3/0 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



laps ; and a number obtain good fortunes by diligence 

 in a plain way, little intermeddling, and keeping them- 

 selves from gross errors. 



But as Cicero, when he setteth down an Idea of a 

 perfect Orator, doth not mean that every pleader should 

 be such ; and so likewise, when a Prince or a Courtier 

 hath been described by such as have handled those sub- 

 jects, the mould hath used to be made according to the 

 perfection of the art, and not according to common 

 practice so I understand it that it ought to be done in 

 the description of a Politic man ; I mean politic for his 

 own fortune. 



But it must be remembered all this while, that the 

 precepts which we have set down are of that kind which 

 may be counted and called bonae artes. As for evil arts, 

 if a man would set down for himself that principle of 

 Machiavel, 'that a man seek not to attain virtue itself, but 

 the appearance only thereof, because the credit of virtue 

 is a help, but the use of it is cumber ' ; or that other of 

 his principles, 'that he presuppose that men are not fitly 

 to be wrought otherwise but by fear, and therefore that 

 he seek to have every man obnoxious, low, and in strait/ 

 which the Italians call seminar spine, to sow thorns ; or that 

 other principle contained in the verse which Cicero citeth, 

 Cadant amid, dummodo inimici interddant, as the Triumvirs, 

 which sold every one to other the lives of their friends for 

 the deaths of their enemies ; or that other protestation of 

 L. Catilina, to set on fire and trouble states, to the end to 

 fish in droumy waters, and to unwrap their fortunes ; Ego 

 si quid in fortunis meis ex citatum sit incendium, id non aqua 

 sed ruina restinguam; or that other principle of Lysander 

 'that children are to be deceived with comfits, and men 

 with oaths': and the like evil and corrupt positions, 

 whereof (as in all things) there are more in number than 

 of the good . certainly with these dispensations from the 

 laws of charity and integrity the pressing of a man's fortune 

 may be more hasty and compendious. But it is in life as 

 it is in ways ; the shortest way is commonly the foulest, 

 and surely the fairer way is not much about. 



