onely where she may be well vsed it seemes the late professors of secrecie which were not yet so secrete but to confesse that if their neerest attyre were priuie to their determinations they would burne it receiued this Item frō Metellus by which I will shew you the example of a double exposition Montagnia likes not the protesting this nor I to say so for I would not haue vttred so much but for the thing it is a safe and an honest principle for I will not conclude their concealing things proceeds from the faultines but since ill hath gotten that power to cōuert things well meant into their own vilde natures it is best to keepe them from it the integritie of the worlde is past it is too late now to professe opennesse be it neuer so honest for so neete may many of our actions come to dangerous intents as they are best when onely in our brests for In du bium trahitur relligiosa fides Secrecie is of two kindes of our friends and of our owne that of our friends religion commaunds vs to keepe that of our owne discreation for the first did he not opē me by the power of friendship I would not willingly neither giue it nor receiue it for he that meanes honestly I thinke deserues as much thankes for being content to heare as the other confidence in telling for we are bound once more then we were by his disclosing and perhaps drawne that we cannot eschew the dooing a fault for if his secret be pernitious I must betray him or my selfe sinne then he must go and so I forfet a friend and breake a principle of friendship I would heere vpon such a desire demaund if he sought it for counsels sake if so I would heare him if otherwise deny him hearing for howsoeuer he meaneth if he relieth vpon mine aduise he shall meane as I would haue him Many States vsed to punish the laying open of secrets with the losse of their babling instruments which was a very iust lawe and a sure for no example preuailes with a borne tatler but the losse of his pick-lock I wonder that the Barbarians generally doe not with those slaues they imploye neere them depriue them of their tongues as they doe of their stones for feare of the abusing of their wiues and concubines me thinks they should be as iealous of their secrets as they are of their lusts The Turkes they haue certaine Mutes to performe their executions which since they are in for worse matter may be put in amongst the rest for veniall But to speake as I thinke I hould the people subiect to this flux of words very dangerous for by such Scilla found where the possession of Athens might easilest be attempted by Flauius that had this disease The citie of Rome had the plague of a tyrant continued I neuer knew tatling a safegarde but the geese that preserued the Capitoll which the Romaines rewarded with great care popular states being neuer ingratefull to geese these are all to be shunned for their couuersations are more vnsafe then the fellowship of the most malicious wordes being more pernicious then blowes for no Fencer can warde them Of our owne secrets the discouerie bewrayes a great feeblenesse and impotencie it resembleth a clowde that by the sunne is possessed of hotte exhalations but is so weake as not to keepe them desire drawes vp thoughts of assistance but when the desirer hath them ouer-burthened with their strength they burst out and dissolue him thus all his attempts ouerwaying the minde are brought to nothing which weakenesse of mans were ill were not man so ill as to haue ill affected thoughts but hauing such it is well for thus most conspiracies against Princes are preuented for an honest man it is a great blessing for a dishonest the contrary an excellent punishment So must I conclude of secrecie which if you will call craft or pollicie I must answere you with these two verses Tutus vhique manes f◠calliditate valebis Non est simplicit as dign◠sauore magis Essay 34. Of Humaine Contenment BEhold the godds of the world the soule of action the motion of the inhabitants of the earth the point the conclusion where vnto all thoughts are reflected this is the maister of al trades Arts sciences and professions for this the husbandman findes a sweetenesse in labour the Artizan in following his trade the Artist in the inquisition of knowledge souldiers in pursuing danger polititians in the working of the minde in plotting and fetching in strange conclusions to vphold practises this is the garland that makes enery one loue victory this is the reconciling obiect of the discenting constitution courses of mē for they al agree that contentment is the place where they desire to end their iourneyes But that the worlde should haue still the right vse and not be desolated with mans neglect of inquiring vttering her secrets this contentment is fashioned like our loues what I call fayre another