ESSAVS CIVIL A.\D MORAL. 53 



more suspicious man, nor a more stout. And in such a composition, 

 they do small hurt. For commonly they arc not admitted but with 

 examination, whether they be likely or no ? But in fearful natures they 

 gain ground too fast. There is nothing makes a man suspect much, 

 more than to know little : and therefore men should remedy suspicion, 

 by procuring to know more, and not to keep their suspicions in 

 smother. What would men have ? Uo they think those they employ 

 and deal with arc saints ? Uo they not think they will have their own 

 ends, and be truer to themselves than to them ? Therefore there is no 

 better way to moderate suspicions, than to account upon such sus 

 picions as true, and yet to bridle them as false : for so far a man 

 ought to make use of suspicions, as to provide, as if that should be 

 irue that he suspects, yet it may do him no hurt. Suspicions that the 

 mind of itself gathers are but buzzes : but suspicions that are artifi 

 cially nourished, and put into men s heads by the talcs and whisper 

 ings of others, have stings. Certainly the best mean to clear the way 

 in this same wood of suspicions, is frankly to communicate them with 

 the party that he suspects ; for thereby he shall be sure to know more 

 of the truth of them than he did before ; and withal shall make that 

 party more circumspect not to give farther cause of suspicion. But 

 this would not be done to men of base natures : for they, if they find 

 themselves once suspected, will never be true. The Italian says, 

 &quot; Sospctto licentia fedc ; &quot; as if suspicion did give a passport to faith ; 

 but it ought rather to kindle it to discharge itself. 



XXXII. OF DISCOURSE. 



Some in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, in 

 being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment in discerning what 

 is true ; as if it were a praise to know what might be said, and not 

 what should be thought. Some have certain common-places and 

 themes, wherein they arc good, and want variety : which kind of 

 poverty is for the most part tedious, and, when it is once perceived, 

 ridiculous. The honourablest part of talk is to give the occasion ; 

 and again to moderate, and pass to somewhat else ; for then a man 

 leads the dance. It is good in discourse and speech of conversation to 

 vary and intermingle speech of the present occasion with arguments : 

 talcs with reasons ; asking of questions with telling of opinions ; and 

 jest with earnest ; for it is a dull thing to tire, and, as we say now, to 

 jade anything too far. As for jest, there be certain things which ought 

 to be privileged from it ; namely, religion, matters of state, great 

 persons, any man s present business of importance, and any case that 

 dcserveth pity. Yet there be some that think their wits have been 

 asleep, except they dart out somewhat that is piquant, and to the 

 quick : that is a vein which would be bridled ; 



Parcc, pucr, stimulis, ct fortius utcr? loris. 



And generally men ought to find the dilTcrencc between saltness and 

 bitterness. Certainly he that hath a satirical vein, as he maketh 



