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280 Of the Advancement of Learning. Lib. Vlll. 



riety of occafions j but that opinion I may condemn with like reafon, 

 as Machiavd in another cafe not much unlike 3 for whereas the old 

 laying was, that Moniet were the finews ofvpar^ he on the contrary 

 affirmed, that there were no other fmews ofvears, fave thefinerps of va- 

 lia»t mens arms. In like manner it may be truly affirmed, that it is 

 not Monies that is the finews of fortune^ but the finews rather and a- 

 bilitiesoftheMind, Wit, Courage, Audacity, Refolution, Mode- 

 ration, Induftry, and the like. In the third "pUce^ Ifet down Fame 

 and Reputation^ and the rather becaufe they have certain tides and 

 times which ifyou do not take in their due feafon, are (eldom reco- 

 vered , it being a very hard matter to flay an after-game of Reputation. 

 In the liU place ifet down Honours, to which certainly there is a more 

 eafie accefs made by any of the other three, much more by all uni- 

 ted ; than ifyou begin with Honours and fo proceed to the reft. But 

 as it is of fpecial confequence, toobferve the order and priority of 

 things-, foisit of lefs import, toobferve the order and priority of 

 Time--, the prepofterous placing whereof, is one of the commoneft 

 errors s while men fly unto their ends, when they fhould intend their 

 beginnings; and whilft we fuddenly feize upon the higheft matters , 

 we rafhly pafs over what lies in the raidft ; but it is a good precept, 

 ^od nunc in^at agamus. 



Thcfecond precept is, that upon a greatnefs and Confidence of Mind, 

 we do not engage our forces in too arduous matters, which we cannot fo 

 well conquer ■■) nor that we row againii the Jiream. For as touching 

 mens Fortune, the counfel is excellent, ^ 



Fatif accede Deifque. 



Let us look about us on every fide, and obferve where things are o- 

 pen, where (hut and obftrufted ; where eafie, where difficile, to be 

 compafledjand that we do not overftrain and mifemploy our ftrength 

 where the way is not paflible, for this will preserve us from foil , not 

 occupy us too much about one matter j we fhall win an opinion of 

 Moderation 5 offend few 3 andlaftly, make a fhew of a perpetual 

 felicity in all we undertake •■> whilft thofe things which perad venture 

 would of their own accord have come to pals, flaall be attributed to 

 our providence and induftry. 



The third Precept may feem to have forae repugnancy with that for- 

 mer immediately going before; though if it be well underftood, there 

 is none at all. The Precept is this j that we do not always expe^ occafi^ 

 ons, but fometimes provoke them, and lead the way unto them j which 

 Orat ifl Phil. IS that which Demolihenes intimates in high terms. For as it is a re!*, 

 i. * ceived principle that a Ceneralfiould lead the Army j fo wife and under' 



(landing men fjould conduct and command matters, and fitch thingt 

 fjould be done as t hey f aw fit to be done j and that the)fi}ouldnot be fore' d 

 topurfue and build only upon events. For if we diligently confider it, 

 we (hall obferve /m^ differing kinds of fufficiency in managing affairs 

 and handling bufineG; for Ibmecan make ufe of occafions aptly and 

 dexteroully, but plot and excogitate nothing, fome are all for 

 Plots, which they can well urge and purfuc, but cannot accommo- 

 date 



