And under this head I would class also the
care and tending of the sick; for in the first place the sick have
many delicacies which those who are sound have not, so that if thou
lay the matter well, thou mayest obtain the lion's share of these
things also. But more particularly the minds of men being weak and
easily overpowered when they are in sickness, thou shalt obtain much
hold over them, and when they are well (whether thou didst really
comfort them or not) they will fear to say aught against thee, lest
men shall accuse them of ingratitude. But above all see thou do
this openly and in the sight of men, who thinking in consequence
that thy heart is very soft and amiable notwithstanding a few
outward defects, will not fail to commend thee and submit to thee
the more readily, and so on all counts thou art the gainer, and it
will serve thee as an excuse with the authorities for the neglect or
breach of duty. But all this is the work of an exceedingly refined
and clever power and not absolutely necessary, but I have named it
as a means of making thy yoke really the lighter but nevertheless
the more firmly settled upon the neck of thy fellows. So much then
for the love of self.
As for the love of show this is to display itself in thy dress, in
the trimming or in the growth of thy whiskers, in thy walk and
carriage, in the company thou keepest, seeing that thou go with none
but powers or men of wealth or men of title, and caring not so much
for men of parts, since these commonly deal less in the exterior and
are not fit associates, for thou canst have nothing in common with
them.
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