LVcilius ( gentle Reader ) was woont to wish that his Writings might escape the sight and censure both of the Learnedst , & of the most vnlearned ; least the one seeing too much should discouer some defects , & the other vnderstanding nothing , or very little , condemne all . But as in euery other thing wishes doe but argue want , and yeeld no warrant for the accomplishing of mens desires : so in this especially , because the fortune of Bookes publisht resembleth that of Ships at sea , the one subiect to all sorts of Readers as the other to all kinds of Weather . By the sorts of Readers I meane not only as Lucilius did , who distinguisht them by learning , ignorance , and meane knowledge ; but there is yet a farther difference no lesse to be respected : for oft where Learning discouers faults , Courtesie dooth shadow them : but far more oft where no faults are , discourtesie ( I vse too gentle a tearme ) doth impute them : so mightily are the most mens minds infected with the bitter humour of Zoilisme , a thing not greatly to be merueild , sith that which is easiest is still most vsuall . It were folly in mee to wish with Lucilius for things impossible , and meere madnesse to hope for them . It shall suffise briefly to acquaint you with some thinges which being absolutely considered and the truth thereof vnknown , may seeme to yeeld large and iust occasion of reproofe : as first , the harshnesse of the phrase and rough conueiance of the stile , which if any doth dislike , as doubtlesse some will , I entreat them to remember ( for I can hardly thinke they know not ) that no translation is capable of Elegance as the originall , because the one hath full libertie of inuention , & the other is by necessity tied to obseruation : next I desire them to consider Aristotles maner of writing , the obscuritie , compacting and vnusuall composing of his stile , which if they weigh vprightly , they needs must graunt that though Tullies honourable Encomium which he doth generally giue it , calling it Aureum flumen orationis , be in respecte of the puritie thereof , and of the excellencie of the matter most true , yet that they cannot with any reason looke for a fluent and flourishing stile in the translation of such a subiect , either out of the originall or any other language whereinto it hath ben since translated . I wish them farther to consider that manie places of the Comment ( wherein are set downe whole discourses touching Astrologie , Cosmographie , and other deepe points of the mathematicall sciences , lightly touched by Aristotle ) are more obscure than the text it selfe . Touching the diuersitie that may be found in the translation , it is not to be meruelled at , sith some part of the booke was performed by another , before I vndertooke the rest . But I hope , that though wee differ in the manner , yet that we swarue not from the truth of the matter , howsoeuer the Compositors mistaking hath therein somewhat wronged vs , and the oft & thick enterlining of the copie , hastily written , deceiued him ; but the cheefest of those ouersights are noted in the end . As for the difference of the English in some places from the French , I answere , that when vpon any obscuritie I resorted to the Greek , and found the rendring therof in French not so significant as might be , I haue been bold to follow the originall , vnlesse it did so depend on the Comment , that I could not alter it . And touching the difference of it from the Latin , I hope none will accuse mee for not following that whereto I was not bound , and besides if they conferre the Latine with the French , and both with the Greeke , they shall ( I doubt not ) find that the French doth approch farre neerer to Aristotle . Lastly , touching the extraordinarie harshnesse that may in some places be found , I say thus much only , that the difficulty of the thing , wherin euen learned men themselues haue sometimes faild , with the small time and leisure which I had both to doe and reuiew it may suffise if not to excuse me , yet at least to purchase pardon . But sith my present hast allowes mee not sufficient time to touch euery particular , I will commit vnto your courtesies the further consideration both of this & whatsoeuer els may be obiected , humbly entreating you to measure my labour not by it selfe , for it is worthlesse , but by my good will and earnest desire to please , which is therefore the greater , because I feare that my former toies haue displeasd , which were they againe to pen and publish , should rather sleepe in silence , than I through them be accused of time mispent .

