flourisheth with greater beauty so if the roote of vertue remaine sounde although riches bee taken away and the bodie putrifie yet all thinges returne with greater plenty as wee may see in Iob. Idem hom 4. ad popul Antioch If you tread a precious stone in the durt it sheweth the beauty more perspicuously so the vertue of the Saintes whethersoeuer it bee throwne it still appeareth more beautifull whether it be in seruitude in prison or in prosperitie Idem hom 63. in Genesin As an odoriferous oyntment doth not keepe his fragrancie shutte vp within it selfe but doth sende it forth and sweeten those places neare vnto it so generous and excellent men doe not hide their vertues within themselues but do both helpe others and make them better Idem hom 2. in 1. ad Thessalonicenses The barke of a tree is sowre bitter but the fruit is sweet and pleasant so vertue is bitter but it bringeth forth most sweet and delicate fruit Idem hom 30. in 1. Timoth. As in a Lute melody is not made by the touch of one string but all are to be fingered so all vertues are to bee obserued and practised Idem sermone de vitijs virtutibus As there is no victorie without concertation so there is no vertue without an enemy Lactantius de opificio dei cap. 20. As in vntilled fields before we sow wee first clense them of thornes brambles and briers so vices are first to be purged out of our soules before we sow vertues in them whence the fruites of immortality may spring idem lib. acephalo As chaines bee linked one within another so be vertues prayer depends of loue loue of ioy ioy of gentlenes gentlenes of humility humility of obedience obediēce of hope hope of faith faith of hearing and hearing of simplicitie And as vertues be chained togither so also bee vices hatred dependes of anger anger of pride pride of vaine glory vaine glory of infidelity infidelity of hardnes of heart hardnes of heart of negligence negligence of slothfulnes slothfulnesse of idlenesse idlenesse of impatiency and impatiency of pleasure Macarius hom 40. As it is in wealth hee that hath much woulde haue more so in vertue hee that hath gained one vertue will labour to get moe and hee that hath done one vertuous deede wil go forward to do moe Chrysost orat quarta aduersus Iudaeos As a Pilot guides his ship by the sterne so a wise man gouernes his actions by vertue Idem hom 26. in Genesin As he that sits vpon an high rock cares not for the waues of the sea which he seeth tossed aloft and conuerted into froath so he that hath seated his securitie and rest vpon vertue is of a quiet and peaceable minde and laugheth at the worldes turbulent estate ibidem As the billowes of the sea sometimes seeme to be caried aloft and sometimes to be deepely depressed downwards so they that contemne vertue and worke wickednesse sometimes through pride doe floate aloft and sometimes are throwne downe to hell gates ibidem As fire dooth burne the matter put into it making light the ayre adiacent so vertue doth burne and consume vices filling the soule full of light Philo lib. quis rerum diuinarum haeres As after the death of a Musitian or a Grammarian their Musick and Grammar doth perish with thē but the Idaea of these artes doe endure with the worlde for euer according to which the present age and that to come are to bee made Musitians and Grammarians so if the wisdom temperance iustice and fortitude of euery one particularly should be taken away yet in the immortall nature of this Vniuerse immortall wisedome and incorruptible vertue is engrauen according to which both the vertuous men of this age and of the future time shall bee censured and approoued Idem in lib. quod Deus sit immutabilis As a seale Ring remayneth vnhurt although that which it sealed be spoiled and marred so although alvertuous impressiōs and Characters bee abolished out of the minde through a wicked life yet vertue preserueth her estate incorruptible beeing not subiect to any fate Idem in lib. quod deterius potiori insidietur As we must not handle Musick rudelie nor Grammer vnlearnedlie nor anie other Arte peruerslie so wee must not vse wisedome craftilye nor temperaunce beastly nor fortitude rashly nor pietie superstitiouslie nor any other vertue illiberallie ibidem As the rysing Sunne dooth gilde the whole heauens with his lustre so Vertue with her beames dooth illustrate the whole soule of man Idem in lib. de plantatione Noe. They that go on false grounde do often fall but they that trauell on sound ground doe make sure footing so they that suffer themselues to bee ledde by the externall goodes of their bodies doe often fall but they that go vnto God by vertue their voiage is firme and certaine idem lib. de Abrahamo As the first and chiefest part of a liuing creature is his head the second his breast the third his bellie and as in the soule the first and chiefest part is the part rationall the second irascible and the third concupiscible so the first and chiefest of all vertues is wisdom which is conuersant about the head the