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THE SECOND BOOKE 219
and contentedly with his familie, wanting of no dutie
or office both towards his own houshold and strangers,
verie carefully preserving himselfe from all hurtful!
things: notwithstanding through some alteration of
his senses or spirits, he was so possessed with this
fantasticall conceipt or obstinate humour that he ever
and continually thought to be amongst the Theatres,
where he still saw all manner of spectacles, pastimes,
sports, and the best Comedies of the world. But being
at last by the skill of Physitians cured of this maladie,
and his offending humour purged, he could hardly be
held from putting them in suite, to the end they might
restore him to the former pleasures and contents of his
imagination.
pol me occidistis amici,
Non servasttSy att, cut sic extoita voluptas,
Et demptus per van menti gratmimus error.¹
You have not sav'd me, friends, but slaine me quite,
(Quoth he) from whom so reft is my delight,
And errour purg'd, which best did please my spright.
Of a raving like unto that of Thrasilaus, sonne unto
Pythodorus, who verily beleeved that all the ships that
went out from the haven of Pyra?us, yea and all such
as came into it, did only travell about his businesse,
rejoycing when any of them had made a fortunate
voyage, and welcommed them with great gladnesse :
His brother Crito, having caused him to be cured and
restored to his better senses, he much bewailed and
grieved of the condition wherein he had formerly lived
in such joy, and so void of all care and griefe. It is
that which that ancient Greeke verse saith: That not
to be so advised brings many commodities with it:
The sweetest life I wis,
In knowing nothing is.
And as Ecclesiastes witnesseth : ' In much wisdome
is much sorrow. And who getteth knowledge purchaseth
sorrow and griefe.' Even that which Philosophy
¹ HOR. 1, i, Epist. ii. 138. ² SOPH. Ala. Flag.