ur observations. And first wee wil sort you out diuers points, in
which the wise and learned men of times past haue noted much decency or
vndecencie, every man according to his discretion, as it hath bene said
afore: but wherein for the most part all discreete men doe generally
agree, and varie not in opinion, whereof the examples I will geue you be
worthie of remembrance: & though they brought with them no doctrine or
institution at all, yet for the solace they may geue the readers, after
such a rable of scholastical precepts which be tedious, these reports
being of the nature of matters historicall, they are to be embraced: but
olde memories are very profitable to the mind and serue as a glasse to
looke vpon and behold the euents of time, and more exactly to skan the
trueth of every case that shall happen in the affaires of man, and many
there be that haply doe not obserue euery particularitie in matters of
decencie or vndecencie: and yet when the case is tolde them by another
man, they commonly geue the same sentence vpon it. But yet whosoeuer
obserueth much, shalbe counted the wisest and discreetest man, and
whosoever spends all his life in his owne vaine actions and conceits, and
obserues no mans else, he shal in the ende prooue but a simple man. In
which respect it is alwaies said, one man of experience is wiser than
tenne learned men, because of his long and studious obseruation and often
triall.

And your decencies are of sundrie sorts, according to the many
circumstances accompanying our writing, speech or behauiour, so as in the
very sound or voice of him that speaketh, there is a decencie that
becommeth, and an vndecencie that misbecommeth vs, which th'Emperor
_Anthonine_ marked well in the Orator _Philisetes_, who spake before him
with so small and shrill a voice as the Emperor was greatly annoyed
therewith, and to make him shorten his tale, said, by thy beard thou
shouldst be a man, but by thy voice a woman.

_Phanorinus_ the Philosopher was counted very wise and well learned, but a
little too talkatiue and full of words: for the which _Timocrates_
reprooued him in the hearing of one _Polemon_. That is no wonder quoth
_Polemon_, for so be all women. And besides, _Phanorinus_ being knowen for
an Eunuke or gelded man, came by the same nippe to be noted as an
effeminate and degenerate person.

And there is a measure to be vsed in a mans speech or tale, so as it be
neither for shortnesse too darke, nor for le