Treatise of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Of the Affection of Boldnesse. What it is. The Causes of it, strong Desires, strong Hopes, Aydes, Supplyes, Reall, or in Opinion. Despaire and Extremities, Experience, Ignorance, Religion, Innocency, Impudenc…, Shame, Immunity from danger, Dexterity of Wit, strength of Love, Pride or greatnesse of Mind and Abilities. The Effects of it, Execution of things advised, Temerity, &c.
SO little in love hav… I e…er bin with this affection of … (as I find it mannaged by many, who make no other use of it, then children do of straw, with which they stuffe empty clothes, that they may looke like men) as that when first I writ this Tractate, I passed it over rather as a Vice, than an Affection of the Soule, and said nothing of it. And being no more friends with it now then I was then, I should be contented to have left it out still. But that I would not have the Treatise defective in such a member, whereofPlut. in Ni…ia. foreign Homer. there may be so good and so ill use made, as experience sheweth us there is of this. For as *Plutarch notes of Aegypt, that it bringeth forth multa vene…a, & multa salubria, many Good things, and many Bad: like those Creatures, some parts wherof are poyson, and others restorative: so may wee say of the Men in whom this Affection is predominant, that they are usually Instruments either of much Good, or of much Evill to the placesPlut. in Themistoc. In Honnibale plurimum au… ad capess…da pericula plurim … Consi… inter ipsa pericula erat. Liv. l. 21. that nourish them: as once Thomistocles his Tutor said of him. The best mixture that I can call to mind of this Passion, was in Hannibal, of whom the Historian tels us, That he was marvellous … to put upon Dangers; and yet marvellous Wise in managing of them: His courage not working Temerity, nor precipitating his resolutions: And his counsell not working slownesse, nor retarding his courage.
Boldnesse then or Confidence, is (as the Philosopher describes it) a Hope joyned with fancy and…. l. 2. c. 5. opinion, that those things which are safe for us, are neer at hand; and those which are hurtfull, either are not at all, or are a farre off, and cannot suddenly reach us: Or it is an Affection whereby we neglect Danger for the procuring of some difficult and Good thing, which wee earnestly desire and hope for, in Confidence to overcome and breake through that danger: For Confidence of Victory is that which maketh a man boldy to prosecute the Danger which opposeth him in his Hopes of Good. So that two things belong untoVid. Aque. 12 … quast, 45. art. 3 the formality of this Passion. 1. Vehemency of Hope, whatsoever strengthneth that, causeth this, as Power, Experience, Friends, neerenes of Ayds, and the like. 2. Exclusion of Feare, whatsoever removeth that, increaseth this: As Distance from Danger, Freenesse from Enemies, Cleernes from Injuries, &c.
The Object of this Passion is twofold. The Primary and Principall Object is some difficult worke under the Relation of a needfull Medium, to the obtaining of a Good vehemently Desired and hoped for. The secondary Object, is some Evill and Danger, which standing between our Hope, and the Good for which we Hope, is by the v…hemency of our Hope, as it were removed and despised in our Eyes, Good earnestly desired, and Evill confidently despised, are the things about which this Affection is conversant.
The Causes of this Affection are so many the more, because it is apt to be excited by clean contrary Reasons.
The fundamentall and principall Cause of it, is strength of Desire, working vehemency of Hope, and impatiency of Resistance, or Restraint fromI…. 1. 14, 15. the thing desired: For Lust when it hath once conceived, will at last bring forth and finish, and rush forward to that after which it longeth,Arist. Eib. l. 7. c. …. 1. Pet. 4. 4. See my treatise on the Sin…ulnesse of Sin. p. 167. Hos. 4 2. Ier. 6. 7. 8. 6. Eth. l. 3. c. 11. which the Philosopher calleth foreign, and Saint Peter foreign, a pouring out of Passion, and the Prophet a Breaking forth and violent Eruption, a rash and Head. strong praecipitancy, which like a Torrent venters upon any thing that withstands it. The Philosopher instanceth for this particular in adulterers, foreign. Who adventure on many bold Attempts for the satisfaction of their Lust.
