1This text the Sophisters have corrupted, while they think the study of Philosophy is here reprehended, whereby men search out the nature & causes of things, as though this were an evil thing, not able to be declared. But it is not evil to search out the nature and properties of things. Moreover the causes of all things are most manifest, so far of is it, that they be hard and difficult. This therefore he meaneth, that he will speak of the vanity of man, but that the same is so much and so great, that he thinketh he can not sufficiently express the same.2 It can not be uttered he saith how great the vanity of man is, which thing Persius the Poet declareth: saying, O what great vanity is in the world. And an other writer saith: No man liveth content with his estate. And every man ought to live within his bounds and compass: vanity stretcheth ⟨p. 17⟩farther, than can be reckoned in all mens affairs. Therefore it is but little that I can say of vanity, if a man consider the greatness thereof, It is to gross and to much. For so great is this worlds vanity, that I can not with any words express it. The thing is greater, then either men can conceive, or I am able to utter. It is an hard matter to declare the variety of mens devises and desires, what it is that Julius coveteth, what Alexander, what Solomon, what Cato, what Scipio, what Pompey. The affections of men are always more, then the tongue of man can express. And now he proveth that he said by an example.
1THis text the Sophisters haue corrupted, while they thinke ye study of Philosophie is here reprehēded, whereby mē search out the nature & causes of things, as though this were an euill thyng, not able to be declared. But it is not euill to search out the nature and properties of thynges. Moreouer ye causes of all things are most manifest, so farre of is it, that they be hard and difficult. This therfore he meaneth, that he wil speake of the vanitie of mā, but that the same is so much and so great, that he thinketh he can not sufficiently expresse the same.2 It can not be vttered he sayth how great the vanitie of man is, which thyng Persius the Poete declareth: saying, O what great vanitie is in the world. And an other writer sayth: No man lyueth content with his estate. And euery man ought to lyue within his boundes and cōpasse: vanitie stretcheth ⟨p. 17⟩farther, than can be rekoned in all mens affaires. Therfore it is but litle that I can say of vanitie, if a man consider the greatnes therof, It is to grosse and to much. For so great is this worldes vanity, that I can not with any wordes expresse it. The thyng is greater, then either men can conceaue, or I am able to vtter. It is an hard matter to declare the varietie of mens deuises and desires, what it is that Iulius coueteth, what Alexāder, what Salomon, what Cato, what Scipio, what Pompey. The affections of men are alwayes more, then the toung of man can expresse. And now he prooueth that he sayd by an example.
- 1The error of Sophisters upon this place.The errour of Sophisters vpon this place.
- 2The vanity of man greater thē can be expressed with words.The vanitie of man greater thē can be expressed wt wordes.