The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

Tully, and Demosthenes nothing so much
studied, as they were wonte Lime, and Salust
possiblye rather more, than lesse Luctan
neuer so much Aristotle muche named, but
little read Xenophon and Plato, reckned
amongest Discoursers, and conceited Super
ficiall fellowes much verball and sophisticall
tangling little subtile and effectual disput
ing noble and royall Eloquence, the best and
persuasiblest Eloquence no such Orators
againe, as redheadded Angelles An exceeding
greate difference, betweene the countenaunces,
and portes of those, that are braue and gal
launt, and of those, that are basely, or meanly
apparelled betvvene the learned, and vn
learned, Tully, and Tom Tooly, in effect none
at all
Matchauell a great man Castillo of no
small reputation Pelrach, and Boccace in
euery mans mouth Galaleo, and Guazzo neuer
so happy ouer many acquainted with Vmco
Aretino The French and Italian when so
highlye regarded of Schollers ? The Latme and
Greeke, when so lightly? The Queene mother
at the beginning, or ende of euerye conference
many bargames of Mounsieur Shymeirs a
noble gallant fellowe all inquisitiue after
Newes, newe Bookes, newe Fashions, newe
Lawes, newe Officers, and some after newe
Elementes, and some after newe Heauens, and
Helles to Turkishe affaires familnrly knowen
Castels builded m the Ayre muche adoe, and
little helpe lacke would fame be a Gentle
manne m no age so little so muche made of,
euery one highly in his owne fauour, thinking no
mans penny, so good siluer as his own Something
made of Nothing, in spite of Nature
Numbers made of Ciphars, in spite of Arte
Geometricall Proportion seldome, or neuer
vsed, Anthmeticall ouermuch abused Oxen
and Asses (notwithstanding the absurditie it
seemed to Plautus) draw both togither in one,
and the same Yoke Conclusw fere sequitur
deteriorem partem The Gospell taughte, not
learned Chantie key colde nothing good,
but by Imputation the Ceremomall Lawe, in
worde abrogated the luduiall in effecte dis
anulled the Morall indeede abandoned the
Ligkle, the Lighte in euery mans Lippes, but
marke me their eyes, and tell me, if they looke
not hker Howlets, or Batten, than Egles as
of olde Bookes, so of auntient Vertue Honestie,
Fidehtie, Equitie, newe Abridgementes euery
FAMILIAR LETTERS 621
day freshe span newe Opinions Heresie in
Diumitie, in Philosophic, in Humamtie, in
Manners, grounded muche vpon heresay
Doctors contemned the Text knowen of moste,
vnderstood of fewe, magnified of all, practised
of none the Diuell not so hated, as the Pope
many Inuectiues, small amendment Skill
they say controlled of Will and Goodnesse
mastered of Goods but Agent, and Patient
muche alike, neither Barrell greatly better
Herring No more adoe aboute Cappes and
Surplesses Maister Cariwright nighe forgotten
The man you wot of, conformable, with his
square Cappe on his rounde heade and Non
resident at pleasure and yet Nonresidents
neuer better bayted, but not one the fewer,
either I beleeue m Acte, or I beleeue, in Pur
pose A number of our preachers sibbe to
French Souldiors, at the first, more than Men,
in the end, lesse than Women Some of our
pregnantest and soonest ripe Wits, of Hermo
genes mettall for al the world Olde men and
Counsailours amongst Children Children
amongst Counsailours, and olde men Not
a fewe dubble faced lam, and chaungeable
Camehons ouermanye Clawbackes, and
Pickethanks Reedes shaken of euene Wind
Iackes of bothe sides Aspen leaues painted
Sheathes, and Sepulchres Asses in Lions
skins Dunglecockes shpperye Eles Dormise
I blush to thinke of some, that weene
themselues as fledge as the reste, being, God
wot, as kallowe as the rest euery yonker to
speike of as politique, and as great a Common
wealths man as Bishoppe Gardner, or Doctor
Wtitlon at the least as if euene man nowe
adayes haumg the framing of his own Horoscope,
were borne in decwio eœh domiaho, and
had al the Wit, Wisedome, and Worshippe in
the world at commaundement Sed heus in
aurem Memimstiri quod ait Varro ? Omnes
videmur nobis esse belli, Jesliul, saperdx, cum
sumus 1 Canopi Dauid, Vltsses, and Solon,
fayned themselues fooles and madmen our
fooles and madmen fame themselues Davids,
Vhsses, and Solons and would goe nigh to
deceiue the cunningest, and best experienced
Metaposcopus in a country It is pity faire
weather should euer do hurt, but I know what
peace and quietnes hath done with some
melancholy pickstrawes in the world as good
vnspoken as vnamended And wil you needes
haue my Testimoniall of youre olde Controllers
1
In Nonius Marccllus di de Compendtosa Comptndwsa Doctrina Doctrtn s v saperdae The Th- true reading is cum stmus sunns
cxrso'h but but the first edition (c (c 1470) gives canopt canoft ( (possibly possibly a misreading of of CAtlPOl), CAUPOl), corrected corrected to
canopttict canopttici in the editions of 1471 and 1483