CHAP. VIII.
ANd therefore neuer say, This man hath liued long: his white head, his wrinckled face imports the same; for whether he liued long or no thou knowest not: but long indeed I confesse, thou s••est that he hath beene. For how canst thou say that he hath sailed much, whom a cruell tempest takes immediately, as soone as he is out of the hauens mouth, & after much hurly-burly, much trauersing his way, and beating vp and downe, it brings him euen the selfe-same way backe to the hauen that euen now he went out of? This man hath not much sailed, but much hath he beene beaten. And here I often maruell much, when I see some men so earnestly desire rest and respite, the men that they desire it of being both so easie to be intreated, and so vnable to hinder it or keepe them from it: the thing in whose respect they wish for rest and leisure so greatly as they doe, doth much concerne them, I meane both the requester and the granter: the thing it selfe is Time, and yet they wish f••r it so coldly, or rather so indifferently, as if it were a thing of no value at all; so little doe they weigh the thing which yet in∣deede is most precious. And indeed this one thing greatly d••ceiueth them, be∣cause time is not subiect to their senses, nor is it easie by eye to iudge thereof; and therefore no man accounts more of it then of a very base matter, or rather a thing worthy no mans money. Euery new-yeares tide our Romanes vse to receiue gifts and presents of mightie men, in respect whereof they binde them∣selues to dance attendance on the giuers, to bestow their labour, their paine and diligence at anothers deuotion all the yeare after; no man valuing the time hee must bestow: for the same they vse and abuse many times so lauishly, as if in∣deed it cost them nothing. But if the meanest man amongst them should ch••nce to be sicke, if de••th come neerer then they were aware of, see what suit straight they make to the Physitian: or if they feare the punishment of death by law, see if they doe not offer gladly all the wealth they are worth, to redeeme their life, so diuers and so different be their desires•• And if it were as easie to say what yeares each man hath in future time to liue, as it is easie to tell you how many he hath liued already: how would some men tremble that should see so few yeares remaining; and how chary would they be in bestowing them? And yet notwithstanding contrariwise, it is an easie matter to order that we see is cer∣taine and more cause haue we to be charie of that, which we know not how soone it will be plenty. Nor are wee yet to thinke they know not what a jewell