SIr , the bookes of Gouernment and Commonweale matters which I haue set foorth heretofore vnder your authoritie , doe now returne to your Maiestie reviewed and amended , for the good account you made of them , and for the pleasure you take sometimes in looking vpon them , and in causing them to be read vnto you . And soothly although your Highnesse being brought vp and exercised from your tender age in affairs of Peace and Warre , and other matters of state , can skill by experience of the chiefe things that are requisit to the gouernment of your realme , and doe ordinarily retaine men about you of your counsell , a great number of wise and skilfull personages : yet notwithstanding , the reading of Bookes that treat of Gouernment , may greatly delight you at times of recreation , when as you shall see in them many goodly and profitable aduertisements , concerning the gouernment of Princes . Many Kings and Emperours set their whole felicitie on warre , and in conquering new countries , but if they looke well hereinto , they shall find it better for a Prince to gouerne wisely , and to order their estate conueniently , than to inuade and conquer another Princes realme ; considering that the chiefe cause why he is set vp of God , and why God is so gracious to him , as to put innumerable persons in subiection to him , is that hee should holde them together in the knowledge and obseruation of the true Religion , rule them with good lawes , defende them by force of armes , and in all cases be so carefull of their welfare , as they may regarde him as their father and Sheapheard . It is not for him to applie himselfe alonly to the preparing of great and puissant Armies , to couer the Sea with Ships , Gallies , and other vessels furnished for the warres , to giue battell , to make conquests , to winne Citties , to subdue new Kingdomes , and to set vp his flags and banners of Armes in the vttermost bounds of the World : but to prouide for the welfare of his Subiects , to remedie their harmes , to relieue their wrongfull oppressions , to yeeld and shew himselfe meeld and gentle in hearing the requests and complaints of the inferiour sort , modest and vpright in answering them , readie to minister iustice to euery man , as well by appointing reward for vertue , as punishment for vice , and finally so to behaue himselfe as hee may be loued , feared , and praysed of all men . Most true it is Sir , that whereas at your comming to the Crowne , you found this your realme of Fraunce long forworne with the ciuile broils which were at that instant far greater than euer they had bene afore , and sore impouer●shed by the former calamities ; you could not then fully shew to your subiects the good dealing which you were desirous to shew towards them , because you were letted by the wickednesse of the time . But now that the troubles are layd asleepe by the peace which you haue accorded of desire to releeue your afflicted people ; all men looke for all manner of happinesse hereafter by means of your clemencie , and that God pittieng this realme , as one whereof hee hath shewed himselfe to haue a singular regard aboue all others , will by your means rid it from al former dangers , turning the miserable discord wherewith it hath bene infinitly disquieted , into sure concord ; and the horrible tempest of ciuile warre , into perpetuall calmenesse of Peace . Howbeit letting that matter alone , I returne to Aristotles matters of Gouernment , whereunto I hope to ad Platos also , at leastwise if I may haue oportunitie to doe it , and that my health wil giue me leaue : not only translating them both out of Greeke into French , but also moreouer enlightening them with expositions , that the worke may be the more delightfull to your Maiestie , and the easier to be vnderstood of others which shall looke into it vnder your protection . And forasmuch as the skil of the gouerning of Commonweals consisteth cheefly in the practise , I haue where neede requireth , alleaged diuers examples , both old and new , gathered out of the famousest states of the world , especially of the neerest v●to vs to our knowledge ; assaying to set downe the causes and reasons of their euents , according to the obseruations of the Philosophers , and other means deuised afterterward by long experience , & put in practise by the space of two thousand yeres or thereabouts : Surely it hath ●ene no small trauel to be the setter forth of so high and graue discourses in French , and especially to expresse the elegancie of the one , and the proprietie of the other . But I will neuer count it painfull to vndertake the thing that may benefit my Countrie , or which I thinke may please your Maiestie , to whome I dedicat and consecrat this whole worke of Gouernment , a matter of as great importance as euer any hath hetherto bene done in French ; whether it be in respect of the worthinesse of the master it selfe , which is the goodliest and profitablest that can be , or in respect of the excellencie of the authors thereof , who were of the skilfullest that euer liued among men . Sir , I beseech God long to preserue your Maiestie , and to giue you a happie reigne in good peace , both at home and abroad , to his honour and your contentment , to the welfare of France , and the benefit of al Christendom . At Paris in the month of Iuly , Anno. 1596.

