[Transcriber's note: The printed text marks the first few leaves of each 16-pagesignature: ||A. I. ||, ||A. Ii. ||. . . Other page breaks are marked inthis e-text with double lines || A few apparent typographic errors were corrected and are listed atthe end of the text. Other irregularities are noted but were leftunchanged. All other spelling, capitalization and punctuation areas in the original. ] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A VE- ry pleasaunt & fruitful Dio- loge called the *Epicure*, made by that fa- mous clerke Eras mus of Rotero- dame, newly translated. 1545. * * * * * _S. Paule to the Ephesians_ You that haue professed Christ, suffre not your selues to be deceyued vvith false doctrine, nor vaine and noughtie talkyng, but herken vnto all Godly thynges, and especially too the doctryne of the Gospell. ||A. Ii. || THE HABOVN- daunt mercie and grace of our heauenly father Iesu Christ, maye alwaies strengthen and defende oure noble & vertuous Prynce Ed- ward too the mainte- naunce of the liue- ly woord of God. Whereas manye histories of olde & auncient antiquitie, and also al godly & Christiã writers most playnely consêttogether, and agree in this, that dignitie, riches, kinred, worldly pompe, and renoume, doo neither make men better, neyet happiar, contrarie too the blynde & fonde iudgement ofthe most part of menne: but by the power and strength of themynde, that is, learnyng, wysedome, || and vertue, all menneare hyghly enriched, ornated, & most purely beutified, forthese bee thinges bothe notable, eternall, and veryefamiliar betwene the heauenly father & vs. It is thereforeeuidente (most excellent Prince) that the fittest ornamêtesfor your graces tender age, bee, eruditiõ and vertue. Wherunto you are bothe so ernestly addicte and therin sowõderfully doo preuaile, that I nede not too exhorte &exstimulate your grace vnto the study thereof. For that Godhim self hath wrought, and fourmed your mynde so apt anddesirous too attayne and diligêtly too seeke for al godlydoctrine, that euê now you doo shewe in all youre saiyngesand dooinges suche a wonderfull pleasaûtes much lyke vntoa certayne swete musike or harmonie, that any honest hartexceadinglye woulde reioyce in the sight therof. Verely, your grace thinketh plainly all time lost, that is notbestowed vpon learnyng, which is a verie rare thyng in anyechilde, and rarest of all in a Prince. Thus youre noblenes, rather desireth vertue and ||A. Iii. || learning the mostsurest and excellent treasures, which farre surmounte allworldly ryches, then anye vanities or trifles. Nowe youregrace prepareth for the holsome and pleasaunt foode ofthe mynde. Now you seke for that whiche you shal fyndmost surest helper and faythfulst councellour in all youraffaires. Now your magnificêt mynde studieth that, whicheall Englyshe menne with meke and humile heartes shuld desireGOD to endue your grace with all. Now with diligent labouryou searche for a thyng, as one most myndeful of thissaiyng: Happy is that realme that hath a lerned Prince. Noweyou trauaile for that, whiche conquereth, and kepeth douneall greuous tourmentes & outragious affections of the mynde, too the furderaunce of good liuyng, and maintenaûce ofvertue, I meane holsome erudition and learnyng. ManyHeathen Princes forsoth, are highly magnified with mostample prayses, which gaue them selues too the study ofPhilosophie, or knowledge of tongues, for their ownecommoditie, and || especially for the weale of theirsubiectes. Who is nowe more celebrated and worthelierextolled then Mithridates? that noble kyng of Pont andBithinia, which, (as Aulus Gellius writeth) vnderstoode soperfitly the languages of . Xxii. Sondrye countries that werevnder his dominiõ, that he neuer vsed any interpretour tooanswer his subiectes, but spake their lãguages so finelye, as thoughe he had been of the same coûtrie. Ageyn, thathonorable manne Quintus Ennius saied: that he had . Iii. Heartes, because he coulde speake Greke, Italian, and Latin. Yea, and breuely, the most famaus writers, as well theHeathen, as the Christien, with an vniuersall consent, playnly affirme: Whan thei had weied the nature and condiciõof the purest thinges vnder heauen, thei sawe nothyng faire, or of any pryce, or that ought too be accõpted ours, butonely vertue and learning. Euen now too acknowledge thatsame, it is yeouê you from aboue, for your grace delectethin nothyng more then too bee occupied in the holye Byble:wherin, ||A. Iiii. || you beginne too sauer & smelle furththe treasure of wisedome, knowledge and fulnes of the deuynepower, that is a studie most conuenient for euery ChristienPrince, that kynd of studye cannot haue sufficient laudeand commendation. Whose Princely heart forsoth, is raueshedon suche a godlie and vertuous studie, it can neuer hauecondigne and worthie praises, but deserueth alwaies too beehad in great price, estimation, and honour. Who dooeth notknow? that Prince which is yeouen vnto the scriptures of Godand with a stoute stomake and valiãt heart, both searchethfurth and also defendeth ye true doctrine of the Gospell, too bee inrolled in the assemble of Christ. Who dooeth notsee? that Prince too bee moost surelye armed, which cariethin his heart the swerd of ye spirit, which is the blessedwoord of God. Who is ignoraunt? that euer lastyng lyfeconsisteth in the knoweledge of God. What Prince woulde notstudie to maintaine that, which is written for the health, and saluation of all menne weiyuge with himselfe || that aPrince can not deserue, neither by conquest, ciuel policie, nor yet by anye other meane vnder heauen, thys name high orhonorable, so wourthely as by the setting forward of Goddeswoorde. What young Prince humily defendyng doune intoo himselfe and callyng to memory his bounden dutie woulde notwith a glad hearte and a chearfull mynde, gredelye desyretoo knowe, enlarge, and amplifie the glory and maiestieof hys derely beloued father? Your grace (forsoth) hathprofessed God too bee your father: Blessed are you then ifyou obey vnto hys word, and walke in his waies. Blessed areyou, yf you supporte suche as preache the Gospell. Blessedare you, yf your mind bee full furnished with the testamentof Christ, and shew your selfe too bee the most crueltoo and enemy agaynst ypocrisie, supersticion, and allpapistical phantasies, wherwith the true religion of Godhathe been dusked and defaced these many yeres Blessed areyou, if you reade it daye & nighte, that your grace mayeknowe what GOD dooeth forbyd you, and ||A. V. || euer submityour selfe therunto with seruiceable lowlines chieflydesiring to florysh and decke your mynd with godlyknowledge. And most blessed are you, if you apply yourself vnto al good workes, & plant surely in your heart thescriptures of Christ, If you thus doo, nether the power ofany papistical realme, nor yet of hel can preuaile at anytime against your grace. Nowe therfore, with humile hearte, faithfully receiue the swete promises of the Gospel. Ifyou kepe the woordes of the Lorde and cleaue fast vntothem: there is promised you the kingdome of heauen: Youare promised a weale publick most riche and welthy You arepromised too bee deliuered from the deceiptes of all yourepriuie enemyes. You are promised also, too conquere greatand mightie nations. Agayne, let your grace bee most fullyperswaded in this, that ther was neuer Kyng nor Prince, thatprospered whiche tooke parte against Goddes woord, and thatthe greatest abhomination that can bee, either for Kyng, Prince, or any other manne, is too || forsake the true woordof God. O with howe rebukefull woordes & greuous iudgementthei be condemned, which dispice & set lytle by the holyByble & most blessed Testamêt of God, wherin there iscontained all the wil & pleasure of our heauêly fathertoward vs most miserable & ignoraunt wretches Who would notquake, too beholde the terrible feares & threatenynges ofGod ageinst al suche? Who would not lament & gladly helppetheir obstinate blyndenes? Who woulde not weepe? to heareand reade in how many places, they be openly accursed by thescriptures of Christ. God him self playnely affirmeth, thathe wyll sodênly consume them with the breath of his anger. Yea, besides