Or as they that play at wasters, exercise themselves by a few cudgels how to avoid an enemy’s blows:  let us arm ourselves against all such violent incursions, which may invade our minds.  A little experience and practice will inure us to it; vetula vulpes, as the proverb saith, laqueo haud capitur, an old fox is not so easily taken in a snare; an old soldier in the world methinks should not be disquieted, but ready to receive all fortunes, encounters, and with that resolute captain, come what may come, to make answer,

[3937]  ------“non ulla laborum
O virgo nova mi facies inopinaque surgit,
Omnia percepi atque animo mecum ante peregi.”

       “No labour comes at unawares to me,
        For I have long before cast what may be.”

[3938]  ------“non hoc primum mea pectora vulnus
Senserunt, graviora tuli”------

The commonwealth of [3939]Venice in their armoury have this inscription, “Happy is that city which in time of peace thinks of war,” a fit motto for every man’s private house; happy is the man that provides for a future assault.  But many times we complain, repine and mutter without a cause, we give way to passions we may resist, and will not.  Socrates was bad by nature, envious, as he confessed to Zophius the physiognomer, accusing him of it, froward and lascivious:  but as he was Socrates, he did correct and amend himself.  Thou art malicious, envious, covetous, impatient, no doubt, and lascivious, yet as thou art a Christian, correct and moderate thyself.  ’Tis something, I confess, and able to move any man, to see himself contemned, obscure, neglected, disgraced, undervalued, [3940]"left behind;” some cannot endure it, no not constant Lipsius, a man discreet otherwise, yet too weak and passionate in this, as his words express, [3941]_collegas olim, quos ego sine fremitu non intueor, nuper terrae filios, nunc Maecenates et Agrippas habeo,—­summo jam monte potitos_.  But he was much to blame for it:  to a wise staid man this is nothing, we cannot all be honoured and rich, all Caesars; if we will be content, our present state is good, and in some men’s opinion to be preferred.  Let them go on, get wealth, offices, titles, honours, preferments, and what they will themselves, by chance, fraud, imposture, simony, and indirect means, as too many do, by bribery, flattery, and parasitical insinuation, by impudence and time-serving, let them climb up to advancement in despite of virtue, let them “go before, cross me on every side,” me non offendunt modo non in, oculos incurrant, [3942]as he said, correcting his former error, they do not offend me, so long as they run not into mine eyes.  I am inglorious and poor, composita paupertate, but I live secure and quiet:  they are dignified, have great means, pomp, and state, they are glorious; but what have they with it? [3943]"Envy, trouble, anxiety, as much labour to maintain their place with credit, as to get it at first.”  I am contented with my