Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/381

Rh unjust and untrue; or when he hath flatly denied the unhonest request, or stoutly crossed a bad motion of some rich man, great lord or mighty magistrate; or refused gifts and bribes; or proceeded so far that being athirst in the night he hath not drunk at all; or hath refused to kiss a beautiful boy or fair maiden and turned away from them coming toward him as Agesilaus did, to keep all this to himself and say nothing: For such a one as is content to be proved and tried by his own self, not setting light by that trial and judgment, but joying and taking delight in his conscience, as being a sufficient witness and beholder, both of good things and commendable actions, sheweth that reason hath turned in, to lodge and keep resistance with him, that it hath taken deep root there: and as Democritus saith: That he is well framed, and by custom brought to rejoice and take pleasure in himself. And like as husbandmen are more glad and willing to see the ears of corn hang down their heads, and bend toward the earth, than those who for their lightness stand straight, upright and staring aloft, for that they suppose such ears are empty, or have little or nothing in them, for all their fair shew; even so, among young men, students in philosophy, they that have least in them of any weight, and be most void, be those that are at the very first most confident; set the greatest countenance; carry the biggest port in their gait, and have the boldest face, shewing therein how full they are of pride in themselves, contempt of all others, and sparing of none: but afterwards, as they begin to grow on and burnish, furnishing and filling themselves with the fruits indeed of reason and learning, then and never before they lay away these proud looks; then down goes this vain pride and outward ostentation. And like as we see in vessels, whereinto men use to pour in liquor, according to the quantity and measure of the said liquor that goeth in, the air which was there before flieth out; even so to the proportion of those good things which are certain and true indeed, wherewith men are replenished, their vanity giveth place, all their hypocrisy vanisheth away, their swelling and puffing pride doth abate and fall, and giving over then to stand upon their goodly long beards and side robes, they transfer the exercise of outward things into the mind and soul within, using the sharp bit of bitter reprehension principally against themselves. And as for others, they can find in their hearts to devise, confer, and talk with them more graciously and with greater courtesy; the manner of philosophy, and reputation of philosophers, they do not usurp nor take upon them, neither do they