A14467:91
The school of beastsThe schoole of beastes
The school of beasts; entitled, the good householder, or the economics. Made dialogue-wise, by M. Peter Viret, translated out of French into English, by I.R.The schoole of beastes; intituled, the good housholder, or the oeconomickes. Made dialogue-wise, by M. Peter Viret, translated out of French into English, by I.R.
London: printed by Robert Walde-grave, 1585London: printed by Robert VValde-graue, 1585
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Tobias, Thou tellest me of incredible things. If that which thou sayest be true, the Halcyons have rather taught men the manner to make ships & boats, then the Halcyons have learned of them the science & knowledge that they have to build their houses, as well for them selves as for their young-ones, the which may float and swim upon the Sea, as the ships.
Tobias, Thou tellest me of incredible thinges. If that which thou saiest bee true, the Halcions haue rather taught men the manner to make shippes & boates, then the Halcions haue learned of them the science & knowledge that they haue to builde their houses, as well for them selues as for their yong-ones, the which may flote and swimme vppon the Sea, as the shippes.
Jerome. I boast not that I have seen that which I speak of. But Plutarch who hath written it, allegeth ⟨image 30⟩for witness of such things, mariners which dwell in the Isles, have oftentimes seen the experience of those things, which he hath written,1 aswell of this bird Halcyon, as of the fishes, of which he maketh a great discourse. For he praiseth greatly some Seafishes for their foresight, and care that they have of their fruits and young, aswell in their procreation and birth as in the nourishment, keeping and preservation of them. And therefore he saith touching this matter: First, that all the fishes which inhabit the Seas near unto any lakes, or into which rivers do come, following the same rivers, do seek earnestly (when the time approacheth that they must bring forth their fruit) the sweetest waters, and those that have least saltness: & they do the same for two causes, to wit, either because that tranquility is best for them to yield their fruit, or else because that the lakes and rivers are less dangerous because of the beasts, and also because they may best nourish their ⟨image 31⟩fruits. Wherefore many bring forth and cast their fruits in the Eginian sea: For it hath not in it any whales, but only little Dolphus, & little seacalues: And the great rivers that run into it, give a sweet and gentle temperateness and most pleasant to the fishes.