ite
fundatur exordium." "Recte," inquit, ac simul ita modulata est.

[131] uti Timaeo _codd. optimi._

IX.

"Let it suffice that we have hitherto discovered the form of false
felicity, which if thou hast plainly seen, order now requireth that we
show thee in what true happiness consisteth." "I see," quoth I, "that
neither sufficiency by riches, nor power by kingdoms, nor respect by
dignities, nor renown by glory, nor joy can be gotten by pleasures."
"Hast thou also understood the causes why it is so?" "Methink I have a
little glimpse of them, but I had rather thou wouldst declare them more
plainly."

"The reason is manifest, for that which is simple and undivided of
itself, is divided by men's error, and is translated from true and
perfect to false and unperfect. Thinkest thou that which needeth
nothing, to stand in need of power?" "No," quoth I. "Thou sayest well,
for if any power in any respect be weak, in this it must necessarily
stand in need of the help of others." "It is true," quoth I. "Wherefore
sufficiency and power have one and the same nature." "So it seemeth."
"Now thinkest thou, that which is of this sort ought to be despised, or
rather that it is worthy to be respected above all other things?" "There
can be no doubt of this," quoth I. "Let us add respect then to
sufficiency and power, so that we judge these three to be one." "We must
add it if we confess the truth."

"What now," quoth she, "thinkest thou this to be obscure and base, or
rather most excellent and famous? Consider whether that which thou hast
granted to want nothing, to be most potent, and most worthy of honour,
may seem to want fame, which it cannot yield itself, and for that cause
be in some respect more abject." "I must needs confess," quoth I, "that,
being what it is, this is also most famous." "Consequently then we must
acknowledge that fame differeth nothing from the former three." "We must
so," quoth I. "Wherefore that which wanteth nothing, which can perform
all things by its own power, which is famous and respected, is it not
manifest that it is also most pleasant?" To which I answered: "How such
a man should fall into any grief, I can by no means imagine. Wherefore
if that which we have said hitherto be true, we must needs confess that
he is most joyful and content." "And by the same reason it followeth
that sufficiency, power, fame, respect, pleasure