From small beginnings our misfortunes grow,
And little rubs our feet do overthrow;
A single day is able down to cast
Some things from height, and others raise as fast.[142]
Demetrius Phalereus affirms that this was truly said, but that the poet
had been more in the right if for a single day he had put only a moment
of time.
For earthly fruits and mortal men’s estate
Turn round about in one and selfsame rate;
Some live, wax strong, and prosper day by day,
While others are cast down and fade away.[143]
And Pindar hath it in another place,
What are we, what are we not?
Man is but a shadow’s dream.[144]
He used an artificial and very perspicuous hyperbole to draw human life
in its genuine colors; for what is weaker than a shadow? Or what words
can be found out whereby to express a shadow’s dream? Crantor hath
something consonant to this, when, condoling Hippocles upon the loss of
his children, he speaks after this manner:—
“These are the things which all the old philosophers talk of and have
instructed us in; which though we do not agree to in every particular,
yet this hath too sharp a truth in it, that our life is painful and
full of difficulties; and if it doth not labor with them in its own
nature, yet we ourselves have infected it with that corruption. For the
inconstancy of Fortune joined us at the beginning of our journey, and
hath accompanied us ever since; so that it can produce nothing that is
sound or comfortable unto us; and the bitter potion was mingled for us
as soon as we were born. For the principles of our nature being mortal
is the cause that our judgment is depraved, that diseases, cares, and
all those fatal inconveniences afflict mankind.”
But what need of this digression? Only that we may be made sensible
that it is no unusual thing if a man be unfortunate; but we are all
subject to the same calamity. For as Theophrastus saith, Fortune
surpriseth us unawares, robs us of those things we have got by the
sweat of our industry, and spoils the gaudy appearance of a prosperous
condition; and this she doth when she pleaseth, not being stinted to
any periods of time. These and things of the like nature it is easy for
a man to ponder with himself, and to hearken to the sayings of ancient
and wise men; among whom divine Homer is the chief, who sung after this
manner:—
Of all that breathes or grovelling creeps on earth,
Most man is vain! calamitous by birth:
To-day, with power elate, in strength he blooms;
The haughty creature on that power presumes:
Anon from Heaven a sad reverse he feels;
Untaught to bear, ’gainst Heaven the wretch rebels.
For man is changeful, as his bliss or woe;
Too high when prosperous, when distress’d too low.[145]