that whoso euer declyneth from the word ofGod is accursed in all his doynges, whether he be Kyng, orPrynce, riche, or poore, or of what estate soeuer he bee. This fearfull saiyng (most excellent Prynce) shulde moue allmen to take hede vnto their duties and to praie that godsword maie take place emõgist vs. O that al men would||fantasie the scriptures of God, and saye with the vertuousman Iob. Wee will not bee ageynst the woordes of the holyone. Truth it is, God taketh diligent care too haue vs alknow his woord. Woulde God therfore, that all wee were nowwilling to haue the syncere woorde of God & all holsomdoctrine too go forward. O that all we would consenttogither in the Gospell, brotherly admonishyng, andsecretelye prouokyng one an other too true religion& vertue. O that no man would sow emongist the peoplepernitious doctryne, but with all lowly diligêce and Godlyemonition euer prouoke, tempt, and stere them, tyll theirheartes were remoued frõ their olde dautyng dreames andsupersticiõ, which haue been long grafted in them thorowpopyshe doctrine. By this meane wee shuld euer haue concordeemongist vs, whiche in all thynges is necessary, but mostnedefull and expedient in Gods holi woord. Now truely thegodlyest thynge that can bee deuysed, for any christianrealme, is to haue emongist them one maner and || fourmeof doctryne, & too trace trueli the steppes of God andneuer to seeke any other bywayes. Who hath not redde in yescriptures? but that realme is endued with godly ornamentes& riches, where all men prospere, go for ward and florishein gods woord, delectyng day and night in the swetecõsolations of the holy testament. By this way we shuldespecially set forth the glory of God, and of our sauiourIesu Christ, if we would reuerently shew one an other thatwhiche God hath taught vs. Yea & in this doyng all menshulde well perceaue that we were the true disciples ofChrist, being knitte and coupled fast together in myndeand iudgement, preachyng God with one mouth and also withone assent euer promotyng his gloryous testament. O thegood happe and grace of that king or prynce emongist whosesubiectes there is such an hole consent and iudgement in thewoord of God, for that most assuredly byndeth & adiuignethye hartes of al subiectes too their kyng. The strength ofthe Gospell is euen suche in this puincte, || that there wasneuer man, which did humily receaue it, that would murmourageynst his Prince. It teacheth how wyllyngly all men shuldeobey their kyng. It sheweth verye lyuely and most apertlyvnto euery man his ful dutie. It euer prouoketh vs from allwicked, cursed, and most obstinate disobedience. It euerinstructeth men too shewe them selues most lowly, humile, and obesaunt toward their Prynce. Whosoeuer hath tastedfully therof, will declare hym selfe in al thynges, toobee a faithful subiect. Furthermore, it is clearer then thelight (most vertuous prince) that it woulde make muche forthe weale of this noble realme, yf all mê with heart andmynde, would nowe as well expulse the pernitious anddeuelyshe doctryne af that Romishe bishop, as his name isblotted î bookes. There is none so ignoraunt, but he knoweththat, thorough hym we were brought into a wõderful blindnes, thorough hym we did sauer of nothyng, but of stynkyngYdolatry, through hym we were deceiued with || falseYpocrisie. Now let euery blind stiffe hearted, and obstinatecreature compare his abhomination with the gospell, andif he be not shameles, he will abashe to smell of hispapistrie, and to walow still in ignoraunce, vn lest he beepriuely confederate and in heart consent with the detestablefelowship of al wicked papistes. Now would God all suche menwould reduce ageyn their heartes vnto ye gospell of Christ, would god they would bee prouoked by some meane to desireknowledge. O that god woulde yeoue them a couragious myndetoo reade the gospel, there they shal sone fynde all thevenoume of the romishe sort most playnely detected. Forsothwee see dayly, that lacke of knowledge of the gospel makethsome busserdes runne hedlong on all rockes, daungers, &extreme perilles: yea, and beside that, olde popysh doctrynewhiche lyeth folded vp & locked faste in their heartes, doeth so sore blynd thê that they haue neither fauour neaffectiõ too printe in their myndes, the expressed coûcels, admonitions, and || preceptes of the holy scripture, buttoo slepe stil in their owne conceites, dreames, & fondephansies. Wherfore let your dignitie note well this, thatall those whiche bee not wyllyng that gods woord should beeknowen, and that blyndenes should be clean expulsed fromall men, whiche be baptised in ye blessed bludde of Christ, bewray themselues playne papistes: for in very deede thatmost deceatful wolfe and graund maister papist with histotiens quotiens, and a pena et culpa blesseth all sucheas will bee blynde stil, maintaine his põpe, drinke ofhis cuppe of fornication, trust in his pardounes, liuein popery, ypocrisie, and dãnable ydolatrie, shut vp thekingdome of heauen, & neuer regarde the gospel. Cõtrarie toothis, christ bi his holy Prophete calleth al those blessedthat seke for his testimonies, al those his elect & chosêchildrê, which turne frõ synne, ypocrisie, & ydolatrie, allthose goddes that heare his word, yea, & breuely, al thosewhich set it forward honorable mê. & in this puincte yourgrace shoulde euer beare in mynde, || that noble andvertuous kyng Hezekiah, whiche shewed hymselfe veryhonorable in settîg forward ye woord of God, and therbygotte hym glory and fame immortall, so that nowe he is mosthighly praysed amongtst all men. Ageyn his subiectes dydobey his commaundement feynedly with Ypocrisie, but in theirheartes they abhorred gods woord. O the miserie that dydafterwarde sodeinly ensue vpon them, O the wonderfullwrath of God that was poured vpon them, O their great andobstinate blindnes whiche caused them most greuously toobe scourged: Their plage was no lesse then too bee vtterlyspoyled of their enemies, Their plage was no lesse then toeate one an other: Yea, their plage was no lesse then toeate their owne sonnes and doughters. This calamitie andsorow (most noble prynce) happened them because they dydnot regarde the lawes of God, but tourned too their oldeabhominable Ydolatrie, and lightelye estemed gods holywoord. Wherfore euen now whosoeuer is an enemie ||B. I. || tothe holy Bible, that is, neither studiyng it himselfe, norwillyng that other men shulde knowe it, he can in no wyse bea right christian man: although he fast, pray, doo almes, & all the good workes vnder heauen. And he that hath suche amynde, is ye most cursed and cruel enemie too god, a playnesower of sedition, and a deuelishe disquieter of all godlymen. For truly those that reade the gospel of Christ, andlabour diligêtly therin: doo fynde wonderfull rest &quietnes, from all woofull miserie, perturbatiõ, andvanities of this world. And surely none but ypocrites or elsdeuilles would go about too stoppe or allure men from suchea treasure and godly study. And it were conuenient, that allthey whiche wyll remayne styll necligent, styffe, & blind:shuld set before their faces the feare of paynes infernall, and if thei haue any grace at all, their spirites ought tobe moued: too note the great plages that haue happened theslouthful in gods woord, & those that haue been stubburneageynst the settyng || out of it. There bee a thousandrecordes and examples in the holy Bible agaynst such as befarre wyde from knowledge, and lye now walteryng styl inignoraunce and will not looke vpon the bible. It wouldeseme, they hope for a thyng, but their hope is in vaine:For saint Paule plainely writeth the hope of suche ypocritesshall coo[~m] too nought. And too conclude (most honorablePrince) seeyng wee haue suche knowledge opened vnto vs, asneuer had englishe mê, and are clearly deliuered from thesnares and deceiptes of al false and wicked doctrine, if weshuld not now thãkefully receaue the gospell, and shewe ourselues naturally enclyned to set it forwarde, yea, and praydaye and night vnto God, for the preseruatiõ and health ofthe kynges highnes, your graces deare, and most entierlybeloued father, we were neither true subiectes nor ryghtchristen