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the advancement of learning-第38部分
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such time as he comes to it;) but; contrariwise; when nature makes a flower or living creature; she formeth rudiments of all the parts at one time: so in obtaining virtue by habit; while a man practiseth temperance; he doth not profit much to fortitude; nor the like: but when he dedicateth and applieth himself to good ends; look; what virtue soever the pursuit and passage towards those ends doth commend unto him; he is invested of a precedent disposition to conform himself thereunto。 Which state of mind Aristotle doth excellently express himself that it ought not to be called virtuous; but divine: his words are these: IMMANITATI AUTEM CONSENTANEUM EST OPPONERE EAM; QUAE SUPRA HUMANITATEM EST; HEROICAM SIVE DIVINAM VIRTUTEM: and a little after; NAM UT FERAE NEQUE VITIUM NEQUE VIRTUS EST; SIC NEQUE DEI: SED HIC QUIDEM STATUS ALTIUS QUIDDAM VIRTUTE EST; ILLE ALIUD QUIDDAM A VITIO。 And therefore we may see what celsitude of honour Plinius Secundus attributeth to Trajan in his funeral oration; where he said; THAT MEN NEEDED TO MAKE NO OTHER PRAYERS TO THE GODS; BUT THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE AS GOOD LORDS TO THEM AS TRAJAN HAD BEEN; as if he had not been only an imitation of divine nature; but a pattern of it。 But these be '65' heathen and profane passages; having but a shadow of that divine state of mind; which religion and the holy faith doth conduct men unto; by imprinting upon their souls charity; which is excellently called the bond of perfection; because it comprehendeth and fasteneth all virtues together。 And as it is elegantly said by Menander of vain love; which is but a false imitation of divine love; AMOR MELIOR SOPHISTA LAEVO AD HUMANAM VITAM; that love teacheth a man to carry himself better than the sophist or preceptor; which he calleth left…handed; because; with all his rules and precepts; he cannot form a man so dexterously; nor with that facility to prize himself and govern himself; as love can do: so certainly; if a man's mind be truly inflamed with charity; it doth work him suddenly into a greater perfection than all the doctrine of morality can do; which is but a sophist in comparison of the other。 Nay further; as Xenophon observed truly; that all other affections; though they raise the mind; yet they do it by distorting and uncomeliness of ecstasies or excesses; but only love doth exalt the mind; and nevertheless at the same instant doth settle and compose it; so in all other excellencies; though they advance nature; yet they are subject to excess; only charity admitteth no excess。 For so we see; aspiring to be like God in power; the angels transgressed and fell; ASCENDAM; ET ERO SIMILIS ALTISSIMO: by aspiring to be like God in knowledge; man transgressed and fell; ERITIS SICUT DII; SCIENTES BONUM ET MALUM: but by aspiring to a similitude of God in goodness or love; neither man nor angel ever transgressed; or shall transgress。 For unto that imitation we are called: DILIGITE INIMICOS VESTROS; BENEFACITE EIS QUI ODERUNT VOS; ET ORATE PRO PERSEQUENTIBUS ET CALUMNIANTIBUS VOS; UT SITIS FILII PATRIS VESTRI QUI IN COELIS EST; QUI SOLEM SUUM ORIRI FACIT SUPER BONOS ET MALOS; ET PLUIT SUPER JUSTOS ET INJUSTOS。 So in the first platform of the divine nature itself; the heathen religion speaketh thus; OPTIMUS MAXIMUS: and the sacred Scriptures thus; MISERICORDIA EJUS SUPER OMNIA OPERA EJUS。
16。 Wherefore I do conclude this part of moral knowledge; concerning the culture and regimen of the mind; wherein if any man; considering the parts thereof which I have enumerated; do judge that my labour is but to collect into an art of science that which hath been pretermitted by others; as matter of common sense and experience; he judgeth well; But as Philocrates sported with Demosthenes; YOU MAY NOT MARVEL; ATHENIANS; THAT DEMOSTHENES AND I DO DIFFER; FOR HE DRINKETH WATER; AND I DRINK WINE; and like as we read of an ancient parable of THE TWO GATES OF SLEEP;
Sunt geminae somni portae: quarum altera fertur Cornea; qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris: Altera candenti perfecta nitens elephanto; Sed falsa ad coelum mittunt insomnia manes:
so if we put on sobriety and attention; we shall find it a sure maxim in knowledge; that the more pleasant liquor of wine is the more vaporous; and the braver gate of ivory sendeth forth the falser dreams。
17。 But we have now concluded that general part of human philosophy; which contemplateth man segregate; and as he consisteth of body and spirit。 Wherein we may further note; that there seemeth to be a relation or conformity between the good of the mind and the good of the body。 For as we divided the good of the body into health; beauty; strength; and pleasure; so the good of the mind; inquired in rational and moral knowledges; tendeth to this; to make the mind sound; and without perturbation; beautiful; and graced with decency; and strong and agile for all duties of life。 These three; as in the body; so in the mind; seldom meet; and commonly sever。 For it is easy to observe; that many have strength of wit and courage; but have neither health from perturbations; nor any beauty or decency in their doings; some again have an elegancy and fineness of carriage; which have neither soundness of honesty; nor substance of sufficiency: and some again have honest and reformed minds; that can neither become themselves nor manage business: and sometimes two of them meet; and rarely all three。 As for pleasure; we have likewise determined that the mind ought not to be reduced to stupid; but to retain plea。sure; confined rather in the subject of it; than in the strength and vigour of it。
