Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Effects of Feare, suspition, Circumspection, Superstition, 'Betraying the succours of Reason, Feare Generative, Reflecting, Inward, weakning the faculties of the Minde, Base Supition, wise Caution.
I Proced to consider some of the Effects of this Passion, whereof the first may be Suspition and Credulity, which either other mens rumors, or our owne working Imagination frameth untoit self. Which effect of Feare the Historian hath wisely observed, Retineri comeatus Tac…. lib. 4.dum Timet, Credit, what he feared that he beleeved. And in another place speaking of the strange relations, which had been made of Monsters, his Iudgement on the report is, Visa, sive ex metu credita. A…al. lib. 2▪It was uncertaine whether they had beene really seen or beleeved out of Feare. For as timorous men are by their own suspicion ready to frame unto themselves new terrours, and to feare where no feare is, which the Poet hath observed.
Quae finxêre Timent.
foreign M…and.—they are afraid, Of fancies which themselves have made.
So are they ready likewise to beleeve the apparition of their owne braine for reall terrours: For Tacitus his speech is here likewise true: Fingunt Creduntque, first they feigne, and then they beleeve.
Now the Reason hereof may be, First, the generallQuorum in al…orius m…nu vita posita est, saepius ill…d cogitant quid p…ssit is cujus in diliou: sunt quà… q…id de … facere. Cic. pro q…inctio. Impression of Nature, which being subject unto Infinite dangers, hath therefore given it a wisedome of providence, and circumspection to foresee those evils, which cannot by dexterity be so easily shifted off, as they may at a distance be prevented; so that wee finde even in the most cleare and undisturbed order of our operations toward any new thing (though not apprehended as noxious and offensive to our Nature) untill it be better understood, a secret drawing back and feare least it should prove hurtfull unto us; how much more then when it is once prepossessed with passion: For as cloth once died from it's naturall white, will take no other but a darker colour: So minds once steeped in the bitter aDe Timore is …o me … … de q…ae d…m apud al▪ …odig. . 9. cap. 26.humours of this melancholique passion, will seldome admit of any, but more blacke and fearefull conceits. bQuod de … observani… Ammian Marcell. lib. 16. … … l'lutar…bus de Medea R…ipid. in Medea. De Domitian… … quidam … magu quam cum … sunt Timend… sunt. Sen…. Ep. 11.And from this suspition of feare it is that timerous men are usually cruell when they gaine any advantage. Their jealousie teaching them to doe that unto others which they feare from them.
A second Reason may be, because in feare the minde of man is drawne to a neerer sense of it's weaknesse, and to a more prejudicate apprehension of the adverse power: and therefore it is a true observation, cTacit. Annal. lib. …. Vid. Plutarch. de superstitione Et lib. contra Epicur. Max. Tyrius …. 4. Clem. Alex. Strom. lib. 7. p. 51…. Nist. lib. 2.Prona ad Religionem p…rculsa semel mentes, &c. Mindes once possessed with fearefull conceits, are most forward in sacrifices, and Religious Ceremonies, to avert the evils, which they expect. So that as Tacitus on another occasion speakes, Inclinatis ad credendum. So I may say, Inclinatis ad timendum animis loco omnium, etiam Fortuna, When the minde is once drooping, things which before passed away as matters of course and casualty, are now drawne within the compasse of presages and Emphaticall evils.
But here by the way we are to remember that this credulity of feare is to be understood with respect to it's owne suspition, otherwise in regard of those strengthening helpes which are given against it, it is ever Incredulous: O thou of little faith! why doest thou feare?
Now this effect of Feare is generally in it selfe a corruption of it: For though I would have a mans dangers make him provident and solicitous in the forecasting future evils out of a sound and sober conjecture, according as are the likelihoods of their event, and not have him flatter himselfe in a carelesse security, nor divert his Minde from such unwelcome and pensive thoughts, like Vitellius in Tacitus, who in the neere approach of his fatall …ine, was Trepidus dein Temulentus, one houre Fearfull, and the next Drunken, smothering in himselfe every thought of ensuing danger, and enduring nothing but I…cundum & L…surum; that which was pleasing, though harmefull to him; yet I would not have the mind tormented with ungrounded Fancies, and preoccupate Evils to be no further effected than in our braine, because hereby it is made soft and irresolute, tumultuary and confused, and both wayes much indisposed and disabled for Action.
