Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/97

] But it is one Thing to Abbreviate by Contracting, Another by Cutting off: And Businesse so handled at severall Sittings or Meetings goeth commonly backward and forward in an unsteady Manner. I knew a Wise Man that had it for a By-word, when he saw Men hasten to a conclusion; Stay a little, that we may make an End the sooner. On the other side, True Dispatch is a rich Thing. For Time is the measure of Businesse, as Money is of Wares; And Businesse is bought at a deare Hand, where there is small dispatch. The Spartans and Spaniards have been noted to be of Small dispatch; Mi venga la Muerte de Spagna;—Let my Death come from Spaine; For then it will be sure to be long in comming.

Give good Hearing to those that give the first Information in Businesse; And rather direct them in the beginning then interrupt them in the continuance of their Speeches: for he that is put out of his owne Order will goe forward and backward, and be more tedious while he waits upon his Memory then he could have been if he had gone on in his owne course. But sometimes it is scene that the Moderator chairman is more troublesome then the Actor.

Iterations are commonly losse of Time: But there is no such Gaine of Time as to iterate often the State of the Question; For it chaseth away many a Frivolous Speech as it is comming forth. Long and Curious Speeches are as fit for Dispatch as a Robe or Mantle with a long Traine is for Race. Prefaces, and Passages, and Excusations , and other Speeches of Reference to the Person, are great wasts of Time; And though they seeme to proceed of Modesty, they are Bravery. Yet beware of being too Materiall, when there is any Impediment or Obstruction in Men's Wils; For Pre-occupation of Minde ever requireth preface of Speech, Like a Fomentation to make the unguent enter.