whom you deale with some other Discourse, That he be not too much awake to make Obiections. I knew a Counsellor and Secretary, that never came to Queene Elizabeth of England with Bills to signe, but he would alwaies first put her into some discourse of Estate,[1] that she mought[2] the lesse minde the Bills.
The like Surprize may be made by Moving[3] things, when the Party is in haste and cannot stay to consider advisedly of that is moved.[4]
If a man would crosse[5] a Businesse that he doubts[6] some other would handsomely[7] and effectually move, let him pretend to wish it well, and move it himselfe in such sort[8] as may foile it.
The breaking off, in the midst of that one was about to say, as if he tooke himselfe up,[9] breeds a greater Appetite in him with whom you conferre to know more.
And because it workes better, when any thing seemeth to be gotten from you by Question then if you offer it of your selfe, you may lay a Bait for a Question, by shewing another Visage and Countenance then you are wont; To the end, to give Occasion for the party to aske what the Matter is of the Change?[10] As Nehemias did, And I had not before that time been sad before the King.
In Things that are tender and unpleasing,[11] it is good to breake the Ice by some whose Words are of lesse weight, and to reserve the more weighty Voice[12] to come in as by chance, so that he[13] may be asked the Question upon the other's Speech. As Narcissus did, in relating to Claudius the Marriage of Messalina and Silius.
In things that a Man would not be seen in himselfe, It is a Point of Cunning to borrow the Name of the World; As to say, The World sayes, Or, There is a speech abroad.
- ↑ about affairs of state
- ↑ might
- ↑ proposing
- ↑ that which is proposed
- ↑ wants to thwart
- ↑ fears
- ↑ skilfully
- ↑ in such a fashion
- ↑ checked himself
- ↑ what is the ground for the change of countenance
- ↑ that need delicate handling and are unpleasant
- ↑ opinion
- ↑ viz. the man with the more weighty opinion
