230 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. [Rook 



niare, semper aliquid hoeret ; &quot; so except it be in a ridiculous degree of 

 deformity, &quot;Audactur te vendita, semper aliquid haeret.&quot; For it will 

 stick with the more ignorant and inferior sort of men, though men of 

 wisdom and rank do smile at it, and despise it ; and yet the authority 

 won with many, doth countervail the disdain of a few. But if it be 

 carried with decency and government, as with a natural, pleasant, and 

 ingenuous fashion, or at times when it is mixed with some peril and 

 unsafely, as in military persons, or at times when others are most 

 envied ; or with easy and careless passage to it and from it, without 

 dwelling too long, or being too serious ; or with an equal freedom of 

 taxing a man s self, as well as gracing himself; or by occasion of 

 repelling or putting down others injury or insolence ; it doth greatly 

 add to reputation : and surely not a few solid natures that want this 

 vcntosity, and cannot sail in the height of the winds, are not without 

 some prejudice and disadvantage by their moderation. 



But for these flourishes and enhancements of virtue, as they are 

 not perchance unnecessary, so it is at least necessary that virtue be not 

 disvalued and embascd under the just price, which is clone in three 

 manners ; by offering and obtruding a man s self, wherein men think 

 he is rewarded, when he is accepted : by doing too much, which 

 will not give that which is well done leave to settle, and in the end 

 induccth satiety : and by finding too soon the fruit of a man s virtue 

 in commendation, applause, honour, favour ; wherein if a man be 

 pleased with a little, let him hear what is truly said ; &quot; Cave ne insuctus 

 rebus majoribus videaris, si hrcc te res parva, sicuta magna, delectat.&quot; 



But the covering of defects is of no less importance than the valu 

 ing of good parts : which may be done likewise in three manners, by 

 caution, by colour, and by confidence. Caution is, when men do 

 ingeniously and discreetly avoid to be put into those things for which 

 they are not proper : whereas contrariwise, bold and unquiet spirits 

 will thrust themselves into matters without difference, and so publish 

 and proclaim all their wants : colour is, when men make a way for 

 themselves, to have a construction made of their faults or wants, as 

 proceeding from a better cause, or intended for some other purpose: 

 for of the one it is well said, 



Sxpe latet vitium proximitate boni. 



And therefore whatsoever want a man hath, he must see that he pre 

 tend the virtue that shadoweth it ; as if he be dull, he must affect 

 gravity ; if a coward, mildness ; and so the rest. For the second, a 

 man must frame some probable cause why he should not do his best 

 and why he should dissemble his abilities ; and for that purpose must 

 use to dissemble those abilities which are notorious in him, to give 

 colour that his true wants arc but industries and dissimulations. For 

 confidence, it is the last, but surest remedy ; namely, to depress and 

 seem to despise whatsover a man cannot attain, observing the good 

 principle of the merchants, who endeavoured to raise the price of their 

 own commodities and to beat down the price of others. But there is 

 a confidence that passeth this other, which is ? to face out a man s 



