Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul, Chapter 31

Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul · Chapter 31

p. 322CHAP. XXXI. Of other Causes of Anger: first in regard of him that suffers wrong: Excellency, Weaknesse, strong Desires, Suspition. Next in regard of him who doth it; Basenesse, Impudence, Neerenesse, Freedome of Speech, Contention, Ability. The Effects of Anger, the Immutation of the Body, impulsion of Reason, Expedition, Precipitance. Rules for the moderating of this Passion.

THose which follow, are more Accidentall: whereof some may be considered ex parte Patientis, on the part of him that suffers; and some ex parte Inferentis Injuriam, on the part of him that doth the Injury. Touching the patient or subject of an Injury, there are three Qualifications, which may make him more inclinable to Anger, upon supposition of the Fundamentall Cause, Contempt: and theforeign first of these is Excellency, whether Inward from Nature, or Accidentall from Fortune: For hereby men are made more jealous of their Credit, and impatient of Abuse, as well perceiving that all Injury implies some degree both of Impotency in p. 324the Patient, and of Excellency (at least conceited) in the Agent. As Aristotle speaks, foreign,Rhet. l. 2, …. … ▪ that Injurious men are commonly highly conceited of their owne Excellency, which cannot well stand with the height and distance of that minde which is possessed with his owne good opinion ▪ and this cause the Poet intimates in those words▪

—Manet altâ mente repôstum,Anead. 1. Iudicium Paridis, Spretae que injuria formae.

A deep and lasting Discontent is bred

To see their Beauties undervalued

By a weake wanton Iudgement.

It wrought a deep Indignation in the Minds of Power and Wisedome to see a weake and wanton Iudgement give Beauty the precedence in their Emulation. Which undervaluing of worth, how much it is able to possesse a man with Griefe and Fury: the one example of Achitophel alone may discover, who upon the rejection of his counsell, when he was too low to revenge himselfe on Absalon, executed his Anger on his owne necke.

The second Qualification of the subject is Weaknesse and De…ect, when the mind finds it selfe assaulted in those things, wherein it is most of all Deficient: which Aristotle hath observed, when he tels us, that ††…. R…. l 2. … … …. …. … l 22. c 14. foreign. D… …. …. Idyll. 1.Sicke men, Poore men and Lovers are commonly most subject to this Passion: It being as great a paine, and a greater contempt to …ub and provoke an old wound, than to make a p. 325new. That injury which proceeds against men ofOmnes quibus res lunt, minus secundae, magis …, ne…cio quo modo … ad … omnia accipi… … prop… s… … impo… … se s… per credunt n…gligi. T…r▪ Adolph. Act. 4. S…. 3. … inter se quam pro levibus noxij… i…a …? qua propt…r? quia caim qui cos guberuat … insirmum …. Ide. Hecyr. Act. 3 5 c. 1.—. Minuti semper, & in… est animi exigui que voluptas ultio. Inv. n. Sat. 13. Iracundiores sunt Incolumibus languidi saemina maribus, &c. A…m. Mar. lib. 27. Vi…. Causia. de …. l. 8. … 29. …. foreign. Sophoc. Ajax. Sen de …. l. 2. c. 21.Acts 4Acts 3:5 high and eminent quality, cannot possibly pierce so deep as that which is exercised upon open and naked weaknesse: because the former proceeds only from strife and emulation; but the other from insultation and pride: the one is only a disesteem; but the other a contumely and exprobation: the one is a conflict of judgements, but the other a conflict of passions; and therefore likely to be the greater. For a neglect of worth and good parts (unlesse, as sometimes it falleth out, it proceeds from Basenesse and Ignorance) is an injury from Worth also: but a Neglect, and despising men already downe, is an injury from stomacke and height of mind; wherein the party offended cannot labour so much to cleere it selfe from the Imputation, as to revenge it selfe for it.

Another reason why Weaknesse the better disposeth a man to Anger, may be, because such men are most Tender to feele an injury, most Suspitious to feare it, and most Interpreting to over-judge it. All which being circumstances of aggravation to increase a wrong, are likewise good means to adde degrees and heat unto our Passion.

