guished. Force maketh Nature more violent in the Returne: Doctrine and Discourse maketh Nature2 leffe Importune: 3 But Cuftome onely doth alter and fubdue Nature. Hee that feeketh Victory ouer his Nature, let him not set Himselfe too great, nor too fmall Tasks: For the first, will make him deiected by often Faylings; And the Second will make him a small Proceeder, though by often Preuailings. And at the first, let him practise with Helps, as Swimmers1 doe with Bladders, or Rushes: But after a Time, let him practise with difaduantages, as Dancers doe with thick Shooes. For it breeds great Perfection, if the Practise be harder then the vse. Where

2 Nature. Affectus Naturales, 'the natural dispositions.'

8 After Importune. Sed non tollunt, but do not remove them' [i.e.

the natural dispositions].

4 Swimmers. Natatores recentes, ' new swimmers.'

III. 1607-12. æt. 47-52. IV. 1612. æt. 52. nature is mightie, and nature is mighty, and therefore the victorie hard, therefore the victorie hard; the degrees had neede be the degrees had need bee, first to stay and arrest first to stay and arrest nature in tyme, nature in time: like to him that would fay ouer the foure and twenty letters when he was

an

then to goe leffe in gry, then to go leffe in

quantitie; as if one should in forbearing wine come from drinking healthes, to a draught a meale; and lastlie to discontinue altogether. But if a man haue the fortitude and resolution to infranchise himselfe at once that is the best;

Optimus ille animi vindex lædentia pectus Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque femel.

Neither is the ancient rule amiffe, to bend nature as a wand, to a contrary extreame, whereby to fet it right; vnderstanding it, where the contrary ex

is noe vice. Lett not treme is no vice. Let not a man force a habitt vponna man force a habite vpon

5 Arrest. Omitted in the Latin.

6 Foure and Twenty. Alphabeti, of the Alphabet.'

After Letters. Priusquam quicquam faceret, before he did anything", 8 Before to Goe lesse. Naturam moderari, et, to moderate nature and Drinking Healths. Majoribus Haustibus, 'greater draughts.'

10 A Draught at a Meale. Ad minores, 'to less draughts.'

V.

1625.

æt. 65.

Nature is Mighty, and therefore the Victory hard, the Degrees had need be First to Stay and Arrest5 Nature in Time; Like to Him, that would say ouer the Foure and Twenty Letters, when he was Angry: Then to Goe leffe in Quantity; As if one should, in forbearing Wine, come from Drinking Healths, to a Draught at a Meale:10 And lastly, to Discontinue11 altogether. But if a Man haue the Fortitude, and Resolution, to enfranchise12 Himselfe at once, that is the best;

Optimus illi Animi Vin dex, lædentia pectus Vincula qui rupit, de doluitque femela

Neither is the Ancient Rule amiffe, to bend Nature as a Wand, to a Contrary Extreme, whereby to fet it right: Vnderstanding it, where the Contrary Extreme is no Vice.13 Let not a man force a Habit vpon

"He is the best vindicator of his mind who breaks the chains that afflict his breast,and ceases to grieve once for all. Ovid. Remedia Amoris. i. 293, 4.

11 Discontinue. Naturam penitus sub jugum mittere, et domare, 'to put nature altogether under the yoke, and tame it.'

13 Enfranchise. Eximere et vindicare, 'free and deliver.'

13 Is no Vice. In Vitium non ducat, 'does not lead to vice.'

III. 1607-12. t. 47-52. IV.

1612. æt. 52.

himself with a perpetuall himselfe with a perpetual contynuance, but with continuance, but with fome intermiffion: For fome intermiffion. For both the pawfe reinforceth both the pause reinforceth the new Onfett; and if a the new onset; and if a Man that is not perfitt man that is not perfect be ever in practise, he shall be euer in practise, he shall afwell practize his er- afwell practise rours, as his abilityes, rors, as his abilities, and induce one habitt of both, and there is noe meanes to helpe this, but by seasonable intermiffions.

his er

and induce one habite of both: and there is no meanes to help this, but by fefonable intermiffions.

Mans nature is beft per- mans nature is beft perceiued in priuateneffe, For ceiued in priuatneffe, for there is noe affectacion, in there is no affectation; in paffion for that putteth a paffion for that putteth a Man out of his preceptes, man out of his precepts; and in a new Cafe, or ex- and in a new case, or experiment, for there cufperiment, for there cuf tome leaveth him. They tome leueth him. They are happie Men whofe are happy men, whose natures fort with theire vo- natures fort with their vo

14 Reinforceth. Redintegrat, et adauget, reinforceth and increaseth.' 15 That is not perfect. Dum Tyronem agit, while he is a pupil.' 16 Practise. Imbibat, drinking.'

17 And induce one Habite of both.

Omitted in the Latin.

18 Trust. Triumphum Accinas, 'sing a triumph.'

fions. But let not a Man truft18 his Victorie ouer his Nature too farre ;19 For Nature will lay buried a great Time, and yet reuiue, vpon the Occafion or Temptation, 20 Like as it was with Efopes Damofell, turned from a Catt to a Woman; who fate very demurely, at the Boards End, till a Mouse ranne before her. Therefore let a Man, either auoid the Occasion altogether; Or put Himselfe cften to it, that hee may be little moued with it. A

Mans Nature is best perceiued in Priuateneffe, for there is no Affectation; In Paffion, for that putteth a Man out of his Precepts ;21 And in a new Cafe or Experiment,22 for there Cuftome leaueth him. They are happie Men, whose Natures fort with their Vo

19 Farre. Cito, 'soon.'

20 Temptation. Omitted in the Latin.

21 Precepts. Præcepta et Regulas, precepts and rules.' 22 Experiment. Insolito, 'unaccustomed.'