bellie of a Harte Bycause the gall of a Harte is sometimes in the tayle and sometimes in the bellie ¶ What is the cause that fatte people haue litle blodde Bycause the greace and the fatnes doe consume it ¶ Wherof commeth the saying of the Auncientes that he who is wont to eate a kinde of pulse called Lentilles is for the moost part pleasaunt and amiable It is bicause that Lentilles do cause colde humors ¶ Howe commeth it that we be more gredie to eate when the North or Northeast winde doeth blowe then at other tunes That commeth of the colde of the foresaide windes which doeth vnite and holde the naturall heate together ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Florentines when they be disposed to quenche their thirste doe drinke water mingled with Uineger I will tell you Uineger beyng of his nature colde remoueth the inflamation and heate of the stomake which prouoketh thirst and so by remouing the cause the affection also is taken awaie ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Sheperds of Nuceria in Campania within the region of Italie when they meane to geld their cattell doo laie vpon their coddes thinges stupefactiue that is to saie that properly do mortifie Things stupefactiue doe thicken the vitall spirites of the membre and do alter the complexion therof so that they let the naturall heate and stop the conduictes wherby the sperme doeth descend ¶ What meane the Shepherdes of Calabria when they liste that the Ramme shal engendre a wether lambe to tye the lefte codd and when they will that it be a female to tye vp the right â–ª The male lambe is hotter then the female and therfore moost commonlye he is engendred of the right syde and the female on the lefte Binding then the left codde the sede and likewise the generatife sprite entreth the right Codd wherby he taketh heate and force which doeth soner bring forthe a male then a female ¶ What causeth the Ethiopians and Mores when they entende to gelde their cattell to cutt their vaines which be vnder the Temples The sperme and seede for the moost parte doeth descende by the vaines aboue the Temples which beyng cutt there can no maner of humors descend from the braine and so all meanes of generation are cut awaye ¶ Wherof commeth it that to gett a stomake men vse egre and sharpe thinges That is bicause all egre thinges do drie and open the stomacke which causeth the appetite ¶ What causeth that they which haue a feminine voyce be not in any great estimation or opinion among the wise Whosoeuer hath vpon him eyther member or marke or maner of doing which is proper to any other creature whatsoeuer it be he is suerly participant of the nature of the sayde creature And bycause the woman is of small practice whosoeuer hath the voyce lyke a woman is estemed of the wise to haue litle vnderstanding or knowledge ¶ What causeth the people of Boetia to haue a grosse voyce and yet lowe and seble The Boetians be slouthfull and geuen to the bellie whiche causeth the voyce to be so lowe the reason is euident bycause their vigor and strengthe is more feble receuing and gathering lesse ayer Wherfore they cannot very well moue the muscules of the stomacke and so they are the more heauie and lesse apt to labor ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which be hastie of speach are of small constancie yll conditioned and extremely cholerike All sodeine motions come of thexiremitie excesse of heate which engendreth in men this inconstancie and lightnes to promise without any performing through Colere most coÌ„monly consider not what they say ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue a shirle voyce are moost commonly enuiouse and maliciouse The sharpenes of the voyce procedeth from the sharpenes of the pipes and conduictes of the longes which riseth through drinesse and coldenes Suche be melancholike persons who beyng naturally fearefull dare neuer disclose that which they thinke ¶ Wherfore be y e Aâ—maines accustomed in their huÌ„ting to hold their breath wheÌ„ they desire to here y e noyse rustling of beasts At all times when the breth is kept in then hath the hearing greater force abrode and so consequently receiueth and comprehendeth the better that which is presented whether it be sound or noyse Moreouer blowing or breathing doth somwhat let the hearing And therfore the same being reteyned the hearing is more free ¶ But wherof commeth it that many hauing the knowledge of naturall thinges do thinke it not good to drinke after fructe and specially after Melons and Pompions Wine of it selfe is penetratife in suche sort that it easely draweth with it the vndigested fructes to the vaines where they do sone corrupt and so engender very great feuers and other lingering sicknesses ¶ ¶ What is the cause that y e gentle women of Milan to make themselues fatte doe loue and vse swete wines Swete wine doth engender grosse blood and doth easely penetrate into all the partes of the bodie and is conuerted into nourishment wherof they become so fat and of good liking Grene wine sharpe doth not the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that all they which be extreme thirstie do loue no swete wines All thinges which may ingender and enflame choler are apte to make men thirstie and suche is swete wine ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse religiouse persons which naturally are very zelouse of Chastitie do absteine from wine Wine is hote and full of vapours and therfore prouoketh lust his heat dissolueth seede and with his ventositie causeth the courage to ryse ¶ What is the cause that the Florentines â–ª after they haue put water into wine do let it rest a certein space before they drink it The more the water is mingled and incorporated with the wine the more the fume of the wine is quenched beyng reduced as it were into one body and nature Therfore after my iudgement it should be better when the wine is newe pressed to put in water then otherwise ¶ Why be the Arabians accustomed to slepe with their bodies bowing or folded It must nedes be that Nature or they which knowe his effectes haue taught them the same For sleping so folded together their stomackes doe waxe warme digest the better and there is no windines that can hinder their digestion The body being bowed as aforesaid causeth that the bely doth receiue al ventositie eueÌ„ like vnto an open purse Contrariwise y e body stretched forth maketh the belly to close shut in such sort that it can receiue no windines the belly being bent stretched forthe stuffed on euery side with bowels inward parts which causeth that the ventosities finding no place in the belly are forced to retire els wher to hinder digestioÌ„ ¶ Why do the Polonians eate colewortes to make them selues sober when they be dronke The propertie of coleworte is to send downe to the bowels the moost materiall and grosse parte of
eloquent and some to be dombe other astonied and other freshe and lustie That commeth of the diuersitie of their complections ¶ Wherof commeth it that the leaues of certaine trees in some part of ScotlaÌ„d falling into the sea be turned into duckes and malardes By the secret vertue of the Occean Sea ¶ Wherfore do men make collers of Aumbre for children Bicause aumbre is good against the sqinance which is a swelling in the iawes throte and it is good also against a disease called of y e Phisitians Tansille ¶ Wherof commeth the Dropsie Of a great colde in the Liuer ¶ Howe happeneth it that we become balde vpon the foreparte of the hedde Bicause that part is drie and of drines commeth baldenes ¶ But why be the heares of the temples graye sooner then of any other partes Bicause the Temples are very moyst and full of muscles ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians thinke them to be of small capacitie that haue sharpe heddes Bicause the spirites fynd not the conduictes so free and open ¶ Why be there no Serpentes in Ireland Bicause that region is nothing waterishe ¶ What causeth those that haue the Iaundis to thinke hony to be bitter Bicause of the great câ—ller wherwith they haue the tongue and pallat infected ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the meates oftentimes waxe sower in the ventricle That procedeth of the coldenes of the Stomacke ¶ Why is not that ayer good which is both hote and moyst Bicause it is very subiect to be corrupted ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Aethiopians haue curld heare Of the great siccitie and drynes of their