men. Forsoth, through the absolute wisedome, andthe most godly and politike prudencie of his grace, theswete sounde of gods woorde is gone ||B. Ii. || thorough outall this realme, the holye Bible and blessed testament ofoure sauiour Christ are coo[~m]ne to lighte, and thousandeshaue faithfully receiued those pleasaunt, ioyfull, and mostcomfortable promises of God. Surely this thyng before allother, is acceptable too god. This thyng especially swagethye ire of god. This thyng in all holi scriptures god mostchiefly requireth of his elect & faithfull seruaûtes, euentoo haue his lytell flocke knowe his blessed woorde, whichewoulde bee muche better knowê & more thankefulli receaued, yf al agees and degrees of men with one mynd, wyll, & voice, would nowe drawe after one lyne, leauyng their owne priuateaffections, and shewe theim selues euer vigilant, prompt, & ready helpers & workers with God, (accordynge tothe councell of sainct Paule) & especially priestes, scolemaisters & parêtes, which accordyng too ye PropheteDauid are blessed, if they gladly requite ye lawe of God. They shuld therfore reade ye bible & purdge theyr mindes ofal papistry: for theyr || necligence, in dooyng their duties& slugishnes toward ye blessed woord of god, dooeth toomuche appere. Through them forsoth the gospel of Christshuld bee most strongely warded and defended, for almostall the Prophetes, and a great parte of the scripture besideteache them their duties, and shew playnely what maner ofmen they shulde bee: Yea, and how greuously the holyProphetes crie out vpon false and ignoraunt priestes, thethyng is very euident. But through the helppe of God allthose that be ignoraunt, or els learned (as they take themselues) wyll leaue of, and repent them of their wicked andobstinate blyndnes, and bowe them selues with alloportunitie too draw mens heartes too the holy testamentof God: consideryng, that in the terrible day of iudgement, euery mã shall yeoue accompte of his Beliwicke, whereneither ignoraûce shall excuse vs, ne yet any worldly põpemay defêd vs. Most happye thê shall they bee, whiche hauewalked iustely in the sight of the Lorde, and ||B. Iii. ||that haue syncerely preached his testament and lyuely woordwithoute flattery or iuggelyng: Yea, and in that fearfulday, all they (as writeth S. Augustine) shal fynde mercieat the handes of god, whiche haue entised and allured othervnto goodnes and vertue. Weiyng this with my self, (mostexcellent, and vnto all kynd of vertues most prõpt & prestãtPrince) I thought it good too translate this Dialoge, calledthe Epicure, for your grace: whiche semed too me, too beevery familiar, & one of ye godliest Dialoges that any mãhath writtê in ye latin tong. Now therfore I most humilipraie, that this my rude & simple trãslation may beeacceptable vnto your grace, trustyng also that your mostapproued gentilnes, wil take it in good part. There as Idoo not folow ye latyn, woord for woord, for I omytte thatof a certaine set purpose. _Your humile seruaunt, Philyppe_ Gerrard, groume of your graces Chambre. * * * * * The interlocutours {HEDONIVS} {SPVDEVS} What meaneth hit _Spudeus_, too applye hys booke soernestlye I praye you what is the matter you murmour so withyourselfe? _SPVDEVS. _ The truth is (O _Hedoni_) I seke toohaue knowledge of a thing, but as yet I cannot fynde thatwhych maketh for my purpose. _HEDO_ What booke haue youthere in your bosome? _SPVDE. Ciceros_ ||dialoge of theendes of goodnes. _HEDO. _ It had bene farre more better foryou, too haue sought for the begynnynges of godly thynges, then the endes. _SPVDE. _ Yea, but _Marcus Tullius_ nameththat the ende of godlines which is an exquisite, a farpassing, and a very absolute goodnes in euerye puincte, wherein there is contained all kynde of vertu: vnto theknowledge ther of whosoeuer can attaine, shuld desire noneother thîg, but hold himselfe hauyng onely that, as one mostfully content and satisfied. _HED. _ That is a worke of verygreat learning and eloquence. But doo you thynke, that youhaue preuailed in any thîg there, whereby you haue the||rather come too the knowledge of the truth? _SPE. _ Ihaue had such fruite and cõmoditie by it, that now verelyehereafter I shall doubt more of the effect and endes of goodthinges, then I did before. _HEDO. _ It is for husbãd mennetoo stande in doubt how farre the limittes and merebãkesextend. _SPE. _ And I cannot but muse styll, yea, and wondervery muche, why ther hath been so great controuersie iniudgementes vpon so weightie a matter (as this is) emongistso well learned menne: especially suche as bee most famousand auncient writers. _HEDO. _ This was euen the cause, wherethe verite of a thyng is playne and manifest, cõtrarily, yeerrour through || ignoraunce againe in the same, is soonegreat & by diuers meanes encreaseth, for that thei knewe notthe foundation and first beginnyng of the whole matter, theydoo iudge at all auentures and are very fondly disceaued, but whose sentence thynke you too bee truest? _SPE. _ WhanI heare _MARCVS Tullius_ reproue the thyng, I then fãtasienone of all their iudgementes, and whan I heare hym agaynedefende the cause: it maketh me more doubtfull thê euer Iwas and am in suche a studie, that I can say nothyng. Butas I suppose ye Stoickes haue erred the lest, and nexte vntothê I commend the _Peripatetickes_. _HEDo. _ Yet I lyke noneof their opinions || so well as I doo the Epicures. _SPV. _And emõgist all the sectes: the _Epicures_ iudgement is mostreproued and condemned with the whole consent and arbitremêtof all menne. _HED. _ Let vs laye a side all disdayne andspite of names, and admitte the Epicure too bee suche one, as euery man maketh of hym. Let vs ponder and weighe thethyng as it is in very deed. He setteth the high andprincipall felicitie of man in pleasure, and thiketh thatlyfe most pure and godly, whiche may haue greate delectatiõand pleasure, and lytle pensiuenes. _SPV. _ It is euen so. _HED. _ What more vertuouser thyng, I praye you, is possibletoo bee spokê then this || saiyng. _Spu. _ Yea, but all mennewonder and crye out on it, and saye: it is the voyce of abruite beast, and not of manne. _Hedo. _ I knowe thei doo so, but thei erre in ye vocables of theise thinges, and are veryignoraunt of the true and natiue significations of thewoordes, for if wee speake of perfecte thynges, no kinde ofmenne bee more righter _Epicures_, then Christen men liuingreuerêtly towardes God and mã, and in the right seruice andworshiping of Christ. _SPV_ But I thinke the _Epicures_ beemore nerer and agree rather with the _Cynickes_, then withthe Christien sorte: forsoth ye Christiens make them seluesleane || with fastynge, bewayle and lament their offences, and eyther they bee nowe poore, or elles theyr charitie andliberalitie on the nedye maketh theim poore, thei sufferpaciently to bee oppressed of mêne that haue great power andtake many wronges at their handes, and many men also laughetheim too skorne. Nowe, if pleasure brynge felicitie wythit, or helpe in anye wyse vnto the furderaunce of vertue:we see playnly that this kynde of lyfe is fardest from alpleasures. _Hedonius. _ But doo you not admitte _Plautus_ toobee of authoritie? _Speudeus. _ Yea, yf he speake vprightely. _Hedonius. _ Heare nowe them, and beare awaye wyth you thesaiynge of || an vnthriftie seruaunt, whyche is more wyttierthen all the paradoxes of the Stoickes. _SPE. _ I tarieto heare what ye wil say. _HEDO. _ Ther is nothyng moremiserable then a mynd vnquiet & agreued with it selfe. _SPE. _ I like this saiyng well, but what doo you gather ofit? _HEDO. _ If nothing bee more miserable thê an vnquietmynde, it foloweth also, that there is nothing happiar, thena mynde voyde of all feare, grudge, and vnquietnes. _SPEV. _Surely you gather the thing together with good reasõ butthat notwithstandynge, in what countrie shall you fynde anysuch mynde, that knoweth not it selfe gyltie and culpable insome kynde of euell, _HEDO. _ || I call that euyll, whichedissolueth the pure loue and amitie betwixt God and manne. _SPV. _ And I suppose there bee verye fewe, but that thei beeoffêders in this thynge. _HEDO. _ And in good soth I take it, that al those that