But because where there are strong Desires, there may be weake Hopes, and great Feares, The one Discouraging, the other Deterring from the Prosecution of them, therefore to the emboldening of those Desires, other particular Causes doe usually concurre. Some whereof I shall enquire after.
1 Then strong Hopes, and Ready, Present Aydes and supplies proper to the End, which we would advance are Excellent meanes to generateAux … mag…a. …. vi…ina. Boldnesse. Great Aydes as the Catts Vnum magnum, or many Aydes, that if one faile another may Hold. As greatnesse of wealth, friends, power, strength. And these in a Readinesse and …re at hand. ▪ foreign ▪ as the Philosoper expresseth…. l. …. …. 5. it, as the Trojans being besieged when … with his Armie drew neare, gathered cou…ge above their feares.
—Clam…rēm ad sydera tollunt,A…cid. 10.
Darda…idae muris; spes addita suscitat Iras
Tela ma… Iaciunt.
They all climb'd up the wals, thence fill'd with▪ joyes,
Shouted as loud, as if they meant the noyse
Should wake the Stars, hopes added stir'd up Ire
And their Dar…s flew as swift as any fire.
And in Scriptures we are often quickened unto1 Io…. 4. 4. …. 10, 36, 37. …am. 5. 8. …ve. 22. 12. courage against the Difficulties of our Christian Warfare by the Greatnesse and the nearenesse of the Aydes, and the Reward which we Hope for. Yea, so strong a power hath Hope over theforeign …. l. 3. c. 11. … r…v. 23. 34. Resolutions of men that even the froth, and dreame, and fancy of it in drunken men, maketh them as the Philosopher noteth marvellous ventrous upon dangers, which Reason and sobriety would have taught them to feare. Solomon tels us of a Drunkard lying on the Top of a Mast, and I have my selfe seene a Drunken man climbe to the Top of a Steeple. Which boldnesse proceedeth in such men from weaknesse and wilfulnesse of selfe-conceit, and Opinion, for com monlyforeign. …. l. 7. …. 10. that strength, which a Drunken man looseth in his Reason, he gathers in his fancy, and as his judgement weakens, his Opinion encreaseth. And we shall never finde men more confident in their affirming, then when they know not what they affirme.
Now upon this Ground, that Hope is the great Quickner unto Courage, It was, that Alexander used it as an Argument to his Souldiers against the Persian, when he saw them come into the field cloathed so richly, that their Armes werePrad… … quam … … …. Liv. lib. 9. Iliad. … 873. Plutarch lib. de Homero. Quàm minimum … incorpore … spoliorum … … quàm operunt. …. Epist. 14. much rather a Prey to the Greekes, then a Defence unto themselves, in which respect Homer thus derides Amphimachus.
foreign
In glitering Gold, like a faire Damsell, clad
He came to fight: Vaine man why art so mad
To thinke that Iron is kept backe by gold?
Thou bring'st the price, for which thy selfe art sold.Sue…on. in Iuli… 67.
And yet upon a contrary Reason, I finde one of the greatest and wisest Commanders of the world Iulius Casar, requiring of his Souldiers to carry Gold about them that the feare of loosing that, might make them the more constant to their Resolutions.
