fortunes, spectator e longinquo, and love Neptunum procul a terra spectare furentem:  he is ambitious, and not satisfied with his:  “but what [3944]gets he by it? to have all his life laid open, his reproaches seen:  not one of a thousand but he hath done more worthy of dispraise and animadversion than commendation; no better means to help this than to be private.”  Let them run, ride, strive as so many fishes for a crumb, scrape, climb, catch, snatch, cozen, collogue, temporise and fleer, take all amongst them, wealth, honour, [3945]and get what they can, it offends me not: 

[3946]  ------“me mea tellus
Lare secreto tutoque tegat,”

“I am well pleased with my fortunes,” [3947]_Vivo et regno simul ista relinquens_.

I have learned “in what state soever I am, therewith to be contented,” Philip, iv 11.  Come what can come, I am prepared. Nave ferar magna an parva, ferar unus et idem.  I am the same.  I was once so mad to bustle abroad, and seek about for preferment, tire myself, and trouble all my friends, sed nihil labor tantus profecit nam dum alios amicorum mors avocat, aliis ignotus sum, his invisus, alii large promittunt, intercedunt illi mecum soliciti, hi vana spe lactant; dum alios ambio, hos capto, illis innotesco, aetas perit, anni defluunt, amici fatigantur, ego deferor, et jam, mundi taesus, humanaeque satur infidelitatis acquiesco. [3948]And so I say still; although I may not deny, but that I have had some [3949] bountiful patrons, and noble benefactors, ne sim interim ingratus, and I do thankfully acknowledge it, I have received some kindness, quod Deus illis beneficium rependat, si non pro votis, fortasse pro meritis, more peradventure than I deserve, though not to my desire, more of them than I did expect, yet not of others to my desert; neither am I ambitious or covetous, for this while, or a Suffenus to myself; what I have said, without prejudice or alteration shall stand.  And now as a mired horse that struggles at first with all his might and main to get out, but when he sees no remedy, that his beating will not serve, lies still, I have laboured in vain, rest satisfied, and if I may usurp that of [3950]Prudentius,

       “Inveni portum; spes et fortuna valete,
        Nil mihi vobiscum, ludite nunc alios.”

       “Mine haven’s found, fortune and hope adieu,
        Mock others now, for I have done with you.”

MEMB.  VII. Against Repulse, Abuses, Injuries, Contempts, Disgraces, Contumelies, Slanders, Scoffs, &c.

I may not yet conclude, think to appease passions, or quiet the mind, till such time as I have likewise removed some other of their more eminent and ordinary causes, which produce so grievous tortures and discontents:  to divert all, I cannot hope; to point alone at some few of the chiefest, is that which I aim at.