256 Of the Advancement of Learning, L i b. VIIL 



Prov.xx 



Ecdef.l. 



THE PARABLE. 



""■ XV. A Fool Utters alibis mind; but a ivife manre- 

 ferves fomemhat for hereafter. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



THe Parable (it feems) efpecially correfts 5 not the futility of vain 

 Perfons, which eafilygutter, as well what may be fpoken, as 

 what fliould be fecreted : not the bold roving language of fach as with- 

 out all difcretion and judgement fly upon all men and matters ; liot 

 Garrulity^ whereby they fill others even to a furfeit : hut another vice^ 

 more dole and retired 5 namely the Government ojjpeech, of all ad- 

 ventures the lead prudent and politick, which is, tphen a manfo ma- 

 nages hisfpeech in private conference, as whatfoever is in his mind^ 

 ■which he conceives uny tp ay pertinent to the purpoje and matter in hand^ 

 out it muji at once, as it vpere^in one breath^and in afet continued dijcourfe: 

 this is that which doth much prejudice Bufinels. Forfirji, a difconti- 

 nuedfpeechy broken ofFby interlocutions, and inftill'd by parts, pe- 

 netrates deeper, than ajetled continued jpeech ; becaule that in a con- 

 tinued Difcourfe, the weight of Matters is not precifely and diftin^- 

 ly taken, nor by fome convenient refts fuffer'd to fix , but Reafoii 

 drives out Reafon before it be fully fetled in the Comprehenflon of 

 the Hearers. Secondly xhtxeh no man of fo powerful and happy a 

 Delivery of himfelf, as at the firft onfet and encounter of his fpeech, 

 he is able fo to ftrike him dumb and fpeechlefs, with whom he 6.\£- 

 courfeth ; but that the other will make fome interchangeable reply, 

 and peradventure objeft (bmething, and then it may fall out, that 

 what fhould have been referv'd for refutation and replication, by this 

 unadvifed anticipation being difclofed and tafted before-hand, loof- 

 eth its ftrength and grace. Thirdly if a man dilcharge not all at once 

 what might be laid, but deliver himfelf by Parcels, now pne thing, 

 anon cafting in another, he ftiall gather from the looks and anfwers 

 of him with whom he difcourfes, how every particular PaflageafFeds 

 him, and in what fort they find acceptation; Co as what is yet re- 

 maining to be fpoken, he may with greater Caution either felcft, or 

 filence. 



THE PARABLE. 



X VI. If the diffleafure of a Great Man rife up againfl 

 thee, forfah^ not thy Place ; for pliant demeanure 

 pacifies great Ojfences. 



THE 



