Euphues. The anatomy of vvyt Very pleasant for all gentlemen to reade, and most necessary to remember: wherin are contained the delights that wyt followeth in his youth, by the pleasauntnesse of loue, and the happynesse he reapeth in age, by the perfectnesse of wisedome. By Iohn Lylly Master of Arte. Oxon.

Euphues and his Ephaebus.

IT is commonly sayd, yet doe I thinke it a common lye, that Experience is the Mistresse of fooles, for in my opinion they be most fooles that want it. Ney∣ther am I one of y^e least that haue try∣ed this true, neither he onely that here¦tofore déemed it to be false. I was héereof a studente of great wealth, of some wit of no smal acquayntance, yet haue I learned that by Experience, that I shoulde hardly haue séene by learning. I haue thorowly sifted the disposition of youth, wherein I haue founde more branne then meale, more dowe then leauen, more rage then reason. He that hath bene burned knoweth the force of the fire, he that hath bene stoung, remembreth the smarte of the Scorpion, he that hath endured the brunts of fancie, knoweth best how to eschew y^e broyles of affection. Let therefore my counsayle be of such auc∣thoritie as it may commaund you to be sober, your con∣uersation of such integritie, as it may encourage mée to go forwarde in that which I haue taken in hande: the whole effect shall be to sette downe a young man so ab∣solute as that nothing may be added to his further per∣fection. And although Plato hath ben so curious in his common weale, Aristotle so precise in his happy man, Tullie so pure in his orator, that we may well wish to see them, but neuer haue anye hope to enioy them, yet shall my young Impe be such an one as shall be perfect euery way and yet common, if dilygence and industrie be imployed to the attayning of such perfection. But I would not haue young men slowe to followe my pre∣cepts, or idle to defer the time lyke Saint George, who is euer on horse backe yet neuer rideth.

If my counsell shall séeme rigorous to fathers to in∣structe their children, or heauie for youth to follow their parents will: Let them both remember that the Estrich

disgesteth harde yron to preserue his healthe, that the souldiour lyeth in his harnesse to atchieue conquest, that the sicke patient swalloweth bitter pilles to be eased of his griefe, that youth shoulde indure sharpe stormes to finde reliefe.

I my selfe had bene happye if I had bene vnfortu∣nate, wealthy if lefte meanely, better learned if I had bene better lyued, we haue an olde (Prouerb) youth will haue his course. Ah gentlemen it is a course which we ought to make a course accompte off, replenished with more miseries thē olde age, with more sinnes then com∣mō cutthroats, with more calamities thē y^e date of Pri∣amus: we are no sooner out of the shell but we resem∣ble the Cocyx which destroyeth it selfe thorowe selfe will, or the Pellican which pearceth a wounde in hir owne breast: we are eyther leade with a vayne glo∣rye of our proper personage, or with selfe loue of our sharpe capacitie, either entangled with beautie, or sedu∣ced by idle pastimes, eyther witcht with vicious com∣pany of others, or inueigled with our owne conceits, of all these things I may the bolder speake, hauing tryed it true to mine owne trouble.

To the entente therefore that all younge gentlemen might shunne my former losenesse I haue set it downe, and that all might follow my future lyfe, I meane héere to shewe what fathers shoulde doe, what children shoulde followe, desiring them both not re∣iecte it bicause it procéedeth from one which hath bene lewde, no more then if they woulde neglect the golde bycause it lyeth in the durtye earthe or the pure wyne for that it commeth out of an homely presse, or the precious stone Aetites which is ••ounde in the filthy neastes of the Eagle, or the precious gemme Dra∣conites that is euer taken out of the heade of the poyso∣ned Dragon. But to my purpose.

¶That the childe shoulde be true borne, no bastarde.

FIrst touching their procreation, it shall séeme neces∣sa••ie to entreate off, who so euer he be y^t desireth to be the Sire of an happy sonne, or the father of a fortu∣nate childe, lette him abstaine from those women which be eyther base o•• birth, or bare of honestie, for if y^e mo∣ther be noted of incontinencie, or the father of vice, the childe will eyther during lyfe, be infected with the like crime, or the trecheries of his parents as ignomye to him will be cast in his téeth: For we commonlye call those ••nhappy children, which haue sprong from vnho∣nest parents. It is therefore a great treasure to the fa∣ther and tranquilitie to the minde of the childe, to haue that lybertie, which both nature, law, and reason hath sette downe.

The guyltie conscience of a father that hath troden awry, causeth him to think•• and suspect that his father also went not right, wherby his owne behauiour is as it were a witnesse, of his owne basenesse. Euen as those that come of a noble progenie boast of their gen∣trye. Héerevppon it came that Diophantus, Themisto∣cles his sonne woulde often and that openly saye in a great multitude, that what soeuer he shoulde séeme to request of the Athenians, he should be sure also to ob∣tayne, for ••ayth hée, what soeuer I will that wil my mo∣ther, and what my mother sayth my father sootheth, and what my father desireth that the Athenians will graunt most willingly. The bolde courage of the La∣cedemonians is to be praysed, which sette a fine on the heade of Archidamius their king, for y^t he had marri∣ed a woman of a small personage, saying he minded to begette Quéenes, not Kinges to succeede him. Lette vs not omitte that which our Auncestours were won••

precisely to kéepe that men shoulde either bée sober, or drincke little wine, that woulde haue sober and discrete children, for that the fact of the father woulde bée figu∣red in the infant. Diogenes therefore séeing a younge man either ouercome with drincke or bereued of hys wits, cryed with a lowde voice, youth, youth, thou hadst a dronken Father. And thus muche for procreation, nowe howe the life shoulde bée ledde I will shewe briefly.

¶Howe the life of a younge man should be lead.

THere are thrée thinges whiche cause perfection in man, Nature, Reason, Use. Reason I call dis∣cipline, Use exercise, if any one of these braunches want, cert••i••••ly the trée of vertue must néedes wither. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without discipline is of small force, and disci∣pline without Nature more féeble, if exercise or study be voide of any of these, it auayleth nothing. For as in tilling of the grounde and husbandry, there is first cho∣sen a fertil soyle, then a cunning sower, then good séede, euen so must wée compare Nature to the fatée earthe, the expert husbandman to the Schoolemaister, the facul∣ties and sciences to the pure séedes. If this order had not bene in our predecessors, Pithagoras, Socrates, Pla∣to, and whosoeuer was renowmed in Greece for the glorie of wisdome: they had neuer bene eternished for wise men, neither cannonished as it were for Saincts amonge those that studye sciences. It is therefore a most euident signe of Gods singuler fauour towardes him that is endued with all these qualities, without the least of the which man is most miserable. But if there be any one that déemeth wit not necessary to the obtay∣ninge of wisedome, after hée hath gotten the waye to

vertue by industrye and exercise, hée is an••heriticke, in my opinion touching the true faith of learning, for if Nature playe•• not hir parte, in vayne is laboure, and as I sayd before if study bée not imployed, in vayne is Nature•• Sloth tourneth the ••edge of wit, Study shar∣pen••th the minde, a thing be it neuer ••o easie is hard to the (idle) a thinge bee it neuer so hard, is easie to the wit wel employed. And most plainely we may see in many thinges the efficacie of industry and laboure.

The little drops of rayne pearceth harde Marble, yron wyth often handlinge is worne to nothinge. Be∣sides this, industry sheweth hir selfe in other thinges, the fertill soyle if it bée neuer tilled doth waxe barren, and that which is most noble by nature is made most vyle by negligence. What trée if it bée not topped beareth any fruite? What vine if it bée not proyned, bringeth foorth grapes? is not the strength of the body tourned to weakenesse throughe too muche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were not Milo his armes brawnefallen, for want of wrastlinge? moreouer by labour the fierce Unicorne is tamed, the wyldest Fawlcon is reclaymed, the grea∣test bulwarke is sacked. It was well aunswered of that man of Thessalie, who béeinge demaunded who amonge the Thessalians were reputed moste vyle, those sayd hée that liue at quyet and ease, neuer gy∣uing themselues to marciall affayres: but what should one vse many woordes in a thinge already proued. It is custome, vse and exercise, that bringe a younge man to vertue, and vertue to his perfection. Lycurgus the lawegiuer of the Sparthans dyd nourish two whelpes, both of one syre and one damme: But after a sundry manner, for the one hée framed to hunte, & the other to lye alwaies in y^e chymneys end at the porredge pot, afterwarde callinge the Lacedemonians into one as∣semblye, hée sayde, to the attayninge of vertue yée La∣cedemonians,

education, industry, and exercise, is the most noblest meanes, the truth of the which I wyll make manifest vnto you by tryall, then brynginge foorth the whelpes and settinge downe there a potte, and a hare, the one ranne at the hare, the other to the porredge potte, the Lacedemonians, scarce vnderstan∣dinge this mistery, hée sayde both these bée of one syre and one damme, but you sée howe education altereth nature.

