much repinest at, abhorrest and accountest a most vile and wretched
estate." How many thousands want that which thou hast? how many myriads of
poor slaves, captives, of such as work day and night in coal-pits,
tin-mines, with sore toil to maintain a poor living, of such as labour in
body and mind, live in extreme anguish, and pain, all which thou art free
from? _O fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint_: Thou art most happy if thou
couldst be content, and acknowledge thy happiness; [3583]_Rem carendo, non
fruendo cognoscimus_, when thou shalt hereafter come to want that which
thou now loathest, abhorrest, and art weary of, and tired with, when 'tis
past thou wilt say thou wert most happy: and after a little miss, wish with
all thine heart thou hadst the same content again, mightst lead but such a
life, a world for such a life: the remembrance of it is pleasant. Be silent
then, [3584]rest satisfied, _desine, intuensque in aliorum infortunia
solare mentem_, comfort thyself with other men's misfortunes, and as the
mouldwarp in Aesop told the fox, complaining for want of a tail, and the
rest of his companions, _tacete, quando me occulis captum videtis_, you
complain of toys, but I am blind, be quiet. I say to thee be thou
satisfied. It is [3585]recorded of the hares, that with a general consent
they went to drown themselves, out of a feeling of their misery; but when
they saw a company of frogs more fearful than they were, they began to take
courage, and comfort again. Compare thine estate with others. _Similes
aliorum respice casus, mitius ista feres_. Be content and rest satisfied,
for thou art well in respect to others: be thankful for that thou hast,
that God hath done for thee, he hath not made thee a monster, a beast, a
base creature, as he might, but a man, a Christian, such a man; consider
aright of it, thou art full well as thou art. [3586]_Quicquid vult habere
nemo potest_, no man can have what he will, _Illud potest nolle quod non
habet_, he may choose whether he will desire that which he hath not. Thy
lot is fallen, make the best of it. [3587]"If we should all sleep at all
times," (as Endymion is said to have done) "who then were happier than his
fellow?" Our life is but short, a very dream, and while we look about
[3588]_immortalitas adest_, eternity is at hand: [3589]"Our life is a
pilgrimage on earth, which wise men pass with great alacrity." If thou be
in woe, sorrow, want, distress, in pain, or sickness, think of