Page:The Bible of Nature, and Substance of Virtue.djvu/27

Rh FROM PLUTARCH'S MORALS.

Pythagoras taught in certain enigmatical sentences, which I shall here relate and expound, as being greatly useful to further virtuous inclinations, such as these ;

"Taste not of creatures that have black tails:" — That is, converse not with men that are smutted with vicious qualities.

"Stride not over the beam of a pair of scales:" — Wherein he teaches us the regard we ought to have for justice, so as not to go beyond its measures.

"Sit not on a bushel:" — Wherein he forbids sloth, and requires us to take care to provide ourselves of necessaries for a livelihood.

"Do not strike hands with every man:" — He means that we ought not to be over-hasty to make acquaintances or friendships with others.

"Wear not a strait ring:" — That is, we are to labor after a free and undepending way of living, and not be indebted to others.

"Stir not up the fire with a sword:" — Signifying that we ought not to provoke one more, who is angry already, (as being an act of great indecency,) but rather comply with them while their passion is in its heat.

"Eat not of an heart:" — Which forbids to afflict our souls, and spend our spirits with vexatious cares.

"Abstain from beans:" — That is keep out of public offices; for anciently, new magistrates were chosen, and the old discharged by suffrages, numbered by beans.

"Put not food in a chamber pot:" — Wherein he declares the unsuitableness of a good discourse, (such as is fit to nourish the mind,) to one whose mind is prepossessed with vicious habits; as that which is endangered to defilement from such men.

" When men are arrived at the goal, they should not return back again:" — That is, those who are near the end of their days, and see the period of their lives approaching, ought to entertain it contentedly, and not be grieved at it,

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