The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

48 ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL.
sixteen years' purchase will yield six in the hun- fitter for new projects than for settled business; for
dred, and somewhat more, whereas this rate of in- the experience of age, in things that fall within the
terest yields but five: this by like reason will compass of it, directeth them: but in new things
encourage and edge industrious and profitable im- abuseth them. The errors of young men are the
provements, because many will rather venture in ruin of business; but the errors of aged men
that kind, than take five in the hundred, especially amount but to this, that more might have been
baving been used to greater profit. Secondly, let done, or sooner. Young men, in the conduct
there be certain persons licensed to lend to known and manage of actions, embrace more than they
merchants upon usury, at a high rate, and let it be can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to
with the cautions following: let the rate be even the end, without consideration of the means and
with the merchant himself, somewhat more easy degrees; pursue some few principles which they
than that he used formerly to pay; for by that means have chanced upon absurdly; care not to innovate,
all borrowers shall have some ease by this refor- which draws unknown inconveniences; use exmation, be he merchant, or whosoever; let it be treme remedies at first; and that, which doubleth
no bank, or common stock, but every man be mas- all errors, will not acknowledge or retract them,
ter of his own money; not that I altogether dislike like an unruly horse, that will neither stop nor
banks, but they will hardly be brooked, in regard turn. Men of age object too much, consult too
of certain suspicions. Let the state be answered long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and selsome small matter for the license, and the rest left to dom drive business home to the full period, but
the lender; for if the abatement be but small, it content themselves with a mediocrity of success.
will no whit discourage the lender; for he, for ex- Certainly it is good to compound employments of
ample, that tookbefore, ten or nine in the hundred, both; for that will be good for the present, bewill sooner descend to eight in the hundred than cause the virtues of either age may correct the degive over his trade of usury, and go from certain fects of both; and good for succession, that young
gains to gains of hazard. Let these licensed lend- men may be learners, while men in age are acers be in number indefinite, but restrained to cer- tors; and, lastly, good for external accidents, betain principal cities and towns of merchandising; cause authority followeth old men, and favour and
for then they will be hardly able to colour other popularity youth; but, for the moral part, perhaps,
men's moneys in the country; so as the license youth will have the pre-eminence, as age hath for
of nine will not suck away the current rate of five; the politic. A certain rabbin upon the text, " Your
for no man will lend his moneys far off, nor put young men shall see visions, and your old men
them into unknown hands. shall dream dreams," inferreth that young men
If it be objected that this doth in a sort author- are admitted nearer to God than old, because vision
ize usury, which before was in some places but per- is a clearer revelation than a dream: and, certainly,
missive; the answer is, that it is better to mitigate the more a man drinketh of the world, the more it
usury by declaration than to suffer it to rage by intoxicateth: and age doth profit rather in the
connivance. powers of understanding, than in the virtues of
the will and affections. There be some have an
XLII. OF YOUTH AND AGE. over-early ripeness in their years, which fadeth betimes: these are, first, such as have brittle wits,
A MAN that is young in years may be old in the edge whereof is soon turned: such as was
hours, if he have lost no time; but that happeneth Hermogenes the rhetorician, whose books are exrarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogita- ceeding subtle, who afterwards waxed stupid; a
tions, not so wise as the second: for there is a second sort is of those that have some natural disyouth in thoughts as well as in ages; and yet the positions, which have better grace in youth than in
invention of young men is more lively than that age; such as is a fluent and luxuriant speech;
of old, and imaginations stream into their minds which becomes youth well, but not age; so Tully
better, and, as it were, more divinely. Natures saith of Hortensius, 1"Idem manebat, neque'idem
that have much heat, and great and violent desires decebat;" the third is of such as take too high a
and perturbations, are not ripe for action till they strain at the first, and are magnanimous more
have passed the meridian of their years: as it was than tract of years can uphold; as with Scipio
with Julius Caesar and Septimius Severus; of the Africanus, of whom Livy saith in effect, " Ultima
latter of whom it is said, ", juventutem egit, error- primis cedebant."
ibus, imo furoribus plenam;" and yet he was the
ablest emperor, almost, of all the list: but reposed
natures may do well in youth, as it is seen in Augustus Caesar, Cosmus Duke of Florence, Gaston VIRTUE is like a rich stone, best plain set; and
de Foix, and others. On the other side, heat and surely virtue is best in a body that is comely,
vivacity in age is an excellent composition for though not of delicate features; and that hath
business. Young men are fitter to invent, than to rather dignity of presence, than beauty of aspect;
judge; fitter for execution than for counsel; and neither is it almost seen, that very beautiful per