第3章

Letusnowspeakoftheinconveniencesofcoun—

sel，andoftheremedies.Theinconveniencesthathavebeennoted，incallingandusingcounsel，arethree.First，therevealingofaffairs，wherebytheybecomelesssecret.Secondly，theweakeningoftheauthorityofprinces，asiftheywerelessofthem—

selves.Thirdly，thedangerofbeingunfaithfullycounselled，andmoreforthegoodofthemthatcounsel，thanofhimthatiscounselled.Forwhichinconveniences，thedoctrineofItaly，andpracticeofFrance，insomekings’times，hathintroducedcabinetcounsels;aremedyworsethanthedisease.

Astosecrecy;princesarenotboundtocommu—

nicateallmatters，withallcounsellors;butmayextractandselect.Neitherisitnecessary，thathethatconsultethwhatheshoulddo，shoulddeclarewhathewilldo.Butletprincesbeware，thattheunsecretingoftheiraffairs，comesnotfromthem—

selves.Andasforcabinetcounsels，itmaybetheirmotto，plenusrimarumsum：onefutileperson，thatmakethithisglorytotell，willdomorehurtthanmany，thatknowittheirdutytoconceal.Itistruetherebesomeaffairs，whichrequireextremesecrecy，whichwillhardlygobeyondoneortwopersons，besidestheking：neitherarethosecoun—

selsunprosperous;for，besidesthesecrecy，theyconunonlygoonconstantly，inonespiritofdirec—

tion，withoutdistraction.Butthenitmustbeaprudentking，suchasisabletogrindwithahand—

mill;andthoseinwardcounsellorshadneedalsobewisemen，andespeciallytrueandtrustytotheking’sends;asitwaswithKingHenrytheSeventhofEngland，who，inhisgreatbusiness，impartedhimselftonone，exceptitweretoMortonandFox.

Forweakeningofauthority;thefableshoweththeremedy.Nay，themajestyofkings，isratherexaltedthandiminished，whentheyareinthechairofcounsel;neitherwasthereeverprince，be—

reavedofhisdependences，byhiscounsel，exceptwheretherehathbeen，eitheranover—greatnessinonecounsellor，oranover—strictcombinationindivers;whicharethingssoonfound，andholpen.

Forthelastinconvenience，thatmenwillcoun—

sel，withaneyetothemselves;certainly，noninvenietfidemsuperterramismeant，ofthena—

tureoftimes，andnotofallparticularpersons.

Therebe，thatareinnaturefaithful，andsincere，andplain，anddirect;notcraftyandinvolved;letprinces，aboveall，drawtothemselvessuchna—

tures.Besides，counsellorsarenotcommonlysounited，butthatonecounsellor，keepethsentineloveranother;sothatifanydocounseloutoffac—

tionorprivateends，itcommonlycomestotheking’sear.Butthebestremedyis，ifprincesknowtheircounsellors，aswellastheircounsellorsknowthem：

Principisestvirtusmaximanossesuos.

Andontheotherside，counsellorsshouldnotbetoospeculativeintotheirsovereign’sperson.Thetruecompositionofacounsellor，israthertobeskilfulintheirmaster’sbusiness，thaninhisna—

ture;forthenheisliketoadvisehim，andnotfeedhishumor.Itisofsingularusetoprinces，iftheytaketheopinionsoftheircounsel，bothseparatelyandtogether.Forprivateopinionismorefree;

butopinionbeforeothers，ismorereverent.Inprivate，menaremoreboldintheirownhumors;

andinconsort，menaremoreobnoxioustoothers’

humors;thereforeitisgoodtotakeboth;andoftheinferiorsort，ratherinprivate，topreservefree—

dom;ofthegreater，ratherinconsort，topreserverespect.Itisinvainforprinces，totakecounselconcerningmatters，iftheytakenocounsellike—

wiseconcerningpersons;forallmattersareasdeadimages;andthelifeoftheexecutionofaf—

fairs，restethinthegoodchoiceofpersons.Neitherisitenough，toconsultconcerningpersonssecun—

dumgenera，asinanidea，ormathematicalde—

scription，whatthekindandcharacterofthepersonshouldbe;forthegreatesterrorsarecom—

mitted，andthemostjudgmentisshown，inthechoiceofindividuals.Itwastrulysaid，optimicon—

siliariimortui：bookswillspeakplain，whencoun—

sellorsblanch.Thereforeitisgoodtobeconversantinthem，speciallythebooksofsuchasthemselveshavebeenactorsuponthestage.

Thecounselsatthisday，inmostplaces，arebutfamiliarmeetings，wheremattersarerathertalkedon，thandebated.Andtheyruntooswift，totheorder，oract，ofcounsel.Itwerebetterthatincausesofweight，thematterwerepropoundedoneday，andnotspokentotillthenextday;innocteconsilium.SowasitdoneintheCommissionofUnion，betweenEnglandandScotland;whichwasagraveandorderlyassembly.Icommendsetdaysforpetitions;forbothitgivesthesudtorsmorecertaintyfortheirattendance，anditfreesthemeetingsformattersofestate，thattheymayhocagere.Inchoiceofcommittees;forripeningbusi—

nessforthecounsel，itisbettertochooseindifferentpersons，thantomakeanindifferency，byputtinginthose，thatarestrongonbothsides.Icommendalsostandingcommissions;asfortrade，fortreas—

ure，forwar，forsuits，forsomeprovinces;forwheretherebediversparticularcounsels，andbutonecounselofestate（asitisinSpain），theyare，ineffect，nomorethanstandingcommissions：savethattheyhavegreaterauthority.Letsuchasaretoinformcounsels，outoftheirparticularprofes—

sions（aslawyers，seamen，mintmen，andthelike）

befirstheardbeforecommittees;andthen，asoc—

casionserves，beforethecounsel.Andletthemnotcomeinmultitudes，orinatribunitiousmanner;

forthatistoclamorcounsels，nottoinformthem.

