THE SECOND BOOK 369 



somewhat in time to come ; and if he can contrive no 

 effect or substance from it, yet to win some good opinion 

 by it, or the like ; so that he should exact an account of 

 himself, of every action to reap somewhat, and not to 

 stand amazed and confused if he fail of that he chiefly 

 meant : for nothing is more impolitic than to mind actions 

 wholly one by one; for he that doth so leeseth infinite 

 occasions which intervene, and are many times more 

 proper and propitious for somewhat that he shall need 

 afterwards, than for that which he urgeth for the present ; 

 and therefore men must be perfect in that rule, Haec oportet 

 facere, et ilia non omittere. 



Another precept of this knowledge is, not to engage a 

 man's self peremptorily in any thing, though it seem not 

 liable to accident ; but ever to have a window to fly out 

 at, or a way to retire ; following the wisdom in the ancient 

 fable of the two frogs, which consulted when their plash 

 was dry whither they should go ; and the one moved to 

 go down into a pit, because it was not likely the water 

 would dry there ; but the other answered, ' True, but if it 

 do, how shall we get out again ? ' 



Another precept of this knowledge is that ancient pre- 

 cept of Bias, construed not to any point of perfidiousness 

 but only to caution and moderation, Et ama tanquam 

 inimicus futurus, et odi tanquam amaturus^ for it utterly 

 betrayeth all utility for men to embark themselves 

 too far in unfortunate friendships, troublesome spleens, 

 and childish and humorous envies or emulations. 



But I continue this beyond the measure of an example ; 

 led, because I would not have such knowledges which I 

 note as deficient to be thought things imaginative or in 

 the air, or an observation^ or two much made of; but 

 things of bulk and mass, whereof an end is hardlier made 

 than a beginning. It must be likewise conceived, that 

 in these points which I mention and set down, they are 

 far from complete tractates of them, but only as small 

 pieces for patterns. And lastly, no man I suppose will 

 think that I mean fortunes are not obtained without all 

 this ado ; for I know they come tumbling into some men's 



2 A 



