word_n signify_v nothing_o the_o former_a of_o these_o be_v lactantius_n who_o argue_v thus_o fortune_n in_o itself_o be_v nothing_o we_o be_v not_o to_o suppose_v that_o the_o word_n denote_v any_o thing_n of_o real_a existence_n 29._o inst_z divin_n l._n 3._o c._n 29._o take_v it_o in_o what_o sense_n you_o please_v fortune_n be_v no_o more_o than_o a_o event_n which_o be_v sudden_a and_o unexpected_a but_o the_o philosopher_n that_o they_o may_v not_o fail_v to_o mistake_v in_o every_o thing_n pretend_v to_o be_v very_o wise_a in_o a_o trifle_a matter_n those_o i_o mean_v who_o change_v the_o sex_n of_o fortune_n and_o will_v needs_o have_v it_o a_o god_n and_o not_o a_o goddess_n the_o same_o deity_n they_o call_v sometime_o nature_n and_o sometime_o fortune_n because_o as_o cicero_n observe_v it_o effect_n many_o thing_n which_o we_o do_v not_o expect_v by_o reason_n of_o our_o ignorance_n in_o the_o cause_n that_o produce_v they_o and_o not_o know_v the_o reason_n why_o a_o thing_n happen_v man_n must_v needs_o be_v ignorant_a what_o it_o be_v that_o bring_v it_o about_o the_o same_o author_n in_o a_o very_a serious_a tract_n where_o he_o give_v his_o son_n rule_v draw_v from_o philosophy_n to_o govern_v he_o in_o his_o behaviour_n who_o say_v he_o do_v not_o know_v that_o the_o power_n of_o fortune_n be_v great_a which_o side_n soever_o she_o take_v for_o when_o she_o oppose_v we_o we_o be_v certain_o worsted_n lactantius_n after_o some_o reflection_n upon_o cicero_n which_o be_v not_o much_o to_o the_o matter_n now_o in_o hand_n proceed_v in_o this_o manner_n who_o do_v not_o know_v say_v he_o for_o my_o part_n i_o know_v no_o such_o thing_n let_v he_o show_v i_o if_o he_o can_v what_o that_o power_n be_v what_o be_v the_o favour_n of_o fortune_n and_o what_o her_o opposition_n to_o we_o it_o be_v by_o no_o mean_n for_o the_o reputation_n of_o a_o man_n of_o wit_n and_o part_n to_o lay_v down_o a_o thing_n for_o grant_v which_o if_o one_o deny_v he_o be_v not_o able_a to_o make_v out_o the_o other_o author_n which_o i_o shall_v produce_v upon_o this_o occasion_n be_v i._o be_v de_fw-fr cons_n phil._n l._n 1._o pros_n i._o boethius_n who_o style_n in_o beauty_n be_v equal_a to_o that_o of_o lactantius_n and_o his_o reason_v be_v much_o before_o his._n if_o any_o one_o say_v philosophy_n with_o who_o boethius_n be_v hold_v a_o dialogue_n define_v a_o accidental_a event_n casum_fw-la and_o such_o as_o be_v not_o produce_v by_o any_o connexion_n of_o cause_n i_o assert_v that_o chance_n be_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n that_o it_o be_v a_o empty_a word_n without_o any_o sense_n or_o signification_n at_o all_o for_o where_o can_v chance_n find_v a_o place_n in_o thing_n which_o god_n keep_v in_o a_o regular_a method_n there_o be_v no_o great_a truth_n than_o that_o nothing_o can_v come_v out_o of_o nothing_o not_o one_o of_o the_o ancient_n ever_o contradict_v this_o maxim_n though_o they_o understand_v it_o not_o of_o the_o efficient_a but_o the_o material_a cause_n now_o if_o a_o thing_n be_v produce_v without_o a_o cause_n that_o thing_n will_v come_v out_o of_o nothing_o but_o if_o this_o can_v be_v than_o neither_o can_v there_o be_v such_o a_o thing_n as_o chance_n according_a to_o our_o definition_n of_o it_o well_o but_o reply_v boethius_n be_v there_o then_o nothing_o which_o we_o can_v proper_o call_v fortuitous_a or_o casual_a or_o be_v there_o somewhat_o to_o which_o these_o name_n belong_v though_o the_o vulgar_a know_v it_o not_o aristotle_n say_v philosophy_n have_v clear_v this_o difficulty_n in_o few_o word_n in_o his_o book_n of_o physics_n and_o come_v very_o near_o to_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o matter_n what_o i_o pray_v be_v