- There dwelt in
Athens a young gentleman of great patrimony, and of so comely a personage,
that it was doubted whether he were more bound to Nature for the lineaments
of his person, or to Fortune for the increase of his possessions. But
Nature impatient of comparisons, and as it were disdaining a companion
or copartner in her working, added to this comeliness of his body such
a sharp capacity of mind, that not only she proved Fortune counterfeit,
but was half of that opinion that she herself was only current. This
young gallant, of more with than wealth, and yet of more wealth than
wisdom, seeing himself inferior to none in pleasant conceits, thought
himself superior to all in honest conditions, insomuch that he deemed
himself so apt to all things, that he gave himself almost to nothing,
but practicing of those things commonly which are incident to these
sharp wits, fine phrases, smooth quipping, merry taunting, using jesting
without mean, and abusing mirth without measure. As therefore the sweetest
rose hath his prickle, the finest velvet his brack, the fairest flower
his bran, so the sharpest wit hath his wanton will, and the holiest
head his wicked way" (Excerpt
from Euphues).
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