Affected1 dispatch is one of the most dangerous things to business that can be. It is like that, which the physicians call predigestion, or hasty digestion2; which is sure to fill the body full of crudities, and secret seeds of diseases. Therefore measure not dispatch, by the times of sitting, but by the advancement3 of the business. And as in races it is not the large stride or high lift that makes the speed; so in business, the keeping close to the matter, and not taking of it too much at once, procureth dispatch. It is the care of some, only to come off speedily for the time; or to contrive4 some false periods of business, because they may seem men of dispatch. But it is one thing, to abbreviate5 by contracting, another by cutting off. And business so handled, at several sittings or meetings, goeth commonly backward and forward in an unsteady manner. I knew a wise man that had it for a byword, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner.
On the other side, true dispatch is a rich thing. For time is the measure of business, as money is of wares6; and business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch. The Spartans7 and Spaniards have been noted8 to be of small dispatch; Mi venga la muerte de Spagna; Let my death come from Spain; for then it will be sure to be long in coming.
Give good hearing to those, that give the first information in business; and rather direct them in the beginning, than interrupt them in the continuance of their speeches; for he that is put out of his own order, will go forward and backward, and be more tedious, while he waits upon his memory, than he could have been, if he had gone on in his own course. But sometimes it is seen, that the moderator is more troublesome, than the actor.
Iterations are commonly loss of time. But there is no such gain of time, as to iterate often the state of the question; for it chaseth away many a frivolous9 speech, as it is coming forth10. Long and curious speeches, are as fit for dispatch, as a robe or mantle11, with a long train, is for race. Prefaces and passages, and excusations, and other speeches of reference to the person, are great wastes of time; and though they seem to proceed of modesty12, they are bravery. Yet beware of being too material, when there is any impediment or obstruction13 in men’s wills; for pre-occupation of mind ever requireth preface of speech; like a fomentation to make the unguent14 enter.
Above all things, order, and distribution, and singling out of parts, is the life of dispatch; so as the distribution be not too subtle: for he that doth not divide, will never enter well into business; and he that divideth too much, will never come out of it clearly. To choose time, is to save time; and an unseasonable motion, is but beating the air. There be three parts of business; the preparation, the debate or examination, and the perfection. Whereof, if you look for dispatch, let the middle only be the work of many, and the first and last the work of few. The proceeding15 upon somewhat conceived in writing, doth for the most part facilitate dispatch: for though it should be wholly rejected, yet that negative is more pregnant of direction, than an indefinite; as ashes are more generative than dust.
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1
affected
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adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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2
digestion
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n.消化,吸收 | |
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3
advancement
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n.前进,促进,提升 | |
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4
contrive
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vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出 | |
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5
abbreviate
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v.缩写,使...简略,缩短 | |
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wares
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n. 货物, 商品 | |
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7
spartans
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n.斯巴达(spartan的复数形式) | |
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8
noted
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adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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9
frivolous
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adj.轻薄的;轻率的 | |
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10
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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11
mantle
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n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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12
modesty
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n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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13
obstruction
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n.阻塞,堵塞;障碍物 | |
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14
unguent
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n.(药)膏;润滑剂;滑油 | |
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15
proceeding
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n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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