Contrary unto this we shall often observe, that Despaire and Extramities doe put men upon bold adventures. As no men fight more desperately then Cowards when they cannot flie, as the Historian noteth aSumm… Audaci… …, factlosus que… adperturband…m remp. In opia, a… mali … …. ….of Cu. Pis… a Confederate of … ▪ that by poverty he became desperate, and thereby emboldened unto that attempt, wherein he might either rise by the ruine of others (having neither merit nor Hope to rise by their favours) or at least not be ruined without company. b…. i… Num….As that which shakes a Tree, doth often serve to settle and fasten it: So many times dangers and cSaepè … h…st is … …. …didit. Liv. lib. 21. Spe… desperati▪ one quaesita …. lib. 1. Ig…aviam necessi…as acuit, & spei saepè desp…ratio causa est Q. …. l. 5. D…nt animun… ad loque…dum liberè ul…imae miseriae Liv. lib. …9.extremities doe excite strength, as in the height of a Fever or Frenzie, men shew more strength and agility of body, then in their per…ectest Health. And as they say of dMaximè … esse solent … … Animalium. Flor… Iul… Capitol. in Max imino.Beasts, they bite with more venome and indignation when they are wounded, and ready to die. And therefore Homer expresseth the Dying of wounded Enemies by biting of the Ground; so utmost extremities of miseries make men put out the more boldnesse in either Revenge o… new Attempts, because they may be better, but they cannot be worse. aImpunit… ge… est non …bere p… locu… St….And it is a kinde of Impunity to be so low as that a man hath not a condition to fall from.
b….M…riensque recepit. Quas n…llet victur…s aqu…s.
In a famine a man will eat and drinke that which in plenty he could not have the courage to looke on. And this cause of boldnesse is thus expressed by the Poet when he sheweth how the Youth of Troy, seeing their Citie burnt and sacked, grow unto a Desperate Resolution.
Si… Animi… Iuvenum fur…r addit… ▪ …de …
R…ptores atra in Nebula qu…s impr…ba ventris
Exeg… … rabies, cat… que …
Faucib… e…pectant siccis, per Telaper hostes
Vad…mus hand dubi… in …—
Thus youth did rage despairing of their lives,
Like Wolves of Prey whom extreame hunger drives
From their yong thirsty whelps, through darkest sterms;…ide v…grt de … mili…ar. l. 3. c. 21.
Through darts and foes we rush an our owne harmes
And being sure to die dare that, which feare
With Hope of Life would force us to forbe…e.
Another cause of Boldnesse is Experience, whenforeign E. …s. t. 3. …. 11. foreign. Eur…p. R…s▪ a man hath often done a thing with successe, often seen Dangers and escaped them. As Marriners at sea, found other men, upon as small hopes as he himselfe hath▪ to goe through the like matters without doubt or hesitation. For examples doe put Life, Hope, and Emulation into men, as we noted before, and we are encouraged sometimes rather to aVel err…r honestus est magnos duces sequentibus Qui…t. lib 1. cap. 6.erre in good company, then to goe right alone, and this Argument Aentas used in the Poet.
V…s & scylla…m rabie…, penitus que sonantes
accestis sc…pulos, V…s & Cyclopea saxa,
Exper…: revocate A…mos, mastum que tim…rem
M…tite—
You by Charibdis, and by S…ylla say…'d,
Where waves through r…ks did sound, nor hath prevail'd.
'Gatust you, that w…rser Rocke the Cyclops denne,
Then cast off feares, and shew your selves brave men.
And a… Experience, so on the contrary side Ignorance foreign. L… …t i… …. Ethic. l. 3. 6. 8▪ & 10. P…. l. 4. Ep. 7. Q… m…sture …, …ajora que v…ribus a…? … … inca… tum … …a …. 10. …e … … vi…. Va…. M…. l. 3. c 1.is as usuall … cause of Confidence, as we see Children will put their finger in the fire, and play with Serpents, as not acquainted with any hurt they can doe for them. We may too often meet with men like waters or vessels, which the shallower and emptier they be, doe make the lowder noyse, and make use of other mens Ignorance to gaine Boldnesse and Credit to their owne. To which purpose it is a grave expression of the Poet.
—foreign.E…rip. My…pol.
Th…se whom wise men know for D…ll
With vulgar …ares are wondrous Musicall.
And as Flies are esteemed very Bold Creatures,… 638. because they often returne to the same place: so the boldnesse of these kinde of Speakers is usually discovered in vaine and emptie Tautologies, which is the reason why (as the Orator noteth) they are usually more copious then far Learnedner men, Quia doct is est Electi… & modus, Qui…til.because able Speakers use choice and Iudgement in what they produce.
