The School of Beasts, Dialogue
A DIALOGVE of the ſchoole of Beaſtes, Intituled the good houſeholder, or the Oeconomickes.
The ſpeakers.
Tobias.
Theopharſtus.
Ierome.
Tobias,
THOV TAKEST IN hande a worke (Theophraſtus) the which ſhal not be greatly to the honour of men, if thou canſt atayne vntounto that to whiche thou haſt bounde thy ſelfe. For yf the beaſtes do better their office accordyng to their nature, then men doe theirs, they deſerue more to be called reaſonable, then men.
Theophraſt.
I doubte not but that at the firſt ſight, many will finde that which I hauehave ſayde to be very ſtrang. But ſith that the ſpirite of God doth ſende vsus ſo often tymes vntounto the ſchoole of beaſtes in the holy ſcriptures,Men are ſent to the ſchole of Beaſtes. we may thereby iudge, howe much men ought to eſteeme and ſet by them ſelues, ſeeing they vnderſtād ſo euyl their office, that they muſt be ſent vntounto the beaſtes, for to learne of them what they ought to do.
Tobias,
I pray thee declare vntounto vsus the places of the holy ſcriptures, agreing with that matter for to make vsus better to vnderſtand what is that ſchoole of beaſtes, to whiche the ſpirite of God ſendeth vsus, as thou ſaieſt.
Theophraſt.
Firſt marke, what the Lord ſayd by the mouth of Iob,Iob. 21 7. aſke the Cattell, and they ſhal informe thee: The Foules of the ayre, and they ſhall tell thee: ſpeake to the errth, and it ſhall ſhewe thee: Or too the fiſhes of the Sea, and they ſhall certifie thee. Nowe ſeeing that Iob doth ſende vsus to the beaſtes, generally for to bee taught by them: I will nowe bring foorth more ſpecially and perticulerly the Doctors & Maiſters, which are ſet forth vntounto vsus by the worde of God, in this ſchoole of the beaſtes which we ſpeake of.
Tobias,
With which of the beaſtes wilt thou begin.
Theophraſt.
With that which is the leaſt of al.Cood houſholders and pollitike mē. Thou knoweſt that men doo greatly eſteeme thoſe whiche knowe beſt to gouerne them ſelues in this worlde, and which are prudent and wiſe, to gather together great ſtore of earthly treaſures, and for to gouerne wel their houſe, A Citie, a Cuntrie, or a whole Realme.
Tobias,
Such men are ſo much eſtemed amonge others, that commonly they do not eſteeme any other to be wyſe, prudent nor good men but onelyonly thoſe.
Theophraſt.
It is euen ſo as thou ſayeſt: But when al ſhalbe wel conſidered what compariſō is there in ſuche matter, betweene ſuch men and the Authour, and wherein are they to be preferred before the Antes? The Ante.I doo not yet ſpeake of other beaſts, which according to their nature, knowe to prouide althinges for their affayres, as needeth for their conſeruation. But I take this ſame, whiche is the leaſt that may be: And yet neuertheleſſe ſhe hath ſo much induſtrie, prudence,Prou. 6.6. and diligence in her, that Solomon was not aſhamed to ſende the ſluggard vntounto her ſchoole. It were a thing incredible, if we had not the experience for a witnes, that ſuch litle beaſtes, could carie ſuche heauie burthens as they do, and that they can heape togeather the thinges as they do for their prouiſiō: & to kepe among thē ſuch order as they keepe.
Tobias,
I would to God that men in their behalfe, knewe to keepe ſo good order amongeſt them ſelues. What ſayeſt thou Ierome?
Ierome,
Thou ſhouldeſt hauehave yet better occaſion to ſay ſo as thou ſayeſt, if thou haddeſt heard that which Plinie and Plutarke, beſides other wiſe men, hauehave written of the nature of thoſe litle Beaſtes, and ſhouldeſt be yet leſſe abaſhed,Prou. 6.6. for that Solomon geueth them for myſtreſſes to the ſluggarde.
Tobias,
Thou ſhalt doe me great pleaſure, to declare vntounto me what thinges thoſe two Authours hauehave written, whom thou namedſt vntounto me but now. For I vnderſtand that they were both of them very learned men; and that they hauehave written very wel of thoſe matters, of which they hauehave ſpoken.
Ierome,
I wil begin with Plinie, Plini. lib. cap 30. Ariſto. lib de animalib. 9 cap. 38 The common wealth of the Ants. and their labours and induſtrie▪who hath written maruelous things. Firſt he confeſſeth that there is among them, the order and faſhion of a common wealth, & a remembrance and care. But amongſt al their other workes, is it not a paſtime, to ſee them bite the burthens that they wil cary? If they bee too great and heauie for them, they turne them ſelues backewardes, and ſtay it with their ſhoulders thruſt it forwarde with their hinder feete. And to the ende that the ſeedes whiche they hyde in the earth, ſhoulde not growe, and take roote, they byte it before they lay it vp in their Garners and ſtore houſes. And if the graynes be too great, and that they cannot eaſily enter in at their holes, they deuide it in the myddeſt. If they be moyſt or wette with the rayne, they do bring them out and drye them. Alſo they labour in the night, when the Moone is at the full, and ceaſe and leaue of when ſhe is in the waine. Wherein they declare, that they vnderſtande ſome thing in Aſtronomie. But what labor & diligence is there in their workes? And for that that they do fetch and gather their prouiſion from diuerſe places, & that the one knoweth nothing of the other,Plinie liber. 11. &. 30. The faires of the Ants. Plinie witneſſeth, that they hauehave certayne dayes of fayres, for to knowe the one the other. EueryEvery man may thinke what courſe and what diligence there is then amongſt them. But if one mark them nerely, wil he not ſay, that they ſpeake together, and do aſke and anſwere the one the other? Do we not ſee the ſtones and hard works made ſmoothe, and holes worne in them thorowe the ofte going too and fro about their worke? Wherin we may wel knowe how much the diligence and exerciſe is worthy, and can doo in eueryevery thing. For if the feete of thoſe litle beaſtes can make hollowe and ſmooth the hard ſtones, thorow their ofte going and comming to & fro, what may the continuall labour & trauaile of men do? It is not then without cauſe that the Greekes ſaid in a prouerbe,A prouerbe. exerciſe can doe all thinges. But beſides al that,Exerciſe and diligence can doe all thinges. it is alſo written of them, that they do burye the one the other, as men do. Theſe thinges make me to thinke,The buriall of the Ants. that the Poetes hauehave fayned, that the people called Myrmidons, Plinie. lib. 11. Cap. 30.came from the Antes whiche were chaunged into men? Becauſe of their induſtrie and labour,Antes turned into Myrmidons. and of that prudence and direction that they hauehave, which is next to the nature of men. For thoſe people hauehave ben much eſteemed among the Poetes, and chiefely becauſe of Achilles, Achilles homer Ili.whiche was their captayne in the warres of Troy.
Tobias,
Whiche of all the poetes hath ſpoken, of that transformatiō?
Ierome,
Ouid maketh a great diſcourſe in his Metamorphoſes, in whiche he declareth howe that the people of king Aeacus, being altogether diſcomfited thorowe the great plague & death, was reſtored againe by the meanes of the Antes, whiche were chaunged into men, of whiche transformatiō, he ſpeaketh after this maner, as it is tranſlated into Engliſhe miter.
Ouid. meta. lib. 7Hard by vsus as it hapt that tyme,
there was an Oken tree,
With spreaded armes as bare of boughs,
as lightly one ſhall ſee.
This tree (as al the reſt of Okes,)
was ſacred vntounto Ioue,
And ſprouted of an Acorne which,
was fet from Dodon groue.
Here markt we how the pretie Antes,
the gatherers vp of grayne.
One folowing other al along,
in order of a trayne.
Great burthens in their litle mouthes.
did painefully ſuſteyne.
And nimbly vp the rugged barke,
their beaten path mayntayne.
