308 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [COOK VIII. 



of a dangerous disease. For when men see their prince 

 incensed against them, what through impatience ot disgrace, 

 fear of renewing their wounds by sight, and partly to let 

 their prince behold their contrition and humiliation, it is 

 usual with them to retire from their office or employ, and 

 sometimes to resign their places and dignities into their 

 prince s hands. But Solomon disapproves this method as 

 pernicious. For, 1. it publishes the disgrace too much ; 

 whence both our enemies and enviers are more emboldened 

 to hurt us, and our friends the more intimidated from lend 

 ing their assistance. 2. By this means the anger of the 

 prince, which perhaps would have blown over of itself, had 

 it not been made public, becomes more fixed ; and having 

 now begun to displace the person, ends not but in his down 

 fall. 3. This resigning carries something ol ill-will with it, 

 and shows a dislike of the times, which adds the evil of 

 indignation to that of suspicion. The following remedies 

 regard the cure : 1. Let him above all things beware how by 

 any insensibility, or elation of mind, he seems regardless of 

 his prince s displeasure, or not affected as he ought. He 

 should not compose his countenance to a stubborn melan 

 choly, but to a grave and decent dejection ; and show him 

 self, in all his actions, less brisk and cheerful than usual. It 

 may also be for his advantage to use the assistance and medi 

 ation oi a friend with the prince, seasonably to insinuate, 

 with how great a sense of griet the person in disgrace is 

 inwardly affected. 2. Let him carefully avoid even the least 

 occasions ol reviving the thing which caused the displeasure ; 

 or of giving any handle to fresh distaste, and open rebuke. 

 3. Let him diligently seek all occasions wherein his service 

 may be acceptable to his prince, that he may both show a 

 ready desire of retrieving his past offence, and his prince 

 perceive what a servant he must lose if he quit him. 4. 

 Either let him prudently transfer the blame upon others, or 

 insinuate that the offence was committed with no ill design, 

 or show that their malice, who accused him to the prince, 

 aggravated the thing above measure. 5. Lastly, let him in 

 every respect be watchful and intent upon the cure. 



