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PLato, séeing Archytas Tarentinus bent altogether to cōtemplation,* 1.1 and comparing that with ciuile vertues, dyd dehorte him from the same, His reason which he vsed was, because no man was borne to him self, but a péece of his birth, his countrey, a part his parents, & a part his friends, and neyghbors callenged, so
that if he considered his estate thorough∣ly, and discharged his dutie as he ought, very lytle tyme he shoulde finde, which he might saye was reserued to him selfe alone.* 1.2 Aristotle lykewise to the same purpose sayeth, that a man shoulde not lyue to him selfe, but shoulde haue a care of his parentes, of his children, wife, neighbors, and countreymen. And ther∣fore is a mā called Animal sociale, a felow creature, because of all other thinges he is or shoulde be delighted with compa∣ny. Which made Cicero to saye, that no∣thing was more acceptable before God,* 1.3 then are the companies of men, and as∣semblied linked by a lawe, which being so gathered together, all are called a cit∣tie. Those which flie the company of men, are called by an odious name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 haters of men. Those contemplators haue bene, as I sayde before, not onely odious, but also ridicu∣lous vnto many. As was one of the se∣uen wise men of Greece, Thales. Which being earnestly geuen to the beholding of the starres,* 1.4 not seeing that which was before his feete, fell into a great hole. Which when an olde woman sawe, she
brake into a great laughter, and sayde, you in deede are a wyse man Thales, which wyll geue your selfe to contem∣plation, and neglect thinges before your eyes: who wyll not exclame against E∣pimenides,* 1.5 which being in harde con∣templation, was not so much as moued, when his countrey, and cittie where he dwelt, and also his owne house was consumed with fire?* 1.6 Or that Meton the Astronomer, which dyd not onely faigne him selfe to be frantike, but also burnte, house, bookes, and all his sub∣staunce, because he woulde not breake his studie, in defence of his countrey, to goe a warfare? A man in my iudge∣ment, vnworthy to reape any commo∣dity of his countrey, which was so vn∣wylling to bestowe his paines in kee∣ping it from seruitude. And therefore write they verie well, which saye, that he is a right good man whiche serueth God deuoutly, and dealeth vprightlye with all men. Suche a man is called rightly▪ a ciuile man,* 1.7 and he is adorned with all vertues. And this is he which obeyeth not the affections of the minde, otherwyse then honestly he maye, but
embraceth vertue with all his hart: and so it commeth to passe, that because of his good disposition and honest behauior, he is sayde by vertue to be brought into an happie estate and hauen, or heauen of ioyes. Here it is necessary that I declare what this vertue is, and of howe many partes it consisteth.
Plato. Archytas, Tarentinus.
Aristotle.
Cicero.
Thales Mi¦lesias..
Epimenid••••
Meton.
A ciuile man.