3.24. Of decencie in behauiour which also belongs to the consideration of the Poet or maker.
And there is a decency to be obserued in euery mans action & behauiour
aswell as in his speach & writing which some peraduenture would thinke
impertinent to be treated of in this booke, where we do but informer the
commendable fashions of language & stile: but that is otherwise, for
the
good maker or poet who is in decent speach & good termes to describe
all
things and with prayse or dispraise to report euery mans behauiour, ought to
know the comelinesse of an action aswell as of a word & thereby to
direct
himselfe both in praise & perswasion or any other point that perteines
to
the Oratours arte. Wherefore some examples we will set downe of this
maner of decency in behauiour leauing you for the rest to our booke which we
haue written de Decoro, where ye shall see both partes
handled more exactly. And this decencie of mans behauiour aswell as of his
speach must also be deemed by discretion, in which regard the thing that
may well become one man to do may not become another, and that which is
seemely to be done in this place is not so seemely in that, and at such a
time decent, but at another time vndecent, and in such a case and for such a
purpose, and to this and that end and by this and that euent, perusing all the
circumstances with like consideration. Therefore we say that it might
become king
Alexander to giue a hundreth talentes to
Anaxagoras the
Philosopher, but not for a beggerly Philosopher to accept so great a gift, for
such a Prince could not be so impouerished by that expence, but the
Philosopher was by it excessiuely to be enriched, so was the kings action
proportionable to his estate and therefore decent, the Philosophers,
disproportionable both to his profession and calling and therefore indecent.
And yet if we shall examine the same point with a clearer discretion, it may
be said that whatsoeuer it might become king Alexander of his regal
largesse to bestow vpon a poore Philosopher vnasked, that might aswell
become the Philosopher to receiue at his hands without refusal, and had
otherwise bene some empeachement of the kings abilitie or wisedome,
which had not bene decent in the Philosopher, nor the immoderatnesse of the
kinges gift in respect of the Philosophers meane estate made his acceptance
the lesse decent, since Princes liberalities are not measured by merite nor
by other mens estimations, but by their owne appetits and according to their
greatnesse. So said king Alexander very like himselfe to one
Perillus
to whom he had geuen a very great gift, which he made curtesy to accept,
saying it was too much for such a mean person, what quoth the king if it be
too much for thy selfe, hast thou neuer a friend or kinsman that may fare
the better by it? But peraduenture if any such immoderat gift had bene
craued by the Philosopher and not voluntarily offred by the king it had bene
vndecent to haue taken it. Euen so if one that standeth vpon his merite, and
spares to craue the Princes liberalitie in that which is moderate and fit for
him, doth as vndecently. For men should not expect till the Prince
remembred it of himselfe and began as it were the gratification, but ought
to be
put in remembraunce by humble solicitations, and that is duetifull &
decent,
which made king
Henry th'eight her Maiesties most noble father, and
for
liberality nothing inferiour to king
Alexander the great, aunswere one
of
his priuie chamber, who prayd him to be good & gracious to a certaine
old
Knight being his seruant, for that he was but an ill begger, if he be ashamed
to begge we wil thinke scorne to giue. And yet peraduenture in both these
cases, the vndecencie for too much crauing or sparing to craue, might be
easily holpen by a decent magnificence in the Prince, as
Amazes king
of
Aegypt very honorably considered, who asking one day for one
Diopithus a
noble man of his Court, what was become of him for that he had not sene
him wait of long time, one about the king told him that he heard say he was
sicke and of some conceit he had taken that his Maiestie had but slenderly
looked to him, vsing many others very bountifully. I beshrew his fooles head
quoth the king, why had he not sued vnto vs and made vs priuie of his want,
then added, but in truth we are most to blame our selues, who by a mindeful
beneficence without sute should haue supplied his bashfulnesse, and
forthwith commaunded a great reward in money & pension to be sent
vnto
him, but it hapned that when the kings messengers entred the chamber of
Diopithus, eh had newly giuen vp the ghost: the messengers sorrowed
the
case, and
Diopithus friends sate by and wept, not so much for
Diopithus death, as for pitie that he ouerliued not the comming of the
kings reward. Therupon it came euer after to be vsed for a prouerbe that
when any good turne commeth too late to be vsed, to cal it
Diopithus
reward.
In Italy and Fraunce I haue knowen it vsed for common pollicie, the Princes
to differre the bestowing of their great liberalities as Cardinalships and
other high dignities & offices of gayne, till the parties whom they
should
seeme to gratifie be so old or so sicke as it is not likely they should long
enioy them.
