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I Haue great Power.
Then hast thou also muche enuie.
I am of great power.
And also in muche peryll.
I am of very great power.
Thou art subiect also to infinite traueyles, and inex∣tricable
cares.
I may do much.
So much as thou mayest doo ouer other, so muche may other doo ouer thee.
I haue very much power.
The grea∣ter thy power is, the more empire fortune hath ouer it: she bestir∣reth her selfe but coldly in small thynges, she chooseth rather the more plentifull matter to exercise her selfe in. In a great pile of wood the flame rageth with fiercer noyse: great prosperitie pre∣pareth the way for great aduersitie. A man shall scarce finde one that is in miserable state in deede, that hath not before been in great prosperitie. The calamitie of an vnknowne man, can not be knowne.
Looke what I would do, the same I can do.
Take heede then that thou haue a wyll to doo no euyl: and knowe this, that the more power thou hast, so much the more businesse, and lesse libertie thou hast.
I am of great po∣wer.
Howe knowest thou whether it wyll continue? I am ashamed to set downe what men of power haue come to weakenesse, & what kinges haue been brought vnto infamous sla∣uerie. Ful of bryers & slipperie are the steppes of mans rising, the toppe is waueryng, the fall is horrible: the rysing to high degree is difficult, the continuing is carefull, the fall is soddayne and greeuous, whiche to be true, not only euery kyng and people, but also the greatest Empires doo testifite.
I am myghtie in armes and ryches.
True and firme power is founded vpon vertue: yf thou take away the foundation, the grea∣ter the buyldyng is, in the more daunger it is. What auayleth it to fyll houses with Ryches, fieldes with Mattockes, seas with Nauies, yf in the meane whyle houshold enimies besiege & ouer∣come the minde within? Wylt thou haue me graunt that thou art of power? Ouercome then those enimies, and dryue them out of thy boundes, subdue anger, couetousnesse, lust, yea, and thyne owne selfe, who art enimie to thine owne fame and soule. For what power is this, to subdue other by a mans owne passions?
My power is surely grounded.
How can that he when as your lyfe it selfe is dayly subiect to alteration? O thou weake creature, why doest thou swell? thou disputest of power, and in the meane whyle art in danger of thy lyfe, whiche sooner then a man can speake it, eyther some secrete force of nature, or the
bytyng of some lytle beast, or some most vyle and base person, hath often tymes taken away from the most mightie personages.
My power is very firmely established.
Where, I pray thee? vpon the sande and waues, or in the winde, or, as they say, vppon Fortunes wheele? Howbeit, my friende, lay downe this thy foolyshe confidence. Here is no power stable, and to vtter (though improperly) that which I thynke, here is no power, that is of power.