282 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



for the degree from want of power to power seems greater 

 than that from power to action. 



X. &quot;What relates to truth is greater than what relates to opinion; but the 

 measure and trial of what relates to opinion is what a man would not do 

 if he thought he were secret 



So the Epicureans pronounce of the stoical felicity placed 

 in virtue, that it is the felicity of a player, who, left by his 

 audience, would soon sink in his spirit; whence they in 

 ridicule call virtue a theatrical good; but it is otherwise 

 in riches 



&quot;PopuJus me sibilat; at mihi plaudo,&quot; 27 



and pleasure, 



&quot;Grata sub imo 



Graudia corde premens, vultu simulante pudorem, &quot; 28 



which are felt more inwardly. 



The fallacy of this color is somewhat subtile, though, the 

 answer to the example be easy, as virtue is not chosen for 

 the sake of popular fame, and as every one ought princi 

 pally to reverence himself; so that a virtuous man will be 

 virtuous in a desert as well as a theatre, though perhaps 

 virtue is made somewhat more vigorous by praise, as heat 

 by reflection. But this only denies the supposition, and 

 does not expose the fallacy. Allowing, then, that virtue, 

 joined with labor, would not be chosen but for the praise 

 and fame which usually attend it, yet it is no consequence 

 that virtue should not be desired principally for its own 

 sake, since fame may be only an impellent, and not a con 

 stituent or efficient cause. Thus, if when two horses are 

 rode without the spur, one of them performs better than 

 the other, but with the spur the other far exceeds, this will 

 be judged the better horse: and to say that his mettle lies 

 in the spur, is not making a true judgment; for since the 

 spur is a common instrument in horsemanship, and no im 

 pediment or burden to the horse, he will not be esteemed 

 the worse horse that wants it, but the going well without 

 it is rather a point of delicacy than perfection. So glory 



27 Hor. i. Sat. i. 66. 28 Ibid. 