rationall part of the soule the second is fortitude which is conuersant about the breast and about wrath the seconde part of the soule and the third is temperance which is occupied about the bellye and the part concupiscible which hath the third place in the soule idem lib. 1. allegoriarum legis As the enioying of health doth shew vs the inconueniences of sicknes so vices do declare vnto vs what goodnesse vertue hath in it and darknesse doth tell vs what an incomparable good light is Hieronymus epist. ad Rusticum As the missing of one member doth deforme the body of man so the neglecting of one vertue doth shew the imperfectiō of the soule Diadochus de perfect spirit ca. 24. As a cloud doth not make the Sun to lose his light so neither doth disaster fortune dimme the beautie of Vertue Tyrius Platonicus sermone 26. As a Lute doth profite others by the sounde but neyther heareth nor vnderstandeth any thing it selfe so they that speake of vertue do profit others but not liuing thereafter do no good vnto themselues Diogenes apud Laert. lib. 6. As spices do make clouts ragged apparel smell sweet but silke doth stinke being greased infected with sweat so any kind of life is pleasant if vertue be ioyned vnto it but wickednesse doth make the glorious and splendent life irkesome and intollerable Plut. in Moralibus As a swift horse dooth runne of his owne accorde so he that is inflamed with the loue of vertue needeth not a monitour ibidem As all things are pleasing to a Louer is his loue so in whom we loue vertue wee delight to imitate his gesture his gate and looke ibidem As they that loue trulie doe loue in their beloueds their stuttering and palenesse or whatsoeuer defect so
the Louer and embracer of vertue dooth not abhorre the banishment of Aristides nor the pouertie of Socrates nor the condemnation of Phocion ibidem As of fire and earth the worlde is compounded being necessary elements as Plato saith the earth yeelding solidity and the fire giuing heate and forme so great empires are not obtained except vertue bee mingled with fortune and one be an helpe vnto an other ibidem As that is no true loue which wantes iealousie so hee loueth not vertue entirelie that is not inflamed with the emulation of good deedes done of others ibidem As a Candle light is obscured by the light of the Sunne so the estimation of all corporall matters is obscured by the spendour of vertue Cicero lib. 2. Offic As our bodilie eyes are cleared and purged by certaine Medicines so the eyes of our minde are enlightened by looking vppon vertue Seneca lib. 2. Epist 116. As great Obeliskes are not made without great labour by reason of their hugenesse but beeing once builded they continue infinite ages so it is a hard matter to attaine vertue but beeing gotten it neuer dieth Plin. lib. 36. cap. 29. The tree Lotos which the Latines call Faba Graeca vel Syriaca hath a most bitter rinde but most sweete frute so the first endeuours vnto vertue are most hard but nothing is more sweete then the fruite Idem lib. 24. cap. 2. lib. 13. cap. 17. Saffron thriues the better if it be troden on and therefore that springes vp the best that is set by pathwayes so vertue exercised in extremities dooth thriue the better idem lib. 21. cap. 6. Theoph. lib. 6. cap. 6. The Palme tree because it hath a plaine barke is hard to bee climed into but it hath most sweete fruite so vertue hath a difficult entrance but most pleasant fruit Erasmus in similibus Bees flee to all flowers yet doe hurt none so Vertue and learning are so taken from others that hee is neuer the woorse that dooth communicate them ibidem As the Artes were not perfected as soone as they were inuented so neither is vertue absolute and perfect in vs the first day Seldome or neuer a vaine of gold and siluer is found alone but there is another not farre off so there is no vertue solitarie but one is ioyned to another As lightning dooth blast all trees besides the Lawrell tree as sayeth Plinie lib. 2 so a great calamitie dooth take all thinges away besides Vertue For constant Vertue is a faire beautifull Bay-tree alwayes greene not to bee blasted by any lightning nor to be destroyed by any thunder claps Hector Pintus in cap. 17. Ezechiel As he is not rich that can speake of much wealth but hee that possesseth it so he is not a iust man that canne reason of vertue or knoweth the definition of it but hee that is indued with it and exerciseth it idem in cap. 20. As in the stone Opalum the semblance of manie precious stones is seene as the firinesse of the Carbuncle the purple of the Amethist and the greennesse of the Emeralde and all these shining togither after an incredible mixture so all vertues are contained in the holy Scriptures and doe shine there after a wonderfull manner As there be seuen Planets Luna Venus Sol Mercurius Mars Iupiter Saturn so there are seuen principall vertues Faith Hope Charitie Prudence Iustice Fortitude and Temperance which vertues Heluuicus Theutonicus particularly compares vnto