CHAPTER V.

OF THE ENDS WHICH THE ORATOR IN DELIBERATIVES PROPOUNDETH, WHEREBY TO EXHORT OR DEHORT.

An orator, in _exhorting_, always propoundeth _felicity_, or some _part_ of _felicity_, to be attained by the actions he exhorteth unto: and in _dehortation_, the contrary.

By _felicity_ is meant commonly prosperity with virtue, or a continual content of the life with surety.

And the _parts_ of it are such things as we call good in _body_, _mind_, or fortune; such as these that follow.

1. _Nobility_, which to a state or nation is to have been ancient inhabitants; and to have had most anciently, and in most number, famous generals in the wars, or men famous for such things as fall under emulation. And to a private man, to have been descended lawfully of a family, which hath yielded most anciently, and in most number, men known to the world for virtue, riches, or any thing in general estimation.

2. _Many and good children._ Which is also _public_ and _private_. _Public_, when there is much youth in the state endued with virtue; namely, of the _body_, stature, beauty, strength, and dexterity; of the _mind_, valour and temperance: _private_, when a man hath many such children, both male and female. The virtues commonly respected in women, are of the _body_, beauty and stature; of the _mind_, temperance and housewifery without sordidness.

3. _Riches._ Which is money, cattle, lands, household-stuff, with the power to dispose of them.

4. _Glory._ Which is the reputation of virtue, or of the possession of such things as all, or most men, or wise men desire.

5. _Honour._ Which is the glory of benefiting, or being able to benefit others. _To benefit others_, is to contribute somewhat, not easily had, to another man’s safety or riches. The parts of _honour_ are sacrifices, monuments, rewards, dedication of places, precedence, sepulchres, statues, public pensions, adorations, presents.

6. _Health._ Which is the being free from diseases, with strength to use the body.

7. _Beauty._ Which is to different ages different. To youth, strength of body and sweetness of aspect. To full men, strength of body fit for the wars, and countenance sweet with a mixture of terror. To old men, strength enough for necessary labours, with a countenance not displeasing.

8. _Strength._ Which is the ability to move any thing at pleasure of the mover. To move, is to pull, to put off, to lift, to thrust down, to press together.

9. _Stature._ Which is then _just_, when a man in height, breadth, and thickness of body doth so exceed the most, as nevertheless it be no hindrance to the quickness of his motion.

10. _Good old age._ Which is that which comes late, and with the least trouble.

11. _Many and good friends._ Which is to have many that will do for his sake that which they think will be for his good.

12. _Prosperity._ Which is to have all, or the most, or the greatest of those goods which we attribute to fortune.

13. _Virtue._ Which is then to be defined, when we speak of _praise_.

These are the grounds from whence we _exhort_.

_Dehortation_ is from the contraries of these.

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