Galateo espagnol, or, The Spanish gallant instructing thee in that which thou must doe, and take heed of in thyusuall cariage, to be well esteemed, and loved of the people. Written in Spanish by Lucas Gracian de Antisco servant to his Majesty. And done into English by W.S. of the Inner Temple Esquire. Full of variety, and delight, and very necessary to be perused, not only of the generous youth of this kingdom, but also of all such as are exercised in their gentile education.

CHAPTER, 6. Of Lyars. (Book 6)

THough wee may thinke, that there is nothing of lesse mo∣ment, then Dreames: yet for all this, wee see other things that are worse, and more idle, and vaine: as namely lyes, or false Tales, for of that which a man hath seene in his Dreame, may be sayd something, because all a mans life is but as it were a certaine Dream,

or Phansy, but a man never dreamt a lye. Therefore wee ought lesse to trouble the eares, and understandings, of those that hate lying, with Lyes then with Dreames. Because although they being but Jests, yet this danger is in them, that sometimes, they are taken for truth; Yet amongst good conditioned people, Lyars doe re∣ceive this reward, that becoming first reckoned, but as Jesters, they are afterwards people of no credit, and their discourse is scarce excusable, as being frothy words, without sub∣stance. And it is neither more nor lesse, then as if when such a one speakes, as if he sayd nothing: or as if he did but draw, and breath out the ayre. And you must know, that you may talke with some that love lying so well, that they will lye, though it be to no end, nor profit to them: but onely, because a lye of their owne, doth much please them. Even as a Drunkard, that often drin∣keth, not for thirst, or neede he hath, but only for the love of the drinke, and they are so besotted in telling lyes, that though they tell impossi∣bilities, they thinke they must be be∣lieved.

As I once heard tell of a Lyar, that related of himselfe that hee one day, being very thirsty, and being a very good markes-man, shot a pellet at a Pitcher of water, that stood in a garret window, and made a round hole in it, and that presently from thence, there came to him a Conduit∣pipe with water, to which he set his mouth, and drunke his fill. And when he perceived, that he had hi∣therto given content to the company, he continued his discourse, in this manner: That afterward, hee shot at the same Pitcher another bullet that was somewhat bigger, and hit it so just in the same place that he stopped the hole so tite, that on drop of water could not come out, & though the lye were well laughed at, yet one that stood by, knowing it to be a very vaine glorious humour in him, and it being tedious to him, answered him, Sir your worship spends your time in vaine, and you tire us all, and he that thinkes hee can make us believe this, must either take us for fooles, or his enemies. Another answered him thus, Sir I have seene Lyars be∣fore, but your worship may bee the

Kings Lyer, better then any I ever yet saw or heard of.

1. Some others doe lie onely for vaine glory, relating what wonders they have done, and to bee thought great Souldiers, and Statesmen, and strive to entertaine men, with things so incredible, that one may smell the lye, a league off: and so can gaine no credit from their auditory, except they bring witnesse to prove all they say. That we may see how they come infected with the Plague of vaine glory, those I meane that bely their deedes and works, You may under∣stand.

2. Men may as well lye in concea∣ling themselves (to wit) in their workes, and actions from every one, like some that being but of an ordi∣nary quality, in respect of their per∣sons, and places, do pretend they are much more, and use such ceremo∣nies, and doe so Lord it, in their manner of cariage, as if they were Dukes, and Earles. These doe set themselves to speake with such state, as if they were speaking from the bench, going in such a posture, that they would be thought to be the head,

whereas they are but the feete: la∣bouring in their actions, to imitate men of great ranke, and in the furni∣ture of their houses, that it is a tor∣ment to see, how ignorant they are of their weakenesse, and that they cannot let their heads blood of these vanities.

3. There are some others that lie in this manner, who wearing but meane cloathes, doe gild themselves over with Chaines, and Ringes, and medalls, which they fasten heere, and there about them: that you would thinke they carryed them about, ra∣ther to sell them then to make them∣selves gallant; And you may see their pride and vanity a mile off, that place their worth onely, in the back or outward appearance: which are things displeasing, and much dis∣consonant to reason, and good fashion.

4. And you must know that in many and (those) the best Cities, it is not suffered, that any ritch man be seene much distinguished from a poore man, in the alteration of his fashion, because the poore men thinke they receive reproach, especially if they

be honorable, or well borne: when o∣thers make such difference in their cloathing from them.