us again to put on our poor and simple scholar's habit, and to send us to our gallery and school of philosophy.
What should hinder us, then, but that we may follow the examples of these men. Art thou deprived and put out of some public office or magistracy which thou didst exercise? Go and live in the country; there follow thine own business, and ply thy private affairs. Hast thou made suit and great means to be entertained in the court, and to wind into special favour with some prince and potentate, and after all thy travail suffered repulse? Well, thou shalt live privately at home, without danger, without trouble. Again, Art thou entered into action, and dost thou manage state affairs, wherein thou hast cares enough, and no time to breathe thyself?
The wholesome waters and hot bains
Do not so much allay our pains:
And if our limbs be dull or sick.
Refresh the same and make them quick:
As when a man himself doth see
Advanc'd to honour and high degree,
His glory, care and pain doth ease,
No travail then will him displease;
as Pindarus saith very well: Art thou in some disgrace, and cast out of favour with reproach, by reason of some slanderous calumniation or envy? Thou hast a gale of forewind at the poop, which will soon bring thee directly to the Muses and to the academy; that is to say, to follow thy book and study philosophy: for this was Plato's help when he was in disfavour with Denys the Tyrant. And therefore one means this is (of no small importance) to work contentment in a man's mind; namely, to look back unto the state of famous and renowned persons, and to see whether they (haply) have not suffered the like at any time; as for example: Art thou discontented with thy childless estate, for that thy wife hath brought thee no children? Do but mark the kings of Rome, how there was not one of them that left the crown unto his son. Is it poverty that pincheth thee, so as thou art not able to endure it? Tell me which of all the Bœotians wouldest thou chuse to resemble sooner than Epaminondas? or what Roman wouldest thou be like unto rather than Fabricius? But say thy wife hath played false by thee, and made thee wear horns? Didst thou never read that epigram of King Agis at Delphos?
Ὑρᾶσ καὶ τραφερᾶσ[1] βασιλεὺσ Ἄγισ μ' ἀνέθηκεν
Agis, of sea and land a crowned king,
Gave me sometime a sacred offering.
- ↑ Not τρυφερᾶσ, as it is commonly printed, and according to which
