THE SECOND BOOK 179 



and presupposed by those themselves that have written. 

 We will therefore enumerate some heads or points 

 thereof, that it may appear the better what it is, and 

 whether it be extant. 



3. First therefore in this, as in all things which are 

 practical, we ought to cast up our account, what is in 

 our power, and what not ; for the one may be dealt with 

 by way of alteration, but the other by way of applica 

 tion only. The husbandman cannot command, neither 

 the nature of the earth, nor the seasons of the weather ; 

 no more can the physician the constitution of the 

 patient, nor the variety of accidents. So in the culture 

 and cure of the mind of man, two things are without 

 our command ; points of nature, and points of fortune. 

 For to the basis of the one, and the conditions of the 

 other, our work is limited and tied. In these things 

 therefore it is left unto us to proceed by application : 



Vincenda est omnis fortuna ferendo: 

 and so likewise, 



Vincenda est omnis Natura ferendo. 



But when that we speak of suffering, we do not speak 

 of a dull and neglected suffering, but of a wise and 

 industrious suffering, which draweth and contriveth 

 use and advantage out of that which seemeth adverse 

 and contrary ; which is that properly which we call 

 accommodating or applying. Now the wisdom of 

 application resteth principally in the exact and dis 

 tinct knowledge of the precedent state or disposition, 

 unto which we do apply : for we cannot fit a garment, 

 except we first take measure of the body. 



4. So then the first article of this knowledge is, to 

 set down sound and true distributions and descriptions 

 of the several characters and tempers of men s natures 

 and dispositions ; specially having regard to those 

 differences which are most radical in being the fountains 

 and causes of the rest, or most frequent in concur 

 rence or commixture ; wherein it is not the handling 

 of a few of them in passage, the better to describe 

 the mediocrities of virtues, that can satisfy this inten- 



