Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/109

Rh sufficient, putting them in mind of their errors, and working repentance: and then in such distress there is no use at all either of friends to speak unto them frankly, or of pinching and biting speeches, to molest and trouble them, but to say a truth, in these mutations

It greatly doth content our minds To see the face of pleasant friends,

who may yield consolation, comfort and strength to a distressed heart, like as Xenophon doth write, that in battles and the greatest extremities of danger, the amiable visage and cheerful countenance of Clearchus being once seen of the soldiers, encouraged them much more to play the men and fight lustily: whereas he that useth unto a man distressed, such plain speech as may gall and bite him more, doth as much as one who unto a troubled and inflamed eye applieth some quick eye-salve or sharp drug that is proper for to clear the sight: by which means he cureth not the infirmity beforesaid, neither doth he mitigate or allay the pain, but unto sorrow and grief of mind already addeth anger moreover, and doth exasperate a wounded heart.

And verily so long as a man is in the latitude of health, he is not so testy, froward, and impatient, but that he will in some sort give ear unto his friend, and think him neither rough nor altogether rude and uncivil, in case he tell him of his looseness of life, how he is given too much either unto women or wine; or if he find fault with his idleness and sitting still, or contrariwise his excessive exercise; if he reprove him for haunting so often the bains or hot-houses, and never lying out of them, or blame him for gormandise and belly cheer, or eating at undue hours. But if he be once sick, then it is a death unto him and a grief insupportable, which doth aggravate his malady, to have one at his bedside sounding ever in his ears; See what comes of your drunkenness, your idleness, your surfeiting and gluttony, your wenching and lechery, these are the causes of your disease. But what will the sick man say again: Away, good sir, with these unseasonable words of yours: you trouble me much, and do me no good iwis: I am about making my last will and testament; my physicians are busy preparing and tempering a potion of scammony, or a drink of castoreum for me: and you come preaching unto me with your philosophical reasons and admonitions to chastise me: I have no need of them now, nor of such friends as you. Semblably it fareth with those who are fallen to decay and be down the wind; for capable they