First, a Cautelousnesse and fruit full Wisdom for our own welfare to prevent danger, and to reap benefit from that, which is at enmity with us. For we shall observe in many evils that no man is brought within the danger, who •s not first drawn into the love of them. All inordinate corruptions then most desperately wound the Soul, when they beguile and entangle it. But the greatest use of this Caution is to1 learn how to benefit by the Hatred of others, and •s learned Physicians do, to make an Antidote of Poison. For as many venomous creatures are ⟨p. 138⟩by Art used to cure the wounds, and repair the injuries, which themselves had made (Natural Attraction, as it were, calling home that poison which injury and violence had misplaced:) So the malice and venom of an Enemy may by wisdom be converted into a Medicine, and by managing become a benefit, which was by him intended for an injury. Or to use the excellent similitude2 of Plutarch, As healthy and strong beasts do eat and concoct Serpents, whereas weak stomachs do nauseate at delicates: so wise men do exceedingly profit by the hatred of their enemies, whereas fools are corrupted with the love of their friends; and an injury doth one man more good, then a courtesy doth another. As Wind and Thunder when they trouble the Air, do withal purge it; whereas a long calm doth dispose it to putrefaction: or as the same Whetstone that takes away from a weapon, doth likewise sharpen it; so a Wise man can make use of the detraction of an enemy to grow the brighter and the better by it. And therefore when […] advised that Carthage should be utterly destroyed, Scipio Nascica persuaded the contrary upon these reasons, that it was needful for Rome to have always some enemies, which by a kind of antipe3 ristasis might strengthen & keep alive its virtue, which otherwise by security might be in danger of languishing and degenerate into luxury. Fo• 4as the Israelites, when there was no Smith amongst them did sharpen their instruments with the Philistines; so indeed an enemy doth serve to ⟨p. 139⟩quicken and put an edge upon those virtues, which by lying unexercised might contract rust and dullness, and many times when the reasons of the thing it self will not persuade, the Fear of giving advantage to an Enemy, or of gratifying him, will over-rule a man, lest hereby he give his foes matter of Insultation.
First, a Cautelousnesse and fruit full Wisedome for our own welfare to prevent danger, and to reape benefit from that, which is at enmitie with us. For we shall observe in many evils that no man is brought within the danger, who •s not first drawne into the love of them. All inordinate corruptions then most desperately wound the Soule, when they beguile and entangle it. But the greatest use of this Caution is to1 learne how to benefit by the Hatred of others, and •s learned Physitians doe, to make an Antidote of Poyson. For as many venemous creatures are ⟨p. 138⟩by Arte used to cure the wounds, and repaire the injuries, which themselves had made (Naturall Attraction, as it were, calling home that poyson which injurie and violence had misplaced:) So the malice and venome of an Enemy may by wisdome be converted into a Medicine, and by managing become a benefit, which was by him intended for an injury. Or to use the excellent similitude2 of Plutarch, As healthy and strong beasts doe eate and concoct Serpents, whereas weake stomacks do nauseate at delicates: so wise men do exceedingly profit by the hatred of their enemies, whereas fooles are corrupted with the love of their friends; ond an injury doth one man more good, then a courtesie doth another. As Wind and Thunder when they trouble the Ayre, doe withall purge it; whereas a long calme doth dispose it to putrifaction: or as the same Whetstone that takes away from a weapon, doth likewise sharpen it; so a Wise man can make use of the detraction of an enemy to grow the brighter and the better by it. And therefore when 〈…〉 advised that Carthage should be utterly destroyed, Scipio Nascica perswaded the contrary upon these reasons, that it was needful for Rome to have alwaies some enemies, which by a kind of antipe3 ristasis might strengthen & keep alive its vertue, which otherwise by security might be in dange• of languishing and degenerate into luxury. Fo• 4as the Israelites, when there was no Smith amongst them did sharpen their instruments with the Philistins; so indeed an enemy doth serve to ⟨p. 139⟩
- 1Quod de […] obs • vavit. Plutar• lib. de será nu minis▪ […] […] aliq•n lo pro remedy •uit. Sen de Bene•. l. 2. c. 18.Quod de 〈…〉 obs • vavit. Plutar• lib. de será nu minis▪ 〈…〉 〈…〉 aliq•n lo pro remedi •uit. Sen de Bene•. l. 2. c. 18.
- 2Plutarch. de Capiend. ex hostibus ut• lit. Coel. Khodigin. Antiq. lect. l. 5. cap. 17.
- 3Florus. lib. 2.
- 41 Sam. 13. •0.
