¶ Of the Quiete of mynde .

I receyued very late thy letter / wherin thou exhortes me that I shulde write sōthyng vnto the of the quietnesse of minde and of those thynges / in Timeus / that thou thynkest nedeth more exquisite declaration . Trewly / where as Eros my frende was redy to sayle towardes Rome and I had receyued hastely of Fundanus the honest man the letters / & I had nat therfore leysar to apply me to that that thou desyredest / as I wolde haue done / nor agayne coude I suffre the man to be seen sent fro me with empty handes / certeyn chosen thynges I haue taken forth of the quietnesse of mynde / out of the comētaris that somtyme I made . And ( as I thynke ) in such declaration thou sekes nat the delicacy of sayeng / and the piked delight of spech / and thou hast consyderatyon onely of some doctryne / to be as helpe for the lyfe to be ordred . & I iuge it very well doone / that where thou hast great priualte with princes / & that nat in commen thingꝭ / & that in the glori of maters of iugement / no man is afore the / yet for all that thou dasyst nat folysshly at the fawnyng of glory / that wonders and exaltes the / as doth Merops in the tragedy . Oftimes also thou remembrest that thou hast herde / that sore toos are nat esed with gorgious showes / nor the whit thlowe with a ring / nor the hedach with a crowne . For to what purpose is thuse of money for the eschewyng of the sickenesse of the mynde / or for the easy & sure passage of lyfe ? Or wherto serueth the vse of glorie / or among courtiers apparence ? Onelesse that they to whom these thyngꝭ chaunce / can wisely vse them whan they haue them : and agayne whan they want them / ouer suffre the desyres of them . and what any other thyng is that / than reason accustomed and fore thought / to restrayne quickly / & nat to suffre to stray the apasionate parte of the mynde / wantyng reason / whan it breketh forth / and to suffre it to forbeare whan it is ouertwharted / with assayling affections . Therfore / as Xenophon bad men in prosperous thynges chefely to remember the goddes / and to worshyp them than best / that whan case required with bet● hope what so euer they nede they myght aske of them / therby contented and mercyfull . So those princyples that are most mete for to apese troubles / must be taken and receyued afore hande / onely of them that are hole mynded / that long afore prepared / they may be long moost profytable . For lyke as feyrs dogges ragyng at euery voyce / yet at one voyce that they are vsed to and knowe / they apese them selfe . So the wood affections of the mynde / it is no lytel busynesse to order and apese / Onlesse the princyples for that purpose vsed / be familier and redy at hande / that may clerely appese them / whan they are troubled and m●ued . Fardermore / they that are of opinyon nat to do many thinges / nor ●uat●ly nor openly / for the quiet passyng of lyfe . These first of all wyll make vnto vs / quyetnesse of mynde of a dere price / as to be bought / with sluggardy and slouthfulnesse / and as tho he were sicke / they warne euery man / as it were with this worde / lye still wretch in thy bed . Trewly where as it is an hurtfull medicin to the body that deedly sluggardy / nerawhit better phisicien for the sickenesse and trouble of the mynde / is slouth and tendernesse / & faynt hert forsaker of frendes / kyn / and countrey . Besydes that it is false / that vnac●yfe men lede a quiete lyfe / for els it must be that the lyfe of women were more quietous than that of men / as they that syt watchyng at home / occupied in huswifely occupations . And yet whan so moch / as the north wynde can nat trouble the yonge maydens / as Hesiodus saith / the diseses of the mynde / the troubles / the passyon of an yll thought / by ielousy / supersticion / ambicyon / and vayne glorie / wherof no man can attayne the nombre / crepe neuerthelesse / in to the house of their occupacion . Laertes lyueng twenty yeres in the countrey ( as it is said ) only with an olde woman to serue hym of his meate and drinke / fled from his countrey and princely paleys / & had neuertheles sadnesse and frownyng debate in company . what if that same / nothyng to do / hath troubled many from the ryght order of the mynde ? as sayth Homere by Achylles / that he sat amonge the shippes folowing his ire / with ferme purpose / flyeng from the fight / & the worthy counsayls of the nobles and the people / and dyuertīg the name of men vnactyfe / he fayleth in his hert / and agayne streyght he seketh the batails / and stereth him selfe in the cruell stryffes of Mars . Therfore / whan he coude nat suffre hym selfe to wyther in ydelnesse / he sayth angerly / I sytte lyke a deed lumpe of erthe / as the keper of the shippes . Nor yet Epycure the alower of voluptousnesse / is nat their auctor / that are outher ambitious or desirous of glory by nature / that they shulde gyue them to ydelnesse / but vnto the gouernaunce of cōmynaltees / as nature ledeth them . for men that are borne to busynesse / can nat suffre with euyn and vntroubled mynde to be de●ued / of that they most desyred : Altho lyke a fole / he calleth them to a common welth / that can nat holde them self from it / and nat rather than that ar mete for the rule of it . Nor trewly the suretie and trouble of the mynde / ought nat to be measured / with multytude or scarsty of businesses . For to ouerslip honest thinges / is no lesse displesaunt & troublous than ( as we haue afore said ) to do foule thynges . But then also that haue chosen one maner of life to be voyd from trouble / as some do the life of these husbandmen / some of syngle men / and some of kyngis . Menander warneth with these wordes / that they erre far ( as they say ) out of the way . I thynke o Phania that these rich men that nede nat to make eschange for gayne / nor to playne in the night / nor in turnyng them vp and downe / to say often alas / slepe the swete and soft slepes . but whan he came and perceyued the rych men / as well as the nedy to be troubled / it is no marueyle / qd he / they ar of kyn & both borne at a burthen / lyfe & trouble . for it is the felowe of voluptuous lyfe / & of that brought vp by nede it encreseth . And trewly / as fearfull and sicke folke● out of a lytell bote lepe in to a gret shyp and from thens agayne in to a galy / thinkyng euer to be better / tyll they perceyue them selfe nothyng the nere / & ( as who sayth ) clene done / as they that cary the coler and fearfulnesse euerywhere with them / so to take another & another kynd of lyfe / can nat delyuer the mynde from combre and troubles / such as ar vnknowlege of thynges / vnconsydred auenture / nouther to know nor to can vse a ryght thynges present / for a mater that is happened . These thynges trouble the riche aswell as the nedy / and vexeth with sadnesse the syngle men as well as the maryed . And for these causes / many that thinke moch welth is in opyn places / can nat suffre a secrete restfull lyfe . for these selfe same causes / it repenteth many / of that they haue begon / that with gret labour haue thrust themself in to the courtes of kynges . It is an vnplesaunt thing of sicke men / as Ion sayth / for