ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 351 



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 of 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 

 mediation of a friend with the prince, seasonably to insin 

 uate, with how great a sense of grief the person in disgrace 

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

 least occasions of reviving the thing which caused the dis 

 pleasure; or of giving any handje 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. Hither let him prudently transfer the 

 blame upon others, or insinuate that the offence was com 

 mitted 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. 



