labour in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's sake; but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honour, or the like. Therefore why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me? And if any man should do wrong merely out of ill-nature, why, yet it is but like the thorn or briar, which prick and scratch, because they can do no other. The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish; else a man's enemy is still before hand, and it is two for one. Some, when they take revenge, are desirous the party should know whence it cometh. This the more generous. For the delight seemeth to be not so much in doing the hurt as in making the party repent. But base and crafty cowards are like the arrow that flieth in the dark.[1] Cosmus,[2] duke of Florence, had a desperate saying against perfidious or neglecting[3] friends, as if those wrongs were unpardonable; You shall read (saith he) that we are commanded to forgive our enemies,[4] but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends.
- ↑ "Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day." Psalms xci. 5.
- ↑ Cosimo de' Medici, pater patriae, 1389–1464, was a Florentine banker and statesman, and a munificent patron of literature and art. "Cosmos duke of Florence was wont to say of perfidious friends; That we read that we ought to forgive our enemies; but we do not read that we ought to forgive our friends."
Bacon. Apophthegmes New and Old. 206 (92).
Maréchal Pierre de Villars, 1623–1698, is said to have taken leave of Louis XIV. with the witticism, "Defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies." - ↑ Neglecting. Negligent, neglectful.
- ↑ "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matthew vi. 12.
