2 THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS. 



they that are so overweened with the sharpness 

 and dexterity of their own wit and capacity, as 

 that they disdain to submit themselves to the 

 documents of Apollo, the god of harmony, where 

 by to learn and observe the method and measure 

 of affairs, the grace and gravity of discourse, 

 the differences between the more judicious and 

 more vulgar ears, and the due times when to speak 

 and when to be silent; be they never so sensi 

 ble and pregnant, and their judgments never so 

 profound and profitable, yet in all their endea 

 vours either of persuasion or perforce, they avail 

 nothing ; neither are they of any moment to ad 

 vantage or manage matters, but do rather hasten on 

 the ruin of all those that they adhere or devote 

 themselves unto ; and then, at last when calamity 

 hath made men feel the event of neglect, then shall 

 they, too late, be reverenced as deep foreseeing and 

 faithful prophets : whereof a notable instance is emi 

 nently set forth in Marcus Cato Uticensis, who as 

 from a watch-tower discovered afar off, and as an 

 oracle long foretold, the approaching ruin of his 

 country, and the plotted tyranny hovering over the 

 state, both in the first conspiracy, and as it was pro 

 secuted in the civil contention between Caesar and 

 Pompey, and did no good the while, but rather 

 harmed the commonwealth and hastened on his 

 country s bane; which M. Cicero wisely observed, and 

 writing to a familiar friend, doth in these terms 

 excellently describe, &quot; Cato op time sentit, sed nocet 

 (i interdum Reipublicse : loquitur enim tanquam in 



