XVI.

Vita recta.-Wisdom without honesty is mere craft, and cozenage. And therefore the reputation of honesty must first be gotten; which cannot be but by living well. A good life is a main argument.

XVII.

Obsequentia.- Humanitas.- Solicitudo.- Next a good life, to beget love in the persons we counsel, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in ourselves, and avoiding all suspicion of arrogance, ascribing all to their instruction, as an ambassador to his master, or a subject to his sovereign; seasoning all with humanity and sweetness, only expressing care and solicitude. And not to counsel rashly, or on the sudden, but with advice and meditation: (Dat nox consilium.) For many foolish things fall from wise men, if they speak in haste, or be extemporal. It therefore behoves the giver of counsel to be circumspect; especially to beware of those, with whom he is not thoroughly acquainted, lest any spice of rashness, folly, or self-love appear, which will be marked by new persons, and men of experience in affairs.

XVIII.

Modestia.-Parrhesia.-And to the prince, or his superior, to behave himself modestly, and with respect. Yet free from flattery, or empire. Not with insolence, or precept; but as the prince were already furnished with the parts he should have, especially in affairs of state. For in other things they will more easily suffer themselves to be taught, or reprehended: they will not willingly contend. But hear (with Alexander) the answer the musician gave him, Absit, ô rex, ut tu meliùs hæc scias, quàm ego."

b Plutarch in vita Alex.

XIX.

Perspicuitas.-Elegantia.-A man should so deliver himself to the nature of the subject whereof he speaks, that his hearer may take knowledge of his discipline with some delight: and so apparel fair and good matter, that the studious of elegancy be not defrauded; redeem arts from their rough and brakey seats, where they lay hid, and overgrown with thorns, to a pure, open, and flowery light; where they may take the eye, and be taken by the hand.

४ XX.

Natura non effeta.-I cannot think Nature is so spent and decayed, that she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the same, like herself; and when she collects her strength, is abler still. Men are decayed, and studies: she is not.

XXI.

Non nimiùm credendum antiquitati. — I know nothing can conduce more to letters, than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest in their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them; provided the plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurril scoffing. For to all the observations of the ancients, we have our own experience; which if we will use, and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true they opened the gates, and made the way that went before us; but as guides, not commanders; Non domini nostri, sed duces fuêre. Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several. Patet omnibus veritas; nondum est occupata. Multum ex illâ, etiam futuris relicta est.

XXII.

Dissentire licet, sed cum ratione.-If in some things I dissent from others, whose wit, industry, diligence, and judgment I look up at, and admire; let me not therefore hear presently of ingratitude, and rashness. For I thank those that have taught me, and will ever: but yet dare not think the scope of their labour and inquiry was to envy their posterity, what they also could add, and find out.

XXIII.

Non mihi credendum sed veritati.—If I err, pardon me: Nulla ars simul et inventa est, et absoluta. I do not desire to be equal to those that went before; but to have my reason examined with theirs, and so much faith to be given them, or me, as those shall evict. I am neither author nor fautor of any sect. I will have no man addict himself to me; but if I have any thing right, defend it as Truth's, not mine, save as it conduceth to a common good. It profits not me to have any man fence or fight for me, to flourish, or take my side. Stand for Truth, and 'tis ✓ enough.

XXIV.

Scientia liberales.-Arts that respect the mind, were ever reputed nobler than those that serve the body though we less can be without them. As tillage, spinning, weaving, building, &c., without which, we could scarce sustain life a day. But these were the works of every hand; the other of the brain only, and those the most generous and exalted wits and spirits, that cannot rest, or acquiesce. The mind of man is still fed with labour: Opere pascitur.

XXV.

Non vulgi sunt.-There is a more secret cause: and the power of liberal studies lies more hid, than that it can be wrought out by profane wits. It is not every man's way to hit. They are men, I confess, that see the caract, and value upon things, as they love them; but science is not every man's mistress. It is as great a spite to be praised in the wrong place, and by a wrong person, as can be done to a noble nature.

XXVI.

Honesta ambitio. — If divers men seek fame or honour by divers ways; so both be honest, neither is to be blamed: but they that seek immortality, are not only worthy of love, but of praise.

XXVII.

Maritus improbus.—He hath a delicate wife, a fair fortune, and family to go to be welcome; yet he had rather be drunk with mine host, and the fiddlers of such a town, than go home.

XXVIII.

Afflictio pia magistra.-Affliction teacheth a wicked person some time to pray: prosperity never.

XXIX.

Deploratis facilis descensus Averni.-The devil take all. Many might go to heaven with half the labour they go to hell, if they would venture their industry the right way: but the devil take all (quoth he) that was choak'd in the mill-dam, with his four last words in his mouth.

XXX.

Aegidius cursu superat.—A cripple in the way outtravels a footman, or a post out of the way.

XXXI.

Prodigo nummi nauci.-Bags of money to a prodigal person, are the same that cherry-stones are with some boys, and so thrown away.

XXXII..

Munda et sordida.-A woman, the more curious she is about her face, is commonly the more careless about her house.

XXXIII.

Debitum deploratum.-Of this spilt water, there is a little to be gathered up: it is a desperate debt.

XXXIV.

с

Latro sesquipedalis.-The thief that had a longing at the gallows to commit one robbery more, before he was hanged.

And like the German lord,d when he went out of Newgate into the cart, took order to have his arms set up in his last herborough: said he was taken, and committed upon suspicion of treason; no witness appearing against him; but the judges entertained him most civilly, discoursed with him, offered him the courtesy of the rack; but he confessed, &c.

XXXV.

Calumniæ fructus.-I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavoured, and taken pains to belie me. It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep a better watch upon my actions.

XXXVI.

Impertinens.-A tedious person is one a man would leap a steeple from, gallop down any steep hill to

c With a great belly.

d Comes de Schertenhein.