[Sidenote: _Sarcasmus_, or the Bitter taunt.] Or when we deride with a certaine seueritie, we may call it the bitter taunt [_Sarcasmus_] as _Charles_ the fift Emperour aunswered the Duke of Arskot, beseeching him recompence of seruice done at the siege of Renty, against _Henry_ the French king, where the Duke was taken prisoner, and afterward escaped clad like a Colliar. Thou wert taken, quoth the Emperour, like a coward, and scapedst like a Colliar, wherefore get thee home and liue vpon thine owne. Or as king _Henry_ the eight said to one of his priuy chamber, who sued for Sir _Anthony Rowse_, knight of Norfolke, that his Maiestie would be good vnto him, for that he was an ill begger. Quoth the king againe, if he be ashamed to beg, we are ashamed to geue. Or as _Charles_ the fift Emperour, hauing taken in battaile _Iohn Frederike_ Duke of Saxon, with the Lantgraue of Hessen and others: this Duke being a man of monstrous bignesse and corpulence, after the Emperor had seene the prisoners, said to those that were about him, I haue gone a hunting many times, yet neuer tooke I such a swine before. [Sidenote: _Asteismus_ or the Merry scoffe, otherwise the ciuill iest.] Or when we speake by manner of pleasantery, or mery skoffe, that is by a kind of mock, whereof the sence is farreset, & without any gall or offence. The Greekes call it [_Asteismus_] we may terme it the ciuill iest, because it is a mirth very full of ciuilitie, and such as the most ciuill men doo vse. As _Cato_ said to one that had geuen him a good knock on the head with a long peece of timber he bare on his shoulder, and then bad him beware: what (quoth _Cato_) wilt thou strike me againe? for ye know, a warning should be geuen before a man haue receiued harme, and not after. And as king _Edward_ the sixt, being of young yeres, but olde in wit, saide to one of his priuie chamber, who sued for a pardon for one that was condemned for a robberie, telling the king that if was but a small trifle, not past sixteene shillings matter which he had taken: quoth the king againe, but I warrant you the fellow was sorrie it had not bene sixteene pound: meaning how the malefactors intent was as euill in that trifle, as if it had bene a greater summe of money. In these examples if ye marke there is no griefe or offence ministred as in those other before, and yet are very wittie, and spoken in plaine derision. The Emperor _Charles_ the fift was a man of very few words, and delighted little in talke. His brother king _Ferdinando_ being a man of more pleasant discourse, sitting at the table with him, said, I pray your Maiestie be not so silent, but let vs talke a little. What neede that brother, quoth the Emperor, since you haue words enough for vs both.