¶Of the education of youth.

IT is most necessarie and most naturall in myne opinion, that the mother of the childe bée also the nurse, both for the entire loue shée beareth to the babe, and the great desire she hath to haue it well nouri∣shed: for is there any one more meete to bring vp the infant, then she that bore it? or will any be so carefull for it, as shee that bredde it? for as the throbbes and throwes in chyldbirth wrought hir payne, so the smi∣linge countenaunce of the infant increaseth hir plea∣sure, the hyred nurse is not vnlike to y^e hyred saruaunt which not for good will but for gayne, not for loue of the man but the desire of the money, accomplisheth hys dayes worke. Moreouer Nature in thys poynte enforceth the mother to nurse hir owne childe, which hath gyuen vnto euerye beast mylke to succour hyr owne, and mée thincketh Nature to be a most pro∣uident foreséer and prouider for the same, which hath giuen vnto a woman two pappes, that if shée shoulde conceiue two, shée might haue wherewith also to nourishe twaine, and that by sucking of the mothers brestes, there might bee a greater loue bothe of the mother towardes the childe, and the childe towardes

the mother, which is very likely to come to passe, for we sée commonly those that eate and drincke and liue toge∣ther, to be more zealous one to the other, then those that méete seldome, is not the name of a mother most swéet? If it bée, why is halfe that title bestowed on a woman which neuer felte the paines in conceyuing, neyther can conceiue the lyke pleasure in nursinge as the mother doth? Is the earthe called the mother of all thinges onely bicause it bringeth foorth? No, but bicause it nou∣risheth those thinges that springe out of it, whatsoeuer is bredde in the sea, is fed in the sea, no plant, no trée, no hearbe commeth out of the ground that is not moy∣stened and as it were nursed of the moysture and milke of the earth, the Lionesse nurseth hir whelpes, the Rauen, cherisheth hir birdes, the Uiper hir broode, and shall a woman cast away hir babe?

I accompte it cast awaye whiche in the swathe clowtes is cast aside, and little care can that Mother haue, whiche can suffer suche crueltie: and can it bée tearmed wyth any other tytle then crueltie, the infant yet lookinge redde of the mother, the mother yet brea∣thing through the torments of hir trauaile, the childe crying for helpe which is sayd to mooue wilde beasts, euen in the selfe sayde momente it is borne, or the next minute, to deliuer a straunge nurse, whiche per∣happes is neyther holsome in bodye, neyther honest in manners, whiche estéemeth more thy argent although a trifle, then thy tender infant thy greatest treasure? Is it not necessary and requisite that the babe bée nur∣sed wyth that true accustomed iuyce & cherished with his wonted heat, & not fed with coūterfaite diet? Wheat throwne into a straunge ground tourneth to a contra∣ry grayne, y^e Uyne translated into an other soyle chan∣geth his kinde. A slippe pulled fro the stalke withereth, the young childe as it were slipped from the pappes of

his mother eyther changeth his nature or altereth his disposition. It is pretely sayd of Horace a newe vessell will long time sauour of that lyquor that is first pow∣red into it, and the infant will euer smell of the Nur∣ses manners hauing tasted of hir milke. Therefore lette the mother as often as she shal beholde those two fountaynes of milke, as it were of their owne accorde flowing and swelling with lycour, remember that shée is admonished of nature, yea commaunded of dutie, to cherishe hir owne childe, with hir owne teates, other∣wise when the babe shall nowe beginne to tattle and call hir Mamma, with what force canne she heare it of his mouth vnto whome shée hath denyed Mamma? It is not milke only that encreaseth y^e strength or aug∣menteth the body, but the naturall heat & agréement of the mothers body with the childes, it craueth y^e same accustomed moisture that before it receiued in the bow∣ells, by the which the tender parts were bounde & knit together, by the which it encreased and was succoured in the body.

Certes I am of that minde that the witte and dis∣position is altered and chaunged by the milke, as the moysture and sappe of the earth, doth change the nature of that trée or plant that it nourisheth. Wherefore the common bye worde of the common people séemeth to be grounded vppon good experience which is: This fellow hath sucked mischiefe euen from the teate of his nursse. The Grecians when they saw any one sluttishly fedde, they woulde say euen as nurses: whereby they noted the greate dislykinge they hadde of theire fulsome féeding. The Etimologie of mother among the Greci∣ans, may aptly bée applyed to those mothers which vn∣naturally deale with their children, they cal it meter a meterine, that is mother of not makinge much off, or of not nourishing, héereof it commeth that the sonne doth

not with deepe desire loue his mother, neyther wyth duetie obay hir, ••is naturall af••ection being as it were deuided and distraught into twain, a mother & a nurse: heereoff it proceedeth that the mother beareth but a colde kindenesse towardes hir childe, when she shall sée the nature of hir nurse in the nurture of hir childe. The chiefest way to learning is, if there be a mutuall loue and feruent desire betweene the teacher and him that is taught, then verely the greatest furtheraunce to educa∣tion is if the mother nourish the childe and the childe sucke the mother, that there be as it were a relacion and reciprecall order of affection. Yet if the mother ei∣ther for the euill habite of the body, or the weakenesse of hir p••ppes, cannot though she woulde nurse hir in∣fant, then lette hir prouide suche a one as shall be of a good complexion, of an honest condition, carefull to ten∣der the childe, louing to see well to it, willyng to take paynes, dillygent in tending and prouiding all thinges necessarye, and as lyke both in the lyniaments of the body and disposition of the minde to y^e mother as may be. Lette hir forslow no occasion that may bringe the childe to quietnesse and cleanelynesse, for as the parts of a childe as soone as it is borne are framed and fashi∣oned of the midwife, y^t in all poynts it may be streight and comely, so the manners of the childe at the first are to be looked vnto that nothing discommend the minde, that no crooked behauiour or vndecent demeanour bée founde in the man.

Young and tender age is easily framed to manners, and hardelye are those thinges mollyfied which are harde. For as the steele is imprinted in the softe waxe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 learning is engrauen in the minde of an young impe. ••••••to that deuine Philosopher admonished all nurses and weaners of youth, that they sh••uld not be to busie to tell them fonde fables or filthie tales, least at their

entraunce into the worlde they shoulde be contamina∣ted with vnséemelye behauiour, vnto the which Pho∣cides the Poet doth pithely allude, saying. Whilst that the childe is young lette him bee instructed in vertue, and lyterature.

Moreouer they are to bée trayned vpp in the lan∣guage of their country, to pronounce aptly and distinct∣ly without stammering euerye worde and sillable of their natiue speache, and to be kepte from barbarous talke as the shippe from rockes: least béeinge affected with their barbarisme they bée infected also with theire vncleane conuersation.

It is an olde Prouerbe that if one dwell the nexte dore to a creple he wil learne to hault, if one be conuer∣sant with an hypocrite, he wll soone endeauour to dis∣semble. When this younge infante shall growe in yeares and bée of that rypenesse that hée can conceiue learninge, insomuch that he is to be committed to the tuition of some tutour, all dillygence is to be had to searche such a one as shall neyther be vnlearned, ney∣ther ill lyued, neyther a lyght person.

A gentleman that hath honest and discréete seruants disposeth them to the encrease of his segnioryes, one he appoynteth stewarde of his courtes, an other ouerse∣er of his landes, one his factoure in farre countryes for his merchaundize, an other puruayour for his cates at home.

But if among all his seruauntes he shall espye one eyther filthye in his ••alke or foolishe in his behauiour, eyther wythout witte or voyde of honestie eyther an vnthrifte or a witta••l, him hée settes not as a suruayour and ouerseer of his mannors, but a su∣peruisour of his childrens conditions and manners, to him hee committeth the guydinge and tuition of his sonnes, which is by hys proper Nature, a

slaue, a knaue by condition, a beast in behauiour. And sooner will they bestow an hundreth crownes to haue a horse well broken, then a childe well taught, wherein I cannot but maruell to see them so carefull to encrease their possessions, when they be so carelesse to haue them wise that should inherite them.

