and learn to live.
He is not poor to whom kind fortune grants,
Even with a frugal hand, what Nature wants."

he is not poor, he is not in need. [3743]"Nature is content with bread and
water; and he that can rest satisfied with that, may contend with Jupiter
himself for happiness." In that golden age, [3744]_somnos dedit umbra
salubres, potum quoque lubricus amnis_, the tree gave wholesome shade to
sleep under, and the clear rivers drink. The Israelites drank water in the
wilderness; Samson, David, Saul, Abraham's servant when he went for Isaac's
wife, the Samaritan woman, and how many besides might I reckon up, Egypt,
Palestine, whole countries in the [3745]Indies, that drank pure water all
their lives. [3746]The Persian kings themselves drank no other drink than
the water of Chaospis, that runs by Susa, which was carried in bottles
after them, whithersoever they went. Jacob desired no more of God, but
bread to eat, and clothes to put on in his journey, Gen. xxviii. 20. _Bene
est cui deus obtulit Parca quod satis est manu_; bread is enough [3747]"to
strengthen the heart." And if you study philosophy aright, saith [3748]
Maudarensis, "whatsoever is beyond this moderation, is not useful, but
troublesome." [3749]Agellius, out of Euripides, accounts bread and water
enough to satisfy nature, "of which there is no surfeit, the rest is not a
feast, but a riot." [3750]S. Hierome esteems him rich "that hath bread to
eat, and a potent man that is not compelled to be a slave; hunger is not
ambitious, so that it have to eat, and thirst doth not prefer a cup of
gold." It was no epicurean speech of an epicure, he that is not satisfied
with a little will never have enough: and very good counsel of him in the
[3751]poet, "O my son, mediocrity of means agrees best with men; too much
is pernicious."

"Divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parce,
Aequo animo."------

And if thou canst be content, thou hast abundance, _nihil est, nihil
deest_, thou hast little, thou wantest nothing. 'Tis all one to be hanged
in a chain of gold, or in a rope; to be filled with dainties or coarser
meat.

[3752] "Si ventri bene, si lateri, pedibusque tuis, nil
Divitiae poterunt regales addere majus."

"If belly, sides and feet be well at ease,
A prince's treasure can thee no more please."

Socrates in a fair, seeing so many things bought and sold, such a multitude
of people convented to that purpose,