Bacon's Essays/Of Revenge

by Francis Bacon

IV

OF REVENGE

Revenge is a kinde of Wilde^[1] Justice, which the more Man's Nature runs to, the more ought Law to weed it out. For as for the first Wrong, it doth but offend the Law; but the Revenge of that wrong putteth the Law out of Office^[2]. Certainly, in taking Revenge, A Man is but even with his Enemy; But in passing it over, he is Superiour: For it is a Prince's part to Pardon. And Salomon, I am sure^[3], saith, It is the glory of a Man to passe by an offence. That which is past, is gone and Irrevocable; And wise Men have Enough to doe with things present and to come: Therefore, they doe but trifle with themselves that labour in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's sake, But therby to purchase himselfe^[4] Profit, or Pleasure, or Honour, or the like. Therfore why should I be angry with a Man, for loving himselfe better then mee? And if any Man should doe wrong, meerely^[5] out of ill nature, why^[6], yet it is but like the Thorn, or Bryar, which prick and scratch because they can doe no other. The most Tolerable^[7] Sort of Revenge is for those wrongs which there is no Law to remedy: But then, let a man take heed the Revenge be such as there is no law to punish; Else, a Man's Enemy is still before hand^[8], And it is two for one. Some, when they take Revenge, are Desirous the party should know whence it commeth: This is the more Generous. For the Delight seemeth to be, not so much in doing the Hurt, as in Making the Party repent: But Base and Crafty Cowards are like the Arrow that flyeth in the Darke. Cosmus, Duke of Florence, had a Desperate^[9] Saying against Perfidious or Neglecting^[10] Friends, as if those wrongs were unpardonable: You shall reade (saith he) that we are commanded to forgive our Enemies; But you never read that wee are commanded to forgive our Friends. But yet the Spirit of Iob was in a better tune; Shall wee (saith he) take good at God's Hands, and not be content to take evill also? And so of Friends in a proportion^[11]. This is certaine, That a Man that studieth Revenge keepes his owne Wounds greene^[12], which otherwise would heale and doe well. Publique Revenges^[13] are, for the most part, Fortunate^[14]; As that for the Death of Caesar; For the Death of Pertinax; for the Death of Henry the Third of France; And many more. But in private Revenges it is not so. Nay rather, Vindicative Persons live the Life of Witches, who, as they are Mischievous, So end they Infortunate.

 

1. uncultivated
2. usurps the functions of law
3. surely
4. obtain
5. simply
6. well
7. permissible
8. always has the best of it
9. severe
10. negligent
11. to a proportionate extent
12. open
13. Acts of vengeance undertaken on behalf of the state
14. successful in their issue