That bookes are wise and faithfull counsellours .

KIng Alphonsus of Arragon , béeing asked what counsaylours he best allowed of , and founde most profitable , answered forthwith bokes : bycause they without feare , without flatterie , without griefe or any rewarde , tell me faithfully all that whiche I séeke to knowe . And Cicero sayde : Oh deare bookes , O pleasaunt familie , bookes do alwayes stand thée in stede : if thou list they speake , if thou wilt , they holde their peace , they are euer ready at thy commaundement : they be not outragious , not rash , not rauenous , not gréedie , not obstinate , as euery other familie .

That a merrie conceit stoutly and pleasantly spoken by the Captaine , giueth courage to the Souldiers .

WHen a souldiour came to Leonides , and told him that the number of his enimies was so great , that for their dartes men coulde not sée the Sun , he answered him pleasantly , saying : And will it not be a great pleasure to fight in the shadowe ?

That Nature warneth vs to shunne superfluous babbling .

ZEno seing a yong man that babbled ouermuche , sayde thus vnto him : Marke this my sonne , that Nature hath made vs two eares , and one mouthe , bycause we should heare muche , and speake little . The same Zeno being demaunded howe farre truthe was from falshoode ? answered : As farre as it is from the eyes to the eares .

That according to the iudgement of the wyse , mannes ignorance is exceeding greate .

SOcrates , hée whiche by the Oracle of Apollo was iudged the wysest man alyue , helde that Ignoraunce was the mother of presumption : And therefore vsed oftentymes to saye : This I knowe onely , that I knowe nothyng . And Themistocles , the wyse and sage counsaylour , béeing an hundreth and six yeares olde , sayde at his death that hée was vnwillyng to dye when he had begun to knowe howe to liue .

That constant and valiant men make a iest of griefe and payne .

SOlemon the Sophist , when he was greately tormented with the goute , mersly sayd : If I haue néede to goe , I haue no féete : If I haue any thing to doo , I haue no handes : but yf the goute take mée , I haue both handes and féete .

That the chaunces of Fortune are straunge and maruellous .

ONe Marke Antonio Batistei , an Italian , hauyng loste fyue hundreth crounes in a drowned shippe , wente as desperate to hang himselfe . But béeing aboute to fasten the roape to a beame , hée founde there hidden by chaunce a thousande crownes : wherfore hée béeing excéeding ioyfull and merrie , tooke them , and exchaungyng the halter for the crownes , wente awaye . Nowe beholde , not long after , the owner came thyther to sée them , and handle them , who not fynding them , but in theyr place séeyng a halter , was ouercome with so greate sorrowe , that withoute any more adoe he hoong hymselfe with it .

That with the constancie of the mynde , the strokes of Fortune and men are borne off .

SEneca sayth , that wheresoeuer a man dothe hide himself , Fortune and the malice of the people will finde him out : and therefore the mynd ought to drawe too his inuincible rocke of constancie , wher dispising al worldly things , the dartes of Fortune and men without any hurte shall fall downe to his féete . And master Lewes Almanni , a very fine Italian Poet , to the like purpose sayde : Al miser huom non gioua andar lontano , Che la Fortuna il segue ouunque ei fugge : Mal , valorose , & saggio Stelle , Fortuna , & sorte . Vince , & rinasce in morte . that is , It nought auayles the wretched wight To goe farre from his wonted place , For Fortune followes him in sight , Whereuer he doth flee , apace : But he that woorthie is and wise , Doth ouercome by wisedomes might The Starres , and Fortunes cankred spight , And doth in death eftsoones arise .

That wise men make aunswere to euerie deepe demaunde .

THales Milesius one of the seuen sages of Greece , being demaunded what thing was of all other the most auncient , he aunswered , GOD bicause he hath always ben : what thing the fairest ? the world ( sayd he ) for that it was the worke of god : what was the widest thing ? place , bycause it comprehendeth euery other thing : what thing was most profitable ? hope , bycause when all other welth is lost , this remayneth alwaies : what thing was best ? vertue , bycause without hir no good thing can be spoken : what thing swiftest ? the mind of man , bicause in a moment he rangeth throughout the whole world : what thing strongest ? necessitie or destinie , bycause it ouercommeth euery other accident or chaunce : what thing most easie ? to giue an other man councel : what thing most difficult ? to knowe ones selfe : what thing wisest ? time ( said he ) bycause it attaineth al things .

