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

SECT. XXXVI.—of Anger.

BUT Anger, how long soever it disturbs the mind, is without Controversie madness; by the instigation of which, such ill Language passeth even between Brethren.

What man more impudent than thee, e're liv'd? Or than thee more malitious?—

You know what follows, for bitter reproaches are retorted by one Brother, upon the other in Verses interchangeably; so that it may easily ap∣pear that they are Atreus his own Sons; his who contrives a new vengeance upon his Brother.

Some strange Plot, deep design I must devise, His raging heart with horror to surprise.

What then is this Plot? hear Thyestes himself.

Welcome, saith my kind Brother, pray fall on; Good chear! my Sons.

And sets their Bowels in a Dish before him; for what Degree is there that Anger will not arrive at, and at which Fury will? Hence we say of men in Passion, that they are out of all Government, that is Counsel, Reason, Understanding; for these ought to have the Government over the whole Soul. For men in this condition, either those are to be convey'd from them, upon whom they would fall violently, till they recollect themselves (now what is it to recollect ones self, but to rally the scatter'd and disorder'd parts of the Soul into their proper place?) or they are to be intreated and beg'd at to defer what thoughts they had of executing their revenge, till another time, when their Anger cools; now cooling implys, that the Spirits did boyl over contrary to the Dictates of Reason. To which that saying of Architas refers, who being in some heat against his Bayliff, said, How would I have order'd you, were I not Angry.