the mind: so they are vtterly frustrate of
all frendship, euer iudged by the wisest the chiefe and
soueraigne good among men. Will you see it more clearely? Let
but fortune turne her backe, euery man turnes from them: let her
frowne; euery man lookes aside on them: let them once be
disroabed of their triumphall garment, no body will any more
knowe them. Againe, let there be apparelled in it the most
vnworthie, and infamous whatsoeuer: euen he without difficultie
by vertue of his robe, shall inherit all the honours the other
had done him. In the meane time they are puffed vp, and growe
proude, as the Asse which caried the image of _Isis_ was for the
honors done to the Goddesse, and regard not that it is the
fortune they carry which is honored, not themselues, on whome as
on Asses, many times she will be caried. But you will say: At
least so long as that fortune endured, they were at ease, and
had their contentment, and who hath three or foure or more
yeeres of happy time, hath not bin all his life vnhappie. True,
if this be to be at ease continually to feare to be cast downe
from that degree, wherevnto they are raised: and dayly to desire
with great trauaile to clime yet higher. Those (my friend) whome
thou takest so well at their ease, because thou seest them but
without, are within farre otherwise. They are faire built
prisons, full within of deepe ditches, and dungeons: full of
darkenes, serpents and torments. Thou supposest them lodged at
large, and they thinke their lodgings straite. Thou thinkest
them very high, and they thinke themselues very lowe. Now as
sicke is he, and many times more sicke, who thinkes himselfe so,
then who in deed is. Suppose them to be Kings: if they thinke
themselues slaues, they are no better: for what are we but by
opinion? you see them well followed and attended: and euen those
whome they haue chosen for their guard, they distrust. Alone or
in company euer they are in feare. Alone they looke behinde
them: in company they haue an eye on euery side of them. They
drinke in gould and siluer; but in those, not in earth or glasse
is poison prepared and dronke. They haue their beds soft and
well made: when they lay them to sleepe you shall not heare a
mouse stur in the chamber: not so much as a flie shall come
neere their faces. Yet neuertheles, where the countreyman
sleepes at the fall of a great riuer, at the noise of a market,
hauing no other bed but the earth, nor couering but the heauens