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LIke as we haue sayd that it is necessary for a pryn∣ce for to be a good Iust yeere / And that in lyke wy∣se also he sholde drawe vnto hym for to be aboute his persone the wyse Phylosophres. Ryght soo it is ex∣pedyent that he hymselfe be wyse and somewhat in∣structe in Scyences / So that he haue an vnderstondynge & knowlege in theym. 〈…〉〈…〉the whiche purpose afore sayd ••••lere
recyteth and sayth / that lyke as the fryence of Astronomye is ryght profytable for the comon welthe / and specyally in batay le for the grete study of Suplycyus G••••us and the grete vn∣derstandynge that he had in all maner of letters / he saued his people from so••ayne fere. For as he ledde a grete hooste ayenst the kynge of Perce / it happened vpon a fayre nyght / the mone lost her lyght sodaynly / That is to wete / she fell in a clypse / by the whiche syght / the grete hoost that he ledde felle in a grete fere and in dyspayre that they sholde wynne the batayle.
¶ But this Suplycyus ryght wysely shewed them the cau∣se and mouynge of heuen / and assured them sertaynly seynge that it was nothynge elles but the naturall course of kynde.
In lyke wyse it is wryten in the story of Alysaundre that for suche a case his hooste was gretely abasshed and made a ma∣ner of stryuynge with hym / saynge that it was a punysshyon for the euyll dedes that he hadde doone▪ But the wyse knyght that was called Arystanus / whiche was a grete Astronomy∣••r satysfyed them by his wysdome / and sette theym in reste.
¶ And vnto this purpose there maye be wel aledged Charles the wyse kynge of Fraunce the. v. of the name whiche was so∣ueraynly gouerned by cunnynge and loued syngulerly phy∣losophres / hat occupyed the scyence of Astronomye. ¶ And he hymselfe for the grete loue that he hadde vnto that scyence / he laboured so moche that he was ryght well vnderstonden hym selfe therin. ¶ And that it sholde be couenable to a prynce that he ought to be wyse / it appereth by the sentence of Platon. And Ualere recorded the same▪ ¶ For he sayd that the worlde was gracyous at that tyme▪ that the wyse men beganne for to reyg ne / or elles when kynges begynne to were wyse.
¶ And lyke wyse as knowlege is one of the membres of scy∣ence / in lyke wyse it is syttynge to a prynce that he be experte in fayre language set by grete wysdome & ordynary reasons
••••r it is noo doubte that the wyse and fayre worde dyscretely sayd comynge out of the mouthe of a Prynce / is more praysed and gladlyer herde / than the wordes that he shewed of other men / And also it maye profyte hym gretely in dyuers causes. For there is not gladly so grete hardnesse of courage / but that fayre language shall make it softe and temperate / Lyke as it is wryten of Phylostratus / for he was so eloquent a mā / that notwithstondynge that the men of Athenes whiche were go∣uerned by wyse phylosophres / and were customed to lyue in ly berte / and without souerayne / that same by his fayre and swe te language dyde so mo•••••• / notwithstondynge that the wyse man ••alon / helde gretely with lyberte / and ayenst the opyny on of this Phylostratus / ••et by this fayre language was he made prynce and souerayne of Athenes. ••o by dyuers ensam ples to the purpose / there maye well be shewed howe that often tymes fayre eloquence helpeth gretely / ¶ But with fayre elo∣quence whiche by theyr ordre is called rethoryke▪ Ualere ioyne th therto y• maner of mouynge of y• body in vtteraunce of his language / & sayth / when eloquence ys condyted with a good ordre with the ordynate mouynge of the body / it pleaseth the herers / by thre maners▪ For it comforteth the courages of so∣me men / and the Eres of other men▪ And also it tendereth and maketh swete to the syght of dyuers people▪ And fyrste he say th it pleaseth the courages when by couenable mocyon of the body he that speketh representeth the thynges / and bryngeth agayne to mynde the peryllous fortunes / or the infortunes / the vertues / the vyces / the ensamples of stronge and myghty men / or elles the effecte of counsayles / by the whiche thynges / the courages be brought in / by the consentynge of the speker / Secondely the Eres of the herers ben reioysed for bycause of the grete pleasure & dylectacyon by his couenable promocyon goodly modred▪ The thyrde / it pleaseth the eyen of theym that
ben the herers in as moche as they consydre and se the goodly countenaunce and honest be hauynge of hym that speketh / soo by this meanes eloquence is honoured and worshypped. And in lyke wyse in the contrary where 〈…〉〈…〉loquence is my••••e con∣dyted / it is of lytell vertue / and full vnsauoury to the herers and for ensample of suche thynges. Ualere speketh of one that was named Quy••tus ••rcentyus / whiche sette his study as moche in goodly mouynge of his body whē he spake as he dy∣de in his fayre vtteraunce of language▪ wherfore men wyste not whether it was mor•• ••oye to them for to here hym speke / or elles to se his goodly demeanynge in his countenaunce.
Therfore Ualere sayth / the syght shall be to the wordes to the herer / or of the speker. And the wordes serueth to the syght of the herers.