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

¶Of Abstinencie, and Continencie. Cha. 21.

OF the two next vertues (Abstinen∣cie, and continencie) we wyll make but one Chapter, because they seeme to haue small difference in sense, though in sounde they haue, and yet both in sound, and sense they differ somewhat.* 1.1 For Abstinencie is a kinde of Temperance, whereby we subiecte vnder the power of reason our appetite, when it is allu∣red vnto vnlawfull delectation, by the inticement of those thinges whiche are in our possession.

Continencie is a kéeping of our selues from those thinges which are not to bée coueted.* 1.2 The difference betweene them is. The one Abstinencie consi∣steth in the hauing our appetite: the o∣other

Continencie, in tempering our lustes of the fleshe. Examples we haue of eyther, many: espetially of Absti∣nencie, Paulus Aemylius, and L. Mum∣mius:* 1.3 of Continencie Amabaeas a Musi∣con, Bellerophon, Xenocrates, and Sci∣pio. The abstinencie of P. Aemylius, was perceyued when hée had subdued citties. For notwithstanding, he had in his handes the possession of many fa∣mous citties, and might doo with the substance in them what he woulde, yet dyd hée conuert none of those goodes to his priuate commoditie, but gaue com∣maundement vnto his men, to conueigh them to the common treasure house of Rome, and there shoulde remaine read∣die, to supply the wante of his natiue countrey, if necessity requyred.

L. Mummius for the same qualitie,* 1.4 is lykewise commended. And that this was truely reported of him, it is mani∣fest, because that in Delos, being a ba∣nished man▪ he dyed most poorely: which he woulde haue séene vnto, had he not bene right abstinent, and contemned all worldly mucke, in respecte of his

honestie. Againe of the other side, as these are notable patrones of Abstinen∣cie, so those before recited are as famous for theyr Continencie, in contayning from the sinfull desires, of the rebeli∣ous fleshe. Wonderfull and strange (I wyll not saye to be imitated) was that Continencie of Amabaeas,* 1.5 which hauing a wyfe of rare and surpassing bewtie, woulde neuer haue cop••lation with her. But more worthy to be fol∣lowed (although lesse worthy to be won∣dred at) was the Continencie of Belle∣rophon, whiche being not a lyttle by strange meanes allured by Antea,* 1.6 the wife of Kinge Pretus to lye with her, dyd altogeather refuse the same, and contayned him selfe from violating the bed of his Lorde, at whose handes hee had founde much curtesie. The lyke is reported in the holy scripture of Io∣seph. But feare of death caused that Continencie.* 1.7 I thinke not, but rather care of a pure, and vnpolluted consci∣ence,* 1.8 whiche neuer wyll he purged without a strange and vnfained repen∣tance, from the filthinesse of the facte,

which would continually haue bene ob∣iect to their eyes, so y^t they should a thou∣sād tymes haue wished that it had neuer bene committed. For the pleasure pas∣seth, the paine pincheth cōtinually. But if the feare of punishmente were the cause, it cannot be misliked: but they are to be commended therefore, and may strike a shame to those, which without all feare (I do not saye of God, for that is least in our mindes, and should ne∣uer be forgotten) of punishment in this worlde, care not whome they pollute, bee they for aucthoritie neuer so highe, for consanguinitie or friendship neuer so nighe vnto them.

But let vs proceede, (for of this mat∣ter we spake before when we talked of Luste, in our former booke) If so rare examples, not onely of true and faith∣full friendship, but of pure boddies, and vnpolluted mindes were Ioseph and Bellerophon, for not corrupting theyr Quéenes, and wiues to theyr friendes, then how much are Xenocrates & Scipio to be extoled,* 1.9 which cōtained themselues

from committing fornication with their inferiors, when they might haue vsed them at theyr pleasures?* 1.10 For Xenocra∣tes being placed in bed by a fayre womā (but of surpassing bewty) and shée with many toyes (incident to harlots) inty∣cing him to enter league with her, was so farre from satisfying her minde, that the more earnest shee was in desiring, the more vigilante hée was in contay∣ning: and the more luste shee declared to Venerie, the more lothe he was to commit such Villanie, but laye beside her as hote as a marble, in the coldeste tyme of winter. Yea, but hee was a Philosopher, and therefore lesse mar∣uayle, though he were continent. Trueth it is, and therefore a shame to all wyse, and learned men which are in∣continent. And I saye, he was an infidell, and yet by philosophy and rea∣son, he perswaded him selfe that for∣nication was hurtfull to the boddie, and damnable to the soule, and therefore at the daye of iudgement shall ryse to theyr confusion, which are Christians, and yet neyther by diuinitye, nor reli∣gion,

wyll be in that minde, to thin••e that eyther fornication, or adultery, is eyther hatefull to God, or shall be hurtfull to them selues in the tyme of vengeance.

Well, Scipio was no Philosopher, by profession, but a warri••r,* 1.11 (a strange thing, that one of that sorte, shoulde bee so pure from vnchaste cogitations) and yet being of the age of three and twenty yeares, and hauing brought vnder the subiection of the Romanes, a cittie in Spaine, a certaine Damosell without comparison amonge all the captiues, most bewtifull, was brought vnto him, for delectation, after all his troubles. But Scipio, before he woulde receaue any recreation at her handes, demaun∣ded what shee was: which, when hée vnderstoode her to bee espowsed vnto a young man called Luceius,* 1.12 he thought it a shame for him to vse her company, beyonde honesty: and so with many precious gyftes and iewelles, sent her saufely conducted to her husbande, that should bee.