Another ill Effect of Feare, is a Dislike of whatever means Reason presents for the freeing of us, whence issue Inconstancy and continuall Change of Resolutions, hating all Counsels when they are present, and recalling them when they are too farre past▪ which Effect is elegantly described by the Author of the Booke of Wisedome, who saith that Feare is a betraying of the Succours which Reason offereth: a submitting of them to the false interpretations of a crooked and prejudicate suspition, which overcuriously discovering Weaknesse in all means, and making use of none, doth thereby betray Nature into the hands of Danger. *Themistocles apud l'lut. Apo ….They say of a certaine Fish, that it hath a Sword, but it hath not a Heart: a perfect Embleme of Feare, which though you put into Armor, yet you cannot give it Courage. And †C…abrias ib. & O…t. a de …. …. Alex. Arist. foreign &c. …. …. …dip. …yr. …ac. A…. …. 3. …. Omnia tuta imens. Non … … … suum quā boste…m tu crun… … tanto. Liv. l 1. …. l. 3.therefore as he said, an army of Lyons led by a Hart, would doe lesse service than an army of Harts led by a Lyon, because in that case Feare would betray her owne succours. And this I finde a frequent observation, that Pavidis consiliain incerto. Feare ever dazleth the Eye, and blindeth the Mind in all her Counsels: and Timor etiam auxilia reformidat. It is afraid of the very succors that are offered. And therefore it is noted as a great mastery of Vlysses over his Feares, that he could thinke and wisely advise what to do.
—Nec talia passus Vlysses, Oblitusq, sui est Ithacus discrimine tanto.
Although with Feares opprest▪ yet he had not
The Cares and thoughts of his own peace forgot.
Now the reason of this may bee first, because Feare is a Multiplying and Generative Passion, ever producing motions of its owne Nature. He… which feares danger from anothers power, will easilyforeign. In q…m sed usu receptum, quod honesta confilia, …ei …, … mala aut pros. pere … ita velp b…n tur, vil… ▪ pre…. …. l. 5. ep. 21. …. Epict. l. 2. c. 1. feare Errours or Impotency in his owne ayds▪ and it is * common with men to thinke themselves Vnwise, when they feele themselves Vnhappy▪ & this very thought that they are so, doth I know not by what Fascination make them so. So that as a chased Buck, when he flyes from the Dogges, doth many times fly into the Net which was spread for him: so when our Feares drive us from one mischiefe, the often hamper and intangle us in another.
Againe it is the property of Feare, to make us euer reflect upon our own Weaknes, & (as I said) not only to present it, but to worke it: as the Sun when it discloseth unto us the Glorious Lights of the one part, is commonly it selfe hid in the other part of the Heavens: as contrarily, when it shineth on the Earth, it hides the Starres: so it is in those two Offices of Reason▪ the Transient and Reflexive act, that whereby we looke Outward on others; or Inward on our selves, specially where there is Passion to withdraw and pervert it; as the one is stronger, so commonly the other is weaker: which is true most of all in this Passion of Feare, wherein the more we see of dangers from outward oppositions, the lesse we see of inward strength for resistance. Insomuch that great minds, when they meet with great dangers, are oftentimes staggered, as the Po…t intimates, when Ajax came forth to battell:
foreign
Illad. … …62.Feare had the other Trojans all opprest;
Yea Hectors heart panted within his breast.
