¶ Of the byrth and lyguage of Marke Aurele Anthony emperour . cap. primo .

IN the yere of the foundation of Rome .vi. C. lxxxxv . in the Olimpiade a. C.lxiii . Anthony the meke , beinge deed , than consules Fuluie Caton , and Gnee Patrocle in the hygh capytol , the .iiii. daye of Octobre , at the demaunde of all the people Romayn , and consent of the sacred Senate , was declared for emperour vniuersall of all the monarche of Rome , Marc Aurely Antony . This excellente baron was naturally of Rome borne in the mounte Celye . And accordyng as Iulius Capitolyne sayth , he was born the .vi. kalendes of May , the whiche accordynge to the accompt of the latyns , was the xxvi . daye of the monethe of Apryll passed . His father was named Anio Vero. For the occasion whereof the histories dyuers tymes calle hym Marc Anthony Vero. True it is , that Adriane the emperour called hym Verissimus , bycause in hym was neuer founde no lyes , nor neuer fayled the trouth . These Anius Veres was a lignage , that auaunced them to be descended of Numa Pompilio , and of Quintus Curtius the famous Romayn : whiche for to delyuer the towne of Rome from perylle , and to gyue his persone perpetualle memorye , of his owne good free wylle he yelded hym selfe to the same vorage , that as than was sene in Rome . The mother of this emperour was called Domiciade , as Cyne historien recounteth in the bokes of the lygnages of Rome . The Camilles were persones in that tyme greatly estemed , by cause they were accompted to be descended of Camille the famous and auncient capytayne Romayne , whiche delyuered Rome frome the Gaulles , that had wonne hit . The men that descended of that lygnage were called Camilli , for the remembrance of Camille , and the women were likewise called Camilles , in the remembrance of a doughter of the sayde Camylle , that was called Camilla . ¶ There was an auncyent lawe , that al Romaynes shuld haue a partycular priuylege in the same place , where their predecessours had done to the Romayne people any great seruyce . For this auncient custome they had priuylege , so that all they of the lygnage of Camylle were kepte and maynteyned in the hygh capytol . And though the varietie of the tyme , the multitude of tyrantes , the ebulition and mouynge of cyuill warres were cause of the diminyshing of the aunciente Polycie of Rome , and introduced in maner a lyfe not very good : yet for all that we reede not , that the preemynences of the Romaynes were broken , but yf it were in the tyme of Sylla , whanne he made the vnyuersall prescription agaynst the Marians . After the deth of this cruelle Sylla , in exaltynge of hym selfe , Iulius Cesar the pitiefull , made dictatour of Rome , and chiefe of the Marians , adnulled and vndydde all that Sylla had made , and broughte ageyne into the auncyent estate the common welthe .

¶ What hath benne the condycions , the estate , pouertie , rychesse , fauour , or disfauour of the auncestours of this Marke Aurelye Emperour , we fynde not in the aunciente hystories , and yet it hath ben dilygently serched for . The ancyent Romayn hystoriens were not accustomed to write the lyues of the emperours fathers , namely whanne they be made monarches , but the merytes and graces that their chyldren had , as for the auctoritie that they hadde inheritynge their fathers . Trouthe it is , as saythe Iulius Capitolyn , the father of Marke Aurelee th emperour , had ben pretour in exercises , and capitayne in the Frontiers , in the tyme of Traian the good , and Adrian the wyse , and Anthony the meke , emperours . This is confirmed by that the same Marc Aurelee wrot ( being at Rodes ) to a frende of his called Polion , that was at Rome , sayinge thus : Many thynges haue I felte and knowen frende Polyon , by the absence of Rome , namely of that I se my selfe here alone in this yle : but as vertue makethe a straunger naturall , and vice tournethe naturall to a straunger : And as I haue ben .x. yeres here at Rodes to rede philosophy , I therby repute my selfe as naturall of this lande , & that hathe caused me to forgette the pleasures of Rome , and it hath lerned me the maners of the yle . And here I haue founde many of my fathers frendes . Here was capitayne agaynste the Barbariens , to my lorde Adrian , Anthonye my father in lawe , the space of .xv. yeres . I lette the to wyte , that the Rodian people are curteis , and ful of good graces . I wolde haue redde phylosophy as longe as my father had ben at Rodes in warre , but I maye not : for Adrian my lorde commaundethe me to go and kepe residence at Rome , howe be it euery man reioysethe to see his naturall countrey .

