The vanity of the worldThe vanity of the vvorld

Again, If the fancy be more merrily perverted, straight they are nothing less than Kings, or Emperors, in their own conceit. A straw is as majestic as a Sceptre, they will speak of their Rags as magnificently, as if they were Robes: And look upon all that come near them as their subjects or servants. They make every stone a Gem, every cottage a Palace; all they see is their own, and all their own is most excellent. Now what think you, are these things ⟨p. 31⟩vain, or no? I doubt not but you will conclude them most extremely vain; and yet they serve their turns as well, and bring them in as much solace and contentment, as if they were really what they imagined them. Thus ^aThrasyllus noted down all the Ships that arrived at the Port of Athens, thinking them and their Merchandise to be all his own. And when cured of that pleasant madness, ^bconfessed, that he never in his whole life enjoyed so much content, as in that conceited wealth those Ships brought him. And indeed for my part, I know not whether these things are more vain in the fancy, or in the reality. Such is the exceeding Vanity of all things in the ⟨p. 32⟩World, that were it not for the Eternal concernments of the Soul, which cannot be so well regarded under a suspension or distraction of Reason, I should make no difficulty to account and prove them the happiest men on Earth.

Again, If the phancy be more merrily perverted, streight they are nothing less than Kings, or Emperors, in their own conceit. A straw is as majestick as a Scepter, they will speak of their Rags as magnificently, as if they were Robes: And look upon all that come near them as their subjects or servants. They make every stone a Jem, every cottage a Pallace; all they see is their own, and all their own is most excellent. Now what think you, are these things ⟨p. 31⟩vain, or no? I doubt not but you will conclude them most extremly vain; and yet they serve their turns as well, and bring them in as much solace and contentment, as if they were really what they imagined them. Thus