the wyfe troubleth them / they blame the phecisyen they be angry with the bed / ye and their frende noyeth them visytyng them / and agayne departyng displeaseth them . After that whan the disese forsaketh them and that by returned tempre helth cometh makyng althyng mery and plesaunt / so that he on the ton day that coud nat broke an egge nor fyne bred / on the next day eteth hungerly whetin bred & cresses . such effect & strength is there in resoning / for to chaunge eche purpose of lyfe / for the happy passyng of the same . Alexander whan he herde Anaxarchus argue that there were infynite worldes / it is said that he wept / and whan his frendes asked hym what thing had happened him to be wept for . Is it nat to be wept for / qd he / syns they say there be infyn●te worldes / & we are nat yet lorde of one ? Crates contrarywyse / wearyng an olde cloke lyned with sport and laughter / as in holydayes tyll his last . Agayne to Agamemno● it was greuous that he ruled so many / whan he sayd / Thou shalt knowe Attrides Agamemnon / whom aboue all men Iupiter exerciseth and troubleth with labours . Diogines / whan he was on the stone to be solde / he scoffed with the crier that shuld auaunce the sale / and whan he bad hym aryse / he wolde nat / sayeng at the laste / what if thou shuldest haue solde a fissh ? And So●rates in his bondis dyd dispute of wisdome among his pursuers . Lo on the othersyde / Pheton clymyng in to heuin / optayning wepingly / that his father shulde take hym his chare and his horse to rule . Trewly as a showe may be wrested to the facion of a dyuers foote / but nat the fote lykewise to the facion of the wrested show / So do the passions of the thought make eche maner of life that is offred them conformable & like to themself / nor vnto them that haue chosen the best lyf custome maketh it nat plesaunt / as some say / but rather wisdom maketh the best life to be also most plesant . Therfore the well of surete of the minde / springing in our self / let vs assay to make most pure & clere / that those thingꝭ that gyue vs foren thingꝭ & chaunceable / we may make mete & according / in suffring with gret vprightnesse of the mynde . For trewly it accordeth nat to be wroth agayn thynges that chaunce amisse . for our angre nothyng pertayneth to them . but he that can amend by craft yll chaunces / he tre●ly doth more laudably . Therfore Plato compareth mannes lyfe with the dyse / in the which the best cast is to be of the dyser desyred moost . but how soeuer it happen / there shuld be a ware hede / that he vse ryght that that the chaunce gyueth / wherof it is to parceyue that the tone is nat in our power / that is the chaunce of the dyse / the other is / if we be wyse / that we take with euyn minde / that that chaunce gyueth / & to gyue to eche of them his place / that that which chaunceth well / may be most profyte / and that lest hurt that happeth ouertwhartly . But vnconnyng men / and ignoraunt howe to lede their lyfe lyke sickely men / that can nother suffre h●te nor colde / as in prosperyte they are with an hye forhed outragious / kepyng no measure . so are they in aduersyte / with knyt & bent browes fouly distempred . So are they troubled of both / or rather in both / of themself / and lykewise in those that are taken for good thyngꝭ . Theodorus that was called Athens / was often wont to say / ●hat he reched wordes to his herers with his right hande / & they toke them with their lyft hande . Foles oftentymes whan fortune offreth her ryght hande / vncomely turnyng them selfe / set her on their lyft hande . wyse men do better / that lyke as bees make hony a right swete thing / out of drie tyme / an herbe of very byt● tast / so of very vnhandsome thynges / oft tymes they chuse out some handsome and prefytable thynges to them . which thing wolde be moche thought on / & laboured with great exercyse of the mynde . For as he that cast a stone at a froward dog / whan he mist the dogge / and hit his step mother vnware / It is nat moch amysse qd he . So may we mende and turne another way fortune / whan she chaunceth otherwyse than we wolde . Diogynes bycause of his exyle / left his countre / it was nat so greatly yll / for it gaue hym occasyon of lernyng philosophy . Zenon of Citius that had but one shyp / whan he herd that it was perished / the maryners the marchandise / and ( as they say ) euery crom / Fortune / qd he / thou doest very wel with me / that driues me to myn old cloke / and to the porche of philosophy . what therfore shall let vs / that we may nat folowe them ? Thou art fallen from some rule or authorite / thou shalt lyue in the countre . Aplyeng thy priuate busynesse / with great compasse assayeng to auaunce thy selfe in the princes fauour● thou art refused / thou shalt lyue surely euery where / with no busynesse layd vnto the. Agayne thou art tangled with many cares and busynesses / warme water doth nat cheryssh so moch / tendre membres ( as sayth Pyndarus ) as honours and glory ioyned with power / doth make labour swete / and suffrable . But som offence dothe trouble the / of backbityng / of enuy / or nouhhty sclaundre / the best remedy is with the muses / or in som place of lernyng to suffre ouer / as it happened vnto Plato / as in a cruel tempest / whan he was taken in to the fauour of Deny s● Therfore it is of no lytell effecte / for the quietnesse of mynd / diligently to marke noble and famous men / if they haue suffred any lyke thyng / by those same causes / as by example / want of children maketh the sad / Loke on the Romayn kynges / of whom neuer a one dieng / left his reigne to his childe . Pouerte / thou cannat suffre with euyn mynde / who than haddest thou leuer be of al the Boetians / rather than Epaminondas / or of al the Romayns / than Fabricius ? But sette case thy wyfe be nat chast / knowest thou nat th epygram of Agys in Delphos ? Hast thou nat herde how Alcibyades defyled Time a his wife / and how she was wont to name the childe that she bare / priuely to her maydens / Alcibiades ? yet that letted nat Agys / to be a very worthy and a noble man / no more than vnchast doughter of Stylphon dyd let hym to lyue the merylyst of all the philosophers of his tyme . whiche shame whan Wetrocles layde vnto hym / is it my faut or my don ●his ? qd he / thy doughts qd thother / but ●hy misfortune / howe can that be ? qd he / are nat fautes fallynges ? yes qd tother / and fallynges / are nat they also the errours / of them that they are the fallynges of ? trewe qd thother / and what be errours ? are they nat the mysfortunes of them / that they be errours of ? with such a soft & resoning pesable spech he taught the vayn checkis of the dogged man / to be but triflyng ●arkingꝭ . Lo now / there are many / whom nat onely the vyces of their frendes and kynsfolke / doth vexe / but in goddis name / they also of their enmys . for scoldyng / angre / enuy / folies / & combrous riualytees ●ar the foulyst spottes of them that they be in . yet they trouble foles / like as the angre of neighbors or thiportunat famyliers / or the noughty wyttes of seruauntes / wherwithall I thynke thou be oftymes incued . And as it is in Sophocles / the phisiciens