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THE SECOND BOOKE 205
unto health, than they do in this other proposition of
theirs, where they say, that if Circe had presented
Vlisses with two kinds of drinke, the one to turne a
wise man into a foole, the other to change a foole into
a wise man, he would rather have accepted that of
folly, than have been pleased that Circe should transforme
his humane shape into a beasts. And they say
that Wisdome herselfe would thus have spoken unto
him: r Meddle not with me, but leave me rather than
thou shouldst place me under the shape and bodie of
an Asse.' What ? This great and heavenly wisdom ?
Are Phylosophers contented then to quit it for a
corporal! and earthly veile ? Why then it is not for
reasons sake, nor by discourse and for the soule, we
so much excell beasts : it is for the love we beare unto
our beautie, unto our faire hew, and goodly disposition
of limbs, that we reject and set our understanding
at naught, our wisdome, and what else we have. Well,
I allow of this ingenious and voluntarie confession :
surely they knew those parts we so much labour to
pamper to be meere fantasies. Suppose beasts had all
the vertue, the knowledge, the wisdome and sufficiency
of the Stoikes, they should still be beasts; nor
might they ever be compared unto a miserable,
wretched, and senseless man. For, when all is done,
whatsoever is not as we are, is not of any worth. And
God to be esteemed of us, must (as we will show anon)
draw somewhat neere it Whereby it appeareth that
it is not long of a true discourse, but of a foolish
hardinesse and selfe-perfuming obstinacie, we prefer
ourselves before other creatures, and sequester our
selves from their condition and societie. But to
returne to our purpose: we have for our part inconstancie,
irresolution, uncertaintie, sorrow, superstition,
carefulnesse for future things (yea after our life),
ambition, covetousnesse, jelousie, envie, inordinate,
mad, untamed appetites, warre, falsehood, disloyaltie,
detraction, and curiositie. Surely we have strangely
overpaid this worthie discourse, whereof we so muen
gloria, and this readinesse to judge, or capacitie to