Paradoxes by J. De la Salle.

That it is better to be lame or bed-rid, than lusty and able to walk abroad (Book 3)

Paradoxe. VI. (Book 3)

IT is an inherent fol¦ly in mankinde to be so indulgent to it self, or rather too fondly tender, that whatsoever it either commonly enjoyes, or sees others usually enjoy, that it thinks to be the fittest and the happiest, as being blindly led by ex∣ample, and hurried a∣way

by its first thoughts whereas if it truly des∣cended into a strict scru∣tiny and consideration of things, it would be easily found, that many things, which to appa∣rence and taste are gay and wholesom, are in the use and fruition clean the contrary, and many such things as we think make other men happy, are but burdens and inconveni∣ences to them, and such, as if we our selves were condemn'd to enjoy, we should make it part of our first wishes to

be dispenced withall.

To go no farther for instance than the very business of Walking, and confinement to a bed or chamber, how much seems the one to be va∣lew'd, and how much irksome appears the other: whereas if they were both stripp'd into a naked consideration, there is nothing but trouble, and a kinde of servitude in the one, and repose and acqui∣escence in the other. For if man were to be valued by the continu∣ation or frequency of

his motions, a spaniel or a wild Beast were certainly the more no∣ble thing, and much more a volatile that is not chain'd and shack∣l'd to the earth, but can roam abroad in the air, and descend at plea∣sure. Whereas a quiet and sedentary posture of life, wherein a man is in a manner natural∣ly disfranchis'd of for∣rain and outward di∣sturbances, and wholly collected into himself, must be much a braver posture of life, and more suitable, to that high

& contemplative nature, which his great maker hath endow'd him with.

Not that this is to be understood of fixt and painfull Chronicall diseases, which rend and tear the minde asun∣der, even with the body (for certainly its very pleasant to hear the stoiks direct a man not to groan or change countenance at a fit of the stone or collick, as though a mans minde could absolutely be abstracted from his sen∣ces, to which it is so straitly conjoyn'd) but

I mean of such imper∣fections or weaknesses, as confine a man one∣ly to his Chamber or a Couch, leave him his soul free and at liberty to exercise those noble functions that her na∣ture leads her to. For to run upon a common place of contemplation (which by this means, must be strangely advanc'd) as it were not onely unnecessary, so may it be objected, that the freest and most active men might take such enjoyment, if they pleased, and confine

themselves at their plea∣sure. But it is an∣swered, when it is said that all the businesses troubles and inconveni∣ences of life are here∣by avoided, that a man ••s safe within himself, unengag'd to any long or tedious attendan∣ces, unconcern'd in any factions ruling in a state, excus'd from all those duties and peevish employments, or to say better, slaveries un∣der superiour Gover∣nours, they must needs acknowledg, that it were much better for a man

thus quietly & serenely to be his own prisoner, then with a great deal of pains and trouble carry shackles about him under the meer de∣nomination of a Free∣man.

We may add to this that going in man, seems to be one of the great∣est marks of his mor∣tality and weakness, Ser∣pents, which were curs'd to craule upon their bellies, curle and vary themselves so finely in their progressive mo∣tions, that it is no less wonder and delight to

see them, than to be∣hold man himself, that claims the Monarchy, walk upright, and hale one legg after another. And therefore the an∣cient Poets, though they indiscreetly enough at∣tributed most of the passions and infirmities of men to their titu∣lar Gods, yet this was such a weakness and imperfection, that they durst not do it, and therefore Virgill speaking of Venus saies.

Et vera incessu patuit Dea.

Which as a modern Poet hath english'd it—

—She did not go, And step like us, but awfully did flow, And swim to sight,

Intimating, that even the motion of such miserable Divinities, must needs be nobler and more vigorous, than the poor and weak hal∣tings of common man. Nor is it much to be urg'd, that nature re∣compences this some∣times

in others by ex∣traordinary swiftness, for not to say, that such are very few, and these in a manner useless, ra∣ther made indeed for matches than service: who was ever yet heard of that could outrun a Hart or a Barbary, or to make equal journies with a Dromedary? And if it should be suppos'd that they were able to do so, that were nothing but declining into the nature of those creatures, and falling back from their own worth into that Glass.

