--And to the prince, or his superior, to behave
himself modestly and with respect.
himself modestly and with respect.
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
--The two chief things
that give a man reputation in counsel are the opinion of his honesty and
the opinion of his wisdom: the authority of those two will persuade when
the same counsels uttered by other persons less qualified are of no
efficacy or working.
_Vita recta_. --Wisdom without honesty is mere craft and cozenage. And
therefore the reputation of honesty must first be gotten, which cannot be
but by living well. A good life is a main argument.
_Obsequentia_. --_Humanitas_. --_Solicitudo_. --Next a good life, to beget love
in the persons we counsel, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in
ourselves, and avoiding all suspicion of arrogance, ascribing all to
their instruction, as an ambassador to his master, or a subject to his
sovereign; seasoning all with humanity and sweetness, only expressing
care and solicitude. And not to counsel rashly, or on the sudden, but
with advice and meditation. (_Dat nox consilium_. {17a}) For many
foolish things fall from wise men, if they speak in haste or be
extemporal. It therefore behoves the giver of counsel to be circumspect;
especially to beware of those with whom he is not thoroughly acquainted,
lest any spice of rashness, folly, or self-love appear, which will be
marked by new persons and men of experience in affairs.
_Modestia_. --_Parrhesia_.
--And to the prince, or his superior, to behave
himself modestly and with respect. Yet free from flattery or empire.
Not with insolence or precept; but as the prince were already furnished
with the parts he should have, especially in affairs of state. For in
other things they will more easily suffer themselves to be taught or
reprehended: they will not willingly contend, but hear, with Alexander,
the answer the musician gave him: _Absit_, _o rex_, _ut tu melius haec
scias_, _quam ego_. {17b}
_Perspicuitas_. --_Elegantia_. --A man should so deliver himself to the
nature of the subject whereof he speaks, that his hearer may take
knowledge of his discipline with some delight; and so apparel fair and
good matter, that the studious of elegancy be not defrauded; redeem arts
from their rough and braky seats, where they lay hid and overgrown with
thorns, to a pure, open, and flowery light, where they may take the eye
and be taken by the hand.
_Natura non effaeta_. --I cannot think Nature is so spent and decayed that
she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the
same, like herself; and when she collects her strength is abler still.
Men are decayed, and studies: she is not.
_Non nimium credendum antiquitati_. --I know nothing can conduce more to
letters than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest in
their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them, provided the
plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are
envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurrilous scoffing. For
to all the observations of the ancients we have our own experience, which
if we will use and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true
they opened the gates, and made the way that went before us, but as
guides, not commanders: _Non domini nostri_, _sed duces fuere_. {19a}
Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several.
that give a man reputation in counsel are the opinion of his honesty and
the opinion of his wisdom: the authority of those two will persuade when
the same counsels uttered by other persons less qualified are of no
efficacy or working.
_Vita recta_. --Wisdom without honesty is mere craft and cozenage. And
therefore the reputation of honesty must first be gotten, which cannot be
but by living well. A good life is a main argument.
_Obsequentia_. --_Humanitas_. --_Solicitudo_. --Next a good life, to beget love
in the persons we counsel, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in
ourselves, and avoiding all suspicion of arrogance, ascribing all to
their instruction, as an ambassador to his master, or a subject to his
sovereign; seasoning all with humanity and sweetness, only expressing
care and solicitude. And not to counsel rashly, or on the sudden, but
with advice and meditation. (_Dat nox consilium_. {17a}) For many
foolish things fall from wise men, if they speak in haste or be
extemporal. It therefore behoves the giver of counsel to be circumspect;
especially to beware of those with whom he is not thoroughly acquainted,
lest any spice of rashness, folly, or self-love appear, which will be
marked by new persons and men of experience in affairs.
_Modestia_. --_Parrhesia_.
--And to the prince, or his superior, to behave
himself modestly and with respect. Yet free from flattery or empire.
Not with insolence or precept; but as the prince were already furnished
with the parts he should have, especially in affairs of state. For in
other things they will more easily suffer themselves to be taught or
reprehended: they will not willingly contend, but hear, with Alexander,
the answer the musician gave him: _Absit_, _o rex_, _ut tu melius haec
scias_, _quam ego_. {17b}
_Perspicuitas_. --_Elegantia_. --A man should so deliver himself to the
nature of the subject whereof he speaks, that his hearer may take
knowledge of his discipline with some delight; and so apparel fair and
good matter, that the studious of elegancy be not defrauded; redeem arts
from their rough and braky seats, where they lay hid and overgrown with
thorns, to a pure, open, and flowery light, where they may take the eye
and be taken by the hand.
_Natura non effaeta_. --I cannot think Nature is so spent and decayed that
she can bring forth nothing worth her former years. She is always the
same, like herself; and when she collects her strength is abler still.
Men are decayed, and studies: she is not.
_Non nimium credendum antiquitati_. --I know nothing can conduce more to
letters than to examine the writings of the ancients, and not to rest in
their sole authority, or take all upon trust from them, provided the
plagues of judging and pronouncing against them be away; such as are
envy, bitterness, precipitation, impudence, and scurrilous scoffing. For
to all the observations of the ancients we have our own experience, which
if we will use and apply, we have better means to pronounce. It is true
they opened the gates, and made the way that went before us, but as
guides, not commanders: _Non domini nostri_, _sed duces fuere_. {19a}
Truth lies open to all; it is no man's several.
