: prosperity or adversity
could never alter my disposition." A wise man's mind, as Seneca holds,
[3824] "is like the state of the world above the moon, ever serene." Come
then what can come, befall what may befall, _infractum invictumque [3825]
animum opponas: Rebus angustis animosus atque fortis appare_. (Hor. _Od.
11. lib. 2._) Hope and patience are two sovereign remedies for all, the
surest reposals, the softest cushions to lean on in adversity:

[3826] "Durum sed levius fit patientia,
Quicquid corrigere est nefas."

"What can't be cured must be endured."

If it cannot be helped, or amended, [3827]make the best of it; [3828]
_necessitati qui se accommodat, sapit_, he is wise that suits himself to
the time. As at a game at tables, so do by all such inevitable accidents.

[3829] "Ita vita est hominum quasi cum ludas tesseris,
Si illud quod est maxime opus jactu non cadit,
Illud quod cecidit forte, id arte ut corrigas;"

If thou canst not fling what thou wouldst, play thy cast as well as thou
canst. Everything, saith [3830]Epictetus, hath two handles, the one to be
held by, the other not: 'tis in our choice to take and leave whether we
will (all which Simplicius's Commentator hath illustrated by many
examples), and 'tis in our power, as they say, to make or mar ourselves.
Conform thyself then to thy present fortune, and cut thy coat according to
thy cloth, [3831]_Ut quimus (quod aiunt) quando quod volumus non licet_,
"Be contented with thy loss, state, and calling, whatsoever it is, and rest
as well satisfied with thy present condition in this life:"

"Este quod es; quod sunt alii, sine quamlibet esse;
Quod non es, nolis; quod potus esse, velis."

"Be as thou art; and as they are, so let
Others be still; what is and may be covert."

And as he that is [3832]invited to a feast eats what is set before him, and
looks for no other, enjoy that thou hast, and ask no more of God than what
he thinks fit to bestow upon thee. _Non cuivis contingit adire Corinthum_,
we may not be all gentlemen, all Catos, or Laelii, as Tully telleth us, all
honourable, illustrious, and serene, all rich; but because mortal men want
many things, [3833]"therefore," saith Theodoret, "hath God diversely
distributed his gifts, wealth to one, skill to another, that rich men might
encourage and set poor men at work, poor men might learn several trades to
the common good." As a piece of ar