command all these, and employ them as occasion serveth; even so wisdom is neither gold nor silver, it is not glory or riches, it is not health, it is not strength, it is not beauty: what is it then? Surely even that which can skill how to use all these, and by means whereof each of these things is pleasant, honourable and profitable; and contrariwise, without which they are displeasant, hurtful and dangerous, working his destruction and dishonour who possesseth them. And therefore right good counsel gave Prometheus in Hesiodus to his brother Epimetheus on this one point:
Receive no gifts at any time,
Which heavenly Jove shall lend:
But see thou do refuse them all,
And back again them send.
Meaning thereby these outward goods of fortune's gift, as if he would have said: Go not about to play upon a flute, if thou have no knowledge in music; nor to read if thou know never a letter in the book; mount not on horseback, unless thou canst tell how to sit him and ride; and even so he advised him thereby not to seek for office and place of government in commonweal, wanting wit as he did; nor to lay for riches, so long as he bare a covetous mind and wist not how to be liberal; nor to marry a wife, for to be his master and to lead him by the nose: for not only wealth and prosperity happening above desert unto unadvised folk, giveth occasion (as Demosthenes said) unto them for to commit many follies; but also worldly happiness beyond all reason and demerit, causeth such as are not wise to become unhappy and miserable in the end.
