A philosophicall discourse, entituled, The anatomie of the minde. Nevvlie made and set forth by T.R.

¶Of Oblectation. Cap. 6.

A Familiar companion of Delectati∣on,* 1.1 is Oblectation: and therefore be∣cause they haue great affinitie, they shal immediatly one followe the other. It maye seeme by sounde, to be almost one with Delectation: but as in sounde they haue a difference, so in sense they are diuers, and one more generall then the other. For (as it is aboue sayd) Delec∣tation in the pleasure of the eare consi∣steth, but Oblectation stretcheth farder, and many wayes pleasureth a man. The Stoikes saye, that Oblectation is a certaine bending, or inclination of the mind, to a pleasure gently and sweete∣ly mollif••yng the minde. This Oblecta∣tion, except it be carefully restrayned by the raynes of reason, it so ouercommeth a man, that it makes him effeminate, and so spoyleth him of discretion, that his onely care and study is howe to fyll him selfe with pleasure, which is his chiefe felicitie.* 1.2 With this vice the Scythians were so ouercome, that in beastlynesse, they exceeded y^e brutish kinde. With this

vice was Sardanapalus so brought into slauery, that he could not be one minute without pleasure, whose poesie was Ede, bibe, lude post mortem nulla voluptas, whiche maye bee thus interpreted,

Eate drink, and passe the time with play, For mirth is none, when life is fled away.

But most shamefullye, dyd certayne Kinges and Princes of Asia,* 1.3 submitte them selues to this, more then brutishe Oblectation. For theyr custome was before any Maide of theyr Dominions could be maryed: fyrst to haue a syght of them, and, if it were theyr pleasures, to take from them the flowre of theyr Vir∣ginity. And the better to be delyghted▪ they had so warely enacted, that none durst marrie where hée fancied, except fyrst he had craued a speciall warrant from the Kinges person. It is therefore the duetie of euerye well disposed per∣son, by al meanes possible, to flye al pro∣uocations to this Oblectation: and espe∣cially at the begynning to sée to himself, for if they once come to a custome, they wyll easilye come to a habite and ha∣uing got an habite in pleasure, impos∣sible

it is almost to put it awaye and to be endued with vertue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Oblectati∣on.
• * 1.2

  Scythians. Sardanapa∣lus.
• * 1.3

  Asian King••