As wondring at the ſwarme I ſtoode,
I ſayde, O father deare,
As many people geue thou me,
as Antes are creeping here.
And by and by afterwardes, following on his purpoſe, he commeth to the transformation of them, and ſaid as foloweth.
Me thought I ſawe the ſelfe ſame Oke,Ouid meta. lib. 7
with al his boughes and twiges,
And al the Piſmires creeping ſtill,
vponupon his taunts and ſpriges.
Which trembling with a ſodayne brayde,
theſe harneſt folke of threwe.
And ſhed them on the ground about,
who on the ſodayne grewe.
In bignes more and more,
& from the earth them ſelues did lift,
And ſtoode vpright againſt the tree,
and ther withal did ſhift.
Their neygernes, and cole blacke hue,
and number of their feete:
And clad their lymmes with ſhape of man,
away my ſleepe did fleete.
And by and by afterwardes, Ouid him ſelfe expoundeth and declareth the cauſe wherfore that tranſformation was fayned, as I euen nowe declared, and therefore he bringeth in Aecus ſpeaking after this maner.
Ouid meta. lib. 7.And I (my vowes to Ioue perfourmd,)
my Citie did deuide:
Among my newe inhabiters,
and gaue them land beſide.
Which by deceaſe of ſuch as were,
late owners of the ſame,
Lay waſt, and in remembrance of,
the race whereof they came.
The name of Emetes I them gaue,
their perſons you hauehave ſeene:
Their diſpoſition is the ſame,
that earst in them hath beene.
They are a ſparing kinde of folke.
on labour wholy ſet:
A gatherer, and a horder vp,
of ſuch as they do get.
Theſe fellowes being like in yeeres,
and courrage of the minde,
Shal goe awarfare when aſſoone,
as that the eſterne winde.
Which brought you hither luckely,
(the Eaſterne winde was it,
That brought them thyther,)
turning to the Sotherne coaſt do flit.
Ouid, hath partly taken the occaſion of this fable, becauſe that Myrmex ſignifieth in Greeke an Ante, Myrmex.of which name it ſemeth that the name of the Myrmidons is taken,The cauſe of this fable & of the name of the myrmidons. for the cauſe which hath beene alredy alledged by Ouid him ſelfe. And therein Ouid hath ſhewed, howe muche hee hath eſteemed the Antes and their labours, when he did not only compare thoſe men vntounto them, which he thought to be moſt induſtrious and geuen to labour, but alſo hath fayned that mē were made of the Ants. As though he woulde ſay, that men are not naturally ſo induſtryous and geuen to labour, as the Antes, and that the Myrmidons ſhould not bee ſo induſtrious, if they had not beene before Antes, and that they had ben taken from their kynde.
Tobias,
Seeing that the Myrmidons are called by that name, for the cauſe thou ſpeakeſt of, that name cannot by right be geuen vntounto the ſluggardes, whom Solomon doth ſend vntounto the Ante.
Ierome,
It is eaſie to iudge. But ſeeing that I hauehave in effect declared, that which Plinie hath written, of the nature of the Antes, it remayneth now, that I do alſo declare that which Plutarke witneſſeth of it.The witnes of Plutarke of the nature of the Ante. For he doth not onelyonly accord with Plinie, in that that he hath written, but alſo he declareth more ſpecially and particulerly, the great vertues whiche are in theſe litle beaſtes, of whom he ſpeaketh after this ſorte.Plutat. in opus. But as it is imposſible (ſayth he) to ſpeake worthely ynough of the diſcipline, and domeſticall induſtrie of the Antes, yet we muſt not paſſe without ſpeaking …omewhat of them. Nature hath no …reater and more excellent mirror of great and excellent things. For in … it ſhineth the ſignet of all vertue, …s in a pure litle droppe. That communication that they hauehave among …hem ſelues, is the Image of amitie: …hat ſtrength and liuelines that they hauehave in their labours and trauayles, …s an Image of force and magnanimitie. To conclud, they hauehave a great manie of ſeeds and witneſſes of temperance, of prouidence & of Iuſtice. Nowe although that Cleanthes eſteemed not that the beaſtes were endu…d with reaſon, yet neuertheleſſe, he confeſſed, that he did ſee on a tyme …hat ſpectacle, that is, that certayne Antes went to an ant-heape, carrying … dead Ante, from which ante-heape …ame before thē certayne other Ants. …fterwards when they had as it were ſpoken together, they went agayne …n, and did ſo twyſe or thriſe. In the ende they brought a worme, whiche was the price as it ſhould ſeme, for to redeme the dead. The which worme was taken by thoſe which did bring the dead Ante: the which they gaue vntounto the others and went their way. But now eueryevery one may know their beneuolence when they meete the one the other: when thoſe that are emptie, geue place vntounto thoſe that are laden, that they may paſſe the more eaſily: When they deuide into many peeces, a burthen that is too heauie for them eyther to beare or to drawe:The aſtrologie and Prognoſtication of the Antes. when they ſet the corne in the ſonne to drye it. It is a ſigne of rayne, as Aratus eſteemeth, when the Ante bringeth out of her hole and denne al her egges, Although that ſome ſay that they be not egges,The cōſeruation of the graines and prouiſion. but the frute which they bring foorth, when they feele and perceaue that it waxeth muſtie. And for that cauſe they feare leaſt it ſhoulde waxe rotten. And the care that they hauehave leaſt their graynes ſhould not ſpring and grow, ſurpaſſeth al mens vnderſtanding: And that care alſo whiche they hauehave, that their ſeedes whiche they hauehave layde vp in their hole and denne, ſhould abyde drye and not rotten, fearing leaſt ſodenly they ſhould waxe moyſt, and become like mylke, and that being moyſtened with the moyſtnes of the place, it ſhoulde returne agayne into graſſe. To the end then that their graynes ſhould not growe and ſpring: and that ſo by that meanes they ſhoulde not looſe their nouriſhment and foode, but that it may continue and they lyue, they bite the nable of the grayne, which is the part by which it ſpringeth and groweth, and gelde it long time before. Nowe ſome ſaye that the firſt deſcending, and next to the entring in of their holes, is not right and ſtraight foorth, and that there is no other beaſt which can go in at it: But that it is croked & with many turninges, hauing many croſſe wayes, the which is made into their holes and dennes. The one is that, where they make their aſſemblies & parliaments. The other celle or hole is, that where they laye vp their prouiſion for al the yeere: And the third is the buriall place for the dead. Beholde that which Plutarke hath written of the Antes.
Tobias,
Sith that Solomon hath ſette foorth for the ſluggrdes,Prouerbs. 6. the example of the Ante, I doubt not but that ſhe is very laborious and diligent. But I knowe not whether we ought to beleeue all that whiche Plinie and Plutarke hauehave written.
Ierome,
Whether al that whiche they hauehave written be true or no, I referre me to them-ſelues. But yet neuertheleſſe, I think that they hauehave not written without ſome reaſon that, that they do teſtifie: Beſids experiēce witneſſeth, at the leaſt in ſōe part, the thinges the whiche they do witneſſe. But ſith that we hauehave heard their witneſſe, let vsus now heare what Theophraſtus will ſay more vponupon that place, the whiche he hath alredie alledged out of Solomon, touching this mattet.
Theophraſt.
It ſhalbe good that we heare the very words of Solomon himſelfe, the better to vnderſtande the doctrine, the whiche he woulde geue vsus to vnderſtand by the ſame.Prouerb. 6.6 The ſluggard ſent to the ſchole of the Ante. Goe to the Emits (ſayth he) thou ſluggard, conſider her waies and learne to be wiſe. She hath no guide, no teacher, no leader: yet in the Sommer ſhe prouideth her meate, and gathereth her foode together in the Harueſt. Howe long wilt thou ſleepe thou ſluggiſhe man? when wilt thou ariſe out of thy ſleepe? Yea ſleepe on ſtill a litle, ſlomber a litle, fold thy hands together yet a litle, that thou mayeſt ſleepe: So ſhal pouertie come vntounto thee as one that trauaileth by the way, and neceſſitie like a weaponed man. And in an an other place, marke what he ſpeaketh, not onelyonly of the Ante, but alſo of certayne other litle Beaſtes, which are not of any great ſtrength.Prou 30.24 There be foure thinges in the earth (ſayth he) the whiche are very litle: but in wiſedome they exceede the wiſe. The Emmets are but a weake people, yet gather they their meate together in the Harueſt. The Conies are but a feeble folke, yet make they their couches among the rockes. The Graſhoppers hauehave not a guide, yet goe they foorth together by heapes▪ the Spyder laboreth with her handes, and that in the Kinges palace.
Tobias,
Wherefore doth Salomon ſet foorth the feblenes of thoſe beaſtes?
Theophra.
It is to take from the ſlugardes and idle perſons,The excuſe aſ the ſluggardes and ſlothfull excluded. all the excuſes which they might aleadge for to excuſe their ſlugiſhnes and ſlothfulnes. For although that theſe litle beaſts are feeble & weak, & that they hauehave no king nor Prince for to defend and conduct them: yet neuertheleſſe, that doth not let and hinder them to do their workes.
Tobias.
Is, that the cauſe, why hee ſaid, that they had no guide?
Thophraſt.
In ſpeaking the ſame, he giueth two aduertiſementes vntounto men, the which are worthy to be noted. For on the one ſide, he rebuketh them for that they do nothing but thorowe compulſion, and that they cannot yet do their dutie, although they be incited and driuen forwards by many meanes, wherein they hauehave a great aduantage, which the beaſtes hauehave not. For they hauehave none other maſter nor myſtres to teach them, but the nature which God gaue thē, with whiche they doo better keepe their eſtate, then men doo in that with which they were firſt created of God. And on the other ſide, he doth alſo admoniſhe the Princes and all ſuperiours,The office of princes not to ſuffer thoſe to liue idlely whom they hauehave in charge, & to keepe and defend them. And by that he ſpeaketh of the Conyes, he rebuketh the raſhnes and foliſh hardines of men.Raſhnes. And by that he ſpeaketh of the Graſhoppers, he rebuketh them of their diſobedience towardes their maieſtrates. And by the Spider, Diſobedience.he admoniſheth that thoſe which hauehave the charge of the common wealth or publicke thinges,Care. ought to be more careful and vigilant.
Tobias.
Me thinks that thou wouldeſt ſay that thoſe which are in publicke office, and in Kinges and Princes houſes, ought to be more careful and diligent then any other, after the example of the Spider, who is not idle in the Kinges palace. And yet neuertheleſſe, thoſe houſes are commonly the ſchooles of the greateſt Idlenes that is in the worlde.
Theophraſt.
And therfore God doth ſend them the ſpiders, for to rebuke and checke them.
Tobias,
And therefore I thinke that that is the cauſe wherefore the Spyders are ſo muche dryuen away with their copwebs,A Prouerbe. wherefore men ſay in a common prouerbe, That the Spider hath taken vp her lodging with the poore men, & the Goute in the riche mens houſes, in whiche ſhe may take beſt reſt.
Theophraſt.
Let vsus leaue of that matter, and come agayne vntounto Salomon, who ioyneth here theſe foure beaſts, who notwithſtanding they are but lytle of bodie, yet neuertheleſſe they do playnely ſhewe, that they hauehave a maruaylous naturall wyſedome, by which they paſſe and excell the ſame of the wyſe men. Then as he woulde that we ſhould learne of the Ante, to be diligent, geuen to labour, and well foreſeeing to our affayres: So he ſendeth vsus vntounto the Connies, The Connies and that that they do teache vntounto man. A ſure dwelling.that we may learne by their example, not onelyonly to be diligent, and geuen to labour, but alſo to ſeeke for a ſure & firme dwelling. For notwithſtanding that the Connies are without ſtrength and reſiſtance, inſomuch that they can doo none other thing, but to flye at the baye and barking of the leaſt Dogge in the worlde: yet neuertheleſſe they are ſuch continuall diggers and ſcrapers, that they bring it to paſſe in the end, that they do cleaue a ſunder and make hollow the ſtones and rockes, for to lodge them ſelues therein, and their yong ones with thē. And therefore it is ſayde in the Pſalmes. The rockes are a refuge for the Connies. Pſal 104.18.For they knowe very well howe to make their Caues and dennes, and to finde out fitte and ſure places for the ſame: and they are very diligent for to prouide for their meate and their yong-ones, of which they are ſo fruitefull,Pli. lib. 8.55. that ſometimes the Balearians were conſtrayned to demaunde ayde and ſouldiers of Auguſtus Caeſar, againſt thoſe, fearing leaſt they woulde deſtroy their Cuntry, as they hauehave ſomtyme deſtroyed Cities. Nowe ſeeing that we hauehave not here any abyding and permanent Cittie, Heb. 13.14.but do ſeeke another: where may we find a ſure habitation & dwelling, but in the holie Citie of the celeſtiall Ieruſalem, Heb. 2.3. Apo. 21.22. Pſal. 118.19. Math. 16.21. 1. Cor. 11.34 Pro. 18.10. Ephe. 2.19.of which God is the wall? And in the Church of Ieſus Chriſt, which is the houſe of God builded vponupon the ſure ſtone and ſure rocke? For the name of God is a ſtrong bulwarke and a ſure forſtreſſe. Wherefore ſeeing that we hauehave Ieſus Chriſt the ſure ſtone which is the foundation of the holie Citie of the celeſtiall Ieruſalem, and of the prophets and Apoſtles we are admoniſhed that we muſt not be fearefull and cowardes, how great febleneſſe ſoeuer be in vsus: But that we employ our ſelues eueryevery one according to the gyftes which we hauehave receyued of God, hauing alwaies our refuge vntounto that ſtone and Rocke. Thoſe then whiche put all their truſt and affyance in the vayne and brittle thinges of this worlde, and in their ryches, honours, parentages, and in the vayne ceremonies and traditions of men, and in the workes of their handes, are not ſo wyſe and prudent as the Connies, but are thoſe fooles of whom Ieſus Chriſt ſpeaketh,Mat. 7.26. which builded their houſes vponupon the Sandes. For ſith that they are not builded vponupon the worde of God, and that they do not kepe it in their hartes, their building wil fall downe vponupon them. The which thing we ought wel to learne, not onelyonly of the Connies, but alſo of the Moules. For Varro witneſſeth,Plin. lib. 8.29. mart in Apopho. that in Theſſalie, a Citie, was ouerthrowen by the Moules: And another in Spaine by the Connies.
Tobias,
If theſe litle beaſtes can ouerthrow and deſtroy the buildings, edified and builded by men, we may wel know what fortreſſe one can find whiche can reſiſte the power & iudgment of God.
Theophraſt.
