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THE SECOND BOOKE 403
for his Prince went directly into another more happy
body much fairer and stronger than the first: by means
whereof they much more willingly hazarded their lives
for his sake.
In ferrum mens prona vii Is, animasque capaces
Mortis: et ignavum est redxtuiasparcere vitce. 1
Those men sword minded, can death entertaine,
Thinke base to spare the life that turnes agame.
Loe here, although very vaine, a most needfull
doctrine and profitable beliefe. Everie Nation hath
store of such examples in it selfe. But this subject
would require a severall discourse. Yet to say a word
more concerning my former purpose : I do not counsell
Ladies any longer to call their duty honour : vt enim
consuetudo foquitur, id solum dicitur honestum, quod est
populari fama gloriosum: 2 ' For as custome speakes,
that only is called honest which is glorious by popular
report.' Their duty is the marke; their honour but
the barke of it. Nor doe I perswade them to give us
this excuse of their refusall in payment; for I suppose
their intentions, their desire, and their will, which are
parts wherein honour can see nothing, forasmuch as
nothing appeareth outwardly, there are yet more ordered
then the effects.
Qua, quia non liceat, nonfacit, xllafacity
She doth it, though she do it not
Because she may not doe't (Got wot).
The offence both toward God and in conscience would
be as great to desire it as to effect the same. Besides,
they are in themselves actions secret and hid; it might
easily be, they would stealo some one from others
knowledge, whence honour dependeth, had they no
other respect to their duty and affection which they
beare unto chastity, in regard of it selfe. Each honorable
person chuseth rather to lose his honour than to
forgoe his conscience.
¹ LUCAN. 1. i. 461. ² CIC. Fin. 1. ii.
³ OVID. Amor. 1. iii. EL iv. 4.