A good and discreete scholemayster should be such an one as Phaenix was, the instructor of Achilles, whome Pelleus (as Homer reporteth) appoynted to that ende that he should be vnto Achilles not onely a teacher of learning but an example of good lyuinge. But that is most principally to be looked for, and most dilygently to be foreséene, that such tutours bée sought out for y^e edu∣cation of a young childe, whose lyfe hath neuer bene stayned with dishonestie, whose good name hath neuer bene called vnto question, whose manners hath bene ir∣reprehensible before the worlde. As husbandmen hedge in their trées, so shoulde good scholemaysters with good manners hedge in the wit and disposition of y^e scholler: whereby the blossoms of learning may y^e sooner encrese to a bud. Many parents are in this to be misliked which hauing neyther tryall of his honestie nor experience of his learning to whome they committe the childe to bée taught, without any déepe or due consideration, put them to one eyther ignoraunt or obstinate, the which if they themselues shall doe of ignoraunce the folly cannot bee e••cused, if of obstinacie their lewdenesse is to bée ab∣horred.

Some fathers are ou••rc••me with the flatterie of those fooles, which professe outwardly greate knowledge, and shew a certeyne kinde of dissembling sinceritie in their lyfe, others at the entreating of their familyar friendes are content to commit their sonnes to one without ••y∣ther substaunce of honestie or shadowe of learning. By which their vndis••r••te dealing, they are lyke these

••icke men whiche reiect the expert and cunning Phi∣sition, and at the request of their ••••iendes admit the héedelesse practiser which dau••gereth the patient, and bringeth the bodye to his bane: Or not vn••yke vnto those whiche at the instaunt and importunate suite of their acquaintaunce refuse a cunninge Pylot, and choose an vns••ilfull Marriner, whiche hazardeth the shippe and themselues in the calmest sea. Good God can there bée any that hath the name of a Father which wyll est••eme more the fancie of his friende then the nurture of his sonne? It was not in vayne that Crates would often say, that if it were lawfull euen in the market place, hee would crye out: Whether runne you Fathers, which haue all your carke and ca••e to multiplye your wealth, nothing regardinge your chyl∣dren vnto whome you must leaue all. In thys they resemble him which is very curious about the shooe, and hath no care of the foote. Besides this there bée many fathers so inflamed with the loue of wealth, that they bée as it were incensed with hate againste their childre•• which Aristippus, séeinge in an olde miser, did partly note it, this olde miser askinge of Aristip∣pus what hée would take to teach and bringe vp hys sonne, hée aunswered a thousand groates, a thousand groates, God sheild aunswered this olde huddle, I haue two seruauntes of that price. Unto whome hée made aunswere, thou shalt haue two seruants and one sonne, and whether wilt thou sell? Is it not absurde to haue so great a care of the right hande of the childe to cutte his meate, that if he handle his knife in the lea••t hand we rebuke him seuerely and to bée secure of his nur∣ture in discipline and learning? But what doe hap∣pen vnto those parentes, that bringe vp theire chil∣dren lyke wantons?

When their sonnes shall growe to mans estate,

disdayninge nowe to bée corrected, stoborne to obeye, gyuing themselues to vaine pleasures and vnseeme∣ly pastimes, then with the foolishe trowans they be∣ginne to waxe wise and to repent them of theire for∣mer follye, when their sonnes shall insumate them∣selues in the companye of flatterers, (a kinde of men more perrillous to youthe then any kinde of beastes.) When they shall haunt harlottes, frequent tauerns, bée curious in their attyre, costly in their dyet, carelesse in their behauiou••, when they shall eyther bée common d••cers wyth gamesters, eyther wanton dallyers with Ladyes, eyther spende all their thrift on wine, or all their wealth on women, then the Father curseth his owne securitie•• and lamenteth to late his childes mys∣fortune, then the one accuseth his Syre, as it were of mallice that hee woulde not bringe him vppe in lear∣ninge, and himselfe of mischiefe that hée gaue not his minde to good letters. If these youthes had bene trai∣ned vp in the companye of any Philosopher, they would neuer haue bene so disolute in theyr lyfe, or so resolute in their owne conceites.

It is good nurture that leadeth to vertue, and dis∣créete demeanour that playneth the pathe to felicity. If one haue either the gi••tes of Fortune, as greate riches, or of nature, as seemely personage, hée is to bée dispised in respect of learning. To be a noble man it is most excellent, but that is our auncestors, as Vlys∣ses sayde to Aiax, as for our nobilitie, our stocke, our kindred, and whatsoeuer wée our selues haue not done, I ••earcely accompt ours. Richesse are precious, but Fortune ruleth the rost, which oftentimes taketh away all from them that haue much, and gyueth them more that had nothinge, glorye is a thinge worthy to bee followed, but as it is gotten wyth greate tra∣uayle, so is it lost in a small time. Beautie is suche

a thing as wée commonly preferre before all thinges, yet it fadeth before we perceyue it to florishe, health is that which all men desire, yet euer subiect to any dis∣ease, strength is to bee wyshed for, yet is it eyther a∣bated wyth an ague, or taken away w••th age: who∣soeuer therefore boaste••h of force, is to too beastly, se••∣ing hée is in that qualitie, not to bée compared wyth beastes, as the Lyon, y^e Bull, the E••ephant. It is ver••ue, yea, vertue, gentlemen, y^t maketh gentlemen, y^t maketh y^e poore rich, y^e base borne noble, the subiect a soueraigne, the deformed beautifull, the sicke whole, the weake strong, the most myserable most happy. There are two principall and peculier gyftes in the nature of man, knowledge, and reason, the one commaundeth, the other obeyeth: these thinges neyther the whirlinge wheele of Fortune can chaunge, neyther the deceite∣full cauillinge of worldlinges seperate, neyther sick∣nesse abate, neither age abolish. It is onely knowledge which worne with yeares waxeth younge, and when all thinges are cutte awaye wyth the cycle of time, knowledge florisheth so highe that time cannot reach it, warre taketh all things with it euen as the whirle∣poole, yet must it leaue learninge behinde it, wherefore it was wiselye aunswered in my opinion of Stilpo the Philosopher, for when Demetrius, wonne the Ci∣tie and made it euen to the grounde leauinge no∣thinge standing, hée demaunded of Stilpo whether hee had lost any thinge of his in this great spoyle: vnto whome he aunswered no verilye, for warre getteth no spoyle of vertue. Unto y^e like sence may the answere of Socrates be applyed, whē Gorgias asked him whether he déemed the Persian kinge happy or not, I knowe not sayd he how much vertue or discipline he hath, for hap∣pines doth not consist in y^e gifts of fortune, but in grace of vertue. But as there is nothing more conuenient thē

enstruction for youth, so would I haue them nurtered in such a place as is renowmed for learning, voyde of corrupte manners, vndefiled with vice, that séeinge no vayne delightes they maye the more easilye ab∣steyne from lycensious desires, they that studye to please the multitude are sure to displease the wyse, they that seeme to flatter rude people wyth their rude pretences, leuell at great honoure, hauinge no ayme at honestie, when I was heere a student in Athens, it was thought a greate commendation for a younge scholler to make an Oration extempore, but certeinely in my iudgement it is vtterly to bée condemned, for whatsoeuer is done rashlye, is done also rawely, he that taketh vppon him to speake wythout premedy∣tation, knoweth, neyther howe to begynne, nor where to ende, but fallinge into a vayne of bablinge, vtte∣reth those thinges whiche wyth modestye hée shoulde haue concealed, and forgetteth those thinges that be∣fore hee had conceyued. An Oration eyther penned, eyther premeditated, kéepeth it selfe with in the bounds of Decorum, I haue read that Pericles béeinge at sundry times called of the people to pleade, woulde alwayes aunswere that hee was not readye: euen after the same manner Demosthenes béeing sent for to declaime amyddest the multitude, staide and sayd I am not yet prouided.

