ath, or call me miserable that am much more
happy than thyself? what misfortune is befallen me? Is it because I am not
so bald, crooked, old, rotten, as thou art? What have I lost, some of your
good cheer, gay clothes, music, singing, dancing, kissing, merry-meetings,
_thalami lubentias_, &c., is that it? Is it not much better not to hunger
at all than to eat: not to thirst than to drink to satisfy thirst: not to
be cold than to put on clothes to drive away cold? You had more need
rejoice that I am freed from diseases, agues, cares, anxieties, livor,
love, covetousness, hatred, envy, malice, that I fear no more thieves,
tyrants, enemies, as you do." [3923]_Ad cinerem et manes credis curare
sepultos_? "Do they concern us at all, think you, when we are once dead?"
Condole not others then overmuch, "wish not or fear thy death." [3924]
_Summum nec optes diem nec metuas_; 'tis to no purpose.

"Excessi e vitae aerumnis facilisque lubensque
Ne perjora ipsa morte dehinc videam."

"I left this irksome life with all mine heart,
Lest worse than death should happen to my part."

[3925]Cardinal Brundusinus caused this epitaph in Rome to be inscribed on
his tomb, to show his willingness to die, and tax those that were so both
to depart. Weep and howl no more then, 'tis to small purpose; and as Tully
adviseth us in the like case, _Non quos amisimus, sed quantum lugere par
sit cogitemus_: think what we do, not whom we have lost. So David did, 2
Sam. xxii., "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; but being
now dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him again? I shall go to him, but
he cannot return to me." He that doth otherwise is an intemperate, a weak,
a silly, and indiscreet man. Though Aristotle deny any part of intemperance
to be conversant about sorrow, I am of [3926]Seneca's mind, "he that is
wise is temperate, and he that is temperate is constant, free from passion,
and he that is such a one, is without sorrow," as all wise men should be.
The [3927]Thracians wept still when a child was born, feasted and made
mirth when any man was buried: and so should we rather be glad for such as
die well, that they are so happily freed from the miseries of this life.
When Eteoneus, that noble young Greek, was so generally lamented by his
friends, Pindarus the poet feigns some god saying, _Silete homines, non
enim miser est_, &c. be quiet good folks, this young man is not so
miserable as you think; he i