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〃Nec minimo sane discrimine refert；
Quo gestu lepores； et quo gallina secetur；〃
＇〃Nor with less discrimination observes how we should carve a hare；
and how a hen。〃 or； （〃Nor with the least discrimination relates how
we should carve hares； and how cut up a hen。）〃
Juvenal； Sat。； v。 123。＇
and all this set out with lofty and magnificent words； the very same we
make use of when we discourse of the government of an empire。 Which
learned lecture of my man brought this of Terence into my memory：
〃Hoc salsum est； hoc adustum est； hoc lautum est； parum：
Illud recte： iterum sic memento： sedulo
Moneo； qux possum； pro mea sapientia。
Postremo； tanquam in speculum； in patinas；
Demea； Inspicere jubeo； et moneo； quid facto usus sit。〃
＇〃This is too salt； that's burnt； that's not washed enough； that's
well； remember to do so another time。 Thus do I ever advise them to
have things done properly； according to my capacity； and lastly；
Demea； I command my cooks to look into every dish as if it were a
mirror； and tell them what they should do。〃
Terence； Adelph。； iii。 3； 71。＇
And yet even the Greeks themselves very much admired and highly applauded
the order and disposition that Paulus AEmilius observed in the feast he
gave them at his return from Macedon。 But I do not here speak of
effects； I speak of words only。
I do not know whether it may have the same operation upon other men that
it has upon me； but when I hear our architects thunder out their bombast
words of pilasters； architraves； and cornices； of the Corinthian and
Doric orders； and suchlike jargon； my imagination is presently possessed
with the palace of Apollidon； when； after all； I find them but the paltry
pieces of my own kitchen door。
To hear men talk of metonomies； metaphors； and allegories； and other
grammar words； would not one think they signified some rare and exotic
form of speaking？ And yet they are phrases that come near to the babble
of my chambermaid。
And this other is a gullery of the same stamp； to call the offices of our
kingdom by the lofty titles of the Romans； though they have no similitude
of function； and still less of authority and power。 And this also； which
I doubt will one day turn to the reproach of this age of ours； unworthily
and indifferently to confer upon any we think fit the most glorious
surnames with which antiquity honoured but one or two persons in several
ages。 Plato carried away the surname of Divine； by so universal a
consent that never any one repined at it； or attempted to take it from
him； and yet the Italians； who pretend； and with good reason； to more
sprightly wits and sounder sense than the other nations of their time；
have lately bestowed the same title upon Aretin； in whose writings； save
tumid phrases set out with smart periods； ingenious indeed but far…
fetched and fantastic； and the eloquence； be it what it may； I see
nothing in him above the ordinary writers of his time； so far is he from
approaching the ancient divinity。 And we make nothing of giving the
surname of great to princes who have nothing more than ordinary in them。
CHAPTER LII
OF THE PARSIMONY OF THE ANCIENTS
Attilius Regulus； general of the Roman army in Africa； in the height of
all his glory and victories over the Carthaginians； wrote to the Republic
to acquaint them that a certain hind he had left in trust with his
estate； which was in all but seven acres of land； had run away with all
his instruments of husbandry； and entreating therefore； that they would
please to call him home that he might take order in his own affairs； lest
his wife and children should suffer by this disaster。 Whereupon the
Senate appointed another to manage his business； caused his losses to be
made good； and ordered his family to be maintained at the public expense。
The elder Cato； returning consul from Spain； sold his warhorse to save
the money it would have cost in bringing it back by sea into Italy； and
being Governor of Sardinia； he made all his visits on foot； without other
train than one officer of the Republic who carried his robe and a censer
for sacrifices； and for the most part carried his trunk himself。 He
bragged that he had never worn a gown that cost above ten crowns； nor had
ever sent above tenpence to the market for one day's provision； and that
as to his country houses； he had not one that was rough…cast on the