Lastly, to give a reason of both these two former causes together, it may be a Disappointment and Frustrating of Expectation: For men of eminency and worth, expect rather Approbation and Imitation than Contempt. And men weake and defective, expect Compassion to cover, and not Pride to mocke, and so double their wounds: and both these are in some sort debts of Nature, p. 306it being the Law of Reason to honour Merit, as it is the Law of Mercy to cover Nakednesse: and for both I am sure it is the Law of Charity, as not to vaunt or be puffed up in our selves: so neither to rejoyce or thinke evill of another: and we may well conceive Anger will be strong, when it thinks it selfe lawfull.

VntoUnto this particular of Weaknesse wee may also reduce that which the Grammatian hath observed on Virgil, Plus Irarum advenit, cum in manus non potest venire, cui irascimur. Anger is increased when it cannot reach the thing with which it is angry. And therefore the chaining up of Woolves and Mastives enrageth them, because it restraineth them; which the Poet hath excellently described.…. ….

Ac veluti pleno Lupus iusidiatis evili,

Cum fremit ad caulos, ventos perpessus & imbres

Nocte super media: tuti sub matribus agni

Balatum exercent. Ille asper & improbus irâ

Savit in absentes, collecta fatig at edendi

Ex longo rabies, & siccae sanguine fauces.

Haud aliter Rutilo muros & castra tuenti

Ignescunt Ira, & durus dolor ossibus ardet.

As a fierce woolfe with winds, storms, midnight, whet

When in close solds the secure lambs do bleat,

Barks at his absent prey with the more Ire:

When rag'd and deceiv'd Hunger doth him tyre.

So Rutilus seeing his foes all safe,

Doth vex and boyle with the more burning chase.

p. 307For it is a great torment to an Enemy, when heVid. Pl…t. d… capiend. ex host. utilitat. can finde no in-let nor advantage against him, whom he hates.

Another cause of Anger may be strong Desires: foreign. Lucian.For alwaies vaster and more exact our desires are, it is so much the harder for them to be pleased or satisfied. And therefore as the Philosopher notes, Luxurious men are usually transported with Anger,R…et. l. 10. because men love not to be stopped in their pleasures: and hence as Plutarch observes, men areDe Ira. lib. usually most angry there, where their desires are most conversant: as a Country-man with his Bayliffe; or an Epicure with his Cooke; or a Lover with his Corrivall, because all these crosse men in that which they most love. Now strength when it is opposed, is collected and gathered into the more excesse; as we see in Winds or Rivers, when they meet with any thing which crosseth their full passage.

The last Qualification of the Subject, whereby he is made more Inclinable to this Passion, is a suspitious, apprehensive, and interpreting fancy, ready to pick out injury where it cannot be justly found; and (that its Anger may be imployed) to frame occasions unto it selfe. And therefore tis wise advise of Seneca, Non vis esse Iracundus? ne sis S…n. de Ir…. l. 3. c. 11.Curiosus. He which is too wise in his judgement on other mens Errours, will be easily too foolish in the nourishing of his owne Passion: and its commonly seen in matters of censure and suspition, the more sight and reason goes out, the lesse useth to abide within. Now is it hard for a man, p. 328if he be peremptorily possessed with this opinion; yet he is a common subject of others contempt, to find out, either in defects of Nature, or rudenes of custome, habit, education, temper, humour or the like, some probable ground or other for exception; which yet when it is further inquired into, will prove rather strangenesse than injury.

And this is generally a Corruption of Anger▪ First, because it is hereby oftentimes unjust, either in fastning it selfe there where it was justly neglected: for we may ever observe that Suspition proceeds from Guilt, and none are more jealous of being neglected than those that deserve it: as it is observed of some reproachfull speeches, which a Senatour was accused to have uttered against the honour of Tiberius: Quia ver a erant dicta credebantur. His suspitious mind was persuaded that they had been spoken, because hee was conscious that they had been acted; and therefore (as was before noted) it was the custome under such men to avoid all manner of Curiosities, and search into things done by them, which might easily be subject unto sinister judgement; and rather to affect Ignorance with Security, than to be ruined with wisedome. And next it is corrupt, because it is rash and hasly, being led by a halfe judgement, the worst guide to a headlong and blind Passion.