Another Cause of Boldnesse in attempts mayR…et. l. …. c. 5. be Religion, and a Confidence of Divine Direction unto what we doe. Ithu his pretence unto zeale, was that which caused him to walke furiously. And in this case as the Historian speakes,Q. curt. lib. 4. De I…tu Animorum divin…us excitat… vid Plutare…. in Co…. I…dg. 6. 36. Isai. 7. 11. 12▪ 2 Reg. 19. 29. … Sam. 5. 24. Psal. 74. 9. Exod. 17. 11. 1 Sam. 4. 7, 8. Melius vatibus quam Ducibus parent. Men are ap…er to be led by their Prophets then by their Captaines. And we finde when God would encourage his People in their warres, he gave them signes and assurances for their faith to relie upon above their feares that where Reason saw cause of Doubting, Faith might see all Defects supplied in God, so to Gideon▪ to Ahaz, to Hezekiah, and others, and the Church complaines of the want of them in their times of Calamity. We see not our signes, neither is there amongst us any Prophet, or any one that knoweth how long. When I…suah did fight, Moses did pray, and Israel was more encouraged by the intercession of the one, then by the valour of the other. And the Philistines were never more affrighted, then when Israel brought forth the Arke of God against them, for as Ajax said in the Poet,
—foreign.Sopho…l. Aj…x vid. Ez…k. 21. 21. 21.
—If God will fight, He can make weak men put the strong to flight.
And therefore Tolumnius the Soothsayer having received happy Auguria, doth thereupon grow to Resolutions of courage.
Hoc erat, Hoc votis, inquit, quod saepè petivi,Aencid. 1….—Priscum de more Lati…is Auspi…um; … bell… parant mentesqu… deorum Explorant super Eventu, &c. Sil▪ Ital. lib. 5.
Accipio, agnocos que Deos; me, me duce, ferrum
Corripite ò Rutili.
This, This is that which in my chiefest thought
I still desir'd, and now finde what I sought;
The Divine Tokens …embrace and see▪
Come Souldiers, Take your swords and follow me.Prov. …1. 1. Isai. 31 4. Vid. Iliad. … 23. Rhet. l. 2. c. 5.
Unto this Head of Religion belongeth Innocency, as a most excellent cause of Boldnesse; for the Righteous is bold as a Lyon, which careth not though a multitude of Shepheards come out against him. And the Philosopher tels us that they who have done no wrong unto others, are confident of successe in their Attempts, beleeving that they shall finde no Enemies, because they have provok'd none. A notable Example,Val. Max. l. 3. c. 7. vid. haud dissimile Exemplum …. Plutarch. de …il. ex Hosti…. capi…nd. whereof wee have in M. Publius Furius the Roman Consul, who was so confident of his owne Integrity in publike Administration, that being deputed by lot to governe the Province of Spaine, hee chose the two bitterest Enemies that he had in the City to be Coadjutors with him in that Dispensation. Whereunto may be added the Answer which Drusus gave to him who would have contrived his house for secrecie, when hee told him that hee could wish his house were pervious and transparent that his privatest Actions might be seene in publick.
And as Religion and Innocencie, so on theforeign apud H…merum sapè. Ier. 3. 3. Isai. …. 4. Ezek. 16. 30. O… ferreum. Cic. in …. Iul. …. l. 3. c. 28. …. … Alcib. vid. …. foreign Arist. Ethic. l. 3. cap. 9. other side Deboishnesse and Desperatenesse of living doth implant a marvellous Boldnesse in the Mindes and faces of men, when they have no Modesty or shame to restraine them. As we see in Gypsies, Parasites, Jugglers, foreign, neurospastae, and such like. And therefore such kinde of men both in Scripture and in other writings, are said to have faces of brasse and necks of Iron, whorish and impudent foreheads that cannot blush or be ashamed; and these words, foreign, we shall finde for synonymies and of equall signification, whereof the former signifie Despaire, Impudence, and the other Boldnesse.
