234                                OF BEAUTY.

age ; such as is a fluent and luxuriant speech, which
becomes youth well, but not age : so Tully saith of
Hortensius : Idem manebat, neque idem decebat.
The third Is of such as take too high a strain at the
first ; and are magnanimous more than tract of years
can uphold ; as was Scipio Africanus, of whom
Livy saith in effect. Ultima primis cedebant.
 

XLIII.
 

OF BEAUTY.
 

Virtue Is like a rich stone, best plain set ; and
surely virtue is best in a body that is comely, though
not of delicate features, and that hath rather dignity
of presence than beauty of aspect. Neither is it
almost seen that very beautiful persons are otherwise
of great virtue, as if nature were rather busy not to
err than in labour to produce excellency ; and there¬
fore they prove accomplished, but not of great spirit,
and study rather behaviour than virtue.    But this