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NOt vnlyke to Sadnesse, is Pensiue∣nesse,* 1.1 & therefore is it next adioyned vnto the same, and is defined of Cicero to be a doleful, or wéeping sorrowfulnesse, It is named in Latin Moeror: & that is, deriued from the Latin verbe Maresco, which signifieth to drye, or wyther.
Because that this Pensiuenesse withe∣reth the bodie of man. But if any be not content with that deriuation, they maye thinke the same to be fetcht eyther from the Greeke verbe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.2 which is by interpretation, to receyue a lot, and herof it commeth that aduersity is ascri∣bed to fortune: or else from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is is by chaunce to get a thing. But whiche of these opinions are true, greatly it skylleth not, and yet there bée which thinke this worde to be deriued of eyther of them. Nowe to my purpose. This wofull Sorrow is a Perturbation which ought not to be in a discréete and wise man. For it is a manifest signe and token of an effeminate & womālike per∣son. And not without good cause it is so iudged: for it weakeneth the string or vaines of vertue, and maketh them in al theyr doing negligent, & of no strength or power to accomplishe any good enter∣prise:* 1.3 which consideration made the La∣cedemonians by a certaine superstition at theyr alters, to whip and scorge theyr children, that so they might in tyme be without Pensiunesse, and be hardned to sustaine al miseries, with a bolde corage.
And theyr custome was so narrowly ob∣serued, that almost none were founde, no not among the weake sorte, which eyther would groane, or geue any signe of griefe, when they were in paine: and if any dyd in his calamities shedde but one teare, he was not onely derided of his fellowes, but also brought againe to the altar, there to be greeuously tor∣mented for his not obseruing theyr cu∣stome. Hereof it procéeded that the Lace∣demonians of all people, in peace and warre, proued the most valiaunt. The Spartanes also were maruelously commended,* 1.4 because they were free frō this pensiue sorrowfulnesse. And though they dyd alwayes declare their patience, yet at no time, or place more, thē in their miserable seruitude vnder king Anti∣gonus: for when he had ransacked theyr cittie, bereft them of theyr treasure, and left nothing which good was, yet amōgst them all, there was none founde, no not so much as a woman, which was pensiue at the matter, but euery one reioysed, the olde men that their lustie inuentus: the fathers that theyr children: the women that theyr husbandes, and euery one tri∣umphed
that, so many had gotten so gl••∣rious deathes, for the defence of they•• countrey. Therefore who doth not com∣mend these men for their noble stoma∣ches which can without griefe beare pa∣tiently so great losses? So that the lac∣king of this affection beings commenda∣tion, but the subiection to it, brings defa∣mation.* 1.5 As it dyd vnto Cicero (a man of great renowme, and one which by elo∣quence, brought much honour vnto his countrey) for being called by Clodius in∣to iudgement (because of his owne auc∣thoritie, without permission of the Se∣nate,* 1.6 he had commaunded Lentulus, and Cethegus to be punished) he was of such an abated corage, as hauing changed his garment, weeping, and miserablie pen∣siue, as he was going, fell at the feete of euery one which he met▪ A strange thing that he which by eloquence, coulde turne the hardest harte into pittie, shoulde by his pensiuenesse, be a laughing stocke vnto all men. But as Cicero was, such was Demosthenes in eloquence,* 1.7 & per∣suading inferiour to none (if by studie, not Ex tempore, he shoulde haue spoken)
for when he shoulde haue defended him selfe before the Athenians, he with pen∣siuenesse so forsooke him selfe, as rather he had to go into perpetuall banishment, then by talke openly to beséeche fauour, or forgeuenesse at the handes of the A∣thenians. So that this childishe affecti∣on, Pensiuenesse, hath as much darkned theyr fame, as theyr eloquence purcha∣sed theyr commendation. Wherefore by theyr examples, we with great heede should beware least we be spotted with the same faulte, and so bring our selues into contempte and derision, when as other qualities, cause vs to be wondered at.
Pensiue∣nesse. Moeror.
Aduersitie.
Lacedemo∣nians.
Spartanes.
Cicero.
Lentulus. Cethegus.
Demosthe∣nes.