332 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



know the plenitude of the power and right of a King, as 

 well as the circle of his office and duty. Thus have I 

 presumed to allege this excellent writing of your Majesty, 

 as a prime or eminent example of tractates concerning 

 special and respective duties ; wherein I should have said 

 as much, if it had been written a thousand years since. 

 Neither am I moved with certain courtly decencies, which 

 esteem it flattery to praise in presence. No, it is flattery 

 to praise in absence ; that is, when either the virtue is 

 absent, or the occasion is absent ; and so the praise is not 

 natural, but forced, either in truth or in time. But let 

 Cicero be read in his oration pro Marcello, which is nothing 

 but an excellent table of Caesar's virtue, and made to his 

 face; besides the example of many other excellent persons, 

 wiser a great deal than such observers ; and we will never 

 doubt, upon a full occasion, to give just praises to present 

 or absent. 



But to return : there belongeth further to the handling 

 of this part touching the duties of professions and voca- 

 tions, a Relative or opposite, touching the frauds, cautels, 

 impostures, and vices of every profession ; which hath 

 been likewise handled : but how ? rather in a satire and 

 cynically, than seriously and wisely : for men have rather 

 sought by wit to deride and traduce much of that which is 

 good in professions, than with judgment to discover and 

 sever that which is corrupt. For, as Solomon saith, He 

 that cometh to seek after knowledge with a mind to scorn 

 and censure, shall be sure to find matter for his humour, 

 but no matter for his instruction : Quaerenti derisori scien- 

 tiam ipsa se abscondit; sed studioso fit obviam. But the 

 managing of this argument with integrity and truth, which 

 I note as deficient, seemeth to me to be one of the best 

 fortifications for honesty and virtue that can be planted. 

 For as the fable goeth of the Basilisk, that if he see you 

 first you die for it, but if you see him first he dieth ; so is 

 it with deceits and evil arts ; which if they be first espied 

 they leese their life, but if they prevent they endanger. 

 So that we are much beholden to Machiavel and others, 

 that write what men do and not what they ought to do. 



