Plato is in the right when he tells us that health, beauty, vigour, and riches, and all the other things called goods, are equally evil to the unjust as good to the just, and the evil on the contrary the same.

And therefore where the body and the mind are in disorder, to what use serve these external conveniences: considering that the least prick with a pin, or the least passion of the soul, is sufficient to deprive one of the pleasure of being sole monarch of the world.

At the first twitch of the gout it signifies much to be called Sir and Your Majesty! "Totus et argento conflatus, totus et auro;" ["Wholly made up of silver and gold."-- Tibullus, i.

2, 70.] does he not forget his palaces and girandeurs?
If he be angry, can his being a prince keep him from looking red and looking pale, and grinding his teeth like a madman?
Now, if he be a man of parts and of right nature, royalty adds very little to his happiness; "Si ventri bene, si lateri est, pedibusque tuffs, nil Divitix poterunt regales addere majus;" ["If it is well with thy belly, thy side and thy feet, regal wealth will be able to add nothing."-- Horace, Ep., i.

12, 5.] he discerns 'tis nothing but counterfeit and gullery.