We hauehave yet to note, that beſides al that, the Connies may bragge & boſt them ſelues that they hauehave taught men, the maner to make mynes, holes and caues vnderunder the ground, for to vndermine and ouerthrowe Townes, Caſtles and fortreſſes. And therefore the mynes and Caues that men make vnderunder the ground, keepeth yet the name of Conies among the Latines. For they cal them Cuniculi, of the ſame name by which they cal the Connies. wherefore they hauehave learned vsus, howe much we ought to truſt to our fortreſſes, and to the workes of our handes. In like-maner, the men which know not how to keepe order among them ſelues, and which doo no honour nor reuerence vntounto iuſtice, are not ſo wyſe as the Graſhoppers. The wiſedome of the graſhoppers Plin. lib. 1.29For notwithſtanding that they are without King and gouernour, yet neuertheleſſe they kepe an order in flying: And there is among them ſome forme of iuſtice, as thoſe whiche God did ſende into Egypt, and there was founde good order among them. For they flye by great troupes and companies, and do paſſe the long Seas and cuntries. And therefore when the ſcripture woulde ſignifie a great Armie, it ſaith ſometime that the armie couereth all the earth, as the Graſhoppers. Iudges. 6.5What ſhal we ſay then of thoſe men, whom we cannot make to obey iuſtice, nor to render their dutie, neither towards god nor towards men? For although that they hauehave Princes, Maieſtrates, and lawes, and which is more, although that they hauehave God their ſoueraigne king and father, which neuer ceaſeth to teach & learne them by his word, yet neuertheles, they wil not be kept in order. And although that we hauehave God for king, and that we are vnderunder his protection, yet neuertheleſſe we thinke our ſelues to be loſt, aſſone as the protectiō of men and creatures wanteth. Wherin the Graſhoppers ſhew them ſelues more hardie and curragious then we.The Spiders Pli. li. 11.24. And what ſhal we ſay of the spiders, ought they to geue leſſe ſhame vntounto the ſluggardes and ſleepers, then the Ante? For notwithſtanding that ſhe be but weake, yet neuertheleſſe ſhe feareth not to haunte, not onelyonly poore mens houſes, but alſo the kinges and princes Palaces, and to make her webbes in them, turning and winding them now on the one ſide and now on the other,The weauing of the Spider. and catching al that whiche ſerue her, for to ſtretch them out and make them as long as they can be. And although that one do breake & deface her woorkes, and dryue her from one ſide to the other, yet neuertheleſſe ſhe is not ſo fearefull that ſhe forſaketh her lodging therefore, but returneth daylie to her woorke: Inſomuche that men doo not ſo faſt breake them, as ſhe repaireth and amendeth them, ſetting foorth ſtill newe workes. Wherein ſhe maketh men greatly aſhamed, whiche turne them ſelues from their dutie and office be it thorowe the greatnes and mightineſſe of Kings and Princes, or thorowe all the lettes that men may doe vntounto them. Let vsus alſo conſider what paine that beaſt taketh to make her threades, for to get her liuing by it. And afterwardes when they are made, what diligence ſhe taketh after her chaſe? Let the ſilke-weauers and alſo the lynen cloth makers, & the tapeſtrie makers, and imbroderers, and alſo all thoſe that make threddes come, and compare their woorke to the ſpiders webbes, & let them conſider in which is moſt conning. And who hath learned them that occupation? It was not men, but rather they hauehave learned of them.
Ierome.
Plinie telleth maruayles of their workes, to weete, how they deuide the labours betweene them, & howe the wyfe ſpinneth and maketh the webbes and threds, and the huſband on the other ſide chaſeth and hunteth for their nourriſhment. I thinke that the ſame was the cauſe wherefore the poetes hauehave fayned that Arachne, Arachne transformed into a ſpider.that good and cunning weauer, was transformed into a Spider, becauſe of her Arte, who was founde to hauehave followed the Spiders: of which transformation Ouid hath written after this maner.
And when minarue ſhould depart,
Ouid meta. lib. 6.with iuice of Hecats flower:
She ſprinkled her, and by and by,
the poyſon had ſuch power,
That with the touch thereof her heare,
her eares and noſe did fade:
And very ſmal it both her head,
and al her body made.
Inſtead of legges, to both her ſides,
ſticke fingers ſoft and fine:
The reſt is bellie from the which,
ſhe neuertheleſſe doth twyne.
A ſlender threed, and practiſeth,
in ſhape of ſpider ſtill
The ſpinners and the webſters craftes:
of which ſhe earſt had ſkil.
Theophraſt.
Let vsus leaue of the transformations of the poets, and returne vntounto the ſchoole of the Spiders, to which Salomon ſendeth vsus. Then if we conſider the huſwiferie whiche the ſpider holdeth,Euil huſwiues. howe manie euil huſwifes ſhal we finde, which knowe not how to ſpinne, nor ſewe, neither the arte of weauing, nor yet any ſcience at all for to occupie them ſelues in their houſes? Wherefore ſuch women are not worthie to be compared vntounto the Spider, ſauing as touching the poyſon which they are ful of. Alſo if men wil glory and boaſt them ſelues in hunting,The chaſe & hunting of men and of the ſpiders. Plini. lib. 11. cap. 24. Ariſt. hiſt. animal. lib. 9 cap. 39. and for that they are ſo ingenious and wyſe that they knowe the meanes to take al kind of beaſts, what matter of glorying & boaſting hauehave they more greater then the Spiders? For what hunters are there more ſubtil, then the Spider for to lye in waite, and for to trappe and ſnare the beaſtes, and to make them to fall into their nettes, or more diligent to lay holde on them? And yet neuertheleſſe ſhe hath neither ſinewes nor bones, But a very litle bodie.
Ierome,
Although it be ſo as thou ſaieſt, yet neuertheleſſe, ſhe hath the induſtrie to ſtay & catch ſometims litle euets, & lezards, in her nets. And therfore Plutarke ſaith, is not the worke of the Spiders greatly to be maruailed at, which hauehave geuen vntounto womē the pattern for to make their thredes, & vntounto the fyſher mē, for to make their netts. Let one beholde the perfection & the ſubtilitie of the threde, and the knotes of the webbe that cannot be vnloſed, being as a ſoft and tender skinne, & glewed together as though it were ſtarched. Furthermore, the dying of the colour declareth ſome ayrie and troubled thing, to the end it may the better deceiue. Finally, a man would neuer hauehave beleued that they had been ſo wel taught to draw together the lines which gouerneth their workes, in ſomuch, that as ſone as there is any praye or captiue, they feele and perceiue it, & in a moment leape out and drawe together their nettes, as doth an expert and conning hunter. And if it were not but, that we ſee it daylie before our eyes, a man would thinke that it were but a fable. Behold the witnes of Plutark.
Thophraſt.
Beſides al that which we hauehave alredie ſpoken of, they hauehave yet another great aduantage. For if men wil chaſe and hunt, there muſt be many of them, and that they muſt hauehave many inſtrumentes for their hunting, the which wil be great charge vntounto them.
Ierome,
That is very true. And moreouer,Hunters eaten vp by their dogs. they muſt nurriſh and feede a great companie of dogges, the which often-times eate vp their maiſters. Euen as the Poets hauehave written,The tranſformation of Acteon. that the dogges of Acteon did eat vp their maiſter, being changed into an hart: of whiche transformation Ouid hath written after this maner.
Diana makes no farther threats,Ouid. meta lib. 3.
but by and by doth ſpread:
A paire of liuely old hartes hornes:
vponupon his ſprinkeled head,
She ſharpes his eares, ſhe makes his necke,
both ſlender long and lanke:
She turnes his fingers into feete,
his armes to ſpindle ſhanke.
She wrappes him in a hairie hide,
be-ſet with ſpeckled ſpottes,
And planteth in him fearefulnes,
and ſo away he trottes.
And afterwardes towardes the ende he ſaith.
Acteon nowe was ful of care,
of ſorowe and of griefe:
And blamed much his hornes,
which did betray him as a theefe.
As often as they named him,
he ſadly ſhooke his head:
And faine he woulde hauehave ben away,
thence in ſome other ſtead.
But there he was, and wel he coulde,
hauehave founde in hart to ſee:
His dogges fel dedes, ſo that to feele,
in place he had not bee.
They hem him in on eueryevery ſide,
and in the ſhape of ſtagge:
With greedie teeth and griping pawes,
their lorde in peeces dragge.
So fierce was cruell Phaebes wrath,
it coulde not be alayde:
Til of his fault by bitter death,
the ranſome he had paide.
Beholde as touching the faining of the poets. But yet we muſt not think that it is altogether vaine.
Theophraſt.