WHo so vouchsafeth to consider the restitution of good learning which hath happened in this age , and the ornament which all Arts and Sciences haue recouered by the dilligence of diuers men of skill : shall haue cause to wonder to see , how almost the meanest sciences are set again in their perfection ; and the skill of gouernement , being the worthiest , the behoofullest , and the needfullest of all others , is left alone behind : without the which , men who naturally be companiable , cannot in any wise maintaine their companying and societie together . Grammer , Poetrie , Rhethorick and Logicke , haue beene handled by infinite persons , and inlightened with innumerable expositions , annotations , corrections , and translations . The mathematicall sciences were neuer better known , neither were Astrology and Cosmography euer better vnderstood . What is more to be wondered at at this day than to see the whole world discouered , whereof the most part hath continued so long vnknowne ? And to see the vttermost coasts of East & West , North and South , intercommune together , and men that are seperated with so many seas , and so farre distant one from another , to meet together by the meanes of sailing , made safer and easier by many new inuentions ? As for naturall Philosophy and Phisicke , I may well vphold that they were neuer in greater perfection among the ancient Greekes and Arabians , then they be at this time , wherein a great number of beasts , roots , hearbs , trees● gums , liquors , fruits , minerals and other simples haue ben brought to light , wherof men haue made many wholesome remedies that were not put in practise aforetimes . Who knoweth not the chaunge that is befallen in the Art of Chiualrie , as well by Sea as by Land , and that the manner both of besieging and of defending Fortresses , is farre differing from that which hath beene of old time ? Yet notwithstanding the Cannons , Harquebushes , Pistolets , and other Artillerie of fireworke beeing brought to such perfection as they bee , are no impediment , but that there bee as braue Souldiours and valiant captaines as euer there were . Building , painting , and musicke are set againe welneere in their first state : and men haue taken so great paines in eloquence of pleading , and knowledge of Law , that it is not possible to attaine to more . But as for gouernment , which deserued to bee more laboured in than they all , as which comprehendeth and ruleth them all , it hath beene let alone , without receiuing any light of learning vnto this day . The cause hereof in mine opinion is , that the men of skill which could haue beautified it with their writings , haue vtterly forborne the dealing with matters of State , to giue themselues wholly to the searching out of the truth , setting their soueraigne felicity in contemplation : and that those which haue ben called to publicke charge and offices , haue commonly had no great skill , or if they haue had any , they haue wanted leisure to write . Insomuch , that by the forbearing of the learned to practise , and by the forbearing of the practisers to studie , this science ( which is vnperfect without skill and experience ioined together ) hath come behind hand as I said afore .

As for my selfe , although I be not of anie excellent skill , nor of anie great experience : yet notwithstanding , foras●uch as I haue spent my whole life in studie to the least disauantage that I possiblie could , and long time frequented the courts of great Princes , abiding ordinarily about such persons as haue had the charge and managing of matters of State , to the intent , to match my meane knowledge of learning with some experience of practise : I haue applied my mind chiefly to this science , attempting to further it to the vttermost of my power . Therfore hauing determined to treat thereof , I thought it not to be from the matter , to shew first of all the dignitie , profite , and antiquity thereof . Secondly , I will speake of the Law-makers that haue put it in practise , and finally , of the Authors that haue written therof ; specially of Plato & Aristotle , repeating breefly the substance of their Common-weales , the which I will compare togither , to shew the fruit that may be reaped by matching thē together . The which matters being high , weighty , very profitable , & hitherto not treated of in French , I wil lay forth as easily , briefly , & fitly as I possibly can : praying the readers of thē to giue themselues attentiuely to the vnderstanding of so goodly & profitable a matter .

