not liberalitie a vent for were it not for that it is good for nothing But this to the hearers seemes rather trueth then possible those thoughts make vertue impossible vice workes all her doceits with sweetnesse and lazinesse and these catch almost all dispositions for where a good disposition resists the former vice calles difficultie impossible and so lazinesse killes those that pleasures let goe but Vertue saith Caronam at bletae nisi certant non accipiunt thinke but of the rewarde of vertue and the paine is nothing if thou dyest in the attempt honor attends thee to thy graue honor attends thee peace attends thee fame attends thee in a worde Vertue attends thee in whome are all the rest and more then all for vertue marries thee â—o heauen Thus comes greatnesse to an excellent periode without this it comes to destruction Iudgement chooseth the waye of Vertue Opinion of vice which dissolueth into infamie and repentance greatnesse without iudgement brings forth tyranie and all the vndirect ascenders to this top are like Caligula of whom Suctonius saith Nec seruum â—ellorem vllum nec deteriorem domiâ—um fuisse but greatnesse counselled by iudgement hath Pater Patria within which is Iustice Fortitude Temperance and all that makes a state flourish with peace and plentie Essay 38. Of Natures pollicie THe Glasse wherein the minde beholds it selfe is Nature there she seeth the beautifull lineaments of her owne proportion and might not mine opinion seeme to digresse too much from the world I would sweare there is no life no sweetnesse no contentment that intends not this more then any thing wee know not how much wrong we doe our soules with compelling them to be play-fellowes to the bodyes wantonnesse I will aduenture it the worst that opinion can do to me is but to oppose her selfe against me and I feare it not then thus they are childish or beastly courses that are taken for bodyes sake only that excellent and diuine facultie excepted that keepes societies in societie that make many bodies one body that reconciles the differing and disagreeing vnderstandings of man and knits them vp in an vnitie the preseruation of whole admirable concorde we call pollicie This studie becomes the most deuine spirits as long as they are in bodyes 〈◊〉 so much subiect is the soule to the bodye as in confusions and troubles she is troubled and therefore Pollicie producing peace and peace giuing libertie to the soules workings gouernement and pollicie are the destinated and direct obiects of the soules that are yet in bodies But doth not this compel vs from a more deuine and more aspiring inquisition it dooth not for the rules of pollicie are no where so truely written as in the workes of nature to the works of nature is the furthest iourney that our soule can carry vs as long as she beares the burthen of a bodye then vnder this tutresse is the beste of â—he best knowledges to be learned beâ—ng the instructor of the most excelâ—ent naturall courses either actiue or contemplatiue This Architectres shewes the first grouÌ„d of pollicie the societie of things â—greeing in kinde this she hath giuen â—o beasts that haue onely sence nay to her Elements who haue onely quallities so may it seeme not by discourse nor excellent grace but euen by a single infusion the meanest wee naturally thirst after a participating communicating with things of our owne kinde there is euen in all these three kindes a singular contentment in this for beastes whose onely pleasure is feeding and the appetite of generation hath their stomackes increased by the stomackes of the heard and hath females vpon whom to execute the most forcible commaundement of natures and their full pleasure each Element by the assistaunce of the same is more able to resist things Antipatheticall in nature their onely care and man whose voyce carrieth interpretation whose reason fils that voyce with meaning what can he desire more earnestly then his communicating reason and by the other faculties of his constitution to giue his reason the force and strength of many Were it not thus it would be a Chaos for the separation makes a world which seperation standes by the agreeing and disagreeing of natures Yet hath shee tyed the vnderstanding of all thinges but man within the compasse of their owne constitution so seeke they no further then a particular preseruation in which both they are contented and nature serued how admirable is our mothers wisedome she hath giuen no creature reason but man had she to an other all her trauailes should haue serued for the foode of ciuill warres such being the effect of an equall power bent to the obtayning a great dominion the next is her skill in preseruation of which though the most assured gaine is hers yet is it so commixt with a particular satisfaction as vncompelled they willingly performe her commandements thus should Lordes commaund that would not haue their seruice slacked neuer to imploye any instrument of their will without giuing them an interest of contentment yet might it be couertly handled otherwise it will make them mercenary the destroyer of loue and obedience and the bringer in of restinesse and rebelliion it is to be safeliest done eyther by teaching them the dutie of each state by making them vnderstand the worthinesse of a life that runnes directly in his destinated course or else with showing them the effects of their labours and with them comparing the vnhappinesse of the actions of disobedience but natures knowe not what they do and yet doe her pleasure he that can finde instruments of the same temper is likely to make good worke All the rare and variable actions and formes of Nature are tempered and performed onely by her foure seruants the Elements she vseth no more A plaine demonstration not the multitude but the diligence and discipline bringeth things to the wished ende though Caesar could call all his souldiers by their names yet I doubt whether he were perfect in all their natures it could not be and yet might be in the course of Armes it bredde no danger but when it came to counsell I beleeue he would not thinke their names assurance good enough but to speake of the councels of peace which giue all exterior actions their shape it is not meete they be many but selected out of many for the soundest councels proceede not from largenesse of the company but from largest vnderstandings for them that vse many as seruants not counsellours it is not so hurtfull yet haue they so many windowes for passingers to take it at and to discouer what they doe Nature constitutes but foure vnder which number she hath reduced all the things of the world so ought a polititian that inteÌ„ds the keeping the body of gouernement in good forme to make euery creature of his charge belong to one of the ordained states of his signiory by which hee shall defend his country from idle straglers and suppresse one of the
