their friends, they can agree with nobody.  But to such as are judicious, meek, submissive, and quiet, these matters are easily remedied:  they will forbear upon all such occasions, neglect, contemn, or take no notice of them, dissemble, or wisely turn it off.  If it be a natural impediment, as a red nose, squint eyes, crooked legs, or any such imperfection, infirmity, disgrace, reproach, the best way is to speak of it first thyself, [4034]and so thou shalt surely take away all occasions from others to jest at, or contemn, that they may perceive thee to be careless of it.  Vatinius was wont to scoff at his own deformed feet, to prevent his enemies’ obloquies and sarcasms in that kind; or else by prevention, as Cotys, king of Thrace, that brake a company of fine glasses presented to him, with his own hands, lest he should be overmuch moved when they were broken by chance.  And sometimes again, so that it be discreetly and moderately done, it shall not be amiss to make resistance, to take down such a saucy companion, no better means to vindicate himself to purchase final peace:  for he that suffers himself to be ridden, or through pusillanimity or sottishness will let every man baffle him, shall be a common laughing stock to flout at.  As a cur that goes through a village, if he clap his tail between his legs, and run away, every cur will insult over him:  but if he bristle up himself, and stand to it, give but a counter-snarl, there’s not a dog dares meddle with him:  much is in a man’s courage and discreet carriage of himself.

Many other grievances there are, which happen to mortals in this life, from friends, wives, children, servants, masters, companions, neighbours, our own defaults, ignorance, errors, intemperance, indiscretion, infirmities, &c., and many good remedies to mitigate and oppose them, many divine precepts to counterpoise our hearts, special antidotes both in Scriptures and human authors, which, whoso will observe, shall purchase much ease and quietness unto himself:  I will point out a few.  Those prophetical, apostolical admonitions are well known to all; what Solomon, Siracides, our Saviour Christ himself hath said tending to this purpose, as “fear God:  obey the prince:  be sober and watch:  pray continually:  be angry but sin not:  remember thy last:  fashion not yourselves to this world, &c., apply yourselves to the times:  strive not with a mighty man:  recompense good for evil, let nothing be done through contention or vainglory, but with meekness of mind, every man esteeming of others better than himself:  love one another;” or that epitome of the law and the prophets, which our Saviour inculcates, “love God above all, thy neighbour as thyself:”  and “whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, so do unto them,” which Alexander Severus writ in letters of gold, and used as a motto, [4035] Hierom commends to Celantia as an excellent way, amongst so many enticements and worldly provocations, to rectify her life.  Out of human authors take