Howe soone brute beastes are satisfied and howe insatiable men are .

SEneca was wont to say : The Bull filleth himselfe in a little medowe : a wood is sufficient to féed many Elephants , but man through his ambition and gréedinesse , can neither be satisfied with the whole earth , nor yet with the Sea .

That experience is gotten with tyme .

ARistotle sayde that yong men can not bée wyse , bicause wisedome is gotten by experience , and experience by tyme . And he said moreouer , that wher wisdom hath most credit there fortune hath least to doe . And he in like maner hath written , the yong men are simple , soon woon , and light of beléef , bicause thei haue not proued or known the doublenesse , craft , and vnfaithfulnesse of wicked men : therfore S Peter the Apost. admonishing youth hath diuinely sayd : Adolescentes subdits estote senioribus .

That craft is deceyued with craft .

COrax promised Sosius to teach him rhetorike , & Sosius promised to pay him his hire when he was taught . But hauing afterward learned , he would not satisfie him , wherfore Corax sued him . Sosius trusting in his arte of Sophistrie , asked him wherin rhetorike consisted ? Corax answered , it consisteth in persuasion . Then sayde Sosius , if I persuade the iudges that I owe thée nothyng , I will paye thée nothing , bicause I shal ouercome in law : if I persuade them not , I will not pay thée , bicause I haue not learned to persuade : therefore it wil be best for thée to giue ouer thy enterprise . But Corax that knewe more than he , wrested his argument after this sort , and sayd : Nay rather if thou persuade the iudges thou shalt pay me , bicause thou hast lerned to persuade : if thou do not persuade them , thou shalt paye me , bicause thou shalte lose to me the matter in suite , so that euery waye thou oughtest to content me .

That by the multitude of lawes made , the abundance of vices is declared .

ARcesilans sayde , that euen as where there are many physitions , there are also many diseases , so where there are many lawes , there be also or else haue ben many vices , bicause vice doth grow before the lawe .

The opinion and counsels of Epicurus .

EPicure sayde , that thou shouldest rather sée wyth whome thou oughtest to eate and drynke , than that whyche thou oughtest to drinke and eate : For to lyue alone without fréendes , is the lyfe of Wolfes , and other wylde beastes . The same Epicure sayd : we are borne at one tyme , neyther is it graunted to bée twice borne : and also that whiche wée little estéeme , wée are euer in daunger of death . Therefore thou béeing not owner of to morowe , prolong not the time , but liue meryly to day .

That the nature of man is wauering and troubled with diuers passions .

THe noble Laurence Medices being in a very good company , and deuising togither touching the natural things of man , this man said one thing , and that man an other : wherfore he being requested to say his opinion , he declared it curteously without any study in this maner . Teme , spera rallegrasi , & contrista , Ben mille volte in di nostra natura Spesso il mal la falieta , & il ben l'attrista Spera il suo danno & del ben ha paura . Tanto ha'l viuer mortal corta la vista : Al fin van'è , ogni pensier , & cura : that is , A thousand times a day our nature is in hope and feare , In mirth , in sadnesse too , and many times a heauie chear : The good in hir doth work , & th●'ll doth eke hir merie make , She hopes hir hurt & losse , & for the good doth fearefull quake , Our mortall life doth still but little see : And at the end our thoughtes and cares vaine bee .

That Fooles cannot stand quiet .

WHen Solon was in companie , and helde his peace according to his woonte , there was a presumptuous fellowe that sayd to him that he spake nothing bycause he was a foole . To whome Solon without otherwise altring himselfe , answered wisely , saying : That ther was neuer found a foole that could stand quiet .

That abstinence is the defendresse of vertue .

SOcrates in Plato sayde , that he that desireth to loue vertue as muche as he ought to loue his countrie , loueth aboue al things abstinence , and fléeth will and appetite as Mermaides .

Epictetus the Philosopher comprehendeth the whole sum of Philosophie in these two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , beare , and forbeare : in the first he admonisheth vs , that we should endure aduersitie with a stout courage , in the seconde that we shoulde absteyne from will and appetite .