case of Pistols continually readie charged and bent but downwards they are not to be allowed not dissimulation at all for in a priuate Fortune it is a fearefull basenesse and a cowardly shift neither will Suspition then serue to looke vpon our own liues to obserue whether we goe backward or forward in Vertue for we haue neither poysons nor any other kind of treasons among vs our enemies are more open and touch vs slightly and yet so plainly as without the spectacles of Suspition we may see them Thus are things different in name and nature according to the possessor and as Princes and priuate men differ in the outward magnificence so in their inward mindes To a lowe fortune belongs simply the vse of Vertue In the other she must be often chaunged not into vice but not to looke alwayes like Vertue their Operation must meete but their preparing must differ the one hauing to deale but with himselfe may goe on directly but the other conuersant with multitudes must sometime goe about seek out by-wayes which action in him may bee vertuous though in the other it would bee termed dishonest Essay 5. Of Loue. IT is a pretty soft thing this same Loue an excellent company keeper full of gentlenesse and affabilitie makes men fine and to go cleanly teacheth them quallities handsome protestations and if the ground be not too barren it bringeth forth Rimes and Songs full of passion enough to procure crossed armes and the Hat pulled downe yea it is a very fine thing the badge of eighteene and vpward not to be disallowed better spend time so then at Dice I am coÌ„tent to cal this Loue though I hold Loue too worthy a Cement to ioyne earth to earth the one part must be celestiall or else it is not Loue. I hope I shall not offend Diuinitie if I say the coniunction of man and wife is not Loue It is an allowance of Gods and so good and the name of it I thinke two honest Affections vnited into one If this bee so what becomes of all the rest which are counterfaites and yet begge vnder â—he passe-port of Loue Loue thy neighbour as thy selfe that which comes nearest to Loue is this man with man agreeing in sexe I cannot thinke it is so betweene man and woman for it giues opportunitie to lust which the purenesse of Loue will not endure Among all Affections that of Socrates was the best who sought â—o better the mindes of his familiars and loued a good â—it and inclinations to good and sought to confirme them in that I laugh and wonder at the straunge occasions that men take â—ow a dayes to say they loue If they meete with a fellowe â—r a Feaste or in a Potte If their Delightes bee anye thing â— Kinne or theyr Faces anye thing alike If their Countries be one or their landes neare adioyning If they be both rich or both poore or indeed if their new-fangled inuentions can finde out any occasion they are sworn brothers they will liue and dye together but they scarce sleep in this mind the one comes to make vse of the other and that spoyles all he entered this league not to impaire but to profit himselfe I can compare prosperitie to nothing so rightly as to the promising plenteous fields of the Egiptians which were deuoured by the numberlesse troupes of Flyes You cannot haue the one without the other Flatterers deuour the Inheritance of Fortune who while she hath no need of them looke like Bees that will not be vnprofitable but be once driuen let Pouertie be your Arithmetician you shall then see they brought nothing to your stocke but fed vpon it and then you shall easily discerne them to be Drones There is no Loue vpon the earth God loueth vs vndeseruedly and some good men loue and feare him It is Loue from this last because God is a partie or else it might be affection not possibly Loue. Loue is diuine and eternall Affection like our flesh momentary and mortal If I could be sure of them I would say I loued too and make men say they are my friends but it is an vncertain trade this louing and stands vpon such a company of circumstances as I like it not I make no difference betweene common louers and common whores they both flatter and make the name of Loue their Bawdes to serue their particular pleasures For my choyse of friends vertue shal be the ground-worke and so I may build surely Let his fortunes be what they wil I care not yet if I might choose I would haue him poore for so I might easiest shewe my affection to him and profit my selfe by him with least cost for I hold obseruation much more precious then wealth and I will rather giue him my purse then my Time Essay 6. Of Friendship Factions SInce the necessitie of our infirmities hath added this curse among the rest that it cannot enioy a peacefull amitie it is necessary that wee prouide our selues of an Antidote against this poison since our loue wil not or cannot be vniuersall let vs make it happie in the particularitie and loue well what is well worthy to be beloued Vnder this name of Friendship which name coÌ„monly to our vnderstandings is the messenger of Peace is included much daunger for to leaue a friend testifies either inconstancie or treacherie and to be constant is not without perill In the choise rests some apparence of safetie In this choise there ought to be much vigilancie for vntill the marriage of loue hath coupled paires wise natures are timerous in dilating themselues and after that celebration it is irreligious to diuorce a friend thogh guiltie of many deformities Yet must we not entertaine the humor of neutrallitie for La neutralit á non assicura da nimici e questa non conserua gli Amici No from the vtmost happines of man to his basest contentment it is not tollerable neither Religion nor nature allowes it we must then choose we are compelled to choose but here is diuersitie the choise of a great man differs from a priuat man the choise of a friend from that of a faction It is for a meane fortune to thinke of such as are able to better his minde for a greater of such whose strengths are able to vphold his fortune In friendship I wil regard Vertue In factions power vnder this olde sentence Simile simili gaudet there was once much certainty but now pollicy can put on all shapes so that the Wolfe and the Lambe are hardly to be distinguished either by their habit words or actions It is lesse difficult for persons in indifferent estates to make theyr choise then for great men yet only safe to pouertie for there hee must be in loue with himselfe or nothing Wel as I am let him pace by me often and as Hunters do let me see how hee behaues himselfe hot and colde let me see his motions in anger heare his opinion of all things
Moone had passed Scorpio hee answered hee feared not Scorpio but the Archers These things are least of all to bee feared they begge feare that picke them out of these occasions hee that will interprete mischaunces out of these things may take his leaue of tranquillitie for some of them happen euery daye which being inforced to these ill presages makes the vulgar so full of sighs exclamations and vncertainties Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus There are no mischances there is no fortune there is no miserie in our humaine liues except we looke into the feeblenesse of our merits our Creators bountie in other things we are deceiued by imagination the circuÌ„stances of things are more then themselues Exovitur clamorque virum clangorque tubarum It may be so is it any more then death tush cruelty can do no more and for that put but away opinion and it is soone gone In the meane time see the behauiour of the suppressed Troyans weaklings the children of Fortitude and thinke who carried theÌ„selues to the graue most gratiously Apparent Priami vetâ—rum penetralia regum Armitosqâ—e vident stantes in limine primâ— At domus viterior gem tu miseroque tumultu Miscetur peâ—tasque caâ—e psangoribus â—der Faâ—â—ers uâ—nâ—â—t ferit aurea sidera clamor Tum paâ—ida tectis matres ingentibus errant Amplexoeque tenent postos atque oscula figunt Now who would adde to the furie of an insulting enemy prayers and petitions no let it be death let it be paine there is yet left vs to conquer the victours patience there let vs end for those terrours that are exhaled by a guilty conscience they are more incurable then any other in