200 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [XXI. 8. 



wherein I should have said as much, if it had been written 

 a thousand years since. Neither am I moved with certain 

 courtly decencies, which esteem it flattery to praise in 

 presence. No, it is flattery to praise in absence ; that is, 

 when either the virtue is absent, or the occasion is ab 

 sent; and so the praise is not natural, but forced, either in 

 truth or in time. But let Cicero be read in his oration 

 pro Marcello, which is nothing but an excellent table of 

 Caesar s virtue, and made to his face ; besides the example 

 of many other excellent persons, wiser a great deal than 

 such observers; and we will never doubt, upon a full 

 occasion, to give just praises to present or absent. 



9. But to return : there belongeth further to the hand 

 ling of this part, touching the duties of professions and 

 vocations, a relative or opposite, touching the frauds, 

 cautels, impostures, and vices of every profession, which 

 hath been likewise handled : but how ? rather in a satire 

 and cynically, than seriously and wisely: for men have 

 rather sought by wit to deride and traduce much of that 

 which is good in professions, than with judgement to 

 discover and sever that which is corrupt. For, as Salomon 

 saith, he that cometh to seek after knowledge with a 

 mind to scorn and censure, shall be sure to find matter 

 for his humour, but no matter for his instruction : Qutz- 

 De cautelis ren ^ derisori scientiam ipsa se abscondit; sed 

 ei malts studioso fit obviam. But the managing of 



artibus. this argument with integrity and truth, which 



I note as deficient, seemeth to me to be one of the best 

 fortifications for honesty and virtue that can be planted. 

 For, as the fable goeth of the basilisk, that if he see you 

 first, you die for it ; but if you see him first, he dieth : so is 

 it with deceits and evil arts ; which, if they be first espied 

 they leese their life ; but if they prevent, they endanger. So 



