diff --git a/data/tlg0007/tlg072/tlg0007.tlg072.perseus-eng4.xml b/data/tlg0007/tlg072/tlg0007.tlg072.perseus-eng4.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..838a448ec --- /dev/null +++ b/data/tlg0007/tlg072/tlg0007.tlg072.perseus-eng4.xml @@ -0,0 +1,638 @@ + + + + + + + How a Man May Recieve Advantage and Profit From His + Enemies + Plutarch + William W. Goodwin + John Hartcliffe + Perseus Project, Tufts University + Gregory Crane + + Prepared under the supervision of + Lisa Cerrato + Rashmi Singhal + Bridget Almas + + The National Endowment for the Humanities + + + Trustees of Tufts University + Medford, MA + Perseus Project + 2010-12-13 + + + + + Plutarch + Plutarch's Morals. + + Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised + by + William W. Goodwin, PH. D. + + + Boston + Little, Brown, and Company + Cambridge + Press Of John Wilson and son + 1874 + + 1 + + The + Internet Archive + + + + + + +

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+ How a man may receive advantage and profit from his enemies. + +
+

Not to mention, Cornelius Pulcher, your gentle as well as skilful + administration of public affairs, for which goodness and humanity you have + gotten an interest in mankind, we clearly perceive that in your private + conversation you have made a quiet and peaceable way of living your choice + and continual practice. By this means you are justly esteemed a useful + member of the commonwealth in general, and also a friendly affable companion + to those who familiarly converse with you, as being a person free from all + sour, rough, and peevish humors. For, as it is said of Crete, we may by + great chance discover one single region of the world that never afforded any + dens or coverts for wild beasts. But through the long succession of ages, + even to this time, there scarce ever was a state or kingdom that hath not + suffered under envy, hatred, emulation, the love of strife, fierce and + unruly passions, of all others the most productive of enmity and ill-will + among men. Nay, if nothing else will bring it to pass, familiarity will at + last breed contempt, and the very friendship of men doth frequently draw + them into quarrels, that prove sharp and sometimes implacable. Which that + wise man Chilo did well understand, who, when he heard another assert that + he had no enemy, asked him very pertinently whether he had no friend. In my + judgment therefore it is absolutely necessary that a man, especially if he + sit at the helm and be engaged to steer the + government, should watchfully observe every posture and motion of his enemy, + and subscribe to Xenophon's opinion in this case; who hath set it down as a + maxim of the greatest wisdom, that a man should make the best advantage he + can of him that is his adversary.

+

Wherefore, having lately determined to write somewhat on this argument, I + have now gathered together all my scattered thoughts and meditations upon + it, which I have sent to you, digested into as plain a method as I could; + forbearing all along to mention those observations I have heretofore made + and written in my Political Precepts, because I know you have that treatise + at your hand, and often under your eye.

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Our ancestors were well satisfied and content if they could safely guard + themselves from the violent incursions of wild beasts, and this was the end + and object of all their contests with these creatures. But their posterity + have laid down their weapons of defence, and have invented a quite contrary + use of them, making them serviceable to some of the chief ends of human + life. For their flesh serves for food, and their hair for clothing; + medicines and antidotes are devised out of their entrails; and their skins + are converted into armor. So that we may upon good grounds fear that, if + these supplies should fail, their manner of life would appear savage, + destitute of convenient food and raiment, barbarous and naked.

+

Although we receive these benefits and comforts from the very beasts, yet + some men suppose themselves happy and secure enough, provided they escape + all harm from enemies, not regarding Xenophon's judgment, whom they ought to + credit in this matter, that every man endowed with common sense and + understanding may, if he please, make his opposites very useful and + profitable to him.

+

Because then we cannot live in this world out of the + neighborhood of such as will continually labor to do us injury or oppose us, + let us search out some way whereby this advantage and profit from enemies + may be acquired.

