OF EXPENSE.                              165

like. But all these things are graceful in a friend's
mouth which are blushing in a man's own. So,
again, a man's person hath many proper relations
which he cannot put off. A man cannot speak to
his son but as a father, to his wife but as a husband,
to his enemy but upon terms ; whereas a friend may
speak as the case requires, and not as it sorteth with
the person. But to enumerate these things were
endless. I have given the rule where a man cannot
fitly play his own part. If he have not a friend, he
may quit the stage.
 

XXVIII.

OF EXPENSE.

Riches are for spending ; and spending for honour
and good actions. Therefore extraordinary expense
must be limited by the worth of the occasion ; for
voluntary  undoing   may be   as  well   for   a   man's