It is reported of Nero, who proved the very Monster of men for wickedness, yet in the first five years of his reign, he behaved himself exceeding well, so that it was used as a ⟨p. 342⟩Proverb to express the good beginnings of men, Nero's five first 1years: So Caligula, who proved afterwards exceedingly wicked, yet Josephus reports of him, that when he 2was young he travelled very diligently in good disciplines, he was of a sweet conversation, and modest, and he governed the Empire the first two years of his reign, with most noble directions, behaving himself graciously towards all men: yea, Julian himself, who proved such a cursed Apostate, yet when he was young, was very forward and hopeful; he was a public Reader of holy Scriptures in the Church; he seemed to glory in nothing more than in Religion; he was of a very temperate dyer, content with mean food, without much preparation; he used 3to lie hard in mean bedding, to watch much a nights, spend his time in study; he was very chaste, clear from the least suspicion of lust; those Officers that were about him, that served for nothing but to maintain ⟨p. 343⟩4delicacy and luxury, he banished from him; he took no delight in public shows, when he came to them, he came rather of necessity, than for any pleasure he took in them: he saith of himself, that when he was on the Theatre, he was more like a detester of their Plays, than a spectator of them, and was present at them with trouble and disdain, and was joyful when he went from them: he loved learning exceeding much; hearing of a Philosopher that came to him out of Asia, he leaps out of the door, and goes to meet him, and kisses him, and entertains him with much honour. In an Epist. of his to one Eodicius a Governor of Egypt, he hath this notable expression; Some (saith he) delight in horses, others in birds, others in beasts, 5but I from my very childhood, have burnt with desire after books. He had an honourable esteem of mans soul, looking upon the body as vile in comparison of it. There is this notable expression reported of him, ⟨p. 344⟩concerning this; It is a shameful thing for any wise man, seeing he hath a soul, 6to seek for praises from any thing that belongs to his body. He seemed to have much uprightness in the course of Justice; he would not condemn upon accusations without proof;
It is reported of Nero, who proved the very Monster of men for wickednesse, yet in the first five yeares of his reigne, he behaved himselfe exceeding well, so that it was used as a ⟨p. 342⟩Proverbe to expresse the good beginnings of men, Neroes five first 1yeares: So Caligula, who proved afterwards exceedingly wicked, yet Iosephus reports of him, that when he 2was young he travelled very diligently in good disciplines, hee was of a sweet conversation, and modest, and he governed the Empire the first two yeares of his raigne, with most noble directions, behaving himselfe graciously towards all men: yea, Iulian himselfe, who proved such a cursed Apostate, yet when hee was young, was very forward and hopefull; he was a publick Reader of holy Scriptures in the Church; he seemed to glory in nothing more than in Religion; he was of a very temperate dyer, content with meane food, without much preparation; hee used 3to lie hard in meane bedding, to watch much a nights, spend his time in study; hee was very chaste, cleare from the least suspition of lust; those Officers that were about him, that served for nothing but to maintaine ⟨p. 343⟩4delicacy and luxury, hee banished from him; hee tooke no delight in publike shewes, when hee came to them, hee came rather of necessity, than for any pleasure hee tooke in them: hee saith of himselfe, that when he was on the Theater, he was more like a derester of their Playes, than a spectator of them, and was present at them with trouble and disdaine, and was joyfull when hee went from them: hee loved learning exceeding much; hearing of a Philosopher that came to him out of Asia, he leaps out of the doore, and goes to meet him, and kisses him, and entertains him with much honour. In an Epist. of his to one Eodicius a Governour of Egypt, he hath this notable expression; Some (saith he) delight in horses, others in birds, others in beasts, 5but I from my very childhood, have burnt with desire after books. He had an honorable esteeme of mans soule, looking upon the body as vile in comparison of it. There is this notable expression reported of him, ⟨p. 344⟩
- 1Nero••s Quin. quennium.
- 2Joseph. Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 8, 9.Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 8, 9.
- 3Petri Mart. Morentini praesatione in Julia. […] M•sapogo[…].Petri Mart. Morentini praesatione in Iulia. 〈…〉 M•sapogo〈…〉.
- 4[…]linus, lib. 22.〈…〉linus, lib. 22.
- 5Quidam equis, h[…] avibus, nonnulli seris de•ect[…]ur, ego vero n•e usq […] à pueritia l[…] cupiditate arsi.Quidam equis, h〈…〉 avibus, nonnulli seris de•ect〈…〉ur, ego vero n•e usq 〈…〉 à pueritia l〈…〉 cupiditate arsi.
- 6•urpe est saptenti, cum, ab•at animum captare •audes ex corpore.
