The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

SECT. XXXIV. A Passage to the Remedies of Disquiet, arising from the particular Passions.

FOR there are certain Common places which are said about Poverty, about an inambitious and obscure Life; and severally certain Essays upon Banishment, upon the Captivity of our Country, upon Bondage, upon Maimes, upon Blindness, and upon every other Misfortune, to which the name of Calamity is appliable: The Greeks divide these into distinct Disputations, and separate Tracts: For they lack work, although their Disputations are full of delight; and yet as Physi∣cians in carrying on the Cure of the whole Body, apply Remedies to the least affected part: So Phi∣losophy having taken away trouble of mind in ge∣neral; yet if any Error ariseth from Particulars, if Poverty bites, if Disgrace pinches, if Banishment casts us under a Cloud, or if any of the above∣mention'd Calamities befall us: although every Affliction hath its proper Consolation; to which you shall hear discours'd when you please; but still we must recur to the same Spring-head, that all Discontent is stranger to a wise man, because it is idle; because it is admitted to no purpose; because it ariseth not from Nature, but Judgment, but Con∣ceit, but a kind of drawing our selves on to Grieve, after we have determin'd that it is our duty so to do. Remove this which is wholly depending on our Will, and all that fretful Discontent will be ta∣ken

away; yet some Gripes and Resentments will remain in the Mind. Let them call this Natural, if they please; so the name of Discontent be for∣born; a name grievous, vexatious, deadly, which can by no means be; and, as I may say, dwell with Wisdom. But how many, and how bitter are the Suckers of Discontent, which must all be pluck'd up; when the Body of it is fell'd down; and if need shall require, at several times; (o) for we abound in this leasure, such as it is. But the Form of all Passions is one, the Names diverse; for both Envy is a Passion, and Emulation, and Detraction, and Pitty, Anxiety, Mourning, Fretting, Melancholly, Lamentation, Sollicitude, Grief, Uneasiness, Vex∣ation, Desperation; all these the Stoicks define; and the words which Irehears'd, have several No∣tions; and do not, as they seem, signifie the same things, but differ somewhat, which perhaps we shall treat of elsewhere. These are the Fibres and Tendrels of the Suckers, first mention'd; which must be search'd out and torn asunder, that not one of them may ever shoot up. A great and diffi∣cult Work; who denys it? But what is there excel∣lent, which is not also hard? yet Philosophy professeth to effect it, would we but admit its Cure. Now thus much for this Point; the rest shall be ready for you as often as you will, both at this, and any other place.

(o) For we abound in this leasure, such as it is.] Spoken with some regret, for his being out of Practice, Trust, and honourable Employment.