The vanity of the worldThe vanity of the vvorld

¹It was a pertinent discourse of Cineas, dissuading Pyrrhus ⟨p. 89⟩from undertaking a war against the Romans: Sir, (saith he) when you have conquered them what will you do next? Then Sicily is near at hand, and easy to master. And what when you have subdued Sicily? Then we'll pass over to Afric, and take Carthage, which cannot long withstand us. When these are conquered, what will be your next attempt? Then (saith Pyrrhus) we'll fall in upon Greece, and Macedon, and recover what we have lost there. Well, when all are subdued, what fruit do you expect from all your Victories? Then (saith he) we'll sit down and enjoy our selves. Sir (replies Cineas) May we not do it now? Have you not already a Kingdom of your own? ⟨p. 90⟩And he that cannot enjoy himself with a Kingdom, cannot with the whole World. Such are the designs of men, and so we may answer them. Most are projecting how they may get such an estate; then how they may raise themselves to honour, and think that their advancement in both, will bring them satisfaction. Alas! This will not do. Their desires will still run before them: And they may as well sit down content where they are, as where they hope to be.

¹It was a pertinent discourse of Cineas, diswading Pyrrhus ⟨p. 89⟩from undertaking a war against the Romans: Sir, (saith he) when you have conquer'd them what will you do next? Then Sicily is near at hand, and easie to master. And what when you have subdued Sicily? Then we'll pass over to Africk, and take Carthage, which cannot long withstand us. When these are conquer'd, what will be your next attempt? Then (saith Pyrrhus) we'll fall in upon Greece, and Macedon, and recover what we have lost there. Well, when all are subdued, what fruit do you expect from all your Victories? Then (saith he) we'll sit down and enjoy our selves. Sir (replies Cineas) May we not do it now? Have you not already a Kingdom of your own? ⟨p. 90⟩And he that cannot enjoy himself with a Kingdom, cannot with the whole World. Such are the designes of men, and so we may answer them. Most are projecting how they may get such an estate; then how they may raise themselves to honour, and think that their advancement in both, will bring them satisfaction. Alas! This will not do. Their desires will still run before them: And they may as well sit down content where they are, as where they hope to be.