REMEDIES zJgainft T)iJcontentmet p drawen into feuerall Difcourf es? ftoni the writinges of auncienc Philofopheis ♦ QAnonymus* Rebus aduerfis conftans,, >«A mm m LONDON Trintedfor %afe < Bto , mer An. Do. i j $ 6. &o the right WorfhiffuU^ Edward Cooke Efquier^ her Ma ieflies Attorney general!* f 1{> hauingreceU uedmany %mifa uoursfromjoUy <& there re fling in mee [mall a hili tte, though much will y to defer ue them . I thought, yet at the leaH to do > asho*> neU Qthf)ughvnhahledeb+> tors) are wont, who wan* ting meanes to make full fatisfa&iffi, do fir dine the Jehm to pay inter eft vntill A i fame The Epift'e Dedicatorie. fome better fortune do be* fall them, iJndifycube plea fed jo to accent oftheje my labours , / doe promife & protejl, that ImU/eeke by all meanes pofltble to dif charge the whole, as my abilitie/hallencreafe. Till f»hen, &euer, 1 mllvt>'ijh ycuas happy, as f deeme jcuwortby, &nmame Y -urs deuoted in m:ft dutifull afie&ion. sdrionymus, Anonymm to his Friend ♦ Ou earneftlie entrea- ted mee to fende you thofe ftnall difcourfes you tooke view of in my ftudie, not longe fince. You haue fo great authontie ouerme that I can not (without breaking the league of friendfhippe) make thatiuft excufe vnto you,which Imightvntoothers.Thcy were onely framed for mine ownc priuate vie ; and that is the reafon I tooke no great paine, to fet them foorth anye better, thinking they&ould neuerfce A iiii. the ^Anonymm the light . Imagin e not to find in them, thofe f ubtill cjueftions, and profound difcotiries which fo waigh^ea matter requireth. It was not my purpofe to en-, ter fo farre , bodi in regarde of the Wf.akenes of mineowne forces , p that I did like-wife knowewell, that theauncient Philosophers haue lefte vnto vs many v lumes of the fame fub- iq6x , vyhofe perfection I am in* no wife able to imitate . But as theval] \yith on e accord dod ^cl.no\vieci)2;e thus, much, that wee do naturallye defiretobee Aapp.e , and thai: tier c is no meanes< to bis friend, imeanes in this world to attaine thereunto ? but to bndell our affedions, and to bring them ynto a founde temper, which is the onelye way e to fet our tnynde at reft : So did they mdge it requifite , that Vvee should referre all our labour/ watching, and medfcthn to this end . And in deede it is the courfe which the beft witts of thofe times, haue taken : yea not onelythey whoha/e been guided by the obfcure Kghte of nature, but euen thofe vvhoe thorowe faith haue been' en- fehtengd, by the cleare shining; . U of' Anonymui of the Sonne beames. From thefe faire flowers, whiche their labours haue afforded mee > I haue as I pafled by, gathered this fmall heape, and as m y time andleafure ferued me, diftilled them, and kept them as preci- ous . Deeming that the leffer quantitye they did containe, fb much greater shoulde their vertueandpowerbe.For I was long fince thus per/waded, that the receiptes which wee feeke, to calme, and appeafc our mind with all, ought to bee gathered into the feweft words, & shor- tcft precepts that may be , that wee may alwayes haue them a- bout to his Friend. bout y s . Fora'much as difquiet- nes,which ftoppeth the paflage offelicitie, and with the which ivc are alwaies to combate,doth for the moft part take vs vna- Arares, and keepe vs at that bay, :hat if wee haue.not ftill feme ;hort, and eafie weapons about % which we may well handle, Arc fhouldnotbe able to defend >ur felues • I doubt not but your fee, and experience, hath long ince prouided you thofe that ire of better mettle, be tter f or- red,and tempered 4 But fith that /ou haue a good opinion of nine, and defire to vfe hem (as fou make mc beleeue) I do an- fwerable iwerable to your defire fend th< you. Ifthey pleafe you,it shall* according to my wish : Ifthej •difpleafe., yet is it according to your commaunde- : ment. Fare you well. > Yours sdnomnttis. r: ^ A briefe Table o f all the 'Difcctir/es contey~ nedinthisBoofee- : Hcmwee ought iofre* pare our. feluei againjl paffions, , 0/the'choiceqf e/iate, with the for tune of other men. 12 Ofaduerfuie* 13 Offorrowe. lj. Of the affliBonofgob men. If Of other mens faultes. \6 Of imuries,, wronges an anddifgraces, Ofpouertie, Of Death, (4 Anonymus, bis Remedies againfh Difcontentmenta i. T)ifeourfe* How we ought to prepare our felues againft P aniens, E I N G that our felicity cfe- pedcth of our actions, & thai our foule is ( as it were ) the fountaine ck beginning ther- ©f, the greater! care that we ought to haue (if we defoe to Hue happely ) is to quiet & appeafe it, and to take order that it be not troubled with commo & vulgar opinions, as thinges contrary to the nature thereof* jThere are efpecially two feafos,theone of profperity^the other of aduerfity,wheriri it Remedies agairH is wont to be /hake with paiTions,asit were with violent & mightie windes, we ought then before han i (like vnto the Mariners who before they put to Sea , Hoe prouidc themfelues of ail that may be nect Auric forthem to re£ft a tempdi ) tofinmm our feluesof difcourfes, which may like an- cors fettle our minde, that it be not ca' ltd away witht ,c waucs of pafsion, when they fhall happen to beate agahjit it* For as Zenophon did exhorthk fciiow citizens t ) faaifice vnto the Gods, whileft they lined in profperitie, to the end they might before hand, be reconciled & fauouiablc vnto them, when they fhould call vppon them in aduerfitie: So likewife we ought whenwe finde curfelues at any Icifure to feeke out the knowlc dg and acquaintance of reafon, to the intent that when we haue needethereof,it may come at our fiiftcal, as knowing our voice, and being alreadie willing to defend vs «. Dtfcottrtes are tlje otter rulers* of our palTtcng: which when we haue through! ieknowne and exami- ned , and that we are well able to iudge What force they haue ouer vs , and what power bifcontentmerif. j>ower we haue ouer them , they are no - thing at al fo enraged againft vs,but farre more eafeJy quieted . Lite vnto dogged which neuer ceafe barking at them whole voices they know not ^ and are foone ap« peafcd, when they heare them fpeake, whom they fee daylye. We are woont to compare the comaundementofthe foule ©uerthisbrutifhandcarthiie parte, from the which ourpafsions doe arife, vnto i he office of a good Rider, who rrunnageth hb horfe,for keeping ftill in the Saddle he turneth and ruleth him at his pIeafure*Bu£ a Knight fhall receiue fmale honour, to bring a horfe vnbacked to the Turney^ which had neuer champed thebytt, nor galloped the rounde • wee ought firfte to teach and tame a horfe^before we feme purturne with him at ourneedet So in ikemaner before we cornmitt our felues to the weilding of important affaires, and fett our felues to (bow vppon the Stage of the world ^ we ought to tame this wilde parte of our foule 9 and caufe it to bite cit the bridle, teaching it the Iawes and mf v fures.whcrewith it ought to gouern it felfe B2 ft Remedies againft asoccafions fhall be offered , andfetting before it the pleafure and contentment whichitistoreceiue, bytheilTue ofwor- thie and conftant actions ♦ Meditation is that which giueth the foule aright tem- per, making it harde,and not to be perccd with any (harp paffion, in refilling that for which we haue made long preparation before hand, we may well be wondrcd at, albeit it be a matter moft difficult: contra- lily a very fmall thing troubleth vs, if it happeneth on the fuddaine. How often do you thinke that Canius thought of death, and how often did he difcourfe what it was, who being condemneefby theTirant and fent to fuffer, he was fo fmally moucd therewith , that he faide to the Captaine that came for him, thathefhould call to minde that he had the. aduantage of a game of him, againft whom he then went to play ♦ And taking leaue ofhis friendes, he gauethem no other farewell but this, O my deare friends I fhall fhortlie knowc that which I haue folongdefired , to wit, whether the foule be imortall,& whether by death we feele the feperation that is made Difcontcntment^ madebetwene the foule and the bodie, We ought to belieue, that this poore Pa« gan had been long excercifed in corn- maunding hispaffions, and was wellpro- uided of worthie resolutions , fith that with fuch confiancie and grauitie he went to an vniuft and violent death ♦ If then the defire,toknowe what the foulelLouldbe after death, caufed this mans torment to bepleafing vnto him % What ought the certame knowledg which we haue of the jmmortalitie thereof^and the hope of eter- nall life, eternally happy, workeinthofe that fhal dayly meditate theron ? Ought it not to caufe both death 6c other afflictions which weindure , to be delightefullvnto vs, feeing they are as it were the Waues which calx vs,vpo this hauen ofhappines? 2, T>ifcour[e 9 Of the Choice of affaires. An is not borne toliue with his hands in his bofome,but con- trarily as the faireft member that fetteth out the worlde s he B; 3 ough£ Remedies againft pught tobeftow his paines forth" goucrn- snec6cpreferuati6ofCiuiIirociery,v\her- in he u> placed. But forafmuch as the qui- etncs of men, doth principally depend of the eled'on oftheir vocation,& that the re is nothing that furthereth them better to line contentedly, then when they are well fitted with a meet calling, they ought fitft of all to examine them lelues, and consi- der ro what end they take that vocation vppon them, yea and vnder whofe autho- rity. Becauie we ordinarily prefume too much of our felues,and attempt more then yvee haue power to pcrfourme . Aod this error, for the n»o(ie parte falleth out in all pur actions, fo that fomc fpend more then their fubftance will beare, others labour jnore then their flrength will fuffer them , others haue no commaundment oucr an- ger, others in their fpeach canfpare no perfon, although it fhould coft them their Jiues, others arevnficto manage matters ©feftate., becau r e they are too fad & pen- fiuc; others, are vnmect for the Court, be- cauie they ajre dikourteotis and imagine euer their owne opinion to be befr f That which Difcontentmcnt. which caufeth vs to faile herein, is that we know not our felues,and oftentimes with* out making any proofe of our fufficiency, we vndercake fuch thinges as we mult a£» tcrwards Ieaue of with fliame, or endure great paine and eare 3 if we continue them* Now, who fo will weigh a matter before he take it in hand., Jet him remember that aiuaies hee that bearetb any burthen 9 ©ucfit to haue more force then die bur* then it felfc* r or if it were toogreate and heauy, without doulik he that would take vpon him to cairie it,flio.uId be confkai- ned either to leaur it , or to ihrinke vnder k* We ou^ht likewife to coiiilder., that there are many forts of callings, which of them felues are not fo great, as in regard they are intermingled, & intangled,wich a rable of other affaires , and fuch offices are to be auoyded in afmuch as they wea- ry the min&But we ought to make choice of thofe, which we are able to execute, & bring to an end, or at the leaft of fuch as yje haue good hope of ihe good effecting of th' m And we ought alwaies to leaue oft thofe encerprifps, that fall not otrt ac- B 4 cording Remedies againft cording to our purpofe & pretence . I fay not this tofeare you, nor in fuch fort to a- bate your courage, thathereuppon you do auoide Come ncceffarie burthens , and as. one daring to vndertske nothing, you rc- maine without any calling, which fhould bee a very flouthfull, and vnpleafing life «, For (as we fay) It is the propertie of man ftill to be doing fom-thing, which fhould chiefly be, in that which is necerTarie and behoofull for the common wealrh. Seing then the necemtieofthe life of man is na- turallie fubiect to labour, and care, wee ought to goucrne our felues in fuch fort, that if we be called to vndertake any ver- tuous,and laudable thing,we ought not to leaueitof for want of courage, nor yet to |>e fo folifh. hardy toenterprife that which we know is abcue our ftrength . 