Note 377 — QUARRELS OF AUTHORS; (continued 4)
Reading edition
A small annuity from the Devonshire family, and a small pension from Charles II., exceeded the wants of his philosophic life. If he chose to compute his income, Hobbes says facetiously of himself, in French sols or Spanish maravedis, he could persuade himself that Crœsus or Crassus were by no means richer than himself; and when he alludes to his property, he considers wisdom to be his real wealth:—
“An quàm dives, id est, quàm sapiens fuerim?”
He gave up his patrimonial estate to his brother, not wanting it himself; but he tells the tale himself, and adds, that though small in extent, it was rich in its crops. Anthony Wood, with unusual delight, opens the character of Hobbes: “Though he hath an ill name from some, and good from others, yet he was a person endowed with an excellent philosophical soul, was a contemner of riches, money, envy, the world, &c.; a severe lover of justice, and endowed with great morals; cheerful, open, and free of his discourse, yet without offence to any, which he endeavoured always to avoid.” What an enchanting picture of the old man in the green vigour of his age has Cowley sent down to us!
“Nor can the snow which now cold age does shed Upon thy reverend head, Quench or allay the noble fires within; But all which thou hast been, And all that youth can be, thou’rt yet: So fully still dost thou Enjoy the manhood and the bloom of wit, And all the natural heat, but not the fever too. So contraries on Ætna’s top conspire: Th’ embolden’d snow next to the flame does sleep.— To things immortal time can do no wrong; And that which never is to die, for ever must be young.”