ESSA ys CIVIL AND MORAL 39 



quietly and by degrees scarce to be perceived : for otherwise, whatso 

 ever is new is unlocked for ; and ever it mends some, and impairs 

 others : and he that is holpcn takes it for a fortune, and thanks the 

 time ; and he that is hurt, for a wrong, and imputcth it to the author. 

 It is good also not to try experiments in states, except the necessity l&amp;gt;c 

 urgent, or the utility evident ; and well to beware that it be the 

 reformation that drawcth on the change, and not the desire of change 

 that pretcndeth the reformation. And lastly, that the novelty, though 

 it be not rejected, yet be held for a suspect : and, as the Scripture 

 saith, &quot;that we make a stand upon the ancient way, and then look 

 about us, and discover what is the straight and right way, and so to 

 walk in it.&quot; 



XXV. OF DESPATCH. 



Affected despatch is one of the most dangerous things to business 

 that can be. It is like that which the physicians call prcdigcstion, or 

 hasty digestion, which is to fill the body full of crudities and secret 

 seeds of diseases. Therefore measure not despatch by the times of 

 sitting, but by the advancement of the business. And as in races, it 

 is not the large stride, or high lift, that makes the speed ; so in busi 

 ness, the keeping close to the matter, and not taking of it too much at 

 once, procureth despatch. It is the care of some, only to come oil 

 speedily for the time ; or to contrive some false periods of business, 

 because they may seem men of despatch. Hut it is one thing to abbre 

 viate by contracting, another by cutting off : and business so handled 

 at several sittings or meetings, gocth commonly backward and forward 

 in an unsteady manner. I know a wise man that had it fora by-word, 

 when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, &quot; Stay a little, that we may 

 make an end the sooner.&quot; 



On the other side, true despatch is a rich thing. For time is the 

 measure of business, as money is of wares ; and business is bought at 

 a dear hand, where there is small despatch. The Spartans and 

 Spaniards have been noted to be of small despatch: &quot;Mi vcnga la 

 mucrte de Spagna ; &quot; Let my death come from Spain ; for then it will 

 be sure to be long in coming. 



Give good hearing to those that give the first information in 

 business: and rather direct them in the beginning, than interrupt 

 them in the continuance of their speeches : for he that is put out of 

 his own order, will go forward and backward, and IKJ more tedious 

 while he waits upon his memory, than he could have been if he had 

 gone on in his own course. Hut sometimes it is seen, that the mode 

 rator is more troublesome than the actor. 



Iterations are commonly loss of time : but there is no such gain of 

 time, as to iterate often the state of the question ; for it chaseth away 

 many a frivolous speech as it is coming forth. I-ong and curious 

 speeches are as fit for despatch, as a robe or a mantle with a long 

 train is for race. Prefaces, and passages, and cxcusations, and other 

 speeches of reference to the person, are great wastes of time ; and 

 though they seem to proceed of modesty, they arc bravery. Yet 



