ADVANCEMENT Of LEARNING 357 



XXYIII. In every good work is plenty; but where words abound, there 

 is commonly a want 37 



Solomon here distinguishes the fruit of the labor of the 

 tongue, and that of the labor of the hand, as if from the one 

 came want, and from the other abundance. For it almost 

 constantly happens that they who speak much, boast much, 

 and promise largely, are but barren, and receive no fruit 

 from the things they talk of; being seldom industrious or 

 diligent in works, but feed and satisfy themselves with dis 

 course alone as with wind; while, as the poet intimates, &quot;he 

 who is conscious to himself that he can really effect, feels 

 the satisfaction inwardly, and keeps silent: 



&quot;Qui silet est firmus&quot;: 38 



whereas, he who knows he grasps nothing but empty air, is 

 full of talk and strange stories. 



XXIX. Open reproof is better than secret affection 39 



This aphorism reprehends the indulgence of those who 

 use not the privilege of friendship freely and boldly to ad 

 monish their friends as well of their errors as their dangers. 

 &quot;What shall I do?&quot; says an easy, good-natured friend, &quot;or 

 what course shall I take ? I love him as well as man can 

 do, and would willingly suffer any misfortune in his stead: 

 but I know his nature; if I deal freely with him, I shall 

 offend him ; at least chagrin him, and yet do him no ser 

 vice. Nay, I shall sooner alienate his friendship from me, 

 than win him over from those things he has fixed his mind 

 upon.&quot; Such an effeminate and useless friend as this Solo 

 mon reprehends, and pronounces that greater advantage may 

 be received from an open enemy; as a man may chance to 

 hear those things from an enemy by way of reproach, which 

 a friend, through too much indulgence, will not speak out. 



XXX. A prudent man looks well to his steps, but a fool turns aside to deceit 40 



There are two kinds of prudence; the one true and 

 sound, the other degenerate and false: the latter Solomon 



37 Prov. xiv. 23. 38 Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 697. 



39 Prov. xxvii. 5 &amp;lt; Prov. xv. 21. 



