ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 183 



tendants in the courts of princes to the vigils of feast-days, 

 which, though nearest to feast-days, are themselves but meagre. 

 2. By obscuring : for it is also the nature of excellent things in 

 their kind, though they do not impoverish the substance of what 

 lies near them, yet to overshadow and obscure it ; whence the 

 astrologers say, that though in all the planets conjunction is the 

 most perfect amity, yet the sun, though good in aspect, is evil 

 in conjunction. 3. By .protecting: for things come together, 

 not only from a similitude of nature, but even what is evil flies 

 to that which is good (especially in civil society) for conceal- 

 ment and protection. Thus hypocrisy draws near to religion 

 for shelter : 



" Saepe latet vitium proximitate boni." Ovid. 11 



So sanctuary-men, who were commonly malefactors, used to 

 be nearest the priests and prelates; for the majesty of good 

 things is such, that the confines of them are reverend. On the 

 other side, good draws near to evil, not for society, but for con- 

 versation and reformation ; and hence physicians visit the sick 

 more than the sound, and hence it was objected to our Saviour, 

 that he conversed with publicans and sinners.o 



Sophism 5 



As all parties challenge the first place, that to which the rest 

 unanimously give the second seems the best; each taking the 

 first place out of affection to itself, but giving the second 

 where it is really due 



Thus Cicero attempted to prove the Academics to be the best 

 sect ; for, saith he, " Ask a Stoic which philosophy is best, and 

 he will prefer his own ; then ask him which is the next best, 

 and he will confess, the Academics. Ask an Epicurean the 

 same question, who can scarce endure the Stoic, and as soon as 

 he hath placed his own sect, he places the Academics next 

 him." p So if a prince separately examined several competitors 

 for a place, perhaps the ablest and most deserving man would 

 have most second voices. 



This color deceives in respect of envy ; for men are accus- 

 tomed, next after themselves and their own faction, to prefer 

 those that are softest and most pliable, with intent to exclude 

 such as would obstruct their measures; whence this color of 



