54 ESSA K9 CIVIL AND MORAL 



others afraid oi his wit, so he had need be afraid of others memory. 

 He that qucstioneth much shall learn much, and content much; but 

 especially if he apply his questions to the skill of the persons whom he 

 nskcth ; for he shall give them occasion to please themselves in speak 

 ing, and himself shall continually gather knowledge. But let his 

 questions not be troublesome, for that is fit for a poser. And let him 

 l&amp;gt;c sure to leave other men their turns to speak. Nay, if there be any 

 that would reign, and take up all the time, let him find means to take 

 them off, and bring others on ; as musicians use to do with those that 

 dance too long galliards. If you dissemble sometimes your knowledge 

 of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought another time to 

 know that you know not. Speech of a man s self ought to be seldom 

 and well chosen. I knew one was wont to say in scorn, &quot; He must 

 needs be a wise man, he speaks so much of himself: &quot; and there is but 

 one case wherein a man may commend himself with good grace, and 

 that is in commending virtue in another ; especially if it be such a 

 virtue whcreunto himself pretendeth. Speech of touch towards others 

 should be sparingly used, for discourse ought to be as a field, with 

 out coming home to any man. I knew two noblemen of the west part 

 of Kngland, whereof the one was given to scoff, but kept ever royal 

 cheer in his house ; the other would ask of those that had been at the 

 other s table, &quot;Tell truly, was there never a flout or dry blow given?&quot; 

 To which the guest would answer, Such and such a thing passed. 

 The lord would say, &quot; I thought he would mar a good dinner.&quot; Dis 

 cretion of speech is more than eloquence ; and to speak agreeably 

 to him with whom we deal, is more than to speak in good words 

 or in good order. A good continued speech, without a good speech 

 of interlocution, shows slowness: and a good reply, or second 

 speech, without a good settled speech, showeth shallowncss and weak- 

 As we sec in beasts, that those that are weakest in the course, 

 arc yet nimblest in the turn: as it is betwixt the greyhound and the 

 hare. To use too many circumstances ere one come to the matter, is 

 wearisome ; to use none at all, is blunt. 



XXXIII. OF PLANTATIONS. 



Plantations arc amongst ancient, primitive, and heroical works 



i the world was young, it begat more children ; but now it is old 



fewer : for I may justly account new plantations to be the 



ren of former kingdoms. 1 like a plantation in a pure soil that 



e people are not displanted to the end to plant in others. For 



s rather an extirpation, than a plantation. Plantino- o f 



s like planting of woods ; for you must make account to 



twenty years profit, and expect your rccompcnce in the 



je principal thing that hath been the destruction of most 



s, hath been the base and hasty drawing of profit in the first 



&quot; is true, speedy profit is not to be neglected, as far as miv 



d with the good of the plantation, but no further. It is a &quot;hamcf 3 



and unblessed thmg. to take the scum of people; and wicked con 



