







 
   
     
       
         The compleat courtier: or, The morals of the famous historian Cornelius Tacitus concerning flattery, &c. In above one hundred essays. Paraphras'd and illustrated with useful observations by the Sieur Amelo de la Houssaie and M. D'Ablancourt. Done out of French.
         Tacitus, Cornelius.
      
       
         
           1700
        
      
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         37902
         
           
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             The compleat courtier: or, The morals of the famous historian Cornelius Tacitus concerning flattery, &c. In above one hundred essays. Paraphras'd and illustrated with useful observations by the Sieur Amelo de la Houssaie and M. D'Ablancourt. Done out of French.
             Tacitus, Cornelius.
             Amelot de La Houssiae, Abraham-Nicolas, Sieur, 1634-1706.
             Ablancourt, sieur d', 1621-1696.
          
           [8], 225, [1] p.
           
             Printed, and are to be sold by E. Rumball, at the Post-house in Russel-street in Covent-Garden,
             London
             1700.
          
           
             Published in 1687 with the title: The modern courtier.
             Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Etiquette -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           
             Compleat
             Courtier
          
           :
           OR
           ,
           THE
           MORALS
           Of
           the
           Famous
           Historian
           
             CORNELIVS
             TACITVS
          
           Concerning
           Flattery
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           In
           above
           One
           Hundred
           ESSAYS
           .
        
         
           Paraphras'd
           and
           Illustrated
           with
           useful
           Observations
           by
           the
           Sieur
           
             Amelo
             de
             la
             Houssaie
          
           and
           M.
           D'Ablancourt
           .
        
         
           Done
           out
           of
           French.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           ,
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           
             E.
             Rumball
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Post-house
           in
           Russel-street
           in
           
             Covent-Garden
             ,
             1700.
          
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           THE
           READER
           .
        
         
           IT
           was
           the
           Judgment
           of
           the
           Learned
           
             Philip
             Carriana
          
           ,
           That
           among
           all
           the
           Latin
           Historians
           ,
           there
           was
           not
           any
           one
           ,
           who
           was
           to
           be
           preferr'd
           before
           Tacitus
           ,
           if
           equall'd
           to
           him
           ,
           either
           for
           the
           Solidity
           of
           his
           Instructions
           conducing
           to
           Civil
           Life
           ,
           or
           for
           his
           manner
           
           of
           Concise
           and
           Judicious
           Writing
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           reason
           ,
           that
           all
           his
           words
           are
           as
           so
           many
           Sentences
           .
           There
           is
           nothing
           unprofitable
           ,
           
             says
             he
          
           ,
           in
           his
           Writings
           ,
           nothing
           of
           Hyperbole
           ,
           nothing
           of
           Circumlocution
           in
           his
           words
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Marquiss
             Virgilio
             Malvezzi
          
           speaks
           this
           farther
           of
           him
           ,
           That
           his
           History
           consists
           in
           recounting
           the
           Actions
           of
           Soveraign
           Princes
           ;
           and
           the
           Benefit
           that
           accrews
           to
           Vs
           from
           thence
           is
           this
           ,
           
           that
           we
           may
           learn
           thereby
           those
           things
           which
           may
           be
           of
           great
           use
           to
           us
           in
           an
           Age
           ,
           wherein
           almost
           all
           the
           Estates
           of
           the
           World
           are
           under
           Monarchical
           Government
           .
        
         
           This
           Treatise
           then
           contains
           several
           Observations
           upon
           the
           Choicest
           Morals
           of
           that
           Famous
           Historian
           ,
           written
           in
           French
           by
           the
           
             Sieur
             Amelot
             de
             la
             Houssaie
          
           ,
           Dedicated
           to
           
             Monsieur
             Boucherat
          
           ,
           Chancellor
           of
           France
           ,
           and
           Printed
           with
           
           the
           Allowance
           of
           that
           Potent
           Monarch
           now
           Raigning
           in
           that
           Flourishing
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           enough
           to
           recommend
           these
           few
           Sheets
           to
           your
           Reading
           ;
           For
           tho'
           the
           Design
           may
           seem
           to
           require
           a
           larger
           Epistle
           ,
           yet
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           believe
           it
           would
           be
           superfluous
           at
           such
           a
           time
           as
           this
           ,
           when
           the
           World
           is
           grown
           weary
           of
           long
           Prefaces
           ;
           as
           also
           for
           that
           all
           Persons
           who
           delight
           in
           good
           Authours
           ,
           
           have
           too
           much
           Sense
           ,
           to
           be
           inform'd
           of
           the
           Benefit
           of
           
           Tacitus's
           Morals
           ,
           and
           the
           Vse
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           made
           of
           them
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           The
           Modern
           Courtier
           :
           OR
           THE
           MORALS
           OF
           TACITVS
           ,
           CONCERNING
           FLATTERY
           Lately
           Reviv'd
           .
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             I.
             
          
           
             EGregious
             and
             Sparkling
             Wits
             are
             soon
             discourag'd
             and
             depress'd
             ,
             where
             Flattery
             once
             gets
             Footing
             and
             Prospers
             ,
             
               Tacitus
               Annal.
               l.
               1.
            
             
          
           
             
               The
               meaning
               of
               the
               Text
               is
               ,
            
             That
             there
             was
             no
             want
             of
             Egregious
             and
             Sparkling
             Wits
             ,
             till
             they
             were
             Stupifi'd
             by
             Adulation
             .
             
               D'Ablancourt
               renders
               it
            
             ,
             While
             
             there
             was
             no
             speaking
             of
             Truth
             without
             a
             Candid
             Complacency
             ,
             
               Which
               does
               not
            
             does
             not
             sufficiently
             express
             the
             Sence
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             whose
             meaning
             is
             ,
             that
             where
             Flattery
             Reigns
             ,
             there
             follows
             a
             decay
             of
             Towring
             Ingenuities
             ,
             for
             that
             all
             Recompences
             and
             Rewards
             go
             to
             the
             Flatterers
             .
             
               Therefore
               Monsieur
            
             Harlay
             Chanvalon
             ,
             
               has
               render'd
               the
               words
               much
               better
               ,
               thus
               ,
               till
               Noble
               Ingenuities
               had
               debas'd
               themselves
               by
               Flattery
               .
            
          
           
             There
             needs
             no
             other
             Comment
             upon
             these
             words
             ,
             then
             that
             of
             Tacitus
             himself
             .
             Many
             Authors
             ,
             saith
             he
             ,
             have
             Compil'd
             us
             the
             History
             of
             the
             Seven
             First
             Ages
             of
             the
             Roman
             Commonweal
             ,
             at
             what
             time
             they
             Wrote
             with
             no
             less
             Freedom
             then
             Eloquence
             :
             but
             after
             it
             was
             the
             Interest
             of
             Peace
             that
             the
             Supream
             Power
             should
             be
             devolv'd
             upon
             one
             single
             Person
             ,
             those
             lofty
             Genius's
             were
             soon
             Eclips'd
             .
             And
             the
             Reason
             was
             ,
             for
             that
             Dominion
             having
             depriv'd
             Equality
             of
             all
             Command
             ,
             every
             one
             strove
             to
             please
             and
             comply
             with
             the
             Prince
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             render
             himself
             capable
             of
             Honours
             and
             Preferment
             ,
             to
             which
             he
             could
             not
             ascend
             ,
             but
             by
             the
             steps
             of
             Servitude
             .
             For
             so
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Servitude
             and
             Flattery
             are
             two
             inseparable
             Companions
             :
             And
             
             it
             was
             upon
             the
             occasion
             of
             the
             shameful
             Flatteries
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             that
             Tiberius
             himself
             was
             wont
             so
             often
             to
             Exclaim
             :
             
               Poor
               Souls
               prepar'd
               for
               Slavery
            
             .
             The
             younger
             Pliny
             ,
             whom
             we
             shall
             frequently
             cite
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             Conformity
             of
             his
             Maxims
             with
             those
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             whom
             he
             caus'd
             to
             examine
             his
             Writings
             ,
             speaking
             of
             his
             Uncles
             Books
             ,
             makes
             an
             excuse
             for
             eight
             ,
             which
             were
             not
             wrote
             in
             the
             same
             Stile
             ,
             and
             wanted
             those
             Sinews
             of
             Eloquence
             ,
             that
             gave
             manly
             force
             to
             all
             the
             Rest
             ;
             because
             they
             were
             Written
             under
             the
             Reign
             of
             Nero
             ,
             when
             the
             Servile
             Fears
             of
             Men
             would
             not
             permit
             'em
             to
             write
             with
             Freedom
             .
             And
             in
             one
             of
             his
             Epistles
             ,
             he
             adds
             ,
             That
             he
             liv'd
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             another
             Emperour
             ,
             when
             the
             Senate
             was
             become
             altogether
             Mute
             ,
             and
             meerly
             Stupifi'd
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             long
             Silence
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             II.
             
          
           
             CAius
             and
             Lucius
             ,
             the
             Sons
             of
             Agrippa
             ,
             he
             introduc'd
             into
             the
             Family
             of
             the
             Cesars
             ,
             and
             them
             ,
             tho'
             he
             made
             a
             Semblance
             of
             an
             utter
             avers●●●
             
             to
             any
             such
             Design
             ,
             he
             most
             earnestly
             desir'd
             to
             have
             Proclaim'd
             ,
             Princes
             of
             the
             Youth
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             Nominated
             for
             Consuls
             .
          
           
             Princes
             of
             the
             Youth
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             Presumptive
             Heirs
             of
             the
             Empire
             .
             D'Ablancourt
             renders
             it
             thus
             .
             He
             had
             Adopted
             the
             Sons
             of
             
               Agrippa
               ,
               Caius
            
             and
             Lucius
             ,
             and
             caus'd
             'em
             to
             be
             Proclaim'd
             Princes
             of
             the
             Youth
             ,
             and
             earnestly
             desir'd
             they
             might
             be
             in
             Nomination
             for
             Consuls
             ,
             tho'
             to
             outward
             appearance
             ,
             he
             testified
             an
             extreme
             unwillingness
             to
             have
             it
             so
             .
          
           
             Flattery
             is
             always
             the
             Companion
             of
             Advanc'd
             Fortune
             .
             For
             Caius
             and
             Lucius
             were
             no
             sooner
             admitted
             into
             the
             Imperial
             Family
             ,
             but
             the
             Senate
             and
             Roman
             People
             design
             'em
             for
             the
             Empire
             .
             And
             that
             which
             is
             yet
             more
             remarkable
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             these
             two
             Princes
             ,
             who
             had
             not
             as
             yet
             assum'd
             the
             Robe
             of
             Manhood
             ,
             and
             consequently
             were
             not
             capable
             of
             Publick
             Employments
             ,
             were
             already
             Consuls
             Elected
             by
             the
             Senate
             and
             People
             ,
             altho'
             Augustus
             ,
             out
             of
             an
             Affected
             Modesty
             ,
             seem'd
             so
             unwilling
             to
             give
             his
             Consent
             .
             But
             Flattery
             is
             ingenious
             and
             studious
             to
             
             Insinuate
             ;
             she
             devines
             with
             ease
             what
             it
             is
             that
             Princes
             desire
             ;
             so
             that
             let
             them
             cover
             their
             Longings
             with
             never
             so
             much
             Art
             ,
             she
             will
             find
             out
             the
             Secret.
             And
             this
             was
             that
             of
             which
             Galba
             gave
             warning
             to
             Piso
             ,
             when
             he
             us'd
             this
             Expression
             〈…〉
             
               much
               ado
               ,
               how
               Wise
               ,
               how
               Resolute
               ,
               how
               Constant
               soever
               thou
               may'st
               be
            
             (
             Irrumpet
             Adulatio
             )
             
               Flattery
               will
               force
               thy
               Modesty
               ;
               and
               make
               her self
               Mistress
               of
               oll
               thy
               Affections
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             III.
             
          
           
             Nero
             was
             only
             left
             of
             all
             the
             Sons
             in
             Law
             :
             Him
             all
             the
             Popular
             Adoration
             Courted
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             renders
             it
             ;
             There
             remain'd
             no
             more
             alive
             then
             Tiberius
             ,
             so
             that
             Fortune
             began
             to
             cast
             an
             Eye
             upon
             him
             alone
             .
          
           
             While
             Marcellus
             and
             Agrippa
             ,
             both
             
             Augustus's
             Sons
             in
             Law
             ,
             were
             alive
             ,
             as
             also
             Caius
             and
             Lucius
             ,
             the
             Sons
             of
             
               Agrippa
               ,
               Tiberius
            
             had
             much
             ado
             to
             brush
             off
             several
             slights
             and
             Scorns
             ,
             that
             were
             put
             upon
             him
             in
             the
             Family
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             his
             Father
             
             in
             Law.
             But
             when
             the
             Palace
             was
             empty
             by
             the
             Death
             of
             all
             his
             Rivals
             ,
             then
             he
             rul'd
             Lord
             and
             Master
             :
             All
             People
             made
             their
             Addresses
             to
             him
             ;
             they
             took
             no
             notice
             of
             any
             Body
             else
             ;
             Courted
             no
             Body
             else
             but
             only
             him
             alone
             .
             Illuc
             〈…〉
             ,
             as
             if
             Tacitus
             would
             seem
             to
             intimate
             ,
             that
             they
             began
             even
             to
             neglect
             Augustus
             himself
             ;
             as
             it
             is
             the
             Custom
             of
             Subjects
             ,
             more
             especially
             Courtiers
             to
             adore
             the
             Rising
             Beams
             ,
             and
             forsake
             the
             Setting
             Sun.
             Flattery
             has
             been
             always
             sway'd
             by
             Interest
             ,
             and
             Mercenary
             .
             When
             Princes
             grow
             in
             Years
             ,
             and
             begin
             to
             stoop
             towards
             the
             Grave
             ,
             Flattery
             removes
             her
             Altars
             ,
             and
             offers
             her
             Incense
             to
             those
             who
             are
             to
             Succeed
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             she
             may
             be
             sure
             betimes
             to
             make
             sure
             of
             their
             earliest
             Favour
             and
             good
             Opinion
             .
             Therefore
             it
             was
             a
             Sentence
             of
             Galba
             ,
             grounded
             upon
             good
             Reason
             ,
             that
             
               Flattery
               was
               vaid
               of
               Love
            
             ;
             and
             that
             there
             was
             not
             any
             Poison
             more
             dangerous
             then
             hers
             .
             And
             I
             wish
             it
             were
             the
             Will
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             that
             all
             Princes
             were
             as
             well
             Convinc'd
             of
             this
             Truth
             ,
             as
             Galba
             .
             Surely
             it
             would
             be
             much
             better
             for
             the
             General
             Prosperity
             of
             their
             Affairs
             ;
             and
             their
             Reputation
             ,
             of
             which
             they
             can
             never
             be
             too
             jealous
             ,
             
             would
             advance
             it self
             to
             a
             higher
             Pinacle
             of
             Grandeur
             .
             For
             then
             they
             would
             have
             Subjects
             that
             would
             adore
             their
             Persons
             ,
             whereas
             those
             Many
             Flatterers
             that
             croud
             about
             their
             Thrones
             ,
             Idolize
             nothing
             but
             their
             Exalted
             Fortune
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             Tiberius
             and
             Galba
             always
             contemn'd
             and
             scorn'd
             '
             em
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             IV.
             
          
           
             COnsuls
             ,
             Fathers
             ,
             Knights
             ,
             all
             ran
             headlong
             into
             Slavery
             ;
             and
             by
             how
             much
             the
             more
             Illustrious
             they
             were
             ,
             by
             so
             much
             the
             more
             Deceitful
             ,
             and
             speedy
             in
             their
             Motion
             :
             And
             with
             a
             Compos'd
             Gravity
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             not
             seem
             to
             be
             too
             much
             overjoy'd
             at
             the
             Death
             of
             the
             deceas'd
             Emperour
             ,
             nor
             sad
             at
             such
             a
             Conjecture
             as
             the
             Advancement
             of
             the
             Succeeding
             Prince
             ,
             they
             intermix'd
             their
             Tears
             with
             Joy
             ,
             and
             their
             Lamentations
             with
             Adulation
             .
          
           
             At
             Rome
             ,
             says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             all
             Degrees
             of
             Men
             ,
             Knights
             ,
             Senators
             ,
             and
             
             Consuls
             ,
             ran
             headlong
             into
             Slavery
             ,
             and
             the
             most
             Illustrious
             and
             Eminent
             first
             of
             all
             ;
             composing
             so
             their
             Looks
             and
             Countenances
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             not
             seem
             joyful
             for
             the
             Death
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             nor
             sad
             that
             Tiberius
             was
             come
             to
             the
             Throne
             .
             Nevertheless
             their
             Tears
             ,
             their
             Condolements
             and
             Congratulations
             ,
             were
             all
             but
             cunning
             Dissimulation
             .
          
           
             Flattery
             is
             always
             Excessive
             at
             the
             beginning
             of
             a
             new
             Reign
             :
             For
             every
             one
             strives
             to
             be
             Complaisant
             and
             to
             advance
             his
             Fortune
             ,
             by
             Ingratiating
             himself
             .
             Even
             they
             themselves
             ,
             who
             are
             not
             addicted
             to
             Flattery
             ,
             become
             Flatterers
             then
             ,
             spurr'd
             on
             by
             Envy
             and
             Jealousie
             ,
             not
             enduring
             that
             their
             Competitors
             should
             gain
             a
             greater
             ascendant
             over
             the
             Affections
             of
             their
             Prince
             then
             themselves
             ,
             and
             fearing
             least
             Favours
             should
             advance
             their
             Equals
             to
             be
             their
             Superiours
             .
             The
             Grandees
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             Flatter
             ,
             in
             regard
             there
             is
             an
             absolute
             Necessity
             for
             them
             to
             please
             ,
             that
             so
             they
             may
             be
             able
             to
             preserve
             their
             Grandeur
             .
             Every
             Prince
             at
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Reign
             is
             subject
             to
             mistrust
             ,
             not
             knowing
             whither
             the
             Great
             Ones
             are
             well
             pleas'd
             or
             disgusted
             at
             his
             Advancement
             .
             Therefore
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             he
             makes
             it
             his
             business
             to
             sound
             the
             Affections
             
             of
             his
             Nobility
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             studies
             to
             observe
             their
             Countenances
             and
             their
             Discourses
             .
             Which
             is
             the
             Rea●on
             that
             we
             we
             find
             all
             Men
             in
             all
             Companies
             ,
             striving
             to
             outvie
             one
             another
             in
             Adulation
             and
             Servitude
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             V.
             
          
           
             
               Valerius
               Messala
            
             added
             ,
             That
             the
             Senators
             should
             every
             Year
             renew
             their
             Oaths
             of
             Fidelity
             to
             Tiberius
             :
             And
             being
             ask'd
             by
             Tiberius
             ,
             whither
             it
             was
             by
             his
             Order
             that
             he
             had
             given
             those
             hints
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             he
             answer'd
             of
             his
             own
             accord
             ,
             That
             in
             those
             thinge
             which
             Concern'd
             the
             Commonweal
             ,
             he
             was
             not
             wont
             to
             follow
             any
             other
             Counsels
             then
             his
             own
             ,
             not
             caring
             whither
             others
             were
             offended
             or
             no.
             That
             only
             sort
             of
             Flattery
             then
             remain'd
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             When
             Tiberius
             had
             ask'd
             him
             ,
             whither
             he
             had
             given
             him
             Orders
             to
             speak
             what
             he
             had
             said
             ,
             he
             answer'd
             ,
             That
             what
             concern'd
             the
             Republic
             ,
             he
             never
             took
             
             advice
             of
             any
             Person
             .
             Where
             he
             leaves
             out
             ,
             Vel
             cum
             periculo
             Offensionis
             ,
             
               Wherein
               chiefly
               consists
               undiscernable
               spurn
               of
               absolute
               Controul
               ,
               and
               the
               disguis'd
               assertion
               of
               Liberty
               .
               And
               besides
               ,
               he
               omits
               the
               following
               Sentence
               ,
            
             Ea
             sola
             species
             adulandi
             supererat
             ,
             
               Which
               makes
               a
               most
               graceful
               and
               pleasing
               Epiphonema
               to
               what
               went
               before
               .
            
          
           
             The
             Question
             which
             Tiberius
             put
             to
             Messala
             ,
             plainly
             shews
             ,
             that
             there
             are
             certain
             Flatteties
             ,
             which
             are
             so
             far
             from
             being
             grateful
             to
             Princes
             ,
             that
             they
             rather
             blush
             and
             are
             asham'd
             to
             hear
             'em
             pronounc'd
             .
             But
             from
             one
             piece
             of
             servile
             Flattery
             ,
             which
             had
             wounded
             
             Tiberius's
             Modesty
             ,
             Messala
             drives
             on
             to
             another
             ,
             which
             under
             the
             false
             appearance
             of
             a
             Bravado
             ,
             and
             an
             undaunted
             Courage
             ,
             concludes
             in
             the
             Absolute
             Annihilation
             of
             Liberty
             .
             For
             while
             he
             feigns
             as
             if
             he
             thought
             Tiberius
             offended
             with
             his
             Advice
             ,
             as
             one
             that
             really
             was
             resolv'd
             never
             to
             take
             upon
             him
             the
             Burthen
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             he
             maintains
             by
             his
             Reply
             ,
             That
             it
             was
             not
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Empire
             to
             excuse
             Him
             ,
             and
             by
             Consequence
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             a
             compulsive
             necessity
             for
             Him
             to
             accept
             of
             the
             Sovereign
             Power
             
             maugre
             his
             aversion
             to
             the
             Contrary
             protesting
             that
             he
             would
             rather
             incur
             the
             Princes
             Indignation
             ,
             then
             be
             debarr'd
             from
             speaking
             freely
             whatever
             he
             thought
             might
             be
             for
             the
             Service
             of
             his
             Country
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             VI.
             
          
           
             THE
             Fathers
             unanimously
             cry'd
             out
             ,
             that
             the
             Body
             should
             be
             carry'd
             to
             the
             Funeral
             Pile
             ,
             upon
             the
             Shoulders
             of
             the
             Senators
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             renders
             it
             ,
             Then
             the
             Senate
             cry'd
             out
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             but
             decent
             for
             the
             Body
             to
             be
             carry'd
             to
             the
             Funeral
             Pile
             upon
             the
             Shoulders
             of
             Senators
             .
          
           
             There
             needs
             but
             one
             Flatterer
             to
             infect
             a
             whole
             Society
             .
             Messala
             had
             no
             sooner
             deliver'd
             his
             fawning
             Opinion
             ,
             but
             the
             whole
             Senate
             are
             for
             improving
             and
             striving
             to
             outvye
             his
             glozing
             dissimulation
             .
             Messala
             had
             spoken
             like
             a
             Colloguing
             Courtier
             ,
             and
             the
             Senate
             speaks
             like
             so
             many
             abject
             Slaves
             :
             For
             it
             was
             a
             Duty
             incumbent
             only
             to
             the
             Slaves
             to
             carry
             the
             
             Bodies
             of
             their
             Masters
             to
             the
             Funeral
             Pile
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             VII
             .
          
           
             NOR
             were
             the
             Fathers
             less
             Prodigal
             of
             their
             Adulation
             toward
             Augusta
             .
             But
             Tiberius
             told
             'em
             ,
             there
             was
             a
             Moderation
             to
             be
             us'd
             in
             bestowing
             Female
             Honours
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             Their
             Flattery
             was
             not
             only
             excessive
             toward
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             but
             also
             towards
             his
             Lady
             .
          
