That is as it falles out .

Why ? I speak out of a good mind , that hoped to meete with no other .

Nay , your words may séeme to be good , but your minde is knowne to your selfe .

So it may bee to you , if it pleas● you .

But what shall I get by it ▪

No hurt , i● you mistake not your selfe : But why do you growe into this humour ? If you desire to be sollitary , let not me b● troubles●me . God be with you .

Nay sof● , I loue you too well to let you passe with your impatience : an● therefore temper your wittes , your walke will b● the better : but tell me what you would say , if you could speake ?

I would say that I neuer heard any man speake as you doo : but I would you would speake to some better purpose .

V●nitie , vanitie , and all is vanitie .

W●at of that ?

W●y , when all is nothing , to what purpose is any thing ▪

Oh leaue that to the Angels , for men are become such diuels , that th●y are not worthy to thinke vpon th● name of God .

Oh those be Atheists , au●ngeance on them : but surely there are some goo● creatures on y●●arth , th●t sinc●r●ly hono● God .

But are t●ey no● 〈◊〉 m●●t o● th●m ?

Such beggers are ric● men , wh●●h in Grace haue a great poss●ssion .

Yea , bu● that Grace hath litle grace in this world .

No matter , for there wil one day be a chaunge , when the goats wil be seuered f●om th● sh●epe , and then Conscience will be somewhat in account .

You speake of a great while hence , but there are many things to be done before that day .

And yet it may come ere it be looked for .

True , but that is either not beleeued , or l●●●e thought on : but a litle by the way , i● your haste be not the greater ▪ wil you st●●e a while with me , and sit downe by this faire spring ? for I am not young , and old men must haue baites , i● their ●ournies be ●ar●e .

I will either staie or goe with you with all my heart , for my businesse is not such as can draw me from your company : but looke you who commeth out of the wood , ouer the style , making towards vs .

It is Meandro , séeme not to s●e him .

Gentlemen , ys are well met this faire morning : her● are two sweete Fountaines , one of cleare water , and an other of cleare wit .

What shall we haue a play ?

Why Sir ?

Why , doo not you heare the Parasite begin the Prologue ?

Oh Sir , good words , you know I am no capper nor curt●●s man and therefore if I were deceiued , I am sorrie for my opinion .

Why you know , water may be fowle , and wit foolish : and therfore wash your hands ere you know the one , and call your thoughts together , before you iudge of the other .

Ind●ed Sir you do well to teach children how to reade , but he that is entred in his Primer , néeds no helpe in his A.B.C.

Indéed an olde foole is no babe , and yet ●leare eyes may haue a blinde sight .

It may be a principle among Spittle-men , but sounde limbes néede no Surgeon : but yet for your good words I thanke you , and as I can , I wil req●ite you . But leauing this crosse ●inde of car●ing , I pray you let vs fa●l to some ●airer play , that Signi●● Antonio may haue a part , and not stande like a Torch bearer .

Why , deuise what you will , that may not lo●se time , and you shall soone trie my cunning .

Why Sir , shall we speake of loue ?

Oh the vainest thing of the world , which is either mistaken , or vnknowne , or at least if there be any , it liueth in the heauens , where the world cannot come at it : what say you Antonio ?

Truly I haue no pleasure to loose time in idlenesse , for either as you said in the world it is not , or as it is , not worth the talking on .

W●ll said , wanton loue , is lust : wealthy loue , couetousness● , and fained loue hypocrisie ▪ but the true loue is Charitie , which in the world is growne so colde , that it makes me shiuer to thinke on it , and therefore haue litle pleasure to speake of it .

Then S●● shall we talke of Vertue ?

What , how litle she is esteemed in the worlde ? what sayes Antonio ?

Truly Sir , I can rather sigh for her , then speake of her , ●or she is so poorely maintained in many places , that shée is called but the Lady of the beggers : and therfore I had rather honor her wher● I finde her , then talke of her , where I can do her no good : but i● it please y●u , shall we speake of Armes ?

Me thinkes peace were a better hearing , and valure is better to be séene in action , then argument : what sayes Meandro ?

Me thinkes the sound of blood is hideous , and the terror of death is miserable : but shall we rather speake of peace ?

I thinke you may holde your peace a good while , before you can truly speake of peace among men , for since the Authour of it went from the earth , I thinke it was neuer séene in the world . How say you Antonio ?

