Apocarteresis.
Apocarteresis in latine Tollerantia, is a forme of speech by which the speaker signifieth that he calleth away all hope concerning some thing, & turneth it another way.
An example of Job in these words: βHe hath destroied me on every side, and I am gone, and he hath removed mine hope like a tree.β
Job.19.10 Job in these words signifieth that he hath no more hope of worldly prosperitie and comfort, and therefore he turneth the eye of his hope to heaven, saying: βI know that my redeemer liveth, & c.β
verse 28. Whereby he comforteth himself ye better to indure & suffer so great and heavy a burthen of misery.
Ezechias despairing of life, turneth himself to praier and weeping.
Another: Let the widow weepe, and the fatherlesse children lament: Let kinffolke sorrow, and friendes mourne, yet cannot all this prevaile, for he is gone, and cannot be called againe, his absence must needs be suffered, when his presence cannot be redeemed, and therefore thinke on men that live, and let the dead rest.
The use of this figure.
As the sicke patient being forsaken by his phisition, and despairing both of health and life, betaketh himself to God to whose custodie he commendeth both his bodie and soule, expecting the grave for teh one, and heaven for the other.
And as a besieged citie fainting in hope of her strength against the force of her enemy, turneth to supplication, or parling, even to this figure by a pitifull complaynt of despaire under a heavy
burthen, helpeth mightely to move compassion, considering that of all miseries, the greatest misery and most to be pitied, is to be in misery without confort of friends, or hope of reliefe.
The Caution.
This figure is most abused when the sufferenace and despaire is
counterfayted. Secondly, when the passion and misery is declared,
and the hope omitted, which is the sinew and life of sufferance.