¶ So by the wordes of this letter it is to be beleued , that Anio Vero , father to this emperour Marc , hadde applyed the mooste parte of his lyfe in warre . It was not the custome lyghtly to truste a person to haue the office of a gouernour on the Frontiers , without he had bene well exercysed in the feates of warre . And as all the glorie of the Romaynes was to leaue after theym good renowme , the sayd Marc certaynly was taken for the mooste vertuous , and had greatteste frendes in the Senate , wherby he trusted on the conquest of the most cruell enmyes : accordyng as the sayde Sexto Cheronense historien saythe . The Romayns all though they had in theyr handes mooste peryllous warres , yet they hadde in foure partes of the empire stronge and entier garnisons . That is to say in Byzance , the which is nowe Constantinople , by reasone of them of the oryente : And Engades , the whiche nowe is called Calex a citie of Spayne , for loue of them of the weste : In the ryuer of Rhodano , which is nowe the ryuer of Ryne , for the Germaynes : And in Collosse , whiche nowe is calledde the Rhodes , bycause of the Barbariens . In the kalendes of Ianuarie , whanne the senate deuyded the offyces , beinge pourueyed of a dictatour , and of two consulles yerely . Incontynente in the thyrde place they prouyded for foure mooste excellente barons to defendethe sayde foure Frontiers : The whiche semeth to be true , for the most famous and renowmed barons of theyr yonge daies were capitaines in the said Frontiers . The great Pompeius was sent to the Byzaunces Canstantinople : The worthy Scipio was sente to the Collossences and Rodyans : And the couragious Iulius Cesar was sent with the Gadytaynes of Calyx of Spayne : and the stronge estemed Marcus was sente to theym of the ryuer of Ryne . This we saye bycause that Anio Vero father to Marc Aurele emperour , had ben prouoste and pretour in the offices , and one of the capitaines of the Frontiers , whiche oughte to be in Rome one of the persons most estemed .

¶ What maysters Marke Aurely hadde in his youthe . cap. ii .

