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Bee not censorious, for thou know'st not whom thou judgest; it is a more dextrous errour to speak well of an evill man than ill of a good man.

Hath any wronged thee? be bravely reveng'd: sleight it, and the work's begun; forgive it, and 't is finisht: he is below himselfe that is not above an injury.

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When thy hand hath done a good act, aske thy heart if it be well done: the matter of a good action is the deed done; the forme of a good action is the manner of the doing in the first, another hath the comfort, and thou the glory; in the other, thou hast the comfort, and God the glory that deed is ill done wherein God is no sharer. Gaze not on beauty too much, lest it blast thee; nor too long, lest it blind thee; nor too near, lest it burne thee if thou like it, it deceives thee; if thou love it, it disturbs thee if thou lust after it, it destroyes thee; if vertue accompany it, it is the heart's paradise; if vice associate it, it is the soule's purgatory: it is the wise man's bonefire, and the foole's furnace.

If thou wouldst have a good servant, let thy servant find a wise master.

Use law and physicke only for necessity; they that use them otherwise, abuse themselves into weake bodies, and light purses: they are good remedies, bad businesses, and worse recreations.

Take no pleasure in the death of a creature; if it be harmlesse or uselesse, destroy it not: if usefull, or harmefull destroy it mercifully: he that mercifully made his creatures for thy sake, expects thy mercy upon them for his sake.

Give not thy tongue too great a liberty, lest it take thee prisoner: A word unspoken is, like the sword in thy scabberd, thine; if vented, thy sword is in another's hand: if thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.

Seest thou good dayes? prepare for evill times: No summer but hath his winter. He never reaped comfort in adversity, that sowed it not in prosperity.

Demeane thy selfe more warily in thy study, than in the street. If thy publique actions have a hundred witnesses, thy private have a thousand. The multitude lookes but upon thy actions: thy conscience lookes into them.

Of all vices take heed of drunkennesse. Other vices make their owne way; this makes way for all vices.

If thou seest any thing in thy selfe, which may make thee proud, look a little further, and thou shalt find enough to humble thee.

If thou be ignorant, endeavour to get knowledge, lest thou be beaten with stripes: if thou hast attained knowledge, put it in practice, lest thou be beaten with many stripes.

So behave thy selfe in thy course of life, as at a banquet. Take what is offer'd with modest thankfulnesse: and expect what is not as yet offer'd with hopefull patience; let not thy rude appetite presse thee.

FRANCIS OSBORNE

(A. D. 1593-1658.)

FRANCIS OSBORNE, from whose "Advice to a Son" the following injunctions are selected, was an English gentleman of ancient family, born in the later years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who lived through the period of the Civil War, the Commonwealth, and the Protectorate, nearly until the Restoration, adopting the Parliamentary side, in opposition to his relatives. He was the author of a number of writings, among which the "Advice" received most attention. Throughout the eighteenth century it seems to have been a book that was considerably known and read. It is mentioned by Pepys, by Swift, and by Dr. Johnson. Boswell liked it; but Johnson dismissed it with a contemptuous fling. "Were a man to write so now, " said the Doctor, "the boys would throw stones at him."

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As late as 1826, we find Henry Crabb Robinson, in his "Diary," saying: "Read the first part of Osborne's 'Advice to his Son,' a book Wordsworth gave to Monkhouse, and which, therefore, I supposed to be a favorite. But I found, on inquiry, that Wordsworth likes only detached remarks, for Osborne is a mere counsellor of selfish prudence and caution."

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So recently as 1896, a new edition, "with an introduction and notes by his Honour, Judge Edward Abbott Parry, was published in London. Judge Parry speaks of the book with. the affection of one who "has spent many hours in its company and got to love the good in it and ceased to be amazed at the evil, as though it were an old friend."

His fondness is not likely to be shared by many at the present day; for there are few kernels of wisdom or wit to be picked out of much chaff in it; while the tone and the style are equally uninspiring.

SELECTIONS FROM FRANCIS OSBORNE'S "ADVICE TO A SON."

A few books well studied, and thoroughly digested, nourish the understanding more than hundreds but gargled in the mouth. . .

Follow not the tedious practice of such as seek Wisdom only in Learning. . .

The way to elegancy of style is to employ your pen upon every errand; and the more trivial and dry it is, the more brains must be allowed for sauce.

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Wear your clothes neat, exceeding rather than coming short of others of like fortune.

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Never buy but with ready money; and be drawn rather to fix where you find things cheap and good, than for friendship or acquaintance. . . . If you get nothing else by going from one shop to another, you shall gain experi

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Such as are betrayed by their easy nature, to be ordinary security for their friends, leave so little to themselves, as their liberty remains ever after arbitrary at the will of others.

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Honesty treats with the world upon such vast disadvantage, that a pen is often as useful to defend you as a sword, by making writing the witness of your contracts.

Beware . . of thinking yourself wiser or greater than you are. Pride brake the angels in Heaven, and spoils

all heads we find cracked here.

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Shun pride and baseness, as tutors to contempt, the first of others, the latter of yourself. . . .

To whisper with another, in company of your betters, is uncivil, and the more eminent the person is, the greater suspicion it raiseth.

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When you speak to any (especially of quality) look them full in the face; other gestures bewraying want of breeding, confidence, or honesty.

Impudence is no virtue, yet able to beggar them all; being for the most part in good plight when the rest

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Beware what company you keep, since example prevails more than precept.

Let your wit rather serve you for a buckler to defend yourself, by a handsome reply, than the sword to wound

others.

Be not the trumpet of your own charity, or vices; for by the one you disoblige the receiver as well as lose your reward; and by the other you alarm the censures of

men.

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