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Why Nature hath not given Man the facultie of persaging.
THis seemes the reason, that men by the instinct of nature doe not foresee the future seasons and dispositions of the heaven and aire; because, seeing they have received certaine sparks of prudence from God, by whose care and guidance they are led to the knowledge of things by no deceiptfull but certaine judgment, being not obnoxious to the conditions and changes of times and seasons, as beasts are. Where∣fore knowing all these airy changes to be placed under them, that is to say their minds, according as occasion serves, and their minds desire, they give themselves to mirth when the Aire is wet, stormy and darke, and on the contrary in a cleare and faire sea∣son to a sincere and grave meditation of things sublime & full of doubt. But beasts ac∣commodating themselves to that disposition of the aire which is present & at hand, are lively, or sad, not from any judgment as men, but according to the temper and cō∣plexion of their bodies following the inclinations of the aire, and of the humors one while diffused, another while contracted. Neither ought we to blame man, because he can imitate the voyce of beasts, but rather much commend him, that he can infinite∣ly wrest and vary one thing, that is his voyce; for men can barke like Foxes and doggs, grunt like hogs; whet and grinde their teeth like boares; roare like Lyons; bellow like Bulls; neigh like horses; knacke their teeth like Apes; houle like Wolues; bray like Asses; bleate like Goats and Sheepe; mourne like Beares, Pigeons and Turtles; Keeke and gaggle like geese; hisse like Serpents; cry like Storkes, caw like a Crow, and crow like a Cocke, clocke like Hennes; chatter as Swallowes and Pyes; sing like Nightingales; croake like Frogs; imitate the singing of Waspes and Hum∣ming of Bees; Mew like Catts: The singing of Birds scarse seemes to merit the name of Musicall, compared to the harmony of men fitted and tuned with infinite variety of voyces. For with this they possesse the eares of Kings and Princes; provoke and temper their wrath, and carry mens minds beyond themselves, and trans∣forme them into what habits they please. But if those cruell beasts have any hu∣manitie, they owe it all to man. For he tames Lyons, Elephants, Beares, Tigers, Leapards, Panthers and such other like.