Alongtableandasquaretable，orseatsaboutthewalls，seemthingsofform，butarethingsofsub—

stance;foratalongtableafewattheupperend，ineffect，swayallthebusiness;butintheotherform，thereismoreuseofthecounsellors’opinions，thatsitlower.Aking，whenhepresidesincounsel，lethimbewarehowheopenshisowninclinationtoomuch，inthatwhichhepropoundeth;forelsecounsellorswillbuttakethewindofhim，andin—

steadofgivingfreecounsel，singhimasongofplacebo.

OfDelaysOfDelaysFORTUNEislikethemarket;wheremanytimesifyoucanstayalittle，thepricewillfall.

Again，itissometimeslikeSibylla’soffer;whichatfirst，offereththecommodityatfull，thencon—

sumethpartandpart，andstillholdethuptheprice.Foroccasion（asitisinthecommonverse）

turnethabaldnoddle，aftershehathpresentedherlocksinfront，andnoholdtaken;oratleastturneththehandleofthebottle，firsttobereceived，andafterthebelly，whichishardtoclasp.Thereissurelynogreaterwisdom，thanwelltotimethebeginnings，andonsets，ofthings.Dangersarenomorelight，iftheyonceseemlight;andmoredan—

gershavedeceivedmen，thanforcedthem.Nay，itwerebetter，tomeetsomedangershalfway，thoughtheycomenothingnear，thantokeeptoolongawatchupontheirapproaches;forifamanwatchtoolong，itisoddshewillfallasleep.Ontheotherside，tobedeceivedwithtoolongshadows（assomehavebeen，whenthemoonwaslow，andshoneontheirenemies’back），andsotoshootoffbeforethetime;ortoteachdangerstocomeon，byoverearlybucklingtowardsthem;isanotherex—

treme.Theripeness，orunripeness，oftheoccasion（aswesaid）musteverbewellweighed;andgener—

allyitisgood，tocommitthebeginningsofallgreatactionstoArgus，withhishundredeyes，andtheendstoBriareus，withhishundredhands;firsttowatch，andthentospeed.ForthehelmetofPluto，whichmakeththepoliticmangoinvisible，issecrecyinthecounsel，andcelerityintheexecu—

tion.Forwhenthingsareoncecometotheexecu—

tion，thereisnosecrecy，comparabletocelerity;

likethemotionofabulletintheair，whichfliethsoswift，asitoutrunstheeye.

OfCunningOfCunningWETAKEcunningforasinisterorcrookedwisdom.Andcertainlythereisagreatdif—

ference，betweenacunningman，andawiseman;

notonlyinpointofhonesty，butinpointofability.

Therebe，thatcanpackthecards，andyetcannotplaywell;sotherearesomethataregoodincan—

vassesandfactions，thatareotherwiseweakmen.

Again，itisonethingtounderstandpersons，andanotherthingtounderstandmatters;formanyareperfectinmen’shumors，thatarenotgreatlycapableoftherealpartofbusiness;whichistheconstitutionofonethathathstudiedmen，morethanbooks.Suchmenarefitterforpractice，thanforcounsel;andtheyaregood，butintheirownalley：turnthemtonewmen，andtheyhavelosttheiraim;soastheoldrule，toknowafoolfromawiseman，Mitteambosnudosadignotos，etvide—

bis，dothscarceholdforthem.Andbecausethesecunningmen，arelikehaberdashersofsmallwares，itisnotamisstosetforththeirshop.

Itisapointofcunning，towaituponhimwithwhomyouspeak，withyoureye;astheJesuitsgiveitinprecept：fortherebemanywisemen，thathavesecrethearts，andtransparentcountenances.

Yetthiswouldbedonewithademureabasingofyoureye，sometimes，astheJesuitsalsodouse.

Anotheris，thatwhenyouhaveanythingtoobtain，ofpresentdespatch，youentertainandamusetheparty，withwhomyoudeal，withsomeotherdiscourse;thathebenottoomuchawaketomakeobjections.Iknewacounsellorandsecre—

tary，thatnevercametoQueenElizabethofEng—

land，withbillstosign，buthewouldalwaysfirstputherintosomediscourseofestate，thatshemoughtthelessmindthebills.

Thelikesurprisemaybemadebymovingthings，whenthepartyisinhaste，andcannotstaytoconsideradvisedlyofthatismoved.

Ifamanwouldcrossabusiness，thathedoubtssomeotherwouldhandsomelyandeffectuallymove，lethimpretendtowishitwell，andmoveithimselfinsuchsortasmayfoilit.

Thebreakingoff，inthemidstofthatonewasabouttosay，asifhetookhimselfup，breedsagreaterappetiteinhimwithwhomyouconfer，toknowmore.

Andbecauseitworksbetter，whenanythingseemethtobegottenfromyoubyquestion，thanifyouofferitofyourself，youmaylayabaitforaquestion，byshowinganothervisage，andcounte—

nance，thanyouarewont;totheendtogiveocca—

sion，forthepartytoask，whatthematterisofthechange？AsNehemiasdid;AndIhadnotbeforethattime，beensadbeforetheking.

Inthingsthataretenderandunpleasing，itisgoodtobreaktheice，bysomewhosewordsareoflessweight，andtoreservethemoreweightyvoice，tocomeinasbychance，sothathemaybeaskedthequestionupontheother’sspeech：asNarcissusdid，relatingtoClaudiusthemarriageofMessa—

linaandSilius.

Inthingsthatamanwouldnotbeseeninhim—

self，itisapointofcunning，toborrowthenameoftheworld;astosay，Theworldsays，orThereisaspeechabroad.

Iknewonethat，whenhewrotealetter，hewouldputthat，whichwasmostmaterial，inthepostscript，asifithadbeenaby—matter.

Iknewanotherthat，whenhecametohavespeech，hewouldpassoverthat，thatheintendedmost;andgoforth，andcomebackagain，andspeakofitasofathing，thathehadalmostforgot.

