844 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



against us, it were better for us to break it directly than to 

 use it. For these things are bat as the rustling of leaves, 

 soon over. 2. This curiosity always loads the mind with 

 suspicion, which is a violent enemy to counsels, and renders 

 them unsteady and perplexed. 3. It also frequently fixes 

 the evils themselves, which would otherwise have blown 

 over: for it is a dangerous thing to provoke the consciences 

 of men, who, so long as they think themselves concealed, 

 are easily changed for the better; but if they once find them 

 selves discovered, drive out one evil with another. It was 

 therefore justly esteemed the utmost prudence in Pompey 

 that he directly burned all the papers of Sertorius, unpe- 

 rased by himself or others. 



V. Poverty comes as a traveller, but want as an armed man 7 



This aphorism elegantly describes how prodigals, and 

 such as take no care of their affairs, make shipwreck of their 

 fortunes. For debt, and diminution of the capital, at first 

 steals on gradually and almost imperceptibly like a travel 

 ler, but soon after want invades as an armed man; that is, 

 with a hand so strong and powerful as can no longer be re 

 sisted ; for it was justly said by the ancients, that necessity 

 is of all things the strongest. We must, therefore, prevent 

 the traveller, and guard against the armed man. 



VI. He who instructs a scoffer, procures to himself reproach; and he who 

 reproves a wicked man, procures to himself a stain 8 



This agrees with the precept of our Saviour, not to throw 

 pearls before swine. 9 This aphorism distinguishes between 

 the actions of precept and reproof, and again between the 

 persons of the scorner and the wicked, and lastly, the reward 

 is distinguished. In the former case, precept is repaid by a 

 loss of labor, and in the latter, of reproof, it is repaid with 

 a stain also. For when any one instructs and teaches a 

 scorner, he first loses his time; in the next place, others 

 laugh at his labor, as fruitless and misapplied; and lastly, 



7 Prov. vi. 11, and xxiv. 34. 8 Prov. ix. 7. 9 Matt. vii. 6. 



