326 ADVA2TCEMENT OP LEARMNO. [BOOK VlII. 



as Cicsar did, who was first an oratcr, a pleader, and scarce 

 anything more than a gownman; but when he lound that 

 Cicero, Hortensius, and Catulhis bore away the prize of 

 eloquence, and that none had greatly signalized themselves in 

 war, except Pompey, he quitted the gown, and taking a long 

 farewell of civil power, went over to the arts ot the general 

 and the emperor, whereby he rose to the top pinnacle of 

 sovereignty. 



Let the fourth consideration be, to regard one's own 

 nature and temper in the choice of friends and dependants ; 

 for different men require different kinds of friends, — some 

 those that are grave and secret, others such as are bold and 

 ostentatious, &c. It is worth observing of what kind the 

 friends of Julius Caesar were ; viz., Antony, Hirtius, Balbus, 

 Dolobella, Pollio, &c., who usually swore to die that he might 

 live ;S thereby expressing an infinite affection for Csesar, bux 

 an arrogance and contempt towards everybody else. Anc 

 they were all men diligent in business, but of no great fame 

 and reputation. 



Let a fifth consideration be, to beware of examples, and 

 not fondly square one's self to the imitation of others, as if 

 what was achieved by them must needs be achieved by us, 

 without considering the difference there may be between 

 our own disposition and manners compared with theirs we 

 propose to imitate. Pompey manifestly fell into this error, 

 who, as Cicero Avrites of him, had these words often in his 

 mouth, — " Sylla could do this, why shall not I ?"^ In which 

 particular he greatly imposed upon himself; for Sylla's tem- 

 per and method of acting differed infinitely from his, — the 

 one's being fierce, violent, and pressing to the end, the other's 

 composed, mindful of the laws, and directing all to majesty 

 and reputation ; whence he was greatly curbed and restrained 

 in executing his designs. And these considerations may- 

 serve as a specimen of the rest. 



But it is not enough for a man to know himself; he must 

 111 so consider how he may most commodiously and prudently 

 — 1. show, 2. express, 3. wind and fashion himself. L As 

 for show, we see nothing more frequent in life than for the 

 less capable man to make the greater figure. It is, therefore, 

 no small excellence of prudence, by means of a certain act 



f Ita vivente Csesaro moriar. ^ Epist. Atticus, ix. Ep. 10. 



