The Fourth Book: Essays and Discourses 139 



LXXIX 



A friend of my Lord's complaining that he had done the 

 state much service, but received little reward for it ; my 

 Lord answered him, that states did not usually reward past 

 services : but if he could do some present service, he might 

 perhaps get something ; but, said he, those men are wisest 

 that will be paid beforehand. 



LXXX 



I observing that in the late Civil Wars, many were desirous 

 to be employed in state's affairs, and at the noise of war 

 endeavoured to be commanders, though but of small parties, 

 asked my Lord the reason thereof, and what advantage they 

 could make by their employments ? My Lord smilingly 

 answered, that for the generality, he knew not what they 

 could get, but danger, loss, and labour for their pains. Then 

 I asked him, whether generals of great armies were ever en- 

 riched by their heroic exploits, and great victories ? My 

 Lord answered, that ordinary commanders gained more, 

 and were better rewarded than great generals. To which 

 I added, that I had observed the same in histories, namely, 

 that men of great merit and power had not only no rewards, 

 but were either found fault withal, or laid aside when they 

 had no more business or employment for them, and that I 

 could not conceive any reason for it, but that states were 

 afraid of their power. My Lord answered, the reason was, 

 that it was far more easy to reward under-omcers than great 

 commanders. 



LXXXI 



My Lord having, since the return from his banishment, set 

 up a race of horses, instead of those he lost by the wars, uses 

 often to ride through his park to see his breed. One time it 

 chanced when he went through it, that he espied some labour- 

 ing men sawing of woods that were blown down by the wind, 

 for some particular uses ; at which my Lord, turning to his 

 attendants, said, that he had been at that work a great part 

 of his life. They not knowing what my Lord meant, but 

 thinking he jested ; I speak very seriously, added he, and not 



