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THE SECOND BOOKE 227
all he had unto learning, Valerius saith, that in his
age he began to disesteeme letters: and whilst he
practised them, it was without bond to any speciall
body, following what seemed probable unto him, now
in the one and now in the other sect; ever holding
himselfe under the Academies doubtfulnesse. Dicendum
est, sed ita ut nihil affirmem; quaxram omnia,
dubitans plerumque, et mihi diffidens : ¹ ' Speake I must,
but so as I avouch nothing, question all things, for
the most part in doubt and distrust of my selfe.' I
should have too much adoe if I would consider man
after his owne fashion, and in grose: which I might
doe by his owne rule, who is wont to judge of truth,
not by the weight or value of voices, but by the
number. But leave we the common people,
Qui vigilant stertit,¹
Who snoare while they are awake.
Mortua cut vita est, propejam vivo atque videnti :²
Whose life is dead while yet they see,
And in a manner living be.
Who feeleth not himselfe, who judgeth not himselfe,
who leaves the greatest part of his naturall parts idle.
I will take man even in his highest estate. Let us consider
him in this small number of excellent and choice
men, who having naturally beene endowed with a peculiar
and exquisite wit, have also fostred and sharpened the
same with care, with study and with art, and have
brought and strained unto the highest pitch of wisdome
it may possibly reach unto. They have fitted their
soule unto all senses, and squared the same to all
byases; they have strengthned and under-propped it
with all forame helpes, that might any way fit or stead
her, and have enriched and adorned her with whatsoever
they have beene able to borrow, either within or
without the world for her availe: It is in them that
the extreme height of humane nature doth lodge.
They have reformed the world with policies and lawes.
¹ CIC. Divin. 1. i. ² LUCK. i. iii. 1091.,
³Ib. 1089.