14 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i n. I. 



and FreeCounlel, after his Mafter grew extremely corrupt to his great 

 peril and at lad: to his ruine. Neither can it be otherwiie conceived 5 

 for Learning endues mens minds with a true fenfe of the frailty of their 

 Perfons^ the Cafualty of fortune , the Dignity of the foul j and their 

 vocation : which when they think of, they can by no means perfwade 

 themfelves that any advancement of their oivn fortunes, can be fet down 

 as a true and worthy end of their being and ordainment. Wherefore 

 they lb live, as ever ready to give their account to God, and to their 

 Malters under God, whether they be Kings or States they ferve, in this 



Mat.i?. ftile of words, Ecce tibi Lncrifeci, and not in that Ecce mihi Lucrifeci. 

 But the corrupter fort of Politiques , that have not their minds infti- 

 tuted and eftablini'd in the true apprehenfion of Duties, and the con- 

 templation of good in the univerfality, re/er all things to themfelves.zs if 

 tht y were the voorlds Center^ and that the concurrence of all lines JJ^ould 

 touch in them and their fortunes j never caring in all tempefts, what 

 becomes of the Ship, fo they may retire and (ave themfelves in the 

 Cock-boat of their own fortune. On tH^ contrary, they that feel the 

 waieht of Duty, and underftand the limits of felf love ^ ufe to make 

 good their places, and duties, though with peril : and if they chance 

 toftand fafe in feditionsand alterations of times and Government, it is 

 rather to be attributed to the reverence which honefty even wrefteth 

 from adverfaries, than any verfatile or temporizing advantage in their 

 ctvn carriage. But for this point of tender (enfe, and faft obligation of 

 duty, which without doubt Learning doth implant in the mind, how- 

 ever it may be taxed and amerced by Fortune 5 and be defpifed by 

 Politiques in the depth of their corrupt principles, as a weak and im- 

 provident virtue, yet it will receive an open allowancejfb as in this mat- 

 ter there needs the lefs difproofor excufation. 



§ Another fault there is incident to Learned men, which may fboner 

 be excufed than denied, namely this ; That they do not cafilj apply andac- 

 commodate themfelves to perfons with rvhom they ncgociate and live : 

 which want of exad application arifeth from two caufes; Thefirji isy 

 the largencfs andgreatnefs of their minds^irhich can hardly Jioop and be con- 

 fined within the obfervation of the nature and cujlom of one perfon. It is the 



Sensca. fpeech of a Lover, not of a wife man. Satis magnum alter alteri theatrutit 

 fumus. Nevertheless I (hall yield that he that cannot contraft the light 

 of his mind, as he doth the eye of his body, as well as dilperfe and di- 

 late it, wants a great faculty for an aftive courfe of life. Ihefecond 

 caufe is the honcfiy and integrity of their nature, which argueth no inha- 

 bility in them, but a choice upon judgement ; for the true and juft li- 

 mits of obfervance towards any pcrfbn extend no farther, than fo to 

 underftand his inclination and difpofition,as to converfe with him with- 

 out offence 5 or to be able, if occafion be offered, to give him faithful 

 counfel, and yet to (land upon reafonable guard and caution, in refpeft 

 of our felves : but to be fpeculative into others, and to feel out a mans 

 difpofition, to the end to know how to work him,windc him and go- 

 vern liimatpleafure i is not the part of an ingenious nature, but rather 

 of a heart double and cloven •■, which, as in friendfhip, it is want of in- 

 tegrity, fb towards Princes and Supcriours it is want of Duty. For the 

 Cuftom of the Lcvmt, whereby it was accounted a hainous offence, to 

 gazeand fix their eyes upon Princes, is indeed, in the outward cere- 

 mony 