wassh away the bytter coler / with a bytter medicyn / so thou ( nat as aparteyneth the ) agayn their diseses / and yll affections of the mynde / art angry / and answerest them with lyke sowernesse of the mynde / whithe thynges that thou doest / a● nat meued with gode & thrifty maners / as most metest instrumentes / but for the most ꝙ●e with sharpe and frowarde condicions . & truly for to correct these thynges / whan it is more than thou canst do / ●o is it nat esy by any meanes . So that if thou canst vse these thynges whan they growe / no nother wise than these surgiens vse their sharpe scrapynge instrumentes / than if thou vse them thus / beryng alway with the / as case requireth / softnesse and mesure / truely thou shalt no more vexe thy self / with others wantones & foly / than thou shalt be gladded with the consciens of thyne owne affection . for thou shalte thinke they do it nat without a cause / no more than dogges whan they barke / do naughtly of their nature . or els folowing such wekenesse and feblenesse of mynde / if thou care nat to be troubled with others ylles / they shall disceyue the wrechedly / dayly suckyng vp many troubles / flowing vnto the / as tho thou sa●est in a low bottome . what ? many philosophers haue reproued pyte / with which we ar meued in beholdyng mesurable men / thynking that it is thooffice of a good man to socour neyghbours / that be oppressed in misery / & nat to be sor● therwith / or with slack●esse of a low mynde / to gyue place to fortune . ye / and that that euery man wyll say is more / they wolde nat suffre vs / if we parceyue our self to haue done amysse / or to be of naughty mynd / therfore to be troubled in our thought / & to be sory / for without sorinesse / such thynges shuld be mended / whiche whan it is thus / consyder well / how beestly it is to suffre our self to be any thyng wrath or angry / if they that we haue delt with all do nat gentylly & kyndly with vs . Truly I feare me my frende / leest the loue of our self disceyue vs / nor the frowardnes of yll speche vexeth so moch the mynde / as we prefer it ouer moche deseruyng of our selues / for vehemently / as it were with dasyng / to be affectionate to certeyn thinges / and vncomely to desyre and folowe them / or agayn to be agaynst them & abhorre them / no marueyle if these bringe stryues and offences among men / whan diuers men take it diuersly / outher these to be taken from them / or that they are fallen in to the other / but if any man / as chaunce requireth / vseth hym selfe with measure to be aplyable / which way so euer he turneth hym / he surely lerneth / with handsome esynesse to haunt the company of men . Nowe lette vs take our purpose that we left of the self thinges / lykewise as to them that ar sycke of agewes / all thynges tasted / semeth strait / bitter / and lothsome / tyll they haue sene other take the same thynges / without any token o● vnplesaunt sauour / whiche they lothly haue cast vp / where at laste they ley the faut in themself & in the sickenesse / and nat in the mete or drinke . So we / if we consyder other that vse with great vprightnesse of the mynde and mery chere / that that we passe nat without playntfull heuynesse / must nedes leaue to be so angre with the selfe thynges . But truly for to kepe constancy of mynde in aduersite / it is of great effect / nat to forgete with a wynkyng eye ( as they say ) those thynges that sometyme hath happened hapely vnto vs / as we wolde haue wysshed / and with due medlyng to way the prosperous thynges / with euery yll chaunce . But where / as wear wont to turne our eyes / that be dased with beholding bright thinges / vnto fresh and grene colours / for to refressh them / contrary wyse / we tourne our mynde to heuy thyngꝭ / and by force constrayne it to the remembraunce of thinges most of repentaunce / and we pull it away agayn the wyll of it / from agreable and suffrable thinges . And here I remember I may bring in metely / that that ones was spoken to a busy felowe / medlyng in that that partayned nothyng to hym / what the myschefe vngracious felowe / thou se●st other mennes vices with kytes eyes / & thyn own thou lettis passe / with wynkynge owles eyes ? To what purpose good man doest thou consyder so diligently thy harmes / & renewes them alwayes with busy remembraunce ( and hast no regarde to that welfulnesse that is present ? And like as these surgen boxinges suckes out of the flessh the worste blode / so doest thou / all the worst of thy thynges / gader in to thy selfe / ●●ra whit better than Chius the marchaunt / that where he solde moch wyne of the best / he gadred to hym selfe / the sower and deed wyne . whose seruaunt whan he ran away from hym / and one asked hym for what cause he forsoke his mayster / aunswered / for bycause whan he had good thynges in his handes / he sought for il . Many lyke vnto hym forsakyng swete drinkes / gyue them self to sharpe & bytter drinkes . So dyd nat Aristyppus lene vnto the heuy balaunce of harme / but reched hym selfe to the lyghter . He whan he had lost a pleasaunt maner / asked of one of them that shewed them self most sory and angry for his fortune . Knowest thou nat / qd he / that thou hast but one lytell house / and I haue yet thre good fermes left me ? yes qd thother . Than shulde I / qd he / rather be sory for thy fortune ? for it is lyke madnesse to be sory for thyngꝭ lost / nat reioysing in thinges that be safe . And as lytell chyldren / whan one hath taken from them one tryfle among many / castyng away al the rest / they wepe and crye . so lykewise we troubled by fortune in one thyng complayning and lamentyng make all other thynges to vs vnprofytable . But one wyll say / what haue we ? ye / rather what haue we nat ? He hath glorie / he a house / another a wyfe as he wolde wysshe / and he a faithfull frende . Antipater of Tarsis dyeng / whan he rekened on his fyngers / the thynges that he had had in his life / he● forgate nat the good se passage / that he had out Cilicia to Athens . & pardy / these common & light thinges ar nat to be passed / and there is consyderacion to be had of them / that we lyue / that we are in helth / that we se the sonne / that we haue no warre nor rebellyon / that the grounde is erable / & that the see may be sayled with litell labour . ye / and for the last / that we haue lyberte to speke and to holde our tong / to be busy & ydell . Truely the possession of these thynges / shall gyue vnto vs / a plentous mater of quietyng the mynde / if we fasten in our mynde th image of the absence and of the desyres of them / therby warnyng our selfes ( how helth is moch desyred of sicke men / peace of them that are combred with warre / how moch desyred vnto a streyer abrode / and vnto an vnnoble man is glory / and toptayne suche a name in such a cyte . agayne how displesaunt it is / to lese it whan thou hast it . And yet I thynke nat / that any of these thinges or like shuld be so gret / & to be desyred / that whan it is lost / nothing shal be safe . for it shuld be no whit more estemed for that it leueth to be . Nor they shulde nat be possessed / as so worthy thynges / nor kept with such busynesse / watching busely / leest we be spoyled of them as so precious thiges / that we shulde therfore set lyght / and nat regarde thynges that we haue safe / as tryfles . for these wolde be vsed / and the frute taken of them with gladnesse / most for that cause / that whan chaunce happeneth / we may suffre more pesably and temperatly / the losse of them . But trewly / as Archesilaus sayd / some thynke it a great thing / with diligent in tent of mynde and of eyes / to beholde others enditynges / pyctures and ymagis / exquisitely / as they come to their handes and they nat regardyng their owne life / tho they that behold others chaunces / & loke vpon hym that hath many consyderations & aduertysmentes / and they nat vnplesaunt / lyke these adultrers / that lothyng their owne wyues / folowe other mennes / erre ( as the prouerbe sayth ) all the worlde out of the waye . For it maketh moche towarde the constaunt state of the mynde . first to esteme hym selfe / & his own thinges / and the particulers of one / if nat / at the lest to tourne th intent from consyderacion of courser thynges / ●at as the common sort of menlin dyuers maner to wonder on th● / whom fortune hath exalted to the heyght of thynges / whan she lysted to sport . as by example / they that are in prison thinke bondmen happy that are losed / they them that be free / they that be free thynke them that haue the lawe of cyties in their handes happy / and they riche men / & riche folke prouostes & gouernours / and they kynges / and at the last kynges / the goddes / whom ( I had nye said ) it irketh also of their godheed / outcept they myght haue power of thunder and lightning / so that where they can nat be euyn with their superiours / they can nat ( as they say ) rest with in their bondes . I care nat for the goodes of riche Gygis / qd Thasius / nor yet I wondre greatly at them / nor I enuy the marueylous workes of the goddes / nor yet gape I gretly after any kingdome / for fer fer are these thinges from my eyes / said this Thasius . Lo now contrariwyse suche another as Chius / or another Galates or Bithynus / nat content that he hath gotten glory & may stership among the cytezins / but on goddes name he must aske pleyningly to be a senatour / whan thou hast gyuen him that he must be prouost / and sette case that thou graunt him that / than must he be consull and whan at last thou hast put to that / all is nat worth a pe●s / outcept he be pronounced the first . And what other thing I pray the is this / but in gadring causes of vnkyndnesse agayne fortune / to tourment hym self / and hym selfe perpetually to punish him self ? Truly a man well assured of his mynde / tho one or other of mortall people ( where as we ar sixe . C. tymes / hundred thousande seers of the son / and chyldren of the erth ) passe hym in glory of name / or habundaunce of ryches / sytteth nat abiect or lamentable with wringyng handes ( as they say ) but rather where he seeth hym self better handled / than an infynite multitude of vndone men / as often as he cometh abrode / he reioyseth in his fortune . In the assays of Olympias / there was no vyctour that might refuse to medle with who so euer came fyrst / hauynge no lyberte to chuse his matche . In our lyfe the state of thinges gyueth lyberte to eche man / that compareth hym self & his fortune / with many / & with the fortune of many / to haue an hye and an vpright mynde / & to make hym therby to be seen and wondred at to other / rather than him self to wonder at other / so that he be nat so folysshe to compare hym to Briarcus or to Hercules . So whan thou marueylinge / seest some great man caryed in a lytter / lette down thyn eyes / & loke vpon the berers therof . Agayn whan thou shalt wonder on Xerxes / as very happy / whan he passed the straitꝭ of Hellespont / with a brigge shapt of shyppe wood / behold also them / some their noses & some their eres smytten of and mangled / by reason of the brig broken / with shakyng of the furour of the sees rage / brekyng in by Athon / and beleue that they prayse with great commendacion / the and thy fortune . Socrates whan one of his frendes tolde hym / that all thyng was dere in the town / for wyne of Chia was at a pounde / and purple at thre pounde / and hony at .v. shyllynges the gallon / toke him by the hande and ledde him in to the meyle house / it is solde / qd he / for an halpeny the halfe busshell / therfore v●tell is good chepe . from thens he brought him in to the oyle house / it is solde / qd he / for two brasse pens two gallons / al thyng than is nat dere in the towne . So lykewise we / if we here any man say that our fortune is bare & wretched / for that we haue nouther the consulship nor other maistershippe / we may say vnto hym / that our fortune is fayre and goodly / and that we go nat from dore to dore / and that among porters and berers / we wery vs nat with burdens / nor like flatterers / are constrained to be as parasites to princes . Altho ( for we ar now come to that madnesse / that eche of our lyues hangeth vpon other mens / more than our own / and that our nature is so altred / in to a certeyn vnkynde and enuyous affectyon / nat so moch to glad in our owne / as to be troubled with other folkes welthes ) if thou loke nat only vpon those wonders / and famous thynges in them / whom thou wenest very blessed / & ( as they say ) in Iouis lap / but the curten & the fayr trauers drawen / lettyng passe their glory and vtter apparence / if aswell thou loke with in them / thou shalt truly fynde many inwardis / sower & troblous . Pyttacus / whom the sure fame noyseth to haue ben endewed with wysdome / fortitude / and iustyce / whan he was cherīggestꝭ that he had / it is sayd his wyfe came and angerly ouerthrew the table / wherwith whan he sawe his gestes abasshed eche of you / qd he / is troubled with some yll / I am in this state alway very well . This man that was demed abrode to be very happy / whan so euer he entred his threshold / he semed to be a wretch / I say nat that he was one / where his wyf had all and ruled princely / where oftimes & alway he neded to fyght with her . Many thynges do trouble you / no●hyng dothe trouble me . Many such lyke thinges do cleue vnto glory / vnto riches / ye and vnto a kyngdome . but truely of the ignorant multytude vnꝑceyued / for the pompe is drawen / behynde the which those thinges lye hydden . Happy Attrides glory of grekes / eueriwhere mylde fortune the fauoureth / whyle she exalteth her chylde . This vtward blyssednesse to be compased with wepyns / horse / and armes / let vs here lykewise / the repentyng voice of an yll troubled mynde / cryeng agaynst suche excesse of glory . Mighty Iupiter hath tangled me with greuous chaunces / & in another place . O happy & blessed that ferre out of danger / vnnoble / and vnglorious / haue ●assed their lyues . By these and such lyke declaracions / it may be sensably parceyned / the playntfull vnquietnesse of the minde / scoldyng with fortune and casting away it self with wo●dring at other / & to ryse for top ●sse it self / and the owne thynges . For of trouth it breketh marueylously the constant & quyet state of the mynde / with hyer entent to stryue aboue the power