OF MANLY PRUDENCE 2O$
Alas, if I guarded myself from man how could man be an anchor for my ball ! Much too easily would I be drawn upwards and away !
This providence hangeth over my fate, that I must be without caution.
And whoever wisheth not to die of thirst among men, must learn to drink out of all glasses ; and who- ever wisheth to remain clean among men, must under- stand to wash himself even with dirty water.
Thus I often spake unto myself comforting : ' Up ! up ! old heart ! A misfortune of thine hath failed. Enjoy that as thy happiness ! '
But this is mine other manly prudence : I spare the conceited more than the proud.
Is not wounded conceit the mother of all tragedies ? But where pride is wounded, there groweth up some- thing better than pride.
In order that life may be a fine spectacle, its play must be played well. But for that purpose good actors are required.
Good actors, I found, all the conceited are. They play and wish that folk may like to look at their play- ing. All their spirit is in this will.
They act themselves, they invent themselves ; close by them I like to look at life's play, it cureth melancholy.
Therefore I spare all the conceited, because they are physicians of my melancholy and keep me tied fast unto man as unto a spectacle.
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