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.

¶ Hectors discourse of Fortitude.

ALthough it might amase Esculapius to alledge any of his Aphorismes in the presence of Apollo, or Sile∣nus to treat of the nature of Grapes in the hearing of Bac∣chus; yet it is no offence in Pallas temple to treate of wis∣dome, nor at Venus altars to parle of loues; sith the god∣desses doo patronage such affections. So, although the pre∣sence of such mighty prynces, whose chieualry is famous from the East to the West, and whose valour by experience is able to deliuer principles of magnanimitie, might affray mee from this inioyned discourse of fortitude; yet, for that my fathers commaunde is a lawe of constraint, which Na∣ture willes mee to obey, and the request of the Grecians such a clayme, as duety forceth mée to graunt; I will rather hazarde my credit on the honorable thoughts of these migh∣ty Potentates, then seeme eyther scrupulous, or froward in gainesaying such a charge, hoping they will with Prome∣theus, censure well of the workmanship of Lisias, & rather cast an eye at the nature of the stone by secret instinct, then at the beauty pollished by arte; in which hope resting, thus to the purpose.

The Phylosophers, whose liues spent in metaphusicall contemplation, hauing set downe in their precepts, the per∣fect

pourtraiture of vertue, figure hir bare counterfait, pla∣ced by equall proportion, betwéene two vyces, noting there∣by, that the meane kept betweene two extremes, is that laudable action, which by no other name can bee tearmed, but by the title of vertue; neither in excesse, soaring too high with Bolerophon, and so to hasard on the heate of y^e sunne, nor in defect falling too lowe with Icarus, by the moysture of the Sea wetting his feathers; but flying with Dedalus, in the meane, so with case and quiet attayning to the desired ende; as for an instance, fortitude seated betweene two ex∣tremities, Timiditas, and Audacia; feare fayling in defect, and rashnesse faultie in excesse; the meane being that cou∣rage which ought to bee in a Souldier. For all desperate attempts that beare the shadowe of prowesse, and are of the common sorte honored with the name of fortitude, are not comprehended within the precinct of this vertue; for hée on∣ly is counted a valiaunt man, that without any furious or rash resolution, feareth not to hasard him selfe in y^e greatest perills whatsoeuer, for the weale of his countrey. So that by this definition wee see, that hee limited within the bonds of measure, is not to v••••ture or make proofe of his valour in euery light cause; yea, for euery trifling thing, but with such proportion, as in scorning death; yet hee may honora∣bly se••ke not to bee counted desperate. For I remember that Isadus a worthy Lacedemonian seeing their Citty be∣sieged, and tha•• the Souldiers resolutely issued out to fight with the enemy, hée being their Captayne, stript him selfe naked, and taking a Pollax in his hand, with such a despe∣rate furie gaue the attempt, and so amazed, and repulsed them, that his Souldiers imitating his courage put all their foes to the edge of the sword: the battaile ended, the Se∣nators gaue him a Crowne of Lawrell for the victory; but fined him in a some of money for his rashnesse, in that hee did so vnaduisedly put himselfe in daunger, being the Ge∣nerall of their forc••s. So that wee see, there ought in this vertue of fortitude certaine circumstances to be necessary, as how it bee done, where it bee done, & why it bee done, and

when it bee done; least in defect hee bée counted a Coward, and in excesse a desperate and vnaduised gouernour. Your Grecian Annales tells vs of one Lamedos, that being a Captayne ouer the Athenians, in a skirmish fledde, which one of his owne souldiers seeing, cryed in retyring to him: Lamedos, why dishonorest thou thy Countrey by flight? Thou deceiuest thy selfe man (quoth he••) I doo but looke to the profit that is behind mee, which after hée confirmed by proofe, for taking aduantage of the place, he discom••••ted the enemy, shewing that hee feared not death, but sought howe to the profit of his countrey, best to make manifest his cou∣rage.

