XX. 12.] THE SECOND BOOK. 193 



ought to be such as the same Consalvo 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. 



XXI. i. To resume private or particular good, it 

 falleth 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 crea 

 tures; the one to preserve 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. 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 mought have a perpetuity and certainty in our plea 

 sures, 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 partum diet, 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. The preeminence 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. Cogita quam- 

 diu eadem fcceris; cibus, somnus, Indus; per hunc circulum 







