i 80 Bacon 



a man may destroy the force of his words with his counten 

 ance : so may he of his deeds, saith Cicero, recommending 

 to his brother affability and easy access ; Nil interest habere 

 ostium apertum, vultum clausum ; 1 it is nothing won to 

 admit men with an open door, and to receive them with a 

 shut and reserved countenance. So, we see, Atticus, before 

 the first interview between Caesar and Cicero, the war 

 depending, did seriously advise Cicero touching the compos 

 ing and ordering of his countenance and gesture. 2 And if 

 the government of the countenance be of such effect, much 

 more is that of the speech, and other carriage appertaining 

 to conversation ; the true model whereof seemeth to me well 

 expressed by Livy, though not meant for this purpose : Ne 

 aut arrogans videar, aut obnoxius ; quorum alter um est aliencz 

 libertatis obliti, alterum sua : 3 The sum of behaviour is to 

 retain a man s own dignity, without intruding upon the 

 liberty of others. On the other side, if behaviour and 

 outward carriage be intended too much, first it may pass 

 into affectation, and then Quid deformius quam scenam in 

 vitam transferre (to act a man s life)? But although it 

 proceed not to that extreme, yet it consumeth time, and 

 employeth the mind too much. And therefore as we use to 

 advise young students from company keeping, by saying, 

 Amid fures temporis : so certainly the intending of the 

 discretion of behaviour is a great thief of meditation. 

 Again, such as are accomplished in that hour 4 of urbanity 

 please themselves in it, 5 and seldom aspire to higher virtue ; 

 whereas those that have defect in it do seek comeliness by 

 reputation; for where reputation is, almost everything 

 becometh; but where that is not, it must be supplied by 

 puntos, and compliments. Again, there is no greater 

 impediment of action than an over-curious observance of 

 decency, and the guide of decency, which is time and season. 



1 Q. Cic. de Petit. Consul, xi. 44. 



2 Cic. ad Att. ix. 12. s Livy, xxiii. 12. 



4 Howr, edition 1605; hour, 1633; forme, 1629. Mr. Spedding 

 suggests and prints honor not improbably. The Latin is: &quot; Qui 

 primas in urbanitate obtinent, et ad hanc rem quasi nati videntur &quot; 

 to which &quot; primas &quot; honor well agrees. It might possibly be 

 either show or flower. But honor seems better, save that the phrase 

 &quot; honor of urbanity &quot; is forced. 



6 In it. Editions 1605 and 1633 have in name ; 1629, in it. Latin, 

 &quot; ut sibi ipsis in ilia sola complaceant,&quot; which agrees with our 

 reading. 



