Pro, z6.1 I< Pro.3o33 Ecc113s.8,4. Seg. 2. The fecond nr eariei a foft anfwere. T'ro.7 r. i Pro.i5,r5 7 8 Ofthewanes to core Angerinothers, multiplied : whereas on the other fide, croffe fpeeches and peruerie replies, make the chollericke man pro,cecde from anger to rage,from folly to fury and madneffe.And this the Wife man teacheth vs,Pro.26.2r. As the coalemaketh bur- ning coales, &woodafire, fo the contentious man is tokin. dleffrife. So Chap.3o. and the lafi verfe, Rs he thatwrtngeth his no[e caufetb blood to come out : fi; bee thatforceth wrath bringethforthJtrife. By filent yeelding therefore thoumail} eafily abate anothers anger,v%hereas croffe anfweres make it ragingly violent. For as thecannonfhot lofeth his force, if it light in foft earth or wool!, but dafheth the ffonywall in peaces : fo the violence of the mofl furious anger is aba- ted when it is not refifled,but furioufly rageth, where it fin- deth any oppofition. And hence it is that Plato tallethan- ger, Neruos animi, qui dr- intenderentur acerbitate, & laxa- rentur manfuetudine : Thenerues or finewes of the minde, which are intendedand made fliffe,with fharpneffe andbit- terneffe, but flacke and eafie, with curtefie and gentlenefí'e. If therefore thou wouldeft pacifie anothers wrath, follow the counfaile oflefus the fonne of Syrach, Chap.8.4. Con- tendnot witha manfullof words,neither heapevpwood on his fire.Wherehe noteth,that as thewood increafeth the fire,fo multiplying of words increafeth anger. But fiance is not alwaies expedient, efpecially when men, haue a iufl caufe, and an honeft excufe : for oftentimes the angry man will imagine, that fianceargueth contempt; as though they were filent becaufe they fcerned to returne art anfwere. And therefore the fecond remedy, namely aloft and milde anfwere, either excufing theirfault by fhewing their innocency, or in ail humblenefleconfeffìng it,and cra- uingpardon, is more fit phificke to cure anger in fome na- tures and difpofitions. And this medicine the wife Phifirion prefcribeth vs,Pro. i 5.1. Afoftanfwereputtethawaywrath: butgrieuouswordsfirvpanger. So Pro.25. i 5. eAPrince i pacified6yftayiug anger, andafoft tongue breað thebones, or as it isin the originall,aman ofhone,that islfuchan one as
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