his_o resolution_n of_o the_o case_n say_v boethius_n when_o any_o thing_n be_v do_v with_o a_o certain_a design_n reply_n philosophy_n and_o some_o other_o thing_n different_a from_o that_o which_o be_v intend_v do_v for_o other_o cause_n happen_v this_o thing_n so_o beside_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o agent_n be_v what_o we_o call_v a_o fortuitous_a or_o casual_a event_n as_o if_o a_o man_n for_o instance_n in_o dig_v his_o ground_n with_o a_o design_n to_o cultivate_v it_o shall_v find_v a_o pot_n of_o gold_n hide_v there_o we_o say_v this_o be_v casual_a but_o yet_o it_o have_v a_o real_a and_o proper_a cause_n and_o the_o unforeseen_a and_o unexpected_a concurrence_n of_o such_o cause_n form_n that_o which_o be_v term_v a_o casual_a event_n if_o he_o who_o cultivate_v his_o ground_n have_v not_o dig_v it_o or_o if_o he_o who_o bury_v this_o treasure_n have_v not_o lay_v it_o in_o that_o place_n the_o gold_n have_v not_o be_v find_v as_o it_o be_v these_o than_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o that_o accidental_a gain_n which_o happen_v to_o the_o man_n by_o this_o concurrence_n of_o they_o altogether_o foreign_a from_o the_o design_n which_o he_o propose_v to_o himself_o in_o dig_v his_o ground_n the_o remainder_n of_o this_o argument_n may_v be_v see_v in_o the_o original_a for_o i_o can_v agree_v with_o boethius_n in_o every_o branch_n of_o it_o but_o this_o prove_v that_o if_o the_o ancient_n use_v the_o word_n of_o fortune_n or_o chance_n to_o denote_v any_o unknown_a be_v which_o act_v without_o any_o rule_n and_o which_o be_v neither_o a_o spiritual_a nor_o a_o bodily_a substance_n they_o know_v not_o their_o own_o meaning_n and_o yet_o thus_o i_o have_v show_v that_o aristotle_n use_v they_o whatever_o boethius_n say_v here_o to_o bring_v he_o off_o let_v we_o now_o consider_v the_o thing_n in_o itself_o and_o in_o order_n to_o discern_v what_o sense_n these_o word_n fortune_n and_o chance_n be_v capable_a of_o we_o must_v remember_v that_o there_o be_v only_o two_o sort_n of_o being_n which_o we_o know_v of_o that_o can_v contribute_v to_o any_o thing_n that_o befall_v we_o the_o first_o sort_n consist_v of_o body_n which_o act_v alone_o and_o without_o the_o interposition_n of_o any_o other_o cause_n leave_v no_o room_n for_o fortune_n or_o chance_n because_o they_o act_n by_o fix_a unalterable_a rule_n of_o mechanism_n as_o all_o who_o have_v the_o least_o knowledge_n of_o mechanic_n and_o natural_a philosophy_n be_v abundant_o satisfy_v the_o common_a people_n indeed_o say_v a_o body_n fall_v of_o itself_o when_o no_o man_n nor_o any_o sensible_a cause_n that_o come_v under_o our_o observation_n throw_v it_o down_o as_o when_o fruit_n fall_v from_o a_o tree_n or_o a_o tile_n from_o the_o roof_n of_o a_o house_n without_o any_o pull_n or_o blast_v of_o wind_n to_o blow_v it_o down_o and_o it_o be_v a_o very_a usual_a thing_n to_o say_v such_o thing_n fall_v of_o themselves_o or_o by_o chance_n but_o it_o be_v by_o no_o mean_n true_a that_o nothing_o interpose_v and_o that_o no_o external_a cause_n contribute_v to_o that_o fall_n the_o air_n and_o the_o weight_n of_o the_o body_n not_o to_o mention_v several_a other_o cause_n that_o may_v concur_v occasion_v their_o fall_n a_o body_n will_v continue_v for_o ever_o in_o the_o same_o state_n do_v not_o some_o cause_n from_o without_o make_v a_o alteration_n this_o be_v a_o axiom_n in_o natural_a philosophy_n which_o i_o need_v not_o here_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v the_o second_o sort_n of_o being_n be_v what_o we_o call_v spirit_n who_o among_o several_a other_o faculty_n belong_v to_o they_o be_v endue_v with_o liberty_n which_o they_o exercise_v upon_o infinite_a