Eugenia's tears for Great Britons distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…Evgenia's teares for Great Brittaynes distractions, or, Some slender observations reflecting on those sad…

Worthy therefore (or rather lamentable) is the consideration, to see to what pass things (even in this age) are brought, both in opinion and effect; and would we employ some time in sounding our selves throughly, how easily should we perceive that the contexture of the best, is built upon weak and decaying pieces, quos fama obscurd recondit, it being an especial testimony of our frailty, that we cannot s•ttle our contentment on any on thing, and that it is even beyond our desire and imagination to choose what we want, and find out our Summum b•num; but are ever uncessantly wheeling in this endless Labyrinth; we discern nothing aright, but by a false light, puffed up with art and our own opinionatedness, we waver between divers indifferences; each hour produceth new fantasies, every day […] follies; in so much that whosoever looks home shall hardly ⟨p. 3⟩find himself twice in one and the same elate, •o various is the visage of our soul, subject to perpetual contrarieties, and the blast of accidents; hence we prove the Microcosmos of all infirmities, and (the soul excepted) of all creatures the worst▪ and what is this world but an over-shadowed Picture enter-shining with infinite varieties of false lights, to exercise our conjectures? Neither is there any reason but hath another contrary to it in this case what can be pleasing? since no good can bring us pleasure, except that against whose loss we are prepared: Nam in aequo est dolor amissae re•, et timor am•ttendj: Lo then unto what a rep• atnesse of hurtful humours are we subject, it being impossible to find even ground to rest secure: Yea the very perfection of our health being too strong and joyful must (as Physicians observe) in some •ort be abated, least by ascending too high they over violently recoil into disorder: nay farther (though our evils are essential) the very goods we possess, are only in imagination: we go not, but are carried as things that float, sometimes gliding gently and sometimes Hulling violently, following the inclination of our appetites according as the wind of occasions doth transport us, and as the times shall prove either stormy or calm: so that in respect of the many intermixtures of our miserable infirmities, who can dicate his sincerity whilst he dwells in this house of clay: