go to plays:  do something or other, let it not transpose thee, or by [3928] “premeditation make such accidents familiar,” as Ulysses that wept for his dog, but not for his wife, quod paratus esset animo obfirmato, (Plut. de anim. tranq.) “accustom thyself, and harden beforehand by seeing other men’s calamities, and applying them to thy present estate;” Praevisum est levius quod fuit ante malum.  I will conclude with [3929]Epictetus, “If thou lovest a pot, remember ’tis but a, pot thou lovest, and thou wilt not be troubled when ’tis broken:  if thou lovest a son or wife, remember they were mortal, and thou wilt not be so impatient.”  And for false fears and all other fortuitous inconveniences, mischances, calamities, to resist and prepare ourselves, not to faint is best:  [3930]_Stultum est timere quod vitari non potest_, ’tis a folly to fear that which cannot be avoided, or to be discouraged at all.

[3931] “Nam quisquis trepidus pavet vel optat,
        Abjecit clypeum, locoque motus
        Nectit qua valeat trahi catenam.”

“For he that so faints or fears, and yields to his passion, flings away his own weapons, makes a cord to bind himself, and pulls a beam upon his own head.”

MEMB.  VI. Against Envy, Livor, Emulation, Hatred, Ambition, Self-love, and all other Affections.

Against those other [3932]passions and affections, there is no better remedy than as mariners when they go to sea, provide all things necessary to resist a tempest:  to furnish ourselves with philosophical and Divine precepts, other men’s examples, [3933]_Periculum ex aliis facere, sibi quod ex usu siet_:  To balance our hearts with love, charity, meekness, patience, and counterpoise those irregular motions of envy, livor, spleen, hatred, with their opposite virtues, as we bend a crooked staff another way, to oppose [3934]"sufferance to labour, patience to reproach,” bounty to covetousness, fortitude to pusillanimity, meekness to anger, humility to pride, to examine ourselves for what cause we are so much disquieted, on what ground, what occasion, is it just or feigned?  And then either to pacify ourselves by reason, to divert by some other object, contrary passion, or premeditation. [3935]_Meditari secum oportet quo pacto adversam aerumnam ferat, Paricla, damna, exilia peregre rediens semper cogitet, aut filii peccatum, aut uxoris mortem, aut morbum filiae, communia esse haec:  fieri posse, ut ne quid animo sit novum_.  To make them familiar, even all kind of calamities, that when they happen they may be less troublesome unto us. In secundis meditare, quo pacto feras adversa:  or out of mature judgment to avoid the effect, or disannul the cause, as they do that are troubled with toothache, pull them quite out.

[3936] “Ut vivat castor, sibi testes amputat ipse;
        Tu quoque siqua nocent, abjice, tutus eris.”

       “The beaver bites off’s stones to save the rest: 
        Do thou the like with that thou art opprest.”