1 82 Bacon 



unto them, and consult with them of the marriage of a 

 daughter, or of the employing of a son, or of a purchase 

 or bargain, or of an accusation, and every other occasion 

 incident to man s life. So as there is a wisdom of counsel 

 and advice even in private causes, arising out of a universal 

 insight into the affairs of the world; which is used indeed 

 upon particular causes propounded, but is gathered by 

 general observation of cases 1 of like nature. For so we 

 see in the book which Q. Cicero writeth to his brother, 

 De petitione consulatus, (being the only book of business 

 that I know written by the ancients,) although it concerned 

 a particular action set on foot, yet the substance thereof 

 consisteth of many wise and politic axioms, which contain 

 not a temporary, but a perpetual direction in the case of 

 popular elections. But chiefly we may see in those aphor 

 isms which have place among divine writings, composed 

 by Salomon the king, (of whom the Scriptures testify that 

 his heart was as the sands of the sea, 2 encompassing the 

 world and all worldly matters,) we see, I say, not a few 

 profound and excellent cautions, precepts, positions, ex 

 tending to much variety of occasions; whereupon we will 

 stay awhile, offering to consideration some number of 

 examples. 



Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes aurem 

 tuam, ne forte audias servum luum maledicentem tibi. 3 Here 

 is concluded the provident stay of inquiry of that which 

 we would be loth to find: as it was judged great wisdom 

 in Pompeius Magnus that he burned Sertorius papers 

 unperused. 4 



Vir sapiens, si cum stulto contenderit, sive irascatur, sive 

 rideat, non inveniet requiem. 5 Here is described the great 

 disadvantage which a wise man hath in undertaking a 

 lighter person than himself; which is such an engagement 

 as, whether a man turn the matter to jest, or turn it to heat, 

 or howsoever he change copy, he can no ways quit himself 

 well of it. 



Qui delicate a pueritia nutrit servum suum, postea sentiet 

 eum contumacem. 6 Here is signified, that if a man begin 



1 Editions 1629 and 1633 have causes. 



2 i Kings iv. 29. 3 Eccles. vii. 21. 

 4 Plut. Vit. Pomp. c. 20. 6 Prov. xxix. 9. 

 6 Prov. xxix. 21. 



