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| ☞ [. . .] ☜
¶ THE BOKE .•. NAMED THE GOVERNOVR deuiſed by ſir Tho- mas Elyot, Knight. {ornament}
¶ Imprinted at London , by Thomas East. 1580. {ornament}
☞ [. . .] ☜ ¶ The Proheme of Syr Thomas Elyot knighte , vnto the moſt noble and victorious Prince , kyng Henry the eight, by the grace of God, king of England . France and Ireland,de= fender of the faith . and in earth of the Chirch of England ando alſo of Irelande ſupreme head. I Late conſideringe moſte excellent prince,and mine onely redoubted ſouereign Lorde,my duetye,that I owe to my natural coun= treye , with my faith alſo of Allegeaunce and Oth, wher-with I am double bound vnto your Maieſtie. More-ouer the accoumpt that I haue to render for that one little talent de= lyuered to me, to employ ( as I suppose) to the increaſe of vertue, I am as ( God iudge me) violently ſtirred to diuulgat or ſet forth ſome parte of my ſtudie,truſting there-by to acquite me of my duties to God, your high= nes. & this my country . Wherfore taking comfort and boldneſſe, partly of your graces moſt beneuolent inclination toward the vni= uerſall weale of your ſubiectes , partely in= flamed with zeale , I haue now enterpriſed The Proheme. to deſcribe in our vulgar tongue,the form of a iuste publike weale,which matter I haue gathered, as wel of the ſayinges of moſt no= ble authors ( Grekes & Latines) as by mine owne experience : I beyng continually trai= ned in ſome daylye affayres of the publike weale of this your moſt noble realm, almoſte from my childhod.Which attemptate is not of prſsumption to teach any perſon, I my ſelf hauing moſt nede of teaching: But only to the intent that menne , which will be ſtu= dious about the weale publike , may finde the thing there to expedient,compendiouſlye written. And for as much, as this preſente booke treateth of the education of them, that here after may be deemed worthy to be go= uernours of the publike weale vnder your highneſſe , ( which Plato affirmeth to bee the firſt and chiefe parte of a publike weale: Salomon ſaying alſo , where gouernours be not , the people ſhall fal into ruine. ) I therfore haue named it the Gouernour, and doe nowe dedicate it vnto your highneſſe, as the firſt fruites of my study : verily tru= sting that your moſte excellent wiſdome will there-in eſteeme my loyall hart & diligent en= deuour,by the example of Artaxerxes,the no ble king of Persia,who reiected nat the poore husbandman,which offred to him his hom= lye hands full of cleane water,but moſt gra= ciously receyued it with thankes, esteeming the preſente not after the value , but rather The Proheme. the will of the giuer . Semblably King A– lexander reteyned with him the Poete Che- rilus honourably, for writing his Hiſtorye, although that the Poet was but of a smal e= ſtimation,which that prince did not for lacke of iudgement he being of excellent lerning as diſciple to Aristotle ,but to the intent that his liberalytie employed on Cherilus, ſhould animate or giue courage to others much bet= ter learned,to contend with him in a ſembla= ble enterpriſe.And if moſt vertuous prince. I may perceive your highness to be here= with pleaſed, I ſhall ſoone after ( God giuing me quyetneſſe ) preſent your grace,with the reſidue of my ſtudye and labours, where-in your highnes ſhall well perceiue.that I no= thing eſteeme ſo muche in this world,as your royall eſtate( my moſt deere ſouereigne lord. and the publyke weale of my country ) pro= teſting vnto your excellent Maiestie , that wher I commend herein any one vertue,or diſprayſe any one vyce, I meane the gene= rall diſcription of the one and the other,with out any other particular mening to the re= proche of any one perſonne : to the whiche proteſtation, I am now dryuen through the malygnitie of this preſent time, all diſpoſed to malycious detraction. Wherfore I moste humbly beſeech your highnes,to dayne to be patrone and defendour of this lyttle worke, agaynste the aſſaultes of malygne enterpre= tours : whiche fayle not to rente and deface The Table of the renoume of writers,they themſelues be= inge in nothing to the publike weale profita= ble : which is by no man ſooner perceyued, than by your highnes, beeing both in wiſe= dome,and very nobilitie equall to the moſt excellent princes, whom I beſeche God ye maye ſurmount in longe lyfe and perfect fely= citie. Amen.
The ſecond Booke. The true deſcription of amitie or friendeſhip. Cap. 11.
I haue already treated of Beneuolence,and Beneficence generally. But foraſmuch as friendship,called in Latin, Amicitia, compre= hendeth both thoſe vertues more ſpecially, 𝕰 in an higher degree,and is now ſo infrequēt or ſtraunge amonge mortall mē by the tyran= ny of couetouſneſſe or ambition, which haue long reigned,and yet doe , that amitie maye now vnneth be knowen,or founde through oute the world,by them that ſeeke for hir as diligently as a mayden wold ſeeke for a ſmal ſiluer pinne,in a great chamber ſtrawed with white rushes. I wil therfore borow ſo much of the gentle reader,though he be nigh wery of this long matter,baraine of eloquence and pleaſant ſē= tence,and declare ſome-what by the way of verye 𝕰 true friēdſhip: which perchance may be an allectiue to good men to ſeeke for their ſemblable, on whome they maye practiſe A= mitie. For as Tully ſaithe, Nothing is The Gouernour. more to be loued, or to bee ioyned togyther, than ſimilytude of good maners or vertues: wher in be the ſame or ſemblable ſtudies,the ſame willes or deſires : in them it hapneth, that one in an other as much delyteth as in himselfe. But now lette vsinsearche, what frendship or amitie is. Aristotle saith: Frendeshyp is a vertue, or ioyneth with vertue. Which is affirmed by Tully , ſaying: Frendeshyppe can not be with= out vertue, neither but in good men onely. Who be good men, he after declareth, to bee those persons, which ſo do beare thē selues, and in ſuche wise doe lyue,that their faythe, ſuretie,equalitie and lyberalitie bee suffice= ently proued. Neither that there is in them any couetouſneſſe , wilfulneſſe or foole-har= dineſſe,and that in them is gerat ſtabilitie or conſtance,them ſuppoſe I ,as they be taken, to be called good men,which doe followe, as much as men may , Nature the chiefe cap= taine or guyde of mans life. More-ouer,the same Tully defineth friendship in this man= er,ſayinge. It is none other thinge, but a per= fect conſent of al thinges appertaining as wel to god as to man,with Beneuolence and Charitie. And that he knoweth nothing gi= uen of God,except ſapience to man more cō= modious. Which definition is excellent and very true. For in God and all thing that cō= meth of God, nothing is of more greater e= ſtimation,than Loue,called in Latin, Amor, The ſecond Booke. whereof Amicitia commeth, named in En= glyshe Friendshippe or amitie:the which ta= ken awaye frome the life of man , no house shall abide ſtandyng,no fielde ſhall be in cul= ture.And that is lyghtly perceyued, if a man doe remember what commeth of diſſention & discorde:fynally he ſeemeth to take the Sun from the worlde that taketh friendship from mans lfe. Since friendship can not be bee in good men, ne may not be without vertue,we may bee aſſured,that thereof none euill may pro= ceede,or therwith any euill thing may par= ticipate.Wherfore in as much as it maye bee but in a fewe perſones,( good men beinge in a ſmall number. )And alſo it is rare and ſel= dome,as all vertues bee communely, I wyll declare,after the opinyon of