+

The best experienced gardener cannot so change the nature of every tree, that + it shall yield pleasant and well-tasted fruit; neither can the craftiest + huntsman tame every beast. One therefore makes the best use he can of his + trees, the other of his beast; although the first perhaps are barren and + dry, the latter wild and ungovernable. So seawater is unwholesome and not to + be drunk; yet it affords nourishment to all sorts of fish, and serves as it + were for a chariot to convey those who visit foreign countries. The Satyr + would have kissed and embraced the fire the first time he saw it; but + Prometheus bids him take heed, else he might have cause to lament the loss + of his beard, + Τράγος γένειον ἆρα πενθήσεις οί γε, + Thou goat, soon thou shalt bewail the loss of + thy beard. This verse is supposed to belong to the + Satyrdrama Prometheus of Aeschylus, which + was exhibited with the trilogy to which the Persians belong. The whole + tetralogy, according to the Didascalia, consisted of the Phineus, + Persians, Glaucus, and Prometheus. + (G.) + if he came too near that which burns all it touches. Yet this very + fire is a most beneficial thing to mankind; it bestows upon us the blessings + both of light and heat, and serves those who know how to use it for the most + excellent instrument of mechanic arts. Directed by these examples, we may be + able to take right measures of our enemies, considering that by one handle + or other we may lay hold of them for the use and benefit of our lives; + though otherwise they may appear very untractable and hurtful to us.

+

There are many things which, when we have obtained them by much labor and + sweat, become nauseous, ungrateful, and directly contrary to our + inclinations; but there are some (you know) who can turn the very + indispositions of their bodies into an occasion of rest and freedom from + business. And hard pains that have fallen upon many + men have rendered them only the more robust through vigorous exercise. There + are others who, as Diogenes and Crates did, have made banishment from their + native country and loss of all their goods a means to pass out of a + troublesome world into the quiet and serene state of philosophy and mental + contemplation. So the Stoic Zeno welcomed the good fortune, when he heard + the ship was broken wherein his adventures were, because she had reduced him + to a torn coat, to the safety and innocence of a mean and low condition. For + as some creatures of strong constitutions eat serpents and digest them + well,— nay, there are some whose stomachs can by a strange powerful heat + concoct shells or stones,—while on the contrary, there are the weak and + diseased, who loathe even bread and wine, the most agreeable and best + supports of human life; so the foolish and inconsiderate spoil the very + friendships they are engaged in, but the wise and prudent make good use of + the hatred and enmity of men.

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To those then who are discreet and cautious, the most malignant and worst + part of enmity becomes advantageous and useful. But what is this you talk of + all this whileAn enemy is ever diligent and watchful to contrive stratagems + and lay snares for us, not omitting any opportunity whereby he may carry on + his malicious purposes. He lays siege to our whole life, and turns spy into + the most minute action of it; not as Lynceus is said to look into oaks and + stones, but by arts of insinuation he gets to the knowledge of our secrets, + by our bosom friend, domestic servant, and intimate acquaintance. As much as + possibly he can, he enquires what we have done, and labors to dive into the + most hidden counsels of our minds. Nay, our friends do often escape our + notice, either when they die or are sick, because we are careless and + neglect them; but we are apt to examine and pry curiously almost into the + very dreams of our enemies.

+ +

Now our enemy (to gratify his ill-will towards us) doth acquaint himself with + the infirmities both of our bodies and mind, with the debts we have + contracted, and with all the differences that arise in our families, all + which he knows as well, if not better, than ourselves. He sticks fast to our + faults, and chiefly makes his invidious remarks upon them. Nay, our most + depraved affections, that are the worst distempers of our minds, are always + the subjects of his inquiry; just as vultures pursue putrid flesh, noisome + and corrupted carcasses, because they have no perception of those that are + sound and in health. So our enemies catch at our failings, and then they + spread them abroad by uncharitable and ill-natured reports.

+

Hence we are taught this useful lesson for the direction and management of + our conversations in the world, that we be circumspect and wary in every + thing we speak or do, as if our enemy always stood at our elbow and + overlooked every action. Hence we learn to lead blameless and inoffensive + lives. This will beget in us vehement desires and earnest endeavors of + restraining disorderly passions. This will fill our minds with good thoughts + and meditations, and with strong resolutions to proceed in a virtuous and + harmless course of life.

