THE FIRST BOOK. 



23 



III. (1) Now therefore we come to that third sort of dis 

 credit or diminution of credit that groweth unto learning from 

 learned men themselves, which commonly cleaveth fastest : it 

 is either from their fortune, or from their manners, or from 

 the nature of their studies. For the first, it is not in their 

 power ; and the second is accidental ; the third only is proper 

 to be handled : but because we are not in hand with true 

 measure, but with popular estimation and conceit, it is not 

 amiss to speak somewhat of the two former. The derogations 

 therefore which grow to learning from the fortune or condition 

 of learned men, are either in respect of scarcity of means, 

 or in respect of privateness of life and meanness of employ 

 ments. 



(2) Concerning want, and that it is the case of learned men 

 usually to begin with little, and not to grow rich so fast as 

 other men, by reason they convert not their labours chiefly to 

 lucre and increase, it were good to leave the commonplace in 

 commendation of povery to some friar to handle, to whom 

 much was attributed by Machiavel in this point when he 

 said, &quot; That the kingdom of the clergy had been long before at 

 an end, if the reputation and reverence towards the poverty of 

 friars had not borne out the scandal of the superfluities and 

 excesses of bishops and prelates.&quot; So a man might say that 

 the felicity and delicacy of princes and great persons had long 

 since turned to rudeness and barbarism, if the poverty of 

 learning had not kept up civility and honour of life ; but with 

 out any such advantages, it is worthy the observation what a 

 reverent and honoured thing poverty of fortune was for some 

 ages in the Roman state, which nevertheless was a state with 

 out paradoxes. For we see what Titus Livjus saith in his 

 introduction : Cieterum aut me amor negotii suscepti fallit 

 aut nulla unquam respublica nee major, nee sanctior, nee bonis 

 exemplis ditior fuit ; nee in quam tarn sero avaritia luxuriaque 

 immigraverint ; nee ubi tantus ac tarn diu paupertati ac par- 

 simonice konos fuerit. &quot;We see likewise, after that the state of 

 Rome was not itself, but did degenerate, how that person that 

 took upon him to be counsellor to Julius Caesar after his victory 

 where to begin his restoration of the state, maketh it of all 

 points the most summary to take away the estimation of 

 wealth : Verum hcec et omnia mala pariter cum honore pecunice 

 desinent; si neque rr.iyistratus, neque alia vulgo cupienda, 

 venalia erunt. To conclude this point. : as it was truly said 

 that Rubor est virtutis color, though sometimes it come from 

 vice, so it may be fitly said that Paupertas est virtutis fortuna, 

 though sometimes it may proceed from misgovernment and 