What is the best and the worste parte in man .

ANacarsis the Philosopher béeing demaunded what was the best and worst parte in man , answered the tong . The same Philosopher was wont to saye , that it was better to slyde with the féete than with the tong .

That Princes ought to see iustice kept .

CAmbyses a moste seuere Kyng , caused a iudge , although his very frend , to be skinned , who iudged accordyng as hée was brybed , and not according as reason requyred : and causing the iudgement seate to be couered wyth his skynne , made afterwarde the sonne of him béeing dead to sitte vppon it in iudgement . The same prince aboue his owne royall seate , had in great letters of gold these verses written in effect : The Kyng with greate rygoure oughte heede to take , That Iudges the lawe do lame neuer make , For if she bende , and wreath aside hir face , Both honestie and reason lose their place .

That true Nobilitie is deryued from Vertue .

POpe Vrbane the fourthe , a Frenche man borne , was of a base linage , but very well learned and eloquente , wherefore vppon a tyme the Kyng of Spayne vpbraydyng hym wyth his fathers vnnoblenesse , hée aunswered hym after thys manner : It is no vertue to bée borne noble , but to doo noblye ( as I haue done ) is vertue and nobilitie . The same Byshop giue fréely for nothyng all offices and benefices , saying , that he that buyeth an office , muste néedes sell it .

That he is yong that is in health , and riche that is not in dette .

VIncentio Pescioni , a wyse and a pleasant Italian Gentleman , trauayled in good companie , and they chanced to reason among themselues on a tyme , of age : And he béeing asked howe many yeares olde hée was , he aunswered that he was in health . He being asked of an other howe riche hée was : he answered that hée was not in det : declaring that hée was yong inough that is in health , and riche in déede that is not in det .

That good counsell doth ouercome an armie , and that one errour causeth great ruine .

EVripides spake oftentymes this sentence woorthye of remembrance , that in warre one counsell alone ouercommeth euery kinde of armie : So contrarywyse an errour bringeth bothe thée and thyne to ruine . Socrates comprehended in the same sentence not onely warre , but all mannes lyfe . And the moste noble Boiardo very trimly hath written héerevpon .

Sautamente si suol spesso vsare , Questo nobil prouerbio fra la gente , Che si bisogna molto ben guardare , Dal primo errore , & inconueniente E sempre mai con l'arco teso stare : Sempre mai esser cauto , & prudente , Diligente suegliato , accorto , attento , Ch'un disordin che nasca , ne fa cento . This prouerbe is wysely much wont to be vsed Emong the people , that we ought to be heedfull Of the first errour and faulte not yet committed , And always with bowe bent in hand to stand watchful , Warie , wyse , diligent , prudent , and aduised , That one growing misorder brede not an hundred .

That by meanes of suttle and pretie iesting , men somtimes auoyde both damage and shame .

ONe Francesco de Semiuara was put in prison , bicause he had playde awaye his substance at dyce : for the which he beyng sorowfull , sayd : This Maior putteth me in pryson bicause I haue played myne own , what wold he doo , if I had playde his ? The Maior hearing this pleasant saying , caused him to be taken out of prison , and forgaue him .

That it is more miserable to be borne than buried .

THe people of Thrace were wont to wéepe bitterly when their children were borne : But when they were dead , they accompanied them to their graue singing & laughyng . The whiche custome Euripides approueth in these verses saying : The yong borne childe with teares bewaile we ought , As he that is to greate miseries brought , But he being dead , and from troubles at rest , For his short lyfe we ought to make a feast , And carry him laughing vnto the graue .

That neyther for frendship , neyther for any other thing , we ought to do things dishonest .

PVblius Rutilius , a noble and seuere yong man , refused a certain dishonest demaunde of a frende of his , whervpon he béeing angry sayde vnto him : And what néede I thy frendship then , if thou do not for me that whiche I require thée ? But what néede I of thine ( answered Publius ) if I should do for thée things dishonest ?

That in matters of lyfe and death a man ought not to put him selfe rashly into any mans handes .

THe moste noble Alcibiades béeing cited in Sicile by the Atheniens to purge himselfe of a mortall punishement , woulde not appeare . Wherfore a Sicilian sayde to him : What bée you in doubt of your chieftayns ? I wil not in this case ( aunswered Alcibiades ) truste to my mothers iudgement : what doo I knowe whether shée wil take the black for the white or no ?

