Melius est foedere, quam saltare_, [3301]saith Austin:
but what is that if they delight in it? [3302]_Nemo saltat sobrius_. But in
what kind of dance? I know these sports have many oppugners, whole volumes
writ against them; when as all they say (if duly considered) is but
_ignoratio Elenchi_; and some again, because they are now cold and wayward,
past themselves, cavil at all such youthful sports in others, as he did in
the comedy; they think them, _illico nasci senes_, &c. Some out of
preposterous zeal object many times trivial arguments, and because of some
abuse, will quite take away the good use, as if they should forbid wine
because it makes men drunk; but in my judgment they are too stern: there
"is a time for all things, a time to mourn, a time to dance," Eccles. iii.
4. "a time to embrace, a time not to embrace," (verse 5.) "and nothing
better than that a man should rejoice in his own works," verse 22; for my
part, I will subscribe to the king's declaration, and was ever of that
mind, those May games, wakes, and Whitsun ales, &c., if they be not at
unseasonable hours, may justly be permitted. Let them freely feast, sing
and dance, have their puppet-plays, hobby-horses, tabors, crowds, bagpipes,
&c., play at ball, and barley-breaks, and what sports and recreations they
like best. In Franconia, a province of Germany, (saith [3303]Aubanus
Bohemus) the old folks, after evening prayer, went to the alehouse, the
younger sort to dance: and to say truth with [3304]Salisburiensis, _satius
fuerat sic otiari, quam turpius occupari_, better to do so than worse, as
without question otherwise (such is the corruption of man's nature) many of
them will do. For that cause, plays, masks, jesters, gladiators, tumblers,
jugglers, &c., and all that crew is admitted and winked at: [3305]_Tota
jocularium scena procedit, et ideo spectacula admissa sunt, et infinita
tyrocinia vanitatum, ut his occupentur, qui perniciosius otiari solent_:
that they might be busied about such toys, that would otherwise more
perniciously be idle. So that as [3306]Tacitus said of the astrologers in
Rome, we may say of them, _genus hominum est quod in civitate nostra et
vitabitur semper et retinebitur_, they are a debauched company most part,
still spoken against, as well they deserve some of them (for I so relish
and distinguish them as fiddlers, and musicians), and yet ever retained.
"Evil is not to be done (I confess) that good may come of it:" but this is