The Royal Exchange Contayning sundry aphorismes of phylosophie, and golden principles of morrall and naturall quadruplicities. Vnder pleasant and effectuall sentences, dyscouering such strange definitions, deuisions, and distinctions of vertue and vice, as may please the grauest cittizens, or youngest courtiers. Fyrst written in Italian, and dedicated to the Signorie of Venice, nowe translated into English, and offered to the cittie of London. Rob. Greene, in Artibus Magister.

Prudenza. Prudence.

Foure things especially we are taught by prudence.

• 1. To remember things past.
• 2. To dispose things present.
• 3. To prouide for things to come.
• 4. And to suspēd those which are in doubt

In these foure is comprehended the perfect course of mans life: for saith Zenophon in his Occonomica, a man must remember things past, that what he hath doone well he may immitate, and what ill, hee may feare to commi•• the like: he must sette in order thinges present, to keep•• that he hath gotten, and to preuent penurie, prouide for the time that is to come.

Foure things make a man wise.

• 1. Studie.
• 2. Experience.
• 3. Nightly consideration.
• 4. And immitation of the wise.

Foure things belong to a wise man.

• 1. To liue ordinatelie.
• 2. To get riches honestly.
• 3. To follow others rightly.
• 4. And to moderate himselfe.

Learning and experience telleth vs, that an ordinate life, measured by the true proportion of equitie, cannot be founde but in wise men: for to obseru•• the meane be∣tweene two extremities, is a poynt of great prudence.

Foure sorts of men haue néede of great wisedome.

• 1. The Preacher in his doctrine.
• 2. The Iudge in his sentence.
• 3. The Phisition in his patient.
• 4. And y^e rich man in his treasure.

There was none admitted in Athens to the calling of a Iudge, before he was olde, that experience & many yeres might be a warrant of his wisedome: so deceitfull sayth Solon are the allurements of riches, that he had neede of great wisedome which is not abused with their vanities.