That the fashion of the nose doth sufficiently declare the nature of a man .

THe Persians loued bending noses , whiche the Gréekes call Grypi and they loued them so , bycause Cyrus , whome they loued aboue all other their kings , had a nose of that fashion . But there be two sortes of Grypi or bendyng noses , the one is , that descendeth from the forhead , and goth as it were streight euen to the ende , as Cariline had : the whiche sorte Aristotle holdeth for the signe of an ambitious and shamelesse person , referring the lykenesse of that nose to the Goate , and the mynde to the nature of the Rauen. The other sorte departeth from the forheade , and aboute the middle of the nose , it somewhat ryseth vp , goyng afterwarde towardes the ende , it hath a comely turning , as had that greate Captayne called Scipio Affricanus .

Thys Aristotle iudgeth to bée the sygne of a valiaunt and honest man : And that nose is lykened to the Eagles beake , and the mynde to hir noblenesse .

A most noble comparison of Ciceros .

CIcero sayde , that as men without any inforcement , do moue the partes of the bodie by the will and mynde : so God through his diuine power dothe moue and alter the whole worlde .

That learnyng is muche sette by of wyse men .

ALphonsus kyng of Arragon , Naples , and Sicile , hauing vnderstoode that a certayne king of Castile had sayde , that learning was not méete for noble men and gentlemen , hée exclamed , saying : These are the woordes of an Oxe , and not of a man .

That wee ought not to be so homely with Princes , that decorum , that is , semelinesse or that whiche becommeth the person , be ouerpassed .

AVgustus the Emperor was neuer woont to make refusall to no person almoste , when he was bidden to meate : a certain Senatour desyring him to supper , he went , but he entertayning him very nigardly , & almost after his ordinarie , Augustus at his departing listened to his eare , and sayd aloude : I knewe not that I was so great a familiar of thyne .

That their soueraintie is short which rule by violent meanes .

WHen it was reported to Dionysius , that his sonne to whome the kingdome descended , had rauished and defloured a noble mannes daughter , he caused hym to be sente for , and sharply reprouing him , he demanded whether he knewe that hée béeing his father , had euer vsed any such violence ? You had not ( answered the yong man ) a kyng to your father . And thou ( sayd the olde man ) shalt not haue thy sonne a king , if thou committe these enormities .

That truth of all things is the mightiest .

DArius asking certain Philosophers , which of these thrée things was the strongest , either wyne , or a woman , or truth : Zorobabel answered , that truth was the strongest of all , which al the residue allowed , and therto gaue their consent . And Lodouico Martelli an excellent Poet , vpon this vertue sayth : La verita è figliuola del Tempo Ha forza & virtu sopra ogni cosa , Onde sempre risplende come il sole . that is , Truth is tymes daughter , and ouer all hath myght , Wherfore she still shyneth as doth the sonnes lyght .

That speedinesse to become great in a realme , doth preuent enuie .

PLutarke sayth , that we must abstaine from beanes , that is , wée oughte not to meddle with the ministration of a common weale , bicause it is full of perils , nor can not be without rebuke or damage . In olde tyme the consent of people was declared by beanes , which yet remaineth at Venice . Notwithstanding , whosoeuer will haue promotion in the common wealthe , oughte to procure diligently to come soone in reputation and power : for by spéedynesse enuie is auoyded . And Aristotle to this purpose sayeth , that fire smoketh not , nor glorie bréedeth not enuie , if the one and the other doo quickly shyne abroade .

A merie aunswere to a fond demaunde , of one asking , when the greatest confusion shall be among men .

THe moste learned and famous William Budee , being demaunded when the greatest confusion that might be among men , shold be , he readily answered : at the day of the resurrection of the dead , when euery one shall seeke the partes of his bodye . Hée spake it in mirth , bycause that then therin shall be no confusion .

What the companions and daughters of pride are , and wherin false felicitie dothe consist .

