as a philosopher and natural man, it was well said, Pompa mortis magis terret, quam mors ipsa:[1] Groans and convulsions, and a discoloured face, and friends weeping, and blacks,[2] and obsequies, and the like, shew death terrible. It is worthy the observing, that there is no passion in the mind of man so weak, but it mates[3] and masters the fear of death; and therefore death is no such terrible enemy when a man hath so many attendants about him that can win the combat of him. Revenge triumphs over death; Love slights it; Honour aspireth to it; Grief flieth to it; Fear pre-occupateth[4] it; nay we read, after Otho[5] the emperor had slain himself, Pity (which is the tenderestof affections) provoked[6] many to die, out of mere compassion to their sovereign, and as the truest sort of followers. Nay Seneca adds niceness and satiety: Cogita quamdiu eadem feceris; mori velle, non tantum fortis, aut miser,
- ↑ The surroundings of death strike more terror than death itself. L. Annaei Senecae ad Lucilium Epistularum Moralium Liber III. Epistula III. Seneca lived 4–65 A.D.
- ↑ Blacks. Black clothing for mourning; hangings of black cloth used in churches, etc., at funerals. In Shakspere's time the upper part of the stage, technically called 'the heavens,' was hung with black when tragedies were performed. "I would not hear of blacks, I was so light,
But chose a color orient like my mind:
For blacks are often such dissembling mourners,
There is no credit given to 't; it has lost
All reputation by false sons and widows."Middleton. The Old Law. ii. 1.
- ↑ Mate. To daunt ; to stupefy. "My mind she has mated and amazed my sight."
Shakspere. Macbeth. v. 1.
- ↑ Pre-occupate. To occupy before; to anticipate.
- ↑ Marcus Salvius Otho, Roman emperor, 32–69 A.D.
- ↑ Provoke. To stimulate to action; to move; to excite. "And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works." Hebrews x. 24.