to get any thing as to sayle with gretter sayles than proporcion / as whan hope shyneth neuer so lytell / promysing folisshly vnto our selfes vnmesurable and great thynges / & than whan chaunce foloweth nat / we accuse wicked fortune and our desteny / whan rather we shulde dam our selfes of foly / as it were to be angry with fortune / that thou ca●st nat shote an arowe with a plou / or hunt an hare with an oxe / and that some cruell god shulde be agaynst them / that with vayn indeuour / hunt an hart with a dragge net / and nat that they attempt to do those impossibilytes / by their own madnesse and folysshnesse . Surely the cause of this errour / is the noughti loue of our self . For men / ouermoch deseruing of them self / where as with great stryfe they alowe them selfe best / enhaunced with pride / leaue nothyng vnassayd . For it is nat ynough vnto them to be ryche & eloquent / and amonge mery & gladsome festes . but that they must be famyliers of princes and in auctorite / but that they must haue the best horse & the best doggis and ( if god wyll ) the best cockerels and quayles / or els they can nat be quiete in theie mynde . Denys th elder thought it nat ynough to be the grettest tyraunt in his tyme / but yuell content also / that he was nat so good as the poete Phyloxenus in poetry / and as Plato in the c●●ft of resonyng / meued with yre / him he put in to a dongion / and thother he solde / and banysshed in to Aeginas . So did nat Alexandre / that where he was greatly meued with Brison / with whom he stro●e in swyftnesse of the chart / with deliberacion ●emed plesaunt / forberyng his own right . Therfore Homere spake it very well by Achylles / such a one as was non among the grekes in batayle / and after he sayth / but there were other that were more eloquent . Megabysus of Per●●a on a tyme whan he came in to Appelles shop / he began to bable I wot nat what of the craft of payntyng . Appelles that coude nat suffre his folyes / afore / qd he / that thou shewedest thy self with thy wordes / I had a good opinyon in the / by reason of thy golde & purple / auaūcy●g thy silence / now the prentises and boyes that grinde me my colours / do mocke thy bablynge . There is that thy●ke that the Stoyik philosophers do mocke vs / in discribyng a wise man af● their facion / nat only to be wise / iust / and strong / but also an oratour / an emperour / a poete / ye● & a kyng . and they are nat ashamed to ascribe all these names vnto him / altho if they ꝑceyu● them self in dispeyre of them / they are alway il content / which how it accordeth with reason / they may se whan that they knowe the goddes contented / eche with his godheed to be satisfied / as to be called Enyalius / that hath auctorite ouer the furour of bataylc / another Mantous / that is ouer prophecies . ano●her Cerdous / that is ruler of lucre . So that in Homere / Iupiter forbyddeth to Uenus werly maters / as nothyng perteynyng to her / & byddeth her to take hede to mariage maters . Besydes this / somthynges of them that seme to vs to be desyred / accorde nat togider of their owne nature / as by example . He that desyres the study of sayeng & of lernyng / he must be quiete and without busynesse / agayn auctorites and familyarite with princes● ar wont to make busynesses / & to bring often combraunces . Plentous vse of wyne and flessh / maketh a man strong & mighty / and the mynde frayler and weker . Agayn / vnmesurable diligence to encrese / or busy trouble for to kepe / agreeth for the gadring of riches . A tother syde / contempt & dispisyng / is a great instrument for the beginnyng of philosophy / and almost the first and chefyst exercyse of it . So al thinges is nat for euery man / but he that wyll obey the poesy of Appollo / must first knowe him self / and so take aduyse of his owne nature / & as she ledeth to take an order of lyfe / rather than passyng from one to another / to force & constrayn his nature . An horse for the cart / an oxe is mete for the plowe / after a ship that sayleth / a dolphin is mete to swym / and to hunt the bore a ●cirse dogge . So that if one be troubled / for that a mighty lyon may nat be norisshed in a womans lappe / as well as a lytell whelpe / surely he is a gret fole . And he is ne●awhit wyser / that wyll write of the worlde & seke the nature of thynges / both after Empedoclis facion or Platos / or Democritus togider / or to lye with a riche old woman / as Euphorion / and to be lyke those that were wont to banket late with Alexandre / as Medius / and thinke it vncomely and scant to be suffred / outcept he may by riches be as notable as Ismenia / & by vertue / as noble as Epaminonda . Ronners whan they haue their game / are content that wrestlers haue their reward / if thou haue gotton / sayth Solon / the towne of Sparta / order it with lawes & decrees . we wyll nat chaunge with you / saith the same man / vtue for riches / syns th one is our owne & stable / & riches is but chaunceable / & passeth from one to another . Strato whan he herde that Menedemus had more scolers than he . Lo / qd he / is it nat to be marueyled / if many had rather be wasshed than perfumed ? Aristotle writyng to Antipater / it is mete saith he / to be as glorious for Alexander / and to be consydred / nat onely to raigne ouer many people / but also to haue beside other / a right opinyon of godly thingꝭ / so that they that vnder this maner / calle their glad thynges glorious / and nat so lytell to be estemed / they with out doute shall nat be troubled / with wondring at straunge thynges . yet now whan none of vs sees a vyne beare fygges / nor an olyue beare grapes / we braule with our selfe neuerthelesse / and with vngentyll gredynesse oppresse our selfes / & are so wery of our selfes / outcept we may attayne to the hyest degre / both of richmen and of lerned men / both at home & in the w●rres / both of philosophers and of warryers / ye and bothe of flaterers & of them that by trusty and free playnesse / are knowen to be true / and at last / bothe of nygardꝭ & wasters . Altho that we se nature to tech vs marueylusly . For as it is sene by nature dyuers beestes to feed for their lyueng dyuersly / nor that she wolde that all shuld be norisshed with s●edes or with flesshe / or with rotes / but as they are dyuers to ete dyuers meates / so hath the same nature gyuen to mankynde dyuers orders of lyueng / as pasturyng / plowyng / foulyng / and fysshing . we must therfore eche of vs chuse that / that we knowe is most metest for vs / and with all our endeuoir gyue vs to that / & to parte from the possession of that that we parceyue parteyneth to another / or elles it is to no purpose that Hesiodus sayd . The potter enuyeth the potter / and ouer the smythes craft his felowe is enuious . Truly now men are nat ledde with enuy of the craft or order of their felowes / but riche men with enuy of lerned men / nobles of riche men / men of lawe / of deceyuers / and of players and of tomblers / and at the last / free and noble men of auncient famyles dasyng for wonder at the good fortunes of men of bondage in the courtes of kynges / while they thinke that all their own fortunes are to be lothed / they trouble