bee purdged, are clere: whych wiped outtheir fautes with lee of teares, and saltpeter of sorowfullrepentaunce, or els with the fire of charitie, their offêcesnowe bee not only smalle grefe and vnquietnes too them, butalso chaunce oftê for some more godlier purpose, as causingthê too lyue afterward more accordyngly vnto Godscommaûdemêtes. _SPV. _ In deede I knowe saltpeter and lee, but yet I neuer hearde before, that faultes || haue beenpurdged with fire. _H. _ Surely, if you go to the minte youshall see gould fyned wyth fyre, notwithstãdyng that theris also, a certaine kynde of linê that brenneth not if itbee cast in ye fyre, but loketh more whiter then any watercoulde haue made it, & therefore it is called _Linumasbestinum_, a kynde of lynen, whyche canne neither beequenched with water nor brent with fyre. _Spu. _ Nowe ingood faith you bring a paradox more wõderful then all themaruailous and profound thynges of the Stoickes: lyue theipleasasauntly whom Chryst calleth blessed for that theymourne & lament? _Hedonius. _ Thei seme too the worlde toomourne, but || verely they lyue in greate pleasure, and asthe commune saiynge is, thei lyue all together in pleasure, in somuche that _SARDANAPALVS_, _Philoxenus_, or _Apitius_compared vnto them: or anye other spoken of, for the greatedesyre and study of pleasures, did leade but a sorowefulland a myserable lyfe. _Spe. _ These thinges that you declarebee so straunge and newe, that I can scarcelye yeoue anycredite vnto them. _Hedo. _ Proue and assaye them ones, andyou shall fynde all my saiynges so true as the Gospell, andimmediatly I shal bryng the thynge too suche a conclusion(as I suppose) that it shall appeare too differ very lytlefrom the truth ||C. I|| _SPV. _ make hast then vnto yourpurpose. _HED. _ It shalbe doone if you wyll graunt mecertayne thynges or I begynne. _Spu. _ If in case youdemaunde suche as bee resonable. _Hedo. _ I wyl take myneaduauntage, if you confesse the thyng that maketh for mineintent. _Spu. _ go too. _Hedo. _ I thynke ye wyll fyrstegraunt me, that ther is great diuersitie betwxt the solleand the bodye _Spu. _ Euen as much as there is betwene heauenand yearth, or a thyng earthly and brute, & that whichedieth neuer, but alwayes cõtaineth in it the godly nature. _Hedo. _ And also, that false deceiueable & coûterfetted holythynges, are not too bee taken for those, which in very dedebe || godly. _Spude. _ No more then the shaddowes are toobee estemed for the bodies, or the illusions and wonders ofwytchcraftes or the fantasies of dreames, are too bee takenas true thynges. _HE. _ Hitherto you answer aptly too mypurpose, and I thynke you wyl graunt me this thyng also, that true and godly pleasure can reste and take place nowhere but only on such a mynd that is sobree and honest. _SPV. _ What elles? for no man reioyseth too beholde theSunne, if his eyes bee bleared or elles delecteth in wyne, if the agew haue infected hys tast. _HED. _ And the _Epicure_hymselfe, or elles I am disceiued, would not clippe &enbrace that pleasure, whiche ||C. Ii. || would bring withit farre greater payne and suche as would bee of longcontinuaunce. _SPV_ I thynke he woulde not, if he had anywytte at all. _HED. _ Nor you wyll not denye this, that Godis the chiefe and especiall goodnes, then whõ there isnothyng fayrer, there is nothyng ameabler, ther is nothingmore delicious and swetter. _SPVDE. _ No man wyll deny thysexcept he bee very harde hearted and of an vngentler naturethen the _Ciclopes_. _HED. _ Nowe you haue graunted vntome, that none lyue in more pleasure, then thei whyche lyuevertuouslye, and agayne, none in more sorowe and calamytiethen those that || lyue vngratiously. _Spu. _ Then I hauegraûted more thê I thought I had. _He. _ But what thing youhaue ones cõfessed too bee true (as _Plato_ sayth) youshould not deny it afterward. _SPV. _ Go furth with yourmatter. _HEDO_ The litle whelpe that is set store and greateprice by, is fed most daintely, lieth soft, plaieth andmaketh pastime continually, doo you thinke that it lyuethplesaûtly? _SPV. _ It dooeth truely. _HEDO. _ Woulde you wysheto haue suche a lyfe? _SPV. _ God forbyd that, excepte Iwoulde rather bee a dogge then a man, _HEDO. _ Then youconfesse that all the chief pleasures arise and springfrõ the mynd, as though it were from a welspryng. _SPV. _||C. Iii|| That is euident ynough. _HE. _ Forsoth the strengthand efficacy of the minde is so great, that often it takethaway the felyng of al externe and outward pain & maketh thatpleasaunt, which by it selfe is very peynful. _SPV. _ We sethat dayly in louers, hauyng great delight to sytte vp long& too daunce attendaunce at their louers doores all thecolde wynter nyghtes. _HEDo. _ Now weigh this also, if thenaturall loue of man, haue suche great vehemency in it, which is a cõmune thyng vnto vs, both with bulles anddogges, howe much more should all heauenly loue excellin vs, which cõmeth of ye spirit of Christ, whose strêgtheis of suche power, that it ||would make death a thîg mostterrible, too bee but a pleasure vnto vs. _Spu. _ What othermen thîke inwardly I know not, but certes thei wãt manypleasures which cleaue fast vnto true and perfect vertue. _He. _ What pleasures? _Spu. _ Thei waxe not rich, thei opteinno promotiõ, thei bãket not, thei daûce not, thei sing not, thei smell not of swete oyntmêtes, thei laugh not, theiplay not. _He. _ We should haue made no mention in thysplace of ryches and prefermente, for they bryng wyth themno pleasaunt lyfe, but rather a sadde and a pêsiue. Let vsintreate of other thynges, suche as they chiefely seeke for, whose desyre is to liue deliciously, see ye not daily||C. Iiii|| drõkerdes, fooles, and mad menne grinne andleape? _SPV. _ I see it _HED. _ Do you thynke that thei liuemost pleasaûtly? _SPV_ God send myne enemies such myrth &pleasure. _HE. _ Why so? _Sp. _ For ther lacketh emongist thêsobrietie of mind. _HE. _ Then you had leuer sit fastyng atyour booke, then too make pastime after any suche sorte. _SP. _ Of thê both: truly I had rather chose to delue. _H. _ For this is plaine that betwixt the mad mã & thedrûkerd ther is no diuersitie, but that slepe wil helpe theone his madnes, & with much a doo ye cure of _Physicions_helpeth the other, but the foole natural differeth nothingfrõ a brute beast except by shape and portrature of body, yet thei || be lesse miserable whom nature hathe made veryebrutes, then those that walowe theim selues in foule andbeastly lustes. _SP. _ I confesse that. _Hedo. _ But now tellme, whether you thynke thê sobre and wyse, which for playnvanities and shadowes of plesure, booth dispice the trueand godlye pleasures of the mynde and chose for them seluessuche thynges as bee but vexacion & sorowe. _SPV. _ I takeit, thei bee not. _Hedo. _ In deede thei bee not drûke withwyne, but with loue with anger, with auarice, with ambicion, and other foule and filthie desires, whiche kynde ofdrunkenes is farre worse, thê that is gotten with drinkingof wine. Yet _Sirus_ that leude cõspaniõ ||of whom mentionis made in ye commedie, spake witty thynges after he hadslepte hym self soobre, and called too memorie his greateand moost beastlye drunkenes: but the minde that is infectedwith vicious & noughty desire, hath muche a doo too call itselfe whom agein? How many yeares doeth loue, anger, spite, sensualitie, excesse, and ambition, trouble and prouoke themynde? How many doo wee see, whiche euen from their youth, too their latter dais neuer awake nor repêt them of thedrunkennes, of ambitiõ, nigardnes, wanton lust, & riatte?_Spu. _ I haue knowen ouermany of that sorte. _Hedo. _ Youhaue graûted that false and fayned good || thinges, are nottoo bee estemed for the pure and godly. _Sp. _ And I affirmethat still. _Hedo. _ Nor that there is no true and perfectpleasure, except it bee taken of honest and godly thynges. _Spud. _ I confesse that. _He. _ Then (I pray you) bee notthose good that the commune sorte seeke for, they care nothowe? _Spu. _ I thinke they be not. _Hedo. _ Surely if theiwere good, they would not chaunce but onely too good men:and would make all those vertuous that they happen vntoo. What maner of pleasure make you that, doo you thinke it toobee godly, which is not of true & honest thynges, but ofdeceatfull: and coometh out of ye shadowes of good thynges?