First of all therfore to come to the worthinesse & profitablenesse of gouernment , it is the science which teacheth how to gouern mankind aright , according to the nature of ech country and people , & according to the diuersity of the times : how states are to be founded , maintained and reformed when need requireth : how Common-weales , Kingdomes & Empires are to be ordered to the benefit of the subiects , and to the honor of the Magistrates . It is the science which hath the vnderstanding of all affaires , directing all men what to do or leaue vndone , which ouerlooketh all estates , beholding the meanes of their changes , ruines and preseruations : which maintaineth all other arts and trades , as well the Liberall Sciences as handicrafts , setting downe whether they bee to bee receiued or no ; commanding euen the most honourable of them , as the professions of chiualrie , of Oratorie , of Iustice , and of housekeeping ; and in at one end ( which is the soueraine welfare of man ) comprehending the ends of all the others . That is it which hath first shewed vnto vs the forme of Law both naturall and ciuill , humane and diuine , priuate and publicke , written and vnwritten ; which hath inuited vs to liue friendly togither for the remedy of common wants : which hath taught vs both the beginning and the end of humane societie , and that there was an vniuersall and euerlasting Law printed in mens hearts , and sowen in their brests long time afore there was any ordinances written , or any citie founded ; upon the which Lawe all other particular , locall , and temporall Lawes ought to be grounded , and by the same also ruled , moderated & expounded . It hath deriued equitie from nature , to the intent to applie it to all cases that happen from day to day , and hath made vs truly to vnderstand , that Law & Iustice consist not in opinion , but are naturally graffed in humane creatures . By this Science we know the dutie of Princes towards their Subiects , of Magistrates towards their Princes , and also towards priuate persons : What Offices are most necessarie and most honourable : what obedience honor and reuerence the inferiours owe to their superiors : how men ought to behaue themselues in buying , in selling , in exchanging , in prizing , in giuing , in receiuing , in promising , in bargaining , and in pleading . In great disorder should wee be , if it had not knit vs together by marriages , kinreds , alliances , and households , deuided inheritances , stablished successions , and ordained seates of Iustice . For otherwise we could not haue knowne our own from other mens , or kinsman from a stranger , or the seruant from the maister . To bee short , without this science it were not possible to liue either publickly or priuatly , nor in anie wise to deale wel with men or mens matters . For by the honouring and rewarding of vertue , by the discommending and punishing of vice , and by the reducing of all our doings to an vprightnesse , it hath procured vs a meane to liue happily in quietnesse and concord with contentation . And it is the more perfect , in that it procureth the welfare , not of some particular persons or companies onely , as other trades doe , but also vniuersally of all mankind , and of the whole world , which according to the opinion of the Stoikes , is the true Citie , and as you would say , the Common-weale of all men liuing .