The next degree of causes is of those which qualifie the Agent, or him that worketh the injury, and there may be amongst many other, which cannot be reckoned, these generall ones.

p. 329First Basenesse, which works a double cause of Anger: One for an injury of Omission, in neglecting those respects which are required in men of meane and inferiour ranke towards their superiours: Another for a positive enquiry in the evill exercised against them. And many times the former alone is a cause of Anger, without the later: For this distance of persons doth quite alter the nature of our Actions, insomuch that those demeanors, which are commendable and plausible toward our equals, are rude and irreverend toward those that are above us: and this is that which makes the wrath of God in the Scripture to bee set out so terrible unto us: because of the infinite distance between the Vnmeasurable Glory of the Maker of the World, and the basenesse of sinners; and therefore the comparison which useth to bee made for the defence of Veniall sinnes, that it is altogether unlikely that God, infinitely more merciful than men, should yet be offended at that which a mans neighbour would pardon him for, as a foolish angry word, or the stealing of a Farthing, or the like, is without reason: because between man and man there is a Community both in nature and weaknesse; and therefore,

Ha…c veniam, petimu… que damus que vicissim.

Because we both our Errours have,

We pardon give, and pardon crave.

But it is an Argument of infinite Insolence p. 311in a vile Creature for feeding it own Corruption and selfe-love in a matter of no value to neglect one command of him, who by another is able to command him into Hell, or into nothing.

The next Quality in the Injurer, which may raise this Passion is Impudence, either in words or carriage. And the reasons hereof may be:

First, because as Aristotle observes, all Impudence is joyned with some Contempt, which is the Fundamentall and Essentiall Cause of Anger.

Secondly, because all Impudence is bold, stiffe and contentious, which are all incitements to this Passion. For as Shame being a Degree of Feare works an acknowledgement of our owne weaknesse; and therefore a submission to the power…. l. 2 c. 3. Corpora mag… satis est prostrare Leo…l. … num …inem, cum jac… host is …al▪ … Ovid. Trist. li…. 3. Eleg. 5. wee have provoked, which as Aristotle observes) procureth from beasts themselves lenity and mercy: So Impudence in all other things being contrary to it, must likewise produce a contrary Effect.

Thirdly, those things which we Impudently do, we do willingly likewise. And therefore wee shall observe in the Scripture how reigning sins that is, those which are done with greedine…se of the appetite, and full consent of the will, are set forth by the names of Stubbornnesse, Rebellion, whorish Fore-head, Brasse, and Yron. Now nothing doth more aggravate a wrong then this, that it proceeded from the will of man. And the reasons are,

First, because a mans Power is in his Will▪ but p. 310Passions and other blind Agents, when they work ungoverned, are our Imperfections, and not our Power; and therefore the easier borne withall.

Secondly, to a Plenary, Spontaneous Action, (such as I take most of Impudence to be) there are required Antecedenter, Deliberation, Approbation, and Assent▪ and Consequenter▪ Resolution, Perseverance, and Constancy. All which, as they take away the two principall conditions required unto Lenity; Consession and Repentance: so likewise doe they adde much to the weight of an injury, because an actition which is thus exercised, is a worke of the whole Man, and imployes a perfect consent thereunto: so a perfect and compleat en mity toward the person offendeth thereby. Wheras others are but the wrongs of some part, such as are of those of the wil, led by an ignorant; or those of Passion, led by a traduced Vnderstanding; and they too not of a part regular, but of an Vnjointed and Paralyticke part, which followes not the motion of a stayed reason; and therefore as they proceed from more disorder in our selves, so doe they worke lesse in the party offended.

Another thing which may raise and nourish this Passion, is any degree of neer Relation between the parties; whether it be Naturall by Consanguinity; or Morall, by Society, Liberality, or any…. de …. l. 2 c. 31. other friendship. For as it is prodigious in the Body Naturall to see one member wrong and provoke another: so in Vnions Civill or Morall, it is strangely offensive to make a divulsion. Therefore we are more angry for the neglect offered us p. 332by friends, or those of whom we have well deserved, than by enemies or ††Iob. 19 19. Z …b. 13. 6. Psal. 41. 9. 55. 12.Job 19:19Ps 41:9Ps 41:55Ps 41:12strangers. No wounds go so deep as those we receive in the house of our friend.

