cum they have to get gold, and never
find it, we lose and neglect eternity, for a little momentary pleasure
which we cannot enjoy, nor shall ever attain to in this life. We abhor
death, pain, and grief, all, yet we will do nothing of that which should
vindicate us from, but rather voluntarily thrust ourselves upon it. [3875]
"The lascivious prefers his whore before his life, or good estate; an angry
man his revenge: a parasite his gut; ambitious, honours; covetous, wealth;
a thief his booty; a soldier his spoil; we abhor diseases, and yet we pull
them upon us." We are never better or freer from cares than when we sleep,
and yet, which we so much avoid and lament, death is but a perpetual sleep;
and why should it, as [3876]Epicurus argues, so much affright us? "When we
are, death is not: but when death is, then we are not:" our life is tedious
and troublesome unto him that lives best; [3877]"'tis a misery to be born,
a pain to live, a trouble to die:" death makes an end of our miseries, and
yet we cannot consider of it; a little before [3878]Socrates drank his
portion of cicuta, he bid the citizens of Athens cheerfully farewell, and
concluded his speech with this short sentence; "My time is now come to be
gone, I to my death, you to live on; but which of these is best, God alone
knows." For there is no pleasure here but sorrow is annexed to it,
repentance follows it. [3879]"If I feed liberally, I am likely sick or
surfeit: if I live sparingly my hunger and thirst is not allayed; I am well
neither full nor fasting; if I live honest, I burn in lust;" if I take my
pleasure, I tire and starve myself, and do injury to my body and soul.
[3880]"Of so small a quantity of mirth, how much sorrow? after so little
pleasure, how great misery?" 'Tis both ways troublesome to me, to rise and
go to bed, to eat and provide my meat; cares and contentions attend me all
day long, fears and suspicions all my life. I am discontented, and why
should I desire so much to live? But a happy death will make an end of all
our woes and miseries; _omnibus una meis certa medela malis_; why shouldst
not thou then say with old Simeon since thou art so well affected, "Lord
now let thy servant depart in peace:" or with Paul, "I desire to be
dissolved, and to be with Christ"? _Beata mors quae ad beatam vitam aditum
aperit_, 'tis a blessed hour that leads us to a [3881]blessed life, and
blessed are they that die in the Lord. But life is sweet, and death is not
s