the Bough[1], And yet have never a Tree for the purpose in their Gardens, as Timon had. Such Dispositions are the very Errours of Humane Nature; And yet they are the fittest Timber to make great Politiques[2] of; Like to knee[3] Timber, that is good for Ships that are ordained to be tossed, But not for Building houses that shall stand firme. The Parts and Signes of Goodnesse are many. If a Man be Gracious and Curteous to Strangers, it shewes he is a Citizen of the World, And that his Heart is no Island, cut off from other Lands, but a Continent that ioynes to them. If he be Compassionate towards the Afflictions of others, it shewes that his Heart is like the noble Tree, that is wounded it selfe when it gives the Balme. If he easily Pardons and Remits Offences, it shews that his Minde is planted above Iniuries[4], So that he cannot be shot. If he be Thankfull for small Benefits, it shewes that he weighes Men's Mindes, and not their Trash[5]. But above all, if he have St. Paul's Perfection, that he would wish to be an Anathema from Christ[6], for the Salvation of his Brethren, it shewes much of a Divine Nature, and a kinde of Conformity with Christ himselfe.
XIV
OF NOBILITY
We will speake of Nobility, first as a Portion of an Estate[7]; Then as a Condition of Particular Persons[8]. A Monarchy, where there is no Nobility at all, is ever a pure and absolute Tyranny; As that of the Turkes. For Nobility attempers[9] Soveraignty, and drawes the Eyes of the People somewhat aside from the Line Royall. But for[10] Democracies, they need it not; And they are commonly
