III. But supposing what I have just premised is admitted,
notwithstanding all the solutions and precautions we can advert to, a
serious and pernicious deceit continues to impose on, and in some sort,
govern the world, which is derived, as I have already observed, from
those who conclude well, but suppose badly. In the distribution they
make of happy, and unhappy people, they suppose an inequality, which
in reality does not exist, nor is it to be found in the fortunes of
men. He who occupies posts of dignity, he who inhabits a magnificent
palace, he who possesses great riches, and much more he whose temples
are adorned with a crown, is reputed the happiest of men. On the
contrary, he who beneath an humble roof, scarce known to the world,
who to subsist and enable him to live, has no more than is absolutely
necessary, is considered as unhappy. At least, the fortune of this
last, is judged to be as much inferior to that of the other, as a
little fountain is to the whole stock of waters contained in the Nile.
IV. Very different was the sentiment of the oracle of Delphi, who, when
he was asked by Gyges King of Lydia, who was the happiest man in the
world? replied, “Agalus Psophidius, the possessor of a little estate,
in a confined corner of Arcadia, is the most happy man who inhabits the
globe.” The King, who expected to be told that himself was the happiest
man, remained equally confounded and surprized.
V. Agathocles was a monster of Fortune; from being the son of a poor
potter of the City of Regio, he rose to be sovereign of Sicily, with
all which, I believe, that by comparing his fortune with that of
Carcinus his father, we shall find that the father was the more happy
man of the two. It is certain, he did not live in that continual
uneasiness, which agitated the whole life of Agathocles, nor did
he suffer any grief so intense, or of so long duration, as that of
Agathocles, which was occasioned by the death of his sons, who were
barbarously beheaded by his own soldiers.
VI. Pliny, in his seventh Book, speaking of those Romans, who, in some
instances, were the most remarkable favourites of Fortune, such as the
dictator Scylla, the two Metellus’s, and Octavius Augustus, points
out at the same time, so many counterpoises to their good luck, as to
leave it doubtful, whether the scale of their adversity, or of their
prosperity preponderated.
VII. The labour would be infinite, if, by turning over history,
you was to instance all those, to whom the hand of fortune, has
alternately dealt the most cruel blows, and administered the most
tender gratifications; nor would such an enquiry be of any avail to
our purpose, because every one will readily grant, there is no asylum
in this world, to protect us from the rigours of fate; nor is there
any privilege annexed to high dignity, which exempts it from the
jurisdiction of misfortune. The best method then is, to weigh the one
and the other fortune, the exalted and the humble, and estimate them,
according to what in their common and ordinary state, they are found
to contain in themselves; abstracted from any extraordinary accidents,
either favourable or adverse.