14            OF CEREMONIES AND RESPECTS.

grace, and that is commending virtue in another ;
especially if it be such a virtue as whereunto him¬
self pretcndcth. Discretion of speech is more than
eloquence, and to speak a[;reeably to him with
whom vv^e deal is more than to speak in good words
or in good order. A good continued speech, with¬
out a good speech of interlocution, shows slowness ;
and a good second speech without a good set
speech shows shallowness. To use too many
circumstances ere one comes to the matter is weari-
some, and to use none at all is blunt.
 

III.
 

OF CEREMONIES AND RESPECTS.

He that is only real needeth exceeding great parts
of virtue, as the stone had need to be exceeding
rich that is set without foil ; but commonly it is in
praise as it is in gain, for as the proverb is true
that  light gains   make heavy purses, because they