II.] ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 205 



much more happy to fail in good and virtuous ends for the public, 

 than to obtain all that we can wish to ourselves in our proper fortune ; 

 as Consalvo said to his soldiers, showing them Naples and protesting, 

 &quot; He had rather die one foot forwards, than to have his life secured for 

 long, by one foot of retreat.&quot; Whcreunto the wisdom of that heavenly 

 leader hath signed, who hath affirmed &quot; that a good conscience is a con 

 tinual feast ; &quot; showing plainly, that the conscience of good intentions, 

 howsoever succeeding, is a more continual joy to nature, than all the 

 provision that can be made for security and repose. 



It ccnsurcth likewise that abuse of philosophy, which grew general 

 about the time of Epictetus, in converting it into an occupation or 

 profession ; as if the purpose had been not to resist or extinguish per 

 turbations, but to fly and avoid the causes of them, and to shape a 

 particular kind and course of life to that end, introducing such an 

 health of mind, as was that health of body of which Aristotle speaketh 

 of Herodicus, who did nothing all his life long but intend his health : 

 whereas if men refer themselves to duties of society, as that health of 

 body is best, which is ablest to endure all alterations and extremities ; 

 so likewise that health of mind is most proper, which can go through the 

 greatest temptations and perturbations. So as Diogcncs s opinion is 

 to be accepted, who commended not them which abstained, but them 

 which sustained, and could refrain their mind /// prcecifiitio, and could 

 give unto the mind, as is used in horsemanship, the shortest stop or 

 turn. 



Lastly, it censurcth the tenderness and want of application in some 

 of the most ancient and reverend philosophers and philosophical men, 

 that did retire too easily from civil business, for avoiding of indignities 

 and perturbations ; whereas the resolution of men truly moral, ought 

 to be such as the same Consalvo said the honour of a soldier should 

 be, e tcla crassiore, and not so fine, as that everything should catch 

 in it and endanger it. 



To resume private or particular good, it falleth into the division of 

 good active and passive : for this difference of good, not unlike to that 

 which amongst the Romans was expressed in the familiar or house 

 hold terms of Proinus and Condus, is formed also in all things, and 

 is best disclosed in the two several appetites in creatures ; the one 

 to preserve or continue themselves, and the other to dilate or multiply 

 themselves ; whereof the latter scemeth to be worthier ; for in nature 

 the heavens, which arc the more worthy, arc the agent ; and the earth, 

 which is the less worthy, is the patient : in the pleasures of living crea 

 tures, that of generation is greater than that of food : in divine doctrine, 

 &quot; Beatius cst dare, quam accipere :&quot; and in life there is no man s spirit 

 so soft, but estecmcth the effecting of somewhat that he hath fixed in 

 his desire, more than sensuality. Which priority of the active good 

 is much upheld by the consideration of our estate to be mortal and 

 exposed to fortune : for if we might have a perpetuity and certainty 

 in our pleasures, the state of them would advance their price ; but 

 when we see it is but &quot; Magni zcstimamus mori tardius,&quot; and &quot; Ne 

 glorieris de crastino, ncscis partum diei/ it inakcth us to desire to 