           
             Princes
             are
             willing
             enough
             that
             Honours
             should
             be
             bestow'd
             upon
             their
             Mothers
             ,
             or
             their
             Kindred
             ;
             but
             they
             cannot
             endure
             that
             any
             Person
             whatever
             ,
             should
             be
             made
             their
             Equal
             .
             But
             this
             was
             that
             which
             the
             Senate
             were
             about
             to
             do
             ,
             when
             they
             decreed
             that
             glorious
             Title
             of
             MOTHER
             OF
             HER
             COUNTRY
             to
             Livia
             .
             For
             indeed
             Flatterers
             are
             strongly
             subject
             to
             one
             piece
             of
             Imprudence
             ,
             for
             that
             as
             they
             are
             a
             sort
             of
             People
             ,
             that
             make
             their
             Interest
             the
             only
             Idol
             of
             their
             Adulation
             ,
             looking
             one
             way
             
             but
             rowing
             another
             ,
             they
             never
             measure
             their
             study'd
             Encomium's
             according
             to
             the
             Merit
             ,
             or
             Quality
             ,
             or
             Dignity
             of
             the
             Person
             ,
             but
             give
             the
             same
             Panegyricks
             to
             a
             Judge
             ,
             a
             Chancellor
             ,
             a
             President
             ,
             or
             an
             Earl
             ,
             &c.
             as
             to
             a
             Sovereign
             Prince
             .
             And
             thus
             we
             find
             at
             this
             day
             several
             Illustrious
             Epithites
             ,
             whither
             before
             large
             Folio's
             ,
             or
             Plays
             ,
             or
             Discourses
             upon
             mean
             and
             frivolous
             Subjects
             ,
             which
             are
             allowable
             to
             none
             but
             Kings
             and
             absolute
             Princes
             .
             Which
             is
             the
             Reason
             that
             France
             now
             mainly
             stands
             in
             need
             of
             a
             PRAGMATIC
             Sanction
             ,
             like
             to
             that
             which
             Philip
             the
             II.
             set
             forth
             in
             the
             Year
             1586.
             to
             prevent
             Abuses
             of
             the
             same
             Nature
             .
             As
             for
             Women
             ,
             Tiberius
             like
             a
             Politic
             Prince
             ,
             well
             understood
             how
             dangerous
             a
             thing
             it
             was
             to
             raise
             their
             Pride
             ,
             their
             Vanity
             ,
             their
             Luxury
             ,
             their
             Avarice
             ,
             their
             Ambition
             ,
             their
             Insolence
             ,
             and
             their
             Cruelty
             ,
             which
             according
             to
             Tacitus
             ,
             are
             the
             usual
             Passions
             incident
             to
             their
             Sex.
             And
             this
             Maxim
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             is
             well
             observ'd
             in
             Hungary
             ,
             where
             the
             Queens
             ,
             at
             the
             Ceremony
             of
             their
             Coronation
             ,
             are
             never
             Crown'd
             but
             upon
             the
             Shoulders
             ,
             to
             let
             'em
             know
             that
             the
             Kingdom
             has
             no
             need
             of
             their
             Heads
             ,
             the
             King
             's
             being
             altogether
             sufficient
             for
             the
             weight
             of
             Government
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             VIII
             .
          
           
             THE
             Name
             of
             Father
             of
             his
             Country
             ,
             frequently
             by
             the
             People
             crouded
             in
             among
             his
             Titles
             ,
             Tiberius
             refus'd
             ;
             Nor
             would
             he
             permit
             any
             Oaths
             to
             be
             Sworn
             for
             the
             Observation
             of
             his
             Acts
             ,
             alledging
             that
             all
             the
             Acts
             of
             Mortal
             Men
             were
             frail
             and
             uncertain
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             he
             was
             advanc'd
             in
             Power
             ,
             the
             more
             slippery
             was
             the
             Pinacle
             upon
             which
             he
             stood
             .
          
           
             He
             excus'd
             himself
             ,
             says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             by
             urging
             the
             Inconstancy
             of
             Human
             Events
             ,
             affirming
             that
             the
             higher
             he
             was
             Exalted
             ,
             the
             more
             dangerous
             would
             be
             his
             Fall
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             likely
             to
             happen
             .
          
           
             Nothing
             better
             becomes
             a
             Great
             and
             Glorious
             Prince
             ,
             then
             to
             withstand
             the
             assaults
             of
             Flattery
             .
             The
             Senate
             had
             decree'd
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Acts
             of
             Tiberius
             should
             be
             Sworn
             to
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             be
             bound
             to
             Confirm
             and
             Justifie
             ,
             
             whatever
             he
             did
             to
             be
             Legally
             and
             Warrantably
             done
             .
             But
             Tiberius
             was
             of
             a
             contrary
             Opinion
             ;
             that
             he
             was
             so
             far
             from
             being
             Infallible
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             more
             then
             others
             in
             danger
             of
             Failing
             in
             his
             Judgment
             ,
             for
             that
             his
             High
             Employment
             ,
             and
             the
             Burthen
             of
             the
             Ponderous
             Charge
             upon
             his
             Shoulders
             ,
             was
             not
             only
             more
             difficult
             then
             any
             other
             to
             undergo
             ,
             but
             more
             Obnoxious
             also
             to
             Human
             Accidents
             .
          
           
             Princes
             have
             always
             been
             accustom'd
             to
             have
             Flatterers
             at
             their
             Elbows
             ,
             who
             Swear
             continually
             to
             all
             their
             Acts
             ;
             Insinuating
             that
             God
             has
             given
             'em
             a
             Universal
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             a
             Judgment
             that
             cannot
             err
             .
             So
             that
             we
             must
             not
             wonder
             if
             so
             many
             Princes
             miscarry
             in
             their
             Government
             ,
             for
             want
             of
             Faithful
             Servants
             that
             will
             open
             their
             Lips
             to
             tell
             'em
             Truth
             .
             Therefore
             a
             Politic
             Spaniard
             ,
             giving
             the
             Reason
             why
             it
             was
             the
             Custom
             for
             many
             Princes
             to
             carry
             their
             Jester
             along
             with
             'em
             where
             ever
             they
             went
             :
             *
             Because
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             they
             were
             Wise
             and
             Prudent
             Men
             ;
             for
             they
             did
             not
             make
             use
             of
             those
             Jesters
             for
             Sport
             or
             Divertisement
             ,
             
             but
             for
             Information
             .
             
               And
               in
               anothir
               Place
            
             ,
             †
             These
             Jesters
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             are
             the
             Oracles
             of
             Truth
             ,
             who
             fearlessly
             discover
             what
             others
             have
             unwarily
             utter'd
             in
             their
             Hearing
             .
          
           
             Which
             is
             a
             great
             Assistance
             to
             Princes
             ,
             who
             never
             can
             Correct
             the
             Fault
             before
             they
             know
             it
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             IX
             .
          
           
             THE
             Tribunes
             and
             Centurions
             reported
             oft'ner
             what
             was
             grateful
             to
             the
             Ear
             then
             what
             was
             true
             :
             The
             Freedmen
             still
             retain'd
             a
             twang
             of
             their
             former
             Slavery
             :
             Friends
             were
             all
             addicted
             to
             Flatter
             :
             But
             't
             was
             his
             business
             to
             know
             the
             inside
             of
             the
             Soldiers
             Hearts
             ,
             when
             alone
             and
             thinking
             themselves
             secure
             ,
             they
             freely
             imparted
             their
             Hopes
             and
             Fears
             at
             their
             Military
             Meals
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             
               renders
               the
               whole
               thus
            
             :
             For
             that
             the
             Tribunes
             and
             Centurions
             made
             their
             reports
             rather
             as
             things
             were
             wish'd
             to
             be
             ,
             
             then
             according
             to
             Truth
             .
             That
             the
             Freedmen
             still
             retain'd
             a
             smatch
             of
             their
             former
             Slavery
             ,
             and
             treacherous
             Friendship
             only
             Flatter'd
             .
             He
             resolv'd
             himself
             therefore
             to
             discover
             what
             he
             was
             uncertain
             to
             know
             by
             any
             other
             Information
             ,
             and
             to
             penetrate
             the
             Minds
             of
             the
             Soldiers
             ,
             when
             retir'd
             in
             their
             Tents
             ,
             and
             familiarly
             discoursing
             over
             their
             Military
             Commons
             ,
             they
             display'd
             the
             naked
             verity
             of
             their
             Hopes
             and
             Fears
             .
          
           
             Germanicus
             it
             seems
             one
             night
             took
             his
             Opportunity
             to
             walk
             in
             Disguise
             and
             unattended
             through
             every
             Street
             of
             his
             Camp
             ,
             and
             stopping
             at
             every
             Tent
             ,
             heedfully
             Listen'd
             to
             the
             familiar
             Discourses
             of
             the
             Soldiers
             .
             Several
             great
             Princes
             have
             observ'd
             the
             same
             Method
             ,
             to
             make
             those
             Discoveries
             themselves
             ,
             which
             they
             were
             certain
             others
             conceal'd
             from
             their
             Knowledge
             .
             The
             Spanish
             Author
             last
             Quoted
             (
             in
             his
             
               Ferdinand
               .
            
             )
             says
             very
             pertinently
             ,
             That
             Charles
             the
             V.
             
               was
               become
               the
               Spie
               of
               his
               own
               Reputation
               .
               And
               that
            
             Francis
             the
             I.
             
               having
               spent
               a
               whole
               Night
               in
               the
               Dwelling
               of
               Simplicity
               ,
            
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             
               in
               the
               Country
               among
               the
               Vulgar
               Hinds
               ,
               discovered
               so
               many
               Things
               of
               high
               Imporoance
               to
               his
               Government
               ,
               that
               he
               was
               often
               wont
               to
               repeat
               this
               saying
               ,
               He
               had
               been
               
               lost
               ,
               unless
               he
               had
               been
               lost
            
             ;
             as
             he
             rode
             a
             Hunting
             .
             In
             like
             manner
             might
             he
             as
             well
             have
             said
             what
             the
             Great
             Antiochus
             utter'd
             ,
             upon
             his
             having
             been
             in
             a
             little
             Cottage
             ,
             where
             he
             Discours'd
             with
             several
             poor
             People
             that
             knew
             him
             not
             ,
             
               That
               he
               had
               never
               heard
               Truth
               spoken
               till
               then
               .
            
             And
             the
             same
             Author
             adds
             ,
             
               If
               it
               be
               so
               difficult
               for
               a
               private
               Man
               to
               know
               himself
               ,
               what
               a
               Task
               must
               it
               be
               for
               a
               King
               ?
               While
               Self-Love
               will
               not
               permit
               to
               know
               himself
               ;
               nor
               ,
               Flattery
               to
               know
               others
               .
               Princes
               have
               no
               Mirrours
               ,
               and
               therefore
               muct
               make
               use
               of
               their
               own
               Industry
               .
            
             So
             then
             ,
             there
             cannot
             be
             a
             more
             Beneficial
             piece
             of
             Industry
             to
             be
             their
             own
             Perdu's
             ,
             when
             Men
             are
             discoursing
             over
             their
             Trenchers
             and
             Cups
             ,
             with
             free
             and
             open
             Hearts
             ;
             for
             then
             it
             is
             that
             they
             give
             their
             Tongues
             and
             Jocund
             Humours
             the
             liberty
             to
             Range
             ;
             while
             Precaution
             and
             Reserv'dness
             are
             laid
             aside
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             X.
             
          
           
             TIberius
             rejoyc'd
             to
             hear
             the
             Senate
             argue
             for
             the
             Laws
             against
             his
             Sons
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             renders
             it
             ,
             Tiberius
             was
             glad
             to
             see
             his
             Sons
             ,
             in
             that
             same
             famous
             Dispute
             ,
             made
             equal
             with
             the
             Laws
             .
          
           
             What
             a
             strange
             thing
             Flattery
             is
             !
             The
             Dispute
             was
             about
             the
             Election
             of
             a
             Pretor
             ;
             for
             which
             Office
             there
             were
             several
             that
             stood
             .
             Drusus
             and
             Germanicus
             ,
             the
             Sons
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             favour'd
             a
             Kinsman
             of
             their
             own
             ,
             whereas
             the
             Roman
             Law
             preferr'd
             those
             who
             had
             the
             most
             numerous
             Issue
             .
             However
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             Election
             was
             hotly
             bandy'd
             and
             oppos'd
             by
             the
             Senate
             ,
             yet
             Favour
             at
             length
             carry'd
             it
             above
             the
             Law.
             Which
             is
             no
             more
             then
             what
             happens
             every
             day
             in
             other
             Courts
             ,
             However
             let
             Princes
             be
             never
             so
             Vertuous
             and
             Moderate
             ,
             yet
             they
             always
             take
             delight
             to
             prefer
             their
             Authority
             above
             the
             Laws
             ,
             while
             it
             gives
             them
             the
             Opportunity
             of
             reaping
             to
             
             themselves
             the
             sole
             Glory
             of
             submitting
             afterwards
             .
             Thus
             it
             was
             that
             Tiberius
             one
             day
             Depress'd
             himself
             ,
             to
             advance
             the
             high
             Opinion
             of
             his
             Moderation
             ,
             returning
             in
             answer
             to
             the
             Flattery
             of
             a
             Senator
             ,
             That
             the
             Customes
             of
             a
             Country
             prudently
             Establish'd
             ,
             and
             with
             which
             the
             People
             had
             always
             all
             along
             been
             satisfi'd
             ,
             were
             not
             to
             be
             Chang'd
             ,
             but
             upon
             mature
             and
             deep
             Premeditation
             :
             That
             Princes
             had
             too
             much
             Business
             already
             ,
             and
             too
             much
             Power
             :
             That
             while
             they
             labour'd
             to
             advance
             and
             extend
             their
             own
             ,
             they
             did
             but
             weaken
             the
             Authority
             of
             the
             Law.
             Lastly
             ,
             That
             there
             was
             no
             need
             of
             Application
             to
             a
             Prince
             ,
             when
             the
             Laws
             were
             sufficient
             to
             reform
             the
             Grievance
             .
             Here
             by
             the
             way
             we
             must
             observe
             ,
             that
             in
             Republic's
             they
             say
             ,
             The
             Laws
             are
             above
             Princes
             :
             But
             in
             Monarchies
             ,
             Reason
             of
             State
             requires
             that
             the
             Prince
             should
             be
             above
             the
             Laws
             :
             I
             speak
             of
             Hereditary
             Monarchies
             ;
             for
             in
             Elective
             Monarchies
             ,
             the
             Laws
             are
             Superiour
             to
             the
             Prince
             ,
             as
             in
             Germany
             and
             Poland
             ,
             where
             the
             Government
             is
             Aristocratico-Monarchical
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XI
             .
          
           
             HE
             sharply
             reprehended
             those
             who
             gave
             the
             Epithite
             of
             Divine
             to
             his
             daily
             Employments
             ,
             and
             gave
             him
             the
             Title
             of
             LORD
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             He
             severely
             reprov'd
             those
             who
             call'd
             hiw
             Lord
             ,
             and
             gave
             his
             daily
             Exercises
             the
             Epithite
             of
             Divine
             Occupations
             .
          
           
             There
             are
             some
             Flatterys
             ,
             that
             render
             Princes
             Odious
             .
             Tiberius
             ,
             who
             was
             hated
             enough
             already
             ,
             had
             been
             much
             more
             Contemn'd
             ,
             had
             he
             accepted
             of
             a
             Title
             ,
             which
             Augustus
             ,
             whose
             Example
             had
             always
             with
             him
             the
             force
             of
             a
             Law
             ,
             had
             refus'd
             by
             a
             Decree
             .
             And
             for
             that
             reason
             it
             was
             that
             he
             thunder'd
             out
             his
             Indignation
             against
             Those
             ,
             who
             call'd
             him
             LORD
             .
             He
             was
             a
             Lord
             in
             Reality
             ,
             but
             he
             would
             not
             that
             People
             should
             call
             him
             so
             ,
             as
             being
             desirous
             they
             should
             believe
             he
             did
             not
             look
             upon
             himself
             so
             to
             be
             .
             Politic
             Princes
             are
             contented
             with
             the
             Substance
             of
             their
             Power
             ,
             and
             willingly
             part
             with
             all
             the
             rest
             as
             meerly
             
             Superfluous
             .
             For
             Subjects
             are
             almost
             all
             of
             the
             humour
             of
             that
             same
             Parthian
             King
             ,
             who
             was
             nothing
             troubl'd
             that
             his
             Brother
             bore
             the
             Yoke
             of
             Roman
             Servitude
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             he
             did
             not
             wear
             the
             Scars
             and
             Marks
             of
             it
             .
             The
             greater
             Progress
             Tiberius
             made
             in
             taming
             the
             Senate
             with
             the
             vain
             shew
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             the
             more
             he
             enlarg'd
             and
             establish'd
             his
             Power
             .
             The
             more
             Popular
             his
             Words
             and
             Actions
             were
             ,
             the
             more
             plyable
             he
             found
             the
             Great
             Men
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             easily
             led
             to
             Servitude
             .
             He
             was
             offended
             with
             those
             who
             call'd
             his
             Occupations
             ,
             Divine
             ;
             for
             because
             he
             knew
             himself
             not
             undeservedly
             to
             be
             tax'd
             with
             the
             Common
             Stain
             of
             his
             Family
             ,
             which
             was
             Haughtiness
             ,
             he
             was
             desirous
             that
             the
             People
             should
             believe
             he
             went
             hand
             in
             hand
             with
             the
             Senate
             in
             the
             Government
             .
             
               I
               know
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               that
               I
               am
               but
               a
               Mortal
               Man
               ,
               and
               subject
               to
               all
               the
               Frailties
               of
               Humanity
               ,
               and
               therefore
               't
               is
               enough
               for
               me
               to
               be
               Honour'd
               with
               the
               first
               Seat
               in
               the
               Senate
               ,
               and
               more
               then
               enough
               if
               I
               supply
               it
               well
               .
            
             —
             Princes
             are
             Mortal
             ,
             but
             the
             Common-wealth
             is
             Eternal
             .
             By
             this
             acknowledgment
             he
             was
             no
             more
             then
             a
             Member
             ,
             and
             he
             permitted
             those
             Honours
             that
             were
             pay'd
             him
             no
             otherwise
             ,
             then
             as
             they
             were
             ascrib'd
             to
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Senators
             .
             
             Who
             though
             they
             gave
             little
             Credit
             to
             what
             he
             said
             ,
             yet
             were
             they
             pleas'd
             to
             hear
             him
             deliver
             himself
             with
             so
             much
             Modesty
             ,
             so
             much
             the
             rather
             because
             it
             was
             not
             always
             his
             luck
             to
             be
             Popular
             for
             all
             that
             .
             Observe
             moreover
             ,
             that
             by
             the
             Difference
             which
             he
             made
             between
             Princes
             as
             Mortals
             ,
             and
             Commonwealths
             as
             being
             Eternal
             ,
             he
             seem'd
             to
             intimate
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             so
             far
             from
             being
             LORD
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             little
             Concern
             in
             the
             Government
             of
             it
             ;
             only
             his
             Eternity
             resided
             in
             the
             Body
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             which
             was
             Immortal
             ,
             and
             was
             able
             alone
             to
             shake
             the
             Affairs
             of
             the
             Universe
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XII
             .
          
           
             WHO
             fear'd
             Liberty
             ,
             yet
             hated
             Adulation
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             Vnder
             a
             Prince
             who
             hated
             Flattery
             ,
             yet
             was
             no
             friend
             to
             Liberty
             .
          
           
             To
             hate
             Flattery
             is
             to
             love
             Liberty
             ;
             to
             hate
             Liberty
             ,
             is
             to
             love
             Flattery
             .
             Nevertheless
             Tiberius
             hated
             both
             the
             one
             
             and
             the
             other
             .
             A
             strange
             thing
             ,
             says
             Tacitus
             ,
             that
             a
             Prince
             who
             left
             remaining
             not
             the
             least
             Footstep
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             should
             be
             tir'd
             and
             discontented
             to
             behold
             in
             the
             Senate
             ,
             such
             an
             Effeminate
             and
             Servile
             Complacency
             .
             Certainly
             't
             is
             a
             very
             difficult
             thing
             to
             find
             the
             way
             how
             to
             please
             the
             Palate
             of
             a
             Politic
             Prince
             .
             If
             you
             Flatter
             him
             continually
             ,
             you
             incur
             his
             Contempt
             ;
             if
             you
             deal
             too
             frankly
             and
             freely
             with
             him
             ,
             you
             meet
             his
             Indignation
             .
             How
             Vertuous
             soever
             he
             be
             ,
             too
             much
             Liberty
             offends
             him
             ;
             because
             it
             appears
             not
             so
             respectful
             as
             Flattery
             .
             And
             if
             they
             are
             wickedly
             enclin'd
             ,
             Flattery
             then
             becomes
             suspected
             ;
             because
             her
             Eucomiums
             are
             oftentimes
             the
             Reproaches
             of
             Vices
             ,
             which
             are
             opposite
             to
             Vertue
             .
             Therefore
             had
             Tacitus
             reason
             to
             say
             ,
             that
             a
             Man
             has
             enough
             to
             do
             ,
             who
             has
             to
             deal
             with
             a
             Prince
             that
             understands
             what
             Flattery
             is
             .
             For
             which
             reason
             it
             was
             an
             Ingenious
             and
             Witty
             saying
             of
             the
             Countess
             D'Aranda
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             no
             Register
             in
             the
             Heart
             of
             a
             King
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             it
             was
             not
             to
             be
             read
             .
             Moreover
             Princes
             find
             greater
             Benefit
             by
             Liberty
             ,
             then
             Flattery
             ,
             as
             being
             deluded
             by
             one
             ,
             but
             instructed
             by
             the
             other
             .
             But
             Courtiers
             take
             the
             surer
             Course
             to
             attain
             
             their
             ends
             by
             Flattery
             ,
             then
             by
             Liberty
             of
             Speech
             ;
             while
             the
             one
             is
             grateful
             ,
             the
             other
             odious
             to
             the
             Generality
             of
             Great
             Personages
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XIII
             .
          
           
             THE
             same
             undestinguish'd
             Lamentations
             among
             all
             :
             an
             intermix'd
             and
             confus'd
             Throng
             of
             Mourners
             ,
             and
             every
             one
             Weeping
             at
             their
             own
             rate
             .
             There
             could
             be
             no
             Adulation
             there
             ,
             while
             all
             Men
             knew
             that
             the
             Death
             of
             Germanicus
             was
             welcom
             to
             Tiberius
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             says
             ,
             That
             it
             was
             no
             formal
             Funeral
             Pomp
             ,
             or
             study'd
             Mourning
             ,
             to
             gratifie
             Tiberius
             ,
             who
             they
             knew
             was
             well
             pleas'd
             with
             the
             Death
             of
             Germanicus
             .
          
           
             The
             Common
             People
             are
             not
             capable
             of
             Dissimulation
             ,
             nor
             by
             consequence
             of
             Flattery
             .
             For
             when
             Tiberius
             outwardly
             bewail'd
             the
             Death
             of
             Germanicus
             ,
             they
             were
             so
             far
             with
             Complying
             with
             his
             inward
             Joy
             ,
             that
             they
             sought
             to
             spite
             him
             
             by
             all
             the
             Demonstrations
             of
             a
             Public
             and
             Real
             Lamentation
             imaginable
             ;
             and
             celebrating
             the
             praise
             of
             the
             Deceas'd
             .
             And
             indeed
             there
             has
             been
             in
             all
             Times
             ,
             a
             certain
             kind
             of
             Antipathy
             between
             the
             Prince
             and
             the
             People
             .
             They
             who
             are
             hated
             by
             the
             Prince
             ,
             are
             generally
             belov'd
             by
             the
             Multitude
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             they
             who
             are
             the
             Darlings
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             are
             never
             favour'd
             by
             the
             Prince
             .
             Germanicus
             was
             mortally
             hated
             by
             Tiberius
             ,
             because
             he
             was
             the
             Peoples
             Favourite
             ;
             and
             the
             People
             had
             an
             Antipathy
             against
             Drusus
             ,
             because
             Tiberius
             had
             a
             greater
             kindness
             for
             him
             ,
             then
             for
             his
             Brother
             .
             The
             People
             ador'd
             
               Agrippina
               ;
               Tiberius
            
             persecuted
             her
             to
             Death
             .
             When
             the
             Wife
             of
             Drusus
             lay
             Inn
             of
             two
             Male
             Infants
             ,
             Tiberius
             could
             not
             contain
             his
             Joy
             ,
             nor
             the
             People
             their
             sorrow
             .
             Because
             the
             Reinforcement
             of
             
             Drusus's
             Family
             weaken'd
             and
             depress'd
             the
             Family
             of
             Germanicus
             .
             But
             when
             Drusus
             dy'd
             ,
             the
             People
             were
             overjoy'd
             to
             hear
             the
             Emperours
             Lamentations
             ,
             in
             hopes
             the
             Family
             of
             Germanicus
             ,
             against
             whom
             his
             Father
             had
             all
             along
             display'd
             his
             Enmity
             ,
             would
             now
             revive
             and
             flourish
             in
             its
             former
             Glory
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XIV
             .
          