the seuen Planets in his first booke de coelo elementis cap. 84. As there be seuen principall mettals Quicksiluer Brasse Gold Siluer Tin Iron and Leade so there bee seuen chiefe vertues vt suprà which the same Heluuicus particularly coÌ„pareth to these mettals in his second Book de metallis lapidibus cap. 40. As Garlicke hath seuen medicinable qualities in it so haue the seuen principall vertues which the same Authour setteth downe in his third booke de vegetabilibus plantis cap. 81. As there bee fiue outwarde senses the sight hearing smelling tast and touching so there bee fiue inwarde vertues Fayth Obedience Hope Charitie and Humilitie which the same writer compareth togither in his sixt booke de homine eius membris cap. 77. As the bones are the strength of the bodie so vertues are the strength of the soule F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 6. de homine membris eius cap. 77. As the bones are bound togither by certaine ligaments so all vertues are so combined and linked togither that one cannot be had without another ibidem As the bones are nourished by the inward marrow so vertues are nourished by the diuine grace ibidem As the best Wine is in the middest of the barrell so vertue doth consist in a meane Idem lib. 9. de artificibus rebus artificialibus cap. 82. It is to no purpose to light a lampe to burne if oyle be not powred in so it is to no purpose to teach that vertue is to bee embraced if the way and manner bee not deliuered howe to attaine vnto it Plus tarch Euen as a ditcher that by chaunce findeth a precious stone dooth little esteeme it because hee knoweth not the price of it so ignoraunt infidels and prophane worldlye men make little reckoning of vertue and vertuous men because they neither knâ—â—â— the dignitie of vertue nor the esâ—â—◠〈◊〉 of her followers Lodouicus Granat 〈◊〉 Ducis peccatorum The 〈◊〉 called Sileni were vnpolished without but curiously and with great arte wrought within so vertue outwardly seemeth rough when inwardly it is full of beautie ibidem As blood relieueth a distressed heart so vertue comforteth an afflicted soul ibidem Euen as God is a goodnesse so vniuersall that in him alone are found all the perfections of all good so after a certaine maner the same are founde in Vertue ibidem Euen as of the conueniencie and proportion of the members and lineaments and of the humours of the naturall bodie a certaine beautie ariseth which is acceptable to the eies of men so of the order and vertuous frame of the life laudablie led and formed so great a beautie proceedeth that not onelie it is most acceptable to the eyes of God and Angels but it is also beloued of peruerse and frowarde men ibidem If a noble and beautifull woman worthie of a Kings bedde should bee married to a foule Collier it would mooue all men to compassion that behelde hâ—r so much more effectuallie shall hee 〈◊〉 â—oued that seeth vertues woorth 〈◊〉 â—od and diuine rewarde to bee maâ—â— vassals to compasse the drosse dung of this world ibidem He that selleth precious Pearles and rich Gemmes ought verie well to knowe them that hee bee not deceyued in the price and the ouerseer and gouernour of a princes house ought to know the deserts of euery one in the house that he may dispose of euerie one according to his dignitie for otherwise hee shall commit manie errours and offer great inequalitie so a man that
dealeth with the woorth and value of vertues is to knowe the price and dignitie of them that comparing them betweene themselues he may see which is to bee preferred before others and render and tender to euerie one her due honour ibidem Euen as wee make greater account of an heape of Gold then of Siluer and doe more esteeme an eye then a finger so also it is meete and requisite that with greater endeuour and diligence wee shoulde applie our selues to the worthier vertues and with the lesser to the lesse worthie lest we disturbe the spirituall businesse Idem lib. 2. Ducis peccatorum As in all thinges as well artificiall as naturall there are founde some truel and some seeming and appearing so but are not so in deede and as there is both true Golde and that which is false lawfull money and counterfeite coyne true Gemmes and false Gemmes so also among Vertues some are true and some that appeare to bee so but are not so in truth ibidem As the foule Toade hath a faire stone in his heade the fine Golde is founde in the filthie earth the sweete Kernell lyeth in the harde shell so Vertue is manie tymes harboured in the heart of him that most men esteeme mishapen As the precious stone Sandastra hath nothing in outwarde appearance but that which seemeth blacke but beeing broken powreth foorth beames lyke the Sunne so Vertue sheweth but bare to the outwarde eye but beeing pierced with inward desire shyneth like Christall Faith AS a childe that learneth his first elements ought to beleeue that his maister teacheth him and not to aske the reason whie this Letter is called A and that B so in the mysteries of