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LII. Of Ceremonies and
Refpects.

E that is only real, had need have ex-
ceeding great Parts of Virtue: As the
Stone had need to be Rich, that is fet

without Foil. But if a Man mark it

well, it is in Praise and Commendation of Men, as it is in Gettings and Gains: For the Proverb is true, That light Gains make heavy Purses; for light Gains come thick, whereas Great come but now and then. So it is true, that fmall Matters win great Commendation, because they are continually in Ufe, and in note: whereas the Occafion of any great Virtue, cometh but on Festivals. Therefore it doth much add, to a Man's Reputation, and is, (as Queen Ifabella faid) Like perpetual Letters commendatory, to have good Forms. To attain them, it almoft fufficeth, not to defpife them: For fo fhall a Man obferve them in Others: And let him truft himself with the reft. For if he labour too much to express them, he fhall lofe their Grace; which is to be natural and unaffected. Some Men's Behaviour is like a Verfe, wherein every Syllable is measured: How can a Man comprehend great Matters, that breaketh his Mind too much to small Obfervations? Not to ufe Ceremonies at all is to teach Others not to use them again; and fo diminifheth Refpect to himself: Especially they be not to be omitted to Strangers, and formal Natures:

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But the dwelling upon them, and exalting them above the Moon, is not only tedious, but doth diminish the Faith and Credit of him that speaks. And certainly, there is a Kind of Conveying of effectual and imprinting Paffages, amongst Compliments, which is of fingular use, if a Man can hit upon it. Amongst a Man's Peers, a Man shall be sure of Familiarity; and therefore, it is good a little to keep State. Amongst a Man's Inferiors, One fhall be fure of Reverence; and therefore it is good a little to be familiar. He that is too much in any Thing, fo that he giveth another Occafion of Satiety, maketh himself cheap. To apply One's Self to others is good: So it be with Demonstration, that a Man doth it upon Regard, and not upon Facility. It is a good Precept, generally in seconding Another, yet to add fomewhat of One's own: As if you will grant his Opinion, let it be with some Distinction; if you will follow his Motion, let it be with Condition; if you allow his Counsel, let it be with alleging further Reason. Men had need beware, how they be too Perfect in Compliments; for be they never so sufficient otherwise, their Enviers will be fure to give them that Attribute, to the Disadvantage of their greater Virtues. It is lofs alfo in Bufinefs, to be too full of Refpects, or to be too curious in observing Times and Opportunities. Solomon faith; He that confidereth the Wind, fhall not fow, and he that looketh to the Clouds, fhall not reap. A wife Man will make more Opportunities than he finds. Men's Behaviour should be like their Apparel, not too ftrait, or point device, but free for exercise or motion.

LIII. Of Praise.

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RAISE is the Reflection of Virtue. But it is Glafs, or Body, which giveth the Reflection. If it be from the Common People, it is commonly falfe and naught And rather followeth vain Persons, than virtuous: For the Common People understand not many excellent Virtues: The lowest Virtues draw Praise from them; the middle Virtues work in them Astonishment, or Admiration; But of the highest Virtues, they have no Sense, or perceiving at all. But Shews, and Species Virtutibus fimiles, ferve beft with them. Certainly, Fame is like a River, that beareth up Things light and fwollen, and drowns Things weighty and folid: But if Perfons of Quality and Judgement concur, then it is, (as the Scripture faith) Nomen bonum inftar Unguenti fragrantis. It filleth all round about, and will not easily away. For the Odours of Ointments are more durable than thofe of Flowers. There be fo many falfe Points of Praife, that a Man may justly hold it a fufpect. Some Praifes proceed merely of Flattery; and if he be an ordinary Flatterer, he will have certain common Attributes, which may ferve every Man; if he be a cunning Flatterer, he will follow the Arch-flatterer, which is a Man's Self; and wherein a Man thinketh best of himself, therein the Flatterer will up

hold him moft: But if he be an impudent Flatterer, look wherein a Man is conscious to himself, that he is most defective, and is most out of Countenance in himself, that will the Flatterer entitle him to, perforce, Spretâ Confcientiâ. Some Praises come of good Wishes, and Refpects, which is a Form due in Civility to Kings, and Great Persons, Laudando præcipere; when by telling Men what they are, they represent to them what they should be. Some Men are praised maliciously to their Hurt, thereby to ftir Envy and Jealousy towards them; Peffimum Genus Inimicorum Laudantium; Infomuch as it was a Proverb, amongst the Grecians; that, He that was praised to his Hurt, fhould have a Push rise upon his Nofe: As we say; That a Blifter will rife upon one's Tongue, that tells a lie. Certainly moderate Praise, used with Opportunity, and not vulgar, is that which doth the Good. Solomon faith; He that praiseth his Friend aloud, rifing early, it fhall be to him no better than a Curfe. Too much magnifying of Man or Matter, doth irritate Contradiction, and procure Envy and Scorn. To praise a Man's Self, cannot be decent, except it be in rare Cafes: But to praise a Man's Office or Profeffion, he may do it with good Grace, and with a kind of Magnanimity. The Cardinals of Rome, which are Theologues, and Friars, and Schoolmen, have a Phrase of notable Contempt and Scorn, towards civil Business: for they call all temporal Business, of Wars, Embaffages, Judicature, and other Employments, Sbirrerie; which is Under Sheriffries; as if they were but matters for Under

Sheriffs and Catchpoles; though many times those Under Sheriffries do more good, than their High Speculations. St. Paul, when he boafts of himself, he doth oft interlace; I speak like a Fool; but fpeaking of his calling, he faith; Magnificabo Apoftolatum meum.

LIV. Of Vain Glory.

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They

T was prettily devifed of Efop; the Fly fate upon the Axle-tree of the Chariot-wheel, and faid, What a Duft do I raife? So are there fome Vain Perfons, that whatsoever goeth alone, or moveth upon greater Means, if they have never fo little Hand in it, they think it is they that carry it. that are Glorious, muft needs be Factious; for all Bravery stands upon Comparisons. They muft needs be violent, to make good their own Vaunts. Neither can they be fecret, and therefore not effectual; but according to the French Proverb; Beaucoup de Bruit, peu de Fruit: Much Bruit, little Fruit. Yet certainly there is Use of this Quality, in civil Affairs. Where there is an Opinion, and Fame to be created, either of Virtue or Greatness, these Men are good Trumpeters. Again, as Titus Livius noteth, in the Cafe of Antiochus and the Etolians; There are fometimes great Effects of crofs Lies; as if a Man, that negotiates between Two Princes, to draw them to join

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