Lib. VIII. Of the Advancement of Learning, 27^ 



FabiHs Muxtmns^ How he would have been tcmpoHzingJijll acco^rdiNg to 

 his old biaji', when the nature of the war was altered and required hot pur- oifeors fupr§ 

 fitit. In (brae others the (ame weakneft proceeds from want of penetra- ^'''' 

 tionin their judgement, when men do not in timedifcern the Periods 

 of things and AdtionSjbut come in too late after the occafion is efca- 

 ped. Such an overfight as this, Den/ojlhenes reprehends in the People orat.in Ph-. 

 of AthenSjlaying, theji were like countrey -fellow splaying in a. Fcnce-Jch'ool^ ''P- '' 

 that if they have a blow^then they remove ther weapons to that ward and 

 not before. Again in others this comes to pafs, becaufe they are loth 

 to loie the labour, in that wayjthey have enter'd into, nor do they 

 know how to make a retrait 5 but rather entertain a conceit,that by 

 perfcverance they ftiall bring about occafions to tlieir own ply. But 

 from what root or caufe Ibever this vifcofity and reftivenefs of mind 

 proceeds, it is a thing moft prejudicial both to a mans affairs and for- 

 tunes 5 a^d nothing is more politick,, than to make the wheel of our mind *• 

 conceKtri<:k.and vjlnble with the wheelj of Fortune, Thus much of the 

 two fummary precepts touching the Archite&ure of Fortune. Precepts 

 yi:d«ery are raanyjbut we will onlyleleft a few to ferveas examples 

 to the reft. 



§ Thefrji Precept is^that this ArchiteB of his own fortune rightly ufe 

 his Rule, that is, that he inure his mind to judge of the Proportion and 

 ■oalure of things, as they condu'ce more or lefs to hi s^wn fortune and ends 5 

 and that he intendtbe fam^e fithjiantiaUy^and not fuperficially. For it is 

 ftrange, but moft true,that there are many, whofe Logicalpart of Mind 

 Qil may fo term it) is good, hntxhc Mathematical part nox.\\\n^ 

 worth 5 that*s,who can well and Ibundly judge of the confequences, 

 but very unskilfully of the prizes of things. Hence it comes to pals, 

 that (bme fall in love and into admiration with the private and (ecret 

 accels to Princes 5 others with popular fame and applaufe, ftppofing 

 they are things of great purcha<e,when iti many cafes they are but mat- 

 ters of envy, perilj and impediment ; o^^er/ meafure things, accor- 

 ding to the labour and difficulty fpent about them, thinking that if 

 they be ever moving, they muft needs advance and proceed ^ as 

 Cafar faid in a defpifing manner of Cato Vticenfis, . when he defcribes 

 how laborious, affiduous and indefatigable he was to no great pur- 

 pofe. Omnia (fkixh he) magna jiudio agebat. Hetice likewife it comes 

 to pals, that men often abufe themfelves, who if they ufe the favour 

 and furtherance of fome great and honourable Perfon, they promife 

 themfelves all profperous fuccefs 5 whereas the truth is, that not the 

 greatefl:, but the apteft inftruments, fooneft, and more happily ac- 

 complilh a work. And for the true diredion of the Mathematical 

 fjuareofthe.Mindj it is worth the pains efpecially to know, and have 

 it fet down, what ou^ht frji to be refblved upon for the building and 

 advancing of a mans fortune j what next, and fo forward. 



§ Tri ihejirji place Ifet down, the Amendment of the mind •■) for by 

 taking away and fraoothing the impediments, and rubs of the Mind, 

 you Ihall fooner open a way to fortune, than by the affiftance of 

 Fortune, take away the impediments of the Mind- In the fecond 

 place I fet down wealth and Mcans^ which perchance moft men would 

 have placed firft, beciiufe of the general ufe it bears towards all va- 

 riety 



