gnissimum putent? Minime. Neque enim
uile quiddam contemnendumque est quod adipisci omnium fere mortalium
laborat intentio. An in bonis non est numeranda potentia? Quid igitur? Num
imbecillum ac sine uiribus aestimandum est, quod omnibus rebus constat esse
praestantius? An claritudo nihili pendenda est? Sed sequestrari nequit quin
omne quod excellentissimum sit id etiam uideatur esse clarissimum. Nam non
esse anxiam tristemque beatitudinem nec doloribus molestiisque subiectam
quid attinet dicere, quando in minimis quoque rebus id appetitur quod
habere fruique delectet? Atqui haec sunt quae adipisci homines uolunt eaque
de causa diuitias, dignitates, regna, gloriam uoluptatesque desiderant quod
per haec sibi sufficientiam, reuerentiam, potentiam, celebritatem,
laetitiam credunt esse uenturam. Bonum est igitur quod tam diuersis studiis
homines petunt; in quo quanta sit naturae uis facile monstratur, cum licet
uariae dissidentesque sententiae tamen in diligendo boni fine consentiunt.

II.

Then, for a while looking steadfastly upon the ground, and, as it were,
retiring herself to the most secret seat of her soul, she began in this
manner: "All men's thoughts, which are turmoiled with manifold cares,
take indeed divers courses, but yet endeavour to attain the same end of
happiness, which is that good which, being once obtained, nothing can be
further desired. Which is the chiefest of all goods, and containeth in
itself whatsoever is good, and if it wanted anything it could not be the
chiefest, because there would something remain besides it which might be
wished for. Wherefore, it is manifest that blessedness is an estate
replenished with all that is good. This, as we said, all men endeavour
to obtain by divers ways. For there is naturally ingrafted in men's
minds an earnest desire of that which is truly good; but deceitful error
withdraweth it to that which falsely seemeth such. So that some,
esteeming it their greatest good to want nothing, labour by all means to
abound with riches; others, deeming that to be good which is most
deserving of honour, hunt after preferments, to be respected by their
fellow-citizens. Others think it the greatest felicity to have great
power and authority, and these will either reign themselves or at least
procure to be great with princes. But they who think fame better than
all these, make all speed possible to spread their names far and near,