too much of the honest. Therefore extreme lovers of their country or masters were never fortunate, neither can they be. For when a man placeth his thoughts without himself, he goeth not his own way. An hasty fortune maketh an enterpriser[1] and remover;[2] (the French hath it better, entreprenant, or remuant;) but the exercised fortune maketh the able man. Fortune is to be honoured and respected, and it be but for her daughters, Confidence and Reputation. For those two felicity breedeth; the first within a man's self, the latter in others towards him. All wise men, to decline[3] the envy of their own virtues, use to ascribe them to Providence and Fortune; for so they may the better assume them: and, besides, it is greatness in a man to be the care of the higher powers. So Cæsar said to the pilot in the tempest, Cæsarem portas, et fortunam ejus.[4] So Sylla chose the name of Felix, and not of Magnus.[5] And it hath been noted, that those who ascribe openly too much to their own wisdom and policy, end infortunate. It is written that Timotheus[6] the Athenian, after he had, in the account he gave to the state of his government, often interlaced this speech, and in this Fortune had no part, never prospered in any thing he undertook afterwards. Certainly there be, whose fortunes are like Homer's verses, that have a slide[7] and easiness more than
- ↑ Enterpriser. One who attempts an undertaking; an adventurer.
- ↑ Remover. An agitator.
- ↑ Decline. To avoid; to turn aside.
- ↑ You carry Caesar and his fortune. Plutarch. Life of Caesar.
- ↑ 'Fortunate' and not of 'Great.' Plutarch. Life of Sulla.
- ↑ Timotheus, died 354 B.C., Athenian naval commander.
- ↑ Slide. Fluency.
