DISCOVERIES.] From the fol. 1641. These are among 66 the last drops of Jonson's quill." A few occasional remarks of an early date may, perhaps, be found here; but there is internal evidence that the greater number of them were made subsequently to 1630, when he was prest by extremities, and struggling with want and disease for breath.

Those who derive all their knowledge of Jonson from the commentators on Shakspeare, will not (if they should condescend to open these pages,) be unprofitably employed in comparing the manly tone, the strong sense, the solid judgment, the extensive learning, the compressed yet pure and classical diction of the declining poet, with the dull, cold, jejune, pompous and parasitical pedantry of Hurd and others, whom they have been called on to admire, principally, as it should seem, for the supercilious and captious nature of their criticisms on his labours.

EXPLORATA:

OR

DISCOVERIES.

Fortuna.-Ill fortune never crush'd that man, whom good fortune deceived not. I therefore have counselled my friends, never to trust to her fairer side, though she seemed to make peace with them but to place all things she gave them, so as she might ask them again without their trouble; she might take them from them, not pull them; to keep always a distance between her, and themselves. He knows not his own strength, that hath not met adversity. Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man. Contraries are not mixed. Yet, that which happens to any man, may to every man. But it is in his reason what he accounts it, and will make it.

Casus. Change into extremity is very frequent, and easy. As when a beggar suddenly grows rich, he commonly becomes a prodigal; for to obscure his former obscurity, he puts on riot and excess.

Consilia.-No man is so foolish, but may give

another good counsel sometimes; and no man is so wise, but may easily err, if he will take no others counsel, but his own. But very few men are wise by their own counsel; or learned by their own teaching. For he that was only taught by himself, had a fool to his master.

Fama. A Fame that is wounded to the world, would be better cured by another's apology, than its own for few can apply medicines well themselves. Besides, the man that is once hated, both his good, and his evil deeds oppress him. He is not easily emergent.

Negotia. In great affairs it is a work of difficulty to please all. And oft-times we lose the occasion of carrying a business well, and thoroughly, by our too much haste. For passions are spiritual rebels, and raise sedition against the understanding.

Amor Patria.-There is a necessity all men should love their country: he that professeth the contrary, may be delighted with his words, but his heart is there.

Ingenia.-Natures that are hardened to evil you shall sooner break, than make straight; they are like poles that are crooked and dry; there is no attempting them.

Applausus. We praise the things we hear, with much more willingness, than those we see; because we envy the present, and reverence the past; thinking ourselves instructed by the one, and over-laid by the other.

Opinio.-Opinion is a light, vain, crude, and imperfect thing, settled in the imagination; but never arriving at the understanding, there to obtain the tincture of reason. We labour with it more than truth There is much more holds us, than presseth us. An ill fact is one thing, an ill fortune is another: yet both oftentimes sway us alike, by the error of our thinking.

Impostura.-Many men believe not themselves, what they would persuade others; and less do the things, which they would impose on others: but least of all, know what they themselves most confidently boast. Only they set the sign of the cross over their outer doors, and sacrifice to their gut and their groin in their inner closets.

Jactura vita.-What a deal of cold business doth a man mispend the better part of life in! in scattering compliments, tendering visits, gathering and venting news, following feasts and plays, making a little winter-love in a dark

corner.

Hypocrita-Puritanus hypocrita est hæreticus, quem opinio propria perspicacia, quâ sibi videtur, cum paucis in ecclesia dogmatibus, errores quosdam animadvertisse, de statu mentis deturbavit : unde sacro furore percitus, phrenetice pugnat contra magistratus, sic ratus obedientiam prastare Deo.

Mutua auxilia.-Learning needs rest: sovereignty gives it. Sovereignty needs counsel: learning affords it. There is such a consociation of offices, between the prince and whom his favour breeds, that they may help to sustain his power, as he their knowledge. It is the greatest

part of his liberality, his favour: and from whom doth he hear discipline more willingly, or the arts discours'd more gladly, than from those whom his own bounty, and benefits have made able and faithful?

Cognit. univers.-In being able to counsel others, a man must be furnished with an universal store in himself, to the knowledge of all nature: that is the matter, and seed plot; there are the seats of all argument, and invention. But especially you must be cunning in the nature of man: there is the variety of things which are as the elements, and letters, which his art and wisdom must rank, and order to the present occasion. For we see not all letters in single words; nor all places in particular discourses. That cause seldom happens, wherein a man will use all arguments.

Consiliarii adjunct. Probitas, Sapientia.-The two chief things that give a man reputation in counsel, are the opinion of his honesty, and the opinion of his wisdom: the authority of those two will persuade, when the same counsels uttered by other persons less qualified, are of no efficacy, or working.

Vita recta.-Wisdom without honesty is mere craft, and cozenage. And therefore the reputation of honesty must first be gotten; which cannot be but by living well. A good life is a main argument.

Obsequentia-Humanitas.-Solicitudo.-Next a good life, to beget love in the persons we counsel, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in