272 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lib. VI 1L 



§ But the fureft key, to unlock x.\\QmmdisoiMQr\.confi^sinfitirch- 

 ing and cUfclofwg either their Natures a»d difpofitiotts , or their ends 

 and intention t. And certainly the weakeft and 'fimpleft fort of men 

 are beft interpreted by their Natures -j but the wifeft and more re* 

 ferved are beft expounded by their Ends. For it was wifely and 

 pleafantly faid (though in ray judgement very untruly^ by zNtin' 

 tio of the Popes, returning from a certain Nation, where he ferved 

 as Leidger, whofc opinion bang askt, touching the appointment of 

 one to go in his place, gave counfel, ^/j(«/ 7« ^»/ f («/e his Hoi. would 

 votfend one too wife, becaufe^faid he, no wife man would ever imagine^ 

 what they in that country were like to do. Certainly it is a frequent 

 error, and very familiar with wife men, to mcafiire other men, by 

 the Module of their own abilities j and therefore often ftioot over 

 the mark, fuppofing men to projeft and defign to themselves deeper 

 ends, and to praftife more fubtil Arts, and compaft reaches, than 

 indeed ever came into their heads , which the Italian Proverb ele- 

 gantly noteth, fayingj 



Dl Dendri, dt Senno, e dl Fede 

 C'n'e Minco che non Crede. 



There is commonly le^ Many ^ lefs IVifdom, and le^ good Faith than 

 men do accompt. Wherefore if we be to deal with men ofa mean and 

 fhallow capacity, becaufe they do many things abfurdly, the coa- 

 jefture muft be taken rather from the proclivity of their Natures, than 

 the defigns of their ew^//. Furthermore, Princes (but upon a far o- 

 ther reafon^ are beft interpreted by their Natures 5 and private per- 

 fons by their ends. For Princes being at the top of humane Defires, 

 they have, for the mbft part, no particular ends propounded to them- 



Pfov.i). felves, whereto they alpire, Specially with vehemency and perfe- 

 verance ; by the fite and di^ance of which endf^a man might take mea- 

 fure and fcale of the reft of their A&ions, and Dejires j which is one 

 o^xhe ch\c{ cau(esthat their Hearts (as the Scripture pronounceth)^rc 

 infcrutable. But private perfons are like Travellers which intentiVfe- 

 ly go on aiming at fomee»<^in their journey, where they mayftay 

 and reft; fb that a man may make a probable conjefture and pre- 

 lage upon them, what they would , or would not Do : for if any 

 thing conduce unto their ends, it is probable they will put the fame 

 in execution , but if it crofs their defigns, they will not. Neither is 

 the information touching the diverfity of mens ends and natures, to 

 be taken only (imply, but comparatively alfo ; as namely what affeSi- 

 on and humor have the predominancy and command of the reft .«" So we 

 fee, when TigeUinus faw himfelf outftript by Petronius Turpilianus in 

 adminiftring and fuggefting pleafures to Neroes humor, — Metuse- 



xnnal.xiv. jn^ rimatur — (aith TaCitus, he wrought upon Neroes Fears , and by 

 this means brake the neck of his Concurrent. 



§ As for the knowing of mens minds atfecond hand from Reports of 



others, it lliall fuffice to touch it briefly. Weaken effes and faults yon 



1 jlyall befl learn from enemies •■, vertues and abilities, from friends '^ cu- 



Jloms and times, from fervants 5 cogitations and opinions, from inti- 



matt 



