to admonish him, he makes a noose to entangle himself, his want of employment will be his undoing.  If he have sustained any great loss, suffered a repulse, disgrace, &c., if it be possible, relieve him.  If he desire aught, let him be satisfied; if in suspense, fear, suspicion, let him be secured:  and if it may conveniently be, give him his heart’s content; for the body cannot be cured till the mind be satisfied. [3445] Socrates, in Plato, would prescribe no physic for Charmides’ headache, “till first he had eased his troubled mind; body and soul must be cured together, as head and eyes.”

[3446] “Oculum non curabis sine toto capite,
        Nec caput sine toto corpora,
        Nec totum corpus sine anima.”

If that may not be hoped or expected, yet ease him with comfort, cheerful speeches, fair promises, and good words, persuade him, advise him.  “Many,” saith [3447]Galen, “have been cured by good counsel and persuasion alone.”  “Heaviness of the heart of man doth bring it down, but a good word rejoiceth it,” Prov. xii. 25.  “And there is he that speaketh words like the pricking of a sword, but the tongue of a wise man is health,” ver. 18. Oratio, namque saucii animi est remedium, a gentle speech is the true cure of a wounded soul, as [3448]Plutarch contends out of Aeschylus and Euripides:  “if it be wisely administered it easeth grief and pain, as diverse remedies do many other diseases.”  ’Tis incantationis instar, a charm, aestuantis animi refrigerium, that true Nepenthe of Homer, which was no Indian plant, or feigned medicine, which Epidamna, Thonis’ wife, sent Helena for a token, as Macrobius, 7.  Saturnal. Goropius Hermat. lib. 9. Greg.  Nazianzen, and others suppose, but opportunity of speech:  for Helena’s bowl, Medea’s unction, Venus’s girdle, Circe’s cup, cannot so enchant, so forcibly move or alter as it doth.  A letter sent or read will do as much; multum allevor quum tuas literas lego, I am much eased, as [3449]Tully wrote to Pomponius Atticus, when I read thy letters, and as Julianus the Apostate once signified to Maximus the philosopher; as Alexander slept with Homer’s works, so do I with thine epistles, tanquam Paeoniis medicamentis, easque assidue tanquam, recentes et novas iteramus; scribe ergo, et assidue scribe, or else come thyself; amicus ad amicum venies.  Assuredly a wise and well-spoken man may do what he will in such a case; a good orator alone, as [3450]Tully holds, can alter affections by power of his eloquence, “comfort such as are afflicted, erect such as are depressed, expel and mitigate fear, lust, anger,” &c.  And how powerful is the charm of a discreet and dear friend? Ille regit dictis animos et temperat iras.  What may not he effect?  As [3451]Chremes told Menedemus, “Fear not, conceal it not, O friend! but tell me what it is that troubles thee, and I shall surely help thee by comfort, counsel, or in the matter itself.” [3452] Arnoldus, lib.