1. Re-write the Essay, giving all the thoughts, but in language adapted to our own times, distributing the matter into paragraphs.

2. Is it strictly correct to speak of Time as an innovator? How is the phrase to be understood?

3. What proverbial sayings are apparently opposed to each other in respect to Innovations?

4. What is said of those who appeal to the practice of ancestors as a sufficient reason for perpetuating old things?

5. Whately's illustration of the changes made by Time? His advice as to the best method of reforms? What about self-reform?

6. Point out words or phrases now obsolete, or changed in meaning.

ESSAY XIII.

SEEMING WISE.

IT hath been an opinion, that the French are [1] wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are; but howsoever it be between nations, certainly it is so between man and man; for, as the

[1.] And the: What is to be supplied? Substitute the modern form.

the proper synonyme. trifles with great effort.'

Howsoever : It be: What to be supplied? Points: Is the plural form necesSynonyme?

Solemnly: Give

Magno, &c.: (i. e. '[perform] [Ita certe inveniuntur nonnulli,

qui nugantur solenniter, cum prudentes minime sint: Magno, &c.-Lat. Ed.]

We are here reminded of Bacon's sovereign, James I, whose character and manners are admirably drawn by Sir Walter Scott, in the 'Fortunes of Nigel,' especially in Chapter V.-' He was deeply learned, without possessing useful knowledge; sagacious in many individual cases, without having real wisdom; fond of his power, and desirous to maintain and augment it, yet willing to resign the direction of that, and of himself, to the most unworthy favorites; a big and bold asserter of his rights in words, yet one who tamely saw them trampled on in deeds; a lover of negotiations, in which he was always outwitted; and a fearer of war, where conquest might have been easy. He was fond of his dignity, while he was perpetually degrading it by undue familiarity; capable of much public labor, yet often neglecting it for the meanest amusement; a wit, though a pedant; and a scholar though fond of the conversation of the ignorant and uneducated. Even his timidity of temper was not uniform; and there were moments of his life, and those critical, in which he showed the spirit of his ancestors. He was laborious in trifles, and a trifler where serious labor was required; devout in his sentiments, and yet profane in his language; just

apostle saith of godliness, "Having a show of godliness, but denying the power thereof;" so certainly there are, in points of wisdom and sufficiency, that do nothing or [2] little very solemnly: "magno conatu nugas." It is a ridiculous thing, and fit for a satire to persons of judgment, to see what shifts these formalists have, and what prospectives to make superficies to seem body that [3] hath depth and bulk. Some are so close and reserved, as they will not show their wares but by a dark light, and seem always to keep back somewhat ; and when they know within themselves they speak of that they do not well know, would nevertheless seem to others to know of that which they may not well speak.

and beneficent by nature, he yet gave way to the iniquities and oppression of others. He was penurious respecting money which he had to give from his own hand, yet inconsiderately and unboundedly profuse of that which he did not see. In a word, those good qualities which displayed themselves in particular cases and occasions, were not of a nature sufficiently firm and comprehensive to regulate his general conduct; and, showing themselves as they occasionally did, only entitled James to the character bestowed on him by Sully-that he was the wisest fool in Christendom.'

[2.] Fit for a satire: Paraphrase the clause. contrivances.

Shifts:

Formalists: a word here descriptive of persons who seem what they are not. Compare with the phrase in the last sentence of the Essay.

now obsolete, meaning perspective glasses.

Prospectives: a word

"Of quaint mirrours, and of prospectives."—Chaucer.

[3.] As: What does modern usage require in its place? Dark light: Too much like a contradiction. Name the pro

per word to take the place of dark. word should precede this?

a proper substitute.

They speak: What

That: Supply ellipsis, or give May: What would be more proper?

Well: safely. [Tuto loqui.-Lat. Ed.]

66

Some help themselves with countenance and ges- [4] ture, and are wise by signs; as Cicero saith of Piso, that when he answered him he fetched one of his brows up to his forehead, and bent the other down to his chin: 'respondes, altero ad frontem sublato, altero ad mentum depresso supercilio, crudelitatem tibi non placere." Some think to bear it by speaking a great word, [5] and being peremptory; and go on, and take by admittance that which they cannot make good. Some, [6] whatsoever is beyond their reach will seem to despise, or make light of it, as impertinent or curious; and so would have their ignorance seem judgment. Some [7]

:

:

[4.] With: By, is a better word here. Saith in Piso 6. Respondes, &c. You answer, with one eyebrow lifted to the forehead, and with the other depressed to the chin, that cruelty is not agreeable to you.' Piso: There were many distinguished Romans bearing this name. The one here referred to was L. Calpurnius Piso, father-in-law of Cæsar, and consul B. C. 58. He was the subject of one of Cicero's severest speeches, in which the life and conduct of this man are painted in the darkest colors.

[5.] To bear it: to manage it; to bear sway; to carry their point.

"W'ell direct her how 'tis best to bear it."-Shak.

Peremptory: Synonyme?

Admittance: now obsolete in

the sense here used, that of concession, or assent; as, the admittance of an argument.-Browne.

valent? [Probare non possunt.-Lat. Ed.]

[6.] Impertinent: irrelevant.

"Without the which, this story

Were most impertinent."—Shak.

Curious: over-nice, subtile, precise.

Make good: Equi

"With a more curious discrimination."-Holden.

[7.] Difference: distinction; disagreement in opinion. Blanch: evade. A man horribly cheats his own soul, who

are never without a difference, and commonly by amusing men with a subtilty, blanch the matter; of whom A. Gellius saith, "hominem delirum, qui verborum [8] minutiis rerum frangit pondera." Of which kind also, Plato in his Protagoras, bringeth in Prodicus in scorn, and maketh him make a speech that consisteth [9] of distinctions from beginning to the end. Generally such men in all deliberations, find ease to be of the negative side, and affect a credit to object and foretell difficulties; for when propositions are denied, there is an end of them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a new work; which false point of wisdom is the bane of [10] business. To conclude, there is no decaying merchant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have to maintain the credit of their sufficiency. [11] Seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion;

upon any pretence whatever, forsakes or blanches the true principles of religion.'-Goodman. Hominem, &c.: 'A senseless man who fritters away weighty matters by trifling with words.'

[9.] Plato: Protag. 1: 337. Find ease, &c.: Find it easier to make difficulties and objections than to originate.-D. Affect, &c. Seek to gain credit or reputation from proposing scruples or predicting difficulties. Denied: rejected. [Etenim cum id quod proponitur, penitus rejicitur, nil ultra restat agendum; sin probatur, nova indiget opera.-Lat. Ed.]

Point: kind. [Quod prudentiæ genus spurium negotia prorsus perdit.-Lat. Ed.] As these, &c. As these persons destitute of true wisdom, employ for maintaining a reputation for wisdom. [Ad prudentiæ suæ opinionem tuendam.-Lat. Ed.]

[10.] Decaying: Is there any figure in this word?

Inward beggar: a bankrupt, but not so outwardly, or to appearance; one really but secretly a bankrupt. Make the necessary correction.

Their: