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On the Nature of Man
Nemesius of Emesa, tr. Wither, 1636
I. Of Griefe, and the severall kindes thereof; and how farre a good man may be subject…
ALL Griefe is of one of these kindes; namely, astonishing griefe, called by the greeks 〈…〉, care; tearmed 〈…〉, envy and pitty.
Astonishing griefe, is that which bereaveth us of the use of our voice; care is a griefe burthenous unto us. Envy is a griefe, springing from the wel-fare of other men; and pitty is a griefe arising from the adversity of others.
Every griefe is evill in respect of it owne nature for albeit a good man bee sometime grieved, when hee seeth good men oppressed, or his children or his country spoiled, hee grieveth not for the sorrowes sake, as if it were good in it selfe to grieve; but for a respect unto other circumstances: Hee that is a delighted in contemplation is not moved IIwith such things, because he hath altogether estranged his minde from earthly affaires, and devoted himselfe wholly unto God. And hee that is otherwise a good man, is moved by the circumstance of grief in such a meane, as never brings him into subjection thereunto; but rather subdues them unto himselfe.
If you make the comparison betweene an evill thing, and a good thing, griefe is then contrary unto pleasure, which is used measurably; but if the comparison be betweene evill and evill, griefe is the contrary to an immoderate pleasure.
IIBut these Excesses happen onely in the pleasures of the body: For the pleasure which is taken in contemplation, (even when it is in the highest degree, and hath attained unto perfection) admits no excesse; neither is there any griefe set in a contrariety thereunto; nor doth it serve to cure any preceding griefe.