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40 Erasmus shall hear yet greater things. Will he, I pray, love any one that hates himself? Or ever agree with another who is not at peace with himself? Or beget pleasure in another that is troublesome to himself? I think no one will say it that is not more foolish than Folly. And yet, if ye should exclude me, there ’s no man but would be so far from enduring another that he would stink in his own nostrils, be nauseated with his own actions, and himself become odious to himself ; forasmuch as Nature, in too many things rather a Stepdame than a Parent to us, has imprinted that evil in men, especially such as have least judgment, that every one repents him of his own condition and admires that of others. Whence it comes to pass that all her gifts, elegancy and graces corrupt and perish. For what benefit is Beauty, the greatest blessing of Heaven, if it be mixt with affectation? What Youth, if corrupted with the severity of old Age? Lastly, what is that in the whole business of a man’s life he can do with any grace to himself or others—for it is not so much a thing of Art, as the very life of every Action, that it be done with a good meen—unlesse this my friend and
