The Israelites drank water in the wildernesse; Sampson, David, Saul, Abrahams servant when he went for Isaacs wife, the Samaritan woman, and how many besides might I reckon up, Ægypt, Palestina, whole countries in the Indies, that drink pure water all their lives. The Persian kings themselves drank no other drink then the water of Chaospis, that runs by Susa, which was carried in bottles after them, whithersoever they went.

Jacob desired no more of God, but bread to eat, and clothes to put on in his journey. Gen. 28.20. Bene est cui deus obtulit Parca quod satis est manu; bread is enough to strengthen the heart. And if you study Philosophy aright, saith Maudarensis, whatsoever is beyond this moderation, is not usefull, but troublesome.

Agellius out of Euripides, accounts bread and water enough to satisfie nature, of which there is no surfeit, the rest is not a feast, but ryot. S. Hierome esteemes him rich, that hath bread to eat, and a potent man that is not compelled to be a slave: hunger is not ambitious, so that it have to eat, and thirst doth not prefer a cup of gold.

It was no Epicurean Speech of an Epicure, He that is not satisfied with a little, will never have enough: And very good counsell of him in the Poet, O my sonne, Mediocritie of meanes agrees best with men; too much is pernicious.

Divitiæ grandes homini sunt vivere parcè, Æquo 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 courser meat.

Si ventri bene, si lateri, pedibusque tuis, nil Divitiæ poterunt regales addere majus.

If belly, sides and feet be well at ease, A princes 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 doe not I want? ’Tis thy want alone that keepes thee in health of body and minde, and that which thou persecutest and abhorrest as a ferall plague, is thy physician and chiefest friend, which makes thee a good man, an healthfull, a sound, a vertuous, an honest and happy man.

For when Vertue came from heaven (as the Poet faines) rich men kicked her up, wicked men abhorr’d her, courtiers scoffed at her, citizens hated her, 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 Vertue dwell together.

—— O vitæ tuta facultas Pauperis, angustique lares, ô munera nondum Intellecta deûm.

how happy art thou if thou couldst be content. Godlinesse is great gain, if a man can be content with that which he hath, 1 Tim. 6.6. And all true happinesse is in a mean estate. I have a little wealth, as he said, sed quas animus magnas facit, a kingdom in conceit:

—— nil amplius opto Maiâ nate, nisi ut propria hæc mihi munera faxis;

I have enough and desire no more.

Dii bene fecerunt inopis me quodque pusilli Fecerunt animi ——

’tis very well, and to my content. Vestem & fortunam concinnam potius quàm laxam probo, let my fortune and my garments be both alike, fit for me. And which Sebastian Foscarinus sometime Duke of Venice, caused to be engraven on his Tomb in Saint Markes Church, Hear, O ye Venetians, and I will tell you which is the best thing in the world: To contemne it. I will engrave it in my heart, it shall be my whole studie to contemne it.

Let them take wealth, Stercora stercus amet, so that I may have security; bene qui latuit, bene vixit; though I live obscure, yet I live clean and honest; and when as the lofty oke is blown down, the silly reed may stand. Let them take glory, for that’s their misery; let them take honour, so that I may have hearts ease.

Duc me o Jupiter & tu fatum, &c. Lead me, O God, whither thou wilt, I am ready to follow; command, I will obey. I doe not envie at their wealth, titles, offices;

Stet quicunque volet potens Aulæ culmine lubrico, Me dulcis saturet quies,

let me live quiet and at ease. Erimus fortasse (as he comforted himself) quando illi non erunt, when they are dead and gone, and all their pomp vanished, our memory may flourish:

—— dant perennes Stemmata non peritura Musæ.

Let him be my Lord, Patron, Baron, Earl, and possesse so many goodly Castles, ’tis well for me that I have a poor house, and a little wood, and a Well by it, &c.

His me consolor victurum suavius, ac si Quæstor avus pater atque meus, patruusque fuissent.

I live I thank God as merrily as he, and triumph as much in this my mean estate, as if my father and uncle had been Lord Treasurer, or my Lord Major. He feeds of many dishes, I of one; qui Christum curat, non multum curat quam de preciosis cibis stercus conficiat; what care I of what stuffe my excrements be made?