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moderate Sufpicions, than to account upon Sufpicions as true, and yet to bridle them as falfe: for so far a Man ought to make use of Sufpicions as to provide, as if that should be true that he Sufpects, yet it may do him no Hurt. Sufpicions that the Mind of itself gathers are but Buzzes ; but Sufpicions that are artificially nourished, and put into Men's Heads by the Tales and Whifperings of others, have Stings. Certainly, the best Mean, to clear the Way in this fame Wood of Sufpicions is frankly to communicate them with the Party that he Suspects: for thereby he shall be fure to know more of the Truth of them than he did before; and withal shall make that Party more circumfpect, not to give further Cause of Sufpicion; but this would not be done to Men of bafe Natures for they, if they find themselves once fufpected, will never be true. The Italian fays; Sofpetto licentia fede; as if Sufpicion did give a Passport to Faith; but it ought rather to kindle3 it to discharge itself.

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2 Another form of this proverbial saying is, "Sofpetto di Tiranno fede non arma."

3 The reader will no doubt remark how Shakespearean this use of the word kindle is. Thus, in As You Like It, "Then nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither." And in Macbeth,

"That, trufted home,

Might yet enkindle you unto the crown."

XXXII. Of Difcourfe.

OME in their Difcourfe defire rather Commendation of Wit, in being able to hold all Arguments, than of Judgement in difcerning what is True: as if it were a Praife, to know what might be Said, and not what should be Thought. Some have certain Common-places and Themes, wherein they are good, and want Variety; which kind of Poverty is for the most part tedious, and when it is once perceived ridiculous. The honourableft part of Talk is to give the Occafion; and again to moderate and pass to fomewhat elfe; for then a Man leads the Dance. It is good in Difcourfe and Speech of Conversation, to vary and intermingle Speech of the prefent Occafion with Arguments; Tales with Reafons; afking of Queftions with telling of Opinions; and Jeft with Earneft: for it is a dull Thing to tire, and, as we fay now, to jade any thing too far. As for Jeft, there be certain Things which ought to be privileged from it; namely Religion, Matters of State, Great Perfons, any Man's prefent Business of Importance, and any Cafe that deferveth Pity. Yet there be fome that think their Wits have been afleep, except they dart out fomewhat that is piquant, and to the quick; that is a vein which would be bridled;

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Parce, Puer, ftimulis, et fortiùs utere Loris.1

And generally, Men ought to find the difference between Saltnefs and Bitterness. Certainly, he that hath a fatirical vein, as he maketh others afraid of his Wit, fo he had need be afraid of others' Memory. He that queftioneth much shall learn much, and content much; but especially if he apply his Questions to the Skill of the Persons whom he asketh; for he shall give them occafion to please themselves in speaking, and himself shall continually gather Knowledge. But let his Questions not be troublesome, for that is fit for a Pofer; and let him be fure to leave other Men their Turns to speak. Nay, if there be any that would reign and take up all the time, let him find means to take them off, and to bring others on; as Muficians ufe to do with those that dance too long Galliards. If you diffemble fometimes your knowledge of that you are thought to know, you shall be thought another time to know that you know not. Speech of a Man's Self ought to be seldom, and well chofen. I knew One, was wont to say in scorn, He must needs be a Wife Man, he fpeaks fo much of Himself; and there is but one Cafe wherein a Man may commend himfelf with good Grace, and that is in commending Virtue in another; especially if it be such a Virtue whereunto himself pretendeth. Speech of Touch towards others fhould be sparingly used;

1 Ovid. Met. ii. 127.

2 The Galliard was a light fprightly dance, as its name implies, and then much in fashion.

for Difcourfe ought to be as a Field, without coming home to any Man. I knew two Noblemen, of the Weft Part of England, whereof the one was given to fcoff, but kept ever royal Cheer in his House, the other, would afk of thofe that had been at the other's Table, Tell truly, was there never a Flout or dry Blow given? to which the Guest would anfwer, Such and fuch a Thing paled. The Lord would fay, I thought he would mar a good Dinner. Difcretion of Speech, is more than Eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal, is more than to speak in good Words, or in good Order. A good continued Speech, without a good Speech of Interlocution, fhows Slowness; and a good Reply, or fecond Speech, without a good fettled Speech, fheweth Shallowness and Weakness. As we fee in Beafts, that those that are weakest in the Course, are yet nimbleft in the Turn; as it is betwixt the Greyhound, and the Hare. To ufe too many Circumstances, ere one come to the Matter, is wearifome; to use none at all, is blunt.

XXXIII. Of Plantations.'

LANTATIONS are amongst ancient, primitive, and heroical Works. When the World was young it begat more Children; but now it is old it begets fewer for I may juftly account new Plantations

1 Plantations was then the word for Colonies.

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to be the Children of former Kingdoms. I like a Plantation in a pure Soil; that is, where People are not difplanted to the end to plant in others: for else it is rather an Extirpation than a Plantation. Planting of Countries is like Planting of Woods; for you must make account to leese almoft Twenty Years Profit, and expect your Recompenfe in the end: for the principal Thing that hath been the Deftruction of moft Plantations hath been the base and hasty Drawing of Profit in the first Years. It is true, Speedy Profit is not to be neglected, as far as may ftand with the Good of the Plantation, but no farther. It is a shameful and unbleffed Thing to take the Scum of People and wicked condemned Men to be the People with whom you Plant; and not only fo, but it fpoileth the Plantation; for they will ever live like Rogues, and not fall to work, but be lazy, and do Mischief, and spend Victuals, and be quickly weary, and then certify over to their Country to the Difcredit of the Plantation. The People wherewith you Plant ought to be Gardeners, Ploughmen, Labourers, Smiths, Carpenters, Joiners, Fishermen, Fowlers, with some few Apothecaries, Surgeons, Cooks, and Bakers. In a Country of Plantation, first look about what kind of Victual the Country yields of itself to hand; as Chesnuts, Walnuts, Pineapples, Olives, Dates, Plums, Cherries, Wild Honey, and the like, and make use of them. Then confider what Victual or Efculent Things there are, which grow speedily, and within year; as Parfnips, Carrots, Turnips, Onions,

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