Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/278

256 a suit and sequence linked and hanging to an intemperate tongue: for like as unity, so long as she passeth not her bounds, but continueth and remaineth still in herself, is one and no more, in which respect she is called in Greek, monas, that is to say, alone; whereas the number of twain is the beginning of a diversity (as it were) and difference, and therefore indefinite; for straightways is unity passed forth of itself by doubling, and so turneth to a plurality; even so a word or speech all the while it abideth enclosed in him who first knew it, is truly and properly called a secret, but after it is once gotten forth and set a-going, so that it is come unto another, it beginneth to take the name of a common bruit and rumour: for as the poet very well saith; Words have wings. A bird, if she be let fly once out of our hands, it is much ado to catch again, and even so, when a word hath passed out of a man's mouth, hardly or unneth may we withhold or recover; for it flieth amain, it flappeth her light wings, fetching many a round compass, and spreadeth every way from one quarter to another: well may mariners stay a ship with cables and anchors, when the violence of the wind is ready to drive and carry her an end, or at leastwise they may moderate her swift and flight course; but if a word be issued out of the mouth, as out of her haven, and have gotten sea-room, there is no bay nor harbour to ride in, there is no casting of anchor will serve the turn, away she goes with a mighty noise and hurry, until in the end she runs upon some rock and is split, or else into a great and deep gulf, to the present danger of him who set her forth:

The senate of Rome upon a time sat in sad and serious counsel many days together, about a matter of great secrecy: now the thing being so much the more suspected and hearkened after, as it was less apparent and known abroad, a certain Roman dame, otherwise a good, sober and wise matron (howbeit a woman), importuned her husband and instantly besought him of all loves to tell her what this secret matter might be upon which they did sit so close in consultation? protesting with many an oath and execrable curse to keep silence and not to utter it to any creature in the world; you must think also, that she had tears at command, lamenting and complaining withal what an unhappy woman she was, in case her husband would