that it is more hidden from the reach Of vulgar eares and is not found among Those sayings that by Epicure are flung Abroad and into common use are grown Which I have both approv'd and made mine own EPIST. XIV I Yield there is in us an in-bred care Of our owne bodies I confesse they are To be preserv'd But though I not denie Indulgence due to them yet slaverie I doe denie For who the body serves Who out of feare for that from reason swerves Too much whose sole regard to that is ti'd He surely will serve many things beside We must dispose our actions not as though We for the body ought to live but so As we without the body cannot live The too much care whereof doe's often give Tormenting feares load 's us with sorrows flings Contempt upon us and reproaches brings Whos'ever his own body too much prizes All other things that honest are dispises Let a strickt care thereof be had yet so That when the duties we to reason owe To honour and fidelity require Le ts not refuse to cast it into fire Yet let us shun as much as in us lies Not onely harmes but incommodities Let us our safety mind and not forbeare A dayly care t' avoid the things we feare Whereof there are three kinds as I suppose Want sicknesses and all the ill that growes From an offended power of which none beates So fiercely on us as what power threats That rayses tumults and a noise does make As for those other which from nature take Their ground want sicknesse filently appeare And with no terrour strike the eye or eare This comes with dreadfull pomp fire sword and chains And savage beasts sent in with horr'id pain 's To humane brests heer may we also looke Upon a prison gibber racke or hooke Stakes through the mouth forc't frō the fundament And members by driv'n horses piece-meale rent The coat with combustible matter noynted And what else cruell-tyrants have appointed 'T is then no wonder if the feare of this Be greatest whose varieties great is And preparation terrible For as A Torturer the sooner brings to passe His purpose when with sundry instruments Of various torments he himselfe presents For they who else with patience would hold out By that dire pomp to yield are brought about So of such things as tame and quell the thought They prevaile most that with most shew are brought Those plagues are no lesse grievous hunger thirst Impostumes bred and in the intrailes burst Feavers that scald the bowells but yet they Are hid from view have nothing to display These like great armies by their equipage And dreadfull sight orecome ere they engage Then let us strive offences to forbeare Sometimes it is the people we must feare And sometimes if a Senate rule the state With the chiefe men we must ingratiate Sometimes we must of all those stand in awe Who of and to the people give the law Thave all these friends is hard it may suffice At least to have them not our enemies A wiseman therefore will not undergoe The anger of great men but shun it so As marriners doe stormes which thou might'st see When thou didst crosse the Sea to Sicilie Rash pilots value not the South-wind's threats Which the Sicilian Sea with fury beats And forces in to whirle-pooles They forbeare The left hand-shore and to the other stere Nearer Carib des where the waters roare But the more warie they inquire before Of men that know the place of tide and wether And shun the place where whirl-winds meet together Heer 's the condition of a wiseman hee Avoyds the place that dangerous may be But with this caution not to have it thought He does avoyd it Safety much is wrought By seeming not to seeke it purposely For we accuse the power that we doe flie Wherefore we must our thoughts to this inure How from the people we may be secure To doe which first le ts shun whats'ever stirs Great emulation 'mong competitors Next let us not be Lords of any thing That to the spoyler may great profit bring How smal's the bodie 's spoyle none will pursue Man's bloud for that meer cause or very few Gain more then hatred moves A thiefe le ts goe An empty traveller A poore man though He be beset is safe From three things then According to the rules of ancient men We must take speciall care our lives t'exempt From hatred and from envy and contempt How this may be wisdome alone will show For ther 's a middle way though hard to know Whereby into contempt wee may not run While we the feare of envy seeke to shun Nor while we would avoyd suspition To make our selves fit to be trod upon Some ' cause they may be fear'd to feare have cause We must be circumspect for either draws An equall danger Let us therefore flie For our own safeguard to Philosophy This not with good men onely but with such As are not wholly bad will grace us much For Oratorie and what else invites The peoples favour have their opposites This which is peacefull and its own worke minds Can nere be scornd but from all science finds A due regard even from the worst that are For wickednesse can never run so far Nor ever against vertue so conspire But that Philosophie will keepe intire It's name and honour alwayes with this tie That it be handled calmly and modestly But what did Cato then phlosophise Calmely and modestly when his advise Oppos'd a civill war when he between Two potent princes arm'd with rage and spleen Did intercede and who when some contended With Caesar some with Pompey both offended It is a question whether it were fit For a wiseman then at the helme to fit What meanst