But, of truth, uncle, all the pinch is in the pain. For as for
shame, I perceive well now that a man may with wisdom so master it
that it shall nothing move him at all--so much so that it is become
a common proverb in almost every country that "shame is as it is
taken." But, by God, uncle, all the wisdom in this world can never
so master pain but that pain will be painful, in spite of all the
wit in this world!
ANTHONY: Truth it is, cousin, that no man can, with all the reason
he hath, in such wise change the nature of pain that in the having
of pain he feel it not. For unless it be felt, perdy, it is no
pain. And that is the natural cause, cousin, for which a man may
have his leg stricken off at the knee and it grieve him not--if his
head be off but half an hour before!
But reason may make a reasonable man not to shrink from it and
refuse it to his more hurt and harm. Though he would not be so
foolish as to fall into it without cause, yet upon good
causes--either of gaining some kind of great profit or avoiding
some kind of great loss, or eschewing thereby the suffering of far
greater pain--he would be content and glad to sustain it for his
far greater advantage and commodity.
And this doth reason alone in many cases, where it hath much less
help to take hold of than it hath in this matter of faith.
Pages:
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370