Rosalynde | Page 9

down by a soldier with his curtal-axe, not bought with the allurement of
a filed tongue. To be brief, gentlemen, room for a soldier and a sailor,
that gives you the fruits of his labors that he wrote in the ocean, when
every line was wet with a surge, and every humorous passion
counterchecked with a storm. If you like it, so; and yet I will be yours
in duty, if you be mine in favor. But if Momus or any squint-eyed ass,
that hath mighty ears to conceive with Midas, and yet little reason to
judge; if he come aboard our bark to find fault with the tackling, when

he knows not the shrouds, I'll down into the hold, and fetch out a rusty
pole-axe, that saw no sun this seven year, and either well baste him, or
heave the coxcomb overboard to feed cods. But courteous gentlemen,
that favor most, backbite none, and pardon what is overslipped, let such
come and welcome; I'll into the steward's room, and fetch them a can of
our best beverage. Well, gentlemen, you have Euphues' Legacy. I
fetched it as far as the island of Terceras, and therefore read it; censure
with favor, and farewell
Yours, T.L.
ROSALYNDE
There dwelled adjoining to the city of Bordeaux a knight of most
honorable parentage, whom fortune had graced with many favors, and
nature honored with sundry exquisite qualities, so beautified with the
excellence of both, as it was a question whether fortune or nature were
more prodigal in deciphering the riches of their bounties. Wise he was,
as holding in his head a supreme conceit of policy, reaching with
Nestor into the depth of all civil government; and to make his wisdom
more gracious, he had that salem ingenii and pleasant eloquence that
was so highly commended in Ulysses: his valor was no less than his wit,
nor the stroke of his lance no less forcible than the sweetness of his
tongue was persuasive; for he was for his courage chosen the principal
of all the Knights of Malta. This hardy knight, thus enriched with virtue
and honor, surnamed Sir John of Bordeaux, having passed the prime of
his youth in sundry battles against the Turks, at last (as the date of time
hath his course) grew aged. His hairs were silver-hued, and the map of
age was figured on his forehead: honor sat in the furrows of his face,
and many years were portrayed in his wrinkled lineaments, that all men
might perceive his glass was run, and that nature of necessity
challenged her due. Sir John, that with the Phoenix knew the term of
his life was now expired, and could, with the swan, discover his end by
her songs, having three sons by his wife Lynida, the very pride of all
his forepassed years, thought now, seeing death by constraint would
compel him to leave them, to bestow upon them such a legacy as might
bewray his love, and increase their ensuing amity. Calling, therefore,

these young gentlemen before him, in the presence of all his fellow
Knights of Malta, he resolved to leave them a memorial of all his
fatherly care in setting down a method of their brotherly duties. Having,
therefore, death in his looks to move them to pity, and tears in his eyes
to paint out the depth of his passions, taking his eldest son by the hand,
he began thus:
SIR JOHN OF BORDEAUX' LEGACY HE GAVE TO HIS SONS
"O my sons, you see that fate hath set a period of my years, and
destinies have determined the final end of my days: the palm tree
waxeth away-ward, for he stoopeth in his height, and my plumes are
full of sick feathers touched with age. I must to my grave that
dischargeth all cares, and leave you to the world that increaseth many
sorrows: my silver hairs containeth great experience, and in the number
of my years are penned down the subtleties of fortune. Therefore, as I
leave you some fading pelf to countercheck poverty, so I will bequeath
you infallible precepts that shall lead you unto virtue. First, therefore,
unto thee Saladyne, the eldest, and therefore the chiefest pillar of my
house, wherein should be engraven as well the excellence of thy
father's qualities, as the essential form of his proportion, to thee I give
fourteen ploughlands, with all my manor houses and richest plate. Next,
unto Fernandyne I bequeath twelve ploughlands. But, unto Rosader, the
youngest, I give my horse, my armor, and my lance, with sixteen
ploughlands; for if the inward thoughts be discovered by outward
shadows, Rosader will exceed you all in bounty and honor. Thus, my
sons, have I parted in your portions the substance of my wealth,
wherein if you be