Although the hunters be not in very deede turned into hartes, yet there are a great many of whom one may rightly ſay, that their doggs hauehave eaten and deuoured thē. And we muſt not doubt, but that gods iudgment is iuſt herein. For although the hunters cōmitted none other fault, but in theſe that they geue vntounto the dogges that which woulde nouriſhe, and feede agreat many of poore people, that fault is great yenough for to prouoke vponupon them, not the ire and wrath of Diana, as it is written of Acteon, but that of the liuing God. And further-more, there is yet another euill, whiche is, that the hunters al the while they beſtow and looſe in hunting, cannot employ thē ſelues to their labour and tilling of their groundes, or to woorke vponupon any other their occupation. For after that they are once geuen and addicted vntounto it, they deſpiſe their houſholdes and their affayres and doings, and are not ſo carefull as they ought to be. Whereby it commeth to paſſe that afterwards they fal into pouerty & neede. Wherfore one may wel ſay, that not onelyonly their dogges, but alſo their haukes & horſes hauehave eatē thē, not onelyonly becauſe they hauehave beſtowed al their ſubſtance and goods to nurriſhe them, but alſo becauſe that thorowe the occaſion of them they are become euil huſbandes, and hauehave lefte and foreſlowed their chiefeſt affayres and buſines.
Ierome.
That which thou ſpeakeſt agreeth well with the expoſition,Palepha. de fabul. natra. the which Palephatus geueth of the tranſformation of Acteon, which we hauehave ſpoken of. For firſt of al he ſaith, that the poetes geue vsus to vnderſtande by this fable, that men ought to take heede that they do nothing whiche may diſpleaſe the gods, and prouoke them to anger. Afterwardes he ſaith that in times paſt, all men labored with their hāds, & did not their buſines by ſeruants & ſtrange people, but by them ſelues. And therfore al thoſe whiche were diligent in labour were rich. And the more they buſied them ſelues, the richer they waxed. And on the other ſide, thoſe that were idle & ſlothful, & the proud which ſhunned labour, and were aſhamed of it, and which gaue thēſelues vntounto hunting & vntounto other paſtimes, became pore & beggers, as he ſaid happened vntounto Acteon, for the cauſes before rehearſed. And therefore he was made a commō prouerbe, who afterwards did geue matter vntounto the fables and faynings of the Poetes.
Theophraſt.
There are yet at this day many houſes not onelyonly of rich Gentlemen, but alſo of rich yeomen, and huſbandmen, whiche hauehave been deſtroyed partely by ſuch meanes.
Ierome.
We may ſee it before our eyes. And therefore I am of the ſame aduiſe with Palephatus. And I doe not think but that the poets hauehave fained this chaunging of Acteon that great hunter chaunged into an harte, and deuoured by his dogges, but for to ſignifie the follie of a great many of fooliſh hunters, which deſtroy them ſelues by their hunting and feeding their dogges. And if that be to be condemned in gentlemen, whiche make it a daylie occupation, it is yet more to be condemned in laborers and artificers, when they leaue vndone their workes and buſines, for to geue them ſelues vntounto ſuch occupation, whiche wil bring them to beggerie. But let vsus returne agayne vntounto the Spider, whom we talked of, ſhe is a better houſholder, then thoſe are whom we ſpake of. For fyrſt, ſhe lyueth by her hunting, as of her proper occupation, and ſhe leaueth not of her occupatiō by which ſhe liueth, for to vſe any other whiche woulde make her dye with hunger. Agayne, ſhe exercyſeth her hunting all alone, and without any coſt at al. Moreouer ſhe knoweth the times and the ſeaſons fyt for to take her veniſon, and the places where ſhe muſt pytch her nettes.Spiders are Aſtrologers Plini. lib. 11 cap. 24. Ariſt. hiſt. animal. lib. 9. cap. 38.39. For ſhe is an Aſtrologer, and knoweth when it wil rayne and the water encreaſe, then ſhe pytcheth her nettes higher. Alſo they make their webbs in cloudie and darke wether, not in cleare weather, becauſe that the cloudie wether is beſt for to take the beaſtes. And therefore when you ſee a great multitude of them, they ſignifie rayne. We may adde vntounto theſe beaſtes, the ſilke wormes,The ſilke wormes. Plini. lib. 11. cap. 22.23. Ariſt. hiſt. animal. lib. 5. cap. 24. of whiche the Philoſophers hauehave alſo written maruaylous thinges, that is to ſay▪ of the maner of making their neſtes, and of their wolles and webbs with which they do make men and women braue.
Theophraſt.
What is he that will not greatly maruayle of the wiſedome of God, when he beholdeth the induſtrie, the ſence and vnderſtanding which is in thoſe litle beaſtes? For if there be ſo much in one ſo litle abodie, as is the ſame of the Ante or Emet, that with much adoe one can ſcant perceiue with the eye, let vsus thinke what is the wyſedome and prouidence of the Creator, whiche hath created them? Let vsus alſo thinke whether ſaint Paul had not iuſt cauſe to ſay,Rom. 1.20 that his eternal power and Godhead is knowen by the viſible thinges. Where are the Epicures whiche denie the prouidence of God?The vviſedome and prouidence of God, manifeſted in the little creatures againſt the epycures. If there be ſo-much in thoſe litle Ants, and in thoſe other litle creatures, for to preſerue and keepe their kinde, what ought it to be in God, for to Preſerue his creatures and workes of his handes, and cheefely mankinde, whome he hath created to immortalitie? Are theſe wicked epicures worthie to be compared vntounto theſe beaſtes? HaueHave not we iuſt occaſion to ſende them to their ſchoole to diſpute with them, and for to learne in the ſame, for to knowe God, and his prouidence? What ſaieſt thou to it Tobie?
Tobias,
I thinke that we hauehave as good an occaſion as Salomon had, to ſende thither the ſluggarde.
Theophraſt.
Furthermore, if we will compare the Ante and thoſe other beaſtes which we ſpeake of but now, and alſo the order of their common wealth, with al that which Plato, Zenophon, Ariſtotle, and the other Philoſophers hauehave written in their Oeconomickes and politickes, of the lawes, rule and gouernement of houſes, families, common-welthes, citties, and kingdomes, and alſo the moſt excellent Oeconomikes, and politicks which euer hauehave beene among men, men ſhalbe found more beaſtes then they, and more worthie to be ſent vntounto their ſchooles, then vntounto the ſcholes of the Philoſophers. For the philoſophers are many tymes like vntounto many preachers, which preach very wel, and ſpeake very earneſtly againſt the deedes of the fleſhe, but they worke but euilly, and they are thoſe whiche do the leaſt of that which they teach others. But theſe ſchoole-maſters to whom the holy ghoſt ſendeth vsus by his holy ſcriptures, are maſters which teache their diſciples and ſchollers not in vaine & babling bookes, and which tende al to Pleaſure, but in doing thē ſelues that which they teach, for they teach by their owne example. The whiche maner of teaching, hath more authoritie and maieſtie, then the other, and hath more vertue to moue and induce men to that whereunto they woulde induce and bring them. And as touching that which hath ben ſayde of gods prouidence, the which manifeſteth it ſelfe in the nature the which he gaue vntounto the creatures, it manifeſteth it ſelfe, yet better in that, that the leaſt amongeſt them, are thoſe vntounto whom he geueth moſt induſtrie and wyſedome, to the ende that by the ſame they may recompence the force and ſtrength whiche is wanting in them. Art not thou of mine opinion frend Ierome.
Ierome.
Experience teacheth vsus that thou ſayeſt. But ſeeing we are entreed into talke of good houſholders, I thinke we hauehave one point to talke of, whiche is very requiſite, not onelyonly in al thoſe whiche woulde be eſteemed for good houſholders, but alſo in al thoſe whiche woulde be accompted for humane men, and not for beaſtes more inhumaine then the ſauage and brute beaſtes. The point of whiche I ſpeake, is touching the louelove and amitie that the huſband & the wife ought to hauehave together, and touching the care that the one ought to hauehave the one of the other,The affection of fathers and mothers of families, tovvardes ther families and in like maner the fathers and mothers towardes their children. For if thoſe vertues be not in fathers and mothers of families, what can their houſholdes be? Now if it be a queſtion of ſuch vertues, al the beaſtes generally (as Plutark witteſſeth) do louelove ētierly that which they ingender and bring forthe, and cheriſh them carefully. And if there be ſome of the male kynde which hauehave not that louelove nor care, yet it is alwayes founde in the females, & not onelyonly among the terreſtriall beaſtes, but alſo among the aquatical & ſeabeaſts. Wherfore ſeeing we are in hand with the ſchole of beaſts, we may yet ſend men thither, touching that poynt. For that cauſe (but that I feare I ſhall wearie you) I could declare vntounto you a great manie of examples touching this matter, of many beaſtes which hauehave a ſingular affection and induſtry in ſuche matters.