humors ¶ Why be dronken persons commonly colde Bicause wine immoderately dronken doeth cause colde effectes ¶ Wherfore is veneson more estemed and praysed of the learned Phisitians then other fleshe Bicause it is of good nourishment and engendreth good blodde ¶ Why is the white of an egge harde of digestion Through the great coldenes therof ¶ How commeth it that such beastes as haue no tethe aboue haue a double ventricle To digest the better and to supplie the default that they haue by the wante of tethe ¶ Wherfore do men drinke water and yet it nourisheth not Water causeth the nutriment to spredde throughout all the body ¶ Why is not the hande hearie within Bicause the skinne is thicke and harde ¶ Why is Autumpne so vnholsome and full of diseases Through the inequalitie of his temperature ¶ Why be the eares vnmoueable Bicause they haue no Muscles ¶ Why be no remedies conuenient to be receued in the greatest extremitie of sicknes Bicause nature should be letted ¶ Wherfore are bathes of swete water estemed Bicause they do heate and moysten and are good against tercian ague◠¶ Why doeth the Northern winde preserue thinges from putrifying Bicause it drieth muche ¶ Wherof commeth it that Buglosse tempered and dipte in wine reioyseth him that doeth eate it Bicause it augmenteth the blodde and restoreth the forces of the hart ¶ Wherof commeth it that Peone hanged about ones neckâ— doeth heale the falling sickenes That herbe sendeth certeine vapors to the hed which do drie the braine ¶ Why be stockdoues better then pigions of the douehouse Bicause they haue lesse donge and excrementes ¶ Wherof commeth it that Asur colour is pleasant to the eye Bicause in that colour is a meane of all other colours para Howe chaunceth it that although Infantes be naturally moyst are not for all that graye hedded Bicause that with their moistnes heate is conioyned ¶ Why doeth a Boare fome at the mouth when he bremeth Bicause his cundittes and generatiâ—e partes be narrowe ¶ Why doth a tame Sowe bring forthe mo Pigges then a wilde Sowe That commeth of the aboundaunce of meate and of the warmenes of the places where they liue ¶ But why can not Sowes geue milke without groning or grunting Sowes haue litle milke and the same is spred in diuerse tetes and therfore there must nedes be great force to drawe it ¶ Wherfore do we sweate more in the vpper partes of our bodie then in the lower partes The propertie of heate is to ascend and not to discende ¶ Why doeth not the dunge of wilde beastes stincke so much as other Bicause they be drie of nature ¶ Wherfore hath nature shaped a braine in liuing creatures Bicause they might easely receue and comprehend the impressions and imaginations of the thinges that they smell and vnderstand ¶ Why made nature the brayne rather colde then hotte To temper and moderate the heate of the hart for the confort and refreshing of the same ¶ Why be our eyes greater in our Infancie then when we be of more age Through the gret humiditie moistnes Wherof in like maner it coÌ„meth that we are more desirouse of slepe in our Infancie then in any other age ¶ How commeth it that mens eyes do differ so much in culler one from another Of the diuersitie of the humors wherof they be composed ¶ Wherfore is sodden water better then the colde Boild and sodden water hath lesse ventosities and is more â—lighte and subtill because the earth and heauie substaunce is separated from it ¶ Wherfore hath nature ordeined nesing in man To purge the superfluitie of the braine euen as by the cogh the milte is purged ¶ Whye doo we nese soner in the Sunne then when we be nere the fire Bicause the heate of the sunne resolueth the humor and consumeth it not but the fyre resolueth and consumeth it ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the eares of all creatures do moue except the eares of a man That procedeth of a certaine muscle which is in the Iawes and doeth let and hinder the mouing of the eares ¶ Wherof commeth it that asses do soner lift vp their eares when it will raine then at any other time Their melancholike nature causeth it the like happeneth to many other melancholike beastes to pronosticate of raine as frogs dolphines crowes and Cuckoes ¶ Why haue birdes no eares Bicause they would hinder their flying for which cause they are created and made as man is made to trauell ¶ Wherfore are the waters of marishes and pondes so euel Bicause they are so flematike in sommer they do corrupt In so much as y e finest of y e water is conuerted into vapors y e erthines doth remain ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue hollow eies doe see better then those whose eies do stand more outward Hollowe eies haue their vertue more faste and better compacte and so they see the better and further of ¶ Why do the eies of Wolues and Cattes shine in the night and not in the day The greater clerenes doth obâ—uscate and darken the lesser ¶ Wherof commeth it that when we loke and behold our self in a glasse we do imediatly after forget our fauor The Image sene in a glasse doth represent it self to our visible sight very slenderly and by a certaine reflection and therfore can not long be
Wherof commeth it that those Creatures which are without heades for a certeyne season do not slepe It is bicause that slepe commeth from the hedde ¶ But why is that water which is sonest hott and sonest cold better then other water Bicause it is more subtill and more lighte ¶ Wherfore is the well water better then that which passeth by the mines of Leade Water hath alwaies the nature of the place where it passeth taking then the vertue of Leade which is abstersyuâ— or skowring it fretteth and hurteth the guttes and therby must nedes endomage the bodie The like is not in waters that runne by mines of golde and syluer for they comforte the bodie ¶ Wherfore is ouer great exercise or labor euill for the sight Bicause it drieth the blodde to muche ¶ Why do some beastes bring forth many yonge ones and other not so That is according as they haue bellies and receptacles for the seede ¶ Howe commeth it that men slepe better and soner on the righte side then on the lefte Bicause beyng awake he doeth leane and rest more vpon the lefte syde then vpon the right ¶ Wherfore hath Nature made the heddes of fishes so great in comparison of the rest of their bodie Bicause they may plonge them selues more easely into the bottome of the water ¶ Wherof commeth it that a flower which is brused hath not so good a smell as otherwise Bicause the earthie parte is by that meanes mingled with the swete smell and so doeth alter it ¶ Howe chaunceth it that figges which are swete and tender do neuerthelesse cause tothe ache Bicause they cleaue to the gommes through their viscositie â—limines ¶ What meaneth it that Gotes be euermore in an Ague That procedeth of their extreame heate which is nothinge els but a very Ague ¶ Why do we esteme Gotes milke to be better for our stomacke then any other Bicause the Gote taking his nourishment rather of wodde boughes then of grasse causeth his milke to be the more thicke and lesse slimie ¶ Howe commeth it that Cowe milke is more medecinable then other milke Bicause a Cowe being a great eating beast doth feede not onely vpon grasse but also vpon all sortes of grene herbes ¶ Wherfore is the milke of Shepe sweter then other Bicause it is fatter and albeit that it doeth fatten yet it is noysome to the stomacke ¶ Why is the blod of a Bull hurtfull to them that drinke it Bicause it is very fatte and full of threddes and soone waxeth harde â—â—gendring therby hurtefulnes ¶ Why do al beastes refuse to eate of any thing that a Beare hath blowen vpon or smelt vnto â–ª Bicause the blowing or smelling of a Beare is pestiferouse ¶ Wherof commeth it that among beastes some do soner followe their dâ—mmes then other That coÌ„meth bicause some sone some late do receiue knowledge to do it ¶ Why be gardens watered eyther late in the euening or rathe in the morning That the heate of the sunne may not sodenly drie them and consume the moystnes of the herbes ¶ What is the cause that euery sound or voyce is more sharpe towardes the ende then at the beginning Bicause the voice then waxeth more fâ—oble ¶ For what respect be they fearfull that dwell in hotte countries and they strong which dwell in colde countries Colde doeth restraine and thicken the fleshe which causeth the heate to be better gathered and compact within Why do olde men when they will beholde a thinge holde it