_The woordes of Metellus of mariage, and wiuing with the prayse and
dispraise of the same._
In the presence of many learned men of Rome, Metellus surnamed
Numidicus, for his victories and triumphe ouer Iugurtha king of Numidia,
a countrie in Africa, in the tyme of his office of Censor, made an
Oration before the Romain people, of mariage of wyues, vppon Occasion
that hee hymselfe, by diuers of his frendes, was perswaded to that
state. Against whiche hee used manye vehemente inuectiues and termes,
whiche Aulus Gellius omitteth, for that hee was loth to offend (when
report therof should be bruted) the nice eares, and louing mindes of the
matrones, and dames of that citie: knowing well that both they, and
their successours, would not forget reprochefullie to combate with his
spirite and shadowe, when they were not able (being preuented by earthly
vermine) by anye meanes to impeche his corps, in tombe fast closed and
buried. But when I do remember, howe the same was said, and also noysed
emongs a bande of heathen soules, whose mindes for want of godly skill,
could not disgest such hainous blastes, as sounded in a time prophane,
wherin no sacred voyce of christian lore was breathed vnto redemed
flocke: I call to mynde that now I may in time of grace, right frankely
write, without offence to humble state of matrone kinde, in these our
daies, inspired with spirit of humble hart, whose eares no taunting
talke can griue: wherefore with blushles face, and vnstaied penne,
I meane the woordes, of that well learned wighte, in open audience to
pronounce, and by this booke, to suche elected sort for to declame: but
loth for to offende, as one well bet in mariage schole, I must, _a pœna
& culpa_, forgiuenes craue: lest some shreude heathen dame (for other
doubt I not) doe from her graue _Al’ Arme_ crie out: and then to fight
with buried ghostes: my manhode will not serue, but by and by with
posting legges, and flying fast I will retire. But doubtes here be
brought foorth, where doubting cause is none. Gellius therfore in
persone of the vnmaried knight, in wordes right fewe, this sentence of
the maried state, doth vtter and proclayme.
“O ye Romaines, if we could be without wiues, then all we should wante
that griefe. But bicause nature hath so prouided, that neither with them
we can liue and passe our time conueniently, nor yet by any meanes be
without them satisfied, we ought rather to make preparation, for
perpetuall health, then for short pleasure.” With which wordes, diuers
of the Romaines were displeased, and founde fault with Metellus who (for
that he went about, to exhorte the people to mariage) ought not by any
meanes, to confesse any griefes and incommodities to be in the same. But
in these wordes he seemed rather to disswade and terrefie, then to
perswade and incourage; but contrarely he ought, rather to haue affirmed
no sorowes and perplexities, to be in wedlocke, and if perchaunce any
chaunced to be, they were but light, and easie to be borne and suffered,
which for greater commodities and pleasures, might full well be
forgotten, and those that were, happed not through natures vice, but by
the default and ill behauiour of some maried folke. Howbeit, Titus
Castritius supposed that Metellus spake well and worthely. “For (said
he) a Censor ought to speake like a Censor, a Rhetorician like one that
professed Rhetorike: it is giuen to Rhetoricians, to vse false
sentences, bolde, subtile and captious: if so be, they be likely, and
may by any action moue the hartes of men.” Moreouer he sayde, “that it
was a shame for a Rhetorician, in an euil matter, to leaue out any thing
vntouched.” “But truely Metellus (quoth he) is a holy man indued with
grauitie and fidelitie, and that it was not decent for so honorable a
personage, as he was, to speake any thing to the Romaine people, but
that hee thought to be true, and likely to seme true to all men:
specially sithe he intreated of such a matter, as by daily knowledge,
common experience, and frequented vse of life, might well be
comprehended and knowen. Therfore in geuing to vnderstande, a griefe
notorious to al men, he hath deserued by that oration, a fame of a
diligent and faithfull man, bicause (to be short) he easely and redely
perswaded, that a citie can not prosper and continue, without the vse of
Matrimonie, which of all things is most assured and true.” This Titus
Castritius was a teacher of Rhetorike in Rome, and in the same citie for
declamation and teaching, was in greatest reputacion: a man of right
great grauitie and authoritie: and of the Emperour Adrian, for his
vertue and learning well estemed.