362 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



But this precept touching the politic knowledge of our- 

 selves hath many other branches whereupon we cannot 

 insist. 



Next to the well understanding and discerning of a 

 man's self, there followeth the well opening and revealing 

 a man's self; wherein we see nothing more usual than for 

 the more able man to make the less show. For there is a 

 great advantage in the well setting forth of a man's virtues, 

 fortunes, merits; and again in the artificial covering of a 

 man's weaknesses, defects, disgraces ; staying upon the one, 

 sliding from the other; cherishing the one by circumstances, 

 gracing the other by exposition, and the like : wherein we 

 see what Tacitus saith of Mutianus, who was the greatest 

 politique of his time, Omnium quae dixerat feceratque arte 

 quddam ostentator^ which requireth indeed some art, lest 

 it turn tedious and arrogant ; but yet so as ostentation 

 (though it be to the first degree of vanity) seemeth to me 

 rather a vice in manners than in policy : for as it is said, 

 Audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret^ so, except it be in 

 a ridiculous degree of deformity, Audacter te vendita, semper 

 aliquid haeret. For it will stick with the more ignorant and 

 inferior sort of men, though men of wisdom and rank do 

 smile at it and despise it ; and yet the authority won with 

 many doth countervail the disdain of a few. But if it be 

 carried with decency and government, as with a natural, 

 pleasant, and ingenious fashion ; or at times when it is 

 mixed with some peril and unsafety, (as in military 

 persons ;) or at .times when others are most envied ; or 

 with easy and careless passage to it and from it, without 

 dwelling too long or being too serious ; or with an equal 

 freedom of taxing a man's self as well as gracing himself; 

 or by occasion of repelling or putting down others' injury 

 or insolency ; it doth greatly add to reputation : and 

 surely not a few solid natures, that want this ventosity and 

 cannot sail in the height of the winds, are not without some 

 prejudice and disadvantage by their moderation. 



But for these flourishes and enhancements of virtue, as 

 they are not perchance unnecessary, so it is at least neces- 

 sary that virtue be not disvalued and imbased under the 



