Lib. VIII. Of the Advancement of Learning, 281 



date and take in: Either of which abilities is maimed, andimperfedt 

 without the other. 



A fourth Precept is, fiot to embrace any matters rphieh do occupy too 

 great a quantity of time j bm to have that verje everfouncling in our ears, 



Sed fugit interesj fugit irreparabile tempos. 



And the caufe rvhy thofe who addiif themfehes toprofejjions of burden and 

 the like, as Lavpyers, Orators^ painful Divines, veriters ofBookj^ and 

 the like, are not commonly fo politickjn contriving and promoting their 

 own fortunes, is no other than this 5 that they want time,tphich is other- 

 wife imployed^ to inform themfelves of Particulars ^ and to wait upon 

 occafions , and to devife and projeH designs which may conduce to 

 the making of their fortune. Nay farther, in the Courts of Princes 

 and in States, you (hall have thofe that are exceeding powerful 

 and expert how to advance their own Fortune, and to invade the 

 Fortune of others, which undergo no pubhck charge, but are conti- 

 nually praftifed in that whereof we fpeak , The Advancement of 

 Life. 



A Fifth Precept is, to imitate nature which doth notbing in vain. 

 Which certainly we may do, if wedifcreetly mingle and interlace 

 our bufineffes of all forts. For the mind (hould in every particular a- 

 ftion be fo difpofed and prepared 3 and our intentions fo fubdued^and 

 Subordinated one under another 5 as if we cannot have that we feek 

 in the beft degree, yet we may have it in a fecond, or at leaft in a 

 third: but if we can get no footing nor any confiftency at all in any 

 part of a thing we defire j then we may turn the pains we have taken 

 upon fome other end, than that whereto it was defigned : but if we 

 cannot make any thing of it for the prefent, at leaft we may extraft 

 fomething out of it that may ftand us in ftead for the time to come 5 

 but if we can derive no folid effeft orfubftance from it, neither for 

 the prefent nor for the future ; let us yet endeavour to win fame good 

 opinion and reputation by it j and the like: ever exafting accounts 

 of our felves, whereby it may appear that we have reapt fomewhat: 

 more or left from every particular Adion and Counfel \ never fufFe- 

 ringour (elves to be caft down and di(pirited, like men amaz'd and 

 confufed, if perchance we fail in the principal fcope of our intenti- 

 ons. For nothing is more prejudicious to a Politick, than to be 

 wholly and folely taken up with one thing j for he that doth fo,lof» 

 cth infinite occa(ions which do intervene upon the by 3 and which 

 perhaps are more proper and propitious for fomewhat may be ofufe 

 hereafter 3 thanfor thole things we urge for the prefent : and there- 

 fore we muft be perfedt in that Rule, H£c oportet facer e & iUa. nan a- - .a - • . - 

 ft/ittere, v-nrd 



A fixth Precept is, that we engage not our felves too tercmpilorily in any 

 thing though itjeem not 'itfrjifght, liable to accident 3 but that we ever 

 have either an open window tojiy out at, or afecret pojiern'way to retirg 



hy, ..muir :'.>=v. 



Afeventh Precept is, that ancient Puile of Bias ; fo it be conftiued 

 not to any point of Perfidioufnefs i but to caution and moderation. 



