THAT VICE ALONE IS SVF∣ficient to make a man wretched.
HEabideth much who hath his bodie sold for a dowrie (as Euripides saith) to wit, small availes he hath thereby, and those verie uncer∣taine. But unto him who passeth not through much ashes, but a royall fire (as one would say) wherewith he is scorched and burnt round about, who continually draweth his winde thicke and short, [ 10] and is full of feare and sweat by trudging over sea for gaine, she gi∣veth in the end a certaine Tantalian riches (that is to say) such as he is not able to enjoy by reason of the continuall occupations where∣with he is encombred. For verie wisely did that Sicyonian who bred and kept a race of horses, when he gave unto Agamemnon the king of the Achaeans as a present, a notable swift mare for a courser, because he might be dispensed with, for going in warfare to Troy:
That unto Troy that stately towne, he might not with him go
To serve in armes; but stay at home, and rest there far from wo; [ 20]
Where he might live in solace much, enjoying all his owne,
For Jupiter in measure great, had wealth on him be stowne.
to the end, that he staying behinde at home, might roule and welter at ease in a depth of riches, and give himselfe much time and leasure for assured repose void of all paine and trouble. How∣beit our courtiers at this day, who would be esteemed men of action and great affaires, never ex∣pect untill they be called, but of themselves intrude and thrust their heads into princes courts and stately palaces, where they must watch, waite and give attendance in all dutifull service, with
[ 30] much paine and travell, to gaine thereby at last, a great horse, a faire chaine, or some such blessed favour.
Meane while the wife is left alone behind
In Phylace, and thinkes he is unkind
To leave her so: her face she rents and teares;
The house remaines halfe built, when he it reares.
and the husband is carried here and there wandring in the world, drawen on with certaine hopes which oftentimes in the end deceive him and worke his shame. But if peradventure he obtaine some thing that his heart desired, after a certaine time that he hath beene turned round about with the wheele of fortune, so long untill his head be dizzie, and mounted on high in the aire, he
[ 40] wisheth and seeketh nothing more than evasion and meanes to escape, deeming and calling those happie, who leade a private life, without exposing themselves to such perils: and they again repute him blessed and fortunate, seeing him so highly advanced above themselves. Thus in one word you see, how vice doeth dispose men unto all sorts of infelicitie, being of it selfe a perfect artisan of infortunity, and needs none instruments and ministers besides. As for other tyrants, who study nothing more, than to make those most wretched and miserable whom they pinch, doe mainteine executioners and tormentours, devise red-hot fearing yrons to burne, and invent racks and other instruments for to put the reasonlesse soule to extreame torture; but vice without any such preparation of engins, so soone as it seizeth upon the soule, presently o∣verturneth and bringeth it to ruine and destruction, filleth a man with dolour and griefe, with la∣mentations,
[ 50] sorowes and repentance. For a certaine proofe hereof, you shall see many endure to have their flesh mangled and cut, without saying one word; abide to be whipped and scour∣ged patiently; who being put to the racke and other tortures by their cruell masters or tyrants, will not give one screeke or crie, so long as the soule repressing the voice by reason, as with the hand keepeth it downe, and conteineth it from breaking out: whereas contrariwise, a man shall hardly or never command either anger to stay and be quiet, or dolour to be silent, no nor per∣swade him that is surprised with sudden feare to rest still, or one who is stung with remorse and