Of wisdome three bookes written in French by Peter Charro[n] Doctr of Lawe in Paris. Translated by Samson Lennard

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Temperancie in generall.

TEmperancie is taken two waies, generallie for a modera∣tion and sweet temper in all things. And so it is not a spe∣ciall * 1.1 vertue, but generall and common, the seasoning sauce of all the rest: and it is perpetuallie required, especiallie in those affaires where there is controuersie and contestation, troubles and diuisions. For the preseruation thereof, there is no better way, than to be free from particular phantasies and opinions, and simple to hold himselfe to his owne deuoire. All lawfull intentions or opinions are temperate; choler, hatred are in∣ferior to dutie and to iustice, and serue only those that tie not themselues to their dutie by simple reason.

Speciallie, for a bridle and rule in things pleasant, delight∣full, * 1.2 which tickle our senses and naturall appetites. Habena voluptatis, inter libidinem & stuporem naturae posita, cuius duae partes; verecundia in fuga turpium, honestas in obseruatione de∣cori: We will heere take it more at large, for a rule and dutie in all prosperitie, as fortitude is the rule in all aduersitie, and it shall be the bridle, as fortitude the spurre. With these two we shall tame this brutish, sauage, vntoward part of our passions which is in vs, and we shall carry our selues well and wisely in all fortunes & accidents, which is a high point of wisdome.

Temperancie then hath for the subiect and generall obiect thereof all prosperitie, pleasant and plausible things, but espe∣ciallie * 1.3 and properlie pleasure, whereof it is the razor and the rule; the razor to cut off strange and vitious superfluities; the rule of that which is naturall and necessarie: Voluptatibus im∣perat, alias odit & abigit, alias dispensat, & ad sanum modum redi∣git: nec vnquam ad illas propter illas venit, scit optimum esse mo∣dum cupitorum, non quantum velis, sed quantum debeas. This is the authoritie and power of reason ouer concupiscence and violent affections, which carrie our willes to delights and pleasures. It is the bridle of our soule, and the proper instru∣ment to cleare those boyling tempests which arise in vs by the heate and intemperancie of our bloud, that the soule may

be alwaies kept one, and appliant vnto reason, that it applie not it selfe to sensible obiects, but that it rather accommodate them vnto it selfe, and make them serue it. By this we weane our soule from the sweet milke of the pleasures of this world, and we make it capable of a more solid and soueraigne nou∣rishment. It is a rule that sweetlie accommodateth all things vnto nature, to necessitie, simplicitie, facilitie, health, constan∣cie. These are things that goe willinglie together, and they are the measures and bounds of wisdome; as contrarily arte, lust, and superfluitie, varietie, and multiplicitie, difficultie, ma∣ladie, and delicatenesse keepe companie together, following intemperancie and follie: Simplici cura constant necessaria, in delitijs laboratur. Ad parata nati sumus: nos omnia nobis diffici∣lia facilium fastidio fecimus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Temperancie two-fold. Generall.
• * 1.2

  2 Speciall.
• * 1.3

  3 The descrip∣tion of tem∣perancie.