Fayth wee must not aske the reason howe this may bee and that may bee but wee must giue credite to the Scriptures Lodouicus Granat in lib. de deuotione As he that hauing neuer seene glasse before seeing a curious and an excellent vessell made of it and set before his eyes can not bee induced to beleeue that it was made of a certain kind of straw and sand and that only by the breath of man so is it in matters of Fayth being considered of by the light of reason ibidem As wee cannot imitate nor well vnderstande the Arte of Bees in making their honie combes and tempering their honie nor the Arte of Spiders in weauing their Webbes nor the Arte of Silke wormes in spinning their Silke so much lesse can wee imitate the diuine workes or comprehende in our reasonable vnderstanding the mysteries of Fayth ibidem If thou hast life thou hast heate so if thou hast a liuely Fayth thou hast good workes Nazianzene As fire cannot be without heate nor the Sunne without light so a iustifying Fayth cannot be without iustifying workes As a riuer commeth from a fountaine so faith commeth from the Lord. As water maketh the earth fruitfull so fayth enricheth the soule with good works As the Carbuncle shineth in the night and in darknes casteth light vnto the eies so faith shineth in the darknes of heresie and in the night of persecution neither can it be ouercome or extinguished of either As there are twelue kindes of a Carbuncle so there are twelue Articles of our saith Isidorus As a garment touched with the stone Amiathon doth resist fire if you hang it ouer the fire it will not burne but become brighter so the soule beeing endued with Fayth dooth resist the heate of persecution and by it becomes more glorious Isidorus As Quicksiluer is the Element or matter of all mettals according to the Philosopher so Faith is the foundation of all vertues As the Almond tree flourisheth before any other tree so Faith ought to flourish before any other vertue As we cannot liue without the elements so we cannot attaine knowledge without Faith Clemens Alexandrinus li. 2. Stromat As nothing is delectable vnto men without light so nothing is acceptable vnto God without Fayth Origenes lib in Iob. As a light is not lightned of Oyle but is nourished by Oyle so Fayth doth not growe of workes but is nourished by workes Chrysostomus hom 18. operis imperfecti Hope EVen as an Anchor fastened into the earth keepeth the shippe safe which stayeth in the midst of the waues and maketh it that it feareth not the billowes of the raging sea so liuely Hope being firmly fixed vpon the heauenly promises preserueth the minde of the righteous vnremoued in the middest of the waues of this world maketh it that it contēneth and despiseth al the storme and tempest of the winds Lod Granat lib. 1. Ducis peccat Euen as a sonne in all his troubles and necessities which happen vnto him trusteth and affiaunceth his repose in his Father especially if he be riche powerfull that his helpe and fatherly prouidence will not at any time faile him so shoulde man haue this heart of a sonne to God his father who both can and will helpe his children better then all the fathers in the world Idem lib. 2. Ducis peccatorum As a ship by the anchor is kept from the violence of tempests so the soule by Hope is kept from the rage of temptations F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 9. de Artificib reb Artif cap. 70. As a staffe doth support a man so doth Hope ibidem As the husbandman soweth his land in hope of fruit so men performe the duties of Christianity in Hope of heauen Macar hom 14. As a Merchant taketh paines to furrow the vast Ocean in hope of earthly gains so a christian strugleth through the waues billowes of this life in hope of heauenlie reward Basil in Psal 1. As the hope of a crowne and victorie maketh the discommodities of war tollerable so the hope of heauen maketh the griefes and turmoyles of this life portable Chrysost lib. 3. de prouidentia dei As an helmet defendeth the head so Hope defendeth the soule idem homilia nona in priorem ad Thessalonicenses As pillers support and vpholde earthly buyldings so Hope supporteth and vpholdeth spirituall buildings Laurentius Iustinianus in ligno vitae cap. 2. de spe As it did not hurt Rahab to dwell with the people of Iericho but her faith kept her safe so sinne doth not hurt them that in Faith and Hope doe expect their redeemer Macarius hom 31. As without sustenance the body would sinke so without hope the heart woulde burst As Abraham begat Isaac so faith begets hope Charity AS the Phisitian hateth the disease yet loueth the person of the diseased so we must loue that in our neighbour which is good and made of God and abhor that which man and the diuel haue made euil Lod. Granat lib. 1. Ducis Peccat As the members of the same body albeit hauing diuerse duties and functions and differing also in forme do tenderly mutually loue one another be cause they liue by one the selfe same reasonable soule so much more ought faithful Christians to loue one another who
