Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/38

16 be not twain, but one body, changing itself, one while into the form of a hunter, and another time taking the shape of a savage beast: For both they in a manifest and apparent matter should seem to be blind and see nothing: and also these bear witness and depose against their own sense, considering that they find and feel in themselves really not a mutation or change of one only thing, but a sensible strife and fight of two things together with them.

But here they come upon us again and object in this wise. How cometh it to pass then (say they) that the power and faculty in man which doth deliberate and consult is not likewise double (being oftentimes distracted, carried, and drawn to contrary opinions, as it is, namely, touching that which is profitable and expedient), but is one still and the same? True, we must confess, that divided it seemeth to be: But this comparison doth not hold, neither is the event and effect alike: for that part of our soul wherein prudence and reason is seated fighteth not with itself, but using the help of one and the same faculty, it handleth divers arguments, or rather, being but one power of discoursing, it is employed in sundry subjects and matters different: which is the reason that there is no dolour and grief at one end of those reasonings and discourses which are without passion; neither are they that consult forced (as it were) to hold one of those contrary parts against their mind and judgment; unless peradventure it so fall out that some affection lie close to one part or other, as if a man should secretly and underhand lay somewhat besides in one of the balances or scales against reason for to weigh it down. A thing (I assure you) that many times falleth out: and then it is not reason that is poised against reason; but either ambition, emulation, favour, jealousy, fear, or some secret passion, making semblance as if in shew of speeches, two reasons were at variance and differed one from another. As may appear by these verses in Homer:

Likewise in another poet:

And verily in determining of controversies between man and man in their contracts and suits of law, these passions coming