be effected, and
upon that condition he will administer physic, otherwise all his endeavour
and counsel would be to small purpose." And in his _31. counsel_ for a
notable matron, he tells her, [2875]"if she will be cured, she must be of a
most abiding patience, faithful obedience, and singular perseverance; if
she remit, or despair, she can expect or hope for no good success."
_Consil. 230._ for an Italian Abbot, he makes it one of the greatest
reasons why this disease is so incurable, [2876]"because the parties are so
restless, and impatient, and will therefore have him that intends to be
eased," [2877]"to take physic, not for a month, a year, but to apply
himself to their prescriptions all the days of his life." Last of all, it
is required that the patient be not too bold to practise upon himself,
without an approved physician's consent, or to try conclusions, if he read
a receipt in a book; for so, many grossly mistake, and do themselves more
harm than good. That which is conducing to one man, in one case, the same
time is opposite to another. [2878]An ass and a mule went laden over a
brook, the one with salt, the other with wool: the mule's pack was wet by
chance, the salt melted, his burden the lighter, and he thereby much eased:
he told the ass, who, thinking to speed as well, wet his pack likewise at
the next water, but it was much the heavier, he quite tired. So one thing
may be good and bad to several parties, upon diverse occasions. "Many
things" (saith [2879] Penottus) "are written in our books, which seem to
the reader to be excellent remedies, but they that make use of them are
often deceived, and take for physic poison." I remember in Valleriola's
observations, a story of one John Baptist a Neapolitan, that finding by
chance a pamphlet in Italian, written in praise of hellebore, would needs
adventure on himself, and took one dram for one scruple, and had not he
been sent for, the poor fellow had poisoned himself. From whence he
concludes out of Damascenus _2 et 3. Aphoris._ [2880]"that without
exquisite knowledge, to work out of books is most dangerous: how unsavoury
a thing it is to believe writers, and take upon trust, as this patient
perceived by his own peril." I could recite such another example of mine
own knowledge, of a friend of mine, that finding a receipt in Brassivola,
would needs take hellebore in substance, and try it on his own person; but
had not some of his familiars come to visit him by chan