Is not this great Babel, &c. he should have said: Is not this Nebuchadnezzar's folly, which he hath ⟨p. 9⟩built for a mock to his name, and an impeachment to his wisdom, for men to say when they pass by, look how our King hath bestowed his revenues, here lie our subsidies, & our tributes in these stone walls? But Nebuchadnezzar thinketh that every man will praise him for his folly. Therefore as a woman when she is pricked up in her bravery, thinketh that all do admire her, and hath as goodly opinion of her self, as the Peacock hath of his feathers, and frameth all her tricks, and speeches, and gestures accordingly: So when Nebuchadnezzar sate in his palace, and saw such sheers about him, now, saith pride, thou must frame thy looks, and gestures, and speeches accordingly, or else the Kings palace will be braver than the King ⟨p. 10⟩himself. So he beginneth to exalt his mind higher than his palace, and to look & speak stouter then he did before: the temptation was no sooner in his heart, but it was in his mouth, and he pleased himself therein so well, that he could not refrain, being alone, but as a fool, admires himself in a glass: so he, when he was alone, and no body with him, yet he strutted alone, and bragged by himself, to think what a jolly fellow he was. Now men begin to talk of his buildings. By this we may see how wealth and honours change manners, and how a gay coat, or a wrought handkerchief, or a gold ring can brave a mans mind, and make him look and speak after another fashion than he did. It is a wonder to see what power these ⟨p. 11⟩petty vain toys have over the mind, to alter and change a man suddenly, when he thinks better of himself that day he wears them, than any day else.
Is not this great Babel, &c. hee should haue saide: Is not this Nabuchadneezers follie, which he hath ⟨p. 9⟩built for a mocke to his name, and an impeachment to his wisdome, for men to say when they passe by, looke how our King hath bestowed his reuenewes, here lie our subsidies, & our tributes in these stone walles? But Nabuchadneezer thinketh that euerie man will prayse him for his follie. Therefore as a woman when shee is prickt vp in her brauery, thinketh that all doe admire her, and hath as goodlie opinion of hir selfe, as the Pecocke hath of his feathers, and frameth al her trickes, and speeches, and gestures accordingly: So when Nabuchadneezer sate in his pallace, and saw such sheeres about him, now, saith pride, thou must frame thy lookes, and gestures, and speeches accordingly, or else the Kings pallace will bee brauer than the King ⟨p. 10⟩himself. So hee beginneth to exalt his minde higher than his pallace, and to looke & speake stouter then he did before: the temptation was no sooner in his heart, but it was in his mouth, and he pleased himselfe therein so well, that he could not refraine, beeing alone, but as a foole, admires himselfe in a glasse: so he, when hee was alone, and no bodie with him, yet he strouted alone, and bragged by himselfe, to thinke what a iolly fellow he was. Nowe men begin to talke of his buildings. By this we may see how wealth and honors chaunge manners, and howe a gay coate, or a wrought handkercher, or a golde ring can braue a mans minde, and make him looke and speake after another fashion than he did. It is a wonder to see what power these ⟨p. 11⟩pettie vaine toyes haue ouer the minde, to alter and change a man sodainely, when hee thinkes better of himselfe that day hee weares them, than any day else.
