Overcoming Anger
AnalogyHistorical AccountStory★★★★Overcoming, The Thebans thought at the first that the Laceedemonians were invincible, and therefore durst not meddle with them; but after they had overcome them once or twice, then they thought they were able to conquer them, and that in set battles. So, if we once take heart, and think that we are able to meet anger in the field, and overcome it, we shall not need to encounter this enemy twice; for he will not be so hardy as to appear the second time, or, if he do, it will be to his utter overthrow and confusion.
Cawdray. 432%. PASSION, Ruinous. A beat once entered a saw-mill, sat down on the log which was moving close under the saw, and’ began to eat, the sawyer’s dinner.
Soon he felt a nip at his tail, and gave a growl; then another, which so aroused his bear-nature, that he turned and hugged the great saw till he was sawed in two.
— Cawdray
The point
Two analogies illustrate overcoming anger: as the Thebans learned to defeat the Lacedaemonians by facing them, so one who confronts anger will see it flee; and a bear that attacks a saw in anger is destroyed, showing the ruinous end of unchecked passion.