(Though Alcibiates scoffed at him for it) and well he might; for now and then (saith Plutarch) the most vertuous, honest and gravest men will use feasts, jests, and toyes, as we do sauce to our meats.

So did Scipio and Lælius,

Qui ubi se à vulgo & scenâ in secreta remôrant, Virtus Scipiadæ & mitis sapientia Læli, Nugari cum illo, & discincti ludere, donec Decoqueretur olus, soliti ——

Valorous Scipio and gentle Lælius, Removed from the scene and rout so clamorous, Were wont to recreate themselves their robes laid by, Whilst supper by the cook was making ready.

Machiavel in the 8 book of his Florentine history, gives this note of Cosmus Medices, the wisest and gravest man of his time in Italy, that he would now and then play the most egregious fool in his carriage, and was so much given to jesters, players, and childish sports, to make himself merry, that he that should but consider his gravity on the one part, his folly and lightness on the other, would surely say, there were two distinct persons in him.

Now methinks he did well in it, though Salisburiensis be of opinion, that Magistrates, Senators, and grave men, should not descend to lighter sports, ne respub. ludere videatur: But as Themistocles, still keep a stern and constant carriage.

I commend Cosmus Medices, and Castruccius Castrucanus, then whom Italy never knew a worthier Captain, another Alexander, if Machiavel do not deceive us in his life: when a friend of his reprehended him for dancing beside his dignity (belike at some cushion dance) he told him again, qui sapit interdiu, vix unquam noctu desipit, he that is wise in the day, may dote a little in the night.

Paulus Jovius relates as much of Pope Leo Decimus, that he was a grave discreet stay’d man, yet sometimes most free, and too open in his sports. And ’tis not altogether unfit or mis-beseeming the gravity of such a man, if that Decorum of time, place, and such circumstances be observed. Misce stultitiam consiliis brevem; and as he said in an Epigram to his wife, I would have every man say to himself, or to his friend,

Moll, once in pleasant company by chance, I wisht that you for company would dance: Which you refus’d, and said, your years require, Now, Matron like, both manners and attire. Well Moll, if needs you will be matron-like, Then trust to this, I will thee matron like: Yet so to you my love may never lesson, As you for Church, house, bed, observe this lesson:

Sit in the Church as solemn as a Saint, No deed, word, thought, your due devotion taint: Vaile if you will your head, your soul reveal To him that only wounded soules can heal: Be in my house as busie as a Bee, Having a sting for every one but me; Buzzing in every corner, gath’ring hony: Let nothing waste, that costs or yieldeth mony.

And when thou seest my heart to mirth incline, Thy tongue, wit, blood, warm with good cheere and wine: Then of sweet sports let no occasion scape, But be as wanton, toying as an Ape.

Those old Greeks had their Lubentiam Deam, goddess of Pleasance: and the Lacedemonians instructed from Lycurgus, did Deo Risui sacrificare, after their wars especially, and in times of peace, which was used in Thessaly, as it appears by that of Apuleius, who was made an instrument of their laughter himself: Because laughter and merriment was to season their labours and modester life. Risus enim divum atque hominum est æterna voluptas.

Princes use jesters, players, and have those masters of revels in their courts. The Romans at every supper (for they had no solemn dinner) used Musick Gladiators, Jesters, &c. as Suetonius relates of Tiberius, Dion of Commodus, and so did the Greeks. Besides Musick, in Xenophons Sympos. Philippus ridendi artifex, Philip, a Jester, was brought to make sport.

Paulus Jovius in the eleventh book of his history, hath a pretty digression of our English customes, which howsoever some may misconstrue, I for my part, will interprete to the best. The whole nation beyond all other mortall men, is most given to banqueting and feasts; for they prolong them many houres together, with dainty cheere, exquisite musick, and facete jesters, and afterwards they fall a dancing and courting their mistresses, till it be late in the night.

Volateran gives the same testimony of this Island, commending our jovial manner of entertainment, and good mirth, and methinks he saith well, there is no harm in it, long may they use it, and all such modest sports. Ctesias reports of a Persian king, that had 150 maids attending at his table, to play, sing and dance by turns; and Lil. Geraldus of an Ægyptian prince, that kept nine Virgins still to wait upon him, and those of most excellent feature, and sweet voices, which afterward gave occasion to the Greeks of that fiction of the nine Muses.

The King of Æthiopia in Africk, most of our Asiatick Princes have done so and do; those Sophies, Mogors, Turkes, &c. solace themselves after supper amongst their Queens and Concubines, quas jucundioris oblectamenti causâ (saith mine author) coram rege psallere & saltare consueverant; taking great pleasure to see and hear them sing and dance.

This and many such means, to exhilarate the heart of men, have been still practised in all ages, as knowing there is no better thing to the preservation of mans life. What shall I say then, but to every melancholy man,

Utere convivis, non tristibus utere amicis, Quos nugæ & risus, & joca salsa juvant.

Feast often, and use friends not still so sad, Whose jests and merriments may make thee glad.

Use honest and chast sports, scenicall shews, playes, games;

Accedant juvenumque Chori, mistæque puellæ.