CHristopher Landin sayth , that the companions of Pride are , Curiositie , arrogancie , ambition , couetousnesse , superfluous ioy , fayned humilitie , and libertie to offende . And that the daughters are vnreuerence , heresie , disobedience , vaynglorie , hypocrisie , bosting , obstinacie , discorde , and enuie . And in an other place to an other purpose hée sayth , that the false felicitie of the worlde consisteth in these fiue things , Lordship , riches , honor , fame and bodyly pleasure .

That clemencie shyneth in a Prince aboue other things .

THe yong Theodosius was a Prince of wonderfull gentlenesse and clemencie . He béeing demaunded how it was possible , that hée dyd not put to death none of them that offended hym , sayd : I had rather be able to rayse vp the deade , than to put to death the lyuing : for there is nothyng in men more prayse woorthie , ( but specially in a Prince , ) than to forgiue iniuries . And the diuine Petrarch sayde ; And yet muste clemencie not refuse the societie of due punishment .

Nobilissimum vindictae genus est parcere ,

The noblest kind of reuengement is to forgiue .

That loue causeth infinite erroures , with the damage and shame whiche foloweth it .

MAister Lewes Alamanni , a very courteous Gentleman , séeing a fréende of hys desperately in loue to committe infinite errours , with the moste gréeuous losse of hys substance and honor : and fynally to be made a mocking stock to euery man , he pleasantly admonished him after this maner , saying : Egia gran tempo ch'io conosco assai , Quanto amor sia nimico al buon consiglio : Ma tra noi e ●al conoscenza homai , Che sicurtà come vedete piglio , Di ricordarui , che sta sempre in guai Chi in donna adora il variabil ciglio : Et quanto piu n le'huom sormontan gli anni , Pin si scema il fauor , crescon gli affauni . That is to say , It is now long agone since I well knewe Howe great a foe loue is to counsell graue , But nowe already is suche knowledge true , Betweene vs two , that ( lo ) I boldnesse haue , To tell you , that he dwelles in duryng payne , That doth adore the womans chaunging browe : And as frayle yeares encrease , so fauours raigne Surceasserh , and great sorowes dayly growe .

Why Princes learne better to ryde than any other thing .

CArneades the Philosopher was wonte to say , that Princes sonnes do learn nothing better than to ryde : bicause that while men flatter them , they can not perceyue the truthe of things : but the horse , that passeth no more for a kyng than a kyte , will ouerthrowe him , if he ryde not well and wysely .

That in all things we ought to choose the cunningest men .

THe counsellors of Florence deuising among themselues about the skilfull making of a grauen image , they called to them one Donatello , a famous and an excellent Grauer and paynter , who asked for his workmanship fiftie crownes ? the counsellors thinking that it came not to so muche , were displeased with him , and gaue it to doo to one of the same science called Iohn , being but a meane grauer : He did it ( for the tyme he had ) as well as hée coulde , and demaunded afterwarde fourescore crounes . The Counsellers maruelling at so great a summe , were sorie that they put it into his handes , shewing him that Donatello , a man so excellent , asked but fiftie to do it . Lastly , they béeing not able to agrée among themselues , they remitted the matter to Donatello , who by & by gaue iudgement , that the counsellors shuld pay Iohn thréescore & ten crounes . Then the Counsellers being moued , remembring that he himself would haue ben contented to doe it for fiftie , Donatello courteously sayd : It is true , and I was wel contented , bicause I myght haue doone this image ( béeyng the workeman I am ) in lesse than a moneth , but this poore man ( that scarsly can be my scholer ) hath ben about it aboue six months . Hereby at one instant he wittyly reuenged himself of the iniurie receyued of the counsellors , and reproued the other for insufficiencie , and worthyly praysed himselfe for his vertue .

That some are sorowfull for things that make other ioyfull .

ONe of Perugia was sorowfull and wepte miserably , bycause his wyfe hanged hir selfe on a Figtrée . To whome a neyghbor of his , whispering in his eare sayd : Frend , how is it possible , that in so great prosperitie thou fyndest teares to wéepe ? Giue me I praye thée , a graffe of that Figtrée , for I wold plant him in my garden , to sée what my wyfe can do .

That subtiltie vsed in season is sometymes an incredible helpe .