This continencie of Scipio, passeth

all the rest. For who woulde thinke that a warrier, from a woman: a lustie young man, from a bewtifull mayden: a conqueror, from a captiue hauing tyme, place, and permission (so that without controlement of any man, he might haue vsed her) woulde containe him selfe, all thinges falling so in the nicke? And yet this noble warrier, lustie youth, and victorious conqueror, entred not familiaritye with this wo∣man, this bewtifull mayden, and cap∣tiue, because shee had geuen her troth to another. O vnspeakeable vertue, and most wonderfull continencie of this noble Scipio, whiche so preferred ho∣nestie before lecherie: chastitie before incontinencie: and a faythfull promise, before sinfull pleasure. I maye not in Rhetorical manner enlarge this mat∣ter (and yet too muche can not be spo∣ken to his prayse) and therefore I leaue it.

By this then it appeareth, that be∣twéene Continencie, and Abstinencie▪ there is great similitude,* 1.13 and that they haue so, it is euident by theyr contrary.

For Incontinencie is indifferently re∣ferred vnto eyther of them. Wee call him incontinent which eyther kéepes no measure in the coueting of worldly thinges, or can not contayne him selfe from the effectes of fleshly desires. Nowe because I haue illustrated the for∣mer parte with examples, I wyll also make this parte confirmed by the lyke. And therefore opposite to th••se men a∣boue recited, are these women (for most commonly women are worste bent, and we finde of all the best historiographers, least spoken to theyr prayse) most in∣continent which followe, namely Mes∣salina, wife vnto the Emperor Claudi∣us, and Popilia daughter of Marcus. Messalina was so incontinent, that shée coulde not content her selfe (I wyll not saye, with her husbande,* 1.14 whome shee cared leaste for) with her youthfull gentlemen of her chamber, about the courte, but shee woulde goe to common houses, where moste whordome was commytted, and there contende with moste shamelesse harlottes, in theyr abhominable exercise.

If I shoulde recite what I haue red of this notorious and notable strumpet, I shoulde not obserue the preceptes of those two virtues Modesty and Shame∣fastnes, immediatly in the former chap∣ters declared. But Temperance wyls me to stay my hand, and tels me it is a sinne to wright that whiche with out shame she did commit. The inconti∣nencie of Popilia also was such,* 1.15 as be∣ing tolde of her vnsatiable lecherie, and that it might strike a perpetuall terror into her minde, for one of her calling, which should geue good example to infe∣rior persons of honest conuersation, yet without respect of tyme, place, or persons would prostrate her selfe before those, of which, if for no other cause, yet be∣cause of her birth, and their basenes she might be ashamed: Being thus louingly by a faithfull freind admonished did aunswere, that she did but according to her kind, and that nature had geuen that power vnto man (not so vnto other crea∣tures) that they might at al tymes come together at their pleasure: and therefore considering it was natures wyll she ac∣coumpted

her selfe, and woulde bee iudged a beast, if shee dyd not as ofte as shee coulde satisfie her luste. But we wyll omit particular persons.

The Corinthians for this Incontinen∣cie, haue bene euyll spoken of.* 1.16 For they cast all honestie so behinde theyr backes, that they would take their owne daugh∣ters, and make them harlottes to mar∣chantes and straungers in theyr coun∣trey, that so they might enriche them selues, and theyr countrey. Hereof came this prouerbe, It was not for eue∣ry man to goe to Corinthe: for they payde well for theyr pleasure.

The Babylonians also were greatly spotted with this vice of Incontinen∣cie:* 1.17 for once in a yeare they licenced theyr wiues, daughters and maidens, to goe vnto the temple of Venus, which stoode by the sea coaste, and there should refuse none which offered them selues, and woulde vse them.

The Tyrrhenians are more inconti∣nent then any.* 1.18 For they wyll not onelye haue to doo with theyr wiues o∣penly, and lye in the common streates,

but as though they were vnmaried like brute and sauadge beastes without all reason turned one to another. The like is reported of the Messagetans.* 1.19

But what stande I vppon this pointe? Or what good nature can abide to heare them recyted without blushing? and therefore I contayne my selfe from speaking any more of Incontinencie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Abstinen∣cie▪
• * 1.2

  Continen¦cie.
• * 1.3

  P. Aemylius. L. Mummi∣us. Amabaeas.
• * 1.4

  L. Mummi∣us.
• * 1.5

  Amabaeas.
• * 1.6

  ••ellerophō. Antea. Pretus.
• * 1.7

  Ioseph.
• * 1.8

  Conscie∣ence.
• * 1.9

  Xenocrates.
• * 1.10

  Xenocrates.
• * 1.11

  Scipio.
• * 1.12

  Luceius.
• * 1.13

  Inconti∣nencie.
• * 1.14

  Messalina.
• * 1.15

  Popilia.
• * 1.16

  Corinthi∣ans.
• * 1.17

  Babylonians
• * 1.18

  Tyrrheni∣ans.
• * 1.19

  Message∣tans.