13.07.2015 Views

Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

196 XVIII. SIR THOMAS ELYOT.he mought ei<strong>the</strong>r ouertake his enemye : or beyng pursued /if extreme nede required / escape him. Semblably beforehim dyd <strong>the</strong> worthy Achilles / for whiles his shippes laye,at rode / he suffred nat his people <strong>to</strong> slomber in ydle- 30nesse / but daily exercised <strong>the</strong>m and him-selfe in rennyng /wherin he was moste excellent and passed all o<strong>the</strong>r : and<strong>the</strong>rfore Homere throughout all his warke / calleth hymswifte-foote Achilles. The great Alexander beyng a childe /excelled all his companions in re;myng. wherfore on a 35tyme / one demau;zded <strong>of</strong> hym / if he wolde renne at <strong>the</strong>great game <strong>of</strong> Olympus : wher<strong>to</strong>out <strong>of</strong> all partes <strong>of</strong> Grece /came <strong>the</strong> most actife and valiant persons <strong>to</strong> assay maistries :whervn<strong>to</strong> Alexander answered in this fourme : I wold verygladly re«ne <strong>the</strong>r / if I were sure <strong>to</strong> re^zne with kinges : for 40if I shulde cowtende with a priuate person / hauing respect<strong>to</strong> our bo<strong>the</strong> astates / our vic<strong>to</strong>ries shulde nat be equall.Nedes muste rennynge be taken for a laudable exercise /sens one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mooste noble capitaynes <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> Romanes /loke his name <strong>of</strong> rennyng / and was called Papirius Cursor: 45which is in englisshe / Papirius <strong>the</strong> Renner. And also <strong>the</strong>valiant INIarius <strong>the</strong> Romane / whan he had bene seuen tymesConsul / and was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> foure score yeres / exercisedhim-selfe dayly amonge <strong>the</strong> yonge men <strong>of</strong> Rome / in suchewyse / that <strong>the</strong>re resorted people out <strong>of</strong> ferre partes / <strong>to</strong> 50beholde <strong>the</strong> strength & agilitie <strong>of</strong> that olde Consul / wherinhe compared with <strong>the</strong> yonge and lusty soudiours.Swyinniyng^e.There is an exercise / whiche is right pr<strong>of</strong>itable in extremedaunger <strong>of</strong> warres / but by cause <strong>the</strong>resemeth <strong>to</strong> be some perile iii <strong>the</strong> lernynge <strong>the</strong>r-<strong>of</strong> :5^And also it hath nat bene <strong>of</strong> lo;7ge tyme moche vsed / spetially amo«ge noble-men : perchance some reders wyll litlecsteme it : I meane swymmynge. But nat-withstandyng / if<strong>the</strong>v reuolue <strong>the</strong> imbecilitie <strong>of</strong> our nature ' <strong>the</strong> hasardes and

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!