ugh for the servant’s good to be preferred before the master’s； but yet it is a greater extreme； when a little good of the servant shall carry things against a great good of the master’s。 And yet that is the case of bad officers； treasurers； ambassadors； generals； and other false and corrupt4 servants； which set a bias upon their bowl； of their own petty ends and envies； to the overthrow of their master’s great and important affairs。 And for the most part； the good such servants receive is after the model of their own fortune； but the hurt they sell for that good is after the model of their master’s fortune。 And certainly it is the nature of extreme self…lovers； as they will set an house on fire； and it were but to roast their eggs； and yet these men many times hold credit with their masters； because their study is but to please them and profit themselves； and for either respect they will abandon the good of their affairs。
Wisdom for a man’s self is； in many branches thereof； a depraved thing。 It is the wisdom of rats； that will be sure to leave a house somewhat before it fall。 It is the wisdom of the fox； that thrusts out the badger； who digged and made room for him。 It is the wisdom of crocodiles5； that shed tears when they would devour。 But that which is specially to be noted is； that those which （as Cicero says of Pompey） are sui amantes； sine rivali； are many times unfortunate。 And whereas they have all their time sacrificed to themselves； they bee in the end them