Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/170

148 intelligence, but suffer it to keep house within, and to be employed in objects intellectual, as if the windows that regard the street and highway were shut up. Howbeit most true it is, that those who for the most part occupy their understanding have least use of their senses: which is the reason that in old time they both builded the temples of the Muses, that is to say, houses ordained for students, which they named Musæa, as far as they could from cities and great towns: and also called the night Euphrone, as one would say, a friend to sage advice and counsel; as supposing that quiet rest, repose and stillness from all disturbance make very much for contemplation, and invention of those things that we study and seek for.

Moreover, no harder matter is it nor of greater difficulty than the rest, when in the open market-place or common hall, men are at high words, reproaching and reviling one another, not to approach and come near unto them. Also, if there be any great concourse and running of people together upon some occasion, not to stir at all but sit still, or if thou art not able to contain and rule thyself, to rise up and go thy ways. For surely gain thou shalt no good at all by intermeddling with such busy and troublesome persons; but contrariwise, much fruit mayst thou reap by turning away such curiosity, in repressing the same and constraining it by use and custom to obey reason.

Having made this good entrance and beginning, to proceed now unto farther and stronger exercise, it were very good, whensoever there is any play exhibited upon the stage in a frequent theatre, where there is assembled a great audience to hear and see some worthy matter for to pass by it, and to put back thy friends who solicit thee to go thither with them, for to see either one dance excellent well, or to act a comedy; nor so much as to turn back when thou hearest some great shout and outcry, either from out of the race or the grand-cirque, where the horse-running is held for the prize. For like as Socrates gave counsel to forbear those meats which provoke men to eat when they are not hungry, and those drinks which incite folk to drink when they have no thirst; even so, we ought to avoid and beware how we either see or hear anything whatsoever, which may either draw or hold us thereto, when there is no need at all thereof. The noble Prince Cyrus would not so much as see fair Lady Panthea, and when Araspes, one of his courtiers and minions, made report unto him that she was a woman of incomparable beauty, and therefore worthy to be looked on: Nay, rather (quoth he) for that cause I ought to