thou Marcus Cato the contest Is not for liberty that was supprest Long since the strife is whether now We shall to Caesar or to Pompey bow What 's this to thee thou hast therein no share We must receive a Prince what need'st thou care Which shall be he the better cannot gaine The conquest he that shall at length be faine To yield may be the worse he cannot be The better that obtaines the victorie I heere on Catoes latter yeares do touch But truely neither were his former such That a wise man might be admitted to That rapine which was like the state t' undoe What else did Cato then but cry aloud Throwing forth empty wordes when in the crowd Of people he was spit on and abus'd And when he to be carry'd forth refus'd They drag'd him from the Senate house at last And after all him into prison cast We 'll shew in time whether a wiseman may Suffer his labour to be cast away In the meane while I bid thee looke upon Those who from publicke businesses have gon To order their own lives and without a we Of power to bring mankind to reasons law A wise man publicke manners never flies Nor drawes the people
is therefore fit for us T' instruct as well as learne that we may grow Mutually helpfull Mean time ' cause I owe To thee a dayly cent accept a boone That I receiv'd to day from Hecater Dost thou inquire what I have gain'd said he I 've learn'd a friend to my own selfe to be For he improves and cannot bee alone A friend t' himselfe is so to ev'ry one EPIST. VII DOst thou inquire what thou shouldst chiefly shun The multitude Thou mightst a hazard run If thou shouldst venture on it yet For I Must needs acknowledge this infirmitie The manners which I carry with me thither I bring back seldome For I finde that either Some thing 's disturb'd which setled was before Or part of that returns I had giv'n-o're As some Diseases so our strength impaire That though we mend yet brought into the aire We presently relapse so happens it To us whose mindes after a tedious fit Are comforted for publick entercourse Renews our malady and makes it worse In a great multitude there is scarce one But by discourse or conversation Or by a dangerous example will When we least think on 't tempt us to some ill By how much greater the Assembly is So much the danger 's greater And know this That nothing does good manners more oppose Then to be present at our publick showes For Vices there in to us eas'lier steal By that delight And that I may reveale My meaning plainly I returne from thence More covetous more proud and more propense To Luxury Nay further I grow then More inhumane because I was with men Falling by chance upon a mid-day sight I look'd for sport and wit and that which might Afford some mild refreshment to mens eyes Which in the morning with strange cruelties Inhumanly were fed But loe I found The contrary For ev'ry former wound Was mercy Now all sport b'ing laid aside These are meer murthers no man does provide Any defence their bodies being quite Uncover'd not one stroke in vaine does light Yet many thither goe and like it far 'Bove common sword-fights or those shews that are Demanded by the people Would you know The cause here are no arms to save a blow What needs a Helmet or a Fencers skill Those delay death and make men slowly kill Men in the morning are to beasts expos'd And if they scape they are at noon inclos'd With fierce beholders who in sport ordaine Victors to be o're-come and slayers slaine The end is sword fire death and this is don But while there is an intermssiion Of other Spectacles and is excusd B'ing men condemn'd they ought to be so usd This deserves death for stealing that for killing But wretch what do'st thou merit to be willing To behold this to heare the people cry Strike burn and kill who pleasd with cruelty Are not ashamed to aske why this so fears To rush upon the sword why that forbeares To kill with daring confidence and why A third shewes such unwillingnesse to die Stroakes provoke wounds and every mutuall blow Lights on their naked brests and though the show Be intermitted rather than sit still And nothing see men must each other kill On then and find ill presidents sharp rods To them that make them thank th' immortall gods That you with so much industry have sought To make him cruell who cannot be taught A tender wit and not accustom'd much To constant wayes must be withdrawn from such Publick assemblies For what many doe T' will be soone and easily brought unto In frequent meetings where are various And different minds Cato and Laelius And Socrates himselfe might have bin shaken And therefore none of us though we have taken Strong resolutions can withstand the lewd Temptations of a vicious multitude For one example either of avarice Or prodigality will much intice One curious guest will make us by degrees Effeminate and wanton He that sees His neighbour rich grows covetous and none Can entertaine a lewd companion But he though honest will bee quickly tainted What therefore will they be who are acquainted With multitudes or what secure defence Can there be made gainst publick violence Thou must perforce or imitate or shun But neither of them both ought to be don Lest thou grow like the bad because th' are many Or many oppose because th' art not like any Into thy selfe in what thou mayst retire Keepe company with those that do desire To make thee better and those men admit Whom thou maist mend and to thy manners fit These things are