NATVRAL and Morall Questions and Answeres Intermingled with many prettie and pleasant Riddles and darke sentences Written by A. P. With a manner of ordering the body for health through euery month of the yeare and for dieting it for a seuen-night after blood-letting Written in Latin verse by Ioachimus Camerarius LONDON Printed by Adam Islip 1598. Naturall and Morrall Questions and Answeres WHy hath Nature not giuen a sting to the king of the Bees and hath furnished all other Bees therewith Answ To teach Princes that nothing becommeth their dignitie lesse then tyrannie and that their onely defence should consist in the strength and force of their subiects Quest What is that which oweth most payeth least and of all euils is the worst Answ Ingratitude for that monster receiueth good turnes and payeth vengeance Quest What thing in this life is not accompanied with feare Ans A good conscience Quest. What are pleasures Ans Enemies to chastitie leaders to pouertie the daughters of dishonestie and baits of extreame misery Quest. What thing is begotten of a mother and anon the mother is begotten by it againe Answ Ise turning to water Quest. What is man Ans An example of imbecillity the spoile of time an image of inconstancy a captiue of calamitie a prisoner to paines a seruant to couetousnesse and finally a food of wormes Quest. When is fortune most to bee feared Answ When she most flatters Quest. What thing is old ere it bee hatched Answ A secret grudge and malice long conceiued ere it be put in execution Quest. Who beleeue more other mens words then their owne eiesight Answ Women for they giue more credit to them that fainedly call them beautiful then to their looking glasse that doth gainesay it Quest What is beautie Answ A gift of small continuance Quest What good thing breeds lothsomnesse Answ Plentie Quest What water is in the sight of God most precious and in the taste of men most vnsauerous Answ The vnfained teares of a penitent sinner Quest What is it that groweth with the head downeward and with the root vpward Answ An isesickle Quest What is that which most delighteth and most deceiueth a woman Answ A mans dissimulation which hath such a sweet passage through his tongue as it delighteth as the Syren songs and turnes to as deceitfull a conclusion as the Crockadiles teares Quest Wherein is couetousnesse only commendable Answ In sparing and not ill spending his time Quest What is it that cheefly sustaineth labour Answ Hope of rest Quest. Who denie their owne request Answ They that demand things impossible Quest Who is most like vnto a mad man Answ A drunkard Quest. What is that which woundeth the heart and is worshipped of the eie Answ Beautie Quest. How ought clemencie to bee moderated Answ So that it breedeth not our ouerthrow Quest. What is sobrietie Answ The father of good counsell Quest. Wherein is a woman most constant Answ In her inconstancie Quest Of what three things repented himselfe Cato done in his life time Answ To haue ouerslipt a day and not to haue encreased his knowledge To haue gone by sea where hee might haue gone by land and thirdly To haue committed his secrets to a woman Quest Why ought wee not to disclose our secrets vnto women Answ Because they cannot keepe their owne Quest Why are there so many that liue discontented in wedlocke Answ Because their first loue was grounded vpon lust or els in making of their rash choice they had more regard to the womans dowry then to her conditions or els the woman respected more the mans purse then his personage or more his body then his good or ill qualities Quest. Why was Diogenes called a dog Answ Because hee did bite indifferently both his foes his friends but his friends to their good and amendment and his enemies to their shame and confusion Quest What men are very daungerous in a Commonwealth Answ Those that affect nouelties Quest What three things are the life and death of life Answ Bathes wine and women for as the vse of them is restitution so is the abuse of them life and healths destruction Quest What is stronger then death Answ Fame and renowne and therefore a certaine Philosopher did call fame the daughter of immortalitie Quest What is the reason that Wine mingled with water prouoketh vomit Answ Because watered Wine hurts the stomacke and weakeneth the retayning vertue or strength of the Wine whereas pure Wine doth strengthen and comfort it Quest Why doe old folkes neese with great difficulty Answ Because of the weakenesse of their nature and the narrownesse of their passages Quest. Why is man more subiect to diseases and infirmities then any other creature Answ By reason of his intemperancie and therefore Schola Salerni sayth Esse cupis sanus sit tibi parca manus That is if thou wilt liue in health haue a niggerly hand Idest Vse temperance of diet Quest. Why doe Phisitions say that it is dangerous to let a fat man blood Answ Because those that are fat haue lesser veines and are more hidden and appeare not so much moreouer they