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THE SECOND BOOKE 165
The flattering broken speech their lullaby need sing.
Nor seeke they divers coats, as divers seasons bind.
Lastly no armour need they, nor high-reared wall
Whereby to guard their owne, since all things unto all
Worke-master nature doth produce,
And the earth largely to their use.
Such complaints are false. There is a greater
equality and more uniforme relation in the policy of
the world. Our skin is as sufficiently provided with
hardnesse against the injuries of the weather as theirs.
Witnesse divers nations which yet never knew the use
of clothes. Our ancient Gaules were but slightly
apparelled, no more are the Irish-men, our neighbours,
in so cold a climate: which we may better judge by
our selves, for all those parts of our bodie we are
pleased to leave hare to winde and wether, are by
experience found able to endure it. If there were
any weake part in us which in likely-hood should
seeme to feare cold, it ought to he the stomacke, where
digestion is made. Our forefathers used to have it
bare, and our ladies (as dainty-nice as they be) are
many times seene to goe open-breasted, as low as their
naviil. The bandies and swathes about our children
are no more necessary: and the mothers of Lacedemonia
brought up theirs in all liberty and loosenesse
of moving their limbs without swathing or binding.
Our whining, our puling, and our weeping is common
to most creatures, and divers of them are often seene
to waile and grone a long time after their birth, forsomuch
as it is a countenance fitting the weaknesse
wherein they feele themselves. As for the use of
eating and feeding, it is in us, as in them, naturall
and without teaching.
Sentit enim vim quisque suam quam possit abuti. 1
For every one soone-understanding is
Of his owne strength, which he may use amisse.
Who will make question that a child having attained
the strength to feed himselfe, could not quest for his
meat and shift for his drinke? The earth without
1 LUCR. 1. v. 104.