_Sp. _ || Nay in noo wyse. _He. _ For pleasure maketh vs toliue merely. _Spu. _ Yea, nothyng so muche. _He. _ Therforeno man truely liueth pleasauntly, but he that lyueth godly:that is, whiche vseth and delecteth onli in good thynges:for vertue of it selfe, maketh a man to habound in allthynges that bee good, perfete, & prayse worthy: yea, itonely prouoketh God the fountaine of all goodnes, too loueand fauour man. _SP. _ I almost consent with you. _HED. _But now marke howe far they bee from all pleasure, whicheseeme openly emongist all men too folowe nothyng, but theinordinate delectation in in thynges carnall. || First theirmynde is vile, and corrupted with the sauour and taste ofnoughtie desires, in so muche that if any pleasaunt thingchaunce them, forthwith it waxeth bitter, and is nought setby, in like maner as where ye welle hed is corrupted andstynketh, there ye water must nedes be vnsauery. Agein theris no honest pleasure, but that whiche wee receaue with asobre and a quiet mynde. For wee see, nothyng reioyseth theangry man more, thê too bee reuenged on his offenders, butthat pleasure is turned into pain after his rage bee past, and anger subdued. _Spu. _ I say not the contrary. _He. _ Finally, suche leude pleasures bee taken of falliblethinges, therefore || it foloweth that they be but delusiõsand shadowes. What woulde you say furthermore, if you sawa mã so deceaued with sorcerie & also other detestablewitchecraftes, eat, drynke, leap, laugh, yea, and clappehandes for ioye, when ther wer no such thyng there in verydede, as he beleueth he seeth. _Spu. _ I wolde say he wereboth mad and miserable. _Hedo. _ I my self haue been oftenin place, where the lyke thyng hath been doone. There wasa priest whiche knewe perfectly by longe experience andpractise, the arte to make thynges seme that they were not, otherwise called, _deceptio visus_. _Sp. _ He did not lernethat arte of the holy scripture? _Hedo. _ Yea, || rather ofmost popeholy charmes and witchecraftes: that is too saye, of thinges, cursed, dampnable, and wourthy too bee abhorred. Certayne ladies & gentlewomen of the courte, spake vnto hymoftentimes: saiyng, they woulde coo[~m] one day too hishouse and see what good chere he kept: reprouyng, greatlyvile and homly fare, and moderate expenses in all thynges. He graunted they shulde bee welcome, and very instauntlydesired them. And they came fastyng because they wouldhaue better appetites. Whã they wer set to dyner (as it wasthought) ther wãted noo kynde of delitious meat: they filledthê selues haboûdantly: after ye feast was || doone, theygaue moost hearty thanckes, for their galaunte cheare, anddeparted, euery one of them vnto their owne lodgynges: butanone their stomackes beganne too waxe an hungred, theymaruayled what this shuld meane, so soone to be an hungredand a thirste, after so sumptuous a feast: at the last thematter was openly knowen and laught at. _Spu. _ Not without acause, it had been muche better for thê too haue satisfiedtheir stomackes at their owne chãbers with a messe ofpotage, thê too be fed so delitiousli with vain illusiõs. _H. _ And as I thîk ye cõmune sort of men ar muche more toobee laught at, whiche in steede of Godlye thynges, ||chosevaine and transitory shadowes, and reioyce excedyngly insuche folishe phansies that turne not afterwarde in tooa laughter, but into euerlasting lamentation and sorow. _Spudeus_ The more nerelier I note your saiynges, the betterI like thê. _Hedo. _ Go too, let vs graunt for a tyme thesethynges too bee called pleasaunt, that in very dede ar not. Would yow saye that meeth were swete: whiche had more Aloesmyngled with it, then honye? _Spud. _ I woulde not so say andif there were but the third part of an ounce of Aloes mixtwith it. _Hedo. _ Or els, would you wishe to bee scabbedbecause you haue some pleasure too scratch? _Spud. _ Noo, ifI wer ||D. I|| in my right mynd. _HED. _ Then weigh with yourself how great peyne is intermyngled wyth these false andwrongly named pleasures, that vnshamefast loue filthiedesire, much eatyng and drinking bring vs vnto: I doo omittenow that, which is principall grudge of cõscience, enemitiebetwixt God and mã, and expectation of euerlastyngpunishêment. What kynd of pleasure, I pray you is ther inthese thinges, that dooeth not bryng with it a greate heapeof outeward euilles? _SPV. _ What bee thei? _HEDO. _ We oughtto let passe and forbeare in this place auarice, ambition, wrath, pryde enuy, whiche of their selues bee heuy andsorowful euylles and || let vs conferre and compare allthose thynges together, that haue the name of some chief andspecial pleasure: wher as the agew the hedache, the swellingof the belly, dulnes of witte, infamy, hurt of memory, vomyting, decaye of stomacke, tremblyng of the body succedeof ouer muche drynking: thynke you, that the _Epicure_ wouldhaue estemed any suche lyke pleasure as thys, cõuenient andwourthy desire? _SPV. _ He woulde saye it wer vtterly too beerefused. _HEDONi. _ Wheras young men also with hauntynge ofwhores (as it is dayly seene) catche the newe leprosie, noweotherwyse named Jobs agew, and some cal it the scabbes ofNaples, throughe ||D. Ii|| which desease they feele often yemost extreme and cruell paines of deathe euen in this lyfe, and cary about a bodye resemblyng very much some dead coarseor carryn, do you thynke that thei apply them selues vntogodlye pleasure. _SPVD. _ Noo, for after thei haue been oftenfamiliar with their prety ones, then they must goo streightetoo the barbours, that chaunceth continuallye vnto allwhoremongers. _HED. _ Now fayne that ther wer a lyke measureof pain and plesure, would ye then require too haue thetoothache so longe as the pleasure of quaffing & whordomeendured? _SPV. _ Verely I had rather wãt them booth, for theris no commoditie nor || vantage to bye pleasure with paynbut only to chaûg one thing for another, but the best choiseis nowe not too affectionate anye such leudnes, for _MAR. Tullius_ calleth that an inward greife & sorow. _He. _ Butnow ye prouocation & entisemêt of vnleful plesure, besidesthat it is much lesse then the pain which it bringeth withit, it is also a thing of a very short time: but if theleprosye bee ones caught, it tourmêteth mê al their lifedaies very pitifully & oftentimes cõstraineth them to wyshefor death before thei cã dye. _SP. _ Such disciples as thosethen, the _Epicure_ would not knowe. _HED. _ For the mostpart pouertie, a very miserable and painfull burden, foloweth ||D. Iii. || lechery, of immoderate lust cõmeth thepalsie, tremblyng of ye senewes, bleardnes of eyes, andblyndnes, the leprosie and not these only, is it not aproper pece of worke (I pray you) to chaûg this shortpleasure neyther honest nor yet godly, for so manye euyllesfar more greuouse and of muche longer continuance. _SP. _ Although there shoulde no pain com of it, I estemehym to bee a very fond occupier, which would chaûge preciousstones for glasse. _HE. _ You meane that would lose the godlypleasures of the mynde, for the coloured pleasures of yebody. _SP. _ That is my meanyng. _HE. _ But nowe let vs cometo a more perfecter supputation, neither the agewe || noryet pouerty foloweth alwaies carnal pleasure, nor the newleprosy or els the palsy wait not on at al times the great &excessiue vse of lecherye, but grudge of cõsiêce euermore isa folower & sure companiõ of al vnleaful pleasure, then thewhich as it is plainly agreed betwixt vs, nothyng is moremiserable. _SPV. _ Yea, rather it grudgeth their cõsciencesometyme before hande, & in the self pleasure it prickeththeir mynde, yet ther bee some that you woulde say, wantthis motion and feelyng. _HE. _ Thei bee nowe therfore inworse estate & cõditiõ. Who would not rather feele payne, then too haue hys body lacke any perfecte sence, truly fromsome ether intemperatnes ||D. Iiii. || of euel desires, euenlike as it were a certayne kynde of drunkenes, or els wontand cõmune haunt of vice which ar so hardened in them, thatthey take a way ye felyng & cõsideration of euyl in theiryouth, so that whã agee commeth