And in his inuectiue agaynst Mydas, he séemeth to prayse the profitablenesse of premeditation, I confesse sayth hee, ye Athenians, that I haue studyed and con∣sidered deepely wyth my selfe what to speake, for I were a sot if without due consideration had of those thinges that are to be spoken, I shoulde haue talked vnaduisedly. But I speake this not to this ende to condemne the exercise of the witte, but that I would not haue any younge scholler openly to exercyse it,

but when he shall grow both in age and eloquence, in so much as he shall throughe great vse & good memorye be able aptly to conceiue & redely to vtter any thing thē this saying extempore bringeth an admiration & delight to the auditorye, and singuler prayse and commenda∣cion to the Orator. For as he that hath long time b••n fettered with chaynes béeing released halteth through the force of his former yrons, so he that hath bene vsed to a stricke kinde of pleading, when hee shall talke extempore wil sauor of his former penning. But if any shal vse it as it wer a precept for youth to tattle extem∣pore, he wil in time bring them to an immoderate kinde of humilitie. A certein painter brought to Appelles the counterfaite of a face in a table saying: loe Appelles I drew this euē now whervnto he replyed. If thou hadst ben silent I would haue iudged this picture to haue ben framed of y^e sodain I maruel y^t in this time thou couldst not paynt many more of these. But retourne we again, as I woulde haue tragicall and stately stile shunned, so would I haue that abiect & base phrase eschued, for this swellyng kinde of talke hath lyttle modestie, the other nothing moueth.

Besides this to haue the oration all one in euerye part, neither adorned with fine figures, neither sprinck∣led with choyse phrases, bringeth teadiousnesse to the hearers, and argueth the speaker of lyttle learning and lesse eloquence. He shoulde more ouer talke of manye matters, not alwayes harpe vpon one string, he that al∣wayes singeth one note without d••skant breedeth no de∣lyght, he that alwayes playeth one part bringeth loth∣somenesse to the eare. It is varietie that moueth the minde of all men, and one thing sayd twice (as wee say commonly) deserueth a trudge. Homer woulde say that it loathed him to repeate any thing agayne though it were neuer so pleasaunt or profitable. Though the

Rose be swéete yet being tyed with the Uiolet the smel is more fragraunte, though meate nurrish, yet hauing good sauor it p••ouoketh the appetite. The fayrest nose∣gay is made of many flowers, the finest picture of sun∣dry colours y^e wholesomest medicine of diuers hearbs: wherefore it behoueth youth with all industry to serch not onely the harde questions of the Philosophers, but also the fine cases of the Lawiers, not only the quirks and quillyties of the Logicians, but also to haue a sight in the numbers of the Arithmetricians, the Tyr∣angles and Circles of the Geometricians, the Spheere and Globe of the Astrologians, the notes and crochets of the Musicians, y^e odde conceits of the Poets, the sim∣ples of the Phisicions, and in all thinges, to the ende that when they shal be willed to talke of any of them, they may be ignoraunt in nothing. He y^t hath a gardein plot doth aswel sow the pothearb as the Margerom, as well the Leeke as the Lyllye, as well the wholesome Isoppe, as the faire Carnation, the which he doth to the entent he may haue wholesome hearbes as well to nurrish his inwarde parts as sweete flowers to please his outwarde desire, aswell fruitefull plantes to refresh his sences, as fayre shewes to please his sighte. Euen so whosoeuer that hath a sharpe and capable witte, let him aswell giue his minde to sacred knowledge of di∣uinitie, as to the profounde studye of Philosophye, that by his witte he may not onely reape pleasure but pro∣fite, not onely contentacion in minde, but quyetnesse in conscience. I will proceede in the Education.

I woulde haue them first of all to follow Philoso∣phie, as most auncient, yea most excellent, for as it is pleasaunt to passe thorow many fayre Cities, but most pleasaunt to dwell in the fayrest, euen so to reade many Historyes and artes pleasaunt but as it were to lodge with Philosophy most profitable.

It was pretely sayd of Bion the Philosopher. E∣uen as when the woers coulde not haue the companye of Penelope they runne to hir handemaydes: so they that cannot attayne to the knowledge of Philosophie, apply their mindes to things most vyle and contemp∣tible. Wherefore we must prefer Philosophie, as the onely Princesse of all Scyences, and other artes as wayting Maydes. For the curinge and kéepinge in temper of the bodye, man by his industrye hath founde two thinges, Phisicke and Exercise, the one cureth sickenesse, the other preserueth the body in tem∣per, but there is nothing that may heale diseases, or cure the woundes of the minde but onely Philosophy. By this shall wee learne what is honest what disho∣nest, what is right what is wrong, and that I maye in one worde say what may be sayd, what is to be kno∣wen what is to be auoyded, what to be embraced, how we ought to obay our parents, reuerence our Elders, enterteyne straungers, honour the Magistrates, loue our friendes, lyue with our wyues, vse ••ur seruaunts, how we should worship God, be dutifull to our fathers, stande in awe of our superiours, obay lawes, giue place to officers, how we may chuse friendes, nurture our children, and that which is most noble how we should neyther be too prowde in prosperitie, neyther pensiue in aduersitie, neythr lyke beasts ouercome with anger. And heere I cannot but lament Athens, which hauing ben alwaies y^e nurse of Philosophers, doth now nurrish only y^e name of Philosophy. For to speake playnly of y^e disorder of Athens, who doth not see it, and sorrow at it? such playing at dice, such quaffing of drinke, such dalyaunce with woemen, such daunsing, that in my o∣pinion ther is no quaffer in Flaunders so giuen to typ∣plynge, no courtier in Italy so giuen to ryotte, no cre∣ature in the worlde so misled as a student in Athens.

Such a con••usion of degrées, that the Scholler knoweth not his ••uetie to the Bachelor, nor the Bachelor to the Maister, nor the Maister to the Doctor. Such corrup∣tion of manners, cont••mpt of Magistrates, such open sinnes, such priuie villanye, such quarrellynge in the st••eetes, such subtile practises in chambers, as maketh my hearte to melt with sorrowe to thinke of it, and shoulde cause your mindes gentlemen to penitent to re∣member it.

Moreouer who doth know a scholler by his habite? Is there any hatte of so vnséemely a fashion, any dub∣lette of so long a waste, any hose so short, any attire ei∣ther so costly, or so courtly, eyther so straunge in ma∣king or so monstrous in wearing, th••t is not worne of a scholler? haue they not nowe in stéede of blacke cloth blacke veluet, in steede of course sackecloth fine silke? Be they not more like courtiers thē schollers, more like stageplayers then studentes, more lyke ruffians of Na∣ples then disputers in Athens? I woulde to God they did not imitate all other nations in the vice of y^e minde as they doe in the attire of their body, for certeynelye as there is no nation whose fashion in apparel they do not vse, so is there no wickednesse publyshed in anye place, y^t they do not practize. I thinke that in Sodom and Gomora, there was neuer more filthinesse, neuer more pryde in Rome, more poysoning in Italy, more lyinge in Crete, more priuie spoyling in Spayne, more Idola∣try in Aegypt, then is at this day in Athens, neuer such sectes among the Heathens, such schismes amongst the Turkes, such mis beleefe among y^e Infidells, as is now among Schollers. Be ther not many in Athens which thincke ther is no God? no redemption? no resurrection?

What shame is this gentlemen that a place so re∣nowmed for good learning, should be so shamed for ill lyuinge? that where grace doth abounde, sinne shoulde

so superabound? y^t wher y^e greatest profession of know∣ledge is, ther should also be y^e least practising of honestie. I haue read of many Uniuersities, as of Padua, in Italy, Paris in Fraunce, Wittenberge in Germanie, in England of Oxford & Cambridge, which if they were halfe so ill as Athens they were to to bad, & as I haue heard as they bée, they be starke nought.

But I can speake the lesse against them, for that I was neuer in them, yet can I not chuse but be agrieued, that by report I am enforced rather to accuse them of vanitie then excuse them any way. Ah gentlemē what is to be looked for, nay what is not to be feared, when the temple of Vesta where virgins should liue is lyke the stewes, fraight with strompets when y^e Alter where nothinge but sanctitie and holynesse shoulde be vsed, is polluted with vncleanenesse, when the Uniuersities, of christendome which should be the eies, the lights, the leauen, the salt, the seasoning of the wo••ld, are dimmed with blinde concupisence, put out with pride and haue lost their sauour with impietie?