Thus haue you heard the excellencie and profitablenesse of Gouernement : consider ye now the antiquitie thereof , and by the same meanes consider also the law-giuers , which did first put it in practise , and afterward the Authors that haue written thereof . Aristotle ( who thought the world to be eternall ) doth in the seuenth booke of his Common-weale , deeme this science to haue ben inuented long ago , and also manie or rather infinit times since to haue beene forgone and lost . Plato in his third and sixth bookes of lawes , affirmeth that it began when townes and ordinances of townes first began , at such time as men were multiplied vpon the earth . And he supposeth , that in vnaccountable and almost infinite length of time , innumerable cities haue been builded and also destroied , and become one while of smal , great ; and another while of great , small ; one while euil of good , and another while good of euill : which chaunge hath befallen not onely in Cities and Townes , but also in Nations and Countries , yea and euen in mighty kingdomes and Empires , founded at the beginning with great prowesse of the first lords of them , & afterward marred by the lazinesse of their successors , or else diminished by little and little through the long continuance of time which maketh an end of all thinges . Plato in his Timeus and in his Common-weale , Aristotle in his Meteores , and Seneca in his Naturall Questions , thinke it to haue come to passe through the fatall Law of the World , as wel by the mouing of the first Heauen , whereupon all other mouings and the whole course of nature dependeth , as by the meetings and goings asunder of the plannets , to whom the Elements and all things compounded of the elements , are obedient . And peremptorily they father the destructions vpon them : imputing the most generall sort of them vnto excessiue waterfloods and burnings by fire , and the lesser sort to warres , plagues , famines , and earthquakes , of purpose to clense countries from wicked inhabitants , when the naughtinesse of them is growne vp to the highest pitch . After which riddances , the men that come vp next , were verie simple and ignorant . Then some one or two being found among them to be of greater wit then the rest , did purchase great reputation by teaching thē good behauior with some shew of Religion , as Mercury and Sesostris did in old time in AEgipt , Saturne in Italy , & Orpheus and Amphion in Greece . On the other side , need taught them by little and little thinges necessarie , after the which followed the things that serue for honor and pompe , vntill at length , the former superfluitie succeeded againe . Those excellent personages staied vpon the hauing of such interchangeable intercourse of Arts , states , and other inferior things : With whom the most renowmed Astrologers agree ; insomuch , that they will needs determine not onely the liues and fortunes of men , but also the prosperities and aduersities of cities and Nations , as Ptolomie hath done in his Quadripartite according to the ancient Chaldees and AEgyptians , and after him the Arabians and also some Christians : adding thereunto the continuance of sects , as did Peter Ally a diuine of Paris and Cardinall of Cambray , in his concordance of Diuinitie and Astrologie : against whom did set themselues Iohn Earle of Mirandula in his fift booke against Astrologers , and Viues in his second booke of Christian truth . But to returne againe to our matter . If we looke throughly into all antiquity , whereof anie remembrance remaineth vnto vs , wee shall finde , that the people which inhabited in old time the Countrie where wee dwell now , were as rude and vnciuill three thousand yeares agoe , as are Sauages that haue lately beene discouered by the Spaniards and Portingales towards the West and South parts of the world . They dwelt scattered here and there in caues of mountaines , and in Forrests vnder Cabines , without law , without Iustice , without Counsell , without Magistrate , without Religion , and without any forme of marriage . Afterward being increased by little and little , they communicated one with another , and began to draw into companies , wherevpon insued Hamlets , Villages , Townes , and finally Cities ; the good men being not onely induced to such meeting for friendships sake , but also inforced by the necessities and aduersities that pinched them , which draue them to helpe one another . At the beginning they liued together in a certaine naturall simplicity , as yet vncorrupted by ambition or couetousnesse , and vnmarred of false opinions . Euery companie obeied the eldest among them , vsing his will for their Law , and demeaning themselues simplie according to vse and custome . Afterward , as leaudnesse did increase , it stood them on hand to make lawes , and for the obeying of them to create Magistrates with authoritie , that they might represse the ouer-lustinesse and malapartnesse of the wicked . For although man be naturally Ciuill , and more companiable than any other mortall wight , and to that purpose is indued with reason and speech , that he might communicate with others : yet notwithstanding forasmuch as he is subiect to passions which oftentimes doe trouble him , and to leaud lusts which incessantly restraine him from the good , it was needfull to set him downe some commaundements , whereby to bridle such affections , and to set them again in the right way of