           
             HE
             nam'd
             
               Manias
               Lepiodus
            
             ,
             and
             
               Junius
               Blesus
            
             ,
             to
             choose
             which
             of
             the
             two
             they
             pleas'd
             to
             be
             sent
             Proconsul
             into
             
               Africa
               .
               Lepidus
            
             excus'd
             himself
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             Crazie
             Constitution
             of
             his
             Body
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             he
             had
             a
             Daughter
             ready
             to
             be
             Marry'd
             :
             But
             there
             was
             another
             Reason
             which
             was
             Conjectur'd
             at
             by
             all
             ,
             tho'
             by
             him
             not
             so
             much
             as
             mention'd
             ,
             which
             was
             ,
             that
             Blesus
             was
             Uncle
             to
             Sejanus
             ,
             and
             therefore
             assur'd
             of
             the
             Preferment
             :
             Blesus
             also
             refus'd
             the
             Proffer
             ,
             but
             not
             with
             that
             Fervency
             and
             Sincerity
             as
             the
             other
             did
             ,
             nor
             was
             he
             so
             much
             Applauded
             by
             his
             Flatterers
             ,
             who
             were
             also
             the
             same
             that
             flatter'd
             Sejanus
             .
          
           
             
               D'Ablancourt
               says
            
             ,
             That
             Lepidus
             grounded
             his
             refusal
             upon
             his
             Indisposition
             of
             Body
             ,
             alledging
             besides
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             a
             Daughter
             to
             Marry
             ;
             but
             that
             there
             was
             another
             Reason
             
             which
             he
             durst
             not
             discover
             ;
             because
             his
             Rival
             was
             Vncle
             to
             Sejanus
             ,
             and
             therefore
             would
             be
             sure
             to
             be
             preferr'd
             before
             him
             .
             Blesus
             also
             made
             a
             refusal
             ;
             but
             not
             with
             half
             that
             Earnestness
             ,
             nor
             so
             loudly
             Applauded
             by
             those
             that
             flatter'd
             him
             .
          
           
             When
             Tiberius
             propos'd
             Lepidus
             and
             Blesus
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             he
             propounded
             a
             Choice
             between
             Merit
             and
             Favour
             .
             Lepidus
             was
             a
             Person
             of
             Merit
             ,
             as
             being
             a
             Person
             whom
             Augustus
             had
             adjudg'd
             worthy
             and
             fit
             to
             Govern
             the
             Empire
             .
             But
             Blesus
             was
             the
             Favourite
             ,
             as
             being
             Uncle
             to
             
               Sejanus
               .
               Tiberius
            
             nam'd
             Lepidus
             in
             the
             first
             place
             ,
             seemingly
             designing
             to
             give
             the
             Precedency
             to
             Merit
             ;
             but
             he
             knew
             well
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             would
             bequeath
             it
             to
             Favour
             .
             The
             excuses
             which
             Lepidus
             alledg'd
             were
             receiv'd
             with
             Applause
             and
             Acclamation
             ,
             as
             being
             no
             less
             grateful
             to
             Tiberius
             ,
             then
             to
             Sejanus
             and
             Blesus
             .
             But
             the
             excuses
             which
             Blesus
             produc'd
             could
             not
             be
             heard
             ;
             while
             every
             one
             knew
             there
             was
             a
             willing
             force
             design'd
             to
             engage
             him
             to
             acceptance
             .
             For
             Favour
             and
             Flattery
             go
             hand
             in
             hand
             together
             ;
             they
             never
             part
             Company
             ,
             attended
             by
             Injustice
             that
             follows
             close
             at
             their
             Heels
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XV.
             
          
           
             CEstius
             the
             Senator
             discours'd
             ,
             That
             Princes
             indeed
             were
             like
             the
             Gods
             ,
             but
             that
             neither
             Gods
             bow'd
             down
             their
             Ears
             to
             the
             unjust
             Supplications
             of
             their
             Adorers
             .
          
           
             Says
             
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Cestius
            
             declar'd
             ,
             That
             Princes
             were
             like
             the
             Gods
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             Gods
             never
             listen'd
             to
             Prayers
             that
             were
             unjust
             .
          
           
             Princes
             are
             oftentimes
             compar'd
             to
             God
             ;
             and
             indeed
             they
             may
             be
             said
             to
             be
             Corporeal
             Gods
             ;
             according
             to
             that
             of
             
               Vegetius
               ,
               There
               is
               a
               faithful
               Devotion
               to
               be
               paid
               to
               the
               Emperour
               ,
               as
               to
               our
               present
               and
               Terrestrial
               God.
            
             God
             himself
             also
             gives
             them
             the
             same
             Title
             ,
             
               I
               have
               said
               ye
               are
               Gods.
            
             But
             the
             Illustrious
             and
             Caelestial
             Title
             should
             put
             'em
             in
             remembrance
             of
             their
             Principal
             and
             God-like
             Office
             ,
             which
             is
             to
             distribute
             Justice
             to
             their
             Subjects
             ,
             and
             prevent
             the
             Oppression
             of
             the
             Poor
             .
             'T
             is
             a
             usual
             thing
             for
             them
             that
             Kneel
             at
             their
             Feet
             for
             Favours
             and
             Preferments
             ,
             to
             tell
             'em
             they
             are
             absolute
             in
             Power
             ,
             
             and
             that
             they
             are
             the
             Images
             of
             the
             Almighty
             :
             But
             for
             the
             same
             reason
             ,
             they
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             take
             care
             that
             all
             their
             Grants
             be
             just
             ,
             for
             fear
             of
             defacing
             that
             same
             glorious
             Similitude
             .
             'T
             is
             a
             great
             Weakness
             in
             a
             Prince
             to
             be
             so
             timorous
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             dare
             justly
             to
             deny
             what
             others
             dare
             demand
             without
             regard
             to
             Justice
             .
             Certainly
             ,
             that
             King
             spoke
             like
             a
             Vertuous
             Prince
             ,
             who
             being
             press'd
             to
             keep
             an
             Illegal
             Promise
             ,
             reply'd
             ,
             That
             't
             was
             impossible
             he
             should
             ever
             have
             made
             an
             Unjust
             Promise
             .
             Thus
             Charles
             the
             V.
             being
             inform'd
             that
             he
             had
             sign'd
             a
             Grant
             that
             was
             contrary
             to
             Equity
             ,
             sent
             for
             it
             again
             ,
             and
             after
             he
             had
             tore
             it
             ,
             
               I
               love
               my
               Soul
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               much
               better
               then
               my
               Writing
            
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XVI
             .
          
           
             
               DOlabella
               Cornelius
            
             ,
             while
             he
             strove
             to
             outvie
             the
             rest
             ,
             stumbled
             into
             a
             most
             absur'd
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             and
             Decreed
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             make
             an
             Ovant
             entry
             into
             the
             City
             ,
             returning
             from
             Campania
             .
          
           
             Says
             
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Dolabella
            
             desirous
             to
             surpass
             all
             others
             ,
             fell
             into
             a
             Ridiculous
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             proposing
             to
             decree
             Tiberius
             the
             Honour
             of
             a
             Petty
             Triumph
             .
          
           
             Could
             there
             be
             a
             more
             Impertinent
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             then
             this
             ,
             to
             decree
             a
             Triumphant
             Entrie
             to
             a
             Prince
             ,
             meerly
             upon
             his
             Return
             from
             a
             bare
             Progress
             ?
             But
             Tiberius
             had
             too
             much
             Wit
             to
             be
             in
             the
             humour
             to
             accept
             of
             such
             an
             Honour
             ,
             which
             had
             render'd
             him
             more
             ridiculous
             then
             the
             Curry-Favour
             that
             decreed
             it
             him
             .
             
               I
               am
               not
               so
               indigent
               of
               Honour
               ,
            
             said
             he
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             
               after
               having
               Tam'd
               so
               many
               Warlike
               Nations
               ,
               and
               receiv'd
               and
               refus'd
               so
               many
               Honours
               in
               my
               Youth
               ,
               as
               in
               my
               Declining
               Age
               to
               beg
               a
               Counterfeit
               Triumph
               
               for
               a
               Journey
               of
               Pleasure
               almost
               within
               view
               of
            
             Rome
             it self
             .
             Princes
             that
             have
             acquir'd
             a
             substantial
             Reputation
             ,
             as
             Tiberius
             had
             done
             ,
             in
             the
             East
             ,
             in
             Germany
             and
             Pannonia
             ,
             or
             Hungary
             ,
             scorn
             all
             false
             Honours
             :
             And
             to
             flatter
             'em
             ,
             is
             to
             incur
             their
             Displeasure
             ;
             because
             their
             Renown
             has
             no
             need
             of
             borrow'd
             Augmentation
             .
             When
             their
             Praises
             flow
             from
             the
             Lips
             of
             Flatterers
             ,
             they
             become
             suspected
             ;
             for
             it
             is
             with
             Flatterers
             as
             with
             Lyars
             ,
             whom
             no
             body
             believes
             ,
             even
             when
             they
             speak
             Truth
             .
             So
             that
             Princes
             have
             the
             greatest
             reason
             to
             abhor
             their
             vain
             Idolizers
             ,
             who
             rob
             their
             Vertue
             of
             more
             true
             Glory
             ,
             then
             the
             Sophisticate
             Honour
             comes
             to
             ,
             so
             sedulously
             prepar'd
             for
             a
             false
             and
             unseasonable
             Glitter
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XVII
             .
          
           
             ONly
             
               Rubellius
               Blandus
            
             held
             with
             Lepidus
             ;
             the
             rest
             all
             sided
             with
             Agrippa
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             Of
             all
             the
             Consular
             Senators
             ,
             only
             
               Rubellius
               Blandus
            
             was
             of
             
             Lepidus's
             Opinion
             ?
             the
             rest
             condemned
             Priscus
             to
             Death
             .
          
           
           
             Agrippa
             had
             adjudg'd
             to
             Death
             a
             certain
             Roman
             Knight
             accus'd
             to
             have
             cheated
             Tiberius
             ,
             in
             presenting
             him
             an
             Elegie
             upon
             the
             Death
             of
             Germanicus
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             made
             for
             Drusus
             ,
             who
             was
             recovered
             from
             a
             Disease
             ,
             of
             which
             't
             was
             thought
             he
             would
             have
             dy'd
             .
             Lepidus
             ,
             according
             to
             his
             Custom
             ,
             which
             was
             to
             moderate
             the
             rigour
             of
             severe
             Sentences
             ,
             insisted
             ,
             that
             the
             mild
             Temper
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             and
             the
             Example
             of
             their
             Ancestors
             ,
             would
             not
             admit
             that
             they
             should
             run
             to
             that
             Heighth
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             make
             a
             distinction
             between
             Words
             and
             Actions
             ;
             and
             that
             Ostentation
             was
             not
             to
             be
             punish'd
             as
             a
             Criminal
             Offence
             :
             That
             they
             might
             find
             out
             such
             a
             Medium
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             Offender
             might
             be
             punish'd
             ,
             and
             yet
             they
             have
             no
             occasion
             ever
             to
             repent
             of
             too
             much
             Clemency
             ,
             or
             too
             unwary
             Severity
             .
             That
             a
             Man
             who
             made
             it
             his
             study
             to
             write
             Verses
             and
             read
             'em
             to
             Women
             ,
             to
             acquire
             the
             reputation
             of
             being
             a
             Poet
             ,
             was
             neither
             in
             a
             Capacity
             to
             do
             the
             Public
             any
             harm
             ,
             if
             they
             suffer'd
             him
             to
             live
             ;
             nor
             considerable
             enough
             ,
             to
             be
             made
             an
             example
             of
             Terrour
             ,
             if
             they
             put
             him
             to
             Death
             ,
             and
             therefore
             that
             it
             was
             sufficient
             to
             Banish
             him
             ,
             and
             Confiscate
             his
             Estate
             .
             But
             this
             Prudent
             and
             Grave
             
             Advice
             had
             but
             one
             only
             Person
             to
             applaud
             it
             ;
             while
             Agrippa
             ,
             tho'
             his
             Opinion
             and
             Intentions
             were
             unjust
             ,
             had
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Voices
             of
             his
             side
             ,
             because
             he
             flatter'd
             the
             Inclinations
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             who
             was
             both
             cruel
             and
             greedy
             of
             Revenge
             .
             One
             Flatterer
             makes
             many
             ,
             while
             they
             are
             afraid
             to
             be
             less
             forward
             then
             He
             ,
             to
             support
             the
             Prince's
             Interests
             ,
             if
             they
             do
             not
             side
             with
             that
             Opinion
             which
             flatters
             most
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XVIII
             .
          
           
             HE
             spoke
             Modest
             Things
             concerning
             the
             Manners
             of
             the
             Young
             Man
             ,
             nor
             did
             he
             add
             any
             thing
             of
             untruth
             to
             set
             a
             higher
             value
             upon
             his
             Parts
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             He
             added
             something
             ,
             as
             to
             Drusus
             ,
             but
             without
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             When
             Tiberius
             mention'd
             Germanicus
             ,
             to
             whom
             he
             bare
             a
             particular
             Spleen
             and
             Envy
             ,
             he
             spar'd
             for
             no
             Words
             ,
             nor
             no
             Applauses
             ,
             because
             he
             Flatter'd
             him
             ,
             and
             was
             willing
             the
             Senate
             should
             believe
             he
             
             said
             more
             then
             he
             meant
             .
             But
             when
             he
             spoke
             of
             Drusus
             ,
             who
             was
             his
             own
             Son
             ,
             he
             was
             always
             thrifty
             of
             his
             Expressions
             ,
             as
             being
             desirous
             they
             should
             believe
             all
             that
             he
             said
             ;
             as
             indeed
             he
             never
             did
             speak
             any
             thing
             of
             him
             but
             what
             every
             one
             knew
             to
             be
             Truth
             .
             Behold
             here
             the
             difference
             between
             Praising
             and
             Flattering
             .
             To
             Praise
             ,
             is
             truly
             to
             declare
             the
             real
             Worth
             and
             Merits
             of
             any
             Person
             and
             no
             more
             :
             Whereas
             he
             who
             Flatters
             ,
             either
             Aggravates
             ,
             or
             Lyes
             .
             He
             that
             Aggravates
             ,
             attributes
             more
             to
             the
             Person
             then
             he
             deserves
             :
             And
             he
             may
             be
             said
             to
             Lye
             ,
             who
             gives
             to
             Vices
             the
             appellation
             of
             Vertues
             ,
             that
             are
             their
             Opposites
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             the
             custom
             of
             all
             that
             Flatter
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XIX
             .
          
           
             THE
             Fathers
             had
             study'd
             his
             Oration
             before
             hand
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             Flattery
             was
             the
             more
             finely
             Spun.
             
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             The
             Senators
             waited
             for
             this
             Request
             ,
             which
             render'd
             the
             Flattery
             more
             delicate
             .
          
           
           
             If
             Flattery
             be
             generally
             so
             suttle
             and
             Ingenious
             as
             it
             is
             ,
             what
             is
             there
             which
             it
             is
             not
             able
             to
             invent
             to
             shew
             her
             Complacency
             ,
             after
             a
             serious
             Meditation
             ?
             If
             she
             be
             so
             pliant
             and
             submissive
             ,
             when
             her
             Acts
             are
             unconstrain'd
             and
             voluntary
             ,
             to
             what
             a
             low
             degree
             of
             Pusilanimous
             Baseness
             will
             she
             not
             condescend
             and
             poorly
             stoop
             ,
             when
             once
             necessity
             and
             awful
             force
             compel
             her
             ?
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XX.
             
          
           
             M.
             Silanus
             ,
             in
             contempt
             of
             the
             Consulship
             ,
             labour'd
             for
             the
             Honour
             of
             the
             Princes
             ,
             and
             deliver'd
             it
             ,
             as
             his
             own
             Opinion
             that
             the
             Names
             of
             the
             Consuls
             should
             be
             no
             longer
             affix'd
             to
             Public
             or
             Private
             Acts
             ,
             as
             the
             Rule
             of
             Kalenders
             and
             Chronologies
             ,
             but
             the
             Names
             of
             those
             that
             had
             the
             Tribunitial
             Power
             .
             But
             as
             for
             
               Quintus
               Haterius
            
             ,
             when
             he
             propos'd
             that
             the
             Decrees
             of
             the
             Senate
             for
             that
             day
             ,
             should
             be
             set
             up
             in
             the
             Court
             in
             Letters
             of
             Gold
             ,
             the
             Old
             Man
             became
             the
             
             Laughter
             of
             the
             whole
             Court
             ,
             who
             having
             so
             small
             a
             time
             to
             Live
             ,
             could
             think
             of
             carrying
             the
             Infamy
             of
             such
             a
             notorious
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             to
             his
             Grave
             .
          
           
             Says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             Haterius
             
               expos'd
               himself
               to
               public
               Laughter
               ,
               for
               having
               propos'd
               to
               Engrave
               their
               Decrees
               in
               Letters
               of
               Gold
               ,
               as
               one
               that
               could
               not
               hope
               to
               reap
               the
               fruit
               of
               his
               Flattery
               ,
               but
               the
               Ignominy
               that
               attended
               it
               .
            
             But
             this
             does
             not
             come
             up
             to
             the
             sense
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             who
             the
             better
             to
             set
             out
             the
             poor
             Spirit
             of
             Haterius
             ,
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             an
             Old
             Man
             ,
             who
             by
             Consequence
             not
             having
             long
             to
             live
             ,
             could
             expect
             no
             other
             ,
             then
             to
             go
             to
             his
             Grave
             loaden
             with
             Infamy
             .
          
           
             The
             same
             thing
             happen'd
             to
             Tiberius
             ,
             which
             had
             befallen
             Augustus
             .
             When
             Augustus
             made
             Tiberius
             his
             Associate
             in
             the
             Tribuneship
             ,
             then
             thither
             
               Cuncta
               Vergere
            
             .
             The
             Flatterers
             began
             to
             pay
             their
             Adorations
             all
             to
             Tiberius
             :
             And
             so
             soon
             as
             Tiberius
             summons
             Drusus
             to
             Partnership
             in
             the
             Dignity
             and
             Authority
             ,
             every
             one
             strives
             to
             adore
             the
             Rising
             Sun
             ,
             all
             the
             Flatterers
             ;
             all
             the
             Senators
             like
             Emulous
             
             Champions
             ,
             dispute
             for
             Preheminence
             in
             Flattery
             ,
             and
             to
             gain
             the
             Favour
             of
             the
             New
             Prince
             ,
             generally
             the
             Prize
             of
             early
             Sedulicie
             .
             Silanus
             therefore
             ,
             a
             person
             Illustrious
             for
             his
             Extraction
             and
             Eloquence
             ,
             steps
             up
             ,
             and
             proposes
             that
             the
             Public
             Accounts
             of
             the
             Years
             should
             be
             no
             longer
             taken
             from
             the
             Names
             of
             the
             Consuls
             ,
             but
             from
             the
             Sovereign
             Tribuneship
             ,
             little
             heeding
             that
             while
             he
             Honour'd
             Drusus
             ,
             he
             Dishonour'd
             Tiberius
             ,
             who
             having
             been
             four
             times
             Consul
             ,
             receiv'd
             the
             same
             Affront
             as
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Consuls
             ,
             if
             he
             suffer'd
             a
             Dignity
             to
             grow
             into
             Contempt
             ,
             which
             he
             himself
             had
             taken
             upon
             him
             ,
             after
             he
             was
             Emperour
             .
             Besides
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             Alteration
             of
             Chronological
             Computation
             should
             Commence
             from
             no
             longer
             a
             Date
             then
             the
             Tribuneship
             of
             Drusus
             ,
             he
             must
             be
             Inferiour
             to
             his
             Son
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             be
             beholding
             to
             him
             for
             being
             Nam'd
             with
             Him
             in
             all
             Public
             Acts
             and
             Registers
             :
             Which
             is
             a
             Thing
             highly
             injurious
             to
             Majesty
             ,
             that
             endures
             neither
             Equality
             nor
             Dependency
             .
             And
             thus
             see
             how
             Flattery
             oft-times
             splits
             it self
             upon
             the
             Rocks
             of
             Imprudence
             ,
             and
             becomes
             Affrontive
             where
             she
             studies
             most
             Obsequiousness
             .
             As
             for
             
               Quintus
               Haterius
            
             ,
             his
             Flattery
             was
             so
             ill
             resented
             by
             
             Tiberius
             ,
             that
             his
             Proposal
             was
             look'd
             upon
             as
             Extravagant
             .
             And
             that
             which
             render'd
             him
             most
             ridiculous
             ,
             was
             his
             Old
             Age
             ,
             that
             put
             him
             out
             of
             hopes
             of
             ever
             living
             to
             reap
             the
             Fruit
             of
             
             Drusus's
             acknowledgement
             ;
             so
             that
             there
             nothing
             more
             remain'd
             for
             him
             ,
             but
             the
             ignominy
             of
             having
             been
             the
             Author
             of
             a
             Proposal
             so
             much
             beneath
             a
             Person
             of
             his
             Years
             and
             Quality
             :
             for
             he
             was
             of
             an
             Illustrious
             Family
             ,
             and
             moreover
             highly
             esteem'd
             for
             his
             Eloquence
             .
             Whence
             you
             may
             observe
             by
             the
             by
             ,
             that
             Eloquence
             and
             Flattery
             wonderfully
             sympathize
             one
             with
             the
             other
             ;
             and
             that
             it
             is
             a
             difficult
             thing
             to
             be
             a
             cunning
             and
             dextrous
             Flatterer
             without
             Eloquence
             ;
             or
             to
             be
             Eloquent
             without
             Adulation
             .
             And
             this
             is
             that
             perhaps
             ,
             which
             the
             younger
             Pliny
             means
             ,
             That
             Eloquence
             is
             not
             to
             be
             learnt
             ,
             without
             good
             Manners
             ;
             to
             let
             us
             understand
             ,
             that
             Eloquence
             is
             a
             dangerous
             Talent
             in
             them
             ,
             who
             are
             not
             endu'd
             with
             a
             Sincerity
             capable
             to
             make
             a
             right
             use
             of
             it
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XXI
             .
          
           
             I
             Think
             it
             to
             be
             the
             chiefest
             Duty
             of
             a
             Historian
             ,
             to
             take
             care
             that
             Vertue
             be
             not
             smother'd
             ,
             and
             to
             deter
             Men
             from
             evil
             Actions
             and
             Sayings
             ,
             for
             fear
             of
             being
             branded
             with
             Ignomy
             to
             Posterity
             .
          