thinkes ill fauored another out of deformities pickes beauties thus contentment which according to the minds of men is drawne out of a numberlesse number of courses which mistery of natures doth make all agree That contentment is to be sought and to disseuer them in the manner of their search ioyned with the other of making all formes louely in some eyes vphouldes the world for by this last the world is peopled by the first her people made industrious and the great volume of the world in no corner left vnnoted but stirres and flourisherh as the chiefe and master peece of Nature Thus do we propound a cause and reason of our life and make euery day beget vs occasion eyther of following or learning to follow our quest when we do not go forward our selues we behould others which like a mappe layes out the course of our trauaile but when according to the excellencie or grosenesse of our choise the determined contentmēt approcheth we flie from not the inioying but the opinion we had another contentment is set vp that obteined another so doth our humaine liues runne after contentment but neuer ouertake her we cannot for contentment is diuine our bodyes earthly our mindes we feele ouertakes her for the propounded contentment pleaseth her she imbraceth it and is already in possession but when it comes so short dooth it fall of her expectation as shee erects another a plaine argument of her diuinitie and a true signe that reall contentment is not of this world nor to be grasped within our earthly armes Essay 35. Of Trappes for Fame I Had not neede to teache the world new opinions for I holde all I know more by tradition then reason I haue a braine like a French force that dooth it best first my incountring an argument is most vigorous at the prime opposition I after fall and waxe lazie and in truth shallowe I doe nothing well but speake much worse then I write and perhaps worse in something
rest haue too much lawe It is a great start to be as farre as heauen before vs. What we call licorousnesse in children greedinesse in Clownes misery in couetous persons the same is ambitioÌ„ in a higher fortune the head of this humor is one but in the disposing takes seuerall passages To aspire is Ambition which is hope attempting heere hope is abused which is giuen to man not to clime with but to keepe him from falâ—ing It hurts not for all this if we would allay the vigor and prepare it as we do Quick siâ—uer which killing cures I would giue men leaue to looke vpwards to make themselues apt and nimblâ— to leape let them a Gods name loue learning the experience of youth let them obserue and be expert in the knowledges of men and their actions let them bee iust temperate and vertuous all thiâ— time it is not â—ll â—t makes them more industrious theÌ„ perhapâ— Vertue could so speedily but to looke vpwards and sink into the earth to haue a high mind and then to bestowe intollerable worship vpon a great man meerly because he is great I like not I do not thinke but Vertue apparelled in a true magnanimity must speed as well as a seeming good in insinuating basenesse and I would rather choose to rise by louing distressed Vertue then by adorning pompe it is much more cleanly though more daungerous Men mistrust theÌ„selues when they trust more to pleasing soothing then to their owne inward graces If I be honest valiant and able to manage great matters doo I not abuse them to flie for preferment so flattery base seruitude and admiration of their actions who are worthy to be disdained It is worthinesse to plucke Honour from daungers and hazards to aduenture famishing in a siege to be the first at a breache to lay hold at the grappeling of shippes vntill the losse of both hands and then to hold by the Teethe this is the way to Honor directly for which if there be not recompence vpon their heades let it lye Comfort cannot be wanting to these men of valour that they haue restored to their Countrey the blood their Countrey once gaue them Are not these vertues better then to wooe preferment as if shee were a wench to send presents to praise all because we like some to dance among the creatures of seruitude three houres before our God doth rise and then to thinke well of a nod for recompence I doo not thinke it pride in my nature to abhorre these but a good safe care to keep her selfe from bemiring for wee must not counterfayt If wee worship Baal we are no Christians and hee that declines to their adoration is not honourable I like wel of Augustus his choise of Senatours Let him trie mee thus a Gods name and reiect me if he list I will subscribe to his wisedâ—me but neuer be bound to be the register of his Glory nor to make offâ—rings to him to pay to pray and to serue Let them that will guild ouer thâ—ir fetters with the name of Pollicy call him