XXIII. 21.] THE SECOND BOOK. 333 



most, and what end is principally sought. For so we 

 see, when Tigellinus saw himself outstripped by Petronius 

 Turpilianus in Nero s humours of pleasures, me/us ejus 

 rimatur, he wrought upon Nero s fears, whereby he brake 

 the other s neck. 



22. But to all this part of inquiry the most com 

 pendious way resteth in three things : the first, to have 

 general acquaintance and inwardness with those which 

 have general acquaintance and look most into the world ; 

 and specially according to the diversity of business, and 

 the diversity of persons, to have privacy and conversation 

 with some one friend at least which is perfect and well 

 intelligenced in every several kind. The second is to 

 keep a good mediocrity in liberty of speech and secrecy ; 

 in most things liberty: secrecy where it importeth; for 

 liberty of speech inviteth and provoketh liberty to be 

 used again, and so bringeth much to a man s knowledge ; 

 and secrecy on the other side induceth trust and inward 

 ness. The last is the reducing of a man s self to this 

 watchful and serene habit, as to make account and 

 purpose, in every conference and action, as well to 

 observe as to act. For as Epictetus would have a phi 

 losopher in every particular action to say to himself, Et 

 hoc volo, et etiam insliiutum servare ; so a politic man in 

 everything should say to himself, Et hoc volo, ac etiam 

 aliquid addiscerc. I have stayed the longer upon this 

 precept of obtaining good information, because it is a 

 main part by itself, which answereth to all the rest. But, 

 above all things, caution must be taken that men have 

 a good stay and hold of themselves, and that this much 

 knowing do not draw on much meddling ; for nothing is 

 more unfortunate than light and rash intermeddling in 

 many matters. So that this variety of knowledge tendeth 



