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of men who have acquired wealth and position by their own merit and self-denying effort, but whose sons, in process of time, having missed this discipline, come to inherit that wealth only to squander it, and that position only to disgrace it. 14. 'and'-even if. Cf. an. See also note 12, Essay XXIII. 15. Felicity'-i.e. Fortune (meaning good Fortune), as he calls it in every other place in the essay.

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It is notorious that one success naturally begets other successes, and this for very apparent and natural reasons, that it gives confidence to the man himself, which makes him more likely to succeed again; and that it procures for him from others the reputation of being naturally and deservedly successful, and they expect him to succeed again.

16. to decline the envy,' etc.-to lessen the envy (which others would be likely to feel against them on account of their success).

17. Thou carriest Cæsar and his fortune.'

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Julius Cæsar is reported to have said these words to a terrified pilot who was taking him across the Adriatic in his pursuit after Pompey, B.C. 48.

18. Fortunate' instead of 'Great.' Sylla assumed the former name after the magnificent triumph in which he celebrated his defeat of Mithridates, attributing his success to Hercules, to whom he paid special veneration.

19. Timotheus an illustrious Athenian general, and son of Conon. He had many successes, and passed through many dangers, and died in exile at Chalcis in Eubœa, B.C. 354. 20. 'slide-smoothness, fluency.

21. Bacon is evidently thinking of a passage in Plutarch's Lives (see note 3, Essay XVII). With the English translation of this made by Sir Thomas North in 1612, Bacon doubtless was familiar. The passage referred to is translated by North thus: 'Whosoever will compare the painful bloody wars and battles of Epaminondas and Agesilaus with the wars of Timoleon, in the which, besides equity and justice, there is also great ease and quietness, he shall find, weighing things indifferently, that they have not been Fortune's doings simply, but that they came of a most noble and fortunate courage; yet he himself doth wisely impute it unto his good hap and favourable fortune.'

Epaminondas was a Theban statesman and general. He gained the battle of Leuctra, B.C. 371, and fell at Mantinea, B.C. 362.

Agesilaus was King of Sparta, and successfully carried on a war against the Athenians and Thebans. He was utterly defeated at Leuctra, and died in Africa, B.C. 360.

Timoleon was an illustrious Greek general, born at Corinth about 400 B. C. He helped the Syracusans to regain their

liberty from the Carthaginians, and brought the whole island of Sicily into a prosperous and tranquil state. He died at Syracuse B.C. 337.

ANALYSIS OF ESSAY XL.

I. The real moulder of a man's fortune is himself.

II. Still outward accidents' may greatly assist, e.g.:

Favour.
Opportunity.

Death of others.

Occasion fitting virtue.

The folly of other people.

III. The virtues that bring forth fortune: 1. Readiness (' disemboltura ').

e.g. Livy's estimate of Cato Major.

2. Numerous little and scarce-discerned virtues :
(a.) Being thought somewhat a fool.

(b.) Being content not to seek hasty fortune.

(c.) The confidence and reputation begotten by previous

success.

IV. The true regard of fortune is to attribute it to Providence. Examples: Conon and Sylla.

And on the other hand, Timotheus.

V. It rests mainly with a man's self whether he finds his fortune smooth or not.

XLI.-OF USURY.1 (1625.)

MANY have made witty invectives 2 against Usury. They say that it is pity the devil should have God's part, which is the tithe; that the usurer is the greatest Sabbathbreaker, because his plough goeth every Sunday; that the usurer is the drone that Virgil speaketh of:

'Ignavum fucos pecus a præsepibus arcent ; '3

that the usurer breaketh the first law that was made for mankind after the fall, which was, 'in sudore vultus tui comedes panem tuum;' not 'in sudore vultûs alieni ;'4 that usurers should have orange-tawny bonnets," because they do Judaize; that it is against nature for money to beget

money, and the like. I say this only, that Usury is a concessum propter duritiem cordis :'7 for since there must be borrowing and lending, and men are so hard of heart as they will not lend freely, Usury must be permitted.

Some others have made suspicious and cunning propositions of Banks, discovery of men's estates, and other inventions; but few have spoken of Usury usefully.

It is good to set before us the incommodities and commodities of Usury, that the good may be either weighed out, or culled out; 10 and warily to provide, that, while we make forth 11 to that which is better, we meet not with that which is worse.

