become in the end themselves Sacrifices to the Inconftancy of Fortune, whofe Wings they thought by their Self-Wisdom to have pinioned.

XXIV. Of Innovations.'

S the Births of Living Creatures at first are il fhapen, fo are all Innovations which are the Births of Time; yet

notwithstanding, as thofe that firft bring Honour into their Family are commonly more worthy than most that fucceed; fo the first Precedent (if it be good) is feldom attained by Imitation. For Ill to Man's Nature, as it ftands perverted, hath a natural Motion, strongest in continuance but Good, as a forced Motion, ftrongeft at firft. Surely every Medicine is an Innovation; and he that will not apply new Remedies, muft expect new Evils; for Time is the greatest Innovator: and if Time of courfe alter Things to the worse, and Wisdom and Counsel shall not alter them to the better, what fhall be the End? It is true, that what is fettled by Custom, though it be not good, yet at least it is fit; and thofe Things which have long gone together are, as it were, confederate within themselves; whereas new Things piece not fo well; but though they help by their utility, yet they trouble, by their Inconformity. Befides, they are like Strangers, more admired,

1 See Antitheta, No. 40.

and lefs favoured. All this is true, if Time ftood ftill; which, contrariwife, moveth fo round, that a froward Retention of Cuftom is as turbulent a Thing, as an Innovation; and they that reverence too much Old Times are but a Scorn to the New. It were good, therefore, that Men in their Innovations would follow the Example of Time itself, which indeed Innovateth greatly, but quietly and by degrees fcarce to be perceived: for otherwise, whatsoever is new is unlooked for; and ever it mends fome and pairs' other: and he that is holpen takes it for a Fortune, and thanks the Time; and he that is hurt for a wrong, and imputeth it to the Author. It is good alfo not to try Experiments in States, except the Neceffity be urgent, or the Utility evident; and well to beware that it be the Reformation that draweth on the Change, and not the defire of Change that pretendeth the Reformation. And lastly, that the Novelty, though it be not rejected, yet be held for a Sufpect and, as the Scripture faith, That we make a ftand upon the Ancient Way, and then look about us, and difcover, what is the ftraight and right way, and fo to walk in it.

2

1 Pairs, i. e. impairs. 2 Jerem. vi. 16. Cf. Adv. of L. L. iv. I.

xxv. Of Difpatch.'

FFECTED Difpatch is one of the most dangerous things to Bufinefs that can be. It is like that which the Phyficians call Predigeftion, or Hafty Digeftion; which is fure to fill the Body full of Crudities, and fecret Seeds of Diseases. Therefore measure no Dispatch by the Times of Sitting, but by the Advancement of the Bufinefs. And as in Races it is not the large Stride, or High Lift, that makes the Speed; fo in Business the Keeping close to the matter, and not Taking of it too much at once, procureth Difpatch. It is the Care of fome only to come off speedily for the time; or to contrive fome false Periods of Bufinefs, because they may feem Men of Dispatch. But it is one Thing to abbreviate by contracting, another by cutting off: and Bufinefs fo handled at feveral Sittings or Meetings, goeth commonly backward and forward, in an unfteady Manner. I knew a wife Man that had it for a By-word, when he faw Men haften to a conclufion, Stay a little, that we may make an End the fooner.

On the other fide, true Difpatch is a rich Thing. For Time is the measure of Bufinefs, as Money is of Wares and Business is bought at a dear Hand where there is fmall Difpatch. The Spartans and

1 See Antitheta, No. 27.

2 Sir Amias Paulet, See Apophthegmata, No. 76.

Spaniards have been noted to be of fmall Dispatch; Mi venga la Muerte de Spagna, Let my Death come from Spain, for then it will be fure to be long in coming.3

Give good Hearing to those that give the first Information in Bufinefs; and rather direct them in the beginning than interrupt them in the continuance of their Speeches: for he that is put out of his own Order will go forward and backward, and be more tedious while he waits upon his Memory, than he could have been if he had gone on in his own courfe. But fometimes it is seen that the Moderator is more troublesome than the Actor.

Iterations are commonly lofs of Time; but there is no fuch gain of Time as to iterate often the State of the Question; for it chafeth away many a Frivolous Speech as it is coming forth. Long and curious Speeches are as fit for Difpatch as a Robe or Mantle with a long Train is for Race. Prefaces, and Paffages, and Excufations, and other Speeches of Reference to the Perfon, are great wastes of Time; and though they seem to proceed of Modefty, they are Bravery. Yet beware of being too Material when there is any Impediment or Obftruction in Men's Wills; for Pre-occupation of Mind ever requireth preface of Speech, like a Fomentation to make the unguent enter.

Above all things, Order, and Distribution, and Singling out of Parts, is the life of Dispatch; so

The dilatory character of the Spaniards was notorious. See Bayle; Penfées fur les Comètes, § 243. For the fame character of the Spartans, fee Thucyd. i. 70. 84.

as the Distribution be not too fubtile: for he that doth not divide will never enter well into Business ; and he that divideth too much will never come out of it clearly. To choose Time is to fave Time; and an unfeasonable Motion is but beating the Air. There be three Parts of Business: the Preparation; the Debate or Examination; and the Perfection. Whereof, if you look for Dispatch, let the Middle only be the Work of Many, and the First and Laft the Work of Few. The Proceeding upon fomewhat conceived in Writing doth for the moft part facilitate Difpatch: for though it should be wholly rejected, yet that Negative is more pregnant of Direction than an Indefinite; as Ashes are more generative than Duft.

XXVI. Of Seeming Wise.

T hath been an Opinion, that the French are wiser than they feem, and the Spaniards feem wifer than they are.

But howfoever it be between Nations, certainly it is fo between Man and Man. For as the Apostle faith of Godliness; Having a fhew of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof;1 fo certainly there are in Points of Wisdom and Sufficiency that do nothing or little very folemnly; Magno conatu Nugas. It is a ridiculous Thing, and fit for a Satire, to Persons of Judgement, to see 2 Terent. Heaut. iii. 5. 8.

1 2 Timoth. iii. 5.