Someprocurethemselves，tobesurprised，atsuchtimesasitislikethepartythattheyworkupon，willsuddenlycomeuponthem;andtobefoundwithaletterintheirhand，ordoingsome—

whatwhichtheyarenotaccustomed;totheend，theymaybeapposedofthosethings，whichofthemselvestheyaredesiroustoutter.

Itisapointofcunning，toletfallthosewordsinaman’sownname，whichhewouldhaveanothermanlearn，anduse，andthereupontakeadvan—

tage.Iknewtwo，thatwerecompetitorsforthesecretary’splaceinQueenElizabeth’stime，andyetkeptgoodquarterbetweenthemselves;andwouldconfer，onewithanother，uponthebusi—

ness;andtheoneofthemsaid，Thattobeasecre—

tary，inthedeclinationofamonarchy，wasaticklishthing，andthathedidnotaffectit：theotherstraightcaughtupthosewords，anddis—

coursedwithdiversofhisfriends，thathehadnoreasontodesiretobesecretary，inthedeclinationofamonarchy.Thefirstmantookholdofit，andfoundmeansitwastoldtheQueen;who，hearingofadeclinationofamonarchy，tookitsoill，asshewouldneverafterhearoftheother’ssuit.

Thereisacunning，whichweinEnglandcall，theturningofthecatinthepan;whichis，whenthatwhichamansaystoanother，helaysitasifanotherhadsaidittohim.Andtosaytruth，itisnoteasy，whensuchamatterpassedbetweentwo，tomakeitappearfromwhichofthemitfirstmovedandbegan.

Itisawaythatsomemenhave，toglanceanddartatothers，byjustifyingthemselvesbynega—

tives;astosay，ThisIdonot;asTigellinusdidtowardsBurrhus，Senondiversasspes，sedincolu—

mitatemimperatorissimpliciterspectare.

Somehaveinreadinesssomanytalesandstories，asthereisnothingtheywouldinsinuate，buttheycanwrapitintoatale;whichservethbothtokeepthemselvesmoreinguard，andtomakeotherscarryitwithmorepleasure.Itisagoodpointofcunning，foramantoshapetheanswerhewouldhave，inhisownwordsandpropositions;

foritmakestheotherpartysticktheless.

Itisstrangehowlongsomemenwilllieinwaittospeaksomewhattheydesiretosay;andhowfarabouttheywillfetch;andhowmanyothermat—

terstheywillbeatover，tocomenearit.Itisathingofgreatpatience，butyetofmuchuse.

Asudden，bold，andunexpectedquestiondothmanytimessurpriseaman，andlayhimopen.

Liketohimthat，havingchangedhisname，andwalkinginPaul’s，anothersuddenlycamebehindhim，andcalledhimbyhistruename，whereatstraightwayshelookedback.

Butthesesmallwares，andpettypoints，ofcun—

ning，areinfinite;anditwereagooddeedtomakealistofthem;forthatnothingdothmorehurtinastate，thanthatcunningmenpassforwise.

Butcertainlysometherearethatknowthere—

sortsandfallsofbusiness，thatcannotsinkintothemainofit;likeahousethathathconvenientstairsandentries，butneverafairroom.Therefore，youshallseethemfindoutprettyloosesinthecon—

clusion，butarenowaysabletoexamineordebatematters.Andyetcommonlytheytakeadvantageoftheirinability，andwouldbethoughtwitsofdirection.Somebuildratherupontheabusingofothers，and（aswenowsay）puttingtricksuponthem，thanuponsoundnessoftheirownproceed—

ings.ButSolomonsaith，Prudensadvertitadgres—

sussuos;stultusdivertitaddolos.

OfWisdomFORAMAN’SSELF

OfWisdomFORAMAN’SSELF

ANANTisawisecreatureforitself，butitisashrewdthing，inanorchardorgarden.Andcertainly，menthataregreatloversofthemselves，wastethepublic.Dividewithreason;betweenself—

loveandsociety;andbesotruetothyself，asthoubenotfalsetoothers;speciallytothykingandcountry.Itisapoorcentreofaman’sactions，him—

self.Itisrightearth.Forthatonlystandsfastuponhisowncentre;whereasallthings，thathaveaf—

finitywiththeheavens，moveuponthecentreofanother，whichtheybenefit.Thereferringofalltoaman’sself，ismoretolerableinasovereignprince;becausethemselvesarenotonlythem—

selves，buttheirgoodandevilisattheperilofthepublicfortune.Butitisadesperateevil，inaser—

vanttoaprince，oracitizeninarepublic.Forwhatsoeveraffairspasssuchaman’shands，hecrookeththemtohisownends;whichmustneedsbeofteneccentrictotheendsofhismaster，orstate.

Therefore，letprinces，orstates，choosesuchser—

vants，ashavenotthismark;excepttheymeantheirserviceshouldbemadebuttheaccessory.

Thatwhichmakeththeeffectmorepernicious，isthatallproportionislost.Itweredisproportionenough，fortheservant’sgoodtobepreferredbe—

forethemaster’s;butyetitisagreaterextreme，whenalittlegoodoftheservant，shallcarrythingsagainstagreatgoodofthemaster’s.Andyetthatisthecaseofbadofficers，treasurers，ambassadors，generals，andotherfalseandcorruptservants;

whichsetabiasupontheirbowl，oftheirownpettyendsandenvies，totheoverthrowoftheirmaster’sgreatandimportantaffairs.Andforthemostpart，thegoodsuchservantsreceive，isafterthemodeloftheirownfortune;butthehurttheysellforthatgood，isafterthemodeloftheirmaster’sfortune.Andcertainlyitisthenatureofextremeself—lovers，astheywillsetanhouseonfire，anditwerebuttoroasttheireggs;andyetthesemenmanytimesholdcreditwiththeirmasters，becausetheirstudyisbuttopleasethem，andprofitthemselves;andforeitherrespect，theywillaban—

donthegoodoftheiraffairs.

