170 THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. 



(98) Fourthly, in the choice of their friends and dependents, 

 to proceed according to the composition of their own nature ; 

 as we may see in clesar, aU whose friends and followers were 

 men active and effectual, but not solemn or of reputation 



(29) Fifthly, to take special heed how they guide themselves 

 by examples, in thinking they can do as they see others do ; 

 whereas perhaps their natures and carriages are far differing 

 In which error it seemeth Pompey was, of whom Cicero savth 

 that he was wont often to say, Sylla potmt, ego nonpoterof 

 Wherein he was much abused, the natures and proceedings o. 

 himself and his example being the unlikest in the world ; the 

 one being fierce, violent, and pressing the tact ; the other 

 solemn, and full of majesty and circumstance, and therefore 



th Bu?thVprec a ept touching the politic knowledge of ourselves 

 hath many other branches, whereupon we cannot^nsist. 



(30) Next to the well understanding and discerning of a man^s 

 self, there followeth the well opening and revealing a mans 

 self- wherein we see nothing more usual than for the more 

 able man to make the less show. For there is a great advan 

 tage in the well setting forth of a man s virtues, fortunes, 

 merits ; and again, in the artificial covering of a man s weak 

 nesses, defectsr disgraces ; staying upon the one, sliding from 

 the other ; cherishing the one by circumstances, gracing the 

 other by exposition, and the like. Wherein we see what 

 Tacitus saith of Mutianus, who was the greatest politique of 

 his time, Omnium qua dixerat feceratque arte quadam os- 

 tentator, which requireth indeed some art, lest it turn tedious 

 and arrogant ; but yet so, as ostentation (though it be to the 

 first degree of vanity) seemeth to me rather a vice in manners 

 than in policy ; for as it is said, Audacter calummare, semper 

 aUquid Lret;*o, except it be in a ridiculous degree of de 

 formity, Audacter te vendita, semper aliqmd haret. *o: 

 will stick with the more ignorant and inferior sort of men, 

 though men of wisdom and rank do smile at it and despise it ; 

 and yet the authority won with many doth countervail the 

 dfcdam of a few. But if it be carried with decency and 

 government, as with a natural, pleasant and ingenious 

 fashion or at times when it is mixed with some peril and 

 unsafety (as in military persons) ; or at times when others are 

 most envied ; or with easy and careless passage to it and from 

 it without dwelling too long, or being too serious ; or with an 

 equal freedom of taxing a man s self, as well as gracing him 

 self or by occasion of repelling or putting down others injury 

 or insolency; it doth greatly add to reputation: and surely 