a good Polititian that can thus temporize I thinke he is a slaue born meeter to feare then loue let him be whipped not cherished Thus I thinke seriously though I write it in my talking stile It may be it is the better for commonly he is not stâ—â—cken againe that laughes when he strikes Essay 11. Of Discourse IT is a pittifull thing at great assemblies to see how the rich and gay will ingrosse the talke and how basely they vse that commoditie not a word able to profit a Hackney-man they send away Time worse appareiled then their Horse-keepers poore and naked of what is precious but loden with strawe and durt good onely for Thatchers and Dawbers At this time I suffer much specially if I would choose rather to fill my eares theÌ„ my belly I wish for Fidler to coÌ„found them or any noise sauing their owne I would at this time loose my memory for shee is couetous and takes all and with this she will pollute all make all taste of Barbarisme In this time my eye wandering to finde a handsome cause of Interruption meetes with a fellowe in blacke backe againe they come with their Intelligence and tel me they haue found a Scholler I goe to this Vessell and thirsting after some good licour hastily pierce it when there issueth medicines or Lawe-tearmes alas it is either a Surgeon or an Atturney my expectation hath broken her necke Well these are places to grow fat in not wise Let vs trauaile some-whither else to the Vniuersitie Their discourse is good but too finicall you vndoo them if you suffer them not to goe Methodically to worke Nego maiorem aut minorem probo Ipse dixit c. I like not this except his aduersary be a Fencer too there is no vnderstanding one another It is a generall fault among the best professions For Mercenary and Mechanicke it skilles not It becomes them well to discouer themselues by theyr speech but a Gentleman should talke like a Gentleman which is like a wise man his knowledge ought to bee generall it becomes him not to talke of one thing too much or to be wayed downe with any particular profession Heerein I admire Plato his Description of Socrates who though a Souldier and a Scholler yet he discoursed still like Wisedome which commaunds ouer all One knowledge is but one part of the house a bay-windowe or a gable-ende who builds his house so maimed much lesse himselfe no be compleate If thy Ghests be weary of thy Parlor carry theÌ„ into thy Gallery Be thus but yet if thou meetest with a fellow that wold faine show thee he is a MathematicaÌ„ or a Nauigator be content to talk with him of Circles and Quadrangles of the Poles and Nauigating Starres There is an other Creature that weyes euery word and wil be sure to turne the verbe behind affects elegancy and to be thought learned this fellowe is formall hee robbes himselfe of his commendations with this premeditated course meÌ„ looke for much where they discerne such a preparation besides mee thinkes hee dresses Truth and Wisedome too gawdily It is the Country fashion to sugar ouer what is naturally sweete he profits not his Auditory I knew a Country Church furnished with a Clocke whose hammer was stricken by an Image like a man vpon the wheeles stood a Catte which when the Image strooke made such haste away as the Parishioners when they shuld haue wept for their sinnes and were moued therevnto by the Preacher laughed at the Cattes nimblenes so is it with this mans hearers they catch at some prettie sounding words and let the matter slip without any attention Let Ape-keepers and Players catch the eares of their Auditory and Spectators with faire bumbaste words and set speeches It shal be my course when I must discourse but I had rather hear not to loose my self in my tale to speake words that may be vnderstood
more excellent deeds were performed then there is now throughout the worlde in many yeares Who can match me Sceuola burning his hand without motion Where is there a Rutilius that wil prize his Commonwealth so dearly as to run into the Iawes of torment and death No we drawe not euenly but are carried away with particular Humours Lawes and inforcements must keep vs from the extremitie of ill what slauish mettalls are we made of in the meane time that choose to feare punishment rather then to loue Vertue I blame nothing for this but Custome It is in her power if shee will to make shame smart as ill as whipping Lawes keep but the dregges of a Common-wealth in obedience and them only from being too ill but vpwardes it prouokes them not nor any thing but Custome and the estimation of Vertue All this time I haue built but the bridge I meane to trauaile vpon and not that annointed with a finicall Exordium I trauaile where I list and when I list and will not binde my selfe to more then I list Let my feete be bounde to come into the hal before the