16 ESSA YS CIVIL AND MOKA-. 



patient of privateness, even in age and sicknes.5, which require the 

 shadow : like old townsmen, that will be still sitting at their street 

 door, though thereby they offer age to scorn. Certainly great peisons 

 bad need to borrow other men s opinions to think themselves happy ; 

 for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it ; but if they 

 think with themselves what other men think of them, and that other 

 men would fain be as they are, then they are happy as it were by 

 report, when perhaps they find the contrary within. For they are the 

 first that find their own griefs ; though they be the last that find their 

 own faults. Certainly men in great fortunes are strangers to them 

 selves, and while they are in the puzzle of business, they have no time 

 to tend their health either of body or mind. &quot; I Hi mors gravis incubat, 

 qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi.&quot; In place there is 

 licence to do good and evil ; whereof the latter is a curse ; for in evil 

 the best condition is not to will ; the second not to can. But power 

 to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring. For good thoughts, 

 though God accept them, yet towards men are little better than good 

 dreams, except they be put in act ; and that cannot be without power 

 and place ; as the vantage and commanding ground. Merit and good 

 Morks is the end of man s motion ; and conscience of the same is the 

 accomplishment of man s rest. For if a man can be partaker of God s 

 theatre, he shall likewise be partaker of God s rest. &quot; Et converses 

 Dcus, ut aspicerct opera, qua? fecerunt manus suse, vidit quod omnia 

 cssent bona nimis;&quot; and then the sabbath. In the discharge of thy 

 place, set before thcc the best examples ; for imitation is a globe of 

 precepts. And after a time set before thee thine own example ; and 

 examine thyself strictly, whether thou didst not best at first. Neglect 

 not also the examples of those that have carried themselves ill in the 

 same place ; not to set off thyself by taxing their memory; but to direct 

 thyself what to avoid. Reform, therefore, without bravery or scandal 

 of former times and persons ; but yet set it down to thyself, as well to 

 create good precedents, as to follow them. Reduce things to the first 

 institution, and observe wherein and how they have degenerated; but 

 yet ask counsel of both times : of the ancient time what is best ; and 

 of the latter time what is fittest. Seek to make thy course regular : 

 that men may know beforehand what they may expect : but be not too 

 positive and peremptory ; and express thyself well when thou digressest 

 from thy rule. Preserve the right of thy place, but stir not questions 

 liction : and rather assume thy right in silence, and de facto, 

 than voice it with claims and challenges. Preserve likewise the rights 

 f inferior places : and think it more honour to direct in chief than 

 to be busy in all. Embrace and invite helps and advices touching the 

 execution of thy place : and do not drive away such as bring thee in- 

 ition, as meddlers, but accept of them in good part. The vices 

 f authority are chiefly four; delays, corruption, roughness, and facility, 

 ar delays : give easy access ; keep times appointed ; go through with 

 that which is m hand ; and interlace not business but of necessity. 

 &amp;gt;r corruption : do not only bind thine own hands, or thy servant s 

 nd, from taking, but bind the hands of suitors also from offering. 



