62 BACON'S ESSAYS 



between man and man. For as the Apostle saith of 

 godliness, ' Having a shew of godliness, but denying the 

 power thereof ; so certainly there are in point of wisdom 

 and sufficiency, that do nothing or little very solemnly : 

 magno conatu nugas. It is a ridiculous thing and fit for a 

 satire to persons of judgment, to see what shifts these 

 formalists have, and what prospectives to make superficies 

 to seem body that hath depth and bulk. Some are 

 so close and reserved, as they will not shew their wares 

 but by a dark light ; and seem always to keep back 

 somewhat ; and when they know within themselves they 

 speak of that they do not well know, would nevertheless 

 seem to others to know of that which they may not well 

 speak. Some help themselves with countenance and 

 gesture, and are wise by signs ; as Cicero saith of Piso, 

 that when he answered him, he fetched one of his brows 

 up to his forehead, and bent the other down to his chin ; 

 Responses, altero ad frontem sublato, altero ad mentum 

 depresso super cilio, crudelitatem tibi non placer e. Some think 

 to bear it by speaking a great word, and being peremp- 

 tory ; and go on, and take by admittance that which they 

 cannot make good. Some, whatsoever is beyond their 

 reach, will seem to despise or make light of it as imper- 

 tinent or curious ; and so would have their ignorance seem 

 judgment. Some are never without a difference, and 

 commonly by amusing men with a subtilty, blanch the 

 matter ; of whom A. Gellius saith, Ho mine m delirum, qui 

 verborum minutiis rerum frangit pondera. Of which kind 

 also, Plato in his Protagoras bringeth in Prodicus in scorn, 

 and maketh him make a speech that consisteth of distinc- 

 tions from the beginning to the end. Generally, such men 

 in all deliberations find ease to be of the negative side, and 

 affect a credit to object and foretell difficulties ; for when 

 propositions are denied, there is an end of them ; but if 

 they be allowed, it requireth a new work ; which false 

 point of wisdom is the bane of business. To conclude, 

 there is no decaying merchant, or inward beggar, hath 

 so many tricks to uphold the credit of their wealth, as 

 these empty persons have to maintain the credit of their 