Besides we are to consider the means, by which men commonly arrive at lameness, and and those for the most part are honourable. For as there are but few diseases that cause it, so it proceeds for the most part either from hurts, or loss of mem∣bers which must needs be from a mans par∣ticular valour, or else receav'd in the defence of his Countrey. If it be the former, what greater assurance can you have of a high and a daring soul, than to

sacrifice ones limbs to the sence and tender∣ness of honour. If the latter, what more no∣ble and generous mar∣tyrdom can be imagin'd than to loose part of what we brought into the world with us, as a sacrifice to that com∣mon mother, to whom we owe all we have, or to speak a little more pressingly, to all the interests both of our Altars and Chimneyes, Friends, Children, Laws and Liberties. Certain∣ly upon this occasion one man may safely

and rationally be more proud of a pair of Crutches, than another man, who hath meerly obey'd the agitations and stings of ambiti∣on, ought in conscience to be of a triumphal Charriot.

To all this we are to add, that we, by this means enjoying rest, enjoy that which all things, even to the low∣est inanimates tend un∣to with a strong appe∣tency, stones them∣selves violently rush down to their Centre, & encrease their motion,

when they approach it; flames and fire mount upward impa∣tient of these Unctious and Sulphureous Pri∣sons, to which we con∣fine them. All things tend to quiet and rest. Consider but even the nature of things, and it will be found but a mechanical protrusion, clashing and arietation of atoms, which scuf∣fles being once ceas'd, they rest in shapes, and quiet themselves into a Body.

But to go no further than the minde of man,

all the passions and traverses of it, are but so many hurries and tempests, and they must be calmed before a man can see himself, as wa∣ters must be smooth'd which a man would make a mirrour of.

Or if a man give himself to the pursuit of sciences; there is no way so advantageous as quiet and a serene attendance upon our thoughts. Hence it was that the Poets secluded the Muses to Mount Parnassus, to Fountains and Groves, as know∣ing

that Cities were not places for any profound and abstractive medi∣tations, and consequent∣ly much conversation an enemy unto it. Out of this reason I believe it was that S^r Henry Wotton, after so many Embassies and Negotia∣tions concluded an Epi∣graphe of his.

Tandem hoc didici a∣nimas sapientiores fieri quiescendo.

But least I may seem to speak without ground, and not out of Experience, and the

things themselves, as many subtle and aery wits have done, whose contemplations have been rarified into such thinness, that they have vanish'd into nothing, things and actions being ever the best fur∣niture and directors of conceptions, whilest the minde it self, towring meerely by the strength of its own notions, ei∣ther looses it self in its height, or falls down out of weariness, it will be but necessary that I quote an example or two, the one of a Spa∣niard,

the other of a Countreyman; the one of as little merit as he hath much fame; the other of very small fame, considering the greatness of his worth. 'Tis Ignatius Loyola, and M^r Anthony Bacon, son to the Lord Keeper Bacon, Brother to the Lord Chancellour.

The first being a Spa∣nish souldier, and be∣coming bed-rid of his wounds recollected that great minde of his which had been usu∣ally employ'd in war, into that fatall inven∣tion

of the Order of the Jesuits, which as in its increase, it is in a manner miraculous, so in its discipline, it is no less. For of what pro∣fession, Physick except∣ed, hath it not brought forth excellent men in great numbers? How have they out-stript all other Orders in a few years, and were it not for their blinde cursed dependance upon the Pope, whereby they even wilfully put out their own reason, and that they are a sort of men absolutely gi∣ven

to the aggrandi∣zation of their own society, they were cer∣tainly to be imitated by the best Governments on the earth. But as Physitians say, that too good a posture of health is sickness, because the humours, being in E∣quilibration may the sooner be over-turned; and we see the most admirable inventions have brought along with them their incon∣veniences, so is this sort of men, out of an intended harmless so∣ciety, grown up into

such artifice and insi∣nuation of State, that like your sutlest poi∣sons, they work most dangerously and sub∣tily unseen, and have been so inconsistent with civill government, that France once ba∣nish'd them for a time, and the state of Venice for ever.

