OF THE COLOURS OF GOOD AND EVIL 153 



plashes that they had repaired to were dry,) what was to be 

 done ; and the one propounded to go down into a deep 

 well, because it was like the water would not fail there ; 

 but the other answered, yea but if it do fail, how shall we 

 get up again ? And the reason is, that human actions are 

 so uncertain and subject to perils, as that seemeth the best 

 course which hath most passages out of it. 



Appertaining to this persuasion, the forms are, * you shall 

 engage yourself'; on the other side, * tantum quantum voles 

 sumes ex fortuna? you shall keep the matter in your own 

 hands. The reprehension of it is, ' that proceeding and 

 resolving in all actions is necessary ' : for as he saith well, 

 * not to resolve is to resolve ' ; and many times it breeds as 

 many necessities, and engageth as far in some other sort, as 

 to resolve. 



So it is but the covetous man's disease translated into 

 power ; for the covetous man will enjoy nothing, because 

 he will have his full store and possibility to enjoy the 

 more ; so by this reason a man should execute nothing, 

 because he should be still indifferent and at liberty to 

 execute anything. Besides necessity and this same jacta 

 est alea hath many times an advantage, because it awaketh 

 the powers of the mind, and strengtheneth endeavour. 

 Ceteris pares necessitate certe superiores estis. 



>uod ex pluribus constat et divisibilius, est majus quam quod 

 ex paucioribus et magis unum : nam omnia per paries 

 considerata majora videntur ; quare et pluralitas partium 

 magnitudinem prae se fert : fortius autem op eratur pluralitas 

 partium si ordo absit, nam inducit similitudinem infiniti, et 

 impedit comprehensionem. 



This colour seemeth palpable, for it is not plurality of 

 parts without majority of parts that maketh the total 

 greater ; yet nevertheless it often carries the mind away ; 

 yea it deceiveth the sense ; as it seemeth to the eye a 

 shorter distance of way if it be all dead and continued, 

 than if it have trees or buildings or any other marks 



