The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL. 49
sons are otherwise of great virtue; as if nature and deliver himself from scorn; therefore, all dewere rather busy not to err, than in labour to pro- formed persons are extreme bold; first, as in their
duce excellency; and therefore they prove accom- own defence, as being exposed to scorn, but in
plished, but not of great spirit; and study rather process of time by a general habit. Also it stirbehaviour, than virtue. But this holds not al- reth in them industry, and especially of this
ways: for Augustus Caesar, Titus Vespasianus, kind, to watch and observe the weakness of
Philip le Belle of France, Edward the Fourth of others, that they may have somewhat to repay.
Erfgland, Alcibiades of Athens, Ismael, the sophy Again, in their superiors, it quencheth jealousy
of Persia, were all high and great spirits, and yet towards them, as persons that they think they
the most beautiful men of their times. In beauty, may at pleasure despise: and it layeth their comthat of favour, is more than that of colour; and petitors and emulators asleep, as never believing
that of decent and gracious motion, more than they should be in possibility of advancement till
that of favour. That is the best part of beauty, they see them in possession: so that upon the
which a picture cannot express; no, nor the first matter, in a great wit, deformity is an advantage
sight of the life. There is no excellent beauty to rising. Kings, in ancient times, (and at this
that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. present in some countries,) were wont to put great
A man cannot tell whether Apelles or Albert trust in eunuchs, because they that are envious
Durer were the more trifler; whereof the one towards all are more obnoxious and officious
would make a personage by geometrical propor- towards one; but yet their trust towards them
tions: the other by taking the best parts out of hath rather been as to good spials, and good
divers faces, to make one excellent. Such per- whisperers, than good magistrates and officers:
sonages, I think, would please nobody but the and much like is the reason of deformed persons.
painter that made them: not but I think a painter Still the ground is, they will, if they be of spirit,
may make a better face than ever was; but he seek to free themselves from scorn; which must
must do it by a kind of felicity, (as a musician be either by virtue or malice; and, therefore, let
that maketh an excellent air in music,) and not by it not be marvelled, if sometimes they prove exrule. A man shall see faces, that, if you exa- cellent persons; as was Agesilaus, Zanger the
mine them part by part, you shall find never a son of Solyman, AEsop, Gasca, president of Peru;
good; and yet altogether do well. If it be true, and Socrates may go likewise amongst them,
that the principal part of beauty, is in decent mo- with others.
tion, certainly it is no marvel, though persons in XLV. OF BUILDING
years seem many times more amiable;, pulchrorum autumnus pulcher;" for no youth can be HousEs are built to live in, and not to look on;
comely but by pardon, and considering the youth therefore let use be preferred before uniformity,
as to make up the comeliness. Beauty is as sum- except where both may be had. Leave the goodly
mer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot fabrics of houses, for beauty only, to the enlast; and, for the most part, it makes a dissolute chanted palaces of the poets, who build them
youth, and an age a little out of countenance; with small cost. He that builds a fair house
but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh upon an ill seat, committeth himself to prison:
virtues shine, and vices blush. neither do I reckon it an ill seat only where the
air is unwholesome, but likewise where the air
XLIV. OF DEFORMITY. is unequal; as you shall see many fine seats set
upon a knap of ground, environed with higher hills
DEFORMED persons are commonly even with round about it, whereby the heat of the sun is pent
nature; for as nature hath done ill by them, so in, and-the wind gathereth as in troughs; so as
do they by nature, being, for the most part, (as you shall have, and that suddenly, as great diverthe Scripture saith,) 6" void of natural affection;" sity of heat and cold as if you dwelt in several
and so they havetheir revenge of natures. Cer- places. Neither is it ill air only that maketh an
tainly there is a consent between the body and ill seat: but ill ways, ill markets; and, if you will
the mind, and where nature erreth in the one, she consult with Momus, ill neighbours. I speak not
ventureth in the other: "' ubi peccat in uno, peri- of many more; want of water, want of wood, shade,
clitatur in altero:" but because there is in man and shelter, want of fruitfulness, and mixture of
an election, touching the frame of his mind, and grounds of several natures; want of prospect,.a necessity in the frame of his body, the stars of want of level grounds, want of places at some near
natural inclination are sometimes obscured by distance for sports of hunting, hawking, and
the sun of discipline and virtue; therefore it is races; too near the sea, too remote; having the
good to consider of deformity, not as a sign which commodity of navigable rivers, or the discommois more deceivable, but as a cause which seldom dity of their overflowing: too far off from great
faileth of the effect. Whosoever hath any thing cities, which may hinder business; or too near
fixed in his person that doth induce contempt, them, which lurcheth all provisions, and maketo
hath also a perpetual spur in himself to rescue every thing dear; where a man hath a great )iv'r.d
VOL. I.-7 E