I Haue a valient Sonne.

The more valient he is, the more it behoueth thee to be fearefull: For Fortune layeth more dangers vpon none, then those that contemne her, that is to say, Valient men. And not without good cause: for other men hyde them selues, and seeke to auoyde her force: but these lay themselues open to her furie. Recall forepassed ages to memorie, and thou shalt perceyue, in a maner, all the most valient men con∣sumed by violent death.

My Sonnes valiencie is ex∣ceedyng great.

Fortitude is a most excellent vertue, but accompanied with sundry chaunces, and therefore see thou haue alwayes teares, and a coffin in a redinesse: Death is at hande to all men, but nearest to the valient.

My Sonne is a most valient man.

Then hast thou one that perhaps may purchase vnto his countrey libertie, to his enimies slaughter, to him selfe honour, and one day vnto thee teares, but feare conti∣nually.

My Sonne is valient, and of great courage.

What other thyng dyd Creon bewayle in his sonne that was slayne, then his couragious desire of martial prayse? What Enander in his sonne Pallas, then his newe glory in armes, and the sweete honour of his first encounter? Whereof dyd feareful Priamus admonish his sonne Hector, then that he should not alone expect Achilles? What doth y^e careful mother entreat her sonne, other then to shun that warlike champion? Finally, what dyd Hectors wyfe (beyng ignorant of the heauie chaunce that Page  99alreadie was hapned) say that she feared, other then her husbandes well meanyng, and the heate of his minde, that was not able to stay hym out of the fyrst aray of the Souldiours, but woulde ra∣ther runne before them all? Whiche thyng also she feared at the beginning, when as she spake vnto hym as he was going into the warres, in this maner, Doeth thy valiencie so deuilishy be witche thee, that thou takest compassion, neyther vpon thy Sonne, nor mee his Mother, who shall shortly be thy Wydowe? Lastly, what o∣ther dyd Achilles mother say, beyng fearefull for her Sonne, Now must I seeke for my sonne Achilles by Lande and Sea, and I woulde he woulde folowe mee? Whilst in wayne she tooke hym, being feeble, out of the garboyle of the hotte warres, and carrying hym into the pallace of the calme olde man, hyd hym vp in her virgins secrete closets. All these lamentations and feares were by nothyng els procured, then Martial force, and valient courage.

My sonne is exceeding couragious.

A great courage, without great power, is great follie. True valiencie and magna∣nimitie apparteine but to fewe men: although they that seeme most mighty & strong, how weake they be in deede, many things besides death do declare, but specially death it selfe: so that it may be sayde shortly and truely, There is nothyng more weake, nor more proude then man.

I haue a couragious sonne.

Reioyce therefore, for thy house shalbe full of great attemptes, and emptie of rest and quietnesse, and thou shalt often wishe that thy sonne were not so couragious. To conclude, fortitude is a no∣ble vertue, and magnanimitie beautifull, but both are painefull and troublesome, and modestie is safe and quiet.