Phyloſophers, and partely by commune experience, who a= monge good men bee of nature moſte apt to friendſhip. Betweene all men that be good,cannot al= way bee Amytie: but it alſo requireth,that they be of ſemblable or muche like manners or ſtudy,and ſpecyally of manners. For gra- uitie and affabilitie, bee euerye of them lau= dable qualities. So bee Seueritie and Pla= cabilitie . Also Magnificence and liberalite be noble vertues:And yet Frugalitie which is a ſobreneſſe or moderation in liuinge , is and that for good cauſe of all wyse men ex= tolled : yet where theſe vertues and qualy= The Gouernour. ties be ſeperately in ſundry perſonnes aſſem= ebled,may wellebee perfect concord,but frend= ſhip is there ſeldome or neuer.For yt whiche the one for a vertue imbraceth , the other con= temneth,or at the leaſt neglecteth. Where= fore it ſeemeth,that it,wherein the one dely= teth, is repougnaant to the others Nature: And where is any repougnauncye , may bee none Amitie , ſince friendſhippe is an entire conſent of wylles and deſyres . Therfore it is ſeldome ſeene,that frendeship is between these perſones: A man ſturdy, of opynyon inflexible,and of ſowre countenance & ſpech: with him that is tractable , and with rea= ſon perſwaded , and of ſweete couuntenaunce and entertaynement. Alſo betweene hym, whiche is eleuate in authoritie, and an other of a verye baſe estate or degree : yea and if they bee bothe in an equall dygnitie, if they be deſyrous to clymbe , as they doe ascende, ſo friendſhyppe for the more parte decayeth. For as Tully ſaythe in his firſt booke of Of= fices : What thyng ſo euer it be,in the which many cannot excelle, or haue therein ſuperio= ritie, there in oftentimes is ſuche a conten= tion, that it is a thinge of all other moſt dif= ficile, to kepe among them good or virtuous company: that is as muche to ſay, as to re= tayne among them frendſhippe and Amitie. And it is oftētimes ſene,that dyuers,which before they came in authoritie, were of good and vertuous condicions,being in their pro= The ſecond Booke. ſperitie were vtterly chaunged, and deſpising their olde friendes,ſet all their ſtudy and ple= ſure on their newe acquaintaunce . Wherein men ſhall perceiue to be a wonderfull blind= nes or ( as I might ſay ) a madneſſe, if they note diligentely all that I ſhall here-after writ of friendſhip . But nowe to reſorte to ſpeake of them,in whom frienſhip is moſt frequent and they alſo ther-to be moſt aptely diſpoſed. Undoubtedly it be ſpecially they,which be wyse,and of nature enclyned to Beneficence, Liberalitie,and Conſtancye . For by wiſe= dome is marked and ſubſtancially decerned the words,actes, and demeanure of all men, betweene whome happeneth to be any enter= courſe or familiaritie , whereby is engendred a fauour or diſpoſition of loue . Beneficence, that is to say , mutually putting to their stu= dye and helpe in neceſſary affayres , induceth loue. They that be lyberall,doe with-holde or hide nothynge from them, whome they loue,wherby loue encreaſeth. And in them that be conſtant is neuer miſtruſt or ſuſpi= tion , nor any ſurmiſe or euill reporte can wythdrawe them from their affection. And hereby friendshippe is made perpetuall and stable . But if ſymilitude of ſtudye or lear= ninge bee ioyned vnto the ſaide vertues, friendshyp muche rather happeneth,and the mutuall enteruewe and conuerſation is much more pleaſaunt , ſpecially if the ſtudies haue in them any delectable affection or motion: The Gouernour. For where they be to ſerious,or full of con= tention friendſhippe is oftentimes aſſaulted, whereby it is often in perill . Where the ſtudy is elegant , and the matter illecebrous, that is to ſay, ſwete to the reder: the courſe wher of is rather gentill perſwaſiō and quicke reasonings, than ouer ſubtyll argumente or litigious controuerſies : there alſo it happe= neth,that the ſtudents doe delite one in a no= ther , and be without enuy or malicious con= tention. Nowe let vs try out, what is that friend= ſhyp,that we ſuppoſe to be in good men, Ue= rily it is a bleſſed and ſtable cōnection of sun= dry wylles,makynge of two perſons one , in hauyng and ſuffryng.And therefore a friende is proprely named of Philoſophers , the o= ther I. For that in theym is but one mynde and one poſſeſſion:and that,whiche more is, a man more reioyceth at his friends good for tune, than at his owne. Horeſtes and Pylades being wonderfull like in all features,were taken together,and preſented vnto a Tyranne , who deadly ha= ted Horeſtes . But whan hee behelde them bothe,and woulde haue ſlayne Horeſtes one= ly,hee coulde not decerne the one from the o= ther: And alſo Pylades to delyuer his frind, affirmed that hee was Oreſtes: on the other parte Oreſtes,to ſaue Pylades, denyed , and ſaide,that hee was Oreſtes ( as the trouthe was. ) Thus a long tyme they together con= The ſecond Booke. tendinge the one to dye for the other ,at the laſt ſo relented the fierce and cruell hearte of the tyran,that woundering at their meruay= lous friendſhyp,he ſuffered them freely to de= parte,without doing to them any damage. Pitheas and Damon, two Pythagoryens, that is to saye, Studentes of Pythagoras learninge, being ioyned together in a perfecte friendſhyp: for that one of them was accuſed to haue coonſpired agaynſt Dioniſe Kinge of Sicile,they were bothe takeen and brought to the king, who immediatly gaue ſentence, that he that was accuſed, ſhoulde bee put to deathe. But he deſired the king, that ere hee dyed, hee moughte retourne home,to ſet his houſeholde in order , and to dyſtrybute hys goodes. Whereat the kinge laughynge, de= maunded of him ſkornefully , what pledge he wold leaue him,to come again.At the which wordes,his companion ſtept forth and ſaide, that he woulde remaine there as a pledge for his friend,that in caſe he came not againe,at the day to him appointed,he wyllinglye would lose his heade. Whyche condytion the tyranne receiued.The younge man,that ſhould haue dyed, was ſuffered to departe home to hys houſe,where he dyd ſet all thinge in order,and diſpoſed his goodes wiſely. The day appoint= ted for his retourne was commen , the tyme muche paſſed. Wherfore the kyng called for hym that was pledge. Who came forth me= rily,without ſemblaunte of drede , offryng to The Gouernour. abyde the ſentence of the tyranne and wyth= out grudgynge,to dye for the ſauinge the lyfe of his friende . But as the officer of iuſtice hadde cloſed his eyen with a kerchiefe, and had drawen his ſwerde , to haue ſtryken off his hede,his felowe came running & crying, that the daye of hys appointment was not yet paſte: Wherfore he desyred the miniſter of iustice to loſe his fellowe, and to prepare to doe execution on hym , that hadde giuen the occaſion. Wher eat the tyranne being al abaſhed,commaunded bothe to bee broughte to his preſence , and whan hee had ynough wondred at their noble heartes,and theyr cō= ſtance in very friendſhyp,he offeryng to them great rewardes, deſired them to receiue him into their company,and ſo doing them much honour,did set them at lybertie. Undoubtedly that frendſhyp,which doth depend either on profit, or els on pleſure, if the habilitie of the perſon, whyche mought bee profitable,doe faile or diminiſhe,or the disposition of the perſon, whiche shulde be pleasant,doe change or appayre,the feruentneſſe of loue ceſſeth , and than is there no friend= ſhyp. The ſecond Booke. ℂ The wonderfull hiſtory of Titus and Gi- ſippus,and whereby is fully declared the figure of perfect amitie. Cap.12.