outside。
Scipio AEmilianus； after two triumphs and two consulships； went an
embassy with no more than seven servants in his train。 'Tis said that
Homer had never more than one； Plato three； and Zeno； founder of the sect
of Stoics； none at all。 Tiberius Gracchus was allowed but fivepence
halfpenny a day when employed as public minister about the public
affairs； and being at that time the greatest man of Rome。
CHAPTER LIII
OF A SAYING OF CAESAR
If we would sometimes bestow a little consideration upon ourselves； and
employ the time we spend in prying into other men's actions； and
discovering things without us； in examining our own abilities we should
soon perceive of how infirm and decaying material this fabric of ours is
composed。 Is it not a singular testimony of imperfection that we cannot
establish our satisfaction in any one thing； and that even our own fancy
and desire should deprive us of the power to choose what is most proper
and useful for us？ A very good proof of this is the great dispute that
has ever been amongst the philosophers； of finding out man's sovereign
good； that continues yet； and will eternally continue； without solution
or accord：
〃Dum abest quod avemus； id exsuperare videtur
Caetera； post aliud； quum contigit illud； avemus；
Et sitis aequa tenet。〃
＇〃While that which we desire is wanting； it seems to surpass all the
rest； then； when we have got it； we want something else； 'tis ever
the same thirst〃Lucretius； iii。 1095。
Whatever it is that falls into our knowledge and possession； we find that
it satisfies not； and we still pant after things to come and unknown；
inasmuch as those present do not suffice for us； not that； in my
judgment； they have not in them wherewith to do it； but because we seize
them with an unruly and immoderate haste：
〃Nam quum vidit hic； ad victum qux flagitat usus；
Et per quae possent vitam consistere tutam；
Omnia jam ferme mortalibus esse parata；
Divitiis homines； et honore； et laude potentes
Aflluere； atque bona natorum excellere fama；
Nec minus esse domi cuiquam tamen anxia corda；
Atque animi ingratis vitam vexare querelis
Causam； quae infestis cogit saevire querelis；
Intellegit ibi； vitium vas efficere ipsum；
Omniaque； illius vitio； corrumpier intus；
Qux collata foris et commoda quomque venirent。〃
＇〃For when he saw that almost all things necessarily required for
subsistence； and which may render life comfortable； are already
prepared to their hand； that men may abundantly attain wealth；
honour； praise； may rejoice in the reputation of their children； yet
that； notwithstanding； every one has none the less in his heart and
home anxieties and a mind enslaved by wearing complaints； he saw
that the vessel itself was in fault； and that all good things which
were brought into it from without were spoilt by its own
imperfections。〃Lucretius； vi。 9。＇
Our appetite is irresolute and fickle； it can neither keep nor enjoy
anything with a good grace： and man concluding it to be the fault of the
things he is possessed of； fills himself with and feeds upon the idea of
things he neither knows nor understands； to which he devotes his hopes
and his desires； paying them all reverence and honour； according to the
saying of Caesar：
〃Communi fit vitio naturae； ut invisis； latitantibus
atque incognitis rebus magis confidamas；
vehementiusque exterreamur。〃
＇〃'Tis the common vice of nature； that we at once repose most
confidence； and receive the greatest apprehensions； from things
unseen； concealed； and unknown。〃De Bello Civil； xi。 4。＇
CHAPTER LIV
OF VAIN SUBTLETIES
There are a sort of little knacks and frivolous subtleties from which men
sometimes expect to derive reputation and applause： as poets； who compose
whole poems with every line beginning with the same letter； we see the
shapes of eggs； globes； wings； and hatchets cut out by the ancient Greeks
by the measure of their verses； making them longer or shorter； to
represent such or such a figure。 Of this nature was his employment who
made it his business to compute into how many several orders the letters
of the alphabet might be transposed； and found out that incredible number
mentioned in Plutarch。 I am mightily pleased with the humour of him；
＇〃Alexander； as may be seen in Quintil。； Institut。 Orat。； lib。
ii。； cap。 20； where he defines Maratarexvia 'to be a certain
unnecessary imitation o