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Cressida.]

1167. SELF-COMMENDATION.

The worthiness of Praise distains his worth, If that the prais'd himself bring the praise forth. 1168, PRAISE from an ENEMY.

What the repining Enemy commends, [transcends. That breath Fame blows; that praise, sole pure, 1169. TRUTH and HONESTY open,

What is meant fairly may aloud be spoken.

1170.

§ The truly virtuous

Will hold his bonor higher than his ease; Seek to do Good more than he fears the Peril. 1171. LOVE.

But rarely will that heart of value prove, That is not, hath not, will not be in Love. 1172. SUCCESS particular; passes for an omen of general.

§ Frequently, in the popular eye, success,
Although particular, shall give a scantling
Of good or bad unto the general.

And in such indexes there will be seen
The baby figure of the Giant-Mass,

Of things to come at large.

1173. CONSENT General makes it's ELECTION according to MERIT.

Choice, being the mutual act of ALL our Souls, Makes Merit her election.

1174. CONTRAST.

The lustre of the better shall exceed

By shewing the worst first.

1175. FOLLY, unconscious.

The Fool knows not himself. 1176.

Keep where there is Wit stirring; and leave the faction of Fools.

Cressida.]

1177. SECURITY-Confidence of it, dangerous. The wound of Peace is Surety,

Surety secure; but modest Doubt is call'd The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches To the bottom of the worst. [Enemies. 1178. REASON and ARGUMENT-their natural § None more dispos'd sharply to bite at Reasons Than those most empty of them.

1179. EXCELLENCE hath it's positive WORTH. Value dwells not in particular will: It holds his estimate and dignity

As well wherein 'tis precious of itself
As in the prizer.

1180. MARRIAGE.

§ Who takes to-day a Wife, and his election
Is led on by the conduct of his Will,
His Will enkindled by his eyes and ears,
Two traded Pilots 'twixt the dangerous shores
Of Will and Judgement-how may he avoid,
Although his Will distaste what it elected,
The Wife he chose? There can be no evasion
To blench from this and to stand firm by Honor.
1181. PREFERENCE extravagant.

'Tis mad Idolatry

To make the service greater than the God.
1182. POSSESSION not a reason for Disregard.
We turn not back the silks upon the merchant
When we have soil'd them; nor the remainder
We do not throw in unrespective place [viands
Because we now are full.

1183. INCONSTANCY.

* Do not in haste

The issue of your proper Wisdoms rate:

Cressida.]

Beggaring the Estimation which you priz'd
Richer than Sea or Land.

1184. PASSION an ill JUDGE between Individuals of NATIONS.

* In private Quarrel, or pursuit of War
Between contending Sovereignties, the blood
Is mad indeed, if not Discourse of Reason*,
Or fear of bad Success in a bad Cause

Can qualify it's rage.

1185. JUSTICE—not to be measured by EVENT. We may not think the justness of each Act Such and no other than Event doth form it ↑. 1186. WAR Precipitate; how reproachful.

Far be it that there should be done among us Such things as might offend a sober judgement To fight for and maintain. Else might the World Convince of levity our Acts and Councils

In things of dearest moment and concern. 1187. YOUTH.

+ Young men have been thought

Unfit to hear Moral Philosophy:

Not that they want it not; but that their Passions Do not regard it.

Is

1188. PASSION a sophistic Reasoner.

The Reasons which a Mind blinded by Passion eager to alledge, do more conduce

To the hot fury of distemper'd blood, Than to make up a free determinationTM "Twixt Right and Wrong.

1189. PLEASURE and REVENGE-deaf. Pleasure and Revenge

This Phrase is from AMYOT. 'Discours de Raison.' ↑ From his favorite OVID: --- "Careat successibus opte "Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat."

N

Cressida.]

Have ears more deaf than Adders to the voice

Of any true decision.

1190. INJUSTICE can plead no PRESCRIPTION. To persist

In doing wrong extenuates not wrong:
But makes it much more heavy.

1191. JUSTICE-the Voice of NATURE.
Nature craves

All Dues be render'd to their Owners*.

1192. HUSBAND and WIFE.

What nearer Debt in all Humanity

Than Wife is to the Husband?

[LAW.

1193. PASSIONS, disorderly; under the Curb of There is a Law in each well ordered Nation To curb those raging Appetites that are

Most disobedient and refractory †.

1194. FOLLY and IGNORANCE the Great Curse of Mankind.

The common Curse of Mankind is Folly and Ignorance.

1

1195. PASSION, unruly; a dreadful CURSE.

No severer imprecation against a Child-than this Discipline come not near thee; and let thy Passions be thy direction till thy Death ‡.

1196. FOLLY should be powerless against WISDOM. § It is hardly a strong composure that a Fool can disunite.

1197. FRIENDSHIP unstable between the UNWISE. The Amity that Wisdom knits not Folly may soon untye.

* SUUM CUTQUE.

† Oppida cæperunt munire; et ponere Leges;
Ne quis Fur esset, ne Latro, neu quis Adulter.
* But what would they deserve who should make it !

HOR.

Cressida.]

1198. TALENTS misapplied.

Virtuous Faculties

Not virtuously held by those who bear them,
Are like fair fruit in an unwholesome dish:
Likely to rot untasted.

1199. PRIDE-UNWISE and UNJUST.

Over-proud

Is under-honest: in self assumption greater
Than in the note of judgement.

1200. INFLEXIBILITY,

The Elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy ; His legs are for necessity, not for flexure,

1201. ACTIVITY.

A stirring Dwarf we do allowance give
Before a sleeping Giant.

1202. PRIDE.

Why should a Man be proud?

1203.

He that's proud eats up himself. ·
1204.

Pride is his own glass; his own trumpet;
His own chronicle.

1205. SELF-COMMENDATION.

Whate'er praises itself

But in the deed, devours the deed i' the praise. 1206. IMPORTANCE-Affectation of it. Things small as nothing for request's sake only We often make important.

1207. PRIDE passionate and restless.

Imagin'd worth

Holds in the blood such swoln and hot discourse, That 'twixt the mental and the active parts Commotion rages battering self 'gainst self,

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