them self / & with no lytell cure of mynde kyll them selfe . Surely that euery man hath cof●rs & receytes / and as who saith springes / of surety & trouble in his own thought / and Homers tonnes of good & yll / nat as he said in Iouis dore / but with in his own mynde / the dyuersite of men proueth gretly / whom we se by affections of the my●de to be diuersly tempred . for foles let good thynges passe tho they be present / and regarde them nat whan they perisshe / so moche doth their thoughtes gape gredily after thynges to come . Contrariwyse / men of wyt with sharpe remembraunce / reducyng them self to thynges that be present / make those thinges that yet are nat / to be at hand . For that that is at hande and present / offring it self to be taken in on onely instant / after that vnremembred / semeth vnto foles nother to be ours / nor to partein to vs . and as the roper that is paynted in Plutos house / as moche as he dyd wreth out of his basket in to his rope / he suffred folisshly an asse that stode by hym to ete / no notherwyse doth the vnkynde & slouthfull forgettinge of many / settyng asyde the commodites of thinges past / the worthy do● dedes / the noble actes / the plesant ydelnesse / the mery and gladsome company / & forgettyng and scrapyng out all the delyte of the lyfe / suffreth nat their lyfe to be all one facyoned and weued togyder ● with the thinges past & the thynges present / deuyding yesterdayes lif from that of to day / & that from that of to morow / althyng do● they make vndo● / with the weryng out of their remembraunce . Truely they that in the scoles of philosophers toke away encresynges of bodyes / as vanisshing substaunce by wast / they only in their wordes made eche of vs / another & another than our selues . But they that contayn nat thynges passed / as tho memory failed / nor again remembreth them / they do nat now in wordes / but in very dede / make them selfe dayly more nedy & more voyde / gapyng alwayes on to morowe / as tho thinges of last yere / of late / & of yesterday / perteyned nothing to them / & as tho thei had neuer chaunced vnto them . So that the constant state of the mynd / by this maner is troubled . And euyn as flyes slyp of whan they crepe vpon smoth glasses / & in rough & rugged places thei cleue esely / so men slyding from gladsome and plesant thinges / holde fast the remembraunce of heuy thynges . And lyke as at Olinthus / ther is a place they say / wher in these horned flies be taken / and whan they be in / they can nat get out again / but a great whyle flyeng vp and down with in / makyng many circles in vayne / they dye at last . so men enwrapped in the remembraunce of ylles / can neuer after get forth nor get socour . Therfore as paynters are wont in tables to vnderlay dym colours to the eyes / and to en●lyne and draw faire and bright colours vpon them so shulde men in their owne myndes / all heuy and darke chaunces / ouercouer and ouerthrowe with glorious & faire chaunces / worthy to be remembred . for thinges past can nat clerely be fordone / nor be agayne afterwarde / by man onely . For so variable / dyuers and reboūdable / is the tune of this worlde / as of an harpe / nor in mortall thynges / is there any thynge that is pure / clere / & symple . But as musyke standeth by hye and lowe soundes / and grammer by letters / vowels & mutes / and that he is nat a musycien or a gramarien / whom eitherlyke of these dothe offende / but he that can vse them & temper them most accordingly / no notherwise it semeth / that he wisely hath stablished his lyfe / that most dyuers chaunces contrary among themself / hath lerned to mingle hansomly / wayeng prosperite with aduersite . for clerely to set aparte / good or yll / mortall comodite wyll nat suffre / but it behoueth to make a temper with both / if we wyll determyn right of these thynges . It is nat therfore accordyng / in the tone of these to playne / & faynting in the mynde / to fall down as it were vnder to heuy a burden / but the power and th impression of euery worst chaunce / to repulse with the remembraunce of better thinges / alwayes wrapping vp discomodites incomodites / as it were in a napkyn / to make the tenour of the hole lyfe / made & gadered with prosperites & aduersytes / as a certayne accorde / tempred with connyng reason . And truly / nat as Menander thought / a man hath as soone as he is borne / a good spirite / as begynner of his lyfe & techer of right lyueng / but rather as Empedocles thought / two spyrites of diuers condition / to whom he giueth dyuers & many names dothe receyue vs assone as we come in to the light / from thensforth gyuen vnto them / as it were almost by right of seruice . He said that our generation did receyue the seedꝭ of al these affections / & that therfore the draught of our lyfe was nat euyn and leuell / but rather brackish & sower / & therfore the wise man shuld haue the best thinges in his desyre / & loke for the worst / & in the temper of them bothe vse of neither parte to moche . Nor yet shall he come plesantly to to morowe / as Epicurus saith / that with gret debatyng douteth whyder he shall lyue to it / but riches / glory / power / & authorite / gladeth & reioyseth such men most / that with contrary thinges a totherside / if case happen / can be as gode & as vpright . For truly vehement appetit of any thing / hath alway fere his felow of lesing it / that dulleth the gladnes / & maketh it more to be desyred / as whan flame is resisted with gret wind . whom truly reson hath taught assuredly & vnferfully thus to say to fortun / if thou gyue it I shal be rizt glad / if thou take it agayn / I shal be indifferent . this man that can thus vse him self / without marueyle / must nedis vse thinges that happen plesantly / and nat be pulled from thens with feare of that losse rennynge in the thought . Anaxagoras whan he herde that his sonne was deed / I knewe qd he / whan I begote him that he shuld dye / & I haue suffred ouer that awayting . this affection of Anaxagoras / is asmoch to be folowed of vs / as wondred at . Surely we may stay forthwith ech misfortun / I knew I had slypy riches / nat nayled with sixe peny nayl / as they say in my possession / and that I had them / but to vse them . I knewe well inough that they that gaue me power / myght also take it from me . I knewe that my wyfe was wyse / but that she was also a woman ● and for the last I knew that my frende was a man / that is to say / a lyuely thyng redy of nature to be depraued / as Plato oft sayde . Truely he that compareth thus the reasons of his affections / & byldeth him such rampers of reason / if ought happen other wise than he wold / or ouerthwartly / yet is it nat to him sodayn / and where as he neuer admitteth those commen thinges● I wolde neuer haue went it / I was in grete hope / I neuer thought it wold be thus / there truely dothe he fordo the vneuynnesse of a stertynge or glytteriug hert / & of one that was troubled and meued / he maketh forwith to him self / one pesable and constant . Carneades was wont to warne men most in prosperite of aduersite / for that euery sodain thinges nature is to be receyued all with grutchynge of the mynde / & as a maner meltyng . How great aparte is nowe Macedony / of the romayn Empyre ? yet Perses whan he lost it / nat onely accused fortune with foule complayntes / but semed also to dyuers / most infortunate & wretched of all men . Loke on tother syde / Emilius whan he had ouercom him / partyng from the countrey / gyueng place in the lordship of the see and of the lande to the right successour / was receyued with the garlandes / and reioysynges of all men / and in the sacrifice extolled vnto heuen with praises / and nat vndeserued / but most deserued . For he remembred hym self to haue gotten a chaunceable kyngdome / the to therby vnwened and vnforthought chaunce was put frome the height of his kyngdome . Me thinketh Homer techeth with a proper example / how moch more hurtfull those thynges are that stryke sodenly . Uli●es at his returne home / wept at the sodeyne dethe of his dog / and nat to his wyfe that sat by him and wepte . for in commyng / consydringe the wepynge ymage of his wyfe / he had subdued the affection that els now wolde haue broken out / and by former shittyng of the minde / had reduced it in to his own power / and was troubled with the vnforethought deth of the dogge / for that in the sodeyn thinge he had no space / to let the power of his affection . to conclude shortly / thynges that chaunce agaynst our myndes / ar scant & herdly suffred / partly by nature / and partly we se thei ar greuous / by corrupt custome and naughty opinion / and they be the most parte . it is of gret effect against them / to haue at hande this sentence of Menander . Thou hast suffred no gret grefe / onles thou make it so thy self / for what toucheth it the / if it nother streyne thy flessh / nor reche to thy soule / as by example / th unnoblenesse of thy father / the adultry of thy moder / the dignite of the first place taken from the / the reward of thy victory bereft the / what ꝑteyn these thynges to the ? for truely tho these thinges happen / it shuld nat let the in thy body nor in thy mynd to be well / ye & right well . Against these thingꝭ that by nature doth somthing offend / as siknesses / hurtis / & dethis of kinsfolke / this must be set . alas / wherfore alas ? for we haue suffred nothing / that perteyneth nat to man to suffre . For there is no speche that soner rebuketh th affectionate parte of the mynde / whan it is drawen ouertwhartly with affections / & whan it snatcheth the byt of reson in the teth / than that that warneth vs of our comen & naturall necessites / vnto whiche necessite man is borne / & entangled as the body groweth / whiche shall gyue vnto stryuing fortune / a knot / sure of all other thinges / that ar most chefe & grettest . They say Demetrius whan he sacked the town of Megarēsis● asked of Stylpo if any of his go●des was taken from him ? to whom he answered . I sawe no body take away myn / for wher as fortune hath suffred / all her thinges to be taken from her / yet haue we no such thinges in vs / as nother the grekis can do nor suffre . it is nat therfore mete so moch to forsak nature / as hauyng no strength nor sufferaunce / to matche fortunes violence . wher as we knowe right well / that that / that in man may be hurt with fortune / is but a lytell / and the worst parte of vs frayle & ouerthrowen with euery impression / by deynte tendernesse / and that we our self haue the power ouer the better partes / wherin be set those grettest & good thinges / as in an vnslypper place / and where also true glory / leruīges / & studys pertayning to vtue haue their being / nother mortall nor byreueable by no strength . thus I say / knowing our selfes of vnuyncible minde / for trusting to our selfꝭ / it becometh vs to be assured agayn thinges to come / & to saye that to fortune / that Socrates fayning did say by Auitus & Melitus his accusers / truly qd he / to the iugis Auytus and Melitus may slee me / but to do me hurt or displeasure / they can nat . for tho fortune might ouerthrow hym with dyuers sicknesses / take from him his riches or accuse hym to a tyrant / or to the people / yet might she nat truely make hym yll / or faynt herted / or fearfull / or altred of his mynde / or els make hym malicyous / but onely a good man / endued with manlynesse and corage of the mynde / & at a worde she might nat bereue him the right order of the mynde / whiche truely profiteth more to man / for the ledyng of the lyfe / than the craft of sayling / for to passe the sees . For the maryner be he neuer so conning / can nat by any meanes redresse the fury of the water / nor repulse the assaut of the feirce wynde / no more than get a hauen where he wolde / whan so euer he wolde retourne from the see . No / nor this cometh nat to him by craft that whan he is taken with tempest / constantly and vnferfully to handle the necessite / herto it helph nat / that whilst he dispayreth nat / for place for his craft / takyng in the sayle / driueth as he may with the tempest / the coward now sitteth down with wringing handes from all this ge●e / & whyle the mast is drowned with force of winde / he shaketh with trembling fere . but in a wyse man / an ordred minde with the body bringeth faire wether / that is to say with contynence / and tempre of fode and labour / wipyng away the causes of sicknesse / and if there be any outwarde cause of trouble / in the whiche a mans mynde is ron / as in the roky fla●tes / with quicke pullynge vp the sayle yarde ( as Asclepiades saith ) it passeth ouer . And if so be it en●rese and growe more than can be socourd or suffred by man / the hauen is nat fer of / and there resteth to the to swym out of the body / as out of the ship boote / whan it wyll holde no more . Truly foles / nat so moche for the desyre of lyfe / as for the feare of dethe / hanging on the body cleue fast with claspyng handes / no notherwise than Ulixes dyd hang on the wylde figge tree / whan he feared the russhing of the horelpole Caribdis / whom Homer saith / was so nere taken in the see of Sycill / that he coud nother stoppe by reason of the wynde that shoued hym / nor yet get out / so dyd that let him / and as tho he held the wolfe by the eres / as the prouerbe saith / coud nother hold the ire / for werynesse & discomodite of the chaunce / nor let it go for fere of the dredfull pyll . But if any manneuer so lytell consyder / the nature of our soule / and doth recken with hym selfe / the passage from the state of this lyfe to be to a better / or at the lest to no worse / by deth truly he hath alredy / no lytell forderaunce for his iourney / that is to saye / the contempt of deth . For who that / what with valyaunt vertue / whiche is the properte and peculyarite of man / and what with ordring assuredly the mynde / agaynst for rayne and straunge thinges / whiche come besyde nature / mightely to ouerthrowe our proper thynges / may lyue so plesantly / that he may say / I may go / I may go my way surely at the first tym / with the good leue of god / whan I wyll / whan I pray the / other greuous or combrous / or troublous thyng can happen vnto him ? Of trouth / what soeuer he is that saith this worde / I haue preuented the / o fortune / and all thy entres were they