B ut now in the middes of my labour as it were to pauſe and take breth, and alſo to recreate the readers,which fatigate with lōg precepts,deſire varietie of matter , or ſome new pleaſant fable of hiſtorie. I will reherſe a right goodly example of friendſhip,whiche example ſtudiouſly red, ſhall miniſter to the readers ſinguler pleaſure,and alſo incredible comfort to practiſe amitie. There was in the citie of Rome a noble ſenator, named Fuluius , who ſent his ſonne called Titus,beinge a chylde,to the Citie of Athens in Greece ( which was the fountayne of al manner of doctrine )ther to learne good letters: and cauſed him to bee hoſted wyth a worſhipfull man of that citie, called Chre- mes. This Chremes happened to have alſo a ſonne named Giſippus,who not onely was equall to the ſaid young Titus in years, but alſo in ſtature,proportiō of body,fauour,and colour of viſage, countenaunce and ſpeache. The two childrē were ſo lyke, that with-out muche difficultie it coulde not be decerned of their proper parentes , whiche was Titus from Giſippus , or Giſippus from Titus. Theſe two young gentlemen, as they ſemed to be one in from & perſonage,ſo ſhortly after acquaintance , the ſame nature wrought in The Gouernour. their heartes ſuch a mutual affection,yt their wills and appetites daily more and more ſo cōfederated them ſelves , that it ſemed none other,when their names were declared , but that they had onely changed their places, iſſuing( as I mought ſay )out of the one bo= dy,& entering into the other.They together, and at one time went to their learning & ſtu= dy,at one time, to their meales and refectiō, they delyted both in one doctrine , and pro= fyted equally therein,fynally, they together increaſed in doctrine,that within a fewe ye= res,fewe within Athens might bee compa= red unto them . At the laſte dyed Chremes, whiche was not onely to his ſonne, but alſo to Titus cauſe of much ſorrowe & heuineſſe. Giſippus,by the goodes of his father , was knowen to be a man of great ſubſtānce:wher= tore there were offred to him great and ritch mariages. And he thā being of rype yeres, & of an hable and goodly perſonage.his frēds, kynne,and alies,exhorted him busilie to take a wife , to the intent hee might encreaſe hys lignage and progenye. But the young man, hauing his heart alredy wedded to his frend Titus , and his mynde fixed to the ſtudye of philoſophy,fearing that mariage ſhoulde bee the occaſion to ſeuer him both from the one and the other , refuſed of longe tyme to bee perſwaded, untyll at the laſte,partlye by the importunate callynge one of his kynſmen, partelye by the conſente and aduice of hys The ſecond Booke. deere friend Titus,therto by other deſired, he aſſented to marye ſuch a one as ſhoulde lyke him.What ſhal neede any words?his friends found a young gentlewoman,which in equa= lytie of yeres,vertuous conditions, nobilitie of bloud,beautie, and ſufficient riches, they thought was for ſuch a young man apte and conuenient.And when they & hir friends u= pon the couenants of mariage wer through= ly accorded, they counſayled Giſippus to re= paire unto the mayden, and to beholde howe hir perſon contented him : And he ſo doing, founde hir in euery forme and condition, ac= cording to his expectation & appetite, wher- at he much reioyced,and became of hir amo= rous,inſomuch as many and oftentimes lea= uing Titus at his ſtudie, hee ſecretly repay= red unto hir. Notwithſtanding the feruent loue that hee had to his freend Titus, at the laſt ſurmounted ſhamefastneſſe.Wherfore he diſcloſed to him his ſecret iourneyes,& what delectation he toke in beholding the excelent beautie of hir whom he intended to mary, & how with hir good manners & ſweete enter= teinment,ſhee had conſtrained him to bee hir louer . And on a time,hee hauing with him his friend Titus,went to his lady,of whome he was receiued moſt ioyouſly. But Titus foorth-with as hee behelde ſo heauenly a perſonage, adorned with beautie inexplicable, in whole vyſage was a moſt a= miable countenaunce,mixt with maydenlye The Gouernour. ſhame-faſtnes,and the rare and ſober words and wel couched,which iſſued out of hir pre= tie mouth. Titus was there-at abaſhed, and had the heart through pearced with the firie darte of blynde Cupide,of the which wound the anguiſh was ſo exceeding and vehement, that neither the ſtudy of Philoſophy,neither the remembraunce of his deere friend Giſip- pus,who ſo much loued & truſted him,coulde any thing withdraw him from that vnkinde appetite,but that of force he muſt loue inor= dinately that Lady, whom his ſayde friende had determined to marye.Albeit with incre= dibble paines he kept his thoughts ſecret vn= til that he and Giſip pus,were retourned vn= to their lodgings. Then the miſerable Ti- tus, with-drawing him as it wer to his ſtu= dye, all tormented and oppreſſed with loue, threw him-ſelfe on a bed,and there rebuking his owne moſt deſpiteful vnkindenes,which by the ſodeine fight of a maiden,hee had con= ſpired againſt his moſt dere friend Giſippus, againſt al humanitie & reſon, curſed his fate or conſtellation, & wiſhed that hee had neuer comen to Athens.And ther-with he ſent out from the bottome of his heart deepe and cold ſighs,in ſuch plenty,that it lacked but little that his heart was not riuen in peeces. In dolour & anguiſh toſſed he him-ſelf by a cer= tein ſpace,but to no man would hee diſcouer it.But at the laſt, the paine became ſo intol= lerable,that would be or no, he was ſo infor= The ſecond Booke. ced,to keepe his bed,being for lacke of ſleepe and other naturall ſuſtenaunce , brought in ſuch feblenes,that his legs might not ſuſtein his body:Giſippus miſſing his deere friende Titus,was much abaſhed, and hearing that he lay ſicke in his bed, had foorth-with his heart perced with heauines,& with al ſpeede came to him,where he laye. And beholding the roſiall colour,which was wont to bee in his vyſage,tourned into ſallowe,the reſidue pale,his ruddy lyps wan,& his eyen leady & hollow, might vnneth keepe him-ſelfe from weeping:but to the intent he would not diſ= comfort his friend Titus,diſſimuled his he= uineſſe,& with a comfortable countenaunce de= maunded of Titus , what was the cauſe of his diſeaſe,blaming him of vnkindnes, that he ſo longe had ſuſteined it, with-out giuing him knowledge,that he might for him haue prouided ſome remedye, if anye might haue ben gotten,though it were with the diſpen= ding of all his ſubſtance. With which words the mortall