i68 hahits of attention and observation. y^iig.'j. 

 fellows, their secret iatentiotis, their weak and their 

 strong sides, their qualities and prejudices, and to 

 know how to apply himself to please others, and 

 yet to avoid the dangers arising from selfifhnefs and 

 treachery, a wisdom truly that is nowise crooked, 

 and may be honestly conjoined unto moral vir- 

 tue. 



The eye and the ear^ when duly accustomed to 

 observe all the movements of the countenance, and 

 the gesticulations of the body, together with the va- 

 rious modulation of the voice and accent, will be 

 able to discern the slightest approaches to envy, ma- 

 levolence, circumvention, and treachery; and if the 

 guard of the eye lids are jodiciously used as a pa- 

 rapit behind which to observe the movements of 

 the enemy, and to ward off his mifsile weapons, much 

 evil may be eschewed, and much advantage gained 

 by the knowledge of the distant intentions of those 

 with whom we are engaged in the common inter- 

 course of life, and still more in the commerce of 

 difficult and dangeirous affairs. 



In the exercise of this art, it highly comporteth 

 to mark also the unaffected exprefsions of bejievo- 

 lence, in those with whom we converse, and from 

 such, gradually to choose our principal mefsmates 

 and companions. From these again, after due pro- 

 bation, to select such as may deserve some fhare of 

 our esteem and confidence ; and last of all, out of 

 this small groupe, to obtain that most rare and ad- 

 mirable gift of heaven, a real and true friend, or in 

 other v^ords a second self. I say a second self, for 

 certain it is, that true friendlhip is that which not on<. 