           
             In
             my
             Opinion
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             't
             is
             the
             Duty
             of
             a
             Historian
             ,
             to
             give
             to
             Vertue
             the
             recompence
             which
             she
             deserves
             ,
             and
             to
             beget
             an
             abhorrency
             of
             Vice
             ,
             by
             awing
             Men
             with
             the
             shame
             of
             Eternal
             Infamy
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             the
             custom
             of
             Flatterers
             to
             extol
             Vice
             ,
             while
             by
             a
             wrong
             impression
             of
             Interpretation
             ,
             they
             make
             it
             pass
             for
             currant
             Vertue
             ;
             and
             to
             cry
             down
             as
             Crimes
             ,
             the
             Vertues
             of
             such
             as
             are
             hated
             by
             those
             Princes
             whom
             they
             Flatter
             .
             Of
             all
             People
             therefore
             in
             the
             World
             are
             Flatterers
             the
             most
             unfit
             ,
             and
             improper
             to
             undertake
             a
             History
             ,
             which
             ought
             to
             have
             Truth
             for
             its
             Guide
             ,
             and
             for
             its
             Object
             the
             Instruction
             of
             Posterity
             .
             And
             here
             we
             must
             not
             omit
             to
             give
             that
             worthily
             
             deserved
             Character
             of
             
               Monsieur
               Mezeray
            
             ,
             to
             be
             the
             only
             Modern
             Author
             ,
             that
             has
             honour'd
             France
             with
             a
             Sincere
             Story
             ,
             and
             left
             in
             his
             Writings
             the
             lively
             Image
             of
             its
             ancient
             Liberty
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XXII
             .
          
           
             ENnius
             a
             Roman
             Knight
             ,
             accus'd
             of
             High
             Treason
             ,
             because
             he
             had
             melted
             down
             the
             Princes
             Statue
             ,
             and
             turn'd
             it
             into
             Silver
             Plate
             ,
             Cesar
             forbad
             to
             be
             Register'd
             among
             the
             Guilty
             ;
             
               Aseius
               Capito
            
             openly
             opposing
             him
             under
             the
             Pretence
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             alledging
             that
             such
             a
             Hainous
             Crime
             ought
             never
             to
             go
             Unpunish'd
             ;
             that
             he
             might
             be
             remiss
             in
             pard'ning
             Offences
             against
             himself
             ;
             not
             be
             so
             lavish
             to
             forgive
             notorious
             Injuries
             done
             the
             Public
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Ennius
            
             a
             Roman
             Knight
             was
             accus'd
             of
             High
             Treason
             ,
             for
             having
             melted
             a
             Statue
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             to
             change
             it
             into
             Silver
             Plate
             for
             his
             own
             use
             .
             But
             Tiberius
             discharg'd
             him
             ;
             tho'
             Capito
             
             oppos'd
             him
             ,
             crying
             out
             as
             if
             he
             had
             stood
             up
             in
             defence
             of
             the
             Public
             Liberty
             ,
             that
             it
             became
             him
             not
             to
             let
             so
             great
             an
             Offender
             go
             Vnpunish'd
             ;
             that
             he
             might
             Pardon
             his
             own
             ,
             but
             not
             the
             Injuries
             of
             the
             Commonwealth
             .
          
           
             
               Flattery
               is
               never
               more
               wicked
               ,
               then
               when
               she
               disguises
               her self
               in
               the
               habit
               of
               Liberty
               .
            
             Capito
             
               was
               not
               to
               learn
               that
            
             Tiberius
             
               hated
               Flattery
               ,
               and
               that
               on
               the
               other
               side
               he
               was
               no
               Friend
               to
               Liberty
               ;
               and
               therefore
               he
               intermixes
               both
               together
               .
            
             What
             ?
             
               says
               he
            
             ,
             will
             you
             let
             go
             a
             Criminal
             ,
             that
             has
             thus
             daringly
             display'd
             his
             contempt
             of
             your
             Person
             ,
             by
             melting
             down
             one
             of
             your
             Statues
             ;
             and
             had
             this
             Offence
             been
             committed
             against
             You
             alone
             ,
             you
             might
             have
             pardon'd
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             Senate
             could
             not
             have
             oppos'd
             it
             ;
             but
             since
             it
             is
             a
             Crime
             that
             Ennius
             has
             committed
             against
             the
             whole
             Republic
             ,
             the
             Punishment
             belongs
             to
             Vs
             ;
             since
             it
             is
             not
             just
             that
             you
             should
             be
             so
             merciful
             at
             the
             Expence
             of
             our
             Authority
             .
          
           
             Certainly
             no
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             could
             ever
             have
             out-done
             this
             Reprimand
             .
             Capito
             ,
             who
             was
             not
             ignorant
             of
             the
             cruel
             Temper
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             would
             insinuate
             that
             all
             the
             Injuries
             done
             to
             the
             Prince
             ,
             should
             be
             look'd
             upon
             as
             done
             to
             the
             Common-weal
             ;
             to
             the
             end
             that
             under
             that
             specious
             
             pretence
             ,
             while
             the
             Senate
             satisfi'd
             the
             Emperours
             Revenge
             ,
             Tiberius
             might
             be
             discharg'd
             of
             the
             Odium
             which
             was
             like
             to
             fall
             upon
             him
             ,
             had
             he
             been
             Carver
             for
             himself
             .
             Thus
             Sycophants
             cherish
             and
             foment
             the
             Vices
             of
             Princes
             ,
             and
             teach
             'em
             how
             to
             be
             Tyrants
             .
             Observe
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             that
             this
             Capito
             was
             a
             Person
             highly
             learn'd
             in
             the
             Laws
             ,
             both
             Human
             and
             Divine
             ,
             and
             moreover
             accounted
             one
             of
             the
             Chief
             Men
             in
             the
             Senate
             ,
             yet
             all
             his
             Learning
             serv'd
             but
             to
             stain
             his
             Reputation
             with
             Eternal
             Reproach
             ;
             considering
             the
             ill
             use
             which
             he
             had
             made
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             well
             under
             Augustus
             as
             under
             
               Tiberius
               .
               There
               are
               always
               at
               the
               Elbows
               of
               Princes
               ,
            
             says
             Commines
             in
             his
             Memoires
             ,
             l.
             1.
             c.
             6.
             
               some
               or
               other
               of
               the
               Long
               Robe
               ;
               a
               lovely
               sight
               ,
               when
               Vertuous
               ;
               but
               dangerous
               ,
               when
               Wicked
               .
            
             And
             in
             his
             Fifth
             Book
             ,
             toward
             the
             end
             of
             the
             Chapter
             ,
             
               Too
               much
               Knowledge
               corrupts
               the
               Wicked
               ;
               but
               the
               Vertuous
               are
               much
               the
               better
               for
               it
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XXIII
             .
          
           
             LAbeo
             ,
             an
             untainted
             Asserter
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             Reason
             ,
             of
             a
             more
             celebrated
             Reputation
             ;
             but
             
             Capito's
             Obsequiousness
             was
             more
             approv'd
             by
             those
             that
             had
             the
             Sovereign
             Power
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Labeo
            
             more
             Frank
             and
             Generous
             ,
             and
             therefore
             more
             Famous
             among
             Men
             ,
             the
             other
             more
             Complaisant
             ,
             and
             better
             belov'd
             by
             his
             Prince
             .
          
           
             I
             have
             already
             said
             ,
             that
             how
             Vertuous
             soever
             Princes
             may
             be
             ,
             they
             are
             unwilling
             however
             to
             suffer
             absolute
             Liberty
             :
             Whatever
             their
             aversion
             may
             be
             to
             Flattery
             ,
             yet
             too
             much
             Freedom
             is
             that
             which
             more
             offends
             their
             Ears
             .
             Majesty
             is
             so
             accustom'd
             to
             Respect
             and
             Adoration
             ,
             that
             whatsoever
             is
             not
             Complaisance
             or
             Submission
             ,
             proves
             insupportable
             to
             it
             .
             Augustus
             was
             a
             mild
             and
             vertuous
             Prince
             ,
             but
             yet
             he
             never
             lov'd
             Labeo
             ,
             because
             he
             did
             not
             seem
             to
             demean
             himself
             as
             became
             him
             ,
             like
             a
             Subject
             ;
             therefore
             
             he
             preferr'd
             Capito
             ,
             his
             Competitor
             ,
             tho'
             his
             inferiour
             in
             Birth
             ,
             in
             Merit
             ,
             and
             in
             Honesty
             ,
             only
             surpassing
             him
             in
             Complaisance
             .
             Labeo
             was
             more
             esteem'd
             by
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             Capito
             more
             valu'd
             by
             his
             Prince
             .
             Labeo
             deserv'd
             the
             Consulship
             but
             never
             had
             it
             ;
             
             Capito's
             Advancement
             was
             early
             to
             the
             same
             Dignity
             ;
             tho'
             no
             otherway
             deserv'd
             it
             then
             by
             his
             Cringing
             Obsequiousness
             .
             
             Labeo's
             Humour
             gains
             a
             Reputation
             among
             the
             People
             ,
             but
             he
             who
             strives
             to
             be
             a
             Favourite
             at
             Court
             ,
             must
             observe
             the
             Method
             that
             Capito
             follow'd
             ;
             according
             to
             the
             Court
             Maxim
             ,
             That
             Favour
             acquir'd
             is
             more
             durably
             preserv'd
             by
             Complaisance
             ,
             then
             by
             Courage
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXIV
             .
          
           
             A
             Dulation
             and
             Pride
             kept
             equal
             pace
             together
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Servile
             and
             Proud
             both
             together
             .
          
           
             Flatterers
             (
             I
             mean
             the
             Flatterers
             in
             Courts
             of
             Princes
             )
             are
             for
             the
             most
             part
             
             Tainted
             with
             two
             sorts
             of
             Vices
             ,
             which
             seem
             however
             to
             be
             contrary
             to
             each
             other
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             Servility
             and
             Pride
             .
             They
             are
             flexible
             pliant
             ,
             and
             obsequious
             to
             their
             Prince
             ,
             but
             arrogant
             and
             haughty
             toward
             their
             Inferiours
             .
             And
             this
             was
             the
             meaning
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             where
             he
             says
             ,
             that
             Mucianus
             was
             an
             Intermixture
             of
             Affability
             ,
             and
             Arrogance
             :
             And
             of
             what
             the
             Orator
             Passienus
             said
             of
             Caligula
             ,
             who
             had
             been
             a
             most
             Servile
             Flatterer
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             never
             known
             a
             better
             Slave
             nor
             a
             worse
             Master
             .
             Plutarch
             also
             records
             in
             
             Sylla's
             Life
             ,
             That
             he
             always
             humbled
             himself
             to
             those
             with
             whom
             he
             had
             to
             do
             ;
             but
             expected
             Adoration
             from
             those
             that
             had
             to
             do
             with
             him
             ;
             so
             that
             it
             was
             hard
             to
             say
             of
             him
             ,
             which
             of
             the
             two
             were
             his
             chiefest
             Excellency
             ,
             his
             Flattery
             ,
             or
             his
             Pride
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXV
             .
          
           
             THose
             that
             were
             too
             lavish
             of
             their
             Flatteries
             ,
             He
             himself
             restrain'd
             and
             reprov'd
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             And
             if
             any
             suffer'd
             
             themselves
             to
             run
             into
             high-strain'd
             Flattery
             ,
             those
             the
             Prince
             was
             the
             first
             that
             reprehended
             .
          
           
             This
             was
             the
             True
             means
             to
             preserve
             himself
             from
             being
             mislead
             .
             For
             it
             is
             with
             many
             Princes
             ,
             as
             with
             Women
             that
             are
             given
             to
             tell
             Stories
             ,
             that
             their
             Ears
             are
             too
             open
             to
             the
             Charms
             of
             pleasing
             Impertinents
             .
             If
             Flatterers
             never
             open'd
             their
             Lips
             ,
             Princes
             would
             never
             be
             misguided
             ,
             for
             Verity
             would
             take
             place
             of
             Untruth
             .
             For
             this
             Reason
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             prudent
             Senator
             Helvidius
             ,
             delivering
             his
             Opinion
             concerning
             the
             Deputies
             which
             the
             Senate
             had
             resolv'd
             to
             send
             to
             Vespasian
             ,
             to
             Congratulate
             his
             Advancement
             to
             the
             Empire
             ,
             alledging
             ,
             
               That
               it
               was
               for
               the
               Interest
               of
               the
               Public
               Weal
               ,
               and
               the
               Honour
               of
               the
               Prince
               ,
               to
               depute
               the
               first
               time
               ,
               such
               of
               their
               Number
               ,
               whose
               Lives
               and
               conversations
               were
               free
               from
               stain
               or
               reproach
               ,
               that
               they
               might
               accustom
               his
               Ears
               to
               wholesome
               Counsel
               ;
               that
            
             Thraseas
             ,
             Soranus
             ,
             and
             Sentius
             ,
             (
             who
             were
             three
             of
             the
             Sincerest
             Persons
             in
             the
             Senate
             )
             
               having
               been
               Honour'd
               already
               with
            
             Vespasians
             
               Friendship
               ,
               it
               behov'd
               'em
               to
               be
               careful
               to
               let
               him
               see
               their
               Accusers
               .
               That
               a
               Deputation
               so
               judicious
               would
               be
               as
               it
               were
               a
               tart
               Intimation
               which
               
               the
               Senate
               gave
               him
               of
               those
               Persons
               ,
               who
               were
               most
               worthy
               his
               Esteem
               and
               Favour
               ;
               and
               likewise
               of
               those
               other
               whom
               he
               had
               reason
               to
               mistrust
               .
            
             That
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             Flatterers
             ,
             and
             other
             wicked
             People
             ,
             that
             build
             their
             Fortunes
             upon
             the
             Ruin
             of
             others
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXVI
             .
          
           
             THE
             same
             Honors
             were
             Decreed
             to
             the
             Memory
             of
             Drusus
             ,
             as
             to
             that
             of
             Germanicus
             ,
             tho'
             with
             several
             Additions
             ,
             as
             the
             latter
             Adulation
             will
             be
             always
             contriving
             to
             do
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             They
             Decreed
             the
             same
             Honours
             to
             Drusus
             ,
             as
             were
             decreed
             to
             the
             Memory
             of
             his
             Brother
             :
             But
             some
             new
             Ceremonies
             were
             added
             ,
             as
             the
             latter
             Flattery
             is
             always
             the
             moct
             Ingenious
             .
          
           
             By
             the
             means
             of
             this
             same
             Novelty
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Flatterers
             always
             support
             themselves
             in
             the
             Favour
             of
             their
             Princes
             .
             They
             would
             be
             weary
             of
             her
             Flatteries
             ,
             had
             Adulation
             but
             one
             string
             to
             the
             tuneful
             Harp
             of
             their
             Encomiums
             .
             They
             
             only
             value
             those
             Honours
             that
             are
             peculiarly
             invented
             for
             themselves
             .
             For
             every
             Prince
             new
             Incense
             and
             Perfumes
             .
             Hence
             it
             comes
             to
             pass
             ,
             that
             he
             who
             sits
             at
             present
             in
             the
             Throne
             ,
             is
             more
             applauded
             ,
             then
             all
             those
             that
             Reign'd
             before
             him
             .
             As
             Ridiculous
             and
             Stupid
             as
             the
             Emperor
             Claudius
             was
             ,
             the
             slave
             to
             his
             own
             enfranchiz'd
             Bondmen
             ,
             yet
             he
             fail'd
             not
             to
             find
             one
             Consul
             ,
             who
             was
             not
             asham'd
             to
             propose
             the
             giving
             him
             the
             Title
             of
             
               Father
               of
               the
               Senate
            
             ,
             alledging
             that
             
               Father
               of
               his
               Country
            
             was
             too
             Common
             ;
             and
             that
             a
             Prince
             who
             blest
             the
             Empire
             every
             day
             with
             new
             Accumulations
             of
             his
             Favour
             ,
             deserv'd
             at
             least
             to
             be
             Honour'd
             with
             a
             Sirname
             that
             never
             had
             been
             given
             to
             any
             of
             his
             Predecessors
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXVII
             .
          
           
             THE
             chief
             Priests
             also
             when
             they
             made
             their
             Vows
             for
             the
             Welfare
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             recommended
             likewise
             Nero
             and
             Drusus
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             not
             so
             much
             for
             love
             of
             the
             young
             Men
             ,
             as
             out
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             the
             
             Omission
             of
             which
             as
             equally
             begets
             Suspition
             ,
             as
             the
             Excess
             .
          
           
             The
             High
             Priest
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             when
             they
             made
             their
             Vows
             for
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             recommended
             to
             the
             Protection
             of
             the
             same
             Gods
             ,
             Nero
             and
             Drusus
             ,
             not
             so
             much
             through
             any
             Affection
             as
             out
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             the
             Excess
             or
             Omission
             of
             which
             are
             equally
             dangerous
             .
          
           
             We
             have
             already
             asserted
             ,
             that
             Flatterie
             is
             void
             of
             Love
             ,
             and
             that
             by
             straining
             at
             Flattery
             ,
             Men
             often
             loose
             themselves
             in
             the
             Mazes
             of
             Folly
             and
             Imprudence
             .
             And
             certainly
             it
             was
             a
             great
             piece
             of
             Imprudence
             to
             equal
             to
             the
             Person
             of
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             two
             young
             Striplings
             that
             were
             but
             just
             coming
             into
             the
             World.
             Majesty
             endures
             no
             Companion
             or
             Partnership
             in
             Honours
             .
             When
             others
             mount
             ,
             she
             must
             descend
             .
             Flattery
             's
             mercinary
             ;
             and
             is
             always
             for
             him
             that
             bids
             most
             .
             Tiberius
             was
             now
             in
             his
             declining
             years
             ,
             and
             Nero
             and
             Drusus
             in
             the
             prime
             of
             their
             Youth
             .
             The
             High
             Priests
             look'd
             upon
             the
             Reign
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             as
             a
             Reign
             that
             would
             be
             soon
             at
             an
             end
             ;
             and
             the
             Fortune
             of
             Nero
             ,
             as
             a
             Sovereignty
             that
             was
             shortly
             to
             Commence
             .
             Therefore
             
             it
             was
             not
             through
             Affection
             but
             Interest
             ,
             that
             they
             made
             so
             little
             a
             distinction
             between
             the
             two
             Brothers
             and
             Tiberius
             ,
             who
             having
             lost
             his
             Son
             ,
             seem'd
             to
             have
             no
             more
             then
             a
             precarious
             and
             languishing
             Authority
             .
             And
             this
             was
             the
             meaning
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             when
             he
             told
             the
             Pontiffs
             ,
             That
             he
             was
             glad
             to
             see
             Children
             equall'd
             to
             his
             Hoary
             Age
             ;
             which
             was
             a
             wipe
             by
             the
             by
             ,
             to
             let
             'em
             understand
             they
             had
             been
             too
             hasty
             to
             appoint
             him
             a
             Successor
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             what
             an
             ill
             reception
             Flattery
             finds
             ,
             when
             once
             it
             knows
             no
             bounds
             .
             But
             the
             Omission
             of
             Flattery
             is
             no
             less
             displeasing
             to
             Princes
             ,
             as
             ascribing
             the
             cause
             of
             that
             neglect
             to
             Haughtiness
             ,
             to
             Contumacy
             ,
             or
             Contempt
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             was
             that
             Tiberius
             so
             often
             complain'd
             of
             the
             Arrogance
             ,
             and
             Indocibility
             of
             Agrippina
             ,
             Germanicus's
             Wife
             ;
             and
             that
             under
             Nero
             ,
             it
             was
             objected
             against
             Thrasea
             ,
             for
             no
             less
             then
             High
             Treason
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             never
             either
             applauded
             ,
             or
             countenanc'd
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             others
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             always
             absented
             himself
             on
             purpose
             ,
             when
             the
             Magistrates
             were
             to
             take
             their
             Oaths
             of
             Allegiance
             ,
             or
             made
             any
             Vows
             for
             the
             Prosperity
             of
             the
             Prince
             :
             That
             he
             had
             never
             Sacrific'd
             in
             return
             of
             Thanks
             for
             
             his
             Charming
             and
             Celestial
             Voice
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             never
             acknowledg
             Poppea
             for
             a
             Goodess
             ;
             that
             he
             had
             forboru
             coming
             to
             the
             Senate
             for
             three
             Years
             together
             ,
             because
             he
             would
             not
             consent
             to
             his
             Decrees
             ;
             to
             shew
             that
             none
             of
             his
             Majesties
             Actions
             pleas'd
             him
             ,
             though
             he
             would
             not
             declare
             his
             mind
             by
             any
             open
             Contradiction
             or
             Opposition
             .
             That
             he
             left
             the
             Senate
             one
             day
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             making
             Speeches
             against
             the
             Memory
             of
             Agrippina
             ,
             the
             Mother
             of
             Nero.
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             in
             one
             Man
             ,
             almost
             all
             the
             sins
             of
             Omission
             ,
             which
             a
             Courtier
             could
             commit
             in
             the
             concerns
             of
             Flattery
             .
             Moreover
             ,
             there
             are
             some
             Occasions
             where
             the
             Subject
             cannot
             dispence
             with
             Flattery
             as
             others
             do
             .
             Such
             are
             those
             which
             we
             call
             Congratulation
             ,
             or
             Condolement
             .
             Tho'
             had
             Thrasea
             been
             present
             when
             the
             Magistrates
             took
             their
             Oaths
             ,
             had
             he
             made
             his
             Vows
             for
             the
             Prince
             ,
             or
             appear'd
             at
             the
             Funeral
             of
             Poppea
             ,
             it
             could
             have
             been
             no
             stain
             to
             his
             Reputation
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             does
             not
             become
             a
             Subject
             to
             be
             too
             stiff
             neither
             ;
             but
             on
             the
             other
             side
             to
             comply
             with
             the
             Times
             and
             Humours
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             as
             much
             as
             it
             is
             possible
             ,
             more
             especially
             so
             far
             as
             the
             Rules
             of
             good
             Breeding
             and
             Civility
             extend
             .
          
           
           
             Thus
             the
             younger
             Pliny
             being
             design'd
             Consul
             ,
             refus'd
             to
             decree
             new
             honours
             to
             Trajan
             ,
             as
             the
             Consuls
             Elect
             had
             wont
             to
             do
             to
             other
             Princes
             .
             But
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               I
               did
               not
               abstain
               from
               this
               same
               outward
               Appearance
               of
               Flattery
               ,
               through
               any
               motive
               of
               Liberty
               infring'd
               ,
               or
               of
               Constancy
               ,
               but
               because
               I
               was
               assur'd
               of
               the
               Moderation
               of
               my
               Prince
               ,
               therefore
               believing
               it
               would
               be
               much
               more
               to
               his
               Honour
               ,
               for
               me
               to
               refuse
               the
               making
               any
               such
               Decree
               ;
               altho'
               so
               just
               a
               Duty
               could
               not
               be
               tax'd
               of
               Flattery
               .
            
             Those
             Grandees
             and
             other
             Persons
             who
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             live
             at
             Court
             ,
             can
             never
             learn
             a
             better
             〈◊〉
             then
             this
             ,
             to
             preserve
             themselves
             in
             their
             several
             Stations
             .
             'T
             were
             well
             ,
             there
             were
             no
             Flatterers
             at
             all
             ;
             but
             there
             is
             no
             need
             of
             such
             remarkable
             Demonstrations
             to
             prove
             Men
             are
             not
             so
             ;
             in
             regard
             it
             shews
             like
             a
             piece
             of
             Contumacy
             and
             Mutinous
             Insurrection
             against
             the
             Majesty
             of
             a
             Prince
             .
             So
             that
             Seneca
             spoke
             rather
             like
             a
             Philosopher
             that
             contemn'd
             death
             ,
             then
             a
             Courtier
             when
             he
             answer'd
             the
             Tribune
             whom
             Nero
             sent
             ,
             to
             bring
             back
             his
             Justification
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             not
             of
             a
             humour
             to
             Flatter
             ,
             as
             no
             body
             better
             knew
             then
             Nero
             himself
             ,
             who
             had
             had
             more
             frequent
             Experience
             of
             
             Seneca's
             freedom
             then
             his
             Complaisance
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XXVIII
             .
          
           
             IN
             the
             Senate
             he
             gave
             a
             severe
             charge
             in
             a
             set
             Speech
             ,
             that
             no
             Man
             for
             the
             future
             should
             attempt
             to
             Elevate
             the
             fluctuating
             and
             unsteady
             Minds
             of
             the
             Young
             Men
             with
             over
             hasty
             Honours
             .
          
           
             In
             the
             Discourse
             which
             he
             made
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             he
             gave
             a
             strist
             Caution
             ,
             that
             no
             Man
             should
             swell
             the
             Volatile
             Minds
             of
             the
             Young
             Men
             with
             Honours
             above
             their
             Age.
             