somewhat farre of from their eyes The light of olde men is small grosse and troubled and hath nede therfore to be sharpened and there must be betwene their eye and the thinge which they will beholde some light to ayde their sight which causeth that they holde a space of that which they would beholde and see ¶ Wherfore be they that haue their eies rolling and tourning and their sight sterne deceuors theues and of hotte nature Deceipt and theft procede of the subtiltie of the minde and the subtiltie of the minde commeth of the subtiltie of humors caused of heate that causeth the eies to wander and the sight to be sterne ¶ Wherof commeth it that if one be dronke with to muche grene or newe wine and afterwardes drinke swete wine vpon the same the wine doeth him the lesse hurte Grene and sharpe wine remayneth longe in the stomacke and doth trouble it and by his heat pearceth the braine wherby it doth inebriat man the soner but swâ—te wine through his viscositie doth stop y e cundites wherby the vapors fumes of the grene sharpe wine shuld ascend to the braine Howe chaunceth it that the hed is worse at ease when one hath dronke tomuch wine mingled with water then when he hath dronke to much pure wine vnmingled It commeth of this that the pure wine doth digest better and so his fumosities do not offende the head wheras the wine mingled with water penetrating the substaunce of the braine can with great difficultie be dissolued Therof also it commeth that they which trauell much drinke more and be lesse dronke then they that be Idle and if perhaps they be dronke they waxe soner sober ¶ Wherof commeth it that to muche drinking of wine doth alter the bellies of those that are melancholike They that be melancholike are drie of complexion and therfore their bellies beyng moystned with wine are more laxatiue Or els the wine fyndeth in the bodies of melancholike persons many vndigested humors whoÌ„ it resolueth and digesteth throughe his heate and beinge so resolued and digested he sendeth them to the guttes and inwarde partes ¶ Wherof commeth it that they whiche are leane do many tymes dye with to much drinking of olde and strong wines And they that are fat by reason of the wine do sone waxe leane The slender bodie hath but litle heate and substanciall moistnes in it Neuertheles it semeth straunge vnto me that those which be fatte consuming by vertue of the wine their naturall moystnes can in the ende waxe leane ¶ Wherof commeth it that the eyes of dronkardes doo still water That procedeth of the humors that the wine hath engendred in the brayne wherof feling it selfe laden it sendeth the same agayne to the eyes which of their nature are full of poores ¶ Wherof commeth it that oftentimes the heares do waxe graye by reason of sickenes and doo fall away and beyng recouered againe do become blacke as they were before They that do affirme sickenes to be a kinde of age which commeth at the appoynted time and that age is a perpetuall disease of Nature haue iudged well knowinge that in dede they bothe procede of the great superfluitie of humors whiche hinder the digestion which being corrupted through the outwarde heate causeth the heare to waxe graye but retourning to health and recouering his fyrst strength the bodie also must nedes chauâ—ge wherby the heare commeth againe to his fyrst estate ¶ Wherof commeth
doth nese twise together Bicause there be two holes or breathing places in the nose ¶ Wherof commeth it that cold water being caste in the face doeth staunche bleding of the Nose It is bicause that by that meanes heate is driuen in ¶ Why is smoke painefull to the eyes Bicause the eyes be of a weake complexion ¶ Why do they liue longest that dwell in hotte countries Bicause they are drier and their naturall moysture and heate doeth preserue them the better ¶ Why do we smel a thing lesse in winter then in Sommer Bicause the ayer is thicker and lesse moueable ¶ Wherof commeth it that the vrine the longer it is reteyned within the bodie the worse it smelleth and the excrement the longer it is kepte the lesse it stinketh The excrement the longer it tarieth in the bodie the more it drieth and is of lesse corruption The driue contrarywise the longer it is reteyned in the bladder the thicker it waxeth and more fylthie ¶ Why doeth the heare burne so quickely Bicause it is colde and drie ¶ Why do we couer our heddes close in colde weather The hedde doeth waxe warme when it is kept close for by that meanes the heate is kept in And the kerchef or hoode serueth for the hedde as the gowne doeth for the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue their shoulders and necke hearie be foles and obstinate apte to do euill Follie and obstinacie procede of Melancholie engendred of adust and burning cholere And for so muche as the heare of the bodie and shoulders comâ—eth by extremâ— choler and heate the choler doth neuer leaue vntill it burne with extreme heate and so conuerteth into Melancholie The necke and shoulders be very seldome hearie but if they be it procedeth of heate and drines which complexion doeth easely chaunge into 〈◊〉 Melancolie and maketh them fooles and peruerse ¶ Why do they not thinke wel water to be good and holsome Euery water which standeth still and is not heated with the sunne is earthie heauie and consequently nought ¶ Wherof commeth it that Raine water corrupteth so soone and is noysome both to the voyce and stomacke Rayne water for that it is engendred of vapores is verie subtile and therfore subiect to corruption Being putrified it engendreth corruption in vs and through his stopping it drieth the stomacke and the pipes or vaines of the Longes And although that by digestion the corruption doth diminishe yet the vertue astrictiue doeth still remaine ¶ Wherof commeth it that bitter Almondes doe kepe one from dronkennesse Bicause they drye the bodie and will not suffer the vaines to be fylled resisting the strength of the wine ¶ Wherof commeth it that women be not sodenly dronke and olde folkes are incontinently ouercome with wine The wine remaineth longer in the stomackes of olde people being drie by nature euen as water dothe in a tronke of wodde drie and halfe putrified But women are to colde and moist by meanes wherof they do better resiste the force oâ— the wine The ende of Naturall Questions ¶ Morall and politique Questions The III. Booke WHy did the Auncientes painte Fortune with a double forhedd the one side balde and the other hearie The shauen syde signifieth aduersitie the hearie parte prosperitie which wee enioye when it pleaseth her ¶ What hath moued many to thinke the seate of the spirite to be placed in the eyes Bicause the passions of the spirite doe appeare in the eyes ¶ Why did the Romanes deme him hurtefull to the Common wealthe that would not contente himselfe with .vii. yokes of lande After the Kinges were chased from Rome the Romanes desirouse to content them selues with a litle to auoyde all occasion of Tiranny assigned to euery Romane Citizen .vii. yokes of Lande and no more ¶ Why was it so longe before the Romanes did plante any Uines Bicause they foresawe that wine made them dull debilitated their synewes weakened their forces troubled their braines and made them haue a stinking breath ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Persians breath commonly stinketh Bicause of the diuersitie of meates and excesse of wines ¶ Why did the Romanes esteme the men of the countrie to be more mete for the warres then the Citizens Bicause the Peysant and Cuntrie man is more accustomed to slepe vpoÌ„ harde places to endure colde and heate honger and thirste ¶ Wherfore is he estemed more vilanouse and infamouse that denieth the thing which is deliuered him to kepe then he that rendreth not the thing he boroweth Bicause there is nothing more vilanouse then a man to do wronge to his frende for no man deliuereth any thing in keping to any man but to him in whom he hath reposed his greatest trust ¶ What ment the Romanes to haue no Bakers in their Citie before the warres of the Persians which was .v. C. and .iiii. score yeres after the building of Rome The Romanes estemed the science of Baking to be but the worke of women ¶ But tell me I pray you why had they no Cookes as we haue Bicause they are strong and lustie men not geuen to delicates which maketh men fainte and effeminate ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the drowned bodies of men doe swimme vpwardes and those of women downewardes Nature her selfe hath a speciall regarde to the honestie of women desirouse to couer their secret places Wherof I would it might please god that women themselues had better consideration and regarde ¶ Wherfore were the Carthaginians counted deceauers and mockers The scituation of Carthage did cause the same For by reason of the marchaundize and traâ—ique whiche they had with all the nacions of the worlde they were very muche vsed and frequented to tromperie decept ¶ But why were the Carthaginians so desirouse that all their magestrates should be riche Bicause they thought that the poore man could nor faithfully minister Iustice. ¶ What mente many braue and lustie nacions continually rather to loue warre then peace Bicause warre sturâ—eth men to vertue and valiaunce and peace draweth them to Idlenes and all kinde of wantonnes ¶ Why haue diuerse in times paste allowed and commended Flatterie Bicause Flatterie setteth forthe before our eyes what we ought to be ¶ Why doth the vice of Anger dailie displease the wise Bicause it is a spice of Follie and Rage ¶ Wherfore ought the vertue of Iustice to be in Princes commendable aboue al other thinges Bicause it is the mother of all vertue But what shalbe demed of that Realme that is without Iustice yf not a verie sanctuary of theues and pirates ¶ Wherfore were they of the Countrie Campagnia estemed proude and braue Bicause of the fertilitie of the Countrie and beautie of their Cities ¶ Why be the people of Boetia more then any other counted blockeheddes and Asses Bicause they eate to muche ¶ What moued them of Locres to make a law that whosoeuer would goe about by any lawe or ordinaunce to establishe some newe deuise or innouation
them selues Loue doeth laugh at such periuries Louers therfore desirouse to serue there god do sweare continuallie Or els it procedeth of a certein lightnes caused of diuerse thoughtes which doe rise in their mindes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that men leaue not to loue a woman although through age or some other accident or chaunce she waxeth ill fauored and foule That commeth of Loue which is blind and being blind can not know or iudge the imperfections of other But howe should he take knowledge of that which he can not blame And howe can he blame that which he is constrained to embrace and wholie to pursue ¶ From whence cōmeth it that moost comenlie we be geuen feruentlie to loue not those onely of whom we neuer receiued pleasure but those also whom we neuer sawe Euerie one beareth the Image of his minde in his face and therof may bee gathered some signe or token of the witt and nature of the person by meanes wherof we maie coniecture whervnto she is most enclined which is the verie spring and beginning of naturall amitie or hatred ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse men can not obteine the grace and fauour of their Ladies although they doe serue them honor them and adore them Bycause as Aristotle saithe there is nothing in them worthie to be beloued But what man is he so voide of Natures grace but hath somewhat in him worthie of Loue. ¶ But what is the cause that some Suters be better beloued of their Ladies then other some The Ladie enriched with beautie and good maners is like vnto the sonne that doth euerie where equally extend his beames which notwithstanding are receiued vnequallie of some more of some lesse after their capacitie The sterres also therin doe beare some rule so that after the saying of Diogenes the Stoique the signes comune to two persons that is to saie vnder which the one and the other shalbe borne and those signes agreing do cause the willes of the same two persons to be ioyned vnited ¶ Why be these little and pretie angers and fallinges out which chaunce amonges Louers the refreshing and renewinge of Loue That shall euer be bycause Loue is like a flame that will goe out and dye yf it be not blowen and oftentimes moued Or els we may well saie that the more the thing which we desire is denied the more we desire it ¶ Wherof commeth it that we be ashamed to comunicate to other our desire and lust to the combat of Loue and of other appetites and desires as to drinke eate slepe and such like we be not ashamed Bycause that the same carnall affection is not so necessarie nor so profitable for this life as the other appetites be ¶ Wherof commeth the diuersitie of weapons wherwith Loue is wont to wounde men and women fishes birdes and other foure foted beastes Of the diuerse nature of thinges that he assayleth ¶ You will say that beautie fayling loue decreaseth I wold say yea bycause Loue is no other thing but a desire of beautie ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man being touched with loue can not ridde him selfe of that passion by any dexteritie policie or witte Loue is a certeine estate and plight that doeth wrappe and folde the minde of man and with a certeine swete mocion doeth transport him into the thing by him desired This affection riseth by the contemplation and iudgement that he hath of beautie which causeth him to conceiue in his sprite and minde suche admiracion and desire that whether he will or no he is caught in the Ginnes and nettes of Loue. ¶ Why doe the newe maried vse roquet and muske when they go to bed with their new maried wiues Bycause such thinges doe prouoke luste and engendre seede ¶ What reason haue certeine people of the North partes to seeth with water a certeine stone called Gagates causing their spouses before they lye with them to drinke therof That is to knowe whether they haue made any faulte or not before For the propertie of that Stone is soudenlie to force them to make water that haue indured and suffred the act of man ¶ Howe commeth it that yf a man geue him selfe to much to the sporte and plaie of Loue the same doeth diminishe the pleasure therof Bycause the seede being sore diminished is but a certeine waterishe matter of no great heate which can not yelde any great pleasure ¶ What is the cause that women which be of verie hote Nature cannot conceiue Great and vehement heate doeth distroie and corrupt the seede and therfore they which be verie hote are comenlie fructeles and barren ¶ Why doe some women loue men that be blacke and some other those that be faier and well collored Women of feble sight loue them that be blacke because blackenes doeth ioyne and vnite the sight to much disparcled and by this meanes doeth comforte the same Or els we may well saie that euerie thing doeth loue and desire his like They therfore which be hote of nature loue them that be blacke bycause they be more prone to heate Other which be of colder nature doe loue them that be white because they be of colde complexion the mother of whitenes ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient compared Loue to dronkennes For nothing elles but bycause it maketh men which before were colde heauie and couetous iustie and liberall ¶ Why were Oysters consecrated by the auncient to Venus Bycause Oysters doe prouoke lecherie ¶ Wherfore doe not common harlotes conceiue or yf they doe it is verie seldome The diuersitie of the seedes doeth lette conception and causeth that the same can not be reteined ¶ What meaneth it that the purse of Cupido is tyed with a Leke This prouerbe doeth declare that Loue is liberall and fyndeth no let to put his hand in his purse ¶ Which is greatest the hurt or profite that commeth of loue He that doeth not loue of him selfe estemeth the losse to be greater then the proffet ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath iudgement or no Howe can he with iudgement cause Louers daylie as euerie man may see to fall into suche enormities ¶ Wherof commeth it that for the moste part the children which maried women doe borrowe or which be nor lawfullie begotten commonlie called Bastardes do resemble more their husbandes then those that be legitimate or lawfullie by them begotten The reason commeth of an Imagination that they haue to be soudenlie taken or espied of their husbandes And so their husbandes be alwaies in their fantasie for it semeth to them that they be continuallie before their eyes and that they saie vnto them what doest thou thou shameles whore Is this thy assured promis made vnto me at the mariage daie ¶ Wherfore be Bastardes for the moost part of better corage and more lyuelie then lawfull children That procedeth of a more ardent force and vertue of him that doeth beget them for man is more earnest in that acte when it is secretlie committed and done in
