that are still 22 buzzing upon any thing that is rawmisanthropi,23 that make it their practice to bring men to the bough, and yet have never a tree for the purpose in their gardens, as Timon had.24 Such dispositions are the very 25 errours of human nature, and yet they are the fittest timber to make great politiques 26 of-like to knee timber, that is good for ships that are ordained to be tossed, but not for building houses that shall stand firm. The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shews he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them. If he be compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shews that his heart is like the noble tree 29 that is wounded itself when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons and remits offences, it shews that his mind is planted above injuries, so that he cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shews that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash.30 But, above all, if he have St. Paul's perfection, that he would wish to be an anathema from Christ, 3 for the salvation of his brethren, it shews much of a divine nature, and a kind of conformity with Christ Himself.

(18) IX. OF TRAVEL:

RAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education;

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into a country, before he hath some entrance into3 the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow 4 well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen in the country where they go, what acquaintances they are to seek, what exercises or discipline the place yieldeth. For else young men shall go hooded,5 and look abroad little. It is a strange thing that, in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it-as if chance? were fitter to be registered then observation. Let diaries,

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therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed are: the courts of princes, specially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities and towns, and so the havens and harbours; antiquities and ruins; libraries, colleges, disputations and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure near great cities; armories, arsenals, magazines, exchanges, burses, warehouses; exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable in the places where they go—after all which, the tutors or servants ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masques, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet are they not to be neglected. If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do: first, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth; then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said. Let him carry with him also some card," or book, describing the country where he travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay long in one city or town, more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town to another, which is a great adamant 12 of acquaintance. Let him sequester 13 himself from the company of his countrymen, and diet 14 in such places where there is good company of the nation where he travelleth. Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality residing in the place whither he removeth, that he may use his favour in those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel with much profit. As for the acquaintance which is to be sought in travel, that which is most of all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries, and employed men of ambassadors; for

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so in travelling in one country he shall suck the experience of many. Let him also see and visit eminent persons in all kinds, which are of great name abroad, that he may be able to tell how the life agreeth with the fame. For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided-they are commonly for mistresses, healths,15 place, and words:"7 and let a man beware how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons, for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath travelled altogether behind him, but maintain a correspondence by letters with those of his acquaintance which are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, then in his apparel or gesture; and in his discourse let him be rather advised 18 in his answers, then forward to tell stories: and let it appear that he doth not change his country manners for those of foreign parts,19 but only prick in some flowers 20 of that he hath learned abroad into the customs of his own country.

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(21) X. OF DELAYS.

ORTUNE is like the market,' where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall. And again, it is sometimes like Sybilla's offer, which at first offereth the commodity at full, then consumeth part and part, and still holdeth up the price. For occasion (as it is in the common verse) turneth a bald noddle after she hath presented her locks in front, and no hold taken; or, at least, turneth the handle of the bottle first to be received, and after the belly, which is hard to clasp. There is surely no greater wisdom then well to time the beginnings and onsets of things.4 Dangers are no more light, if they once seem light; and more dangers have deceived men then forced them.5 Nay, it were better to meet some dangers half way, though they come nothing near, then to keep too long a watch upon their approaches; for if a man watch too long, it is odds he will fall asleep. On the other side, to be deceived with too long shadows (as some have been when the moon was low, and shone on their enemies' back), and so to shoot off before the time, or to teach dangers to come on, by over-early buckling

towards them, is another extreme. The ripeness or unripeness of the occasion (as we said)9 must ever be well weighed; and generally, it is good to commit the beginnings of all great actions to Argus 10 with his hundred eyes, and the ends to Briareus" with his hundred hands -first to watch and then to speed. For the helmet of Pluto, which maketh the politic13 man go invisible, is secrecy in the counsel, and celerity in the execution. For when things are once come to the execution, there is no secrecy comparable to celerity-like the motion of a bullet in the air, which flieth so swift as15 it outruns the eye.

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(22) XI. OF CUNNING.

WE take cunning: for a sinister or crooked wisdom;

a cunning man and a wise man, not only in point of honesty, but in point of ability. There be that can pack the cards, and yet cannot play well; so there are some that are good in canvasses3 and factions, that are otherwise weak men. Again, it is one thing to understand persons, and another thing to understand matters; for many are perfect in men's humours, that are not greatly capable of the real part of business, which is the constitution of one that hath studied men more than books.4 Such men are fitter for practice than for counsel, and they are good but in their own alley:5 turn them to new men, and they have lost their aim; so as the old rule, to know a fool from a wise man: "Mitte ambos nudos ad ignotos, et videbis," doth scarce hold for them; because these cunning men are like haberdashers of small wares, it is not amiss to set forth their shop."

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It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye,12 as the Jesuits give it in precept -for there be many wise men that have secret hearts and transparent countenances.13 Yet this would 14 be done with a demure abasing of your eye sometimes, as the Jesuits also do use.

Another is, that when you have any thing to obtain of present dispatch, you entertain15 and amuse the party with whom you deal with some other discourse, that he

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be not too much awake to make objections. I knew a counsellor and secretary, that never came to Queen Elizabeth of England with bills to sign, but he would always first put her into some discourse of estate, that she mought the less mind the bills.

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The like surprise may be made by moving things when the party 18 is in haste, and cannot stay to consider advisedly of that19 is moved.

If a man would cross a business that he doubts 20 some other would handsomely and effectually move, let him pretend to wish it well, and move it himself, in such sort as may foil it.

The breaking off in the midst of that one was about to say, as if he took himself up, breeds a greater appetite in him with whom you confer to know more.

And because it works better when any thing seemeth to be gotten from you by question, then if you offer it of yourself, you may lay a bait for a question, by shewing another visage and countenance then you are wont; to the end, to give occasion for the party to ask what the matter is of the change, as Nehemiah did: “And I had not before that time been sad before the king."2

In things that are tender23 and unpleasing, it is good to break the ice by some whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice24 to come in as by chance, so that he25 may be asked the question upon the other's speech; as Narcissus did, in relating to Claudius the marriage of Messalina and Silius.26

In things that a man would not be seen in himself, it is a point of cunning to borrow the name of the world; as to say: "The world says," or, "There is a speech

abroad."

I knew one that, when he wrote a letter, he would put that which was most material in the postscript, as if it had been a bye matter.

I knew another that, when he came to have speech, he would pass over that that he intended most; and go forth and come back again, and speak of it as of a thing that he had almost forgot.

Some procure themselves to be surprised at such times as it is like the party, that they work upon, will suddenly come upon them,28 and to be found with a letter in their hand, or doing somewhat which they are not accustomed,