THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 79 



in their mind, whereby they sometimes, as with sweet 

 dreams, solace themselves, and sweeten the miseries 

 of their life. But they that are Prometheus scholars, 

 are men endued with prudence, foreseeing things to 

 come, warily shunning and avoiding many evils and 

 misfortunes. But to these their good properties 

 they have this also annexed, that they deprive them 

 selves and defraud their genius of many lawful plea 

 sures, and divers recreations ; and, which is worse, 

 they vex and torment themselves with cares and 

 troubles, and intestine fears ; for being chained to the 

 pillar of necessity, they are afflicted with innume 

 rable cogitations, which, because they are very swift, 

 may be fitly compared to an eagle ; and those griping, 

 and, as it were gnawing and devouring the liver, 

 unless sometimes as it were by night, it may be they 

 get a little recreation and ease of mind, but so, 

 as that they are again suddenly assaulted with fresh 

 anxieties and fears. 



Therefore this benefit happens to but a very few 

 of either condition, that they should retain the com 

 modities of providence, and free themselves from the 

 miseries of care and perturbation; neither indeed 

 can any attain unto it but by the assistance of Her 

 cules, that is, fortitude and constancy of mind, which 

 is prepared for every event, and armed in all fortunes; 

 foreseeing without fear, enjoying without loathing, 

 and suffering without impatience. It is worth the 

 noting also, that this virtue was not natural to Pro 

 metheus, but adventitial, and from the indulgence of 

 another : for no in-bred and natural fortitude is able 



