st Bly a i eee as aa OM lia lc 
(XXIL 17.) THE SECOND BOOK. es 
retain pleasure; confined rather in the subject of it, than 
in the strength and vigour of it. 
XXIII. 1. oo knowledge is conversant about a 
subject which of all others is most 
immersed in matter, and hardliest reduced. to axiom. 
Nevertheless, as Cato the Censor said, Zhat the Romans 
were like sheep, for that a man were better drive a flock of 
them, than one of them; for in a flock, if you could get but 
some few go right, the rest would follow: so in that respect 
moral philosophy is more difficile than policy. Again, 
moral philosophy propoundeth to itself the framing of 
internal goodness ; but civil knowledge requireth only an 
external goodness; for that as to society sufficeth. And 
therefore it cometh oft to pass that there be evil times 
in good governments: for so we find in the holy story, 
when the kings were good, yet it is added, Sed adhuc 
populus non direxerat cor suum ad Dominum Deum patrum 
suorum. Again, states, as great engines, moye slowly, 
- and are not so soon put out of frame: for as in Egypt 
the seven good years sustained the seven bad, so govern- 
ments for a time well grounded, do bear out errors fol- 
lowing ; but the resolution of particular persons is more 
suddenly subverted, These respects do somewhat qualify 
the extreme difficulty of civil knowledge. 
2. This knowledge hath three parts, according to 
the three summary actions of society; which are con- 
versation, negotiation, and government. For man seeketh 
in society comfort, use, and protection: and they be three 
wisdoms of divers natures, which do often sever: wisdom 
of the behayiour,.wisdom of-business, and wisdom of 
state. 
3. The wisdom of conversation ought not to be over 
