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214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

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THE SECOND BOOKE 513<br />

for it must needes he granted there are in that profession<br />

some men who cannot well avoyde it) I ever<br />

say he is the patientest man I knowe to bridle his<br />

choler; it mooveth and transporteth him with such<br />

furie and violence—<br />

magno veluti cum flamma sonore<br />

Virgea sugqerttur cost is undantis aheni,<br />

Exidtantque cestu latices,furit intus aquai<br />

Fumidus atque alte tpttmu cxuberat amms,<br />

Nec jam se capit unaa, volat vapor ater adjzuras ¹—<br />

As when a fagot flame with hurring sounds<br />

Under the ribbes of boyling cauldron lies,<br />

<strong>The</strong> water swelles with heat beyond the bounds,<br />

Whence streaming streames raging and foaming rise,<br />

Water out-runs it selfe, blacke vapours flye to skies—<br />

that he must cruelly enforce himselfe to moderate the<br />

same. And for my part I know noe passion I were<br />

able to smother with such temper and abide with such<br />

resolution. I would not set wisdome at so high a rate.<br />

I respect not so much what he doth as how much it<br />

cost nim not to doe worse. Another boasted in my<br />

presence of his behaviours o<strong>rd</strong>er and mildnesse, which<br />

in truth is singular. 1 tolde him that indeed it was<br />

much, namely, in men of so eminent a quality as himselfe<br />

was, on whom ail eyes are fixed, alwaies to shew<br />

himselfe in a good temper ; but that the chiefest point<br />

consisted in providing inwa<strong>rd</strong>ly and for himselfe; and<br />

that in mine opinion it was no discreet part inwa<strong>rd</strong>ly<br />

to fret: which, to maintaine that marke and formall<br />

outwa<strong>rd</strong> appearance, I feared hee did. Choler is incorporated<br />

by concealing and smothering the same, as<br />

Diogenes said to Demosthenes, who fearing to be seene<br />

in a taverne withdrew himselfe into the same. <strong>The</strong><br />

more thou recoylest backe, the further thou goest into<br />

it* I would rather perswade a man, though somewhat<br />

out of season, to give his boy a wherrat on the eare,<br />

then to dissemble this wise, sterne or severe countenance,<br />

to vex and fret his minde. And I would rather<br />

make shew of my passions then smother them to my<br />

¹ VIRG, AEn. 1. vii. 462.<br />

. 2 L

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