III. 1612. æt. 52. as 1607-12. æt. 47-52. IV. Ffor the good fuch fer- for the good fuch feruants vauntes receive, is after the receiue; is after the modell of theire owne For- modell of their owne fortune, but the hurt, they tune: but the hurt they sell for that good, is after sell for that good, is after the modell of theire Maf- the modell of their Mafters Fortune. And cer- ters Fortune. And certainly it is the nature of tainely it is the nature of extreame Self-lovers, as extreme felfe-louers, they will fett an howse on they will fet an house one fire, and it were but to fire, and it were but to roft theire egge. And yet roft their egges; and yet theis Men manie tymes thefe men many times hold creditt with theire hold credit with their Maisters, because theire masters; because their ftudy is but to please study is but to please them, and profitt them- them, and profit themfelves; And for either re- felues; and for either refpect, they will abandon fpect they will abandon the good of theire affaires. the good of their affaires. "Lovers of themselves without a rival. Cicero. Ad Quint. Fratem. iii. 8. 19 Sell. Permutent, exchange.' 20 Extreme. Omitted in the Latin. 21 House. Domum Proximi, the house of their neighbour.' 22 Masters. Viros potentes, 'powerful men.' 23 Affaires. Domini sui, of their master.' 24 Rats. Soricum, 'shrews.' 25 Thrusts out for him. E Domo expellit, quam sibi defodit, non alii, 'thrusts [the Badger] out of the house which he has dug for himself, not for another.' 20 Selfe-wisdome. Pulchra illa Sapientia, that fine wisdom.' V. 1625. æt. 65. the Good fuch Seruants receiue, is after the Modell of their own Fortune; But the Hurt they fell19 for that Good, is after the Modell of their Mafters Fortune. And certainly, it is the Nature of Extreme 20 Selfe-Louers; As they will fet an House21 on Fire, and it were but to roaft their Egges: And yet thefe Men, many times, hold credit with their Masters 22 Because their Study is but to please Them, and profit Themfelues: And for either respect, they will abandon the Good of their Affaires.23 Wifedome for a Mans felfe, is in many Branches thereof, a depraued Thing. It is the Wifedome of Rats,24 that will be fure to leaue a House, somewhat before it fall. It is the Wifedome of the Fox, that thrufts out the Badger, who digged and made Roome for him.25 It is the Wifedome of Crocodiles, that shed teares, when they would deuoure. But that which is specially to be noted, is, that thofe, which (as Cicero faies of Pompey) are, Sui Amantes fine Riuali,a are many times vnfortunate. And whereas they haue all their time facrificed to Themfelues, they become in the end themfelues Sacrifices to the Inconftancy of Fortune; whofe Wings they thought, by their SelfWifedome,26 to haue Pinnioned. 1 III. 1607-12. æt. 47-52. IV. Harleian MS. 5106. 3. Of Nobilitye. T is a reverend I T is a reuerend thing to see an ancient castle or building not in decaye; or to fee a in decay: or to see a faier tymber Tree found, faire timber tree found and perfect; how much and perfect: how much more to behold an aun- more to behold an ancient Noble familye, which cient Noble familie, which hath flood against the hath ftood against the waves, and weathers of waues and weathers of tyme. For new Nobility time. For new Nobility is but the Act of Power, is but the act of power; but auncient Nobility is but ancient Nobility is the Act of Tyme. The the act of time. The first Rayfers of Fortunes first raisers of Fortunes are commonly more ver- are commonly more vertuous, but leffe innocent, tuous, but leffe innocent, then theire defcendentes; then their descendants. For there is rarely ryfing, For there is rarely rifing, but by a commixture of but by a commixture of good and euill Actes. But good and euil Arts. But it is reason the memorie it is reafon the memorie of theire vertues remaine of their vertues remain to theire pofterityes, and to their pofterities, and theire faultes dye with their faults die with themselves; Nobilitie of themselues. Nobilitie of Birth commonly abateth Birth commonly abateth Industrie; and hee that is industrie: and hee that is not industrious, envyeth not induftrious, enuieth him, that is; Besides Noble him that is : Besides noble perfons cannott goe much persons, cannot goe much higher; and hee that higher : And he that III. 1607-12. æt. 47-52. IV. 1612. æt. 52. standeth at a stay when standeth at a stay when others rife, can hardlye others rife, can hardly avoyd mocions of envye. auoid motions of enuie. On thother fide, Nobilitye | On the other side Nobility extinguisheth the paffiue extinguifheth the paffiue Envie in others towardes them, because they are in poffeffion of Honor, and Envye is as the Sunbeames, that beate more vponna ryfing ground, then vponn a levell. enuie in others towards them; because they are in the poffeffion of Honour: and Enuy is as the funne beames, that beate more vpon a rifing ground, then vpon a leuell. [The paragraph on the oppofite page was added in the 1625 edition, at the beginning of the Effay.] 1 Need it. Proceres non desiderantur: · peers are not needed.' 2 They. Status ille Popularis, that state of the people.' 8 Sedition. Factionibus et Turbis, 'factions and disturbances." 4 Then where there are. Ubi non sunt,' where there are not.' |