          
           
             This
             Admonition
             concerns
             the
             Governours
             and
             Tutors
             of
             young
             Princes
             ,
             for
             whom
             there
             is
             nothing
             so
             necessary
             as
             these
             Lessons
             of
             Moderation
             and
             Modesty
             .
             The
             Children
             of
             Princes
             know
             too
             soon
             that
             they
             are
             Princes
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             that
             they
             are
             born
             to
             Command
             over
             Men
             ,
             tho'
             sometimes
             they
             learn
             too
             late
             that
             they
             are
             but
             Men
             themselves
             .
             They
             are
             told
             upon
             every
             occasion
             ,
             that
             all
             belongs
             to
             them
             ;
             but
             the
             same
             Instructors
             at
             the
             same
             time
             forget
             to
             tell
             'em
             
             likewise
             ,
             that
             their
             Persons
             belong
             to
             the
             Commonweal
             ;
             that
             all
             their
             Time
             belongs
             to
             the
             Public
             ;
             that
             the
             Burthen
             which
             they
             are
             one
             day
             to
             undergo
             ,
             is
             very
             troublesome
             and
             painful
             ;
             and
             besides
             that
             ,
             extremely
             subject
             to
             the
             accidents
             of
             Fortune
             ;
             that
             the
             Higher
             they
             are
             Advanc'd
             ,
             the
             greater
             is
             the
             danger
             of
             their
             Fall
             ;
             that
             they
             will
             never
             be
             belov'd
             ,
             unless
             they
             love
             Reciprocally
             ;
             for
             Love
             it self
             is
             Masterless
             ,
             that
             to
             be
             belov'd
             of
             God
             ,
             it
             behoves
             'em
             to
             be
             belov'd
             of
             Men
             ;
             that
             Flatterers
             mislead
             'em
             ,
             if
             they
             listen
             to
             their
             Charms
             ;
             that
             when
             they
             are
             Flatter'd
             ,
             't
             is
             not
             their
             Persons
             ,
             but
             their
             Fortune
             that
             is
             fawn'd
             upon
             ;
             since
             no
             Flatterer
             can
             be
             capable
             of
             sincere
             and
             real
             Love.
             That
             Princes
             can
             never
             know
             all
             things
             ,
             nor
             bear
             the
             whole
             burthen
             of
             their
             Sovereign
             Employment
             ,
             and
             therefore
             for
             the
             good
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ,
             and
             their
             own
             Honour
             ,
             they
             ought
             to
             make
             choice
             of
             able
             and
             faithful
             Ministers
             ,
             to
             assist
             'em
             with
             their
             Counsels
             and
             their
             Industry
             ;
             Dominion
             and
             Absolute
             Power
             ,
             which
             commands
             all
             other
             Things
             ,
             not
             having
             any
             more
             to
             desire
             ,
             then
             their
             dextrous
             and
             truly
             Loyal
             Assistance
             .
             And
             lastly
             ,
             That
             the
             safest
             and
             shortest
             Expedient
             to
             Reign
             
             well
             ,
             is
             for
             a
             Prince
             to
             propose
             to
             himself
             ,
             as
             the
             Rule
             and
             Ballance
             of
             all
             his
             Actions
             to
             be
             no
             other
             then
             he
             would
             wish
             a
             Prince
             to
             be
             ,
             were
             he
             a
             Subject
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XXIX
             .
          
           
             VArro
             the
             Consul
             gratifi'd
             the
             hatred
             of
             Sejanus
             ,
             by
             the
             loss
             of
             his
             own
             Reputation
             .
          
           
             The
             Consul
             Varro
             〈◊〉
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             became
             his
             own
             〈…〉
             and
             was
             not
             asham'd
             to
             sacrifice
             〈…〉
             and
             to
             the
             Interests
             of
             Sejanus
             .
          
           
             Flatterers
             are
             always
             no
             less
             Servile
             then
             Cruel
             :
             And
             seeing
             they
             Sacrifice
             so
             willingly
             their
             Honour
             to
             Favour
             ,
             't
             is
             no
             wonder
             we
             are
             so
             easily
             induc'd
             to
             sacrifice
             to
             the
             Interrest
             of
             Topping
             Favorites
             ,
             the
             Objects
             of
             their
             Hatred
             .
             
               If
               the
               Favourite
            
             ,
             says
             Commines
             ,
             
               would
               lay
               an
               Imposition
               of
               a
               Penny
               ,
               they
               cry
               two
               .
               If
               the
               Prince
               do
               but
               threaten
               a
               Man
               ,
               they
               cry
               ,
               let
               him
               be
               Hang'd
               .
               And
               be
               sure
               Sir
               ,
               to
               render
               your self
               formidable
               ;
               and
               for
               themselves
               ,
               their
               Deportment
               and
               their
               
               Frowns
               discover
               nothing
               but
               Pride
               and
               Severity
               ,
               as
               if
               Authority
               and
               Power
               were
               their
               Inheritance
               .
            
             Observe
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             that
             Tacitus
             when
             he
             mentions
             Flattery
             ,
             frequently
             associates
             with
             it
             Calumny
             ,
             which
             is
             indeed
             one
             of
             the
             most
             usual
             means
             ,
             that
             Flatterers
             make
             use
             of
             to
             the
             Ruine
             of
             others
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXX
             .
          
           
             LEpidus
             for
             the
             most
             part
             ,
             deviated
             for
             the
             better
             ,
             from
             the
             severe
             Adulations
             of
             others
             ;
             and
             yet
             he
             carry'd
             himself
             so
             exactly
             poys'd
             that
             he
             flourish'd
             under
             Tiberius
             with
             an
             equal
             share
             of
             Authority
             and
             his
             Princes
             Favour
             .
             So
             that
             I
             am
             constrain'd
             to
             doubt
             whither
             the
             Inclination
             of
             Princes
             to
             some
             ,
             and
             their
             Aversion
             to
             others
             ,
             be
             not
             guided
             as
             many
             other
             things
             are
             by
             fate
             and
             the
             ruling
             Constellations
             at
             our
             Birth
             :
             And
             whither
             it
             be
             in
             our
             power
             to
             walk
             in
             a
             Path
             free
             from
             Ambition
             and
             Dan
             -
             
             between
             untractable
             Contumacy
             ,
             and
             deformed
             Servility
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Many
             times
             he
             allay'd
             the
             over-rigorous
             advice
             of
             others
             ,
             not
             failing
             nevertheless
             in
             his
             Respect
             to
             his
             Prince
             ,
             and
             by
             that
             means
             preserv'd
             two
             things
             most
             difficult
             to
             be
             preserv'd
             ;
             the
             Honour
             of
             his
             Employment
             ,
             and
             his
             Majesties
             Favour
             .
             Which
             makes
             me
             frequently
             doubt
             whither
             the
             Favour
             of
             Great
             Men
             ,
             and
             their
             Hatred
             ,
             be
             not
             rather
             the
             effects
             of
             Destiny
             ,
             and
             the
             Stars
             that
             governour
             Nativities
             ,
             as
             are
             all
             other
             Accidents
             that
             happen
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             then
             of
             Human
             Prudence
             ,
             that
             so
             much
             pretends
             to
             have
             a
             share
             therein
             .
          
           
             The
             Moderation
             of
             Lepidus
             ,
             is
             a
             remarkable
             Testimony
             ,
             that
             rhere
             may
             be
             some
             great
             Personages
             ,
             impenetrable
             to
             Flattery
             and
             Injustice
             under
             the
             Dominion
             even
             of
             the
             most
             wicked
             Princes
             ,
             and
             that
             there
             never
             was
             any
             Age
             so
             barren
             of
             Vertuous
             Courage
             ,
             but
             has
             offer'd
             us
             Examples
             of
             such
             a
             noble
             Generosity
             .
             Prudence
             understands
             to
             choose
             out
             such
             a
             way
             that
             leads
             neither
             to
             the
             Precipice
             of
             Liberty
             ,
             nor
             the
             Abyss
             of
             Servitude
             .
             She
             is
             neither
             Libertine
             nor
             Slave
             ,
             but
             observes
             an
             equal
             Temper
             ,
             so
             as
             neither
             
             to
             be
             offensive
             to
             Majesty
             nor
             Justice
             .
             Sh●
             gives
             to
             Caesar
             ,
             that
             which
             belongs
             to
             Caesar
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             Obedience
             and
             Duty
             :
             To
             God
             ,
             that
             which
             is
             Gods
             ,
             or
             whatever
             is
             required
             by
             a
             sincere
             Conscience
             .
             If
             at
             any
             time
             she
             Flatters
             ,
             (
             for
             she
             cannot
             always
             avoid
             it
             )
             she
             makes
             use
             of
             such
             a
             sort
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             that
             rather
             informs
             then
             misleads
             the
             Prince
             ,
             and
             serves
             as
             an
             Incitement
             to
             provoke
             him
             to
             some
             Generous
             Act
             ,
             which
             otherwise
             perhaps
             he
             might
             not
             think
             of
             .
             For
             example
             ,
             Lepidus
             to
             save
             the
             Life
             of
             
               Lutorius
               Priscus
            
             ,
             whom
             
               Haterius
               Agrippa
            
             had
             sentenc'd
             to
             Death
             ,
             for
             a
             certain
             Elegie
             made
             upon
             Drusus
             ,
             makes
             it
             his
             business
             to
             applaud
             the
             Moderation
             of
             Tiberius
             ;
             telling
             him
             ,
             
               That
               after
               he
               had
               several
               times
               heard
               him
               complain
               of
               those
               that
               had
               prevented
               his
               Clemency
               ,
               he
               could
               not
               believe
               so
               just
               a
               Prince
               would
               ever
               confirm
               so
               rigorous
               a
               Sentence
               .
            
             In
             short
             ,
             when
             Tiberius
             ,
             (
             who
             was
             then
             in
             the
             Country
             )
             understood
             that
             Drusus
             was
             Executed
             ,
             he
             blam'd
             the
             Senate
             ,
             tho'
             the
             Reprimand
             were
             very
             gentle
             ,
             and
             commended
             the
             Prudence
             of
             Lepidus
             ,
             tho'
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             he
             did
             not
             rebuke
             Agrippa
             for
             his
             severity
             .
             Now
             it
             is
             certain
             ,
             that
             if
             Priscus
             had
             been
             repreiv'd
             ,
             Tiberius
             would
             
             never
             have
             taken
             away
             his
             Life
             ,
             Lepidus
             so
             well
             understood
             to
             make
             him
             sensible
             of
             Honour
             .
          
           
             In
             
             Nero's
             time
             ,
             the
             President
             was
             quite
             the
             contrary
             .
             For
             the
             
               Pretor
               ,
               Antistius
            
             ,
             who
             had
             made
             a
             bloody
             Lampoon
             against
             him
             ,
             was
             sav'd
             by
             Thrasea
             ,
             who
             after
             he
             had
             spoken
             of
             Nero
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             Customary
             to
             speak
             of
             a
             good
             Prince
             ,
             and
             had
             bitterly
             enveigh'd
             against
             the
             Insolence
             of
             the
             Pretor
             ,
             further
             added
             that
             the
             cruelty
             of
             preceding
             Reigns
             was
             out
             of
             date
             ;
             that
             without
             putting
             the
             Criminal
             to
             those
             Torments
             which
             he
             deserv'd
             ,
             he
             might
             be
             Punish'd
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             have
             no
             reason
             to
             object
             against
             his
             Judges
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             That
             his
             Life
             would
             be
             a
             solemn
             Testimonial
             of
             Public
             Clemency
             .
             This
             Advice
             was
             no
             less
             prudent
             nor
             less
             respectful
             ,
             then
             that
             of
             Lepidus
             ;
             but
             it
             was
             as
             ill
             receiv'd
             by
             Nero
             ,
             as
             the
             other
             was
             well
             receiv'd
             by
             
               Tiberius
               .
               Thrasea
            
             incurr'd
             the
             Hatred
             of
             Nero
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             few
             years
             after
             lost
             his
             Life
             ,
             for
             having
             sav'd
             Antistius
             ,
             whom
             the
             Prince
             would
             fain
             have
             put
             to
             death
             .
             Tiberius
             and
             Nero
             ,
             resembl'd
             each
             other
             in
             Cruelty
             ;
             Lepidus
             and
             Thrasea
             were
             Competitors
             in
             Vertue
             ,
             Priscus
             and
             Antistius
             equall'd
             each
             other
             in
             Arrogance
             
             and
             Sawciness
             ;
             for
             the
             one
             had
             the
             vanity
             to
             repeat
             his
             Elegy
             to
             a
             company
             of
             Ladies
             ,
             and
             the
             other
             to
             read
             his
             Lampoon
             at
             a
             Public
             Feast
             .
             Thrasea
             pleaded
             for
             Antistius
             ,
             as
             Lepidus
             had
             done
             for
             Priscus
             ;
             and
             yet
             that
             which
             made
             for
             
             Lepidus's
             Honour
             ,
             turn'd
             to
             the
             perdition
             of
             Thrasea
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             the
             different
             effects
             of
             that
             Fatality
             ,
             which
             Tacitus
             attributes
             to
             that
             same
             natural
             Inclination
             which
             Princes
             have
             for
             some
             ,
             and
             that
             natural
             Antipathy
             which
             they
             have
             for
             others
             .
             But
             if
             we
             more
             narrowly
             pry
             into
             the
             real
             Character
             of
             Lepidus
             ,
             and
             
             Thrasea's
             Genius
             ,
             we
             shall
             easily
             perceive
             ,
             that
             tho'
             they
             were
             both
             highly
             Prudent
             ,
             and
             equally
             averse
             to
             Flattery
             ,
             yet
             there
             was
             a
             Remarkable
             difference
             between
             'em
             ;
             for
             assur'dly
             ,
             Lepidus
             was
             the
             more
             prudent
             of
             the
             two
             .
             Lepidus
             was
             Feasible
             and
             Complaisant
             ,
             yet
             without
             any
             thing
             of
             low-spirited
             Meanness
             ,
             or
             abject
             Condescention
             :
             Thrasea
             prided
             himself
             altogether
             in
             his
             Stedfastness
             and
             Constancy
             .
             Lepidus
             shap'd
             himself
             according
             to
             the
             Times
             he
             was
             born
             in
             ,
             and
             the
             Humour
             of
             the
             Reigning
             Prince
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             the
             duty
             of
             every
             good
             Subject
             so
             to
             do
             .
             Thrasea
             was
             a
             little
             too
             obstinate
             and
             hardy
             in
             what
             he
             thought
             Just
             and
             
             Reasonable
             ,
             which
             occasion'd
             that
             saying
             of
             Nero
             ,
             That
             he
             wish'd
             Thrasea
             lov'd
             but
             him
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             he
             did
             Justice
             .
             The
             latter
             was
             the
             better
             Man
             ,
             the
             other
             the
             better
             Subject
             .
             By
             which
             Parallel
             it
             is
             apparent
             ,
             that
             Prudence
             has
             a
             great
             share
             in
             the
             Conduct
             of
             Human
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Favour
             and
             Aversion
             of
             Princes
             ,
             are
             not
             always
             the
             Effects
             of
             their
             Fancies
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXXI
             .
          
           
             SOme
             things
             he
             had
             added
             more
             Contumaciously
             ,
             then
             safe
             to
             be
             gather'd
             in
             by
             haughty
             Ears
             ,
             and
             prone
             to
             be
             Captious
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Serenus
            
             had
             reproach'd
             his
             Ingratitude
             ,
             in
             terms
             more
             Insolent
             then
             the
             nice
             and
             tender
             Ears
             of
             a
             Prince
             could
             endure
             .
          
           
             The
             Ears
             of
             Princes
             are
             not
             accustom'd
             to
             the
             rude
             touches
             of
             Insolence
             and
             Expostulation
             .
             When
             we
             speak
             to
             Princes
             ,
             (
             said
             one
             of
             the
             Ancients
             )
             we
             must
             make
             choice
             of
             words
             either
             all
             Silken
             ,
             or
             all
             
             Honey
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             our
             Language
             must
             be
             temper'd
             with
             Modesty
             ,
             Prudence
             ,
             and
             Submission
             .
             The
             Contumacy
             of
             Inferiours
             ,
             causes
             the
             Superiours
             to
             lay
             aside
             his
             Clemency
             .
             Let
             a
             Subject
             have
             never
             so
             just
             reason
             to
             complain
             ,
             he
             is
             not
             however
             allow'd
             to
             do
             it
             Arrogantly
             ;
             for
             Submission
             and
             Respect
             are
             claims
             and
             rights
             never
             to
             be
             alienated
             from
             Majesty
             :
             There
             remains
             to
             the
             Subject
             nothing
             but
             the
             honour
             of
             Obedience
             .
             He
             that
             upbraids
             him
             with
             his
             Services
             ,
             destroys
             the
             Fortune
             and
             Grandeur
             of
             a
             Prince
             ;
             and
             generally
             such
             Reproaches
             are
             the
             fore-runners
             of
             Rebellion
             .
             And
             therefore
             upon
             this
             Foundation
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             Accusation
             was
             grounded
             ,
             design'd
             against
             Serenus
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             Conspir'd
             against
             Tiberius
             ,
             and
             sent
             Incendiaries
             into
             Gallia
             ,
             to
             kindle
             a
             War
             in
             that
             Province
             .
             Lastly
             ,
             It
             better
             becomes
             a
             Subject
             to
             be
             a
             Flatterer
             ,
             then
             to
             be
             too
             lavish
             of
             his
             Tongue
             ,
             when
             he
             speaks
             to
             his
             Prince
             :
             But
             if
             he
             can
             avoid
             it
             ,
             't
             is
             better
             for
             him
             to
             be
             neither
             the
             one
             ,
             nor
             the
             other
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XXXII
             .
          
           
             NEither
             is
             it
             such
             a
             Mysterie
             to
             understand
             ,
             when
             the
             Actions
             of
             Princes
             are
             truly
             and
             really
             Congratulated
             ,
             and
             when
             with
             a
             Fictitious
             Joy.
             
          
           
             'T
             is
             no
             great
             Difficulty
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             for
             great
             Personages
             to
             discover
             ,
             when
             the
             Praises
             which
             are
             given
             'em
             proceed
             from
             Flattery
             ,
             and
             when
             from
             a
             real
             sentiment
             of
             Affection
             .
          
           
             Politic
             Princes
             are
             not
             easily
             to
             be
             deluded
             by
             Flattery
             ,
             for
             they
             consult
             not
             their
             Ears
             ,
             but
             their
             Hearts
             ,
             which
             are
             sufficiently
             Conscious
             ,
             whether
             or
             no
             they
             merit
             those
             Praises
             that
             are
             bestow'd
             upon
             '
             em
             .
             They
             understand
             by
             what
             their
             Flatterers
             say
             ,
             the
             undisclos'd
             conceptions
             of
             their
             Hearts
             ;
             well
             knowing
             ,
             that
             when
             such
             People
             make
             their
             Addresses
             to
             their
             Persons
             ,
             't
             is
             their
             Fortunes
             that
             they
             Court
             ;
             a
             Truth
             that
             never
             deceives
             'em
             ,
             when
             ever
             they
             put
             it
             to
             the
             Tryal
             .
             Real
             Encomiums
             are
             most
             
             delightful
             to
             their
             Ears
             ,
             because
             they
             are
             apt
             to
             believe
             they
             Merit
             what
             is
             given
             'em
             ;
             but
             false
             Applauses
             are
             distastful
             ,
             because
             they
             look
             upon
             'em
             as
             By-reproaches
             of
             their
             Defaults
             .
             The
             younger
             Pliny
             reports
             ,
             that
             Trajan
             wept
             for
             joy
             ,
             and
             blush'd
             to
             hear
             himself
             call'd
             ,
             
               The
               Truly
               Vertuous
            
             ,
             because
             he
             knew
             it
             was
             to
             Trajan
             that
             they
             spoke
             ,
             and
             not
             the
             Emperour
             .
             And
             afterwards
             he
             adds
             ,
             That
             he
             was
             not
             afraid
             least
             Trajan
             should
             think
             ,
             that
             while
             he
             discours'd
             of
             the
             Mildness
             ,
             the
             Frugality
             ,
             the
             Munificence
             ,
             the
             Clemency
             ,
             and
             Vigilancy
             of
             a
             Prince
             ,
             he
             had
             any
             design
             to
             upbraid
             those
             Vices
             ,
             which
             were
             their
             Opposites
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXXIII
             .
          
           
             THE
             Fathers
             decreed
             the
             Books
             to
             be
             Burnt
             ,
             but
             they
             were
             not
             all
             found
             ;
             some
             being
             hid
             up
             ,
             and
             Publish'd
             afterwards
             .
             Which
             gives
             us
             an
             occasion
             to
             deride
             the
             Simplicity
             of
             those
             People
             ,
             who
             think
             that
             the
             Memorials
             of
             Posterity
             can
             be
             stifl'd
             by
             present
             Dominion
             .
             For
             
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             the
             Authority
             of
             Punish'd
             Ingenuities
             encreases
             ,
             and
             Princes
             who
             have
             made
             use
             of
             that
             Severity
             ,
             have
             only
             purchas'd
             Dishonour
             to
             themselves
             ,
             and
             enhaunc'd
             the
             Glory
             of
             the
             Authors
             suppress'd
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             purport
             of
             the
             Decree
             was
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Books
             should
             be
             Burnt
             ,
             but
             they
             were
             privately
             preserv'd
             ,
             (
             he
             leaves
             out
             
               and
               afterwards
               publish'd
            
             ,
             which
             is
             that
             which
             both
             Tacitus
             and
             Suetonius
             seem
             to
             have
             inserted
             for
             particular
             Observation
             )
             which
             makes
             me
             laugh
             at
             their
             Impertinency
             ,
             who
             think
             by
             vertue
             of
             a
             soon
             Expiring
             Power
             ,
             to
             extinguish
             the
             Memorials
             of
             Future
             Ages
             .
             For
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             Punishment
             enlivens
             their
             works
             with
             new
             Authority
             ,
             and
             all
             those
             Princes
             who
             have
             made
             tryal
             of
             that
             same
             Artifice
             ,
             have
             only
             augmented
             their
             own
             Disgrace
             ,
             and
             the
             Glory
             of
             their
             Enemy
             .
          
