OF CUNNING 55 



whom you deal with some other discourse ; that he be not 

 too much awake to make objections. I knew a counsellor 

 and secretary, that never came to Queen Elizabeth of 

 England with bills to sign, but he would always first put 

 her into some discourse of estate, that she mought the less 

 mind the bills. 



The like surprise may be made by moving things when 

 the party is in haste, and cannot stay to consider advisedly 

 of that is moved. 



If a man would cross a business that he doubts some 

 other would handsomely and effectually move, let him pre- 

 tend to wish it well, and move it himself in such sort as 

 may foil it. 



The breaking off in the midst of that one was about to 

 say, as if he took himself up, breeds a greater appetite in 

 him with whom you confer to know more. 



And because it works better when any thing seemeth to 

 be gotten from you by question, than if you offer it of 

 yourself, you may lay a bait for a question, by showing 

 another visage and countenance than you are wont ; to the 

 end to give occasion for the party to ask what the matter 

 is of the change ? As Nehemias did ; * And I had not 

 before that time been sad before the king/ 



In things that are tender and unpleasing, it is good to 

 break the ice by some whose words are of less weight, and 

 to reserve the more weighty voice to come in as by chance, 

 so that he may be asked the question upon the other's 

 speech ; as Narcissus did, in relating to Claudius the 

 marriage of Messalina and Silius. 



In things that a man would not be seen in himself, it is 

 a point of cunning to borrow the name of the world ; as to 

 say, ' The world says/ or ' There is a speech abroad/ 



I knew one that, when he wrote a letter, he would put 

 that which was most material in the postscript, as if it had 

 been a by-matter. 



I knew another that, when he came to have speech, he 

 would pass over that that he intended most ; and go forth, 

 and come back again, and speak of it as of a thing that he 

 had almost forgot. 