I thinke that discord hath so got the vpper hand , that peace is so put to silence , that there is almost nothing to be spoken of her , but that it is pittie she is no more to be spoken of .

True : for not only men haue no great pleasure in her , but the women are out of loue with her : and what shall we th●n talke of her ?

Shall we then talke of state matters ?

Not for your liues : make cleane your dishes and your platters , but talke of no Princes matters .

Indéed the meane is best , and a quiet is a happie life , obey lawes , paie duties , ware bonds , keepe silence , feare God , and pray for the Quéene : these are all the state matters , that I will either speake of , or harken too .

Indeed litle said , is soone amended : and silence s●ldome hath o●fended : who look●th hye , may haue a chip fall in his ●ye .

Yea , and perhaps a choppe on his necke , that may cost him his head : but what , shall we speake in rime ?

A litle , but if you like it , shall we speake of Poetrie ?

What , Ballades ? why it is growne to such a passe , that the E. i● taken out , and of Poetry , it is called pottry : why verses are so common , that they are nailed vpon euery poste : besides , it is a poore profession .

Ind●ed they are most in vse with Players , and Musitians , for else they goe downe the world for imployment : but if there were a fall of rich men , there might be some worke for them about Epitaphs : for if they be too busie with Libels , they are put to silence for euer after : but shall we leaue this poore subie●● , and speak of the ●xcellency of Musique ?

Oh the Instrument betwixt the legges , where the stick and the Fiddle can diuide finely vpon a plaine song , and carry the parts full , puttes downe all the Musique of these dayes .

Yet a still Recorder doth well in a Chamber , where a so●●●p will vse him sweetly : but , what should staid wittes trouble their heads with too many crochets ? Let vs honour the Art , and talke of some other exp●rienc● .

Oh the word is ill in pronouncing , Phisicke is an vns●uery matter , that shewes nothing but sorrow , for the charge of the recouery , makes the grief● of the remedie : besides , onely on the Patients paine , groweth the Phisitians profit : no , no , exercise , and a spare diet , early rising , and warme cloathes , is better then a pill or a potion : Oh the very thought of it hurts my stomacke , I pray thée let vs talke no more of it .

Shall we then discourse of Lawe ?

Argue that list vpon their cases , I pray God kéepe me from their Courts , where their q●irkes and qui●ides makes me desire title of their acquainta●ce .

Indeed I haue heard it compared vnto a Laborinth , where one may get in when he will , and out , when he can : but the cry of the poore so discredits many of the professor● , that I haue no pleasure to speake of it .

Shall we then talke of hunting or h●wking ?

What birds , and dogges ? No , no , tyring of legges , and tearing of throates , with luring , and hollowing , are nothing pl●asing to mine humor , I doo not loue so to make a ●oyle of a pleasure .

Shall we then talke of Astronomy ?

No : let vs rather looke about vs in the world , then stand stari●g on the starres : I loue not , with following the Moone to fall into a d●tch .

Shall we then speake a litle of Beautie ?

D● t is growne so Artificiall , that the natural is almost out of p●int , and because I will robbe no Artificer of his cunning , I will leaue that Art to the Painter .

I●●eed S●r , I heare that most young Louers are Idolaters , for in stead of liuely faces , they do reuerence to painted Images .

Truly , I am of your minde .

Then let vs beginne where we left this other day , to speake of the Dignitie or Indignitie of m●n : what say you Maister Antonio ?

Why ●●r , I will not iniure the Tauerne to steale away she bush , and therefore let words that ●ost litle , be affoorded good cheape , and as well taken as spoken .

Content is pleased , and for that I will not be ceremonious , I will begin to breake ●he Ice . I am perswaded that there is no creature so litle worthy honour as man : I meane not absolutely without exceptions , as man hath bene and should be , but as man is , and should not be : but because I would be glad to heare your two kinde quarellings vpon the questions , and for that my memorie of that I would say , may be the better refreshe● by that that either of you say , let me in●rease Antonio begin , as the elder , I cannot say the better scholler .

Father , w●e will confesse our selues all punies to your perfection , and Schollers in your schoole , where , who doth remember what you teach , may make much of his vnderstanding .

Goe too I say , vse Rhetho●icke so a better vse then flatt●rie , and rather doo as you haue reason , than say that you haue no thankes for : and yet but louingly angry , I pray you take not ill a good meaning : and Maister Antonio , ●et me entreat you to begin the deliuerie of your opinion , wi●h your reasons for the same , touching the worthinesse or the vnworthinesse of man .