Is it not become a bye word amongst the common people, that they had rather send their children to the carte, then to the Uniuersiti••, being induced so to saye, for the abuse that raigneth in the Uniuersities, who sending their sonnes to attayne knowledge, finde them little better learned, but a great deale worse ly∣ued then when they went, and not onely vnthriftes of their money, but also banckeroutes of good manners: was not this the cause that caused a simple woman in Greece to exclaime against Athens, saying.

The Maister and the Scholler, the ••uter and the Pupill bée bothe agréede, for the one careth not howe lyttle paine hée taketh for his moneye, the other howe little learning. I perceyue that in Athens there bée no chaungelinges: When of olde it was sayde to

a Lacedemonian that all y^e Grecians knew honesty, but not one practised it. When Panathaenea were celebra∣ted at Athens, an olde man going to take a place was mockingly reiected, at the last comming among the La∣cedemonians all the youth gaue him place, which y^e A∣thenians liked well off, then one of the Sparthans cry∣ed out: Uerily y^e Athenians know what should be done, but they neuer doe it.

When one of the Lacedemonians had bene for a certeine time in Athens séeing nothinge but dauncing, dicinge, banquetinge, surfeytinge, and licencious be∣hauiour, retourninge home hée was asked howe all things stoode in Athens, to whome hée aunswered, all thinges are honest there, meaning that the Athenians accompted all thinges good, and nothing bad. Howe such abuses should or might be redressed in al Uniuer∣sities, especially in Athens, if I were of authoritie to commaunde, it should be séene, or of credite to per∣swade those that haue the dealinges wyth them, it should soone be showne.

And vntill I sée better reformation in Athens, my younge Ephaebus, shall not be nurtured in Athens. I haue spoken all this that you gentlemen might sée how y^e Philo in Athens practise nothing lesse then Phi∣losophy, what scholler is hee that is so zealous at his booke as Chrisippus, who, had not his maide Melissa thrust meate into his mouth hadde perished with fa∣mine béeinge, alwaye studying? Who so watchfull as Aristotle, who going to bedde woulde haue a ball of brasse in his hande, that if hée shoulde bée taken in a slomber, it might fall and awake hym? No, no, the tymes are chaunged as Ouid sayeth, and wée are chaunged in the times, let vs endeuour euerye one to amende one, and wée shall all soone bée amended, let vs giue no occasion of reproche, and wée shall

more easily beare the burden of false reportes, and as wée sée by learninge what wée shoulde doe, so let vs doe as wée learne, then shall Athens florishe, then shall the studentes bée had in greate reputation, then shall learning haue his hyre, and euerye good scholler his hope. But retourne wee once agayne to Phi∣lo. There is amongst men a trifolde kinde of lyfe, Actiue which is about ciuill function and administra∣tion of the common weale. Speculatiue, which is in continuall meditation and studye. The thirde a lyfe ledde, moste commonlye a lewde lyfe, an idle and vaine lyfe, the lyfe that the Epicures accompte their whole felicitie, a voluptuous lyse replenished wyth all kinde of vanitie, if this Actiue lyfe be wythout Philo∣sophy it is an idle lyfe, or at the least a life euil imploy∣ed which is worse: if the contemplatiue life bée sepera∣ted from the Actiue it is most vnprofitable. I woulde therefore haue my youth, so to bestowe his studye, as hée may both bée exercised in the common weale, to common profite, and well imployed priuately for hys owne perfection, so as by his studye the rule hée shall beare maye bée directed, and by his gouernment his studye maye bée increased, in this manner dyd Peri∣cles deale in ciuill affayres, after this sort dyd Archi∣tas Tarentine, Dion the Syracusian, the Thebane Epiminides gouerne their cities: For y^e exercise of the bodye it is necessary also somewhat bée added, that is that the childe shoulde be at such times, permitted to recreate himselfe, when his minde is ouercome wyth studie, least dullinge himselfe wyth ouermuche indu∣stry hée become vnfit afterwarde to conceiue ready∣ly, besides this it will cause an apte composition and that naturall strength y^t it before retayned. A good com∣position of the body laieth a good foundation of olde age, for as in the fayre Sommer we prepare all thinges

necessary for the cold Winter, so good manners in youth and lawfull exercises be as it were victuals and nou∣rishmentes for age, yet are their labours and pastimes so to bee tempered that they weaken not their bodyes more by playe, then otherwyse they shoulde haue done by study••, and so to be vsed that they addict not them∣selues more to the exercise of the limmes then the fol∣lowing of learning, the greatest enemies to discipline as Plato recompteth, are labours & sléepe. It is also re∣quisite that hee bée expert in marciall affayres, in shoo∣ting, in darting, that he hawke and hunt, for his honest pastime and recreation, and if after these pastimes hée shall seeme secure, nothinge regardinge his bookes, I would not haue him, scourged w^t stripes, but threatned with words, not dulled with blowes, like seruaunts the which the more they are beaten the better they beare it, and the lesse they care for it, for children of good dis∣position are eithe•• incited by praise to goe forwarde, or shamed by dispraise to commit the like offence: those of obstinate & blockish behauiour, are neither with words to be perswaded, neither with stripes to be corrected. They must now be taūted with sharp rebukes, straight wayes admonished with faire wordes, nowe threatned a paiment, by and by promised a reward, & dealt with∣all as nurses doe with the babes, whom after they haue made to cry, they profer the teate, but diligēt héede must be taken y^t he be not praised aboue measure, least stan∣ding to much in his owne conceite, he become also ob∣stinate in his owne opinions. I haue knowen many fa∣thers whose great loue towards their sonnes hath bene the cause in time that they loued them not, for when they see a sharpe witte in their sonne to conceiue for the desire they haue that hée shoulde out runne his fel∣lowes, they loaden him with continuall exercise, which is the onely cause that hée sincketh vnder his burden,

and giueth ouer in the playne fielde. Plants are nur∣rished with lyttle rayne, yet drowned with much, euen so the minde with indifferent labour wareth more per∣fect, with much studie it is made fruitelesse. We must consider that all our lyfe is deuided into remission and st••dye.

As there is watchinge, so is there sléepe, as there is warre, so is there peace, as there is Winter, so is there Sommer, as there be many working dayes, so is there also many holydayes, & if I may speake all in one worde, ease is the sauce of labour, which is playne∣ly to be seene not onely in lyuing thinges, but also in things without lyfe: We vnbende the bowe that wée maye the better bende him, wee vnloose the harpe that we may the sooner tune him, the body is kept in health aswell with fasting as eating, the minde healed with ease aswell as with labour, those parents are in minde to be mislyked which committe the whole care of their childe to the custody of a hirelyng, neyther askinge neither knowing how their children profite in lerning. For if the father were desirous to examine his sonne in that which he hath learned, the mayster woulde bée more carefull what he did teach. But séeinge the fa∣ther carelesse what they learne, he is also secure what he teacheth, that notable saying of y^e Horsekéeper maye heere be applyed which sayde, nothinge did so fatte the horse as the eye of the King. Moreouer I woulde haue the memorye of children continually to be exercised, which is the greatest furtheraunce to learninge that can be.

For this cause they fayned in their olde fables me∣mory to be the mother of perfection. Children are to be chastised if they shal vse any filthy or vnséemly talke, for as Democrates sayth, the worde is the shadowe of the worke: they must be courteous in their behauiour,

lowely in their speach, not disdayning their cock mates or refrayning their company: they must not lyue wan∣tonly, neyther speake impudently, neyther angry with∣out cause, neyther quarrellous without choler. A young man beeing peruerse in nature, & proude in words and manners, gaue Socrates a spurne, who béeing moued by his fellowes to giue him an other: If sayd Socrates an ••sse had kicked me, woulde you also haue me to kicke him againe, the greatest wisedome in Socrates in com∣pressing his anger is worthy great commendacion. Architas Tarentine retourning from warre and finding his grounde ouergrowen with wéedes and tourned vp with Mowles, ••ent for his Farmour vnto whome hee sayde: If I were not angrye I woulde make thée re∣pent thy ill husbandry. Plato hauing a seruaunt whose blisse was in fillyng of his belly, seeinge him on a time idle and vnhonest in behauiour, sayd out of my sighte, for I am incensed with anger.

