172 The Advancement of Learning 



Better travails, I suppose, had the Stoics taken in this 

 argument, as far as I can gather by that which we have at 

 second hand. But yet, it is like, it was after their manner, 

 rather in subtilty of definitions, (which in a subject of this 

 nature are but curiosities,) than in active and ample 

 descriptions and observations. So likewise I find some 

 particular writings of an elegant nature, touching some 

 of the affections; as of anger, of comfort upon adverse 

 accidents, of tenderness of countenance, and other.^ 



But the poets and writers of histories are the best doctors 

 of this knowledge; where we may find painted forth with 

 great Hfe, how affections are kindled and incited ; and how 

 pacified and refrained; and how again contained from act 

 and further degree; how they disclose themselves; how 

 they work; how they vary; how they gather and fortify; 

 how they are inwrapped one within another; and how they 

 do fight and encounter one with another; and other the 

 like particularities: amongst the which this last is of special 

 use in moral and civil matters; how, I say, to set affection 

 against affection, and to master one by another; even as 

 we use to hunt beast with beast, and fly bird with bird, 

 which otherwise percase we could not so easily recover: 

 upon which foundation is erected that excellent use of 

 prcBmium and poena, whereby civil states consist : employ- 

 ing the predominant affections of fear and hope, for the 

 suppressing and bridling the rest. For as in the govern- 

 ment of states it is sometimes necessary to bridle one 

 faction with another, so it is in the government within. 

 7. Now come we to those points which are within our own 

 command, and have force and operation upon the mind, 

 to affect the will and appetite, and to alter manners: 

 wherein they ought to have handled custom, exercise, 

 habit, education, example, imitation, emulation, company, 

 friends, praise, reproof, exhortation, fame, laws, books, 

 studies: these as they have determinate use in moralities, 

 from these the mind suffereth; and of these are such 

 receipts and regiments compounded and described, as may 

 seem to recover or preserve the health and good estate of 

 the mind, as far as pertaineth to human medicine: of 

 which mmiber we >^all insist upon some one or two, as 

 an example of the rest, because it were too long to prose- 

 * Such as Plutarch's and Seneca's. 