We haue not by any autentike histories , fro whens , whan , or howe , in what maner , or in what exercyses , or with what persons , or in what londes was spent & consumed the moste parte of the lyfe of this good emperour . But to be shorte , Iulius Capitolyn sayth , that he had ben xxiii . yere vnder the commaundemente of Adrian the emperour . Howe be it contrarye wyse is founde by other hystoriens , accordynge as saythe Sexto Cheronense in his hystorie . It was not the custome of the Romayns cronyclers , to wryte the thynges doone by these princes , before they were pryncis , but onely of yonge people , beynge in their yonge age , hauynge greatte and hye magnyficence , and doing great interprises . This semeth to be of trouth : for Sueton Tranquyll recounteth largely the fearefulle dedes and enterpryses doone by Caius Iul. Cesar in his yonge age , to shewe to princes to comme , howe it was a great ambicyon , that they had to attayn to the monarchy , and but of smalle wytte and maturitie to kepe theym selfe therin . It is noo newe thynge that menne gape for hye and frayle thynges . And the more hygher the magnificence is , the more lower they fele fortune . And whan they were diligent to accomplysshe their desyre , as moche thoughte had they to conserue their quyetnes and reste . In case than that Anio Vero , father to Marke the Emperour , folowed the exercise of warres : yet he put his sonne in the way to lerne science . For there was a lawe sore vsed and accustomed , and well kepte in the Romayne polycye , that euery citesens sonnes , that enioyed the lybertie of Rome , and had accomplyssed .x. yeres , shulde not be suffred to goo by the stretes as vacabundes . Nor it shulde not be suffered by the Censure , who gouerned Rome , & dayely toke hede to the forfaytes doone therin , to suffre a chylde no lengar than .x. yeres of his age to play the chylde . But fro thense forthe the father of the chylde shulde be bounde to noryshe hym out of the circuite of Rome , or to laye a pledge , that his sonne shulde doo no folyes . Whan Rome tryumphed , and by theyr policie gouerned all the worlde , it was certaynly a meruaylous and monstruous thing to se it then , and no lesse fearefull vnto vs nowe to here therof . There was at that tyme in Rome .iiii. hundred . M , inhabitantes , amonge whom there was .ii. hundred . M. yonge people , that were refreyned and brydled from their yonge pleasures . The sonne of Cato was chastysed , bycause he was wylfull and presumptuous . And also the brother of good Cyna was banyshed , bycause he wente ydelly as a vacabounde . Without that Cicero begyleth vs in his bokes of the Romayne lawes , no Romayne ought to straye abrode in the stretes of Rome , but if he bare in his hand the signe or token of the offyce , wherby he lyued . To th entente that euery man shuld knowe , that he lyued by his trauayl , and not by the sweate of other men . This lawe was kepte of euery persone . The emperour hadde borne before hym a brennynge brande : The consulle an axe of armes : the priestes a hat in maner of a coyfe : the senatours a tongue in maner of a crusyble on their armes , the Censure a lyttelle table : the tribunes a mace : the centuryons a sygne or baner , the oratours a boke , the gladiatours a swerde , the tayllours sheres , the smethes a hammer , and in lyke wyse of all the other offices and craftes . We maye knowe than by this that is sayde , that after that Marke Aurelye was borne at Rome , his father in his youthe had taughte hym good norture . And though it so were , that the beginnynge of his yonge aege shulde be hydde from vs : at the least way we are certayne , that the myddell aege and ende of hym was ryght glorious . His father Anio Vero wolde that his sonne Marcus Aurelius shoulde leaue feates of armes , and folowe study . And surely it is to be thoughte , that it was done more by the valyauntenes of the father , than the cowardenes of the sonne , excepte the dedes of them that be deed begyle vs that ben alyue , and the cause iudged by clere vnderstandynge , and that we fynde moo sentences of dyuers sadde persons , that there hath benne but fewe that ben loste by writinges and lernynge , ye and a great meynye fewer that haue had auantage by armes . Reuolue all bokes , and serche throughe all realmes , and finally they shewe vs , that very few in theyr realmes haue ben happy in armes , but there haue bene many famous & renowmed by scripture and lernynge . Take here example and se if it be true or not that I saye . Had the Assiriens mo than one kynge , that was Ninus , one Lygurge amonge the Lacedemonians , the Egyptiens one Ptholome , the Hebrewes one Machabee , the Grekes one Hercules , the Macedoniens one Alexander : the Epirotiens one Pirrhe , one Hanyball the Carthageniens , and one Iulius Cesar amonge the Romayns ? It is not thus of lerned men : for if the Grekes had one Homer , noo lesse the Grekes vaunteth theym of the .vii. sages , whome we beleue more in their philosophy , than Homer in the warres of Troy . For as difficile it is to fynde a trouthe in Homere , as a lye in these sages . Semblably the Romaynes hadde not onely Cycero as ryght eloquent , but also they had Salust , Lucan , Titus Liuius , with a great company of noble men , and well approued , who haue left ryght great credence in their scriptures in the sayinge of trouthe . What lost Cicero in the senate for vsyng of inuectiues ? And as we saye of so small a nombre of Grekes and latynes , we may saye of the Assitiens , Persians , Medes , Argiues , Acayens , Peniens , Frenchemen , Britons , Englyshemen , and Spanyardes . All the whiche nations withoute comparyson haue of theym selfe lefte more memorye , and haue honoured theyr londes and countreyes more by writing , thanne they that haue lefte signes by armes . Than lette vs leaue these straunge histories , and retourne to the pythe of our emperour Marcus Aurelius , as Eutrope recountethe . According as this excellent baron lerned diuers sciences , so he had dyuers maysters to teche hym . He studied grammer with a mayster named Euphorion , musyke with an other named Gemino Comode , eloquence with Alexander a greke , In naturalle philosophy he had to his maysters Comode Calcedonien an auncient baron , whiche expounded to hym Homer : and Sexto Cheronense , neuewe to the great Plutarche . Also he studied in the lawes , and Volusie Meciano was his mayster . This emperour estemed to haue the knowlege of payntinge , and to graue in wood and metall , in erthe , and other sculptures , in whiche arte his maister was Diogenito , in his tyme a famous and renowmed paynter . He trauayled also to knowe and serche what extended to the arte of Nygromancye . By accasion wherof he wente openly to here Apolonio . And to th entent that there shulde be nothynge vnlerned of hym , he aboue all sciences sette his mynde to Cosmography , in the whyche for his maysters , he toke Iunio Rostyco , that sythe wrote his lyfe , and Cina Catule , the whiche wrote of his deathe , and the lyfe of Comode his sonne . Of these noble and excellent barons , that flourysshed in those dayes , he was taughte in vertues and sciences . Cicero lamentethe the auncient policie of Rome , bycause that he sawe great losse in the common welthe than presente , sayinge in his Retorike , that the auncient Romayns had alway regarde to that parte , where they thoughte mooste domage and peryll shulde growe . There were .v. thynges amonge all other in Rome , whervnto they hadde euer a vigilante respecte , the whiche the senate neded not to care for , nor no lawe dispensed for them : and these bene they , the pryestes were honest : and the virgines vestales ryghte chaste : the penalties right iuste , the capitaynes full valiant : They that taught yonge chyldren were vertuous . It was not permytted in Rome , that he that was a mayster in scyences , shulde be disciple of vices .

