have their fortitudes and debilities, by reason of those good and bad irradiations, conferred to each other’s site in the heavens, in their terms, houses, case, detriments, &c.  So we rise and fall in this world, ebb and flow, in and out, reared and dejected, lead a troublesome life, subject to many accidents and casualties of fortunes, variety of passions, infirmities as well from ourselves as others.

Yea, but thou thinkest thou art more miserable than the rest, other men are happy but in respect of thee, their miseries are but flea-bitings to thine, thou alone art unhappy, none so bad as thyself.  Yet if, as Socrates said, [3579]"All men in the world should come and bring their grievances together, of body, mind, fortune, sores, ulcers, madness, epilepsies, agues, and all those common calamities of beggary, want, servitude, imprisonment, and lay them on a heap to be equally divided, wouldst thou share alike, and take thy portion? or be as thou art?  Without question thou wouldst be as thou art.”  If some Jupiter should say, to give us all content,

[3580] “Jam faciam quod vultis; eris tu, qui modo miles,
        Mercator; tu consultus modo, rusticus; hinc vos,
        Vos hinc mutatis discedite partibus; eia
        Quid slatis? nolint.”

       “Well be’t so then; you master soldier
        Shall be a merchant; you sir lawyer
        A country gentlemen; go you to this,
        That side you; why stand ye? it’s well as ’tis.”

[3581]"Every man knows his own, but not others’ defects and miseries; and ’tis the nature of all men still to reflect upon themselves, their own misfortunes,” not to examine or consider other men’s, not to compare themselves with others:  To recount their miseries, but not their good gifts, fortunes, benefits, which they have, or ruminate on their adversity, but not once to think on their prosperity, not what they have, but what they want:  to look still on them that go before, but not on those infinite numbers that come after. [3582]"Whereas many a man would think himself in heaven, a pretty prince, if he had but the least part of that fortune which thou so much repinest at, abhorrest and accountest a most vile and wretched estate.”  How many thousands want that which thou hast? how many myriads of poor slaves, captives, of such as work day and night in coal-pits, tin-mines, with sore toil to maintain a poor living, of such as labour in body and mind, live in extreme anguish, and pain, all which thou art free from? O fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint:  Thou art most happy if thou couldst be content, and acknowledge thy happiness; [3583]_Rem carendo, non fruendo cognoscimus_, when thou shalt hereafter come to want that which thou now loathest, abhorrest, and art weary of, and tired with, when ’tis past thou wilt say thou wert most happy:  and after a little miss, wish with all thine heart thou hadst the same content again, mightst lead but such a life,