sorrowe Great Ioye doth choke the interior partes and heauines doeth extinguishe and coole them so that life can not endure where heate lacketh ¶ Wherof commeth it that Mermalade of quinces taken before the repast doeth binde and close vp the belly and taken after the repast doeth vnbinde it Through his great stiptisitie or costifnest it closeth the nether partes of the ventricle and if it be taken after repast it closeth the superior partes of the stomake which being shut the meates be constrained to auoyde by the inferior parte ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that the Radishe rote doth greatly ayde helpe digestion and yet of it selfe almost can not be digested The Radish is compound made of diuerse qualities The more subtill partes therof are very proper and mete to cause digestion Thother which are grosse be contrarie to heate and so let digestion ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Cholerike complexions doe sonest atteine to berdes For their great heate and bicause they haue the poores large and wide ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue curlde heare and some other smothe and streight The curlde heares do procede of the aboundaunce of heate which euidently may be sene in Mores and Ethiopians who for the moost parte haue curled heare And playne and streight heare commeth of humiditie which through his heauines doeth draw the heare downewardes ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue their priuie partes heary and not their visage nor breste In the nether partes is more moystnes aswel by reason of the bladder as of the Matrixe there is also great resolutions of vapours which cause heare to growe ¶ But howe commeth it that heare doth also growe in them that be hanged They be continually in the Sunne and all the humors of their bodie doe resolue into vapors which causeth the heares to encrease and growe ¶ Wherof commeth it that some haue harshe and harde heare and other softe The softe heare doeth come of the litle pooers and the stiffe and harde doeth procede of the greatnes of the pooers for this cause women haue their heare more fyne and softe bycause their naturall colde doth restreine and make their pooers lesse ¶ Wherof doeth it come that they which be bashefull and shame faced ware redde and yet they ought rather to be pale bicause shame is a kinde of feare Shame is a certeine affection mingled with angre and feare for we be angrie many times as well against our selues as against other when we see a thing discouered that we would should be kept secrete Angre then in that conflict doeth ouercome feare and so the blodde often mouing in and out stayeth at length in the vpper parte vntill the motion of the spirites be appeased ¶ Wherof commeth it that in a maner al they which in their youthe be to fatte do dye sodenly The vaines of suche people be to narrowe and they are so pressed and as it were bounde together with fatnes and greace that the ayer and the spirite cannot freely passe Wherof it commeth that the naturall heate hauing no refrigoration of the aier of very force doth mortifie extinguish ¶ What causeth yonge men sooner to haue an appetite then olde men It is bycause they be of a hotter complexion ¶ Wherfore do Phisitians forbid vs meates that be to hotte Bicause they burne the blodde and do dispose it to Leprosie ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue no beardes Bicause that substaunce which should conuert into the bearde doeth turne into the heare of the heade ¶ Wherof commeth it that Infantes and children for the moost parte do resemble their mothers notwithstanding after the opinion of many Philosophers the action and dede of generation is not of the woman That commeth of the ymagination of women ¶ What meaneth it that Garlike and Onions although they be not in the ground do sprowte and growe That is of the great aboundaunce of the humors that they haue ¶ Wherof commeth it that studie is noysome and hurtefull after repast Natural heat can not trauel both in digestion speculation at one instant Wherof commeth it that when the stomacke is grieued all the bodie languisheth The stomacke hath certeine aliaunces with the harte the brayne and the Liuer which are the principall partes of the bodie ¶ Wherof commeth it that some do thinges beste with the right hande and other some with the lefte That procedeth of the heate that commeth from the harte which maketh that syde more apte and mete vnto labor whervnto it hath his principall accesse ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all kindes of creatures be more leane in the beginning of their youth and when they be olde then in their middle age Before olde age naturall heate is in his greatest force and strength which dissolueth the fatte Olde Creatures be neuer fatte and if they be their fatte is as nothing through their great colde and drynes for the faâ—te is sustained and nourished with moistnes and heate ¶ Whereof commeth it that they which haue the hicket by retaining their breth do ease them selues of it The blowing and breth retained doeth heate the interior partes of the bodie and the hicket procedeth of nothing els but of colde ¶ Why do olde people nese with great difficultie Because their conduictes be very straight ¶ Why doeth wine mingled with water cause vomit Mingled wine is noisome to the stomacke and doeth weaken the vertue retentiue contrarywise pure wine doth comforte it ¶ Whye be they so subiecte to sickenesse that loue to drinke stronge and mightie wines Stronge wine excessiuelye dronke doeth extinguishe naturall heate and the liuor being therewith weakened cannot engendre good bloud but doeth rather ingender a certaine aquositie and waterishnes that conuerteth it selfe into a dropsie ¶ Why be not yonge children so thirstie and drye as men of greater age The moistnes of yonge children doeth kepe them from being thirstie For thirst is nothing els but a desyre of moistnes whervpon they that be of greater age be naturally more drye and therefore more thirstie ¶ Whye doeth the dronken person thinke all thinges which he seeth do runne and tourne round That commeth bycause the spirites seruing to sighte be mingled with the vapors and fumosities of the wine the heate whereof causeth the eyes to be in a continuall motion and so the eye being round maketh al thinges to seme as though they turned round And if the eye were of other fashion then round the thinges he seeth would seme also to be of the same shape ¶ What might be the cause that Asses when they be yonge do seme nimble quicke and pleasaunt to loke vpon and as sone as they begin to waxe and growe then do they appere the contrarye The Asse is of nature melancholike youth is hotte and therfore liuely and pleasaunt which neuerthelesse afterwardes doeth moderate and decrease because the melancholike qualitie beginneth to augmente and the heate of youth to diminishe ¶ Whye do hennes keckle and make
stoppe and is slimie but salt doth drie and the leauen rendreth it muche lighter ¶ Why do they serue fruite after meate and not before Bicause that a full belly demaundeth swete thinges or els the heauines of the fruicte driueth downe other meates ¶ What causeth the heares of sickemen to fall Bicause the nutriment wherwith heare is nourished and enterteyned is consumed of the adust and burnt vapors ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse haue neuer any beardes Bicause they haue the poores so great that the nutriment which causeth the heare is vanished before the heare hath taken roote and therfore can bring nothing forthe ¶ Wherof commeth it that in olde folke the heare of the browes groweth more then in other members Bicause in age the bones of the browes be enlarged and do open the waie to vapours ¶ Why is the water better that runneth vpon the grauell of sande or vpon the earth so that it be not stinking then that which runneth vpon the rocke or vpon stones Bicause that earth and grauell doth clense it better then eyther stone or rocke ¶ Wherof commeth it that the heare waxeth harde sharpe when one is deade Bicause the heare is no more nourished with the vapors of the bodie and bicause the powers be closed vp ¶ But wherof commeth baldenes Of corrupt â—leame ¶ Why be men sooner balke vpon the hedde then in other partes of the bodie Coldenes of the brayne is the cause ¶ Why is it that studious and learned men be so sone balde Of the great diminution and