And the reason why this difference between men neerly referring each other should worke a greater Anger between them, is: First, because herein we may finde that which before I observed as a furtherance to this Passion, Disappointment, and frustrating of Expectation: For in this case, we expect Sympathy & not Division. Secondly, because all Anger is a kind of dis-joyning or Divulsion of things before joyned: there therefore, where is the greatest Vnion, must needs bee the strongest and most violent separation; as in the Body, the Divulsion of Soule is more horrible than of an Arme, or some other member; because the one is an Essentiall, the other onelyonly an Integrall Vnion: and so it is with those who are by bloud or friendship made one; as the dividing of them is more strange and violent, so doth it produce a stronger Passion.

Another cause of this Passion in respect of the Injurer, may be a too great Freedome and indiscreet use of speech; especially if it be in way of correction and rebuke: For as Solomons speech is true, Mollis responsio frangit Iram, a soft answer pacifies wrath: so on the contrary it is true likewise, Dura Correptio unit Iram; that an harsh rebuke knits it. Anger is by nothing more nourished than by much speaking, though not in the par…y that speaketh; because Speech is to Anger, like Teares p. 313to Griefe, a spending and venting of it, yet alwayes in another, unto whom we minister farther matter of offence. To which purpose, is that speech of Syracides. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heape not wood upon his fire.

Another Cause, which I shall observe is contention and Difference, whether it be in Opinions or in Inclinations: because this must needs be ever joyned with some undervaluing of another mans choice and judgement; which if it be not seasoned with much sobriety, will easily induce a man to beleeve, that it proceeds not from Zeale to Truth, but from a humour of Opposition. Wherewith many men are so farre possessed, that one must hardly dare to speake the truth in their company for feare of endangering it and them. Like Chry…ippus in Laertius, who used to boast that hee often wanted Opinions, but those once gotten, he never wanted Arguments and Sophismes to defend them.

The last cause which I shall note of this Passion is in him, who offends us, his very Abilities, when we see them neglected: for this provokes to more displeasure, then naked impotency. Weaknesse, when it miscarries, is the object of Pitty: but strength, when it miscarries, is the object of Anger.

——foreignIlliad. 117.

foreign

foreign

p. 314I should not blame unworthy and base spirits

To sl…g and shrinke from Battle: but for merits

So to forget themselves, for you to be

Vnlike the men you are, What man can see

Such weaknesse, and not wonder, chide, debate;

Till you your selves doe your owne Errours hate.

VntoUnto all these we might adde some others which the Philosopher toucheth, as neglect of our Calamities, or rejoyeing at them, or divulgingforeign ▪ Vid. quae de hac … … Nun…ius apud …. An…g. them, or bringing readily the report of them unto us, receiving the report of them with pleasure. Or lastly, representing the Signes which may bring into minde the memory of any injuries done us. As the Levite sent the parts of his Abused Concubine up and downe unto the Tribes of Israel to move them unto Indignation. So…. lib 44. Antony in the funerall Oration upon Iulius Caesar produced his robe stained with the blood which Brutus and Cassius had shed, to worke ad… testation of that fault in the people.

Now concerning all these causes together (because it would be two tedious to gather particular circumstances of dignity and corruption from all of them) we are to conclude that Anger, as it ariseth from any of them, is then onelyonly Regular and Iust, when it keepes these conditions.

I First, that it still observe proportion and conformity to the rules of Love: otherwise it i… not Ira in Delictum, but Ira in fratrem not agains… the Crime but the person of my brother: … p. 315kn…w the nature of this passion is to be Transient to goe out from us on our brother and reforme him: not Immanent to worke upon our selves and deforme us: I meane by soyling the habite of Charity, which ought alwayes to remaine inviolate.

2 Secondly, that it keepe likewise due proportion unto judgement, and that unto a true judgement, and a whole judgement; otherwise it is not onelyonly to be Angry with our brother, but, which is farther, to be angry with him unadvisedly. Iudgement then must be true first, that is, cleare, setled, and untransported; and that likewise in two actions; in the Act of Interpretation, which reacheth unto the Injurie; and in the Act of Direction or Government, which reacheth unto the Passion.

