risoner by Charles V., _ad mortem fere
melancholicus_, saith Guicciardini, melancholy almost to death, and that in
an instant. But this is as clear as the sun, and needs no further
illustration.

SUBSECT. VI.--_Poverty and Want, Causes of Melancholy_.

Poverty and want are so violent oppugners, so unwelcome guests, so much
abhorred of all men, that I may not omit to speak of them apart. Poverty,
although (if considered aright, to a wise, understanding, truly regenerate,
and contented man) it be _donum Dei_, a blessed estate, the way to heaven,
as [2203]Chrysostom calls it, God's gift, the mother of modesty, and much
to be preferred before riches (as shall be shown in his [2204]place), yet
as it is esteemed in the world's censure, it is a most odious calling, vile
and base, a severe torture, _summum scelus_, a most intolerable burden; we
[2205]shun it all, _cane pejus et angue_ (worse than a dog or a snake), we
abhor the name of it, [2206]_Paupertas fugitur, totoque arcessitur orbe_,
as being the fountain of all other miseries, cares, woes, labours, and
grievances whatsoever. To avoid which, we will take any pains,--_extremos
currit mercator ad Indos_, we will leave no haven, no coast, no creek of
the world unsearched, though it be to the hazard of our lives, we will dive
to the bottom of the sea, to the bowels of the earth, [2207]five, six,
seven, eight, nine hundred fathom deep, through all five zones, and both
extremes of heat and cold: we will turn parasites and slaves, prostitute
ourselves, swear and lie, damn our bodies and souls, forsake God, abjure
religion, steal, rob, murder, rather than endure this insufferable yoke of
poverty, which doth so tyrannise, crucify, and generally depress us.

For look into the world, and you shall see men most part esteemed according
to their means, and happy as they are rich: [2208]_Ubique tanti quisque
quantum habuit fuit_. If he be likely to thrive, and in the way of
preferment, who but he? In the vulgar opinion, if a man be wealthy, no
matter how he gets it, of what parentage, how qualified, how virtuously
endowed, or villainously inclined; let him be a bawd, a gripe, an usurer, a
villain, a pagan, a barbarian, a wretch, [2209]Lucian's tyrant, "on whom
you may look with less security than on the sun;" so that he be rich (and
liberal withal) he shall be honoured, admired, adored, reverenced, and
highly [2210]magnified. "The rich is had in reputation because of his
goods," Ecc