Finally, there is the cost and charge, the danger and peril of war,
in which their part is more than a poor man's is, since that matter
dependeth more upon them. And many a poor ploughman may sit still
by the fire while they must arise and walk.
And sometimes their authority falleth by change of their master's
mind. And of that we see daily, in one place or another, such
examples and so many that the parable of that philosopher can lack
no testimony, who likened the servants of great princes unto the
counters with which men do reckon accounts. For like as that
counter that standeth sometimes for a farthing is suddenly set up
and standeth for a thousand pound, and afterward as soon is set
down beneath to stand for a farthing again; so fareth it sometimes
with those who seek the way to rise and grow up in authority by the
favour of great princes--as they rise up high, so fall they down
again as low.
Howbeit, though a man escape all such adventures, and abide in
great authority till he die, yet then at least every man must leave
at last. And that which we call "at last" hath no very long time to
it. Let a man reckon his years that are past of his age ere ever he
can get up aloft; and let him, when he hath it first in his fist,
reckon how long he shall be likely to live thereafter; and I
daresay that then the most part shall have little cause to rejoice.
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