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THE UNIVERSAL REFORMATION. 63
taken in compiling the General Keformation. Then,
coming to particulars, they fixt the prices of sprats, cab-
biges, and pumpkins. The Assembly had already under-
written the Reformation when Thales put them in mind
that certain higlers, who sold pease and black-cherryes,
vinted such small measures that it was a shame not to take
order therein. The Assembly thankt Thales for his adver-
tisement, and added to their reformation that the measures
should be made greater. Then the palace gates were
thrown open, and the General Reformation was read, in the
place appointed for such purposes, to the people assembled
in great numbers in the market-place, and was so generally
applauded by every one that all Parnassus rang
with shouts
of joy, for the rabble are satisfied with trifles, while men of
judgment know that vitia erunt donee homines J
as long as
there be men there will be vices that men live on earth
not indeed well, but as little ill as they may, and that the
height
of human wisdom lies in the discretion to be content
with leaving the world as they found it.
1 Tac., Lib. iv., Hist.