Page:A Discourse of Constancy in Two Books Chiefly containing Consolations Against Publick Evils.pdf/115

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94
A Diſcourſe
Book I.

of a double Empire: And Venice that glories in its continuance for a thousand years? Their Fate attends them. And thou also our Antwerpe the Eye of Cities, there will come a time when thou shalt be no more. For that great Architect pulls down and sets up, and (if we may say it) doth even sport himself in the affairs of this World: And as a Potter at his pleasure, doth mold and unmake divers forms and representations out of this Clay. I have hitherto discours'd only of Townes and Cities; but even Kingdomes also and Provinces are dragg'd unto the same destiny. In old time the East flourish'd; Assyria, Egypt, and Judea were famous for Arts and Armes; that happiness of theirs hath pass'd over into Europe, and even she methinks (as Bodies upon the approach of a Disease) trembles and seems to have some lore apprehensions of her great fall. That which we may more (though

never