GREENE'S FAREWELL TO FOLLY 1 Modern spelling tran

GREENE’S FAREWELL TO FOLLY 42
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his son, being so young, and before he was wise: Because, Piso, quoth he, if my son grow
to be wise, he will never marry.
Nor if you were wise, quoth the Lady Frances, would ye speak so unreverently of
marriage. But ‘tis no matter; we shall find you in time like Crates the Cynic philosopher,
who inveighing greatly against this honourable society, was seen begging a piece of
bread at Lais’ door in Corinth. If the law that Euphorius of Lacedaemonia constituted
were kept, such as refused marriage should be banished, but I think, Bernardino, if you
were brought within the forfeiture of such a statute, you would take that for a shift which
a Lacedaemonian banished did, being produced before Lycurgus for the like crime.
And what was that, madam? quoth Peratio.
Marry, sir, quoth she, being assigned to exile, he brought forth witness that he had
begotten three children, and upon that excuse Lycurgus made the strict law against
adultery, yet mitigated before some part of the punishment.
I think, madam, answered Bernardino, the priest hath a penny for your banns, your
sophistry is so good for marriage.
Only sir, quoth she, I speak it against such severe censurers of matrimony as you are,
which for what cause I know not, living stale bachelors, are of Apollonius Tyanaeus’
opinion, and therefore frame principles according to your precepts, as no doubt one of
your sect did who made these two verses:
L’ amor del donna il vin del flaso,
Nul sera bon nel matutina guasco.
Such stoical gentlemen as run into such inconstant and heathenish conclusions, I had as
lief have their room as their company.
Bernardino, perceiving the Lady Frances was half angry, thought rather to recant than
make her choleric, and therefore told her his meaning was not to condemn marriage, but
merely to jest for conference’ sake.
Then sir, quoth she, all is in jest, and so let us to the rest of the company, whom they
found talking with a cook that was come to his master to know if he would have any
extraordinary dish pro[vi]ded for dinner.
No, sir, quoth Farnese, I will answer with Socrates: If they be virtuous, there is enough; if
they be not, there is too much.
The old county took occasion hereof to speak of temperance in diet, and thus he began:
I remember, gentlemen, that Timotheus, a Grecian captain, having supped with Plato in
his Academy at a sober and simple repast, for their festival fare was olives, cheese,
Modern spelling transcript copyright 2007 Nina Green All Rights Reserved