Jerome. I do not deny but that we shall find many good husbands & good wives, who do sufficiently their duty the one towards the other, if we will make comparison with those which do evilly discharge their office in such a case. But those here are very ⟨image 29⟩thick sown, in comparison of others And after we have to note, that the beasts which I speak of, have this more then men: That is, that there is not only some of them in their kind, which govern them selves so, but all are so by nature, and follow it without doing any fault, because that they are not corrupted through sin, as the men, which maketh them more beasts, then the beasts. But mark yet more what this author hath writ ten of the care that this bird hath, to prepare lodging for his young-ones.1 The mother (saith he) hath such great care over her young-ones, that as soon as she feeleth her self great, she beginneth to build. She heapeth not the clay and loam against the walls, and the mire as the Swallows do, neither chargeth all her members as the honey bees do, when they make their combs, dividing their work & their chambers in fashion, having six squares and as many feet: But the Halcyon employeth but one organ, & one simple instrument, that is her ⟨image 29⟩bill: and not having any aid, the diligence and care towards her young-ones, joined and added to her industry. O good God, what doth she? What taketh she in hand? It is hard to be believed of those, which have not seen it. For she maketh a work after a new fashion, much like unto a ship, the which cannot be broken neither drowned with the w•ues & surges. For she maketh and tieth it together, with the bones and prickles of little fishes, and joineth them the one within the other: some right, others cross: As we see how cloth is woven. And after that she hath joined and fastened them so together, she bendeth & turneth them round? And at the last, she maketh it after such sort, that it seemeth properly that it is a ship, picked and narrow in the bottom, and wide above, or else a long fishing boat. After that she hath finished it, she bringeth it to the sea shore, & setteth it by the sea-side, and when the sea beginneth to flow and beat softly against it, it teacheth ⟨image 30⟩her to stop the holes and vents, and to amend and make strong that which is weak.
Ierome. I do not denie but that we shal find many good husbāds & good wyues, who do sufficiently their dutie the one towardes the other, if we wil make comparison with those whiche do euilly discharge their office in suche a case. But those here are very ⟨image 29⟩thicke sowen, in comparisō of others And after we haue to note, that the beastes which I speake of, haue this more then men: That is, that there is not only some of them in their kind, which gouerne them selues so, but al are so by nature, and followe it without doing any fault, because that they are not corrupted thorowe sin, as the mē, which maketh them more beastes, then the beastes. But marke yet more what this author hath writ ten of the care that this byrde hath, to prepare lodging for his yong-ones.1 The mother (sayth he) hath such great care ouer her yong-ones, that assoone as she feeleth her selfe great, she beginneth to builde. She heapeth not the claye and lome agaynst the walles, and the myre as the Swallowes do, neither chargeth al her mēbers as the honie bees do, when they make their combs, deuiding their worke & their chambers in fashion, hauing six squares and as many feete: But the Halcion employeth but one organ, & one simple instrument, that is her ⟨image 29⟩byll: and not hauing any ayde, the diligence and care towards her yong-ones, ioyned and added to her industrie. O good God, what doth she? What taketh she in hande? It is harde to be beleeued of those, which haue not seene it. For she maketh a worke after a newe fashion, much like vnto a shippe, the which cannot be broken neither drowned with the w•ues & surges. For she maketh and tyeth it together, with the bones and prickles of litle fishes, and ioyneth them the one within the other: some right, others crosse: As we see howe cloth is wouen. And after that she hath ioyned and fastned thē so together, she bendeth & turneth them round? And at the last, she maketh it after such sorte, that it seemeth properly that it is a shippe, pycked and narrow in the bottome, and wide aboue, or els a long fishing boate. After that she hath finished it, she bringeth it to the sea shore, & setteth it by the sea-side, and when the sea beginneth to flowe and beat softly agaynst it, it teacheth ⟨image 30⟩her to stoppe the holes and ventes, and to amende and make strong that which is weake.
- 1The buildings of the Halcyon.The buildings of the Halcion.