spight of vice our knowledge miscaried will returne and complaine of her abuse and the impression of her fault bring feare and feare presents thoughts of terror thus Nero beheld his murthered mother thus tyrants are no where safe though in the midst of their strengths This made Dionisius make an Image that singed off his sonnes haire not daring to trust a Barbar this made Alexander Pheraeus vse to haue his wife searched for feare of murdering him guiltinesse cannot be without feare neither will Iustice long delaye their execution which in themselues they finde and so feare euery thing is a hangman Many of the Romane Emperours at the hearing of the thunder would creep vnder their beddes and seeke shelter of the most vnable things to defend theÌ„ poore people it was not the thunder but their consciences put them in minde like sea sicke persons that complaine of the sea when it is their troubled stomackes that diseaseth them but this argumeÌ„t fitteth a more diuine hand to them I leaue the examination of this honest remembrancer conscice and end with the example of Numa Pompilius and Aurelius who neede no gardes for they were honest men they feared not for they were vertuous and vertue cannot feare such is the power of that excellent and true guide of humanity Essay 33. Of Silence and Secrecie IT is pitye this quality must borrow wordes to expresse it worth but it is no more infortunate then all things which to become knowne must borrow sound and ayer for though wee can thinke yet thinke we not that enough without sending our thoughtes abroad to the censures of men I confesse speach is to the minde as conuenient hauens to townes by whose currents they grow ritch and mightye but it dooth as these places of traffique doe bring in not onely commodities profitable and wholesome but luxuries corruption and delicacie I cannot well tell then which I should preferre of speach and silence since the one doth to much the other to litle speache inritching and corrupting silence being poore but honest but these are extremities which neuer prosper vntill brought into the meane whose mediocritie keepes each end from falling with-holding and paizing each side with the holdfast of the middest I am not against speach but babling which consumes time and profiteth no body it is one of the blessings of nature speache but to ride still vpon the top of it is too vehement they are at great paines with feeding hungrie â—ares and to speake truly are the very bellowes to kindle laughter it carieth not onely this fault for with all it is vnsafe wordes discouering the minde and negligently giuing all eyes the sight of the heart There is a wise Philosopher that calles wordes the shadowes of deeds Sermo operis vmbra this is his best which is so slender as the true affectors of things will giue their thoughts bodies and translate them more substancially There is a more noblenes in deeds in which may be read the worthinesse and vnworthines of men truely whiles words greatest gaines dooth but promise things performing nothing I finde no men affecting actions more throughly then these people of faire wordes which makes mee feare these ingrossers of speech are constituted of too much winde and ayre and want that solidity which is meete in the generation of this deere issue of ours our actions which neuer faile to resemble vs more neerely then the children of our body PhocioÌ„ was preferred before Demosthenes because he spake not much but fild his speach with stuffe and was sparing of Rhetoricke and full of reason If he tels me their nature a right I ioyne with his choise it is with these for bettering the hearers as it is betweene a few dishes well dressed and a great feast the sparing speaker giues you that which is wholsome and ouerburdens not your memory with superfluitie the wording Orator is like our English feasts where the stomack must winne way to the second course with bearing the burthen of the first when he comes to it hath lost the bettering himselfe by it through the heauinesse of his first receipt wheÌ„ I heare one of these common speakers laying vp his stomack I let his words passe without any more attention then I bestow vpon a clock when I care not for the howre but he that solicits my eares but seldome I receiue his pleasure with pleasure and willingly graunt him a roome in my memorie It was well aduised by Cleanthes to one that intreated him to instruct his sonne hee saide be silent for besides the aduantage that he hath of a talker of hauing all he knowes without paying him any thing for it receauing it scot-free it is also more becomming instructing for his behauiour is not carryed out of the way with following his wordes and out of that silent behauiour there is more wisedome to be learned then from a multitude of wordes and more with intertaining this silence for he receiues from her her wise and safe daughter Secrecie Were I sure all men thought iust with me secrecie were not necessarie but since the speaker and expositor vtter and receiue with different mindes and that speach cannot carry her selfe to meane iust as I would haue her I must defend her aequiuocall impotencie with bestowing her
so excellent in some things which she hates either because they are not hers but fortunes and her wisdome and nature is to hie and excellent to mother that pedlers brattes or else they are rebells that in dispite of her authority and skill will breake out into the worlde and disgrace her cunning the same reasons ought to make states no lesse abhorre the monsters of states practizers of innouation which whether it comes from the humor of fame or from the more dangerous of surprising his countrye is to be with all diligence suppressed bad if they be not too bad customes beeing more then remedies producing innouations For in this troubles the honest minde stands amazed the seditions that haue long waited for such an opportunitie embrace it wounding the state in many places whiles her gouernors are either feeble through distraction or their forces bent another way by the commaundement of passion Oft time was the Romaine coâ—mon wealth sicke of these diseases fildom cured of any if salued of one with such a disauantage as the curious eye of sedition found by that how to molest her more dangerously euen as a-troubled title of land oft times brings forth more with pleading for the right and shewing the title So apprehensiue and so percing is the witte of man that spurred by his wil there is nothing too difficult that he dares not attempt and perhaps vanquish such a fury mooues his will with such subtiltie his reason wherefore since the will backes ill causes sometimes and that the reason is corrupted by the violence of the will there is no safetie through this intricate many turnings but the thred of vertue whose light is the onelye meanes to laye open these iuglers and workers by stealth To follow natures progressions a little further by this time hauing laide the foundation of her goodly building it is time to illustrate the effects of her excellence to arriue at some good end of her trauailes nay what is there but is the creature of her hand An excellent happinesse to equall which though it were a groundlesse ambition for vs to aspire to yet as like it as we come is a worthy desire we are well pleased in the attempting things but things of this rancke effected to haue preserued our countrie to haue giuen her good lawes to haue left her good examples are such things to behold possesseth vs with so ample and eternall ioyes as not the imagination the neerest