Wisdomforaman’sselfis，inmanybranchesthereof，adepravedthing.Itisthewisdomofrats，thatwillbesuretoleaveahouse，somewhatbeforeitfall.Itisthewisdomofthefox，thatthrustsoutthebadger，whodiggedandmaderoomforhim.

Itisthewisdomofcrocodiles，thatshedtearswhentheywoulddevour.Butthatwhichisspeciallytobenotedis，thatthosewhich（asCicerosaysofPompey）aresuiamantes，sinerivali，aremanytimesunfortunate.Andwhereastheyhave，alltheirtimes，sacrificedtothemselves，theybecomeintheend，themselvessacrificestotheinconstancyoffortune，whosewingstheythought，bytheirself—wisdom，tohavepinioned.

OfInnovationsOfInnovationsASTHEbirthsoflivingcreatures，atfirstareill—

shapen，soareallinnovations，whicharethebirthsoftime.Yetnotwithstanding，asthosethatfirstbringhonorintotheirfamily，arecommonlymoreworthythanmostthatsucceed，sothefirstprecedent（ifitbegood）isseldomattainedbyimitation.Forill，toman’snature，asitstandsperverted，hathanaturalmotion，strongestincon—

tinuance;butgood，asaforcedmotion，strongestatfirst.Surelyeverymedicineisaninnovation;

andhethatwillnotapplynewremedies，mustexpectnewevils;fortimeisthegreatestinnovator;

andiftimeofcoursealterthingstotheworse，andwisdomandcounselshallnotalterthemtothebetter，whatshallbetheend？Itistrue，thatwhatissettledbycustom，thoughitbenotgood，yetatleastitisfit;andthosethingswhichhavelonggonetogether，are，asitwere，confederatewithinthemselves;whereasnewthingspiecenotsowell;

butthoughtheyhelpbytheirutility，yettheytroublebytheirinconformity.Besides，theyarelikestrangers;moreadmired，andlessfavored.Allthisistrue，iftimestoodstill;whichcontrariwisemovethsoround，thatafrowardretentionofcus—

tom，isasturbulentathingasaninnovation;andtheythatreverencetoomucholdtimes，arebutascorntothenew.Itweregood，therefore，thatmenintheirinnovationswouldfollowtheexampleoftimeitself;whichindeedinnovatethgreatly，butquietly，bydegreesscarcetobeperceived.Forotherwise，whatsoeverisnewisunlookedfor;andeveritmendssome，andpairsothers;andhethatisholpen，takesitforafortune，andthanksthetime;andhethatishurt，forawrong，andimput—

ethittotheauthor.Itisgoodalso，nottotryexperi—

mentsinstates，exceptthenecessitybeurgent，ortheutilityevident;andwelltobeware，thatitbethereformation，thatdrawethonthechange，andnotthedesireofchange，thatpretendeththerefor—

mation.Andlastly，thatthenovelty，thoughitbenotrejected，yetbeheldforasuspect;and，astheScripturesaith，thatwemakeastandupontheancientway，andthenlookaboutus，anddiscoverwhatisthestraightandrightway，andsotowalkinit.

OfDispatchOfDispatchAFFECTEDdispatchisoneofthemostdanger—

ousthingstobusinessthatcanbe.Itislikethat，whichthephysicianscallpredigestion，orhastydigestion;whichissuretofillthebodyfullofcrudities，andsecretseedsofdiseases.Thereforemeasurenotdispatch，bythetimesofsitting，butbytheadvancementofthebusiness.Andasinracesitisnotthelargestrideorhighliftthatmakesthespeed;soinbusiness，thekeepingclosetothematter，andnottakingofittoomuchatonce，pro—

curethdispatch.Itisthecareofsome，onlytocomeoffspeedilyforthetime;ortocontrivesomefalseperiodsofbusiness，becausetheymayseemmenofdispatch.Butitisonething，toabbreviatebycontracting，anotherbycuttingoff.Andbusinesssohandled，atseveralsittingsormeetings，goethcommonlybackwardandforwardinanunsteadymanner.Iknewawisemanthathaditforaby—

word，whenhesawmenhastentoaconclusion，Stayalittle，thatwemaymakeanendthesooner.

Ontheotherside，truedispatchisarichthing.

Fortimeisthemeasureofbusiness，asmoneyisofwares;andbusinessisboughtatadearhand，wherethereissmalldispatch.TheSpartansandSpaniardshavebeennotedtobeofsmalldispatch;

MivengalamuertedeSpagna;LetmydeathcomefromSpain;forthenitwillbesuretobelongincoming.

Givegoodhearingtothose，thatgivethefirstinformationinbusiness;andratherdirecttheminthebeginning，thaninterrupttheminthecon—

tinuanceoftheirspeeches;forhethatisputoutofhisownorder，willgoforwardandbackward，andbemoretedious，whilehewaitsuponhismemory，thanhecouldhavebeen，ifhehadgoneoninhisowncourse.Butsometimesitisseen，thatthemoderatorismoretroublesome，thantheactor.

Iterationsarecommonlylossoftime.Butthereisnosuchgainoftime，astoiterateoftenthestateofthequestion;foritchasethawaymanyafrivo—

lousspeech，asitiscomingforth.Longandcuriousspeeches，areasfitfordispatch，asarobeormantle，withalongtrain，isforrace.Prefacesandpas—

sages，andexcusations，andotherspeechesofrefer—

encetotheperson，aregreatwastesoftime;andthoughtheyseemtoproceedofmodesty，theyarebravery.Yetbewareofbeingtoomaterial，whenthereisanyimpedimentorobstructioninmen’swills;forpre—occupationofmindeverrequirethprefaceofspeech;likeafomentationtomaketheunguententer.

