The Second Book 195 



But this precept touching the pohtic knowledge of ourr 

 selves , hath many other branches, whereupon we cannot 

 insist. 



30. Next to the well understanding and discerning of a man's 

 self, there foUoweth the well opening and revealing a man's 

 self; wherein we see nothing more usual than for the more 

 able man to make the less show. For there is a great 

 advantage in the well setting forth of a man's virtues, 

 fortunes, merits; and again, in the artificial covering of a 

 man's weaknesses, defects, disgraces; staying upon the 

 one, sliding from the other; cherishing the one by circum- 

 stances, gracing the other by exposition, and the hke: 

 wherein we see what Tacitus saith of Mutianus, who was the 

 greatest politique of his time. Omnium qua dixerat fecerat- 

 que arte quddam ostentaior : ^ which requireth indeed some 

 art, lest it turn tedious and arrogant; but yet so as ostenta- 

 tion, though it be to the first degree of vanity, seemeth to 

 me rather a vice in manners than in policy : for as it is said, 

 Audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haret : ^ so, except it 

 be in a ridiculous degree of deformity, Audacter te vendita, 

 semper aliquid hcsret. For it will stick with the more 

 ignorant and inferior sort of men, though men of wisdom 

 and rank do smile at it, and despise it; and yet the 

 authority won with many doth countervail the disdain 

 of a few. But if it be carried with decency and govern- 

 ment, as with a natural, pleasant, and ingenious fashion; 

 or at times when it is mixed with some peril and unsaf ety, 

 as in military persons; or at times when others are most 

 envied; or with easy and careless passage to it and from it, 

 without dweUing too long, or being too serious ; or with an 

 equal freedom of taxing a man's self, as well as gracing 

 himself; or by occasion of repelling or putting down others' 

 injury or insolence; it doth greatly add to reputation: 

 and surely not a few sohd natures, that want this ventosity. 

 and cannot fail in the height of the winds, are not without 

 some prejudice and disadvantage by their moderation. 



31. But for these flourishes and enhancements of virtue, as 

 they are not perchance unnecessary, so it is at least neces- 



^ Tacit. Hist. ii. 80. 



" Mr. Spedding considers that this comes from the advice given 

 by Medius to Alexander's sycophants. — Plutarch, Quomodo quis 

 discernere, etc., c. 2d. 