neighbour to mortalitie to immortall state cannot thinke of more diuine ioyes then is here â—elte I wonder not at Licurgus wilfull exile respecting the occasion it was an vncertaine and dangerous state that he left his nephew compared with the fruition of those thoughts that accompanyed his banishment his constitutions and ordinances of the Laconian kingdome in my account farre ouer-valuing the possession Of the rest of natures workmanship though there be none but full of precious liquor and that there is yet more then a mortall imagination can graspe with that multitude I am confounded and dare goe no farther then to shut vp what hath passed my pen there rests but of her this then that I dare venture vpon the first how liberally she dealeth with the worlde in her effect how sparingly in laying open her causes well knoweth she the disposition of man who spurneth and dispiseth all those benifits that he vnderstands the reason of an excelleÌ„t lesson for souerainty to learne whose knowledge fetched from his gouernment rather then person nourisheth and vphouldes maiesty they beeing drawne into more beautifull colours that the eye seeing not the imagination performeth for her then those things that are the ordinary obiects of the eye and familiar to our sences The vphoulding this miraculous frame resteth in the hands of loue and neede which doe preserue all her creatures which two are the maine pillers vphoulding her building by loue her stocke is renewed Omnibus incuâ—iens blandum per pectora amorem Efficis vt cupidè generâ—ti By neede things disagreeing in nature are yet kept from proclayming wars against one another this need loue though by the effects they maye be parted by a distinction yet is all our loue needy and none that is not interested in our particular care how a state ought to apply this is euident by the whole world it is determined people cannot liue without gouernours there is their neede from his iustice and true execution of his place proceedes their loue thus from loue and neede proceedes the preseruation of societies It is all our states to neede and a mutuall supplying each others wants that makes vs compleat and full being otherwise lame defectiue this must perswade subiects willingly to contribute to the charge of the Prince and not looke only vpon their own charge but vpon his expences to defend them from innouations and troubles this doth nature more plainly teach in the sunnes drawing vp moisture from the earth which it doth not as needing them but to giue it againe to the earth more warme and more fatte then she receiued it in the same nature must we esteeme Princes impositions which returne vs them with a great increase and more riche in substance then they receiued them thus dooth Nature excellently vphold her world thus excellently shall these states stand that proceede so impartially and wiselie as to imitate her for Ratio est naturae imiratio Essay 39. Of Conceipt To the Lady Withipoll EVer your commaundements honourable Lady are conceited for by your commaundement I haue inquired of conceit which I finde so like yourselfe as to resemble it to your selfe were a true and quicke description but it is in you mixed with iudgment without which it often goes though it often goe with it That it goe without it makes it differ from you for you cannot go without iudgement but I must speake no more of you I must then speake of perfections whose want in the world makes imperfect iudgements determined commendations and due praises Poetrye or Flattery But either conceite is two sundry things or conceite is abused for to tuck to be stuffed with apish tricks to weare greene cut vpon Yellow and to be a very meriment to the eyes I haue heard termed conceite when they are no other but Tailour-like friskes of the sences which they haue seene allowed without asking eouncell euen of the common sence the ware-house common to beasts and to men But the worthies Conceite leaues postes betweene the sences and the fancie which speedily conuey inttelligence are as speedily answered It is a fruitfull land sowed reaped at an instant it is a quick workman which sendeth receiueth whatsoeuer is presented in a time It is in a word a fancie well disposed not onely to her owne faculty but to the abilities of both neighbors the coÌ„mon sence the memory Her power is doubly set a worke in words in deeds In these she differeth from Iudgement not in successe but ready
he lost it in the 〈◊〉 of his countrie this mouth of reproche had beene stopped it beeing an action so iust and so worthy as farre over valueth either an eye or a life A vertuous maide needes no perswasion to this it beeing the first lesson of vertue to her disciples to flie a mercenary gaping after rewarde so indifferent shee stands for the applause or honour of the world receiuing outward testimonies of gratuitye rather to satissie the giuer not to seeme a despiser of his fauour then needing giftes honour or riches so for her imploiment labouring truly where she is set not appointing the worlde which roome is meetelt for her I confesse a strangenesse in this position that from some minds I take hereby euen the very spirite of their indeuours but such minds know how wauering and perplexed they liue so crushed and battered with giuing liberty to hope and feare as their life is no life but the harborer of liuing griefes or a ship of glasse nauigating in the sea of errors as the Poet saith O vita vitae non ma viue Affoâ—ne Naue di vitro ni mar di cieco errore Sotto pioggia di Piaxto et di dolore Che sempre cresce con-vergogna et danno There needes no great examination of this for euen their very behauiour giues purblinde sights knowledge of their continuall suffering which who can get vertue to remedy and to be his champion against these hatefull bereauers of contentment he will shortlie crie out O felice quel di che ' l graue giogo Sento far lieâ—e I wish to a minde that desires to carie his life euery way graciously not vnder the colour of recreation to giue any sports leaue to possesse him too much I remember Terence makes a Father commend his sonne that all those things were esteemed of him equally and not too much which he reioyced in and he had good cause for they are things of too light a colour to bee worne by grauitie they spend much time a thing not of the least coÌ„sequeÌ„ce for either himselfe or his country still needs it it lightens the minde filles it with thoughts of pleasure and gaming it is the entrance of corruption for who resists riches is often taken by a meaner thing fitting his pleasure If I should tell you that the fighting game of Quailes was Anthonies ouerthrowe it would be thought fetcht a great waye about but it is truth that Augustus ouer-comming him in those wagers gaue an entrance to the perswasion of his flatterers that his spirite was obscured by Caesars and that hee should speed better wheÌ„ more remote so that hee left Rome and went into Aegipt left temperance fell to sensuality which if you will not graunt this the cause of yet can it not be denied for a motiue more attractiue then the occasion was worthy of The body must haue recreatioÌ„ but it is to haue it in my opinioÌ„ but as Phisick for necessities sake But we must goe no farther in this then the auoyding which without a great power in himself none can do it being naturally in men violently to run from one extreame to another Let not this shunning pleasure destroy affability grauity is not boud to frowne and bite his lip this becomes singularity the destroyer of the loue of others