Peacham, Henry: The compleat gentleman : fashioning him absolute in the most necessary and commendable qualities, concerning mind, or body, that may be required in a person of honor. To which is added the gentlemans exercise or, an exquisite practise, as well for drawing all manner of beasts, as for making colours, to be used in painting, limming, &c (London, 1661)

Jqj 55*

Bartas.
Semaitte.i*.

Etttrn', de hge-
niosi

ThesirfiEaok^&s Lib.r*
ildjt thou given- the pleasant wings unto the Peacock/?
and wings and f eathers unto the Ojhrich ? Whereas dis-
abling the wit and skill of man by his own excell ency,
he giveth ns to admire that admirable wisdom of his,
in distinguishing so many beautiful colours from the
wings ol the proud Peacock and Ostrich, even unto
the poor Butterssies so that aftonished with Arisiotle,
I may say, even inthese little painted creatures, there
js 77 ^ctufxactv, sonie wonder or other, and in the very
border of one of their wings, an evident taste of the
Divine Omnipotency.
But as sixture hath been allowed of God,so it hath,
as well among the Christians as Heathen,been honour-
ed from all antiquity, and ever found favour with the
greatest wits and mightiest Monarchs of the World*
insomuch as Arijiotle in his Politicks accountethit a-
incngst those liberatia Paideumata} and counselleth it
as an especial thing to be taught unto children,and not
long after by the authority and labour of Eupompus a
Learned Geometrician,, it was taught in all Schools
thorowout Greece. But Come will tell me. Mechanical
Arts, and those wrought with the hand, are for the
most part base, and unworthy the prastise of great
Fersonages, and Gentlemen : I confeise Divine Du
Bartas hath said of such Vear esprit seyn snit au bout ^
tiles doigts. But forasmuch as their ends are honest*
and themselves but the exercifes of pregnant and the
finest wits51 see no reason (as one saith) why Nature
Chould be so much wronged in her intention, as not to
produce at her pleasure that into a&ion whereto ske is
' well inclined. And surely it can be no more disgrace
to a great Lord to draw a fair Pi&ure, than to cut his
Hawks meat,or play at Tennis with his Page. Achilles
thought it no scorn to be so cunning in Cookery, that
when certain Embassadors came unto him, he with his
own hands dressed them a great and royal Supper.
And Homer to no small commendation of his Vlysses
( under whose person he maketh an absolute wise
man})