ſighes renued in Titus , and the ſalt teares burſt out of his eyen in ſuche ha= boundaunce,as it had ben a lande floud run= ning downe of a mountaine after a ſtorme. That beholding Glſippus,and being alſo re= ſolued into teares,moſt heartely deſired him, and ( as I might ſay ) coniured him, for the feruent and entire loue that had ben,and yet was betweene them,that he woild no longer hide from him his griefe,and that there was The Gouernour. nothing to him ſo deere and precious ( al= though it were his owne lyfe ) that mought reſtore Titus to health, but that hee ſhoulde gladly,and with-out grutching employe it, with which words, obteſtations and teares of Giſippus, Titus conſtrayned, all bluſhing & aſhamed,holding down his head, brought foorth with great difficultie his words in this wiſe. My deere and moſt louing friende,with= draw your friēdly offers,cease of your cour= teſie,refraine your teares and regreetinges, take rather your knife , and ſlaye mee here where I lye,or other wiſe take vengeaunce on me,moſt miſerable and falſe traytour un= to you,and of all other moſt worthy to suſſer moſt ſhamefull death.For where as God of nature,lyke as hee hath giuen to vs ſimily= tude in all the parts of our body, ſo hath he conioyned our willes, ſtudyes and appetites together in one , ſo that betweene men was neuer lyke concord and loue,as I ſuppoſe. And nowe notwithſtanding, onely with the Looke of a woman,thoſe bonds of loue be diſ= ſolued, reaſon oppreſſed,friendſhip is exclu= ded,ther auayleth no wwiſedome,no doctrine, no fidelitie or truſt : yea, your truſt is the cauſe that I haueconſpired againſt you this treaſon.Alas Giſippus,what enuious ſpirite mooued you to bringe mee to hir , whome ye haue choſen to be your wife,where I re= ceiued this poyſō? I ſay Giſippus,wher was The ſecond Booke. then your wiſedome,that ye remembred not the fragilytie of our common Nature? what neede you to call mee for a witneſſe of your priuate delyghts? Wy woulde ye haue mee ſee that , which you your ſelfe coulde not be= hold with-out rauiſhing of minde and carnal appetite? Alas,why forgotte yee , that our minds and appetites were euer one ? and that alſo what ſo ye liked was euer to me in lyke degree pleaſaunt.What will ye more? Giſippus I ſay, your truſt is the cauſe that I am intrapped. The rayes or beames iſſu= ing from the eyen of hir,whom ye haue cho= ſen,with the remembraunce of hir incompa= rable vertues,hath thrilled through-out the middes of my hart,and in ſuch wiſe burneth it, that aboue allthings I deſire to bee out of this wretched and moſt vnkinde lyfe, which is not worthy the company of ſo no= ble and louing a friend as ye be. And there- with Titus concluded his confeſſion, with ſo profound & bitter a ſigh,receiued with teares, that it ſeemed that al his body ſhould be diſ= ſolued and relented into ſalt droppes. But Giſippus,as he were ther-with no= Thing aſtonyed or diſcontented , with an aſ= ſured countenaunce,and merye regarde, im= bracing Titus, & kiſſing him, aunſwered in this wiſe : Why Titus, is this your onely ſickeneſſe and grief that ye ſo vncourteouſly haue ſo longe concealed , and with muche The Gouernour. more vnkindeneſſe kepte from mee,than yee haue conceiued it? I knowledge my follye wher-with ye haue with good right imbrai= ded me, that in ſhewing to you hir whom I loued, I remembred not the common eſtate of our nature,neither the agreablenes,or( as I might ſaye ) the vnitie of our two appe= tites. Surely that default can be by no rea= ſon excuſed, wherefore it is only I,that haue offended.For who may by right prooue that yee haue treſpaſſed , that by the ineuitable ſtroake of Cupidesdarte, are thus bitterlye wounded? Thinke ye me ſuch a foole or ig= norant perſon, that I knowe not the power of Venus , where ſhee lyſteth to ſhewe hir importable vyolence? Haue not ye well reſi= ſted againſt ſuch a goddeſſe,that for my ſake haue ſtriuen with hir almoſt to the death? What more loyaltie or trouth can I require Of you? Am I of that virtue, that I maye reſiſt againſt celeſtiall influence,precordinate by prouidence diuine? If I ſo thought what were my wittes? Where were my ſtudye ſo long time ſpent in noble Philoſophy?I con= feſſe to you Titus, I loue that mayden as much as any wiſe man might poſſible : and tooke in hir company more delight and plea= ſure than of all the treaſure and lands, that my father left me,which ye know was right aboundant. But nowe I perceiue that the affection of loue toward hir ſurmounteth in you aboue meaſure,what ſhall I thinke it of The ſecond Booke. a wanton luſte , or ſodayne appetite in you, whome I haue euer knowen of graue and ſad diſpoſition,inclyned always to honeſt doc= trine, flying all vaine dalyance and diſhoneſt paſtyme? Shall I imagine to be in you any malice or fraude, ſince from the tender tyme of our childehoode , I haue alwaye found in you,my ſweet friēd Titus,ſuch a conformitie with all my manners,appetites,and deſires, that neuer was ſeene betweene vs any man= ner of contencion? Maye God forbidde, that in the friendſhippe of Giſippus and Titus, ſhould happen any ſuſpition : or that any fā= taſie ſhould pearce my heade, where-by that honourable loue betweene vs,ſhould bee the mauntenaunce of a crumme periſhed . Nay, nay Titus,it is as I haue ſayd,the only pro= vidence of GOD: ſhe was by him from the beginning prepared to be your Lady & wife. For ſuche feruent loue entreth not into the heart of a wiſe man and vertuous, but by a diuine diſpoſition : Where-at if I ſhoulde be diſcontented or grudge, I ſhould not on= ly be vniuſt to you , with-holding that from you, which is vndoubtedlye yours,but alſo obſtinate and repugnaunt againſt the deter= mination of God,which ſhall neuer be foun= den in Giſippus. Therfore gentle friend Titus, diſmay you not at the chance of loue , but receiue it ioy= ouſly with mee,that am with you nothynge dyſcontented , but mervayllous gladde, The Gouernour. ſince it is my happe to finde for you ſuch a Lady,with whome ye ſhall lyve in felycitie, and receiue fruite to the honour and comfort of all your lygnage.Here I renounce to you cleerely all my title and intereſt,that I now haue or might haue in the faire mayden. Cal to your priſtinate courage, waſh cleane your viſage and eyen thus bewepte, and abandon all heauineſſe,the day appointed for our ma= riage approcheth : let vs conſult how with- out difficultie ye may wholy attain your de= ſires.Take heede,this