vpõ them beside otherinfinitie hurtes and perturbations agaynst whose commyngthei should haue layd vp the deedes of their former lyfe, as a special iuwel and treasure: then thei stande greatly infear of death, a thyng emongist all other most ineuitable, & that no man canne shonne: yea, and the more they haueheretofore been dysmayed and lacked their sences, thegreater now is their vnquietnes and grudge of || conscience, then truely the mynde is sodenly awaked whether it wol ornoo, and verely wher as olde agee is alwayes sad and heuyof it selfe for as muche as it is in subiection and bondagevnto many incommodities of nature, but then it is farre morewretchede and also fylthye, if the mynde vnquiet with itselfe shal trouble it also: feastes, ryotous banketyng, syngyng, and daunsynge, with manye suche other wanton toyes& pastimes which he was communely yeouê vnto & thought veryplesaût when he was young, bee nowe paynfull vnto hym beyngolde and crooked, ne agee hath nothyng too comforte andfortifi || it selfe withall, but onely too remembre that ithath passed ouer the course of yeares in vertue and godlyliuyng and conceaue a special trust too obtaine herafter abetter kynde of life. These be the two staues wherevpon ageis stayed, & if in their steed you wyll lay on hym thesetwo burdens: that is, memorie how synfully he hath ledde hislife, and desperation of the felicitie that is too coome, I praye you what liuyng thyng can bee feyned too suffresorer punishement and greater miserie? _spu. _ Verely I cansee nothyng although some man woulde saye an olde horse. _hedo. _ Then to cõclude it is too late to waxe wise And thatsaiyng appereth now || too bee very true. Carefull mornyngesdoo oftentymes folowe mery euentides, and all vayne andoutragious mirth euer turneth into sorowfull sighes: yea, &they shulde haue considered both that there is noo pleasureaboue ye ioyfulnes of the heart, and that chearefull myndemaketh agee too florishe, an heauy spirit consumeth theboones, & also that all the dayes of the poore are euell:that is, sorowfull and wretched. And agayne a quiet mynde islyke a contynuall feaste. _SPVDEVS. _ Therfore they bee wyse, that thryue in tyme, and gather too gether necessaries forthat agee coo[~m]. _HEDONI. _ The holy scripture intreatethnot soo wordely || as too measure the felicitie and higheconsolation of manne, by the goodes of fortune, onely heis very poore, that is destitute and voyde of al grace &vertue, and standeth in boundage and debette, bothe of bodye& solle vnto that tyranne oure moost foo & mortall enemiethe deuill. _SPV. _ Surely he is one that is veri rigorousand impatient in demaundynge of his dutie. _HE. _ Moreouerthat man is ryche, whiche fyndeth mercye and foryeouenes atthe handes of god. What shuld he feare, that hath suche aprotectour? Whether men? where as playnely theyr hole powermay lesse do agaêst God, then the bytyng of a gnat, ||hurteth the Elephant. Whether death? truly that is a rightpassage for good men vnto all sufficient ioy and perfectionaccordyng too the iust reward of true religion and vertue. Whether hell? For as in that the holy prophete speakethboldely vnto God. Although I shulde walke in the middest ofthe shadow of death, I wil not feare any euils because yeart with me. Wherfore shulde he stande in feare of deuils, whiche beareth in his heart hym, that maketh the deuils tootremble and quake. For in diuers places the holye scripturepraiseth and declareth opêly the mynde of a vertuous man, too bee the right temple of God. And this to bee so truethat || that it is not too bee spoken agaynst, ne in anywise shuld bee denied. _SPV. _ Forsoth I can not see, by whatreason these saiynges of yours can be confuted al thoughethey seme too varye muche from the vulgar and cõmuneopinion of men. _HEDO. _ Why doo they soo? _SPV. _ Afteryour reasonyng euery honest poore man, shulde liue a morepleasaunt life, then any other, how much soeuer he didhaboûd in riches, honour, and dignitie: and breuely thoughhe had all kynde of pleasures. _HE. _ Adde this too it (if itplease you) too bee a kyng, yea, or an emperour if you takeaway a quiet mynd with it selfe, I dare boldely say, thatthe poore man sklenderlye || and homely appareled, madeweake with fastyng, watchyng, great toile and labour, andthat hath scarcely a groat in all the worlde, so that hismynde bee godly, he lyueth more deliciously then that manwhiche hathe fyue hûdreth times greater pleasures &delicates, then euer had _Sardanapalus_. _SP. _ Why is itthê, that we see communely those that bee poore looke farremore heuely then riche men. _HED. _ Because some of them beetwise poore, eyther some desease, nedines, watchyng, labour, nakednesse, doo soo weaken the state of their bodyes, thatby reason therof, the chearefulnes of their myndes neuersheweth it selfe, neyther in these thinges, || nor yet intheir deathe. The mynde, forsooth thoughe it bee inclosedwithin this mortal bodye, yet for that it is of a strongernature, it sõwhat trãsfourmeth and fascioneth the bodieafter it selfe, especially if the vehement instigation ofthe spirit approche the violent inclination of nature: thisis the cause we see oftentymes suche men as bee vertuous diemore cherefully, then those that make pastyme contynually, & bee yeouê vnto all kynd of pleasures. _SP. _ In very dede, I haue meruayled oftten at that thyng. _HED_ Forsoothe it isnot a thyng too bee marueyled at, though that there shuldebee vnspeakeable || ioy and comforte where God is present, whiche is the heed of all mirth and gladnes, nowe this isno straunge thyng, althoughe the mynde of a godly man dooreioyce contynually in this mortall bodye: where as if thesame mynde or spirit discended into the lowest place of hellshuld lose no parte of felicitie, for whersoeuer is a puremynd, there is god, wher God is: there is paradise, ther isheauen, ther is felicitie, wher felicitie is: ther is thetrue ioy and synsere gladnes. _SP. _ But yet they shuld liuemore pleasauntly, if certein incommodities were taken fromthem, and had suche pastymes as eyther they dispise orelscan not get nor attaine vnto. _HE. _ ||E. I. || (I praye you)doo you meane, suche incommodities as by the commune courseof nature folow the cõdition or state of mã: as hunger, thirst, desease, werynes, age, death, lyghtnyng yearthquake, fluddes & battail? _SPV. _ I meane other, and these also. _HEDO. _ Then we intreate styll of mortal thynges and not ofimmortal, & yet in these euils the state of vertuous men, may bee better borne withal, then of suche as seeke for thepleasures of the body they care not howe. _SPV. _ Why so:_HEDO. _ Especyally because their myndes bee accustomed andhardened with most sure and moderate gouernaunce of reasonagainst al outragious affections of the mind || and theytake more patiently those thynges that cannot bee shonnedthen the other sort doo Furthermore, for as muche as theiperceiue, all such thynges ar sent of god, either for thepunishment of their faultes, or els too excitate and sturrethem vp vnto vertue, then thei as meeke and obedientechyldren receiue them from the hãd of their mercifullfather, not only desireously, but also chearefully andgeue thankes also, namely for so merciful punyshment andinestimable gaines. _SPV. _ But many doo occatiõ griefesvnto thê selues. _HEDO. _ But mo seeke remedye at the_Phisicions_, either to preserue their bodies in helth orelles if they bee sycke, too ||E. Ii. || recouer health, butwillyngly too cause their owne sorowes, that is, pouertie, sickenes, persecution, slaunder, excepte the loue of Godcompel vs therto, it is no vertue but folishnes: but asoften as thei bee punyshed for Christ and iustice sake, who dar bee so bold as too cal them beggers & wretches?whã the Lord himself very famyliarly calleth them blessed, and commaûdeth vs to reioyse for their state and condition. _SPV. _ Neuerthelesse, these thynges haue a certayne payneand griefe. _HEDO. _ Thei haue, but on the onesyde, what forfear of hel, and the other for hoope of euerlastynge ioye, the payne is sone past and forgottê Now tell me if youknewe that || you myghte neuer bee sycke, or elles that youshoulde feele no payne of your body in your life tyme, ifyou woulde but ones suffer your vtter skinne too bee pryckedwith a pynnes puinct, would you not gladly and with all yourvery heart suffer then so lytle a payne as that is?