The Cardinal Virtues.

absence of them is not discontented , and from the presence of them he willingly abstevneth .

Plotimis , the Philosopher , saith , that the propertie ancl office of Temperance is to couet nothing , which may be repented , also not to exceede the bouncles of Mediocrite , and to keepe desire vncler the yoke of reason . He that practiseth this vertue is called , a

temperat man , and he that cloth the contrarie thereto , is named intemperate : betweene whom and a person incontinent Aristotle maketh this diuersitie , that he is intemperate , which by his owne election is ledde , supposing the pleasure that is present , shoulde alwaie

be folowed : But the person inconfcynent supposeth not so , and yet he notwithstanding , cloth f ollowe it . The temperate man delyteth in nothing contrarie to reason , ancl will do nothing- for bodely pleasurewhich shall stand against

, reason . Temperanc , as a sadde and discreete matrone and reuerent gouernesse , awayteth diligently , that in no wise incontinencie or concupiscence haue any preheminence in the

soule of man , Therefore as intemperance ( being a vice most vnpure , stinking and filthie ) is of all estates and degrees , ancl in all ages , to be eschued , auoided , ancl abhored : So Temperence , at all times and in all thinges , is to be folowed , embraced , and loued , which wil cause vs to do nothing for bodely pleasure , that shall be hurtfull or contrarie to the health . It will rule all our appetites , ancl corrupt desires , causing vs to desire the things which we ought to desire ,

and as we ought to desire , and when we ought to desire . Temperance ( as Patricius saith ) helpeth much , and so much shyneth in all our doings , * Vt earum rerum moderatrix atque auriga esse videatur . Hec est que tarn diuturna laucle extulit sententiam iilam Solonis , cqucepreeaipit . Ne equidnimis . Thus . I haue briefly spoken of the said iiij Cardinall vertues , Prudence , IusticeFortitude $ " Temperance ( which as the same Patricius affirmeth in his 5

, , , booke de Institutione reipub , ) are as 4 sisters , Mutuis nexibus colligates . They are neuer seperated : One of the without another cannot be perfect : sed mntila omnino fy inchocda esse videtur . Nd Fortitude sine Prudentia temeritas est . Prudetia sine Iustitia calliclitas est , fy mala quceda malitia . Tempercmtia sine Fortitueline icjnauia est . Iustitia autem sine Tempera-ntia crudelitas est . Vnde Mud Ennii poetce , Summum ius summa iniuria est . Therefore these foure vertues

doo agree together , as it were in a sweete song , and consonant armonie , and are principally ancl especially to be delited , ancl inwardly embraced of all noble gentlemen , since that without them , they , cannot be worthy to haue the title , or name of gentlemen , neither can they worthel y beare the ensignes , or armes of their auncient progenitors , without they speciall y be endowed and adorned with these foresaide vertues , called Cardinales -. which are so named , for

that they be chief or principall of all other vertues , for out of them as out of a fountain © , all other vertues haue their springing , flowing , and proceeding . [ Then follows : " Of cheualrye , the vertuous preceptes . " ] The Accedence of Armorie . By Gerard Leigh . 4 to . London , 1597 . In his " description of the Viniet " or engraved title , which is ornamented in the centre with a shield bearing in the four quarters the four cardinal virtues , is the following : —