The treasure of tranquillity. Or A manuall of morall discourses tending to the tranquillity of minde. Translated out of French by I.M. Master of Arts.

DISC. 3.

Of prouidence and foresight.

YEe must take order that yee be not surprised of any hu∣maine accident, whereof (if it be possible) yee haue not bene be∣fore-hand prudently foreseene, which thing yee shall easily per∣forme, if in all the affaires yee shall take in hand, in the first place ye doe diligently fore-be∣thinke your selfe of such incon∣ueniences and crosse encounters as may fall out in the same, ac∣cording to the nature, quality, and ordinary issue of the affaires: and certainely such foresight doth maruailously mittigate, sweeten, and abate the sharpnes, and harshnes of all such sinister accidents and chances: the which cānot bring you in so do∣ing

any sensible, or notable alte∣ration and change, by reason of their not comming vpon you as vnlooked for, But contrarily they doe not a little endamage such persons as suffer themselues to be surprised, neither do consi∣der how that nature sending thē into this world, hath allotted them rough, and vneasy seates. Such men doe not minde how that about their owne dores many times they haue with their eyes seene the louing wiues weeping and bewailing their de∣ceased husbands, and the hus∣bands with dewy eyes burying their beloued wiues, and deere children. They doe not pon∣der how that such persons as did yesterday walke, and talke with them, to day dead, lye buried in their graues. So apt are we to be deceiued, and so little fore∣sight

haue we in our owne for∣tune, that what we see daily with our eyes happen vnto others, we neuer, or sildome consider that the like may befall our owne selues.

If we would take such notice of things as wee ought, wee should rather find occasion offe∣red vs to maruaile how that di∣sasters, and dangers, which doe follow vs at the heeles, haue de∣layed so long to ouertake vs, and hauing ouertaken vs, how it could bee possible that they should haue handled vs so harm∣lesly, and gently as they haue done. O how grosly we deceiue our selues, when as for feare that men take vs to be timerous and feareful, we thinke ill to forecast and foresee dangers, and will not a whit mistrust our owne iudgement! It behooueth the

man who is minded to make saile, to know that hee is in the possibility to haue a storme, and wee must know that the chance which hath hapned to one may likewise befall vnto vs, and that which hangeth ouer the heads of all, may fall vpon any one of vs all, without exemption or ex∣ception whatsoeuer. The man who marketh well anothers mis∣fortune as a thing which may no lesse befall vnto himselfe, then it hath already done vnto his fel∣low, hath this aduantage, that before any such mischance take hold of him, he is already armed against the fury and force of the euill. Then were it too late for a man to make head against a dan∣ger, when it is already come, & bootlesse should it be for him to say, I did not think, forsooth, that such a mis-fortune should haue

befalne mee. And why so I pray you? is there any wealth in this world which hath not following after at her heeles pouerty and need? or is there any health that is not apt to be diminished by a lingring disease? or any honour or grace which is not inpossibi∣lity to be turned into dishonor & disgrace? or what high rising is there which is not apt to haue a dolefull downe fall? or is there any estate from the pedlar euen to the Prince, exempt from alte∣ration? and that which hath be∣falne to one may it not likewise befall vnto another? It were a matter both tedious, and contra∣ry to our designe, to discourse of such as fortune (if so wee may speake) from high roomes hath brought low, and of mighty men in a moment made misera∣ble. In such a variety and vicis∣situde

of matters, if ye doe not fore-bethink your selfe, how that all humane accidents may touch you, as wel as others, ye giue ad∣uersities great power ouer you, the which by the prudēce of him that foreseeth them are not a lit∣tle abated, & made more milde. Our minds out of questiō, shold be in greater rest, if our actions were occupied about such things as be of a more certain & cōstant condition. For at least hauing once attained them, wee should content our selues therwith, and enioy the sweetnes and commo∣dity therof, in tranquility & ease.

But seeing that in this world, all things are subiect to totte∣ring and turning, and that there is nothing vnder the cope of heauen stable and firme: the re∣medy most fit vnto our infir∣mity is to foresee this instabi∣litie,

and not to passionate, and turmoyle our selues about those things, the possession whereof is no lesse toylesome, and trouble∣some then was the acquisition & purchase therof. And therfore wee must loue them as things which may leaue vs, and withall, we must haue so much foresight that they neuer leaue vs the first. When on a time it was told A∣naxagoras that his sonne was de∣ceased: I knew very well, quoth he, that he was a man, and that he was borne to dye once. In the like manner must we bee prepa∣red for all aduentures. My friend hath not assisted mee, well, I knew that he was a man, and one that might change. My wife was very vertuous, and yet was she but a woman. The man that thus before hand bethinketh himselfe of humaine accidents, shall ne∣uer

be taken at vnawares, neither shall he need to say, as customa∣bly the vnaduised are wont: I did not thinke of such a thing: vnto whom the chances of for∣tune do occasion much affliction and anguish, because they finde themselues disarmed of this wise foresight. The well-aduised Prince in time of peace maketh ready his preparatiues for the time of warre. Ʋlisses ouerpas∣sed many dangers and difficul∣ties, and yet none of them all did afflict him so soare, as one thing which did take him at vnawares, euen the death of a dogge which hee loued deerely. So that the common prouerbe wee see pro∣ueth true: That a person surprised is halfe beaten.