was truly observed by one, that himself came very hardly to a little riches, and very easily to great riches. For when a man's stock is come to that, that he can expect[1] the prime of markets, and overcome[2] those bargains which for their greatness are few men's money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly.[3] The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest; and furthered by two things chiefly: by diligence, and by a good name for good and fair dealing. But the gains of bargains are of a more doubtful nature; when men shall wait upon others' necessity, broke[4] by servants and instruments to draw them on, put off others cunningly that would be better chapmen,[5] and the like practices, which are crafty and naught.[6] As for the chopping of bargains, when a man buys not to hold but to sell over again, that commonly grindeth double,
- ↑ To expect the prime of markets is to wait until the market is at its best for buying and selling. Compare expect meaning to wait for in the Bible and Shakspere. "From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Hebrews x. 13.
"Sweet soul, let 's in, and there expect their coming."
Shakspere. The Merchant of Venice. v. 1.
- ↑ Overcome. To come over suddenly; to take by surprise.
- ↑ Mainly. Greatly.
- ↑ Broke. To broke is to transact business by means of an agent, but the context shows that here it means, as it often did, to deal craftily.
- ↑ Chapmen. Traders.
Notice Bacon's explanation of chopping of bargains, in the next sentence.
"Fair Diomed, you do as chapmen do,
Dispraise the thing that you desire to buy."
Shakspere. Troilus and Cressida. iv. 1.
- ↑ Naught, or naughty. Bad, wicked.
"Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the mustard was naught: now I 'll stand to it, the pancakes were naught, and the mustard was good." Shakspere. As You Like It. i. 2.