weakenes of their spirites or els of great indigestion that causeth â—â—eame to abounde ¶ Why do we sweate more sleping then waking Bicause heate in sleping is vnited and ioyned which hath more vertue to driue away all superfluouse humors ¶ Wherof commeth it that Whales Dolphines and Sea calueâ— stincke more then other beastes Bicause their seede is more moyst and waterishe and more subiect to corruption ¶ Wherof commeth it that water put into claret wine doth refreshe it more then if it be put into white wine That procedeth of the nature of the Claret wine which is colder then the white being more earthie For the white is hotter and holdeth more of the ayer ¶ Why do we counte Raine water to be the best Bicause it is better fyned and sodden in the ayer and so more proper and mete to nourishe ¶ Wherof commeth it that many are healed of a Quarteine by a soudeine feare Lyke as the quarteyne is ingendred by sodeine mutation euen so soudeine mutation doth driue it awaie for by suche soudeine accidentes our spirites be moued and all their forces awaked ¶ Wherfore are those waters better that haue their course towardes the Easte then they that runne towardes the West Bicause that by running against the Sunne they do â—yne and waxe warme and do lose of their naturall coldenes ¶ What is the cause that a beaste beyng with yonge doeth not care any more for the male Bicause that her matrix is shutte which doeth reteyne the menstruall blodde and causeth her to lese her lust of the male ¶ Wherfore do Musitians when they entend to sing and Aduocates before they pleade eate Lekes rosted in the imbres Bicause that Lekes haue a certeine slimishe moystnes that clenseth the pipe of the longes ¶ Why do women when they haue their flowers spott their glasses yf they loke very nere them That riseth of the corrupted vapours of the menstruall blodde ¶ Wherof commeth it that women haue small voyces The organes of the voice in women are smal and litle and so gathering litle ayer it must nedes cause the voyce that issueth forthe to be smale and litle ¶ Wherof commeth it that deaffe folke for the moost parte do speake through the nose The Organ of hearing hath perticipations with the Longes which is the cause that deafenes doth commonly procede of to great aboundaunce of humors which remaine and soke in the Organ of hearing and consequently about the longes And when the longs are charged with humors it cannot wel forme the voice which causeth that the deaffe person forcing and strayning his voice doth send it to the cundittes of the nose Therfore yf the deafenes procede of repletion of humours the pacient shall speake through the nose ¶ Why do Phisitians geue order that meates in winter ought to be of a grosse nourishment and in Sommer fine and lighte Bicause in winter the naturall heate flying the calde and retyring into the inward partes doeth cause better digestion But in somer heate seking for heate is disparâ—ed and is not of force to digest ¶ Why doth to long watche make the braine feble To longe watthe doeth engendre and multiplie choler the which by that meanes doeth drie and extenuate vs. ¶ Why be all swete thinges stopping Bicause we take them with to great appetitite whereby considering their viscositie and slimines and that they be not digested they stoppe the vaines through the which the nourishment of the members of the bodie should passe ¶ Why be mothers more tender ouer their childreÌ„ theÌ„ fathers Bicause they haue had more paine in nourishing them bringing theÌ„ vp ¶ But why cannot the child borne in the eight moneth liue and the child of the seuenth moneth customably doth liue Bicause the number of seuen is a perfect number If the opinion of the Pithagorians be true ¶ Wherfore be the males more higher and greater then the females Bicause they haue in them more heat then the females ¶ Howe commeth it that bruite beastes in their slepe do not corrupt nor lose their sede Bicause they slepe not lying vpright or with the belie vpwardes ¶ Wherfore is it more easie for women to beare vpon their heddes and for men to beare vpon their shoulders Bicause that women hauing a burden vpon their heddes haue their bodie right vnder the burden and do beare it more easely being as it were a piller vnder a roufe The man contrarywise hauing his head of manye peces and the bodie more harde doth beare vpon his shoulders ¶ Wherfore be stele glasses better for the sighte then other glasses Bicause stele is harder and doth represent vnto vs more substanciallye the ayre that receaueth the light ¶ Wherof commeth it that vinegre doth stoppe bloud Bicause the nature therof is binding ¶ Why do womeÌ„ make water the bodie bowing not men Bicause their bladder is placed higher then the mannes ¶ Why haue women longer heare then men Bicause they be more flematike and the substaunce which should consume to engendre the bearde is conuerted into the heare of the head ¶ Wherfore be women more tender and smothe then men Women do pourge themselues of all superfluous humors by the flowers and so all the substaunce that might ingender heare is taken away by the same reason women blede very seldome at the nose nether are they subiecte to fistulaes nor impostumes ¶ Why do those women that be
it that to muche vexation and griefe bâ—ingeth age Bicauâ—e it drieth and age is nothing els but a very drought ¶ What meaneth it that they which dye of age fele no griefe It is through lacke of heate which causeth the life to vanishe awaye without payne ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Rainebowe is of so many colors That commeth of the mixture of the Cloudes of the ayer of the fyer ¶ Why are our eyes so moueable Bicause they should not so easely be hurt with that which happeneth to come before them ¶ Wherof commeth it that Oyle swimmeth aboue any other Licor Bicause it is fatter And all fatte thinges do participate very muche with the ayer ¶ How chaunceth it that the Oestriche onely aboue all other birdes hath her clawes clouen The Oestriche is rather a beaste of the earthe then a birde and his winges were geuen him rather to helpe him to runne then to flye ¶ Why be not fatte thinges soone corrupted Bicause they holde very muche of the ayer and the fyer ¶ Wherof procedeth it that most birdes do soonest assayle the eyes Bicause they see them cleare shining with great brightnes ¶ Why can not the Diamonte be burnte so well as other stones The fyer can not hurte it by reason of his great hardenes ¶ Wherof commeth it that the fâ—athers of an Eagle mingled amonges the fethers of other birdes do consume them It is by a secret vertue that is geuen to the Eagles fethers to haue the power to consume all other fethers ¶ Wherof commeth it that he that hath the thickest blodde is alwaies moste meriest and frollike The blodde that is grosse and fatte maketh the spirites firme and constant wherin consisteth the force of all Creatures ¶ Howe chaunceth it that some can better indure hongre then other Bicause that some are cholerike and other some flegmatike ¶ But what is the occasion that women be not balde aswell as men It is their great moystnes for baldenes commeth of drines ¶ Why do diuers vse to laie chalke to the rotes of Chirietrees To make them ripe before their time ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the Uine and the Râ—pe or Radish do not loue to growe one nighe another Bicause they are of diuerse natures For the Rape loueth cold places wherof it commeth that in Alemaigne they are as bigge as litle children But the Uine loueth those places that be warme ¶ Why do not the Elephantes and Cammels drinke but in puddles or troubled waters Bicause they are aâ—raide to see them selues in the water â–ª ¶ Why doeth a man nese against the Sunne The Sunne through his heate doeth prouoke the humor that remayneth in the condithe of the Nose to be open to the ayer whiche causeth neâ—sing ¶ Why do Melancholike people slepe so litle Bicause they haue litle moystnes wherby fewe vapours ascende vp to the braine ¶ Howe chaunceth it that they whiche be but halfe dronke doe make more sport and showe more follies then they that arâ— altogether dronke The sences of them that be extreme dronken are choked with wine But they that are but halfe dronke haue their spirites but a litle troubled with the fume of the wine which causeth those follies which they vtter ¶ Why doeth mettall melte better when it is very colde weather then at any other tyme Bicause then the heate is wholie