Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/99

] keepe backe somewhat; And when they know within themselves, they speake of that they doe not well know, would neverthelesse seeme to others to know of that which they may not well speake. Some helpe themselves with Countenance and Gesture, and are wise by Signes; As Cicero saith of Piso, that when he answered him he fetched one of his Browes up to his Forehead, and bent the other downe to his Chin: Respondes, altero ad Frontem sublato, altero ad Mentum depresso Supercilio; Crudelitatem tibi non placere. Some thinke to beare it by Speaking a great Word and being peremptory; And goe on, and take by admittance that which they cannot make good. Some, whatsoever is beyond their reach, will seeme to despise or make light of it, as Impertinent or Curious ; And so would have their Ignorance seeme Iudgement. Some are never without a Difference, and commonly, by Amusing Men with a Subtilty, blanch the matter; Of whom A. Gellius saith, Hominem delirum, qui Verborum Minutijs Rerum frangit Pondera. Of which kinde also Plato, in his Protagoras bringeth in Prodicus in Scorne, and maketh him make a Speech that consisteth of distinctions from the Beginning to the End. Generally, Such Men in all Deliberations finde ease to be of the Negative Side, and affect a Credit to obiect and foretell Difficulties: For when propositions are denied, there is an End of them; But if they be allowed , it requireth a New Worke: which false Point of Wisedome is the Bane of Businesse. To conclude, there is no decaying Merchant, or Inward Beggar, hath so many Tricks to uphold the Credit of their wealth as