XXII. 21] THE SECOND BOOK. * 983 
most, and what end is principally sought. For so we 
see, when Tigellinus saw himself outstripped by Petronius 
Turpilianus in Nero’s humours of pleasures, me/us gus 
rimatur, he wrought upon Nero’s fears, whereby he brake 
the other’s neck. 
22. But to all this part of inquiry the most com- 
pendious way resteth in three things: the first, to have 
general acquaintance and inwardness with those which 
have general acquaintance and look most into the world; 
and specially according to the diversity of business, and 
the diversity of persons, to have privacy and conversation 
with some one friend at least which is perfect and well 
intelligenced in every several kind. The second is to 
keep a good mediocrity in liberty of speech and secrecy ; 
. in most things liberty: secrecy where it importeth; for 
liberty of speech inviteth and provoketh liberty to be 
used again, and so bringeth much to a man’s knowledge; 
and secrecy on the other side induceth trust and inward- 
ness.. The last is the reducing of a man’s self to this 
watchful and serene habit, as to make account and 
purpose, in every conference and action, as well to 
observe as to act. For as Epictetus would have a phi- 
losopher in every particular action to say to himself, Z7 
hoc volo, et etiam tustitutum servare; so a politic man in 
everything should say to himself, Z¥¢ hoc volo, ac etiam 
aliquid addiscere. 1 have stayed the longer upon this 
precept of obtaining good information, because it is a 
main part by itself, which answereth to all the rest. But, 
above all things, caution must be taken that men have 
a good stay and hold of themselves, and that this much 
knowing do not draw on much meddling; for nothing is 
more unfortunate than light and rash intermeddling in 
many matters. So that this variety of knowledge tendeth 
