EXPOSTULATION TO LORD 



to this end shall truth be delivered as naked as if 

 yourself were to be anatomised by the hand of opi 

 nion. All men can see their own profit, that part of 

 the wallet hangs before. A true friend (whose wor 

 thy office I would perform, since, I fear, both your 

 self and all great men want such, being themselves 

 true friends to few or none) is first to shew the other, 

 and which is from your eyes. 



First therefore behold your errors. In discourse 

 you delight to speak too much, not to hear other 

 men ; this, some say, becomes a pleader not a judge ; 

 for by this sometimes your affections are entangled 

 with a love of your own arguments, though they be 

 the weaker ; and rejecting of those, which, when 

 your affections were settled, your own judgment 

 would allow for strongest. Thus while you speak 

 in your own element, the law, no man ordinarily 

 equals you ; but when you wander, as you often 

 delight to do, you wander indeed, and give never 

 such satisfaction as the curious time requires. This 

 is not caused by any natural defect, but first for 

 want of election, when you having a large and fruit 

 ful mind, should not so much labour what to speak, 

 as to find what to leave unspoken : rich soils are 

 often to be weeded. 



Secondly, You cloy your auditory when you 

 would be observed ; speech must be either sweet or 

 short. 



Thirdly, You converse with books, not men, and 

 books especially human ; and have no excellent 

 choice with men, who are the best books : for a 



