Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

7. The Ambitious man

Must also be thrust into this Bedlam, though his port be high, and he thinks himself incivisible from the Court. Whiles he beholds the stars, with Thales, he forgets the ditch; and yawning so wide for preferment, contempt is easily thrown into his mouth. I have read of Menecrates a Physician, that would needs be counted a god, and took no other fee of his Patients, but their vow to worship him: Dionysius Syracusa hearing of this, invited him to a banquet; and to honour him according to his desire, set before him nothing but a Censor of Frankincense; with the smoke whereof he was feasted till he starved, whiles others fed on good meat. This showed the great Naturalist, a natural fool, a mad-man. Sapor a Persian King wrote himself, Rex Regum, Frater Solis & Lunae, particeps Syderum, &c. King of Kings, brother to the Sun and Moon, and partner with the Stars. Yet alas! he was a man, therefore a mad-man, in the arrogation of this Stile.

Must also bee thrust into this Bedlam, though his port be high, and he thinks himselfe inciuisible from the Court. Whiles hee beholds the starres, with Thales, he forgets the ditch; and yawning so wide for preferment, contempt is easily throwne into his mouth. I haue read of Menecrates a Physitian, that would needs bee counted a god, and tooke no other fee of his Patients, but their vow to worshippe him: Diony sius Syracusa hearing of this, inuited him to a banket; and to honour him according to his desire, set before him nothing but a Censor of Frankincense; with the smoake whereof hee was feasted till he starued, whiles others fed on good meate. This shewed the great Naturalist, a naturall foole, a mad-man. Sapor a Persian King wrote himselfe, Rex Regum, Frater Solis & Lunae, particeps Syderum, &c. King of Kings, brother to the Sunne and Moone, and partner with the Starres. Yet alas! hee was a man, therefore a mad-man, in the arrogation of this Stile.