of Revenge

The red capitals are in both prints of the 1625 edition

The blue capitals are in the high scoring print only

The pink capitals are in the low scoring print only

Line one has italics in the high scoring print only

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page 19

 

Of Revenge

IV

  1. REuenge is a kinde of Wilde Iustice;
  2.           which the more Mans Nature runs
  3. to, the more ought Law to weed it
  4. out.   For as for the first Wrong, it doth
  5. but offend the Law; but the Reuenge of
  6. that wrong, putteth the Law out
  7. of Office.   Certainly, in taking Reuenge,                    end of page 19
  8. A Man is but euen with his Enemy;                             page 20
  9. But in passing it ouer, he is Superiour:
  10. For it is a Princes part to Pardon.   And
  11. Salomon, I am sure, saith, It is the glory
  12. of a Man to passe by an offence.   That
  13. which is past, is gone, and Irreuoca-
  14. ble; And wise Men haue Enough to
  15. doe, with things present, and to come:
  16. Therefore, they doe but trifle with
  17. themselues, that labour in past mat-
  18. ters.    There is no Man, doth a wrong, for
  19. the wrongs sake; But therby to
  20. purchase himselfe, Profit, or Pleasure,
  21. or Honour, or the like.   Therfore why
  22. should I be angry with a Man, for louing
  23. himselfe better then mee?   And if
  24. any Man should doe wrong, meerely out
  25. of ill nature, why? yet it is but like
  26. the Thorn, or Bryar, which prick, and
  27. scratch, because they can doe no other.
  28. The most Tolerable Sort of Reuenge, is
  29. for those wrongs which there is no
  30. Law to remedy: But then, let a Man
  31. take heed, the Reuenge be such, as
  32. there is no Law to punish: Else, a
  33. Mans Enemy, is still before hand, And                  end of page 20
  34. it is two for one.     Some, when they                     page 21
  35. take Reuenge, are Desirous the Party
  36. should know, whence it commeth: This
  37. is the more Generous.   For the Delight
  38. seemeth to be, not so much in doing
  39. the Hurt, as in Making the Party re-
  40. pent: But Base and Crafty Cowards,
  41. are like the Arrow, that flyeth in the
  42. Darke.   Cosmus Duke of Florence, had
  43. a Desperate Saying, against Perfidious
  44. or Neglecting Friends, as if those
  45. wrongs were vnpardonable: You shall
  46. reade (saith he) that we are command-
  47. ed to forgiue our Enemies; But you ne-
  48. uer read, that wee are commanded, to
  49. forgiue our Friends.   But yet the Spirit of
  50. Iob, was in a better tune; Shall wee
  51. (saith he) take good at Gods Hands,
  52. and not be content to take euill also?
  53. And so of Friends in a proportion.
  54. This is certaine; That a Man that stu-
  55. dieth Reuenge, keepes his owne Wounds
  56. greene, which otherwise would heale,
  57. and doe well.   Publique Reuenges, are,
  58. for the most part, Fortunate; As that
  59. for the Death of Cæsar; For the Death                      end of page 21
  60. of Pertinax; for the Death of Henry the                    page 22
  61. Third of France; And many more.
  62. But in priuate Reuenges it is not so.
  63. Nay rather, Vindicatiue Persons liue
  64. the Life of Witches; who as they are
  65. Mischieuous, So end they Infortunate.