W'b.cnHifPDrrAtes heud thefe wo~d.s, fo readily ~ttered without p~emeditationtodeclare theworlds varutte, full of ndiculous contraneue, bemade anfwer,That ncceflitie compelledmen tomany fuch aetions, ee diverswi!s cnful05 from divine perniiffion, that ~e might ll"Ot beidle, being nothing is fo odious to them as !lothand n~ltgence. Befides)mcn .cannot forefee future events, in this uncertaintie ot humane affaires;they would not fo marrie, if th~y could foretell the caufes of their diflikc ~nd feparation ·; or parents if they knew the houre of their childrw death, fo tenderly provide for them; or an husbandman fowe,ifhee thought there would be no increafe; or a merchant adventure to fca; if bee fore-faw ihipwrack l or be a Magifirate·, if prefentlf to bee depofed. Alas;"vorchy Democrifsu, everie man hopes the befi,and tci that end he dot!'! it, and therefore no fuch caufe, or ridiculous occafion of laughter. : . . . . . . , Dtmocritus hearing this poore excufe, laughedagain aload, perccl. ving hewhollymiflookhim,and did ootwelunderllandwhathee had faid concerning j>erturbations and tranquillitie oftheminde. Infomuch; that if men would governe their actions by difcretion and providence, they would tl5r declare themfelves fooles as now they doe, and hee lhouldhavenocaufe of laughter; but(quoth hee) they !well in this life, as if they were immortall and demi.'gods, for wantofunderfianding. It wereenough tomake themwife,ifthey would bur confiderthc murabilitie of rhis.world;and how it whee!es.about, nothingbeing firm and fure. He thatls now above, tomorrow 1s beneath; he chat fate oti this fide to day' tomorrow-is hurled oilthe other : and not confidering thefematters, they fall into rnany inconveniences and troubles, coveting things ofno profir,and thirfiing after them,tumbling headlong into ma~ ny calamities .So that ifmen would attempt no more thenwhat they can bear, they lhouldlead contented lives,and learning to know themfelves, £ . • would limit their ambition~ 1 they would perceive then ~hat N arure harh fi•~~~fJ'.!/; enough without feeking fuch fuperfluities, & unprofitable things, which cuMquc ._.,;. bring nothing with them bur griefe and moleflation, As a fat bodie is plus,pauJtri<" morefubject to difeafes, fo ~re rich inen to abfurdities and fooleries, to ";''fi.;,;i::;;. manycafualries and croife inconveniences. Therearemany chat take no""' iocipi•, · heedwhat happen~th to others by bad converfati<:>n,and therefore over-~~~,;:,z~::.~ th~ow themfelves m the fame manner through their qwn fault, not fore- Hot. feemg dangers mamfefl. Thefeare things ( 0 more then mad,quoth hee) g A/fur.,. that givemematter ?f laughter,by fuffering the pains of your impieties, J."!' 1~/:;.'"11 as your avance, env1e, malice, enormous villanies, mutinies, unfatiable ~ulpc,. delires, confpiracies,and other incurable vices; belides yourgdiffimula- E:, cum 'IJUit• · - dL ·li b . · · . ' P•r·'"' pamco tlon ~ ~·YP?CtJ 1e, earmg deadly hatred one to rhe other, and yet ilia. ""'Pi""'"'· ·. dowmg it With agood face, flying OUt intO all filthy lufis, and tranfgref- Crctit""- fions of all laws~ .both of natur~ and civilitie. Many things which they ~~Ijf,'i.!,:; have left off,after awhile they (all to againe, husbandrie,navigation;and <£>~M•r . "' '"' leave agam,fickleand unconfiant as they are.When they are young,they ~":.~f~{;; would be ?Id, a.nd old, young. h Ptin,es commend a pnvare life, pri- dcd<rit1Jtfl.fire Vatc men Jtch after honour : aMaoifirate commends aquiet life aquiet uj«mt, •114 man would bee in his office, and gbeyed as heis: and whatiuhe caufe ;:~=~ ... ~ D - ~ . - f
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