Out of these inconveniences
arises naturally one more, which is, that no greatness can be
satisfied or contented with itself: still, if it could mount up a
little higher, it would be happy; if it could but gain that point,
it would obtain all its desires; but yet at last, when it is got up
to the very top of the peak of Teneriffe, it is in very great danger
of breaking its neck downwards, but in no possibility of ascending
upwards into the seat of tranquillity above the moon. The first
ambitious men in the world, the old giants, are said to have made an
heroical attempt of scaling Heaven in despite of the gods, and they
cast Ossa upon Olympus and Pelion upon Ossa, two or three mountains
more they thought would have done their business, but the thunder
spoiled all the work when they were come up to the third storey;
And what a noble plot was crossed,
And what a brave design was lost.
A famous person of their offspring, the late giant of our nation,
when, from the condition of a very inconsiderable captain, he had
made himself lieutenant-general of an army of little Titans, which
was his first mountain; and afterwards general, which was his
second; and after that absolute tyrant of three kingdoms, which was
the third, and almost touched the heaven which he affected; is
believed to have died with grief and discontent because he could not
attain to the honest name of a king, and the old formality of a
crown, though he had before exceeded the power by a wicked
usurpation.
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