t for such gentle
remembrances, men would have no moderation of themselves, they would be
worse than tigers, wolves, and lions: who should keep them in awe?
"princes, masters, parents, magistrates, judges, friends, enemies, fair or
foul means cannot contain us, but a little sickness," (as [3624]Chrysostom
observes) "will correct and amend us." And therefore with good discretion,
[3625]Jovianus Pontanus caused this short sentence to be engraven on his
tomb in Naples: "Labour, sorrow, grief, sickness, want and woe, to serve
proud masters, bear that superstitious yoke, and bury your clearest
friends, &c., are the sauces of our life." If thy disease be continuate and
painful to thee, it will not surely last: "and a light affliction, which is
but for a moment, causeth unto us a far more excellent and eternal weight
of glory," 2 Cor. iv. 17. bear it with patience; women endure much sorrow
in childbed, and yet they will not contain; and those that are barren, wish
for this pain; "be courageous, [3626]there is as much valour to be shown in
thy bed, as in an army, or at a sea fight:" _aut vincetur, aut vincet_,
thou shalt be rid at last. In the mean time, let it take its course, thy
mind is not any way disabled. Bilibaldus Pirkimerus, senator to Charles the
Fifth, ruled all Germany, lying most part of his days sick of the gout upon
his bed. The more violent thy torture is, the less it will continue: and
though it be severe and hideous for the time, comfort thyself as martyrs
do, with honour and immortality. [3627]That famous philosopher Epicurus,
being in as miserable pain of stone and colic, as a man might endure,
solaced himself with a conceit of immortality; "the joy of his soul for his
rare inventions, repelled the pain of his bodily torments."

Baseness of birth is a great disparagement to some men, especially if they
be wealthy, bear office, and come to promotion in a commonwealth; then (as
[3628]he observes) if their birth be not answerable to their calling, and
to their fellows, they are much abashed and ashamed of themselves. Some
scorn their own father and mother, deny brothers and sisters, with the rest
of their kindred and friends, and will not suffer them to come near them,
when they are in their pomp, accounting it a scandal to their greatness to
have such beggarly beginnings. Simon in Lucian, having now got a little
wealth, changed his name from Simon to Simonides, for that there were so
many beggars of his kin, and