OF VAIN-GLORY 131 



attribute to Mucianus ; Omnium, quae dixerat feceratque, 

 arte quddam ostentator : for that proceeds not of vanity, 

 but of natural magnanimity and discretion ; and in some 

 persons is not only comely, but gracious. For excusations, 

 cessions, modesty itself well governed, are but arts of 

 ostentation. And amongst those arts there is none better 

 than that which Plinius Secundus speaketh of, which is to 

 be liberal of praise and commendation to others, in that 

 wherein a man's self hath any perfection. For saith Pliny 

 very wittily, 'In commending another you do yourself 

 right ; for he that you commend is either superior to you 

 in that you commend, or inferior. If he be inferior, if he 

 be to be commended, you much more ; if he be superior, 

 if he be not to be commended, you much less/ Glorious 

 men are the scorn of wise men, the admiration of fools, 

 the idols of parasites, and the slaves of their own vaunts. 



LV 

 OF HONOUR AND REPUTATION 



THE winning of Honour is but the revealing of a man's 

 virtue and worth without disadvantage. For some in their 

 actions do woo and affect honour and reputation ; which 

 sort of men are commonly much talked of, but inwardly 

 little admired. And some, contrariwise, darken their 

 virtue in the show of it ; so as they be undervalued in 

 opinion. If a man perform that which hath not been 

 attempted before ; or attempted and given over ; or hath 

 been achieved, but not with so good circumstance ; he 

 shall purchase more honour, than by effecting a matter of 

 greater difficulty or virtue, wherein he is but a follower. 

 If a man so temper his actions, as in some one of them he 

 doth content every faction or combination of people, the 

 music will be the fuller. A man is an ill husband of his 

 honour, that entereth into any action, the failing wherein 

 may disgrace him more than the carrying of it through can 

 honour him. Honour that is gained and broken upon 