Father you may commaund your children , though w● blush at our b●ldnesse , and therefore vnder correction , I will be but obedient to commaundement .

Well Antonio , be not sine with your friendes , it is Art to hide Art : you know I loue you , and so I pray you vnderstand me , and yet modestie I allow of , so it be not belowe the cliffe of good Musique : but I pray you begin .

Touching the dignitie , or indignitie of man , this is mine opinion , that by all which I can with indifferent iudgement finde out by all the notes that I haue taken in the nature and the life of man . I see not any , but that compared with other creatures , I ●●nde him the lesse worthie of any , yea almost of any to be commended . For ●●●st , touching his first s●bstance , was hee not created of the ●●me of the earth , then which , what can be worse imagined ? And t●uching generation , is not man euen at this day of the like substance ? In his conception , is he not inf●cted with corruption ? In his bréeding , full of trouble , griefe , and sicknesse , to his bréder ? his place a hou●e of darknesse , and his li●ertie conioyned to a limit ? when with a world of paine to his enlarger , couered with v●cleen●nesse , hee comes he knowes not whither , is receiued by he knowes not whom , doth hee knowes not what , & liues he knowes not how ; dis●urnished of all defe●ce against hurt , vnprouided of all comfort toward● his g●od : vnable to stand without helpe , or to be thankfull to them that holdes him vp : crying before hée speak●s , to signi●ie sorrow b●yond speech ; and subiect to so many daungers , a● ho●rely threaten but his death : which if h●e scape in his Infancie , he shall finde in his elder age : for n●thing is more certain then death , nor v●c●rtaine then the time , and the meane : his des●res in●atiable , his humo●re variable , his ●uries intollerable , his sinne● innumerable ▪ and so h●s life ●●●crable . What ▪ h●e is not this , hée is not himselfe , and being this , wh●t can be worse then hims●lfe ? for his estate , in what estate so●u●r hee be , let vs sée the best that hée can be , an● then consider what withall he may be . If a ●●ing , he may be a tyr●nt , and that is odio●e : or a shéepe , and that is 〈…〉 If a Couns●●lor , he may be prend , and that may bréed enuy ▪ he may be couetous , and that may corrupt conscience . If a souldier , he may be desperate , and so dangerous , or bloudie , and so murtherous : or couetous , and so trecherous . If a Lawier , hee may b● partiall , and that were perillous : or gréedie , and that were gré●uous : or faithlesse , and that were villamous . If a Merch●nt , hé● may be banquerout , and so a begger ▪ or a theater , and so a villaine . If an Vsurer , hée may be a dogge , and so halfe a diuel● . If a Trades-man , hée may bée a false dealer , and so a deceiuer , or a plaine deal●● , and so a begger . If a Farmer , hé● may be a Corne-monger ▪ and so a C●arl● : Or a Grazier , an● so a Chuffe . If a Miller , hée may towle false , and so pro●e ● Thee●e . If a Labourer , hée may be lazie , and so lubber : or ● begger , and so a ●ag●e . In summe , examine euery ●ne of ●●ese , and see of what estate he is , that may deserue to be honoured for his worthinesse . If a Queene , I say nothing but Go● preserue her . If a Lady , she may lacke honour , and that were shamefull . If a Gentle woman , shée may haue a wrong tytle , and that wer● pittie . If a Citizen , shée may be proud , and that is vncomely . If a Country dame , she may loue ●auncing , and so further fro●●ng . If a begger , she may be a Bawde , and so a bagage : so that ●●ale , and female , I sée no state , but in the same they are subiect to s●ch imperfections , that there is little desert of commendations , which may make man a more worthy creature then any other . If he be yong , ●is ●ddes h● is wanton : if aged , he is wilfull : if rich , hée is proud : if p●●re , he is desperate : if wise , he is troubled : if fonde , he is scorned : so that 〈◊〉 is many wayes so blameable , as that he is almost no way commendable : but in desert of due praise , inferiour ●o many other creatures : what feedes so grossely , speakes more loudly , 〈◊〉 so vile●y ▪ An Eagle wil catch at no flies , when high mindes wil stoope at 〈◊〉 matters : a Lyon will not prey on a Lambe , ●ut a Tyrant will no● spare the innocent : a Hawke will be reclaimed to her ●ure , when a man will harken to no learning : a horse wil know hi●●yder , when a Scholler wil be a straunger to his maister : ye● , a ●ogge wil be a watch-man at his maisters doore , when a seruant wil be 〈◊〉 in his house : and a spaniell wil wagge his taile for a bone , 〈◊〉 wil be vngratefull for a great benefit . A Nightingale singes b● nature , man cries by nature : the Elephant wil lead a man thr●●gh the wildernesse , but man wil lead man into destruction : the Lizard will keepe a man from the Serpent , but one man is a Serpent to another : the Ant laboureth for his liuing , while man sleepeth out the time of his labour : the Sparrow wil learne to kéepe ●ut , while man wil keep in no compasse : the birds vnto their ●ing the Eagle , the beasts to the Lyon , the fishes to the Whale , are more in subiection by nature , then men either by law ▪ or loue , to their Soueraigne . For neatnesse , how cleane kéepes the Bee her hiue , and ●ow fowle is many a Sluttes hous● ? For apparell , how doth th●●wanne prune her feathers ● and how full of feathers is many a Slo●ens fowle coate ? For wit , how hath nature ●aught the Fée to sucke ●he●oney , and gather the wa●e off the flowers , while man with his folly gets but poyson from the w●edes ? What cunning hath nature taught the Spider in her webbe , while men by Art are faine to studie for lesse skill ? for outward neatnesse , the beast kicketh his haire , the byrd pr●neth her feathers ▪ the fish scowreth his scales : while man onely is so lazie , as he will fearce f●nde time to wash his hands : for inward cleannesse I meane , of nature , looke into the Beasts , and of all the most monstrous , the Elephant , and compare them with man , you shall sée s●ch to be the difference , as may be a shamefull griefe to thinke on : there is no beast , great or small , but knoweth his time of generation with his ●emale , which past , he l●●ueth her , and falleth to such course , as either 〈◊〉 or seruice doth commaund him , not dwelling vpon the vilenesse of his action , but as it were glad to be from it : yet for the time is he to her so kinde , that he will sport and play with her , so carefull ouer her , that he will suffer none to hurt her , and so iealous of her kindnesse , as that he will aduenture death , ●re an other shall ●nioy her . But of all the most worthy to be noted , as I before said , is the Elephant , who certaine dayes before his méeting with his female , that shee may kindly entertaine him , goes to the Sea , and ther● as deepe as hée dare stand for drowning , stayeth till the waues doo almost couer him , when béeing well washed , hée walketh into some place where hee may drye him in the Sunne , then goeth vnto some Rocke , where betwixt two stones , hée whetteth his tuskes , as it were to burnish them and sharpen them for some fight : all which performed , hée walketh full of melancholly , till he haue met with his female , when putting on a pleasing humour , hée maketh her such sport , as he findes most fitting her contentment : which done , and hauing performed for certaine dayes , that due course where vnto nature hath commaunded him , hee then retires himselfe into some sollitarie place , where as it were , wearie , and not well pleased with himselfe with that he hath done , solemnly stealeth alone downe againe to the Sea , where in like manner as before , hée standeth till hée be cleane washed from that vncleanenesse wherewith hée findes hims●lfe defiled : which done , and dryed as before in some sunni● place , hée getteth him againe to his fellow mates , where he passeth the rest of his life : and ( which I had almost forgot ) it is sai● that ●ée onely once in the yeare , and onely to one , thus ties the time of his delight .

