e say all is well, he riseth out of his bed in his
shirt, barefoot and barelegged, to see whether it be so, with a dark
lantern searching every corner, scarce sleeping a wink all night." Lucian
in that pleasant and witty dialogue called Gallus, brings in Mycillus the
cobbler disputing with his cock, sometimes Pythagoras; where after much
speech pro and con, to prove the happiness of a mean estate, and
discontents of a rich man, Pythagoras' cock in the end, to illustrate by
examples that which he had said, brings him to Gnyphon the usurer's house
at midnight, and after that to Encrates; whom, they found both awake,
casting up their accounts, and telling of their money, [1862]lean, dry,
pale and anxious, still suspecting lest somebody should make a hole through
the wall, and so get in; or if a rat or mouse did but stir, starting upon a
sudden, and running to the door to see whether all were fast. Plautus, in
his Aulularia, makes old Euclio [1863]commanding Staphyla his wife to shut
the doors fast, and the fire to be put out, lest anybody should make that
an errand to come to his house: when he washed his hands, [1864]he was
loath to fling away the foul water, complaining that he was undone, because
the smoke got out of his roof. And as he went from home, seeing a crow
scratch upon the muck-hill, returned in all haste, taking it for _malum
omen_, an ill sign, his money was digged up; with many such. He that will
but observe their actions, shall find these and many such passages not
feigned for sport, but really performed, verified indeed by such covetous
and miserable wretches, and that it is,

[1865] ------"manifesta phrenesis
Ut locuples moriaris egenti vivere fato."

A mere madness, to live like a wretch, and die rich.

SUBSECT. XIII.--_Love of Gaming, &c. and pleasures immoderate; Causes_.

It is a wonder to see, how many poor, distressed, miserable wretches, one
shall meet almost in every path and street, begging for an alms, that have
been well descended, and sometimes in flourishing estate, now ragged,
tattered, and ready to be starved, lingering out a painful life, in
discontent and grief of body and mind, and all through immoderate lust,
gaming, pleasure and riot. 'Tis the common end of all sensual epicures and
brutish prodigals, that are stupefied and carried away headlong with their
several pleasures and lusts. Cebes in his table, St. Ambrose in his second
book of Abel and Cain, and amongst the rest