+

For as those commonwealths and cities know best how to value the happiness of + having good and wholesome laws, and most admire and love the safety of a + quiet and peaceable constitution of things, which have been harassed by wars + with their neighbors or by long expeditions; so those persons who have been + brought to live soberly by tile fear and awe of enemies, who have learned to + guard against negligence and idleness, and to do every thing with a view to + some profitable end, are by degrees (they know not how) drawn into a habit + of living so as to offend nobody, and their manners are composed and fixed + in their obedience to virtue by custom and use, with very little help from + the reason. For they always carry in their minds + that saying of Homer, if we act any thing amiss, + Priam will laugh at us, and all his brood; + our enemies will please themselves and scoff at our defects; + therefore we will do nothing that is ridiculous, sinful, base, or ignoble, + lest we become a laughing-stock to such as do not love us.

+

In the theatre we often see great artists in music and singing very supine + and remiss, doing nothing as they should, whilst they play or sing alone; + but whenever they challenge one another and contend for mastery, they do not + only rouse up themselves, but they tune their instruments more carefully, + they are more curious in the choice of their strings, and they try their + notes in frequent and more harmonious consorts. Just so a man who hath an + adversary perpetually to rival him in the well ordering of his life and + reputation is thereby rendered more prudent in what he does, looks after his + actions more circumspectly, and takes as much care of the accurateness of + them as the musician does of his lute or organ. For evil hath this peculiar + quality in it, that it dreads an enemy more than a friend. For this cause + Nasica, when some thought the Roman affairs were established for ever in + peace and safety, after they had razed Carthage and enslaved Greece, + declared that even then they were in the greatest danger of all and most + likely to be undone, because there were none left whom they might still fear + and stand in some awe of.

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And here may be inserted that wise and facetious answer of Diogenes to one + that asked him how he might be revenged of his enemy: The only way, says he, + to gall and fret him effectually is for yourself to appear a good and honest + man. The common people are generally envious and vexed in their minds, as + oft as they see the cattle of those they have no kindness for, their dogs, + or their horses, in a thriving condition; they sigh, fret, set their teeth, and show all the tokens of a malicious + temper, when they behold their fields well tilled, or their gardens adorned + and beset with flowers. If these things make them so restless and uneasy, + what dost thou think they would do, what a torment would it be to them, if + thou shouldst demonstrate thyself in the face of the world to be in all thy + carriage a man of impartial justice, a sound understanding, unblamable + integrity, of a ready and eloquent speech, sincere and upright in all your + dealings, sober and temperate in all that you eat or drink; + While from the culture of a prudent mind, + Harvests of wise and noble thought you reap. + Aeschyl. Septem, 593 See note on page 202. (G.) + + + +

+

Those that are conquered, saith Pindar, must seal up their lips; they dare + not open their mouths, no, not even to mutter.Fragment 253 But all + men in these circumstances are not so restrained; but such chiefly as come + behind their opposites in the practice of diligence, honesty, greatness of + mind, humanity, and beneficence. These are beautiful and glorious virtues, + as Demosthenes Fals. Legat. p. 406, 4. says, that are + too pure and great to be touched by an ill tongue, that stop the mouths of + backbiters, choke them and command them to be silent. Make it thy business + therefore to surpass the base; for this surely thou canst do. Eurip. Orest. 251. If we would vex them that hate us, we + must not reproach our adversary for an effeminate and debauched person, or + one of a boorish and filthy conversation; but instead of throwing this dirt, + we ourselves must be remarkable for a steady virtue and a wellgoverned + behavior; we must speak the truth, and carry ourselves civilly and justly + towards all who hold any correspondence or maintain any commerce with us. + But if at any time a man is so transported by passion as to utter any bitter + words, he must take heed that he himself be not + chargeable for those crimes for which he upbraids others; he must descend + into himself, examine and cleanse his own breast, that no putrefaction nor + rottenness be lodged there; otherwise he will be condemned as the physician + is by the tragedian:— + Wilt thou heal others, thou thyself being full of sores? + Eurip. Frag. No. 1071. + + + +

+

If a man should jeer you and say that you are a dunce and illiterate, upon + this motive you ought to apply your mind to the taking of pains in the study + of philosophy and all kinds of learning. If he abuses you for a coward, then + raise up your mind to a courageous manliness and an undaunted boldness of + spirit. If he tells you you are lascivious and wanton, this scandal may be + wiped off by having your mind barred up against all impressions of lust, and + your discourse free from the least obscenity. These are allowable returns, + and the most cutting strokes you can give your enemy; there being nothing + that carries in it more vexation and disgrace, than that scandalous censures + should fall back upon the head of him who was the first author of them. For + as the beams of the sun reverberated do most severely affect and punish weak + eyes, so those calumnies are most vexatious and intolerable which truth + retorts back upon their first broachers. For as the north-east wind gathers + clouds, so does a vicious life gather unto itself opprobrious speeches.