haue but little blood Quest. What is the reason that the Camelian chaungeth so oftentimes his colour Answ By reason of his great feare and because hee maketh much of his blood Quest Why doe men vse to lay lime at the foot of a Cherrietree Answ To haue ripe Cherries before their season Quest What man is worthely called bold and couragious Answ Hee that loues his life and yet fears not death Quest What is the reason that some die for very ioy and some by too much sadnesse Answ Great ioy doth coole too much the inward and vitall parts of the bodie and sorrow and sadnesse doth euē choke them Quest Why hath nature made the lungs of all creatures spongious or full of holes like vnto a spunge Answ To the end it might receiue the aire the better to coole the heart and driue away from it all such vapors as are hurtfull vnto it Quest Why is our heart placed in the middest of the bodie Answ To quicken equally all the members thereof euen as the sun giueth light equally to all things being in the middest of the heauens Quest Why were Iudges in times past painted without hands Answ To signifie thereby that Iustice ought not to be corrupted with bribes Quest What is a signe of a good Iudge Answ If hee departeth from his office with more gaine of good fame then riches Quest In what sort should a man seek profite of the Commonwealth Answ As at a fire which if one sitteth too neere vnto doth scorch himselfe and being too farre off it sustayneth cold Quest. What thing maketh a good Souldiour Answ Discipline Quest What causeth despaire in a souldiour Answ Beggery Quest What is the cheefest stratagem in warre Answ Ripe deliberation and present execution Quest What is the cheefest pollicie in peace Answ To feare ciuill discord and to preuent
conquered or to those that are ouercome Answ Hope of reuenge Quest What is the life of Courtiers Answ A continuall hope Quest By what honest meanes may poore men encrease their stocke Answ By sparing Quest Why did the Lacedemonians sacrifice a Cock when they had obtained victory against their enemies by maine force and an Oxe when they had ouerthrowne them by subtletie surprise orintelligence Answ Because they preferred Prudence and wit before force or bodily strength and therefore a certaine captain of Grecia was wont to say If a lions skin cannot preuaile adde vnto it the skin of a foxe meaning thereby if force cannot vse policy Quest Which are the fruits of pleasure Answ Griefe and repentance Quest Which is the first step to aduersitie Answ The highest degree of prosperitie Quest Why doth men neese sooner being in the sunne then being neere the fire Answ Because the heat of the sun doth only dissolue the humor and consumes it not but the fire doth both dissolue and consume it Quest Why doe the eies of Cats wolfes shine in the night and not by day Answ Because the greater light doth darken the lesser Quest Why is the white of an Egge of so hard a digestion Answ By reason of the great coldnes of it Quest. Why doth Burrage laid in wine reioice those that doe eat it Answ Because it doth encrease blood and strengthneth the heart Quest Why did Nature make rather the braine cold then whote Answ To temper and moderate the heat of the heart to the end it might serue it in stead of a cooler Quest What passion is that which tormenteth a man most and hath least power to ouercome Answ A womans inconstancy which greeueth a man and cannot be ouercome by women themselues Quest How ought wee to vse prosperitie Answ Not to trust vnto it for we ought to vse the gifts of fortune for our necessitie and not to relie vpon them Quest What is pleasure Answ A bait to take men as hookes and nets doe fishes Quest. What poyson ought Princes to auoid chiefly Answ The poyson of flattery Que. What is the reason that the bottome of a Kettell being full of boiling water hanging ouer the fire is cold notwithstanding Answ By reason of the hote vapors which continually doe mount vpwards wherewith the higher parts being warmed the bottome remains coole for the continuance of the water that is vpon it Quest Why do those that oftentimes weep pisse seldome Answ Because the humiditie taking his passage by the eies dooth ease so much the more the other parts and members of the body Quest Why did Nature ordaine neesing Answ To purge the superfluities of the braine like as the lunges are purged with coffing Quest. What maketh pleasures most sauerous Answ A rare and seldome vse of them Quest What is it that consumes his mother that bare him eates his nurse that feedes him and then dies leauing all them blind that saw him Answ The flambe of a Candle Quest. What men if cause do moue them doe soonest forsweare themselues Answ Those that are woont lightly to sweare without a cause Quest Which is the only phisick in misery Answ Patience Quest Whereby doth a man please a woman best and yet displease himself most Answ In giuing her her will Quest. What is best to bee done for a rich man falling sicke Answ Not to make his Phisition