tyrannising conqueror to trample on. So many casualties there are, that as
Seneca said of a city consumed with fire, _Una dies interest inter maximum
civitatem et nullam_, one day betwixt a great city and none: so many
grievances from outward accidents, and from ourselves, our own
indiscretion, inordinate appetite, one day betwixt a man and no man. And
which is worse, as if discontents and miseries would not come fast enough
upon us: _homo homini daemon_, we maul, persecute, and study how to sting,
gall, and vex one another with mutual hatred, abuses, injuries; preying
upon and devouring as so many, [1780]ravenous birds; and as jugglers,
panders, bawds, cozening one another; or raging as [1781]wolves, tigers,
and devils, we take a delight to torment one another; men are evil, wicked,
malicious, treacherous, and [1782]naught, not loving one another, or loving
themselves, not hospitable, charitable, nor sociable as they ought to be,
but counterfeit, dissemblers, ambidexters, all for their own ends,
hard-hearted, merciless, pitiless, and to benefit themselves, they care not
what mischief they procure to others. [1783]Praxinoe and Gorgo in the poet,
when they had got in to see those costly sights, they then cried _bene
est_, and would thrust out all the rest: when they are rich themselves, in
honour, preferred, full, and have even that they would, they debar others
of those pleasures which youth requires, and they formerly have enjoyed. He
sits at table in a soft chair at ease, but he doth remember in the mean
time that a tired waiter stands behind him, "an hungry fellow ministers to
him full, he is athirst that gives him drink" (saith [1784]Epictetus) "and
is silent whilst he speaks his pleasure: pensive, sad, when he laughs."
_Pleno se proluit auro_: he feasts, revels, and profusely spends, hath
variety of robes, sweet music, ease, and all the pleasure the world can
afford, whilst many an hunger-starved poor creature pines in the street,
wants clothes to cover him, labours hard all day long, runs, rides for a
trifle, fights peradventure from sun to sun, sick and ill, weary, full of
pain and grief, is in great distress and sorrow of heart. He loathes and
scorns his inferior, hates or emulates his equal, envies his superior,
insults over all such as are under him, as if he were of another species, a
demigod, not subject to any fall, or human infirmities. Generally they love
not, are not beloved again: they tire out others' bodi