L I B. VIII. Of the Advancement of Learning. 289^ 



about. But it isfo far from the mind and purpofe of this Difcourfe 

 that men (hould apply themfelves to thcfe corrupt and crooked Arts, 

 that rather indeed (if they be in their own power, and are able to 

 bear and fuftain themfelves, and be not carried away with the whirl- 

 wind and tempeft of Ambition) they ought in the purfuit of For- 

 tune to fet before their eyes, not only that general Map of the world^ 

 That all things are vanity and vexation of fpirit , but alio that more 

 particular card and direftion. That Being^vptthout well-Being^is a curfe , 

 and the greater Beings the greater curfe •■, and that all vertue is moft re- 

 warded, and all wickednefs raoft punifht in it felf: according as the 

 Poet laith exxellently, 



gni(e vobis, qu£ cljgna^ viri^ pro tali bus aujfs 

 Tr^mia poffe reor folvi .•? rulcherrima primum 

 Dii Morefq-, dabnnt veHri. 



And Co on the contrary he Ipeaks as truly of the wicked-^ aff-, eunit 



ulcifcentur mores fui. ■ Nay further, the race of Mortality, 



whilft their working heads every way tofs and difFufe their thoughts 

 how they may beft fore-caft and conlult their advancement in the 

 xporld^ ought, in the midft of thele heats, and-e:rger purfuits, to look 

 op to the Divine Judgement, and the Eternal Providence, which 

 oftentimes (ubverts and brings to nothing the plots of the wicked, 

 and their evil counfels, though never ib profound ; according to 

 that of (acred Scripture, He conceived vpicked thoughts^ travel' d great ^ '^"' 

 TPtth mifchief andJJ)aU bring forth delufive vanity. Nay, though men 

 ftiould refrain themfelves from injuries and evil arts , yet this incef- 

 fant and Sabbathlef afpiring to the Jieep height of Fortune, pays not the 

 tribute of our time due unto God, who (as we may fee) demands and fet f 

 apart for himfelf a Tenth of our fubjiance, and a Seventh of our time. 

 For it is to fmall purpofe to have an erected face towards heaven, 

 and a groveling (piritupon earth, eating duft as doth the ferpentj 

 an oppofition which even Heathens could fee and cenfure. 



Atq'-i affgit humo divin£ particulam Aur£. °"'' " ' 



And if any man (hould herein flatter himfelf, that he refolvesto im- 

 ploy his Fortune well, though he (hould obtain it ill 5 as was wont 

 to be (aid of Auguiius Cafar and Septimius Severus , That cither they 

 Jliould never have been born, or elfe they Jljould never have dyed , they 

 did forauch mifchief in the purfuit andafcent oftheirgreatnefijand 

 fo much good,when they were eftablifh'd ^ let him take this with him, 

 that fuch compenfation of evil by good, may be allowed after the 

 Faft, but is defervedly condemn'd in the purpofe. Lajily^ it will 

 not be amifs for us, in that fwift and hot race towards our fortune, 

 to cool our felves a little, with that elegant conceit of the Empe- 

 rour Charls the Fifth, in his inftruftions to his Son, That Fortune hath ^. ^^^^ 

 fomewhat of the nature of a woman, that if fie be too much wooed, fie is A.c/isip* 

 the farther ojf: but this laft remedy is for thofe whole talte, from 

 (bmc diftemper of the mind, is corrupted ; let men rather build up- 

 on that foundation, which is as a corner-ftone of Divinity and Phi- 



N 2 lofophy 