will destroy the contemplatiue of the heart Apelles was no good painter the first day hee that will sell Lawne must learne to folde it so hee that will make loue must first learne to court it As betweene the similitude of maners there is a friendship in euerie respect absolute so in the cōposition of the body there is a certain loue ingendred by ones lookes where both the bodies resemble each other as wouen both in one loome Euery flower hath his blostom his sauor his sappe so euery desire should haue to feed the eye to please the wit to maintain the estate Poyson will disperse it selfe into euerie veyne before it pierce the heart so loue maimeth euerie part before it kill the liuer As by Basill the Scorpion is ingendred and by the means of the same hearbe destroyed so loue which by time and fancy is bred in an idle braine is by time fancie banished from the heart As the Salamander which beeing a long space nourished in the fire at the last quencheth it so affection hauing taken holde of the fancie and liuing as it were in the minde of the louer in tract of time altereth and changeth the heat and turneth it to chilnesse As the Almond tree beareth most fruit when it is olde so loue hath greatest faith when it groweth in age The yong Vines bring the most wine but the old the best so tender loue maketh greatest shew of blossomes but tryed loue bringeth forth sweetest iuyce As the precious stone Anthracites being throwne into the fire looketh blacke and halfe dead but being cast into the water glistereth like the Sunne beames so the precious minde of man once put into the flame of loue is as it were vgly and looseth her vertue but sprinckled with the water of wisdome and detestation of such fond delights it shineth like the glorious rayes of Phoebus As the best charme for a toothach is to pull out the tooth so the best remedie for loue is to weare it out Fire is to bee quenched in the sparke weedes are to be rooted vp in the bud follies in the blossom greene sores are to be dressed roughly least they fester tetters to bee drawn in the beginning least they spread Ringwormes to bee annointed when they first appeare least they cōpasse the whole bodie so the assaults of loue are to be beaten backe at the first siege least they vndermine at the second Hearbes that are the worse for watering are to bee rooted out trees that are lesse fruitful for the lopping are to bee hewen downe Hawkes that waxe haggarde by manning are to be cast off so fond louers that increase in their follies when they be reiected are to be despised The Spaniell that fawneth when hee is beaten will neuer forsake his maister so the man that doteth when he is disdained will neuer for go his Mistresse Theseus would not goe into the Labyrinth without a threed that might shewe him the way out so neither any wise man will enter into the crooked corners of loue vnlesse he knew by what meanes hee might get out Hot fire is not onely quenched by the cleare fountaine so neither is loue only satisfied by the faire face Hee that hath sore eyes must not beholde the Candle so hee that would leaue his loue must not fall to remembring of his Lady the one causeth the eye to smart the other the heart to bleed You shall neuer beate the flie from the Candle though shee burne nor the Quaile from the Hemlocke though it bee poyson so neyther the louer from the companie of his Ladie though it bee perillous As the hearbe Heliotropium is alwayes inclined to that place where the Sunne shineth and being depriued of the Sunne dyeth and as Lunaris hearbe as long as the Moone waxeth bringeth foorth leaues and in the wayning shaketh them off so a louer whiles hee is in the companie of his Ladie where all ioyes encrease vttereth manie pleasant conceits but banished from the sight of his Mistresse where all mirth decreaseth either liueth in Melancholie or dieth with desperation As Andromache whensoeuer shee sawe the Tombe of Hector coulde not refraine from weeping or as Laodamia coulde neuer beholde the picture of Protesilaus in waxe but shee alwayes fainted so louers whensoeuer they viewe the image of their Ladies though not the same substance yet the similitude in shadowe they are so benummed in their ioynts and so bereft of their wittes that they haue neither the power to mooue their bodies to shew life nor their tongues to make answere There must in euery Triangle be three lynes the first beginneth the second augmenteth the thirde concludeth it a figure so in loue three vertues affection which draweth the heart secrecie which increaseth the hope and constancie which finisheth the worke without any of these rules there can be no triangle without any of these vertues no loue There is no man that runneth with one leg no birde that flieth with one wing so no loue lasteth with one limme As the earth wherein the mines of siluer and gold is hidden is profitable for no other thing but mettals so the heart wherein loue is harboured receiueth no other seed