Iustice . Whereunto some excellent personages hauing the skill of gouernement haue strained themselues to prouide a remedie by appointing trades of liuing and lawes to folke in diuers countries at diuers times ; and for that cause they were called Law-makers . And these haue alwaies furthered that inuention of theirs vpon God , the first cause and originall fountaine of all goodnesse : as who would say , it is not possible to restraine ignorant & froward folke , without Religion and the feare of God , which is the foundation , stablishment , and maintenance of all Commonweales . The famousest Law-giuer that we know of , was Moyses the Prophet of God , who by Gods commandement gaue the Law to the Hebrues at their departure out of AEgypt . There haue beene other Law-giuers in other places , who likewise haue fathered their Lawes vpon God vnder diuers names , according to the diuers opinions of the Countries where they were : As for example , Zoroastres the Law-maker of the Bactrians and Persians , fathered his Lawes vpon Oromases : Trismegist the Law-giuer of the AEgyptians vpon Mercurie : Zamolxis the Law-giuer of the Scythians vpon Vesi : Charondas the Chalcidian vpon Saturne : Minos the Candian vpon Iupiter : Lycurgus the Lacedemonian vpon Apollo : Draco and Solon the Law-giuers of Athens vpon Minerua : And Numa the Law-giuer of the Romanes vpon Egeria : all of them mingling their temporall gouernement with Religion , which in old time was accounted the onely wisedome ; and none other were taken for wise , but such as deliuered foorth Religion , and interpreted it vnto men . A good while after the decease of Numa , because his lawes and the Lawes of other men , as well afore him as after him , were found vnperfect ; ten men were appointed in Rome with absolute authoritie for the time , to ouerlooke them and amend them , and to adde vnto them such other Lawes as they knewe to bee needfull for the gouernement of their State . And to that end they sent to Athens , Lacedemon , and other places , where they heard there was any good State of good gouernment : From which places they tooke manie constitutions which they mingled with their owne , and brought them all into twelue Tables , wherein they comprised the whole bodie of the Romane Lawe , and the whole order of ciuill gouernment . Cicero in his first Booke of his Orator , affirmeth that they farre passed all the bookes of the Philosophers both in authority and profite . And Titus Liuius in his third Booke of the first Decade , complaining of the excessiue multitude of the Lawes that were in Rome in his time , writeth that the Fountaine of all Iustice both publicke and priuate , was contained in the twelue Tables .

After the making , publishing , and receiuing of those Lawes , there came vp Lawiers , who vnderstanding the lawes and customes that were vsed particulerly in the citie , and the formes of pleading , gaue counsell in euery seuerall matter , and shewed men how they should bring their actions , as well in criminall cases , as in matters of trespasse . They shewed the order of commencing their actions , of taking exceptions , of seeking delaies , of giuing warnings , and taking defaults , of making inquisitions and informations , of pronouncing sentences , of putting in and drawing backe of Appeales , and of giuing definitiue iudgement : wherethrough their authoritie grew so great , specially at Roome , that no Testament or last Will , no Stipulation or Suretiship , no Obligation or bond , no couenant , no composition , no bargaine , no contract of Marriage , nor any other matter of importance passed without their priuitie . And men resorted vnto them , not onely in cases concerning the ciuill Law , but also for all their other affaires and dealings . They were of counsell with the Emperours , with the Senatours , with the assemblies of the people , and with the cases of their freindes : They were called to counsell both in peace and warre . By reason whereof , they were called men of skill , and their profession was called the skill of Law ; because that that profession could not be demeaned without verie great skill and discretion ; nor without much seeing , hearing , reading , and vnderstanding , nor without the knowing of things done in old time , nor without the knowledge of the common disposition of mankind , and the nature of right and equitie , nor without marking the manners and customes of diuers Nations , specially of their owne . These Lawyers had their cheefe scope and sway in Italie , and wrote infinite Bookes concerning that matter ; as Seuerus , Sulpicius , Scaeuola , Papinian , Vlpian , Modestine and others . Their verie Office was to expound the true meaning of the Pretorian proclamation , of the constitution of the Senate , of the decrees of the people , of the ordinances of Princes , and of all other Lawes : to shew the reason of euery of them , to informe men which of them were to bee kept , or renued , or abrogated , according to place , time , person , and other circumstances , after the same maner that the Thesmothets did in Athens . The Historiographers wrote the warres , and registred the other publicke doings , as Herodotus , Thucidides , Polybius , Salust , Titus Liuius , Tacitus , and innumerable others did in all Languages . Some Orators gouerned States , and were assistants in consultaions of publicke affaires , whereof they wrote Orations , as did Demosthenes and Cicero .