Althoughe these ensamples be harde to imitate, yet shoulde euery man do his endeuour to represse that hot and heady humor which he is by nature subiecte vnto. To be silent and discreete in companye, thoughe manye thinke it a thing of no great wayghte or importaunce, yet is it most requisite for a young man and most ne∣cessary for my Ephaebus. It neuer hath bene hurtefull to any to holde his peace, to speake, damage to manye, what so is kept in silēce is husht, but whatsoeuer is bab∣bled out cannot agayne be recalled. We maye sée the cunning and curious worke of Nature, which hath bar∣red and hedged nothing in so stronglye, as the tongue, with two rowes of téeth, therewith two lyppes, besides she hath placed it farre from the hearte, that it shoulde not vtter that which the hearte had conceiued, this al∣so shoulde cause vs to be silente, séeinge those that vse much talke though they speake truely are neuer belée∣ued.

Wyne therefore is to be refrayned which is ter∣med to be the glasse of the minde, and it is an olde Pr••∣uerbe: Whatsoeuer is in the heart of the sober man, is in the mouth of the drunckarde. Bias holding his tongue at a feast, was tearmed there of a tatler to bee a foole, who sayde, is there any wise man that can holde his tongue amidst the wine? vnto whome Bias aunswe∣red, there is no foole that can.

A certeyne gentleman heere in Athens, inuited the Kings Legates to a costly and sumptuous ••east, where also he assembled many Philosophers, and talking of di∣uers matters both of the common weale and learning, onely Zeno sayd nothing. Then the ambassadors said, what shall wee shewe of thée O Zeno to the king. No∣thing aunswered hee, but that there is an olde man in Athens that amiddest the pottes coulde holde his peace. Anacharsis suppinge with Solon, was founde a sléepe, hauing his right hande before his mouth, his lefte vpon his priuities, wherby was noted that the tongue should be rayned with the strongest bridle. Zeno bicause hée woulde not be enforced to reueale any thinge agaynst his will by torments, bitte of his tongue and spit it in the face of the Tyraunt.

Nowe when children shall by wisedome and vse refrayne from ouer much tatlyng, lette them also be ad∣monished that when they shall speake, they speake no∣thing but truth, to lye is a vyce most detestable, not to be suffered in a slaue, much lesse in a sonne. But the greatest thinge is yet behinde, whether that those are to bée admitted as cockemates with children which loue them entirely, or whether they bée to bée banished from them.

When as I sée manye fathers more cruell to their children then carefull of them, which thincke it not necessarye to haue those about them, that most tender

them, then I am halfe as it were in a doubte to giue counsell. But when I call to my remembraunce So∣crate••, Plato, Xenophon, Eschines, Saebetes, and all those that so much commende the loue of men, which haue also brought vpp many to great rule, reason and pietie, then I am encouraged to imitate those whose ex∣cellencie doth war••ant my precepts to be perfect. If any shall loue the childe ••or his comely countenaunce, him woulde I haue to be banished as a most daunge∣rous and in••ectious beast, if hee shall loue him for his fathers sake, or for his own good qualyties, him would I haue to be with him alwayes as superuisour of hys manners: such hath it bene in times past the loue of one Athenian to the other, and of one Lacedemonian to the other.

But hauing sayde almost sufficient for the educati∣on of a childe, I will speake two words, how he should be trayned when he groweth in yeares. I can not but mislyke the nature of diners parentes which appoynte ouerseers and tutours for their children in their tender age, and suffer them when they come to be young men, to haue the bridle in theire owne hande, knowing not that age requireth rather a harde snaffle then a pleasant bit, and is sooner allured to wickednesse then childehood. Who knoweth not the escapes of children, as they are small so they are soone amended? eyther with threates they ar to be remedied or with faire promisses to be re∣warded. But the sinnes and faults of young men are almost or altogether ••ntollerable, which giue thēselues to be delycate in their dyet, prodigall in their expence, vsing dicing, dauncing, dronkennesse, deflowring of vir∣g••ns, abusing wyues, committing adulteries, and ac∣counting all things hon••st that are most detestable. H••ere therefore must be vsed a due regarde that theire lust may be repressed, their ryot abated, their courage

cooled, for hard it is to sée a young man to bée mais••er of himselfe which yeldeth himselfe as it were a bonde slaue, to fonde and ouerlashinge affections. Wise pa∣rentes ought to take good heede, especially at this time, y^t they frame their sonnes to modesty, eyther by threats or by rewardes, either by faire promises or seuere prac∣tises, eyther shewinge the miseries o•• those that haue ben ouercome with wildenesse, or the happinesse of thē that haue conteined themselues wythin the bandes of reason: these two are as it were the ensignes of vertue, the hope of honour, the feare of punishment. But chief∣ly parents must cause their youths to abandon the so∣cietie of those which are noted of euill liuing & lewde behauiour, which Pithagoras seemed somewhat obscure∣ly to note in these his sayinges.

First, that one should absteine from the tast of those thinges that haue blacke tayles. That is, we must not vse the companye of those whose corrupt manners doo as it were make their lyfe blacke. Not to goe aboue the ballaunce, that is, to reuerence Iustice, neyther for feare or flattery to leane to any one parcially, not to lye in idlenesse, that is, that sloth shoulde bée abhorred: That wée should not shake euery man by the hande: That is, wée should not contract friendshippe wyth all: Not to weare a straite ringe: That is that we should leade our life so as wée neede not to fetter it wyth ••heynes: Not to bring fire to a slaughter: That is, wée must not prouoke anye that is furious wyth wordes: Not to eate our heartes: That is, that wée shoulde not vexe our selues wyth thoughtes, consume our bodyes with sighes, wyth sobbes, or with care to pine our carcasses: To absteine from beanes, that is, not to meddle in ciuill affayres or businesse of the common weale, for in the olde times the election of ma∣gistrates was made by the pullinge of beanes: Not

to put our meate in Scapio. That is wée shoulde not speake of manners or vertue, to those whose mindes are infected with vice. Not to retire when wee are come to the ende of our race. That is, when wée are at the poynte of deathe, wee shoulde not be oppres∣sed wyth griefe, but willingly yelde to nature. But I will retourne to my former preceptes, that is, that younge men shoulde bée kept from the company of those that are wicked, especially from the si••ht of the flatterer. For I say now as I haue oftentimes before sayde••, that there is no kinde of beast so noysome as the flatterer, nothing that will sooner consume bothe the sonne and the Father and all honest friendes. When the Father exhorteth the sonne to sobrietye, the flatterer prouoketh hym to wine, when the Fa∣ther weaneth them to continencie, the flatterer allu∣reth them to lust, when the Father admonisheth them to thrifte, the flatterer haleth them to prodigallitye, when the Father encourageth them to labour, the flat∣terer layeth a cusshion vnder his eldbowe to sleepe, biddinge them to eate, drincke, and bée merry, for that the lyfe of man is soone gone, and but as a short sha∣dowe, and seeinge that wée haue but a whyle to lyue, who woulde lyue lyke a seruaunt? they saye that nowe their Fathers bee ol••e and doate through age lyke Saturnus.

Héereof if cōmeth y^e young men giuing not onely at∣tentiue eare but redy coyne to flatterers fall into such mys••ortune, heereof it procéedeth that they haunt the stewes, marry before they be wyse, and dye be••ore they thriue. These be the beas••s which liue by y^e trenchers of younge gentlemen, & consume the treasures of their reuenewes, these be they that soothe younge youthes in their owne sayinges, that vpholde them in all theyr dooinges with a yea, or nay, these be they that are at e∣uery

becke, at euery nod, ••réemen by fortune, slaues by free wil. Wherfore if there be any fathers that would haue his children nurtured and brought vp in hone∣stye, let him expell these Panthers, whiche haue a swéete smell but a deuouringe minde: yet woulde I not haue parentes altogether precise, or to seu••re in correction, but let them wyth mildenesse ••orgyue light offences, and remember that they themselues h••ue bene younge, as the Phisition by minglinge bitter poy∣sons with swéete liquor, bringeth healthe to the bo∣dy, so the Father with sharpe rebukes seasoned with louing lookes, causeth a redresse and amendement in his childe. But if the Father be throughly angry vpon good occasion, let him not continue his rage, for I had rather he should be soone angry then harde to be pleased, for when the sonne shall percei••e that the Father hathe conceyued rather a hate then a heate againste him, he becommeth desperate, neyther regarding his fathers ire, neither his owne duetie. Some light faults let them dissemble as though they knewe them not, & séeing them let them not séeme to see them, & hearing them let them not seeme to heare. We can easily forget the offences of our friendes be they neuer so great, and shall wée not forgyue the escapes of our children be they neuer so small? We beare of••entimes with our seruaunts and shall we not somtimes with our sonnes: the fairest Ien∣net is ruled as well with the wand as with the spurre, the wildest childe is assoone corrected with a word as w^t a weapon. If thy sonne be so stubborne obstinately to rebel against thee, or so wilful to perseuer in his wicked∣nes y^t neither for feare of punishmēt, neither for hope of reward, he is any way to be reclaimed, then séeke out some marriage fit for his degree which is y^e surest bond of youth, & the strōgest chain to fetter affections y^t can be found. Yet let his wife be such a one as is neither much