his heire Quest What is Loue Answ An idle bodies pastime or businesse Quest How might one auoid loue Answ By eschewing idlenesse Quest. How ought we to vse loue Answ As a foole to sport or a minstrell to make vs merry Quest. Who are the best creatures vpon earth Answ Women next vnto men and Bees Quest Who is rich Answ He that is contented Quest How might one learn to be content Answ To vnlearne to couet Quest What men doe least feare death Answ Those that feele least comfort in this world Quest What ought we chiefly to learne in prosperitie Answ How wee might best indure aduersitie Quest. Wherein is the life of man like vnto yron Answ Euen as yron if it be vsed doth wear away and if it be not vsed doth consume with rust so our life if it be neuer so well exercised dooth decrease by time if not yet doth it wast away with idlenesse Quest. What is the immoderate vse of too much liberty Answ An occasion oftentimes of bondage and slauery Quest. What men are most vnthankfull Answ Those that can tell how to receiue a benefit and not how to requite it or els those that deny the receit of it but chiefly those that haue forgotten it Qu. What shadow is most deceitfull Ans Hypocrisie Qu. Which is the chiefest reuenue for one that hath no lands Ans Sparing Qu. When is clemency most hurtfull Ans When rebels are most obstinate Qu. What thing is most dangerous least auoided and most desired Ans The pleasures of this world Qu. What soile beares both the best and the worst fruit Ans The wombe of a woman Qu. What ought a seruant chiefly to practise to obtaine his maisters fauor Ans Diligence continuance and secresie Qu. Where is silence most to be practised Ans In matters of secresie and amongst pots and Cannes Qu. How or what are the gifts of fortune Ans Such as are the mindes of those that possesse them a help comfort to them that can vse them and a ruine and ouerthrow to them that know not how to vse them Qu. What men are most vnfortunate in aduersity Ans Those that neuer learned to be crost in prosperity Qu. What feedes a doubtfull life or him that is by law condemned to die Ans Hope of pardon Qu. Why were it better to bee among Rauens then to liue among flatterers Ans Because Rauens pray not vpon men but when they are dead but flatterers deuour them euen when they are aliue Qu. What bitings are most sorest and most greeuous Ans The bitings of necessity Qu. What men ought chiefly to bee without faults Ans Those that are alwaies most ready to espie faults in others Qu. What is it to lend money vpon vsury Ans To kill a man Qu. Why did Solon establish no law against Paricides Ans Because hee thought that such an enormity could not bee committed by a child and therefore because hee should not seeme rather to remember men of such a wickednesse then to forbid it would in no wise appoint any punishment for it Qu. What maintaines a Commonwealth Ans Reward and punishment Qu. How should parents take the death of their children Ans As Anaxagoras and a lady of Lacena did for newes being brought to the one of his sonnes departure out of this life answered the messengers That he knew long since that hee had begotten a mortal man And this lady whose constancie deserueth no lesse praise commendation hauing heard that her son was slaine in the battaile said to those that first brought her the tidings hereof
for they would be glad to see him hanged that releeues them I would not that any man should interprete them in earnest which is only written in a merriment and that for this they should withdraw their charity from such poore men Quest Why do most men delight more in flesh then in fish why it is more wholsomer vnto the body Answ Because it strengthneth more and is of sounder nourishment or els because it agrees better with the substance of our bodies Quest What is the Law Answ A net Quest. What are the Lawyers Answ Burdars Quest What are the Clients Answ Birds Quest What is the Court where the Law is pleaded Answ The place where the nets are spred to take the simple and silly birds Quest. Whereby doth a womans loue resemble the shadow of our bodies Answ Euen as our shadow if we runne towards it doth fleet away from vs and if wee runne from it doth follow vs so the loue of a woman if wee fondly pursue it will disdaine vs but if we set light by it or seeme to run from it will most earnestly desire vs. Quest What is a chief stratageme in war Answ Expedition and not to ouerslip occasion Quest Why did the Ancients find fault with Zeuxis liberalitie Answ Because he gaue bestowed gifts to receiue double againe Quest. What is the cause of greatest deuotion the greatest replenisher of hel Answ Ignorance which maketh men to worship stones and dishonour God Quest. What is the greatest friend to men at libertie and the most enemy to such as are condemned Answ Hope which encourageth men at libertie to attempt great matters maketh such as are condemned vnprepared for death Quest What seasoneth and sweetneth the bitternesse of warre Answ Hope