Aboveallthings，order，anddistribution，andsinglingoutofparts，isthelifeofdispatch;soasthedistributionbenottoosubtle：forhethatdothnotdivide，willneverenterwellintobusiness;andhethatdividethtoomuch，willnevercomeoutofitclearly.Tochoosetime，istosavetime;andanun—

seasonablemotion，isbutbeatingtheair.Therebethreepartsofbusiness;thepreparation，thedebateorexamination，andtheperfection.Whereof，ifyoulookfordispatch，letthemiddleonlybetheworkofmany，andthefirstandlasttheworkoffew.Theproceedinguponsomewhatconceivedinwriting，dothforthemostpartfacilitatedispatch：

forthoughitshouldbewhollyrejected，yetthatnegativeismorepregnantofdirection，thananindefinite;asashesaremoregenerativethandust.

OfSeemingWiseOfSeemingWiseITHATHbeenanopinion，thattheFrencharewiserthantheyseem，andtheSpaniardsseemwiserthantheyare.Buthowsoeveritbebetweennations，certainlyitissobetweenmanandman.

ForastheApostlesaithofgodliness，Havingashowofgodliness，butdenyingthepowerthereof;

socertainlythereare，inpointofwisdomandsuf—

ficiently，thatdonothingorlittleverysolemnly：

magnoconatunugas.Itisaridiculousthing，andfitforasatiretopersonsofjudgment，toseewhatshiftstheseformalistshave，andwhatprospectivestomakesuperficiestoseembody，thathathdepthandbulk.Somearesocloseandreserved，astheywillnotshowtheirwares，butbyadarklight;andseemalwaystokeepbacksomewhat;andwhentheyknowwithinthemselves，theyspeakofthattheydonotwellknow，wouldneverthelessseemtoothers，toknowofthatwhichtheymaynotwellspeak.Somehelpthemselveswithcountenanceandgesture，andarewisebysigns;asCicerosaithofPiso，thatwhenheansweredhim，hefetchedoneofhisbrowsuptohisforehead，andbenttheotherdowntohischin;Respondes，alteroadfron—

temsublato，alteroadmentumdepressosuper—

cilio，crudelitatemtibinonplacere.Somethinktobearitbyspeakingagreatword，andbeingper—

emptory;andgoon，andtakebyadmittance，thatwhichtheycannotmakegood.Some，whatsoeverisbeyondtheirreach，willseemtodespise，ormakelightofit，asimpertinentorcurious;andsowouldhavetheirignoranceseemjudgment.Someareneverwithoutadifference，andcommonlybyamusingmenwithasubtilty，blanchthematter;

ofwhomA.Gelliussaith，Hominemdelirum，quiverborumminutiisrerumfrangitpondera.Ofwhichkindalso，Plato，inhisProtagoras，bringethinProdiusinscorn，andmakethhimmakeaspeech，thatconsistethofdistinctionfromthebe—

ginningtotheend.Generally，suchmeninalldeliberationsfindeasetobeofthenegativeside，andaffectacredittoobjectandforetelldifficul—

ties;forwhenpropositionsaredenied，thereisanendofthem;butiftheybeallowed，itrequirethanewwork;whichfalsepointofwisdomisthebaneofbusiness.Toconclude，thereisnodecayingmer—

chant，orinwardbeggar，hathsomanytrickstoupholdthecreditoftheirwealth，astheseemptypersonshave，tomaintainthecreditoftheirsuf—

ficiency.Seemingwisemenmaymakeshifttogetopinion;butletnomanchoosethemforemploy—

ment;forcertainlyyouwerebettertakeforbusi—

ness，amansomewhatabsurd，thanover—formal.

OfFriendshipOfFriendshipITHADbeenhardforhimthatspakeittohaveputmoretruthanduntruthtogetherinfewwords，thaninthatspeech，Whatsoeverisdelightedinsolitude，iseitherawildbeastoragod.Foritismosttrue，thatanaturalandsecrethatred，andaversationtowardssociety，inanyman，hathsomewhatofthesavagebeast;butitismostun—

true，thatitshouldhaveanycharacteratall，ofthedivinenature;exceptitproceed，notoutofapleas—

ureinsolitude，butoutofaloveanddesiretosequesteraman’sself，forahigherconversation：

suchasisfoundtohavebeenfalselyandfeignedlyinsomeoftheheathen;asEpimenidestheCan—

dian，NumatheRoman，EmpedoclestheSicilian，andApolloniusofTyana;andtrulyandreally，indiversoftheancienthermitsandholyfathersofthechurch.Butlittledomenperceivewhatsoli—

tudeis，andhowfaritextendeth.Foracrowdisnotcompany;andfacesarebutagalleryofpic—

tures;andtalkbutatinklingcymbal，wherethereisnolove.TheLatinadagemeetethwithitalittle：Magnacivitas，magnasolitudo;becauseinagreattownfriendsarescattered;sothatthereisnotthatfellowship，forthemostpart，whichisinlessneighborhoods.Butwemaygofurther，andaffirmmosttruly，thatitisamereandmiserablesolitudetowanttruefriends;withoutwhichtheworldisbutawilderness;andeveninthissensealsoofsolitude，whosoeverintheframeofhisnatureandaffections，isunfitforfriendship，hetakethitofthebeast，andnotfromhumanity.

Aprincipalfruitoffriendship，istheeaseanddischargeofthefulnessandswellingsoftheheart，whichpassionsofallkindsdocauseandinduce.

Weknowdiseasesofstoppings，andsuffocations，arethemostdangerousinthebody;anditisnotmuchotherwiseinthemind;youmaytakesarzatoopentheliver，steeltoopenthespleen，flowersofsulphurforthelungs，castoreumforthebrain;

butnoreceiptopeneththeheart，butatruefriend;

towhomyoumayimpartgriefs，joys，fears，hopes，suspicions，counsels，andwhatsoeverliethuponthehearttooppressit，inakindofcivilshriftorconfession.