In the time of Charles the ninth French king, I being at the Spaw
waters,
there lay a Marshall of Fraunce called Monsieur de Sipier, to vse those
waters for his health, but when the Phisitions had all giuen him vp, and that
there was no hope of life in him, came from the king to him a letters
patents of six thousand crownes
yearely pension during his life with many comfortable wordes: the man was
not su much past remembraunce, but he could say to the messenger
trop
tard, trop tard, it should haue come before, for in deede it had bene
promised long and came not till now that he could not fare the better by it.
And it became king Antiochus, better to bestow the faire Lady
Stratonica his wife vpon his sonne Demetrius who lay sicke for
her
loue and would else haue perished, as the Physitions cunningly discouered by
the beating of his pulse, then it could become Demetrius to be
inamored
with his fathers wife, or to enioy her of his guift, because the fathers act
was led by discretion and of a fatherly compassion, not grutching to depart
form his deerest possession to saue his childes life, where as the sonne in
his appetite had no reason to lead him to loue vnlawfully, for whom it had
rather bene decent to die then to haue violated his fathers bed with safetie
of his life.
No more would it be seemely for an aged man to play the wanton like a child,
for it stands not with the conueniency of nature, yet when king
Agesilaus
hauing a great sort of little children, was one day disposed to solace
himself among them in a gallery where they plaied, and tooke a little hobby
horse of wood and bestrid it to keepe them in play, one of his friends
seemed to mislike his lightnes, ô good friend quoth Agesilaus,
rebuke me not for this fault till thou haue children of thine owne, shewing in
deede that it came not of vanitie but of a fatherly affection, ioying in the
sport and company of his little children, in which respect and as that place
and time serued, it was dispenceable in him & not indecent.
And in the choise of a mans delights & maner of his life, there is a
decencie,
and so we say th'old man generally is no fit companion for the young man,
nor the rich for the poore, nor the wise for the foolish. Yet in some respects
and by discretion it may be otherwise, as when the old man hath the
gouernment of the young, the wise teaches the foolish, the rich is wayted on
by the poore for their reliefe, in which regard the conuersation is not
indecent.
And Proclus the Philosopher knowing how euery indecencie is
vnpleasant
to nature, and namely, how vncomely a thing it is for young men to doe as
old men doe (at leastwise as young men
for the most part doe take it) applyed it very wittily to his purpose: for
hauing his sonne and heire a notable vnthrift, & delighting in nothing but
in
haukes and hounds, and gay apparrell, and such like vanities, which neither
by gentle nor sharpe admonitions of his father, could make him leaue.
Proclus himselfe not onely bare with his sonne, but also vsed it
himselfe
for company, which some of his frends greatly rebuked him for, saying,
ô Proclus, an olde man and a Philosopher to play the foole and
lasciuious more than the sonne. Mary, quoth
Proclus, & therefore
I do it,
for it is the next way to make my sonne change his life, when he shall see
how vndecent it is in me to leade such a life, when he shall see how
vndecent it is in me to leade such a life, and for him being a yong man, to
keepe companie with me being an old man, and to doe that which I doe.
So is it not vnseemely for any ordinarie Captaine to winne the victory or any
other auantage in warre by fraud & breach of faith: as Hanniball
with the
Romans, but it could not well become the Romaines managing so great an
Empire, by examples of honour and iustice to doe as Hanniball did.
And
when Parmenio in a like case perswaded king Alexander to
breake the
day of his appointment, and to set vpon Darius at the sodaine, which
Alexander refused to doe, Parmenio saying, I would doe it if I
were
Alexander, and I too quoth Alexander if I were Parmenio:
but it
behooueth me in honour to fight liberally with mine enemies, and iustly to
ouercome. And thus ye see that was decent in Parmenios action,
which
was not in the king his masters.
A great nobleman and Counseller in this Realme was secretlie aduised by his
friend, not to vse so much writing his letters in fauour of euery man that
asked them, specially to the Iudges of the Realme in cases of iustice. To
whom the noble man answered, it becomes vs Councellors better to vse
instance for our friend, then for the Iudges to sentence at instance: for
whatsoeuer we doe require them, it is in their choise to refuse to doe, but
for all that the example was ill and dangerous.
And there is a decencie in chusing the times of a mans busines, and as the
Spaniard sayes, es tiempo de negotiar, there is a fitte time for euery
man to performe his businesse in, & to attend his affaires, which out of
that
time would be vndecent: as to sleepe al day and
wake al night, and to goe a hunting by torch-light as an old Earle of Arundel
vsed to doe, or for any occasion of little importance, to wake a man out of
his sleepe, or to make him rise from his dinner to talke with him, or such
like importunities, for so we call euery vnseasonable action, and the
vndecencie of the time.
