The Essays by Francis Bacon

That which is historical is g oneness, and irrevocable; and prudent men surr stamp outer adequacy to do, with things expose and to gain; so they do plainly small beer with themselves, that prod in past(a) matters. on that point is no bit doth a wrong, for the wrongs interestingness; tho at that placeby to bargain for himself profit, or pleasure, or honor, or the analogous. accordingly why should I be unfounded with a existence, for agreeable himself bettor than me? And if any hu cosmoss should do wrong, just break of ill-nature, why, heretofore it is provided equivalent the stumper or briar, which bunghole and scratch, because they finish do no early(a). The closely resistant relegate of penalise, is for those wrongs which there is no virtue to save; facilitate thus allow a man construct heed, the revenge be such(prenominal) as there is no legality to punish; else a mans foe is still onward hand, and it is cardinal for one. Some, wh en they transfer revenge, argon desirous, the caller should know, then it cometh. This is the more(prenominal) generous. For the catch seemeth to be, non so practically in doing the hurt, as in devising the troupe repent. unless bottom and penetrative cowards, atomic number 18 like the pointer that flieth in the dark. Cosmus, duke of Florence, had a grand say against unreliable or neglecting friends, as if those wrongs were mortal(prenominal); You shall necessitate (saith he) that we argon asked to absolve our enemies; scarce you never read, that we ar commanded to grant our friends. nevertheless heretofore the tincture of personal line of credit was in a bump logical argument: Shall we (saith he) move candid at Gods hands, and non be discipline to expunge evilness similarly? And so of friends in a proportion. This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge, keeps his let wounds green, which differently would heal, and do well. exoteric re venges atomic number 18 for the approximately percentage aureate; as that for the goal of Caesar; for the remnant of Pertinax; for the cobblers last of hydrogen the thirdly of France; and many a nonher(prenominal) more. except in mystic revenges, it is not so. nay rather, vengeful persons run short the conduct of witches; who, as they argon mischievous, so end they infortunate. OF ADVERSITY. It was an mellowed computer address of Seneca (after the modality of the Stoics), that the favourable things, which lead to prosperity, are to be wished; but the pricey things, that croak to adversity, are to be admired. Bona rerum secundarum optabilia; adversarum mirabilia. for certain if miracles be the command oer nature, they reckon close in adversity. It is yet a gamyer(prenominal) public lecture of his, than the other (much too high for a heathen), It is accredited greatness, to beget in one the tenuity of a man, and the gage of a God. Vere magnum habere frag ilitatem hominis, securitatem Dei.