Itisastrangethingtoobserve，howhigharategreatkingsandmonarchsdosetuponthisfruitoffriendship，whereofwespeak：sogreat，astheypurchaseit，manytimes，atthehazardoftheirownsafetyandgreatness.Forprinces，inregardofthedistanceoftheirfortunefromthatoftheirsubjectsandservants，cannotgatherthisfruit，ex—

cept（tomakethemselvescapablethereof）theyraisesomepersonstobe，asitwere，companionsandalmostequalstothemselves，whichmanytimessortethtoinconvenience.Themodernlan—

guagesgiveuntosuchpersonsthenameoffavor—

ites，orprivadoes;asifitwerematterofgrace，orconversation.ButtheRomannameattaineththetrueuseandcausethereof，namingthemparti—

cipescurarum;foritisthatwhichtieththeknot.

Andweseeplainlythatthishathbeendone，notbyweakandpassionateprincesonly，butbythewisestandmostpoliticthateverreigned;whohaveoftentimesjoinedtothemselvessomeoftheirservants;whomboththemselveshavecalledfriends，andallowedotherlikewisetocalltheminthesamemanner;usingthewordwhichisre—

ceivedbetweenprivatemen.

L.Sylla，whenhecommandedRome，raisedPompey（aftersurnamedtheGreat）tothatheight，thatPompeyvauntedhimselfforSylla’sover—

match.Forwhenhehadcarriedtheconsulshipforafriendofhis，againstthepursuitofSylla，andthatSylladidalittleresentthereat，andbegantospeakgreat，Pompeyturneduponhimagain，andineffectbadehimbequiet;forthatmoremenadoredthesunrising，thanthesunsetting.WithJuliusCaesar，DecimusBrutushadobtainedthatinterestashesethimdowninhistestament，forheirinremainder，afterhisnephew.Andthiswasthemanthathadpowerwithhim，todrawhimforthtohisdeath.ForwhenCaesarwouldhavedischargedthesenate，inregardofsomeillpres—

ages，andspeciallyadreamofCalpurnia;thismanliftedhimgentlybythearmoutofhischair，tellinghimhehopedhewouldnotdismissthesenate，tillhiswifehaddreamtabetterdream.

Anditseemethhisfavorwassogreat，asAntonius，inaletterwhichisrecitedverbatiminoneofCicero’sPhilippics，callethhimvenefica，witch;

asifhehadenchantedCaesar.AugustusraisedAgrippa（thoughofmeanbirth）tothatheight，aswhenheconsultedwithMaecenas，aboutthemar—

riageofhisdaughterJulia，Maecenastookthelibertytotellhim，thathemusteithermarryhisdaughtertoAgrippa，ortakeawayhislife;therewasnothirdway，hehadmadehimsogreat.WithTiberiusCaesar，Sejanushadascendedtothatheight，astheytwoweretermed，andreckoned，asapairoffriends.Tiberiusinalettertohimsaith，Haecproamicitianostranonoccultavi;andthewholesenatededicatedanaltartoFriendship，astoagoddess，inrespectofthegreatdearnessoffriendship，betweenthemtwo.Thelike，ormore，wasbetweenSeptimiusSeverusandPlautianus.

ForheforcedhiseldestsontomarrythedaughterofPlautianus;andwouldoftenmaintainPlau—

tianus，indoingaffrontstohisson;anddidwritealsoinalettertothesenate，bythesewords：Ilovethemansowell，asIwishhemayover—liveme.

NowiftheseprinceshadbeenasaTrajan，oraMarcusAurelius，amanmighthavethoughtthatthishadproceededofanabundantgoodnessofnature;butbeingmensowise，ofsuchstrengthandseverityofmind，andsoextremeloversofthemselves，asallthesewere，itprovethmostplainlythattheyfoundtheirownfelicity（thoughasgreataseverhappenedtomortalmen）butasanhalfpiece，excepttheymoughthaveafriend，tomakeitentire;andyet，whichismore，theywereprincesthathadwives，sons，nephews;andyetallthesecouldnotsupplythecomfortoffriend—

ship.

Itisnottobeforgotten，whatComineusobserv—

ethofhisfirstmaster，DukeCharlestheHardy，namely，thathewouldcommunicatehissecretswithnone;andleastofall，thosesecretswhichtroubledhimmost.Whereuponhegoethon，andsaiththattowardshislattertime，thatclosenessdidimpair，andalittleperishhisunderstanding.

SurelyComineusmoughthavemadethesamejudgmentalso，ifithadpleasedhim，ofhissecondmaster，LewistheEleventh，whoseclosenesswasindeedhistormentor.TheparableofPythagorasisdark，buttrue;Corneedito;Eatnottheheart.

Certainly，ifamanwouldgiveitahardphrase，thosethatwantfriends，toopenthemselvesunto，arecarnnibalsoftheirownhearts.Butonethingismostadmirable（wherewithIwillconcludethisfirstfruitoffriendship），whichis，thatthiscom—

municatingofaman’sselftohisfriend，workstwocontraryeffects;foritredoublethjoys，andcuttethgriefsinhalves.Forthereisnoman，thatimpartethhisjoystohisfriend，buthejoyeththemore;andnomanthatimpartethhisgriefstohisfriend，buthegrieveththeless.Sothatitisintruth，ofoperationuponaman’smind，oflikevirtueasthealchemistsusetoattributetotheirstone，forman’sbody;thatitworkethallcontraryeffects，butstilltothegoodandbenefitofnature.Butyetwithoutprayinginaidofalchemists，thereisamanifestimageofthis，intheordinarycourseofnature.Forinbodies，unionstrengthenethandcherishethanynaturalaction;andontheotherside，weakenethanddullethanyviolentimpres—

sion：andevensoitisofminds.