occasion_n they_o can_v at_o any_o time_n do_v or_o not_o do_v what_o they_o do_v they_o can_v do_v it_o after_o this_o or_o that_o manner_n they_o determine_v themselves_o in_o doubtful_a or_o indifferent_a case_n or_o what_o they_o look_v upon_o to_o be_v such_o by_o humour_n and_o fancy_n without_o any_o other_o reason_n but_o that_o they_o have_v a_o mind_n to_o act_v so_o or_o so_o and_o without_o the_o interposition_n of_o any_o thing_n that_o shall_v necessary_o engage_v their_o judgement_n or_o their_o will._n without_o trouble_v my_o reader_n with_o a_o long_a lecture_n of_o metaphysic_n i_o appeal_v to_o every_o man_n be_v own_o sense_n and_o experience_n and_o be_o entire_o persuade_v that_o all_o who_o will_v speak_v true_o what_o they_o feel_v within_o themselves_o in_o innumerable_a instance_n of_o humane_a life_n will_v agree_v that_o what_o i_o have_v say_v be_v the_o very_a truth_n of_o the_o case_n in_o this_o respect_n it_o may_v be_v say_v that_o the_o free_a determination_n of_o a_o spiritual_a substance_n be_v a_o effect_n of_o chance_n because_o it_o do_v not_o proceed_v from_o any_o necessary_a cause_n and_o in_o regard_n spirit_n act_n much_o upon_o body_n the_o intervening_a of_o these_o operation_n produce_v somewhat_o casual_a in_o those_o motion_n which_o otherwise_o will_v not_o be_v at_o all_o we_o will_v put_v the_o
chap._n ii_o the_o different_a signification_n of_o which_o the_o word_n good_a luck_n and_o iii_o luck_n be_v capable_a if_o we_o attend_v to_o the_o first_o and_o most_o simple_a idea_n which_o this_o word_n good_a luck_n awaken_v in_o our_o mind_n when_o we_o hear_v it_o we_o shall_v find_v that_o this_o name_n be_v proper_o apply_v to_o a_o event_n favourable_a to_o a_o man_n without_o any_o care_n or_o foresight_n of_o his_o own_o contribute_v to_o it_o thus_o when_o a_o man_n play_v at_o any_o game_n of_o chance_n as_o die_n for_o instance_n and_o win_v at_o it_o this_o be_v call_v good_a luck_n and_o such_o a_o one_o be_v say_v to_o be_v fortunate_a at_o play_n a_o man_n be_v likewise_o call_v lucky_a when_o in_o circumstance_n that_o conduce_v to_o advance_v his_o interest_n without_o any_o concurrence_n of_o his_o own_o a_o merchant_n be_v say_v to_o be_v a_o fortunate_a trader_n when_o his_o ship_n arrive_v safe_a or_o the_o commodity_n of_o which_o his_o venture_n consist_v rise_v in_o value_n without_o his_o management_n a_o general_n of_o a_o army_n be_v esteem_v fortunate_a when_o succeed_a in_o attempt_n which_o be_v likely_a to_o have_v prove_v his_o ruin_n or_o when_o some_o unforeseen_a accident_n favour_v his_o design_n these_o term_n be_v use_v upon_o a_o thousand_o like_a occasion_n and_o the_o word_n ill_a luck_n and_o unfortunate_a to_o denote_v just_a the_o contrary_n which_o remark_n will_v hold_v in_o word_n of_o the_o like_a importance_n in_o all_o other_o language_n it_o may_v perhaps_o be_v allege_v that_o i_o have_v already_o overthrow_v the_o whole_a design_n of_o this_o book_n by_o assign_v clear_a idea_n to_o term_n which_o i_o pretend_v in_o most_o man_n mouth_n to_o be_v throw_v out_o at_o random_n without_o any_o meaning_n at_o all_o and_o be_v man_n content_a to_o stop_v here_o i_o shall_v make_v no_o difficulty_n to_o own_v myself_o in_o the_o wrong_n but_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o these_o word_n be_v extend_v a_o great_a deal_n far_o than_o those_o most_o simple_a and_o obvious_a idea_n already_o instance_a in_o when_o we_o call_v a_o man_n fortunate_a or_o say_v he_o have_v good_a luck_n in_o any_o thing_n this_o do_v not_o only_o mean_v that_o some_o advantage_n have_v happen_v to_o he_o which_o be_v not_o of_o his_o own_o procure_n but_o beside_o that_o there_o be_v somewhat_o attend_v upon_o