82 BACON'S ESSAYS 



same wood of suspicions, is frankly to communicate 'them 

 with the party that he suspects ; for thereby he shall be 

 sure to know more of the truth of them than he did 

 before ; and withal shall make that party more circumspect 

 not to give further cause for suspicion. But this would 

 not be done to men of base natures ; for they, if they find 

 themselves once suspected, will never be true. The 

 Italian says, Sospetto licentia fede ; as if suspicion did give 

 a passport to faith ; but it ought rather to kindle it to 

 discharge itself. 



XXXII 



OF DISCOURSE 



SOME in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, 

 in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment, in 

 discerning what is true ; as if it were a praise to know 

 what might be said, and not what should be thought. 

 Some have certain common places and themes wherein 

 they are good, and want variety ; which kind of poverty is 

 for the most part tedious, and when it is once perceived, 

 ridiculous. The honourablest part of talk is to give the 

 occasion ; and again to moderate and pass to somewhat 

 else ; for then a man leads the dance. It is good, in dis- 

 course and speech of conversation, to vary and intermingle 

 speech of the present occasion with arguments, tales with 

 reasons, asking of questions with telling of opinions, and 

 jest with earnest : for it is a dull thing to tire, and, as we 

 say now, to jade, any thing too far. As for jest, there be 

 certain things which ought to be privileged from it ; 

 namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, any 

 man's present business of importance, and any case that 

 deserveth pity. Yet there be some that think their 

 wits have been asleep, except they dart out somewhat that 

 is piquant, and to the quick. This is a vein which should 

 be bridled ; 



Parce, puer, stimuli*, et for tins utere loris. 