           
             Flattery
             and
             History
             could
             never
             well
             agree
             together
             ,
             for
             the
             one
             is
             wholly
             devoted
             to
             Falshood
             ,
             the
             other
             to
             Truth
             .
             The
             one
             deludes
             ,
             the
             other
             informs
             and
             disabuses
             Princes
             .
             Sejanus
             order'd
             Cordus
             to
             be
             abus'd
             for
             having
             applauded
             Brutus
             
             in
             his
             Annals
             ,
             and
             call'd
             Cassius
             ,
             the
             
               Last
               of
               the
               Romans
            
             .
             And
             this
             was
             look'd
             upon
             as
             but
             newly
             imputed
             for
             a
             Crime
             ,
             the
             rather
             for
             that
             all
             the
             preceding
             Historians
             ,
             and
             among
             the
             rest
             ,
             Livie
             and
             Pollio
             ,
             had
             mention'd
             them
             with
             Honour
             ;
             and
             for
             that
             Augustus
             himself
             ,
             by
             whom
             they
             were
             Vanquish'd
             ,
             had
             always
             had
             such
             a
             Veneration
             for
             their
             Memory
             ,
             that
             he
             never
             remov'd
             their
             Images
             .
             Besides
             that
             ,
             but
             three
             Years
             before
             ,
             Tiberius
             himself
             ,
             had
             permitted
             the
             Funeral
             Rites
             of
             Junia
             ,
             Sister
             to
             Brutus
             ,
             the
             Wife
             of
             Cass●us
             ,
             and
             
             Cato's
             Neece
             ,
             to
             be
             Solemniz'd
             with
             all
             the
             Ceremonies
             that
             appertain'd
             to
             her
             Illustrious
             Birth
             .
             Nevertheless
             ,
             the
             Senate
             ,
             to
             please
             Sejanus
             ,
             condemn'd
             both
             Cordus
             and
             his
             History
             ,
             the
             purport
             of
             which
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             last
             of
             the
             Romans
             was
             dead
             ,
             and
             that
             at
             Rome
             there
             remain'd
             alive
             no
             other
             then
             such
             as
             sacrific'd
             all
             to
             Favour
             .
             For
             here
             the
             Senate
             gave
             the
             Appellation
             of
             Parricides
             and
             Robbers
             to
             two
             Men
             ,
             whom
             History
             had
             celebrated
             for
             Illustrious
             and
             Famous
             Personages
             .
             So
             that
             
             Cordus's
             only
             Crime
             was
             this
             ,
             That
             he
             had
             spoken
             like
             a
             faithful
             Historian
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             was
             adjudg'd
             capable
             ,
             to
             Write
             with
             the
             same
             Liberty
             ,
             the
             Reign
             of
             Tiberius
             ,
             who
             
             after
             the
             death
             of
             Drusus
             ,
             began
             to
             grow
             worse
             and
             worse
             ;
             and
             to
             display
             the
             Actions
             of
             Sejanus
             ,
             who
             so
             insolently
             abus'd
             his
             Favour
             .
             Great
             Favourites
             infinitly
             delude
             themselves
             ,
             when
             they
             think
             their
             Reputation
             shelter'd
             by
             the
             suppression
             of
             Books
             ,
             that
             discover
             their
             Miscarriages
             .
             For
             to
             burn
             Books
             ,
             is
             but
             to
             kindle
             in
             others
             a
             Curiosity
             to
             read
             'em
             ,
             whereas
             the
             taking
             little
             or
             no
             notice
             at
             all
             of
             'em
             ,
             renders
             'em
             less
             priz'd
             by
             those
             that
             have
             already
             read
             'em
             ,
             and
             cures
             that
             Itch
             in
             others
             ,
             to
             be
             prying
             into
             a
             subject
             little
             regarded
             .
             'T
             is
             an
             easie
             thing
             for
             Men
             in
             Power
             to
             be
             reveng'd
             upon
             Historians
             ,
             whose
             Lives
             are
             in
             their
             Hands
             ,
             but
             their
             Authority
             will
             not
             prevail
             against
             the
             History
             ,
             which
             is
             Immortal
             ,
             and
             will
             devolve
             it self
             to
             the
             Judgment
             of
             Permanent
             Posterity
             .
             'T
             was
             very
             cunningly
             done
             ,
             says
             Tacitus
             ,
             to
             burn
             the
             Writings
             of
             
               Rusticus
               Arulenus
            
             ,
             and
             Seneca
             ,
             as
             if
             that
             Fire
             could
             stifle
             the
             Voice
             of
             the
             Roman
             People
             ,
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             and
             the
             Memory
             of
             Mankind
             .
             Posterity
             ,
             says
             Cordus
             ,
             
               renders
               to
               every
               one
               their
               due
               ,
               and
               they
               who
               will
               remember
            
             Brutus
             and
             Cassius
             ,
             
               will
               not
               fail
               to
               remember
               me
               as
               well
               .
            
             Meaning
             ,
             that
             Posterity
             would
             honour
             his
             Memory
             ,
             as
             it
             had
             honour'd
             the
             Memory
             of
             those
             great
             Men.
             
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XXXIV
             .
          
           
             AND
             the
             Honour
             of
             Augustus
             will
             vanish
             ,
             when
             prophan'd
             with
             promiscuous
             Adorations
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             For
             this
             would
             be
             to
             lessen
             the
             Honour
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             to
             Communicate
             it
             to
             every
             Body
             without
             Distinction
             .
          
           
             Princes
             despise
             those
             Honours
             that
             are
             common
             to
             others
             ,
             esteeming
             only
             those
             that
             are
             new
             and
             only
             invented
             for
             themselves
             .
             They
             are
             likewise
             for
             the
             most
             part
             jealous
             of
             their
             Honour
             ,
             that
             they
             hardly
             will
             admit
             an
             equality
             of
             Comparison
             with
             their
             Predecessors
             ,
             how
             Illustrious
             soever
             they
             were
             .
             Flattery
             ,
             said
             Pliny
             to
             Trajan
             ,
             
               has
               so
               drain'd
               the
               Fountain
               of
               Encomiums
               ,
               that
               we
               have
               not
               any
               remaining
               more
               ,
               that
               are
               new
               ,
               to
               give
               Thee
               .
               The
               only
               Honour
               which
               we
               can
               pretend
               to
               pay
               Thee
               is
               ,
               not
               to
               decree
               Thee
               any
               ;
               so
               well
               assur'd
               we
               are
               of
               thy
               Modesty
               and
               Bashfulness
               .
            
             A
             Commendation
             worthy
             the
             Prince
             who
             receiv'd
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             Subject
             that
             Address'd
             it
             .
             And
             therefore
             Cardinal
             Richlieu
             ,
             tho'
             
             he
             lov'd
             Applause
             ,
             yet
             would
             not
             accept
             of
             
             Balzac's
             Praises
             ,
             alledging
             ,
             'T
             was
             no
             Honour
             to
             be
             extoll'd
             by
             a
             Person
             that
             equally
             prais'd
             all
             Men
             alike
             ;
             so
             prone
             that
             Authour
             was
             to
             Hyperboles
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XXXV
             .
          
           
             THrough
             the
             Benevolence
             of
             Augustus
             ratifi'd
             by
             Tiberius
             himself
             ,
             it
             has
             been
             the
             custom
             ,
             that
             the
             Supplicant
             ,
             e'er
             he
             put
             up
             his
             Prayers
             and
             Wishes
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             should
             first
             address
             them
             to
             his
             Prince's
             Ears
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             purport
             of
             his
             Letter
             was
             ,
             That
             his
             Obligation
             was
             such
             to
             the
             Memory
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Testimonies
             of
             
             Tiberius's
             Affections
             ,
             that
             he
             address'd
             his
             Prayers
             rather
             to
             the
             Emperour
             then
             the
             Gods.
             
          
           
             This
             Language
             well
             befits
             the
             Flatterers
             at
             Court
             ,
             who
             adore
             no
             other
             Deity
             but
             Fortune
             .
             This
             is
             a
             Theme
             so
             plain
             ,
             it
             needs
             no
             Commentary
             :
             Besides
             
             that
             ,
             my
             design
             is
             only
             to
             Inform
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             Offend
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXXVI
             .
          
           
             TIberius
             heard
             the
             Opprobrious
             Language
             with
             which
             his
             Reputation
             was
             wounded
             ,
             and
             was
             so
             deeply
             concern'd
             ,
             that
             he
             cried
             out
             ,
             he
             would
             immediately
             clear
             himself
             ,
             and
             stand
             a
             Tryal
             .
             Nor
             could
             the
             Persuasions
             of
             nearest
             Relations
             ,
             or
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             all
             his
             Followers
             compose
             his
             Mind
             ,
             but
             with
             Elaborate
             Importunity
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Tiberius
            
             heard
             the
             Defamations
             that
             were
             thrown
             upon
             him
             ,
             and
             cry'd
             out
             in
             a
             great
             Fury
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             at
             the
             same
             instant
             clear
             himself
             of
             those
             Calumnies
             ;
             so
             that
             it
             was
             a
             difficult
             task
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             and
             all
             his
             Friends
             together
             ,
             to
             apappease
             him
             with
             all
             their
             Flatteries
             and
             Prayers
             .
          
           
             Flattery
             is
             never
             so
             seasonable
             ,
             nor
             runs
             to
             that
             excess
             ,
             as
             when
             the
             Prince
             
             is
             wound●d
             in
             his
             Honour
             .
             Tiberius
             had
             receiv'd
             a
             Bloody
             Affront
             .
             For
             a
             certain
             Officer
             in
             the
             Army
             ,
             coming
             in
             as
             an
             Evidence
             against
             one
             Montanus
             ,
             who
             had
             utter'd
             hainous
             Language
             against
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             in
             a
             full
             Senate
             repeated
             the
             Words
             as
             they
             were
             spoken
             ,
             to
             add
             the
             more
             weight
             to
             his
             Testimony
             ;
             and
             the
             more
             the
             Senators
             shew'd
             their
             unwillingness
             to
             understand
             him
             ,
             as
             detesting
             his
             Impudence
             ,
             the
             more
             obstinate
             the
             Officer
             was
             to
             make
             good
             his
             Accusation
             .
             So
             that
             considering
             
             Tiberius's
             humour
             ,
             a
             Prince
             so
             politic
             and
             dextrous
             in
             concealing
             his
             Vices
             ,
             and
             designing
             'em
             into
             Vertues
             ,
             it
             was
             no
             wonder
             he
             should
             be
             more
             enrag'd
             against
             the
             Testimony
             ,
             then
             against
             the
             Person
             accus'd
             .
             And
             this
             was
             that
             which
             oblig'd
             him
             to
             protest
             with
             so
             much
             Violence
             ,
             and
             be
             so
             earnest
             to
             clear
             himself
             of
             what
             was
             laid
             to
             his
             Charge
             .
          
           
             Now
             when
             a
             Prince
             goes
             about
             to
             insist
             upon
             his
             Justification
             ,
             especially
             when
             the
             Imputation
             from
             which
             he
             thinks
             to
             clear
             himself
             is
             true
             ,
             and
             known
             to
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             then
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             becomes
             most
             pleasing
             to
             him
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             is
             overjoy'd
             when
             they
             tell
             them
             ,
             that
             he
             has
             no
             need
             to
             purge
             himself
             from
             Scandals
             
             and
             Reproaches
             which
             no
             Body
             believes
             ;
             that
             it
             redounds
             to
             his
             Honour
             to
             be
             hated
             by
             Wicked
             and
             Vicious
             People
             ;
             that
             it
             is
             peculiar
             to
             Princes
             to
             do
             well
             ;
             and
             for
             Subjects
             to
             talk
             Maliciously
             and
             Scandalously
             of
             Princes
             .
             Moreover
             ,
             as
             Flattery
             is
             always
             excessive
             toward
             bad
             Princes
             ,
             as
             being
             fear'd
             and
             dreaded
             most
             of
             all
             ;
             so
             are
             Scandal
             and
             Oblcquie
             most
             outragious
             ,
             when
             they
             believe
             themselves
             most
             secure
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             when
             Men
             are
             venting
             their
             disgusts
             among
             their
             Intimate
             and
             most
             Familiar
             Acquaintance
             ,
             where
             every
             one
             discovers
             the
             very
             bottom
             of
             his
             Heart
             .
             So
             that
             it
             is
             the
             most
             certain
             Mark
             of
             a
             good
             Prince
             ,
             when
             his
             Subjects
             discourse
             of
             him
             in
             their
             Private
             Houses
             and
             Retirements
             ,
             as
             he
             is
             cry'd
             up
             at
             Court.
             And
             this
             it
             was
             which
             the
             younger
             Pliny
             intended
             ,
             when
             speaking
             to
             
               Trajan
               .
               This
               day
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               it
               is
               ,
               that
               we
               have
               just
               reason
               to
               complain
               ,
               that
               our
               secret
               discourses
               are
               not
               spy'd
               and
               observ'd
               but
               by
               Princes
               which
               hate
               us
               :
               For
               if
               good
               Princes
               were
               so
               Inquisitive
               as
               the
               bad
               ,
               what
               a
               pleasure
               would
               it
               be
               to
               Thee
               ,
               to
               hear
               what
               we
               discourse
               of
               Thee
               in
               our
               private
               Dwellings
               ,
               to
               our
               Wives
               ,
               our
               Children
               ,
               and
               our
               Servants
               ?
               Then
               thou
               would'st
               know
               the
               full
               extent
               of
               our
               Love
               
               and
               Admiration
               of
               thy
               Vertues
               ,
               and
               how
               we
               power
               forth
               our
               Prayers
               continually
               for
               thy
               long
               and
               prosperous
               Reign
               .
               Then
               ,
               tho'
               Love
               and
               Hatred
               are
               perfect
               Contraries
               ,
               thou
               wouldst
               understand
               ,
               that
               in
               our
               Houses
               there
               is
               so
               far
               a
               kind
               of
               Reconciliation
               between
               those
               opposite
               Passions
               ,
               that
               we
               adore
               and
               reverence
               Vertuous
               Princes
               with
               the
               same
               excess
               of
               Cordial
               Affection
               ,
               as
               with
               detestation
               we
               abominate
               unruly
               Tyranny
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXXVII
             .
          
           
             WHen
             the
             Conflagration
             had
             consum'd
             all
             things
             round
             about
             it
             ,
             the
             Effigies
             of
             Tiberius
             only
             remain'd
             untouch'd
             :
             So
             that
             the
             Claudii
             were
             look'd
             upon
             as
             peculiarly
             favour'd
             by
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             there
             was
             a
             farther
             addition
             of
             Reverence
             and
             Adoration
             to
             the
             Place
             ,
             wherein
             the
             Gods
             had
             shew'n
             so
             high
             an
             Honour
             to
             the
             Prince
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             It
             was
             a
             Remarkable
             Testimony
             that
             the
             Cla●dian
             Family
             was
             Sacred
             and
             Favour'd
             by
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             
             Place
             deserv'd
             a
             particular
             Reverence
             where
             they
             had
             shew'd
             a
             Miracle
             so
             particular
             in
             favour
             of
             the
             Prince
             .
          
           
             Flatterers
             conster
             all
             things
             to
             the
             Princes
             Honour
             ,
             and
             cry
             up
             for
             Testimonials
             of
             their
             Vertue
             ,
             those
             Accidents
             which
             are
             the
             effect
             of
             Chance
             and
             Hazard
             only
             .
             They
             never
             mind
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             becomes
             Ridiculous
             ,
             unless
             it
             be
             such
             as
             is
             pleasing
             to
             the
             Prince
             .
             And
             such
             was
             this
             same
             Adulation
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             upon
             this
             occasion
             ;
             for
             that
             Tiberius
             had
             a
             custom
             to
             appropriate
             Honours
             to
             himself
             from
             all
             Accidents
             ,
             that
             would
             bear
             a
             favourable
             Construction
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             he
             could
             not
             chuse
             but
             be
             highly
             satisfi'd
             ,
             to
             see
             the
             Senate
             make
             a
             Construction
             so
             different
             from
             that
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             who
             laid
             the
             Fire
             to
             his
             Charge
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             other
             Calamities
             that
             had
             befallen
             the
             City
             ,
             as
             having
             left
             it
             a
             little
             before
             ,
             in
             spight
             of
             the
             unlucky
             Signs
             and
             Omens
             that
             appear'd
             upon
             the
             
             Augur's
             Consultations
             .
             The
             good
             Fortune
             of
             Princes
             ,
             many
             times
             supplys
             the
             place
             of
             Merit
             ;
             for
             Men
             have
             always
             a
             high
             Opinion
             of
             their
             Worth
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             they
             are
             happy
             .
             Let
             the
             Accidents
             that
             happen
             ,
             be
             ne're
             so
             meerly
             Casual
             ,
             they
             
             are
             taken
             for
             assur'd
             Omens
             of
             their
             Grandeur
             ,
             and
             are
             of
             great
             importance
             to
             improve
             that
             Veneration
             which
             Men
             pretend
             to
             be
             their
             due
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XXXVIII
             .
          
           
             NEither
             was
             it
             the
             Care
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             to
             prevent
             loss
             of
             Honour
             upon
             the
             Frontiers
             of
             the
             Empire
             .
             An
             inward
             Consternation
             had
             possess'd
             their
             Spirits
             ,
             for
             which
             the
             only
             remedy
             they
             could
             provide
             was
             Flattery
             .
             So
             that
             altho'
             they
             had
             several
             Affairs
             of
             higher
             Importance
             that
             requir'd
             their
             Debates
             ,
             they
             decreed
             an
             Altar
             to
             Clemency
             ,
             another
             to
             Friendship
             ,
             and
             Statues
             to
             Caesar
             and
             Sejanus
             round
             about
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Senate
             troubl'd
             and
             amus'd
             with
             inward
             fears
             ,
             neglected
             the
             Frontiers
             of
             the
             Empire
             ;
             and
             to
             shelter
             themselves
             under
             some
             signal
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             never
             minding
             those
             more
             Important
             Affairs
             which
             they
             had
             under
             their
             Consideration
             ,
             
             decreed
             Altars
             to
             Clemency
             and
             Friendship
             ,
             and
             Statues
             to
             the
             Emperour
             and
             Sejanus
             .
          
           
             Under
             evil
             Princes
             the
             Grandees
             take
             little
             Care
             of
             the
             Public
             Misfortunes
             ,
             as
             being
             solely
             imploy'd
             to
             secure
             themselves
             .
             The
             more
             in
             fear
             Men
             are
             ,
             the
             more
             they
             abandon
             themselves
             to
             Flattery
             .
             Especially
             those
             Persons
             that
             live
             at
             Court
             ,
             or
             else
             have
             high
             Employments
             to
             lose
             ;
             in
             regard
             their
             Advancement
             ,
             exposes
             them
             to
             greater
             Dangers
             then
             others
             .
             And
             then
             again
             ,
             when
             a
             Prince
             dissembles
             the
             bad
             Condition
             of
             his
             Affairs
             ,
             then
             it
             is
             that
             he
             is
             Flatter'd
             most
             of
             all
             ;
             every
             one
             affecting
             to
             shew
             his
             absolute
             reliance
             upon
             the
             Fortune
             and
             the
             Prudence
             of
             his
             Prince
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XXXIX
             .
          
           
             BUT
             as
             for
             
               Junius
               Gallio
            
             ,
             who
             had
             decreed
             that
             the
             Pretorian
             Soldiers
             having
             serv'd
             out
             their
             full
             time
             ,
             might
             have
             the
             Priviledge
             to
             place
             themselves
             in
             the
             Amphitheatre
             upon
             the
             first
             Fourteen
             Benches
             among
             the
             Knights
             ,
             he
             chid
             him
             severely
             .
             Such
             was
             the
             Reward
             that
             Gallio
             had
             for
             his
             premeditated
             piece
             of
             Adulation
             ,
             to
             be
             Expell'd
             the
             Senate
             .
          
           
             
               Junius
               Gallio
               ,
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             was
             severely
             handl'd
             ,
             for
             having
             propos'd
             ,
             that
             the
             Soldiers
             of
             the
             Guard
             ,
             might
             sit
             upon
             the
             Fourteen
             first
             Rows
             of
             Benches
             in
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             after
             they
             had
             serv'd
             their
             time
             in
             the
             Wars
             .
             —
             And
             Gallio
             ,
             for
             the
             Reward
             of
             his
             premeditated
             Flattery
             ,
             was
             Ejected
             out
             of
             the
             Senate
             .
          
           
             He
             that
             Flatters
             ,
             ought
             to
             understand
             the
             nice
             Temper
             of
             the
             Person
             to
             whom
             he
             makes
             his
             Addresses
             ;
             for
             otherwise
             
             he
             loses
             his
             Aim
             ,
             while
             contrary
             to
             his
             Expectation
             ,
             his
             Flattery
             becomes
             offensive
             .
             Gallio
             thought
             he
             had
             highly
             oblig'd
             Tiberius
             ,
             in
             decreeing
             a
             new
             Honour
             to
             the
             Soldiers
             of
             the
             Pretorian
             Guards
             .
             But
             Tiberius
             was
             offended
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             take
             upon
             him
             to
             meddle
             with
             rewarding
             the
             Soldiers
             .
             
               What
               has
            
             Gallio
             
               to
               do
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             in
             his
             Answer
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             
               with
               the
               Priviledges
               of
               the
               Pretorian
               Soldiers
               ?
               who
               being
               under
               the
               Command
               of
               none
               ,
               but
               only
               the
               Emperour
               ,
               ought
               not
               to
               have
               their
               dependance
               but
               upon
               him
               alone
               ?
               Does
               he
               believe
               he
               has
               found
               out
               an
               Expedient
               which
            
             Augustus
             
               never
               dream't
               of
               ?
               Rather
               may
               it
               not
               be
               thought
               that
               this
               same
               Creature
               of
            
             Sejanus
             ,
             
               sought
               to
               bring
               an
               Innovation
               into
               Military
               Discipline
               ,
               on
               purpose
               to
               prepare
               the
               Soldiers
               for
               Rebellion
               ?
            
             These
             Expressions
             of
             Tiberius
             demonstrate
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             reason
             to
             be
             offended
             with
             a
             Proposal
             ,
             which
             perhaps
             a
             Prince
             less
             Politic
             then
             he
             ,
             would
             have
             taken
             for
             an
             Honour
             .
             For
             had
             the
             Soldiers
             of
             the
             Guards
             obtain'd
             this
             Priviledge
             to
             sit
             equal
             with
             the
             Roman
             Knights
             ,
             they
             had
             been
             beholding
             for
             their
             Honour
             only
             to
             the
             Senate
             .
             To
             which
             we
             may
             add
             ,
             that
             such
             an
             Honour
             would
             have
             rather
             serv'd
             to
             
             swell
             their
             Pride
             ,
             then
             encrease
             their
             Affections
             to
             their
             Prince
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XL.
             
          
           
             
               LVcius
               Piso
            
             ,
             chief
             Pontiff
             ,
             di'd
             in
             his
             Bed
             about
             this
             time
             ;
             (
             which
             was
             rare
             for
             a
             Man
             so
             eminent
             in
             Dignity
             )
             a
             Person
             who
             willingly
             never
             utter'd
             an
             expression
             that
             savour'd
             of
             Servility
             ;
             or
             if
             necessity
             constrain'd
             him
             ,
             temper'd
             his
             words
             with
             Prudence
             and
             Sobriety
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Pontiff
             ,
             
               Lucius
               Piso
            
             ,
             di'd
             a
             Natural
             Death
             ,
             which
             was
             a
             rare
             thing
             at
             that
             time
             ,
             considering
             his
             high
             Reputation
             .
             A
             Person
             that
             never
             propounded
             any
             Advice
             that
             misbecame
             the
             Dignity
             of
             his
             Employment
             ;
             and
             when
             he
             was
             constrain'd
             to
             approve
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             others
             ,
             would
             be
             always
             sure
             to
             moderate
             their
             high
             flown
             Excesses
             .
          
           
             A
             Man
             may
             both
             preserve
             his
             Life
             ,
             and
             his
             Dignity
             ,
             yet
             neither
             be
             a
             Slave
             nor
             a
             Flatterer
             ,
             as
             is
             apparent
             from
             the
             Example
             
             of
             Piso
             ,
             who
             liv'd
             Fourscore
             Years
             ,
             and
             yet
             neither
             lost
             his
             Employment
             ,
             nor
             suffer'd
             in
             his
             Reputation
             either
             under
             Augustus
             ,
             or
             Tiberius
             ,
             by
             whom
             he
             was
             always
             highly
             esteem'd
             .
             But
             who
             expects
             the
             same
             good
             Fortune
             ,
             must
             take
             the
             same
             Course
             .
             Tacitus
             says
             ,
             that
             he
             never
             miscarry'd
             in
             any
             servile
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             :
             But
             he
             adds
             ,
             that
             sometimes
             he
             surrendr'd
             to
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             others
             upon
             some
             occasions
             .
             To
             teach
             Great
             Men
             to
             comply
             with
             the
             Experiencies
             of
             Seasons
             and
             Business
             .
             Generosity
             is
             a
             Vertue
             that
             becomes
             'em
             ,
             however
             they
             must
             be
             careful
             ,
             least
             it
             degenerate
             into
             Obstinacy
             and
             Rashness
             :
             For
             as
             Pliny
             says
             ,
             Necessity
             is
             a
             part
             of
             Reason
             .
             Had
             Piso
             always
             oppos'd
             his
             Collegues
             ,
             he
             had
             never
             been
             in
             a
             condition
             by
             the
             preservation
             of
             his
             Authority
             ,
             to
             have
             allay'd
             their
             Heats
             ;
             because
             they
             would
             have
             concerted
             together
             ,
             to
             thwart
             his
             Counsels
             :
             Whereas
             they
             many
             times
             gave
             way
             to
             him
             ,
             as
             he
             sometimes
             submitted
             to
             them
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XLI
             .
          
