offended with one of his slaves； gave Speusippus order to chastise him；
excusing himself from doing it because he was in anger。 And Carillus； a
Lacedaemonian； to a Helot； who carried himself insolently towards him：
〃By the gods；〃 said he； 〃if I was not angry； I would immediately cause
thee to be put to death。〃
'Tis a passion that is pleased with and flatters itself。 How often；
being moved under a false cause； if the person offending makes a good
defence and presents us with a just excuse； are we angry against truth
and innocence itself？ In proof of which； I remember a marvellous example
of antiquity。
Piso； otherwise a man of very eminent virtue； being moved against a
soldier of his； for that returning alone from forage he could give him no
account where he had left a companion of his； took it for granted that he
had killed him； and presently condemned him to death。 He was no sooner
mounted upon the gibbet； but； behold； his wandering companion arrives； at
which all the army were exceedingly glad； and after many embraces of the
two comrades； the hangman carried both the one and the other into Piso's
presence； all those present believing it would be a great pleasure even
to himself； but it proved quite contrary； for through shame and spite；
his fury； which was not yet cool； redoubled； and by a subtlety which his
passion suddenly suggested to him； he made three criminals for having
found one innocent； and caused them all to be despatched： the first
soldier； because sentence had passed upon him； the second； who had lost
his way； because he was the cause of his companion's death； and the
hangman； for not having obeyed the order which had been given him。
Such as have had to do with testy and obstinate women； may have
experimented into what a rage it puts them to oppose silence and coldness
to their fury； and that a man disdains to nourish their anger。 The
orator Celius was wonderfully choleric by nature； and to one who supped
in his company； a man of a gentle and sweet conversation； and who； that
he might not move him； approved and consented to all he said； he；
impatient that his ill…humour should thus spend itself without aliment：
〃For the love of the gods deny me something；〃 said he； 〃that we may be
two。〃 Women； in like manner； are only angry that others may be angry
again； in imitation of the laws of love。 Phocion； to one who interrupted
his speaking by injurious and very opprobrious words； made no other
return than silence； and to give him full liberty and leisure to vent his
spleen； which he having accordingly done； and the storm blown over；
without any mention of this disturbance； he proceeded in his discourse
where he had left off before。 No answer can nettle a man like such a
contempt。
Of the most choleric man in France （anger is always an imperfection； but
more excusable in； a soldier； for in that trade it cannot sometimes be
avoided） I often say； that he is the most patient man that I know； and
the most discreet in bridling his passions； which rise in him with so
great violence and fury；
〃Magno veluti cum flamma sonore
Virgea suggeritur costis undantis ahem；
Exsultantque aatu latices； furit intus aquae vis。
Fumidus atque alte spumis exuberat amnis；
Nec jam se capit unda； volat vapor ater ad auras；〃
＇〃When with loud crackling noise； a fire of sticks is applied to the
boiling caldron's side； by the heat in frisky bells the liquor
dances； within the water rages； and high the smoky fluid in foam
overflows。 Nor can the wave now contain itself； the black steam
flies all abroad。〃AEneid； vii。 462。＇
that he must of necessity cruelly constrain himself to moderate it。 And
for my part； I know no passion which I could with so much violence to
myself attempt to cover and conceal； I would not set wisdom at so high a
price； and do not so much consider what a man does； as how much it costs
him to do no worse。
Another boasted himself to me of the regularity and gentleness of his
manners； which are to truth very singular； to whom I replied； that it was
indeed something； especially m persons of so eminent a quality as
himself； upon whom every one had their eyes； to present himself always
well…tempered to the world； but that the principal thing was to make
provision for within and for himself； and that it was not in my opinion
very well to order his business outwardly well； and to grate himself
within； which I was afraid he did； in putting on and maintaining this
mask and external appearance。
A man incorporates anger by concealing it； as Diogenes told Demosthenes；
who； for fear of being seen in a tavern； withdrew himself the more