neither so strictly is the life to be ordered as shall make men flie your imitation Good is to be done in a common wealth not onely by Iustice but by perswasion to meete the humours of men sometimes gaines men and the putting of authoritie vsing familiarity preuailes as much as the bloodiest sentence of Iustice whose seuerity ofteÌ„ makes offendours obstinate which though it endes with the smart of the accused yet doth it discredit gouernement as much to haue many put to death as it doth a PhisitioÌ„ to haue many patients perrish vnder his cure Of flattery the bane of vertue and the destinated disease killing greatnesse euery one can speake though few avoide The good Augustus that mannaged principallitie as fairely as it was possible for a man vnasisted by diuinitie was taken heere but the safest that might be I cannot finde that suffered it to lay hold of his wisedome or gouernement but it catch'd him by the eyes for he loued well that other eyes should confesse a weakenesse to his not be able to behold them long Gaudebat si quis sibi acrius contuenti quasi ad sulgorem solis vultum submistures The extremitie of this seldome comes but from meane estates whom if they bar from such altberty of speaking as may giue oppertunitie to adulation they may preuent this daunger If it come from such as wee holde friends their life and honestye examined will tell what they meane Anthony whome I late mentioned was deceiued by such as would tell him of his faults but so little of them mixed with so many praises as their reproofes seemed but like sharpe fauce to make him deuoure their commendations more hungerly But this was a cunning trick and those lesse cunning are hardly auoyded since they meete so right with the generall inclination of man selfe-loue as commonly they speake no more then wee thinke The last and best remedy that I know is that which was giuen me by the worthiest friend I haue by way of aduise when commended examine vnpartially your owne deserts where if you finde not what is laide to your charge note that toung for the instrument of flattery I cannot thinke of a better remedy only I must say it is not to be done without vertue for all the examinations of vice are partiall corrupt For friends there is no safety but in honest meÌ„ for others will betray vs if not by our selues yet with himselfe for becoming once his friend wisdom nor forecast nor the discrying danger ought keepe vs froÌ„ perishing with him I holde it no lesse vnsafe to choose one onely for greatnes for we make choise of them but for our owne sakes which they are apt enough to find as apt to make vse of vs to their owne profit we may fall with these but our rising is in their power thus the friends of Seianus when Tiberius had discryed him paide deerly for their nearenesse Here a power to descrye into the natures of men is of great importance but it is a power as difficult few being worthy of knowledge that withall haue not an ability to obscure their defects wherevpon one saith Gioue tu aesti par chiari segnali Onâ—e l'argento et l or siseuopre Ma nessun Segno in human corpo appare Ond ' il buon huom ' 〈◊〉 firiconosce To finde out the secret passages of a mans nature I deuise not to talke so much with him as with his man his chamber actions discouer more then his appearance in assemblies I like nothing better in Montaigne then his desire of knowing Brutus priuate actions wishing more to know what he did in Tent then in
battaile for there beeing himselfe not ouerawed by respect and company he spreds himself open and in this corner giues a discerning eye a more liberall view then wheÌ„ he stands vpoÌ„ the allowance of the generall sight of men Of seruÌ„ats now I hold it necessary to speake an assistance well vsed assisting but to be handled carefully to be chosen with as great regarde for the imploying these shewes theÌ„ many things which were it possible to bring to effect without their knowlege were the better I haue elswhere mentioned their vse now I will speake of three things coÌ„cerning theÌ„ The first the disposing theÌ„ according to their natures Tranoinâ— nasce buom ch'ogni cosa sappia Questo è bueno ad vn mostier quello ad vn altro Tu saila spada oprar quello il configlio Of this with nothing so excellent an happinesse am I able to speake as doth that Maister-peece of English which in a light Historye meanes the most graue matter I meane the Arcadia where the besieged Amphialus teacheth the vse of seruaÌ„ts inferiours most exactly there shall you finde constitutions fitted with charges and imployments according to their nature the disability of one man for al places The second care must be that their imploiments be not matters of the greatest consequence reserue these for your selues for not to bee able to manage matters of waight breeds pride in the imployed and to the lookers on derogates from your authoritie The last not least of importance is the carriage of your rewards and punishments this is the thing that giueth lords good seruants or bad I like well to let them see all their faults hardly let all be impardonable though not punished with austeritie In capitall offences chide not but let them feele sharply what it is to be disobedient or rebellious Talke not with them but vpon occasion let them at no time haue idle talke bee a good Maister not a familiar and let theÌ„ haue all their due largely but paâ—ed with the hand of seueritie For rewards it is the life of their action and they must bee taught to do wel thus but let them nor know how much they haue done but extenuate the seruice as much as safely you may reward them not presentlie but rather when it shall looke altogither like your bountie Of olde seruants make great account giue their brused bones meanes to liue their after life in rest I do religiously hold this for we owe him much that giues vs his youth and surely there is no greater inhumanity then to make vse of the fresh time of a man and turne him out in the colde and winter of his age This I finde generally to be the force of vertue that all her proceedings fall out most safely for ingratitude a lim of her contrarye leaues destitute them that are knowne so barren if the earth should bee so to the paines of the husbandman we should starue If riuers so to their father the ocean his liberalitie to the thirstie earth would make her poore but nature hath made her creatures more louing and assisting to one another therfore is the vngratefull man to be termed a monster Pitty and humanity where benefits binde not must binde thus come all the vnder states of a states-man to chalenge his aide the plenty of vnderstanding and riches wherein hee surmounts these is giuen him because he knowes how to imploye them best they are put in his hands not to keepe from them but to keepe them froÌ„ excesse that ignorance would fall into if at his owne directioÌ„ These need onely Iustice to be kept from want which is the charge of high fortunes but theÌ„ it must be done meerly for their benefit not to purchase popularity which is an humor full of danger no profit a breeder of vainglory in himselfe and suspition in others The priuate communication of great men with their Prince is the last for outward matters the last because I will speake of no more for otherwaies the turnings and occasions of this life are so infinite that if euery man that hath written of the matter were a million of Authors and all so imployed more could not be spoken Howsoever his maisters familiaritye may promise a libertie of behauiour yet neuer to approche him without due reuerence