Euphues his censure to Philautus wherein is presented a philosophicall combat betweene Hector and Achylles, discouering in foure discourses, interlaced with diuerse delightfull tragedies, the vertues necessary to be incident in euery gentleman: had in question at the siege of Troy betwixt sondry Grecian and Troian lords: especially debated to discouer the perfection of a souldier. ... Robertus Greene, in artibus magister.

¶ The second discourse after Supper.

SUpper was no sooner ended. But after a hearty prou∣face chaunged betwixt them: Aged Ne••••or, whose words in ••ré••ce were holden for principles, began to breke silence in ••his maner.

Worthy Peares of Gréece and Asia, resolued to prooue

inward vertue by outward valour, or els to buy fame with death: sith Hector and Achilles, the two hopefull Gentle∣men of both armyes, accompanied with sondry princes of great parentage, are here vnited in a desired presence, omit∣ting womens prattle, and leauing the Ladyes to their pry∣uate chatte: l••t vs see if wee can make a perfect descrip••ion of a Souldier so proportioned in euery parte, as h••e may di∣recting his course by our principles, lyue fortunate, and dye honorably. The doubt then to bee discusse•• is what is ne∣cessary to the perfecting of a Souldier, which might I with his fauour request, I would cōmit to the charge of Hector: as to him who of his very enimies is counted an exact mar∣tialist. Hector, whose thoughts swelling with honor, died his chéekes with the fame of his prayse, willing to auoyde with one blast, both selfe loue and curiosity, made Nestor this answere.

Although forrayne fauours, are domesticall treasures, and it better fitteth honor, to praise an enemy, then a friend: yet to offer incense to Pallas in the Temple of Mars, were to prophane his deity: and to make mee an instance, Achil∣les in presence, is to iniure his dignity: report is partiall, and the tip of the tounge soundeth not alwayes the depth of the heart: but let fame fly how shee list: I deny not but I haue dared to beare armour, and to haue pressed amidst the thickest of myne enimyes, therefore I thinke the most requisite vertue in a Souldier, to bee fortytude or magnani∣mity. I thinke it necessary (quoth Achilles) as Causa sine qua non: for therefore is hee called Siles, for that hee doth, Animam fortem gerere: but yet the couller that giueth the swéetest glose to honor, in my opinion is Liberality: two necessary vertues (quoth Helenus) but yet a more princi∣pall poynt then these, which hath made many Monarches triumph without bloode, is Wysedome ioyned with Sci∣ence. Agamemnon desirous to heare these three discussed at large, thought to incourage them forward in this maner. Wyth so equall a proportion (worthy Gentlemen) haue you made a distinct deuision of the incident properties of

Souldiers, as what is necessary not onely in martiall disci∣pline, but in humaine life, is sufficiently in these thrée com∣prehended. For wysdome mixed with learning and know∣ledge, is so pretious a vertue in the lyfe of man, as it behoo∣ueth not onely a prynce to haue the possession thereof, for the pollicy of his ciuill gouernment, but also to the performing of his warlike indeuours: Fortitude the fayrest blossome that springes from a noble mynde, is not onely requisite in peace to bew••••y maiesty, but in warres necessary to s••••eng∣then pollicy, and were a prince indewed with both these, so as no defect might be obiected, yet were hee a couetous man that aymed at the suppression of his Subiects by extorting their substaunce by grieuous imposts, the want of Libera∣lity, especially amongst Souldiers, would bréede such a mi∣slike, that hee shoulde reape more discredit by his niggar∣dies, then fame for his wisedome and fortune. Seeing then worthy Gretians and Troians, these thrée points as presi∣dents are set downe to bee decyded: let vs first begin with the discourse of wisedome, which wee will referre to Hele∣nus and Nestor, as to them which wee know are most fa∣mous for those qualyties: in both our armies exception al∣wayes made of Vlis••es, for that hee hath so well plaide his part amongst the Ladyes. Helenus bl••shing at the grant of this honorable charge, desired that sith Nestor was a∣ged, and had by long arte amongst the Philosophers, and by experience in cyuill gouernment, attayned to the summary perfection of wisedome, that hee would ••ase him of such a burden as was both vnfit for his knowledge, experience and yeares: Nestor, as willing amongst such an audience, to put the Troian to the plunge, sayd that Age was forget∣full, and that his gray haires were decli••ing steps from me∣mory•• that what experience had ingrauen, tyme had almost worne out, and that were his memory neuer so fre••h, yet it were a greefe for him, through feeblenesse to vtter that with the tounge which hee did conceiue in his mynde: therefore, for the reuerence of his age hee would lay the charge vppon Helenus: who seeing that fortune had tyed him to his task

gathering his wittes together bouldly, as one that was the brother of Hector, began on this maner.