Then, for a while looking steadfastly upon the ground, and, as it were,
retiring herself to the most secret seat of her soul, she began in this
manner: "All men's thoughts, which are turmoiled with manifold cares,
take indeed divers courses, but yet endeavour to attain the same end of
happiness, which is that good which, being once obtained, nothing can be
further desired. Which is the chiefest of all goods, and containeth in
itself whatsoever is good, and if it wanted anything it could not be the
chiefest, because there would something remain besides it which might be
wished for. Wherefore, it is manifest that blessedness is an estate
replenished with all that is good. This, as we said, all men endeavour
to obtain by divers ways. For there is naturally ingrafted in men's
minds an earnest desire of that which is truly good; but deceitful error
withdraweth it to that which falsely seemeth such. So that some,
esteeming it their greatest good to want nothing, labour by all means to
abound with riches; others, deeming that to be good which is most
deserving of honour, hunt after preferments, to be respected by their
fellow-citizens. Others think it the greatest felicity to have great
power and authority, and these will either reign themselves or at least
procure to be great with princes. But they who think fame better than
all these, make all speed possible to spread their names far and near,
by achieving some worthy enterprise either in war or peace. Many measure
good by joy and mirth, and their chiefest care is how they may abound
with pleasure. Some interchange the ends and means of these things one
with the other, wanting now riches for the sake of power and pleasure,
now power for the sake of wealth and fame. At these and such other do
men's actions and desires aim, as nobility and popularity, which make
men esteemed; wife and children, which bring pleasure and delight. But
friendship, that most sacred thing, is rather to be attributed to virtue
than to fortune. Other things for the most part are desired either for
power or pleasure. And it is an easy matter to reduce all corporal goods
to the former heads. For strength and greatness give ability; beauty and
swiftness, fame; and health yieldeth pleasure. By all which we
manifestly seek for nothing else but happiness. For that which every man
seeketh most after, is by him esteemed his greatest good. Which is all
one with happiness. Wherefore he esteemeth that estate happy which he
preferreth before all other.
And thus thou hast in a manner seen the form of human felicity--riches,
honour, power, glory, pleasure. Which Epicurus only considering,
consequently took pleasure for his chiefest good, because all the rest
seemed to delight the mind. But I return to the careful thoughts of men,
whose minds, though obscured, yet seek after the greatest good, but like
a drunken man know not the way home. For seem they to err who endeavour
to want nothing? But nothing can cause happiness so much as the
plentiful possession of all that is good, needing the help of none, but
is sufficient of itself. Or do they err who take that which is best to
be likewise most worthy of respect? No. For it is no vile or
contemptible thing which almost all men labour to obtain. Or is not
power to be esteemed good? Why, then, is that to be accounted feeble and
of no force, which manifestly surpasses all other things? Or is fame to
be contemned? But it cannot be ignored that the most excellent is also
most famous. For to what purpose should I say that happiness is not sad
or melancholy, or subject to grief and trouble, when even in smallest
matters we desire that which we delight to have and enjoy? And these be
the things which men desire to obtain, and to this end procure riches,
dignities, kingdoms, glory, and pleasures, because by them they think to
have sufficiency, respect, power, fame, delight, and joy. Wherefore,
that is good which men seek after by divers desires, in which the force
of nature is easily descried, since though there be many and different
opinions, yet they agree in choosing for their end that which is good.