3. T>ifcdurfe m OfForefight. JT/ E ought the to take order(ifit be pof- " fible)that we be not furprifed by any worldly Difcontentment* worldly a&ions, being before hand thq r rowly furniflied with wifedome ♦ Which we fhali eafily do, if in all the affaires we yndertake, we premeditate th'inconueni- ences and erodes which may happen vnto vs, according to the nature of them, and Jooke vnto that which fallethout daily ♦ And fuche Forefight doth wonderfullye leiTen the force of euill, which cannot (if we take this courfe) bring any alteration orchaunge* Contrarily they bring great domage to thofe who fuffer them felues to bee furprifed, not confidering that na- ture hath fet men in a dangerous place % when fhee brought them foorth into the worlde. They weigh not how often they haue feene women lament the vntimely death of their Hufbands, and Huibands jjewaile the like burialloftheirWiues and Children, eucn attheirownedores,Thcy confider not, that thofe who had fpeach and conference with them but yefterday , are now dead ♦ Wee are fa deceaued, and haue fo fmall iudgement, that we thinke it impoffible, that the like fiiould happen v mo vs, which we fee fall out euery day* If wee Remedies againft - we did acquaint our fehies with matters m fuch/ort as rcafbn requireth, weeflhould rather haue caufe to wonder how the dan-> gers & accidents which doe pace foneere aftervs, hauenot info long tyme oucrta- ken vs : And when they haue met with vs, | how it is poflib'e that they fhouid handle VS f© gently* O how doc wee deceaue our fe'ues, when v* ee will not forecaft what may fall out, and miftrufttheworft, leaft we fhould be accompted timerous ♦ It be- houeth him th at fetteth fade to know that he may meete with a ftorme. It is neceflfa- ry for vs to vnderftad that r • at which hap* peneth to in other may chaunce to vs,and; that which hageth ouer euery mans head, may fall vpon ours* Hee which obferueth an other mans aduerfity, as athing that may befall vnto himfelfe,is alredy armed. You will fay I ncuer thought that fhould hai:e happened vnto me: And why not? what riches is there, that is not atteded on with pouerty ? What honour, not waited on with difgrace?what high afpiring,with- out danger of a downefall ? Thereis no eftate but is fubiec"t to change, and that which discontentment. wrrtch happencth to another, may meete ?viththee* Icfhould be along difcoutfe and contrarie to our ptupofe if wee fhould recken all thofe whome fortune, from the higheO pitch of felicitie hath brought to pc lowed ftep ofmiferie. In fuch an alte- tzcon 3c varietie of matters^if vcu do not thinke that all. accidents may touch you, you giue great power to aduerfitieagainfl yourfelfe, which is wonderfully appeafed by the wifedome of him thatforef eeth it. Surely our minds fhould be fetled in farre greater quietnes, if out actions did tend to thofe thinges that had a fetled eftate. For hauing once attained it , we fhold at the leaft content our femes, and reioyce in peace* But for as much zs all thinges in this world are tranfitcrie and that there is ^nothing firme, thercmedieofhurtbyour infirmitie,is toforefee this^ck not to afflict 'ourfelues with thofe things the poffeffioti ofwhich,is as difquiet,as their fearch. And therefore we ought foto affect them, as 'thinges that may leauevs, and haue this forefighte that they do not firft forfake vs. As Remedies againft As it was once tould to A N AX AGO- RA S, that his fonne was dead, And hee anfwered I knew well that he was a man & fubiecl to death. We ought in like fort, to be prepared againft all chaunces. My frcnde did not affift me in fuch a caufe ; l knew that he was a man,and fo fubiecl to alteracion . I enioyed a good wife : yet was (hee notwithstanding a woman ♦ He, which in fuch forte preuentcth the w r orft, fhallneuerbe furprifed atvnawares, nor fay asfoolifli men doc commonly . 31 lja& ttOCt^OUgljCtC ♦ To fuch the chaunces of fortune bring great arfli£tion,becaufe they* are not armed with wifeforefight to fup- porttherru A wife man in time of peace maketh prouifion for warre ♦ VlhTes paffed many dangers and labours and yet was he neuer affiicled with any thing but 1 one trifle which furprifed him on the iud- dain, which was the death of a dog which 1 hee loued well f I may conclude with that which is commonly and truly fayd ♦ 8 man toj^fefc 10 fcaife conquers ♦ 4»Dif. Difcontentmento 4.. T>ifccurfe m Of the vocation of euery man* T happencth oftentimes that many men considering not what they doc y doe fall into a kinde of life painefull to beare,& more troublefbme toleaue* Which furely is a matter very in- tricate , which had neede of great wife- dome, and no lefle patience, and wherein Specially they are to call vppon God for his affiftance $ considering that in fuchea neceffuie, patience, and humility towards God, is th'only remedy to eafe our griefe* Looke into the eftateof Prifoners, how painefull it is vnto them at the fir ft to en- dure yrons about their legges : but after ;.heyare a little accuflomed vnto their^ •lecerTitie inftruð them , and vfe ma- *eth them carrie them with eafe* There is ao kind of life fo rerlrayned,that hath not bme comfort a nd refreshing ♦ And furely there Remedies againft there is nothing wherein nature hath foj muchfauouredvs, as that it hathcaufedvs tofinde theremedie, or leflening of our gricfes; in the patient enduring of therh: fince man is borne h.biedtfo a.lkindeof calamines. We ought then to prefi,ppofe> that we are all Pnioners of fortune, who houMeth all men fettered: and th re i;no other difference but this, that fome mens chaines, are of golde, others of yrom We are all in one pnfon , and they who hould others Capiiues, are prifoners themfeluesJ If honour croubleth thee, riches vexeth other menne : and if bafeneffe of birth afiflið thee, Nobility and greatnestod menteth others a thoufand fold more : If thou art fubiecl: to an other mans wiI,thoi| {halt fee that he that commaundeth thee isCaptiueto hisowne, being bondflau; to thousands of difcotentments, and cares which thou perceiueft net , To conclude, ifvou looke narrowly into the matter you fliallfinde, that the v\ho!e Life ot man is nothing els but akindeofbondag.where- iiieueryone ought to frame himfelfe in his calling, and endeuour co content him felfc Difcontcntraent, fcffc therein, diffen bling the cuill he mee- teth with, and making vfe of the good. For there is no eilate of life foe paintfull, jjrherinthe patient mind findeth not tome eafc, and contentment. Albeit that art > & dexreritie^bemore needfarie, in aduer- fcy, then pro ''perkie.Induiirie raifeth vp afami ! ie in a (mail time. And when erol- fes and encumbrances, doe offer them- felues, we thought then tofhewcurver- tue,anddilligence, putting cur chiefeft trull in God. Ionas had good leafurem the whales bel!y,to mrke bis prayer vnto God,which were not ppwred out in vain. In like maner, how harde and hea$y foe- uer any thinge is, it msy be eafed and hel- ped* Limit alwaies your hope, by the terme of your Life, and iudge that maty thinges, though in their outward appea- rance they fceme different, yet are they within, very like invanitie* Eruye not thofe w ho are aduaunced to a higher cal- ling then your felfe ; For many time- it falieth out that that which we deeme height , is a downefall . And to fay the frothy thofe who haue liued contented, Remedies againft haue not alwaies made the beft Election • I But they who haue had the skill tocarryc 1 themfelues prudently in the Eftate which they haue chofen, taking that which was cuill pacientlie, and feekwg to better that which fell out crofllie, Whervpon plato compared the life of man vnto Dice plaie, wherein he which caiteth, ought alwaies cndeuour to winne, and yet content him- felfe with his chaunce* Seeing that good &euillisnotinourpowcr,6cthatwemay not with (tending take our fortune patient* lie,& thank God that worfe which might haue befelljdid not happen vnto vs/Thofc menthatare ofaflendercapacitie, yffor- tune once blow witha profperour gale vp- on them,are fo tranfported with ioye that they know not what they doe,and no mail is able to conuerfe with them, and in ad- uerfity, they are fo aftonied, and fo fad, that they arc altogether beaten downe* They arc all like ficke perfons full of an- gui(h, who can neither endure,could, nor heate* ThePhilofopherTHEODO- R VS was wont to fay,that he gaue words vnto his hearers with the right hand, and that Difcontentmcnt. that he receiucd them with the kit. So , doe manye often times who take that Fortune with the left hand, which isgi- uen them with the right* It were farrc better, wifelie to immitate Bees, who out of Tyme ( a fower and dry hcaibe) doe drawe fauorie and fweete Honny. Wee ought in like manner out of this hard and painefull life, to trie out that which is good, and caft awav that which iscruill, or at the leaft hide it, Yea they who are exercifed in vettuous actions , may after a fort make their profit of that which is euill, DIOGENES being banifhed, tookc occafion by his exile j to applye himftlfe to the ftudie of wife- dome ♦ Nothing will be fo hard as it feemeth, if by daylyexercife you take a habitude to liue contented. Doth it difpleafe you to liue in the Courts of great Lords and Princes ? Content you with your owne dwelling houfe. Are you not capable, to wcild matters ofEitate? Pby the part of a good Citizen* By this meanes you fhall make that eafie whiche is accompted C painefull I Reme Jies againft pamcfull in th-s Lfe» Moreouer it will auaile you rruch in your difcontentments to fet before you the worthy and famous perfons of times paM, in w hat fort & with v% hat wifedome | they haue giucn remedie to the croilts , ?nd encombrances , v. hieh haue befell them in ti.eii I'mcs . Dcth it gritue you that you haue no childrenrConhVer how many Kings haue wanted ilfue of their body and eyed w ithout heires ♦ Yf pcuf rtie afflict you, waigh with your felfe now many exelJent men haue been poore 3 whoneuertheles haue hued p3t.et- ]y without complaint. Vppcn a time one brought word to S T I L O P H O N the Philofbpher that his daughter had played the harlot, the fault (quoth he) is not to be attributed to mr, but to her , If the bad conditions of thofe that are yours doc difpleafe you, fet before y ur eyes, fomanye honourable and finguler nun, who hsue quietly endured the cor-, tuptions cf thofe belonged vnto them ♦, SOCRATES was troubled with the ; moil difquiet wife in the world, and faid that Bifcontenfmenfo that in fuffcring her he learned at ho me tovfe patience abroad, Conhdcr DA- V 1 D who was difq lifted with hisowne Children. The worldeis full of fueh exnuipl^s, And were it not, that we are too farre m loue with our felues it is ccrtaine that euen in the grcatcft arEfrons we ihould finde nfTiuent contentment* For no prifon is fo obfeure and ftraight that at theleaft, dr th no: affoorde place, f "ra fonge, toleiTenthe paine of the impri- tdned* To conclude, I fay, that if you loue God, and ferue him, Charitye alone will g ue peace, and tranq-ullitie to your mynde, which the worlJe cannot doe, though euery one