CHAP. VI.
THere ••s no one more certain argument of true magnanimity, then if thou resolue thy selfe,* 1.1 that nothing may befall thee that may moue thee. The highest and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gouerned part of the world, and neerest to the starres, is not troubled with clouds, not subiect to tempests, nor afflicted with stormes: there is no tumult in the same, the inferiour heauens push forth lightnings. In like sort a sublimed and high spirit is alwayes quiet, and placed in a peaceable station, restrayning in him∣selfe that, whence Anger borroweth an occasion of contention: it is moderate, venerable and setled. But thou shalt finde none of these in an angry man: for who is he that is betraied to sorrow and furie, that hath not reiected his former modesty? Who is he that is turbulent in passion, and incensed against another man, that hath not dispossessed himselfe of all shame fastnesse? What man is he that is displeased, that keepeth any measure, or remembr••th him of his due••y, or containeth his tongue, who hath beene Master of any on•• part of his bodie; who could gouern himselfe? That notable lesson of Democritus to finde out the true repose will profite vs infinitely, If we doe nothing eyther priuately or publikely that exceedeth our forces. Neuer doe things succeede so happily vnto any man who intermedleth with many affaires, but that sometimes by some one man, or from the affaires themselues, there ariseth some fault which disposeth the heart vnto Anger. Euen as he that trauelleth hastily thorow the frequented streetes of a Cittie, must meete with many men, and in one place ••••••p, in another be stop∣ped, and in a third be besprinckled with dir••; so in the trauaile & walkes of this life, so confouded and confused, there happen many impediments and manie quarrels: the one hath deceiued our hope, another hath deferred it, another hath intercepted it, the euents haue not beene answerable to our expectation. Fortune is not so addicted to any man that she yeeldeth him euery way corre∣spondence in his manifold attempts. It followeth therefore that he knoweth not what it is to endure men, nor the estate of humane affaires, who thinkes that any thing befalleth him otherwise then hee made reckoning of. To the end therfore that the mind may be quiet, it is not to be ••ossed, neither as I said; trou∣bled with the managing of many affaires, nor to be charged with mighty af∣faires, and such as exceede her strength. It is an easie matter to carry light bur∣thens, and to cast them from one shoulder to another, without letting them fal. But if any one hath loaded vs, and the burthen be heauy, we carry it with much labour, and finally we discharge it vpon those that are neerest vs, or if we pant vnder the burthen by reason we are ouer loden, it is hard for vs to goe forwards or backewards without staggering.