more noble in birth, or farre more richer in goodes, but accord••ng to the wyse saying: choose one euery way, as néere as may bee equall in both: for they that doe desire greate dowries doe rather marrye themselues to the wealth, then to their wife. But to retourne to the matter, it is most requisite, that Fathers both by their discréet counsaile, and also their honest conuersati∣on, bée an ensample of imitation to their children, that hee seeinge in their parentes as it were in a glasse the per••ection of manners, they maye bée encouraged by their vpright liuinge, to practise the lyke pietie: for if a Father rebuke his childe of swearinge, and hée himselfe a blasphemor, doth he not sée, that in detecting his sonnes vice, he also noteth his owne. If the father counsayle the sonne to refraine wine, as most vnhole∣some, and drincke himselfe immoderately, doth hee not as well reproue his owne folly, as rebuke hys sonnes? Age alway ought to bée a myrror for youth, for where olde age is impudent there certeinly youth must néeds bee shamelesse, where the aged haue no respect of their honorable and graye haires, there the younge gal∣launtes haue little regarde of their honest behauiour, & in one word to conclude al, wher age is past grauitie, there youth is past grace. The sum of all wherewith I would haue my Ephaebus endued, & how I would haue him instructed, shall briefly appeare in this following. First, that he be of honest parents, nursed of his mother, brought vp in such a place as is incorrupt both for y^e aire & manners, wyth such a person as is vndefiled of great zeale, of profounde knowledge, of absolute perfection, that bee instructed in Philosophy, whereby hée may at∣teyne learninge, and haue in all sciences a sm••ake, whereby he maye readi••y dispute of any thing. That his body be kept in his pure strength by honest exercise, hys witte and memory, by diligent study.

That he abandon all allurements of vice, and continu∣ally enclyne to vertue, which if it shall as it may come to passe, then doe I hope that if euer Platoes common weale shall flourish, that my Ephaebus, shall be a Citi∣zen, that if Aristotle si••ed any happye man it will bée my childe, if Tullye confesse anye to bee an absolute Orator, it will be my young youth. I am heere there∣fore gentlemen to exhort you, that with all industry you apply your mindes to the studie of Philosophye, that as you professe your selues students, so you maye bee students, that as you disdayne not the name of a schol∣ler, so you wil not be found voyde of the duetie of schol∣lers, let not your minds be carried away with vayn de∣lyghts, as with trauayling into far and straunge coun∣tryes, where you shal see more wickednesse, then learne vertue and witte. Neyther with costlye attire of the new cutte, the Dutch hatte, the French hose, the Spa∣nish rapier, the Italian hilte, and I know not what. Cast not your eyes on the beautie of woemen, leaste ye cast away your heartes with folly, let not that fonde loue, wherewith youthe fatteth himsel••e as fatte as a foole, infect you, for as a sinew béeing cut though it be healed there will alwayes remayne a scar••e, or as fine lynnen stayned with blacke incke, though it be washed neuer so often, will haue an yron mowle, so y^e minde once mangled or maymed with loue, though it be neuer so well cured with reason, or cooled by wisedome, yet there will appeare a scar by y^e which one may gesse the minde hath bene pierced, and a blemish whereby one maye iudge the hearte hathe bene stayned.

Refrayne from dyeing which was the onely cause that Pyr••us was striken to the hearte, and from daun∣cing which was the meanes y^• lost Iohn Baptists head. I am not hee that will disallow honest recreation al∣though I detest the abuses, I speake ••oldely vnto you

bicause I my selfe know you: what Athens hath bene, what Athens is, what Athens shalbe I can gesse. Let not euery Iune and Alehouse in Athens be as it were your chamber, frequent not those ordinarie tables wher eyther for the desire of delycate cates, or the méetinge of youthefull companions, yée both spende your money vaynely and your time idly. Imitate him in lyfe whom ye honour ••or his learning, Aristotle, who was neuer seene in the company of those that idelly bestowed their time.

There is nothing more swifter then time, nothinge more sweeter, we haue not as Seneca sayth lyttle tyme to lyue, but wée léese much, neyther haue wée a shorte lyfe by Nature, but we make it shorter by naughtines, our lyfe is long if we know how to vse it. Followe Appelles that cunning and wise Painter, which would lette no day passe ouer his heade without a lyne, with∣out some labour. It was pretely sayde of Hesiodas, lette vs indeauour by reason to excell beastes, séeinge beastes by nature excell men, although strickely taken it be not so, for that man is endewed with a soule, yet taken touching their perfection of sences in their kinde it is most certeine. Doth not the Lyon for strengthe, the Turtle for loue, the Ante for labour excell man? Doth not the Eagle sée cléerer, the Uulter smell bet∣ter, the Mowle heare lyghtlyer? lette vs therefore en∣deuour to excell in vertue seeing in qualyties of the bo∣dy we are inferiour to beastes. And h••ere I am most earnestly to exhort you to modestie in your behauiour, to duetie to your elders, to dilygence in your studyes. I was of late in Italy, where mine eares gloed, and my hearte was gauled to heare the abuses that reygn•• in Athens: I can not tell whether those things sprange by the lewd•• and lying lyppes of the ignoraunt, which are alwayes enemyes to learning, or by the reportes of

such as saw them, and sorrowed at them. It was open∣ly reported of an olde man in Naples that there was more lyghtnes in Athens, then in all Italy, more wan∣ton youths of schollers, then in al Europe besides, more Papistes, more Atheists, more sectes, more schismes, then in all the Monarchies of the world, which things although I thinke they be not true, yet can I not but lament that they shoulde be déemed to bée true, and I feare me they be not altogether false, there can no greate smoke aryse but there must be some fire, no great reporte without great suspition. Frame there∣fore your liues to such integretie, your studies to the at∣tayning of such perfection, that neyther the mighte of the strong, neyther the mallyce of the weake, neyther the swifte reportes of the ignoraunte be able to spotte you with dishonestie or note you of vngodlynesse. The greatest harme that you can doe vnto the enuious, is to doe well, the greatest corasiue that you can giue vn∣to the ignoraunt, is to prosper in knowledge, the grea∣test comforte that you can bestowe on your parents is to lyue well, and learne well, the greatest commoditie that you can yéelde vnto your countrey, is with wise∣dome to bestow that talente, that by grace was giuen you.

And héere I cannot chuse but giue you that counsell, that an olde man in Naples gaue me most wiselye, althoughe I hadde then neyther grace to followe it, neyther will to giue ••are to it, desiringe you not to reiecte it bicause I dyd once dispise it, It is this as I can remember worde ••or worde.

Desce••de into your owne cons••yences, consider with your selues the greate dif••erence betwéene sta∣ringe and starke blynde, witte and wisedome, loue and lust, bee merrye but with modestie, bée sober

but not too sullen, be valyaunte but not too venterous, lette your attire be comely but not too costly, your dyet wholesome, but not excessiue, vse pastime as the worde importeth, to passe the time in honeste recreation. Mi∣strust no man without cause, neyther be ye credulous without proofe, be not lyght to follow euery mans opi∣nion, neither obstinate to stande in your owne conceits, serue God, feare God, loue God, & God wil blesse you, as eyther your heartes can wish, or your friendes desire. This was his graue and godly aduise whose councell I woulde haue you all to follow, frequent lectures, vse disputations openly, neclecte not your priuate studyes, let not degrees be giuen for loue, but for learning, not for mony but for knowledge, and bicause you shall bée the better encouraged to follow my counsell, I will bée as it were an example my selfe, desiring you all to imi∣tate me.

