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Essay XII: Of Boldness
Essay XII: Of Boldness
It is a trivial grammar-school text, but yet worthy a wise man`s
consideration. Question was asked of Demosthenes, what was the chief part of
an orator? he answered, action; what next? action; what next again? action. He
said it that knew it best, and had by nature himself no advantage in that he
commended. A strange thing, that that part of an orator which is but
superficial, and rather the virtue of a player, should be placed so high,
above those other noble parts of invention, elocution, and the rest; nay
almost alone, as if it were all in all. But the reason is plain. There is in
human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise; and therefore those
faculties by which the foolish part of men`s minds is taken are most potent.
Wonderful like is the case of boldness in civil business: what first?
boldness; what second and third? boldness. And yet boldness is a child of
ignorance and baseness, far inferior to other parts. But nevertheless it doth
fascinate and bind hand and foot those that are either shallow in judgment or
weak in courage, which are the greatest part; yea and prevaileth with wise men
at weak times. Therefore we see it hath done wonders in popular states; but
with senates and princes less; and more ever upon the first entrance of bold
persons into action than soon after; for boldness is an ill keeper of promise.
Surely as there are mountebanks ^1 for the natural body, so are there
mountebanks for the politic body; men that undertake great cures, and perhaps
have been lucky in two or three experiments, but want the grounds of science,
and therefore cannot hold out. Nay, you shall see a bold fellow many times do
Mahomet`s miracle. Mahomet made the people believe that he would call an hill
to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers, for the observers of his
law. The people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and
again; and when the hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said,
If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill. So these
men, when they have promised great matters and failed most shamefully, yet (if
they have the perfection of boldness) they will but slight it over, and make a
turn, and no more ado. Certainly to men of great judgment, bold persons are a
sport to behold; nay and to the vulgar also, boldness has somewhat of the
ridiculous. For if absurdity be the subject of laughter, doubt you not but
great boldness is seldom without some absurdity. Especially it is a sport to
see, when a bold fellow is out of countenance; for that puts his face into a
most shrunken and wooden posture; as needs it must; for in bashfulness the
spirits do a little go and come; but with bold men, upon like occasion, they
stand at a stay; like a stale at chess, where it is no mate, but yet the game
cannot stir. But this last were fitter for a satire than for a serious
observation. This is well to be weighed; that boldness is ever blind; for it
seeth not dangers and inconveniences. Therefore it is ill in counsel, good in
execution; so that the right use of bold persons is, that they never command
in chief, but be seconds, and under the direction of others. For in counsel it
is good to see dangers; and in execution not to see them, except they be very
great.
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