what euer hee is yet being a Prince he is to be reuerenced and not be practised against as a wise Author saith Good Princes are to bee desired but howsoeuer they are to be obeyed It is the duty of a faithfull seruant to tell his maister of his faultes I meane of such seruaÌ„ts as a Prince thinks meet for their wisdome to bee assisters of his gouernmeÌ„t but he must watch fit oportunity Ascolla â— taci Poi moui a tempo le parole audaci Plato holdes him a worthy counsailour that is adorned with these three qualities honesty wisdom boldnes that his aduice bee safe hee must haue honesty that sound wisdome that gracious boldnes Neuer is aduise to be ministred in the time of the fruition of what you meane to inueigh against but then when the smart of the errour ioyneth with you in perswasion This fault was Clytus in when he openly inueighed against drunkennesse in the middest of Alexanders quaffings hee dyed for it which though Alexander lamented in his sobriety yet could not that reuiue him againe but is an example how circumspectly a seruant must deale with his Prince Now to the inwarde minde by the which as by the fertilenesse and heate of the soyle the children of her wombe flourish All vaine hopes are to be abandoned as the perswaders vnto all vncertainety and perill I am not moued against Nero for any thing more excepting his Quiristers occupation then at his credence giuen to a fellowe that tolde him of great treasures that lay hidden in Affrica vpon hope of which he dissolutely consumed those he possessed Certainlye these hopes can neuer enter but into a vicious brest which often resistes reason when shee would looke into it with these vaine hopes Ambition also buildes vpon such groundes and thinkes not vppon any thing that it would but it beleeues it shall whose reasons were they laide open would appeare such feeble impotent things as the meanest reache would rather laugh at then feare Denique Auarities et honoruÌ„ caeca Cupido Quae misâ—ros homines cogunt transcendere fines Iuris et inter dumsocios scelerum atque ministros Noctes aetque Dics niti praest anti labore Adsummas emergere opes haec vulnera vitae Non minimam partem mortis forneldine aeluntur Besides the rest of the miseries of man that comes from thence Feare the most terrible and abhorred thing of Nature hath here her originall which with his inwarde trembling and distracted motions hinders also all proceedings and intents for feare makes euery thing looke like himselfe to auoide which he heapes mischiefe vpon mischiefe blood vpon blood Vnde
homines dum se falso terrore coâ—cti Refugisse volunt longe longeque recesse Sanguine ciuili rem constant diuitiasque CoÌ„duplicant auidi caedeÌ„ caedi accumulaÌ„tes Thus intermixt and intangled with all horrors are those liues that are content to entertaine the desires of vndirect aspiring these hopes neuer goe without feares and they neuer without ill effects thus doth hee outwardlye heape vpon himselfe the detestation of the worlde and his owne thoughts make him detest himselfe Le dubbie spenix il pianto e'l van dolore I pensier folli et le delire imprese Et le querele in darno a'l vento spese M'hanno a me tolio et posto in luÌ„go errore To auoide this I know no way but vertue which so filles as where she is nothing else is sought take from or adde to her shee is still her selfe like a circle whose bignesse or lightnesse alters not his forme but his space Besides where as the defects of men in times past to vphold their reputations were faine to perswade the world falsely of their communication with the Gods and to belye their mothers with the adultery of Iupiter her estimation shall not need these deceits for the life of her Possessor will show he is diuinely discended and her counsels shall bee held so sincere as they shall be accepted without the subornation of the nimph Egeria Esay 48. Of Wordes I Like no Relation so well as what mine eye telleth me for there is in speach as in suÌ„ptuous building many entries landing places and Lucomes commaunded more for formalities sake then for conueniency so ands and ifs and many sounding words stuffe vp empty periods with winde Naturally we carry matter better then wordes in which nature tells vs shee vseth words but for an interpretour because our ignorance vnderstandes not her Language which puttes vs to a great deale of paine and makes vs go a great way about in our inquisition of knowledge for there is lesse drosse in the letters of nature then in words the substaÌ„ce of Bookes for the apparition of naturall obiectes carries not such a coÌ„pany of circumstaunces for the eare is more deceiued with soundes then the eye with colours That same Euphoniae gratia the maintainer of pratling what is it but to feed the auditory with Dishes dressed by the painter not the cooke for they may say they are satisfied when examined what they had it proues a painted shoulder of mutton sulciae solue multum mali sub illis latet It may proue ill but if not so Anatomize the wordes of these adorers of wordes and they proue nothing which is the next degree to ill Seneca commendes his friende that he heares nothing of him Quod plerique ex his quos interrogo nesciunt quid agas To my friend I would say that they know not what thou thinkest because seldome speaking for my thoughtes are dearer to me then any actions performing any thing it is the giuing thoughtes bodies and sending them into the world There was a knight of Rome put to death for translating a dreame of his into wordes had hee not better haue suppressed his daungerous imagination and taught another thought to haue killed this then to haue throwne it out of his breast by the violence of his tongue I dare be bound his mother if she were aliue at that day wished he could neuer haue spoke for mothers like nothing in their children so wel as life but his punishment was to seueare his tongue had beene losse enough for that had beene the capitall Traitour Is not this a dangerous iudgment that betraies the whole life for the trespasse of one lim had it not bin better for him to haue vsed the tonge for a taster then a distributour yes questionlesse For speach lesse daungerous then this is good for nothing but to pull speach from others for willingly were the company fit most of my wordes should be interrogation but when I were at this charge I would be glad to meete with those whose expence of matter should equall their number of wordes Truth hath fallen vpon it so often so commonly that it is a receiued precept not to trust a great talker with your secrets for they haue such a disease of wordes that like fier they will feede vppon themselues if they want sustenaunce so that you must feede him continuallie like a Woolfe or else hee deuours you and after himselfe for he loues nothing so well as wordes If he had performed it without diuulging I should haue liked the custome of Pallas the manumized slaue of Claudius who protested Nihil vnquam se domi nisi nutu aut manu significasse It was a good course for wordes to inferiours and seruants draw on familiaritie and familiarity robbes masters and Lordes of their dominion rule If we were now as wee were once though speach should bee superfluous for all should haue beene good and I thinke then all knowledges should haue seene trueth in a like quantitie yet it had not beene so daungerous for our vices are the Ocean our wordes the Barkes transporting and trafficking sin with him and imperfection with imperfection so that multitudes and Assemblies where talke turnes the minde outward are as perillous