bookes are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some fewe to be chewed, and disgested: that is some are to be reade onely in partes, others to be reade but curiously, and some fewe to be reade wholely wth diligence, and attention. Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready, and writing an exact man: therefore if a man write litle he had neede of a greate memory; if he confer litle, he had neede of a present wit, and if he reade litle, he had neede haue much cunning to seeme to knowe that he doth not knowe: Histories make men wise; Poets witty: the Mathematiques subtile; Naturall Philosophie deepe: Morall graue: Logique, and Rethorique able to contende.

OF DISCOURSE

CAP: 2

OME in their discourse desire rather com

all arguments, then of Iudgement in discerning what is true: as if it were a praise to knowe what might be saide, and not what should be thought: some haue certaine common places, and theames, wherein they are good, and want variety: wch kinde of Poverty is for the most parte tedious, and now, and then ridiculous: the honorablest parte of talke is to giue the occasion, and againe to moderate, and passe to somewhat else: It is good to vary, and mixe speache of the present occasion wth arguments; tales wth reasons: asking of questions wth telling of opinions; and Iest wth earnest: but some thinges are priviledged from Iest, namely, Religion, matters of state, greate persons, all mens present busines of Importaunce, and any case that deserveth pitty: He that questioneth much, shall learne much, and content much, especially if he apply his questions to the skill of the party of whom he asketh: for he shall giue them occa

sion to please themselues in speaking, and himselfe shall continually gather knowledge: if sometimes you dissemble your knowledge of that you are thought to knowe, you shallbe thought another time to knowe, that wch you knowe not: speache of a mans selfe is not good often; and there is but one thing wherein a man may commend himselfe wth good grace, and that is commending vertue in another: especially if it be such a vertue as wherevnto himselfe pretendeth: Discretion of speache is more then eloquence, and to speake agreeably to him wth whome we deale, is more then to speake in good wordes, or in good order: a good continued speache, wthout a good speache of Interloquution showeth slownes; and a good second speache wth out a good set speache showeth shallownes. to vse to many circumstaunces ere one come to the matter is wearisome, and to vse none at all is blunt.

OF CERIMONIES, AND RESPECTES

H

CAP: 3

E that is onely reall, needeth exceeding greate partes of vertue, as the stone had neede to bee exceeding riche that is set wthout foyle: but commonly it is in praise, as it is in gaine for as the proverbe is true, that light gaines make heavie purses, because they come thicke: whereas the greate come but now, and then so it is as true that small matters win greate commendation, because they are continually in vse, and in noate, whereas the occasion of any greate vertue commeth but on hollidaies: to attaine good formes it sufficeth not to despise them, for so shall a man obserue them in others, and let him trust himselfe wth the rest: for if he care to expresse them he shall loose their grace, wch is to be naturall, and vnaffected: some mens behaviour is like a verse, wherein every sillable is measured: how can a man obserue greate matters, that breaketh his minde to much in small observations? not to vse cere-· monies at all, is to teache others not to vse them againe, and so diminish his respect: especially

T

they are not to be omitted to straungers, and straunge natures: among a mans equalls a man shallbe sure of familiarity, and therefore it is good a litle to keepe state: among a mans inferiours a man shallbe sure of reverence, and therefore it is good a litle to be familiar: he that is to much in any thing, so that he giveth another occasion of satiety maketh himselfe cheape : to apply ones selfe to others is good, so it be wth demonstration that a man doth it vpon regarde, and not vpon facility: it is a good precept generally in seconding another, yet to adde somewhat of his owne: if you graunt his opinion let it be wth some distinction; if you will followe his motion let it be wth condition: if you allowe his counsaile, let it be wth alledging farther reason.