Againe, as Impudence, so Shame and feare offoreign. Silentium illud obstinatum, …ixi in terram oculi— & pudor … i…dicia … ingentem … … ex al…o … … … … …iv. lib. 9. Disgrace is a great Cause of Boldnesse, in vertuous and honourable Attempts; for there is no Man of generous principles, but will much rather chuse an honourable danger than a sordid safety, and adventure his Person before hee will shipwrack his honesty or good name, choosing ever to regulate his Behaviour rather by a morall than a naturall feare, to give an account of himselfe rather to those that love his vertues, than to those who love his fortunes. In one word standing more in awe of mens Hearts than of their Hands, and shunning more a Iust Reprehension than an Vnjust Injury. And to this purpose it is gravely observed by the Historian, that the dishonour which the Romans suffered, ad furcas Ca…dinas, was that which procured their adversaries a bloudy overthrow afterwards, quia Ignominia nec Amicos parat, nec Inimicos t…llit. Their saving of the lives of the Romans to bring Ignominy upon them, being esteemed not a benefit, but a scorne: a very like example2. Sam. 10. Mixtus dolor & pudor armat in Hostes. Aenead. 10. Tunc …ide mal…, sed contra … it…. Aenead. l. 5. Arist. …ib. l. 3. c▪ … 1. we have hereunto in the servants of David, abused and put to shame by Ha…un the sonne of Ammon. And thus the Poet expresseth the courage of Dares revived by the fall which hee had from Entellus:
At non tardatus casu, nec territus heros,
Acrior ad pugnam redit, & vim suscitat ira,
Tum pudor incendit vires & Conscia Virtus.
Dares no whit dismay'd, renewe… the fight
With a more eager force, wrath doth excite
The stouter courage, Shame with Valour met,
Inflam'd his minde, and did his weapon whet.
Another cause of Boldnesse, is Immunity fromQui ad … callidi sunt, … tantum audent quantum excogitant. Cic. pro …. Danger, or at least a Versatilousnesse and Dexterity of wit to evade it, or shift through it. And therefore though cunning men dare not alwaies second their contrivances with Execution, nor let their hand goe in Equipage with their wit; yet commonly men of vigorous fancies are so far in love with their owne conceptions, that they will many times venture upon some hazards, to bring them into act, trusting the same … to bring themPlut. Apopb. out of Danger, which hath at first made them to adventure on it: as Dariu… was wont to say of himselfe, that in a pinch and extremity of perill, hee … ever wisest: and Sylla gave the same judgmentPl…t in Sylla. …nsilium in … S…n ca. foreign. Soph. Autig. of himselfe, that he came off best in those businesses, which he was the most suddenly put upon, which also I finde observed in the Character of our Henry the seventh (who hath had the felicity above all his Praedecessor…, to have his …ineamenti drawne by the ablest pen that hath êmployed it selfe in our Story) that his wit was ever sharpened by Danger, and that he had a greater Denterity to evade, than Providence to prevent them.
Another cause of Boldnesse (as I have formerly… facichat A…or. Ovid Met. 4. noted on that Passion) is strength of Love, as we see weake Creatures, indefence of their young ones, will set upon those that are strong, and the Tribune in A. Gellius, out of Love either of his Countrey,A. Gell. l 3. c. 7. or of Glory, did not only advice, but himselfe undertake the executing of a service, where in hee was before-hand certaine to perish. And the same Author telleth us of Euclide, a Desciple of Socrates, A. Gell. 6. c. …. Vile est corpus … qui … gloriam qua…. …iv. l. 2.who ventured in a disguise upon the evident danger of his Life to enjoy the Discourses and Counsels of his Master.
