loving moderate than eminent things. There is nothing so handsome and lawful as well and duly to play the man; nor science so hard as well to know how to live this life; and of all the infirmities we have, 't is the most savage to despise our being.

I enjoin my soul to look upon pain and pleasure with an eye equally regular: Eodem enim vitio est effusio animi in lætitia, quo in dolore contractio, "For 't is by the same vice that we dilate ourselves in mirth, and contract in sorrow," and equally firm; but the one gaily, and the other severely, and according to what it is able, to be as careful to restrain the one as to extend the other. The judging rightly of goods brings along with it the judging soundly of evils; and pain has something not to be avoided in its tender beginnings, and pleasure has something that may be avoided in its excessive end. Plato couples them together, and will that it should be equally the office of fortitude to fight against pain, and against the immoderate and charming blandishments of pleasure: they are two fountains, from which whoever draws, when, and as much as he needs, whether city, man, or beast, is very happy. Others are sensible of the sweetness of contentment and of prosperity; I feel it too as well as they, but not as it slides and passes by; a man ought to study, taste, and ruminate upon it, to render worthy thanks to Him that grants it to us. They enjoy the other pleasures as they do that of sleep, without knowing it. To the end that even sleep itself should not so stupidly escape from me, I have formerly caused myself to be disturbed in my sleep, that I might the better and more sensibly relish and savour it. I consult myself about a contentment; I do not skim, but sound it; and bend my reason, now grown perverse and ill-humoured, to entertain it. Do I find myself in calm composedness? Is there any pleasure that

tickles me? I do not suffer it to dally with my senses only; I associate my soul to it too; not there to engage herself, but therein to take delight; not there to lose herself, but to be present there; and employ her on her part to view herself in this prosperous estate, to weigh, esteem, and amplify its happiness.

For my part, then, I love life, and cultivate it, such as it has pleased God to bestow it upon us.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

(A. D. 1552–1618.)

WALTER RALEIGH, soldier, statesman, explorer, colonizer, historian, poet, the typical man of the Elizabethan age, was born at Hayes, in South Devon, England, in 1552, the son of a poor gentleman of ancient stock. His scant schooling ended in a brief term at Oxford, and his life of adventure began at the boyish age of seventeen, when he went as a volunteer to fight under Condé and Coligny, for the Huguenots of France. From France he went fighting to the Netherlands, in aid of the Dutch against Spain, and nearly ten years pass before he is found once more in England. Then he starts with Humphrey Gilbert, his half-brother, on an exploring voyage to America, but is driven back by storms and hostile Spaniards. In 1580 he is soldiering again in Ireland; in 1582 he is winning the favor of Queen Elizabeth at the English court; in 1584 he sends out his first Virginia expedition; the next year he is knighted by the queen, and plants his unfortunate colony on Roanoke Island. In 1588 he is active and heroic in the defense of England against the Armada. The next year he is with Drake's expedition to Portugal, and afterwards with Edmund Spenser in Ireland, whence he brings the first three books of the "Faerie Queene for presentation to Elizabeth. In 1590 he fits out a squadron and cruises with Frobisher in the West. Indies, missing the Spanish plate fleet, but capturing a rich prize at the Azores. On returning he is imprisoned in the Tower for seduction of one of the queen's maids of honor, whom he marries. Restored to favor, he enters Parliament, and acquires Sherborne Manor, where he "builds and beautifies." In 1595 he is at sea again, with an expedition which explores the Guiana coast and ascends the Orinoco, seeking Eldorado, and he publishes a narrative of his voyage. In 1596 he serves under Howard and Essex in the Cadiz expedition, and

is at the taking of Fayal next year. The death of Queen Elizabeth and the accession of King James end his favor at court. Accused of complicity in the plot to raise Arabella Stuart to the throne, he is condemned to death, but remains for thirteen years a prisoner in the Tower, during which time his "History of the World" is written. Then, in 1616, he is released, to make his last ill-starred expedition to Guiana, reviving Spanish hatreds, which now pursue him to the death. King James, seeking a Spanish marriage for his son, thinks Raleigh's life a small price to pay for the good will of the court at Madrid. So Sir Walter returns to the Tower; the old sentence of 1603 is declared to be of force, and, on the 29th of October, 1618, he lays his head upon the block.

RALEIGH'S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS SON AND TO

POSTERITY.

(From his Works, vol. viii.)

CHAPTER I.

There is nothing more becoming any wise man than to make choice of friends; for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art. Let them therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee for gain. . . . If thy friends be of better quality than thyself, thou mayest be sure of two things: the first, that they will be more careful to keep thy counsel, because they have more to lose than thou hast; the second, they will esteem thee for thyself, and not for that which thou dost possess. Let thy love therefore be to the best, so long as they do well: but take heed that thou love God, thy country, thy prince, and thine own estate, before all others, for the fancies of men change, and he that loves to-day hateth to-morrow: but let reason be thy schoolmistress, which shall ever guide thee aright.

CHAPTER II.

The next and greatest care ought to be in the choice of a wife, and the only danger therein is beauty, by

which all men in all ages, wise and foolish, have been betrayed.

CHAPTER III.

Take care thou be not made a fool by flatterers, for even the wisest men are abused by these. Know therefore, that flatterers are the worst kind of traitors; for they will strengthen thy imperfections, encourage thee in all evils, correct thee in nothing, but so shadow and paint all thy vices and follies as thou shalt never, by their will, discern evil from good, or vice from virtue. And because all men are apt to flatter themselves, to entertain the additions of other men's praises is most perilous. Do not therefore praise thyself, except thou wilt be counted a vainglorious fool, neither take delight in the praises of other men, except thou deserve it, and receive it from such as are worthy and honest, and will withal warn thee of thy faults.

CHAPTER IV.

Be careful to avoid public disputations at feasts, or at tables among choleric or quarrelsome persons; and eschew evermore to be acquainted or familiar with ruffians.

...

Jest not openly at those that are simple, but remember how much thou art bound to God, who hath made thee wiser. ... Remember the divine saying; He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life. Do therefore right to all men where it may profit them, and thou shalt thereby get much love; and forbear to speak evil things of men, though it be true, (if thou be not constrained,) and thereby thou shalt avoid malice and revenge.

Do not accuse any man of any crime, if it be not to save thyself, thy prince, or country; for there is nothing more dishonourable (next to treason itself) than to be an accuser. Notwithstanding, I would not have thee for any respect lose thy reputation, or endure public disgrace;