mine aduiſe,ye know wel,that we two be ſo lyke,that being apart, and in one apparayle few men do know vs. Alſo ye do remēber that the cuſtome is,that notwithſtanding anye ceremonie done at the time of the Spouſialles , the marriage not= withſtandinge is not confirmed , vntill at night,that the huſband putteth a ring on the finger of his wife,and vnloſeth hir girdell. Therefore I my ſelfe will bee preſent with my friends,and performe all the partes of a bryde. And ye ſhall abide in a place ſecrete, where I ſhal appoint you vntill it be night. And then ſhall ye quickely conuey your ſelfe into the maydens chamber,and for the ſimi= lytude of our perſonages , and of our appa= rayle, ye ſhall not bee eſpyed of the women, which haue with none of vs anye acquayn= taunce,and ſhortly get you to bed,and putte your owne ring on the maydens finger, and The ſecond Booke. vndoe hir gyrdel of virginitie , and do all o= ther thing that ſhall be to your pleaſure. Be nowe of good cheere Titus, and comforte your ſelfe with good refections and ſolace, that this wanne and pale coloure,and your chekes meygre and leane,be not the cauſe of your diſcouering, I knowe well,that ye ha= uing your purpoſe, I ſhall bee in obloquye and deryſion of all men , and ſo hated of all my kynred,that they ſhall ſeke occaſion to ex pulſe me out of this citie,thinking me to bee a notable reproche to all my family. But let God therein worke, I force not what peyne that I abide,ſo that yee my friende Tytus may be ſafe, and pleaſantlye enioye your de= ſires,to the encreaſing of your felicitie. With theſe words Tytus beganne to moue , as it were out of a dreame,and doub= ting,whether he hearde Giſippus ſpeake , or els ſawe but a vision , laye ſtyll as a man abaſhed.But when hee beheld the teares, trickelynge downe by the face of Gyſippus, he then recomforted him, and thanking him for his incomparable kindneſſe, refuſed the benefite that hee offred, ſaying : that it were better that a hundred ſuche vnkynde wret= ches,as he was ſhoulde peryſhe, than ſo no= ble a man,as was Giſippus,ſhoulde ſuſteyne reproche or domage. But Giſippus efteſoo= nes comforted Titus, and there-with ſware and proteſted, that with free and glad wyll hee woulde that this thing ſhuld be in forme The Gouernour. aforeſaid accompliſhed,and therwith imbra= ced and ſweetelye kiſſed Titus. Who percei= uynge the matter ſure,and not feigned, as a man not ſicke,but onely awaked out of hys ſleepe ,ſet him ſelfe vp in his bed :the quicke bloud ſomewhat reſorted vnto his visage, & after a little good meates and drinkes taken, he was ſhortly and in a fewe dayes reſtored into his olde facion and figure . To make the tale ſhort: The day of maryage was co= men. Giſippus , accompanied with his alies and friendes,came to the houſe of the damo= ſell,where they honourably and ioyouſly ſeated . And betweene him and the mayden was a ſweete entertainmēt,which to behold, all that were preſent, tooke much pleaſure and comfort,praiſyng the beautye, goodly= neſſe, virtue, and curteſie , whiche in thys couple wer excellent aboue al other that they had euer ſeene . What ſhall I ſay more?the couenaunts were read and ſealed, the dower appointed , and all other bargeines conclu= ded,and the friends of either part toke their leaue & departed:the bryde with a fewe wo= men( as was the cuſtome ) brought into hir chamber:thā as it was before agreed , Titus conueyde himſelfe , after Giſippus returned to hys houſe,or perchance to the chamber ap pointed for Titus, nothinge ſorowfull , al= though that he hartely loued the mayden,but with a glad hearte and countenance,that hee had ſo recouered his friend from death , and The ſecond Booke. ſo well brought him to the effecte of hys de= ſyre. Nowe is Titus in bedde with the may= den,not knowen of hir, nor of anye other, but for Gyſippus.And firſt hee ſweetely de= mauded hir,if that ſhe loued him ,and day= ned to take him for hir huſbande , forſakyng all other. Whiche ſhe alſo bluſhinge with an eye halfe laughing , halfe mourning( as in point to departe from hir maydenheade,but ſuppoſyng it to bee Giſippus that aſked hir ) affirmed.And than he eftſoones aſked hir, if ſhe in ratifying that promiſe , woulde re= ceiue hys ringe , whyche hee had there alre= dy:whereto ſhe conſenting,putteth the ryng on hir finger, & vnloſeth her gyrdell . What thing els he dyd they two onely knewe of it. Of one thinge I am ſure that nyght was to Titus more comfortable , than euer was the longeſt day of the yere:yea, & I ſuppose a whole yere of days.The morow is comen, Giſippus, thinkinge it expedient , that the Trouthe ſhould be diſcouered,aſſembled al the Nobilitie of the citie at his owne houſe,wher alſo by thappointement was Titus , who a= monge them hadde theſe words, that doe folowe. My friendes Athenienſes,there is at this Tyme ſhewed amonge you an example , al= moſte incredible,of the dyuyne power of ho= nourable loue,to the perpetuall renoume and commendation of this noble citie of Athens, wherof he ought to take excellent comforte, The Gouernour. and therefore giue due thanks to God,if there remaine amonge you anye token of the aun= cient wyſedome of your moſte noble proge= nitours. For what more praiſe may be giuen to people,than beneuolence,faithfulneſſe and conſtance? without whom all countreys and cities,be brought vnto deſolation and ruine, like as by them they become proſperous,and in moſte high felicitie . What ſhall I longe tarye you in coniectinge myne entente and meaning : yee all knowe, from whence I came vnto this citie, that of aduenture I founde in the houſe of Chremes , his ſonne Giſippus, of mine owne age , and in euerye thing ſo like to me , that neither his father, nor anye other man coulde diſcerne of vs the one from the other,but by our owne inſigne= ment or ſhewing : in ſo much as there were put about our neckes laces of ſundry colours to declare our perſonages . What mutuall agreement and loue haue ben always betwene vs during the eyght yeares , that wee haue ben together , ye all be witneſſes , that haue bene beholders and wonderers of oure moſte ſwete conuerſation and conſente of appety= tes, whein was neuer any diſcord or vary= ance . And as or my parte, after the deceſſe of my father, not withſtandynge that there was diſcended and happened vnto me greate poſſeſſions,fayre houſes , with abundaunces of ritches : alſo I beinge called home by the deſyrous and importunate letters of myne The