The second point of exercise, in reference to our
own answering of questions, wherein a man that is given
to talk ought to be extremely careful, is first of all not to
be over-hasty in his answers to such as provoke him to
talk on purpose to make themselves merry and to put an
affront upon him. For some there are who, not out of
any desire to be satisfied, but merely to pass away the
time, study certain questions, and then propound them to
persons which they know love to multiply words, on purpose to make themselves sport. Such men therefore ought
to take heed how they run headlong and leap into discourse, as if they were glad of the occasion, and to consider the behavior of the propounder and the benefit and
usefulness of the question. When we find that the propounder is really desirous to be informed, it is convenient
then for a man to bethink himself awhile, and make some
pause between the question and the answer; to the end
that the proposer, if he pleases to make any additions to
his proposal, may have time to do it, and himself a convenient space to consider what answer to make, for fear of
running at random and stifling the question before it be
fully propounded, or of giving one answer for another for
want of considering what he ought to say,—which is the
effect of an over-hasty zeal to be talking. True it is,
[p. 248]
indeed, that the Pythian priestess was wont to give her
oracular answers at the very instant, and sometimes before
the question was propounded. For that the Deity whom
she serves
Both understands the mute that cannot speak,
And hears the silent e'er his mind he break.
1
But it behooves a man that would return a pertinent answer, to stay till he rightly apprehend the sense and understand the intent of him that propounds the question, lest
he may happen to make good the proverb,
A rake we called for; they refused a bowl.
Besides, we must subdue this inordinate and insatiate greediness of having all the talk, that it may not seem as if we
had some old flux of humors impostumated about the
tongue, which we were willing to have lanced and let
out by a question. Socrates therefore, though never so
thirsty after violent exercise, never would allow himself the
liberty to drink, till he had drawn one bucket of water
and poured it out upon the ground; to the end he might
accustom his sensual appetite to attend reason's appointment.
