THE FIRST BOOK. 21 



virtutis et magistri, videntur fines offidorum paulo longius 

 quam natura vellet protulisse, ut cum ad ultimum animo 

 contendissemus, ibi tamen, ubi oportet, consisteremus : [ Those 

 very teachers of virtue themselves seem to have fixed the 

 standard of duty somewhat higher than nature can bear: in 

 order that after striving our utmost to attain to it, we might 

 at any rate reach the proper standard:] and yet himself 

 might have said, Monitis sum minor ipse meis, [I do not act 

 up to my own precepts ;] for it was his own fault, though not 

 in so extreme a degree. 10 



Another fault likewise much of this kind hath been in 

 cident to learned men ; which is, that they have esteemed 

 the preservation, good, and honour of their countries or 

 masters before their own fortunes or safeties. For so 

 saith Demosthenes unto the Athenians : If it please you 

 to note it, my counsels unto you are not such whereby I should 

 grow great amongst you, and you become little amongst the 

 Grecians ; but they be of that nature, as they are sometimes not 

 good for me to give, but are always good for you to follow. A nd 

 so Seneca, after he had consecrated that quinquennium Neronis 20 

 [those five years of Nero's reign] to the eternal glory of learned 

 governors, held on his honest and loyal course of good and 

 free counsel, after his master grew extremely corrupt in his 

 government. Neither can this point otherwise be ; for 

 learning endueth men's minds wi^h L <a true sense of the 

 frailty of their persons, the casualty of their fortunes, 

 and the dignity of their soul and vocation : so that it is im 

 possible for them to esteem that any greatness of their own 

 fortune can be a true or worthy end of their being arid 

 ordainment ; and therefore are desirous to give their account 30 

 to God, and so likewise to their masters under God (as kings 

 and the states that they serve) in these words ; Ecce tibi 

 lucrefeci, \Lo ! I have made profit for you,] and not Ecce mihi 

 lucrefeci: \Lo ! I have made profit for myself :\ whereas the 

 corrupter sort of mere politicians, that have not their 

 thoughts established by learning in the love and appre- 



