where with he had beaten all
_Sicill_: nor of _Sylla_, who hauing robbed the whole state of
_Rome_, which had before robbed the whole world, neuer found
meanes of rest in himselfe, but by robbing himselfe of his owne
estate, with incredible hazard both of his power and authoritie.
But demaund we the opinion of King _Salomon_, a man indued with
singuler gifts of God, rich and welthie of all things: who
sought for treasure from the Iles. He will teach vs by a booke
of purpose, that hauing tried all the felicities of the earth,
he found nothing but vanitie, trauaile, and vexation of spirit.
Aske we the Emperour _Augustus_, who peaceably possessed the
whole world. He will bewaile his life past, and among infinite
toiles wish for the rest of the meanest man of the earth:
accounting that day most happy, when he might vnloade himselfe
of this insupportable greatnes to liue quietly among the least.
Of _Tiberius_ his successor, he will confesse vnto vs, that he
holdes the Empire as a wolfe by the eares, and that (if without
danger of biting he might) he would gladly let it goe:
complayning on fortune for lifting him so high, and then taking
away the ladder, that he could not come downe agayne. Of
_Dioclesian_, a Prince of so great wisedome and vertue in the
opinion of the world: he will preferre his voluntary banishment
at _Salona_, before all the Romaine Empire. Finally, the
Emperour Charles the fifth, esteemed by our age the most happy
that hath liued these many ages: he will curse his conquestes,
his victories, his triumphes: and not be ashamed to confesse
that farre more good in comparison he hath felt in one day of
his Monkish solitarines, then in all his triumphant life. Now
shall we thinke those happie in this imaginate greatnes, who
themselues thinke themselues vnhappie? seeking their happines in
lessening themselues, and not finding in the world one place to
rest this greatnes, or one bed quietly to sleepe in? Happie is
he only who in minde liues contented: and he most of all
vnhappie, whome nothing he can haue can content. Then miserable
_Pyrrhus_ King of _Albanie_, who would winne all the world, to
winne (as he sayd) rest: and went so farre to seeke that which
was so neere him. But more miserable _Alexander_, that being
borne King of a great Realme, and Conqueror almost of the earth,
sought for more worlds to satisfye his foolish ambition, within
three dayes content, with sixe foote of grounde. To conclude,
are th