great chamber my head shall see which I list first I hate the dulnesse of my owne feete and my horses when I trauell and cherish the nimblenesse of my thoughtes which can flie ouer the world in an afternoone I am determined to speake of bookes next to whom if you wold not say I were too bookish I shuld giue the first place of all thinges here The best witte of man that euer was not assisted by such helps as may make my comparison blasphemy neuer brought so much into the world as by their assistance he hath had When I heare a naturall man speak in his best I can say but wittie My comendations are at the farthest but the tongue steeped in the true vnderstanding incident to learning hath Wisedome for his reward Experience doth much but it is too ful of scars and wounds and is brought with gray haires and danger when the other hath no lesse that hath trauailed but in his study In a word propounde any course sauing eating and sleeping and wanting this you are maimed euen in the life of blowes and warres where strength seemes to beare more sway then vnderstanding yet Armor Discipline Marshalling Aduantage of number and scituation of the place ends with the wel tuned Harmony of an Oration whose force hath often beene as much as all the rest and with the sweetenesse added vigour to the harshnesse of Valour Of Bookes for both Philosophies I onely esteeme Plato who doth so cunningly weaue them together as me thinkes he saith he is content to giue you knowledge on condition you should be honest In the person of his Socrates hee setteth downe one of the most absolute formes of life that is possible to be imagined I doubt whether he were so wel as his picture yet Plato telles it so with the circumstances as I am afraide sometimes by doubting to do him wrong If he wanted not very much he is worthie of admiration if very much of applause being the onely man that euer I heard of most innocent of entertaining a forced grace for some second cause Of History if you wil haue me showe you the best first I must begin and ende with Tacitus so graue a stile so Iudicial a Censure and so piercing an eye into the designes of Princes and States neuer met in one man he is so worthie that I wish hee were as rare for I holde no eye meete to wade in him that is not at the helme of a State For profitable Recreation that Noble French Knight the Lord de Montaigne is most excellent whom though I haue not bene so much beholding to the French as to see in his Originall yet diuers of his peeces I haue seene translated they that vnderstand both languages say very well done and I am able to say if you will take the word of Ignorance translated into a stile admitting as fewe Idle words as our language wil endure It is well fitted in this newe garment and Montaigne speaks now good English It is done by a fellowe lesse beholding to nature for his fortune then witte yet lesser for his face then fortune the truth is hee lookes more like a good-fellowe then a wise-man and yet hee is wise beyond either his fortune or education but his Authour speakes nobly honestly and wisely with little method but with much iudgement Learned he was and often showes it but with such a happinesse as his owne following is not disgraced by his owne reading He speakes freely and yet wisely Censures and determines many things Iudicially and yet forceth you not to attention with a hem a spitting Exordium In a word hee hath made Morrall Philosophy speake couragiously and in steed of her gowne giuen her an Armour he hath put Pedanticall Schollerisme out of countenance and made manifest that learning mingled with Nobilitie shines most clearly I haue done with Bookes and now I wil sit in iudgement vpoÌ„ all those that my memory can readily produce and it is no presumption L'euento spesso è giudice non Imperito delie cose Seeing the beginning and ending the circumstances fal easily into euery head especially considering my opinion of these things is no part of my faith neither do I holde them so obstinately that I will not doo Reason reason and yeeld if I see cause I thinke Courage in the time of Alexander the great was a great Gamster Polâ—cy at that time was not his crafts-maister some vnderstanding they had in marshalling an Army In aduauntaging themselues by the ground but in more hidden points they were not then exercised thus I thinke his Conquestes the lesse miraculous but yet from so yong yeares from so little experience the heigth of his attempt was honourable and his proceedinges admirable to keepe so warlike a people in so good a temper argued a great strength of vnderstanding yet do I blesse no action of his more then the faire vsage or his female prisoners considering their beautie apt to prouoke his â—emper being fiery not to endure prouocation one of these resistances