           
             FRom
             whence
             Vitellius
             returning
             to
             Rome
             ,
             partly
             for
             fear
             of
             
               Caius
               Cesar
            
             ,
             and
             partly
             through
             his
             intimate
             Familiarity
             with
             Claudius
             ,
             he
             abandon'd
             himself
             to
             such
             a
             degree
             of
             Abject
             Slavery
             ,
             that
             he
             became
             an
             Exemplar
             to
             Posterity
             of
             Obsequious
             Infamy
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             At
             his
             Return
             debauch'd
             by
             his
             dread
             of
             Caius
             ,
             and
             the
             Favours
             of
             Claudius
             ,
             he
             only
             serv'd
             to
             Posterity
             an
             example
             of
             Ignominious
             Servitude
             .
          
           
             Fear
             and
             Favour
             are
             commonly
             the
             Original
             Sources
             of
             Flattery
             .
             He
             that
             stands
             in
             fear
             of
             his
             Life
             ,
             Flatters
             to
             preserve
             it
             ;
             and
             he
             that
             is
             warm
             in
             the
             Favour
             of
             his
             Prince
             ,
             betakes
             himself
             to
             Adulation
             ,
             that
             he
             may
             not
             lose
             it
             .
             And
             thus
             ,
             were
             it
             not
             for
             Self-interest
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             no
             Flattery
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XLII
             .
          
           
             THey
             that
             dwelt
             by
             the
             River
             ,
             brought
             news
             that
             Euphrates
             ,
             in
             a
             season
             free
             from
             Rain
             ,
             or
             any
             immoderate
             Showres
             ,
             was
             swell'd
             to
             an
             unusual
             and
             prodigious
             height
             ;
             and
             carry'd
             a
             Foam
             that
             curl'd
             upon
             the
             Water
             in
             white
             Circles
             like
             so
             many
             Diadems
             ;
             from
             whence
             they
             gather'd
             a
             prosperous
             Omen
             ,
             to
             encourage
             his
             crossing
             the
             Stream
             with
             his
             Army
             .
          
           
             They
             brought
             News
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             that
             the
             River
             Euphrates
             was
             swell'd
             ,
             and
             yet
             no
             Showres
             had
             fallen
             ,
             and
             seem'd
             to
             curle
             its
             Waters
             in
             the
             shape
             of
             a
             Diadem
             .
             Some
             took
             this
             for
             a
             happy
             Omen
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Flattery
             interprets
             all
             things
             to
             the
             Advantage
             of
             Princes
             ,
             and
             particularly
             at
             the
             beginning
             of
             their
             Reigns
             .
             For
             then
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             she
             feeds
             their
             Humours
             with
             vain
             hopes
             ;
             and
             that
             all
             People
             who
             
             make
             their
             approaches
             to
             the
             New
             Sovereign
             ,
             are
             equally
             contending
             to
             excel
             each
             other
             in
             quaintness
             of
             Addresses
             .
             Nor
             is
             it
             enough
             for
             Princes
             to
             be
             deluded
             by
             their
             Flatterers
             ,
             Astrologie
             ,
             the
             ancient
             Companion
             of
             Falshood
             ,
             intrudes
             for
             a
             share
             ,
             and
             then
             chiefly
             succeeds
             in
             her
             Designs
             ,
             when
             she
             meets
             with
             an
             easiness
             in
             the
             Prince
             ,
             to
             believe
             the
             greatest
             Uucertainties
             in
             the
             World.
             There
             is
             not
             any
             Prince
             ,
             to
             whom
             ,
             at
             his
             first
             coming
             to
             the
             Crown
             ,
             she
             does
             not
             pretend
             ,
             but
             that
             he
             shall
             be
             more
             happy
             then
             Augustus
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             shall
             Live
             till
             he
             is
             grown
             weary
             of
             his
             Grandeur
             .
             But
             the
             most
             numerous
             part
             of
             Princes
             are
             deceiv'd
             by
             these
             vain
             Calculations
             ,
             and
             reap
             no
             other
             Fruit
             of
             their
             Credulity
             ,
             then
             the
             Misfortunes
             of
             their
             unwary
             Confidence
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLIII
             .
          
           
             AND
             labours
             by
             Obloquie
             to
             be
             inform'd
             of
             the
             Truth
             ,
             to
             which
             Adulation
             is
             an
             Enemy
             .
          
           
             D'Ablancourt
             has
             omitted
             this
             Expression
             .
          
           
           
             This
             is
             a
             Maxim
             ,
             of
             which
             if
             Princes
             and
             great
             Men
             were
             fully
             convinc'd
             ,
             they
             would
             never
             be
             so
             ready
             to
             hearken
             to
             their
             Flatterers
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             to
             credit
             their
             Flatteries
             ,
             who
             make
             it
             their
             only
             business
             to
             disguise
             and
             conceal
             from
             their
             Knowledge
             ,
             the
             real
             certainty
             of
             Things
             that
             most
             concern
             '
             em
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLIV
             .
          
           
             BUT
             the
             Seleusences
             were
             they
             ,
             who
             out
             did
             the
             rest
             in
             Flattery
             .
             —
             They
             loaded
             Tiridates
             not
             only
             with
             the
             Honours
             of
             their
             Ancient
             Kings
             ,
             but
             with
             all
             the
             profuse
             and
             quaint
             Additions
             of
             later
             Ages
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Seleucia
            
             surpass'd
             all
             the
             other
             Cities
             in
             Magnificence
             .
             —
             Tiridates
             was
             receiv'd
             with
             Honours
             of
             all
             sorts
             .
             He
             leaves
             out
             ,
             That
             Seleucia
             
               added
               modern
               Adulation
               to
               their
               Ancient
               Honours
            
             ;
             wherein
             consists
             the
             stress
             of
             the
             Sentence
             .
          
           
             The
             latest
             Flattery
             is
             always
             the
             most
             Ingenious
             :
             And
             this
             same
             charming
             Novelty
             
             it
             is
             ,
             by
             which
             she
             gains
             and
             encroaches
             upon
             the
             Favour
             and
             Affection
             of
             Princes
             ,
             that
             nauseate
             vulgar
             Honours
             worn
             threadbare
             by
             Custome
             .
             Seleucia
             ,
             tho'
             she
             were
             then
             a
             free
             Republic
             ,
             would
             needs
             be
             so
             Obsequious
             ,
             as
             to
             surpass
             in
             Servitude
             all
             the
             other
             Cities
             through
             which
             Tiridates
             had
             March'd
             .
             Such
             is
             the
             eager
             desire
             that
             Subjects
             have
             to
             Gratifie
             a
             new
             Prince
             ,
             not
             so
             much
             out
             of
             any
             love
             to
             his
             Person
             ,
             as
             the
             Novelty
             of
             the
             Government
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLV
             .
          
           
             BUT
             upon
             Artabanus
             they
             powr'd
             forth
             all
             their
             Scorn
             and
             Contempt
             ,
             of
             the
             Race
             of
             the
             Arsacidae
             by
             the
             Mothers
             side
             ,
             and
             otherwise
             Degenerate
             and
             Mean.
             
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             They
             publicly
             debas'd
             the
             glory
             of
             his
             Enemy
             .
             For
             they
             upbraided
             Artabanus
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             nothing
             in
             him
             of
             the
             Blood
             of
             the
             Arsacidae
             ,
             tho'
             he
             were
             descended
             from
             'em
             by
             his
             Mothers
             side
             .
             
               It
               is
               a
               Cotnradiction
               to
               say
               ,
            
             That
             he
             had
             nothing
             in
             him
             of
             the
             Royal
             Blood
             of
             the
             Arsacidae
             ,
             
             and
             yet
             allow
             his
             Mother
             to
             be
             a
             Branch
             of
             the
             same
             Family
             ;
             and
             therefore
             ,
             what
             Tacitus
             affirms
             ,
             should
             D'Ablancourt
             have
             also
             said
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             of
             the
             Ancient
             Family
             of
             the
             Arsacidae
             by
             his
             Mothers
             side
             ,
             however
             he
             came
             to
             Degenerate
             in
             other
             things
             .
          
           
             They
             dispis'd
             Artabanus
             ,
             to
             heap
             the
             greater
             Honour
             upon
             Tiridates
             ,
             who
             was
             bred
             up
             from
             his
             Infancy
             in
             all
             the
             Effeminacy
             and
             Softness
             of
             Roman
             Education
             .
             Whereas
             Artabanus
             setting
             aside
             his
             Cruelty
             ,
             was
             a
             Heroic
             Prince
             ,
             who
             had
             put
             a
             happy
             and
             successful
             end
             to
             several
             Wars
             with
             his
             Neighbours
             .
             A
             proof
             sufficient
             of
             the
             Impertinency
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             that
             lessens
             and
             ecclipses
             the
             Glory
             of
             so
             great
             and
             famous
             a
             Name
             ,
             to
             advance
             the
             honour
             of
             weak
             and
             sloathful
             Effeminacy
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XLVI
             .
          
           
             THen
             Vitellius
             ,
             with
             Tears
             in
             his
             Eyes
             ,
             alledging
             the
             antiquity
             of
             the
             Friendship
             contracted
             between
             'em
             ,
             repeating
             in
             the
             next
             place
             the
             good
             Services
             which
             Asiaticus
             had
             
             done
             the
             Commonweal
             ,
             and
             his
             late
             Expedition
             against
             Brittain
             ,
             or
             whatever
             else
             seem'd
             proper
             to
             raise
             Compassion
             ,
             besought
             his
             Judges
             that
             he
             might
             have
             leave
             to
             choose
             his
             Death
             ;
             and
             he
             was
             seconded
             by
             Claudius
             ,
             who
             mov'd
             for
             the
             same
             Clemency
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Vitellius
            
             in
             few
             words
             related
             the
             first
             beginning
             of
             their
             Friendship
             ,
             and
             running
             over
             cursorily
             all
             the
             past
             Services
             which
             Asiaticus
             had
             done
             the
             Public
             ,
             and
             particularly
             mentioning
             his
             last
             Enterprise
             against
             Brittain
             ,
             he
             propos'd
             to
             permit
             him
             to
             make
             choice
             of
             his
             own
             Death
             ;
             to
             which
             the
             Emperour
             consented
             ,
             as
             a
             particular
             favour
             done
             him
             .
             Which
             latter
             words
             pass
             by
             the
             Ironie
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             who
             tells
             ye
             ,
             that
             Claudius
             interceded
             for
             the
             same
             Clemency
             .
          
           
             I
             have
             already
             observ'd
             ,
             that
             all
             Flatterers
             are
             naturally
             Cruel
             ;
             nor
             need
             we
             a
             clearer
             Example
             ,
             then
             this
             of
             Vitellius
             ,
             to
             prove
             this
             Assertion
             .
             Messalina
             ,
             the
             Emperour
             
             Claudius's
             Wife
             ,
             caus'd
             Asiaticus
             to
             be
             accus'd
             of
             several
             Crimes
             against
             the
             State
             ,
             thirsting
             after
             his
             Life
             ,
             
             and
             his
             delicious
             Gardens
             .
             Claudius
             consulted
             Vitellius
             ,
             Messalina's
             confident
             ,
             and
             it
             may
             be
             ,
             one
             of
             her
             Adulterers
             also
             :
             Vitellius
             therefore
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             not
             lose
             her
             Favour
             ,
             betrays
             his
             old
             Friend
             ,
             and
             throws
             away
             his
             Life
             ,
             under
             a
             pretended
             Mitigation
             of
             his
             Punishment
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             the
             Trust
             of
             Courtiers
             Friendship
             .
             Their
             Love
             and
             Friendship
             without
             Hesitation
             plie
             to
             Interest
             .
             They
             readily
             bestow
             their
             Praises
             ,
             and
             undermine
             your
             Life
             at
             the
             same
             time
             :
             They
             utter
             Clemency
             with
             their
             Lips
             ,
             but
             Cruelty
             is
             in
             their
             Hearts
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLVII
             .
          
           
             VItellius
             voted
             a
             Remuneration
             of
             Five
             and
             twenty
             thousand
             Crowns
             to
             be
             given
             Sosibius
             ,
             for
             instructing
             Britanicus
             with
             his
             Precepts
             ,
             and
             the
             Emperour
             with
             his
             Counsel
             .
          
           
             Sosibius
             ,
             says
             D'Ablancourt
             ,
             had
             a
             reward
             of
             Five
             and
             twenty
             thousand
             Crowns
             ,
             by
             the
             Advice
             of
             Vitellius
             ,
             under
             pretence
             of
             the
             good
             Services
             which
             he
             did
             the
             Emperour
             
             and
             his
             Son
             ,
             by
             assisting
             the
             one
             with
             his
             Precepts
             ,
             and
             the
             other
             with
             his
             Counsels
             .
          
           
             Sosibius
             ,
             Tutor
             to
             Britanicus
             the
             Son
             of
             Claudius
             ,
             was
             made
             use
             of
             as
             an
             Evidence
             against
             Asiaticus
             ;
             and
             for
             this
             piece
             of
             of
             Service
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             Vitellius
             would
             needs
             vote
             him
             a
             Reward
             so
             considerable
             ,
             under
             the
             fair
             and
             specious
             pretence
             of
             Merit
             and
             Desert
             .
             And
             thus
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             adorns
             and
             beautifies
             deformed
             Villany
             ,
             with
             honourable
             and
             graceful
             Titles
             .
             Vitellius
             calls
             that
             Counsel
             ,
             to
             which
             Men
             of
             Vertue
             and
             Integrity
             ,
             would
             have
             given
             the
             Appellation
             of
             Tyranny
             .
             Sosibius
             had
             told
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             that
             the
             excessive
             Riches
             of
             private
             Persons
             many
             times
             prov'd
             fatal
             to
             Princes
             ,
             on
             purpose
             to
             provoke
             him
             to
             a
             suspition
             of
             
             Asiaticus's
             Wealth
             ,
             and
             a
             seisure
             of
             his
             Estate
             ;
             which
             being
             once
             design'd
             by
             Messalina
             ,
             the
             officious
             Pedagogue
             was
             no
             less
             diligent
             to
             appear
             as
             a
             Witness
             against
             the
             Innocent
             Gentleman
             ,
             whose
             Crimes
             were
             ready
             multiply'd
             to
             take
             away
             his
             Life
             .
             Certainly
             ,
             if
             the
             Instruction
             which
             he
             gave
             Britanicus
             ,
             were
             answerable
             to
             the
             Maxims
             which
             
             he
             instill'd
             into
             the
             Father
             ,
             he
             was
             a
             dangerous
             Tutor
             for
             a
             young
             Prince
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             XLVIII
             .
          
           
             BUT
             Claudius
             reprov'd
             the
             Consul
             ,
             as
             urging
             his
             Flatteries
             a
             little
             too
             high
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               A
               little
               too
               concise
               ,
            
             The
             Emperour
             reprov'd
             the
             Consul
             for
             his
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             Princes
             have
             as
             great
             an
             Antipathy
             against
             those
             that
             Flatter
             too
             openly
             and
             excessively
             ,
             as
             against
             those
             that
             are
             too
             sparing
             of
             their
             Respect
             :
             For
             the
             former
             seem
             to
             have
             a
             mean
             opinion
             of
             their
             Parts
             ,
             and
             the
             latter
             of
             their
             Actions
             .
             Of
             their
             Parts
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             thought
             their
             Prince
             not
             able
             to
             discern
             the
             Vanity
             of
             such
             Hyperboles
             .
             Of
             their
             Actions
             ,
             because
             a
             Prince
             may
             well
             believe
             ,
             that
             they
             who
             vouchsafe
             'em
             a
             kind
             Commendation
             ,
             either
             can
             find
             out
             nothing
             worth
             their
             Applause
             ,
             or
             else
             discover
             much
             that
             deserves
             Reproof
             and
             Censure
             .
             Witness
             that
             Senator
             Thrasea
             ,
             whose
             silence
             was
             
             laid
             to
             his
             Charge
             by
             his
             Accusers
             ,
             as
             a
             sufficient
             mark
             of
             his
             dislike
             of
             the
             Princes
             Government
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLIX
             .
          
           
             THerefore
             Vitellius
             covering
             his
             Servile
             Fallacies
             with
             the
             name
             of
             Censor
             ,
             and
             foreseeing
             a
             new
             Torrent
             of
             Usurpation
             ready
             to
             supplant
             the
             true
             Successour
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             purchase
             the
             good
             opinion
             of
             Agrippina
             ,
             began
             betimes
             to
             intregue
             himself
             in
             her
             Designs
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Vitellius
            
             to
             gain
             the
             good
             will
             of
             Agrippina
             ,
             who
             ,
             as
             he
             saw
             was
             mounting
             into
             Favour
             .
             But
             he
             leaves
             out
             the
             words
             
               (
               Ingruentium
               Dominationum
               provisor
            
             )
             by
             which
             Tacitus
             intended
             to
             shew
             that
             Vitellius
             foresaw
             that
             Agrippina
             would
             labour
             to
             set
             up
             Nero
             to
             the
             Exclusion
             of
             Britannicus
             .
          
           
             This
             same
             Conduct
             of
             Vitellius
             ,
             is
             a
             perfect
             demonstration
             of
             that
             which
             Flatterers
             put
             in
             practice
             every
             day
             .
             Before
             
             he
             had
             devoted
             all
             his
             Grandeur
             and
             Reputation
             at
             Court
             to
             serve
             Massaline
             ;
             when
             she
             was
             dead
             ,
             he
             employ'd
             all
             his
             Interest
             to
             second
             Agrippina
             ,
             who
             was
             forming
             a
             Design
             ,
             to
             supplant
             Britannicus
             the
             young
             Prince
             ,
             and
             lawful
             Heir
             to
             the
             Empire
             ,
             meerly
             for
             the
             Advancement
             of
             her
             own
             Son.
             And
             thus
             are
             Flatterers
             no
             less
             Ungrateful
             then
             Cruel
             ,
             as
             having
             no
             other
             aim
             then
             their
             own
             Interest
             .
             For
             Acknowledgment
             can
             only
             proceed
             from
             Love
             ,
             and
             consequently
             is
             never
             to
             be
             expected
             from
             the
             Breasts
             of
             Flatterers
             ,
             who
             are
             incapable
             of
             real
             Affection
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             L.
             
          
           
             NOR
             would
             they
             venture
             yet
             to
             Solemnise
             the
             Nuptials
             ;
             there
             being
             no
             President
             to
             be
             found
             of
             an
             Uncle
             ,
             that
             ever
             espous'd
             his
             Neece
             .
             —
             Nor
             did
             this
             Hesitation
             cease
             ,
             till
             Vitellius
             by
             his
             wonted
             Artifices
             undertook
             to
             remove
             the
             Obstacle
             :
          
           
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             They
             durst
             not
             openly
             Celebrate
             the
             Marriage
             ;
             for
             that
             there
             never
             had
             been
             any
             such
             thing
             seen
             before
             in
             Rome
             .
             But
             at
             length
             Vitellius
             to
             remove
             those
             Difficulties
             ,
             &c.
             where
             he
             again
             suppresses
             those
             Emphatical
             words
             ,
             
               (
               Nec
               ante
               Omissa
               cunctatio
               .
               )
            
          
           
             Claudius
             was
             afraid
             least
             his
             Marriage
             with
             Agrippina
             should
             be
             look'd
             opon
             as
             Incestuous
             ;
             and
             consequently
             draw
             from
             Heaven
             some
             dire
             Calamity
             upon
             the
             Empire
             .
             Vitellius
             therefore
             to
             gratifie
             this
             Princess
             ,
             who
             resolv'd
             to
             Reign
             ,
             at
             the
             expence
             of
             Honour
             ,
             Vertue
             ,
             Modesty
             ,
             and
             Prostitution
             it self
             ,
             declar'd
             in
             a
             full
             Senate
             ,
             That
             the
             welfare
             of
             the
             Empire
             depended
             upon
             this
             Marriage
             ;
             that
             it
             was
             a
             visible
             effect
             of
             the
             Providence
             of
             the
             Gods
             ,
             that
             Agrippina
             ,
             who
             was
             of
             the
             Imperial
             Blood
             ,
             and
             had
             given
             sufficient
             Testimonies
             of
             Foecundity
             ,
             and
             of
             all
             the
             noble
             Qualities
             requir'd
             in
             an
             Empress
             ,
             should
             happen
             to
             be
             a
             Widow
             ,
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ,
             that
             the
             Emperour
             was
             in
             a
             condition
             to
             Espouse
             her
             :
             That
             in
             truth
             ,
             it
             was
             a
             Novelty
             at
             Rome
             ,
             for
             a
             Man
             to
             Marry
             his
             Brothers
             Daughter
             ;
             yet
             that
             there
             was
             no
             Law
             which
             forbid
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             other
             Nations
             authorz'd
             
             the
             Act
             by
             publick
             Presidents
             :
             That
             as
             Marriages
             between
             Cosin
             Germans
             ,
             heretofore
             but
             rarely
             known
             ,
             were
             now
             by
             allowance
             of
             Time
             ,
             become
             the
             frequent
             Mode
             ,
             succeeding
             ages
             would
             permit
             the
             same
             liberty
             also
             in
             this
             Case
             ;
             and
             therefore
             that
             was
             their
             duty
             to
             accommodate
             their
             Debates
             ,
             to
             the
             present
             necessity
             of
             Affairs
             .
             Thus
             that
             which
             Claudius
             thought
             to
             be
             a
             Crime
             ,
             (
             and
             was
             so
             indeed
             among
             the
             Romans
             )
             was
             by
             Vitellius
             burnish'd
             over
             with
             the
             specious
             Titles
             ,
             not
             only
             of
             the
             
               Welfare
               of
               the
               Empire
            
             ,
             but
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Gods.
             And
             thus
             we
             see
             how
             Flatterers
             mislead
             unsteady
             Princes
             ,
             and
             embolden
             'em
             to
             do
             those
             things
             ,
             which
             of
             themselves
             they
             dread
             .
             For
             Tacitus
             makes
             this
             Marriage
             so
             great
             a
             Crime
             ,
             that
             he
             affirms
             it
             to
             be
             the
             Source
             and
             Original
             of
             all
             
             Agrippina's
             Impieties
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LI.
             
          
           
             NOR
             were
             there
             any
             wanting
             who
             crowded
             out
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             crying
             out
             ,
             they
             would
             make
             use
             of
             Force
             ,
             if
             Caesar
             delay'd
             .
             And
             a
             promiscuous
             Multitude
             being
             got
             together
             ,
             clamour'd
             aloud
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             the
             Voice
             of
             the
             Roman
             People
             .
             Then
             Claudius
             without
             farther
             Hesitation
             enter'd
             the
             Senate
             ,
             and
             demanded
             a
             Decree
             ,
             declaring
             all
             Marriages
             for
             the
             future
             Legitimate
             ,
             between
             Uncles
             and
             Neeces
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             There
             were
             some
             so
             Insolent
             ,
             as
             to
             rise
             from
             their
             Seats
             ,
             and
             rush
             out
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             to
             constrain
             the
             Emperour
             if
             he
             made
             any
             Difficulties
             ;
             and
             the
             Multitude
             cry'd
             out
             in
             the
             Streets
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             the
             Will
             of
             the
             Roman
             People
             .
             Then
             Claudius
             without
             any
             farther
             delay
             entring
             the
             Senate
             ,
             demanded
             a
             Decree
             to
             Legitimate
             this
             Marriage
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             might
             be
             lawful
             for
             the
             future
             ,
             for
             the
             Vncle
             to
             Marry
             the
             Neece
             .
          
