&quot; THE SECOND BOOK. 177 



into some men s laps ; and a number obtain good fortunes by 

 diligence 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 subjects, the mould 

 hath used to be made according to the perfection of the art, 

 and not according to common practice : 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 

 precepts which we have set down are of that kind which may 

 be counted and called Bonce Artes. As for evil arts, if a man 

 would set down for himself that principle of Machiavel, That 

 a man seek not to attain virtue itself, but the appearance only 

 thereof ; because the credit of virtue is a help, but the use of 

 it is cumber: &quot; or that other of his principles, &quot;That he pre 

 suppose that men are not fitly to be wrought otherwise but 

 by fear ; and therefore that he seek to have every man ob 

 noxious, low, and in straits, &quot; which the Italians call seminar 

 spine, to sow thorns : or that other principle, contained in the 

 verse which Cicero citeth, Cadant amid, dummodo inimici 

 intercidant, as the triumvirs, which sold every one to other 

 the lives of their friends for the deaths of their enemies : or 

 that other protestation of L. Catilina, to set on fire and trouble 

 states, to the end to fish in droumy waters, and to unwrap 

 their fortunes, Ego si quid in fortunis meis excitatum sit in- 

 cendium, id non aqua sed ruina restinguam : or that other 

 principle of Lysander, &quot; That children are to be deceived with 

 comfits, and men with oaths : &quot; and the like evil and corrupt 

 positions, whereof (as in all things) there are more in number 

 than of the good : certainly with these dispensations from the 

 laws of charity and integrity, the pressing of a man s fortune 

 may be more hasty and compendious. But it is in life as it 

 is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, and 

 surely the fairer way is not much about. 



(46) But men, if they be in their own power, and do bear and 

 sustain themselves, and be not carried away with a whirlwind 

 or tempest of ambition, ought in the pursuit of their own 

 fortune to set before their eyes not only that general map of 

 the world, &quot;That all things are vanity and vexation of spirit,&quot; 

 but many other more particular cards and directions : chiefly 

 that, that being without well-being is a curse, and the greater 

 being the greater curse ; and that all virtue is most rewarded 



