Chapter XII.

No one asks counsel from a man tainted with vice, or from one who is morose or impracticable, but rather from one of whom we have a pattern in the Scriptures.

60. We note therefore that in seeking for counsel, uprightness of life, excellence in virtues, habits of benevolence, and the charm of good-nature have very great weight. Who seeks for a spring in the mud? Who wants to drink from muddy water? So where there is luxurious living, excess, and a union of vices, who will think that he ought to draw from that source? Who does not despise a foul life? Who will think a man to be useful to another’s cause whom he sees to be useless in his own life? Who, again, does not avoid a wicked, ill-disposed, abusive person, who is always ready to do harm? Who would not be only too eager to avoid him?445    Cic. de Off. II. 10, § 36.

61. And who will come to a man however well fitted to give the best of advice who is nevertheless hard to approach? It goes with him as with a fountain whose waters are shut off. What is the advantage of having wisdom, if one refuses to give advice? If one cuts off the opportunities of giving advice, the source is closed, so as no longer to flow for others or to be of any good to oneself.

62. Well can we refer this to him who, possessing prudence, has defiled it with the foulness of a vicious life and so pollutes the water at the source. His life is a proof of a degenerate spirit.446    Vide Virg. Æn.IV. 13: “degeneres animos timor arguit.” How can one judge him to be good in counsel whom one sees to be evil in character? He ought to be superior to me, if I am ready to trust myself to him. Am I to suppose that he is fit to give me advice who never takes it for himself, or am I to believe that he has time to give to me when he has none for himself, when his mind is filled with pleasures, and he is overcome by lust, is the slave of avarice, is excited by greed, and is terrified with fright? How is there room for counsel here where there is none for quiet?

63. That man of counsel whom I must admire and look up to, whom the gracious Lord gave to our fathers, put aside all that was offensive. His follower he ought to be, who can give counsel and protect another’s prudence from vice; for nothing foul can mingle with that.

CAPUT XII.

Neminem ab homine vitiis contaminato consilium poscere; nec rursus a moroso et difficili: sed ab eo cujusmodi exemplar habemus in Scripturis.

60. Advertimus igitur quod in acquirendis consiliis plurimum adjungat vitae probitas, virtutum praerogativa, benevolentiae usus, facilitatis gratia. Quis enim in coeno fontem requirat? Quis e turbida aqua 0118D potum petat? Itaque ubi luxuria est, ubi intemperantia, ubi vitiorum confusio; quis inde sibi aliquid hauriendum existimet? Quis non despiciat morum colluvionem? Quis utilem causae alienae judicet, quem videt inutilem vitae suae? Quis iterum improbum, malevolum, contumeliosum non fugiat, et 0119A ad nocendum paratum; quis non eum omni studio declinet?

61. Quis vero quamvis instructum ad consilii opem, difficili tamen accessu, ambiat; in quo sit illud, tanquam si quis aquae fontem praecludat? Quid enim prodest habere sapientiam, si consilium neges? Si consulendi intercludas copiam, clausisti fontem; ut nec aliis influat, nec tibi prosit.

62. Pulchre autem et de illo convenit, qui habens prudentiam, commaculat eam vitiorum sordibus, eo quod aquae exitum contaminet. Degeneres animos vita arguit. Quomodo enim eum potes judicare consilio superiorem, quem videas inferiorem moribus? Supra me debet esse, cui me committere paro. An vero idoneum eum putabo, qui mihi det consilium, 0119B quod non det sibi: et mihi eum vacare credam, qui sibi non vacet: cujus animum voluptates occupent, libido devincat, avaritia subjuget, cupiditas perturbet, quatiat metus? Quomodo hic consilii locus, ubi nullus quieti?

63. Admirandus mihi et suspiciendus consiliarius (Esai. III, 3), quem propitius Dominus Patribus dedit, offensus abstulit. Hujus imitator debet esse qui potest consilium dare, et alienam a vitiis custodire prudentiam, quoniam nihil inquinatum in illam incurrit.