The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.

The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.
a most deformed soul; honesty, virtue, fair conditions, are great enticers to such as are well given, and much avail to get the favour and goodwill of men.  Abdolominus in Curtius, a poor man, (but which mine author notes, [4549]"the cause of this poverty was his honesty”) for his modesty and continency from a private person (for they found him digging in his garden) was saluted king, and preferred before all the magnificoes of his time, injecta ei vestis purpura auroque distincta, “a purple embroidered garment was put upon him, [4550]and they bade him wash himself, and, as he was worthy, take upon him the style and spirit of a king,” continue his continency and the rest of his good parts.  Titus Pomponius Atticus, that noble citizen of Rome, was so fair conditioned, of so sweet a carriage, that he was generally beloved of all good men, of Caesar, Pompey, Antony, Tully, of divers sects, &c. multas haereditates ([4551]Cornelius Nepos writes) sola bonitate consequutus.  Operae, pretium audire, &c.  It is worthy of your attention, Livy cries, [4552]"you that scorn all but riches, and give no esteem to virtue, except they be wealthy withal, Q. Cincinnatus had but four acres, and by the consent of the senate was chosen dictator of Rome.”  Of such account were Cato, Fabricius, Aristides, Antonius, Probus, for their eminent worth:  so Caesar, Trajan, Alexander, admired for valour, [4553] Haephestion loved Alexander, but Parmenio the king:  Titus deliciae humani generis, and which Aurelius Victor hath of Vespasian, the darling of his time, as [4554]Edgar Etheling was in England, for his [4555]excellent virtues:  their memory is yet fresh, sweet, and we love them many ages after, though they be dead:  Suavem memoriam sui reliquit, saith Lipsius of his friend, living and dead they are all one. [4556]"I have ever loved as thou knowest” (so Tully wrote to Dolabella) “Marcus Brutus for his great wit, singular honesty, constancy, sweet conditions; and believe it” [4557] “there is nothing so amiable and fair as virtue.”  “I [4558]do mightily love Calvisinus,” (so Pliny writes to Sossius) “a most industrious, eloquent, upright man, which is all in all with me:”  the affection came from his good parts.  And as St. Austin comments on the 84th Psalm, [4559]"there is a peculiar beauty of justice, and inward beauty, which we see with the eyes of our hearts, love, and are enamoured with, as in martyrs, though their bodies be torn in pieces with wild beasts, yet this beauty shines, and we love their virtues.”  The [4560]stoics are of opinion that a wise man is only fair; and Cato in Tully 3 de Finibus contends the same, that the lineaments of the mind are far fairer than those of the body, incomparably beyond them:  wisdom and valour according to [4561]Xenophon, especially deserve the name of beauty, and denominate one fair, et incomparabiliter pulchrior est (as Austin holds) veritas Christianorum quam Helena Graecorum
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The Anatomy of Melancholy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.