OF THE COLOURS OF GOOD AND EVIL 163 



thenes reprehended the people for hearkening to the condi- 

 tions offered by King Philip, being not honourable nor 

 equal, he saith they were but aliments of their sloth and 

 weakness, which if they were taken away, necessity would 

 teach them stronger resolutions. So Doctor Hector was 

 wont to say to the dames of London, when they complained 

 they were they could not tell how, but yet they could not 

 endure to take any medicine ; he would tell them, their 

 way was only to be sick, for then they would be glad to 

 take any medicine. 



Thirdly, this colour may be reprehended, in respect that 

 the degree of decrease is more sensitive than the degree of 

 privation ; for in the mind of man gradus diminutionis may 

 work a wavering between hope and fear, and so keep the 

 mind in suspense from settling and accommodating in 

 patience and resolution. Hereof the common forms are, 

 ' better eye out than always ache' ; 'make or mar,' etc. 



For the second branch of this colour, it depends upon 

 the same general reason : hence grew the common place of 

 extolling the beginning of everything : dimidium qui bene 

 coepit habet. This made the astrologers so idle as to judge 

 of a man's nature and destiny by the constellation of the 

 moment of his nativity or conception. This colour is 

 reprehended, because many inceptions are but, as Epicurus 

 termeth them, tentamenta^ that is, imperfect offers and 

 essays, which vanish and come to no substance without an 

 iteration ; so as in such cases the second degree seems the 

 worthiest, as the body-horse in the cart, that draweth more 

 than the fore-horse. Hereof the common forms are, c The 

 second blow makes the fray, The second word makes the 

 bargain : Alter prindpium dedit, alter modum abstulitj etc. 

 Another reprehension of this colour is in respect of defati- 

 gation, which makes perseverance of greater dignity than 

 inception : for chance or instinct of nature may cause 

 inception : but settled affection or judgment maketh the 

 continuance. 



Thirdly, this colour is reprehended in such things, which 

 have a natural course and inclination contrary to an incep- 

 tion. So that the inception is continually evacuated and 



