CHAP. II.] HOW TO DISCERN CHARACTER. 323 



than ever entered their minds. This is elegantly intimated 

 by the Italian proverb, — 



** Di denari, di senno, e di fede, 

 C ne manco che nou crede ;"* 



and therefore, in men of small capacities, who commit many 

 absurdities, a conjecture must rather be formed fi-om the 

 propensity of their nature than from their ends in view. 

 Whence princes also, though for a quite different reason, are 

 best judged by their tempers as private persons are by their 

 ends; for princes, who are at the top of human desires, have 

 seldom any ends to aspire after with ardour and perseve- 

 rance, by the situation and distance whereof a direction and 

 measure might be taken of their other actions. And this 

 among others is a principal reason why their hearts, as the 

 Scripture declares, are unsearchable.'^ But every private 

 man is like a traveller, who proceeds intently to the end of 

 his jom-ney, Avhere he sets up: hence one may tolerably 

 conjecture what a private man will or will not do; for it a 

 thing be conducive to his ends, it is probable he will do it ; 

 and vice versa. And this information, from the diversity of 

 the ends and natures of men, may be taken comparatively as 

 well as simply, so as to discover what humour or disposition 

 overrules the rest. Thus Tigellinus, when he found himself 

 outdone by Turpilianus, in administering and suggesting to 

 Nero's pleasures, searched, as Tacitus says, into the fears of 

 Nero, and by this means got rid of his rival. '^ 



As for that second-hand knowledge of men's minds which 

 is had from the relation of others, it will be sufficient to 

 observe of it, that defects and vices are best learned from 

 enemies, virtues and abilities from friends, manners and 

 times from servants, and opinions and thoughts from inti- 

 mate acquaintance; for popular fame is light, and the judg- 

 ment of superiors uncertain, before whom men walk more 

 masked and secret. The truest character comes from do- 

 mestics, — " Verier fama e domesticis emanat."*^ 



» "There is always less money, less wisdom, and less honesty, than 

 people imagine." * Prov. xxv. 3. 



'• This expression occurs Tacit. Annal. xiv. 57. It is spoken, how- 

 ever, of the intrigues of Tigellinus against Plautus and Sulla, by which 

 he induced Nero to have both of them murdered. Petronius Turpilianus 

 was put to death by Galba, because he had enjoyed Nero's confidence. 

 Annal. xvi. 18, 19. « Cicero, Petit. Consul. 



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