274 Of ^^^ Advancet7ient of Learning, Lib. VIIL 



divers Glajfes , for the Divine Claf in which we muft look our 

 felves, is the Word of God ; but the Politicly Gla^ is nothing el(e 

 but the State of the World and times wherein we live. Wherefore 

 a man ought to take an exaft examinationjand an impartial view (not 

 fuch'as ufeth to be taken by one too much in love with himfelf) of his 

 own abilities, vertues and fupports •-, as likewife of his own defedts. 

 Inabilities, and Impediments ^ fo making his accounts, that he ever 

 eftimate *Ae/e with the moft, thofe rather with the leaft, and from 

 this view and examination, thefe points following come into confi- 

 deration. 



(j The firjl Confideration Jlwuld be , hove a mans individual confii- 

 tution and moral temper forts vPtth the general fiate of the times , which 

 if they be found agreeable^ then he may give himfelfmorefcope and liberty^ 

 and ufe his own nature •-, but if there be any antipathy and dijfonancy^ 

 then^ in the whole courfe of his life^ he pould carry himfelfmore clofe re- 

 tired^ and referved. So did Tiberius.^ who being confcient of his own 

 temper, not well forting with his times, was never feen at publick 

 Plays: and came not into the Senate in twelve of his laft years; where* 

 as on the contrary AuguHus lived ever in mens eyes, which alfo Taci- 

 ^naal.r. tus oblerved ; Alia Tiberio Morum via j the (ame reafon too was to 

 (ecure his perfon from danger. 



§ The fecond Confideration Jl^ould be how a mans nature forts with 

 the profejjions and courfes of life ^ which are in ufe andefieem, and where: 

 of he is to make his choice 5 that fo if he have not yet determined what 

 race to run^ or what courfe of life to take , he may chufe that which is 

 moflfit and agreeable to his natural difpofition :, but if it he be engaged 

 already in a condition of life^ te which by nature he is not fo fitted^ let 

 him make a departure at thefirfi opportunity^ and take another ProfeJJi- 

 on. This we fee was done by Valentine Borgia^ that was defign'd by 

 his father to a Sacerdotal profeffion, which, obeying the bent of hi* 

 own nature, he quitted fbon after, and appHed himfelf to a Milita- 

 ry courfe of life 5 though as equally unworthy the dignity of a 

 Prince as of a Prieft , feeing the peftilent Man hath dithonoured 

 both. 



(j The third Conjideration JJjould be how a man may be valued^ and 

 may deport himfelf as he is compard with his Equals and Rivals^ whom 

 it is likely he may have Competitors and Concurrents in his Fortune^ and 

 that he take that courfe of life wherein there is the great cji folitudeof 

 able men ^ and himfelf like to be mofl eminent. Thus Jidius Cafar did, 

 who at firft was an Orator or Pleader, and was chief converfant in 

 Gown-Arts of Peace 3 but ^vhen he favv Cicero, Hortenfius and CatU' 

 Itts to excel in the glory of Eloquence, and no man eminent for the 

 Wars but Tompeius, he forfbok his courfe, aad bidding a long fare- 

 well to a civil and popular Greatnefs, transfer'd his defigns to the 

 Wars, and to the Martial Greatnefs j by which mean he afcended to 

 the top of Sovereignty. 



The fourth Confidcration may be , that in the choice of friends and 

 inward dcpendances, a man confult his own nature and difpofition^ and 

 proceed according to the compofition of his own temper j for different 

 £onjiitutions require different ki"ds of friends to comply withall-^tofome 



mettf 



