to thunderbolt and dash into
pouder that proude height of theirs. It may be herein you will
agree with me, by reason of the examples wherewith both
histories, and mens memories are full. But say you, such at
least whome nature hath sent into the world with crownes on
their heads, and scepters in their hands: such as from their
birth she hath set in that height, as they neede take no paine
to ascend: seeme without controuersie exempt from all these
iniuries, and by consequence may call themselues happie. It may
be in deed they feele lesse such incommodities, hauing bene
borne, bred and brought vp among them: as one borne neere the
downfalls of _Nilus_ becomes deafe to the sound: in prison,
laments not the want of libertie: among the _Cimmerians_ in
perpetuall night, wisheth not for day: on the top of the Alpes,
thinks not straunge of the mistes, the tempests, the snowes, and
the stormes. Yet free doubtles they are not wh[en] the lightening
often blasteth a flowre of their crownes, or breakes their
scepter in their handes: when a drift of snowe ouerwhelmes them;
when a miste of heauines, and griefe continually blindeth their
wit, and vnderstanding. Crowned they are in deede, but with a
crowne of thornes. They beare a scepter: but it is of a reede,
more then any thing in the world pliable, and obedient to all
windes: it being so far off that such a crowne can cure the
maigrims of the minde, and such a scepter keepe off and fray
away the griefs and cares which houer about them: that it is
contrariwise the crowne that brings them, and the scepter which
from all partes attracts them. O crowne, said the Persian
Monarch, who knewe howe heauy thou sittest on the head, would
not vouchsafe to take thee vp, though he found thee in his way.
This Prince it seemed gaue fortune to the whole world,
distributed vnto men haps and mishaps at his pleasure: could in
show make euery man content: himselfe in the meane while freely
confessing, that in the whole world, which he held in his hand
there was nothing but griefe, and vnhappines. And what will all
the rest tell vs, if they list to vtter what they found? We will
not aske them who haue concluded a miserable life with a
dishonorable death: who haue beheld their kingdomes buried
before them, and haue in great misery long ouerliued their
greatnes. Not of _Dionyse_ of _Sicill_, more content with a
handfull of twigs to whip little children of _Corinth_ in a
schoole, then with the scepter,