ſecond Booke. alyes and friendes, whych be of the moſt no= ble of all the ſenatours, offered the auaunce= ment to the hygheſt dignities in the publyke weale, I will not remēber the lamentations of my moſt natural mother,expreſſed in hir tender letters, al be ſprent and blotted wyth abundance of teares,wherin ſhe accuſeth me of vnkyndeſſe, for my long tarrying, and ſpecially nowe in hir moſt diſcomforte. But all this could not remoue me the breadth of my nayle frō my deare friend Giſippus.And but by force could not I,nor yet may be dra= wen from his ſwete company,but if he ther= to wyll conſente. I choſinge rather to lyue with him as his companyon and fellow,yee, and as hys ſeruaunte rather then to bee con= ſull of Rome.Thus my kindness hath bē wel acquitted( or as I mought ſye ) redoubled, delyuering me from the deathe,yea from the moſt cruell and peynfull death of all other. I perceiue ye wonder here-at noble Athenien- ſes, and no meruayle . For what perſonne shoulde bee ſo hardye,to attempte any ſuche thing againſt me being a Romaynes , and of the noble bloude of the Romaynes? Or who shoulde be thought ſo malicious, to ſlea me, who ( as all ye be my iudges ) neuer treſpaſ= ſed againſt any perſon within this city.Nay nay my friēds I haue none of you all therin ſuſpected, I perceiue you deſire and harken to know,what he was,that preſumed to doe ſo cruell & great an enterpriſe. It was loue The Gouernour. noble Athenienses , the same loue, whish as your poetes doe remember, dyd wounde the more parte of all the Gods, that yee doe ho= nor , that conſtrained Iupiter to tranſforme him ſelfe in a ſwan, a bull, and dyuers other lykeneſſes:the ſame loue that cauſed Hercu- les, the vanquiſher and deſtroyer of Mon= ſters and Giants, to ſpynne on a rocke,ſit= tyng amonge maydens in a womans appa= rayle: the ſame loue that cauſed to aſſemble al the noble princes of Aſia and Greece in the fields of Troy: the ſame loue I ſay,against whose aſſaultes maye be found no defence or reſiſtaunce , hath ſodainly and vnware ſtry= ken mevnto the harte, with ſuch vehemence and mighte , that I had in ſhorte ſpace died with moſte feruent tormentes , had not the incomparable friendſhip of Giſippus holpen me. I ſee, you would fayne know,who ſhe is that I loued. I will no lenger delay you noble Athenienſes: It is Sophronia,the la= die,whom Giſippus had choſen to haue to his wife, and whome hee moſte entirelye loued. But whan his moſte gentle harte perceyuedt that my loue was in a much higher degree than his toward that lady,and that it proce= ded neyther of wantoneſſe, neyther of long conuerſation, nor of any other corrupt deſire or fantaſie, but in an inſtante , by the onely looke, and with ſuch feruence , that immedi= atly I was ſo cruciate,that I deſired,and in al that I mought prouoke death to take me. The ſecond Booke. He by his wiſedome ſoone perceyued , ( as I doubt not but that ye do ) that it was the ve= ry prouiſion of God, yt ſhe ſhuld be my wife, and not his: wher-to he giuing place,& more eſteeming true friendſhyp, then the loue of a woman,where unto hee was induced by hys frends & not by violence of Cupid cōſtrained as I am, hath willingly graunted to me the intereſt that he had in the damoſel. And it is I Titus , that haue verelye wedded hir , I haue put the ryng on hir finger , I haue vn= done the girdle of ſhamefaſtnes:what wil ye more, I haue lyen with her , and confirmed the matrimony,and made hir a wife. At theſe words all they that were preſent began to murmure ,and to caſt a diſdaynous and greeuous looke vpon Giſippus . Than ſpake agayne Titus. Leaue your grudginges and menacing countenaunce , towarde Giſippus , hee hath done to you all honour , and no neede of re= proche. I tell you he hath accomplyſhed al the partes of a friende : that loue , whiche was moſte certaine,hath he continued. He knewe , hee might finde in Greece an o= ther mayden, and fayre and as ryche as this that he had choſen,and one perchaunce , that he mought loue better.But ſuch a frend( as I was )hauing reſpect to our ſimilitude,the longe approued concorde,alſo mine eſtate and condition,hee was ſure to finde neuer none. Alſo the damoſell ſuffereth no diſpergement The Gouernour. in hir bloude, or hinderance in hir maryage, but is much rather aduaunced ( no diſprayſe to my deare friend Giſippus ) . Alſo conſider noble Athenienſes,that I toke hir not my fa= ther lyuing,whan ye mought haue ſuſpected that as well hir riches as hir beautie,ſhould haue thereto allured me: but ſoone after my fathers deceaſe,whan I farre exceeded hir in poſſeſſions and ſubſance, when the moſte notable men of Rome and of Italye,deſired myne alyaunce,ye haue therefore all cauſe to reioyce and thanke Giſippus, and not to bee angry,and alſo to extoll his wonderfull kind= nes toward me,whereby he hath wonne mee and all my bloude,ſuche friendes to you and your citie,that ye may be aſſured , to bee by vs defended againſt all the worlde: whiche being conſidered , Giſippus hath well deſer= ued a ſtatue or image of golde, to bee ſet on a pyller ,in the myddes of your citie,for an ho= norable monument, in the remembraunce of our incomparable friendſhip,and of the good that thereby may come to your citie. But if this perſwaſion cannot ſatiſfie you, but that yee wyll imagine any thinge to the damage of my deere friend Giſippus,after my departing I make mine auowe vnto God, creator of al thing,that as I ſhal haue knowledge ther of, I ſhall forth-with reſort hither,with the inuinſible power of the Romaynes , and re= uenge hym in ſuche wiſe againſt his enimies that al Grece ſhal ſpeake of it to their perpe= The ſecond Booke. tuall diſhonour,ſhame,and reproch. And there-with Titus and Giſippus roſe, but the other for feare of Titus diſſembled their malice,making ſemblaunt,as they had bene with all thing contented. Sonone after, Titus being ſent for by the authoritie of the Senate & people of Rome, prepared to depart out of Athens,and would fayne haue had Giſippus to haue gone with him,offering to deuide with him all his ſub= staunce and fortune. But Giſippus,conſide= ring how neceſſary his counſyle ſhould bee to the citie of Athens woulde not depart out of his country. Notwithſtanding that aboue all earthly things, hee moſt deſired the com= pany of Titus: which abode alſo,for the ſayd conſideration, Titus approued. Titus with his Lady is departed towards the citie of Rome. Where at their coming, they were of the