mutually perform'd and men Learn while they each There is no reason then That thou to shew thy knowledge shouldst dispute Or publickely repeat That well might sute If thou wert like the people but ther 's none Will understand thee if perchance some one Or other there be found desires to learne Him thou must forme thy meaning to discerne But thou wilt say for whom or to what use Learnd I those things there needs not an excuse Of labour lost the fruit of all thy paines In what th' hast learnd to thine owne use remaines Yet lest that I should seem t' have learnd to day But to my selfe I will before thee lay Three worthy sentences all which commeare Our present purpose one whereof shall cleare The debt this letter owes thee th' other two Shall likewise pay a debt before 't is due That of Democritus shall first be shown One is as all to me and all as one He also whosoe're he was said well For who the Authour was we cannot tell This question being ask'd him to what end Those Sciences which few could apprehend He studi'd with such industry To mee Few are enough or one or none said he The third is noble Epicurus writ To one of the companions of his wit And us'd these words I send these things to thee Not unto many for t' each other we Are a full Theatre I thee advise To hoord Lucilius these thou 't then dispise The pleasures that are most approv'd What though Many commend thee thou art bound to owe Thy prayses to thy selfe If thou be'st one Whom many like thy inward goods make known EPIST. VIII THou bid'st me flie the rout saist thou and thence Departing rest with mine owne conscience Where are those Precepts then which recommend A life to us that must in action end What think'st thou I the mean while idle sit That I to others may bring benefit I both with-draw and shut my doors no day From me in idleness does pass away I also spend a good part of the night In studie and I seldome sleep invite But stay untill it seize on me and when My weari'd eies begin to close I then Continue them in action My recess Is not from men alone but businesses And chiefly from mine owne for I prepare The worke of future ages and declare What will to them bring prâ—fit I present In writing admonitions which are meant As safe and wholesome medicines which
brought As an example or a guardian For as I say 't is needfull t' have a man After whose manners we our own may square Without a rule faults uncorrected are EPIST. XII WHer ' ere I goe signes of my age appeare I com into my countrey house and there Complaine of the expence which the decayes Are like to put me to my Bayliefe says The fault is not in him he to uphold The thing does what he can but th' house is old This house I built what fate doe I lie under When walls of mine own age thus fall in sunder The next occasion I take to chide I frowning say it cannot be denied These plane-trees are neglected for they beare No leaves their drie bowes shrivell ev'ry where How full of mosse their bodies are no doubt This could not be had they been dig'd about And water'd Straight way by my Gemins he Protests and swears there wants no industrie To make them thrive But to prevent my rage Tells me the cause of fading is their age These trees I planted and first saw them grow What difference then tweene us to th' gate I goe Aske whos ' this so decreped and decayd And at the dore as dead men are is layd For he the potter was whence came he why Do'st thou take care of strangers corps say I. But he replies sir doe not you me know I 'm he on whom you used to bestow So many fairings I Felicius am Phylositus the Bayliefs son the same That made you sport This dotard sure mistakes Say I turnes child and childish pastime makes And it is very likely his teeth too Fall from his gums as childrens use to doe I owe this to my country house that I My old age whereso'ere I looke descry Let 's then embrace and love it for 't is fraught With pleasure if we use it as we ought Apples are best when they are almost gon And childhood is most comely when 't is don Wine-drinkers in the last carouse delight That drowne their cares inebriat's them out-right All pleasure reserves that which is most sweet Untill the last and we our age may greet With no small joy at least if that age be Declining not decrepid though I see Even such as stand upon the utmost brink Of life their pleasures have or we may think To need no pleasure serves in stead of pleasure Do ubtlesse to banish lusts hath no small measure Of sweetness But thou 't say it irksome is T' have death before our eyes I answer this Ought ever to be lookt upon as well By yong men as by old Death does not tell The yeers of men nor summon by a role None is so old but he without controle May hope to live a day and yet a day Is a degree of life our whole age may Be found by observation to consist Of parts which many orbes together twist One whereof all begirts which we may call Our birth day reaching to our funerall Another the full space of youth unfolds And one our childhood in it's circle holds Ther 's then a yeare in which all times inclos'd Whereof b'ing multiply'd our lives composd A month hath a lesse orbe a day the least Yet this begins and ends from East to West And therefore Heracletus whose known marke Was from darke sayings to be called darke Was wont to say one daye 's the same withall This hath by sundry men had severall Interpretations he sayd it was The same in houres and that for truth