Page 94
CHAP. XXX. Crueltie.
CRueltie is a villanous and detestable vice, and against nature, and therefore it is likewise called Inhumanitie. It proceedeth from weaknesse, omnis ex infirmitate feritas est, and it is the daughter of cowardlinesse: for a valourous man doth alwayes exercise his strength against a resisting enemie, whom he hath no sooner at his mercie, but he is satisfied: Romana virtus, parcere subiectis, debellare superbos. Forasmuch therefore as cowardly weaknesse can not be of this ranke, to the end it may yet get the name of valour, it makes blood and massacres the proofe thereof. Murders in victories are com∣monly executed by common people, and the officers of the baggage. Tyrants are bloody, because they feare, not know∣ing how to secure themselues, but by rooting out those that may offend them; and therefore they exercise their crueltie against all, euen women too, because they feare all, cuncta fe∣rit, dum cuncta timet. Cowardlie dogges bite and teare with their teeth, within the house, the skinnes of those wild beasts, which in the open field they durst not looke vpon. What makes ciuill warres so cruell, but that tie wherewith the com∣mon people are led and linked, who like dogs that are backt by their master backe one another? The Emperour Mauri∣tius being tolde that one Phocas a souldier should kill him, en∣quired what he was, and of what nature and condition; and being tolde by his sonne in law Philip that he was a base cow∣ward: Why then, saith he, no maruell if he be a murderer and cruell. It proceedeth likewise from the inward malignitie of the soule, which feedeth and delighteth it selfe with the hurt of another. Monsters, like Caligula.