lS8 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. VI. 



Hereof Mfof framed the fable of the two Froggs, that confulted 

 together in the time of drouth ( when many plafhes, they had repaired 

 to weredry^ what was now at laft to be doDe> the firft (aid let us go 

 dorcn into' a deep xveQ, for it is not lik_e the water rponld fail there, to 

 ^°^' whom the other replied, yea, but if it do fail ^ how Jh all Tve get up again ^ 

 The ground of this colour is, that humane aftions are fo uncertain and 

 expofed to perils, as that feemeth to he the beji courfe^ which hath mojt 

 paffages out of it. Appertaining to this perfwafion the Forms are 5 you 

 fhall wholly engage and oblige y our f elf ^ non tantum, quantum voles ^ fumes 

 exfortuna, you pall not be your own carver^ nor keep the matter inyoHt 

 own hand^ &c. 



The Reprehenjton, 



'T'He FaUax of this Colour is firft, becaufe in Humane Aftions Fortune 

 urgeth us at length to decree, and to refolve upon fomewhat ; for 

 as he faith elegantly, not to refolve^ is to refolve 5 fo that many times a 

 fufpenfion of a final decifion engageth and implicates us in more ne- 

 cefliities, than if we had determin d of fomewhat. And this difeafe 

 of the mind is like that of covetous men tranllated from the defire of 

 retaining wealth, to the defire of retaining Free-will and Power: for 

 the covetous man will enjoy nothing, left he (hould fubftraft from the 

 total 5 and this kind ofsceptic^ Will execute nothing, that all things 

 may be entire and indifferent to him. Secondly, it deceives becaufe ne- 

 cefiity, and this Catne jaBa eji alea , awakens the powers of the Mind 

 and puts thefpurs to any enterprife, as he faith, Ceteris pares, nccejje^ 

 tate certefuperioresejiis. 



The Colour. 



8 If^hat a man hath contra^ed through his own Default, is a greater E* 

 vil 5 what V iffipofed from without, is a lefs Evil. 



Therealbn heteo£,is^becaufe the fling andremorfe of the Mind accuflng 

 itfelf, doubles all adverfity j contrariwife the recording inwardly that a 

 man is clear and free from faillt, andjuji imputation, doth much attemper 

 outward calamities. Wherefore the Poets do exceedingly aggravate 

 thofe paffionate Lamentations, as fore-runners to defperation ; when a 

 man accufeth and tortures himfelf. 



Vlrg. /En. ^^ caufam clamat, crimenq--) caputqj malorum. 



Contrariwife the confcienceof Innocence and good deferving, do molli- 

 fieand mitigate the calamities of worthy perfons. Bejides when th:e 

 evil comes from without, caft upon us by others, a man hath whereof 

 he may juftly and freely complain, whereby his griefs may evaporate 

 and not ftifle the heart:for what comes from the injuries of men, we are 

 wont to take indignation at, and meditate revenge 5 or el(e to implore, 

 or expeft, that the divine Nemefis, and Retribution, may take hold 

 on the Authors of our hurt '■, or if it be inflifted from Fortune , yet 

 their is kft a kind of expoftulation againft the Divine Powers, 



■ 9> 