Callicratides being sent Ambassador by the Lacedemonians, to
Cirus
the young king of Persia to contract with him for money and men toward
their warres against the Athenians, came to the Court at such vnseasonable
time as the king was yet in the midst of his dinner, and went away againe
saying, it is now no time to interrupt the kings mirth. he came againe
another day in the after noone, and finding the king at a rere-banquet, and to
haue taken the wine somewhat plentifully, turned back againe, saying, I
thinke there is no houre fitte to deal with Cirus, for he is euer in his
banquets: I will rather leaue all the busines vndone, then doe any thing that
shall not become the Lacedemonians: meaning to offer conference of so
great importaunce to his Countrey, with a man so distempered by surfet, as
hee was not likely to geue him any reasonable resolution in the cause.
One Eudamidas brother to king Agis of Lacedemonia,
comming by
Zenocrates schoole and looking it, saw him sit in his chaire, disputing
with a long hoare beard, asked who it was, one answered, Sir it is a wise
man and one of them that searches after vertue, and if he haue not yet found
it quoth Eudamidas when will he vse it, that now at this yeares is
seeking after it, as who would way it is not time to talke of matter when
they should be put in execution, nor for an old man to be to seeke what
vertue is, which all his youth he should haue had in exercise.
Another time comming to heare a notable Philosopher dispute, it happened,
that all was ended euen as he came, and one of his familiers would haue had
him requested the Philosopher to beginne againe, that were indecent and
nothing ciuill quoth Eudamidas, for if he should come to me
supperlesse
when I had supped before, were it seemely for him to pray me to suppe
againe for his companie?
And the place makes a thing decent or indecent, in which consideration one
Euboidas being sent Embassadour into a forraine
realme, some of his familiars tooke occasion at the table to praise the
wiues and women of that country in presence of their owne husbands, which
th'embassadour misliked, and when supper was ended and the guestes
departed, tooke his familiars aside, and told them that it was nothing
decent in a strange country to praise the women, nor specially a wife before
her husbands face, for inconueniencie that might rise thereby, aswell to the
prayser as to the woman, and that the chiefe commendation of a chast
matrone, was to be knowen onely to her husband, and not to be obserued by
straungers and guestes.
And in the vse of apparell there is no litle decency and vndecencie to be
perceiued, as well for the fashion as the stuffe, for it is comely that euer
estate and vocation should be knowen by the differences of their habit: a
clarke from a lay man: a gentleman from a yeoman: a souldier from a
citizen, and the chiefe of euery degree from their inferiours, because in
confusion and disorder there is no manner of decencie.
The Romaines of any other people most seuere censurers of decencie, though
no vpper garment so comely for a ciuill man as a long playted gowne, because
it sheweth much grauitie & also pudicitie, hiding euery member of the
body
which had not bin pleasant to behold. In somuch as a certain
Proconsull
or Legat of theirs dealing one day with Ptolome king of Egipt, seeing
him
clad in a straite narrow garment very lasciuiously, discouering euery part of
his body, gaue him a great checke for it: and said, that vnlesse he vsed more
sad and comely garments, the Romaines would take no pleasure to hold
amitie with him, for by the wantonnes of his garment they would iudge the
vanitie of his mind, not to be worthy of their constant friendship. A
pleasant old courtier wearing one day in the sight of a great councellour,
after the new guise, a french cloake skarce reaching to the wast, a long
beaked doublet hanging downe to his thies, & an high paire of silke
netherstocks that couered all his buttockes and loignes the Councellor
marueled to see him in that sort disguised, and otherwise than he had bien
woont to be. Sir quoth the Gentleman to excuse it: if I should not be able
whan I had need to pisse out of my doublet, and to do the rest in my
netherstocks (vsing the plaine terme) all men would
say I were but a lowte, the Councellor laughed hartily at the absurditie of
the speech, but what would those fower fellowes of Rome haue said trowe
ye? truely in mine opinion, that all such persons as take pleasure to shew
their limbes, specially those that nature hath commanded out of sight,
should be inioyned either to go starke naked, or else to resort back to the
comely and modest fashion of their owne countrie apparell vsed by their old
honorable auncestors.
And there is a decency of apparrel in respect of the place where it is to be
vsed: as, in the Court to be richely apparrelled: in the countrey to weare
more plain & homely garments. For who would not thinke it a ridiculous
thing to see a Lady in her milke-house with a veluet gowne, and at a bridall
in her cassock of mockado: a Gentleman of the Countrey among the bushes
and briers, goe in a pounced dublet and a paire of embrodered hosen, in the
Citie to weare a frise Ierkin and a paire of leather breeches? yet some such
phantasticals haue I knowen, and one a certaine knight, of all other the most
vaine, who commonly would come to the Sessions, and other ordinarie
meetings and Commissions in the Countrey, so bedect with buttons and
aglets of gold and such costly embroderies, as the poore plaine men of the
Countrey called him (for his gaynesse) the golden knight. Another for the
like cause was called Saint Sunday: I thinke at this day they be so farre
spent, as either of them would be content with a good cloath cloake: and
this came by want of discretion, to discerne and deeme right of decencie,
which many Gentlemen doe wholly limite by the person or degree, where
reason doeth it by the place and presence: which may be such as it might
very well become a great Prince to weare courser apparrell than in another
place or presence a meaner person.
