160 OF THE COLOURS OF GOOD AND EVIL 



worst state of man is to accuse extern things ; better than 

 that to accuse a man's self; and best of all to accuse 

 neither/ 



Another reprehension of this colour is in respect of the 

 well bearing of evils wherewith a man can charge nobody 

 but himself, which maketh them the less : 



Lev e fit quod bene fertur onus. 



And therefore many natures that are either extremely 

 proud, and will take no fault to themselves, or else very 

 true and cleaving to themselves, (when they see the blame 

 of anything that falls out ill must light upon themselves,) 

 have no other shift but to bear it out well, and to make 

 the least of it; for as we see when sometimes a fault is 

 committed, and before it be known who is to blame, much 

 ado is made of it, but after, if it appear to be done by a 

 son or by a wife or by a near friend, then it is light made 

 of ; so much more when a man must take it upon himself. 

 And therefore it is commonly seen, that women that marry 

 husbands of their own choosing against their friends' con- 

 sents, if they be never so ill used, yet you shall seldom see 

 them complain, but to set a good face on it. 



IX 



Quod opera et virtute nostra partum est, majus bonum ; quod 

 ab alieno beneficio vel ab indulgentia fortunae delatum est, 

 minus bonum. 



The reasons are, first, the future hope ; because in the 

 favours of others or the good winds of fortune we have 

 no state or certainty ; in our endeavours or abilities we 

 have. So as when they have purchased us one good 

 fortune, we have them as ready and better edged and 

 inured to procure another. 



The forms be: 'you have won this by play'; 'you have 

 not only the water, but you have the receipt, you can 

 make it again if it be lost,' etc. 



Next, because these properties which we enjoy by the 

 benefit of others, carry with them an obligation, which 



