The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.

The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.
another falsely put in by favour, false forged deeds or wills.” Incisae leges negliguntur, laws are made and not kept; or if put in execution, [342]they be some silly ones that are punished.  As, put case it be fornication, the father will disinherit or abdicate his child, quite cashier him (out, villain, be gone, come no more in my sight); a poor man is miserably tormented with loss of his estate perhaps, goods, fortunes, good name, for ever disgraced, forsaken, and must do penance to the utmost; a mortal sin, and yet make the worst of it, nunquid aliud fecit, saith Tranio in the [343]poet, nisi quod faciunt summis nati generibus? he hath done no more than what gentlemen usually do. [344]_Neque novum, neque mirum, neque secus quam alii solent_.  For in a great person, right worshipful Sir, a right honourable grandee, ’tis not a venial sin, no, not a peccadillo, ’tis no offence at all, a common and ordinary thing, no man takes notice of it; he justifies it in public, and peradventure brags of it,

[345]  “Nam quod turpe bonis, Titio, Seioque, decebat Crispinum”------

       “For what would be base in good men, Titius, and Seius, became
        Crispinus.”

[346]Many poor men, younger brothers, &c. by reason of bad policy and idle education (for they are likely brought up in no calling), are compelled to beg or steal, and then hanged for theft; than which, what can be more ignominious, non minus enim turpe principi multa supplicia, quam medico multa funera, ’tis the governor’s fault. Libentius verberant quam docent, as schoolmasters do rather correct their pupils, than teach them when they do amiss. [347]"They had more need provide there should be no more thieves and beggars, as they ought with good policy, and take away the occasions, than let them run on, as they do to their own destruction:  root out likewise those causes of wrangling, a multitude of lawyers, and compose controversies, lites lustrales et seculares, by some more compendious means.”  Whereas now for every toy and trifle they go to law, [348]_Mugit litibus insanum forum, et saevit invicem discordantium rabies_, they are ready to pull out one another’s throats; and for commodity [349]"to squeeze blood,” saith Hierom, “out of their brother’s heart,” defame, lie, disgrace, backbite, rail, bear false witness, swear, forswear, fight and wrangle, spend their goods, lives, fortunes, friends, undo one another, to enrich an harpy advocate, that preys upon them both, and cries Eia Socrates, Eia Xantippe; or some corrupt judge, that like the [350]kite in Aesop, while the mouse and frog fought, carried both away.  Generally they prey one upon another as so many ravenous birds, brute beasts, devouring fishes, no medium, [351]_omnes hic aut captantur aut captant; aut cadavera quae lacerantur, aut corvi qui lacerant_, either deceive or be deceived; tear others or be torn in pieces themselves; like so many buckets

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Anatomy of Melancholy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.