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PACIENCE is a noble vertue, apper∣teinyng as well to inward gouernāce, as to exterior gouernaunce: and is the vanquyshour of iniuries, the sure defence agaynst al affectes and passiōs of the soule, retayning always glad semblant in aduer∣sitie and dolour.
¶ Saynt Ambrose saith in his boke of offi∣ces, * 1.1 Better is he, that contemneth iniurie, than he that soroweth. For he that contem
neth it, as he nothyng felte, passeth nat on it: But he that is sorowfulle, is therwith tourmented, as though he felte it.
¶ Whiche was wel proued by Zeno Elea∣tes, a noble philosopher, who being a man of excellent wisdome and eloquence, came to a citie, called Agrigentum, where reig∣ned Phalaris, the mooste cruell tyrant of al the worlde, who kept and vsed his owne people in moste myserable seruytude. And fyrst he thought by his wysedome and elo∣quence, to haue so perswaded the tyrant to temperaunce, that he shoulde abandon his cruel and auaricious appetite: but custome of vice more preuailed in him than profita∣ble counfayle. Wherfore Zeno, hauyng pi∣tie at the wretched astate of the people, ex¦cited dyuers noble men, to delyuer the ci∣tie of that seruyle condytion. This coun∣sayle was nat so secretely gyuen, but that notice therof came to the tyrant, who cau∣syng al the people to be assēbled in the mar¦ket place, caused Zeno there to be cruciate with sondry turmentes, alwais demandyng of hym, who dyd participate with hym of his sayd counsayle: but for no peynes wold he confesse any person, but induced the ty∣raunt to haue in mystrust his nexte frendes and familyar seruantes. And reprouing the people for their cowardyse and drede, he
at the last so inflamed thē vnto libertie, that sodainly with a great vyolence they fell on the tyrant, and pressed him with stoones. The olde Zeno, in all his exquisite turmē∣tes neuer made any lamentable crie, or de∣syre to be relyued.
¶ But for this fourme of Pacyence, this onely example suffyseth at this tyme, sens there be so frequent examples of martyrs, whiche for true religiō sustayned paciently not onely equalle tourmentes with Zeno, but also farre excedynge. But nowe wylle I write of that Pacience, that pertayneth vnto interior gouernaunce, wherby the na∣turall passions of man be subdued, and the malyce of fortune susteyned. For they whi∣che be in autorite, & be occupied about gret affaires, their liues be nat only replenished with labours and greuous displesures, but also they be subiectes to sondry chances.
¶ The meane to obtayne Pacience, is by * 1.2 two thinges principally, A dyrecte and vp∣right conscience, & true and constant opini∣on in the estimation of goodnes: which sel∣dome commeth onely of nature, excepte it be wonderfull excellent, but by the diligent study of very philosophy. (nat that whiche is sophisticate, and consisteth in sophismes) nature is therto prepared & holpen. This * 1.3 opinion is of such power, that ones cleuing
fast to the mynd, it draweth a mā as it were by violēce to good or euyl. Therfore Tul∣li saith, Like as whā the blod is corrupted, and either fleume or colere, black or redde, * 1.4 is superhabūdāt, than in the body be ingē∣dred sores & diseases: so the vexation of e∣uyll opinions, & their repugnancie, dispoy∣leth the mynd of all helth, and troubleth it with griefes. ¶ Contrarywise afterwarde Tulli describeth good OPINION, and calleth it the beautie of the sowle, sayinge in this wise, As of bodily membres, there is an apt figure, with a maner plesantnesse of colour, & that is called beautie: so in the sowle, the equalitie and constance of opinions, & iuge mentes ensuyng vertue, with a stable & sted faste purpose, or conteynyng the selfe same effect, that is in vertue, is named Beautie. Whiche sentences depely inuestigate, and well perceyued, by them that be about prin cis and gouernours, they maye consyder, howe ware and circumspecte they oughte to be in the inducynge them to opinions.
Ambrossi{us} Off. ••.
Pacience howe hit may be op¦teyned.
Opinion good or yl
Tusc. g. 3.