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 ...

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:XXVII.JOHN LYLY.A.D. 1579.John Lyly, a native of the Weald of Kent, was born probablyin 1553, and died in 1606. He studied at Magdalen College,Oxford, where he took his degree of B.A. in 1573. His nineplays, published between 1584 and 1601, are named 'Alexanderand Gampaspe,' Sappho * and Phao,' ' Endimion,' ' Galathea,''Midas,' Mother ' Bombie,' The ' Woman in the Moon,' The'Maid's Metamorphosis,' and Love's Metamorphosis.' But he ' isbest remembered by his two works named respectively Euphues*the Anatomy of Wit,' first printed in the spring of 1579, and'Euphues and his England,' 1580. He seems also to have beenthe author of the anonymous tract called Pap with 'a Hatchet,'written during the ' Martin Mar-prelate' controversy. The worksof Lyly gave rise to the name of ' Euphuism,' a term applied toa then fashionable pedantic style, and over-strained method ofexpression, of which many examples are to be found in Euphues.''On this account, Lyly's works have been frequently decried andridiculed, but it deserves to be remarked that he sometimes exhibitsstrong conunon sense ; and Charles Kingsley, in his ' WestwardHo,' is right in calling Euphues, 'in spite of occasional tediousncssand pedantry, as brave, righteous, and pious a book asmanneed look into.' I believe it will be difficult for any one to readthe following extract without feeling the better for it ; which is

XXVII. EUPHUES AND HIS EPHCEBUS. 327my reason for quoting it. It is taken from that part of the firstvolume which is entitled ' Euphues and his Ephoebus,' and containssome excellent advice given by Euphues to young men.Both volumes of ' Euphues ' were reprinted by Mr. Arber in1868.[From Euphues aud 'his Ephcebus!~\'Wise Parents ought to take good heede, especially at thistime, //^at they frame their sonnes to mode stie, either bythreats or by rewards, either by faire promises or seuerepractises ; either shewing the miseries of those that haueben ouercome with wildnesse, or /he happinesse of them 5that haue conteined themselues within the bandes of reasonthese two are as it wer the ensignes of vertue, the hope ofhonour, the feare of punishment. But chiefly parents mustcause their youths to abandon the societie^ of those whichare noted ofjemlj Jiuing;__andJ[^ behauiour, which Pj-^iothagoras seemed somwhat obscurely to note in these hissayings :First, that one should abstein from the tast of those thingsthat haue blacke tayles : That is, we must not vse the companyof those whose corrupt manners doe as it were make 15their lyfe blacke. Not to goe aboue the ballaunce ; that is,to reuerence lustice, neither for feare or flatterie to leanevnto any one partially. Not to lye in idlenesse ; thati«, that sloth shoulde be abhorred. That we should notshake euqry man by the hand : That is, we should not con- 20tjract friendshippe with all. Not to weare a straight ringthat is, that we shoulde leade our lyfe, so as wee neede notto fetter it with chaynes. Not to bring fire to a slaughterthat is, we must not prouoke any that is furious with words.Not to eate our heartes : that is, that wee shoulde not vexe 25

XXVII. EUPHUES AND HIS EPHCEBUS. 327my reason for quoting it. It is taken <strong>from</strong> that part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> firstvolume which is entitled ' Euphues and his Ephoebus,' and containssome excellent advice given by Euphues <strong>to</strong> young men.Both volumes <strong>of</strong> ' Euphues ' were reprinted by Mr. Arber in1868.[From Euphues aud 'his Ephcebus!~\'Wise Parents ought <strong>to</strong> take good heede, especially at thistime, //^at <strong>the</strong>y frame <strong>the</strong>ir sonnes <strong>to</strong> mode stie, ei<strong>the</strong>r bythreats or by rewards, ei<strong>the</strong>r by faire promises or seuerepractises ; ei<strong>the</strong>r shewing <strong>the</strong> miseries <strong>of</strong> those that haueben ouercome with wildnesse, or /he happinesse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m 5that haue conteined <strong>the</strong>mselues within <strong>the</strong> bandes <strong>of</strong> reason<strong>the</strong>se two are as it wer <strong>the</strong> ensignes <strong>of</strong> vertue, <strong>the</strong> hope <strong>of</strong>honour, <strong>the</strong> feare <strong>of</strong> punishment. But chiefly parents mustcause <strong>the</strong>ir youths <strong>to</strong> abandon <strong>the</strong> societie^ <strong>of</strong> those whichare noted <strong>of</strong>jemlj Jiuing;__andJ[^ behauiour, which Pj-^iothagoras seemed somwhat obscurely <strong>to</strong> note in <strong>the</strong>se hissayings :First, that one should abstein <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> tast <strong>of</strong> those thingsthat haue blacke tayles : That is, we must not vse <strong>the</strong> company<strong>of</strong> those whose corrupt manners doe as it were make 15<strong>the</strong>ir lyfe blacke. Not <strong>to</strong> goe aboue <strong>the</strong> ballaunce ; that is,<strong>to</strong> reuerence lustice, nei<strong>the</strong>r for feare or flatterie <strong>to</strong> leanevn<strong>to</strong> any one partially. Not <strong>to</strong> lye in idlenesse ; thati«, that sloth shoulde be abhorred. That we should notshake euqry man by <strong>the</strong> hand : That is, we should not con- 20tjract friendshippe with all. Not <strong>to</strong> weare a straight ringthat is, that we shoulde leade our lyfe, so as wee neede not<strong>to</strong> fetter it with chaynes. Not <strong>to</strong> bring fire <strong>to</strong> a slaughterthat is, we must not prouoke any that is furious with words.Not <strong>to</strong> eate our heartes : that is, that wee shoulde not vexe 25

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