the straw, nor the
nature of man so concealed, but at last it will have his course:
nurture and art may do much, but that _natura naturans_, which by
propagation is ingrafted in the heart, will be at last perforce
predominant according to the old verse:

Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.

So fared it with Saladyne, for after a month's mourning was passed, he
fell to consideration of his father's testament; how he had
bequeathed more to his younger brothers than himself, that Rosader was
his father's darling, but now under his tuition, that as yet they were
not come to years, and he being their guardian, might, if not defraud
them of their due, yet make such havoc of their legacies and lands, as
they should be a great deal the lighter: whereupon he began thus to
meditate with himself:

SALADYNE'S MEDITATION WITH HIMSELF

"Saladyne, how art thou disquieted in thy thoughts, and perplexed with
a world of restless passions, having thy mind troubled with the tenor
of thy father's testament, and thy heart fired with the hope of
present preferment! By the one thou art counselled to content thee
with thy fortunes, by the other persuaded to aspire to higher wealth.
Riches, Saladyne, is a great royalty, and there is no sweeter physic
than store. Avicen, like a fool, forgot in his Aphorisms to say that
gold was the most precious restorative, and that treasure was the most
excellent medicine of the mind. O Saladyne, what, were thy father's
precepts breathed into the wind? hast thou so soon forgotten his
principles? did he not warn thee from coveting without honor, and
climbing without virtue? did he not forbid thee to aim at any action
that should not be honorable? and what will be more prejudicial to thy
credit, than the careless ruin of thy brothers' welfare? why, shouldst
not thou be the pillar of thy brothers' prosperity? and wilt thou
become the subversion of their fortunes? is there any sweeter thing
than concord, or a more precious jewel than amity? are you not sons of
one father, scions of one tree, birds of one nest, and wilt thou
become so unnatural as to rob them, whom thou shouldst relieve? No,
Saladyne, entreat them with favors, and entertain them with love, so
shalt thou have thy conscience clear and thy renown excellent. Tush,
what words are these, base fool, far unfit (if thou be wise) for thy
humor? What though thy father at his death talked of many frivolous
matters, as one that doated for age