A third Effect may be a Weaknesse of the Fa culties of the Minde, and the Spirits in the Body; whereby the one is made unfit for Search or Counsell; the other for Service or Execution. And hence (as Plutarch noteth) it imports in thePlut. de …up. Greeke, a Binding or Shutting up, and so withdrawing and indisposing the Soule for Action. And such Actions, as Feare forceth a man upon, are presumed to be so weake and unnaturall, that it is a Maxime in the Law, Per metumgesta, pr… non ratis habentur: Those things which wee doe in Feare, are void and invalide to binde, when the Feare which forceth them is removed. And as it is in the Civill State, so it is in the Morall Common-wealth of the Soule, there are three principall wayes to inferre Weaknesse, Forreign Incursions, Intestine Tumults, and an Emptying of the Parts, all which are to be seen in an Extremity of Feare. Where first two things are to be granted, one concerning the Body, and the other the Mind. The first is, that the Spirits being of the most strong, subtle, and quicke motion, are the principall Instruments of Entercourse, either in Negotiation to, or Service from Reason: the other, that the Mind being of a Spirituall and Elevating Nature, retaines then the perfectest power of Operation, when it least of all suffers the Incursion of grosser Passions, which yet I understand not of all manner of Ministry and Admixtion of Appetite, with Reason (as if the Regular motions of inferiour powers did not serve to sharpen the Counsels of the higher) but onelyonly of Invasion and Tyranny.
Which granted, wee may observe all the three former causes of Weaknesses in an Extremity of Feare. For first there is a Confused and Vnserviceable mixture of Passion and Reason: The Passion with too much outrage and assault breaking in, and distracting the advices of Reason, which is Forreigne Incursion: For, though these two are not parts of a different Regiment; yet they are of a different Nation (if I may so speake) the one belonging to the higher, the other to the lower parts or region of the Soule. Secondly, there is Tumult and Disorder amongst the Spirits, which is Civill Dissention. Thirdly, there is a Retyring of them to the principall Castle or Fort, the Heart, whereby the Outward Quarters are left Naked and Vngarrison'd; which though it be a strengthning of the Better, yet it is a Weakning of the Major part, and this answereth unto Emptying or Vacuity. By all which, both Reason is made unfit for Counsell (all the Conceipts therof being choaked and stifled with a disorderly throng of Spirits and Passions) …nd the Body likewise is so benummed, that though our discourse were entire, yet it could not be there seconded with any successefull service. And hence are those…. many ill Effects of Feare upon the Body, whitenesse of Haire, Trembling, Silence, Thirst, Palenesse. Horrour, Gnashing of Teeth, Emission of Excrements. The Outward parts being overcooled, and the Inward melted by the strength of the Spirits retyring thither. Which Homer hath thus described, speaking of a Coward.
His Colour comes and goes, nor doth he set….
Long in one place; he croucheth to his feet;
His Heart pants strong, and intercepts his breath,
His Teeth doe gnash with, but the thoughts of Death.
Brave men are still the same, not much agast,
When the first brunt of their Attempts is past.
Where by the way we may observe what Seneca also tels us, that Feare doth usually attend the †….beginnings of great enterprizes, even in the worthiest men. Which mindeth me of one more, (and that an usefull and profitable) Effect of this Passion, I meane *foreign. … foreign. ….Care, Wisedome, and Caution, which ever proceeds from a Moderate Feare, which is a Dictate of Nature. And therefore the weakest Fishes swim together in shoales, and the weakest Birds build in the smallest and outermost boughes, which are hardest to come unto. And we may observe that Nature hath made the weakest Creatures swiftest: as the Dove, the Hare, the Hart: and the †….say that the Hare is very quicke at hearing, and sleepeth with his Eyes open, every way sitted to discouer danger before it surprise him. For as in Religion, a Feare that is governed by the Word of God, so proportionably in Morality: a Feare grounded by the Word of Reason, is the Principle of Wisedome. As Security and Supinenesse is the Root of Folly, which Tiberius replyed to the petition of Hortulu…, wherein he requested of the Senate a Contribution from the publicke Treasury to recover the honour of his Family, which now was sunke and began to wither. Industry saith hee will languish, Idlenesse will increase, if no man have Feare or Hope in himselfe: but all will securely expect a supply from others; in themselves l…zy and burthensome unto us: and it is the judgement of Tacitus upon one of the wisest Policies, which ever that Emperour practised, I meane his writing to the Legions abroad, Tanquam adepto principatu, as if he were already Emperour, when at home in the Senate he used only Modesty and Refusals, That he did it out of Feare, so wise a Counsellor was his…. Passion unto him. And we find that some * great Commanders have caused their Skout-watches to be unarmed, that Feare might make them the more vigilant. And therefore this Passion is the…. Instrument of Discipline, seasoning the Minde, as ground Colours doe a Table, to receive those beauties and perfections, which are to bee superinduced.