self a servant, that servant every man accounteth
for a proud unthrift, never like to come to good proof. Let us, lo,
mark and consider this, and weigh it well withal: Our master Christ
(who is not only the master, but the maker too, of all this whole
world) was not so proud as to disdain for our sakes the most
villainous and most shameful death, after the worldly count, that
then was used in the world. And he endured the most despiteful
mocking therewith, joined to the most grievous pain, as crowning
him with sharp thorn, so that the blood ran down about his face.
Then they gave him a reed in his hand for a sceptre, and kneeled
down to him and saluted him like a king in scorn, and beat then the
reed upon the sharp thorns about his holy head. Now our Saviour
saith that the disciple or servant is not above his master. And
therefore, since our master endured so many kinds of painful shame,
very proud beasts may we well think ourselves if we disdain to do
as our master did. And whereas he through shame ascended into
glory, we would be so mad that we would rather fall into
everlasting shame, both before heaven and hell, than for fear of a
short worldly shame to follow him to everlasting glory.

XXIV

VINCENT: In good faith, uncle, as for the shame, you shall need to
take no more pains. For I suppose surely that any man who hath
reason in his head shall hold himself satisfied with this.

But, of truth, uncle, all the pinch is in the pain. For as for
shame, I perceive well now that a man may with wisdom so master it
that it shall nothing move him at all--so much so that it is become
a common proverb in almost every country that "shame is as it is
taken." But, by God, uncle, all the wisdom in this world can never
so master pain but that pain will be painful, in spite of all the
wit in this world!

ANTHONY: Truth it is, cousin, that no man can, with all the reason
he hath, in such wise change the nature of pain that in the having
of pain he feel it not. For unless it be felt, perdy, it is no
pain. And that is the natural cause, cousin, for which a man may
have his leg stricken off at the knee and it grieve him not--if his
head be off but half an hour before!

But reason may make a reasonable man not to shrink from it and
refuse it to his more hurt and harm. Though he would not be so
foolish as to fall into it without cause, yet upon good
causes--either of gaining some kind of great profit or avoiding
some kind of gr