Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Busie-bodies condemned. [ 587]

ALdus Manutius, a publique spirited man, one that was bent to enlarge the bounds of learning, was so haunted with busie-body guests, (whose business at the best, for the most part, was negotii inopia, want of employment, so that if the least wind of seeming trouble did but wring them, their saying was, Eamus ad Aldum, Come let us go to Aldus) that he was fain at length to prevent them, by setting an unmannerly Watchman at the door, one that could not blush, but being as impudent as they were impertinent, thus bespake them; Quisquis es rogat te Aldus, &c. Who∣soever thou art, Aldus doth beseech thee, if thou have any business with him, brief∣ly to dispatch it, and presently to be gone, &c. For neither thou, nor any other that come hither to him, could want work of your own at home, if you did but mind it: And it is very true, that the men and women of these times are very idle-hea∣ded,

meddling with other mens matters, neglecting their own; Physitians to other men, rather then themselves; meddlers in any Calling, rather then that which God hath enjoyned them: they will deal with the Scepters of Princes, and tell them how to rule, put on Aarons Robes, and teach them how to preach, just like the Emperor's Steward, cujus erat pulmenta Caesari praeparare, non Evangelium exponere, fit for a Market-man, and to prepare broth for the emperors breakfast, yet he would be perverting the Scripture to maintain the Arrian heresie.

Notes

• B. King Lect. on Ionah.
• Aliena cur ant & nihil quae ad ill••s ••••tinent. Terent.