30 BACON'S ESSAYS 



great ; for otherwise in feeding the streams thou driest the 

 fountain. 



Neither is there only a habit of goodness, directed 

 by right reason ; but there is in some men, even in 

 nature, a disposition towards it ; as on the other side 

 there is a natural malignity. For there be that in their 

 nature do not affect the good of others. The lighter sort 

 of malignity turneth but to a crossness, or forwardness, or 

 aptness to oppose, or difficilness, or the like ; but the 

 deeper sort to envy and mere mischief. Such men in other 

 men's calamities are, as it were, in season, and are ever on 

 the loading part : not so good as the dogs that licked 

 Lazarus' sores; but like flies that are still buzzing upon 

 any thing that is raw ; misanthropi, that make it their 

 practice to bring men to the bough, and yet have never a 

 tree for the purpose in their gardens, as Timon had. Such 

 dispositions are the very errours of human nature ; and yet 

 they are the fittest timber to make great politiques of; like 

 to knee timber, that is good for ships, that are ordained to 

 be tossed ; but not for building houses, that shall stand 

 firm. 



The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a man be 

 gracious and courteous to strangers, it shews he is a citizen 

 of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from 

 other lands, but a continent that joins to them. If he be 

 compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shews 

 that his heart is like the noble tree that is wounded itself 

 when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons and remits 

 offences, it shews that his mind is planted above injuries ; 

 so that he cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small 

 benefits, it shews that he weighs men's minds, and not 

 their trash. But above all, if he have St. Paul's perfection, 

 that he would wish to be an anathema from Christ for the 

 salvation of his brethren, it shews much of a divine nature, 

 and a kind of conformity with Christ himself. 



