78]"Thou shalt not
here find peaceable and cheerful days, quiet times, but rather clouds,
storms, calumnies, such is our fate." And as those errant planets in their
distinct orbs have their several motions, sometimes direct, stationary,
retrograde, in apogee, perigee, oriental, occidental, combust, feral, free,
and as our astrologers will, have their fortitudes and debilities, by
reason of those good and bad irradiations, conferred to each other's site
in the heavens, in their terms, houses, case, detriments, &c. So we rise
and fall in this world, ebb and flow, in and out, reared and dejected, lead
a troublesome life, subject to many accidents and casualties of fortunes,
variety of passions, infirmities as well from ourselves as others.

Yea, but thou thinkest thou art more miserable than the rest, other men are
happy but in respect of thee, their miseries are but flea-bitings to thine,
thou alone art unhappy, none so bad as thyself. Yet if, as Socrates said,
[3579]"All men in the world should come and bring their grievances
together, of body, mind, fortune, sores, ulcers, madness, epilepsies,
agues, and all those common calamities of beggary, want, servitude,
imprisonment, and lay them on a heap to be equally divided, wouldst thou
share alike, and take thy portion? or be as thou art? Without question thou
wouldst be as thou art." If some Jupiter should say, to give us all
content,

[3580] "Jam faciam quod vultis; eris tu, qui modo miles,
Mercator; tu consultus modo, rusticus; hinc vos,
Vos hinc mutatis discedite partibus; eia
Quid slatis? nolint."

"Well be't so then; you master soldier
Shall be a merchant; you sir lawyer
A country gentlemen; go you to this,
That side you; why stand ye? it's well as 'tis."

[3581]"Every man knows his own, but not others' defects and miseries; and
'tis the nature of all men still to reflect upon themselves, their own
misfortunes," not to examine or consider other men's, not to compare
themselves with others: To recount their miseries, but not their good
gifts, fortunes, benefits, which they have, or ruminate on their adversity,
but not once to think on their prosperity, not what they have, but what
they want: to look still on them that go before, but not on those infinite
numbers that come after. [3582]"Whereas many a man would think himself in
heaven, a pretty prince, if he had but the least part of that fortune which
thou so