CHAPTER 23.

OF SWIMMING.

In the old time, when they would point at a fellow, in whom there was nothing to be made account of, they were wont to saye, he neither knoweth letter on the booke, nor yet how to _swimme_: wherby it appeareth that _swimming_, was both in great vse, and of great price in those daies, which either first brought forth that byword or afterward maintained it, seing he was helde for no bodie that could not, or but for a dastard which would not learne the sleight to _swimme_. The traine came bycause it was then best to learne, when the iointes were most pliable, and yet strong withall. The ende was either to saue themselues in fightes by sea, or in flightes by lande, where they were to passe riuers, or to assaile enemies by water, or for other such seruices: as what if _Leander_ say it serues for loue, and bring both _Hero_ to witnesse, which was partaker of the euill, and _Musæus_ the Poete, which described their misfortune? Which considerations may recommende _swimming_ to vs also: who may stand in neede of it, vpon the same causes, and in the like euentes that they did. But bycause it is so necessarie, it would not be vncurteously entertained, and therefore regard must be had in what water ye swimme, for if ye swimme in springes which are naturally hoat, it is stuffing, and yet good for the palsie, so he that swimmeth do vse bladders, to ease him selfe withall: and lighten his labour. To _swimme_ in marsh waters, and pooles, infecteth both the head and all the residue of the bodie, bycause rotten, and corrupt vapours, enter the pores of the bodie, together with the moysture. It is reasonable good _swimming_ in lakes and standing meres, which the larger they be and the clearer, the more commodious and wholesome to swimme in. But no kinde of fresh water is so good to swimme in, as the running riuer is, chiefly for them, which be in health, to whom besides many other commodities, it serueth for a preparative to sleepe. Yet it is not good abiding long in any fresh water, for feare of perishing the sinues both with cold and moysture, whose issues be the crampe, and the swimmers daunger. But nothing at all, be it neuer so good for health, be it neuer so defensible to saue, can be gotten without perill in prouing. And why should _swimming_ dreame of securitie, and neuer thinke to drowne? Doth it not deale with water, where there is no warrant, but wisedome to forsee? pointe the place, pointe the fight, pointe the daunger and a pointe for daunger: but where you cannot appointe the particularitie, ye cannot warrant the perill. _Cocles_,[38] scaped, it was in a small riuer, and reskue at hand. _Scœna_ the centurion scaped, he was neare both shippe and shoar. Nay _Cæsar_[39] himselfe saued him selfe from drowning, and helde his lettres vp drie in the one hand. A signe of courage and cunning as that man had enough; but his shippes were at hand, and it is not writen, that either he swamme alone, or any long waye. But of all daungers to drowne, there is least in the sea, where the swimming is best: for the salt water as it is thicker then the fresh, so it beareth vp the bodie better, that it may fleet with lesse labour. The _swimming_ in salt water is very good to remoue the headache, to open the stuffed nosethrilles, and therby to helpe the smelling. It is a good remedie for dropsies, scabbes, and scurfes, small pockes, leprosies, falling awaye of either legge, or any other parte: for such as prosper not so, as they would, though they eate as they wishe, for ill stomackes, liuers, miltes, and corrupt constitutions. Yet all _swimming_ must needes be ill for the head, considering the continuall exhalation, which ascendeth still from the water into the head. _Swimming_ in hoat waters softeneth that which is hardened, warmeth that which is cooled, nimbleth the iointes which are benummed, thinneth the skinne, which is thickned, and yet it troubleth the head, weakneth the bodie, disperseth humours, but dissolueth them not. _Swimming_ in cold water doth strengthen the naturall heat, bycause it beates it in: it maketh verie good and quick digestion: it breaketh superfluous humours, it warmeth the inward partes, yet long tarying in it hurtes the sineues, and takes awaye the hearing. Thus much concerning _swimming_, which can neither do children harme in learning, if the maister be wise, nor the common weale but good, being once learned, if either priuate daunger or publike attempt do bid them auenture. For he that oweth a life to his countrey, if he die on lande, he doeth his duetie, and if he drowne in water, his duetie is not drowned.

FOOTNOTES:

[38] Liuius. C. Cæs.

[39] Appian.