Neuerthelesse in the vse of a garment many occasions alter the decencie,
sometimes the qualitie of the person, sometimes of the case, otherwhiles
the countrie custome, and often the constitution of lawes, and the very
nature of vse it selfe. As for example a king and prince may vse rich and
gorgious apparell decently, so cannot a meane person doo, yet if an herald of
armes to whom a king giueth his gowne of cloth of gold, or to whom it was
incident as a fee of his office, do were the same, he doth it decently,
because such
hath alwaies bene th'allowances of heraldes: but if such herald haue worne
out, or sold, or lost that gowne, to buy him a new of the like stuffe with his
owne mony and to weare it, is not decent in the eye and iudgement of them
that know it.
And the country custome maketh things decent in vse, as in Asia for all
ment to weare long gownes both a foot and horsebacke: in Europa short
gaberdins, or clokes, or iackets, euen for their vpper garments. The Turke
and Persian to wear great tolibants of ten, fifteene, and twentie elles of
linnen a peece vpon their heads, which can not be remooued: in Europe to
were caps or hats, which vpon euery occasion of saluation we vse to put of,
as a signe of reuerence. In th'East partes the men to make water couring
like women, with vs standing at a wall. With them to congratulat and salute
by giuing a becke with the head, or a bende of the bodie, with vs here in
England, and in Germany, and all other Northerne parts of the world to shake
handes. In France, Italie, and Spaine to embrace ouer the shoulder, vnder the
armes, at the very knees, according the superiors degree. With vs the
wemen giue their mouth to be kissed, in other places their cheek, in many
places their hand, or in steed of an offer to the hand, to say these words
Bezo los manos. And yet some others surmounting in all courtly
ciuilitie
will say, Los manos & los piedes. And aboue that reach too, there
be that
will say to the Ladies, Lombra de sus pisadas, the shadow of your
steps.
Which I recite vnto you to shew the phrase of those courtly seruitours in
yeelding the mistresses honour and reuerence.
And it is seen that very particular vse of it selfe makes a matter of much
decencie and vndecencie, without any countrey custome or allowance, as if
one that hath many yeares worne a gowne shall come to be seen weare a
iakquet or ierkin, or he that hath many yeares worne a beard or long haire
among those that had done the contrary, and come sodainly to be pold or
shauen, it will seeme onely to himselfe, a deshight and very vndecent, but
also to all others that neuer vsed to go so, vntill the time and custome haue
abrogated that mislike.
So was it here in England till her Maiesties most noble father for diuers
good respects, caused his owne head and all his Courtiers to be polled and
his beard to be cut short. Before that time it
was thought more decent both for old men and young to be all shauen and to
weare long haire either rounded or square. Now againe at this time, the
young Gentlemen of the Court haue taken vp the long haire trayling on their
shoulders, and thinke it more decent: for what respect I would be glad to
know.
The Lacedemonians bearing long bushes of haire, finely kept & curled vp,
vsed this ciuill argument to maintaine that custome. Haire (say they) is the
very ornament of nature appointed for the head, which therefore to vse in
his most sumptuous degree is comely, specially for them that be Lordes,
Maisters of men, and of a free life, hauing abilitie & leasure inough to
keepe
it cleane, and so for a signe of seignorie, riches and libertie, the masters of
the Lacedemonians vsed long haire. But their vassals, seruaunts and slaues
vsed it short or shauen in signe of seruitude and because they had no meane
nor leasure to kembe and keepe it cleanely. It was besides combersome to
them hauing many businesse to attende, in some seruices there might no
maner of filth be falling from their heads. And to all souldiers it is very
noysome and a daungerous disauantage in the warres or in any particular
combat, which being the most comely profession of euery noble young
Gentleman, it ought to perswade them greatly from wearing long haire. If
there be any that seeke by long haire to helpe or to hide an ill featured face,
it is in them allowable so to do, because euery man may decently reforme by
art, the faultes and imperfections that nature hath wrought in them.
And all singularities or affected parts of a mans behauiour seeme vndecent,
as for one man to march or iet in the street more stately, or to looke more
solempnely, or to go more gayly & in other coulours or fashioned
garments
then another of the same degree and estate.
