OF FOLLOWERS AND FRIENDS 121 



for they are officious, and commonly exchange tales. The 

 following by certain estates of men, answerable to that 

 which a great person himself professeth, (as of soldiers to 

 him that hath been employed in the wars, and the like,) 

 hath ever been a thing civil, and well taken even in mon- 

 archies ; so it be without too much pomp or popularity. 

 But the most honourable kind of following is to be followed 

 as one that apprehendeth to advance virtue and desert in 

 all sorts of persons. And yet, where there is no eminent 

 odds in sufficiency, it is better to take with the more pass- 

 able, than with the more able. v And besides, to speak 

 truth, in base times active men are of more use than 

 virtuous!) It is true that in government it is good to use 

 men of one rank equally : for to countenance some extra- 

 ordinarily, is to make them insolent, and the rest discontent ; 

 because they may claim a due. But contrariwise, in favour, 

 to use men with much difference and election is good ; for 

 it rnaketh the persons preferred more thankful, and the rest 

 more officious : because all is of favour. 



It is good discretion not to make too much of any man 

 at the first ; because one cannot hold out that proportion. 

 To be governed (as we call it) by one, is not safe ; for it 

 shews softness, and gives a freedom to scandal and dis- 

 reputation ; for those that would not censure or speak ill 

 of a man immediately, will talk more boldly of those that 

 are so great with them, and thereby wound their honour. 

 Yet to be distracted with many is worse ; for it makes men 

 to be of the last impression, and full of change. To take 

 advice of some few friends is ever honourable ; for lookers- 

 on many times see more than gamesters ; and the vale best 

 disco vereth the hill. There is little friendship in the world, 

 and least of all between equals, which was wont to be 

 magnified. That that is, is between superior and inferior, 

 whose fortunes may comprehend the one the other. 



