THE SECOND BOOK 193 



Romans in the saddest and wisest times were professors ; 

 for Cicero reporteth, that it was then in use for senators 

 that had name and opinion for general wise men, as 

 Coruncanius, Curius, Laelius, and many others, to walk 

 at certain hours in the Place, and to give audience to 

 those that would use their advice ; and that the par- 

 ticular citizens would resort unto them, and consult 

 with them of the marriage of a daughter, or of the em- 

 plojdng of a son, or of a purchase or bargain, or of an 

 accusation, and every other occasion incident to man's 

 life. So as there is a wisdom of counsel and advice even 

 in private causes, arising out of an imiversal insight into 

 the affairs of the world ; which is used indeed upon 

 particular cases propounded, but gathered by general 

 observation of cases of like nature. For so we see in 

 the book which Q. Cicero writeth to his brother, De 

 petitione consulatus (being the only book of business 

 that I know written by the ancients), although it con- 

 cerned a particular action then on foot, yet the sub- 

 stance thereof consisteth of many wise and politic 

 axioms, which contain not a temporary, but a perpetual 

 direction in the case of popular elections. But chiefly 

 we may see in those aphorisms, which have place 

 amongst divine writings, composed by Salomon the king, 

 of whom the scriptures testify that his heart was as the 

 sands of the sea, encompassing the world and all worldly 

 matters, we see, I say, not a few profound and excellent 

 cautions, precepts, positions, extending to much variety 

 of occasions ; whereupon we will stay a while, offering 

 to consideration some number of examples. 



6. ' Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accom- 

 modes aurem tuam, ne forte audias servum tuum male- 

 dicentem tibi.' Here is commended the provident stay 

 of inquiry of that which we would be loath to find : as it 

 was judged great wisdom in Pompeius Magnus that he 

 burned Sertorius' papers unperused. 



' Vir sapiens, si cum stulto contenderit, sive irascatur, 

 sive rideat, non inveniet requiem.' Here is described 

 the great disadvantage which a wise man hath in under- 

 taking a lighter person than himself ; which is such an 



