e things are subiect, doth take
and cary them from them. Then fall they to cry, to weepe, and to
torment themselues, as little children that haue lost their
play-game, which notwithstanding is nothing worth. One cannot
perswade them, that mortall men haue any other good in this
world, but that which is mortall. They are in their owne
conceits not only spoyled, but altogither flayed. And for asmuch
as in these vaine things they haue fixed all their hope, hauing
lost them, they fall into despaire, out of the which commonly
they cannot be withdrawen. And which is more, all that they haue
not gained according to the accompts they made, they esteeme
lost: all that which turnes them not to great and extraordinary
profit, they accompt as damage: whereby we see some fall into
such despaire, as they cast away themselues. In short, the
recompence that Couetise yeelds those that haue serued it all
their life, is oftentimes like that of the Deuill: whereof the
ende is, that after a small time hauing gratified his disciples,
either he giues them ouer to a hangman, or himselfe breakes
their neckes. I will not heere discourse of the wickednes and
mischiefes wherevnto the couetous men subiect themselues to
attaine to these goodes, whereby their conscience is filled with
a perpetuall remorse, which neuer leaues them in quiet:
sufficeth that in this ouer vehement exercise, which busieth and
abuseth the greatest part of the world, the body is slaine, the
minde is weakened, the soule is lost without any pleasure or
contentment.

Come we to ambition, which by a greedines of honor fondly
holdeth occupied the greatest persons. Thinke we there to finde
more? nay rather lesse. As the one deceiueth vs, geuing vs for
all our trauaile, but a vile excrement of the earth: so the
other repayes vs, but with smoke and winde: the rewards of this
being as vaine, as those of that were grosse. Both in the one
and the other, we fall into a bottomles pit; but into this the
fall by so much the more dangerous, as at the first shewe, the
water is more pleasant and cleare. Of those that geue themselues
to courte ambition, some are great about Princes, others
commanders of Armies: both sorts according to their degree, you
see saluted, reuerenced, and adored of those that are vnder
them. You see them appareled in purple, in scarlet, and in cloth
of gould: it seemes at first sight there is no contentment in
the world but theirs. But men knowe not how heauy an o