A discourse of constancy in two books chiefly containing consolations against publick evils written in Latin by Justus Lipsius, and translated into English by Nathaniel Wanley ...

CHAP. X.

A Complaint of Langius his so liberall Reproof. That it is the part of a Phi∣losopher. Endeavours of refuting what was before said. Our Obliga∣tion and Love to our Country.

THis first Skirmish seem'd to me somevvhat sharp, and therefore interposing, vvhat kind of Liberty (said I) or rather, vvhat sharpness of speech is this? You are so smart that I may vvell call unto you vvith Euripides,

Adde not affliction to a Soul distrest, I am already but too much opprest.

Langius smiling, and what said he do you then expect at my hands, Wa∣fers or Muscadell? It is not long since you call'd for the sharpest Me∣thods of Chirurgery; And rightly, for you hear a Philosopher Lipsius and not a Minstrel; vvhose design is to teach, not to entertain, to profit, and not to please. I had rather you should blush and be asham'd, than laugh: and that you should repent rather than triumph. The School of a Philosopher, O yea Men (said Rufus of old) is the shop of a physici∣an, vvhereunto Men hasten for health and not for Divertisement. This Phy∣sician neither flatters nor smooths up any, but pierces, tents, and searches the vvound, and vvith a kind of sharp Salt of Speech, fcoures away that Scurfe that cleaves to our Minds. And therefore Lipsius dream not (no not hereafter) of Roses, Pulse, and Poppyes, but of Thorns and Poyn∣ards, of Worme-wood and Vinegar.

But said I Langius (if I may say it) you deal with me in an ill and malicious manner: Nor do you as a skilfull vvrastler cast me upon a right lock; but supplant me by a cheat. In a counterfeit manner (say you) vve la∣ment our Country. Do I? It is not so. For to grant you this (as one that means ingeniously) that I have therein a respect unto my self, yet not unto my self alone. For I do lament Lan∣gius, I do lament my Country in the First place, and I vvill lament it, al∣though in the midst of its hazzards, there should be no danger to me. And that upon the justest grounds, for this is she vvhich hath entertain'd, foster'd, and nourish'd me; and is according to the common sence of Nations our most Reverend and Venerable Parent. But in the mean time you assign me the whole Universe as my Country. Who doubts it? But yet even your self vvill confess, that besides this vast and common one, I have another

more limited and peculiar Country; unto vvhich by a certain secret bond of Nature I have a nearer Obligation. Unless you do imagine that there is no force in our being swath'd and suckl'd in that our Native soil, vvhich vve have first greeted vvith this Body of ours; and first set foot upon, vvhose Air vve have breath'd; in which our Infancy hath cri'd, our Child∣hood play'd, and in vvhich our youth hath been educated and trained up. Where the Skies and Rivers, and Fields are familiar with our eyes: wherein in a continued order, are our Kindred and Friends, and Asso∣ciates: and so many other invitations unto Joy; as vve in vain hope to meet vvith in any other place of the Earth. Nor are these tyes (as you seem to assert) from the slender threads of O∣pinion, but from the strong Chains of Nature it self. Go to the Crea∣tures themselves and behold the vvild∣est among them do love and own the

places vvhere they lodge, and the Birds their Nests. The very Fishes themselves, in that vast and boundless Ocean, do yet delight in the enjoy∣ment of some certain part of it. For what should I speak of Men? Who vvhether they are civiliz'd or still in Barbarisme; are yet so glew'd to their Native Earth, that whosoever is a Man will never doubt to dye for, and in it. And therefore Langius this new and rigid Wisdom of yours, (for the pre∣sent) I neither embrace nor compre∣hend, I am rather the Disciple of Eu∣ripides more truly affirming, that

Necessity it self commands All Men to love their Native Lands.