3 And next it must be a whole judgement: and that in both the former. It must judge fully of the nature and circumstances of the injury, which ever receives it degrees of Intention or remission, not from the matter of the Act, but from some particular Qualifications and Circumstances joyned thereunto.

Secondly, it must judge fully of the Act of Passion, not onelyonly in Informing, quod sit, that Reparation of our selves is lawfull; but … too, in the manner and forme how to undertake it. Because as Passion, being without Reason inIra de Causa … Iracundia de vitio. foreign. it selfe, wants the tongue of judgement to inform it what to do; So, being blinde, it wants the hand of judgement to leade it in the doing of it: and p. 316this I take to be the proper way of governing this Passion. But that which was once prescribed by Athenodorus the Philosopher, unto Augustus to repeateD…d m… … … Lit. … … … a lu…andi … cobibentes p…ius dom… ex…. Iubebant, ut esset deliberandi spatium. Vid. … lut. qu. Rom. q. 28. Vid. l'lutarch. foreign over the Alphabet between the Passion and the Revenge, is too boyish and slight, as diverting the minde from the occasion to some other trifle, which is onelyonly to cozen and not to conquer ou… distemper; and therefore though it may for a time allay it, yet this is but as the cures of Empericks, which give present ease, but search not into the roote, nor leave such …n habit within, as shall in after occasions limit the unrulinesse of such distempers, like those odours which use to raise men out of a fit of the falling sicknesse, but doe not all cure them of the disease.

Now to speake a word or two of the Effects of this Passion: they are such as are wrought, either in our selves or others. Concerning the former, they are either outward effects, which …each to our bodies, or inward, which reflect upon Reason.

Those on the body are clamour (as Saint Paul cals it) in the Tongue, Tumour and Inflammation in the Heart▪ Fire in the Eyes, and Fiercenesse and Palenesse in the Countenance, and a sensible alteration in the whole man. The use or deformity of all which depend upon the subordination of Passion unto Reason, or Dominion over it. For if it be Governed and obedient, there is an excellent use of these alterations in the body (which will not then be permitted to be excessive) namely the testification of our just p. 317displeasures at an offence received, and the inlivening or sharpning of us (if occasion require to the prosecution of further lawfull redresse; forVid. ene…. de …ra lib. 2. c. 35. Vos qu… si …edia specul…m spectetis in Irá. Cognoscat saciem vix satis … …uam O …id. de Arte Amandl. lib. 3. Vid. Plutarch. Plumbea… iras … Plaut. Ethic. lib. 7. though I would not have a man in his passion suffer a Metamorphosis, and turne his face into a torment punishing himselfe as much with Deformity, as his adversary with feare, yet neither can I like that close and dissembled, that politique and stomacke Anger, which cunningly shrowds it selfe under a calm and serene countenance; which being unnaturall to this passion (whose property it is, Non insidiari sed palàm agere, not to worke by way of Ambush and Stratagem, but visibly) will quickly degenerate into Malice and Rancour.

The Inward Effect of this Passion, is an Excitation of Reason; to judge of the wrong and meanes of Redresse, which is then Regular, when it is done Ministereally and by way of service to the whole; but most corrupt and dangerous, when it is done by prepossession, transporting, confounding, or any other way tainting of Reason; which is to make it a party rather then a Iudge.

foreign

Which makes sometimes a Wise man breake

Into Distempers wilde and weake.

In which ill office there is not any Passion more busie and fruitfull then this of Anger by reason of it's suddennesse, and of it's violence: both which are strong meanes to smother or p. 318divert Reason, as we see in Tiberius himselfe, who though a man of a close and sad judgement, and of most reserved Passions (insomuch as he lived in them and nourished them a long time before either their working or discovery) yet when he was provoked by Agrippina, to a more violent Anger then usuall, his Passion we see for the time altered his nature. Et veram occulti pectoris voc…m elicuit, Num ide… l…deretur, quia non regnaret. He brake forth into words, strange and unusuall from so close a disposition; to wit, Whether she were wronged because she did not reigne? which is Tacitus his observation upon the Anger of that man.

