cal concupiscences of the body, hath lost all his honour,
captivated by vainglory." Chrysostom, _sup. Io._ _Tu sola animum mentemque
peruris, gloria_. A great assault and cause of our present malady, although
we do most part neglect, take no notice of it, yet this is a violent
batterer of our souls, causeth melancholy and dotage. This pleasing humour;
this soft and whispering popular air, _Amabilis insania_; this delectable
frenzy, most irrefragable passion, _Mentis gratissimus error_, this
acceptable disease, which so sweetly sets upon us, ravisheth our senses,
lulls our souls asleep, puffs up our hearts as so many bladders, and that
without all feeling, [1906]insomuch as "those that are misaffected with it,
never so much as once perceive it, or think of any cure." We commonly love
him best in this [1907]malady, that doth us most harm, and are very willing
to be hurt; _adulationibus nostris libentur facemus_ (saith [1908] Jerome)
we love him, we love him for it: [1909]_O Bonciari suave, suave fuit a te
tali haec tribui_; 'Twas sweet to hear it. And as [1910]Pliny doth
ingenuously confess to his dear friend Augurinus, "all thy writings are
most acceptable, but those especially that speak of us." Again, a little
after to Maximus, [1911]"I cannot express how pleasing it is to me to hear
myself commended." Though we smile to ourselves, at least ironically, when
parasites bedaub us with false encomiums, as many princes cannot choose but
do, _Quum tale quid nihil intra se repererint_, when they know they come as
far short, as a mouse to an elephant, of any such virtues; yet it doth us
good. Though we seem many times to be angry, [1912] "and blush at our own
praises, yet our souls inwardly rejoice, it puffs us up;" 'tis _fallax
suavitas, blandus daemon_, "makes us swell beyond our bounds, and forget
ourselves." Her two daughters are lightness of mind, immoderate joy and
pride, not excluding those other concomitant vices, which [1913]Iodocus
Lorichius reckons up; bragging, hypocrisy, peevishness, and curiosity.

Now the common cause of this mischief, ariseth from ourselves or others,
[1914]we are active and passive. It proceeds inwardly from ourselves, as we
are active causes, from an overweening conceit we have of our good parts,
own worth, (which indeed is no worth) our bounty, favour, grace, valour,
strength, wealth, patience, meekness, hospitality, beauty, temperance,
gentry, knowledge, wit, science, art, learning, our [1915]