to an honest minde as to receiue education in a Bordello Heardly shall a man meete with a tongue in these places speaking either honestly or temperatly for either speaking ill or too well takes vp all meÌ„ flattery or slauÌ„der ingrossing the whole body of speach either he is a worthie fellow for I am much beholding to him or very vnworthy because I am not beholding to him what an impudency of the worlde is this where men dare protest the summe of vertues or vices rests in mens conforming them selues to their humours what is this but the confounding of all goodnesse benefit of societies with including in themselues the estimation of all and allowing nothing that workes not for their priuate satisfaction me thinkes other creatures wanting this are as happy as a licentious disposition wanting wealth for by this meanes they knowe but their owne infirmities and goe no farther then natures infusioÌ„ giues them leaue but men by the helpe of speach draw the corruption oâ— others into themselues ad to their naturall infirmities millions of imperfections I heare men speake daily but not a day in a month finde myselfe bettered by their speach but contrarily haue euery day such a company of ragges throwen into my braine that I wish my selfe deafe all the weeke long but on Sundayes for then deuotion and the Booke in a diuines hand and his being a diuine drawe me to worke somewhat out of my hearing bee he neuer so lame in his function How often haue I seene occasion offer company a vse of their tongue that might haue bettered their mindes but as often almost respected and inforced vnderstandinges able to haue mounted heigher to goe with them in the durt and made the weather the season
ranke equally both end their pursuites with pleasing their sences this the eye the other the Taste What differs scraping misery from a false Cheatour the directour of both is Couetousnesse and the end Gaine Lastly courting of a Mistresse and buying of a Whore are somewhat like the end of both is Luxury Perhaps the one speakes more finely but they both meane plainly I haue beene thus seeking differences and to distinguish of places I am faine to flye to the signe of an Ale-house and to the stately comming in of greater houses For Men Titles and Clothes not their liues and Actions helpe me so were they all naked and banished from the Heralds books they are without any euidence of preheminence and their soules cannot defend them from Community Essay 23. Of Affectation AFfectation begets Extremities Man is allowed onely the middle way he strayeth when he affects his Errour is punished with Deformity whatsoeuer he performeth thus becomming disgraceful and vncomely There is not any in this kinde to be pardoned euen the open affecting of vertue turnes into Hipocrisie and makes him seeme rather as if he played Vertue then possessed it The ordering of the body if it be subiect to this A pish Imitation is wholy disordered for his inward Directour is disobeyed and forced contrary to it excellent natuâ—e to become base and to borrow The excellent Artisan that made all gaue all his Children portions of qualities befitting them as Heate to Fire Moisture to Water Trees to be plentifull Mothers and Hearbes to haue an healing ability should these fall to affecting and to like others Qualities better then their owne what a confusion would it beget how much wrong to the workeman Thus is it with vs Euery Soule casts a colour vpon the Body suteable to it owne nature not like our common colours which will endure a second Dye but which at first is naturally in graine Euery one in truth is fitted by nature whose fashion if he likes not but wil choose rather to weare other mens cast clothes it is pitty the Admiration hee affects should not be turned into laughter I haue seene some seely creatures that haue had the extremity of this disease in words but what hath beene the end alas they haue deliuerd Prisoners that haue turnd Traitours and instantly betrayed them to Derision For my part I thinke generally it ought to be shunned and if euer I were subiect to any Affectation it was not at all to affect in which I haue beene so precise that I haue beene afraide to weare fashions vntill they haue beene ayred by a generall vse Let no man thinke this mislike barres my allowance of inriching my selfe by the example of the Vertuous no the best may want if hee bee onely stored by his owne meditation Bookes men are both good Instructours those we must read and obserue but when that is done to make our reading and obseruation no longer theirs but our owne I haue noted a People content inwardly to be so humble as to weare cast Apparell but for the outward satisfaction they would alter and trim them to defend theÌ„ from being knowne and so fit them to their bodyes thogh before they were too wide Thus must they do that desire to be adorned with knowledge and iudgement and vertue Whatsoeuer I read I vnderstand it not if my Disgestion makes it not naturally mine Thus it becommeth men and makes the constitution of the minde strong and faire and worthy of allowance if not of Admiration Essay 24. Of Fantasticknesse FAntastâ—cknesse is the HabilimeÌ„t of youth Wisdomes minority Experiences Introduction the Childe of Inconstancy the Mother of Attire of Behauiour of Speach spoken against the Haire Customes Enemy It is Greene Thoughtes in Greene yeares or at the farthest greene Thoughts in a seare Substance this is Fantasticknesse Wit as long as wit exerciseth her selfe lightly and is the Glasse wherein the Body lookes to set his Attire in fashion being weake at this time shee playes with the Body as Children doe with Babies puts on and off dresses and vndresses layes it to sleepe and takes it vp againe all at an instant must be doing though to no end doing yet for all this I thinke it a colour of the Soule for so is wit and wit is Fantastick but indeed not so strong as to be layd in Viniger and not alter for it alters with howers almost with minutes Notwithstanding wisdome may come and with her comes Resolution and Constantnesse For Experience comes by Knowledge Knowledge from Chaunge Chaunge from Fantasticknesse trying many things with allowance of some and yet cleauing but Inconstantlye to that allowaunce It is least daungerous in the Attire for that may be worne and put off more in the behauiour for Time reconciles it to Custome most in the Conditions for those spots will neuer out For Clothes he that shunnes singularity for from singularity comes eyther Disdaine or Enuy let his Attire be conformable to Custome and change with Company I haue once cleared Alexander for his Persian Attire I thinke Fantasticknesse lent wisdome Pollicy at that time The Graecians were too strict in this not permitting a Graecian to differ in the least thing that might be from a Grecian wherevpon an Ambassadour of theirs sent to the Persians was called to a straight account because he kept Cowes for their Milke and learned to lye soft In many things as in this Custome is a thing Indifferent and things indifferent receyuing their life from light Grounds Euery countrey hath some peculiar to it selfe by which when we are there we ought to be ruled Demetrius fantasticknesse was not so safe when he made his Mantle or Cloake full of Starres with the Sunne and the Moone rich and so full of state that none of his successours durst aduenture on the like being infinitely misliked by his Souldiours But Anthony neuer sped better then when his Attire differed not from the common Souldiours which might be thought fantasticknesse for not going according to his degree Time in it selfe is alwayes one but Occasion runs Diuision vpon Time her note is not alwayes one which ought to be noted by them which are not negligent of their Time A King of the Parthians of whom Tacitus makes mention being deposed comes after in the sight of his People poore and forlorne and thereby mooued pitty But Pompey with a fortunâ— no lesse vnfortunate came for succour to the Egiptians and thereby lost his head Thus different are the dispositions of men thus contrary fall out courses though for a great space together they runne all one way I haue seene fellowes kisse their hand so continually that their hand in the end hath come to make no difference betweene a Lady and her Dairy-maide 〈◊〉 your seruice hath beene so coâ—uersant as one asking what 's a Clock first came a kisse on the hand next At your seruice and lastly the houre do you not thinke Nature had done this fellow a good turne to haue
