SIR PHILIP SIDNEY 65 



to have no judgement in colours; but to tell my minde (upon 

 correction be it spoken), of all flowers, I love a faire woman. 



In deede, quoth Flavia (for so was she named), faire women 

 are set thicke, but they come up thinne ; and when they begin 

 to budde, they are gathered as though they wer blowne. Of such 

 men as you are, Gentleman, who thinke greene grasse will never 

 be drye Hay, but when ye flower of their youth (being slipped too 

 young) shall fade before they be olde, then I dare saye, you would 

 chaunge your faire flower for a weede, and the woman you loved 

 then, for the worst violet you refuse now. 



Lady, aunswered Philautus, it is a signe that beautie was no 

 niggard of hir slippes in this gardein, and very enuious to other 

 grounds, seing heere are so many in one Plot, as I shall neuer 

 finde more in all Italy, whether the reason be the heate which 

 killeth them, or the country that cannot beare them. As for 

 plucking them up soone, in yat we shew the desire we have to 

 them, not the malyce. Where you conjecture that men haue no 

 respect to things when they be olde, I cannot consent to your 

 saying ; for well do they know that it fareth with women as it 

 doth with the Mulbery tree, which the elder it is, the younger 

 it seemeth ; and therefore hath it growen to a Prouerb in Italy, 

 where one seeth a woman striken in age to looke amiable, he 

 saith she hath eaten a Snake : so that I must of force follow mine 

 olde opinion, that I love fresh flowers well, but faire women better. 

 ' Euphues and his England? 



D UT Palladius having gotten his health, and only staying there SIR 

 *-* to be in place, where he might hear answer of the ships set 

 forth : Kalander one afternoon let him abroad to a well-arrayed (1554-1586). 

 ground he had behind his house, which he thought to show him 

 before his going, as the place himself more than in any other, 

 delighted in. The backside of the house was neither field, 

 garden, nor orchard ; or, rather, it was both field, garden, and 

 orchard : for as soon as the descending of the stairs had delivered 



