Of Dispatch

AFFECTED dispatch is one of the most danger-

ous things to business that can be.  It is like

that, which the physicians call predigestion, or

hasty digestion; 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 advancement 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, pro-

cureth dispatch.  It is the care of some, only to come

off speedily for the time; or to contrive some false

periods of business, because they may seem men

of dispatch.  But it is one thing, to abbreviate 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 by-

word, 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 wares; and business is bought at a dear hand,

where there is small dispatch.  The Spartans and

Spaniards have been noted 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 con-

tinuance 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 frivo-

lous speech, as it is coming forth.  Long and curious

speeches, are as fit for dispatch, as a robe or mantle,

with a long train, is for race.  Prefaces and pas-

sages, and excusations, and other speeches of refer-

ence to the person, are great wastes of time; and

though they seem to proceed of modesty, they are

bravery.  Yet beware of being too material, when

there is any impediment or obstruction in men's

wills; for pre-occupation of mind ever requireth

preface of speech; like a fomentation to make the

unguent 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 un-

seasonable 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 proceeding 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.