Chapter iii. 20.  Lors que vous addresserez des lettres a des personnes qui seront dans l’estime publique; vous vous gouuernerez aupres d’eux, selon la coustume du pays & le degre de leur dignite.  Quand vous aurez acheue vos lettres, relisez-les, pour en oster les fautes; mettez de la poudre sur l’escriture, lors qu’il en sera besoin & ne pliez iamais vostre papier que les characteres ne soient bien desechez, de crainte qu’ils ne s’effacent.

In addressing letters to persons held in public esteem, you will be regulated by the Customs of the country and the degree of their dignity.  When you have finished your letters, read them over again so as to correct mistakes; sand the writing, when necessary, and never fold your paper until the letters are quite dry, lest they be effaced.

40th.  Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty

Hawkins ii. 20.  Strive not with thy Superiours, in argument or discourse, but alwayes submit thy opinion to their riper judgment, with modesty; since the possibility of Erring, doth rather accompany greene than gray hairs.

41st.  Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself Professes; it flavours of arrogancy.

     Hawkins ii. 21.  Doe not undertake to teach thy equal, in the Art
     himself professeth, for that will savour of Arrogancy, and serve
     for little other than to brand thy judgment with Rashnesse.

(Nothing has been found in the French Maxims resembling Rule 41.  Walker has the following:  “Cautious also must be he who discourseth even of that he understands amongst persons of that profession:  an affectation that more Scholars than wise men are guilty of; I mean to discourse with every man in his own faculty; except it be by asking questions and seeming to learn” (p. 266)).

[42d.  Let your ceremonies in] curtesie be proper to the Dignity of his place [with whom you converse; it is absurd to ac]t ye same with a Clown and a Prince.

     Hawkins ii. 22.  Let thy Seremonyes in Courtesy be proper to the
     dignity and place, of him with whom thou conversest.  For it is
     absurd to honour a Clown with words courtly and of magnificence.

43d.  Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery

Hawkins ii. 23.  Do not thou expresse joy before one sick, or in paine; for that contrary passion, will aggravate his misery.  But do thou rather sympathize his infirmityes, for that will afford a gratefull easement, by a seeming participation.

44th.  When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.