must passe Because if from a day the time proceeds Of four and twenty houres all dayes must needs Be equall in themselves for the night hath That which the day hath lost Another saith One day is equall in similitude To all The longest time cannot include More then one day light darkenesse and Th' alternate course by which the world does stand Longer or shorter makes no difference For there is still the same circumference We therefore all our dayes must so dispose As if we finisht and compleated life like those Who use in armies to bring up the reare Pacuvius who by abiding there Made Syri'a his owne countrey when with wine And funerall Feasts he usd t'inshrine From supper to his chamber borne with rites And lewd applause of his stale catamites Causd this to be with aery musick sung He ' hath liv'd he ' hath livd and thus his whole house rung What he with an ill conscience did we may Do with a good and blith and jocond say As oft as we our selves to sleepe present I' have liv'd and past the time that nature lent If God be pleasd to ad another day We should receive it thank efully and may A count him very happy and a man Fixt in th' injoyment of himselfe that can Expect the morrow without anxious care Whosoere says I have lived does prepare To rise next day to profit t is fit now I finish my Epistle But sayst thou Shall it to me without advantage come Feare not it shall bring some Why said I some Much. For what words more excellentcan be Than these which I give him to send to thee To live in need is ill but 't is agreed Ther 's no necessity to live in need Why should I not say none since ev'ry where The way to liberty is short and cleare Thankes be to God no man is forc't to live We to necessity it selfe may give The law But thou wilt say this came From Epicurus why do'st thou lay claime To what 's anothers what is true is mine His sayings I 'll inculcate with designe T' have such as so ingage to men that they Value their persons more then what they say In the assurance of this truth to rest Those things belong to all which are the best EPIST. XIII I Know thou hast much courage for I find That even before I seasoned thy mind With precepts which are wholsome prevaile Against adversity thou didst not faile To satisfie thy selfe ' gainst fortune's power And much more then when she began to lower And made thee come to handy blows whereby Thou hadst occasion thy strength to try For as we never can be confident Till threatning dangers sundry feares present And sometimes set upon us So the stout And constant mind resolving to cast out All base subjection to anothers will Is trie'd by danger that 's the touch-stone still He is not like the combate to make good That hath no scars He who hath oft lost bloud And in the fight grated his teeth and though Repulsd hath rush'd againe upon his foe He who though often falling letting not His courage fall as often up hath got Will enter with more confidence the list Then let me in this similie persist Fortune hath oft lay'n heavy on thee yet Thou didst not yield but alwayes from her get Returning with more courage vertue thrive's By provocation and by wounds revives Yet if thou thinkst it meet from me accept Some aide by which thou 't
be in safety kept There are Lucillus may things which scare Rather then hurt most of our dangers are More in conceit then truth to thee I speake Not the strong words of Stoicks but more weake For we say all those things which do wring forth Howlings and groanes are slight and little worth Le ts passe by these great words though good Gods true I wish that thou wouldest onely this pursue Not to anticipate thy ill or make That iminent which nere perhaps will take Effect at least is not already come Some things more trouble us than they ought som Before they ought some other things perplex us Extreamely which ought not at all to vex us We griefe augment or faine or else forestall As for that other which 'tweene us does fall In question we 'll defer it what I deem To be but light thou heavy wilt esteeme For some I know under the whip will smile And others at one buffet groanes the while But whether these things from their owne strength flow Or from our weakeness wee 'l herafter show Mean time do thou but this when any shall Seeke to perswade thee thou art wretched call Thy reason to thee and consider well What thou dost feele and not what others tell Say to thy selfe with patience who knowest best Thine owne condition why have these exprest Such griefe for me why do they tremble so And feare to touch or to come neare as though Calamities infection did containe Does any hurt in what they feare remaine Is not the thing reputed to be ill Rather then so indeed be therefore still Ready t' interrogate thy selfe and say Whether do I without a cause give way To trouble and vexation doe I make That ill which is not what course shall I take Sayst thou to know if what disturbes my rest Be true or false to try that here 's a test We troubled are either at present things Or future or at both Sence easily brings A judgement of things present if unbound Thy body be and in thy power and sound And if no injury procures thy woe What future is thou afterward shalt know That is not this dayes worke But 't is expected How art thou sure the ill will be effected For we with jealousies much troubled are And that which oftentimes procures a warr Report will much more worke on each of us 'T is very true my