that he deemed himself so apt to all things that he gave himself almost to nothing but practicing of those things commonly which are incident to these sharp wits-fine phrases, smooth quipping, merry taunting, using jesting without mean, and abusing mirth without measure. As therefore 5 the sweetest rose hath his prickle, the finest velvet his brack, the fairest flour his bran, so the sharpest wit hath his wanton will, and the holiest head his wicked way. And true it is that some men write and most men believe, that in all perfect shapes a blemish bringeth rather a liking every way to the 10 eyes than a loathing any way to the mind. Venus had her mole in her cheek, which made her more amiable; Helen, her scar on her chin, which Paris called cos amoris, the whetstone of love; Aristippus, his wart; Lycurgus, his wen: so likewise in the disposition of the mind, either virtue is overshadowed 15 with some vice, or vice overcast with some virtue-Alexander, valiant in war, yet .given to wine; Tully, eloquent in his gloses, yet vain-glorious; Solomon, wise, yet too wanton; David, holy, but yet an homicide. None more witty than Euphues, yet at the first none more wicked. The freshest 20 colors soonest fade, the teenest razor soonest turneth his edge, the finest cloth is soonest eaten with moths, and the cambric sooner stained than the coarse canvas: which appeared well in this Euphues, whose wit being like wax, apt to receive any impression, and having the bridle in his own hands, either 25 to use the rein or the spur, disdaining counsel, leaving his country, loathing his old acquaintance, thought either by wit to obtain some conquest, or by shame to abide some conflict, and, leaving the rule of reason, rashly ran unto destruction.

Sir Philip Sidney.

1554-1586.

HER LOVERS DESCRIBE URANIA.

(From the Arcadia, 1590.)

It was in the time that the earth begins to put on her new 30 apparel against the approach of her lover, and that the sun,

running a most even course, becomes an indifferent arbiter between the night and the day; when the hopeless shepherd Strephon was come to the sands which lie against the island of Cythera, where, viewing the place with a heavy kind of 5 delight, and sometimes casting his eyes to the isleward, he called his friendly rival, the pastor Claius, unto him, and, setting first down in his darkened countenance a doleful copy of what he would speak, "O my Claius," said he, "hither we are now come to pay the rent for which we are so called 10 unto by over-busy Remembrance; Remembrance, restless Remembrance, which claims not only this duty of us, but for it will have us forget ourselves. I pray you, when we were amid our flock, and that of other shepherds some were running after their sheep strayed beyond their bounds, some de15 lighting their eyes with seeing them nibble upon the short and sweet grass, some medicining their sick ewes, some setting a bell for an ensign of a sheepish squadron, some with more leisure inventing new games of exercising their bodies and sporting their wits, did Remembrance grant us any 20 holiday, either for pastime or devotion, nay, either for necessary food or natural rest? but that still it forced our thoughts to work upon this place, where we last (alas that the word 'last' should so long last!) did gaze our eyes upon her everflourishing beauty: did it not still cry within us, 'Ah you 25 base-minded wretches, are your thoughts so deeply bemired. in the trade of ordinary worldlings, as for respect of gain some paltry wool may yield you, to let so much time pass without knowing perfectly her estate, especially in so troublesome a season? to leave that shore unsaluted, from whence 30 you may see to the island where she dwelleth? to leave those steps unkissed wherein Urania printed the farewell of all beauty? Well, then, Remembrance commanded, we obeyed, and here we find that, as our Remembrance came ever clothed unto us in the form of this place, so this place gives new heat 35 to the fever of our languishing Remembrance. Yonder, my Claius, Urania lighted; the very horse (methought) bewailed to be so disburdened; and as for thee, poor Claius, when thou wentst to help her down, I saw reverence and desire so divide

thee that thou didst at one instant both blush and quake, and instead of bearing her wert ready to fall down thyself. There she sate, vouchsafing my cloak (then most gorgeous) under her: at yonder rising of the ground she turned herself, looking back toward her wonted abode, and because of her parting 5 bearing much sorrow in her eyes, the lightsomeness whereof had yet so natural a cheerfulness as it made even sorrow seem to smile; at that turning she spake unto us all, opening the cherry of her lips, and Lord how greedily mine ears did feed upon the sweet words she uttered? And here she laid 10 her hand over thine eyes, when she saw the tears springing in them, as if she would conceal them from other and yet herself feel some of thy sorrow. But woe is me, yonder, yonder, did she put her foot into the boat, at that instant, as it were, dividing her heavenly beauty between the earth and the sea. 15 But when she was embarked, did you not mark how the winds whistled and the seas danced for joy, how the sails did swell with pride, and all because they had Urania? O Urania, blessed be thou, Urania, the sweetest fairness and fairest sweetness!" With that word his voice brake so with sobbing 20 that he could say no further; and Claius thus answered: "Alas, my Strephon," said he, "what needs this score to reckon up only our losses? What doubt is there but that the light of this place doth call our thoughts to appear at the court of Affection, held by that racking steward, Remem- 25 brance? As well may sheep forget to fear when they spy wolves as we can miss such fancies when we see any place made happy by her treading. Who can choose, that saw her, but think where she stayed, where she walked, where she turned, where she spoke? But what is all this? truly no more 30 but as this place served us to think of those things, so those things serve as places to call to memory more excellent matters. No, no, let us think with consideration, and consider with acknowledging, and acknowledge with admiration, and admire with love, and love with joy in the midst of all woes: 35 let us in such sort think, I say, that our poor eyes were so enriched as to behold, and our low hearts so exalted as to love, a maid who is such that, as the greatest thing the world

can show is her beauty, so the least thing that may be praised in her is her beauty. Certainly, as her eyelids are more pleasant to behold than two white kids climbing up a fair tree and browsing on his tenderest branches, and yet are nothing 5 compared to the day-shining stars contained in them; and as her breath is more sweet than a gentle southwest wind, which comes creeping over flowery fields and shadowed waters in the extreme heat of summer, and yet is nothing compared to the honey-flowing speech that breath doth carry; no more all that 10 our eyes can see of her (though when they have seen her what else they shall ever see is but dry stubble after clovers-grass) is to be matched with the flock of unspeakable virtues laid up delightfully in that best-builded fold."

Richard booker.

1554(?)-1600.

THE MAJESTY AND BENEFICENCE OF LAW.

(From Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Book I., 1594.)

Thus far, therefore, we have endeavored in part to open 15 of what nature and force laws are, according unto their several kinds: the law which God with himself hath eternally set down to follow in his own works; the law which He hath made for His creatures to keep; the law of natural and necessary agents; the law which angels in heaven obey; the law 20 whereunto by the light of reason men find themselves bound in that they are men; the law which they make by composition for multitudes and politic societies of men to be guided by; the law which belongeth unto each nation; the law that concerneth the fellowship of all; and, lastly, the law which 25 God Himself hath supernaturally revealed. . . . Thus we see how even one and the self-same thing is under divers considerations conveyed through many laws, and that to measure by any one kind of law all the actions of men were to confound the admirable order wherein God hath disposed all 30 laws, each as in nature, so in degree, distinct from other.

Wherefore, that here we may briefly end, of Law there can be no less acknowledged than that her seat is the bosom of God, her voice the harmony of the world; all things in heaven and earth do her homage, the very least as feeling her care, and the greatest as not exempted from her power; both angels 5 and men and creatures of what condition soever, though each in different sort and manner, yet all with uniform consent, admiring her as the mother of their peace and joy.