THE FIRST BOOK 23 



universality, do refer all things to themselves, and 

 thrust themselves into the centre of the world, as if 

 all lines should meet in them and their fortunes ; never 

 caring in all tempests what becomes of the ship of 

 estates, so they may save themselves in the cockboat 

 of their own fortune : whereas men that feel the weight 

 of duty and know the limits of self-love, use to make 

 good their places and duties, though with peril ; and 

 if they stand in seditious and violent alterations, it is 

 rather the reverence which many times both adverse 

 parts do give to honesty, than any versatile advantage 

 of their own carriage. But for this point of tender 

 sense and fast obligation of duty which learning doth 

 endue the mind withal, howsoever fortune may tax it, 

 and many in the depth of their corrupt principles may 

 despise it, yet it will receive an open allowance, and 

 therefore needs the less disproof or excusation. 



7. Another fault incident commonly to learned men, 

 which may be more probably defended than truly 

 denied, is, that they fail sometimes in applying them 

 selves to particular persons : which want of exact 

 application ariseth from two causes ; the one, because 

 the largeness of their mind can hardly confine itself to 

 dwell in the exquisite observation or examination of 

 the nature and customs of one person : for it is a speech 

 for a lover, and not for a wise man, Satis magnum alter 

 alteri theatruin sumus. Nevertheless I shall yield, 

 that he that cannot contract the sight of his mind as 

 well as disperse and dilate it, wanteth a great faculty. 

 But there is a second cause, which is no inability, but 

 a rejection upon choice and judgement. For the honest 

 and just bounds of observation by one person upon 

 another, extend no further but to understand him 

 sufficiently, whereby not to give him offence, or whereby 

 to be able to give him faithful counsel, or whereby to 

 stand upon reasonable guard and caution in respect of 

 a man s self. But to be speculative into another man 

 to the end to know how to work him, or wind him, or 

 govern him, proceedeth from a heart that is double 

 and cloven and not entire and ingenuous ; which as in 