Tobias,
So that I may take pleaſure in it, I am wel aſſured that Theophraſtus will alſo agree vntounto it. For I take you both for my maſters. Wherfore I am content to learne of you both, whatſoeuer it ſhal pleaſe you to teach me.
Ierome.
The pygeons.Firſt of all, I will ſpeake of the pygeons, both the male and feemale, becauſe we hauehave a good example in them, of the Amitie which ought to be betwene the huſband & the wife, and of the care that the one ought to hauehave the one of the other, and afterwardes both of them togeather of the young ones which God geueth them. For the cocke pygeons in this poynt differ from the nature of the male partridges, for the males of the partridges breake their females eges, & fiinally their femals do looſe them, becauſe they will not receiue them all the while they hatch: And therefore they forſake them.
Tobias.
Then thou canſt not ſette them forth vntounto vsus for an example of good houſehoulders and good huſbands,Euil huſbandes. but rather for an example of euill husbands which louelove not their wyues, but as the whoremaſters their whoores, to wit, for the onelyonly cauſe of carnal pleaſure, that they may hauehave with them.
Ierome.
And therefore I ſet forth the male pygeons for a contrarye example.Good huſbandes. For they doe take with their females a part of the care and paine, that they muſt hauehave of their egges & young. For they kepe the eggs when nede is, Alſo they feede their young, And when the female tarieth ouer long in the feeldes, they flappe them with their winges, and compel them to come vntounto their young.
Tobias,
All huſbandes and wiues, and all fathers and mothers of families, do not agree ſo well together to bring vp their children, and to keepe in good order their houſholdes. For it happeneth often tymes, that the one layeth al the charge vponupon the other. For howe many husbandes are there whiche are euill houſholders, whiche hauehave no care at all of their houſholdes, neyther of their wyues, and children, but leaue al the charge vntounto their wiues? Howe many alſo are there of women, that do the like towardes their husbandes. But this is yet worſe, when that neyther the one nor the other do their dutie, but let al alone, not caring for any thing.
Ierome.
The ſvvallovves. Plutarke.▪The Swallowes alſo hauehave this propertie, among other byrdes, that they teach their yong, ſo that they know howe to caſt out their donge from their neſt.
Tobias.
I thinke the other byrdes do the like?
Ierome.
It is very true, that they are not ſo filthie as men: and their yonge are not ſo defiled with their doung and fylth, as the yong children are with theirs: But yet neuertheleſſe, the Swallowe hath one ſinguler propertie herein, more then the other birdes hauehave, if we will geue credite vntounto thoſe whiche hauehave writtē of the nature of them.
Tobias.
We may better knowe that which the ſwallowe doth in ſuche a caſe, then we may knowe of other byrdes, becauſe they dwel not ſo nere as the Swallowes.
Ierome.
It is very true. And as touching the induſtrie to keepe their yong,The partridge. Plutarke. the partridges vſe in the ſame a great ſubtiltie. For al the while that their yong ones cānot yet fly for their yong age, they accuſtom thē to lye vponupon their backes, & to couer thē with moſſe or leaues, or with ſome other thing, when the hunters are hard by them: and in the meane tyme they leade the hunters to the other ſide, and turne and flye as though it were paynefull vntounto them, and make as though they could not runne, and they do it ſo long vntill they hauehave retyred, and drawen the hunters very farre from their yongones.
Tobias,
Beholde a great ſubtiltie, ioyned with a greatloue, and care towardes her yong-ones.
Ierome.
That which we reade of the Hares, The hares. Plutarke.to that ſame purpoſe is no leſſe worthie to be wondred at. For the hares before they betake them ſelues to their formes, do carie their yong, one in one place, another in another place: And ſome-times they ſeperate them a good forlong the one from the other, to the ende that if paraduenture their come eyther man, or dogge, they are not al of them in like dāger. And after that they hauehave made great ſcraping with their feete, making a great leape, they keepe them ſelues there and take their reſt.
Tobias.
I would neuer hauehave thought that the hares had been ſo wyſe and ſubtyl, to keepe their yong-ones.
Ierome.
The hedge-hogs.If the hare be wyſe and ſubtil in keeping of her yong, the Hedg-hogges are no leſſe, not onelyonly for to prouide for theirs, but alſo for to ſaue and defend them ſelues. And therefore, here what Plutarke hath written. Firſt he ſayth, that the ſubtiltie of the Hedg-hogge hath geuen place vntounto this prouerbe.A prouerbe of the fox & of the hedg-hog. The Fox hath many wyles, but the Hedg-hogge knoweth one exellent.
Tobias.
It is alſo ſayde that the Cat is more wylie then the Fox.
Ierome.
There is more reaſon of the ſaying of the Hedg-hogge. For when the Fox purſueth him, the Hedg-hogge rowleth him ſelfe (as men ſay) within his prickles, as the Cheſtnut is encloſed with in his hull. And by that meanes he kepeth him there encloſed, ſo that he cannot be any whit hurted. But the care & the wyſedome, that he hath of his yong-ones, is worthie to be wondred at. For as Plutarke witneſſeth, he goeth into the vineyards in the time of cutting, and with his feete he beateth to the ground the grapes, afterwardes he rowleth him-ſelfe vponupon them, and maketh them to ſticke vppon his prickles. Plutarke who hath written ſo, bringeth in a man who witneſſed, that he did ſee it with his eyes. And therefore he ſayth, I remember that on a certayne day, we ſawe one, that we did thinke that it was a Grape tree, which went, he was ſo loden with grapes. And when he is entred into his denne and hole,The Aſtronomie and pronoſtication of the hedghog. he geueth one part to his yong-ones, & keepeth the other for him ſelfe. For his hole or borrowe hath two entrings in, the one towards the north, and the other towardes the South winde, the which he ſtoppeth and openeth, according as he ſeeth the times do chaunge, as the mariners do the ſayles of their ſhippes. And therfore a certayne man of Cyzicenia, taking good heede thereunto, did get by that meanes, a great renowne, as though he could foreſhewe by Aſtronomie, what windes would blowe.
Tobias.
That man of whom thou ſpeakeſt, may wel aduaunce & bragg him ſelfe, that he hath paſſed maſter in aſtronomie, and in the art of prognoſtications in the ſchoole of the Hedg-hogge: Seeing that by his knowledge he hath gotten ſuche a fame among the ignorant.
Ierome,
Thou ſayeſt true. But ſith that we hauehave ſpoken of beaſts, which are conuerſant and dwelling vponupon the earth: I will ſay alſo ſome-thing of thoſe which haunt the waters, and lyue there, and chiefely in the Sea, & I will firſt begin, by a ſea byrde, called Halcion. Halcion. faithfullnes …n houſhold.Plutark among others, telleth of his great vertues. For firſt he ſaith, that this byrde loueth ſingulerly his femal: & ioineth not himſelf with her at certaine times onelyonly, but at al tims of the yeere, and not for that he is ſo much geuen vntounto luxurie: For he neuer hath the companie of any other. But he doth the ſame thorowe amitie and good wil, as it behoueth huſbandes to do. When the male is old, & that he followeth his female with great payne, ſhe taketh care on him, and beareth and nurriſheth him, neuer leauing him behind her. For ſhe carrieth him vponupon her ſhoulders, and leadeth him whether it pleaſeth him, and keepeth and cheriſheth him euen vntil death.