but affection When the Hoppe groweth high it must haue a pole when the luie spreadeth it cleaueth to the flint when the Vine riseth it draweth about the Elme so when Virgins wax in yeares they follow that which belongeth to their appetites loue loue As fire cannot bee hidden in the flaxe without smoake nor Muske in the bosome without smell so neither can loue bee hidden in the breast without suspition As the straightest wandes are to bee bent when they be small so the precisest Virgins are to bee wonne when they bee young As fire when it bursteth out catcheth holde soonest of the driest woode so loue when it is reuealed fasteneth easiest vppon the affectionate will As an English man cannot abide a stranger to be his equal nor to be dared by any so hee cannot by any meanes suffer a partner in his loue As there are foure kinds of warres forraine ciuil combat and in the conscience so there are foure kindes of loue spirituall carnall temporall and common F. Iohannes a S. Geminiano lib. 1. de caelo elementis cap. 4. As the Raine-bowe hath foure principall colours in it redde iacinth colour azure and green so loue especially worketh foure passions in the soule zeale excesse hatred and languorment Ibidem As the sun-beames pierce deepely so doth loue Ibidem Loue is likened to the Figge Tree whose fruite is sweete whose Roote is more bitter then the clawe of a Bittor to the Apple in Persia whose blossome sauoureth like Honny whose bud is more sowre then gall and to a Laberinth which leadeth vs into worser paynes then Sisiphus suffereth into moe tormentes then Tantalus abideth and into greater griefe then Ixion beareth As no man canne be twice happie as Saint Hierome writeth in an Epistle to Iulia chapter foure so
matter but contemne the prauitie of the maners Epictetus apud Stobaeum serm 3. As golde put into a trembling hand doth also tremble so riches heaped vp togither of a mind full of cares and feare are shaken togither with it and are affected after the same maner Hypseus apud Stobaeum serm 90. de Temperantia The taste of the Wine is altered with the caske so riches doe varie according to the condition of the possessor Socrates apud Stobaeum serm 92. As a horse if he want a bridle is vnrulie and will not bee managed of the rider so also are riches if they bee not gouerned by reason Idem apud Stobaeum ser 3. de Temperantia As they that are sicke of Feuers are diuersly affected by diuerse things that is by hot things they waxe cold and by cold things they waxe hote so also riches bring trouble to fooles and pouertie bringes ioy to a wise man Plutarchus in Moralibus He that bestoweth riches and glorie vpon a wicked man giueth wine to him that hath an ague honie to one distempered with choler and daintie meats to one troubled with Morbus coeliacus which doe encrease the disease of his minde that is his foolishnes ibidem As garments do seeme to adde heate vnto a man when as of themselues they are cold but they do not adde it but do defend him that is in his bodye so riches seeme to giue a pleasant life when as that proceedeth from the minde and not from externall things ibidem As fire is not to bee blamed because it deuours cities corne fields and vineyards seeing that it is giuen for many good vses as to dresse meate to expell darkenesse and to comfort life so riches vnto a wise man are helpes vnto vertue but to a foole are the destruction of his life Elisius Calentius in epist ad Hierarcum A bird held onely by a feather escapeth away with a little losse so riches ought not to hinder vs from the study of wisdom Seneca A golden bridle doth not make a horse the better so neither do the ornaments of fortune make a man the better Seneca As a Pilot is neuer a whit the better guide because he hath a great ship so is he neuer a whit the better man that hath the greater fortune Seneca As instruments are of no vse vnto them that are ignorant of musicke so are riches vnto them that knowe not howe to vse them As the Philosopher sending the tongue of a sacrificed beast sent the beast and the worst thing so riches are verie good if thou vsest them well but very euill if thou vsest them badly As a nettle if thou handlest it gingerlie doth sting thee but if thou gripest it hard doth not payne thee so money if thou handlest it tenderly and louingly it wil infect thee but if thou dealest with it contemptuously and negligently it will not hurt thee As among the Egyptians there was no man esteemed happy that had not a beast full of spottes so amongst vs in Englande there is none accounted wise that hath not his purse full of gold As thornes do prick so do riches pricke with labour in getting them with feare in keeping them and with griefe in losing them F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilibus plantis cap. 18. As thornes do choake the seede that it cannot spring vp so riches do choake with care the seede of the diuine worde that it cannot fructifie in the hart ibidem As hayres are not onely an ornament but also an