358 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



nature of some deeds are, in that particular which Mutianus 

 practised upon Antonius Primus, upon that hollow and 

 unfaithful reconcilement which was made between them ; 

 whereupon Mutianus advanced many of the friends of 

 Antonius : si mul amicis ejus praefecturas et tribunatus largitur^ 

 wherein under pretence to strengthen him, he did desolate 

 him, and won from him his dependances. 



As for words, (though they be like waters to physicians, 

 full of flattery and uncertainty,) yet they are not to be 

 despised, specially with the advantage of passion and 

 affection. For so we see Tiberius upon a stinging and 

 incensing speech of Agrippina came a step forth of his 

 dissimulation, when he said, 'You are hurt because you do 

 not reign ' ; of which Tacitus saith, Audita haec raram 

 occulti pectoris vocem elicuere; correptamque Graeco versu 

 admonuif, ideo laedi quia non regnant. And therefore the 

 poet doth elegantly call passions tortures, that urge men 

 to confess their secrets : 



Vino tortus et ira. 



And experience sheweth, there are few men so true to 

 themselves and so settled, but that, sometimes upon heat, 

 sometimes upon bravery, sometimes upon kindness, some- 

 times upon trouble of mind and weakness, they open 

 themselves ; specially if they be put to it with a counter- 

 dissimulation, according to the proverb of Spain, Di 

 mentira, y sacaras verdad, 'Tell a lie and find a truth/ 



As for the knowing of men which is at second hand 

 from reports ; men's weaknesses and faults are best known 

 from their enemies, their virtues and abilities from their 

 friends, their customs and times from their servants, their 

 conceits and opinions from their familiar friends with whom 

 they discourse most. General fame is light, and the 

 opinions conceived by superiors or equals are deceitful; 

 for to such men are more masked : Verior fama e domes- 

 ticis emanat. 



But the soundest disclosing and expounding of men is by 

 their natures and ends ; wherein the weakest sort of men 

 are best interpreted by their natures, and the wisest by 



