Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/416

 THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE COURTIEK doubtless they would not err: since the thing by which appetite conquers reason is always ignorance, and true knowledge can never be overcome by passion, which is derived from the body and not from the mind, and becomes virtue if rightly ruled and governed by reason; if not, it becomes vice. " But reason has such power that it always reduces the senses to submission and enters in by wonderful means and ways, pro- vided ignorance does not seize that which it ought to possess. So that although the spirits and nerves and bones have no reason in them, yet when a movement of the mind starts in us, as if thought were spurring and shaking the bridle on our spirits, all our members make ready, — the feet to run, the hands to take or to do that which the mind thinks ; and moreover this is clearly seen in many who at times unwittingly eat some loath- some and disgusting food, which to their taste seems very delicious, and then learning what thing it was, not only suffer pain and distress of mind, but the body so follows the mental sense, that they must perforce cast up that food." I?-— My lord Ottaviano was continuing his discourse further, but the Magnifico Giuliano interrupted him and said: " If I heard aright, my lord Ottaviano, you said that continence is an imperfect virtue because it has a grain of passion in it; and when there is a struggle waging in our minds between reason and appetite, I think that the virtue which battles and gives reason the victory, ought to be esteemed more perfect than that which con- quers without opposition of lust or passion; for there the mind seems not to abstain from evil by force of virtue, but to refrain from doing evil because it has no inclination thereto." Then my lord Ottaviano said: " Which captain would you deem of greater worth, the one who fighting openly puts himself in danger and yet conquers the enemy, or the one who by his ability and skill deprives them of their strength, reducing them to such straits that they cannot fight, and thus conquers them without any battle or danger what- ever?" " The one," said the Magnifico Giuliano, " who more safely con- quers is without doubt more to be praised, provided this safe vic- tory of his do not proceed from the cowardice of the enemy." 256