354 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



men, and encounter not with dreams* for hope, as was 

 well said, is but a waking dream. 28 



XXI. There was a little city manned but by a few, and a mighty king drew 

 his army to it, erecting bulwarks against it, and intrenched it round : now 

 there was found within the walls a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom 

 delivered the city ; but none remembered the same poor man 29 



This parable describes the corrupt and malevolent nature 

 of men, who, in extremities and difficulties, generally fly 

 to the prudent and the courageous, though they before 

 despised them; and as soon as the storm is over, they show 

 ingratitude to their preservers. Machiavel had reason to 

 put the question, &quot;Which is the more ungrateful toward 

 the well- deserving, the prince or the people&quot;? though he 

 accuses both of ingratitude. 80 The thing does not proceed 

 wholly from the ingratitude either of princes or people, but 

 it is generally attended with the envy of the nobility, who 

 secretly repine at the event, though happy and prosperous, 

 because it was not procured by themselves. Whence they 

 lessen the merit of the author and bear him down. 



XXII. The way of the slothful is a hedge of thorns 31 



This aphorism elegantly shows that sloth is laborious in 

 the end: for diligent and cautious preparation guards the 

 foot from stumbling, and smooths the way before it is trod; 

 but he who is sluggish, and defers all things to the last mo 

 ment, must of necessity be at every step treading as upon 

 brambles and thorns, which frequently detain and hinder 

 him; and the same may be observed in the government of 

 a family, where, if due care and forethought be used, all 

 things go on calmly, and, as it were, spontaneously, with 

 out noise and bustle ; but if this caution be neglected, when 

 any great occasion arises, numerous matters crowd in to be 

 done at once, the servants are in confusion, and the house 

 rings. 



28 Eccles. xiii. 18. 29 Bccles. ix. 14. 



80 Discorso sepra Liv. lib. i. 31 Prov. xv. 19. 