The last Effect is expedition and Dexterity inexecuting those means which Reason judgeth needfull for satisfying our selves against the personVires inijcit ad pericula …. …. lib. 3. … 11. foreign. Vid. Cal. Rh…d. l. 1…. c. 5 3. l. 7 that hath offended us, wherein it's assistance, while it is Regular, is of excellent use in mans actions, because it makes bold and resolute. But here one maine corruption is to be avoided, Precipitancy and impatience of Delay or Attendance on the determination of right reason▪ which makes it commonly runne away with an halfe or a broken judgement. In which respect Aristle in his Ethicks very elegantly compares it to a hasty servant, that goes away posting with halfe his errand and to Dogs, wch, as soon as ever they heare a noise, barke presently before they know whether it be a stranger at the doore, or no… so Anger attends Reason thus long, till it receive warrant for the justnes of seeking redresse, & then p. 319suddenly hastens away without any further listening to the rules of Decorum and Iustice, which it should alwayes observe in the prosecution thereof: Lest while it is too intent on his owne right, it fall in that extreame which it pretendeth to revenge, the wronging of another.

There is not any Passion which standeth more in need of Moderation then this doth, both because it is one of the frequentest which we are troubled with, and the most unruly, as that which can over-beare the rest, and, of all other, hath the least recourse to aaforeign. Thucyd. lib. 2.Reason, being hasty, Impetuous, full of Desires, Griefe, Selfe-love, Impatience, which spareth no bbPlutarch. foreign. Sen. de Ira lib. 3. cap. …. & ….persons, friends or …oes, no things, animate or ccIp… … qui … … …m. … S…t. 10. Pl…. de Ira.in animate, when they fit not our fancy. And therefore ddDonat & Coel. Rhod. l. 12 c. 53.Grammarians tell us that it hath its name Ira from Ire, because a man in his Anger usually goeth away from his Reason, and as his Anger slackens, he is said, ad se redire, to returne again unto himselfe. And therefore those men in whom Reason is most predominant, are least transported by this Affection, and most often displeased with themselves for it. It was a strange commendation given to aaSo crat. lib. 7. c. 22.Theodosius Iunior, that never any man saw him Angry; And such a power had bbPlutarch. in Lyc.Lycurg… over himselfe, that when an insolent young …n had done him no lesse injury then the striking out of one of his Eyes, by lenity and mansu…tude hee convinced and gained him. ccPlut. …n Pericle.And Pericles that great Statesman and Oratour of Greece, being all the day reviled by a… Impure companion, p. 320commanded his servant at night to light him home unto his house**Senec. de Ira lib. 3. c. 12 & 38. Plut. de serd num: vidi…at. nothing more obvious then Examples of this kinde.

That we may therefore so ma…nage this Passion as to be Angry but not sinne, it will be requisite▪

1 To let it have an Eye upward, as Moses did, whonever expressed any other Anger that wee read of but zealous, and Religious, when the injury directly aimed at God and his honour. It is very improbable that any thing will move too fast upward.

2 To convert it Inward into a selfe-displicencySicut aquil… es … inter a… bulandum ungu… intro …. Vid. Plu. de …u … S…n. de. …ra, l…b. 2. cap. 2…. … … … … … Ir… l. 3. … …. and severity towards our owne Errours, for the more acquainted any man is with himselfe, the lesse matter he will finde of Anger with other men, as having so much both to doe, and to blame at home. Anger ever …riseth from the Value which wee set upon our selves, which will ever then be most modest, when we take of it the fullest view.

3 Follow it not too Close, joyn not too soon, not too hastily with it, though it may be used sometimes, it must never be incouraged, being over-bold and forward of it selfe. And therefore as many drugges must be prepared before wee may … to use them; so we must take heed of disp…ing this affection without its due corrective… Plutarch de And. poe…u.must first be schooled before it be imployed, as men bridle their horses before they ride them. It is not good drinking in muddy water so soone as it is stirred, give it time to subside and settle.

p. 3214 Keepe it not long, it is the Spawne of Malice and Contention, and time will hatch it. It is a Corroding thing which will fret and staine the Vessell in which it is kept. Let not the Sunne goe downe upon it, 'tis ill being in the darke with so bad a Leader. It may passe through the heart of a wise man, but it Resteth onelyonly in the b…some of Fooles.