deare Lucilius We quickly to opinions do adhere And question not the thing that causes feare Nor doe we shake it off but thereat tremble And turning so our backes we much resemble Those whom the dust made by a flocke of sheepe Drives from their tents or that are struck with deep Astonishment at some strange fable bred Among the vulgar without author spred False things I know not how do more molest Whereas the true within their measure rest Whatse'ver an uncertaine rumor sends Is subject to conjectures and depends On the construction of a fearefull mind And therefore Panick above other kind Of feares is carry'd on with violence Those without reason are this without sense Then let 's make further search Some future ill Is like t' ensue we are not sure it will How many ' unexpected things fall out How many ' expected are nere brought about But say they should heereafter chance Yet why Shouldest thou make hast to meet thy misery When ill does come thou soone enough wilt grieve In the meane time do thou the best believe What shall I gaine by thy credulity Time Many things may intervene whereby Th' approaching danger may be stopt or past Or else upon an others head be cast A raging fire hath opt away to flight And some have from a ruin'd house fal'n light Some from the stroake of death have been repriv'd And have the executioner furviv'd For even il-fortune hath it's levity It may or may not come And therefore I Advile thee while 't is not to thinke the best Oft-times when no true fignes do manifest Ensuing ill the mind vaine things pretends And either doubtfull wordes misapprehends Or when another is with us offended Conceives far more than is perhaps intended Not waighing how much anger hee does show But to what height an angry man may goe If feare be what it may there will be found No cause of life of misery no bound Let wisdome here assist by strength of mind Let 's now reject the feare whereof we find Apparent cause at least let errour chase Errour away and let hope feare displace Of those things which are feard ther 's none so sure But it is surer that what does procure Both feare and hope deceaves us Let us then Take care t' examine feare and hope and when All things are found uncertaine let us doe For our owne ease what w'have most mind unto And though there be more arguments of feare yet let us this course follow and forbeare To toyle and vex our selves and keepe this still Fixt in our minds thus most men though no ill They feele nor certaine are they ever shall Do ner'thelesse into distempers fall For no man makes resistance when he finds Feare once begin to trouble him or minds How to finde out the truth No man resorts To reason when his eares meet sad reports Or sayes the author's vaine and being vaine Does either vainely credit them or faine We yield up our beleife to what we heare And doubtfull things as they were certaine feare We keepe no moderation in our errour A scruple soone converts into a terror I am asham'd such language to devise And cherish thee with such slight remedies Let others say perhaps this will not be But thou what if it happen we shall see Whether it will or not 'T will come perchance For my behoofe death will my life advance Poyson made Socrates more great If wee The sword th'assertor of his libertie Wrest out of Cato's hand we then detract Much from the glory of so brave an act But too much time is in advising spent T' incourage thee is more expedient I doe not lead thee to those wayes which thwart Thy nature thou for these things framed art Then let not thy endeavours be forborne Thy innate gifts to cherish and adorne But I shall end my Letter now if I Set to the seale that is if I applie Some gallant phrase that to our use relates Follie 'mong other ills appropriates This also that it still begins to live If to the meaning of these words thou 't give Lucillius the best of men good heed Thou 'lt understand what sordid things proceed From the vaine thoughts of men who dayly mind New wayes of life and when even death they find Approaching they vaine hopes of life pursue Looke round about and thou shalt often view Old men that are prepar'd to venter on Long journeys businesse and ambition Yet nothing can be found of greater scorne Than an old man beginning to be borne I should not add an author to this speach But
that thou art not forc't thereto Nor wilt thou find more difficulty when 'T is alwayes done than when but now and then Let 's exercise though but against a stake And that heereafter Fortune may not take Us unprovided let our constant care Bee to make povertie familiar We more securely riches shall possesse When poverty we know brings no distresse The great voluptuous master Epicure Had certaine times when hunger he would cure Dispitefully to see if his full pleasure Did yet want any thing and in what measure And whether it were worthy to be sought With carefulnesse and with great labour bought For so he saies in certaine Letters sent To Poliaenus when the government Was in Charines where he does much boast His dinner did not a full farthing cost But Metrodor's a whole one who had not So far in that proficiency yet got Then wherefore should this diet not suffise Thy appetite when pleasure therein lies Yea pleasure that will constantly abide And will not often need to be suppli'd For although water and course batter fry'd Or crusts of barley-bread be things deny'd To be delightfull yet it is the height