in woord dothuffer It toil, fc T>ip Remedies againft JtTtifccurfe. How we ought to rule our life. aV^ s ff^t^ 5M N mine opinion it is neceffane to nould a certainc fume & ftaid courfe of life without chaurging vppon eue- ry flight occafion, yon fhall fee fome who are fo infected with this vice, that they alter their manner of life <'aily> being vnpofnble to fettle them- felues to any thing, like vnto thofe who neuer haue been at Sea, who when they fmt fet faile, remooue out of a great Ship into a little, and from a little to a great, fhewing plainely that they miflike both; being (till Sea-fick and purging their fto- rnack. It is eucn fo with thofe who bring their paflions with them in thofe matters they vndertake/ceking dayly a new forme Difconteiitment^ f of life and neucr doe efTedt any thing they begyn , Eucrie thing maketh the mfick, all things torment them % to haue much bufines, to he idle 5 to ferue, to command^ to be maried, to leade a fingle life, to haue children , to bee without iiTue : to bee fhort, nothing pleafcth them, nothing fa- tiffieth them, but that whith they haue not: And fuch kind of men liue mifcrabiy and difcontentcdiy , like vnto thofe who arerdlrayned of their hberde, and fette- icdjliuing in a dayiy torment. There are another fort of men almost like vnto thefe, who can neuer Hand ftiil nor ("taie in one place,they neuer ceafe go- ing and comming, they intermedle tliem- felues ineuery mans matter without any increatie, they are wonderfully troubled with bufines , & yet they haue nothing at all to do. When they come abroad,yf you deinaund e cf them whither they go, they ftraight- wales make anfwere I know not, lhaue fome bufines like as others haue* They runabout the ftreetes, and market places, and returne all wearie and dif- quieted, hauing difpatched nothing &3 ac Remedies a^ainft at all * For there is nothing that fotruch v . eanc-ih any man, as to !: brur in vaine t It is J ke ict e anrs v ho cm be vnto the top «ifa tree, & whe ihey are at the high- eHhaue nothing e : feto doc but to come downe a//- Difcontentment 6. Dijcourfe. Of the diueriitie of mens afhons^ J^Dr\'-:fif^]N my opinion wee cvghc i^^^Uil to haue a care to fafhion j|| oDrfeluestobesre wuhthe i^ffe^^iN time, and with matter?, as ' they nappen,oc ncttc tend our felues in fr.chfbit to one kind ot life, that vppon vrgentoccafi )ns we may not leaue of the fame . For like as a man be« ing in health ought not to fubie& him felfe tokeepe a kinde of rule in 'bis diet, but rather accuftome him felfe form rimes to eate more , fometimes to eate kife 9 fometimes to drink wine,otbf rwlaies wa- ter ,to fit in rhe Sun, & in the foade, fome- times totrauaile, and fometirms to take n ft : fo ought we in like manner to fafl \i& •#ur. fuues to euery thing, which if we aot\, C 4 a® Remedies a^ainft o no ftrange accident that may befall fas there happeneth many daily ) can trouble ordifquietvs, nay, though wee fhouid al- together change the forme of our lyfe (as it is alreadie faide) we rr ay do it with cafe, fo that it be not vppon any Height occafion, we being foe well trayned vp, that it is no harde matter for vs, ro ycclde ro the prefent tymc. And furely the want I of power in vs is one, and che fame, not to know how to change, and not to be able toliueinaferled efhte. We ought to enterminglc, and temper matters in fuch forte, that one may agree with an other , fomewhiles remaining a- lone, otherwhiles in company ♦ In com- pany for our friends fake, alone for the loue we beare our £ lues, Ir being vnmeet alwaies to fhew ourfclues graue , for that would caufe vs to be hated ♦ Neither yet alwaies merry, nor oucnnueh famiher, for that would caufe vs to be contemned. But wee ou^ht with grest ferefight to applye our fellies to tyme, and place, jisoccafiori require n, jc b:ing neceffa- fie for vs to recreate our ielucs, rhat we maye Difcontentmcnt. maye the better follow our bufines* Wcrcadc.of SO CRATE S (amoft graue marine ) that he thoughte it nor a- mifle, to fporte with litle Children ♦ And of Mcrctis Caro ( a feuere man ) that fom- timeshefeafted merilie with his friendes, totakepleafure, and refrelhe hisfpirite, being wearie with publique affaires. And ofScipioAffricanuswe flnde wrkten,that fometimes he daunced . All this we fay, to fhew that the mynd mufthaue fomererrefhmg, ®jatntanne is not free, tljat fjatfj not tije meanes fom* times to be at Ws olmte Idfure* The grounde how fertile foe euer it be, if it frii remaine vntiiled, becommeth barren in a fmalecymc* Continuall labour, maketh the mynde weake and wearie , euen as to doc nothinge, and to Hue altogether at eafe, maketh it dull and heauy 3 Recreati- on oughte to beevntovs, as our fleepe, which mrcngthnethvs&giuethvs breath toretorneafterwardesvnore freclie to our labour . But if wee dk! alwaies fleepe, it ilioulde bee a kinde of death, and not ■fleepe f Thev Remedies agjainft They who in times pall eftablifhe'i Lawes Oideytied certeine teRiuali daies :n the y -are, that men might be ^as it were) co 1 trained to reft fro:n cheir hurries, 5c to fpo re themfeiues after their Lboures, Yea informer ag£,aiany worthy perfons, did appoin; cettiine howers, for the ir re- cre::ti >n Aiiirus Poilio, a grere Ora .or, iseuer tooke {0 great bufincs vppon him, that he did no: allot vino himfelfe the two lait howersofthe day cotefrcfti fumfelfej during he which, he would nor (on, uchi ss read the letter? heereceiued from hysi friends: lea.t they might bing him fomei new thought and care* We read ofothersi who laboured till noone,& beftowed thei. reft of the diy in matters of no great mo-1 ment* The cmdlesthat are giuenouttol thofe that ferue in comedo feeme to limits the tyme of reft and laboure. There was ai decree in the Senate of Room e , which! fb.bad, that no newe matter fhouldc bs propounded the two laft hovvers of the day? ♦ Moreouer when a man is oucr wea- ried Discontentment. ricd with important affaires , it is a greate ftrengthning and refrt filing vnto hym , to ibiace himfelf in forne < pen 6c large pla- e , which feemeth to put , as it were, new life into hiriu To conclude, wee ought to delight i* change, according to the time, and to take he^d that we ripurifli not ourmindc ouer foft, and daintily; For in as much as of it (cfc it hath great forces, fo that it bee kept aw ake , and exerr ifed t It is not meeie that wee let it languiih, and become weake* For if once wee come to be impatient, and terrier, all things are difpleafing vnto vs, niraie goeth a- gainft ourfromacke, hunger gnaweth the belly , flecpe difpleafeth vs 3 wat- ching tormenteth vs , and like vnto a fieke perfon, wee Hill fceke af er news fang'es. Such d^int'neffe hath been the occa- sion tLat many haue not been ab>e to en- dure, nor lb much as thofe thinges which ©fnecem" rie they muft vie in this life, (as fitting, fleeping, r fing, waking, dyning , fupping, apparelling theielues ; putting of their Remedies againft their garmcntes, and fuch like thinges which weemuftdaylydoe) but haue ra- ther let themfelues pyncaway, and dye: fo greeuous a thing it was vino them to begyn the fame thinges agayne euerye day. Such perfons grovve to fuch extrea* mities, that they knowe not how to go* Uerneand nourifhe their mind and keepe 5t Hill in ftrength and courage , that it may bee acquainted with all things, tan all thinges, and difgeft all thinges* For in this matter there is the like and the, fame reafon and proportion betweena the minde , and the body t And here hence it commeth that you (hall fee fome, men fo tender, that the- icaft noifeinthc, world difquicterh them, And the ringing euenofa little bell dothangerthcm* Fot like as vnto a fainte and difeazed body,' •fo ithappeneth.vnto aweake, languifh?; ing fpirite, that whatfoeuer touchethit, pavnethiu 7. *¥■ Dilcontentment. y. Dijcourfe, Of the choice of frendes . Orafmuch as neceffarilie the life of man-, hath neede of friendeSj 6c the aide of com- pany, (for it (hold be too o- jiierhard a matter, & too feuere to haue the pinde alwaiesbent vnto bufines , and it jhoulde bee a thinge more greeuous to beare , to en icy e no perfon with whome ■ jk might take fome recreation) 1 find hat wee are ouer negligent hi the choife )f them ♦ In my opinion w r e ought to take >reatheede to make choife of fuch as are pfa milde conuerfatio^uhoofthcmfelues ieferue to belouedtand accompanyed* There is nothing that bringeth fo much ;onten:met and recreation to mans mind, is faithful! fnendfhippe .For it is a fingu- ;erp!eafure tofinde one framed with fuch i milde minde to whome thou mayrc pouldlye difchfc thy fecret thoughtcs; whofe Remedies agpnft white councell maye giue you aduife t wl;< fe mirth may exempt you from i d nefTe, and whole preftnte nqaye ? e{-eiv your paine. Wherefore it behooueth 10 make election pf fuch friend? as are tx- emptof Couetoufnes % and vce. for Vice (like vnto fler^ taketh houlci of that \a hich approcbeth neere vnto it. So thar wee ought to doe as they are wont in tune of plague, or pdiilelnce, leprrare thole chat are found, from men as are flcke, !eaf?e difeaze, & infection do grow 5 by putting them together „ Yet herein I would nor haue you robe ouer-fcrupu'ous : for feing ihat it ii im- poiTible to firide fuch as are abfolutelie perfect , wee ought to hould thofe in ac- compt as ^ood : who haue Jeaft imper- fections in them. You ought aboue all things, to fhunne fuch as are of a r ad difpofition , who are ftill complayning , and frill difpayiing , yea albeit they did lone you well and were faithful! vnto you. For it is a thing that woulde greatly trouble vs to haue fuch a friend who is alwaies penfiue and readie to Di&o ntexi tmenr* to fgh vppon eueiy occ?n"on 4 Scing that Friendship and con p*.nie, js to calf vs f f eurcaie : It v» ere not fie to vfe the familiaritie t f fuch' a one , who in ftead. of reicycin.g ano leHervu g \our jgriefeSj jfhruM put you into vame uares, and apprehenfions. S. 