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Insomuch that Plato, when he was in company with any persons that were guilty + of unhandsome actions, was wont thus to reflect upon himself and ask this + question, Am I of the like temper and disposition with these men? In like + manner, whosoever passes a hard censure upon another man's life should + presently make use of selfexamination, and enquire what his own is; by which + means he will come to know what his failings are, and how to amend them. Thus the very censures and backbitings of his + enemy will redound to his advantage, although in itself this censorious + humor is a very vain, empty, and useless thing. For every one will laugh at + and deride that man who is humpbacked and baldpated, while at the same time + he makes sport with the natural deformities of his brethren; it being a very + ridiculous unaccountable thing to scoff at another for those very + imperfections for which you yourself may be abused. As Leo Byzantinus + replied upon the humpbacked man, who in drollery reflected on the weakness + of his eyes, You mock me for a human infirmity, but you bear the marks of + divine vengeance on your own back.

+

Wherefore no man should arraign another of adultery, when he himself is + addicted to a more bestial vice. Neither may one man justly accuse another + of extravagance or looseness, when he himself is stingy and covetous. + Alcmaeon told Adrastus, that he was near akin to a woman that killed her + husband; to which Adrastus gave a very pat and sharp answer,—Thou with thy + own hands didst murder thy mother.From the Adrastus of Euripides. + After the same sarcastical way of jesting did Domitius ask Crassus whether + he did not weep for the death of the lamprey that was bred in his fish-pond; + to which Crassus makes this present reply,—But have I not heard that you did + not weep when you carried out three wives to their burial.

+

Whence we may infer that it behooves every man who takes upon him to correct + or censure another not to be too clamorous or merry upon his faults, but to + be guilty of no such crime as may expose him to the chastisement and + reproach of others. For the great God seems to have given that commandment + of Know thyself to those men more especially who are apt to + make remarks upon other men's actions and forget themselves. So, as + Sophocles hath well observed, They often hear that which they would not, + because they allow themselves the liberty of + talking what they please.

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This is the use that may be lawfully made of censuring and judging our + enemies; that we may be sure we are not culpable for the same misdemeanors + which we condemn in them. On the contrary, we may reap no less advantage + from our being judged and censured by our enemies. In this case Antisthenes + spake incomparably well, that if a man would lead a secure and blameless + life, it was necessary that he should have either very ingenuous and honest + friends, or very furious enemies, because the first would keep him from + sinning by their kind admonitions, the latter by their evil words and + vehement invectives.

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But for as much as in these times friendship is grown almost speechless, and + hath left off that freedom it did once use, since it is loquacious in + flattery and dumb in admonition, therefore we must expect to hear truth only + from the mouths of enemies. As Telephus, when he could find no physician + that he could confide in as his friend, thought his adversary's lance would + most probably heal his wound; so he that hath no friend to give him advice + and to reprove him in what he acts amiss must bear patiently the rebukes of + an enemy, and thereby learn to amend the errors of his ways; considering + seriously the object which these severe censures aim at, and not what the + person is who makes them. For as he who designed the death of Prometheus the + Thessalian, instead of giving the fatal blow, only lanced a swelling that he + had, which did really preserve his life and free him from the hazard of + approaching death; just so may the harsh reprehensions of enemies cure some + distempers of the mind that were before either unknown or neglected, though + these angry speeches do origi nally proceed from malice and ill-will. But + many, when they are accused of a crime, do not consider whether they are + guilty of the matter alleged against them, but are rather solicitous whether the accuser hath nothing that + may be laid to his charge; like the combatants in a match at wrestling, they + take no care to wipe off the dirt that sticks upon them, but they go on to + besmear one another, and in their mutual strugglings they wallow and tumble + into more dirt and filthiness.

