oftentimes seene his bloud shed, whose teeth haue be••ne shattered by a fist. H•• that hauing beene ouerthrowne hath made his enemie lose his footing, that be∣ing cast downe hath not lost his courage, that as oftentimes as he hath been ••oy∣led recouered new footing and became more fell and furious, he that, I say en∣treth the fielde with the greatest assurance. And to persist in this similitude; Fortune hath oftentimes been aboue thee, yet hast thou neuer at any time yeel∣ded thy selfe her prisoner, but hast alwayes restored thy selfe, and made head against her with more courage and alacritie: and in truth also a generous mind getteth ordinarily some aduantage when he is prouoked; notwithstanding if thou thinkest it good, accept some forces from me to strengthen and defence thy selfe more and more. Diuers things, my Lucilius, do more feare th••n hurt vs, & oftentimes we are more troubled by opinion then eff••ct. I reason not with th••e at this time in a Stoicall language, but somewhat more submisly and vul∣garly: for we say that all these things, which cause in vs these feares and gro∣nings, are but light and contemptible. Let vs omit these great words, yet not∣withstanding most true. I onely admonish thee not to make thy selfe miserable before thy time, by fearing that those things are wholly neere vnto thee, which happily will neuer befall thee, or at leastwise are not yet happened. Somethings therefore doe more afflict vs then they ought, some before they ought, other∣some torment vs when they should not at all. We eyther augment our euill, or presuppose the same, or imagine them to our selues vpon no ground at all: that first because the matter is in controuersie, and the pleas are alreadie re∣corded; let vs deferre for the present. That which I terme light thou conten∣dest to be most grieuous: I know that some doe laugh in their tortures, others groane for a little stroake. We afterwards shall see whether these things are to be valued by their owne forces or our weakenesse. First graunt m•• this, that as oftentimes as thou shalt be amongst men, that shall endeuour to perswade thee that thou art miserable, thou wilt grow into consideration with thy selfe, not of that which thou hearest, but of that which thou feelest: consult first of al with thy patience, & ask thou thy selfe. Who should better know tha•• which toucheth thee then thy sel•••••• Speake vnto thy selfe thus; Why is it that these men lament my fortune? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tremble they, as if they feared that the ••••••••∣gion of my misfortune should attaint and torment them? That which I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is it not more infamous then dan••erous? Enquire of thy selfe after this ma••ner: Am I not perplexed and sorrow••••ll without cause? Make I not that an euill which is not? How sayest thou, ••hall I vnderstand whether the things I feare be ••yther v••••ne or true? Take this rule to discerne the same: eyther present, or future, or both terrifie vs: the iudgement of the present is facile, if the bodie be free, healthfull, and without any griefe, caused by some iniurie done vnto thee. We shall see what shall happen hereafter, to day thou hast no neede to complain. But it will come. First consider whether there be any certaine argu∣m••nts of thy future misfortune; for, for the most part we are troubled with su∣spicions, and affrighted by the illusions of common report, which is accustom∣ed to end whole warres, but much more particular men. Vndoubtedly so it is my friend Lucilius, we are quickly conceited and ouer-ruled by common opi∣nion: we checke not those things which cause our feares, neyther shake them off: but tremble thereat, and turne our backs like those whom a cloude of dust, raised by the triumphing of a troupe of beasts putteth to flight, or those that are dismayed by a report that runneth abroad, that hath neyther ground nor au∣thor. And by mishap, I know not how it commeth to passe that false and fained