1 82 The Advancement of Learning 



unto them, and consult with them of the mirriage of a 

 daughter, or of the employing of a son, or ci 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 a universal 

 insight into the affairs of the world ; which is used indeed 

 upon particular causes propounded, but is 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 concerned 

 a particular action set on foot, yet the substance 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 ap hor- 

 isms which have place among divine writing s, composed 

 by Salomon the king , (of whom the Scriptures testify that 

 fus 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 caution s, precepts, positions, ex- 

 tending to much variety of occasions; whereupon we will 

 stay awhile, offering to consideration some number of 

 examples. 

 6. Sed et cuncHs sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes aurem 

 tuam, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tihi.^ Here 

 is concluded the provident stay of inquiry of that which 

 we would be loth 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 undertaking a 

 lighter person than himself; which is such an engagement 

 as, whether a man turn the matter to jest, or turn it to heat, 

 or howsoever he change copy, he can no ways quit himself 

 well of it. 



Qui delicaU a pueritia nutrit servum suum, posfea sentiet 

 eum contumacem.^ Here is signified, that if a man begin 



' Editions 1629 and 1633 have causes, 



* I Kings iv. 29. • Eccles. vii. 2i. 



* Plut. Vit. Pomp. c. 20. • Prov. xxix. 9. 



* Prov. xxix. 2 1 . 



