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THE SECOND BOOKE 397
selves entangled in it, wee shall not want skill how to
cloake oar sport with a good face, stearne countenance,
and bold speeches; although our heart doe quake
within us. And hee that had the use of the Platonicall
Ring, whose vertue was to make him invisible
that wore it upon his linger, if it were turned toward
the flat of the hand; many would hide themselves
when they should most make shewe of their worth,
and would be sorie to be placed in so honourable a
place where necessity may be their warrant of safetie.
FahuB honor iuvaty et mendax in/amla terret
Quem, nisi mendosum et mendacem ?¹
False honour tickles; false defame affrights,
Whom, but the faulty, and false-fierd sprights ?
See how all those judgements that men make of
outward apparences are wonderfully uncertaine and
doubtful], and there is no man so sure a testimony,
as every man is to himselfe: How many horse-boyes
have we in them as parteners and companions of our
glory ? lie that keepes his stand in an open trench,
what doth he more, but divers poore pioners doe as
much before him, who open the way for him, and with
their bodies shelter him for poore sixpence a day, and
happily for lesse ?
non quicquid turbida Itoma
Elevet) accedasy cxamenque improbum in ilia
Casttges trutmdy nec te quasswens extra. 2
If troublous Rome set ought at naught, make you not one,
Nor chastise you unjust examination
In balance of their lode:
Nor seeke your selfe abrode.
We call that a magnifying of our name, to extend
and disperse the same in many mouthes; we will have
it to be received in good part, and that its increase
redound to his benefit: this is al that is most excusable
in its desseigne. But the infirmity of its excesse
proceeds so farre that many labour to have the world
speake of them, howsoever it be. Trogus Pompeius
¹ HOR. 1. i. Epist, xvi. 39. ² PERS. Sat. i. 5.