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

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

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334XXVII.JOHN LYLY.blot <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir owne gentrie, <strong>to</strong> read or practize Diuinitie.220 They thinke it now sufficient for <strong>the</strong>ir felicitie <strong>to</strong> ryde wellvppon a great horse, <strong>to</strong> hawke, <strong>to</strong> hunt, <strong>to</strong>rhilosophie, nei<strong>the</strong>r thinking <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>haue a smacke inbeginning <strong>of</strong> wisedome,nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> ende, which is Christ : onely <strong>the</strong>y accompt diuinitiemost contemptible, which is and ought <strong>to</strong> be most225 notable. Without this <strong>the</strong>re is no Lawyer, be he neuer soeloquent, no Phisition, be he neuer soexcelent, no Philosopher,bee hee neuer solearned, no King, no Keysar, be heneuer so royall in birth, so polytique in peace, so expert inwarre, so valyaunt in prowesse, but he is <strong>to</strong> be detested and2;iO abhorred. Farewell <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> fine and filed phrases <strong>of</strong>Cicero, <strong>the</strong> pleasaunt Eligues <strong>of</strong> Ouid, <strong>the</strong> depth and pr<strong>of</strong>oundknowledge <strong>of</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>tle. Farewell Rhethoricke, farewellPhilosophic, farewel all learning which is not sprong<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> bowells <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> holy Bible.235 In this learning shal we finde milke for <strong>the</strong> weake andmarrow for <strong>the</strong> strong, in this shall we see how <strong>the</strong> ignorauntmay be instructed, <strong>the</strong> obstinate confuted, <strong>the</strong> penitent comforted,<strong>the</strong> wicked punished, <strong>the</strong> godly preserued. Oh ! Iwould Gentlemen would some times sequester <strong>the</strong>mseluesJ40 <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir owne delights, and employ <strong>the</strong>ir witsin searching<strong>the</strong>se heauenly and diuine misteries. It is common, yea,and lamentable <strong>to</strong> see, that if a young youth haue <strong>the</strong> giftes<strong>of</strong> Nature, as a sharpe wit, or <strong>of</strong> Fortune, as sufficient wealth<strong>to</strong> mainteine him^ he employeth <strong>the</strong> one in <strong>the</strong> vayne inuen-245 tions <strong>of</strong> loue, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> vile brauerie <strong>of</strong> pride : <strong>the</strong> onein <strong>the</strong> passions <strong>of</strong> his minde and prayses <strong>of</strong> his Lady, <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r in furnishing <strong>of</strong> his body and fur<strong>the</strong>ring <strong>of</strong> his lust.Hcer<strong>of</strong>t it commcth that such vafne ditties, such idle sonnets,such enticing songs, are set foorth <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> gaze <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world250 and griefe <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> godly. I my-selfe know none so ill as^ Original ' <strong>the</strong>m.'

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