Lastly Pride, greatnesse of Minde or Parts, and opinion of Merit; especially if it meet with discontentednesse and conceits of being neglected, doth very often embolden men to great and now Attempts: For it is a very hard thing when great Abilities and vast Hopes meet together, to governe them with moderation. Private Ends being in that case very apt to engage a mans parts, and to take them off from publicke service unto particular advantage. And therefore I take it, there is no temper of Minde that will with that evennesse and uniformity of proceeding, or felicity of successe, promote publicke and honourable Ends, as Height of Abilities, with moderation of Desires; because in that case a man can never stand in his own light, no… have any mist or obstacle between his Eye and his End.
Now from this ground I beleeve did arise thatCic. Tusc. q. l. 5. Arist. Polit. l. 3. c. 13. Plut. in Alcib. & Arist id. ex Nicia. Eande virtutē & oderant & mirabantur. Liv. l. 5. Maxime of some of the States of Greece noted by Tully, and at large debated by the Philosopher, Nem… de nobis unui excellat, that they would not have any one man to be notoriously eminent in abilities above the rest, and thereupon instituted Ostracisme, or an honourable Bannishment, as a restraint either to abate the excessive worth of eminent men: or to satisfie and asswage the Envy which others might conceive against them, who are apt to hate the vertues which they can onelyonly admire: or lastly, to prevent the dangers which greatnesse of parts taking advantage of popularity and vulgar applause, might haply venture to bring upon things. VponUpon this ground the Ephe sians expelled Hermodorus; and the Athenians, Aristides, because he was too just for the rest of the people. As one Voice in a Consort, which is loud above the proportion of the rest, doth not adorne, but disturbe the Harmony; and therefore usually m…n of great parts, have lien either under Envy or Iealousie. Mens minds out of I know not what malignity, being apt to suspect that that will not be used unto Good, which might be abused unto Evill, which Tacitus noteth to have been the quality…. of Domitian, and Ammianus Marcellinus of Constantius towards men of the greatest worth.
Now according to the difference of this Affection in different men, so it worketh two differentforeign … …. 170. foreign. …. Effects.
1 There is a Happy and Discree… boldnesse, which doth not anticipate, but second and attend the mature counsels of the minde, and doth first call out and stirre up it selfe by wisedome, before it proceed unto Action▪ or Execution▪ like the Boldnesse of the Lyon, which is Slow, but at last prospers in what it undertakes. For after Counsell hath ripened Resolutions, Boldnesse is then the best Instrument to accomplish them, and in that case, quo minus timoris, minus fermè perituli, as the Historian speaks. The lesse feares are, the lesse also are their dangers, and the greater their Confidence, the surer their successe:
—foreign.
The Greeks by venturing did enjoy
Their ten yeares wish, and gained Troy,
2 There is a a….hasty and rash Boldnesse, which beginning too speedily without Counsell doth usually end too Cowardly, without Courage; for rash men whom the Philosopher cals foreign men made up of confidence and feare, are bold and boasting before a Danger; but in it very timorous▪ or at least inconstant. Lyons in peace, but Harts in warre, as Tertullians Proverb hath it. a….Like those of whom Livy and Florus tell us, That they were more than men in the onset, and lesse than women in the issue, melting away from their Resolutions like Snow.
And another ill property of the Rashnesse of this Passion is, That it will expose a man to more danger than the successe which it aimes at can compensate…as he that fishes for a Gudgeon with a golden hooke: or as Vlysses who went backe to the Cyclop… his denne to fetch his cap and girdle which he had left behind him.
Another is, that it makes men Overvalue themselves, and so undertake things too hard for them to endure or hold out in. Like b….Menelaus in the Poet, who would venture to fight with Hector or Ari…ioxenus in Tully, who being a Musitian, would needs determine in questions of Philosophy.
Lastly it hath a property as we say, to breake the Ice, and to give the first onset upon dangerous Attempts, which is a thing of very perillous consequence, not only to the Author, but many timesd…. to the publick Peace too, c forward, exulcerated, and seditious spirits, being too ready to follow what they dare not begin.