OF NATURE IN MEN 97 



to discontinue altogether. But if a man have the forti- 

 tude and resolution to enfranchise himself at once, that 

 is the best : 



Optimus ilk animi vindex laedentia pectus 

 Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque semel. 



Neither is the ancient rule amiss, to bend nature as a wand 

 to a contrary extreme, whereby to set it right ; under- 

 standing it, where the contrary extreme is no vice. 



Let not a man force a habit upon himself with a per- 

 petual continuance, but with some intermission. For both 

 the pause reinforceth the new onset ; and if a man that is 

 not perfect be ever in practice, he shall as well practise his 

 errors as his abilities, and induce one habit of both ; and 

 there is no means to help this but by seasonable intermis- 

 sions. But let not a man trust his victory over his nature 

 too far ; for nature will lay buried a great time, and yet 

 revive upon the occasion or temptation. Like as it was 

 with Aesop's damsel, turned from a cat to a woman, who 

 sat very demurely at the board's end, till a mouse ran 

 before her. Therefore let a man either avoid the occasion 

 altogether; or put himself often to it, that he may be 

 little moved with it. A man's nature is best perceived in 

 privateness, for there is no affectation ; in passion, for that 

 putteth a man out of his precepts ; and in a new case or 

 experiment, for there custom leaveth him. They are 

 happy men whose natures sort with their vocations ; other- 

 wise they may say, multum incola fuit anima mea, when 

 they converse in those things they do not affect. In 

 studies, whatsoever a man commandeth upon himself, let 

 him set hours for it ; but whatsoever is agreeable to his 

 nature, let him take no care for any set times; for his 

 thoughts will fly to it of themselves ; so as the spaces of 

 other business or studies will suffice. A man's nature runs 

 either to herbs or weeds ; therefore let him seasonably 

 water the one, and destroy the other. 



