CHAP. XVII.
CHrysippus saith,* 1.1 that a certaine man was much displeased because an other man called him sheepes-head. Wee saw Fidus Cornelius Na••oes sonne in law stand weeping in the Senate house, because Corbul•• had called him pilde Austrich. Against other reproches wounding both his manners and life, he carried alwayes a ••etl••d countenance; but vpon this so impertinent a iest, hee could not abstain from teare••; so great is the infirmity of our minds when reason is absent: for exam∣ple, wee are offended, if any man counterfeit our speech, our gate, or any im∣perfection either in our body, or in our tongue: as if they should waxe more notorious by an other mans imitation, then our owne action. There are some that cannot endure to bee called olde, gray head, or other such names, where∣unto many are desirous to attaine. Othersome haue beene displeased, if they haue beene called poore; but hee truely calleth himselfe poore that concealeth his pouerty. The true meanes to cut off all those scoffers and i••sters is, if thou thy selfe preuent them, and obiect against thy selfe, all that which they coulde speake against thee. Whosoeuer laugheth at himselfe, first cutteth off other mens ocations to laugh at him. It is said that Vatinius who was a man borne to be laughed at, and hated was of himselfe a pleasant and talkatiue Companion. This man iested much at his owne gouty feet, and his swolne chaps; so escaped he the derision of his enemies, and especially the bitter iests of Cicero, who were in number farre more then the sickenesses that had seized him: if Vatinius a shamelesse fellow could doe this, by meanes of his bitter speeches, who had learned impudence by his continuall iesting, why cannot he doe it, who by ho∣nest occupations of the mind, and exercises of wisdome, hath attained to ver∣tue? Adde hereunto, that it is a kinde of pleasure to pull from an outragious man the pleasures which hee taketh in speaking or doing euill. These men are accustomed to say; Wretch that I am, I thinke hee vnderstood not? so is the fruite of contumelie in the sence and indignation of him that suffereth. Moreouer, he will one day bee met withall, and some one will light vpon him that shal re∣uenge thine iniury.