but himselfe, That is to say, let the rest be our owne: yet not so combined and glued toge∣ther, that it may not be sundred, without fleaing-vs, and therewithall, pull away some piece of our owne. The greatest thing of the world, is for a man to know how to be his owne. It is high time to shake-off societie, since we can bring nothing to it. And he that cannot lend, let him take heed of borrowing. Our forces faile-vs: retire we them, and shut them vp into our selves. He that can suppresse and confound in himselfe the offices of so many amities, and of the companie, let him doe it. In this fall, which makes vs, inutile, irksome, and impor∣tunate to others; let him take heed he be not importunate, irksome, and vnprofitable to himselfe. Let him flatter, court and cherish himselfe, and above all, let him governe him∣selfe, respecting his reason, and fearing his conscience, so that he may not without shame stumble or trip in their presence. Rarum est enim, vt satis se quis{que} vereatur. For it is a rare matter, that every man sufficiently should stand in awe and reuerence of himselfe. Socrates saith, That yong men ought to be instructed, and men exercised in well doing; and old men withdraw themselves from all civill and militarie negotiations, living at their owne discretion, without obligation to any certaine office. There are some complexions, more proper for these precepts of retreit than others. Those which have a tender and demisse apprehension, a squeamish affection, a deli∣cate will, and which can not easilie subject or imploy it selfe (of which both by naturall con∣dition and propense discourse, I am one) will better apply themselves vnto this counsell▪ then active minds, and busie spirits; which embrace all, every where engage, and in all things pas∣sionate themselves; that offer, that present, and yeeld themselves to all occasions. A man must make vse of all these accidentall commodities, and which are without vs, so long as they be pleasing to vs; but not make them our principall foundation: It is not so, nor reason, nor nature permit-it. Why should we against their lawes subject our contentment to the power of others? Moreover, to anticipate the accidents of fortune; for a man to deprive himselfe of the commodities he hath in possession, as many have done for devotion, and some Philosophers by discourse; to serve themselves, to lie vpon the hard ground, to pull out their owne eyes, to cast their riches into the Sea, to seek for paine and smart (some by tor∣menting this life, for the happinesse of another; othersome placing themselves on the lowest step, thereby to warrant themselves from a new fall) is the action of an excessive vertue. Let sternr and more vigorous complexions make their lurking glorious and exemplar.—tuta & parvula laudo,Hor lib. 1. epist. 15. 42. Cùm res deficiunt, satis inter vilia for tis: Verùm vbi quid melius contingit & vnctius, idem Hos sapere, & solos aio benè vivere, quorum Conspicitur nidis fundata pecunia villis.When riches faile, I praise the safe estate,Though small; base things doe not high thoughts abate.But when t's better, finer with me, IThey onely live well, and are wise, doe crie,Whose coine in faire farmes doth well-grounded lie.There is worke enough for me to doe without going so far. It sufficeth me vnder fortunes favour, to prepare my selfe for her disfavour; and being at ease, as ar as imagination may attaine vnto, to represent the evill to come vnto my selfe: Even as we enure our selves to Tilts and Tourneyes, and counterfeit warre in time of peace. I esteeme not Arcesilaus the Philosopher lesse reformed, because I know him to have vsed houshold implements of gold and silver, according as the condition of his fortune gave him leave, I rather value him the more, then if he had not done-it, forsomuch as he both moderately and liberally made vse of them. I know vnto what limits naturall necessitie goeth; and I consider the poore almes-man begging at my dore, to be often more plumb-checkt, in better health and liking then I am: Then doe I enter into his estate, and assay to frame and sute my mind vnto his byase. And so over-running other examples, albeit I imagine death, povertie, con∣tempt, and sicknesse to be at my heeles, I easilie resolve my selfe, not to apprehend any feare of that, which one of lesse worth then my selfe doth tolerate and vndergoe with such patience: And I can not beleeve, that the basenesse or shallownesse of vnderstanding, can doe more then vigor and far-seeing, or that the effects and reason of discretion, can not reach to the effects of custome and vs. And knowing what slender hold-fast these acces∣sorie 0