WHATSOEVER I aime at, I must needs force some of customes contradictions, so carefully hath she barred all our entrances. I was devising in this chil-cold season whether the fashion […]

One word more in comparison of these two: There are gathered out of Ciceroes writings and from Plinies (in mine opinion little agreeing with his unckle) infinite testimonies of a nature […]

Let us leave apart this outworne comparison, betweene a solitarie and an active life: And touching that goodly saying under which ambition and avance shroud themselves, that we are not borne […]

I make no doubt but it shall often befall me to speake of things which are better, and with more truth, handled by such as are their crafts-masters. Here is simply […]

Fortis imaginatio generat casum: ‘A strong imagination begetteth chance,’ say learned clearks. I am one of those that feele a very great conflict and power of imagination. All men are shockt […]

ESSAYS Table of Contents THE FIRST BOOKE Florio’s Preface To the curteous Reader Dedicatory Poems The Author to the Reader I. By divers Meanes men come unto a like End  […]

Reader, thou hast here an honest book; it doth at the outset forewarn thee that, in contriving the same, I have proposed to myself no other than a domestic and […]