‘ ee 
XXIII. 41.] THE SECOND BOOK, 245 
would dry there ; but the other answered, True, but if it 
do, how shall we get out again? 
42. Another precept of this knowledge is that ancient 
precept of Bias, construed not to any point of perfidious- 
ness, but only to caution and moderation, Z¢ ama fan- 
quam tnimicus futurus et odi tanquam amaturus. For it 
utterly betrayeth all utility for men to embark themselves 
too far into unfortunate friendships, troublesome spleens, 
and childish and humorous envies or emulations. 
43. But I continue this beyond the measure of an 
example; led, because I would not have such know- 
ledges, which I note as deficient, to be thought things 
imaginative or in the air, or an observation or two much 
made of, but things of bulk and mass, whereof an end is 
hardlier made than a beginning. It must be likewise con- 
ceived, that in these points which I mention and set down, 
they are far from complete tractates of them, but only as 
small pieces for patterns. And lastly, no man I suppose 
will think that I mean fortunes are not obtained without 
all this ado; for I know they come tumbling into some 
men’s laps; and a number obtain good fortunes by dili- 
gence in a plain way, little intermeddling, and keeping 
themselves from gross errors. 
44. But as Cicero, when he setteth down an idea of a 
perfect orator, doth not mean that every pleader should 
be such; and so likewise, when a prince or a courtier 
hath been described by such as have handled those sub- 
jects, the mould hath used to be made according to the 
perfection of the art, and not according to common prac- 
tice: so I understand it, that it ought to be done in the 
description of a politic man, I mean politic for his own 
fortune. 
45. But it must be remembered all this while, that the 