Other some being more giuen to contemplation , applied not themselues so much to dealing with the people and with the Citie matters , as the former sort did , who commonly meddled in all things : But forasmuch as they were indued with great wit , and had attained to great skill , by meane of the great rest and leisure which they had , they sought out the truth of all things concerning God and man . And as touching Common-weales , they conferred them one with another , and by so doing , endeuored to yeeld causes and reasons of their continuances and decaies , and to shewe by what meanes euery of them was stablished , why some were better gouerned and some worse ; which was the best Common-weale , who was the perfect Common-wealeman , and who is the true Prince and Magistrate . Such were Plato , Aristotle , Heraclides of Pont , Theophrastus , Dicaerchus , and Plutarke .

The first professors of Philosophie , wondering at the heauens and the Starres , and at their reuolutions and effects ; and beholding the earth , the waters fresh and salt , the aire variable , the burning fire , and all thinges as well simple as compounded contained within the compasse of the whole world , in multitude innumerable , and in beautie wonderfull : bent their wits to the finding out of their properties , agreeings , and disagreeings , to know whereof they were made or engendred , how long they continued , where they became , when and how they perished , and what in them was mortall and corruptible , and what diuine and euerlasting . They marked the moouings of the Starres , their meetings , their oppositions , their distances , their appearings , their hidings of themselues , their greatnesse , their swiftnesse , their flownesse , their colours , and the maruellous accidents both generall and particular which they cause , according to the answereablenesse of the parts of Heauen and Earth one to another , the disposition of the matter which they meet withall , and the diuersities of the seasons wherein they reigne and worke . The Bramines and Gymnosophists in India , the Magies in Persia , the D●uids in Gallond and in great Brittaigne , and the wise men among the AEthiopians , Chaldeans , and AEgyptians followed all that manner of Philosophie . Afterward the Greekes , as Pythagoras , Thales , Democritus , Heraclitus , Empedocles , Parmenides , Melissus , Xenophanes , Eudoxus , and Anaxagoras , imployed their wits about the searching out of the secrets of the world . Neuerthelesse , forasmuch as they thought it odious both to God and nature , to blaze abroad those things differently to all men , for feare least the making of them too common , might cause them to bee despised of the rascall sort , some of them did darken them expressely , with numbers and figures of Geometrie : and other some wrapped them vp in couerts of fables , and set them downe in measured verses , to the intent , to make their workes the more durable through the delightfulnesse of the fables and the sweetnesse of the verse . Plato changet●●his fabling into making of Dialogues , retaining still the vsing of fables also in manie places . Aristotle left both versifying and fabling , and chose rather to write in whole continued Oration , than in dialogue wise , at leastwise for ought of his that is come vnto vs to this day . But as touching naturall Philosophy and Astrologie , Socrates maketh very small reckoning of them , but giueth himselfe chiefly to reasoning of manners , of vertue , of vice , and altogether of good and euill . He was the first of all the Greek Philosophers , that drew Philosophy from gazing vpon the Heauens and vpon Nature , to applie it to the gouernment of Housesholds and Common-weales , as Xenophon reporteth , who in the first Booke of his Commentaries , writeth thus of him .

