THE SECOND BOOK 327 



The pre-eminence likewise of this Active Good is upheld 

 by the affection which is natural in man towards variety 

 and proceeding ; which in the pleasures of the sense (which 

 is the principal part of Passive Good) can have no great 

 latitude: Cogita quamdiu eadem feceris; cibus, somnus, 

 ludus; per hu.ic circulum curritur ; mori velk non tantum 

 fortis, aut miser, aut prudem, sed etiam fastidiosus potest. 

 But in enterprises, pursuits, and purposes of life, there is 

 much variety ; whereof men are sensible with pleasure in 

 their inceptions, progressions, recoils, reintegrations, ap- 

 proaches, and attainings to their ends: so as it was well 

 said, Vita sine proposito languida et vaga est. Neither hath 

 this Active Good any identity with the good of society, 

 though in some case it hath an incidence into it : for 

 although it do many times bring forth acts of beneficence, 

 yet it is with a respect private to a man's own power, 

 glory, amplification, continuance ; as appeareth plainly 

 when it findeth a contrary subject. For that gigantine 

 state of mind which possesseth the troublers of the world, 

 such as was Lucius Sylla, and infinite other in smaller 

 model, who would have all men happy or unhappy as they 

 were their friends or their enemies, and would give form 

 to the world according to their own humours, (which is the 

 true Theomachy,) pretendeth and aspireth to active good, 

 though it recedeth furthest from good of society, which we 

 have determined to be the greater. 



To resume Passive Good, it receiveth a subdivision of 

 Conservative and Perfective. For let us take a brief 

 review of that which we have said : we have spoken first 

 of the Good of Society, the intention whereof embraceth 

 the form of Human Nature, whereof we are members and 

 portions, and not our own proper and individual form ; 

 we have spoken of Active Good, and supposed it as a part 

 of Private and Particular Good ; and rightly ; for there is 

 impressed upon all things a triple desire or appetite pro- 

 ceeding from love to themselves ; one of preserving and 

 continuing their form; another of advancing and perfecting 

 their form ; and a third of multiplying and extending 

 their form upon other things ; whereof the multiplying or 



