40 ESSAYS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



as interest. Besides, he that clears at once will relapse ; for finding 

 himself out of straits, he will revert to his customs ; but he that cleareth 

 by degrees induceth a habit of frugality, and gaineth as well upon his 

 mind as upon his estate. Certainly, who hath a state to repair, may 

 not despise small things : and commonly it is less dishonourable to 

 abridge petty charges, than to stoop to petty gettings. A man ought 

 warily to begin charges, which once begun will continue; but in mat 

 ters that return not, he may be more magnificent. 



xxix. OF Tin: TRUE GREATNESS OF KINGDOMS AND ESTATES. 



The speech of Thcmistocles the Athenian, which was haughty and 

 arrogant in taking so much to himself, had been a grave and wise 

 observation and censure, applied at large to others. Desired at a 

 feast to touch a lute, he said, He could not fiddle, but yet he could 

 make a small town a great city. These words, holpcn a little with a 

 metaphor, may express two differing abilities in those that deal in 

 business of estate. For if a true survey be taken of counsellors and 

 statesmen, there may be found, though rarely, those which can make 

 a small state great, and yet cannot fiddle ; as on the other side, there 

 will be found a great many that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are 

 so far from being able to make a small state great, as their gift lieth 

 the other way ; to bring a great and flourishing estate to ruin and 

 decay. And certainly those degenerate arts and shifts, whereby many 

 counsellors and governors gain both favour with their masters, and 

 estimation with the vulgar, deserve no better name tlrm fiddling; 

 being things rather pleasing for the time, and graceful to themselves 

 only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the state which 

 they serve. There arc also, no doubt, counsellors and governors which 

 may be held sufficient, iic^otiis pares, able to manage affairs, and to 

 keep them from precipices and manifest inconveniences, which never 

 theless are far from the ability to raise and amplify an estate, in power, 

 means, and fortune. Hut be the workmen what they may be, let us 

 speak of the work ; that is, the true greatness of kingdoms and estates, 

 and the means thereof. An argument tit for great and mighty princes 

 to have in their hand ; to the end that neither by over-measuring their 

 forces they lose themselves in vain enterprises ; nor on the other side, 

 by undervaluing them, they descend to fearful and pusillanimous 

 counsels. 



The greatness of an estate in bulk and territory doth fall under 



measure, and the greatness of finances and revenue doth fall under 



omputation. The population may appear by musters ; and the mim- 



grcatncss of cities and towns by cards and maps. But yet 



is not any thing amongst civil affairs more subject to error, than 



ight valuation and true judgment concerning the power and forces 



The kingdom of heaven is compared, not to any great 



r nut, but to a grain of mustard-seed; which is one of the 



prams, but hath in it a property and spirit hastily to get up and 



there states, great in territory, and yet not apt to 



