68 BACON'S ESSAYS 



extreme absurdities many (especially of the greater sort) do 

 commit, for want of a friend to tell them of them ; to the 

 great damage both of their fame and fortune : for, as St. 

 James saith, they are as men ' that look sometimes into a 

 glass, and presently forget their own shape and favour.' 

 As for business, a man may think, if he will, that two eyes 

 see no more than one ; or that a gamester seeth always 

 more than a looker-on ; or that a man in anger is as wise 

 as he that hath said over the four and twenty letters ; or 

 that a musket may be shot off as well upon the arm as 

 upon a rest ; and such other fond and high imaginations, 

 to think himself all in all. But when all is done, the help 

 of gaod^CQujisel is that which setteth business straight. 

 And if any man think that he will take counsel, but it 

 shall be by pieces ; asking counsel in one business of one 

 man, and in another business of another man ; it is well, 

 (that is to say, better perhaps than if he asked none at all ;) 

 but he runneth two dangers ; one, that he shall not be 

 faithfully counselled ; for it is a rare thing, except it be 

 from a perfect and entire friend, to have counsel given, but 

 such as shall be bowed and crooked to some ends which 

 he hath that giveth it. The other, that he shall have 

 counsel given, hurtful and unsafe, (though with good 

 meaning,) and mixed partly of mischief and partly of 

 remedy; even as if you would call a physician that is 

 thought good for the cure of the disease you complain of, 

 but is unacquainted with your body; and therefore may 

 put you in way for a present cure, but overthroweth your 

 health in some other kind ; and so cure the disease and 

 kill the patient. But a friend that is wholly acquainted 

 with a man's estate will beware, by furthering any present 

 business, how he dasheth upon other inconvenience. And 

 therefore rest not upon scattered counsels ; they will rather 

 distract and mislead, than settle and direct. 



After these two noble fruits of friendship, (peace in the 

 affections, and support of the judgment), folio weth the 

 last fruit ; which is like the pomegranate, full of many 

 kernels ; I mean aid and bearing a part in all actions and 

 occasions. Here the best way to represent to life the 



