CHAP. XXIII.
* 1.1BEsides this, that euery future thing is vncertaine, and the way to the worse is more assured: it is easier for vs to ascend to heauen, whereas our mindes are quickly dismissed from humane con∣uersation. For they haue gathered lesse drosse and ordure, and being deliuered, before which were confused and ouerwhelmed with the meditation of earthly things, they are more light to flie backe againe to their originall; and more easily ouerpasse all that which may hinder them. For neuer did great wits take pleasure to remaine in their earthly prisons, they are glad to forsake them, and breake thorow them: these so strict limits are dis∣pleasing to them, being accustomed to raise themselues aboue the heauens, and to contemne from aboue all humane and base things. Thence is it that Plato crieth, That a wise mans minde is wholly intended vpon death, that this he willeth, this he meditateth, that he is alwayes possessed with this desire, when he beholdeth exterior things. What thoughtest thou, Marcia, when thou sawest a yong man reple∣nished with aged wisedome, a minde triumphing ouer all pleasures, reformed, deuoid of vice•• rich without auarice, raised to honor without ambition, desi∣rous to haue pleasures without dissolution to keepe him long time? What soe∣uer hath attained his perfection hasteth to his end. Perfect vertue retireth it selfe and vanisheth from our eyes: neither do the fruits expect their Autumne, that are ripe in Summer. The fire the more it shineth, the sooner is it extin∣guished, and that lasteth longest which being mixed with a moist matter and hard to kindle, and smothered in smoke, shineth thorow the smother. For that which nourisheth it, as it were by constraint, is the cause it continueth more long time. So good spirits, the more famous they are, the shorter they liue. For whereas there is no place of encrease, there decrease is the nearer. Fabianus said, and our predecessors also haue seen it, that there was an infant at Rome, as great as an absolute man, but he liued not long, and euery one that had iudge∣ment was of opinion that hee should die shortly. For he could not encrease so much in yeares, as hee had attained by his stature. So maturitie is a token of imminent ouerthrow, and the end aproacheth where encreases are con∣summed.