The Second Book 191 



false the nature of some deeds are, in that particular which 

 Mutianus practised upon Antonius Primus, upon that hollow 

 and unfaithful reconcilement which was made between 

 them; whereupon Mutianus advanced many of the friends 

 of Antonius: sitnul amicis ejus prcBfecturas et trihunatus 

 largitur : ^ wherein, under pretence to strengthen him, he did 

 desolate him, and won from him his dependences. 



18. As for words, though they be like waters to physicians, 

 full of flattery and uncertainty, yet they are not to be de- 

 spised, especially with the advantage of passion and affec- 

 tion. For so we see Tiberius, upon a stinging and incensing 

 speech of Agrippina, came a step forth of his dissimulation, 

 when he said. You are hurt because you do not reign ; of 

 which Tacitus saith. Audita hcec tar am occulti pectoris vocem 

 elicuere ; correptamque Grceco versu admonuit, ideo Icedi, quia 

 non regnaret.^ And therefore the poet doth elegantly call 

 passions, tortures that urge men to confess their secrets : 



Vino tortus et ira.' 



And experience showeth, there are few men so true to 

 themselves and so settled, but that, sometimes upon heat, 

 sometimes upon bravery, sometimes upon kindness, some- 

 times upon trouble of mind and weakness, they open 

 themselves; especially if they be put to it with a counter- 

 dissimulation, according to the proverb of Spain, Di men- 

 tira, y sacaras verdad {Tell a lie and find a truth). 



19. As for the knowing of men which is at second hand from 

 reports; men's weaknesses and faults are best known from 

 their enemies, their virtues and abiUties from their friends, 

 their customs and times from their servants, their conceits 

 and opinions from their famihar friends, with whom they 

 discourse most. General fame is light, and the opinions 

 conceived by superiors or equals are deceitful; for to such 

 men are more masked: Verior fama e domesticis emanat.^ 



20. But the soundest disclosing and expounding of men is 

 by their natures and ends, wherein the weakest sort of men 

 are best interpreted by their natures, and the wisest by 

 their ends. For it was both pleasantly and wisely said, 



• Tacit. Hist. iv. 39. 



•Tacit. Ann. iv. 52; Suet. Vit. Tib. c. 53. 



• Hor. Epist. I. xviii. 38. 



• Q. Cic. De Petit. Consul, v. 17. 