Yet such singularities haue had many times both good liking and good
successe, otherwise then many would haue looked for. As when
Dinocrates the famous architect, desirous to be knowen to king
Alexander the great, and hauing none acquaintance to bring him to the
kings speech, he came one day to the Court very strangely apparelled in long
skarlet robes, his head compast with a garland of Laurell, and his face all to
be slicked with sweet oyle, and stoode in the kings chamber, motioning
nothing to any man:
newes of this stranger came to the king, who cause him to be brought to his
presence, and asked his name, and the cause of his repaire to the Court. He
aunswered, his name was
Dinocrates the Architect, who came to
present
his Maiestie with a platforme of his owne deuising, how his Maiestie might
buylde a Citie vpon the mountaine Athos in Macedonia, which should beare
the figure of a mans body, and tolde him all how. Forsooth the breast and
bulke of his body should rest vpon such a flat: that hil should be his head,
all set with foregrowen woods like haire: his right arme should stretch out
to such a hollow bottome as might be like his hand: holding a dish
conteyning al the waters that should serue that Citie: the left arme with
his hand should hold a valley of all the orchards and gardens of pleasure
pertaining thereunto: and either legge should lie vpon a ridge of rocke, very
gallantly to behold, and so should accomplish the full figure of a man. The
king asked him what commoditie of soyle, or sea, or nauigable riuer lay
neere vnto it, to be able to sustaine so great a number of inhabitants.
Truely Sir (quoth
Dinocrates) I haue not yet considered thereof: for in
trueth it is the barest part of all the Countrey of Macedonia. The king
smiled at it, and said very honourably, we like your deuice well, and meane
to vse your seruice in the building of a Citie, but we wil chuse out a more
commodious scituation: and made him attend in that voyage in which he
conquered Asia and Egypt, and there made him chiefe Surueyour of his new
Citie of Alexandria. Thus did
Dinocrates singularitie in attire greatly
further him to his aduancement.
Yet are generally all rare things and such as breede maruell &
admiration
somewhat holding of the vndecent, as when a man is bigger & exceeding
the
ordinary stature of a man like a Giaunt, or farre vnder the reasonable and
common size of men, as a dwarfe, and such vndecencies do not angre vs, but
either we pittie them or scorne at them.
But at all insolent and vnwoonted partes of a mans behauiour, we find many
times cause to mislike or to be mistrustfull, which proceedeth of some
vndecency that is in it, as when a man that hath alwaies bene strange &
vnacquainted with vs, will suddenly become our familiar and domestick: and
another that hath bene
alwaies sterne and churlish, wilbe vpon suddaine affable and curteous, it
is neyther a comely sight, nor a signe of any good towardes vs. Which the
subtill Italian well obserued by the successes thereof, saying in Prouerbe.
Chi me fa meglio che non suole,
Traditio me ha o tradir me vuolo.
He that speakes me fairer, than his woont was too
Hath done me harme, or meanes for to doo.
Now againe all maner of conceites that stirre vp any vehement passion in a
man, doo it by some turpitude or euill and vndecency that is in them, as to
make a man angry there must be some iniury or contempt offered, to make
him enuy there must proceede some vndeserued prosperitie of his egall or
inferiour, to make him pitie some miserable fortune or spectakle to behold.
And yet in euery of these passions being as it were vndecencies, there is a
comelinesse to be discerned, which some men can keepe and some men can
not, as to be angry, or to enuy, or to hate, or to pitie, or to be ashamed
decently, that is none otherwise then reason requireth. This surmise
appeareth to be true, for Homer the father of Poets writing that
famous
and most honourable poeme called the Illiades or warres of Troy:
made
his commencement the magnanimous wrath and anger of Achilles in
his
first verse thus: menyn hia piladeou axilleious Sing foorth
my muse the wrath of Achilles Peleus sonne: which the
Poet would neuer haue done if the wrath of a prince had not beene in some
sort comely & allowable. but when Arrianus and Curtius
historiographers that wrote the noble gestes of king Alexander the
great, came to prayse him for many things, yet for his wrath and anger they
reproched him, because it proceeded not of any magnanimitie, but vpon
surfet & distemper in his diet, nor growing of any iust causes, was
exercised to the destruction of his dearest friends and familiers, and not of
his enemies, nor any other waies so honorably as th'others was, and so could
not be reputed a decent and comely anger.