helpe vnto the body so riches are an ornament in dignity and an helpe in necessity Idem lib. 6. de homine membris eius cap. 24. Rich men AS many abroad seeme happy and merrie and yet a crabbed wife at home marres all their myrth so rich men outwardlie seeme happie when as inwardly with cares they are tormented night and day Plut. As the fish Scombrus is in the water of a sulphur colour but without the water like vnto other fishes so rich men in their kingdomes seeme like vnto Gods and to bee farre more excellent then others yet in death they nothing differ from others Hartes when they are constrayned to cast away their hornes do hide them especially the right horne that it may not be medicinable vnto others so many rich men albeit they cannot vse their riches themselues yet they will not suffer any other to haue part in them Plin. lib. 8. cap. 21 Aristotel de Nat. lib. 9. cap. 5. Albeit the Asse be most immusical yet the best pipes are made of his bones as Aesope saith in Plutarch so many rich men although vnlearned yet do support students wits by their wealth As rich tapestry oftentimes couereth much filthinesse so the riches of great personages doth hide many calamities Plut. in Moralibus As Bucephalus Great Alexanders horse without his furniture did easily admit any rider but beeing adorned with his royall trappings would carry no man but Alexander himselfe so men in lowe estate doe tolerate any thing but beeing made rich they snuffe and fume and will carry no coales Plin. lib. 8. cap. 24. As olde bags of no worth are esteemed according to the value of the money they haue in them so rich men albeit but fooles and dolts are prized after the rate of the goods they possesse Bion apud Stobaeum sermone 89. As many threeds bound together caÌ„not enter into the eye of a needle but being sundered may enter so a rich man beeing clogged and tyed with his wealth cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen but parting it among the poore he may get in Pintus in Ezechiel cap. 16. As the Elme doth support the vine so rich men ought to sustaine the poore Caesarius Arelatensis hom 17. As a dog waiteth vpon a childe to get his victuals froÌ„ him so the diuel attendeth vpon rich men to catch their soules Chrysost hom 7. in Epist ad Rom. As wee entring into a prison greeue to see men clogged with chaines and fetters so entring into the view of this world wee haue much more cause of griefe to see rich men so fettered with the chaynes of their wealth Chrysostomus Homil. 14. in Matth. As euery Artisan best knowes his owne trade so a rich man should be skilful in his own arte that is how to diuide his riches aright among the poore idem Homel 50. in Matthe As we do not say that he is well that alwaies thirsteth albeit he â—â—â—nde by many riuers of drinke so we say that those rich men doe not enioy prosperity who are alwaies griping for more Chrysost concione 2. de Lazaro As a camell cannot get thorow the eye of a needle by reason of the bunch on his backe so rich men cannot enter into heauen by reason of their deformed couetousnesse and enormous desires Ambrosius sermone 4. As it is harde for a Periwinkle in the sea to swim or for the snaile vpon the lande to 〈…〉 while they beare their houses
ought to bee without glosing and affectation As that is not the best picture which by the matter testifieth the wealth of the owner or the art of the painter but that which truly representeth the thing it personateth so that is the best eloquence which maketh no ostentation of the witte of the speaker but verie fitly sheweth the matter As silken garments are discommended because the bodie appeares thorow them whereas garments were inuented to couer the bodie so that eloquence is ridiculous which doth not declare the matter but obscure and darken it seeing that speech was giuen vs to lay open our mindes and matters Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. As the Boxe tree is alwayes greene but of a naughtie sauour and hath seede odious vnto all liuing creatures so some besides the grace of speech do bring nothing but that which is to be auoyded Idem lib. 16. cap. 17. The tree Tilia hath a sweete barke and sweete leaues yet no liuing creature can abide to taste or touch the fruit of it so the speech of some is elegantly composed and Rhetoricallie deliuered and yet there is no fruite of matter or sentence in it Ibidem cap. 15. Theophrastus lib. 1. cap. 10. As some Phisitians are almost skilfull in the cure of all diseases and languors and yet can render no true reason of them so some verie eloquent know all the points of Rhetoricke and the groundes of their Arte yet are verie bare in the substance of argument or soundnesse of matter Philo in lib. quod deterius potiori insidietur As infantes cannot speake but by hearing others talke so none can be eloquent but by reading and hearing elocutions and exornations of speech August lib. 4. de doct Christ cap. 3. As hee that hath a beautious bodie and a deformed minde is more