the meaning

[atiyousefzade]

What does "before hand" here mean?
A man`s enemy is still before hand.

[curmudgeon]

It doesn't make sense to me. Have you more context?

[MrPedantic]

It's from the Essays of Bacon:

The most tolerable sort of revenge, is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed, the revenge be such as there is no law to punish; else a man's enemy is still before hand, and it is two for one.

It means that your enemy is still metaphorically ahead ("beforehand") of you – i.e. he still has the advantage.

All the best,

MrP

[curmudgeon]

Ahh!!!