Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/266



[ which is commonly said, All extremities be naught, requireth otherwhiles an exposition, and namely, in that virtue which we call temperance, one of the kinds or branches whereof consisteth in the right use of the tongue, which is as much to say, as the skill and knowledge how to speak as it becometh: now the moderation of speech hath for the two extremes. Silence (a thing more often praiseworthy than reproachable) and Babble; against which this discourse is addressed. Considering, then, that silence is an assured reward unto wise men, and opposite directly unto much prattling, and comely and seemly speech is in the midst, we call not silence a vice, but say, that a man never findeth harm by holding his peace. But as touching garrulity or intemperate speech, the author sheweth in the very beginning of his treatise that it is a malady incurable and against nature; for it doth frustrate the talkative person of his greatest desire, to wit, for to have audience and credit given him; also that it maketh a man inconsiderate, importune, and malapert, ridiculous, mocked and hated, plunging him ordinzirily into danger, as many events have proved by experience. For to discover this matter the better, he saith consequently: That the nature of virtuous men and those who have noble bringing up, is directly opposite unto that of long-tongued persons; and joining the reasons by which a man ought not to bewray his secret, together with those evils and inconveniences which curiosity and much babble do bring, and confirming all by fine similitudes and notable examples: afterwards, taking in hand again his former speech and argument, he compareth a traitor and busy talker together, to the end that all men should so much the rather detest the vice of garrulity: then he proceedeth immediately to discover and apply the remedies of this mischief, willing us in the first place and generally to consider the calamities and miseries that much babbling causeth; as also the good and commodity which proceedeth of silence: which done he discourseth of those particular remedies, which import thus much in effect: That a man ought to frame and accustom himself, either to be silent, or else to speak last; to avoid all hastiness in making his answer; to say nothing, but that which is either needful or civil; to shun and forbear those discourses which please us most, and wherein we may be soon overseen and proceed too far; to find busy praters occupied apart from them; to provide them the company of men who are of authority and aged; In sum, to consider whether that which a man hath said, be convenient, meet, and profitable, and nevertheless to think always of this: That otherwhiles a man may repent of some words spoken, but never of keeping silence.]