made him without hands or tongue for so his head might haue liued 〈◊〉 condemned There are some that neuer see great assembly without as certaine a bringing home of a new grace as Clownes of Ginger-bread from a Faire making their lims Rogues without an abiding place In the end Fantasticknesse lyes with custome and gets her with Childe of a Thumbe vnder the Girdle or crossed Armes or one hand before and another behinde Barre some fellow from chewing a stick and he is as vtterly vnfurnished as a House without stuffe In what case would this fellow be in a Champion countrey where wood must not be so wantonly bestowed being without his feaking stick he is without himselfe A dangerous Companion he will gnaâ—e him that stands next him if he find him not Timber But if this Fantasticknesse fall once to grow inwardly the cooling it with Time the ministring counsell the letting blood with Aduersity will not serue but in spight of wisdom and gray haires it will daunce at three score yeares olde and weare Greene and play with a Feather and then it is monstrous and ridiculous without Hope or Pitty I can remember no sight more offensiue to me then a variable old man that can speake of nothing but the fashions of his Time the wench then in price how many hacks he hath had in his Buckler in a Fleete-streete fray or the friskes of the Italian Tumblers I beginne now to suspect the time in the which he liued that it was barren of all things worthy of note hoping in Charity that if there had beene better he would haue made better choyse and not haue made his memory woorse then a Brokers Shop full onely of the cast skinnes of Times past Whether he neede it or no I would not haue Age without a staffe in his hand I like not a long Graye beard and a sworde me thinkes he should trust more to his wisdome then to his hands In a word after twice shauing at the third Fantasticknesse is to be abandoned for it is Time to put the wit to Schole and to leaue playing with these vndisgested Apes of the Fancie to trust to Vertue not to a French Doublet If we do thus it is no harme to haue beene once otherwise for so we know what it is to be otherwayes and may helpe those that are yet out of the way Thus hath my Fancy thought on this Childe of Fancy which the hath vttered as some an Oration long since gotten by Heart this she hath knowne her selfe and who beleeues not iâ— he be not past feeling Time wil make him know by himselfe Essay 25. Of Fame AS Conceits come into my Head I vtter them for what is naturally mine carries with it rather a heauy Substance then any rich Qualitie I haue daily to do with more happy brains whom I holde worthyer of a place in my memory I thought last of Fame and my Thoughts haue riddeÌ„ as I thinke ouer her whole circuite what I haue seene in my trauaile I will trust this peece of paper with and so ridde my braine of that cariage Humours and Affections our manu-mised slaues haue a great hand ouer vs they place and displace at their pleasures Reason carries but the name of Authority this makes such strange Occupations in the world such sweatings and striuings in the Discouery of things neuer found before I holde Couetousnesse a vice bad enough in Conscience for the best they can say for themselues is but that they imitate the Ant a seely creature made by Nature without candle-light imperfect among those whom the Philosophers call Insecta Animalia yet they are able to yeeld a reason for their scraping they will say they may want The seruants of Pleasure and the worshippers of their sences though they liue onely to powre it in and put it out and in the end are euery way vnprofitable except they were among the Canibals who loue a well-fed morsell of Mans flesh yet in the end they are able to say This is an excellent cup of wine and these very fat and good Fowle Nay that Camelion-like occupation that blowes the coale and feedes vpon smoke mingled with a little hope is in much better case then this humour I speake of for though he cannot take away that leprosity and Imperfectnesse that keepes base Mettalles from being the best yet commonly his Distillations and Abstractions make him a perfect Emperick and so it leaues him not without an Occupation though it drops somewhat short of his purpose But Fames Affectation is the most vnreasonable thing that euer was when one hath wrought all his life he knowes not where to looke for his hire Euery man denyes to pay vpon compulsion and saith he may bestowe it where he will Nay they that take most paines are kept longest without it Hath not a Coblers trade ods of this he numbers the patches and modesty restraineth him not from asking a penny for euery patch and honesty bindes thrift to pay it This inuisible thing hath a number-lesse company of Disciples All that loue not money for the most part wooe Fame and some this way too many Dung-â—â—il Biâ—des haue maintained inâ—â—â—â—te labours assisted onely with the fame of making their sonnes Gentlemen As diuerse are their fashions I haue seene soâ—e go about to catch Fame in a caper and a well grac'd Galliard I remember Suetonius mention of Nero he tooke not so much paines for any thing as to be thought a good Singer and who affoorded him not Glory and Admiration in that kinde hee would hardly affoord him life I condemne not his wanton expences and inhumane cruelties more then this that hauing the power of disposing the most famous and ample Empire of the world a stock able to maintaine Fame richely yet to fâ—ye to so base an Eunuches qualitie for Fame Where Humors may be couered vnder the hauing no Beard I mislike it not so much Fame serues to enter the Eyas knowledge of man who cannot catch Vertue at the first flight but to conuerse with Experience and then to cozen our selues of the familiarity of Vertue with accompanying Fame is abominable As my youth hath been spotted generally with entertaining my Affections too neerely so by this the number hath beene increased and I may safely say it hath beene the last extraordinary illnesse that I haue had to do with My occupation hath beene vehemently bookish I haue beene counselled by Plato and Seneca for Philosophy Writing is the draught of reading and by this I haue disburthened my head and taken account of my proâ—â—iting If it had gone no further it had beene well but I haue beene content to dilate my selfe too much It hath beene my Fortune euer yet to like one yeare worse then another and this fault among my worldly faults lyes heauiest vpon me and is yet the last Vt iam seruares bene corpus adultera mens est Since I haue kept my body from madnesse my minde hath doted I