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THE SECOND BOOKE 315
measures: there remaines nothing hut the skill and
sufficiency to know how to turne and winde the same.
How well soever a Judge meaneth, and what good
mind so ever he beareth, if diligent care be not given
unto him (to which few ammuse themselves) his inclination
unto friendship, unto kindred, unto beauty, and
unto revenge, and not onely matters of so weighty
consequence, but this innated and casual instinct which
makes us to favour one thing more than another,
and encline to one man more than to another, and
which, without any leave or reason, giveth us the
choice in two like subjects, or some shadow of like
vanity, may insensibly insinuate in his judgment the
commendation and applause, or disfavour and disallowance
of a cause, and give the ballance a twitch.
I that nearest prie into my selfe, and who have mine
eyes uncessantly fixt upon me as one that hath not
much else to do else where,
quis sub Arcto
Hex gclidce metuatur orce,
Quid Tip idatem terreat) vnick
Secui us,¹
Onely secure, who in cold coast
Under the North-pole rules the rofet,
And there is fear'd or what would fright,
And Tyridates put to flight,
dare very hardly report the vanity and weaknesse I
feele in my selfe. My foot is so staggering and unstable,
and I finde it so ready to trip, and so easie to stumble;
and my sight is so dimme and uncertaine that fasting
I finde my selfe other than full fed. If my health
applaud me, or but the calmenesse of one faire day
smile upon me, then am I a lusty gallant; but if a
corne wring my toe, then am I pouting, unpleasant
and hard to be pleased. One same pace of a horse is
sometimes hard and sometimes easie unto me; and one
same way, one time short, another time long and wearisome
; and one same forme, now more, now lesse agreeable
and pleasing to mee: sometimes I am apt to doe
1 HOR. l.i. Od. xxvi. 3,