'Difcourfe* OfDiffcmlling. T is a greare trouble, and difcjijiet of minde to ma- ny men , to feeme others in /hew, then they are in deed^ and a great torment, ftill to haue an eye vrto them fellies, for fen re Jeaft tl ey mould be 'difecuered. As ©fen as men looie vpcm the. fo often do they imagine to be efpied, and in the end it hapneih that they 'ay open themfelues againft their will* 1 h< care they haue to hide their natural! difpoM tion, is a hell vn- to the : and to be difcouered,a confufion ■ There Remedies againft There is no fuch pleafure as to liue ac- cording to a mans own nature. And albe- it there be fome danger to beJelTe eilea- rnedjifit happe we be knowne* Motwith- ffanding it were better to bee fomewhat lelTe fet by,and to line openly,then tc take fuch care to difguife our felues cunninglv, albeit that there ouoht to beemediocririe vkd in both . For there is a great diffe- rence becweene liuing freely, and negli- gently . Which that you may the better vnder- frand nature hath endued vs with tw r o qualities* The one general I (which is that it made vs reafonable creatures and capa- ble of difcourfe to vtter our conceipte wherein wee furpalTe brute beafts ) the other particuler to euery one (as to be in- clined to grauitie, to mirth, to melancho- lyneSjOrtoany other humor,) Herein wee ought to follow our naturall inclination, fo' that it bee not deformed or vitious, as if a- man were fubieel to laugh ouer much, it were conuenietand necefTarie to (traine J himfelfe to correct thisimperfc&ion; But in thofc qualities which deferue no repre. ; Jienfion Difcontcntment. henfion, it were good not to double } ci play the counterfeit ♦ For it is a very diffi- cult matter, tovfe grauitie alwaies, ( if nature inclined* not thereto ) To change ones countenance, tofpeake highelie,3c Jooke biggc : which thinges if by chance you forget, i mediately you are iaide open,. It were farre better, to fbilowe a plea- faunt conuerfation, and milde manner of life : Notwithstanding if it happened that you were placed in fome highe eftace t which did require greater feueritie, here- in it were notamille fome- what to force nature ♦ Yet this ought to be done with great wifedome and moderation: yea by iittle c3c little, £o that this alteration mighc breed effenct to no man , This manner of diifembling cannot be- blamed , for it greeueth none but thofe who doe vfe it , and chaunge their natu- ral! difpofuion m But there are fome, who being in deed men of a light behauiour ? and ridiculous, deilre yet to be helde for graue, wife, and worthy perfons ♦ Others there are, w ho without any oc- f afion, do feekc to plaie the Couaterfets , D who Remedies againft ^vho being borne to all meekenes and humanitie , delight to fhcw themfelue* rude and cruel!. Others being very Cowards, make a fhew to be wonderfull valiant y not re- garding hi dc^d what they are ♦ Thefe kinde of men cannot long hide them* fellies, that being alwaies true which is commonly faide, JSo Mole tit twinge t£ > Ttifcourfe. Ofvanitie. T is a very harde matter, yea I mayiaye impofliblefora man that is vainelye giuen and ouer curious of honour, that he fhould cuer tail the comfort of the tranquilitic of themhide, which is fo muchdehred, and the which wife men do ieeke toattaine vnto by all pollGble meanes.The feafoa hereof is, be- caul e he canotpurchafe all that which he longeth after , neither the place , nor the hoiioii^, nor the credit which hefeeketh for* Difcontentmento for ♦ He alwaies promifeth himfelfe movt then he is able to perfortne/ocing net able to fet himieife forth in app arrd! 3 nor in o- things according to his mind ; becaufc he defireih to p?.(Tc the common fort in all things* So that he is troubled no leiTe then they who fwim againfl the ftreame, hop againfl the hill, & in Read of aditauncing himfelfe, fre.ppeth backward ♦ Contrai ilie the meanes to Hue moft at eafe,is to make lefle fhew. we hate fuch as are difdamtull, and do feeme to bee oppugnant, and not to rulethemfelues according to our mind* To be iliort, remember that, <&rjtmt>Cr and lightning noecommonlp falltypon tbc ^tffbr S places^ lo/DiJcourfe. OfProiperitic. Hen fortune fmileth vpon v? 9 and that all thinges (as wee faie) fall out according to ourwifhe, then is the time when we ought mofl of all | to looke vntoour felues, to bridell our a£ fe&ions, and watch to frame ouraclions by the rule of reafon ♦ For aduerfitie doth induce euen our enemies to pittie,& prof- peritie doth moue ourfriendestoenuie* Yf we (hold in this place recite all thofe :who haue ended their Hues miferably by a fuddaine and violent death, becaufe they D 2 cou!4 Remedies agrainft u could not moderate themfeiues in thei profperitie, the c^ifcourfe fhoteM be ouer r longc : Our purpofe being to vfe hreuitie,* we will foibeare to entrcate thereof, in regarde it is a matter, that eucrymannc fcnoweth. And therefore whenwehaue a tyme of fauonr, we ought to auoide pre- emption, whiche dcthordynarilye ac- compame it, and diminifh, and beats downe as mvfjft as liech in x§ } this lofcines which doth fellow it ♦ True ius> that there arefome, who inrefpeclofihe ranke, and degree they houlde, may not abafe themfeiues with- out fallings I: were very necelTarie , that fuch perfons did in fu ch forte, ymployc their wim, to temper their grauitie, tha? men might impute their (iatelines totherr Office , and not to their nature x excu- ting themfeiues to their Frhdes, and to fuch as are oflcfife calling , that they haue not the. leifure to entertaine them, and make fuch acompt of them as 'they would willhiglyc - vfing npcviithfianciiBg all th curtefic their eftate will furfer them , not ending into choiler , if any one ofFererh im- Difcontentment, Importunatlie , or iudifcreeteiie to fpeaks vntotheni, For it is all one vice, not to be able to gouerneour feiues in profpe-* ritie , and not to haue the pacience to en- dure aduerfitie ♦ We ought then to houlde an equalitie, in all the courfe of our !ife,&if it be pom*- ble , to fhew allwaies a cheerefull Coun- tenance , full of mcekenes & curtefie. ALEXANDER the grcate , farre furpafled his Father, in worthy deedes of armes ,but his Father furmoun ted hymin mildenes and humanitie. The Father was alwaies vertuous and welbeloued , and the Sonne many times vicious and hated. So that their Councell is moft good 5 and wholefome , who affirme, %^at hf l)&t3 mue&toee arc a^uauccti to a inpeeiJate, byte macfrottg&t wt to fue&e out* fetecs fumble anu lotuiie* « Scipio Afrricanus didcommonhefayj that like as we are woont , to put vnbro- ken horfes , to fome fkilfuli Rider to manage , that wee mighte vfethem at ourneede: fo is it needful! totamethofe perFons who are growen rooite prowde,.- D4 and Remedies againft atid infolcnt through their fortune, and to bring them to tread within the ring or compaiTe of resfon, fhewing vntothem the mifcrie and weaken es of the affaires of this world , and the inconftancie of fortune ♦ This is the caufe why wee ought in our greateft profperitie , vfe the coun- fell of our friendes , and cuen then to giue them more authorise, ouervs, then at any other time , to th'end that they may boldly tell vs our owne, and ftoppe our eares againil flatterers, who may eafily deceiue vs* For in allfeazons men Car- rie this eftimation of themfelues , that they arc worthic praife 3 but moftof all in profperitie $ in whichtime itisaharde and difficult matter, to flnde any who doth not willinglyc attribute vnto him felfe the caufe of his owne felicitie* And there is no feazon wherein men doe fooner forget god, then when they haue attayned r.o fome higheftate 5 So that miferieis Phifick, becaufe it bring- Cth men to know themfelues* To bec well conceipted of ones felfe, And. Difcontentment. and to beleeue lyers and flatterers cau- feth men to fall into grofle faultes , and giueth occafion to make them a laughing flock to the werlde* And furelyeit is a great foliie, rather to credit others, then our fellies. Thi$PHlLLIP,(ofwhornI haue made mention,) being puiflant and tri- umphant , and as a wife man , confide- ring that the affaires of this world doe not alwaies remaine in one efhte, caii- fed his page euerie morning to L lute him with thefe hordes, p&iliip remember t(jouattaman* Hew much more ought a wife chrifti- an kievnto himfelfe, Remember t&0tl att Dua,antrmtniiua t&outfSmttreeurne. ii. T>if Remedies a^ainft XU T)ifcourfe. A Companion of our owne eftate, with the Fortune of other men. T may feme greatly to at- tayne the tranquilitie of the minde, yfwee waigh in our felues without paflion, the meanes we haue; and do af- terwards confider others who haue not (6 much .• not doing as many men ate went, who oneJy looke at thofe that haue mote fubftace the thefelues, wondering at the , & reputing them to be happie* Like vnto prifoners who deeme them fortunate that are at libertie, thofe that are at libertie on- lye fuch as are free, and rich 5 and thofe that are ritch, onely fuch as beare of- fice: thofe that haue charge in inferior of. fices, Kings 1 & Kings thofe that are Em- percurs,and mightier then themfelues* And Di/contentment. And here. hence it commeth to pafle, that being notable to match them who are of greater power, they are malecon- rcnt with their owne eftates ♦ Which is no other thing then vngratefulneffe to- wardes god, and a torment to them- felues. A wife man , albeit that others get the ftait of him in fubftance, is not foe that caufe fad, nordifcontented,butfct- ting before him a great number, whoe line miferably, and afflicted, reioycethin his owne fortune. And therefore when you fhail Jyfce vp your eyes, and behould fome ritchly mounted vppon their great horfes : o- thers that haue well profited in lear- ning , and thou repineft thereat . Caft downc thy fight, and thou (halt finde a greater number, who walke on foote, and liuing poorely, doe accompt thy eftate happie ♦ For there is no reafon, why the fortune of fome few (hold rather inouc thee to difquietneSj then the eftate of many,perfwade thee to contentment* Howe manye poore menne are there wh© Remedies a^ainft who hue of their laboure, charged-with children, and want, and (which is worft of all ) haue no hope to cfcape out of m i- ferie* How many are there that woulde be well fatisfled with that eftatc which you bewaile, and comphine of? Wee are in fo miferable a feafdn, that our life doth rather depend of the condi- tion of other men, then of our owne ; and our neighbours fubftance tormenteth vs more, then ourownc wealth comfor- ccth vs f If it were poflible for men openly to difcernetbe cftateof thofe whomethcy deeme happy, many times they flioulde finde their life more troublefomc, the* their owne. Who is he that imagineth not the con- dition of Kinges to be moft happie : And yet note the fpeach of a King,who in Ho- mer complayneth thus . ©reat Iupiter ftatb impitfoneu me tuitfj great cares* £> fjotoe bappte are tbep lufjo in ttyit itctle Cottages hue ejeempt from tfeefe &an* gets* An<> Dif contentment. And if kbefothatThowfands would content thesnfelues with the eitate wher- in god hath placed thee, what reafon haft thou to compiayne , that thou haft not made exchange with fome one, whole fortune thou doeft enuy f what nedeft thou to torment thy feife, to attaine vnto the eftate of another, feing it is certaine, that nothing doth fo much difquiet a man, as defire to afpire from one eftate, to anoe ther . Becaufe that fuch men without any confederation, doe fbllowe any hope that Offereth it felfc vnto them : which fayling to fall out according to their defire, they blame Fortune, and curfe their hap : neuer finding fault with them felues, for their owne lightneffe, and want of forcfight: & considering not, that it is a meere tolly to impute their want of difcretion to ano- ther, in the fault they haue made to follow that which is either vncertaine , or im- poflible 4 They are like vnto thofe who ftorme and take on , becaufe they cannot flie, nor ftiute an arrowe with a Cart 4 Thc eaufe of this cuill, is the ouer- great loue $hat men doe bcarc them felues: And hecrc- Remedies againft heerehenceitproceadeth, that they ex- peel: to be chkfeft accompted of in all thinges • It is a fmale matrerfor them to be rich, iftheydoenot exeeade others in fubftance . Doe but confider how this vice bearcih fwaye, m all eftatcs • DEMISE the firlt , thought not himfelfe fatisfled ia being Kinge of Sycilia, and etfeemed not his digoitie throughlie accomplished, becaufc PHILOXENVS excelled hyrn in Poetrie, and Plato in philofophy* But entred into fuch rage, that he con* demned PHILOXENVS togoe to .Plough., andbannifhed PLATO t Of this felfe-loue, likewife it commeth often Limes to paife , that men doe vnder- taketodifcourieofall matters, tofliewe their learninge , and for the moile parte, theybecomea laughing ilocktothe com- pany , As k hapned toMEGABISES of P E R S I A , otherwife a man of great worth and reputation, who on a time^ coiiiming into the /liop where Appelles the Painter followed his arte, he began, to difcourfc thereof, and make known to Appelles,that he had fkill