sometimes like Sybilla's Offer, which at first offereth the Commodity at full, then consumeth part and part, and still holdeth up[1] the Price. For Occasion (as it is in the Common verse) turneth a Bald Noddle, after she hath presented her locks in Front, and no hold taken;[2] Or at least turneth the Handle of the Bottle first to be received, and after, the Belly, which is hard to claspe. There is surely no greater Wisedome then well to time the Beginnings and Onsets of Things. Dangers are no more light,[3] if they once seeme light: And more dangers have deceived Men then forced them.[4] Nay, it were better to meet some Dangers halfe way, though they come nothing[5] neare, then to keepe too long a watch upon their Approaches; For if a Man watch too long, it is odds he will fall asleepe. On the other side, to be deceived with too long Shadowes, (As some have beene, when the Moone was low, and shone on their Enemies backe), And so to shoot off before the time; Or to teach dangers to come on by over early Buckling towards them,[6] is another Extreme. The Ripenesse or Unripenesse of the Occasion (as we said) must ever be well weighed; And generally, it is good to commit the Beginnings of all great Actions to Argos with his hundred Eyes, And the Ends to Briareus with his hundred Hands; First to Watch and then to Speed. For the Helmet of Pluto, which maketh the Politicke Man[7] goe Invisible, is Secrecy in the Counsell, and Celerity in the Execution. For when Things are once come to the Execution, there is no Secrecy comparable to Celerity; Like the Motion of a Bullet in the Ayre, which flyeth so swift as[8] it out-runs the Eye.
