Introduction
Ben Jonson’s Timber: or, Discoveries was not published until 1641, four years after his death. It took the form of a series of reflections on subjects from personal morality to literary criticism, written by a keen and principled observer of life in the theatre and also at Court. In this extract, he discusses the giving of advice.
The two chief things that give a man reputation in counsel are the opinion of his honesty and the opinion of his wisdom: the authority of those two will persuade when the same counsels uttered by other persons less qualified are of no efficacy or working.
Wisdom without honesty is mere craft and cozenage.* And therefore the reputation of honesty must first be gotten, which cannot be but by living well. A good life is a main argument.*
Next a good life, to beget love in the persons we counsel, by dissembling our knowledge of ability in ourselves, and avoiding all suspicion of arrogance, ascribing all to their instruction,* as an ambassador to his master, or a subject to his sovereign;* seasoning all with humanity and sweetness, only expressing care and solicitude.* And not to counsel rashly, or on the sudden, but with advice and meditation. Dat nox consilium. [Night giveth counsel.] For many foolish things fall from wise men, if they speak in haste or be extemporal. It therefore behoves the giver of counsel to be circumspect; especially to beware of those with whom he is not thoroughly acquainted, lest any spice of rashness, folly, or self-love appear, which will be marked by new persons and men of experience in affairs.
From ‘Timber: or, Discoveries, Made Upon Men and Matter’ (1641), by Ben Jonson (1572-1637).
* To cozen someone is to dupe him, to trick him, especially by flattery, coaxing or deceit. Cozenage is trickery.
* ‘Main’ here carries the sense not only of ‘chief’ but also of ‘powerful’. It comes from the Old English word mægen, ‘force’. For Jonson, ‘living well’ means living an honest and upright life.
* See also Joseph Addison on giving Sweet Counsel.
* See also French diplomat François de Callières on the ambassador who is A Credit to His Country.
* See Samuel Johnson on Sweet and Sour.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Giver. Good. Rash.
2 Beware. Fool. Working.
3 Ambassador. Opinion. Subject.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
nt (13+4)
ant. aunt. into. neat. net. not. note. nut. onto. unit. unite. untie. unto.
ante. anti. auntie. nit.
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Email Support.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
