ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 365 



from time to time come upon the anvil; how they are con 

 ducted, with what success, by whose assistance promoted, 

 by whom opposed, of what weight and moment they are, 

 and what their consequences. For a knowledge of present 

 actions is not only very advantageous in itself, but without 

 it the knowledge of persons will be very fallacious and un 

 certain ; for men change along with their actions, and are 

 one thing while entangled and surrounded with business, 

 and another when they return to themselves. And these 

 particular informations, with regard to persons as well as 

 actions, are like the minor propositions in every active syl 

 logism; for no truth, nor excellence of observations or 

 axioms, whence the major political propositions are formed, 

 can give a firm conclusion, if there be an error in the minor 

 proposition. And that such a kind of knowledge is pro 

 curable, Solomon assures us, who says, that &quot;counsel in 

 the heart of man is like a deep water, but a wise man will 

 draw it out&quot; ; 6J for although the knowledge itself does not 

 fall under precept, because it regards individuals, yet in 

 structions may be given of use for fetching it out. 



Men may be known six different ways; viz. 1, by their 

 countenances; 2, their words; 3, their actions; 4, their tem 

 pers; 5, their ends; and, 6, by the relation of others. 1. As 

 to the countenance, there is no great matter in that old 

 proverb, &quot;Fronti nulla fides&quot;; 68 for although this may be 

 said with some truth of the external and general composure 

 of the countenance and gesture, yet there lie concealed 

 certain more subtile motions and actions of the eyes, face, 

 looks, and behavior, by which the gate, as it were, of the 

 mind is unlocked and thrown open. 6S Who was more close 

 than Tiberius? yet Tacitus observes a difference between 

 his inward thoughts and his language in eulogizing the 

 exploits of Drusus and Germanicus thus characterizing his 

 panegyric of the latter: &quot;Magis in speciem verbis adornatis 

 quam ut penitus sentire crederetur&quot; ; and then that of 



61 Prov. xx. 5. &quot; Martial, i. Ep. 25, v. 4. 



63 Cicero, Petit. Consulatus, 2. 