of victorie Quest. Why is fauour bought with mony most vncertaine Answ Because by discontinuance of giuing it breeds inward grudging and by the ceasing of liberalitie it bursteth out into open hatred Quest. Wherein is an enuious man like vnto yron Answ Euen as yron is consumed with his owne rust so an enuious man pines away by his owne folly Quest What is least to bee respected in an Oration Answ Glosing words for as in coyne the brauery of the stampe is little or nothing regarded but onely the weight and the substance euen so it is no matter how eloquent the Oration be but how graue and profitable Quest What is an Hystory Answ A testimony of time a light of veritie the maintainance of memory the schoole-mistresse of life and the messenger of antiquity Quest What is the hardest thing to bee learned Answ To learne to know himselfe Quest. How might one eschew enuy Answ By liuing abiect and miserable Quest What is Idlenesse Answ The Father of Lechery and the highway to pouertie Quest What are riches Answ Diogenes called them the vomite of fortune Quest What doth cast from it a greater heat then fire Answ Beautie which setteth not only on fire those that touch it but also those that a farre off doe behold it Quest What is death Answ The end of trauels and the beginning of life Quest. What is the duty of a wise man Answ To mistrust the ignorant and to know how to skirmish with aduersitie Quest Who is sometimes a mother and sometimes a stepdame Answ Fortune Quest. What are the most precious ornaments of a Citie Answ The vertues of the Cittizens Quest What maketh men constant against all humane affections Answ A good disposition of the mind Quest Why are lawes said to be like vnto spiders webs Answ Because they catch small flies but waspes and bees flie through them Quest. What is the reason that for to see the better we are wont to shut one eie Answ Because the other might bee aided with the sence of the eie which is shut and closed Quest What is the cause of Hydropsie Answ The great cold of the liuer Quest Why do those that haue the yellow yandars find hony to be bitter in tast Answ By reason of the great colour wherwith their tongue and the palait of their mouth is infected Quest Why do muske millions cucumbers prouoke vrine Answ By reason of their great humiditie Quest What is the cause that old men and women dote Answ By reason of the great coldnesse which is in them Quest Wherout doth it proceed that men become pale when they are seased with feare Answ Because the blood retires to the vitall parts of the body Quest. Why hath a Scorpion his poyson in the taile Answ Because the poyson is his excrement Quest Why did Hypocrates permit those to drinke wine that had a burning ague Answ It was for to helpe digestion and to strengthen the parties Quest Why are the extremities of the body more subiect to cold then the other parts thereof Answ Because they are not so solide or so well knit together and are farther remoued from the heart Quest Why do Pullets their throtes being cut suruiue after it longer then men Answ Chickens and Pullets haue smaller sinnewes and veines and therefore life cannot so soone leaue them Quest. Why are men more taller then women Answ By reason of their naturall heat Quest Why doe women make water stooping and men to the contrary Answ Because their bladder stands higher then mens doth Quest Why haue men more teeth thē women Answ Because they abound more in blood and heat Quest What is the reason that when maidens brests begin to grow they begin to change their voice Answ Because then the Organs of the voice are wider and lesser closed Quest Why are twinnes not so strong as others be Answ Because the seed which shold haue serued to one is parted into two Quest Why doe eager things prouoke appetite Answ Because they drie vp the humours and consequently close the stomacke faster vp which doth cause appetite Quest. Why doe Lettuce prouoke sleepe Answ Because they engender grosse humors Quest Why is Iuie alwaies greene Answ Because the heat of it is tempered with humiditie and viscositie Quest Why haue Birds no teeth Answ Because the substance which teeth doe grow of doth turne into their bils Quest When is vice past al hope of remedy Answ When it is growne into a custome Quest Why doe matters well executed please but few men Answ Because most men are rather guided by affection then by reason Quest What is idlenesse Answ A nurse of lasciuiousnesse and the wel-spring of all vices Quest What thing metamorphoseth a man into a beast Answ Lust Quest Which is the highest degree of vncharitie Answ To make of him a laughing stocke besides who by our means hath been afflicted Quest Which is the chiefest felicitie Answ To be released of a wicked woman Quest What men are least to be trusted Answ Those that haue beene disloiall to their owne country Quest What thing spends most prodigally that which couetousnesse hath most wickedly scraped together Answ Ambition Quest What is a chiefe comfort to the