For the other as he writ nothing, so his in∣firmity with-held him from doing much. He that could but consider the marvellous spirit of his Brother, the dif∣ference of Lamenesse

put into the scale, might easily shape an Idaea of him, but with this dis∣proportion, the one tower'd into all the heights of sciences, and like an Eagle was one of the first that could behold intellectuall truth, the other div'd into the secrets of state, and like a cruel Mine∣ralist, left no vein un∣search'd. The one had a hand larger than his Fortune, for all those great offices and prefer∣ments he past through, supply'd onely his state and liberality into a

great debt and a pover∣ty not fit to be menti∣on'd to posterity with∣out ignominy to his Prince. The other had a providence so much greater than his neces∣sities, as you may say exceeded on the other side. He was a great Transactour for the Essex faction, when they and the house of the Cecills, upon the setting of Queen Elizabeth, strove who should be the greatest adorers of rising King James. He wanted not kindred on the other side, which

he knew very well, and so cunningly used it, that by throwing out doubtfull and suspici∣ous words when he lay bed-rid, he got Essex house in the Strand given him at one time which, what he sold it for, Sir Henry Wotton will tell you, and also ask you this question What he would have done if he had been ble to walk. Certainly he was a man of a vast and a regular minde, so great a Commander of himself, and so much a master in the Arts

of life and Government, that his Brother the high Chancellour was not to be blam'd, when he wish'd his infirmity upon himself, so that the other might go a∣broad about her Ma∣jesties service?

What I have said of this head, that is to say, of Natural restraint, as I may so call it, I be∣lieve may very well serve also for civill re∣straint or imprison∣ment, which though for the most part it be but temporary, as the other is, and assures not of

a continuation so long as life, yet it seems to be accompany'd with more horrours and more dangers. For be∣ing inflicted by the civill Magistrate, it seems but as an earnest of some further punish∣ment. But if we ex∣amine the grounds up∣on which most men are thrown into Goales, which we finde to be either for the breach of some law, or for denying to act some what against law, or else such as whose at∣tempts have not been

answered with success, there will not any thing so formidable be found in it. For if it be the former, it is our deserts, and we ought to sub∣mit to it, as to that which the law impo∣seth upon us for our demerits, and at most it is but a gentle school∣ing for an errour, where∣in the progress of the party offending is hin∣dred, and it may be his final ruine prevented, while in the mean time he is at leisure to look into himself, and to make use of his experi∣ence

for future causes. If it be the second, what more noble occasion in the world of suffer∣ing, than in denying o∣bedience to unjust com∣mands, which certainly may assure and pacifie any resolv'd and con∣stant honesty, amidst the greatest torments, much more restraint. For what greater satisfacti∣on can any man have, than the fruition of his integrity though it be clouded and covered with never so much misfortune? And for the third, since it is not

much more than the fortune of the war, and every man that attempts must needs hazard, it were unworthiness and pusillanimity to attempt if a man will not be content with the di∣spensations of fortune, to which we remit our selves, withall not knowing, how she in her lubricity may every moment change cases.

Upon the whole it will appear, that since Restraint is the most high happy and whole∣some course of life, and that our souls which are

much nobler than our Bodies, are much advan∣tag'd thereby, and yet these souls, though such immortal and noble substances, are but im∣prison'd and pent up in our bodies, it were a very great injustice that the body should ill resent any confinement, when that the immortal soul that actuates it, is so close a prisoner to the body it self.

FINIS.