_SPV_ Verye gladlye, yea, rather if I knewe perfectlyethat my teeth would neuer ake, I would willynglye suffertoo bee prycked depe with a nedle, and too haue both mineeares bored through with a bodkin. _HEDO. _ Surely what paynesoeuer happeneth in this lyfe, it is lesse and shorter, compared with the eternall paines, then is the soden prickeof a needle, incomparisõ of the ||E. Iii. || lyfe of manthough it bee neuer so long, for there is no conuenience orproportion of the thyng that hath ende, and that whych isinfinite. _SPV. _ You speake very truly. _HEDO. _ Now if a mancoulde fully perswade you, that you should neuer feele paynein al your life, if you did but ones deuide the flame of yefyre, with your hande, whyche thyng vndoughtely _Pithagoras_forbade, woulde you not gladlye doo it? _SPV. _ Yea, on thatcondicion I had liefer doo it an hundred times, if I knewprecisely the promiser would kepe touch. _HE. _ It is playneGod cannot deceaue. But now that feelyng of paine in thefyre is longer vnto the whole lyfe of man, then is the||lyfe of mã, in respect of the heauenlye ioye, althougheit were thrise so long as ye yeares of _Nestor_, for thatcasting of the hand in the fyre thoughe it bee neuer soshorte, yet it is some parte of hys lyfe, but the wholelyfe of man is noo portion of tyme in respect of the eternallyfe. _SPV. _ I haue nothyng too saye against you. _HEDO. _ Doo you then thyncke that anye affliction ortourment can disquiet those that prepare them selues wyth achearful hearte and a stedfast hoope vnto the kyngedome ofGod, wher as the course of this lyfe is nowe so shorte?_SPVDE. _ I thinke not, if thei haue a sure perswasion and aconstant hope too attayne it. _HEDO. _ I coome ||E. Iiii. || nowvnto those pleasures, whiche you obiected agaynst me, theydo wythdrawe them selues from daunsynge, bankettynge, frompleasaunte seeghtes, they dispyce all these thynges, asthus: for to haue the vse of thinges farre more ioyfulle, and haue as great pleasure as these bee, but after anothersorte: the eye hath not seene, the eare hath not heard, nor the heart of man cannot thyncke what consolations _GOD_hathe ordeined for them that loue hym. Sayncte Paule knewewhat maner of thynges shoulde bee the songes, queeres, daunsynges, and bankettes of vertuous myndes, yea, in thislyfe. _SPVDEVS_ but there bee some leafull || pleasures, whyche they vtterlye refuse. _HEDONIVS. _ That maye bee, forthe immoderate vse of leafull and godly games or pastymes, is vnleaful: and if you wyll excepte this one thing onlye, in al other thei excelle whiche seeme too leade a paynfulllyfe, and whome we take too bee ouerwhelmed with all kynd ofmiseries. Now I prai you what more roialler sight can therbe, then ye cõtêplatiõ of this world? and such men as ye bein fauour of god keping his holy cõmaûdemêtes & loue hismost blessed testamêt, receiue far geater pleasure in thesyght therof, then thother sorte doo, for while thei beholdwyth ouercurious eyes, ye wõderful worke, their mynde || istroubled because they can not compasse for what purpose hedoeth such thinges, then thei improue the moost righte andwise gouernour of all and murmour at his doinges as thoughthey were goddes of reprehension: and often finde faute withthat lady nature, and saye that she is vnnaturall, whichetaunt forsooth with as muche spite as can bee shewed withwoordes, greueth nature: but truely it reboundeth on hym, that made nature, if there bee any at all. But the vertuousman with godly & simple eyes beholdeth with an excedyngreioyce of heart the workes of his Lorde and father highlypraysyng thê all, and neither reprehêdeth nor || findethfaut with any of thê, but for euery thyng yeoueth mostehearty thankes, when he considereth that al were made forthe loue of man. And so in al thynges, he praieth vnto theinfinite power, deuine wisedome, & goodnes of the maker, wherof he perceiueth moste euident tokens in thynges thatbee here created. Now fain that there were suche a palace inverie deede as _Apuleus_ faineth, or els one that were moreroyall and gorgeouse, and that you shoulde take twoo thitherwith you too beholde it, the one a straunger, whiche gooethfor this intent onely too see the thyng, and the other theseruaût or soonne of hym that firste causeth this buyldyng, whether || will haue more delectie in it? the straunger, toowhom suche maner of house dooeth nothyng appartain, or thesoonne whiche beholdeth with greate ioye and pleasure, thewitte, riches, and magnificence of his deerely belouedfather, especially when he dooeth consider all this workewas made for his sake. _Sp. _ Your question is too plain:for they most cõmunely that bee of euill condicions, knowethat heauen and all thinges contained therin, were made formannes sake. _HEDO. _ Almoste al knowe that, but some dooenot remembre it, shewyng thêselues vnthãkeful for the greatand exhuberãt benefittes of god, & al though thei rememberit, yet that mã taketh || greater delight in the sight of itwhiche hath more loue vnto the maker therof, in like maneras, he more chearfully wyll behold the element whicheaspireth towarde the eternall life. _SPV. _ Your saiyngesare muche like too bee true. _HED. _ Nowe the pleasures offeastes dooeth not consist in the delicates of the mouth, nor in the good sauces of cookes, but in health of bodyand appetite of stomacke. You may not thynke that anydelicious person suppeth more pleasauntly hauyng before hympartriches, turtelles, leuerettes, bekers, sturgeon, andlamprayes: then a vertuous man hauyng nothîg too eat, butonely bread potage, or wortes: and nothyng || too drynke, but water, single bere, or wyne well alayde, be cause hetaketh these thinges as prepared of God vnto all lyuyngcreatures, and that they bee now yeouê vnto him of hisgentyll and mercifull father, praier maketh euery thyngtoo sauour well. The petition in ye begynnyng of dynersanctifieth all thynges and in a while after there isrecited some holy lesson of the woorde of God: whiche morerefresheth the minde, then meate the body, and grace afterall this. Finally he riseth from the table, not ful: butrecreated, not laden, but refreshed: yea, refreshed both inspirit and bodie, thynke you that any chief deuiser of thesemuche vsed bãkets, & || deintye delicaces fareth nowe moredeliciously? _SPudeus. _ But in _Venus_ there is greatedelectacions if we beleue _Arestotell_. _Hed. _ And in thisbehalfe the vertuous manne far excelleth as well as in goodfare, wiegh you now the matter as it is, the better a manneloueth his wife, the more he delecteth in the good felowshipand familiaritie that is betwene theim after the courseof nature. Furthermore, no menne louê their wiues morevehemêtly then thei that loue theim euê soo, as Christ louedthe churche. For thei that loue thê for the desire of bodelypleasure, loue thê not. More ouer, the seldomer any mandooeth accompany with his wife, the greater pleasure, it ||is to hym afterwarde, and that thyng the wãtõ poete knewfull well whiche writeth, rare and seldome vse stereth vppleasures. Albeit, the lest parte of pleasure is in thefamiliare company betwene theim. There is forsothe fargreater in the continuall leadyng of their liues too gether, whiche emongest none can be so plesaunt as those that louesyncerely and faithfully together in godly and christianloue, and loue a like one the other. In the other sort, oftêwhêthe pleasure of ye body decaieth & waxeth old loue waxethcoold & is sone forgottõ, but emõgest right christê mê, themore ye the lust of ye flesh decreaseth & vanisheth away, ye more thê al godly loue encreseth || Are you not yetperswaded that none lyue more pleasauntly thê they whicheliue continually in vertue and true religiõ of god?