Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/147

Rh although there be many cups and goblets standing upon the board, choose one from the rest, and cannot drink forsooth but out of that one: according as the stories do report of Marius, who loved one mazar, and could drink out of no other. Thus they do by their oil cruets and currying combs or rubbers, when they are at the bains or stouphs, taking a fancy and affection to some one above the rest: but if it chance that one of them be cracked, broken, or be lost and miscarry any way, then they are exceeding angry and fall to beating of their servants.

Such men, therefore, as find themselves to be choleric, should do well to forbear all rare and exquisite things, to wit, pots, cups, seal rings of excellent workmanship and precious stones. For that such costly jewels, if they be marred or lost, breed more anger and set men out of order, more than those which be ordinary and easy to be come by. And therefore, when Nero the emperor had caused to be made a certain pavilion or tabernacle eight square, which was both for the beauty and cost exceeding fair and sumptuous, and indeed an admirable piece of work. In this tabernacle (quoth Seneca) unto him, you have bewrayed, Caesar, that you are but a poor man: for if you lose this once, you shall never be able to recover and get the like again. And so it fell out indeed, for the ship wherein the same tabernacle was, chanced to be cast away upon the sea, and all was drowned. But Nero, calling to mind the words of Seneca, took the loss more patiently.

Moreover, this contentment of mind, and easiness to be pleased with anything in the house, causeth a man also to be more gentle, mild, and better contented with his servants and people about him: now if it work this effect in us toward our household servants, evident it is that we shall be likewise affected to our friends and those that be under our government. We see also, that slaves new bought are inquisitive as touching him who hath bought them; not whether he be superstitious and envious; but whether he be choleric and hasty or no. And to be brief, neither can husbands endure the pudicity and honesty of their wives; nor wives the love of their husbands; nor yet friends the mutual conversation one with another, if there do an angry and choleric humour go withal. Thus we see that neither marriage nor amity be tolerable with choler. Contrariwise, if anger be away, even drunkenness itself is tolerable and we can easily abide it: for the very ferula of god Bacchus is a sufficient punishment of drunkenness, if so be there be not choler therewith, which may cause Bacchus, that is. Strong