neuer so streyte I haue stopte / this man nat with berres / nor nayles / nor byldinges hath coraged and strengthed hym selfe / but rather with decrees of philosophy / and rules of wisemen / whiche also be open & so redy for euery man / that they nede but only the takynge . Nor we may nat take away byleue in those thynges / that haue ben left to our remembraunce of our elders / nor dispeyre in nothyng of them / as tho thei were nat possible to be folowd / but as it is mete to loke vpon them / and to marueyle moche of them / as it were by grace wondringe of them / so must we make our selfes / by confyrmynge vs to their folowing lyklihodes of them / that by beginnynges set in small thynges / as sayeng gretter and gretter / we may profite to the hyest . But we must diligently loke / that we put nat the thoughtes of these thinges out of our mynd / nor that we let to tourne oft these thinges in our thought / and ( as they say ) to thinke on them with all our hert . Nor this busynesse endeth no gret labour ( for as a certeyn swetnesse of the mynde / noyeth vs and hath taught vs with slouthful and vnexercised tendernesse / and hauntynge most prone thynges of lest busynesse / by an naughty fauour hath taught it selfe / out of vndelightsome thynges / to turne it selfe to eche plesant thyng / so lykwise if any man vse to fayne in his mynd / the ymages of sicknesse / of labour / of exyle / & to gader vnto him the strengthes of his reason / to discus diligently eche by hym selfe . this man / this / s●all without fayle se that those thynges / for the most part / ar vayn and dispi●able / that seme heuy / ferefull / and horrible / and to say trouth / threten more with their loke / than they do in the departyng But many abhorre that worde of Menander / that any man a lyue may nat glorie / in ●ayeng / this I wyll nat suffre . for that they knowe nat what it aueyleth for to auoyde heuines / to thynke and to vse to beholde fortune / with vnagreable and f●irs eyes / and nat to le●e to tendre thoughtes / and trifling delytes / and norisshmentes of esy lyfe / rysyng at euery lytell hope / and fallyng at euery lytell thyng . Altho it may be thus answered to Menander . It can no wyse●e sayde / why●e I lyue this I wyll nat suffre / lette it be so / but this I may saye whyle I lyue / this I wyll nat do / I wyl nat lye / I wyll vse no crafty deceites for to compasse men / I wyll nat begyle / I wyll nat disceitfully lye in an ayte . this syns it is in vs / it is a great helpe to them that lyfte them selfe vp to the surety of mynde / in which maner lyke as botches be in the body / so is a naughty conscience in the soule / as that that leueth repentaunce / busely prickyng and pulling the minde . For where all other heuinesses ar wont to be taken away by reason / onely this repentaunce it selfe prouoketh by shame / as one that byte●h and gnaweth hym self . And truely / as they that shake of a cold ague / or burne of an hote ague / ar more sharply and feruently vexed than they that suffre the same thynges / of vtwarde colde or hete . so casuall and chaunceable thynges / haue more blunter heuynesses / as outwarde and forayn thinges . And this thing / no body is to blame for me but my self / which is wont to be plainynly cried / whan an offence is done / maketh the hurt tha● 〈◊〉 greuous of it selfe / more greuous / and driueth it in deꝑ . So nouther gorgiousnesse of buylding / nor weight of golde / nor noblenesse of kyn / nor greatnesse of empire / nor eloquence & fayre spekyng / brinketh so moche clerenesse of lyfe / and so plesant quietnes / as bringeth a mynde discouered from trouble of busynesse / lyueng ( as they say ) with hym selfe ferre from yll aduyse . whiche hauyng the well of lyfe ( I mean ●yt & condicions / from whiche commendable dedes do spring ) clere and vntroubled / shall bring forth all his dedis / mery & vpright as it were with an heuenly grace / by the remembraunce wherof / he is feed with a more certeyn / than Pyndarus hope / norishment ( as he sayth ) of old age . And as Carneades was wont to say / the swete fyrres tho they be cutte or pulled vp by the rotes / they kepe a swete sauour a longe whyle / truely in the mynde of a wyse man / honest dedes do euer leue a certeyn fresshe and plesaunt remembraunce . with the whiche remembraunce that same inwarde gladnesse springeth by a contynuall ryuer / as who saithe bering frute / to the great shame of their errour / that so lamentably blame this lyfe / sayeng it is a congregation of ylles / and a certeyn resort of outlawes / in to the whiche onely the soules that be banyshed from aboue be put . I reken that worde of Diogines worthy remembraunce / whiche he sayd / whan he sawe a straunger in Lacedemona / curiously pyking hym selfe agayn a holyday . what qd he / is nat euery day holyday with a good man ? yes and if we be wyse most gladsom holiday . For this worlde is a certeyne most holy temple / & most mete for god / in to this temple man is admytted whan he is borne / nat to be holde karuyn ymages wantyng senses / but the son / the mone / & the sterres / from whiche cometh mouyng / & the first principles of lyfe / whiche prouidence hath gyuen vnto vs to beholde / that they shulde be sensyble ymages and folowynges of intelligible thynges / as Plato saith . be sydes these / the flodes that bring forthe alwayes newe waters / and the erth producyng fode / bothe vnto trees & vnto all kynde of bestes . with this goodlynesse & prospecte begynnyng truely our lyfe / it must be full of surety and of ouerspred gladsōnesse / nor 〈◊〉 ar nat to be loked for of vs / Saturn●● festes / or Bacchus festes / or Myneruas festes / as many do that receyue these and such other festes with great awaytinge / gladsomnesse and sporte / in whiche they may more lyberally / glad them self with bought laughter gyueng wages vnto mynstrels and tomblers for their minde sake . And what is more vncomly / than that in suche plays we syt with suche pertynax s●ylence doyn● nothing els ( as they say ) ( for there is no man that lamenteth or wepeth / whan he seith Pythia begyn / no more than he is hungry after the feest ) and those goodlynesses wherof god hym selfe is auctor vnto vs / and in maner player / with lamentyng and sowernesse of mynde / ledyng a dolorous lyfe / we defile and make soro●full . And yet most vnsely is this / whan we delyte in orgaynes played and sounded / and in lytell byrdes songes / and beholde gladly the beestis playng and daunsyng / and agayne ar offended with their frowarde noyse and their cruell lokes / yet neuerthelesse seyng our owne lyues sadde and heuy / frownyng / & ouerthrowen with most troublous affections and tangled busynesse●●nd cures / and driuen with vntempe●●●esse / that nat only we can nat gette vs some lyberte and space to take our brethe / but nother here also other exhortyng vs to it . To whose warnynges with clere and opyn cares / if we wolde gyue hede / we shulde vse thinges present as they come without any blame / and shulde rest with the plesaunt remembraunce of thynges past / and at the last we shulde drawe towarde thynges to come / vnferefully and assuredly / with sure and glad some shyning hope .

Th ende .