_SP. _ Would god all men were as well perswaded in thatthyng. _He. _ And if they bee Epicures that lyue pleasauntli:none bee righter Epicures then they that liue vertuously, and if we wyll that euery thyng haue it right name nonedeserueth more ye cogname of an Epicure, then that Prince ofall godly wisedome too whõ most reuerêtly we ought alwaiestoo praye: for in the greeke tonge an Epicure signifiethan helper. Nowe whan the lawe of nature was first corruptedwith sinne, whê the law of Moses did rather prouoke euildesires ||F. I. || then remedy them. Whã the tyraunte Sathanasreygned in this worlde freely and wythout punishement, thenthys prynce onely, dyd sodenlye helpe mankynde redy toperishe: wherfore thei erre shamefully which scoff andbable that _CHRIST_ was one that was sadd and of amalancolye nature, & that he hath prouoked vs vnto anvnpleasaunt kynde of lyfe, for onely he did shewe a kindof liuing most godly and fullest of al true pleasure, ifwe might haue the stone of _Tantalus_ taken awaye from vs. _SPVD. _ What darke saiyng is this? _EDO. _ It is a mery taletoo laugh at, but this bourd induceth verye graue and saddethynges. _SPV. _ I tary too heare ||this mery conceite, thatyou name too bee so sage a matter. _HE_ Thei whiche gauetheir studye and diligence to colour and set furth thepreceptes of Philosophie wyth subtil fables, declare thatthere was one _Tantalus_ broughte vnto the table of thegoddes, whych was euer furnished wyth all good fare, andmost nete and sumptuous that myght bee, whan thys straungershoulde take hys leave, Iupyter thought it was for his greatliberalitie and highe renoume, that his guest shuld notdepart wythout some rewarde, he wylled him therfore tooaske what he woulde, and he shoulde haue it: _Tantalus_(forsooth) lyke a verye leude and foolyshe person, ||F. Ii. ||for that he sette all the felicitie and pleasure of man inthe delectation of the bely, and glotonye, desired butonly too sytte at suche a table all the dayes of hys life, Iupiter graunted him his desire, and shortly his vow wasthere stablished and ratifyed. _Tantalus_ nowe sytteth atthe table furnyshed wyth all kindes of delicates, suchdrinke as the goddes druncke of was set on the table, andthere wanted no rooses nor odours that could yeoue any swetesmel before the Goddes, _Ganymedes_ the buttler or one lykevnto hym, standeth euer redye, the _Muses_ stande roundeaboute syngyng pleasauntly, mery _Silenus_ daunseth, ne therwanted noo fooles || too laugh at, and breuely, there waseuerye thynge that coulde delyght any sence of mã butemongist all these, _Tantalus_ sytteth all sadde, syghyng, and vnquiet with hym selfe, neither laughing nor yettouching such thynges as were set before hym _SPVDE. _ Whatwas the cause? _HED. _ Over his head as he sate there hãgedby an heere a great stone euer lyke too fall. _SPV. _ Iwoulde then haue conueied my selfe from suche a table. _HEDO_ But his vowe had bound hym too the contrarye, forIupyter is not so easye too intreate as oure _GOD_, whichdooeth vnloose the pernitious vowes of menne, that bee madecontrary vnto his holy woord, if thei bee ||F. Iii. || penitentand sorye therfore, or elles it myght bee thus, the samestoone that woulde not suffer hym too eate, would neithersuffer hym to ryse, for if he had but ones moued he shuldhaue been quashed al in peeses with the fall thereof. _SPVDE. _ You haue shewed a very mery fable _HEDON. _ But noweheare that thing, which you wil not laugh at: the communepeople seeke too haue a pleasaunt life in outwarde thynges, where as noothyng can yeoue that, but onely a constant and aquiet mind: for surely a far heuier stone hangeth ouer thesethat grudge with them selues, then hanged ouer _Tantalus_:it only hangeth not ouer them, but greueth and || oppresseththe mynde, ne the mind is not troubled wyth any vayn hoope, but looketh euery houre to bee caste in too the paynes ofhell, I praye you what can bee so pleasaunt emongist allthinges that bee yeouen vnto man, that coulde reioyse themynde, whyche were oppressed wyth suche a stoone?_SPVDE. _ Truely there is nothyng but madnes, or ellesincredulitie. _HEDO. _ Yf younge menne woulde weygh thesethynges, that bee quyckly prouoked and entised with pleasureas it were wyth the cuppe of _Circes_, whiche in steade oftheyr greatest pleasures receiue poysone myxte with honye. Howe circumspecte would they bee too doo anye thynge||F. Iiii|| vnaduisedly that shoulde grudge their mindesafterward? What thinge is it that thei would not doo toohaue suche a godly treasure in store against their latterdaies? that is a minde knowyng it selfe cleane & honest anda name that hath not been defiled at any time. But whatthyng now is more miserable then is agee? Whan it beholdeth, and loketh backward on thinges that be past seeth plainlywith great grudg of conscience howe fayre thynges he hathedespiced and sette lyght by, (that is, howe farre he hathdiscented and gone astray from the promyses made vnto God inbaptime) & agayn, how foule & noughty thîges he hath clippedand enbraced, and whã || hee looketh forwarde, hee seeththen the daye of iudgemente drawe neere, and shortely afterthe eternall punyshemente of of hell. _SPVDE. _ I estemetheim most happie whych haue neuer defyled theyr youthe, but euer haue increased in vertu, til thei haue coomne vntothe last puincte of age. _HEDO. _ Next them thei ar too beecommended that haue wythdrawne theim selues from the folieof youth in tyme. _SPVDE. _ But what councel wil you yeoueagee that is in suche great myserie. _HEDO. _ No man shouldedispayre so long as life endureth, I wyl exhorte him toflee for helpe vnto the infinitie mercye & gentilnes of God. _SP. _ But the longer that he hath liued || the heape of hissynnes hath euer waxen greate and greater, so that nowe itpasseth the nomber of the sandes in the sea, _HE_ But themercies of our lord far excede those sãdes, for although thesande can not bee numbred of manne, yet hit hath an ende, but the mercie of God neither knoweth ende, ne measure. _SP. _ Yea but he hath no space that shall dye by and by, _HEDONI. _ The lesse tyme he hath the more feruêtly he shouldcal vnto god for grace, that thyng is long inough beforeGod, whiche is of suche power as too ascende from the yearthvnto heauê, for a short prayer forsoth streght entrethheauê, if it bee made with a vehemêt spirit. It is written, that || ye womã synner spoken of in the gospell did penaunceal her life dayes: but with how fewe wordes again did thethief obtain Paradise in the houre of death? If he willcrye with hearte and mynde, God haue mercie on me afterthy great mercie: God wil take awaye from hym _Tantalus_ stone and yeoue in his hea- ryng ioye and cõfort and his bones hu- miled throughe cõtrition, wil reioyse that he hath his synnes foryeouen hym. *FINIS. * * * * * * Imprinted at London within the precinct of the late dissolued house of the gray Friers, by Richarde Grafton, Printer too the Princes grace. The. XXIX. Daie of Iuly, the yere of our Lorde. M. D. XLV. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [Typographic Errors: arabic numeral = unnumbered page _v_ = verso (back of page) A. 5 _v_ most blessed Testament _was_ bessedB. 5 _v_ - B. 6 then this || saiyng. _end of B. 5v reads_ sai-/yng _including catchword_C. 7 _v_ in too a laughter _was_ in too a/a laughter _at line break_D. 7 _v_ where god is present _was_ where god is/is present _at line break_E. Iii it is no vertue but folishnes: but as often as thei bee punyshed _was_ it is no-/vertue _at line break_ _and_ but as of-/often _at line break_E. 8 _v_ - F. I rather prouoke euil desires || then remedy them _end of E. 8v reads_ thê/reme _including catchword_F. I _v_ to colour and set furth the preceptes _was_ set-/furth _at line break_F. Ii _v_ breuely, there was _was_ breuely, there/there was _at line break_ Irregularities in text (not changed): D. 5 the two staues wherevpon age is stayed _text reads_ . . . Where-/vpon _at line break_ D. 6 oure moost foo & mortal enemie _unchanged_: ?fool (foul) Mismatched catchwords (text uses second form): C. Iiii - C. Iiii _v_ [bee] || beC. 7 _v_ - C. 8 [done] || dooneD. Iiii _v_ - D. 5 [hym] || itD. 8 - D. 8 _v_ [ioye] || ioyD. 8 _v_ - E. I [I] || (I. . . E. Ii _v_ - E. Iii [life] || lyfeE. Iii _v_ - E. Iiii [nowe] || nowE. Iiii - E. Iiii _v_ plea-[sure] || suresE. 5 - E. 5 _v_ [fyndeth] || findethE. 7 - E. 7 _v_ [deyntie] || deintyeF. Iiii - F. Iiii _v_ [he] || heeF. 5 - V. 5 _v_ [the] || [ye] ]