Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/414

392 as therefore in a certain comedy there was one who exhorted his friend, being fallen into some adversity, to take a good heart, and fight against fortune; who when he demanded of him again how he should combat with her, made answer: Marry, after a philosophical manner; even so let us also maintain battle, and be revenged of adversity, by following the rule of philosophy, and being armed with patience as becometh wise men. For after what sort do we defend ourselves against rain? or how be we revenged of the north wind? marry, we seek for fire, we go into a stouph, we make provision of clothes, and we get an house over our heads; neither do we sit us down in the rain until we be thoroughly wet to the skin, and then weep our fill; and even so, have you also in those things which are presently about you good means, yea, and better than any other, to revive, refresh, and warm this part of your life which seemeth to be frozen and benumbed with cold, as having no need at all of any other helps and succours, so long as you will use the foresaid means, according as reason doth prescribe and direct. For true it is, that the ventoses or cupping-glasses that physicians use, drawing out of man's body the worst and most corrupt blood, do disburden and preserve all the rest. But they that are given to heaviness and sorrow, who love also evermore to whine and complain, by gathering together and multiplying continually in their cogitations the worst matters incident unto them, and eftsoons consuming themselves with the dolorous accidents of their fortune, cause those means to be unprofitable unto them which otherwise are wholesome and expedient, and even at such a time especially when they should do most good.

As for those two tuns, my good friend, which Homer saith to be set in heaven full of men's destinies, the one replenished with good and the other with bad, it is not Jupiter who sitteth to dispense and distribute them abroad, sending unto some mild and pleasant fortunes intermingled always with goodness, but unto others continual streams (as a man would say) of mere misfortunes without any temperature of any goodness at all: but even among our own selves as many as be wise and are of any sound understanding, draw out of their happy fortunes whatsoever cross and adverse matter is mingled therewith, and by this means make their life the pleasanter; and as a man would say more potable; whereas contrariwise, many men do let their fortunes run (as it were) through a colander or strainer, wherein the worst stick and remain in the way behind, whiles the better do pass and run out; and therefore it behoveth that