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LET your Conversation be with those, by whom you may accomplish your self best; for Vertue never returns with so rich a Cargo, as when it sets sail from such Continents; Com∣pany, like Climates, alter Com∣plexions.
Keep Company with Persons rather above than beneath your self; for Gold in the same Pocket with Silver, loseth both of its co∣lour and weight.
Retain your own Vertues, and by Imitation naturalize other Mens; but let none be Copies to
you longer, than they do agree with the Original. Study to gain Respects, not by little Observan∣ces, but by a constant fair Car∣riage.
Hear no ill of a Friend, nor speak any of an Enemy; Believe not all you hear, nor speak all you believe.
Give not your Advice or Opini∣on before required, for that is to upbraid the others Ignorance, and over-much to value your own parts: Neither accustom your self to find fault with other Mens Actions, for you are not bound to weed their Gardens.
Never commend any Person to his face, but to others, to create in them a good Opinion of him: Nor dispraise any man behind his back, but to himself, to work a-Reformation in him of himself.
Over-great Encomiums of any Person do not suit with Prudence;
for it's a kind of Detraction from those with whom you do converse, and it will express arrogance in you: For he that commends ano∣ther, would have him esteemed up∣on his Judgment.
Nothing will gain you more re∣putation with the people, than an humble and serene Deportment.
A rude and morose Behaviour in Conversation, is as absurd, as a round Quadrangle in the Mathe∣maticks.
Urbanity and Civility are a Debt you owe to Mankind: Civil Language and Good Behaviour, will be like perpetual Letters Com∣mendatory unto you: Other Ver∣tues have need of somewhat to maintain them; Justice must have Power, Liberality, Wealth, &c. but this is set up with no other Stock than a few pleasant Looks, good Words, and no evil Actions. It's an easie purchase, when Friends
are gained by Kindness and Affa∣bility.
Let your Behaviour, like your Garment, be neither streight nor loose, but fit and becoming.
Catch not too soon at an Of∣fence, nor give too easie way to Anger; the one shews a Weak Judgment, and the other a Per∣verse Nature.
Avoid in Conversation idle Jests and vain Complements, the one being Crepitus ingenii, the other nothing but Verbal Idolatry. Ver∣tue, like a rich Stone, is ever best when plain set.
By Trifles are the Qualities of Men as well discovered, as by great Actions; because in Matters of Im∣portance they commonly tempo∣rize, and strain themselves, but in lesser things they follow the cur∣rent of their own Natures.
You will meet with many Per∣sons (as I my self have done)
which are wise in Picture, and ex∣ceeding formal; but they are so far from resolving of Riddles with Oedipus, as they are very Riddles themselves.
You must have a care of these, for a Pedant and a Formalist are two dangerous Animals; but to the Solons and Heroes of the Times, out of Duty you must pay them the Debt of an Honourable regard and memory.
If you meet with a Person sub∣ject to infirmities, never deride them in him; but bless God that you have no occasion to grieve for them in your self.