Theseus yet liuing, who for his worthy and incompa∣rable victories is canonised, as come from the Offspring of the gods, being in a battayle against the Athenians intren∣ched him selfe with a stronge countermure, and would not in many daies bee drawen out to fight, which his enemy Lyme••tor séeing, comming to the trench cried out a••d said; Theseus, if thou beest such a hardie souldier as Fame re∣ports thee to bee, why commest thou not out, but like a co∣ward lyest intrenched: nay (••uoth Theseus smiling;) Ly∣mestor, if thou beest of such courage, why doost thou not force mée out of my trenches? By this delay, shewing that hee sought to set Fortitude in hir prime, to adde oportuni∣ty to his valour, and so to fauour his prowesse with fortu∣nate aduantage, that his attempt, as it should bee resolute, so it might bee for the profit of his Countrey, which insued according to his thoughts; for hee slew Lymestor, & all his people: Experience then tells vs, as fortitude is necessary, so it is to bee vsed with such moderation, as by keeping the meane, it bée counted a vertue: Howe requisite it is in a Captaine, consideration of his place makes manifest; for being appointed Generall, and therefore Guyder and Go∣uernour of the rest, hee is to measure all his actions; yea, his very thoughts with such an honorable resolution, as lay∣ing apart all feare of death whatsoeuer, his charge and due∣••y is to hazard him selfe in any perills, though neuer so dan∣gerous,

thereby to incourage his Souldiers, by imitating his valour to attempt the like, to bee formost in the march; and last in the retrayte: to preferre honor before death, and not to make estimation of the enemies, how many they be, but where they bee: otherwise in seeming to doubt of the multitude, his fearefull imagination greatly discourage his souldiers.

Sergius a woorthy Captaine, hauing but one hand, was of such courage and valour, that being alwayes in the face of the enemy: he returned Uictor in two and fifty great battailes. Lysias the woorthy Prynce of the Lacede∣monians being demaunded how hee was honored with so many conquests, pulling out his sword, made answere; that with this hee made Fortune subiect to his desiers: attribu∣ting more credit to his owne prowesse, than to the incon∣stant deity of such a fickle goddesse. A Grecian Captaine, whose name commeth not readily to memory, being in a sore battaile against that mighty Monarch Pisandros, sée∣ing his countrymen ready to flee for feare of the multitude of the enemy, whose fleete almost couered the Sea, sought to perswade them, but in vaine; wherevpon hée sent secretly one of his sonnes in a little skyfe to Pisandros, to tell him that his countrymen would escape by such a passage: which hee taking kindly, and presently stopping, added such a cou∣rage to the coward••s, that by this pollicie drawen to bat∣tayle, they put Pi••andros with great losse to flight: where wee sée how greatly the incomparable fortitude of the Cap∣taine did preuaile in the getting of victorie.

In deede (quoth Troilus) I doo remember that Apollo, being demaunded by the inhabitants of Phasiaca, what cap∣taine they should choose for the subduing of the Milesians: his oracle answered. Such a one as dare for the weale of his countrey, leape into the Mylesian gulfe: whereupon they returned, and made proclamation that their fr••edome could not be, vnlesse one willingly offred himselfe as a sacra∣fice to Neptune: the men of Phasiaca naturally fearefull, sought euery man his owne saf••y, till at last a poore man,

whom want had made desperate, offered him selfe: him they those for their Captayne, and going foorth to meete the Mi∣lesians, hauing little skill in ordring his men, yet with such resolution, set vpon the enemies, tha•• by his meanes they returned victors. T••uth (quoth Hector) of such force is fortitude, that the very name of courage daunteth the ene∣my: for I haue heard my father Priamus often make men∣tion of one Nasycles, who was so famous for his cheualry and prowesse, that his very name was a warrant o•• victory to his souldiers: in so much that after his death•• in a great battayle his countriemen being almost discomfited, cau∣sing one to put on his armour, they fought a fresh, & cried Nasycles: which so affrighted the enemy, that they fled & were vanquished. To be short, wh••t can a captaine, were he neuer so wise, attempt by pollicie, but he must performe by Fortitude? What ambush so cunningly planted, but would be ouerthrowne, if garded with cowards? what en∣counter, though fortune swore the victory, and taken with most great aduantage, could be atchieued, if the Captaine for feare discourage his Souldiers from the assault? which the forenamed Sergius noted very well, in th••t how small so euer his number was, yet hee woulde alwaies gyue the onset, saying that souldiers which stood at receipt, & felt the furious attempt of the enemy, were halfe discomfited: neyther doth liberality preuaile to incourage the So••ldiers to battaile, when they see their captaine stand more vppon his purse then his person, & had rather incounter with pelf•• then with the sword. To confirme which forerehearsed pre∣misses, pleaseth your honorable patience to giue mee leaue, I will rehearse a pleasant and tragicall historie: Priamus taking a delight in his sonnes discourse, nodding his heade, gaue sufficient proofe they were content to bee patient au∣ditors: wherevpon Hector began his tale thus.