Thesecondfruitoffriendship，ishealthfulandsovereignfortheunderstanding，asthefirstisfortheaffections.Forfriendshipmakethindeedafairdayintheaffections，fromstormandtempests;butitmakethdaylightintheunderstanding，outofdarkness，andconfusionofthoughts.Neitheristhistobeunderstoodonlyoffaithfulcounsel，whichamanreceivethfromhisfriend;butbeforeyoucometothat，certainitis，thatwhosoeverhathhismindfraughtwithmanythoughts，hiswitsandunderstandingdoclarifyandbreakup，inthecommunicatinganddiscoursingwithanother;hetossethhisthoughtsmoreeasily;hemarshalleththemmoreorderly，heseethhowtheylookwhentheyareturnedintowords：finally，hewaxethwiserthanhimself;andthatmorebyanhour’sdiscourse，thanbyaday’smeditation.ItwaswellsaidbyThemistocles，tothekingofPersia，ThatspeechwaslikeclothofArras，openedandputabroad;wherebytheimagerydothappearinfigure;whereasinthoughtstheyliebutasinpacks.Neitheristhissecondfruitoffriendship，inopeningtheunderstanding，restrainedonlytosuchfriendsasareabletogiveamancounsel;

（theyindeedarebest;）butevenwithoutthat，amanlearnethofhimself，andbringethhisownthoughtstolight，andwhettethhiswitsasagainstastone，whichitselfcutsnot.Inaword，amanwerebetterrelatehimselftoastatua，orpicture，thantosufferhisthoughtstopassinsmother.

Addnow，tomakethissecondfruitoffriendshipcomplete，thatotherpoint，whichliethmoreopen，andfallethwithinvulgarobservation;whichisfaithfulcounselfromafriend.Heraclitussaithwellinoneofhisenigmas，Drylightiseverthebest.Andcertainitis，thatthelightthatamanreceivethbycounselfromanother，isdrierandpurer，thanthatwhichcomethfromhisownunderstandingandjudgment;whichiseverin—

fused，anddrenched，inhisaffectionsandcustoms.

Soasthereisasmuchdifferencebetweenthecoun—

sel，thatafriendgiveth，andthatamangivethhimself，asthereisbetweenthecounselofafriend，andofaflatterer.Forthereisnosuchflattererasisaman’sself;andthereisnosuchremedyagainstflatteryofaman’sself，asthelibertyofafriend.

Counselisoftwosorts：theoneconcerningman—

ners，theotherconcerningbusiness.Forthefirst，thebestpreservativetokeepthemindinhealth，isthefaithfuladmonitionofafriend.Thecallingofaman’sselftoastrictaccount，isamedicine，some—

timetoopiercingandcorrosive.Readinggoodbooksofmorality，isalittleflatanddead.Observ—

ingourfaultsinothers，issometimesimproperforourcase.Butthebestreceipt（best，Isay，towork，andbesttotake）istheadmonitionofafriend.

Itisastrangethingtobehold，whatgrosserrorsandextremeabsurditiesmany（especiallyofthegreatersort）docommit，forwantofafriendtotellthemofthem;tothegreatdamagebothoftheirfameandfortune：for，asSt.Jamessaith，theyareasmenthatlooksometimesintoaglass，andpres—

entlyforgettheirownshapeandfavor.Asforbusiness，amanmaythink，ifhewin，thattwoeyesseenomorethanone;orthatagamesterseethalwaysmorethanalooker—on;orthatamaninanger，isaswiseashethathathsaidoverthefourandtwentyletters;orthatamusketmaybeshotoffaswelluponthearm，asuponarest;andsuchotherfondandhighimaginations，tothinkhim—

selfallinall.Butwhenallisdone，thehelpofgoodcounsel，isthatwhichsettethbusinessstraight.

Andifanymanthinkthathewilltakecounsel，butitshallbebypieces;askingcounselinonebusiness，ofoneman，andinanotherbusiness，ofanotherman;itiswell（thatistosay，better，per—

haps，thanifheaskednoneatall）;butherunnethtwodangers：one，thatheshallnotbefaithfullycounselled;foritisararething，exceptitbefromaperfectandentirefriend，tohavecounselgiven，butsuchasshallbebowedandcrookedtosomeends，whichhehath，thatgivethit.Theother，thatheshallhavecounselgiven，hurtfulandunsafe（thoughwithgoodmeaning），andmixedpartlyofmischiefandpartlyofremedy;evenasifyouwouldcallaphysician，thatisthoughtgoodforthecureofthediseaseyoucomplainof，butisunac—

quaintedwithyourbody;andthereforemayputyouinwayforapresentcure，butoverthrowethyourhealthinsomeotherkind;andsocurethedisease，andkillthepatient.Butafriendthatiswhollyacquaintedwithaman’sestate，willbe—

ware，byfurtheringanypresentbusiness，howhedashethuponotherinconvenience.Andthereforerestnotuponscatteredcounsels;theywillratherdistractandmislead，thansettleanddirect.

Afterthesetwonoblefruitsoffriendship（peaceintheaffections，andsupportofthejudgment），followeththelastfruit;whichislikethepome—

granate，fullofmanykernels;Imeanaid，andbearingapart，inallactionsandoccasions.Herethebestwaytorepresenttolifethemanifolduseoffriendship，istocastandseehowmanythingsthereare，whichamancannotdohimself;andthenitwillappear，thatitwasasparingspeechoftheancients，tosay，thatafriendisanotherhim—

self;forthatafriendisfarmorethanhimself.