Mother of Titus, his kinſ= men,& of all the Senate and people ioyouſly receiued.And ther lyued Titus with his La= dy in ioye inexplicable,and had by hir mayne faire children:and for his wiſdome and lear= ning was ſo highly eſteemed,that there was no dignitie or honourable Office with-in the citie,that hee had not with much fauour and praiſe atchieued and occupied. But now let vs reſorte to Giſippus, who immediately vpon the departing of Titus, was ſo maligned at , as well by his owne kinſman,as by the friends of the Lady,that The Gouernour. he,to their ſeeming ſhamefullye abandoned, leuing hir to Titus,that they ſpared not dai= ly to vexe him with all kindes of reproache, that they could deuiſe or imagine : and firſte they excluded him out of their counſaile,and prohibited from him all honeſt company. And yet not being there-with ſatiſfied , fi= nally they adiudged him vnworthy to enioy any poſſeſſions or goods,lefte to him by his parents, whome hee ( as they ſuppoſed ) by his vndiſcreete friendſhip had ſo diſtayned. Wherefore they deſpoyled him of all things, and almoſt naked,expelled him ot of the ci= tie. Thus is Giſippus late wealthy,and one of the moſt noble menne of Athens , for his kinde hearte , banniſhed his Countrey for euer,and as a man diſmayed , wandring he= ther and thether,finding non man that would ſuccor him. At the laſt remembering in what pleaſure his friend Titus lyued with his la= dy,for whom he ſuffred theſe domages,con= cluded to go to Rome,and declare his infor= tune to his ſaid friend Titus,what ſhal need a long tale? in concluſion,with much payne, colde,hunger and thirſt,he is come to the ci= tie of Rome,and diligently enquiring for the houſe of Titus,at the laſt he came to it: but beholding it ſo beautifull, large, and prince= ly,hee was aſhamed to approach nighe to it, being in ſo ſimple eſtate and vncladde, but ſtandeth by , that in caſe Titus came foorthe out of his houſe,hee might preſent him-ſelfe The ſecond Booke. to him. He being in this thought. Titus hol= ding his lady by the hande, iſſued out from his doore, and taking their Horses to ſolace themſelues,beheld Giſippus,and beholding his vyle apparayle, regarded him not , but paſſed forth on their waye, where-with Gi- ſippus was ſo wounded to the hearte, thin= kinge Titus hadde contemned his fortune, that oppreſſed with mortal heauines,fel in a ſownde, but being recouered by ſome that ſtoode by,thinking him to be ſick, forthwith departed,intending not to abide any longer, but as a wilde beaſt to wander abrode in the world.But for weariness he was conſtrained to enter into an old barne,with-out the citie; wher he caſting him ſelfe on the bare groūd with weeping and dolorous crying,bewailed his fortune:But moſt of all accuſing the in= gratitude of Titus,for whome he ſuffered all that miſery, the remembrance wher-off was ſo intolerable,that he determined no longer to lyue in that anguiſh & dolour. And there- with drew his knife,purpoſing to haue ſlain himſelf.But euer wiſdome( which he by the ſtudy of philoſophy had atteyned ) withdrew him from that deſperate acte . And in this contention,betweene wiſedome and will, fa= tigate with long iouneyes in watche , or as God would haue it,he fel into a deepe ſleepe. His knife( wher-with he would haue ſlayne himſelfe)falling down by him. In the meane time a common and notable ruffian or theefe The Gouernour. which hadde robbed and ſlayne a man : was entred into the barne,where Giſippus laye ? to the intent to ſoiorne there all that night. And seeing Giſippus bewept,and his viſage repieniſhed with ſorow, and alſo the naked knife by him,perceyued well, that hee was a man deſperate and ſuppriſed with heauines of heart, was weary of his lyfe : which the ſayd ruffian taking for a good occaſion to eſ= cape , tooke the knife of Giſippus and put= ting it in the wound of him that was ſlaine, put it all bloudy in the hand of Giſippus,be= ing faſt a ſleepe,and ſo departed. Soone af= ter the dead man being founde, the Officers made diligent ſearch for the murderer:at the laſt they entering into the barne , and finding Giſippus on ſleepe,with the bloudye knife in his hande,awaked him,wherewith he entred agayne into his olde ſorrowes,complaining his euil fortune.But when the officers laid vnto him the death of the man, and the ha= uing of the bloudye knife,there at reioyced, thanking God, that ſuch occaſion was hap= ned,where-by he ſhould ſuffer deathe by the Lawes,and eſcape the violence of his owne hands. Wherefore he denyed nothing that was layd to his charge,deſiring the officers to make haſt that he might be ſhortlye out of his lyfe.Where at they meruayled.Anon re= port came to the Senate, that a manne was ſlayne and that a Staunger , and a Greeke borne,was found in ſuch forme,as is before The ſecond Booke. mentioned. They foorth-with commaunded him to be brought vnto their preſēce, ſitting there at that time, Titus beng then Conſull or in other lyke dignitie. The miſerable Gi- ſippus,was brought to the barre,with billes and ſtaues lyke a felon, of whome it was de= mauded if he ſlew the man that was foun= den dead.He nothing denied,but in moſt ſor= rowfull manner curſed his fortune , naming himſelfe of all other moſt miſerable. At the laſt one demaunding him of what Countrey hee was,hee confeſſed to be an A- thenian, and there-with he caſt his ſorrow= full eyen vpon Titus with much indignati= on, and burſte out into ſighes and teares a= boundantly : that beholding Titus, and eſ= pying by a little ſigne in his visage, which hee knewe,that it was his deere friende Gi= ſippus , and anone conſidering that hee was brought into diſpaire by ſome miſaduenture, roſe out of his place where hee ſate, and fal= lyng on his knees before the Iudges, ſayd, that he had ſlayne the man, for olde malice that hee bare toward him,and that Giſippus being a Straunger , was guylteſſe, and al men mought perceyue that the other was a deſperate perſon . Wherefore to abreuiate his ſorrowes,hee confeſſed the acte, where- off he was innocent,to the intent yt he would finiſh his ſorrowes with deathe, wherefore Titus deſired the Iudges to giue ſentence on him,according to his merities. But Gi- The Gouernour. ſippus perceiuing his friende Titus ( contra= ry to his expectation ) to offer himſelfe to the death for his ſafegarde,more importunately cryed to Senate to proceede in their iudge= ment in him,that was the very offender. Titus denyed , and