Now for byrds , haue they not all a time of bréeding ? an● dooth not euery Cocke kéepe with his Henne ? yea , and if hee finde any f●ne graine or seede that hée holdes most daintie , will hée not call for his H●nne , and spare it from himselfe , to bestowe it on her , and dye vppon him that will ●are to treade her ? yea , and in the time of her sitting , when shée seeketh for foo●e , will helpe to hatch vp her young , or bring foode into her neast , both for her and her young ones , and withall , hauing once chosen each other , how kindly without chaunge , doo they kéepe one with an other , while b●t one moneth in the yeare , they haue ( most of them ) the time of their treading .

Now note I say , this the nature both of beastes and birdes , both in their cleanenesse and kindnesse to their females , and how farre it excéedeth the nature of man ▪ who spareth neither time , nor place , to follow his f●●thy desires , not caring how vncleane eyther himselfe or his minion bee , so hée may after a full stomacke , and drunken ryotting , tumble with his Trull , and almost not caring who behold him : and withall , many a one , yea to his owne wife , to whom he is bound , both by the lawe of God , and nature , to be kinde , and in all honest course of reason to be carefull of , will bée more dogged then any dogge , and care not what become of her , nor who enioy her , so that hée may make a gaine of her : but how w●full is the state of that woman , and how wicked is the ●atur● of that man , let indifferencie giue iudgement , to the commendation of all creatures but man , and the onely discommendation of man . Oh how sweete a thing is it to behold the ●●we suckle her lambes , the Henne clocking her chickens , and to thinke how little a time they take in their generation , after which , they no more endure the company of theyr ●ales : and what a sorrow and shame it is , to see some women send theyr children to Nurses , farre from them , and so ●●idome looke after them , as though they neuer cared to see them : yea , and without prouiding for them , let them either begge , or starue for theyr liuings , and withall , haue theyr lu●ts neuer satisfied , but readie to spoyle one , to make an other , or so o●t to be breaking vp of the ground , that the séede hath no time to bring fruite . Againe , what beast or b●rd , but knowes his owne young ? and how many a man , that God know is , knoweth not his owne childe , but labours to maintaine the fru●te of an others pleasures ? What shall I say ? Tedious it were to runne through the courses of nature in all creatures : of which no doubt , there is not any , but for due causes of commendation excéedeth man in his corrupt nature .

Againe , what good●y flockes of shéepe , what heards of cattell , what flight of byrds , and what s●oules of fishes , are oftentimes to be séene , to liue kindly together : and man , oh wretched man , how fewe can agrée together , when one can scarce liue by an other : yea in the very time of death , when the shéepe findes it selfe infected , he ●trayeth from the flocke , and dies alone in some sollitarie place , as loath to infect his companie : if a byrd be either sicke or diseased , she pearcheth alone vpon some bough , or swigge , where alone she makes an end of her life , as loath to grieue her friends with her calamities : the fish no sooner is eyther sicke , or hurt , but hée runneth to the sh●re , where alone hée endeth his dayes , as loath to infect the water with his putrifaction . Man onely when he findes himselfe sicke or hurt , gets himselfe into the Citie or Towne of most company of people , there in his owne , or his Hostesse house , in the best Chamber , in the finest shéetes , and the most sumptuous bedde , and among a number of his best friends , how foule and infectio●s soeuer be his disease , not ashamed who sée him , nor caring who be hurt by him , giuing griefe to many , and leauing good to fewe , perhappes with roaring and crying , vomitting and purging , in all the ●●thinesse of corruption , dyes f●rre more beastly then any beast .

Consider then , since in so ma●● partes of imperfections , man is so worthy dispraise , and all creatures liuing in all due parts of commendations , doo so excéed him , I cannot in mine opinion , but conclude him to be the most dishonourable , and vncommendable of all creatures in the world .

Antonio , gramercie for thy too true , though semewhat too bitter , laying open the beastly nature of man , as too many are found in these dayes : but as I greatly like of thy consideration of their corruption , so would I heare what may be spoken of the contrary : for I am partly perswaded , that either some fri●nd hath deceiued thee , some enemie abused thee , or some creature like a woman , played false with thée , that thou hast so narrowly looked int● the notes of their euill nature . But let it bée as it is , thou hast spoken but a truth , for which let other , I will not blame thée , but rather heartily thanke thée . And now Meandro , shall I entreat you to deliuer your minde vpon this subiect ?

Father Antonio hath spoken so home to his purpose , that hée hath made me halfe afraide to make any reply , yet at your commaundement , I will shewe my weake iudgement . Touching the worthinesse of man , I finde him in many due considerations , the most worthy reuerence , honour , and commendation , of all creatures . And first , touching his first substance : the first substance whereof I finde man to be framed , was rather the ●reame of the earth , then the slime of the earth : for surely it had neuer else made such butter as could receiue the print of so excellent a forme as man : but when nature had bethought her selfe of some such exceeding substance , as that therein shée would be pleased aboue all other , shée then tooke rather the Creame then slime of the earth , whereon shee set the foure Elements , to shewe their vertues in that worke , which shée would name her best b●loued , and hauing framed that excellent forme of man , who both b● his outward and inward gifts , shée had-made most gracious of all creatures : what predomination did shée giue vnto him ouer them all ? yea euen vnto the Elements , who had their workings in his creation , to be now at his commaundement : hath he not the fire to warme and to heate with ? the water to ●óole , and wet with ? the ayre to breathe by , and to fill with ? and the earth to dwell , and to plant on .