shines beautifully and as Cicero saith of Caesars clemency is an action purchasing glory without sharers His foundation was answerable to so high an enterprise sharing out his particular reuenewes among his followers which wonne their loue for meane fortunes loue wealth high Fortunes Glory Among these Perdiccas spake to my liking who being offered an ample Patrimony asked his maister what hee would leaue to himselfe Alexander saide Hope hee desired to rest there too excellently well plaied on both sides hee was a rare young man whom Fortune followed with whome Death plaied good Fortune for I thinke if hee had liued hee would haue lost by the world and growne downeward so excellent was his youth as I am afraid his Age would not haue bin answerable and then his Cornet would haue fallen out disgracefully therefore
homines dum se falso terrore coâ—cti Refugisse volunt longe longeque recesse Sanguine ciuili rem constant diuitiasque CoÌ„duplicant auidi caedeÌ„ caedi accumulaÌ„tes Thus intermixt and intangled with all horrors are those liues that are content to entertaine the desires of vndirect aspiring these hopes neuer goe without feares and they neuer without ill effects thus doth hee outwardlye heape vpon himselfe the detestation of the worlde and his owne thoughts make him detest himselfe Le dubbie spenix il pianto e'l van dolore I pensier folli et le delire imprese Et le querele in darno a'l vento spese M'hanno a me tolio et posto in luÌ„go errore To auoide this I know no way but vertue which so filles as where she is nothing else is sought take from or adde to her shee is still her selfe like a circle whose bignesse or lightnesse alters not his forme but his space Besides where as the defects of men in times past to vphold their reputations were faine to perswade the world falsely of their communication with the Gods and to belye their mothers with the adultery of Iupiter her estimation shall not need these deceits for the life of her Possessor will show he is diuinely discended and her counsels shall bee held so sincere as they shall be accepted without the subornation of the nimph Egeria Esay 48. Of Wordes I Like no Relation so well as what mine eye telleth me for there is in speach as in suÌ„ptuous building many entries landing places and Lucomes commaunded more for formalities sake then for conueniency so ands and ifs and many sounding words stuffe vp empty periods with winde Naturally we carry matter better then wordes in which nature tells vs shee vseth words but for an interpretour because our ignorance vnderstandes not her Language which puttes vs to a great deale of paine and makes vs go a great way about in our inquisition of knowledge for there is lesse drosse in the letters of nature then in words the substaÌ„ce of Bookes for the apparition of naturall obiectes carries not such a coÌ„pany of circumstaunces for the eare is more deceiued with soundes then the eye with colours That same Euphoniae gratia the maintainer of pratling what is it but to feed the auditory with Dishes dressed by the painter not the cooke for they may say they are satisfied when examined what they had it proues a painted shoulder of mutton sulciae solue multum mali sub illis latet It may proue ill but if not so Anatomize the wordes of these adorers of wordes and they proue nothing which is the next degree to ill Seneca commendes his friende that he heares nothing of him Quod plerique ex his quos interrogo nesciunt quid agas To my friend I would say that they know not what thou thinkest because seldome speaking for my thoughtes are dearer to me then any actions performing any thing it is the giuing thoughtes bodies and sending them into the world There was a knight of Rome put to death for translating a dreame of his into wordes had hee not better haue suppressed his daungerous imagination and taught another thought to haue killed this then to haue throwne it out of his breast by the violence of his tongue I dare be bound his mother if she were aliue at that day wished he could neuer haue spoke for mothers like nothing in their children so wel as life but his punishment was to seueare his tongue had beene losse enough for that had beene the capitall Traitour Is not this a dangerous iudgment that betraies the whole life for the trespasse of one lim had it not bin better for him to haue vsed the tonge for a taster then a distributour yes questionlesse For speach lesse daungerous then this is good for nothing but to pull speach from others for willingly were the company fit most of my wordes should be interrogation but when I were at this charge I would be glad to meete with those whose expence of matter should equall their number of wordes Truth hath fallen vpon it so often so commonly that it is a receiued precept not