ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 239 



A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OF VARIOUS OCCASIONS IN 

 THE COMMON BUSINESS OF LIFE, BY WAY OF APHORISM 

 AND EXPLANATION 



Aphorism i 

 A soft answer appeases anger c 



If the anger of a prince or superior be kindled against you, 

 and it be now your turn to speak, Solomon directs, i. that an 

 answer be made ; and 2. that it be soft. The first rule contains 

 three precepts ; viz., I. to guard against a melancholy and stub- 

 born silence, for this either turns the fault wholly upon you, as 

 if you could make no answer, or secretly impeaches your supe- 

 rior, as if his ears were not open to a just defence. 2. To be- 

 ware of delaying the thing, and requiring a longer day for your 

 defence ; which either accuses your superior of passion, or sig- 

 nifies that you are preparing some artificial turn or color. So 

 that it is always best directly to say something for the present, 

 in your own excuse, as the occasion requires. And 3. To make 

 a real answer, an answer, not a mere confession or bare submis- 

 sion, but a mixture of apology and excuse. For it is unsafe to 

 do otherwise, unless with very generous and noble spirits, 

 which are extremely rare. Then follows the second rule, that 

 the answer be mild and soft, not stiff and irritating. 



Aphorism 2 



A prudent servant shall rule over a foolish son, and divide the 

 inheritance among the brethren d 



In every jarring family there constantly rises up some ser- 

 vant or humble friend of sway, who takes upon him to compose 

 their differences at his own discretion ; to whom, for that rea- 

 son, the whole family, even the master himself, is subject. If 

 this man has a view to his own ends, he foments and aggravates 

 the differences of the family ; but if he proves just and upright, 

 he is certainly very deserving. So that he may be reckoned 

 even as one of the brethren, or at least have the direction of the 

 inheritance in trust. 