retyred inwardly ¶ Wherof commeth it that they which haue grene or graye eyes do see well neither in the daye time nor yet in the night and the contrary chaunceth to them that haue blacke eyes Bicause that grene eyes do abounde in fyre and the blacke abounde with water ¶ Why be those Creatures of shorte lyfe that ingender very often Bicause with the Spermatique superfluities they lese muche moysture which is the true reteyner of naturall heate ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the Lyon doeth so muche feare the flame of fyer Naturally the fier is hurteâ—ull to the sight and specially to those that are hotte and drie as chiefely the Lion is ¶ Why do not Asses ingender in the equinoctiall tyme that is to saye about the middest of Marche as other beastes doe but tarrye a longer tyme before they doe couer the female Asses Bicause the Asse aboue all other beastes doeth feare the colde ¶ Wherof commeth it that mankinde hath the hedde more hearie then any other Creature By reason of the great coldenes of the braine and heate of the harte which panteth continually and bringeth forth many vapores which doe engendre heare ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Serpent doth so muche flye the herbe called Rue and especially the wilde Rue Bicause the Sarpent is colde drie and full of Synewes and the herbe Rue of a contrary nature ¶ Why are we more hearie before then behinde Bicause the foreparte is more hotter and more tender wherby it followeth that heare commeth forthe the sooner ¶ Howe chaunceth it that all gelded Creatures are weaker then the vngelded Bicause the strength commeth from the Coddes ¶ Wherof procedeth it that when one is hontrie the spittlâ— is more bitter and salter then at other times Bicause hunger augmenteth cholere the which easely turneth into bitternes by reason of his sharpenes ¶ Wherof commeth it that milke sometimes doeth loosen the belly and sometimes bindeth it That procedeth of the diuerse qualities which are in Milke ¶ Why are tame beastes of greater moisture then wilde beastes Bicause they liue in a more moyst ayer and do lesse exercise them selues ¶ But why is the ayer moyster in the Towne then in the fieldes Bicause it is lesse beaten both with the sonne and with the winde ¶ Wherof commeth it that moost commonly women are fatter then men Bicause they are colder and do lesse labour ¶ Why are women lesse heary then men Bicause they are colder and do auoyde by their flowres all superfluities that might engender heare ¶ Wherof procedeth it that when a man is in feare his Coddes do retire and clinge together Bicause that in feare the naturall heat doeth abandone and leaue the extreme and vttermost partes and retireth into the inward partes and taketh with him both the blod and the spirites And although that heate be placed in the lower and inferior partes yet neuerthelesse for that it is retyred inwardly and draweth with it all the moystnes of the Coddes it causeth that the Coddes do remaine as it were retyred and clonge together ¶ Why haue not men so great brestes as women Bicause they haue no menstruall blodde and further they haue no vessell to reteyne it ¶ Wherof commeth it that great Nipples or Teates are not the beste The heate is better inclosed in a litle and round Nipple then in grâ—aâ— Teates where the warmnes of the milke issueth out ¶ Wherof procedeth it that betwene thirtene and foretene yeres the Nipples of yong maydens do begin to pricke Bicause at that age the menstrual blodd beginneth to increase in them ¶
declare that aduersities do grieue vs least when we foresee that of necessitie they must come to passe ¶ Howe chaunced it that Gorgias Leontinus neuer complained that he liued so longe Bicause he had no occasion to complaine of age ¶ Why did Darius being constrayned to drinke of water troubled and infected with dead bodies say that he neuer dranke of drinke that lyked him so well Bicause he neuer drancke when he was a thirst before that time ¶ What sawces did the Lacedemonians vse in their meate Sweate duste running and thirste ¶ What is the most pestilent thing that can be in man Loue of our selues and delite in our selues ¶ Wherfore was king Cyrus reputed and iudged of Lysaender moost happy Bicause he ioyned and coupled vertue with Fortune ¶ Why ought angre to be auoyded and eschewed Bicause it is the enemie of good counsell ¶ And why Ryot Bicause it is vyle and vnsemely in all ages and degrees ¶ Why ought humaine thinges to be despised Bicause there is no constancie and stedfastnes in them ¶ Wherfore is courage of harte so muche estemed that is to saie constantly to susteine and beare all sorrowes and calamities that may chaunce Bicause it is not inferiour to warrelyke brauerie and corage Wherof many times the verie souldier him selfe hath nede ¶ Wherfore is equitie and iustice conuenable and mete in a Prince aboue all thinges Bicause it establisheth kingdomes and maketh Kinges to reigne ¶ What causeth Philosophie aboue all other disciplines to be so muche embrased Bicause that science teacheth man voluntary and franckely to do the thing which other maketh him to do for feare of lawes ¶ Why ought pleasure to be contempned Bicause continually she is accompanied with sorrowes ¶ What meaneth the Swanne when he is neare vnto his death to singe better then at any other tyme By natures teaching to declare what benefite we receiue by deathe which openeth vnto vs the gate to eternall lyfe ¶ Why haue the wise men of olde time compared our lyfe to a stage plaie or tragedie For that many times the worst sorte of men doe occupie the places of the best as oftentimes we see in suche cases ¶ Why do we hate pouertie Bicause pouertie causeth many to wander out of the right waie who rather then they would be constrained to begge and sterue for hongre applie them selues to robbe and murdre ¶ Howe chaunced it in Rome that women when they were met by their nerest Parentes and kinsmen were kissed on the mouthe To knowe whether they had droncke any wine For wine was vtterly forbidden amonges women as appeareth by Egnacius Metuetinus who killed his wife because she had dronke wine ¶ Wherfore is it not good to build Cities nere to a riuer side Bicause Riuers rayse vp vapours noysome vnto men ¶ Wherof commeth it that Saffron and the herbe called Foenum Graecum or greke Haye the more they be troden into the grounde the better they growe Nature would the same to signifie that reste is necessarie and continuall trauell not to be mete ¶ What moued the Auncientes to thinke that he which did eate â–ª Lentilles hadde his minde better inclined to reste Bicause they engendre colde humores ¶ But why would nature that the Lupine should be torned to wardes the sonne to do the office of a Dyall by telling the time of the daie vnto the Countrie people To serue for a Dyall to the laboring man that he shoulde not trouble him selfe to loke vp to the heauens at such time as he ought to worke ¶ Why did the Persians vse no other pittaunce with their bread but the herbe called Nasturtium or water Cresses To declare their frugalitie and sparenes of liuing ¶ Why did the Auncientes esteme nothing in their sacrifices to be holie but that which was rosted To do vs to vnderstand that there is nothing worthie to enter into heauen which before had not passed by the fyer of tribulation and griefe ¶ Why had the Auncientes so great care that neither corne nor newe wine should be tasted before the prieste had made an assay of the firste fructes To signifie vnto vs that we should acknowledge all thinges that we haue to come of God as the aucthor of all goodnes ¶ Wherfore was Golde firste founde out For the destruction of man Wherof they be so couetouse that they care not to aduenture eche daunger for hauing of the same according to the true verse of Uirgil the father of Poetes Quid non mortalia Pettorà cogit Auri Sacra fames ¶ Wherfore is Golde so pale For feare of so many daungers and ambushmentes planted by man to recouer the same ¶ Wherfore did Quene Dido in Virgil terme her second mariage to be a faulte Bicause peraduenture the seconde mariage then was not sufferable and she was counted a wanton and vnconstante woman that coulde not conâ—ent her selfe with the firste mariage Yea and the custome was then to commend with crownes and garlands those women that liued widowes to their deathe with no lesse praise then they did maydens and virgins ¶ Why did the Auncientes despise a man that desired to be to muche happie