So may al your other passions be vsed decently though the very matter of
their originall be grounded vpon some vndecencie, as it is written by a
certaine king of Egypt, who looking out of his
window, and seing his owne sonne for some grieuous offence, carried by the
officers of his iustice to the place of execution: he neuer once changed his
countenance at the matter, though the sight were neuer so full of ruth and
atrocitie. And it was thought a decent countenance and constant animositie
in the king to be so affected, the case concerning so high and rare a peece of
his owne iustice. But within few daies after when he beheld out of the same
window an old friend and familiar of his, stand begging an almes in the
streete, he wept tenderly, remembring their old familiarity and considering
how by the mutabilitie of fortune and frailtie of mans estate, it might one
day come to passe that he himselfe should fall into the like miserable
estate. He therfore had a remorse very comely for a king in that behalfe,
which also caused him to giue order for his poore friends plentiful reliefe.
But generally to weepe for any sorrow (as one may doe for pitie) is not so
decent in a man: and therefore all high minded persons, when they cannot
chuse but shed teares, wil turne away their face as a countenance vndecent
for a man to shew, and so will the standers by till they haue supprest such
passion, thinking it nothing decent to behold such an vncomely countenance.
But for Ladies and women to weepe and shed teares at euery little greefe, it
is nothing vncomely, but rather a signe of much good nature & meeknes
of
minde, a most decent propertie for that sexe; and therefore they be for the
more part more deuout and charitable, and greater geuers of almes than men,
and zealous relieuers of prisoners, and beseechers of pardons, and such like
parts of commiseration. Yea they be more than so too: for by the common
prouerbe, a woman will weepe for pitie to see a gosling goe barefoote.
But most certainly all things that moue a man to laughter, as doe these
scurrilities & other ridiculous behauiours, it is for some vndecencie
that is
found in them: which maketh it decent for euery man to laugh at them. And
therefore when we see or heare a natural foole and idiot doe or say any thing
foolishly, we laugh not at him: but when he doeth or speaketh wisely,
because that is vnlike him selfe: and a buffonne or counterfet foole, to
heare him speake wisely which is like himselfe, it is no sport at all, but for
such a counterfait to talke and looke foolishly it maketh vs laugh,
because it is no part of his naturall, for in euery vncomlinesse there must
be a certaine absurditie and disproportion to nature, and the opinion of the
hearer or beholder to make the thing ridiculous. But for a foole to talke
foolishly or a wiseman wisely, there is no such absurditie or disproportion.
And though at all absurdities we may decently laugh, & when they be no
absurdities not decently, yet in laughing is there an vndecencie for other
respectes sometime, than of the matter it selfe, Which made
Philippus
sonne to the first Christen Emperour, Philippus Arabicus fitting with
his
father one day in the theatre to behold the sports, giue his father a great
rebuke because he laughed, saying that it was no comely countenance for an
Emperour to bewray in such a publicke place, nor specially to laugh at euery
foolish toy: the posteritie gaue the sonne for that cause the name of
Philippus Agelastos or without laughter.
I haue seene forraine Embassadours in the Queenes presence laugh so
dissolutely at some rare pastime or sport that hath beene made there, that
nothing in the world could worse haue becomen them, and others very wise
men, whether it haue ben of some pleasant humour and complexion, or for
other default in the spleene, or for ill education or custome, that could not
vtter any graue and earnest speech without laughter, which part was greatly
discommended in them.
And Cicero the wisest of any Romane writers, thought it vncomely for
a
man to daunce: saying, Saltantem sobrium vidi neminem. I neuer saw
any man daunce that was sober and in his right wits, but there by your leaue
he failed, nor our young Courtiers will allow it, besides that it is the most
decent and comely demeanour of all exulatations and reioycements of the
hart, which is no lesse naturall to man then to be wise or well learned, or
sober.
To tell you the decencies of a number of other behauiours, one might do it to
please you with pretie reportes, but to the skilfull Courtiers it shalbe
nothing necessary, for they know all by experience without learning. Yet
some few remembraunces wee will make you of the most materiall, which
our selues haue obserued, and so make an end.
It is decent to be affable and curteous at meales & meeting, in
open assemblies more solemne and straunge, in place of authoritie and
iudgement not familiar nor pleasant, in counsell secret and sad, in ordinary
conferences easie and apert, in conuersation simple, in capitulation subtill
and mistrustfull, at mournings and burials sad and sorrowfull, in feasts and
bankets merry & ioyfull, in houshold expence pinching and sparing, in
publicke entertainement spending and pompous. The Prince to be sumptuous
and magnificent, the priuate man liberall with moderation, a man to be in
giuing free, in asking spare, in promise slow, in performance speedy, in
contract circumspect but iust, in amitie sincere, in ennimitie wily and
cautelous [
dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirit, saith the Poet] and
after
the same rate euery sort and maner of businesse or affaire or action hath
his decencie and vndecencie, either for the time or place or person or some
other circumstaunce, as Priests to be sober and sad, a Preacher by his life
to giue good example, a Iudge to be incorrupted, solitarie and vnacquainted
with Courtiers or Courtly entertainements, & as the Philosopher saith
Oportet iudice esse rudem & simplicem, without plaite or wrinkle,
sower
in looke and churlish in speach, contrariwise a Courtly Gentleman to be
loftie and curious in countenaunce, yet sometimes a creeper and a curry
fauell with his superiours.