¶ What sciences Marcus the emperour lerned . And of a meruayllous letter that he sent to Polyon . cap. iii.

PHilostrate saythe , that it was demaunded of Polion , who was the rycheste manne of the worlde : He aunswered , It was he that had moste wysedome . He was demaunded agayne , who was mooste poore : He aunswered , he that had least wytte . Of trouth it was a worthy sentence of suche a personne . The effecte therof we se dayly by experience , the wyse slydynge in dyuers chances of fortune , releueth hym selfe : The vnwytty persone , in very small thynges thouchynge his lyuyng not greatly decayed , fallethe downe . There is nothynge that is so lost , but that there is hope of recoueryng , if it be in the handes of a wise man . And contrary wise , there is no thynge so assured , but the recouerance therof oughte to be feared , if a fole haue the guidinge therof . It was axed of Xenophon the philosopher , whether he hadde rather to be foolyshe and a greatte lorde , or to be wyse and poore . He aunswered and sayde , I haue pitie of a ryche foole , and I haue enuye of a wyse manne waxen poore . For if a wyse man haue but one fote , yet wyl he ryse and kepe hym selfe from fallynge : And if ye gyue an abbaye to a foole , yf by fortune he fall , he wyll neuer releue agayn . ye may thynke that the father that dieth and leaueth his sonne poore and wyse , that he leaueth to hym moche : And he that leauethe his sonne ryshe and folyshe , I thinke he hath lefte him nothynge . These thynges considered , Anio Vero , father of the emperour , as a father that loued his sonne hartly , was not content , to delyuer one mayster to his sonne , to make him vertuous , and to lerne one science , wherwith he myght occupie his vnderstandynge , but he gaue hym many maisters , that refreyned hym from vices , and commaunded , that he shuld lerne many sciences , to th entent that he shuld be the more besily exercised . Whan and howe moch he trauayled to lerne , and what sciences , and with whom , and with what wyll he lerned , and what he knewe , he wrote hym selfe , beinge at Agrippine , nowe called Coleyn , to a frende of his , named Polion , as it foloweth .

¶ Frend Polion , thou meruaylest , why that I leaue not to lerne newe thynges at the ende of my dayes . He that hath but one meate to eate , and can not eate therof , he leueth it , and peraduenture it was holsom for hym , and eateth other thynges , that he seeth , which maye be hurtfull to hym . It is a great magnificence to a man , to haue dyuers sortes of meates : for if he haue no luste to one , that is good for hym , he maye take of an other , that is better . He that is wyse , may vnderstande me , without any more declarynge . As in all artes , a man is content at the laste : so at the laste , be they neuer so swete , they torne to a werinesse . He that knoweth but one science , though he be wise , yet he renneth in great daungier . For being annoied therwith , he wyll occupie his lyfe in other hurtefull thynges . The noble and worthy persones , that dyd caste slouthe awaye fro them , haue lefte of theym eternall memorie , not wyllyng to lerne al only one science , to attempre their understanding with , but also trauayled , to lerne diuers other , wherwith they sharped their wittes , to th entente that they shuld not be dulled and made blonte . In al naturall thinges , nature is with righte lyttell content , but the spirite & vnderstandynge , is not satisfied with many thinges . And sithe the vnderstandynge is of suche condition , that it is loste by libertie , and is lyghtely encombred , with subtilite it percethe , with quicknes it knoweth , & with ignorance it wasteth : it is necessarie , by time to remount to very high thinges , lest it bowe vnto lowe and yll thynges . Al corporall domages , that chance to mortall men , are by medicynes healed , or by reason remedied , or by length of time cured , orels by dethe ended : The only vnderstanding , which is dusked in errours , and depraued in malyces , canne not be healed by medecines , nor redressed by reason , nor holpe by counsel . The aunciente philosophers , in the sayd happye golden worlde , and golden age , dyd not all only lerne one thing , wherby they myght susteyne theyr life , and encrease good fame : But they trauayled , to knowe all that was to be knowen , and yet euer soughte to knowe more . ¶ In the .lxxv. of the Olympiade , as dyuers persons were assembled in the hygh mountayn Olympius , to celebrate the playes , by fortune thither came a philosopher of Thebes , whiche had made all that euer he brought with hym . He made his showes , his cote , and sewed his sherte , and had written his bokes , and so of all other thynges . They that were there assembled , were abashed , and meruaylled greatly , that one man coude do it . He was dyuers tymes asked , where he lerned so many thynges . And he aunswered and sayde , The slouthe of man is the cause , that one arte is diuided into dyuers artes . For he that knoweth al artes together , muste nedes knowe one alone . This philosopher answered highly . And surely , they that herd him , ought to haue bene as greatly ashamed of his wordes , as the philosopher was of the vainglory of his apparel . Let euery man remembre hym selfe , and let no man blame the shortnes of the tyme , nor wekenes of our nature . For ther is nothyng so hard , but it is made soft : nor so high , but it may be raught : nor kept so close , but it may be sene : nor so subtyle , but it may be felt : nor so darke , but it may be lighted : nor so profounde , but it may be discouered : nor so disseuered , but it may be gathered to gether : nor so lost , but it may be found : nor so impossible , but it may be conserued , if with al our hartes , we occupie our powers in good exercises , and applye our vnderstandynge in hyghe thynges . I deny not , but our nature is lyttell worth : But I know well , that lesse worth is our slouthfulnes . I wold demande of euyll men , the whiche praye vs to be good , and axeth counsell of vs , for their sensualitie , sayenge , that they be weyke and fraile , although they haue vnderstandyng , to inuent euyls , and haue strength inough , to put them in effecte , and to perseuer therin , they neuer lacke constance . The cause is , we call it natural , for to do and commit vyces and miseries . And slouth in vertue , we calle straunge and weake , bycause of the werkes .

