OF FORTUNE
THE SUMMARY
[Long time hath this proverb been current, That there is nothing in this world but good fortune and misfortune. Some have expounded and taken it thus; as if all things were carried by mere chance and aventure, or moved and driven by inconstant fortune, an idol forged in their brain, for that they were ignorant in the providence of the True God, who conducteth ordinarily all things in this world by second causes and subaltern means, yea, the very motion, will, and works of men, for the execution of his ordinance and purpose. Now Plutarch, not able to arise and reach up to this divine and heavenly wisdom hidden from his knowledge, stayeth below; and yet, poor pagan and ethnic though he were, he confuteth that dangerous opinion of fortune; shewing that it taketh away all distinction of good and evil, quencheth and putteth out the light of man's life, blending and confounding vice and virtue together. Afterwards he proveth that prudence and wisdom over-ruleth this blind fortune, by considering the mastery and dominion that man hath above beasts: the arts also and sciences whereof he maketh profession, together with his judgment and will directly opposite and contrary to all casualties and changes.]
Blind fortune rules man's life alway,
Sage counsel therein bears no sway,
said one (whoever it was) that thought all human actions depended upon mere casualty, and were not guided by wisdom. What? and hath justice and equity no place at all in this world? can temperance and modesty do nothing in the direction and managing of our affairs? Came it from fortune; and was it indeed by mere chance that Aristides made choice to continue in poverty, when it was in his power to make himself a lord of much wealth and many goods? or that Scipio, when he had forced Carthage, took not to himself, nor so much as saw any part of all that pillage? And was it long of fortune, or by casualty that Philocrates having received of King Philip a great sum of gold, bought therewith harlots and dainty fishes? or that Lasthenes and Euthycrates betrayed the city Olynthus, measuring sovereign good and felicity of man by belly-cheer, and those pleasures which of all other be most dishonest and infamous? And shall we say, it was a work of fortune that Alexander, son of Philip, not only himself forbare to touch the
315