XXIII。 1。 CIVIL knowledge is conversant about a subject which of all others is most immersed in matter; and hardliest reduced to axiom。 Nevertheless; as Cato the Censor said; THAT THE ROMANS WERE LIKE SHEEP; FOR THAT A MAN MIGHT BETTER DRIVE A FLOCK OF THEM; THAN ONE OF THEM; FOR IN A FLOCK; IF YOU COULD BUT GET SOME FEW TO GO RIGHT; THE REST WOULD FOLLOW: so in that respect moral philosophy is more difficile than policy。 Again; moral philosophy propoundeth to itself the framing of internal goodness; but civil knowledge requireth only an external goodness; for that as to society sufficeth。 And therefore it cometh oft to pass that there be evil times in good governments: for so we find in the holy story; when the kings were good; yet it is added; SED ADHUC POPULUS NON DIREXERAT COR SUUM AD DOMINUM DEUM PATRUM SUORUM。 Again; states; as great engines; move slowly; and are not so soon put out of frame: for as in Egypt the seven good years sustained the seven bad; so governments for a time well grounded; do bear out errors following; but the resolution of particular persons is more suddenly subverted。 These respects do somewhat qualify the extreme difficulty of civil knowledge。
2。 This knowledge hath three parts; according to the three summary actions of society; which are conversation; negotiation; and government。 For man seeketh in society comfort; use; and protection: and they be three wisdoms of divers natures; which do often sever: wisdom of the behaviour; wisdom of business; and wisdom of state。
3。 The wisdom of conversation ought not to be over much affected; but much less despised; for it hath not only an honour in itself; but an influence also into business and government。 The poet saith;
Nec vultu destrue verbo tuo:
a man may destroy the force of his words with his countenance: so may he of his deeds; saith Cicero; recommending to his '66' brother affability and easy access; NIL INTEREST HABERE OSTIUM APERTUM; VULTUM CLAUSUM; it is nothing won to admit men with an open door; and to receive them with a shut and reserved countenance。 So; we see; Atticus; before the first interview between Caesar and Cicero; the war depending; did seriously advise Cicero touching the composing and ordering of his countenance and gesture。 And if the government of the countenance be of such effect; much more is that of the speech; and other carriage appertaining to conversation; the true model whereof seemeth to me well expressed by Livy; though not meant for this purpose: NE AUT ARROGANS VIDEAR; AUT OBNOXIUS; QUORUM ALTERUM EST ALIENAE LIBERTATIS OBLITI; ALTERUM SUAE: The sum of behaviour is to retain a man's own dignity; without intruding upon the liberty of others。 On the other side; if behaviour and outward carriage be intended too much; first it may pass into affectation; and then QUID DEFORMIUS QUAM SCENAM IN VITAM TRANSFERRE (to act a man's life)? But although it proceed not to that extreme; yet it consumeth time; and employeth the mind too much。 And therefore as we use to advise young students from company keeping; by saying; AMICI FURES TEMPORIS: so certainly the intending of the discretion of behaviour is a great thief of meditation。 Again; such as are accomplished in that hour of urbanity please themselves in it; and seldom aspire to higher virtue; whereas those that have defect in it do seek comeliness by reputation; for where reputation is; almost everything becometh; but where that is not; it must be supplied by puntos; and compliments。 Again; there is no greater impediment of action than an over…curious observance of decency; and the guide of decency; which is time and season。 For as Salomon saith; QUI RESPICIT AD VENTOS; NON SEMINAT; ET QUI RESPICIT AD NUBES; NON METET: a man must make his opportunity; as oft as find it。 To conclude; behaviour seemeth to me as a garment of the mind; and to have the conditions of a garment。 For it ought to be made in fashion; it ought not to be too curious; it ought to be shaped so as to set forth any good making of the mind; and hide any deformity; and above all; it ought not to be too strait; or restrained for exercise or motion。 But this part of civil knowledge hath been elegantly handled; and therefore I cannot report it for deficient。
4。 The wisdom touching negotiation or business hath not been hitherto collected into writing; to the great derogation of learning; and the professors of learning。 For from this root springeth chiefly that note or opinion; which by us is expressed in adage to this effect; that there is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom。 For of the three wisdoms which we have set down to pertain to civil life; for wisdom of behaviour it is by learned
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