Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/52

30 saith one. And even so do other vices serve men: to wit, envy, fear, wrath, wanton love, and unbridled lust. For in the daytime, vice looking out, and composing itself somewhat unto others abroad, is somewhat ashamed of herself, and covereth her passions; she giveth not herself wholly to her motions and perturbations, but many times doth strive again and make resistance: but in sleep, being without the danger of laws and the opinion of the world, being far removed (as it were) from fear and shame: then it setteth all lusts awork, then it quickeneth and raiseth up all lewdness, and then it displayeth all lascivious wantonness. It tempteth (as Plato saith) a man to have carnal dealing with his own mother, and to eat of forbidden and unlawful meats: there is no villany that it forbeareth; executing (so far forth as it is able) all abomination, and hath the fruition thereof, if it be but by illusions and fanatical dreams, which end not in any pleasure, nor accomplishment of concupiscence, but are powerful only to excite, stir, and provoke still the fits of secret passions and maladies of a corrupt heart.

Wherein lieth, then, the pleasure and delight of sin, if it be so, that in no place nor at any time it be void of pensiveness, care and grief? if it never have contentment, but always in molestation and trouble, without repose? As for carnal delights and fleshly pleasures, the good complexion and sound constitution of an healthful body giveth thereto means, place, opportunity and breeding. But in the soul it is not possible that there should be engendered any mirth, joy and contentment, unless the first foundation be laid in peace of conscience, and tranquillity of spirit, void of fear, and enjoying a settled calm in all assurance and confidence, without any shew of tempest toward. For otherwise, suppose that some hope do smile upon a man; or say, that delight tickle a little; the same anon is troubled, and all the sport is marred by some careful cogitation breaking forth: like as the object and concurrence of one rock troubleth and overthroweth all, though the water and weather both be never so calm.

Now gather gold and spare not by heaps, rake and scrape together masses of silver, build fair, gallant and stately walking-places, replenish all thy house with slaves, and a whole city with debtors: unless withal thou do allay the passions of thy mind; unless thou stay and appease thy insatiable lust and desire; unless thou free and deliver thyself from all fear and carking cares: thou dost as much as strain wine, or make ipocras for one that is sick of a fever, give honey to a choleric person diseased with