affirmed with reaſons & arguments,that he was the murderer , and not Giſippus. Thus they of long time with aboundaunce of teares contended, which of them ſhoulde dye for the other, where-at all the Senate and people wer wonderously a= baſhed,not knowing what it mēt.The mur= derer in deede happened to be in the preace at that time , who perceiuing the neruaylous contencion of theſe two perſons,which were both innocent,and that it proceeded of an in= comparable friendſhip,was vehemēntly pro= uoked to diſcouer the troth . Wherefore hee brake through the preace , & comming before the Senate,spake in this wiſe. Noble fathers, I am ſuch a perſon, whom ye know haue bene a common barrator and theefe by a long ſpace of yeares:ye know al= ſo, that Titus is of a noble bloud,and is ap= proued to be always a man of excellent virtue and wiſedome,and neuer was malitious. This other ſtraunger ſeemeth to bee a man full of ſimplicitie, and that more is , deſper= rate for ſome grieuous ſorrow that hee hath taken, as it is to you euident,I ſaye to you fathers they both bee innocent , I am that perſon, that ſlew him that is founden deade, The ſecond Booke. by the barne, and robbed him of his money. And when I found in the barne this ſtraū= ger lying on ſleepe , hauing by him a naked knife: I the better to hide mine offence, did put the knife into the woūd of the dead man, & ſo all bloudy layd it againe by this ſtrau= ger. This was my miſchieuous deuice to e= ſcape your iudgement. Where.vunto nowe I remit mee wholy rather then this noble man Titus,or this innocent ſtraunger,ſhould vu= worthily dye. Hereat the Senate,& people toke com= fort,and the noyſe of reioycing heartes filled the courte.And when it was further exa= mined,Giſippus was diſcouered, the friend= ſhip betweene him & Titus was through-out the citie publyſhed,extolled and magnified. wherefore the Senate conſulted of this mat= ter:and finally at the inſtance off Titus & the people diſcharged the felon. Titus recogniſed his negligence in forgetting Giſippus . And Titus being aduertiſed of the exile of Giſip- pus,and the deſpiteful cruelty of his kinred, was ther-with wonderfull wrothe,& hauing Giſippus home to his houſe(wher he was with incredible ioy receiued of the Ladye,whome ſome-time he ſhould haue wedded )honoura= bly apparayled him, and there Titus offered to him,to vſe al his goods and poſſeſſions at his owne pleaſure and appetite . But Gi- ſippus , deſiring to bee agayne in his pro= per Countrey , Titus by the conſent of the The Gouernour. Senate and people aſſembled a great army, and went with Giſippus vunto Athens,wher he hauing delyuered to him all thoſe,whiche were cauſers of baniſhing and deſpoyling of his friend Giſippus, did on them ſharpe exe= cution,and reſtoring to Giſippus, his lands and ſubſtaunce, ſtablyſhed him in perpetuall quietneſſe,and ſo retourned to Rome. This example in the affects of friende= ſhippe expreſſeth (if I be not deceyued ) the deſcription of friendſhip , engendred by the ſimlilytude of age and perſonage, augmented by the conforrmitie of manners and ſtudyes, and confirmed by the longe continuaunce of company. It woulde be remembred, that friendſhip is betweene good men onely , and is ingen= dred of an opinion of virtue . Than maye we reaſon in this forme . A good man is ſo named,bicauſe all that he willeth or doth, is onely good : in good can be none euill,there= fore nothing that a good mā willeth or doth, can be euill. Likewiſe virtue is the affeti= on of a good man,which neither willeth nor doth any thing that is euil.And vice,is con= trary vnto virtue, for in the opinion of ver= tue is neither euill nor vyce. And very amitie is virtue.Wherefore no= Thing euil or vyvious may happen in friend= ſhip.Therefore in the firſt election of friēds, reſteth all the importaunce : Wherefore it The ſecond Booke. woulde not be with-out a longe deliberation and profe, and as Ariſtotle ſaith,in as longe tyme as by them both,being together con= uerſant,a whole buſhell of ſalt mought be ea= ten. For oftentimes with fortune ( as I late ſaide ) is changed or at the leaſte myniſhed the feruentneſſe of that affection, accordyng as the ſwete Poete Ouide affirmeth,ſayinge in this ſentence.
Whiles Fortune thee fauoreth,friends thou haſt plentie. The time being troublous,thou art al alone Thou ſeeſt culuers haunt houſesmade white and deintie. To the ruinous toure almoſt cometh none, Of emotes innumerable vnethe thou fyndeſt one. In empty barnes,& where faileth ſubſtance, Hapneth no frinde,in vvhom is aſſurance.
But if any happeneth in euery fortune to be conſtant in friendſhyp, he is to be made of aboue all thinges that may come vnto man, and aboue any other that bee of bloudde or kindred,as Tully ſaieth . For from kindred may be taken Beneuolence , from friendſhyp it can neuer be ſevered . Wherfore Beneuo= lence taken from kynrede , yet the name of kynſeman remayneth : take it from friend= ſhyp , and the name of freindſhyp is vtterly periſhed. The Gouernour. But ſince this liberty of ſpeeche is nowe vſurped by flatterers , where they perceyue that aſſentation and prayſes be abhorred: I am therefore not well aſſured , howe a man nowe a dayes ſhall knowe or diſcerne ſuche admonition from fratterye , but by one onely meanes:that is to ſay,to remember yt frend= ſhip may not be,but betweene good men.Thē conſider,if he that doth admoniſhe thee , bee hym ſelfe voluptuous,ambicious,couetous, arrogant,or diſſolute, refuſe not his admoni= cion:but by the example of the Emperor An- tonine,thankfully take it, and amende ſuche defaulte,as thou perceiueſt,doth giue occaſi- on of obloquy, in ſuch maner as the reporter alſo by thine example may be corrected. But for that admonition onely , accounte him not immediately , to bee thy friende , vuntill thou haue of him a long and ſure experience. For vndoubtedly it is wonderfull difficile,to find a man very ambicious or couetous, to be aſ= ſured in friendſhip . For where findeſt thou hym ( ſaith Tully ) that will not preferred ho= nours,great offices,rule, authoritie, and ry= cheſſe before frendſhip: Therefore( ſaith he) it is very harde to finde frendſhip in them, that be occupied in acquiring honour , or a= bout the affayres of the public weale.Which ſaying is proued by dayly experience. For diſdayne and contempt be companions with ambition , lyke as enuye and hatred be alſo hir fellowes. |
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