A philosophicall discourse, entituled, The anatomie of the minde. Nevvlie made and set forth by T.R.

¶Of VVarynesse. Chap. 15.

THe Perip••tecions, and also the aun∣cient Academikes to those aboue re∣cited parts of Prudence, ad fiue more,

to wit, Warynesse, Craftynesse, Subtil∣tie, and Equity, so that it consisteth in e∣leuen partes, which orderly shalbe ma∣nifested. And first of Warynesse, which in Latin is called Sagacitas.* 1.1 This is the scholemaster of vpright vnderstanding•• And therfore the Philosophers doo say, y^t as it is the part of a wyse mā, wysely to consult & geue counsayle: so is it the due∣ty of a wary m••n well to conceaue, & vp∣rightly to iudge. For Sagire (frō whence ••omes Sagacitas) which is called Sagenes,* 1.2 o•• warynesse) signifieth to be of quicke iudgement of sense: whereof commeth this phrase Sagae anus: and Sagaces canes, because they can smell out a thing, & that quickly. Also, he that telleth of a thing before it happen is sayde to presage.* 1.3 And therefore by diuine inspiration, to many is geuen this parte of Prudence, so that they are sayde to presage, and for the same are highly accoumpted of a∣mong men. Cicero sayth, that the nature of this vertue is by the senses of the bo∣die to smel out a thing, euen as dogs doo▪ whereof they are called Sagaces canes, as I sayde before. So that a wyse man is then coumpted sage, and wary, when he

rightly doth iudge of thinges which are to be done hereafter. For Sagacitie per∣tayneth to those thinges which we are about to doo, by smelling them out. Those which haue this gifte of smelling out thinges imminent, are much to bee reuerenced.* 1.4 And therefore notable is that saying of Minutius a Romane cap∣taine vnto his soldiors. Oftentyme, I haue hearde, soldiors, that he is the best and most excellent man, which is endu∣ed with that discretion, that in all extre∣mities, he can geue him selfe that coun∣sayle which is profitable▪ The nexte is he which wyllingly receaueth good coū∣sayle▪ But he which can neyther geue, nor take counsayle, he is to be iudged most vnhappy. We therefore because we haue not that wisedome, that we are able to counsayle wisely, wyll embrace the meane: and though we haue not dexterity of wit wis••••y to iudge: yet did we not lacke wyll, gladly to obey good coūsayle. A saying worthy to be folowed of all those which haue neyther wit in showing daungers at hande, nor wyll to embrace that is profitablie spoken of theyr friendes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Warynesse.
• * 1.2

  ••agire.
• * 1.3

  To pre∣sage.
• * 1.4

  Minutius.