If for all this you like better
the substance of that former estate of life, do but consider the
inseparable accidents of both: servitude, disquiet, danger, and
most commonly guilt, inherent in the one; in the other, liberty,
tranquillity, security, and innocence: and when you have thought
upon this, you will confess that to be a truth which appeared to you
before but a ridiculous paradox, that a low fortune is better
guarded and attended than a high one. If indeed, we look only upon
the flourishing head of the tree, it appears a most beautiful
object.
- Sed quantum vertice ad auras
AEtherias, tantum radice ad Tartara tendit.
As far up towards heaven the branches grow,
So far the root sinks down to hell below.
Another horrible disgrace to greatness is, that it is for the most
part in pitiful want and distress. What a wonderful thing is this,
unless it degenerate into avarice, and so cease to be greatness. It
falls perpetually into such necessities as drive it into all the
meanest and most sordid ways of borrowing, cozenage, and robbery,
Mancipiis locopules, eget aris Cappadocum Rex. This is the case of
almost all great men, as well as of the poor King of Cappadocia.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116