Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/93

ESSAY XXII] able to Examine or debate Matters. And yet commonly they take advantage of their Inability, and would be thought Wits of direction. Some build rather upon the Abusing of others, and (as we now say) Putting Tricks upon them, Then upon Soundnesse of their own proceedings. But Salomon saith, Prudens advertit ad Gressus suos: Stultus divertit ad Dolos.

Ant is a wise Creature for it Selfe, But it is a shrewd Thing in an Orchard or Garden. And certainly, Men that are great Lovers of Themselves waste the Publique. Divide with reason betweene Selfe-love and Society; And be so true to thy Selfe as thou be not false to Others, Specially to thy King and Country. It is a poore Center of a Man s Actions, Himselfe. It is right Earth; For that onely stands fast upon his owne Center; Whereas all Things that have Affinity with the Heavens move upon the Center of another, which they benefit. The Referring of all to a Man's Selfe is more tolerable in a Soveraigne Prince, Because Themselves are not onely Themselves, But their Good and Evill is at the perill of the Publique Fortune: But it is a desperate Evill in a Servant to a Prince, or a Citizen in a Republique; For whatsoever Affaires passe such a Man's Hands, he crooketh them to his owne Ends, Which must needs be often Eccentrick to the Ends of his Master or State. Therefore let Princes or States choose