The school of beastsThe schoole of beastes

Tobias, Seeing that the Myrmidons are called by that name, for the cause thou speakest of, that name cannot by right be given unto the sluggards, whom Solomon doth send unto the Ante.

Tobias, Seeing that the Myrmidons are called by that name, for the cause thou speakest of, that name cannot by right be geuen vnto the sluggardes, whom Solomon doth send vnto the Ante.

Jerome, It is easy to judge. But seeing that I have in effect declared, that which Pliny hath written, of the nature of the Antes, it remaineth now, that I do also declare that which Plutarch witnesseth of it.¹ For he doth not only accord with Pliny, in that that he hath written, but also he declareth more specially and particularly, the great virtues which are in these little beasts, of whom he speaketh after this sort.² But as it is impossible (saith he) to speak worthily enough of the discipline, and domesticall ⟨image 10⟩industry of the Antes, yet we must not pass without speaking somewhat of them. Nature hath no •reater and more excellent mirror of great and excellent things. For in […] it shineth the signet of all virtue, •s in a pure little drop. That communication that they have among •hem selves, is the Image of amity: •hat strength and liveliness that they have in their labours and travails, •s an Image of force and magnanimity. To conclude, they have a great many of seeds and witnesses of temperance, of providence & of Justice. Now although that Cleanthes esteemed not that the beasts were endued with reason, yet nevertheless, he confessed, that he did see on a time •hat spectacle, that is, that certain Antes went to an ant-heap, carrying […] dead Ante, from which ante-heap ame before them certain other Ants. afterwards when they had as it were spoken together, they went again n, and did so twice or thrice. In the end they brought a worm, which