CCCclxxii LIFE OF BACON. 



Conversa- The art of conversation, that social mode of diffusing 

 kindness and knowledge, he considered to be one of the 

 valuable arts of life, and all that he taught he skilfully 

 and gracefully practised. When he spoke, the hearers 

 only feared that he should be silent, yet he was more 

 pleased to listen than to speak, &quot; glad to light his torch 

 at any man s candle.&quot; He was skilful in alluring his 

 company to discourse upon subjects in which they were 



and otherwise, he was no dashing man, as some men are, 

 but ever a countenancer and fosterer of another man s 

 parts. Neither was he one that would appropriate the 

 speech wholly to himself, or delight to outvie others, but 

 leave a liberty to the co-assessors to take their turns ; 

 wherein he would draw a man on, and allure him to speak 

 upon such a subject as wherein he was peculiarly skilful, 

 and would delight to speak. And, for himself, he con 

 temned no man s observations, but would light his torch 

 at every man s candle.&quot; 



Fuller, in his life of Lord Burleigh says, &quot; No man was more pleasant 

 and merry at meals ; and he had a pretty wit-rack in himself to make the 

 dumb to speak ; to draw speech out of the most sullen and silent guest at 

 his table, to shew his disposition in any point he should propound. At 

 night when he put off his gown he used to say, Lie there, Lord Treasurer/ 

 and bidding adieu to all state affairs, disposed himself to his quiet rest.&quot; 



&quot; And now the evening is come, no tradesman doth more carefully take 

 in his wares, clear his shop-board and shut his windows, than I would 

 shut up my thoughts and clear my mind. That student shall live mise 

 rably, which like a camel lies down under his burthen.&quot; Bishop Hall. 



Plutarch tells us Democritus used to say, &quot; That if the body and the 

 soul were to sue one another for damages, it would be a doubtful question 

 whether the landlord or the guest were most faulty.&quot; 



Plato s caution is very just, which is, &quot; That \ve ought not to exercise 

 the body without the soul, nor the soul without the body.&quot; 



Plutarch, in his book De Praeceptis Salubribus, which he wrote, as he 

 declares himself, for the benefit of studious persons and politicians : &quot; The 

 ox said to his fellow servant the camel, which refused to bear part of his 

 burden, &amp;lt; In a little time it will be your turn to carry all my burden 

 instead of a pail. &quot; 