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It is a matter of greater importance and concern to a man when he is lashed + by the slanders of an enemy, by living virtuously to prevent and avert all + objections that may be made against his life, than it is to scour the spots + out of his clothes when they are shown him. And even if any man with + opprobrious language object to you crimes you know nothing of, you ought to + enquire into the causes and reasons of such false accusations, that you may + learn to take heed for the future and be very wary, lest unwittingly you + should commit those offences that are unjustly attributed to you, or + something that comes near them. Lacydes, king of the Argives, was abused as + an effeminate person, because he wore his hair long, used to dress himself + neatly, and his mien was finical. So Pompey, though he was very far from any + effeminate softness, yet was reflected upon and jeered for being used to + scratch his head with one of his fingers. Crassus also suffered much in the + like kind, because sometimes he visited a vestal virgin and showed great + attention to her, having a design to purchase of her a little farm that lay + conveniently for him. So Postumia was suspected of unchaste actions, and was + even brought to trial, because she would often be very cheerful and + discourse freely in men's company. But she was found clear of all manner of + guilt in that nature. Nevertheless at her dismission, Spurius Minucius the + Pontifex Maximus gave her this good admonition, that her words should be + always as pure, chaste, and modest as her life was. Themistocles, though he + had offended in nothing, yet was suspected of treachery with Pausanias, + because he corresponded familiarly with him, and + used every day to send him letters and messengers.

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Whenever then any thing is spoken against you that is not true, do not pass + it by or despise it because it is false, but forthwith examine yourself, and + consider what you have said or done, what you have ever undertaken, or what + converse you have ever had that may have given likelihood to the slander; + and when this is discovered, decline for the future all things that may + provoke any reproachful or foul language from others.

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For if troubles and difficulties, into which some men fall either by chance + or through their own inadvertency and rashness, may teach others what is fit + and safe for them to do,—as Merope says, + Fortune hath taken for her salary + My dearest goods, but wisdom she hath given; + From Euripides. + + + why should not we take an enemy for our tutor, who will instruct us + gratis in those things we knew not before? For an enemy sees and understands + more in matters relating to us than our friends do; because love is blind, + as PlatoLaws, + V. p. 731 E says, in discerning the imperfections of + the thing beloved. But spite, malice, ill-will, wrath, and contempt talk + much, are very inquisitive and quick-sighted. When Hiero was upbraided by + his enemy for having a stinking breath, he returned home and demanded of his + wife why she had not acquainted him with it. The innocent good woman makes + this answer: I thought all men's breath had that smell. For those things in + men that are conspicuous to all are sooner understood from the information + of enemies than from that of friends and acquaintance.

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Furthermore, an exact government of the tongue is a strong evidence of a good + mind, and no inconsiderable part of virtue. But since every man naturally is + desirous to propagate his conceits, and without a painful force cannot smother his resentments, it is no easy task to keep + this unruly member in due subjection, unless such an impetuous affection as + anger be thoroughly subdued by much exercise, care, and study. For such + things as saying let fall against our will, or a word flying by the range of our teeth, + Il. IV. + 350. or a speech escaping us by + accident, are all likely to happen to those whose ill-exercised + minds (as it were) fall and waste away, and whose course of life is + licentious; and we may attribute this to hasty passion or to unsettled + judgment. For divine Plato tells us that for a word, which is the lightest + of all things, both Gods and men inflict the heaviest penalties.Plato, Laws, + XI. p. 935 A. But silence, which can never be called + to account, doth not only, as Hippocrates hath observed, extinguish thirst, + but it bears up against all manner of slanders with the constancy of + Socrates and the courage of Hercules, who was no more concerned than a fly + at what others said or did. Now it is certainly not grander or better than + this for a man to bear silently and quietly the revilings of an enemy, + taking care not to provoke him, as if he were swimming by a dangerous rock; + but the practice is better. For whosoever is thus accustomed to endure + patiently the scoffs of an enemy will, without any disturbance or trouble, + bear with the chidings of a wife, the rebukes of a friend, or the sharper + reproofs of a brother. When a father or mother corrects you, you will not be + refractory or stubborn under the rod. Xanthippe, though she was a woman of a + very angry and troublesome spirit, could never move Socrates to a passion. + By being used to bear patiently this heavy sufferance at home, he was ever + unconcerned, and not in the least moved by the most scurrilous and abusive + tongues he met withal abroad. For it is much better to overcome boisterous + passions and to bring the mind into a calm and even frame of spirit, by + contentedly undergoing the scoffs, outrages, and + affronts of enemies, than to be stirred up to choler or revenge by the worst + they can say or do.