THere was in Andwerpe an excellent aduocate , which had taken in hand to defende , ( as the manner is ) a man of a most wycked life , when he was before the Iudges , he sayde to the iusticer , who taketh parte agaynst the persons arrained , and who also was desirous to haue that fellowe hanged . Sir , be you content , that I defend this honest man ? I am content sayd the Iusticer . Then the aduocate turning to the Iudges sayd : Marke Sirs , this man ought not to be hanged , for the Malgraue himselfe ( such is the title of the Iusticer ) that hath accused him , and that soughte for his life , hath consented that he is an honest man , and honest men , as you knowe , are not hanged .

Why fortune is blynde , foolishe , and foule .

THe Philosophers say that fortune is blind , foolishe , and soule . Blynde , bycause she séeth not where she throweth hir selfe . Foolishe , for that she is variable , vncertain , & vnconstant . Foule , for that she is wicked , gréedye , and dishonest . Wherefore the moste learned Alciate to this purpose sayth : When yong Octauian had woon Brutus in the fielde , Before he kild himself with sword imbrude with blod , He cryed maynly now doth haplesse vertue yeelde , Vanquisht alone by gredie fortune naught and wood .

That the common people doe bewraye themselues , bothe by their deedes and wordes .

WHen vpon a tyme a ioyfull feaste was to bée made in Florence , for some good newes , a woollen weauer , intending to haue himselfe knowne , and to appeare honourably after his maner at the sightes and playes , caryed foorth his wyues clothes , to the intent to lende them to some vse : His wyfe makyng muche a doe for this , the husbande sayd : Hold thy peace thou wayward woman , for to doe my selfe honour , Chiasso is a stinking lane in Florence . I will not onely sende out thy cloathes , but also put thée in Chiaslo .

The Bay tree hath diuers and noble vertues and significations .

THe Bay trée is consecrate to Apollo , bycause hée running after Daphnis , a verye fayre damsel , of whom he was enamored , she through feare recommended hir selfe to Iupiter and hée for pitie tourned hir into a Baye trée . Whervppon from that tyme forwarde , Phoebus tooke some of the braunches to trim his harpe , and weareth them alwayes about his forhead : And also it is consecrate to him , for that he is the god of diuination , bicause that if one put the leaues therof vnder the head of an other that sléepeth , it maketh him to dream of true things . And the bay trée euer groweth gréen like vnto vertue , which is always gréen . And alone among all other trées , is safe from lightning , as vertue alone is safe from enuie . And it is called Laurell of laude , and so in old tyme it was called , by reason that the auncient Gréekes , and afterward the Romains did with maruellous prayse trimme the temples of those conquerors , that did enriche or defend the weale publike , euen as they also trimmed those Poets , which excellently did sette foorth the vertues of other : Wherefore the famous Petrarcha , whiche was called to so greate honour at Rome , sayth : Le corone de flori alle donzelle , Quelle d'alloro a' Cesari e poeti Si danno , e gli ornan come l'cielle le stelle . The crownes of floures , of virgins pure are worne , But them of bayes , the Cesars heades adorne , The same also are vnto Poets giuen , Trimming the temples as the starr●● do heauen .

How one may receyue commoditie euen of his enimies .

ANtisthenes sayd , ( other attribute it to Xenophon ) that a man oughte to marke that which his enimies say : for they be the fyrste that knowe his errours . And he added , that as the good Phisitian taketh some remedies euen of serpents , so ought the wyse man take some profite euen of his enimies .

That Fortune , for the continual turning of hir whele , suffreth no man in the highest degree to rest in quiet .

PEter of Albiz● being in so great worship in Florence , that he surpassed all other citizens of long tyme , bothe for authoritie and prosperitie , it hapned that he makyng a goodly banket to many of his friendes , there was sente to him a bolle of siluer full of confites , and among them lay hidden a nayle . The whiche nayle laye afterwarde vncouered , and being séene of all the feasters , it was interpreted , that hée was put in remembraunce , that hée stayed the whéele of Fortune , bycause she hauing broughte him to the highest , it coulde not be , but that if she continued to make hir wonted compasse , she wold turne him downe to the bottom . The which interpretation was first verified by his ruine , and afterwarde by his violent death . Wherfore wisely sayth Solon , that none can be called happie vntill he happily die .

That craftie men do couer vices vnder diuers colours .