lamented for then if both partes were deformed so they that deliuer false things eloquentlie are more to bee pittied then if they spake them rudely and clownishly ibidem cap. 28. As holesome meate retaineth his owne vertue whether it bee deliuered out of an earthen vessell or a siluer Platter so truth is not impayred whether it bee vttered politikelie or plainely Idem libro 5. confessionum cap. 6. As luxurious persons behold the comelinesse of the bodie and not the beautie of the mind so some only marke the structure of orations and not the frame of argumēts Theophilus Alexand. Epist 2. Paschali As Brasse is ingendred of Sulphur and Quicksiluer so eloquence is compounded of two things of interior meditation which resembleth sulphur and of exterior pronunciation which resembleth quicksiluer As brasse being mingled with other mettals changeth both colour vertue wherupon there comes three kindes one white like siluer another yellow like golde and a third also like golde drawne into thinne plates which players make their crownes of so eloquence is threefold spirituall eloquence which gaines soules secular eloquence which winnes gaine and poetical eloquence which moues delight As Brasse soone rusteth if it bee not oyled so eloquence soone becommeth offensiue if it be not annointed with the oyle of charitie As brasse is the fittest mettall to make bels trumpets of by reason of the sound so eloquent men are best to make preachers of because they will be heard As brasse hath many vertues against many infirmities for as Plin. and Diosc say brasse being burnt and puluerized dooth purge hurtfull humors heale wounds expel darknes from the eies and eateth away superfluous flesh so diuine eloquence and the tongue of a preacher being burnt that is inflamed with the fire of the holy spirit and puluerized that is grounded on humilitie hath vertue to dissolue the hardnes of heart to drie the lust of the flesh to purge the noysome affections of sinfull men to heale the woundes of temptations to banish the mists of errors and to eate away the gluttonie of intemperate persons Though the Rose bee sweete yet being tied with the Violet the smell is more fragrant though meate nourish yet hauing good sauour it prouoketh appetite the fayrest nosegay is made of many flowers the finest picture of sundry colours the holsomest medicin of diuers hearbs so though the naked truth be welcome yet it is more gratefull if it come attired and adorned with fine figures and choice phrases A good gouernor that is also beautifull is more acceptable to the people so is a Philosopher that is eloquent Seneca A Diamond set in gold is more grateful so is the truth adorned with eloquence Speech AS neying is proper to a horse barking to a dog bellowing to an oxe and roaring to a lion so speech is proper vnto man Philo lib. de somniis As a sicke man doth not seeke for a learned phisitiā but for one skilful to cure him so we do not expect a flaunting speech of a Philosopher Seneca apud Erasmum Musitians make the sweetest melody by the gentlest touch so a gentle speech doth more moue the people then a crabbed Plutarchus in Moral As a horse is turned about with a bridle and a ship by a sterne so men are ledde by speech ibidem As houses without doores are vnprofitable so are men that haue no rule of their speech Ibidem As in calamitie our firmest best friends are present with vs so let our best speeches be also present Ibidem Some do loue nothing in an apothecaries shop but the fragrancy of the smel neglecting the goodnes of preseruatiues and the vertue of purgatiues so some do looke for nothing in Plato and Demosthenes but the puritie of the Atticke speech Ibidem Arras cloathes when they are wide opened do shew the pictures wrought in thē but beeing lapped vp they conceale and hide the same so a speech aptly composed and well pronounced doth set before our eyes the order and course of the mater but beeing ended the most of it slippeth our of our mindes Idem in Graecorum apophthegmatis As women doe then smell well when they smell of nothing so that speech hath the best ornament that wants affectation Cicero ad Attic. lib 2. As the Painter Protogenes knew Apelles by the draught of one line although hee had neuer seene him before so by one only speech a man may bee discerned what wit and wisdom he hath Eras in similibus As the same sunne doth melt waxe and hardē clay so the same speech doth make some better and some worse according to the diuersity of dispositions As the loade stone doth not drawe any thing vnto it but Iron although other thinges bee much lighter so the speech of some doth not moue all but onely those that are inclined to that they perswade As salte moderately sprinkled on meate doth season it and addes a liking to our taste so if thou minglest in thy speech some antiquitie or pretty conceit it addes great beauty vnto thy talke but if it bee done too affectedly there is nothing more vnpleasant In a vine whatsoeuer is taken away by pruning from the