Socrates ( saieth hee ) spake not of the matter or stuffe of all thinges , ass manie Philosophers doe , neither occupied he his wits in considering how the world was created , and by what necessitie the Heauenly thinges are made : but shewed , that such as gaue themselues to such kind of gazing or contemplation , were fooles . First hee demanded of them whether they thought themselues so sufficiently skilfull in humane thinges alreadie , as to proceed from them to the speculation of the other : if not , then whether they thought themselues to doe well , in leauing humane matters to gaze vpon the heauens . He wondered that they perceiued it not to bee vnpossible for them to attaine to the knowledge of those things , considering how those which seeme most skilfull in them , agree not among themselues , but behaue themselues like mad men one towards another . For as of fooles , some feare not the thinges that are to bee feared , and some are afraid where no cause is , some are not ashamed to doe and say openly whatsoeuer commeth in their head , and other some dare not disclose themselues in companie , some yeeld no reuerence at all neither to Temple nor to Altar , nor to any deuine thing , and other some worship both blockes and stones and brute beastes : so among them which busie themselues about the searching out of the nature of all things , some think there is but onely one Beeing or Beeer , and some thinke there are infinite multitudes of thē without number . Some thinke that all things are moued , & some that nothing is moued : some that all things are created and doe perish , and other some that nothing was created , nor anie thing dooth perish . He demanded of them yet further after this manner ; namely , whether that as they that haue the knowledge of thinges belonging to men , can skill to doe them themselues , and to teach them vnto others ; so whether the searchers of the heauenly things do think , that by their knowing by what necessitie ech thing is ordained , can when they list make the wind to blow , and the shoures to raine , or alter the seasonablenesse of the yeare when need is : or whether they had no such hope , but rested within their only bare knowledge how euery thing was made . After that manner spake he to such as did set their minds vpon such curiosities . Vnto other men hee disputed ordinarily of things pertaining to man , discussing what was godlinesse , and what was vngodlinesse ; what was honest , and what vnhonest ; what was right and what wrong ; what wisdome , and what folly ; what manlinesse , and what cowardlinesse ; what was a Common-weale , and who is a Common-weale man ; what it is to raigne , and what manner of one he ought to be that should command . Manie other things also did he discourse , wherof the knowledge might ( in his iudgement ) make men good and honest : esteeming them worthie the name of slaues , which were ignorant of them . And in the fourth booke of the same his Commentaries , Xenophon saith of him againe : He deemed those men to haue a good vnderstanding , which soone conceiued of the thing which they studied , & bare well away the things which they learned , and were desirous of those Sciences which teach vs how to liue wel in a house and in a Common-weale , and generally to vse all men and all things as becommeth vs. For he was of opinion , that if those persons were well instructed , they would not only be happie men in their priuate behauior , and in the wel ordering of their own houses , but also make the whole cities and Common-weales happy where they dwell . Notwithstanding , Aulus Gellius witnesseth , that euen vnto his daies the men of Athens had opinion , that Xenophon ( of hatred to Plato ) wrote the aforesaid words purposely against Plato , because that in his books he brought in Socrates , discoursing of Naturall Philosophy , Geometry , and Musick . But in very deed Plato himselfe maketh him to speak well nigh the like things in his Phedon . When I was yoong ( saith Socrates ) I had a maruellous desire to learne the Science which is called the Historie of Nature : For I thought it to be a verie excellent thing to vnderstand the causes why all things are done , wherfore they perish , and by what means they be maintained . Oftentimes tossed I my selfe vp and downe in considering such doings from the beginning : as for example , to know whether that after heat & cold haue receiued some putrifaction , thereupon ( as some haue said ) liuing creatures are ingendred and sustained . And againe , whether the cause of wisedome in vs bee blood , or aire , or fire , or none of them all : but rather that our hearing , seeing , and smelling do come of the braine : of the which sences spring memorie and opinion , and likewise of memorie and opinion taking their rest , do spring vp skill by the same means . Againe in considering the corrupting of those things , and the inconueniences that happen in the skies and earth , I was vtterly grauelled in the end , because I was faine still to vnlearne the same things , which I thought I had learned afore . Also Plutarke writeth of him in Solons life , that hee loued chieflie that part of morall Philosophy which treateth of the gouernment of Common-weales , as the most part of the wise men of that time did , who sought to haue no further insight than of the thinges that are in common vse among men , wherethrough they purchased the renowme of wisedome , by being well seene alonely in matters of state and gouernement .