and_o as_o it_o be_v fix_v to_o such_o a_o person_n which_o make_v he_o successful_a where_o any_o other_o man_n will_v miscarry_v and_o yet_o this_o success_n can_v be_v attribute_v to_o any_o prudence_n or_o good_a management_n wherein_o he_o excel_v those_o that_o miss_v of_o like_a success_n and_o i_o shall_v show_v by_o some_o example_n that_o this_o last_o sense_n be_v what_o man_n common_o intend_v by_o good_a luck_n when_o a_o man_n be_v say_v to_o be_v fortunate_a at_o play_n this_o mean_n not_o only_o that_o he_o have_v often_o win_v heretofore_o but_o that_o he_o will_v in_o all_o likelihood_n win_v whenever_o he_o please_v to_o play_v hereafter_o upon_o this_o account_n we_o be_v fond_a of_o bettnig_n upon_o his_o head_n or_o go_v partner_n with_o he_o if_o he_o will_v suffer_v we_o to_o share_v in_o his_o luck_n they_o on_o the_o other_o hand_n who_o be_v call_v unfortunate_a in_o these_o respect_n we_o look_v upon_o as_o man_n that_o always_o or_o at_o least_o general_o lose_v and_o it_o be_v usual_a to_o say_v that_o such_o man_n will_v do_v well_o to_o leave_v off_o play_n which_o yet_o the_o man_n of_o good_a luck_n be_v permit_v and_o encourage_v to_o use_v now_o this_o make_v it_o plain_a that_o we_o have_v a_o dark_a notion_n of_o a_o odd_a unintelligible_a quality_n from_o whence_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o some_o man_n win_v and_o other_o lose_v and_o in_o this_o sense_n it_o be_v that_o i_o affirm_v the_o word_n good_a luck_n and_o ill_a luck_n to_o be_v empty_a sound_n and_o to_o signify_v nothing_o at_o all_o several_a person_n of_o eminence_n have_v be_v esteem_v fortunate_a in_o their_o undertake_n and_o their_o former_a success_n have_v be_v receive_v as_o pledge_n of_o the_o like_a in_o all_o their_o future_a attempt_n a_o certain_a principle_n of_o good_a luck_n have_v be_v think_v inherent_a in_o they_o which_o can_v not_o fail_v of_o bring_v every_o thing_n they_o take_v in_o hand_n to_o its_o desire_a effect_n many_o remarkable_a example_n of_o this_o kind_n be_v to_o be_v meet_v with_o in_o story_n some_o of_o which_o i_o will_v do_v myself_o the_o justice_n to_o produce_v that_o i_o may_v prevent_v any_o suspicion_n of_o impose_v upon_o my_o reader_n in_o this_o matter_n one_o of_o the_o most_o fortunate_a person_n for_o i_o shall_v use_v the_o vulgar_a way_n of_o speak_v in_o this_o and_o other_o such_o like_a term_n till_o i_o have_v full_o explain_v myself_o about_o they_o that_o history_n make_v mention_n of_o be_v polycrates_n tyrant_n of_o samos_n who_o be_v cotemporary_a with_o cambyses_n king_n of_o persia_n above_o five_o hundred_o year_n before_o christ._n herodotus_n give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o he_o some_o of_o the_o most_o memorable_a passage_n whereof_o i_o will_v very_o brief_o relate_v he_o though_o of_o private_a fortune_n and_o low_a birth_n find_v mean_n in_o conjunction_n with_o his_o two_o brother_n to_o possess_v himself_o of_o the_o isle_n of_o samos_n of_o which_o he_o and_o they_o be_v likewise_o tyrant_n or_o king_n now_o it_o be_v good_a luck_n not_o to_o sink_v under_o so_o bold_a and_o desperate_a a_o attempt_n but_o this_o be_v only_o the_o first_o step_n of_o his_o great_a fortune_n the_o hold_v a_o little_a island_n in_o partnership_n with_o two_o other_o be_v no_o such_o mighty_a matter_n but_o short_o after_o he_o put_v one_o of_o his_o brother_n to_o death_n and_o the_o other_o upon_o save_v himself_o by_o flight_n and_o thus_o be_v leave_v in_o sole_a possession_n of_o samos_n his_o battle_n both_o by_o sea_n and_o land_n be_v successful_a to_o a_o wonder_n he_o conquer_v several_a island_n in_o the_o archipelago_n seize_v the_o ship_n of_o all_o that_o pass_v there_o without_o