Tobias,
A man ſhal finde very fewe ſuch wyues, which are ſo faythful vntounto their husbandes, and which hauehave ſuch care ouer them, and ſo long.
Ierome.
I do not denie but that we ſhal find many good husbāds & good wyues, who do ſufficiently their dutie the one towardes the other, if we wil make compariſon with thoſe whiche do euilly diſcharge their office in ſuche a caſe. But thoſe here are very thicke ſowen, in compariſō of others And after we hauehave to note, that the beaſtes which I ſpeake of, hauehave this more then men: That is, that there is not only ſome of them in their kind, which gouerne them ſelues ſo, but al are ſo by nature, and followe it without doing any fault, becauſe that they are not corrupted thorowe ſin, as the mē, which maketh them more beaſtes, then the beaſtes. But marke yet more what this author hath writ ten of the care that this byrde hath, to prepare lodging for his yong-ones.The buildings of the Halcion. The mother (ſayth he) hath ſuch great care ouer her yong-ones, that aſſoone as ſhe feeleth her ſelfe great, ſhe beginneth to builde. She heapeth not the claye and lome agaynſt the walles, and the myre as the Swallowes do, neither chargeth al her mēbers as the honie bees do, when they make their combs, deuiding their worke & their chambers in faſhion, hauing ſix ſquares and as many feete: But the Halcion employeth but one organ, & one ſimple inſtrument, that is her byll: and not hauing any ayde, the diligence and care towards her yong-ones, ioyned and added to her induſtrie. O good God, what doth ſhe? What taketh ſhe in hande? It is harde to be beleeued of thoſe, which hauehave not ſeene it. For ſhe maketh a worke after a newe faſhion, much like vntounto a ſhippe, the which cannot be broken neither drowned with the w…ues & ſurges. For ſhe maketh and tyeth it together, with the bones and prickles of litle fiſhes, and ioyneth them the one within the other: ſome right, others croſſe: As we ſee howe cloth is wouen. And after that ſhe hath ioyned and faſtned thē ſo together, ſhe bendeth & turneth them round? And at the laſt, ſhe maketh it after ſuch ſorte, that it ſeemeth properly that it is a ſhippe, pycked and narrow in the bottome, and wide aboue, or els a long fiſhing boate. After that ſhe hath finiſhed it, ſhe bringeth it to the ſea ſhore, & ſetteth it by the ſea-ſide, and when the ſea beginneth to flowe and beat ſoftly agaynſt it, it teacheth her to ſtoppe the holes and ventes, and to amende and make ſtrong that which is weake. Nowe after that al is very ſtrong and ſounde, ſhe ſhutteth it ſo faſt, that neyther ſtone nor iron can breake it. But in al the woorke there is not a thing more worthie to be maruailed at, then is the dooer of the ſayde worke. For it is made after ſuch ſort, that none can enter but ſhe onelyonly. The other beaſtes can neyther ſee nor perceiue it, yea and the water cannot enter into it.
Tobias,
Thou telleſt me of incredible thinges. If that which thou ſaieſt bee true, the Halcions hauehave rather taught men the manner to make ſhippes & boates, then the Halcions hauehave learned of them the ſcience & knowledge that they hauehave to builde their houſes, as well for them ſelues as for their yong-ones, the which may flote and ſwimme vppon the Sea, as the ſhippes.
Ierome.
I boaſt not that I hauehave ſene that which I ſpeake of. But Plutarke who hath written it, alleadgeth for witneſſe of ſuch things, marriners which dwell in the Iles, hauehave oftentimes ſeene the experience of thoſe thinges, which he hath written,Of the foreſight & care of the fiſhes tovvardes their ftuite and young. aſwel of this byrd Halcion, as of the fiſhes, of which he maketh a great diſcourſ. For he praiſeth greatly ſome Seafiſhes for their foreſight, and care that they hauehave of their fruites and young, aſwell in their procreation and birth as in the nouriſhment, keeping and preſeruation of them. And therefore he ſaith touching this matter: Firſt, that all the fiſhes which inhabite the Seas neere vntounto anye lakes, or into which riuers do come, following the ſame riuers, do ſeeke earneſtly (when the time approcheth that they muſt bring forth thir fruite) the ſweeteſt waters, and thoſe that hauehave leaſt ſaltnes: & they do the ſame for two cauſes, to wit, either becauſe that tranquilitie is beſt for them to yeelde their fruit, or els becauſe that the lakes and riuers are leſſe daungerous becauſe of the beaſtes, and alſo becauſe they maye beſt nouriſhe their fruites. Wherefore many bring forth and caſt their fruites in the Eginian ſea: For it hath not in it any whalles, but onelyonly little Dolphus, & little ſeacalues: And the great riuers that run into it, giuegive a ſweete and gentle temperatenes and moſt pleaſaunt to the fiſhes.
Tobias
Behold a good foreſight, it wanteth a great deale, that mē know ſo well to prouide for their families, in ſuch a caſe.
Ierome.
And by and by after Plutarke ſaith. And although that peraduenture that is common vntounto all mothers, to hauehave care of that whiche they hauehave engendred: yet neuertheleſſe the males doe not murther and kill their younge, as Ariſtotimis hath ſayd: But which is more, they take ſuch great care, that they wil not ſtur from them, and do geather and heap to geather the egs, as Ariſtotle ſayth. There be alſo ſome which follow the females, and ſprinkle the egges, with the genitall ſeed, becauſe without the ſame nothing can growe excellent and perfect, but wil abide imperfect, and wil not growe as it ought to do. Commonly the fiſhes whiche we call Phyces, Phyces.hauing made as it were a knot of an hearbe whiche we call Algue, put it about their yong, and it defendeth them from the tempeſtes. But the lampries do beare the bel,The lamprey. and do merite the crowne aboue all other fiſhes in caſe of fatherly louelove, and indulgence, goodnes and gentlenes towardes their yong-ones. Firſt they do lay their egges, and then the litle ones. But they do not caſt forth their yong as other fiſhes do, but nurriſh them in their bellies, as though they engendred them twiſe: And when they are growen, then they caſt them foorth, and teach them to ſwymme & play about them. And afterwardes they receiue them agayne into their bellies in at their mouthes, and geue vntounto them their bodies for to dwell in, geuing them place, meate, and refuge, vntil ſuch time as they knowe that they are able to helpe themſelues.
Tobias
If it be ſo as thou ſaieſt the ſea beaſtes doe ſurmount and paſſe the beaſtes of the earth, in that louelove & care towards their fruite & young.
Ierome.
Thou wilt maruaile more of this, that the ſame Aucthour hath written touching this matter, touching the Tortic of which he ſpeaketh thus.The tortice. The care alſo that the Tortice hath to nouriſh & keep her yongons, is worthy of great admiration, for leaping alitle out of the ſea, ſhe bringeth forth her yong. And becauſe that ſhe cannot continue long out of the ſea, and ſtay vponupon the lande, ſhee layeth firſt her egges vponupon the ſand, and afterwards ſhe couereth them with fine ſande, & after that ſhe hath couered them wel, (as ſome ſay) ſhe marketh the place, and ſigneth it with her feet, ſo that ſhe may finde it agayne, or as others ſay, the femall being ouerturned by her male, printeth vponupon the ſande, the carecter and forme of her owne ſhel. After-wardes, whiche is a thing greatly to be maruayled, fortie daies being paſt ſhe, cōmeth agayne: for ſo long time the yong muſte bee ſhut vp. And when the male and female are come, eueryevery one of them knowing their treaſure, vncouereth it more ioyfully and cherefully then men vncouer the holes and places in whiche they hauehave hid vp their treaſures. Plutarke calleth the treaſure of the Tortice their eggs & their yong, becauſe that there is no man ſo careful of his treaſures, and which loueth them ſo much as the Tortice loueth, and is careful of her yong.
Tobias.
