Such as say that they have reason for their revenging passion, or any other sort of troublesome agitation of mind, often say true, as things now are, but not as they were:  they speak to us when the causes of their error are by themselves nourished and advanced; but look backward—­recall these causes to their beginning—­and there you will put them to a nonplus.  Will they have their faults less, for being of longer continuance; and that of an unjust beginning, the sequel can be just?  Whoever shall desire the good of his country, as I do, without fretting or pining himself, will be troubled, but will not swoon to see it threatening either its own ruin, or a no less ruinous continuance; poor vessel, that the waves, the winds, and the pilot toss and steer to so contrary designs!

                        “In tam diversa magister
                         Ventus et unda trahunt.”

He who does not gape after the favour of princes, as after a thing he cannot live without, does not much concern himself at the coldness of their reception and countenance, nor at the inconstancy of their wills.  He who does not brood over his children or his honours with a slavish propension, ceases not to live commodiously enough after their loss.  He who does good principally for his own satisfaction will not be much troubled to see men judge of his actions contrary to his merit.  A quarter of an ounce of patience will provide sufficiently against such inconveniences.  I find ease in this receipt, redeeming myself in the beginning as good cheap as I can; and find that by this means I have escaped much trouble and many difficulties.  With very little ado I stop the first sally of my emotions, and leave the subject that begins to be troublesome before it transports me.  He who stops not the start will never be able to stop the course; he who cannot keep them out will never, get them out when they are once got in; and he who cannot arrive at the beginning will never arrive at the end of all.  Nor will he bear the fall who cannot sustain the shock: 

     “Etenim ipsae se impellunt, ubi semel a ratione discessum est;
     ipsaque sibi imbecillitas indulget, in altumque provehitur
     imprudens, nec reperit locum consistendi.”

["For they throw themselves headlong when once they lose their reason; and infirmity so far indulges itself, and from want of prudence is carried out into deep water, nor finds a place to shelter it.”—­Cicero, Tusc.  Quaes., iv. 18.]

I am betimes sensible of the little breezes that begin to sing and whistle within, forerunners of the storm: 

                              “Ceu flamina prima
               Cum deprensa fremunt sylvis et caeca volutant
               Murmura, venturos nautis prodentia ventos.”

     ["As the breezes, pent in the woods, first send out dull murmurs,
     announcing the approach of winds to mariners.”—­AEneid, x. 97.]