to trust a great talker with your secrets for they haue such a disease of wordes that like fier they will feede vppon themselues if they want sustenaunce so that you must feede him continuallie like a Woolfe or else hee deuours you and after himselfe for he loues nothing so well as wordes If he had performed it without diuulging I should haue liked the custome of Pallas the manumized slaue of Claudius who protested Nihil vnquam se domi nisi nutu aut manu significasse It was a good course for wordes to inferiours and seruants draw on familiaritie and familiarity robbes masters and Lordes of their dominion rule If we were now as wee were once though speach should bee superfluous for all should haue beene good and I thinke then all knowledges should haue seene trueth in a like quantitie yet it had not beene so daungerous for our vices are the Ocean our wordes the Barkes transporting and trafficking sin with him and imperfection with imperfection so that multitudes and Assemblies where talke turnes the minde outward are as perillous to an honest minde as to receiue education in a Bordello Heardly shall a man meete with a tongue in these places speaking either honestly or temperatly for either speaking ill or too well takes vp all meÌ„ flattery or slauÌ„der ingrossing the whole body of speach either he is a worthie fellow for I am much beholding to him or very vnworthy because I am not beholding to him what an impudency of the worlde is this where men dare protest the summe of vertues or vices rests in mens conforming them selues to their humours what is this but the confounding of all goodnesse benefit of societies with including in themselues the estimation of all and allowing nothing that workes not for their priuate satisfaction me thinkes other creatures wanting this are as happy as a licentious disposition wanting wealth for by this meanes they knowe but their owne infirmities and goe no farther then natures infusioÌ„ giues them leaue but men by the helpe of speach draw the corruption oâ— others into themselues ad to their naturall infirmities millions of imperfections I heare men speake daily but not a day in a month finde myselfe bettered by their speach but contrarily haue euery day such a company of ragges throwen into my braine that I wish my selfe deafe all the weeke long but on Sundayes for then deuotion and the Booke in a diuines hand and his being a diuine drawe me to worke somewhat out of my hearing bee he neuer so lame in his function How often haue I seene occasion offer company a vse of their tongue that might haue bettered their mindes but as often almost respected and inforced vnderstandinges able to haue mounted heigher to goe with them in the durt and made the weather the season
then I can doe which I must confesse the fault of my braine for I neither lispe stutt nor speake in the throate nature hath made the cariadge of my wordes large and swift enough but I wante marchandize and stuffe the Italian ciuilitie would well fitte mee where the ouerthrowe of an Appositor is counted discourtesie and they call him in disgrace Vince guerra The reason of this exordium is the view of the workes of Nature and our varietie vpon them fewe men receiue any thing with the like vse but occasions or things represeÌ„ted begets in one feare in another furie in a third feares harbinger amazement in a fourth desperation some of these differ much yet shall one occasion beget all these at one instant which makes me thinke our discourse findes out more vses of things then our senses qualities yet am I not of Empericus minde who holdes the quallities of things to be more in number then our sences and that we recken our knowledge to see all as Alexander conquered the world because in his time there was no more knowne I am not of his opinion for all things being made for man and his sences being fit for both life knowledge his seruants sure which are all things sensible haue no more trickes then he knowes of But thus new am I in opinion that the receptacle of our sences intelligence with ioyning quartering and mixing things imploye them farre from their accustomed properties which my subiect here will plainly exemplifie Man being the most substanciall and most canning peece accompanied with a head that masters and is Lord of all things How hath he fallen this second time more vainely deceiued and more miserably punished then in the first He fell then with a baite pleasing to one sence and when he fell fell vpon a good substanciall body where there was good footing and hope to of rising but here he is fallen into smoake where he may be choaked but cannot liue nor walke he is fallen into fame to entertaine which I know no sence destinated vpon a thing not to be haÌ„dled not to be riddeÌ„ not to be seene children would