And touching the person, we say it is comely for a man to be a lambe in the
house, and a Lyon in the field, appointing the decencie of his qualitie by the
place, by which reason also we limit the comely parts of a woman to consist
in foure points, that is to be a shrewe in the kitchin, a saint in the Church,
an Angell at the bourd, and an Ape in the bed, as the Chronicle reportes by
Mistresse Shore paramour to king Edward the fourth.
Then also there is a decency in respect of the persons with whom we do
negotiate, as with the great personages his egals to be solemne and surly,
with meaner men pleasant and popular, stoute with the sturdie and milde
with the meek, which is a most decent conuersation and not reprochfull or
vnseemely, as the prouerbe goeth, by those that vse the contrary, a Lyon
among sheepe and a sheepe among Lyons.
Right so in negotiating with Princes we ought to seeke their fauour by
humilitie & not by sternnesse, nor to trafficke with them
by way of indecent or condition, but frankly and by manner of submission to
their wils, for Princes may be lead but not driuen, nor they are to be
vanquisht by allegation, but must be suffred to haue the victorie and be
relented vnto: nor they are not to be chalenged for right or iustice, for that
is a maner of accusation: nor to be charged with their promises, for that is
a kinde of condemnation: and at their request we ought not to be hardly
entreated but easily, for that is a signe of deffidence and mistrust in their
bountie and gratitude: nor to recite the good seruices which they haue
receiued at our hands, for that is but a kind of exprobation, but in crauing
their bountie or largesse to remember vnto them all their former
beneficences, making no mention of our owne merites, & so it is
thankfull,
and in praysing them to their faces to do it very modestly: and in their
commendations not to be excessiue for that is tedious, and alwayes fauours
of suttelty more then of sincere loue.
And in speaking to a Prince the voyce ought to be lowe and not lowde nor
shrill, for th'one is a signe of humilitie th'other of too much audacitie and
presumption. Nor in looking on them seeme to ouerlooke them, nor yet
behold them too stedfastly, for that is a signe of impudence or litel
reuerence, and therefore to the great Princes Orientall their seruitours
speaking or being spoken vnto abbase their eyes in token of lowlines, which
behauiour we do not obserue to our Princes with so good a discretion as they
do: & such as retire from the Princes presence, do not by & by
turne tayle to
them as we do, but go backward or sideling for a reasonable space, til they
be at the wal or chamber doore passing out of sight, and is thought a most
decent behauiour to their soueraignes. I haue heard that king Henry
th'eight her Maiesties father, though otherwise the most gentle and affable
Prince of the world, could not abide to haue any man stare in his face or to
fix his eye too steedily vpon him when he talked with them: nor for a
common suter to exclame or cry out for iustice, for that is offensiue and as
it were a secret impeachement of his wrong doing, as happened once to a
Knight in this Realme of great worship speaking to the king. Nor in speaches
with them to be too long, or too much affected, for th'one is tedious th'other
is irksome, nor with lowd acclamations to applaude them, for that is too
popular & rude and
betokens either ignoraunce, or seldome accesse to their presence, or little
frequenting their Courts: nor to shew too mery or light a countenance, for
that is a signe of little reuerence and is a peece of a contempt.
And in gaming with a Prince it is decent to let him sometimes win of
purpose, to keepe him pleasant, & neuer to refuse his gift, for that is
vndutifull: nor to forgiue him his losses, for that is arrogant: nor to giue
him great gifts, for that is either insolence or follie: nor to feast him with
excessiue charge for that is both vaine and enuious, & therefore the
wise
Prince king Henry the seuenth her Maiesties grandfather, if his
chaunce
had bene to lye at any of his subiects houses, or to passe moe meales then
one, he that would take vpon him to defray the charge of his dyet, or of his
officers and houshold, he would be maruelously offended with it, saying
what priuate subiect dare vndertake a Princes charge, or looke into the
secret of his expence? Her Maiestie hath bene knowne oftentimes to
mislike the superfluous expence of her subiects bestowed vpon her in times
of her progresses.
Likewise in matter of aduise it is neither decent to flatter him for that is
seruile, neither to be to rough or plaine with him, for it is daungerous, but
truly to Counsell & to admonish, grauely not greuously, sincerely not
sourely: which was the part that so greatly commended Cineus
Counsellour to king Pirrhus, who kept that decencie in all his
perswasions, that he euer preuailed in aduice, and carried the king which
way he would.
