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HE thata 1.1 did call riches, Bona Fortunae, did ra∣ther vtter his auaricious in∣clinatiō, then shew himselfe a good Philosopher, in ascri∣bing false goods to a false pa∣tron; for as there is no For∣tune to giue or guide riches, so there is no goodnes in thē; yet they are so necessary (e∣uen to good men) thatb 1.2 with∣out thē they can hardly put
their goodnesse or vertue in practice, Vertue in Pouertie beeing like vnto a goodly Ship readie rigg'd, but can∣not saile for want of wind.
After you haue informed your selfe of the true causes that make Riches necessa∣rie (the chiefe whereof are to supply your owne wants, and to inable you to doe good to others) if Riches come in your way, refuse them not, neyther desire them to other end, but to make them Slaues; and if neede bee, without griefe (with Socrates)d 1.3 throw them in the Sea. Perswade thy
selfe, if thou make them once Master, thou hast con∣demned thy self to thy own Gallies. It is a great madnes in a man, at once to make himselfe both Slaue and Foole: although thy Chains bee of Gold, thy bondage may bee more glorious, but not lesse miserable.
Lay not vp too much, and vtter nothing, lest thou be∣come couetous, and misera∣ble, neyther spend all, and lay vp nothing, lest thou be∣come prodigall and poore; euer framing rather youre 1.4 minde to your estate, then your estate to your minde, and your charges rather vnder it, then either leuell, or aboue; a man hauing meanes, may rise with cre∣dit, but cannot fall without shame.
Cass. l. 7 c. 5.
Haud facile emerguat quo∣rum virtutibus obstat res angu∣sta domi, Iuuc. Paupertatis v∣nicum incom∣modum habere sapientem, dixit Architas Philo∣sophus.
Eurip. in vita Socrat. Saepe mecum re∣putans, quibus∣quisque rebus clarissimi viri magnitudinem inuenissent, quae res, Populos, Na∣tiones, Ciuitates auxissent; ac deinde, quibus causis amplissi∣ma Regna, & Imperia corruis∣sent; ea∣dem semper bona, at{que} mala reperiebam: Omnes victores diuitias con∣tempsisse, & victos cupiuisse; ne{que} aliter excellere se quisquis, & diuina mortalis attingere potest, nisi amissis pecuniae & corporis gaudijs; & animo indulgens, non assentando neque concupita praebendo, sed in labore, patientia bonisque prae∣ceptis & factis fortibus, se exercitando, Val. Max.
Ʋt foelicitatis est quantum ve∣lis, posse: sic mag∣nitudinis, velle quantum possis, Plin. in Pane∣gyr. Constant.