therein* Ap- Difcontentment. Appelles, who was a pleafant and wife man , faide vnro him , Surely Lord Me- gabifes, before I hard you fpeake,I tooke youtobedifcrcete, and confiderat 5 but fithence you haue entreated of my arte, cuen the boyes in the fhop whogrindc couiorsdolaughatyou,, £)a»ntbaiitheCai:tl)agemanCapcame, after that the Romanies had driuen him out of Italic, andAfrique, flying to the King of 1i5itl)itU3j was one day defired to go to the fchooles to here a great Pljtlo- Copper , who began to difcourfc of the fleightes, and ftratagemsofwar* Others whogaueearevntohim wodering at his eloquc'nce,and the i kill which he (hewed in matter of warfare, demaunded oflpatl* ittball what hee thought of his difcourfc, who fmilyng faid vnto t hem, that hee had knownc many olde foo!es,but that he nc- uer hard any that had vttered fo many fol- lies as the PljOlofsptjer.And no doubt Ha* nibail had reafo, fcing he ecred to entreat •of that which is not learned within the avails ofa fchooIe> in prefece of one ofthe .moft worthy, and experienced Captaines llhen lining inthe world, which Remedies againft Which plainely flicweth that cuerye one, ought to content himfelfe with his calling, without intermedling'with ano- ther mans profeffion , whiche the Po. cts haue giuen vs to vnderftande, fay- ning that euen the Gods were contented, eucry one with his owne office t as Mars with warre ; Minerua with the liberall Sciences^ Mercury with Eloquence, Cu- pid with loue, Neptune with the Sea, Plu- to with hell, lupiter with Heauen, and Co of the reft, euery one contenting himfelfe with his proprietie : and whenioeuer any did emerpri/e to meddle with an others ofrlee,he was either mocked, or chaftifed* Heere- hence we ought to gather, that all things do not befeeme all pcrfons, and that euery man ought to confider what he is addicted vnto , and content himfelfe therewith ♦ They who make profeflion of learning, liad need of reft, and leyfure* They who feruc Princes and great pcr- fons, are fubieel to great labour ♦ To be (hort, theie thinges (and others which wee might alleage) arc not fitfor Difcontentmenf. all men : and euery one is bound to pro- feflfe that hee is apt vnto by nacure ♦ The Horfe is meet to run, the Ose to till the ground* We fhould accc npt him a foole., who would complaine, that he were not able to carrie a Lyon in his bofome a as hee may a little dogge ♦ There are fome men who defire with- out leaning their vitioufnes, and idle life, to become as great Philosophers as thofe who haue atcayned thereunto with fo graet watching and trauell ♦ In times paft good Wreftfers were contented with their owne prize, rte- uer enuiyng the honnor other champi- ons did purchafe in running. Contrari- lyc they who contemning their owne wealth , doe gape after others mens fub- ftance v doeliue in continuall paine 3 <5c torment* Wee reade that there liued long fince in Boetia very wife men , who com- plained of their gods that their %<£ trees did not beare reafiins , nor their vines figges , we ought to imagyne E that Remedies againft that God hath dinerflie framed menne, to diuers purpofes, & that euery one ought, to quiet and content hymfelfc , with that which God hath beftowed vppon hym , without acceding hi bonrdes, f orunaf- cer that which is none of his ♦ For inch kinde of People neuer make account, ey- tberofthat which they haue had, or of that which they poflcue, but o^c !y of that which they couet to haue: and do alwaies looke a farre of, neuei letting eye on the place where thry are. In times pall, there was a certaine Image painted in a Temple, which did reprefent thofe kind of men, whoalwaies expected the time to come , and did (rill neglect the time prefent . The Picture was of a Rope-maker, who did labour cotinu- a!Iy, ar.diufYered his Afle to eate that which was behinde him : Euen fo doe ihofe who are vngratefuil towardes God, who contemning their owne welfare, do fuffer forgetfulnes to deuoure it, and are aJwaies longing for that which is to come* 'In worldlie matters, all thinges are riot afcer one forte, for a s in Mufique there are bifconten tnient. are flat, fharpe s and middle tunes 5 and the wifeMufician,by the medlie of the $ frameth moil fweece accords : Euen fo a wife marijofgood & of euill which hap- peneth in this life, he maketb good har- moiiie, taking not the good alone, nor the euill likewifc by it icife 9 but inter- minglinge the one with the other, as thinges which in this worlde cannot be fepecated ♦ This worthie faying of EV* R i P I D E S being true , ^>ojr£tf), atUJ tijc life of man, are tttmmss* Then. T*if- Zz Remedies againft 7i>eix> TDtfcourfe. Of Aduerfitic . Duerfitie is partly grce - uous, andheauy, vnto vs by nature; as ficknes, the lolTc of our childre, ancl our frendes, & fuch other like accidents: but partly in like manner in the feeling of them wee follow the common opinion, and efptcially in matter of want, and ne- cem*ty,mthc recciuing ofiniuries,andre- procheSj and when to our thinking men yeild vs not that honour, we doe deferue* Against which wee ought to spplye that which the Poet, MENAND ER fpea- kcth of. 'Clj-it Uifnel) ijat I) l^ppenctj bn* to t\)( t te wt peeuous, but tljat tljou ma* feeffafljefcnfjattttsfo* And that this is true , thou haft thy rainde, ar.d thy body, as n.uch at com- raaun- Difcontentment. maundement as before any fuch thinge did befall tbee « Again!* whiche thou oughceftto note, that thou endureft no- thing'againrt the Iawe of map, feing at his birth thefe thinges were allotted and giuenvnto him, ordinarily to accompa- ny him* And in dced s nature hath not made vs fo weake , to endure aduerfitie, as we make our felues , Let vs thinke that it is the leaft part of man which is fub- ie& to Fortune, and that the chiefeft por- tion is in our owne power, which belong- ing to vertue, cannot be ouercome by any thing without our confent ♦ Befides, we knowe that there needeth no great force heerein , hauing none to fight wkhall but our felues. And feeing that the chiefeft parte of the vidtorie , confiftethin getting themaifterie of our felues , Hereunto let vsadde: that God neuer cafteth thofe out of his fauour, who feeke to get the vi&orie in a righteous caufe* Fortune may bring thee topouertie, to a lowe eftate, it maye afflict thee , but it can neuer force thee to become E 3 viciouSg Remedies a^ainft vitious, faint- harted, and cowardly , It cannot take courage , and venue from thee, in the whk h coiiiteth more force to goutrne thy leife then in the art ofnaui- g txn : In as much as the PILOT howc wile andconfideratefoeuerhebc, cannot by his arte appeafe the' raging fuiie of the Sea,nor exempt others from feare ♦ But venue, and wifedome in a hart, well framed and difpofcd, giueth aiTurance to the bodie : pteftruingc it through temperance from difeafes, and by contincncie , withdrawing it from o- ther vices ♦ And iffobee, that any thinge,fhoulde offer it feife to ourmynde , wherein there were any perill, v\ e fhould as. a da gerous gulfe leaue it, 6c pafll on fai then Or if the eiijll be ineuitab'e, we ought te comfort our felues, immagening the Porte isnotfarreof, and that wceleauc this bodie, ^ a crafcd fhippe, houlding death as a hauen ofhapinesar.d aiTurance* And knowing ( considering the nature of thefoulej that the departure from this life, ii to come to a better. Which con* ildcraiion, Discontentment. ^deration, oughte greatlye to encourage £hriftians 5 nottofeare ihu which may brecde terror to other men. And if wee had fores , fufficient to de- fend our felues from the ftroaks of fortune tomeete with it, anditoppe the.paifage thereof, with a valiant courage , and be- ing prepared to withirande the aflaultes thereof, nothings coulde tormencc vs? whi ch we ihoulde effeck t if wee did not vfe to promife our felues ^ any greatc and certain e hope, nor any fetiedeftate ■ jn this miferable hie ♦ And that wee did confider very narrowlye 5 if thc-fe thinges which wee repute as badde,, are aseuill as wee iudge them to bee, or not. And if wee did fagelye waigh , and wsie'fye forefee before hande, what croiTe For- tune might fall out , to allure our felues when it fhoulde happen , k would not terrific vs halfe fo much* Kay contra- tirye , the neerer ir, fhouide approche vnto vs , the more couragious, i?out 5 $£ valiaunt ftiould we be,& we ought not to be difmaide^ but m oft affoed fhould we E 4 be Remedies againft be to locke her In the face, and to know that fhe is not fo hardie as they fay (lie is* And albeit whileft wee Hue heere, no man can vaunt and auouch that hee iiath not tatted of her cup: at thelcaft, this he may fay, wcilikh I muft ncedes drinke thereof, yet will I not fhrinke thereat, I will notcompl3ine,nordifpaire as other men doe : 1 will not reduce my felfe into that mifcrab]eefi?te,as fome men doe> when they are croffed withad- ucrfitie, albeit I am alTailed wfeh pouerty more then they: I will not deceiuc my neighboure, nor take that which be- longeth vnto hym t I will not lye for a- ny gayne , nor fcrfweare my felfe ♦ Tobefhort,nothinge fhallfo far forth feeme intolerable , that to auoideit, I will become vicious* If by honed meanesl cannot eafemy felfe, necefliiic ( at ihe lead ) (hall caufc my burthen feeme light , bcfides , the law common to all men which forbid- to accounte that lieauie which fo ma- ny doe be are* Make choice of any kind of afflicti- on Discontentment. ©n you pleafe, you fhall finde more that are burchened therewith, then ex- empt. This ought to bee a great comfort vnto vs , that where there is no flnne there is no euill x And that a vertuous man liueth more quietly in aduerfitie 3 then the vitious doth in profpentie 4 Suchpaines righteous me haue endu- red (who by the grace of god) were tho- roughlie accomplifhed with venue, wiih patience, with humilities which how greeuous foeuer they were , yet t'yd they not To much torment them, as their confcience did comfort them ♦ Like as they who haue the ague, do with greater paine fecle , and endure their fitt , then others 5 that are in health, doe the heate , and coide of the fom- mer, and winter: So they who are in- feezed with vice , which burnetii their confcience , are in a mote greeuous manner tormented with thofe accidents which doe befall them , then honeft men ste in their greateft aduerfities : who hauing their inward partes founde, can- Remedies a^ainft not bee difquieted with the outwarcfe, efpeeiallie when they doe oppofe a- gatnft it a valiaunt courage , and the force of an vr.fpotted c^nfeience: a grea- ter might {itrely then whatfoeuer wee may purchase by Miy other mcanes* Imagine not that Riches, howe a- boundanc foeucr they bee , are able to giue the like contentment, as Vertue bringeth to an hone ft man , which of itfelfe is fufHcient to make him happy 4 jf a? inljofoeucr poflcffetl) terttte it ujm- getb toitl) it fclfc a tcujaroe i\\ ic fdfc. And like as odoriferous and precious trees, although they b?e lopte,or let drie , yet do they notwithstanding keepe their fweete and pleafaunt fmell ■: and bad and barren trees , w r ith their leaues and bloffomes, doo bryng no content- ment : So vertuous men doo receyue more comforte in aduerfide 3 then the vicious in the middeft of their richest beeins (toll afflicted , and tormented, with "the worrne of their conscience. In what feazon, in what place, in what cftate ibcucr you finde an houeft man, hec Dilcontentment. hee is alwayes contented. It is reported that DIOGENES the Philofopher , feeyng a man that made preparation agaynft a Fcafiiuall