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THere are Times (saith Tacitus) wherein too great virtues are exposed to certaine ruine.* 1.2 And this fate befalls men eminent for virtue or Justice, sometime suddainly, some∣times fore-seene a farre off: and if these excellent parts be se∣conded by the accesse of wisdome, that is, that they are wary and watchfull over their own safety, than they gaine thus much, that their ruine comes sodainly, altogither by secret and obscure Counsils; whereby both envy may be avoided, and Destruction assaile them unprovided. As for that Nimium, which is set downe in the Parable, (in as much as they are not the words of some Periander but of Solomon, who now and then notes the evills in mans life, but never commands them) it must be understood, not of virtue it selfe, in which there is no Nimium or excessive extremity, but of a vaine and invidious Affectation and ostentation thereof. A point somewhat resembling this, Tacitus insinu∣ates in a passage touching Lepidus, setting it downe as a Mi∣racle, that he had never bin the Author of any servile sen∣tence, and yet had stood safe in so cruell, and bloudy times.* 1.3 This thought (saith he) many times comes into my mind, whether these things are governed by Fate; or it lies also in our own Power to steere an even course void of Danger and Indignity, between servile Flattery and sullen Contumacy.