The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

DBorc II. ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 235
face out a man's own defects, in seeming to con- Another precept of this knowledge, which hath
ceive that he is best in those things wherein he is some affinity with that we last spake of, but with
failing; and, to help that again, to seem on the difference, is that which is well expressed, ", Fatis
other side that he hath least opinion of himself in accede Deisque," that men do not only turn with
those things wherein he is best: like as we shall the occasions, but also run with the occasions, and
see it commonly in poets, that if they show their not strain their credit or strength to over hard or
verses, and you except to any, they will say, that extreme points; but choose in their actions that
that line cost them more labour than any of the which is most passable: for this will preserve
rest; and presently will seem to disable and sus- men from foil, not occupy them too much about
pect rather some other line, which they know well one matter, win opinion of moderation, please the
enough to be the best in the number. But above most, and make a show of a perpetual felicity in
all, in this righting andShelping of a man's self all they undertake; which cannot but mightily
in his own carriage, he must take heed he show increase reputation.
not himself dismantled, and exposed to scorn and Another part of this knowledge seemeth to have
injury, by too much dulceness, goodness, and some repugnancy with the former two, but not as
facility of nature; but show some sparkles of I understand it; and it is that which Demostheliberty, spirit, and edge: which kind of fortified nes uttereth in high terms; Et quemadmodum
carriage, with a ready rescuing of a man's self receptum est, ut exercitum ducat imperator, sic et
from scorns, is sometimes of necessity imposed a cordatis viris res ipswe ducendae; ut quaw ipsis
upon men by somewhat in their person or fortune; videntur, ea gerantur, et non ipsi eventus tantum
but it ever succeedeth with good felicity. persequi cogantur." For, if we observe, we shall
Another precept of this knowledge is, by all find two different kinds of sufficiency in managing
possible endeavour to frame the mind to be pliant of business: some can make use of occasions
and obedient to occasion; for nothing hindereth aptly and dexterously, but plot little; some can
men's fortunes so much as this; 1 "Idem manebat, urge and pursue their own plots well, but cannot
neque idem decebat," men are where they were, accommodate nor take in; either of which is very
when occasions turn: and therefore to Cato, whom imperfect without the other.
Livy maketh such an architect of fortune, he Another part of this knowledge is the observing
addeth, that he had ", versatile ingenium." And a good mediocrity in the declaring, or not declarthereof it cometh that these grave solemn wits, ing a man's self: for although depth of secrecy,
which must be like themselves, and cannot make and making way, 1" qualis est via navis in mari,"
departures, have more dignity than felicity. But (which the French call sourdes mendes, when
in some it is nature to be somewhat viscous and men set things in work without opening theminwrapped, and not easy to turn; in some it is a selves at all,) be -sometimes both prosperous and
conceit, that is almost a nature, which is, that admirable; yetmany times 1"Dissimulatio errores
men can hardly make themselves believe that parit, qui dissimulatorem ipsum illaqueant;" and
they ought to change their course, when they therefore, we see the greatest politicians have in
have found good by it in former experience. For a natural and free manner professed their desires,
Machiavel noted wisely, how Fabius Maximus rather than been reserved and disguised in them;
would have been temporizing still, according to for so we see that Lucius Sylla made a kind of
his old bias, when the nature of the war was profession, that he wished all men happy or
altered and required hot pursuit. In some other unhappy, as they stood his friends or enemies."
it is want of point and penetration in their judg- So Caesar, when he went first into Gaul, made no
ment, that they do not discern when things have scruples to profess, " that he had rather be first in
a period, but come in too late after the occasion; a village than second at Rome." So again, as
as Demosthenes compareth the people of Athens soon as he had begun the war we see what Cicero
to country fellows, when they play in a fence saith of him, ", Alter (meaning of Caesar) non
school, that if they have a blow, then they remove recusat, sed quodammodo postulat, ut, ut est, sic
their weapon to that ward, and not before. In appelletur tyrannus." So we may see in a letter
some other it is a loathness to leese labours passed, of Cicero to Atticus, that Augustus Caesar in his
and a conceit that they can bring about occasions very entrance into affairs, when he was a darling
to their ply; and yet in the end, when they see of the senate, yet in his harangues to the people
no other remedy, then they come to it with disad- would swear, cIta parentis honores consequi
vantage; as Tarquinius, that gave for the third liceat," which was no less than the tyranny; save
part of Sibylla's books the treble price, when he that, to help it, he would stretch forth his hand
might at first have had all three for the simple. towards a statue of Caesar's that was erected in
But from whatsoever root or cause this restiveness the place: whereat many men laughed, and wonof mind proceedeth, it is a thing most prejudicial; dered, and said, Is it possible t or, Did you ever
and nothing is more politic than to make the hear the like to this 1 and yet thought he meant no
wheels of our mind concentric and voluble with hurt; he did it so handsomely and ingenuously.
the wheels of fortune. And all these were prosperous: whereas Pompey,