and conferreth to magnanimity, morality, and to delectation. And therefore it was ever thought to have some participation of divineness, because it doth raise and erect the mind, by submitting the shows of things to the desires of the mind; whereas reason doth buckle and bow the mind unto the nature of things.

Advancement of Learning, ii.

III.

The speech of Themistocles the Athenian, which was haughty and arrogant, in taking so much to himself, had been a grave and wise observation and censure applied at large to others. Desired at a feast to touch a lute, he said, "He could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town a great city." These words, (holpen a little with a metaphor,) may express two differing abilities in those that deal in business of estate. For, if a true survey be taken of counsellors and statesmen, there may be found, though rarely, those which can make a small state great, and yet cannot fiddle; as, on the other side, there will be found a great many that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so far from being able to make a small state great, as their gift lieth the other way; to bring a great and flourishing estate to ruin and decay. And, certainly, those degenerate arts and shifts, whereby many counsellors and governors gain both favour with their masters, and estimation with the vulgar, deserve no better name than fiddling; being things rather pleasing for the time, and graceful to themselves only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the state which they serve. Essays. (On Greatness of Kingdoms.)

GEORGE HERBERT.

I.

1593-1633.

HAVING observed in my time many of my friends, of excellent wit and noble disposition, overthrown and undone by intemperance, who, if they had lived, would have been an ornament to the world and a comfort to their friends, I thought fit to discover, in a short treatise, that intemperance was not such an evil but it might easily be remedied; which I undertake the more willingly because divers worthy young men have obliged me into it. For when they saw their parents and kindred snatched away in the midst of their days, and me contrariwise, at the age of eighty and one, strong and lusty, they had a great desire to know the way of my life, and how I came to be so. Wherefore, that I may satisfy their honest desire, and withal help many others who will take this into consideration, I will declare the causes which moved me to forsake intemperance and live a sober life, expressing also the means which I have used therein. I say, therefore, that the infirmities, which did not only begin, but had already gone far in me, first caused me to leave intemperance, to which I was much addicted; for by it and my ill constitution (having a most cold and moist stomach), I fell into divers diseases, to wit, into the pain of the stomach, and often of the side, and the beginning of the gout, with almost a continual fever and thirst.

Translation from Cornaro.

II.

I am continually in health, and I am so nimble, that I can easily get on horseback without the advantage of the ground, and sometimes I go up high stairs and hills on foot. Then, I am ever cheerful, merry, and well-contented, free from all troubles and troublesome thoughts, in whose place joy and

peace have taken up their standing in my heart. I am not weary of life, which I pass with great delight. I confer often with worthy men, excelling in wit, learning, behaviour, and other virtues. When I cannot have their company, I give myself to the reading of some learned book, and afterwards to writing; making it my aim in all things how I may help others, to the furthest of my power. All these things I do at my ease, and at fit seasons, and in mine own houses; which, besides that they are in the fairest place of this learned city of Padua, are very beautiful and convenient above most in this age, being so built by me according to the rules of architecture, that they are cool in summer and warm in winter.

Since, therefore, a temperate life is so happy and pleasant a thing, what remains but that I should wish all who have the care of themselves to embrace it with open arms.

Many things more might be said in commendation hereof; but lest in anything I forsake that temperance which I have found so good, I here make an end.

Translation from Cornaro.

III.

I enjoy also my gardens, and those divers, parted with rills of running water, which truly is very delightful. Some times of the year I enjoy the pleasure of the Euganean hills, where also I have fountains and gardens, and a very convenient house. At other times I repair to a village of mine, seated in the valley, which is therefore very pleasant, because many ways thither are so ordered that they all meet and end in a fair plot of ground, in the midst whereof is a church suitable to the condition of the place. This place is washed with the river of Brenta, on both sides whereof are great and fruitful fields, well manured and adorned with many habitations. In former time it was not so, because the place was moorish and unhealthy, fitter for beasts than men. But I

C

drained the ground and made the air good, whereupon men flocked thither, and built houses with happy success. By this means the place is come to that perfection we now see it is; so that I can truly say, that I have both given God a temple and men to worship him in it, the memory whereof is exceeding delightful to me.

Sometimes I ride to some of the neighbour cities, that I may enjoy the sight and communication of my friends, as also of excellent artificers in architecture, painting, stone-cutting, music, and husbandry, whereof in this age there is great plenty. I view their pieces, I compare them with those of antiquity; and ever I learn somewhat which is worthy of my knowledge: I survey places, gardens, and antiquities, public fabrics, temples, and fortifications; neither omit I any thing that may either teach, or delight me. I am much pleased also in my travels, with the beauty of situation. Neither is this my pleasure made less by the decaying dulness of my senses, which are all in their perfect vigour, but especially my taste; so that any simple fare is more savoury to me now, than heretofore, when I was given to disorder and all the delights that could be.

To change my bed troubles me not; I sleep well and quietly anywhere, and my dreams are fair and pleasant. But this chiefly delights me, that my advice hath taken effect in the reducing of many rude and untoiled places in my country, to cultivation and good husbandry. I was one of those that were deputed for the managing of that work, and abode in those fenny places two whole months in the heat of summer (which in Italy is very great), receiving not any hurt or inconvenience thereby so great is the power and efficacy of that temperance which ever accompanied me.

These are the delights and solaces of my old age, which is altogether well preferred before others' youth, because that by temperance and the grace of God, I feel not those purturbations of body and mind wherewith infinite both young and old are afflicted.

Translation from Cornaro.

BISHOP HALL. 1574-1656.

I.

AND this enmity, though it do not continually shew itself, as the mortallest enemies are not always in pitched fields one against the other; for that the conscience is not ever clamorous, but somewhile is silent, otherwhile with still murmurings bewrays his mislikes; yet doth evermore work secret unquietness to the heart. The guilty man may have a seeming truce; a true peace he cannot have. Look upon the face of the guilty heart, and thou shalt see it pale and ghastly; the smiles and laughters, faint and heartless; the speeches, doubtful and full of abrupt stops and unseasonable turnings; the purposes and motions, unsteady and savouring of much distraction, arguing plainly that sin is not so smooth at her first motions, as turbulent afterwards; hence are those vain wrangings of places and companies, together with ourselves; that the galled soul doth, after the wont of sick patients, seek refreshing in variety, and, after many tossed and turned sides, complains of remediless and unabated torment. Nero, after so much innocent blood, may change his bed-chamber; but his fiends ever attend him, ever are within him, and are as parts of himself. Alas, what avails it, to seek outward reliefs, when thou hast thine executioner within thee? If thou could'st shift from thyself, thou mightest have some hope of ease: now, thou shalt never want furies, so long as thou hast thyself.-Yea, what if thou would'st run from thyself? Thy soul may fly from thy body: thy conscience will not fly from thy soul, nor thy sin from thy conscience.

Heaven upon Earth, sec. iv.