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Baldo saith that a man havinge but one eie & that blinde sholde be
accompted as vnprofitable. We reade of Hanibal who in passing
the mounteines of Bologna thorough extreme Colde lost an eie
and nevertheles afterwardes performed sondrie great exploits
against the Romains to his eternall glorie & fame. The ghospell
saith that better it is to goe into Padadiso wth one eie, then to be tor:
mented in hell wth two. The losse of an eie bringeth no extreme
miserie, because the lawe dooth not disallowe any such man to take
vppon him office, neither shall he be accompted as imperfecte. ffor
thease resons, it semeth that to lose a Nose is the greater dishonnor
because the face of man beinge the similitude of God, by losse of
a nose is deprived of bewtie, as by no meanes either it may be reco:
vered or hidden. Wherfore as it is a greatr deformitie for him to
lose a hande, that hath but onlye one, then for him that hath
two: So Baldo saith it is the greatest paine yt may happ
to lose the nose. ffor who soeuer hath diuers sonnes may wth lesse
greif loese one, then he that was father to one alone. All
the common opinion of men is, that to lose a nose is the chefest
reproche and iniurie that can chaunce to a liuinge man. To
lose a hande a foote or an eie, is not so great a reproche as
to forgoe a nose because the wante therof is most apparant.
And therfore a man beinge an offender is not adiudged to
lose his nose vnles for somme notable offence, because he shall
beare his token of eternall shame vppon his face, wch can:
not be revered. Federico in his constitucion saith that the losse
of a nose is a severe & terrible punishmente, & is vsed com:
monlie to weomen for the dishonnest acte of adulterie.
Therfore it semeth that he that loseth his nose, receiueth
the greatest dishonnor, notwthstanding he hath deprived
his aduersarie of his eie. But when like Chaunce dooth
happen the Iudge may dispoze therof as shalbe by him
thought moste conveniente, thought in mine opinion in respect
of the circumstauncs the dishonnors be equall.