ESSAY VI. composition and temperature is, to have openOf Simulation ness in fame and opinion; secrecy in habit; and dissimulation in seasonable use; and a power to feign if there be no remedy.

Dissimulation.

ESSAY VII. The joys of parents are secret, and so are Of Parents their griefs and fears; they cannot utter the

and

Children.

one, nor they will not utter the other. Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter; they increase the cares of life, but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men and surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed; so the care of posterity is most in them that have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses are most indulgent towards their children, beholding them as the continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work, and so both children and creatures.

The difference in affection of parents towards their several children is many times unequal,

and

and sometimes unworthy, especially in the ESSAY VII. mother; as Solomon saith, 'a wise son rejoiceth Of Parents the father, but an ungracious son shames the Children. mother.' A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons ; but in the midst some that are as it were forgotten, who, many times, nevertheless, prove the best. The illiberality of parents in allowance towards their children is an harmful error, makes them base, acquaints them with shifts, makes them sort with mean company, and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty and therefore the proof is best when men keep their authority towards their children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner, both parents, and schoolmasters, and servants, in creating and breeding an emulation between brothers during childhood, which many times sorteth to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children and nephews or near kinsfolk; but so they be of the lump, they care not, though they pass not through their own body; and, to say truth, in

ESSAY VII. nature, it is much a like matter; insomuch Of Parents that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth

and

Children.

ESSAY VIII.

and

an uncle or a kinsman more than his own

parent, as the blood happens. Let parents
choose betimes the vocations and courses they
mean their children should take, for then they
are most flexible, and let them not too much
apply themselves to the disposition of their
children, as thinking they will take best to that
which they have most mind to. It is true that,
if the affection or aptness of the children be
extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it;
but generally the precept is good, 'select that
course of life which is the most advantageous:
habit will soon render it pleasant and easily
endured.' Younger
Younger brothers are commonly
fortunate, but seldom or never where the
elder are disinherited.

He that hath wife and children hath given Of Marriage hostages to fortune; for they are impediSingle Life. ments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men, which both in affection and means have married

and

and endowed the public. Yet it were great ESSAY VIII. reason that those that have children should of Marriage have greatest care of future times, of future times, unto Single Life. which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges. Some there are who, though they lead a single life, yet their thoughts do end with themselves, and account future times impertinences. Nay, there are some other that account wife and children but as bills of charges. Nay more, there are some foolish rich covetous men that take a pride in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer; for, perhaps they have heard some talk, 'such an one is a great rich man,' and another except to it, 'Yea, but he hath a great charge of children'; as if it were an abatement to his riches. But the most ordinary cause of a single life is liberty, especially in certain self-pleasing and humorous minds, which are so sensible of every restraint, as they will go near to think their girdles and garters to be bonds and shackles. Unmarried men are best friends, best masters, best servants; but not always best subjects, for they are light to

ESSAY VIII. run away, and almost all fugitives are of Of Marriage that condition. A single life doth well with Single Life. churchmen, for charity will hardly water the

and

ground where it must first fill a pool. It is indifferent for judges and magistrates; for if they be facile and corrupt, you shall have a servant five times worse than a wife. For soldiers, I find the generals commonly, in their hortatives, put men in mind of their wives and children; and I think the despising of marriage amongst the Turks maketh the vulgar soldier more base. Certainly, wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity; and single men, though they be many times more charitable because their means are less exhaust, yet, on the other side, they are more cruel and hard-hearted, good to make severe inquisitors, because their tenderness is not so oft called upon. Grave natures, led by custom, and therefore constant, are commonly loving husbands; as was said of Ulysses, 'he preferred his aged wife Penelope to immortality.' Chaste women are often proud and froward, as presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is one