Here nedeth no doute to rise of possibilitie, seinge
that examples doe remain of famous men, of god-
lie and well affected persones, whiche haue with
like magnanimitie putte in daunger their life, to
The order of
Athenes. saue their Prince, kyngdome, and countrie. Greate honour
was giuen of the Athenians, to soche noble and valiaunte
men, whiche ventered their liues for their common wealthe,
to maintaine the florishyng state thereof. The eloquente and
Thusidides. copious oracion of Thusidides, the true, faithfull, and elo-
quente Historiographer doeth shewe: what honour and im-
mortall fame was attributed, to all soche as did venter their
liues, in the florishyng state of their countrie, in supportyng,
mainteinyng, and defendyng thesame. Who, although thei
loste their liues, whiche by death should bee dissolued, their
fame neuer buried, liueth with the soule to immortalitie, the
losse of their Priuate wealthe, glorie, riches, substaunce, or
dignitie, hath purchased and obtained fame, that withereth
not, and glorie that faileth not.
¶ Agreyng and comelie.
Othe the true Histories, doe leaue in commenda-
cion, the facte of Zopyrus, and the noble and wor-
thie enterprises of other: whiche haue giuen the
like assaie, and their fame is celebrated and titeled
with immortall commendacion and glorie, to the posteritie
The duetie
of all good
subiectes. of all ages followyng. What harte can bee so stonie, or bru-
tishly affected, that wil not venter his life, goodes, landes, or
possessions: if with the daunger of one, that is of hymself, the
whole bodie and state of his countrie, is thereby supported,
and saued. What securitie and quietnesse remained, what
wealth, honour, or fame to Zopyrus: if not onely Zopyrus
had perished, but the kyng & people vniuersally had been de-
stroied. Therevpon Zopyrus weighing and cōsideryng, the
The cause of
our birthe. state of his birthe, that his countrie chalenged his life, rather
then the dissolucion of the whole kyngdome, the decaie of the
Prince, the takyng awaie of the scepter, the slaughter of in-
finite people to ensue. He was borne to be a profitable mem-
ber to his countrie, a glorie and staie to thesame: and not spa-
ryng his life, or shunnyng the greate deformitie of his bo-
die, to bee a ruine of thesame. Was it not better that one pe-
rished, then by the securitie of one, a whole lande ouer run-
ned, as partes thereby spoiled: it was the duetie of Zopirus,
to take vpon hym that greate and famous enterprise. It was
also comelie, the kyngdome standyng in perill, a sage and
descrite persone to preuente and putte of, soche a daunger at
The facte of
Zopyrus. hande: The faicte altogether sheweth all vertue and greate
singularitie, and a rare moderacion of minde, to cast of all re-
spectes and excuses, forsakyng presentlie honour, quietnesse
and obiecting himself to perill, he sawe if he onelie died, or by
ieopardie saued his countrie, many thereby liued, the kyng-
dome & people florished, where otherwise, he with his Prince
and kyngdome might haue perished.
The fact of
Zopyrus.
L the power of the Babilonians, was by his pol-
icie throwen doune, the Citee taken, the enemie
brought to confusion: on the other side, the Persi-
ans rose mightie, soche a mightie enemie put vn-
derfoote. The fame of Zopyrus and glorie of the facte, will
neuer be obliterated, or put out of memorie, if this were not
profitable to the kyngdome of Persia: if this were not a re-
Zopyrus de-
formed, a
beautie of his
countree. noume to the prince and people, and immortall glory to [Zo-
pryus] iudge ye. Zopyrus therfore, beautified his countrée, by
the deformitie of his bodie. Better it wer to haue many soche
deformed bodies, then the whole state of the realme destroied
or brought to naught: if we weigh the magnanimitie of that
man, and his enterprise, there is so moche honour in the fact,
that his fame shall neuer cease.
¶ A common place.
Why it is cal-
led a common
place.