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Thus we may show a meek and gentle temper and a submissive bearing of evil in + our enmities; and even integrity, magnanimity, and goodness of disposition + are also more conspicuous here than in friendship. For it is not so + honorable and virtuous to do a friend a kindness, as it is unworthy and base + to omit this good office when he stands in need; but it is an eminent piece + of humanity, and a manifest token of a nature truly generous, to put up with + the affronts of an enemy when you have a fair opportunity to revenge them. + For if any one sympathizes with his enemy in his affliction, relieves him in + his necessities, and is ready to assist his sons and family if they desire + it, any one that will not love this man for his compassion, and highly + commend him for his charity, must have a black heart + made of adamant or iron, as Pindar says.

+

When Caesar made an edict that the statues of Pompey which were tumbled down + should be rebuilt and restored to their former beauty and magnificence, + Tully tells him that by setting up again Pompey's statues he has erected one + for himself, an everlasting monument of praise and honor to after ages. So + that we must give to every one his due, to an enemy such respect and honor + as he truly deserves. Thus a man that praises his enemy for his real deserts + shall himself obtain the more honor by it; and whenever he shall correct or + censure him, he will be credited in what he does, because every one will + believe that he does it out of a dislike and just abhorrence of his vice and + not of his person.

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By this practice we shall be brought at length to perform the most honorable + and worthy actions; for he who is wont to praise and speak the best things + of his enemies will never repine at the prosperity or success of his friends + and acquaintance; he is never troubled, but + rather rejoices, when they thrive and are happy. And what virtue can any man + exercise that will be more profitable and delightful to him than this, which + takes away from him the bitterness of malice, and doth not only break the + teeth of envy, but, by teaching him to rejoice at another man's felicity, + doth double his own enjoyment and satisfaction. As in war many things, + although they are bad and evil in themselves, yet have become necessary, and + by long custom and prescription have obtained the validity of a law, so that + it is not easy to root them out, even by those who thereby suffer much harm; + just so doth enmity usher in the mind a long train of vices, meagre envy + coupled with grim hatred, restless jealousy and suspicion, unnatural joy at + other men's miseries, and a long remembrance of injuries. Fraud, deceit, and + snares, joined to these forces of wickedness, work infinite mischief in the + world, yet they appear as no evils at all when they are exerted against an + enemy. By this means they make a deep entrance into the mind; they get fast + hold of it, and are hardly shaken off. So that, unless we forbear the + practice of these ill qualities towards our enemies, they will by frequent + acts become so habitual to us, that we shall be apt to make use of them to + the manifest wrong and injury of our friends. Wherefore, if Pythagoras was + highly esteemed for instructing his disciples to avoid all manner of cruelty + against beasts themselves,—so that he himself would redeem them out of their + captivity in either the fowler's or the fisherman's net, and forbade his + followers to kill any creature,—it is surely much better and more manly in + our differences with men to show ourselves generous, just, and detesters of + all falsehood, and to moderate and correct all base, unworthy, and hurtful + passions; that in all our conversation with our friends we may be + open-hearted, and that we may not seek to overreach or deceive others in any + of our dealings.

+ +

For Scaurus was a professed enemy and an open accuser of Domitius; whereupon + a treacherous servant of Domitius comes to Scaurus before the cause was to + be heard, and tells him that he has a secret to communicate to him in + relation to the present suit, which he knows not of, and which may be very + advantageous on his side. Yet Scaurus would not permit him to speak a word, + but apprehended him, and sent him back to his master. And when Cato was + prosecuting Murena for bribery, and was collecting evidence to support his + charge, he was accompanied (according to custom) by certain persons in the + interest of the defendant, who watched his transactions. These often asked + him in the morning, whether he intended on that day to collect evidence or + make other preparation for the trial; and so soon as he told them he should + not, they put such trust in him that they went their way. This was a plain + demonstration of the extraordinary deference and honor they paid to Cato; + but a far greater testimony, and one surpassing all the rest, is it to prove + that, if we accustom ourselves to deal justly and uprightly with our + enemies, then we shall not fail to behave ourselves so towards our + friends.

