The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

SHORT NOTES FOR CIVIL CONVERSATION. 131
71. High treason is not written in ice, that or grain is seen, which in a fouler stone is never
when the body relenteth, the impression should perceived.
go away. 73. Hollow church papists are like the roots
72. The best governments are always subject of nettles, which themselves sting not; but yet
to be like the fairest crystals, wherein every icicle they bear all the stinging leaves.
SHORT NOTES FOR CIVIL CONVERSATION.
BY SIR FRANCIS BACON.To deceive men's expectations generally (which wanting true judgment; for in all things no man
cautel) argueth a staid mind, and unexpected con- can be exquisite.
stancy: viz. in matters of fear, anger, sudden joy To have commonplaces to discourse, and to
or grief, and all things which may affect or alter want variety, is both tedious to the hearers, and
the mind in public or sudden accidents, or suchlike. shows a shallowness of conceit: therefore it is
It is necessary to use a steadfast countenance, good to vary, and suit speeches with the present
not wavering with action, as in moving the head or occasions; and to have a moderation in all our
hand too much, which showeth a fantastical, speeches, especially in jesting of religion, state,
light, and fickle operation of the spirit, and con- great persons, weighty and important business,
sequently like mind as gesture: only it is suf- poverty, or any thing deserving pity.
ficient, with leisure, to use a modest action in A long continued speech, without a good
either. speech of interlocution, showeth slowness: and
In all kinds of speech, either pleasant, grave, a good reply, without a good set speech, showeth
severe, or ordinary, it is convenient to speak shallowness and weakness.
leisurely, and rather drawingly, than hastily; To use many circumstances, ere you come to
because hasty speech confounds the memory, the matter, is wearisome; and to use none at all,
and oftentimes, besides unseemliness, drives a is but blunt.
man either to a non-plus or unseemly stammering, Bashfulness is a great hinderance to a man,
harping upon that which should follow; whereas both of uttering his conceit, and understanding
a slow speech confirmeth the memory, addeth a what is propounded unto him; wherefore it is
conceit of wisdom to the hearers, besides a seem- good to press himself forwards with discretion,
liness of speech and countenance. To desire in both in speech, and company of the better sort
discourse to hold all arguments, is ridiculous,, cUsus promptos facit."
AN ESSAY ON DEATH.
BY THE LORD CHANCELLOR BACON.t
1. I HAVE often thought upon death, and I find it 2. Physicians in the name of death include
the least of all evils. All that which is past is all sorrow, anguish, disease, calamity, or whatas a dream; and he that hopes or depends upon soever can fall in the life of man, either grievous
time coming, dreams waking. So much of our or unwelcome: but these things are familiar
life as we have discovered is already dead; and unto us, and we suffer them every hour; thereall those hours which we share, even from the fore we die daily, and I am older since I afbreasts of our mother, until we return to our firmed it.
grandmother the earth, are part of our dying 3. I know many wise men, that fear to die;
days; whereof even this is one, and those that for the change is bitter, and flesh would resucceed are of the same nature, for we die daily; fuse to prove it: besides the expectation orings
and as others have given place to us, so we terror, and that exceeds the evil. But I do not
mulst in the end give way to others. believe, that any man fears to be dead, but only
* From the Remains. f Remains.