So now that a competent time is past—time which
brings all things to maturity—since the first surprise of
your calamity, I believed I should do an acceptable piece
of friendship, if I should now comfort you with those
reasons which may lessen your grief and silence your
complaints.
Soft words alleviate a wounded heart,
If you in time will mitigate the smart.1
[p. 300]
Euripides hath said wisely to this purpose:—
Our applications should suited be
Unto the nature of the malady;
Of sorrow we should wipe the tender eyes,
But the immoderate weeper should chastise
For of all the passions which move and afflict the mind of
man, sorrow in its nature is the most grievous; in some
they say it hath produced madness, others have contracted
incurable diseases, and some out of the vehemence of it
have laid violent hands upon themselves.