WHen the Philosopher Aristippus was blamed bycause he lyued too sumptuously , he sayd pleasauntly : I beleue that it is no ill , for if it were offence , men would not do as they do , in the celebration of the feasts of the gods .

That an vniust Iudge giues sentence on his side that giueth him the greatest bribe .

ONe of Pistoia béeing called to be an arbitoure betwene two that were at variance , toke of the one a vessell of oyle , with promisse to gyue sentence wyth fauoure : The other knowyng of this incontinently sent him home to his house a very fatte hogge , desiring hym that he would be fauorable . Wherupon the good iudge gaue sentence on his side that gaue the hogge . Which his aduersarie vnderstanding , ran foorthwith towards him , and was sorowfull for the trust he had of him , and for the reward he sent him : the iudge pulling him aside , sayd : Vnderstande brother , that there came into my house a hogge , whiche fynding thy vessell , brake it , and the oyle ran oute , so that I haue forgotten thée , but doubte not an other time I will restore it thée .

That in aduersitie true frendes are discerned from fayned .

CIcero sayde , that lyke as the swallowes apppeare in sommer , and in winter are not séene , so fayned fréendes in tyme of prosperitie shew themselues , and in aduersitie absent themselues . And Ennius sententiously to the same purpose sayth : Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur , In doubtfull matters he is tryde , A frende , that faythfull dothe abyde .

And Ouide lykewyse herevppon wrote after this sort : Tempore felici , multi numerantur amici , Dum fortuna perit , nullus amicus erit . When welth abounds , then many frendes we number may When goodes decay , then frendes do flee away .

And Ariosto notably sayth , Alcun non puo saper da chi sia amato , Quando felice in su la la ruota siede : Pere che ha i veri , & finti amici allato , Che monstran tutis vna mede sima fede Se poi si cangia in tristo il lieto stato , Volta la turba adulatrice il piede , Et quel che di euor ama riman forte , Et ama suo Signor dopo la morte . No man can tell who loues him in his mynde , When happie he doth sitte vpon the wheele , For that he fayned frendes and true doth fynde , By him in whome he one selfe faith doth feele , If louringly once fortune looke behinde , The flattring flocke then turneth backe the heele , And he that loues with hart will neuer waue , And loues his lorde when he is layde in graue .

What great faithfulnesse a chaste woman beareth to hir husbande .

ARmenia , a noble woman , and of excellent beautie , comming from a great feast that king Cyrus made , was demaunded of hir husbande by the way howe she lyked the beautie of Cyrus , ( which was suche as all men maruelled at ) she answered chastly after this sort : Husbande , to tell you the truth , as long as I was there I did not once looke vp : therfore I can not tell you howe fayre or foule Cyrus , or the other be .

That controuersie in lawe , is the losse of of tyme , money , and frendes .

TWo kinsmen fell at variance for a matter , in which eche of them claymed a propretie : after variance they went to law , and after law to open contention , whiche is proprely to say , to open warre . Then one of them wyser than the other , called his fellow asyde , and in effect vsed these wordes vnto him , saying : Kynsman , first this I put thée in mynde of , that it is not honest that couetousnes shold separate vs when as Nature hath ioyned vs togither . Moreouer , you muste vnderstande , that al controuersies in law are no lesse doutful than warre : Euery man may at his pleasure begin to striue , but when he liste , he can not ende . Our variance is for thrée hundreth crownes , if that we go to lawe , we shal spend halfe so much more vpon Notaries , proctors , aduocates , Iudges , and in making of frendes : we must needes attend , flatter , trauaile to and fro , wearie our selues , neuer be quiet : and fynally when I recouer my sute by iudgement , the losse wil be greater than the gayne . Is it not better kinsman that we here agrée among our selues ? and that wée deuide betwéene vs the money that we shold giue to these gréedie persons ? Graunt me one moytie of your chalenge , and I will graunte you the moytie of myne : In so dooing , we shal obey nature , we will be in hazarde , and shall auoyde infinite troubles . But where as also you wyll not yelde to any thing , I yelde to the whole : for I had rather that this money should remayn to you , than come to these théeues . Wherevpon the aduersarie béeing moued , as well for the reasons , as the curtesie of his kinsman , yéelded to him willingly , and wysely agréed among themselues .