retiredly into it： 〃The more you retire backward； the farther you enter
in。〃 I would rather advise that a man should give his servant a box of
the ear a little unseasonably； than rack his fancy to present this grave
and composed countenance； and had rather discover my passions than brood
over them at my own expense； they grow less inventing and manifesting
themselves； and 'tis much better their point should wound others without；
than be turned towards ourselves within：
〃Omnia vitia in aperto leviora sunt： et tunc perniciosissima；
quum simulata sanitate subsident。〃
＇〃All vices are less dangerous when open to be seen； and then most
pernicious when they lurk under a dissembled good nature。〃
Seneca； Ep。 56＇
I admonish all those who have authority to be angry in my family； in the
first place to manage their anger and not to lavish it upon every
occasion； for that both lessens the value and hinders the effect： rash
and incessant scolding runs into custom； and renders itself despised； and
what you lay out upon a servant for a theft is not felt； because it is
the same he has seen you a hundred times employ against him for having
ill washed a glass； or set a stool out of place。 Secondly； that they be
not angry to no purpose； but make sure that their reprehension reach him
with whom they are offended； for； ordinarily； they rail and bawl before
he comes into their presence； and continue scolding an age after he is
gone：
〃Et secum petulans amentia certat：〃
＇〃And petulant madness contends with itself。〃
Claudian in Eutrop。； i。 237。＇
they attack his shadow； and drive the storm in a place where no one is
either chastised or concerned； but in the clamour of their voice。
I likewise in quarrels condemn those who huff and vapour without an
enemy： those rhodomontades should be reserved to discharge upon the
offending party：
〃Mugitus veluti cum prima in praelia taurus
Terrificos ciet； atque irasci in cornua tentat；
Arboris obnixus trunco； ventospue lacessit
Ictibus； et sparsa ad pugnum proludit arena。〃
＇〃As when a bull to usher in the fight； makes dreadful bellowings；
and whets his horns against the trunk of a tree； with blows he beats
the air； and rehearses the fight by scattering the sand。〃
AEneid； xii。 103。＇
When I am angry； my anger is very sharp but withal very short； and as
private as I can； I lose myself indeed in promptness and violence； but
not in trouble； so that I throw out all sorts of injurious words at
random； and without choice； and never consider pertinently to dart my
language where I think it will deepest wound； for I commonly make use of
no other weapon than my tongue。
My servants have a better bargain of me in great occasions than in
little； the little ones surprise me； and the misfortune is； that when you
are once upon the precipice； 'tis no matter who gave you the push； you
always go to the bottom； the fall urges； moves； and makes haste of
itself。 In great occasions this satisfies me； that they are so just
every one expects a reasonable indignation； and then I glorify myself in
deceiving their expectation； against these； I fortify and prepare myself；
they disturb my head； and threaten to transport me very far； should I
follow them。 I can easily contain myself from entering into one of these
passions； and am strong enough； when I expect them； to repel their
violence； be the cause never so great； but if a passion once prepossess
and seize me； it carries me away； be the cause never so small。 I bargain
thus with those who may contend with me when you see me moved first； let
me alone； right or wrong； I'll do the same for you。 The storm is only
begot by a concurrence of angers； which easily spring from one another；
and are not born together。 Let every one have his own way； and we shall
be always at peace。 A profitable advice； but hard to execute。 Sometimes
also it falls out that I put on a seeming anger； for the better governing
of my house； without any real emotion。 As age renders my humours more
sharp； I study to oppose them； and will； if I can； order it so； that for
the future I may be so much the less peevish and hard to please； as I
have more excuse and inclination to be so； although I have heretofore
been reckoned amongst those who have the greatest patience。
A word more to conclude this argument。 Aristotle says； that anger
sometimes serves for arms to virtue and valour。 That is probable；
nevertheless； they who contradict him pleasantly answer； that 'tis a
weapon of novel use； for we move all other arms； this moves us； our hand
guides it not； 'tis it that guides our hand； it holds us； we hold not it。
End