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Simonides was wont to say that there was no lark without its crest; so the + disposition of men is naturally pregnant with strife, suspicion, and envy, + which last (as Pindar observes) is the companion of + empty-brained men. Therefore no man can do any thing that will tend + more to his own profit and the preservation of his peace than utterly to + purge out of his mind these corrupt affections, and cast them off as the + very sink of all iniquity, that they may create no more mischief between him + and his friends. This Onomademus, a judicious and wise man, understood well, + who, when he was of the prevailing side in a civil commotion at Chios, gave + this counsel to his friends, that they should not quite destroy or drive + away those of the adverse party, but let some abide + there, for fear they should begin to fall out among themselves as soon as + their enemies were all out of the way. Therefore, if these uneasy + dispositions of the mind be spent and consumed upon enemies, they would + never molest or disquiet our friends. Neither doth Hesiod approve of one + potter or one singer's envying another, or that a neighbor or relation or + brother should resent it ill that another prospers and is successful in the + world.Hesiod, Works and Days, 23. But if there be no + other way whereby we may be delivered from emulation, envy, or contention, + we may suffer our minds to vent these passions upon the prosperity of our + enemies, and whet the edge and sharpen the point of our anger upon them. For + as gardeners that have knowledge and experience in plants expect their roses + and violets should grow the better by being set near leeks and + onions,—because all the sour juices of the earth are conveyed into these,—so + an enemy by attracting to himself our vicious and peevish qualities, may + render us less humorsome and more candid and ingenuous to our friends that + are in a better or more happy state than ourselves.

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Wherefore let us enter the lists with our enemies, and contend with them for + true glory, lawful empire, and just gain. Let us not so much debase + ourselves as to be troubled and fret at any possessions they enjoy more than + we have. Let us rather carefully observe those good qualities wherein our + enemies excel us, so that by these motives we may be excited to outdo them + in honest diligence, indefatigable industry, prudent caution, and exemplary + sobriety; as Themistocles complained that the victory Miltiades got at + Marathon would not let him sleep. But whosoever views his adversary exalted + far above him in dignities, in pleading of great causes, in administration + of state affairs, or in favor and friendship with princes, and doth not put + forth all his strength and power to get before him + in these things,—this man commonly pines away, and by degrees sinks into the + sloth and misery of an envious and inactive life. And we may observe, that + envy and hatred do raise such clouds in the understanding, that a man shall + not be able to pass a right judgment concerning things which he hates; but + whosoever with an impartial eye beholds, and with a sincere mind judges, the + life and manners, discourses, and actions of his enemy, will soon understand + that many of those things that raise his envy were gotten by honest care, a + discreet providence, and virtuous deeds. Thus the love of honorable and + brave actions may be kindled and advanced in him, and an idle and lazy + course of life may be contemned and forsaken.

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But if our enemies arrive at high places in the courts of princes by flattery + or frauds, by bribery or gifts, we should not be troubled at it, but should + rather be pleased in comparing our undisguised and honest way of living with + theirs which is quite contrary. For Plato, who was a competent judge, was of + opinion that virtue was a more valuable treasure than all the riches above + the earth or all the mines beneath it. And we ought' evermore to have in + readiness this saying of Solon:Solon, Frag. No. 16. + But we will not give up our virtue in exchange for their wealth. So will we + never give up our virtue for the applause of crowded theatres, which may be + won by a feast, nor for the loftiest seats among eunuchs, concubines, and + royal satraps. For nothing that is worth any one's appetite, nothing that is + handsome or becoming a man, can proceed from that which is in itself evil + and base. But, as Plato repeats once and again, the lover cannot see the + faults of the thing or person that he loves, and we apprehend soonest what + our enemies do amiss; therefore we must let neither our joy at their + miscarriages nor our sorrow at their successes be + idle and useless to ourselves, but we are bound to consider in both + respects, how we may render ourselves better than they are, by avoiding what + is faulty and vicious in them, and how we may not prove worse than they, if + we imitate them in what they do excel.

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