_Deploratis facilis
descensus
Averni_.
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
--Arts that respect the mind were ever reputed nobler
than those that serve the body, though we less can be without them, as
tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c. , without which we could scarce
sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the other of
the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits and spirits,
that cannot rest or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour:
_Opere pascitur_.
_Non vulgi sunt_. --There is a more secret cause, and the power of liberal
studies lies more hid than that it can be wrought out by profane wits.
It is not every man's way to hit. There are men, I confess, that set the
carat and value upon things as they love them; but science is not every
man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place,
and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
_Honesta ambitio_. --If divers men seek fame or honour by divers ways, so
both be honest, neither is to be blamed; but they that seek immortality
are not only worthy of love, but of praise.
_Maritus improbus_. --He hath a delicate wife, a fair fortune, a family to
go to and be welcome; yet he had rather be drunk with mine host and the
fiddlers of such a town, than go home.
_Afflictio pia magistra_. --Affliction teacheth a wicked person some time
to pray: prosperity never.
_Deploratis facilis descensus Averni_. --_The devil take all_. --Many might
go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture
their industry the right way; but "The devil take all! " quoth he that was
choked in the mill-dam, with his four last words in his mouth.
_AEgidius cursu superat_. --A cripple in the way out-travels a footman or a
post out of the way.
_Prodigo nummi nauci_. --Bags of money to a prodigal person are the same
that cherry-stones are with some boys, and so thrown away.
_Munda et sordida_. --A woman, the more curious she is about her face is
commonly the more careless about her house.
_Debitum deploratum_. --Of this spilt water there is a little to be
gathered up: it is a desperate debt.
_Latro sesquipedalis_. --The thief {22} that had a longing at the gallows
to commit one robbery more before he was hanged.
And like the German lord, when he went out of Newgate into the cart, took
order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said was he taken
and committed upon suspicion of treason, no witness appearing against
him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed with him,
offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.
_Calumniae fructus_.
than those that serve the body, though we less can be without them, as
tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c. , without which we could scarce
sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the other of
the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits and spirits,
that cannot rest or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour:
_Opere pascitur_.
_Non vulgi sunt_. --There is a more secret cause, and the power of liberal
studies lies more hid than that it can be wrought out by profane wits.
It is not every man's way to hit. There are men, I confess, that set the
carat and value upon things as they love them; but science is not every
man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place,
and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.
_Honesta ambitio_. --If divers men seek fame or honour by divers ways, so
both be honest, neither is to be blamed; but they that seek immortality
are not only worthy of love, but of praise.
_Maritus improbus_. --He hath a delicate wife, a fair fortune, a family to
go to and be welcome; yet he had rather be drunk with mine host and the
fiddlers of such a town, than go home.
_Afflictio pia magistra_. --Affliction teacheth a wicked person some time
to pray: prosperity never.
_Deploratis facilis descensus Averni_. --_The devil take all_. --Many might
go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture
their industry the right way; but "The devil take all! " quoth he that was
choked in the mill-dam, with his four last words in his mouth.
_AEgidius cursu superat_. --A cripple in the way out-travels a footman or a
post out of the way.
_Prodigo nummi nauci_. --Bags of money to a prodigal person are the same
that cherry-stones are with some boys, and so thrown away.
_Munda et sordida_. --A woman, the more curious she is about her face is
commonly the more careless about her house.
_Debitum deploratum_. --Of this spilt water there is a little to be
gathered up: it is a desperate debt.
_Latro sesquipedalis_. --The thief {22} that had a longing at the gallows
to commit one robbery more before he was hanged.
And like the German lord, when he went out of Newgate into the cart, took
order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said was he taken
and committed upon suspicion of treason, no witness appearing against
him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed with him,
offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.
_Calumniae fructus_.
