214 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



sions which intervene, and are many times more proper 

 and propitious for somewhat that he shall need after- 

 wards, than for that which he urgeth for the present ; 

 and therefore men must be perfect in that rule, ' Haec 

 oportet facere, et ilia non omittere.' 



41. Another precept of this knowledge is, not to 

 engage a man's self peremptorily in any thing, though 

 it seem not hable to accident ; but ever to have a win- 

 dow to fly out at, or a way to retire : following the 

 wisdom in the ancient fable of the two frogs, which 

 consulted when their plash was dry whither they should 

 go ; and the one moved to go down into a pit, because 

 it was not likely the water would dry there ; but the 

 other answered. True, but if it do, how shall we get out 

 again ? 



42. Another precept of this knowledge is that ancient 

 precept of Bias, construed not to any point of perfidious- 

 ness, but only to caution and moderation, ' Et ama 

 tanquam inimicus futurus et odi tanquam ama turns.' 

 For it utterly betrayeth all utility for men to embark 

 themselves too far into unfortunate friendships, trouble- 

 some spleens, and childish and humorous envies or emu- 

 lations. 



43. But I continue this beyond the measure of an 

 example ; led, because I would not have such know- 

 ledges, which I note as deficient, to be thought things 

 imaginative or in the air, or an observation or two 

 much made of, but things of bulk and mass, whereof 

 an end is hardlier made than a beginning. It must 

 be likewise conceived, that in these points which I men- 

 tion and set down, they are far from complete tractates 

 of them, but only as small pieces for patterns. And 

 lastly, no man I suppose will think that I mean for- 

 tunes are not obtained without all this ado ; for I know 

 they come tumbling into some men's laps ; and a num- 

 ber obtain good fortimes by diligence in a plain way, 

 little intermeddling, and keeping themselves from gross 

 errors. 



44. But as Cicero, when he setteth down an idea of 

 a perfect orator, doth not mean that every pleader 



