Advancement of Learning 159 



refrain their mind in prcecipitio, and could give unto the 

 mind, as is used in horsemanship, the shortest stop or turn. 1 



Lastly, it censureth the tenderness and want of applica 

 tion in some of the most ancient and reverend philoso 

 phers and philosophical men, that did retire too easily 

 from civil business, for avoiding of indignities and perturba 

 tions : whereas the resolution of men truly moral ought to 

 be such as the same Gonsalvo said the honour of a soldier 

 should be, e teld crassiore, and not so fine as that every 

 thing should catch in it and endanger it. 



To resume private or particular good ; it f alleth into the 

 division of good active and passive : for this difference of 

 good, not unlike to that which amongst the Romans was 

 expressed in the familiar or household terms of promus 

 and condus, is formed also in all things, and is best disclosed 

 in the two several appetites in creatures; the one to pre 

 sent or continue themselves, and the other to dilate or 

 multiply themselves; whereof the latter seemeth to be 

 the worthier : for in nature the heavens, which are the more 

 worthy, are the agent; and the earth, which is the less 

 worthy, is the patient. In the pleasures of living creatures, 

 that of generation is greater than that of food; in divine 

 doctrine, beatius est dare quam accipere, 2 and in life, there 

 is no man s spirit so soft, but esteemeth the effecting of 

 somewhat that he hath fixed in his desire, more than 

 sensuality; which priority of the active good, is much 

 upheld by the consideration of our estate to be mortal 

 and exposed to fortune. For if we might have a perpetuity 

 and certainty in our pleasures, the state of them would 

 advance their price: but when we see it is but magni 

 cestimamus mori tardius? and ne glorieris de crastino, nescis 

 par turn diei* it maketh us to desire to have somewhat 

 secured and exempted from time; which are only our 

 deeds and works : as it is said opera eorum sequuntur eos. 5 

 The pre-eminence likewise of this active good is upheld by 

 the affection which is natural in man towards variety and 

 proceeding; which in the pleasures of the sense, which is 

 the principal part of passive good, can have no great latitude : 



1 Diog. Laert. Vita Diogenis, see Ellis and Spedding s edition in 

 loco. 



2 Acts xx. 35. 3 Sen. Nat. Quasi, ii. 59. 

 4 Prov. xxvii. I. 5 Revel, xiv. 13. 



