Of Constancie

The law of resolution and constancie implieth not, we should not, as-much as lieth in our power shelter our selves from the mischieves and inconveniences that threaten-us, nor by consequence feare, they should surprise-us. Contrariwise, all honest meanes for a man to warrant him-selfe from evills, are not onely tolerable, but commendable. And the parte of constancie is chiefely acted, in firmely bearing the inconveniences, against which no remedie is to be found. So that, there is no nimblenesse of bodie, nor wealding of hand-weapons, that we will reject, if it may in any sort defend-us from the blowe, meant at-us. Many most warlike nations in their conflicts and fights, used retreating and flight as a principall advantage, and shewed their backs to their enemie much more dangerously then their faces. The Turkes at this day retaine something of that humour. And Socrates in Plato doth mocke at Laches, because he had defined fortitude, to keepe her-selfe steadie in her rancke against her enemies; What, saith hee, were it then cowardise to beate them in giving them place? And alleadgeth Homer against him, who commendeth in Æneas his skill in flying and giving ground. And because Laches being better advised, avoweth that custome to be amongst the Scithians, and generally amongst all horsemen, he alleageth further unto him the example of the Lacedemonian footemen (a nation above all other used to fight on foote) who in the battaile of Plates, unable to open and to put to rowt the Persian Phalange, advised them-selves to scatter and put them-selves backe, that so by the opinion of their flight, they might if they should pursue them, rush in upon them, and put that so combined-masse to rout. By which meanes they gained the victorie. Touching the Scithians, it is reported, that when Darius went to subdue them, he sent their King many reproachfull speeches, for somuch as hee ever saw him retire and give-ground before him, and to avoide the maine battaile. To whom Indathirsez (for so was his name) answered, that, They did it not for feare of him, nor any other man living, but that it was the fashion of his nation to march thus: as having neither citties, nor houses, nor manured land to defend, or to feare their ennemies shoulde reape any commoditie by them. But if hee had so great a desire to feed on them, he might draw neerer to view the place of their ancient Sepulchers, and there hee should meet with whom to speake his belly-full. Notwithstanding when a man is once within reach of cannon-shot, and as it were point-blancke before them, as the fortune of warre doth diverse times bring men unto, it ill beseemeth a resolute minde to start-aside, or be daunted at the threate of a shot, because by the violence and sodain-nesse thereof wee deeme it inevitable: and there are some, who by lifting up of a hand, or stooping their head, have sometimes given their fellowes cause of laughter: yet have we seene, that in the voyage, the Emperour Charles the fifth made against us in Provence, the Marquis of Guasto, beeing gone out to survay the cittie of Arles, and shewne himselfe out of a winde-mill, under colour of which he was come somewhat neere the Towne, he was discovered by the Lord of Bonevall, and the Seneshall of Agenois, who were walking upon the Theatre Aux arenes (so called in French because it is fall of sand) who shewing him to the Lorde of Villiers, Commissarie of the Artillerie he mounted a culverin so levell, that had not the Marquis perceived the fire, and so started aside, it was constantly affirmed, he had beene shot through the body. Likewise not many yeares before, Lorence of Medice, Duke of Urbin, and father to the Queene-mother of France, besieging Mondolphe, a place in Italie, in the province named the Vicariate, seeing fire given to a piece that stood right upon him, stooped his head, and well befell him that hee plaide the ducke, for otherwise the bullet, which went right over, and within a little of his head, had doubtlesse shot him through the panch. But to say truth, I will never thinke these motions were made with discourse, for what judgement can you give of an ayme, either high or low in a matter so sodaine? It may rather be thought that fortune favoured their feare: and which an other time might as well bee a meane to make them fall into the cannons-mouth, as to avoide the same. I can not chuse, if the cracke of a musket do sodainly streeke mine eares, in a place where I least looke for it, but I must needes start at-it: which I have seene happen to men of better sorte than my selfe. Nor do the Stoickes meane, that the Soule of their wisest man in any sorte resist the first visions and sodaine fantasies, that surprise the same: but rather consent that, as it were unto a naturall subjection, he yeeldes and shrinks unto the lowd clattering and roare of heaven, or of some violent downefall; for example-sake, unto palenesse, and contraction. So likewise in other passions, alwayes provided, his opinion remaines safe and whole, and the situation of his reason, admit no tainting or alteration whatsoever: and hee no whit consent to his fright and sufferance. Touching the first part; the same hapneth to him, that is not wise, but farre otherwise concerning the second. For the impression of passions doth not remaine superficiall in him: but rather penetrates even into the secret of reason, infecting and corrupting the same. He judgeth according to them, and conformeth himselfe to them. Consider precisely the state of the wise Stoicke:

Mens immota manet, lacrymæ uoluuntur inanes.

His minde doth firme remaine,
Teares are distill’d in vaine.

The wise Peripatetike dooth not exempt him selfe from perturbations of the minde, but doth moderate them.