5 Remove the Occasions of it, withdraw Fuell from so catching a Flame. They say of Turpentine, and some other like things. That they will draw and sucke Fire unto them. Certainely of all Fire there is none so ductile, so sequacious and obsequious, as this of Wr…th. It was not ill done therefore ofPl…, A…opt. S…. de …ra lib. 3. c. 40. C…. …od. l. 12▪ …. 52. C…tys and Augustus, To cause those curious Vessels to be broken of purpose, which having beene accidentally broken might have made … breach likewise upon the dis…retion of their owners.

6 Give not an easie Eare to Reports▪ nor… d… I…a … …. 22 23, 2… an Easie entertainement to suspicio…s, bee not greedy to know who or wherein another hath wrong'd thee. That which wee are desirous to know, or apt to beleeve, wee shall be the more ready to revenge. Curiosity and …dulity, Plu…. in Alex. & l. curiosit. … Dion. C…ss. l. 41.are the Handmaides unto Passion. Alexander would not see the woman after …hom he might have Lusted▪ Nor Casar search Pompeyes Cabinet, l…st he should find new matters of Revenge. He chose rather to make a Fire of them on his Hearth, then in his Heart. Inju…ies p. 322unknowne doe many times the lesse hurt; when I have found them, I then begin to feele them, and suffer more from mine owne discovery then from mine enemies attempt.

7 Bee Candid in Interpreting the thing… wherein thou sufferest. Many times the glasse through which I looke, makes that seeme formidable, and the wave, that crooked, which in it selfe was beautifull and straight. Haply thou art Angry with that which could not intend to hurt thee, Thy Booke, thy Penne, the stone at which thou stumblest, the windeS…. d… Ira lib. 2. c, 26. or raine that beates upon thee: bee Angry gaine, but with thy selfe, who art either so bold as to be Angry with GOD, or so foolish, as to be Angry with nothing. Thou art displeased at a Childish or an Ignorant miscarriage, Call it not Injury but Imprudence, and then pitty it. Thou art Angry with Counsell, Reproofe, Discipline; why doest thou not as well breake the Glasse in which thy Physitian Ministreth a potion unto thee. Bee Angry with thy sinne, and thou wilt love him that takes it from thee. Is hee that adviseth thee thy Superiour? Thine Anger is undutifull, is hee thy friend, thine Anger is ungratefull.

8 Give Injuries a New Name, and that will worke a new Affection. In blinde Agents call it Chance▪ in weake Persons, Infirmity, In simple, Ignorance, in wise Counsell, in Superiours, p. 323Discipline, In equals, Familiarity' in Inferious, Confidence, where there is no other construction to be made, doe as Ioseph and David did, call it Providence, and see what God sayes to thee by it. Get a mindeMinimas rerum discordia turbat pac…m su… … …enent Lucan Vid. Sen. l. 4. c. 33. S…n. de Ira l. 2. c. 25. 26. conversant with high and noble things, the more heavenly, the lesse Tempestuous.

9 Be not Idle, Sluggish, Luxurious, wee are never more apt to bee Angry, then when we are sleepy or greedy. Weake resolutions and strong Desires are sensible of the least exa…peration, as an empty ship of the smallest Tempest.

Againe be not …ver-busie neither▪ That man can hardly bee master of his Passion that is not master of his imployments. A minde ever burdened, like a Bow alwayes bent must needes grow impotent, and weary, the fittest preparations to this distemper. When a mans businesse doth not poise, but presse him, there will ever bee something either undone or ill-done, and so still matter of Vexation. And therefore our Mindes as our VesselsPlutarch. … … Sen…. l. 3. c. 6. Sen. de Ira l. 3. cap. 16. —foreign. Sopb. Autig. Plut. Sympos. …. 4. q…, 2. must bee unloaded, if they would not have a Tempest hurt them.

Lastly, wrastle not with that which pincheth thee. If it bee strong it will hurt, if cunning, it will hamper and entangle thee. Hee that strives with his burden makes it heavier. That Tempest breakes not the stalkes of Corne, which rends asunder the armes p. 324of an Oake, the one yeelds, the other withstands it. An humble weaknesse is safer from injury, then a stubborne strength.

I have now done with the Passions of the Minde. And briefly proceede to those Honours and Dignities of the Soule of Man which belong unto it in a more abstracted Consideration.