Vsque adeb res humanas vis abdita quadam Obterit, et pulchros fasces sav&sque secures Proculcare, ac ludibrio sibi habere videtur. [Footnote:  Lucret.  I. v. 1243.]

     A hidden power so mens states hath out-worne
     Faire swords, fierce scepters, signes of honours borne,
     It seemes to trample and deride in scorne.

And it seemeth Fortune doth sometimes narrowly watch the last day of our life, thereby to shew her power, and in one moment to overthrow what for many yeares together she had been erecting, and makes us cry after Laberius, Nimirum hoc die una plus vixi, mihi quam vivendum fuit. [Footnote:  MACHOB, 1, ii. 7.] Thus it is, “I have lived longer by this one day than I should.”  So may that good advice of Solon be taken with reason.  But forsomuch as he is a Philosopher, with whom the favours or disfavours of fortune, and good or ill lucke have no place, and are not regarded by him; and puissances and greatnesses, and accidents of qualitie, are well-nigh indifferent:  I deeme it very likely he had a further reach, and meant that the same good fortune of our life, which dependeth of the tranquillitie and contentment of a welborne minde, and of the resolution and assurance of a well ordered soule, should never be ascribed unto man, untill he have beene scene play the last act of his comedie, and without doubt the hardest.  In all the rest there may be some maske:  either these sophisticall discourses of Philosophie are not in us but by countenance, or accidents that never touch us to the quick, give us alwaies leasure to keep our countenance setled.  But when that last part of death, and of our selves comes to be acted, then no dissembling will availe, then is it high time to speake plaine English, and put off all vizards:  then whatsoever the pot containeth must be shewne, be it good or bad, foule or cleane, wine or water.

      Nam vera voces tum demum pectore ab imo
      Ejiciuntur, et eripitur persona, manet res.
     [Footnote:  LUCEET. 1. iii. 57.]

     For then are sent true speeches from the heart,
     We are ourselves, we leave to play a part.

Loe heere, why at this last cast, all our lives other actions must be tride and touched.  It is the master-day, the day that judgeth all others:  it is the day, saith an auncient Writer, that must judge of all my forepassed yeares.  To death doe I referre the essay [Footnote:  Assay, exact weighing.] of my studies fruit.  There shall wee see whether my discourse proceed from my heart, or from my mouth.  I have scene divers, by their death, either in good or evill, give reputation to all their forepassed life.  Scipio, father-in-law to Pompey, in well dying, repaired the ill opinion which untill that houre men had ever held of him.  Epaminondas being demanded which of the three he esteemed most, either Chabrias, or Iphicrates, or himselfe:  “It is necessary,” said he, “that we be scene