day , faide vnto him : why laboureft thou To much to make thy felfe hand- fome , feeing that euery day is a feafli- nail vnto a vertuous man f Surely all the dayes of an honefl: man his life are, as iolemne daies, and fit for plea- fure,and recreacion. For if we confider the matter a rights the worlde is nothing elfe but a fore and holy temple , into the v^ hiche man is receyued from the daie of his birth t within whiche Temple there are two great lights, the Sunne and the Moone, with niany other ftarres. Wherein like- wife there are many kindofcreaturesby meaner whereof, man atteyneth to the knowledge of others which hee feeth not* And there i? not the Jeafi of them but beyng rightly confidered doo bring contentment vnto the minde* ■ , . What Remedies aeainft what pleafure is it to beholde thefoun- taynes, whiche ftill bringe foorth frefh waters, to fee the trees, the plantes, the rootes,the hearbes,the diuerfitie of iiuing creatures, ftones, hilles,val!ies 9 plainest If men were wife, might they not feme them for their recreation, and paftime* What greater pleafure is therein this life, thenthofe (ports which god hath left vs to rake in his creatures , yf we knew rightlie how to vfe them ? we take plea- fure to fee bulls and other beaftes fight, and yet there are other creatures in this faire Theater, that might giue vs farre greater dt-light, what fweeter muficke h ihere then the fingingofbirdes? To bee fhort wee may take pleafure to behold , and obferae , all the crea- tures that god hath made and created, each one in their kinde. Wee fpende our life in fo manye pra6tifes, and decciptes, that we hauc no leafure to reioyce our felues neither woulde wee lette others take their re- creation* If wee ktiewehow tofet our minde at Difcontentment, atiibertie, and giue it timeto reioyce, and take pleafure in thofe things, and in the knowledge of god, nothing could daunt it, or make it fad* But contra- rilie, being vnked to his maker, itfhould liue peaceablie to it fclfe, and reftin full ioye for euer , knowing this that albeit fometimes it hath endured aduer- fitie , yet fometimes better hath be- fallen it, and by this meanes itfhould waigh the one with other, &fayeit hath more reafen to reioyce in regarde of -good fucceffe, then to lament in re- fpedtofeuillhap. As wee are wont to with- draw our eyes from the fight of thinges which offend vs , and behould grecne colours (and fuch other pleafing to the fight) fo ought wee in like manner turne a- fide the eyes of cur vnderfbnding, and our thoughtes from ruefull things, and apply diem to thofe which are delightfull and pleafatint -.,- Not playing the parte of malicious men , who be- holde other mens faults with kites eyes ? and their ownc with.Owles eyes. Wee Remedies againft Wee are oftentimes like Horfdee- ches, who drinke the badde bloudand leaue the good. There was on a time a ricche man and miferable , who had in his houfe i>reat (lore of wine , and hee was (o cooe- tou^ and blinde , that hee fou'de the belt , and dronke -the worftc , a (laue of his feeyng the uigardiinefTe of his Mai- mer, flcdde from him , and beyng after- wardes demaunded why hee ran away, becaufe (laide hee) I cannot tarrie with a man who I auirgthe good in his pow- er, doth choofe the bad. ThePhilofopherARISTIPPVS fpake better to die purpofe : who of three Farmes or poflcflions that hee had, hauing lolie one, faide vnto his friends, that it were fimphckie to greeue for the lofle of one of his Farmes , and not to reioyce for the other two which were left him* Wee do as little children are woonr, from whorne if you take awaie one of their puppittes 5 they caft away the reft in a rage. For if of many good things which Difcontertment. which wee haue , Tome one bee taken from vs, or if by chance wee loofe it, wee fall (haight into b'ttcr lamentations, forgetting ali other thmges that remainc fate in ourpofleflion,. Biit alas, will Come one faie, what is it that wee haue ? To whome 1 will make this anfwere , nay what is it that wee iniojr not? Some man hath greatc credite , this other much wealth, iomc one an obedient wife, an o.hcr faithfull fteendes, ANTIPATERcf Tharfis accoun- ted this amongeft other his good For- tunes, that hee had made a psofperous nauigation from Sicilia to Athens : and wee couet all,hauing not the witte to thankeGodforthatwe poiTeiTe, not ma- king any reckoning of the greateft riches becaufe they feeme to be comon (to wit) to Hue, to enioy our health, to haue our %ht,to hue in peace, to eate,to drinke, to behold the earth bring forth hir encreafe, the Sea to be nauigable , that wee haue power to fpeake,to be fiient,to fit, toftad, to (kepe,to wake Jf men did imagin what adif- Remedies ag-ainft a difcontentment it is to be depriuedof fuch benefits, wefhould Jiue farre more contented then we doe . : What would not a ficke man giue for the recouerie of his health? A bliad man to enioye his fight, thofc who are bafely accompted of, for credit and re- nownc ? So wretched are wee, that wee neuer knowe what accompt to make of the benefitts we enioye > vntill we be depri- uedofthem. For a conclufion, let vs learne this leflon , not to fet our loue vppon the thinges i^this world , fo much , that the feare of the lofle of them do difquiet vs, or the loiTe it felfe cait vs into dif- paire* 13. £>// Difcontentmento The 13., ThfcQurfei Of Sorrow* S aduerfitie is eythet fmall or great, fo doth it caufe vs to greeue, wherein likewife there i s fo m e Faul te . For we fee novve that menrie haue gotten an vfe to bewayle many thinges for no other caufe, but that the cuitome isfuch* jp Some man mourneth by reafon of fome accidents happened to his neigh- bour* • "and chauhgeth his countenance to iliowe that hee is verie forrowfull there- fore j whereas jndeede there is no fuch matter* This kindneffe is vnprofitable, feeing that in your owne miferie , you ought to greeue no more then reafon re- quireth, and not afmuch as cuftomewil" leth. How many are there w ho died teares F when Remedies againft when menne behoulde them, and thinlce itihouldbe out offafliion, yfthey did not Wecpc, w hen others doe 4 Into how many incumbrances doth it caufe menne to run into, toleane T'ppon Opinion ? h fhouldbe far better, in fuch matters, to inuent fome new waye , and to appre- hende fuch accidents, as menne ofwyfc- dome,&vnderftanding f . What do their lamcntacicns auaile ey- ther thofe that are dead , cr fuch as are a« lyue, inh that no other benefite arifeth or procesdeth thereof, then wretchedlie , & without any profite, to bi inge a man into a confumption. ? Albeit tharforccrtaine, fometimes there happentth fuchcrofTes, and mifchaunces, that it is irrpotfible for any man to forbeare from forow , and yet we oughte herein to lament with reafon* And feeing that time ought in the end , to bring a rcmedie there fore, it were me ere fimplicytie, not with wifdometo pieuent' it, and to doe that which bv tra&e of time we fhould be confirayned vnto, whether, wewillornoc, Howe iMcontentmetit, How many are there, who after thi death of their children, or of their wiuesj haue eateri and been mery and taken theifc recreation , deeming the cyoie lo/t which they had vainly imployed in for6w and iti mourning ? For albeit icfemeth thatftu ti pcrfons are worthy to be called to reme- branee,or (as I may better fay) thato-* thers folly may be reuiued by them , yet notwithftanding,you ought to applie that remedie thereunto, which will come ©fit fclfe, though you fhould reiift it. fii Remedies agrainft 14., Difcourfe. OftheafMionof good men, I T is AOimall caufe to I fuch as are of a liuely -J r jpirite, and to fuch as- •^^j- are touched with any ued when they fee ho* neft men receaue wrong . And furely it feemet^to be euen a very hart-burfting, and ntore thre^v our nature will beare , to fee wife men, that liue quietly, to bee afflicted j troaden vnder foote, and ouer- bornetandto confider how ill the world doth handell them. This may fecme fomewhat to touch vs : becaufe in our opinion it reftraineth our hope , feeing that the porcion of ho- reft men , is nought els commonly but affliction* Wherefore if any fuch mater dotharou- ble Difcoriteritment; bk you (as it doth commonlye) ima- gine this j, that if they are hoiieft men i and patient, they are fo much the \mlre happie : For fo much as in Iked of the paiiie, whiche they endure in .this life which is 'fofhortjthey fhaibe rewarded eternallie* For amongeft other infinite content- ments, that they do enioy,which remaine in the houfe of god, one efpeciall comfort is, that they are quit, 6c dii charged of the temptations, and torments of this world f Befides this, fet before you, the mofte holie perfons , of the which fome haue been beheaded, others hanged, others burned, fome fieyed, others perfecutcd with hunger , fubiecl: to miferie and afBi6lion, which the world furelie was not worthy of, and therefore hated them, as not belonging vnto it ♦ But God loued them,and by his diuine prouidence which cannot be deceiued, intended that they fhould pafTe by fuch tribulations, yea and that thepaines which they fuffer, might further pricke them forwards to forfake thismiferable world v So that in the end , F 3 they Remedies againft ehcy remoue out of this prifon , they cf- capc this dungeon , and with a fhort ap- prehenfion of death they enter into a way which leadeth into a better life* *The 15. Di/courfe. Of other mens faults. Fter you haue fetled your felfc, & appeafed your own pafTions,the offences of o- ther men, and fuch faulces as are comittcd inpublique will torment your minde, considering the diforderthat isamongft vs,which is fuch , that nothing remaioethin the place, where it oupht , neither doth any man do his dutie, which he is borne to execute* He whirh ought to be a good Iudge, is afimple Citizen: and he which ought to bea good Citizen, is a fimple Iudge, and We fee that he which ought to obey, doth commaund . It is a ftrange ihinge, to fee howe all things Discontentment. things are corrupted, and fould, and how all things are roffedtopfymruey : howtae poore is chaftifcd for a imal faulc,how the law fpareth rich & mighty men, and now all the praclife of mankind, is nothing but to get money j and how few examples & occafions of lming well, thofe whiche beare charg and hou'd the chiefeit places doe (hew , A vertuous man is held as a monfter, hated 3 and abhorred , What fhoulde a man faie, to behould' that whiche the people afFe£teth , that which it defireth, that which it reiecleth , and that which it contemneth *t what an alteration is this in this world, what wretchedaefTe , that wee make no ac- compt of that which we ought to heare, and difdayne that we fhould not lb much asliftenvnto* The greategricfe that diuers and fun- drye perfons, haue taken atfuch matters hath caufed them for to fequefter them- feluesfrom the worlde , and to Hue in deferts , and folitary places t not bemge inany fort 3 able to behold that which bringcth F4 Remedies againft bringeth fuch forow vnto them : but de- firing rather to lyue amongefttherockes with wildebcaftes, then amongett men fraught with fuch vices. Notwithstanding both in this , and in all other thinges% which cannot be amen- ded, we ought to commaund our felues, in fuch forte , that they caufe vs Mot to ab- hor the companye of menne : but rather geue vs occafion to iooke more narrowly to our felues, to the end we be not of the number ofthofe, who forget the duetie of a wife man: and that the faultes thou doft reprehend in other men, caufe