XVI. Thus with respect to many individuals, all that is attracting
is comprehended in objects of little value. It is true however, that
if you could collect all these into one heap, they would amount to
something considerable. But to what end should people endeavour this?
I am sure I don’t know, nor many times they themselves neither. What
passed between Pyrrhus, King of Albania, and his wise friend and
counsellor Cineus, is pleasant, and applicable to this matter. Cineus
said to that prince in a conversation between them, the subject of
which was Pyrrhus’s intended invasion of the Romans; “Truly, Sir, the
undertaking is difficult, for we shall have to do with a martial, and
a powerful people; but supposing the success of our arms to be so
great, as that we should subdue the Romans, what fruit shall we reap by
the conquest?” “Are you at a loss to find out that, answered Pyrrhus?
Shall not we make ourselves masters of all Italy?” And what shall we do
afterwards, replied Cineus? Pyrrhus answered, “We will conquer Sicily,
which is in the neighbourhood, and may be easily subdued.” “That will
be a great thing, said Cineus; but when that’s done, shall we put an
end to the war?” Pyrrhus, who had not yet penetrated the drift of
Cineus in asking all these questions, answered, “By no means; after
conquering Sicily, we will proceed to Africa, and possess ourselves of
Carthage, and the adjacent kingdoms.” “You are clear, said Cineus, that
the Gods will indulge you with all this good fortune; but when this is
done, what are we to employ ourselves about next?” “We will return,
said Pyrrhus; to our own country, cloathed with immense power, and
we will conquer all the Empire of Greece.” “Having conquered Greece,
replied Cineus, what are we to do then?” “When this is compleated,
answered Pyrrhus, we will pass the remainder of our lives in soft and
sublime indolence, without thinking of any thing but banquets, and
festive society.” Here Cineus, who had without the King’s being aware
of him, entangled him in the net, said laughingly; “But pray Sir, what
should hinder us from beginning to enjoy all this happiness at this
instant of time? Is not the kingdom you are possessed of sufficient to
furnish you banquets, and every other kind of regale? To what end then,
should you conquer provinces and cross seas, wasting your health, and
exposing your life to the rage of waves, and fury of battles?”
XVII. This reasoning, which is taken almost literally from Plutarch,
is well adapted, not only to that ambitious Prince, but may be also
properly applied to an infinite number of other men; who accumulate
riches upon riches, at the expence of dangers and fatigues, and
who, without knowing what they are in pursuit of, run a vicious and
an erroneous course, in search of the very thing they possess. The
pride of Philip King of Macedon, was mortified with great address by
Archidamus the IIId, King of Sparta, whom Philip had overcome in a
battle; and the day after wrote Archidamus a letter, full of arrogance
and insult; to which Archidamus answered, That if he would place
himself in the sun, he would find that his shadow was not a jot bigger
after, than it was the day before the battle. Thus it is, that fortune
aggrandizes, but adds nothing to the stature.