Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/312

Hatton MS.] ðreatian, gif hie mon ongemang ðære ðreatunga fet mid sumere heringe. Him mon sceal cyðan ðara goda sum ðe hie on him habbað oððe ðara sum ðe hie habban meahton, gif hie næfden. Sua we magon betesð ofaceorfan ðæt us on him mislicað, ðæt we æresð gedon ðæt hie gehieren æt ús hwæthwugu ðæs de him licige, & mid ðy hiera mod getion to ús, ðæt hit sie de lusðbærre to gehieranne sua hwæt sua we him auðer oððe lean oððe læra wiellen. Forðæm hie beoð to myndgianne ðara goda ðe hie ær dydon, ðæt hie sien ðe lusðbærran to gehieranne ðæt him mon ðonne beodan wielle. Swa [swa] wildu hors, ðonne we h[ie] ærest gefangnu habbað, we hie ðacciað & straciad mid bradre handa & lemiað, to ðon ðæt we eft on fierste hie moten mid gierdum fullice [ge]læran & ða temian. Sua eac se læce, ðonne he bietre wyrta deð to hwelcum drence, he hie gesuet mid hunige, ðylæs he ða bieternesse ðære wyrte ðe hine gehæla[n] sceal æt fruman gefrede, ac ðonne se swæc ðære bieternesse bið bediegled mid ðære swetnesse, ðonne bið se deaðbæra wæta on ðæm menn ofslægen mid ðam biteran drence. Sua mon sceal on ðæm úpahæfenum monnum ðone fruman & ðone ingong ðære ðreatunga & ðære tælinge gemetgian, & wið heringe gemengan, ðætte hie for ðære licunga ðære heringe & ðære olicunga ðe hie lufigeað eac geðafigen ða tælinge & ða

reproof with a certain amount of praise. They are to be told of some of the good qualities that they have, or might have. We can best cut away that which we disapprove of in them by first making them hear from us something that pleases them, and thus inclining their hearts to us, that they may the more cheerfully hear whatever we wish either to blame or teach. Therefore they are to be reminded of the good they formerly did, that they may the more cheerfully hear what is to be en- joined on them; like wild horses, which, when first caught, we soothe and stroke with the palm of our hands, and subdue, that afterwards in course of time we may make them completely docile and tractable with whips. So also the physician, when he makes a draught of bitter herbs, sweetens it with honey, that the patient may not at first notice the bitterness of the herbs which are to cure him; but when the bitter taste is concealed by the honey, the deadly humour in the man is neutralized by the bitter drink. Thus the beginning and commencement of the blame and reproof of proud men is to be mode- rated and mingled with praise, that through the gratification of the praise and flattery they like, they may also suffer the blame and re-