It is ſayd in a common prouerbe,A prouerbe. that thoſe that come from farre, hauehave greater libertie to tell what they liſt, then others. And becauſe that one cannot eaſily gaineſay that which they ſpeake, they hauehave the greater licence to lye. We may ſay the lyke of thoſe which ſpeake of the ſea and of the Sea beaſtes, vntounto thoſe which knowe not what they are.
Ierome.
I require thee not that thou ſhouldeſt beleeue as the Goſpell, al that I ſhall rehearſe vntounto thee of Ariſtotle, Plinie and of Plutarke, and of ſuch other. But yet neuertheleſſe I do not thinke, but that thoſe worthie men hauing writtē thoſe things that they hauehave writtē, but that there are ſome things therein trew, & that they hauehave had ſome experience, or els ſome good witneſſes thereof. Fot ſeing that they were learned men, and of great aucthoritie, and renowme, we muſt not thinke that they hauehave written at all aduenture, for to cauſe them ſelues to be mocked at, knowing wel that their writinges ſhoulde be well examined by many learned men, and which hauehave tryed and proued the thinges, whereof they hauehave written. Wherefore we muſt not by and by reiect as fables, all that which we our ſelues hauehave not ſene, & which is ſtraunge vntounto vsus. For God is maruailous in his creatures and in his workes, the whiche he woulde not hauehave them to be altogether couered and kept ſecret. And therefore he would be ſerued of the Painims, which hauehave enquired of the ſecretes of nature, for to manifeſt vntounto vsus many of his maruailes, to the ende we might alwayes hauehave more matter to glorifie him in thē, and in his prouidence. And therefore to conclude this matter, I wil yet declare vntounto thee, touching this matter, that which Plutark hath written of the ſea-keyne,The ſea-keine. after this ſorte. The ſea-kyne (ſayth he) do bring foorth their young vponupon the ſande: And when they waxe ſomething great, they carrie them into the ſea, as for to taſte of it, afterwards they bring them agayne vponupon the ſande, and do ſo many tymes, vntyll ſuch time as they know that they can helpe thē ſelues, & to take pleaſure in the ſea. Quintilian ſaith, that if one would fill at ones, a Phiole or glaſſe whiche hath a narrowe necke,Quintillian. inſtit. reth… ▪ lib. 1. and would powre in at once the liquore that he would put into it, it will not enter, but will ſprinkle abroade heere and there. But if one would fill it by litle and litle, and as drop by drop, he ſhall fill it eaſiely, and ſhall looſe nothing of that hee powreth into it, Quintilian vſeth this compariſon for to giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that it is requiſite to vſe ſuch beginning,The meanes that vve muſt vſe in teaching. in the inſtruction of thoſe whom we hauehave to teach, and chiefely of young children. For they cannot comprehende at once all that one can teach them. Wherefore we muſt goe by litle and litle. On the other ſide, it is in lyke maner very harde to vſe them ſelues ſodainely to one thing, to the which they hauehave not been vſed vntounto, and chiefely when it is newe and ſtrange. Wherefore it behoueth to keepe meanes, and to do by litle and litle that, that one cannot doe at once.
Tobias.
There be a great many which hauehave not yet that diſcretion & wiſedome. For they would hauehave thoſe with whom they hauehave to doe, ſhould be perfect at the firſt daſhe, and that they ſhoulde knowe in one day or in one monethmonth, that which they cannot vnderſtande them ſelues in a yeere. There are alſo many fathers,the fault of fathers and mothers tovvardes their children. whiche make their children to diſpayre, becauſe they preſſe and charge them aboue meaſure, and require of them more then they are able: As alſo to the contrary, there are others which hauehave not ſuch care and diligence to teach their children, as they ought, nor to keepe them vnderunder good diſcipline, but let them hauehave ſo much their wil, that they are quite marred and ſpoyled.
Ierome.
And therefore we ſhall hauehave iuſt occaſion to ſende the firſt to the ſchoole of the ſea-kyne. For they are more calues then the kyne and bullockes. I ſay aſmuch of the maiſters of ſchools, which know not to teach their ſcholers, by good methoode, and order. As touching the other which endeuour thē ſelues nothing at all to teach their children, I ſende them vntounto the ſchoole of the Crocodiles, Crocodile.if that beaſte were not ſo cruel, But yet neuertheleſſe take away the crueltie, yet ſhe declareth that ſhe wil not ſuffer her yong-ones, except they hauehave courage, and except they will robbe and ſteale. And therefore the mother kylleth him, which at his firſt going foorth, he neither ſtealeth nor deuoureth, eyther a frogge, or a ſnayle, or ſome litle graſſe, or ſome other ſuch thing which commeth before him. On the contrary, ſhe loueth the coragious, and loueth them, as Plutarke ſaith, not with a fooliſhe affection, as the fooliſhe mothers doe, but thorow iudgement, as the moſt wyſeſt of the worlde hauehave vſed to do. Although that that crueltie of the Crocodile is to be diſpiſed: yet neuertheleſſe this is to be prayſed, that the mother is not ſo fooliſhe ouer her yong-ones, that ſhe ſupporteth them if they be other then they ought to be according to their kinde. But we hauehave ſpoken ſufficiently of the nature of beaſtes, vponupon the matter of good and euil houſholders. It nowe remaineth that we make an ende of this matter, except Theophraſtus wil ſay anoother thing for the confirmation hereof.The inſtruction of ſaint Paull vntounto fathers and mothers.
Theophraſt.
I hauehave no other thing to ſay at this time, but that Saint Paul geueth a very good rule vntounto fathers and mothers, & vntounto al thoſe whiche hauehave charge of children, yea in a fewe wordes, when he ſayde?Ephe. 6.4. Ye fathers, prouoke not your children to wrath, but bring them vp in inſtruction and information of the Lorde. And in another place,Collo. 3.21. ye fathers prouoke not your children to anger, leaſt they be diſcouraged. By theſe words he geueth the fathers and mothers wel to vnderſtande, what moderation they ought to vſe towardes their children, aſwell to the ende they be not altogether diſcouraged, and in diſpaire, as alſo to the ende they mar thē not thorow to great libertie. For when he admoniſheth them to bring thē vp in inſtructiō & informatiō and correction, he geueth them to vnderſtād that they ought not to bring thē vp in idleneſſe, and to let them doo what they liſt, but to holde and kepe them vnderunder feare and correction. Whereupon we hauehave to note that he ſayth not onelyonly, bring them vp in inſtruction & information, but he addeth, of the Lorde. For there be agreat many, whiche are very good houſholders, for to cauſe their children to learne, ſiences, artes and occupations, for to become of ſome good countenaunce in the worlde, and for to get them great honours and riches, or at the leaſt wiſe howe to get their liuing: But they make none accompt, to bring them vp in the feare of God, and in the trewe knowledge of him and his worde, without which, as we hauehave alredie ſaide from the beginning, that men are more beaſts thē the brute beaſts. And therefore, he that wil ſhewe him ſelfe a good houſholder and a good father, hauing trew care of his childrē muſt begin there. For it is not written without cauſe.Pſal 111.10. Pro. 1.7.9.10 Galoa. 1.16. That the feare of the Lorde is the beginning, the foundation and head of al wiſedome, and he can neuer faile to do well, & pleaſe God, which doth feare him. And as touching that which Ierome ſayde of the Crocodile, there are many which follow her example, and many more then is needefull.The children of the Crocodile. For if their children be not cruell and rauenors, as they are, they thinke them not to be their lawfull children, but diſauowe and forſake them, as though they were not of their blood. But we muſt not require of our children, that they may be like vntounto vsus in our vices, but that they & we may be trewly reformed after the image of God, and that we may rule al our life after the rule that he hath ſet foorth vntounto vsus in his worde.
Ierome.
Behold a verie good concluſion, vponupon which I thinke that Toby wil willingly ſtay him ſelfe with vsus.
Tobias.
I ſhoulde doe wrong if I ſhoulde reſiſt it.
FJNJS.
End of the text · Pierre Viret, The School of Beasts (1585)