THE SECOND BOOK 169 



verting it into an occupation or profession ; as if the 

 purpose had been, not to resist and extinguish perturb 

 ations, but to fly and avoid the causes of them, and to 

 shape a particular kind and course of life to that end ; 

 introducing such an health of mind, as was that health 

 of body of which Aristotle speaketh of Herodicus, who did 

 nothing all his life long but intend his health : whereas 

 if men refer themselves to duties of society, as that 

 health of body is best, which is ablest to endure all 

 alterations and extremities ; so likewise that health of 

 mind is most proper, which can go through the greatest 

 temptations and perturbations. So as Diogenes 

 opinion is to be accepted, who commended not them 

 which abstained, but them which sustained, and could 

 refrain their mind in praecipitio, and could give unto the 

 mind (as is used in horsemanship) the shortest stop or 

 turn. 



12. Lastly, it censureth the tenderness and want of 

 application in some of the most ancient and reverend 

 philosophers and philosophical men, that did retire too 

 easily from civil business, for avoiding of indignities and 

 perturbations : whereas the resolution of men truly 

 moral 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 everything should catch in it and endanger 

 it. 



XXI. 1. To resume private or particular good, it 

 falleth into the division of good active and passive : for 

 the 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 preserve or continue themselves, 

 and the other to dilate or multiply themselves ; where 

 of 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 



