“Divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parce,
Aequo animo.”------

And if thou canst be content, thou hast abundance, nihil est, nihil deest, thou hast little, thou wantest nothing.  ’Tis all one to be hanged in a chain of gold, or in a rope; to be filled with dainties or coarser meat.

[3752] “Si ventri bene, si lateri, pedibusque tuis, nil
        Divitiae poterunt regales addere majus.”

       “If belly, sides and feet be well at ease,
        A prince’s treasure can thee no more please.”

Socrates in a fair, seeing so many things bought and sold, such a multitude of people convented to that purpose, exclaimed forthwith, “O ye gods what a sight of things do not I want?” ’Tis thy want alone that keeps thee in health of body and mind, and that which thou persecutest and abhorrest as a feral plague is thy physician and [3753]chiefest friend, which makes thee a good man, a healthful, a sound, a virtuous, an honest and happy man.  For when virtue came from heaven (as the poet feigns) rich men kicked her up, wicked men abhorred her, courtiers scoffed at her, citizens hated her, [3754]and that she was thrust out of doors in every place, she came at last to her sister Poverty, where she had found good entertainment.  Poverty and Virtue dwell together.

[3755]  ------“O vitae tuta facultas
Pauperis, angustique lares, o munera nondum
Intellecta deum.”

How happy art thou if thou couldst be content.  “Godliness is a great gain, if a man can be content with that which he hath,” 1 Tim. vi. 6.  And all true happiness is in a mean estate.  I have a little wealth, as he said, [3756]_sed quas animus magnas facit_, a kingdom in conceit;

[3757]  ------“nil amplius opto
Maia nate, nisi ut propria haec mihi munera faxis;”

I have enough and desire no more.

[3758] “Dii bene fecerunt inopis me quodque pusilli
Fecerunt animi”------

’tis very well, and to my content. [3759]_Vestem et fortunam concinnam potius quam laxam probo_, let my fortune and my garments be both alike fit for me.  And which [3760]Sebastian Foscarinus, sometime Duke of Venice, caused to be engraven on his tomb in St. Mark’s Church, “Hear, O ye Venetians, and I will tell you which is the best thing in the world:  to contemn it.”  I will engrave it in my heart, it shall be my whole study to contemn it.  Let them take wealth, Stercora stercus amet so that I may have security:  bene qui latuit, bene vixit; though I live obscure, [3761] yet I live clean and honest; and when as the lofty oak is blown down, the silky reed may stand.  Let them take glory, for that’s their misery; let them take honour, so that I may have heart’s ease. Duc me O Jupiter et tu fatum, [3762]&c.  Lead me, O God, whither thou wilt, I am ready to follow; command, I will obey.  I do not envy at their wealth, titles, offices;

[3763] “Stet quicunque volet potens
        Aulae culmine lubrico,
        Me dulcis saturet quies.”