The discommodities of Usury, are, first, that it makes fewer merchants; for were it not for this lazy trade of Usury, money would not lie still,12 but would in great part be employed upon merchandising, which is the vena porta 13 of wealth in a state: the second, that it makes poor merchants; for as a farmer cannot husband his ground so well if he sit at a great rent, so the merchant cannot drive his trade so well, if he sit 14 at great Usury: the third is incident to the other two; and that is, the decay of customs 15 of kings, or states, which ebb or flow with merchandising: the fourth, that it bringeth the treasure of a realm or state into a few hands; for the usurer being at certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end of the game most of the money will be in the box; and ever a state flourisheth when wealth is more equally spread: the fifth, that it beats down the price of land; for the employment of money is chiefly either merchandising, or purchasing; 16 and Usury waylays both the sixth, that it doth dull and damp all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring, if it were not for this slug: the last, that it is the canker and ruin of many men's estates, which in process of time breeds a public poverty.

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On the other side, the commodities of Usury are, first, that howsoever Usury in some respect hindereth merchandising, yet in some other it advanceth it; for it is certain that the greatest part of trade is driven by young

merchants upon borrowing at interest; so as if the usurer either call in, or keep back his money, there will ensue presently a great stand 17 of trade: the second is, that were it not for this easy borrowing upon interest, men's necessities would draw upon them a most sudden undoing, 18 in that they would be forced to sell their means (be it lands or goods), far under foot,19 and so, whereas Usury doth but gnaw upon them, bad markets would swallow them quite up. As for mortgaging or pawning, it will little mend the matter: for either men will not take pawns without use, or if they do, they will look precisely for the forfeiture. 20 I remember a cruel moneyed man in the country, that would say, 'The devil take this Usury, it keeps us from forfeitures of mortgages and bonds.' The third and last is, that it is a vanity to conceive that there would be ordinary borrowing without profit; and it is impossible to conceive the number of inconveniences that will ensue, if borrowing be cramped: therefore to speak of the abolishing of Usury is idle; all states have ever had it in one kind or rate, or other; so as that opinion must be sent to Utopia. 21

To speak now of the reformation and reglement 22 of Usury, how the discommodities of it may be best avoided, and the commodities retained. It appears, by the balance of commodities and discommodities of Usury, two things are to be reconciled; the one that the tooth of Usury be grinded, that it bite not too much; the other, that there be left open a means to invite moneyed men to lend to the merchants, for the continuing and quickening of trade. This cannot be done, except you introduce two several sorts of Usury, a less and a greater; for if you reduce Usury to one low rate, it will ease the common borrower, but the merchant will be to seek 28 for money and it is to be noted, that the trade of merchandise being the most lucrative, may bear Usury at a good rate other contracts not so.

To serve both intentions, the way would be briefly thus: that there be two rates of Usury; the one free and general for all; the other under licence only to certain

persons, and in certain places of merchandising. First, therefore, let Usury in general be reduced to five in the hundred, and let that rate be proclaimed to be free and current, and let the state shut itself out to take any penalty 24 for the same; this will preserve borrowing from any general stop or dryness; this will ease infinite borrowers in the country; this will, in good part, raise the price of land, because land purchased at sixteen years' purchase will yield six in the hundred, and somewhat more, whereas this rate of interest yields but five: 25 this by like reason will encourage and edge 26 industrious and profitable improvements, because many will rather venture in that kind, than take five in the hundred, especially having been used to greater profit. Secondly, let there be certain persons licensed to lend to known merchants upon Usury, at a higher rate, and let it be with the cautions following: let the rate be, even with the merchant himself, somewhat more easy than that he used formerly to pay; for by that means all borrowers shall have some ease by this reformation, be he merchant, or whosoever; let it be no bank or common stock, but every man be master of his own money; not that I altogether mislike banks, but they will hardly be brooked, in regard of certain suspicions. Let the state be answered, 27 some small matter for the licence, and the rest left to the lender; for if the abatement be but small, it will no whit discourage the lender; for he, for example, that took before ten or nine in the hundred, will sooner descend to eight in the hundred, than give over his trade of Usury, and go from certain gains to gains of hazard. Let these licensed lenders be in number indefinite, but restrained to certain principal cities and towns of merchandising; for then they will be hardly able to colour other men's moneys 28 in the country: so as the licence of nine will not suck away the current rate of five; for no man will send his moneys far off, nor put them into unknown hands.

If it be objected that this doth in a sort authorise Usury, which before was in some places but permissive;

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