any_o damage_n to_o himself_o and_o use_v to_o say_v that_o if_o they_o belong_v to_o the_o enemy_n they_o be_v good_a prize_n but_o if_o they_o be_v friend_n it_o be_v in_o his_o power_n to_o oblige_v they_o more_o by_o restitution_n than_o if_o they_o have_v never_o be_v seize_v at_o all_o all_o this_o be_v so_o far_o from_o work_v he_o mischief_n that_o he_o become_v the_o terror_n of_o the_o archipelago_n and_o of_o all_o the_o coast_n of_o greece_n and_o asia_n which_o lie_v upon_o that_o sea_n in_o the_o mean_a while_o he_o enter_v into_o alliance_n with_o amasis_n king_n of_o egypt_n who_o have_v hear_v the_o continue_a success_n of_o polycrates_n write_v he_o word_n that_o though_o all_o the_o advantage_n of_o a_o prince_n in_o friendship_n with_o himself_o be_v matter_n of_o great_a joy_n to_o he_o yet_o he_o can_v not_o but_o suspect_v so_o uninterrupted_a a_o course_n of_o happiness_n when_o he_o consider_v how_o the_o god_n envy_n man_n their_o prosperity_n he_o therefore_o advise_v he_o to_o cross_v the_o strain_n of_o this_o fortune_n by_o industrious_o lose_v something_o which_o be_v particular_o dear_a to_o he_o polycrates_n in_o compliance_n with_o this_o advice_n go_v on_o board_n and_o throw_v into_o the_o sea_n a_o very_a curious_a seal_n engrave_v upon_o a_o emerald_n so_o that_o no_o possibility_n appear_v of_o his_o ever_o recover_v a_o seal_n upon_o which_o he_o set_v a_o infinite_a value_n and_o which_o he_o part_v with_o with_o great_a reluctancy_n yet_o by_o good_a luck_n so_o it_o come_v about_o which_o perhaps_o be_v a_o accident_n scarce_o to_o be_v parallel_v that_o five_o or_o six_o day_n after_o a_o fisherman_n present_v he_o with_o a_o fish_n of_o prodigious_a bigness_n which_o he_o have_v take_v in_o that_o sea_n and_o in_o the_o belly_n of_o this_o fish_n the_o seal_n be_v find_v polycrates_n his_o good_a fortune_n do_v not_o stop_v there_o but_o there_o need_v no_o more_o be_v say_v to_o show_v what_o herodotus_n mean_v by_o call_v he_o a_o fortunate_a person_n which_o be_v a_o title_n frequent_o apply_v to_o he_o by_o that_o historian_n and_o yet_o this_o very_a man_n come_v to_o the_o most_o unfortunate_a end_n that_o ever_o be_v by_o suffer_v himself_o to_o be_v most_o gross_o impose_v upon_o by_o oretes_n precedent_n of_o lydia_n who_o to_o decoy_n he_o thither_o pretend_v to_o have_v vast_a sum_n of_o money_n which_o he_o design_v to_o deposit_v in_o his_o hand_n intend_v afterward_o to_o retire_v with_o he_o to_o samos_n where_o he_o hope_v to_o be_v out_o of_o the_o reach_n of_o his_o enrage_a master_n the_o king_n of_o persia_n who_o seek_v his_o
sure_a to_o dip_v upon_o that_o critical_a place_n which_o shall_v contain_v a_o resolution_n of_o their_o doubt_n can_v it_o be_v urge_v that_o this_o persuasion_n proceed_v from_o a_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o god_n particular_a direction_n of_o casual_a event_n i_o shall_v not_o here_o repeat_v what_o have_v already_o be_v deliver_v upon_o this_o subject_a but_o i_o be_o positive_a that_o admit_v the_o thing_n to_o be_v true_a yet_o even_o so_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a to_o prove_v that_o the_o heathen_n can_v have_v any_o certain_a knowledge_n of_o this_o kind_n it_o will_v perhaps_o be_v reply_v that_o they_o know_v this_o pretend_a truth_n by_o the_o event_n have_v observe_v by_o abundance_n of_o instance_n that_o these_o answer_n by_o this_o way_n of_o consultation_n be_v actual_o fulfil_v to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o if_o this_o be_v a_o sure_a way_n of_o consult_v the_o deity_n it_o be_v not_o sufficient_a that_o it_o succeed_v in_o many_o instance_n but_o it_o must_v 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