Wee into a Dusmess nuasked ; foi such services are thought 

 Sufficiently rewarded by accepting them. 2. When a man 

 at the beginning of a business over-exerts himself, and per- 

 forms that all at once, which should have been done gra- 

 dually j though this, indeed, gains early commendation where 

 affairs succeed ; but in the end it produces satiety. 3. When 

 a man is too quick and light in receiving the fruit of his 

 virtue — in praise, applause, and favour, — and pleases himself 

 therewith ; against which there is this prudent admonition, 

 " Beware lest thou seem unaccustomed to great things, if 

 such small ones delight thee." 



A diligent concealment of defects is no less important 

 than a prudent and artful manifestation of virtues. Defects 

 are principally concealed and covered under three cloaks ; 

 viz. 1. Caution, 2. Pretext, and 3. Assurance. 1. We call 

 that caution, when a man prudently keeps from meddling in 

 matters to which he is unequal ; whilst, on the other hand, 

 daring and restless spirits are injudiciously busying them- 

 selves in things they are not acquainted with, and thereby 

 publish and proclaim their own defects. 2. We call that 

 pretext, when a man with sagacity and prudence paves and 

 prepares himself a way for securing a favourable and com- 

 modious interpretation of his vices and defects; as proceeding 

 from different principles, or having a different tendency than 

 is generally thought. For as to the concealment of vices, 

 the poet said well, that vice often skulks in the verge of 

 virtue. 



" Ssepe latet vitium proximate boni."J 

 Therefore, when v.^e find any defect in ourselves, we must 

 endeavour to borrow the figure and pretext of the neighbour- 

 ing virtue for a shelter; thus the pretext of dulness is gravity ; 

 that of indolence, considerateness, &c. And it is of service 

 to give out some probable reason for not exerting our utmost 

 strength, and so make a necessity appear a virtue. 3. Assur- 

 ance, indeed, is a daring, but a very certain and effectual 

 remedy, whereby a man professes himself absolutely to slight 

 and despise those things he could not obtain, like crafty 

 merchants, who usually raise the price of their own com 

 modities and sink the price of other men's. Though thero 

 is another kind of assurance, more impudent than this, by 

 i Ovid, Ars Amand. i. 661. 



