XXII. 46] ‘THE SECOND BOOK. — 247 
without well-being is a curse, and the greater being the 
greater curse; and that all virtue is most rewarded, and 
all wickedness most punished in itself: according as the 
poet saith excellently: 
Que vobis, que digna, viri, pro laudibus istis 
Premia posse rear solvi? pulcherrima primum 
Dii moresque dabunt vestri, 
And so of the contrary. And secondly they ought to 
look up to the eternal providence and divine judgement, 
which often subverteth the wisdom of evil plots and 
imaginations, according to that scripture, He hath con- 
ceived mischief, and shall bring forth a vain thing. And 
although men should refrain themselves from injury and 
evil arts, yet this incessant and Sabbathless pursuit of 
a man’s fortune leaveth not tribute which we owe to 
God of our time; who (we see) demandeth a tenth of 
our substance, and a seventh, which is more strict, of 
our time: and it is to small purpose to have an erected 
face towards heaven, and a perpetual groveling spirit 
upon earth, eating dust as doth the serpent, A/gue affigit 
humo divine particulam aure. And if any man flatter 
himself that he will employ his fortune well, though he 
should obtain it ill, as was said concerning Augustus 
Cesar, and after of Septimius Severus, Zhat either they 
should never have been born, or else they should never have 
died, they did so much mischief in the pursuit and ascent 
of their greatness, and so much good when they were 
established; yet these compensations and satisfactions 
are good to be used, but never good to be purposed. 
And lastly, it is not amiss for men in their race toward 
their fortune, to cool themselves a little with that conceit 
which is elegantly expressed by the Emperor Charles the 
Fifth, in his instructions to the king his son, Zhat fortune 
