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THE SECOND BOOKE 571
entertainement and other occupations, unto a certaine
limit. In so extreme accidents it is cruelty to require
so composed a warde at our hands. If we have a good
game it skills not, though we have an ill countenance.
If the body be any whit eased by complaining, let him
doe it: if stirring or agitation please him, let him
turne, rowle, and tosse himselfe as long as he list:
if with raising his voyce, or sending it forth with more
violence, he think his griefe any thing alayed or vented
(as some physitians affirme it somewhat easeth women
great with childe, and is a meane of easie or speedy
delivery) feare he not to do it; or if he may but entertaine
his torment, let him mainly cry out. Let us not
commaund our voyce to depart; but if she will, let us
not hinder it. Epicurus doth not only pardon his
wise-man to crie out, when he is grieved or vexed, but
perswadeth him to it. Pugiles etiam quumferiunt, in
Jactandis coestibus ingemiscunt, quia profundenda voce
omne corpus intenditur venitque plaga vehementior ;¹
' Men when they fight with sand-bags, or such heavy
weapons, in fetching their blow and driving it, will,
give a groane withall because by stretching their voyce i
all their body is also strayned, and the stroke cometh
with more vehemence.' We are vexed and troubled 1
enough with the evill, without troubling and vexing
our selves with these superfluous rules. This I say to
excuse those which are ordinarily seene to rage in the
fits, and storme in the assaults of this sicknesse, for, as
for me, 1 have hitherto past it over with somewhat
a better countenance, and am content to groane without
braying and exclaiming. And yet I trouble not
myselfe to maintaine this exterior decencie; for I make
small reckoning of such an advantage, in that I lend
my sicknesse what it requireth : but either my paine is
not so excessive, or I beare it with more constancy than
the vulgar sorte. Indeede I must confesse, when the
sharpe fits or throwes assaile me, I complaine and vexe
my selfe, but yet I never fall into despaire, as that
fellow:
1 CIC. Tusc. Qu. 1. ii.