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with whom they are offended； for； ordinarily； they rail and bawl before
he comes into their presence； and continue scolding an age after he is
gone：
〃Et secum petulans amentia certat：〃
＇〃And petulant madness contends with itself。〃
Claudian in Eutrop。； i。 237。＇
they attack his shadow； and drive the storm in a place where no one is
either chastised or concerned； but in the clamour of their voice。
I likewise in quarrels condemn those who huff and vapour without an
enemy： those rhodomontades should be reserved to discharge upon the
offending party：
〃Mugitus veluti cum prima in praelia taurus
Terrificos ciet； atque irasci in cornua tentat；
Arboris obnixus trunco； ventospue lacessit
Ictibus； et sparsa ad pugnum proludit arena。〃
＇〃As when a bull to usher in the fight； makes dreadful bellowings；
and whets his horns against the trunk of a tree； with blows he beats
the air； and rehearses the fight by scattering the sand。〃
AEneid； xii。 103。＇
When I am angry； my anger is very sharp but withal very short； and as
private as I can； I lose myself indeed in promptness and violence； but
not in trouble； so that I throw out all sorts of injurious words at
random； and without choice； and never consider pertinently to dart my
language where I think it will deepest wound； for I commonly make use of
no other weapon than my tongue。
My servants have a better bargain of me in great occasions than in
little； the little ones surprise me； and the misfortune is； that when you
are once upon the precipice； 'tis no matter who gave you the push； you
always go to the bottom； the fall urges； moves； and makes haste of
itself。 In great occasions this satisfies me； that they are so just
every one expects a reasonable indignation； and then I glorify myself in
deceiving their expectation； against these； I fortify and prepare myself；
they disturb my head； and threaten to transport me very far； should I
follow them。 I can easily contain myself from entering into one of these
passions； and am strong enough； when I expect them； to repel their
violence； be the cause never so great； but if a passion once prepossess
and seize me； it carries me away； be the cause never so small。 I bargain
thus with those who may contend with me when you see me moved first； let
me alone； right or wrong； I'll do the same for you。 The storm is only
begot by a concurrence of angers； which easily spring from one another；
and are not born together。 Let every one have his own way； and we shall
be always at peace。 A profitable advice； but hard to execute。 Sometimes
also it falls out that I put on a seeming anger； for the better governing
of my house； without any real emotion。 As age renders my humours more
sharp； I study to oppose them； and will； if I can； order it so； that for
the future I may be so much the less peevish and hard to please； as I
have more excuse and inclination to be so； although I have heretofore
been reckoned amongst those who have the greatest patience。
A word more to conclude this argument。 Aristotle says； that anger
sometimes serves for arms to virtue and valour。 That is probable；
nevertheless； they who contradict him pleasantly answer； that 'tis a
weapon of novel use； for we move all other arms； this moves us； our hand
guides it not； 'tis it that guides our hand； it holds us； we hold not it。
End