SIR WALTER RALEIGH
Conclusion of his History
[History Of the World]
By this which we have already set down, is seen the beginning and end of the three first Monarchies of the world; whereof the founders and the erectors thought that they could never have ended. That of Rome, which made the fourth, was also at this time almost at the highest. We have left it flourishing in the middle of the field; having rooted up, or cut down all that kept it from the eyes and admiration of the world. But after some continuance, it shall begin to lose the beauty it had. The storms of ambition shall beat her great boughs and branches one against another. Her leaves shall fall off, her limbs wither, and a rabble of barbarous nations enter the field and cut her down.
Now these great Kings and conquering Nations have been the subject of those ancient histories, which have been preserved and yet remain among us: and withal of so many tragical poets as, in the persons of powerful Princes and other mighty men, have complained against Infidelity, Time, Destiny; and most of all, against the Variable Success of Worldly Things and Instability of Fortune.
To these undertakings, these great Lords of the World have been stirred up, rather by the desire of Fame, which plougheth up the air and soweth in the wind; than by the affection of bearing rule, which draweth after it so much vexation and so many cares. And that this is true, the good advice of CINEAS to PYRRHUS proves.
And certainly, as Fame hath often been dangerous to the living; so to the dead it is of no use at all, because separate from knowledge. Which were it otherwise, and the extreme ill bargain of buying this Lasting Discourse understood by
