"bowels. But give me a philosopher, who like the "bee, hath a middle faculty, gathering from abroad "but digesting that which is gathered by his own "virtue." 22. The lord St. Alban, who was not over-hasty to raise theories, but proceeded slowly by experiments, was wont to say to some philosophers, who would not go his pace, "Gentlemen, nature is a labyrinth, in which the very haste you move with, "will make you lose your way." 66 23. The same lord, when he spoke of the Dutchmen, used to say, "That we could not abandon "them for our safety, nor keep them for our profit." And sometimes he would express the same sense on this manner ; "We hold the Belgic lion by the " ears." 24. The same lord when a gentleman seemed not much to approve of his liberality to his retinue, said to him, "Sir, I am all of a piece; if the head be "lifted up, the inferior parts of the body must too." 25. The lord Bacon was wont to commend the advice of the plain old man at Buxton, that sold besoms: a proud lazy young fellow came to him for a besom upon trust; to whom the old man said, Friend, hast thou no money? borrow of thy back, " and borrow of thy belly, they'll ne'er ask thee again,I shall be dunning thee every day." 66 26. Solon* said well to Croesus, (when in ostentation he shewed him his gold) "sir, if any other come See this in his Essay of the True Greatness of Kingdoms. "that has better iron than you, he will be master of "all this gold." 27. Jack Weeks said of a great man, just then dead, who pretended to some religion, but was none of the best livers, "Well, I hope he is in heaven. 66 Every man thinks as he wishes; but if he be in "heaven, 'twere pity it were known." VOL. III, E E ORNAMENTA RATIONALIA.* A SUPPLY (BY THE PUBLISHER) OF CERTAIN WEIGHTY AND ELEGANT SENTENCES, SOME MADE, OTHERS COLLECTED BY THE LORD BACON; AND BY HIM PUT UNDER THE ABOVESAID TITLE; AND AT PRESENT NOT TO BE FOUND. A COLLECTION OF SENTENCES OUT OF THE MIMI OF PUBLIUS; ENGLISHED BY THE PUBLISHER. 1. "ALEATOR, quanto in arte est melior, tanto " est nequior." A gamester, the greater master he is in his art, the worse man he is. 2. "Arcum, intensio frangit; animum, remissio." Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending, the mind. 3. "Bis vincit, qui se vincit in victoria." He conquers twice, who upon victory overcomes himself. 4. "Cum vitia prosint, peccat, qui recte facit." If vices were upon the whole matter profitable, the virtuous man would be the sinner. 5. "Bene dormit, qui non sentit quod male "dormiat." He sleeps well, who feels not that he sleeps ill. 6. "Deliberare utilia, mora est tutissima." To deliberate about useful things, is the safest delay. Tenison's Baconiana, page 60. 7. "Dolor decrescit, ubi quo crescat non habet." The flood of grief decreaseth, when it can swell no higher. 8. "Etiam innocentes cogit mentiri dolor." 11. "Fidem qui perdit, quo se servat in reliquum?" He that has lost his faith, what has he left to live on? 12. "Formosa facies muta commendatio est." A beautiful face is a silent commendation. 13. "Fortuna nimium quem fovet, stultum facit." Fortune makes him a fool, whom she makes her darling. 14. "Fortuna obesse nulli contenta est semel." Fortune is not content to do a man but one ill turn. 15. "Facit gratum fortuna, quam nemo videt." The fortune which nobody sees, makes a man happy and unenvied. 16. "Heu! quam miserum est ab illo lædi, de quo non possis queri.' 66 O! what a miserable thing it is to be hurt by such a one of whom it is in vain to complain. 17. "Homo toties moritur quoties amittit suos." A man dies as often as he loses his friends. 18. "Hæredis fletus sub persona risus est." The tears of an heir are laughter under a vizard. 19. "Jucundum nihil est, nisi quod reficit varietas." Nothing is pleasant, to which variety does not give a relish. 20. "Invidiam ferre, aut fortis, aut felix potest." He may bear envy, who is either courageous or happy. 21. "In malis sperare bonum, nisi innocens, nemo potest." None but a virtuous man can hope well in ill circumstances. 22. "In vindicando, criminosa est celeritas." In taking revenge, the very haste we make is criminal. 23. "In calamitoso risus etiam injuria est." When men are in calamity, if we do but laugh we offend. 24. "Improbe Neptunum accusat, qui iterum naufragium facit." 66 He accuseth Neptune unjustly, who makes shipwreck a second time. 25. "Multis minatur, qui uni facit injuriam." He that injures one, threatens an hundred. 26. "Mora omnis ingrata est, sed facit sapientiam." All delay is ungrateful, but we are not wise without it. 27. "Mori est felicis antequam mortem invocet." Happy he who dies ere he calls for death to take him away. 28. "Malus ubi bonum se simulat, tunc est pessimus." An ill man is always ill; but he is then worst of all, when he pretends to be a saint. |