Of pleasure that we can therein delight And bring our selves to that which fortune can Though wicked not deny to any man The food allowd to prisners is more large And men condemnd are not by them whose charge It is to execute so stricktly fed Then what great courage in that mind is bred Which of its one accord to that descends Which they feele not whom th' utmost woe attends This is t'anticipate the stroakes of fortune Wherefore Lucilius let me tree importune Now to begin these men to imitate And to designe some dayes thine owne estate So to neglect that thou maist suffâ—r want With povertie learn to be conversant My friend take courage riches to despise And worthily to God-like honour rise For no man can resemble God but he Who contemnes riches I forbid not thee To possesse wealth but I would have thee beare It so as to possesse it without feare Which thou wilt doe if thou canst be assurd That happinesse without wealth is procurd If thou on riches shalt so cast thine eye As if they were to depart presently But I must now to a conclusion grow But first thou 't bid me pay thee what I owe. I 'll thee assigne to Epicurus he Shall reckon and thy paymaster shall be From extreame anger madnesse does ensue Thou needs must understand this to be true Since thou findst thy condition to be so That thou hast both a servant and a foe This passion workes on all men and does move Not only from malignity but love Not onely from things serious but from small And things of sport Nor is' t materiall From how great cause it comes but in what mind It falls For as no difference we find In what proportion fire is thrown but where For we may cast the greatest without feare On wet or sollid places where as drie And combustible matter suddenly Will feede a sparke into a ruine So My deare Lucilius anger that does goe On in a violence will soone engage It selfe into a mad and franticke rage We then as well for health's sake this must shun As not into intemperance to run EPIST. XIX AS often as I read thy letters I Rejoyce am with good hope fild thereby For they in thy behalfe not onely make A promise to me but doe undertake On then I thee entreat finish thy taske For there is nothing I can better aske Of any friend then for him make request Steale if thou canst from cares if not th' hast best Snatch thy selfe off vve time enough have spent In vanities Let 's be in age content To pack up our commodities Then how Are we to blame w'have livd at sea let 's now Die in the port Yet thou shouldst not protense To get a publicke name by thy recesse Which thou must neither glory in nor hide For I 'll not seeke to draw thee so aside As our of hatefull sulsinesse to keepe No company but in some hole to creepe Let thy retirement then appeare to us But let it not become notorious Such as have yet no course of life begun May live obscure and all acquaintance shun But thou canst not the vigour of thy wit And learned eloquence adorning it Thy noble correspondencies have shown Thee to the open world th' art so well known That though thou shouldst resolve to lie conceald Thy worth by former things will be reveald Thou canst not live in darknesse wonted light Will find thee out where ere thou takst thy flight Without distate of any without blame From thine owne selfe thou quietness maist claime For what shalt thou forsake that thou canst say Is with ill will forsaken Clients they Doe not seek thee but something from thee Friends Friendship was value'd once it now contends For prey Will th'old-man whom thou dost forsake Alter his will the Client him betake T' an other gate no great thing can be bought At a cheape price Take this into thy thought Whether thou find'st they have relinquish'd thee Or some of those things which thy evills be I could have wish'd thou hadst remaind within The bounds of thine own birth and hadst not bin Raisd to that height a quick prosperity Far from a happy life hath placed thee Commands and governments and what depends Thereon and yet more honour thee attends Place after place what wilt thou have at last On what designe will thy vast hopes be cast Ere thou first still thy full desire thou 't gaine That cannot be for as there is a chaine Of causes whereto fate they say is knit So is there of desire and like to it One takes beginning from an others end To such a kind of life thou do'st descend As of it selfe can never come to checke Thy grievances Wherefore withdraw thy necke Worne with the yoake which to cut off is lesse Offensive than to let it still oppresse If thou t' a private life shalt have recourse All things will be much lesse yet will have force To fill abundantly whereas the most Now fetcht with charge from many a distant coast Will not suffice To which hast thou most mind In want t' abound or be in plenty pind Felicity both greedy is and must Be still exposd to others greedy lust As long as thou shalt unsuffys'd abide Others with thee will not be satisfy'd But how sayst thou shall I get off lay hold On any meanes Think with thy selfe how bold And rash for money thou hast often bin How diligent that thou might'st honour win Somthing must be attempted then for rest Or else thy dayly paines to manifest Thy care of this mans businesse now and then To performe civill offices to men Will force thee to grow old in toyle and dwell In miseries to which thou canst not tell Which way with modesty an end to give For what avails it that thy selfe wouldst live