372 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



which particular he greatly imposed upon himself; for 

 Sylla s temper and method of acting differed infinitely from 

 his the one s being fierce, violent, and pressing to the end, 

 the other s composed, mindful of the laws, and directing all 

 to majesty and reputation; whence he was greatly curbed 

 and restrained in executing his designs. And these con 

 siderations may serve as. a specimen of the rest. 



But it is not enough for a man to know himself ; he must 

 also consider how he may most commodiously and prudently 

 1, show, 2, express, 3, wind and fashion himself. 1. As 

 for show, we see nothing more frequent in life than for the 

 less capable man to make the greater figure. It is, there 

 fore, no small excellence of prudence, by means of a certain 

 act and grace, to represent one s best side to others, by set 

 ting out our own virtues, merits, and fortunes to advantage, 

 which may be done without arrogance or rendering one s self 

 disagreeable; and, on the other side, artificially concealing 

 our vices, defects, misfortunes, and disgraces, dwelling upon 

 the former, and turning them as it were to the light, but 

 palliating the latter, or effacing them by a well- adapted 

 construction or interpretation, etc. Hence Tacitus says of 

 Mucianus, the most prudent man of his time and the most 

 indefatigable in business, that &quot;he had an art of showing 

 the fair side of whatever he spoke or acted. 78 And cer 

 tainly it requires some art to prevent this conduct from be 

 coming fulsome and despicable; yet ostentation, though to 

 the first degree of vanity, is a fault in ethics rather than in 

 politics. For as it is usually said of calumny, that if laid 

 on boldly some of it will stick, so it may be said of osten 

 tation, unless perfectly monstrous and ridiculous, &quot;Paint 

 yourself strongly, and some of it will last.&quot; Doubtless it 

 will dwell with the crowd, though the wiser sort smile at it; 

 so that the reputation procured with the number will abun 

 dantly reward the contempt of a few. But if this ostentation 

 be managed with decency and discretion, it may greatly con- 



18 Hist. ii. 80. 



