THE SECOND BOOK 349 



for it is much less infinite than science of Government, 

 which we see is laboured and in some part reduced. Of 

 this wisdom it seemeth some of the ancient Romans in the 

 saddest and wisest times were professors ; for Cicero re- 

 porteth that it was then in use for senators that had name 

 and opinion for general wise men, as Coruncanius, Curius, 

 Laelius, and many others, to walk at certain hours in the 

 Place, and to give audience to those that would use their 

 advice ; and that the particular citizens would resort unto 

 them, and consult with them of the marriage of a daugh- 

 ter, or of the employing of a son, or of a purchase or 

 bargain, or of an accusation, and every other occasion 

 incident to man's life ; so as there is a wisdom of counsel 

 and advice even in private causes, arising out of an univer- 

 sal insight into the affairs of the world ; which is used 

 indeed upon particular cases propounded, but is gathered 

 by general observation of causes of like nature. For so 

 we see in the book which Q. Cicero writeth to his brother 

 De petitione consulatus (being the only book of business 

 that I know written by the ancients), although it concerned 

 a particular action then on foot, yet the substance thereof 

 consisteth of many wise and politic axioms, which contain 

 not a temporary but a perpetual direction in the case of 

 popular elections. But chiefly we may see in those 

 aphorisms which have place amongst divine writings, com- 

 posed by Solomon the king, of whom the Scriptures testify 

 that his heart was as the sands of the sea, encompassing 

 the world and all worldly matters ; we see, I say, not a 

 few profound and excellent cautions, precepts, positions, 

 extending to much variety of occasions ; whereupon we 

 will stay awhile, offering to consideration some number 

 of examples. 



Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes aurem 

 tuam, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi. Here 

 is concluded the provident stay of inquiry of that which 

 we would be loth to find : as it was judged great wis- 

 dom in Pompeius Magnus that he burned Sertorius' papers 

 unperused. 



Fir sapiens si cum stulto contender^ sive irascatur sive 



