Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/152

130 such faults as were committed in choler, those ourselves will punish in choler; not verily as the physicians use to do, who

A bitter medicine into the body pour. When bitter choler they mean to purge and scour.

But we rather do increase the same with our bitterness, and make more trouble than was before.

And therefore, when I think and discourse with myself of these matters, I endeavour withal and assay to cut off somewhat from needless curiosity. For surely this narrow searching and streight looking into everything, for to spy and find out a fault; as for example, to sift thy servant and call him into question for all his idle hours; to pry into every action of thy friend; to see where about thy son goeth, and how he spendeth all his time; to listen what whispering there is between thy wife and another, be the very means to breed much anger, daily brawls, and continual jars, which grow in the end to the height of curstness and frowardness, hard to be pleased with anything whatsoever. For according as Euripides saith in one place, we ought in some sort to do:

All great affairs God ay himself directeth, But matters small, to fortune he committeth.

For mine own part, I do not think it good to commit any business to fortune; neither would I have a man of understanding to be retchless in his own occasions: But with some things to put his wife in trust; others to make over unto servants, and in some matters to use his friends. Herein to bear himself like a prince and great commander, having under him his deputies, governors, receivers, auditors, and procurators; reserving unto himself and to the disposition of his own judgment, the principal affairs and those of greatest importance. For like as little letters or a small print do more offend and trouble the eyes than greater, for that the eyes be very intentive upon them; even so, small matters do quickly move choler, which thereupon soon getteth an ill custom in weightier matters. But above all, I ever reckon that saying of Empedocles to be a divine precept and heavenly oracle, which admonisheth us To fast from sin. I commended also these points and observations, as being right honest, commendable, and beseeming him that maketh profession of wisdom and philosophy, which we use to vow unto the gods in our prayers: Namely, To forbear both wine and women, and so to live sober and chaste a whole year together,