266 BACON 



through our neglect, and less esteemed than it deserves. This 

 diminution in the esteem of virtue happens three ways ; viz., i. 

 When a person presents and thrusts himself and his service into 

 a business unasked ; for such services are thought sufficiently 

 rewarded by accepting them. 2. When a man at the beginning 

 of a business over-exerts himself, and performs that all at once, 

 which should have been done gradually; though this, indeed, 

 gains early commendation where affairs succeed ; but in the 

 end it produces satiety. 3. When a man is too quick and light 

 in receiving the fruit of his virtue in praise, applause, and 

 favor and pleases himself therewith ; against which there is 

 this prudent admonition, " Beware lest thou seem unaccus- 

 tomed to great things, if such small ones delight thee." 



A diligent concealment of defects is no less important than 

 a prudent and artful manifestation of virtues. Defects are prin- 

 cipally concealed and covered under three cloaks, viz. : i. Cau- 

 tion, 2. Pretext, and 3. Assurance, i. We call that caution, 

 when a man prudently keeps from meddling in matters to 

 which he is unequal ; whilst, on the other hand, daring and rest- 

 less spirits are injudiciously busying themselves in things they 

 are not acquainted with, and thereby publish and proclaim their 

 own defects. 2. We call that pretext, when a man with sagac- 

 ity and prudence paves and prepares himself a way for securing 

 a favorable and commodious interpretation of his vices and de- 

 fects ; as proceeding from different principles, or having a 

 different tendency than is generally thought. For as to the 

 concealment of vices, the poet said well, that vice often skulks 

 in the verge of virtue. 



" Ssepe latet vitium proximate boni." Ovid. 



Therefore, when we find any defect in ourselves, we must en- 

 deavor to borrow the figure and pretext of the neighboring vir- 

 tue for a shelter ; thus the pretext of dulness is gravity ; that of 

 indolence, considerateness, etc. And it is of service to give out 

 some probable reason for not exerting our utmost strength, 

 and so make a necessity appear a virtue. 3. Assurance, indeed, 

 is a daring, but a very certain and effectual remedy, whereby a 

 man professes himself absolutely to slight and despise those 

 things he could not obtain, like crafty merchants, who usually 

 raise the price of their own commodities and sink the price of 

 other men's. Though there is another kind of assurance, more 