For that to muche felicitie engendreth forgetfulnes and contempte of God of honor and fame ¶ Why were women forbidden wine in olde tyme Bicause wine prouoketh lecherie and is noysome vnto the sence and vnderstanding ¶ Why were the magestrates also forbidden the same To thintent their braine should be good and stronge righteouslie to determine and Iudge ¶ But why were the Souldiers and men of warre defended from the same That by to muche drinking they should not slepe and by that meanes all occasion of aduauntage might be taken from the Enemie ¶ What meaneth that saâ—ng that fortune doth captiuate and blynd the vnderstanding That is when one maketh no resistaunce vnto her but suffereth her to rule at her pleasure ¶ Why was Bachus tearmed to be a foolishe God Bicause he maketh them fooles that taste to muche of his licour ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the Thebans represented Bachus in fine and effeminate apparell and the Indians did clothe him with manely garmentes That was according to the maner of the places For as the countrie is so is their custome ¶ Wherfore by being conuersaunt with the beautifull and healthie we be neither more beautifull nor healthie but by keping companie with iuste men continent and modest many times we resemble their maner and behauior Bicause the gyftes of the mynde we maie imitate and followe but not those of the bodie ¶ Why be riche men most commonlie wicked and those that be good men not riche Goodnes seketh them that be good in them to fixe his sure and longe habitation ¶ What caused Siluius the Italian poet borne in Naples to kill him selfe Nothing but a leke that he had aboute him whereof he could not abide the smell The like happened to Cornelius Rufus who was not able to abide a certaine corporall infirmitie
Howe may a man seme gentle in his behauior By his gate or going by countinaunce by his maner of liuing and aboue all thinges by his ciuilitie ¶ Howe are secret aduertisementes disclosed By letters by weapons in loue and by courses of armes ¶ Howe muste a man do reuerence By putting of his cappe and bowing downe his hedde ¶ Howe ought a man to obey his Superiors with fidelitie good will deuocion feare and hope ¶ Howe is a man modest in his behauiors When his hande is on his stomacke his eyes loking on the ground and his mouth shutte ¶ In Chiromancie what signifieth it when the mount of the Sunne is eleuated or bowing downewarde It betokeneth muche good or muche euill ¶ And that of Mercurie Goodnes or dulnes of spirite ¶ And that of the Moone Happie or infortunate voiages ¶ And Mars Good or euill fortune in battell ¶ And the Triangles Strength euen as Angles do signifye richesse ¶ Howe is the life of man deuided Into a life contemplatiue Ciuile solitarie and wilde ¶ What thing is most hardest to be tamed Necessitie which the goddes themselues can not resist ¶ What is requisite to be considered of our birthe The conception the fourme the byrthe and nourishment ¶ From whence commeth deceipt Of Truste ¶ What be the properties of a wise man To rule the Starres to knowe and gouerne himselfe not to quayle through the assaultes of Fortune with good discretion to spend the time not to be afcarde of death and to liue neither in feare nor hope ¶ What is the state of a couetouse man Neuer to haue reste and to be alwaies gaping after Richesse ¶ What is the estate of Courtiers To be nourished with hope ¶ What is the estate of him that loueth vertue To aspire alwaies to honorable thinges ¶ Which are the goodes of the soule Uertue and her traine honor glorie quicknes of sprite memorie counsell and discipline ¶ Wherin consisteth true Philosophie To endeuor to liue vertuousely ¶ What is a chaste woman A miracle of miracles the pathe waie to immortalitie a heauenlie thinge and an iâ—estimable fortresse ¶ Chroniclers can they set forthe or illustrate the fortunes of noble men Yea. ¶ And Poetes likewise They do no lesse delight then instructe ¶ Which be the goodes of the bodie Healthe beautie strength aptnes and a ioyfull olde age ¶ Which be the goodes of Fortune Nobilitie Richesse Frendes dignitie an honest wife many children ¶ What is Felicitie Fortunate vertue ¶ Which be the trewe goodes and which the counterfeate of the bodie of the soule and of Fortune The counterfeite goodes of the bodie are deformitie and sickenes Of the soule vice and ignoraunce and of Fortune base estate and pouertie ¶ What is miserie It is a viciouse and infortunate life full of sorrowes and perâ—â—â—es ¶ Wherein consisteth the Musicke of the soule In temperaunce but as some holde opinion in strength ¶ What is the office of an excellent Painter To knowe sundrye kindes of beastes the differences of their sexe their age their properties and other thinges ¶ Why wer the wise women called Sibillae estemed diuines Bicause they wer the Secretaries and Trompets of diuine misteries ¶ Whether is it harder to vanquishe a monster or to bridle the affections The affections are most hardest to be subdued ¶ What is the office of a conquerour To pardon the conquered ¶ What be the properties of harlots and Courtizans To be full of wilie fetches dampnable deuises tirannous scornefull subtill licorous euell conditioned with alluring lookes and shamelesse geâ—â—ures ¶ Why do men loue to weare ringes Bicause the same by circle resembling the heauen and the precious stone the starre besides that for the most parte they are endewed with meruaylous vertue they giue also a certain gladnes to the eie to y e hand an honor ¶ Howe is the chastitie of Lucretia knowen By her death as the like of Penelope by longe abode Uirginia by the disdaine of her father the Almaine ladies by the halter wherewith they were hanged Cloelia by the siue Sulpitia by the Temple Dido by her ashes and Hippo by her leaping into the sea ¶ Which be the instrumentes of Chastitie The Target of Medusa the neckelase of Iasper and the chaine of Diamantes and Topazes ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it y t the palme tree representeth coÌ„stancie Bicause the more it is oppressed the greter weight it hath y â— better it is ¶ What is the propertie of age To make a man to be of good experience wise in his doinges of good councell when time requireth modest and temperate in worde and dede and graue in considerations ¶ Why ought a man to auoide carnall loue Bicause his pleasures do incontinently decrease but his sorowes doe still remaine and he is stuffed with vanities dreames and vaine hopes ¶ What is carnall loue It is a furor full of care a strong sorowe and a weake strength ¶ What properties haue the fountaines of Chius To make a man foolish and harde of vnderstanding ¶ And those of Paphlagonia To make them dronke that drinke therof ¶ And that of Suses To make the teeth fall ¶ And that of Tharsa To make the voice pleasaunt and armoniouse ¶ And that of the Sonne To burne in the night and to be colde in the day ¶ And that of Garramanta To friese twise in the day and burne twise in the night ¶ And that of Exampus Bitter filthie and nought ¶ And those fountaines of Arabia To make cattell chaunge their heare ¶ And that of Epirus It lighteth that which is put out putteth out that which is lighted ¶ And that of Carthage To cast forth oile to heale beastes withall ¶ And that of Neptune To make them to die that do drinke thereof ¶ And the water of the floud of Dalmatida To make him amorouse that drinketh thereof ¶ The Rubie wherefore is it good Against poison ¶ And the Granat To exhilarate and content the person ¶ And the Balais what is his propertie Neuer to be hoate with any fyre ¶ And the Saphire To make humble and chast ¶ The Iacint stone the Ametist Sardonie and the Asbeste wherefore be they good Against the plage dronkennes euell fortune and fyer ¶ The Chrisolith Gyrassol the Iasper the Turquis and the Agaâ— wherefore serue they To restablish the braine to make inuisible to staunch bloud to escape â— daunger and to geue good breath to him that runneth ¶ The Beral the Cassidonie the Corneline the Corall the Christell and the Adamant To make the person amorouse to preserue the vnderstanding to mittigate hatred and anger to resist lighning to quenche thirst to drawe fleshe and yron ¶ Which is the most worthy person the man or the woman God hath alwaies geuen encrease of excellencie vnto the last creatures that he created And bicause the woman was last created and is as it were the chiefe of the worke of God she is truely the worthiest of al being made of