ACTION, ETC., IN SPEECH.

1. It is neceffary to use a steadfast countenance, not wavering with action, as in moving the head or hand too much, which fheweth a fantastical, light and fickle operation of the spirit, and confequently like mind as gefture; only it is fufficient, with leifure, to use a modest action in either. (Civil Converfation.)

2. In all kinds of fpeech, either pleasant, grave, fevere, or ordinary, it is convenient to speak leifurely, and rather drawingly than haftily; because hafty fpeech confounds the memory, and oftentimes, befides unfeemlinefs, drives a man either to a non-plufs or unfeemly ftammering, harping upon that which fhould follow; whereas a flow speech confirmeth the memory, addeth a conceit of wifdom to the

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hearers, befides a feemliness of speech and countenance. (Ibid.)

3. To ufe many circumftances ere you come to the matter is wearifome, and to use none at all is but blunt. (Ibid.)

4. Bashfulness is a great hindrance to a man, both of uttering his conceit and understanding what is propounded unto him; wherefore it is good to press himfelf forward with difcretion, both in fpeech and company of the better fort. (Ibid.)

ADVERSITY.

The virtue of Profperity is temperance; the virtue of Adverfity is fortitude, which in morals is the more heroical virtue. Profperity is the bleffing of the Old Teftament; Adverfity is the bleffing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction and the clearer revelation of God's favour. Yet even in the Old Teftament, if you liften to David's harp, you ftill hear as many hearfe-like airs as carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more

in defcribing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distates; and Adverfity is not without comforts and hopes. (Esays, 1625, v.)

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ANGER.

To feek to extinguish Anger utterly is but a bravery of the Stoics. We have better oracles: 'Be angry but fin not. Let not the fun go down upon your anger.' (Eays, 1625, lvii.)

APOPHTHEGMS.

Apophthegms ferve not for pleasure only and ornament, but also for action and business; being, as one called them, mucrones verborum-speeches with a point or edge, whereby knots in bufinefs are pierced and fevered. And as former occafions are continually recurring, that which ferved once will often serve again, either produced as a man's own or cited as of ancient authority. Nor can there

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be any doubt of the utility in business of a thing which [Julius] Cæfar the Dictator thought worthy of his own labour whofe collection I wifh had been preserved; for as for any others. that we have in this kind, but little judgment has, in my opinion, been used in the selection. (Advancement of Learning, 1623.)

Cicero pithily calls them [apophthegms] falinas, falt-pits, that you may extract falt out of and fprinkle it where you will. They ferve to be introduced in continued fpeech. They ferve to be recited upon occafion of themselves. They serve if you take out the kernel of them and make them your own. (Apophthegms, 1625.)

Thirteen Selected Examples of Apophthegms.

1. My lord of Effex, at the fuccour of Rouen, made 24 knights, which at that time was a great matter. Divers of these gentlemen were of weak and small means, which when Queen Elizabeth heard, she said: 'My lord might have

done well to have built his alms-house before he made his knights.' (Ibid.)

2. Bishop Latimer said in a fermon at Court, 'That he heard great speech that the King was poor, and many ways were propounded to make him rich: for his part, he had thought of one way, which was, that they should help the King to fome good office, for all his officers were rich.' (Ibid.)

3. Sir Thomas More had only daughters at the first, and his wife did ever pray for a boy. At laft he had a boy, which after, at man's years, proved fimple. Sir Thomas faid to his wife: Thou prayedft fo long for a boy that he will be a boy as long as he lives.' (Ibid.)

4. Jack Ruberts was defired by his tailor, when the reckoning grew fomewhat high, to have a bill of his hand. Ruberts faid: 'I am content, but you muft let no man know it.' When the tailor brought him the bill, he tore it as in choler, and faid to him: You use me not well; you promised me nobody fhould know it, and here you have put on, Be it known unto all men by these prefents.' (Ibid.)