part are esteemed good, thou mayest gather even from this.
For if a man shall hear things mentioned as good, which are really
good indeed, such as are prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude,
after so much heard and conceived, he cannot endure to hear
of any more, for the word good is properly spoken of them.
But as for those which by the vulgar are esteemed good,
if he shall hear them mentioned as good, he doth hearken for more.
He is well contented to hear, that what is spoken by the comedian,
is but familiarly and popularly spoken, so that even the vulgar
apprehend the difference. For why is it else, that this offends
not and needs not to be excused, when virtues are styled good:
but that which is spoken in commendation of wealth, pleasure,
or honour, we entertain it only as merrily and pleasantly spoken?
Proceed therefore, and inquire further, whether it may not be that
those things also which being mentioned upon the stage were merrily,
and with great applause of the multitude, scoffed at with this jest,
that they that possessed them had not in all the world of their own,
(such was their affluence and plenty) so much as a place
where to avoid their excrements. Whether, I say, those ought
not also in very deed to be much respected, and esteemed of,
as the only things that are truly good.