking there for to possesse as it might ready be vnto my will A. Who can finde good except he seeke it out and danger t is that thing for to finde out which may well please yet torments enough containing griefe enough in fading ioyes I know not whether the great bitternesse that a man seruing and louing feeles lamenting dispairing may fully sweetned be by a present ioy but if more deere it is and if good doth after euill sweeter taste of Loue I le neuer require this greater happinesse Let him in this sort others happy make I haue already wept and burnt enough let others haue their share I not desire that which must cost our sinfull soules so deare E. Loue will enforce him that is cold in
and I haue proued oft And all our hopes are turned to be vaine Vnto that good which euer shall remaine Let 's lift our hearts to happy state aloft FINIS A short Table of the whole Worke. A succinct Summarie of the first Dialogue of the first Part. PHrases of entering into the house with pleasant and sententious sayings pag. 1. n. 1 How many diuine admonitions doe awake and incite vs to vertue pag. 2. n. 2 Phrases betwixt a Master and his Seruant when hee riseth and apparrelleth himselfe in the morning with many wittie sayings pag. 3. n. 3 Wherefore sleepe is necessary of the benefit of moderate and the defects of immoderate sleepe n. 4 How sleepe is procured and how all wise men haue euer reproued superfluous sleepe n. 5 How hurtfull all excesse is and how commendable a regular life is which is good Physicke and without it no Physicall precepts are of any worth n. 6 Euery one must measure his sleepe conformably to his complexion and yet some more and some lesse n. 7 All they that haue bene acceptable to GOD or to the world were vigilant n. 8 From whence dreames proceede n. 9 Whether any truth be in dreames n. 10 A briefe but pleasant tale n. 11 It is vaine to obserue dreames n. 12 Vigilancie is a commendable and profitable thing and therefore all iudicious Fathers must invre their Children euen from their childe-hoode wherein an English Knight and Ladie are much commended n. 13 How blame-worthy Idlenesse is n. 14 Idlenesse is infamous and worthy of great punishment n. 15 Whether the rich or the poore man may more truely be tearmed idle n. 16 The idle man is infamous and brings himselfe to beggery n. 17 Idle and vagabond people haue beene euer rigorously punished by euery wel-gouerned nation n. 18 The frauds deceits lyes gibbrish language of roagues with a briefe and pleasant Tale. n. 19 Man being created for high and diuine things hee must attend illustrious and celestiall ends n. 20 A Summary of the second Dialogue AFter some short and friendly speeches past it is argued whether long fasting and abstinence be good or no. n. 1 Phrases of ciuill complement sitting downe to the table with diuers wittie and pleasant sayings n. 2 Whether supper or dinner must be greater or on the contrary and when n. 3 To eate leasurely is a kinde of the first digestion but it is hypocrisie in women n. 4 The vertue and defects of Wheate Barley branne and bread n. 5.6 7 Of Bread n. 8 Of Butter n. 9 What rule to obserue in the quantitie of eating and drinking n. 10 Grosse meates are most requisite in Winter n. 11 What things must be eaten first n. 12 Of the vse of broathes n. 13 Of tart and sower meates n. 14 How good meates may be discerned from bad n. 15 What order an healthfull man and what a sicke man ought to obserue in eating and drinking n. 16 The fault of too hot meates but yet the hot is most commonly more healthfull n. 17.18 Dyet for Winter for Summer and other seasons of the yeere n. 19 All hearbes are of little nourishment and to be vsed but onely for Physicke and cooling of the body n. 20 How and when hearbes ought to be eaten and of the good and ill qualitie of hearbes which are vsed from num 21 to n. 40 Of diuers Rootes from number 41 to n. 46 Of the diuers vertues and defects of such flesh as is in vse from numb 47. to n. 57 Of Milke n. 58 Of the vertues and defects of Wine and of the vse thereof n. 59 Of drinking fasting n. 60 Whether pure wine or that watred is best n. 61 Of Seruants and some of their qualities n. 62 Of the Capon n. 63 Of Fowle their good and ill qualities from n. 64. to n. 80 Of Connyes n. 76 Of Egges n. 77 Of the Partridge or Stare n. 79 Of the Blacke-bird n. 80 Of Fish the good and the ill qualitie thereof from n. 81. to n. 92 Of Fruits of their good and bad effects and of cheese from numb 93. to n. 126 How necessarie good ayre is for humane nature n. 127 How bad aire may be reformed n. 128 That sleeping at noone or in the day time is hurtfull and when not n. 129 What meate must be eaten last n. 130 What is to be done after dinner n. 131 Pleasant speeches and ieasts betweene a master and his seruants n. 832 That wee must haue compassion on a seruants state n. 133 A breuiate of the third Dialogue OF a Seruants diligence in executing his Masters will n. 1 Phrases of speech to be vsed in buying and selling or setting of a price n. 2 Rules to be obserued in departing from our Countrey to make a voyage n. 3 A Traueller must not be neyther too miserable nor too liberall but in euery thing wise and wary n. 4 To speake little is a point beseeming a great man n. 5 Rules that a Trauellers seruant must obserue n. 6 A Traueller must be circumspect to hold his owne and an Inne-keeper must be faithfull n. 7 He is happy that is contented and an honest wise seruant seruing diligently and silently a discreet master demaunds enough and finally obtaines n. 8 What belongeth to a Trauellers Seruant n. 9 Of reckoning with the Hoste n. 10 The blindnesse and folly of many masters in too much enriching many of their seruants n. 11 Fraud may be preuented with deceit but so in that iust no fraud must be vsed n. 12 Whether it be estimable in a Traueller to be riotous in his Inne and of the great ignorance and folly in spending beyond ones reuenues n. 13 The nature and propertie of vaine and shallow men of vnderstanding in their superfluous and necessarie expences n. 14 How circumspect a Traueller must be in all his businesse n. 15 The man reputed most honest is oftentimes worst and he who is thought most faithfull most fallacious and therfore man must not trust in man but onely in God n. 16 A Summary of the fourth Dialogue PHrases of speech in leauing our Inne with some pleasant by-glances about the honestie and modestie of certaine Hostesses n. 1 Of an Allegoricall way and how a true faithfull man expels all doubt n. 2 It is proper to a vertuous and valorous man to feare nothing n. 3. 6 How bold a man must be and how euery one hath his preordained end n. 4 A wise man is the framer of his owne fortune n. 5 All a valiant mans hope must be placed in GOD and in his owne valour n. 7 The beautie and delight of a mans countrey breedes most heart-griefe in banishment but to a valiant man euery soile is a countrey n. 8 It is neuer lawfull to violat Religion and pardon of sinnes comes not from man but from God onely n. 9 It is a foolish thing to hope for that which cannot lawfully be enioyed n. 10 Internall griefe must oftentimes be