To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
How we must deale with such who hate us for our our owne cause, and are offended with us: where also is intreated of Threats and Injuries.
THey who hate us for our selves, do it either because they are offended with us; or else, (as is very familiar with great Ones towards their Inferiors and as the Italian Proverb hath it, Qui offendit, non condonet, He that gives the of∣fence, let him not forgive) because they have
offended us. Minds swelling with great fortune have this fault chiefly. Whom they hurt, they hate.
2. The best remedy for such Injuries, as these do to us, is, If they be not understood and known; but if its weightinesse shall give it a marke of an offence to us understood, let us soon de∣monstrate a mitigation of grief for it, and that the remembrance thereof is defaced and blotted out of our minds. Else, if they perceive us to bear it impatiently, we strike into them a fear of our revengefulnesse, and so, a desire of preventing us.
3. But chiefly let us forbear threats, especi∣ally if we be not presently prepared to exe∣cute.
4. For threatnings rouze up the vigilancy of ad∣versaries, and do provoke them to hatred and to double the Injury, and often brings us to shame, if we breath out revenge, and have not power an∣swerable to our will.
5. I know this moderation is not approved by all men, chiefly, by such as are revengefull, who are of opinion that no Injury is to be passed by without sensibility, not onely in regard of the sweetnesse which is in revenge, but also, because that if you bear with an old Injury, you invite a new; and therefore think fit to prosecute with immortall hatred, those who offend them. But such, while they desire to render themselves for∣midable, and dreadfull, produce this effect to themselves, That no body will have Commerce with them. Sithence therefore, all are mortalls are prone to lapse and digresse and so either affec∣tedly
or through incogitancy and want of heed are carried away, let every one for fear of giving offence, shun those who are so tenacious and ready to hate, even as wild and savage beasts, lea∣ving them to their own solitude. Lastly, if he shall also offend, he will yet expect all amicableness from the other party, and while he feares revenge, will desire to inforce and strike the first blow. Wherefore to avoid so many evills, I think it best to insist rather and pursue the contrary way, and do prefer lenity and mildnesse, which is not difficult, no not in the greatest Injuries; respect being first had to the difference, both of the cause by which; and to the condition and quality of the persons, by whom the Injuries is com∣mitted.
6. For in lighter injuries, and such as have their rise rather from Perturbation and trouble of mind, then Malice, we ought to be so unoffen∣ded as that we seem not to be at all sensible. If the injury be heinous, let us shew our selves carefull and tender of our reputation and esteem; yet not be so implacable to the offending party, as not to leave him hope of reconciliation, and place for pardon in case of satisfaction. To which end, I judge it not unfit to complaine of the wrong to the friends of him who hath injuried us, and to commit the cause to their Arbitrati∣on.
7. I am of opinion that those wrongs which are insultingly done, through malepertness and pe∣tulancy, and out of a humour to reproach, are forthwith to be vindicated, yet not so much with a desire of revenge, as to chastise the offender,
that so he may learn to demeane, and carry him∣self more modestly, not towards us only, but to∣wards others also.
8. Yet such are not to be revenged on with implacable hatred; rather ought we to testifie our grief for the necessity of vindication which is laid upon us. And (after Amends and Restaura∣tion made) that we are ready according as the na∣ture of the trespass will admit to redintegrate and renew our friendship and amity with them.