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MOdestie is a vertue, teaching a man howe to rule his affections, and in all his actions to keepe a meane.* 1.1 And therefore is it called Modestie, because it keepeth a meane, and doeth neyther want, nor excéede in any thing. It is perceiued by the lookes and countenance of a man, for by the same we waye ga∣ther oftentymes the disposition of any. Againe as in our countenance, so in all our conuersations, Modestie should bée seene. For this vertue haue many in
all ages béene greatly commended, and because theyr examples maye continu∣ally remayne in minde, I wyll recite of infinite certaine, and a fewe of a great number, aswell princes as pri∣uate men, which by theyr vertue haue got immortall and euerlasting fame. Such a one was Philip the father of A∣lexander the great:* 1.2 For by this vertue he tooke in good part those bytter words of dogged Diogenes,* 1.3 which sayde vnto king Phillip, that he came therefore into his campe, because he would marke the behauior of him, and note his vnsa∣tiable couetousnesse. For had he not bene of great modestie, he woulde haue torne in peeces Diogenes, for his bolde, and presumptuous talke: but compa∣ring the sayinges of Diogenes, with his owne cogitations, supposed hée spake of good wyll, and dyd beare with his boldnesse.
Of no lesse modestie was the sonne of the same Philip, Alexander the great, for hauinge louingly desired the same Diogenes,* 1.4 to leaue his kinde of lyfe, and to come to his court at Macedonia:* 1.5
Diogenes wrote backe after this man∣ner: Diogenes to Alexander, the King of the Macedonians, wisheth good lucke: you dyd very well to wryte your selfe King of the Macedonians, for you knew verye well that Diogenes oughte you none obedience: you wryghte that I shoulde come vnto you. But where∣fore? If because you woulde see mée, surely you can take no pleasure in be∣holding mee, for I am no suche man of person: But if you doo because you woulde profite in good manners, you maye verye well bestowe your paines in comming to mée. For knowe Alex∣ander, that it is no farther from Ma∣cedonia to Athens, then from Athens to Macedonia. Fare well.
What wyse man woulde thus aun∣swere a noble Prince, desirous to pro∣fite in the studie of vertue? Or what man of power woulde patiently beare such contemptuous wordes, of so vile an abiecte? And yet suche was the rare modestie of good Alexander, that he bare with his rudenesse, and sayde nothing.
Greater then Alexanders, was that of Antigonus: for after that he was by Q. Scipio, depriued of his kingdome, and placed ouer a very lyttle Nation,* 1.6 was so farre from troubling him selfe, with remembrance of his former dignitie, that he sayde that the Romanes dyd then seeke his profite, when they committed a small people to his gouernment. For sayde he, the greatest kinges, haue the greatest cares: and the remembrance of theyr peoples complaintes, wyll not suffer them quietly to rest. Againe, the lesse charge, the lesse care: and therefore he could not sufficiently thanke the Ro∣manes, for geuing him the gouernment of so fewe people, and if they had alto∣gether spoyled him of all aucthoritie, he would haue geuen them greater thanks. A notable example. And was not that Modestie of Tiberius the Emperor wor∣thy imitation? which being counsayled of his friendes,* 1.7 to set great taskes, and to demaunde many subsidies of his sub∣iectes, Naye sayde this good Emperor, It is the parte of a good shephearde, to shere his shéepe, not to sley them, and
so to sley them. He was of that modest nature that he would not, no not at the sute of his freinds violate the office of a prince. Being in so good a matter I wyl proceede in reciting a fewe more exam∣ples of those which by this vertue haue purchased goodwyll of men by report of good wrighters. Who doth not won∣der at (but who wyll imitate) that ex∣ceeding modestie of C. Marius,* 1.8 which by the people of Rome (in reward of his vertues) being appoynted twise to tri∣umph would not so do alone, but diui∣ded the glorye betwéene him and Catu∣lus fellow officer with him?* 1.9 Contrarye to all the ambitious,* 1.10 Hanniball for hys goodnes of nature was much commen∣ded especially because hée vsed gentell speeche and shewed frendelye counte∣naunce vnto all men: and also because in his fare he did not excede. Dio likewise the Syracusane,* 1.11 by modestie hath got immortalit••y. It is reported of him that he was of so good a nature, that after hée was placed in the throne of a king, and ruled the Syracusans: he woulde neuer change, his accustomed fare and appa∣rell
which he was wont to were being a student in the vniuersity. To kepe him in the same vertuous mind, his master Plato wrote vnto him, That it was his part and office to thinke him selfe so long to be glorious in the sight of all men, as long as he was gratious vn∣to Philosophers, which only addicted them selues to the knowledge and con∣templation of good things,* 1.12 which would counsayle him to nothing but that were profitable to him and his: and commend him for nothing but for his vertues: they would not flatter him for preferment, nor fauor him in wickednes: sworne enemies to common courtiers. Such was the modestie of Cato (which for the deadly hatred hée bare to wickednesse was called Seuere) that comming to a common plaie (where many immodest examples to the corrupting of well dis∣posed persons,* 1.13 are shewed) a harlot, be∣ing before his comminng naked in the sight of all the standers by, sodainly co∣uered her bare and woul•• not gesture it any more: and being demaunded why she was so ashamed, sayde, Cato
is in presence. By which it appereth that the true modesty of an honest man, striketh more shame, then the sight of many wicked & immodest persons can stir to filthynsse. To conclude this part of Temperance (because I haue more to speake of, and may not stand much vpon one thing) the Persians to imprint a deepe consideration of modesty in their childrens minds,* 1.14 made a lawe that once euery daie the boyes should shewe them selues before the seniors, and rulers of theyr contrie, that by theyr graue lookes, they might be terrefied from light be∣hauiour, & should the better learne to be modest in all theyr doings. And thus much of Modesty.
Modestie.
Philippus Macedoniae.
Diogenes.
Alexander.
Diogenes.
Antigonus.
Tiberius Caesar.
C. Marius.
Catulus.
Hanniball.
Dio Syra∣cusanus.
Philoso∣phers.
Cato Seue∣rus.
Persians.