THE FIRST BOOK. 13 



may sort better with ancient examples, than with those of the 

 latter or immediate times : and lastly, the wit of one man 

 can no more countervail learning than one man's means can 

 hold way with a common purse. 



And as for those particular seducements, or indisposi 

 tions of the mind for policy and government, which learning 

 is pretended to insinuate ; if it be granted that any such 

 thing be, it must be remembered withal, that learning 

 ministereth in every of them greater strength of medicine or 

 remedy, than it offereth cause of indisposition or infirmity ; 10 

 for if, by a secret operation, it make men perplexed and 

 irresolute, on the other side, by plain precept it teacheth 

 them when and upon what ground to resolve ; yea, and how 

 to carry things in suspense, without prejudice, till they 

 resolve ; if it make men positive and regular, it teacheth 

 them what things are in their nature demonstrative, and 

 what are conjectural ; and as well the use of distinctions and 

 exceptions, as the latitude of principles and rules. If it mis 

 lead by disproportion, or dissimilitude of examples, it teacheth 

 men the force of circumstances, the errors of comparisons, 20 

 and all the cautions of application ; so that in all these it 

 doth rectify more effectually than it can pervert. And these 

 medicines it conveyeth into men's minds much more forcibly 

 by the quickness and penetration of examples. For let a man 

 look into the errors of Clement the Seventh, so lively 

 described by Guicciardine, who served under him, or into the 

 errors of Cicero, painted out by his own pencil in his Epistles 

 to Atticus, and he will fly apace from being irresolute. Let 

 him look into the errors of Phocion, and he will beware how 

 he be obstinate or inflexible. Let him but read the fable of 30 

 Ixion, and it will hold him from being vaporous or imagina 

 tive. Let him look into the errors of Cato the second, and 

 he will never be one of the Antipodes, to tread opposite to 

 the present world. 



And for the conceit that learning should dispose men to 

 leisure and privateness, and make men slothful ; it were a 



