ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 243 



dent, viz., that men are more solicitous about the beginnings 

 and entrances of their discourses than about the conclusions, 

 and more exactly labor their prefaces and introductions than 

 their closes. Whereas they ought not to neglect the former, but 

 should have the latter, as being things of far the greater con- 

 sequence, ready prepared beforehand ; casting about with them- 

 selves, as much as possible, what may be the last issue of the 

 discourse, and how business may be thence forwarded and 

 ripened. They ought further, not only to consider the wind- 

 ings up of discourses relating to business, but to regard also 

 such turns as may be advantageously and gracefully given upon 

 departure, even though they should be quite foreign to the mat- 

 ter in hand. It was the constant practice of two great and 

 prudent privy-counsellors, on whom the weight of the kingdom 

 chiefly rested, as often as they discoursed with their princes upon 

 matters of state, never to end the conversation with what re- 

 garded the principal subject ; but always to go off with a jest, 

 or some pleasant device ; and as the proverb runs, " Washing 

 off their salt-water discourses with fresh at the conclusion." And 

 this was one of the principal arts they had. 



Aphorism n 



As dead Hies cause the best ointment to yield an ill odor, so does 

 a little folly to a man in reputation for wisdom and honor P 



The condition of men eminent for virtue is, as this aphorism 

 excellently observes, exceeding hard and miserable; because 

 their errors, though ever so small, are not overlooked. But as 

 in a clear diamond, every little grain, or speck, strikes the eye 

 disagreeably, though it would not be observed in a duller stone ; 

 so in men of eminent virtue, their smallest vices are readily 

 spied, talked of, and severely censured ; whilst in an ordinary 

 man, they would either have lain concealed, or been easily ex- 

 cused. Whence a little folly in a very wise man, a small slip 

 in a very good man, and a little indecency in a polite and ele- 

 gant man, greatly diminish their characters and reputations. 

 It might, therefore, be no bad policy, for men of uncommon ex- 

 cellencies to intermix with their actions a few absurdities, that 

 may be committed without vice, in order to reserve a liberty, 

 and confound the observation of little defects. 