not others lykewife to note thee for them i It were better to hould with Demo- critus, then with Keraclitus* Heraciitus bewaylcd the faultes of menne , at the which DEMOCRITVS laughed. To the one it feemcd meere myferie, to the other meere folly ♦ Soelikewife yt is better forvs, when wee cannot a- mendethat which is amiffe, by di{fem- b ! inge to 3ppeafeit* And furelye yt is ftrre much more humanytye to laugh at the common lyfe of menne , then to Difcontentment. to weepe therat. Yet fhall you doe beft of all eoncer- range the vices of other menne, and the faultes which are pubiiquelie committed ordone, yfyou keepea mediocritye^ yf you neither make a ieft of the; nor greeue ouermuch at them : it beeing a nyferable thinge f fo to afflict ourfeluesfor other menn.es faultes /that wee doe pine away withforow, and an inhumane paftime , to make a laughing ftocke, or a fconie, of them. Now there are foriifc , that are not vex- ed nor troubled with chefe matters , yet can they not beare with the imperfection oftheirfriendes, nayeuen their enemies faultes doe greeue them !» Honor^wrongs, tollerating of menns humors, tormenteth them : Theimportunitie of their fnendes, the bad difpoficion of their feruantes \ and mofte famiUiar acquaintance 3 arfiið them X as we mod comonly fee it fall out dayly + How much far better is it , to haue patience in thofe matters, fith that a man reapeth fuche fmale profit , in feeking to amend them* We ought to make this ac- . count, Remedies againft count, that fuch menne as take pleafure to doc wronge, are like vnto dogs , who are borne to barke* Wee oughte to attribute that to their ill nature, wherewith all they aredaylye fufficientlye tormented, with continuall care, which gnawetb their bad confcicnce ♦ But if you take occafion to Mumble at all the euill, which may happely bee in thofe that are about you, you are vtterlye loft ♦ For if ey ther the vices of other men , ©rofthofe that belong vnto you, do once come to take houlde of you , and to cafte youdowne: you will woonder how all their importunities, and griefes , will like anouer-flowingwater,witha full courfe runne into your bofome , as a mightie & decpe Sea* And without doubt, wee flioulde fliew, our felues foolifhly tender , alwaies to af- flict our felues , if thofe with whom wee liue,doe not looke vnto vs foe carefully as wedefire* Theexceflmeloue, that wee doe beare vnto our felues, doth oftetimes deceiue vs, and the dayntines of our own eftate , is the caufe Discontentment. *aufc that we cannot beare wi'h the neg- ligence of our feruantes : Coniiderin^ not that many tymes tiiey cannot , nor know not,how to doe better. We doe expect that they fhould haue all perfections in them; and we ourfelues, commit athowfandfaultes: yea and many tymes wee florme againft our feruantes, when our own bad condic/ons.cr the bui- fines we are about doth makevs troward, and do lay the fault en them who cannot remedi i it . Another matter often-tymesdothdik quiet vs , and that is when we afYecle any thinge ouer much , and foe fall to quarell with our friendes about it. For there was neuer perfect friendfiiip,betwene whom there is continuallie a certakie emulation, to obtaine the vpperhand* Yfyou doe make trial!, and by conti- nuall exercife , accuftome to appJye your felfe to tyme , and to perfons, you ihall eaiily gouernthofewith whom you Hue, & purge thofe humours which you blame in them. And if fome times it feemeth 1m- poflible for you to beare with the,thinke it proceadeth Remedies againft proceeded* through your owne fault, and weakeneiTe ; Sith the number of thofe are infinite , whoe haue conucrfed , and borne with men ofiike difpofition ♦ For as ficke menne are woont to faie , that they arc out oftaft, 5c that all meates are bitter, imagining the fault to be in the meate, or in the Cooke; and yet when they fee thofe that are in health , eate thereof, and difgeft it well, they know'e then that the imperfections proceeded! from themfeluesj So in like manner, as often as you call to mindc, that there are many others,who willingly do furTer thofe angrie humors, you will then confefTe,that the fault commeth from your fclfe ♦ If the ftoward conditions of a wife doe difpleafe you, feeke ifit be poflible to ap- peafe her by faire meancs, and by reafon* whicheifyou cannot, yet let wifedome teach you to beare them patiently, and to diffemble that you cannot amend : other- wife, of your houfe you will make a pri- fon,of your eafe, a torment, and of your honour, a common long ♦ Expedtnot wifedome in your children, which DifcohtentmentJ Which is propper to ould age, fith that tliey arc borne young: which age bring- eth many things with it, which if you will on the fuddaine feeke to make perfect, you doo but bring difquietnes to your felfc* And if in young trees you are con- tented that they only bring foorth leaues , why then doe you looke for fruit of your children before it be time *l %)z Ufyitty tX £ pectetl) tfjac tobtcf; cannot be, Uhtiuml) fcutljat toljtcb Ije ftali newer f#ue. The befl is to nourifh and inflrud them. dilli- gently without ouer-much beating, or chiding, if they make a faulte, which by you would be taught with loue, how they flbould amend. Tki6. T>if. Remedies asainft o i6.T>i/courfe 9 Of Iniuries, Wronges andDifgraces* here are fomemenne, who can beare parientlye all man- ner of afflictions > but they cannot indiire an Iniury , or difgrace : the which not- withftanding commeth to pafle , rather becaufe they are (b perfwaded of the mat- ter, then that it is foe indeede ♦ Concerning this pointe, it will help you much,ifyou caa take this refolticion with your felfe , to exempt your felfe from the common opinion , and confider thofe things without paffion, which do difgrace amanne* For by thatmeanes, you {hall fee, if there be any reafcn to take the mat* tcrfoe hotlye, as you doe* There is a kinde of dilgrace, which wee do call wrong, and that is when wee are greatcJy crofted in our buytines againft Di/contentment againft equjrie, there is Iikcwife an other forte, which is called a Difgtace, and that is when in our own perion, we are o~ therwife handled then is befeeming,w he- ther it be by word, or dtcd m Touching boththe which, you are to vnderftande, that an honeftmanne is noc fubie&toreceiue a wrong (I mcanenot hereby, that he fhall haue noc iniury at all offered hym : For there is nothing Co ho- ly , but there are fome boulde facrili- gious hands, that will enterprife to touch) Albeit there are many , whofe tounges 6c handes, are nototherwife iraployed , but to violate the honor of God, and to pol- lute and robbe his moft holy and blefled Temples, though that honeft mennc are not any thing at all the lefle affured J and albeit that they ayme at them , yet can tl^ey not hitte them* For a thinge in- uiolable , is not iimplie , that which one cannot touch : but that which being hyt, cannot be preiudiced , nor hurte : Such a one is the vertuous man , who of himfelfe doth neuer gj U e occafion that an/ Remedies againft any fhould wronge him ♦ Howbeit if ey- thcr in ieft, or maliciouflie he be fet vpon, he is as abrafen wall, which the arrowes of the wicked, cannot pearce ♦ Befides, vertue is far greater in him , who hauinge fought, remayneth Conqueror, then in him, who neuer gaue any ftroake at all ♦ And therefore an honeft manne, like vnto good mettle , flieweth himfelfe the more when he is proued : Iniuries doe try him, but they doe not enter ♦ And yfby chance in palling by, any manne doeth mocke or fcornehim , it doth not moue him , ney- ther doth he make any reckoning therof, afluring himfelfe , it couide not lighte, or happen fo farre, Befides, all men will hould theaflay- lant for a badde perfon, and him as art honeft man, deieruinge no fuch outrage* The force of his vertue, will appears the more by this abufe , and his mildenes 3 will fhine foe much the more, by how much the iniury is vndeferued* To thofe who are of a weake courage, it is harder for them tobeare a difgrace* Do you deHre to vnderfiand how iniuries , arc Ehfcontentmcnt. are meafured by opinion ♦ There is lucb vanicie in worldly matters , that wee are lefTc greeued to receiue a greate wounde, then a finale bio we . Others are more dsfpleafed with a word 3 then with death itfelfe* We arc growne vnto inch childiflines_, andblind- nes , that opinion. afFriteth vs more then the paine it felfe ? as it Falleth out with lit- tle children, who are affeard of a mafque* But a wife, and conftant man, whoe iudgech of all thinges according to rea- fon: like as he efteanieth all thinges as borowedj So doth the lofle of the touch him,as thinges not belonging vntohiiru And as hee would haue lmed contented though hee had neuer pofleffed them ( knowing that all thinges are in the dif- pofition of the giuer, and not wealth on- lie, but euen life it felfe, and honor) Hee taketh the lofle which of neceffirie hee muft make offom? part ofthem,as goods throwne ouer-hbord, to faue the' reft . Such a one hathe coulined you of Co many crownes: It is a wrong that hee hach done you: but yet, but of pare of youf G fub~ Remedies againft fubftance , not of all ♦ And hee that hath the hart to giue the whole if necde re- quire; fiiallhe torment himfelfe for the lofle of fom e portion ♦ If the manner of the taking of them mouc you to anger, thinkethis, that as you endure fortune and her thwartenings, {o it is reafon that you (houlde forbearc infolent and faucy perfons, who are but (as it were) the hands of fortune* Beleeuc this , that our impatience doth vsmoreharme, then they ofwhomewe complaine* O fuch a one did not rife to giue mee place : hee had not that regard of me in talking with me, as I thought he would, hee gaue me not the wall ; he tooke place before me* What fpecch is this, but complaintcs, growing from a fofte, and tender ipi- rit? Manie thinges doe vexe vs, which woulde not a whit trouble vs , yf wee did interperet them aright, thorowour follie , and difrrufte of our felucs wee make that a difgrace vnto vs which in- deedc Difcontentmenfr deede is none , eftearaing our feluei worthie to bee vfed Co * And it is want of courage, 'although you fecle it* that you cannot make light accompt thereof, and treade it vtfdet your feete* But if wee wpiilde ©bFerue now the vifions, and imaginations, of the dan- gers which happen in our fleepe , doe paffe away : which fometimes do moue laughter * 3 when wee remernber them : wee might doe the like with lniuries, as awaking out ofa fleepe, wherin we were; whilcft they were offered vs. An honeft man will rieuer wrdnge you , neyther in your fubftaunce nor iri your perfoh ♦ and as touching the wic- ked, what remedye haiie you togrieue at them, feeing that they haiie no more houlde of thenifelues , then mad mem? And like as you doe bearc with them alwaies, and rather pittye them , then fill into anger with them , for any thing they canfayeor doe vnto you, fo ought wee to endure and beare with a foole and a hairebrayndjcllowe that is halfe G a ou£ Remedies againft ©utpfhiswittes. Wh atfoeuer a iefter,or a pleafant com- panion* faieth vnto you , ypu do take it in good parte , and doe thinke you fhouldc abufe your felfe too much , yf you fhouldc quarrell or contend with him : Contra- tdkp if any merrye ieft, come from them, youitetightwaics take delight therein, as a thinge to make fporte at ; Confider then how difproportionable it is , that a word fpoteft by one, bringeth pleafure, and by an other debate , in as much as a colorick wanne , hath noe more Iudgmcnt then a Jefter ♦ , What jfhould I fay of thofe , who are moued , euen with little children , and filly womenf who notwithstanding doe rather offend thorough weakencs, then of any fette purpofe. 