And in a Prince it is comely to giue vnasked, but in a subiect to aske
vnbidden: for that first is signe of a bountifull mynde, this of a loyall &
confident. But the subiect that craues not at his Princes hand, either he is
of no desert, or proud, or mistrustfull of his Princes goodnesse: therefore
king Henry th'eight to one that entreated him to remember one Sir
Anthony Rouse with some reward for that he had spent much and was
an
ill beggar: the king aunswered (noting his insolencie.) If he be ashamed to
begge, we are ashamed to giue, and was neuerthelesse one of the most
liberall Princes of the world.
And yet in some Courts it is otherwise vsed, for in Spaine it is thought very
vndecent for a Courtier to craue, supposing that it is
the part of an importune: therefore the king of ordinarie calleth euery
second, third or fourth yere for his Checker roll, and bestoweth his
mercedes of his owne meere motion, and by discretion, according to
euery mans merite and condition.
And in their commendable delights to be apt and accommodate, as if the
Prince be geuen to hauking, hunting, riding or horses, or playing vpon
instruments, or any like exercise, the seruitour to be the same: and in their
other appetites wherein the Prince would seeme and example of vertue, and
would not mislike to be egalled by others: in such cases it is decent their
seruitours & subiects studie to be like to them by imitation, sa in
wearing
their haire long or short, or in this or that sort of apparrell, such excepted
as be only fitte for Princes and none els, which were vndecent for a meaner
person to imitate or counterfet: so is it not comely to counterfet their
voice, or looke, or any other gestures that be not ordinary and naturall in
euery common person: and therefore to go vpright or speake or looke
assuredly, it is decent in euery man. But if the Prince haue an
extraordinarie countenance or manner of speech, or bearing of his body, that
for a common seruitour to counterfet is not decent, and therefore it was
misliked in the Emperor Nero, and thought vncomely for him to
counterfete Alexander the great, by holding his head a little awrie,
&
neerer toward the tone shoulder, because it was not his owne naturall.
And in a Prince it is decent to goe slowly, and to march with leysure, and
with a certaine granditie rather than grauitie: as our soueraine Lady and
mistresse, the very image of maiestie and magnificence, is accustomed to
doe generally, vnlesse it be when she walketh apace for her pleasure, or to
catch her a heate in the colde mornings.
Neuerthelesse, it is not so decent in a meaner person, as I haue obserued in
some counterfet Ladies of the Countrey, which vse it much to their owne
derision. This comelines was wanting in Queene Marie, otherwise a
very
good and honourable Princesse. And was some blemish to the Emperor
Ferdinando, a most noble minded man, yet so carelesse and forgetfull
of
himselfe in that behalfe, as I haue seene him runne vp a paire of staires so
swift and nimble a pace, as almost had not become a very meane man, who
had not gone in some hastie businesse.
And in a noble Prince nothing is more decent and welbeseeming his
greatnesse than to spare foule speeches, for that breedes hatred, and to let
none humble suiters depart out of their presence (as neere as may be)
miscontented. Wherein her Maiestie hath of all others a most Regall gift,
and nothing inferior to the good Prince Titus Vespasianus in that
point.
Also, not to be passionate for small detriments or offences, nor to be a
reuenger of them but in cases of great iniurie, and specially of dishonors:
and therein to be very sterne and vindicatiue, for that fauours of Princely
magnanimitie: nor to seeke reuenge vpon base and obscure persons, ouer
whom the conquest is not glorious, nor the victorie honourable, which
respect moued our soueraign Lady (keeping alwaies the decorum) of a
Princely person) at her first comming to the crowne, when a knight of this
Realme, who had very insolently behaued himselfe toward her when she was
Lady Elizabeth, fell vpon his knee to her, and besought her pardon:
suspecting (as there was good cause) that he should haue bene sent to the
Tower, she said vnto him most mildly: do you not know that we are
descended of the Lion, whose nature is not to harme or pray vpon the mouse,
or any other such small vermin?
And with these examples I thinke sufficient to leaue, geuing you information
fo this one point, that all your figures Poeticall or Rhetoricall, are but
obseruations of strange speeches and such as without any arte at al we
should vse, & commonly do, euen by very nature without discipline. But
more or lesse aptly and decently, or scarcely, or aboundantly, or of this or
that kind of figure, & one of vs more then another, according to the
disposition of our nature constitution of the heart, & facilitie of each
mans
vtterance: so as we may forme: but arte aydeth the iudgement of his vse
and application, which geues me occasion finally and for a full conclusion to
this whole treatise, to enforme you in the next chapter how art should be
vsed in all respects, and specially in this behalfe of language, and when the
naturall is more commendable then the artificiall, and contrariwise.