XXI. 9-] THE SECOND BOOK. 2OI 



that we are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that , 

 write what men do, and not what they ought to do. For 

 it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with the 

 columbine innocency, except men know exactly all the 

 conditions of the serpent; his baseness and going upon 

 his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, 

 and the rest ; that is, all forms and natures of evil. For 

 without this, virtue lieth open and unfenced. Nay, an 

 honest man can do no good upon those that are wicked, 

 to reclaim them, without the help of the knowledge of 

 evil. For men of corrupted minds presuppose that 

 honesty groweth out of simplicity of manners, and be 

 lieving of preachers, schoolmasters, and men s exterior 

 language. So as, except you can make them perceive 

 that you know the utmost reaches of their own corrupt 

 opinions, they despise all morality. Non recipit slultus 

 verba prudentice, nisi ea dixeris qua versantur in corde ejus. 



10. Unto this part, touching respective duty, doth also 

 appertain the duties between husband and wife, parent 

 and child, master and servant. So likewise the laws of 

 friendship and gratitude, the civil bond of companies, 

 colleges, and politic bodies, of neighbourhood, and all 

 other proportionate duties; not as they are parts of 

 government and society, but as to the framing of the 

 mind of particular persons. 



11. The knowledge concerning good respecting society 

 doth handle it also, not simply alone, but comparatively; 

 whereunto belongeth the weighing of duties between per 

 son and person, case and case, particular and public. As 

 we see in the proceeding of Lucius Brutus against his 

 own sons, which was so much extolled; yet what was 

 said? 



Infelix, utcunque ferent ea fata minores. 



