OF GOODNESS AND GOODNESS OF NATURE 29 



error. The desire of power in excess caused the angels to 

 fall ; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall : 

 but in charity there is no excess ; neither can angel or man 

 come in danger by it. The inclination to goodness is 

 imprinted deeply in the nature of man ; insomuch that if it 

 issue not towards men, it will take unto other living 

 creatures ; as it is seen in the Turks, a cruel people, who 

 nevertheless are kind to beasts, and give alms to dogs and 

 birds ; insomuch as Busbechius reporteth, a Christian boy 

 in Constantinople had like to have been stoned for gagging 

 in a wagfyishness a long-billed fowl. Errors indeed in 

 this virtue of goodness or charity may be committed. The 

 Italians have an ungracious proverb, Tanto buon die val 

 niente ; c So good, that he is good for nothing/ And one 

 of the doctors of Italy, Nicholas Machiavel, had the con- 

 fidence to put in writing, almost in plain terms, ' That the 

 Christian faith had given up good men in prey to those 

 that are tyrannical and unjust.' Which he spake, because 

 indeed there was never law, or sect, or opinion, did so 

 much magnify goodness, as the Christian religion doth. 

 Therefore, to avoid the scandal and the danger both, it is 

 good to take knowledge of the errors of an habit so 

 excellent. Seek the good of other men, but be not in 

 bondage to their faces or fancies ; for that is but facility or 

 softness ; which taketh an honest mind prisoner. Neither 

 give thou ^Esop's cock a gem, who would be better pleased 

 and happier if he had a barley-corn. The example of 

 God teacheth the lesson truly ; c He sendeth his rain, and 

 maketh his sun to shine, upon the just and unjust'; but 

 he doth not rain wealth, nor shine honour and virtues, 

 upon men equally. Common benefits are to be communi- 

 cate with all; but peculiar benefits with choice. And 

 beware how in making the portraiture thou breakest the 

 pattern. For divinity maketh the love of ourselves the 

 pattern ; the love of our neighbours but the portraiture. 

 'Sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor, and follow 

 me ' : but sell not all thou hast, except thou come and 

 follow me ; that is, except thou have a vocation wherein 

 thou mayest do as much good with little means as with 



