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

¶Of Securitie. Cap. 30.

SEcuritie is an other parte of Forti∣tude,* 1.1 by which (after we haue cast in our mindes all inconueniences & knowe the wurst that can happen) we are quiet and without care. A notable vertue, and

and enemye vnto all those things which may strike a terror into the minde of mā. No cowarde or faint hart can possesse the same, and haue the quietnes of minde, whiche it brings, because that with the least blast of any sharp winde of aduersi∣tie, he is so out of hart, as he hath not po∣wer to go about any thing. Straungely haue the Philosophers written of this vertue. Cicero saith that those which are secure indeed, are in that same case whi∣ch they were in before their birth. They are so far from béeing troubled at any thing, that they are not which they séem to be, that is, though in body they are on the earth, yet their mindes are in heauē. In this Securitie of the minde haue ma¦ny Philosophers thought an happy life to consist. Democritus was the author of this opinion:* 1.2 whiche indéede is nothing els but that contemplatiue felicitie of whiche we made mention in the begin∣ning of this Book. Homer to expresse the excellencie of this vertue, faigneth those Elysian féeldes where the soules of the righteous abide,* 1.3 and he saith they are in the Ilands of Atlas, whiche we call the Fortunate or happy Ilands. Sertorius the Emperour hearing the fame of those

Ilands, was altogither minded to leaue his Empire, and consume his dayes in them: in whiche minde if he had remay∣ned,* 1.4 he had not so traitorously béen mur∣thered of Perpenna beeing inuited to a banquet.* 1.5 Sylla did prefer securitie of minde before princely authoritie, and therfore to leade a life frée from trouble, of his owne accorde gaue ouer his Dicta∣torship and became a priuate person. If Pompey the great had not beene more bent to y^e troubles of the world, thē y^e tran¦quilitie of minde,* 1.6 neither so much Ro∣man blood had béen shed nor had he dyed so miserably. Alexander one a time as∣ked of an Athenian Oratour what he could wish him to take in hand,* 1.7 or what was moste meet for his person to doo: the Orator (whiche I think was Phocian) answered that hee could wish him to di∣misse his men, breake vp his armie, and lede his life in securitie not to breke his braines about the taking of Castles, and bringing nations into seruitude. But A¦lexander would not hear that▪ yet if he had obeyed that counsail, his dayes had béene prolonged, and his death had not so tratourously béene sought of his fami∣liar fréend Antipater.

Therfore is it the parte of euery man to séek this vertue and part of Fortitude, if we desire to haue the good wil of men, and be glorified after this life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Securitie.
• * 1.2

  Democri∣tus.
• * 1.3

  Elysiicam pi. ••usulae fortuna∣tae. Sertorius.
• * 1.4

  Perpenna
• * 1.5

  Sylla.
• * 1.6

  Pompei{us} Magnus.
• * 1.7

  Alexāder.