not haue doted thus not to be eaten gluttons would not haue so miscaried not to be touched an amorist would not haue beene in loue with it not to be heard by himselfe a light headed musition would haue shunned it not to be seene a Faulconer would not haue lured it yet all these that are able to make so good an election of their delights sacrifice to fame and flatterie is their priest There is certainly but one end whereto the intendments of man are destinated which prosecuted rightly is eternall happinesse this is not fame for she dyeth often in her birthe commonly ouercome by time and sometime men famous haue had their memories dispatcht eyther by obliuion or detraction before death hath made an end of their liues all these working where the bodyes growes couetous and would haue the gaines alone are vicious he must not determine any thing particulerly for he is none other then a hired seruant and his wages is life the proffit must be giuen to the soule whose predominant power is also compelled to vse the body for the soules performances without the body are not vnderstood contemplation being a good vnprofitable naked life Both working together and both agreeing in their purpose questionlesse they would determine vpon some more lasting rewarde then fame They would lay for vertue for eternitie for the fruition of a neuer dying happinesse but this Essay must speake like it selfe not what should be but what is theÌ„ to the baites for fame The actions of these differ not froÌ„ the prouocations of vertue for as much as appeares outwardly for they professe valour temperance liberalitie and the rest of the lims of honor and honestie but in the minde that works these motions is the disagreemeÌ„t the one being spurred by vertue th' other importuned by the tickling of applause This same those ancieÌ„t Philosophers that so much enueighed against fame well knowing the tyrannie of such thoughts which where they get entrance ouerthrowe all that rest in the place more modestly humored Infinite are the baites that are laide to catch this nothing farre surmounting the number which curious Fishers haue found out and yet in one thing they well agree for they fit the couerer of their deceit to the time Fishers hauing flies for the spring the fall and the winter fame catchers countenance seemings and aspects for a state good or bad or indifferent both their baites go downe the streame both purchase not by force but deceipt both looke pleasing but swallowed are dangerous and to conclude both labour for their bodies not their mindes To speake of those petty fishers that nip their bodies and cast them into more mowldes then their mothers bellyes that neuer read any thing but how their ruffes stand in a glasse or of those that growe olde in the obtaining the name of a good Fencer dauncer vaulter or wrastler were to no purpose These are but trifles and indeed though not vertuous yet plaine dealers for a ietting behauiour or an action with their hands or the curiositie of their clothes discouers them no I will speake of those that Painte so in oyle as the examination of a sharpe raine will hardly discouer them of those that carry the worlde about by the nose of those that keepe their mindes more hid in then women their limmes how many of these masked creatures haue mine eyes beheld laden with the honors of the world and set in the highest top of estimation who were the world inquisitiue any further then the outward sight they should haue found not vertuous but betrayers of vertue Rogues with counterfait pasports and coyners of false money inwardly though they be idle yet they baite their hooke with a profession of which they continually talke and acte their partes like Nero his Philosophers whose wisdome laye in their vnkembde hayre and rugged beards and ill cloathing and counterfeite grauitie Nec deâ—rant qui voce vultuque suo tristi inter oblectamenta regia spectare cuperent Thus contrary are they to the time when their singularitie may puachase admiration without danger The valiantest of these will be souldiers but vnwillingly feele eyther danger or hardnesse But no profession nourisheth them worse then this for at sometimes this gallant actiue life will bring him vpon triall in spighte of his hart when these gilded spirits will be known for the couerers of rotteÌ„ bodies this life of armes hath almost discouered the whole worlde of famemongers for it is a receiued axiom Honor once acquired is not to bee ventured Montania in his obseruations vpon Caesar deales somewhat to indifferently with his taxers for this alleadging a prouerbe that the ould souldiers of Italy vse to mocke their young aduenturers with calling them Bijognioâ—iâ—de Honore in which mocke they discouer their owne actions let the world thinke of them what they