Euphues hauing ended his discourse, & finished those preceptes which he thought necessary for the instructing of youthe, gaue his minde to the continuall studye of Philosophie, insomuch as he became publyque Reader in the Uniuersitie, with such commendacion as neuer any before him, in the which he continued for the space of tenne yeares, onely searching out the secrets of Na∣ture & the hidden misteries of Philosophy, & hauing col∣lected into thrée volumes his lectures, thought for the profite of young schollers to sette them forth in print, which if hee had done, I would also in this his No∣tomie haue inserted, but hée alteringe his determi∣nation, fell into this discourse with himselfe.

Why Euphues art thou so addi••ted to the s••udye of the Heathen? that thou hast forgotten thy God in Hea∣uen? shal thy witte be rather employed to the attaining of humayne wisedome then deuine knowledge? Is A∣ristotle mor•• deare to thee with his bookes? then Christ

with his bloude? What comfort canst thou finde in Philosophy for thy guiltie conscience, what hope of the resurrection, what gladde tidinges of the Gospell? Consider with thy selfe that thou art a gentlemen, yea, and a Gentile, and if thou neglect thy calling thou art worse then a Iewe. Most miserable is the estate of those gentlemen which thincke it a blemishe to their aun∣cestors, and a blot to their owne gentrie to reade or practize diuinitie. They thincke it nowe sufficient for their felicitie to ryde well vppon a greate horse, to hawke, to hunt, to haue a smacke in Philosophye, ney∣ther thincking of the beginninge of wisedome, ney∣ther the ende which is Christe: onely they accompte diuinitie most contemptible, which is and ought to be most notable. Without this there is no Lawyer bée hée neuer so eloquent, no Phisition bée he neuer so excellent, no Philosopher be hée neuer so learned, no King no Keyser, be he neuer so royal in birth, so politi∣que in peace, so expert in war, so valiaunt in prowesse, but he is to bée detested, and abhorred. Farewell there∣fore the fine and filed prases of Cicero, the pleasaunt Eligues of Ouid, the depth and profound knowledge of Aristotle. Farewell Rhetoricke, farewell Phi∣losophie, farewell all learninge which is not spronge from the bowels of the holy Bible.

In this learning shal we finde milke for the weake, and marrowe for the stronge, in this shall wée sée how the ignoraunt may be instructed, the obstinate confu∣ted, the penitent comforted, the wicked punished, y^e god∣ly preserued. Oh I would gentlemen would ••emetimes sequester themselues from their own delights, & employ their wits in searching these heauenly and diuine mi∣steries. It is common, yea, and lamentable to sée that if a younge youth, haue the giftes of Nature, as a sharpe witte or of Fortune, as sufficient wealthe to

mainteine them gallauntly, hée employeth the one in the vaine inuentions of loue, the other in y^e vile bra∣uery of pride, the one in the passions of hys mynde and prayses of his Ladye, the other in furnishinge of his bodye and furtheringe of his lust, héereof it com∣meth that such vayne ditties, such idle sonnets, suche inticinge songes, are sette foorth to the gaze of the worlde and griefe of the godlye. I my selfe knowe none so ill as my selfe, who in tymes past haue bene so superstitiously addicted, that I thought no heauen to the Paradise of loue, no Angell to bée compa∣red to my Ladye, but as repentaunce hath caused mée to leaue and loath such vayne delightes, so wise∣dome hath opened vnto me the perfect gate to eternall lyfe.

Besides this, I my selfe haue thought that in di∣uinitie there coulde bée no eloquence, which I myght imitate, no pleasaunt inuention whiche I might fol∣lowe, no delicate phrase, that myght delyght mée, but nowe I sée that in the sacred knowledge of Gods wyll, the onely eloquence, the true and perfect phrase, the testimony of saluation doth abide, and séeing with∣out this, all learninge is ignoraunce, all wysdome more folly, and wytte playne bluntnesse, all Iustice iniquy∣tie, all eloquence barbarisme, all beautie deformytye. I wyll spend all the remainder of my lyfe, in studying the olde testament, wherein is prefigured the comming of my sauiour, and the newe testament, wherein my Christ doth suffer for my sinnes, and is crucified for my redemption, whose bitter agonies shoulde cast e∣uery good Christian into a shieueringe ague, to remem∣ber his anguishe, whose sweatinge of water and bloud should cause euery deuoute and zealous Catholique, to shedde teares of repentaunce in remembraunce of his tormentes.

Euphues, hauing discoursed this wyth himselfe, dyd immediatly abandon all lyght companye, all the dys∣putations in schooles, all Philosophy, and gaue hym∣selfe to the touchstone of holinesse in diuinitie, ac∣comptinge all other thinges as most vyle and con∣temptible.

¶Euphues to the Gentlemen schol∣lers in Athens.

THe Merchāt that trauaileth for gaine, the husbandman y^t toyleth for encrese, the Lawyer that pleadeth for golde, the craftes man that seeketh to liue by his labour, all these after they haue fatted themselues with sufficient, either take their ease or lesse paine thē they were accustomed. Hip∣pomanes ceased to runne when he had gotten the goale, Hercules to labour, when he had obtained the victorie, Mercurie to pipe when he had cast Argus in a slumber. Euery action hath his ende, and then wée leaue to sweate when wée haue founde the swéete. The Ant though shée toyle in Sommer, yet in Winter she lea∣ueth to trauayle. The Bée though she delight to sucke the fayre flower, yet is she at laste cloyed wyth hon∣ny. The Spider that weaueth the finest thréede cea∣seth at the last, when she hath finished hir web. But in the action and study of the minde (gentlemen) it is farre otherwise, for he that tasteth the swéete of learninge endureth all the sower of labour. Hée that séeketh y^e depth of knowledge is as it were in a Laborinth, in which the farther he goeth, the farther he is from the end: or like the bird in the limebush which the more she striueth to get out, y^e faster she sticketh in. And certeinly it may be said of learning, as it was famed of Nectar y^e

drinck of the Gods the which the more it was dronck, the more it would ouerflow the br••mme of the cup, nei∣ther is it farre vnlike the stone that groweth in the ri∣uer of Caria, the whiche the more it is cutte, the more it encreaseth. And it fareth with him y^• followeth it as with him that hath the dropsie, who the more he drinck∣eth the more he thirsteth. Therefore in my minde the student is at lesse ease then the Oxe that draweth, or the Asse that carrieth his burthen, who neither at the boord when others eate is voide of labour, neither in his bed when others sléepe is without meditation. But as in manuary craftes though they bée all good, yet that is accompted most noble, that is most necessary, so in the actions and studies of the minde although they be all worthy, yet that deserueth greatest praise which brin∣geth greatest profit. And so we commonly do make best accompt of that which doth vs most good. We estéeme better of the Phisition that ministreth the potion, then of the Apoticarie that selleth the drugges.

Howe much more ought we with all diligence, stu∣dye, and industry, spende our short pilgrimage in the séeking out of our saluation. Uaine is Philosophye, vaine is Phisicke, vaine is Law, vaine is all Learning wythout the tast of diuine knowledge. I was deter∣mined to write notes of Philosophy, which had bene to feede you fat wyth follye, yet that I might séeme neyther idle, neyther you euill imployed, I haue héere set downe a briefe discourse which of late I haue had wyth an hereticke which kept mée from idlenesse, and maye if you reade it deterre you from heresie. It was wyth an Atheyst, a man in opinion monstrous, yet tractable to be perswaded. By thys shall you sée th•• absurde dotage of hym that thincketh there is no God, or an vnsufficient God, yet héere shall you finde the summe of faith, which iustifyeth onely in Christ,

the weakenesse of the law, the strengthe of the Gospell, and the knowledge of Gods will. Héere shall yee finde hope if ye be in dispaire, comfort if ye be distressed, if ye thirst drincke, meate if ye hunger, if ye feare Moses who sayth, without you fulfill the law you shall perish. Beholde Christ which sayth, I haue ouercommen the lawe. And that in these desperate dayes wherein so ma∣ny sectes are sowen, and in the wayning of the world, wherein so many false Christes are come, you mighte haue a certeyntie of your saluation, I meane to sette downe the towchestone wherevnto euerye one oughte to trust, and by the which euerye one shoulde try him∣selfe, which if you followe, I doubte not but that as you haue proued learned Philosophers, you will also procéede excellent diuines, which God graunt.