Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
Ver. 18. To depart unto the other side] Either to retire or repose himself after much pains (for quod caret alterna requie, &c., the very birds, when building their nests, fly abroad sometimes from their work, for recreation's sake); a or else the better to edge the people's desires after him, now withdrawn. Luther gave this rule to preachers, for moderating their discourses: When thou seest thine hearers most attentive, then conclude; for so they will come again more cheerfully the next time. Cum vides attentissime audire populum, conclude: eo alacriores redibunt. (Luther.)
a Levandi laboris sui causa volucres passim ac libere volitant. Cicero, 2, de Orat.