5 To conclude, your minde will neuer be in quiet, yf you doe take allthinges ine- uill partem Butfome will fay; this iniury maybe borne wichall , but that Is not to bee iuffercd, Thefe menne doe penne vp vertueto* ciofe. pifcoutentmcnt . cJofe, and doc limit the power thereof with ouer- narqw bpunds,as if they (hou Id faie, vertue maye conquer this ? > but -not that* Surely if fortune; be not vvholydif* comforted, and defeated, it remaineth. Conqueror* Yea but ifl haue geuen the occafion of this difgrace offered me, how can Lbeare k patiently without (hame ? If the wrpfig done you, doe fpring ofyour owne fajult^ itls no iniury offered you^but a correc^r6 t which you ought toreceiue as a wife maij and take it for a chaftifement^ for yput offence* Yfany manieftatany imperfections in your perfbn > as to haue a great nofe,{guinj eyes, or crooked legges , you ought not to take that as an iniurye : For it were meere folly to take thought for that which corn- meth not from your faulte . Fidus Come* lius, didcuen weepe for anger, befpre.th'e Senate,becaufe thatCondubaStrutio Taicjl vntohim,that he was like vnto a piefdCa? aicll * What greate fimplicitie is this, if any G i*- maa Remedies againft man do counterfeit vs, weftraightwaies take fnuiJe thereat . 1$ it not a miferable fclindneiTe to greeue that another wal- kcth as wee doe ? feing that wee goe, as he doth/ The mean.es to auoyde th»s, were ra- ther, yf nature had deformed your bo- die by any imperfection, to fpeake firfl thereof your felfe,as one well acquaynted therwitri, &fobytbatmeanesyou /bold take occafion from others to icft there- at, V A T I N I V S did himfelfe fcoffe at bis deformed feete and necke , and by thatmeanes none of his enemies did ieft at him. Itistio fmall matter in boulding youv peace, or leauing him alone, to take a- way thedeligbt from them, who tbink- eth to doe you iniurie ♦ Neueranfwer aninfolent orraflie fcl- lowe* In keeping filence, youleauehis vice , his follie , and his rafbnefle in his. mouth,and inanfwering him, you com- pare your difcretion with him* For fhere is nothing that doth fo much equallmen together, Difcontcntmenr. together, as the participacoofone ckthc fame vice : and there is no fuch punish- ment for a foole as to let his words pafle without making any reckoning of them, which thorough your filence remayne condemned as impertinent, aud he lofeth, the pleafure, thinking to anger you ♦ Like wife you ought to be aduifed in your iefting. For you fee that men efchew the copanie of thofe, who make profeffion to fcoffe at others & there can be no certaine friendfhip with him whofparethno man# CatUjS Ceafet the Emperour, was by nature a great fcofFer, he had in his army a Criotttte named Cl)ma,who fpake fome- what fmal,much like vnto a woma by rear- fon whereof there was nogreat accompf madeofhim, Whenhee demaundedthe watch- word j hee lightly gatue him fomc fbule word to mock him, with which dis- grace he was fo highlie offended, that af- terwards amogft thofe who murdered him he ftroke of halfe his head at a blowe, fo that he whom he deemed leffe the a man, (hewed moft mahood tc* take him from a- mongft merit To vfe fuch iefting fheweth G 4 greate Remedies againft greatewantofdifcretion , and not to be able to endure them . w ant of courage, SOCRATES hearing men fcoffc at him before his face, fmiled thereat 3 not (hewing any kindeofanger.lt is reported ofhim,andofLelius, that they had fuch quietnesofminde , that they wetc neuer ieene to change countenance • Moreouer you ought all waies to auoid larres, and brawlings , for it djftempereth a man very much , and changeth his con- ditions* Be temperate in your fpeach , and let your wordes bee fuch, that they doe carye waight and authoritie with them, and ac- cuftome yourfelfe to palTe many thinges in fcilence. Be not deceiued with the commo fort, who call them free , that canne indurc nothinge* True libertie in a man , is to Hue as hee ought , which he cannot doe, who hath his minde framed to fet lighteby thefe vanities, and daintines, wherewith fome *re mci»cd & fhalcen* Doe ycu rather get the vpper hande, in concern- Discontentment. contemning them ♦ For it isnotafigne, that a man is in health, when as he cryeth out, fo often as he is touched ♦ *lhe \J\ Difcctirfe, Of Pouertie 4 hofoeuer doth make that ae count oflife 6c death, which he oughte, neede not fearc that pouertie fhoulde affiicle him , nor take away his reft : For it were farre vnfit for him that coft- temneth death, to let him fclfe beouer- come by pcuertie , which the comon fort feeleth aboue other miferies t and where- of it mofte complaineth and in moft bit- ter manner, being notable to attaine to that fufficiencie of wealth, to entertainc them gaiely , nor to content themfelucs with neccflarie meanes , for the mainte- nance of their life, efteeming abundance of riches, the foueraigne good of man , & pouertie, Remedies againft pouerry the chiefeft mifericof man.How- bcit notwithftanding is it not better to cnioy any thing at all,then to loofe it whe Wehaue gotten it* Nowe it is impoflible in this life, but we fliould loofe ,fith that one canot abound in wealth, but many o- thersmuftliue in want : and no man be an inheritour, without the death of another* As pouertie is not fubiedt to receiue great loffes, fo is it not accompanied with fuch great cares* If anye thinke that they that are rich, hauea ftouter courage tobeare their loffe then others, they decciue themfelues* For the griefe of a wounde is as paincfull to a great bodye, as to a little* Nay wee com- monly fee, that men ofgreateft ftature are more tender then others* ThePhilofopherB ION waiwontto fay, that you put him to as much paine that hath (tore of haire, yfyou pluck one from him, as you do another that hath al- moft none on his head : the oncly diffe- rence is this, thathee that is boulde hath leffc caufe to complaine ♦ This is the reafon that for the mofte part Difcontenment. part you fee poore men Ioconde,and merrie , becaufe they haue not fuch car«s, and doe lefie feare a ftormc then ritch men* Pouertie is a kingdome, and a great Lordfhippe , which is in fuertie againft all the worlde , ftandeth in feare of no- thing; And of it felfe is able to defend it felfe againft all her enemies ♦ Tell mee I praie thee , thou that fee- keft fo much after this worldly fubftance, yf fmce the poiTeflion thereof thou haft enioyed more quiet reft, or gotten grea- ter wifedome , or l)ued more at hartes eafe» The verye heathens haue taught vs d howe much pouertie is to be efteemed, when they imagined the Gods were na- ked attributing all things vnto them, they thought they ftoode in neede of. As for mee I will neuer counte him poore , whoe is out of the power of fortune ♦ This isonely fuffitient to teach vs what pouerite is,that no man fpeaketh of it^hat doeth Remedies againft cfothnot comend it, and doaffirmetbaf t^e wifeft men hauc borne itwithgrea- teft contentment* It is a greatc weakenes, and tendernes in vs, not to be able to furTer that , which ethers haue endured, and a great feare we haue toleauethisworlde* For if wee de« fxetobeaccompcedmenne, we woulde loue that in our felues , which wee do air lowe in others* And therefore, albeit that our imbecillitic, and faintnes , cannot wholly beare it, or at the leafte, wee •ught to limit our affections , and guard our felues in fuch fort y that fortune may haue leflfe aduantage to offend vs. For a little bodyc well couered vnder a buck- ler, is more allured, then one of great ilature, who lyeth difcouered, and fub- ieclto manyblowes* ' Iflc were not that my purpofe is to fpare rime, and paper, I could inlarge my di£ courfc, by the recitallof many examples afwell ofPagans, as of Chriftians, whoe haue fought felicitie in a poore kinde of life. But the consideration of one for all ftajl fuffice, and that isj that lefus Chrift being Mcontentihent* being Lord ouer all the world, was poore, his difciples , whoe pofTefTed all , were poore : the Saints who might haue en- ioyed great w ealth 5 were poore ♦ If you were not borne to dye, I would eouniell you to loue ritches 2 but I fee, •ffifcattfcep to tofrome aUtfeingeis uoe fail eut moft p^ofperouHp, Doe fooner bjing ttjeir Ufe to an mu^ tfjen t&eir cottetouC" rtefife* Wherefore do you labour fo much, for a thing that you muft leaue ; And why d® not you rather quietly content your felfe with that which is nece(Tary,& Sufficient, knowing that t&e fceft fojt of ricfce& fe, rat&er tofce too goo?e, no? too fur from fi.Dif* Remedies agalnft 18 , Ttifcourfe* Ofdeath. T feemeth that all croffes maye bee borne, either by vfe, or by found difcourfei but death and the appre- henfion tlierof,is that which \t moft terrible. The remedie and true falue thereof is that you this account, that nothing in this world is your own $ neither wealth, nor Jandes, no nor your life : which you hould as borrowed and are as tennant at vi'ills being that of force you muft leaue it, whenfocucr the Landeflotd {hall de- niaunde it of you, Notwithftanding you ought not to neglect it, as a thinge you haue no charge of, but rather with fo much the more care haue regard vnto it (becaufe you were) put in truft therwith, & rertore it without murmuring & with a cheerefull countenance, yeildinc; thankes to god for the time that hec hath lent it DifcontentmentJ it you, faying ♦ © lo?t> j 31 timet mp foule ante tftee, H3itb a free feart , pea ami fcutfj a better tuill tftcn 31 freemen it* tfoj tofcen pan gaue mee life pou beiteuefc iteneafiilp creature, bj^o ftas altogether ipojant of tbe goon rjee receiuea t awj noix>e pen take it from one , to&o knotoulj tofeac fces puttetlj into pour Jjan&eg, Mjicfclee jelBctij fe|> tmtfc a free ftitt, Andfurely cucrie one ought to thinke tfet itisno hard matter to rcturnc from tie place from whence we come* And be hath not learned to Hue well, whoe Inoweth not how to die* Wee ought to beare the like aflfefli* en to our felues as wee do to thofe that >ht a fet combatt* For wee hate hka that playes the cowarde , and doFauour him whoe with a ftoute courage ludd mher dye 9 then bee conquered . Of. tcntimes the feare of death, is caufe of his end that flieth away* Moreouer you know,that you receiued your life vpo this coditio, that ye muft die* Bee not then (q vniuft to fecketo cnioyc Remedies'againft tnloye that for cuer , which was geuen you bucfor a ccrtame titm , Clayning title to chat , which only you were pin in truft with all* Befides, wee fay chat the feare and ap- preh ^nfionof drath, is a wonderfull thing and the extretnitie of all terror ; AfTire you,chis£Mt doth not proceede of death, but of our imhecillicie, who are taken and ftayed in the p'eafures, and defie; of this life) and do loue thi s miierable b> dy of ours aboue meafure ♦ And if you doe choroughlie cotffidci the matter, it is not death that is terrible vnto vs, buttheconceite-weehauethcr- of, For euerie one feareth it, according to the opinion heehach thereof, and ac- cording to his confciencc. Now if this one'y bee the caufe that you feare it, charge your felfe vvith the fault, and not deacri, like vnto bad hufbandes, who are loath to com^ to a reckoning for the dinruft of their owne doings To faie that vou feare it, imigyning that ir is^fie laft end of man j you hauc no feafou, For our foule remained* alwaies, whic^ -J0