the gamesters bedesmen that pray for them.  They are somewhat like those that are cheated by great men, for they lose their money and must say nothing.  It is the best discovery of humours, especially in the losers, where you have fine variety of impatience, whilst some fret, some rail, some swear, and others more ridiculously comfort themselves with philosophy.  To give you the moral of it; it is the emblem of the world, or the world’s ambition:  where most are short, or over, or wide or wrong-biassed, and some few justle in to the mistress Fortune.  And it is here as in the court, where the nearest are most spited, and all blows aimed at the toucher.

THE WORLD’S WISE MAN

Is an able and sufficient wicked man:  It is a proof of his sufficiency that he is not called wicked, but wise.  A man wholly determined in himself and his own ends, and his instruments herein any thing that will do it.  His friends are a part of his engines, and as they serve to his works, used or laid by:  Indeed he knows not this thing of friend, but if he give you the name, it is a sign he has a plot on you.  Never more active in his businesses, than when they are mixed with some harm to others; and it is his best play in this game to strike off and lie in the place.  Successful commonly in these undertakings, because he passes smoothly those rubs which others stumble at, as conscience and the like; and gratulates himself much in this advantage.  Oaths and falsehood he counts the nearest way, and loves not by any means to go about.  He has many fine quips at this folly of plain dealing, but his “tush!” is greatest at religion; yet he uses this too, and virtue and good words, but is less dangerously a devil than a saint.  He ascribes all honesty to an unpractisedness in the world, and conscience a thing merely for children.  He scorns all that are so silly to trust[53] him, and only not scorns his enemy, especially if as bad as himself:  he fears him as a man well armed and provided, but sets boldly on good natures, as the most vanquishable.  One that seriously admires those worst princes, as Sforza, Borgia, and Richard the Third; and calls matters of deep villany things of difficulty.  To whom murders are but resolute acts, and treason a business of great consequence.  One whom two or three countries make up to this completeness, and he has travelled for the purpose.  His deepest endearment is a communication of mischief, and then only you have him fast.  His conclusion is commonly one of these two, either a great man, or hanged.

A SURGEON