Quattuor Colloquiola - Colloquium Tertium

What is the matter, Philip, that thou walkest so upright, beholding things aloft?

I do behold that goodly frame which is called heaven, the sky.

They that be students of Astronomy do this also.

That star which is called Venus shineth much more than the rest.

Whoope! Wouldest thou seem to us some Astronomer? It is a point of extreme madness that thou endeavourest to persuade this to persons who do know thee — who will not esteem this boasting of thine even worth a dodkin, but will accuse thee of folly rather.

Thou dost admonish me of my fault seasonably. But beware whilst thou dost remember rightly enough this duty of thine, and dost give counsel rightly to a friend who needeth counsel, that thou dost not forget thine own affairs which it had been meet or behoved thee to have remembered first of all. He is wise in vain who is not wise for himself.

I wish thee enjoyment of thy wisdom — I do not need medicine. Neither canst thou accuse me rightly of carelessness, or of a bare or needless duty, nor condemn me of either or both of these things — who have judged that thou wert to be admonished of that matter, which hath bespattered very many with a very great blemish. Thou shouldest have reckoned in good part this good will of mine towards thee, and neither shouldest thou have weighed as nothing, or esteemed as a fleck of wool, the advice of thy friend.

Truly I pity thee — who when thou hast enough of thine own matters, notwithstanding dost so apply thyself to the care of other men's matters that thou dost neglect those things which both might avail more to thy profit and would agree better to thy estate.

Do not thou, Philip, force this speech too much — moderate thyself at length. For I cannot rule mine anger but that, if thou goest on to load me with reproaches, I will requite like for like, either with words or with blows.

O thou good and favourable to thine friends. It is the part of a beast, not of a man — much less believe it to be thy part — to beat back a wrong offered with that kind of revenging. But indeed forces or strength are not to me, which, if they be compared to those forces of thine, it will be even so as if a mouse shall compare, or make equal, itself to an ox: spare therefore the mouse, O invincible Lion.

Art thou wont to content a man angry with thee in this sort, that when stripes are threatened to thee, thou shouldest mock him openly? I fear for this thy courage lest thou trust too much to this strength — for that thing doth often turn to a man for a fault, which he hopeth will be a praise to himself.

Therefore let trial be made, if it please you so, whether that valour be in thee which doth exceed my weakness by so large a distance, so large a space.

Fie upon thee — who hast persuaded thy mind to strive with me in this sort! By how much were it better to hearken to the soldier in Terence, who wisheth rather to try all things by counsel first than by weapons?

See lo! What a matter it is to be wise! Then thou art angry nothing with us, my very good Thomas.

Let us deal in earnest at length, Philip — jests being laid aside — let each of us debate the matter in words, let us depart far from blows or stripes. Thou knowest that our master hath commanded the monitour that he bring forth all the faults of our schoolfellows in a catalogue written; and he hath both promised and threatened us that he who is guilty shall not bear it freely, without punishment. And not only by the fear of the master, but by the hatred of wickedness of the obstinacy and courage of a generous mind.

Thou speakest exceeding well, my Thomas. Horace hath said it excellently well in verse:

They that be good do hate to offend for the love of virtue; they that be evil do hate to offend for fear of punishment.

But we will cease from this speech.

I have heard of late from a certain friend of mine that George thy kinsman is made the heir of thine uncle, who died a sudden death of late, and hath within these few days bought a house for so much as thou wouldst scarcely believe.

He bought it, as I hear, for more than it is worth — for two hundred pounds, as they say. But he doth not want money. I wish he did abound in virtue gotten in like manner! And God grant that he may perform the duty of an honest man, and learne soberly to use those good things which he doth enjoy by the goodness of God.

He is said to entertain daintily whatsoever strangers come to him, and all of them are filled with old wine and fat vension with him.

Therefore he hath need of the greater discretion, lest he be deprived suddenly of this abundance — or else God do take away from him by some means the goods with which he hath enriched him.

Yea rather I wish he would live such a life that good men may praise him and honour him, because he rejoiceth in the acquaintance of the godly, and doth dispatch himself from those varlets who do favour only wickedness.

Indeed he could thus deserve much better of the commonwealth, if he unload himself of that troop of wicked persons and bestow more things on the poor and needy — which things I see to be done most liberally by other men, whom he far exceedeth in riches and in worth or worship.

He will dote utterly out of his mind, unless he deliver himself from the trade or conversing of ungodly fellows without delay.

Truly I hope, Christ being the guide and governor, that our magistrates will punish more advisedly by much that dreg of men, and will afflict them with due or worthy punishment — for why no man is praised of these fellows unless he which is banished from vertue. Neither is it any shame to those fellowes to boast of these things boldly before all men which I judge not even to be thought of by an honest man.

Fie upon those filthy belly-gods who do always smell of wine or else of strong drink, and are blear and red in their eyes! Whether any man doth vouchsafe or think those fellows worthy of his table?

I believe it becometh no man surely, who is moved with any care to maintain his credit. I wish we were so desirous to perform those things which we learn daily in reading the holy scriptures, as we are for the most part weary in hearing those things which might be most profitable to be done for us.

Ho, Thomas! There is enough of words. We have now spent a whole hour in walking and in talking together — we must run back home speedily, lest we lose the time appointed to studying. For although there is nothing to be feared of us lest we be beaten of our master, notwithstanding we ought not so to loiter in the enjoying our pleasures that in the meanwhile we be more careless of obtaining good arts.

They have not yet rung, Philip. We will go home to fetch our books and in our going we will study those things which are to be rendered of us this day.