Menhavetheirtime，anddiemanytimes，inde—

sireofsomethingswhichtheyprincipallytaketoheart;thebestowingofachild，thefinishingofawork，orthelike.Ifamanhaveatruefriend，hemayrestalmostsecurethatthecareofthosethingswillcontinueafterhim.Sothatamanhath，asitwere，twolivesinhisdesires.Amanhathabody，andthatbodyisconfinedtoaplace;butwherefriendshipis，allofficesoflifeareasitweregrantedtohim，andhisdeputy.Forhemayexercisethembyhisfriend.Howmanythingsaretherewhichamancannot，withanyfaceorcomeliness，sayordohimself？Amancanscarceallegehisownmeritswithmodesty，muchlessextolthem;amancannotsometimesbrooktosupplicateorbeg;andanumberofthelike.Butallthesethingsaregrace—

ful，inafriend’smouth，whichareblushinginaman’sown.Soagain，aman’spersonhathmanyproperrelations，whichhecannotputoff.Amancannotspeaktohissonbutasafather;tohiswifebutasahusband;tohisenemybutuponterms：

whereasafriendmayspeakasthecaserequires，andnotasitsortethwiththeperson.Buttoenu—

meratethesethingswereendless;Ihavegiventherule，whereamancannotfitlyplayhisownpart;

ifhehavenotafriend，hemayquitthestage.

OfExpenseOfExpenseRICHESareforspending，andspendingforhonorandgoodactions.Thereforeextra—

ordinaryexpensemustbelimitedbytheworthoftheoccasion;forvoluntaryundoing，maybeaswellforaman’scountry，asforthekingdomofheaven.Butordinaryexpense，oughttobelimitedbyaman’sestate;andgovernedwithsuchregard，asitbewithinhiscompass;andnotsubjecttode—

ceitandabuseofservants;andorderedtothebestshow，thatthebillsmaybelessthantheestima—

tionabroad.Certainly，ifamanwillkeepbutofevenhand，hisordinaryexpensesoughttobebuttothehalfofhisreceipts;andifhethinktowaxrich，buttothethirdpart.Itisnobaseness，forthegreatesttodescendandlookintotheirownestate.

Someforbearit，notuponnegligencealone，butdoubtingtobringthemselvesintomelancholy，inrespecttheyshallfinditbroken.Butwoundscan—

notbecuredwithoutsearching.Hethatcannotlookintohisownestateatall，hadneedbothchoosewellthosewhomheemployeth，andchangethemoften;fornewaremoretimorousandlesssubtle.

Hethatcanlookintohisestatebutseldom，itbe—

hoovethhimtoturnalltocertainties.Amanhadneed，ifhebeplentifulinsomekindofexpense，tobeassavingagaininsomeother.Asifhebeplenti—

fulindiet，tobesavinginapparel;ifhebeplenti—

fulinthehall，tobesavinginthestable;andthelike.Forhethatisplentifulinexpensesofallkinds，willhardlybepreservedfromdecay.Inclearingofaman’sestate，hemayaswellhurthimselfinbeingtoosudden，asinlettingitrunontoolong.

Forhastyselling，iscommonlyasdisadvantage—

ableasinterest.Besides，hethatclearsatoncewillrelapse;forfindinghimselfoutofstraits，hewillreverttohiscustom：buthethatclearethbyde—

grees，inducethahabitoffrugality，andgainethaswelluponhismind，asuponhisestate.Cer—

tainly，whohathastatetorepair，maynotdespisesmallthings;andcommonlyitislessdishonor—

able，toabridgepettycharges，thantostooptopettygettings.Amanoughtwarilytobeginchargeswhichoncebegunwillcontinue;butinmattersthatreturnnot，hemaybemoremagnificent.

OftheTrueGREATNESSOFKINGDOMSANDESTATES

OftheTrueGREATNESSOFKINGDOMSANDESTATES

THEspeechofThemistoclestheAthenian，whichwashaughtyandarrogant，intakingsomuchtohimself，hadbeenagraveandwiseobservationandcensure，appliedatlargetoothers.

Desiredatafeasttotouchalute，hesaid，Hecouldnotfiddle，butyethecouldmakeasmalltown，agreatcity.Thesewords（holpenalittlewithametaphor）mayexpresstwodifferingabilities，inthosethatdealinbusinessofestate.Forifatruesurveybetakenofcounsellorsandstatesmen，theremaybefound（thoughrarely）thosewhichcanmakeasmallstategreat，andyetcannotfid—

dle;asontheotherside，therewillbefoundagreatmany，thatcanfiddleverycunningly，butyetaresofarfrombeingabletomakeasmallstategreat，astheirgiftlieththeotherway;tobringagreatandflourishingestate，toruinanddecay.Andcer—

tainlywhosedegenerateartsandshifts，wherebymanycounsellorsandgovernorsgainbothfavorwiththeirmasters，andestimationwiththevulgar，deservenobetternamethanfiddling;beingthingsratherpleasingforthetime，andgracefultothem—

selvesonly，thantendingtothewealandadvance—

mentofthestatewhichtheyserve.Therearealso（nodoubt）counsellorsandgovernorswhichmaybeheldsufficient（negotiispares），abletomanageaffairs，andtokeepthemfromprecipicesandmanifestinconveniences;whichneverthelessarefarfromtheabilitytoraiseandamplifyanestateinpower，means，andfortune.Butbetheworkmenwhattheymaybe，letusspeakofthework;thatis，thetruegreatnessofkingdomsandestates，andthemeansthereof.Anargumentfitforgreatandmightyprincestohaveintheirhand;totheendthatneitherbyover—measuringtheirforces，theyleesethemselvesinvainenterprises;norontheotherside，byundervaluingthem，theydescendtofearfulandpusillanimouscounsels.

Thegreatnessofanestate，inbulkandterritory，dothfallundermeasure;andthegreatnessoffinancesandrevenue，dothfallundercomputa—

tion.Thepopulationmayappearbymusters;andthenumberandgreatnessofcitiesandtownsbycardsandmaps.Butyetthereisnotanythingamongstcivilaffairsmoresubjecttoerror，thantherightvaluationandtruejudgmentconcerningthepowerandforcesofanestate.Thekingdomofheaveniscompared，nottoanygreatkernelornut，buttoagrainofmustard—seed：whichisoneoftheleastgrains，buthathinitapropertyandspirithastilytogetupandspread.Soaretherestates，greatinterritory，andyetnotapttoenlargeorcommand;andsomethathavebutasmalldimen—

sionofstem，andyetapttobethefoundationsofgreatmonarchies.