¶ Lette no man blame our nature , for beynge weake and fainte : nor lay agaynst the goddes , that they be cruell : for we haue no lesse ablenes to do well , than redynesse to doo yll . Lette none say , I wold , and I can not withdrawe me from vice . It is better sayde , I maye , but I wyl not folowe vertue . I wyll not defame straunge realmes , but I wyll speake of vs , that be latynes , and by theym shall be sene , howe they haue benne full of malyce , and that they myghte haue done well . I wolde wytte of the dedes , that Marcus Anthonius dyd with Cleopatra : The proscription , that Scilla made of the nobles of Rome : The coniuration , that Catilina inuented agaynste his countreye : The bloudde , that was shedde for the cause of Pompeye , in the campe of Pharsale : And the greatte thefte , that Iulius Cesar made of the treasour , the cruelties , that Nero dyd to his mother : the shames , that Calygula committed with his sisters , the treson , that Brutus dyd to his father Gaius : the shrewdenes and cruelties , that Domician did to the virgins vestales : the treasons , that Iulius Patroclus vsed with the Syliciens and Syculians , the frayes & murders , that Vlpio , the mariner , made in the temples and churches of Campayne . I wolde knowe of suche , as I haue rehersed , and diuers other , that I speke not of , that applied them to so many shrewde turnes , who letted them ( if they had wolde ) to haue applied them selfe to do other good dedes ? All this I haue sayde , my frende Polyon , to aunswere , to that ye haue demaunded of me . That is , in what sciences I haue wasted and consumed my tyme . Wherfore it pleaseth me , to telle it to the. Anio Vero my father , suffred me but .viii. yere in my childhode : and than , tyll I was .x. yere of age , I went to schole for to write and rede : and fro .x. yere to .xiii , I went to studye with Euformion , and lerned grammer : Fro .xiii. yere to .xvii. I lerned eloquence , with Alexander the greke , a famous oratour : fro that tyme to .xxii. yere , I was with Sexto Calcedon , lernynge naturall philosophy . Those yeres passed , I was at Rhodes , and studied humanitie , tyll I was .xxxii. yere of age . And than I went to Naples , where as I was thre yere with Fonton a greke , lernynge greke letters . And I put my good wylle soo moche therto , that I spake , and wrote greke more easily than latin . Than I retorned to Rome , where the warre of Dace arose , to the whiche Adrian my lorde sente me : And bycause that in armes , and in tyme of warre , I coude carie no bokes of science , I determyned me , to lerne the science of musike with Hieronyme Comode , to th entent that I myght with swetenes of instrumentes , restrayne my body fro certayn vices , which as than in my house began to take force . All the reste of my lyfe , thou knowest , it hath ben in bearyng of offyces in Rome , vnto the tyme that the weight of the monarchye was layde on my shulders . Hytherto the emperour spake .

¶ Than by this letter , writen to his frend , it semeth well , that without sleuth he passed his tyme . It is reason , to beleue it holly , in that he hath sayd . For so excellent workes , that he made , and so hygh sentences , as he wrote , myghte not procede , but of a prudent man , and a very wise spirite .