52 
MEMOIR OF PLINY 
lings, &c., with the influence of the moon on “ vn- 
timely trauells,” and conclude with his philosophi- 
cal reflections on man. Tlie following are the re- 
marks which suggest themselves to him on a re- 
view of the whole subject. “ I am abashed much, 
and very sory to thinke and consider what a poore 
and ticklish beginning man hath, the proudest crea- 
ture of all others, when the smell only of the snufFo 
of a candle put out, is the cause ofttimes that he pe- 
rishe in the wombe ; and yet, see these great tyrants, 
and such as delight only in carnage and bloudshed, 
haue no better original. Thou, then, that presumest 
vpon thy bodily strength, thou that standest so much 
vpon fortune’s fauours, and hast thy hands full of 
her bountifull gifts ; thou, I say, that busiest thy head 
euermore, and settest thy minde vpon conquests and 
victories; thou that art, vpon euerie good successe 
and gale of prosperity, puffed up with pride, and 
takest thyself for a god, neuer thinkest that thy life, 
when it was hung vpon so single a thred, with so 
small a matter might haue miscarried. Nay more, 
euen at this day thou art in more danger than so, 
if thou chance to be but stung or bitten with the 
little tooth of a serpent ; or if but the very kernell of 
a raisin goe downe thy throat wTong, as it did with 
the poet Anacreon ; or, as Fahius, a senator of Rome, 
ventured to swallow a small haire, which strangled 
him. Of all other creatures. Nature hath brought 
foith man bare, and cloathed him with the good and 
riches of others. To all the rest she hath giuen suf- 
