xllv PREFACE. 



ing part {lill judges well, but Is overcome by the violence of anger, 

 or the allurements of pleafure, then, though there be not virtue, 

 neither is there vice ; but there is weakitefs^ under which name are 

 comprehended all the four difpofitions above mentioned j two of 

 them, viz. rejiraiut and endurcmce^ coming nearer to virtue, and 

 by many confounded with virtue ; the other two, viz. hicontincnce 

 and foftiiefs^ or (jfcinhiacyy come nearer to vice, and by thofe who 

 are not able to diftinguifh accurately, confounded with it. 



And here we may obferve how juft the notion of the Pythago- 

 reans is of the virtue of yujllce^ without which they fay there can 

 be no perfedt virtue ; for it is it which produces concord and har- 

 mony in the mind ; fo that where it is not, there mufl be diforder 

 and bad government : For if the governing power is overcome, and 

 forced to fubmit to the paffions and appetites which ought to be 

 governed, then there is a ftate of rebellion ; and though the govern- 

 ing power prevail in the ftruggle, and the fubje<51:s obey, but 

 forcibly and unwillingly, even in that cafe the government is not 

 good, nor is there that pleafure in virtue which the Pythagoreans 

 maintained to be effential to it. 



We may alfo here obferve how falfe the common notion is, 

 that there cannot be virtue without fclf-demal ', for the contrary 

 appears to be the truth, that where there is perfed: virtue there can 

 be no felf-denial or reluctance, but on the contrary pleafure and 

 even exultation : And though Ariftotle fays that the exercife of one 

 virtue, "ji'n. Fortitude, is not accompanied with pleafure, yet I be- 

 lieve he is miftakcn : And I think Homer is in the right, who ufes 

 a v7ord for fighting which denotes joy — ^%apjwij : And the fad is moft 

 certainly true, that a man really brave* has a pleafure in encounter- 

 ing danger if there be a good caufe for it j that is, if the governing 

 principle of the mind approves. 



Thu« 