           
           
             Princes
             are
             misguided
             by
             their
             Flatterers
             ,
             and
             the
             People
             are
             led
             astray
             by
             the
             Examples
             of
             their
             Princes
             .
             How
             pleasing
             and
             how
             acceptable
             is
             that
             sort
             of
             Adulation
             ,
             which
             Imposes
             upon
             Princes
             a
             necessity
             to
             do
             the
             Thing
             ,
             which
             they
             desire
             themselves
             with
             far
             more
             earnestness
             ,
             then
             they
             with
             all
             their
             Zeal
             make
             shew
             of
             ,
             who
             put
             the
             Force
             upon
             '
             em
             .
             They
             reap
             all
             the
             Pleasure
             ,
             and
             their
             Subjects
             all
             the
             Infamy
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LII
             .
          
           
             AND
             yet
             there
             was
             not
             found
             but
             one
             ,
             who
             attempted
             such
             a
             Marriage
             ,
             
               Talledius
               Severus
            
             ,
             a
             Roman
             Knight
             ;
             to
             which
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             reputed
             ,
             he
             was
             meerly
             instigated
             ,
             to
             serve
             his
             Mistress
             Agrippina
             .
          
           
             However
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             there
             was
             but
             one
             single
             Person
             who
             follow'd
             the
             Example
             ;
             which
             by
             report
             he
             always
             did
             ,
             to
             pleasure
             Agrippina
             .
          
           
             A
             certain
             Proof
             ,
             that
             Subjects
             think
             quite
             otherwise
             then
             they
             speak
             .
             When
             
             they
             find
             that
             the
             Prince's
             desires
             are
             eagerly
             bent
             for
             speedy
             Satisfaction
             ,
             they
             shew
             themselves
             more
             eager
             still
             to
             gratifie
             his
             Impatience
             :
             Yet
             afterward
             they
             shew
             their
             Dislike
             ,
             in
             forbearing
             to
             follow
             the
             Example
             ;
             which
             is
             the
             most
             certain
             Symptom
             which
             the
             People
             can
             give
             of
             their
             ill
             Resentment
             of
             the
             Act.
             Claudius
             had
             caus'd
             his
             Marriage
             to
             be
             decreed
             Legitimate
             by
             the
             Senate
             ,
             believing
             the
             Romans
             would
             follow
             his
             Example
             ,
             and
             authorize
             those
             Marriages
             by
             Custom
             .
             However
             notwithstanding
             the
             Decree
             ,
             which
             was
             a
             sufficient
             shelter
             from
             Punishment
             or
             Infamy
             ;
             yet
             there
             was
             but
             one
             single
             Person
             who
             follow'd
             his
             President
             .
             Nor
             did
             he
             neither
             marry
             his
             Wife
             out
             of
             any
             true
             persuasion
             that
             his
             Marriage
             was
             Just
             and
             Lawful
             ,
             but
             out
             of
             a
             desire
             to
             please
             the
             Empress
             ,
             and
             to
             raise
             his
             Fortune
             by
             an
             Act
             ,
             of
             which
             there
             was
             no
             Body
             car'd
             to
             share
             the
             Reward
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LIII
             .
          
           
             HOwever
             thanks
             was
             return'd
             the
             Prince
             ,
             intermix'd
             with
             more
             exquisite
             Adulations
             of
             Tiberius
             ;
             and
             a
             Law
             enacted
             ,
             that
             the
             Name
             of
             Nero
             should
             be
             Transferr'd
             into
             the
             Claudian
             Family
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Senate
             return'd
             thanks
             to
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             wherein
             they
             cunningly
             interwove
             the
             Praises
             of
             Nero
             ,
             who
             was
             oblig'd
             to
             quit
             the
             name
             of
             Domitius
             for
             that
             of
             Nero
             ,
             in
             favour
             of
             his
             Adoption
             .
          
           
             Here
             Claudius
             had
             the
             Thanks
             of
             the
             Senate
             for
             a
             great
             piece
             of
             Injustice
             which
             he
             had
             done
             Britannicus
             ,
             his
             own
             Son
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             had
             perform'd
             some
             noble
             Exploit
             ,
             And
             Nero
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             custom
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             which
             always
             addresses
             her
             Adorations
             to
             the
             Rising
             Sun
             ,
             was
             applauded
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             had
             been
             worthy
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             whereas
             all
             his
             Pretensions
             had
             no
             other
             Foundation
             then
             
             an
             Incestuous
             Marriage
             ,
             and
             a
             pernicious
             Adoption
             made
             by
             a
             weak
             and
             misguided
             Prince
             .
             But
             whether
             Princes
             do
             well
             or
             ill
             ,
             they
             are
             always
             applauded
             ,
             and
             have
             always
             Thanks
             return'd
             'em
             for
             what
             they
             do
             ,
             and
             never
             more
             then
             when
             they
             least
             deserve
             either
             the
             one
             or
             the
             other
             .
             And
             this
             is
             an
             easie
             and
             certain
             Rule
             ,
             by
             which
             to
             know
             a
             Sycophant
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LIV.
             
          
           
             TO
             which
             it
             was
             added
             by
             
               Scipio
               Cornelius
            
             ,
             that
             Thanks
             should
             be
             publickly
             given
             to
             Pallas
             ,
             for
             that
             he
             being
             Sprung
             from
             the
             Kings
             of
             Arcadia
             ,
             prefer
             the
             Public
             Benefit
             before
             his
             Ancient
             Nobility
             ,
             and
             condescended
             to
             be
             still
             a
             Servant
             to
             the
             Emperour
             .
          
           
             Scipio
             added
             ,
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             that
             Thanks
             should
             be
             given
             to
             Pallas
             ,
             for
             that
             being
             descended
             from
             the
             Arcadian
             Kings
             ,
             he
             preferr'd
             the
             Interest
             of
             the
             Empire
             when
             his
             Grandeur
             was
             so
             Sublime
             ,
             and
             chose
             rather
             to
             be
             counted
             one
             of
             the
             Emperours
             Ministers
             .
          
           
           
             Thus
             we
             find
             what
             comes
             to
             pass
             ,
             when
             the
             Ministers
             are
             more
             Powerful
             then
             the
             Prince
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             ,
             when
             the
             Prince
             suffers
             himself
             to
             be
             Govern'd
             by
             his
             Ministers
             ,
             as
             Claudius
             did
             .
             Flatterers
             who
             adore
             the
             Favour
             only
             ,
             will
             not
             allow
             the
             Prince
             to
             honour
             the
             Minister
             ,
             but
             will
             have
             the
             Minister
             to
             be
             an
             honour
             to
             the
             Prince
             .
             Pallas
             was
             no
             more
             then
             one
             of
             
             Claudius's
             Bondmen
             ,
             by
             him
             made
             Free
             ,
             and
             for
             this
             a
             Noble
             Senator
             has
             the
             confidence
             to
             applaud
             him
             in
             a
             full
             Senate
             ,
             for
             contenting
             himself
             with
             the
             Quality
             of
             a
             Chief
             Minister
             .
             As
             if
             he
             would
             have
             said
             ,
             that
             he
             deserv'd
             to
             supply
             his
             Masters
             Throne
             ,
             who
             indeed
             according
             to
             the
             younger
             
             Pliny's
             Expression
             ,
             was
             no
             more
             then
             a
             Slave
             to
             his
             Bondmen
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LV.
             
          
           
             AND
             a
             Decree
             of
             the
             Senate
             was
             Engrav'd
             in
             Marble
             ,
             and
             publickly
             Erected
             ,
             wherein
             an
             Enfranchis'd
             Slave
             ,
             in
             possession
             of
             above
             seven
             Millions
             in
             Gold
             ,
             was
             extoll'd
             
             for
             his
             Frugality
             ,
             equal
             to
             the
             Parcimony
             of
             Ancient
             Times
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             They
             made
             a
             Decree
             by
             which
             an
             Enfranchis'd
             Slave
             ,
             that
             was
             worth
             above
             seven
             Millions
             in
             Gold
             ,
             had
             the
             praises
             of
             Ancient
             Frugality
             .
          
           
             The
             Consul
             ,
             
               Barea
               Soranus
            
             ,
             having
             decreed
             to
             Pallas
             ,
             the
             Pretors
             Ornaments
             ,
             and
             a
             Present
             of
             a
             Million
             of
             Money
             ,
             in
             recompence
             of
             his
             Services
             ,
             Claudius
             declar'd
             ,
             That
             Pallas
             was
             satisfi'd
             with
             the
             Honour
             ,
             and
             was
             unwilling
             to
             renounce
             his
             primitive
             Poverty
             .
             An
             Expression
             befitting
             the
             poorness
             of
             
             Claudius's
             Spirit
             ,
             who
             't
             is
             very
             probable
             could
             not
             be
             Ignorant
             ,
             that
             his
             Bondman
             was
             at
             that
             time
             Richer
             ,
             then
             all
             the
             Kings
             of
             Arcady
             ,
             his
             pretended
             Ancestors
             .
          
           
             The
             younger
             Pliny
             makes
             mention
             of
             this
             Decree
             in
             two
             of
             his
             Letters
             ,
             in
             such
             Terms
             as
             will
             serve
             in
             this
             place
             ,
             for
             a
             most
             excellent
             Commentary
             .
             
               There
               is
            
             ,
             saith
             he
             ,
             
               upon
               the
               High-way
               to
            
             Tivoly
             ,
             
               a
               Monument
               of
            
             Pallas
             ,
             
               with
               this
               Inscription
            
             :
             The
             Senate
             has
             decreed
             to
             Pallas
             the
             Ornaments
             of
             the
             Pretorship
             ,
             and
             the
             Gift
             of
             a
             Million
             ,
             for
             his
             Fidelity
             and
             Zeal
             
             toward
             his
             Masters
             ,
             but
             he
             is
             contented
             with
             the
             Honour
             .
          
           
             But
             certainly
             I
             was
             never
             an
             Admirer
             of
             those
             things
             that
             proceed
             rather
             from
             Fortune
             then
             Judgment
             .
             More
             especially
             this
             Inscription
             taught
             me
             a
             new
             Lesson
             ,
             what
             a
             strange
             Impertinency
             those
             Men
             were
             guilty
             of
             ,
             who
             decreed
             Honour
             to
             d
             Scoundrel
             ;
             and
             what
             an
             unusual
             Impudence
             possess'd
             that
             Rascally
             Fellow
             to
             accept
             the
             one
             ,
             and
             refuse
             the
             other
             ;
             and
             to
             transfer
             these
             refusals
             to
             Posterity
             ,
             for
             an
             Example
             of
             Modesty
             .
             But
             to
             what
             purpose
             doe
             I
             seem
             to
             be
             offended
             at
             it
             ?
             Were
             it
             not
             more
             proper
             for
             me
             to
             make
             it
             the
             subject
             of
             my
             Derision
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             they
             may
             not
             think
             to
             have
             gain'd
             any
             great
             Matter
             ,
             who
             by
             their
             good
             Fortune
             ,
             do
             but
             serve
             to
             be
             the
             Sport
             and
             Contempt
             of
             other
             Men
             ?
          
           
             
               In
               another
               Letter
               ,
               after
               he
               has
               told
               ye
               ,
               that
               as
               Lofty
               as
               this
               Inscription
               seems
               to
               be
               ,
               yet
               it
               appear'd
               both
               Modest
               and
               Humble
               ,
               in
               respect
               of
               the
               Decree
               which
               he
               found
               among
               the
               Registers
               of
               the
               Senate
               ,
               he
               adds
               the
               following
               words
               .
            
             I
             omit
             to
             tell
             ye
             ,
             that
             the
             Pretorian
             Ornaments
             were
             offer'd
             to
             a
             Slave
             ,
             because
             they
             were
             Slaves
             themselves
             that
             offer'd
             'em
             :
             And
             that
             it
             was
             Decreed
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             beseech
             him
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             force
             him
             to
             wear
             the
             Rings
             of
             
             Gold.
             For
             it
             was
             a
             Dishonour
             to
             the
             Majesty
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             for
             a
             Pretorian
             to
             wear
             Rings
             of
             Steel
             .
             But
             this
             is
             nothing
             ;
             that
             which
             is
             most
             worthy
             Observation
             ,
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             the
             Senate
             return'd
             Thanks
             to
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             in
             the
             name
             of
             Pallas
             ,
             for
             having
             spoken
             so
             advantageously
             in
             his
             behalf
             ,
             and
             given
             leave
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             to
             give
             him
             those
             Testimonials
             of
             their
             Respects
             and
             good
             Will
             toward
             him
             .
             For
             what
             could
             be
             more
             Honourable
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             then
             to
             shew
             their
             Gratitude
             to
             Pallas
             ?
             The
             Senate
             knowing
             how
             averse
             Pallas
             was
             from
             such
             Ambitious
             desires
             ,
             ordain
             that
             an
             Address
             should
             be
             made
             to
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             to
             beseech
             him
             that
             he
             would
             oblige
             Pallas
             to
             accept
             the
             Senates
             Kindness
             .
             There
             could
             not
             be
             a
             more
             Servile
             Condescention
             then
             this
             ,
             that
             the
             Public
             Authority
             was
             made
             use
             of
             ,
             and
             the
             Intercession
             of
             the
             Emperour
             implor'd
             ,
             to
             mollifie
             the
             haughty
             Moderation
             of
             Pallas
             so
             far
             ,
             as
             to
             bring
             him
             to
             vouchsafe
             the
             acceptance
             of
             the
             Senates
             Present
             .
             —
             Now
             do
             but
             imagine
             you
             saw
             Pallas
             opposing
             the
             Decree
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             and
             moving
             in
             Mitigation
             of
             the
             Honours
             which
             they
             offer'd
             him
             ;
             refusing
             a
             Million
             ,
             which
             was
             given
             him
             as
             a
             Present
             ,
             tho'
             an
             excessive
             Gift
             ,
             after
             he
             had
             accepted
             the
             Ornaments
             of
             the
             Pretorship
             ,
             as
             a
             thing
             of
             mean
             Value
             ;
             suppose
             
             you
             saw
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             who
             submits
             to
             th●
             Intreaties
             ,
             or
             rather
             Commands
             of
             a
             Bond
             ▪
             man
             Enfranchis'd
             ,
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             Senate
             .
             Then
             take
             a
             view
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             who
             recite
             in
             their
             Decree
             ,
             that
             among
             other
             Honours
             decreed
             to
             Pallas
             ,
             they
             thought
             it
             material
             to
             add
             this
             Donative
             ,
             in
             recompence
             of
             the
             Services
             he
             had
             done
             the
             Empire
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             did
             not
             desist
             from
             their
             Importunities
             to
             Pallas
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             be
             pleas'd
             to
             accept
             their
             Donative
             ,
             but
             only
             in
             Obedience
             to
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             whose
             Will
             and
             Pleasure
             it
             was
             not
             lawful
             for
             them
             to
             gainsay
             in
             any
             respect
             .
             The
             conclusion
             will
             be
             ,
             that
             it
             requir'd
             no
             less
             then
             all
             the
             Modesty
             of
             Pallas
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Complaisance
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             to
             excuse
             Pallas
             from
             accepting
             a
             whole
             Million
             of
             the
             Public
             Treasure
             .
             To
             which
             the
             Senate
             would
             never
             have
             consented
             ,
             but
             that
             they
             thought
             it
             contrary
             to
             their
             Duty
             to
             disobey
             the
             Emperour
             .
             Now
             do
             you
             believe
             that
             this
             is
             all
             ?
             No
             ,
             there
             is
             something
             worse
             behind
             .
             It
             was
             Ordain'd
             that
             this
             Decree
             should
             be
             Engrav'd
             in
             Brass
             ,
             and
             set
             up
             next
             the
             Armed
             Statue
             of
             
               Julius
               Caesar
            
             .
             'T
             was
             not
             enough
             for
             the
             Senate
             to
             be
             the
             Testimony
             of
             so
             great
             a
             piece
             of
             Infamy
             ,
             they
             made
             choice
             of
             a
             most
             remarkable
             Place
             ,
             where
             it
             was
             to
             be
             read
             by
             the
             Living
             ▪
             and
             transmitted
             to
             Posterity
             .
             It
             was
             their
             care
             ,
             
             that
             all
             the
             Honours
             offer'd
             to
             an
             Insolent
             Slave
             ,
             should
             be
             Engrav'd
             in
             Brass
             ;
             what
             he
             had
             refus'd
             ,
             and
             what
             he
             had
             accepted
             .
             His
             Pretorian
             Ornaments
             were
             Inscrib'd
             upon
             Public
             and
             Eternal
             Monuments
             ,
             like
             the
             Ancient
             Leagues
             ,
             and
             Alliances
             ,
             nay
             like
             the
             Sacred
             Laws
             of
             the
             Empire
             .
             Such
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             such
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             such
             of
             Pallas
             himself
             ,
             was
             that
             I
             know
             not
             what
             to
             call
             it
             .
             While
             all
             Three
             expos'd
             to
             the
             view
             of
             all
             the
             World
             ;
             Pallas
             his
             Insolence
             ,
             the
             Emperour
             his
             Patience
             ,
             and
             the
             Senate
             their
             Obsequious
             Servility
             .
          
           
             Certainly
             the
             Roman
             Flattery
             far
             out-did
             the
             Adulation
             of
             the
             Greeks
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LVI
             .
          
           
             WHile
             he
             discours'd
             the
             Antiquity
             of
             his
             Extraction
             ,
             and
             number'd
             up
             the
             Consulships
             and
             Triumphs
             of
             his
             Ancestors
             ;
             while
             he
             Commemorated
             his
             Inclinations
             to
             Learning
             ,
             and
             the
             Liberal
             Arts
             ,
             and
             insisted
             upon
             the
             Prosperity
             of
             his
             Reign
             ,
             in
             all
             which
             time
             the
             Commonweal
             had
             suffer'd
             
             no
             Disaster
             ,
             he
             was
             attentively
             and
             willingly
             heard
             by
             all
             :
             But
             when
             he
             came
             to
             applaud
             his
             Providence
             and
             his
             Wisdom
             ,
             there
             was
             hardly
             any
             Person
             could
             refrain
             from
             Laughter
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Nero
            
             spoke
             his
             Funeral
             Oration
             ,
             wherein
             he
             highly
             extoll'd
             the
             Antiquity
             of
             his
             Descent
             ,
             and
             the
             Grandeur
             of
             his
             Ancestors
             ,
             Enumerating
             at
             length
             their
             Consulships
             and
             their
             Triumphs
             .
             Thence
             he
             proceeded
             to
             applaud
             his
             Learning
             ;
             and
             told
             the
             People
             how
             that
             the
             Empire
             had
             suffer'd
             no
             Dammage
             during
             all
             his
             Reign
             .
             All
             which
             was
             heard
             attentively
             without
             the
             least
             Murmur
             ;
             but
             when
             he
             began
             to
             talk
             of
             his
             Prudence
             and
             his
             Wisdom
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             forbear
             Laughing
             .
          
           
             Flatterers
             often
             fall
             into
             the
             same
             Imprudent
             Errors
             ;
             while
             they
             strive
             to
             be
             excessive
             in
             their
             Praises
             ,
             they
             render
             both
             themselves
             ,
             and
             those
             they
             applaud
             Ridiculous
             .
             Many
             People
             Flatter
             ,
             but
             few
             are
             Masters
             of
             the
             Art.
             Witness
             Seneca
             ,
             who
             as
             great
             and
             piercing
             a
             Wit
             as
             he
             was
             ,
             was
             not
             sensible
             of
             the
             Impertinency
             of
             the
             Harangue
             which
             he
             had
             
             made
             for
             his
             Pupil
             ,
             till
             he
             found
             it
             to
             be
             derided
             by
             all
             that
             heard
             it
             .
             For
             to
             extol
             the
             Wisdom
             and
             Understanding
             of
             Claudius
             ,
             who
             was
             so
             generally
             known
             to
             be
             a
             Person
             of
             weak
             and
             sottish
             Intellectuals
             ,
             was
             to
             accuse
             all
             Mankind
             of
             Stupidity
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             LVII
             .
          
           
             HE
             forbids
             any
             Statues
             of
             Massie
             Gold
             or
             Silver
             to
             be
             Erected
             ,
             in
             Honour
             of
             his
             Person
             .
             —
             And
             when
             the
             Magistrates
             took
             their
             Oaths
             ,
             in
             Confirmation
             of
             the
             Acts
             of
             his
             Predecessors
             ,
             he
             would
             not
             suffer
             Antisthius
             ,
             one
             of
             his
             Consuls
             ,
             to
             hear
             the
             Confirmation
             of
             His
             ;
             for
             which
             the
             Senate
             loaded
             him
             with
             Encomiums
             ,
             in
             hopes
             that
             since
             his
             youthful
             Thoughts
             were
             thus
             enclin'd
             to
             Vertues
             of
             a
             lower
             Rank
             ,
             he
             would
             continue
             greater
             .
          
           
             
               Nero
               ,
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             would
             not
             suffer
             his
             Collegue
             to
             pay
             him
             that
             Honour
             ;
             which
             was
             receiv'd
             with
             Acclamations
             more
             
             then
             ordinary
             ,
             on
             purpose
             to
             excite
             the
             youthful
             Prince
             to
             the
             love
             of
             Vertue
             .
             
               Which
               last
               words
               come
               far
               short
               of
               the
               sense
               of
            
             Tacitus
             .
          
           
             Modesty
             is
             a
             powerful
             means
             to
             procure
             both
             Love
             and
             Esteem
             to
             a
             young
             Prince
             ,
             at
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Reign
             .
             For
             as
             it
             is
             then
             the
             time
             that
             Flattery
             sets
             all
             her
             Springs
             at
             work
             ,
             to
             make
             her self
             the
             Darling
             of
             his
             Favour
             ,
             so
             is
             it
             likewise
             then
             that
             he
             acquires
             a
             solid
             Reputation
             ,
             if
             he
             ward
             off
             the
             first
             Assault
             of
             Adulation
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             Senate
             were
             so
             profuse
             of
             their
             Praises
             to
             Nero
             ,
             to
             pre-ingage
             him
             by
             their
             own
             ,
             against
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             others
             .
             For
             there
             is
             a
             sort
             of
             Adulation
             allowable
             and
             wholesome
             ,
             which
             infuses
             into
             Princes
             and
             great
             Personages
             a
             love
             of
             Vertue
             ,
             wherein
             consists
             their
             chiefest
             Glory
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LVIII
             .
          
           
             AS
             lately
             too
             severe
             in
             Restraining
             his
             Son
             ,
             now
             as
             immoderately
             Submissive
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Agrippina
            
             was
             constrain'd
             to
             change
             her
             Severity
             into
             Caresses
             ,
             and
             to
             repent
             her
             past
             Severity
             ;
             and
             that
             with
             as
             much
             Submission
             now
             ,
             as
             Rigour
             and
             Arrogance
             before
             .
          
           
             Of
             all
             the
             sorts
             of
             Flatterers
             ,
             there
             are
             none
             so
             bad
             as
             those
             that
             are
             forc'd
             to
             stoop
             ,
             in
             hopes
             to
             regain
             the
             favour
             of
             a
             Prince
             ,
             whom
             they
             have
             disoblig'd
             either
             by
             their
             Severity
             ,
             or
             over
             sawcy
             Freedom
             .
             For
             being
             then
             to
             repair
             the
             Faults
             of
             their
             Ingratitude
             ,
             they
             spare
             for
             no
             submission
             to
             recover
             what
             they
             have
             lost
             ,
             either
             by
             their
             Moroseness
             ,
             or
             their
             unwary
             Zeal
             .
             For
             there
             is
             a
             far
             greater
             mixture
             of
             Vanity
             then
             Integrity
             in
             that
             same
             Hardiness
             ,
             which
             many
             Men
             assume
             in
             reprimanding
             Princes
             .
             Who
             are
             never
             to
             be
             contradicted
             ,
             but
             when
             we
             are
             assur'd
             ,
             that
             our
             Arguments
             are
             
             such
             as
             will
             not
             offend
             their
             Ears
             ;
             and
             that
             it
             may
             prove
             the
             more
             Successful
             ,
             the
             Admonition
             must
             be
             such
             as
             may
             seem
             to
             relish
             of
             Commendation
             .
             
               Ita
               reprehendat
               ut
               laudet
            
             ,
             says
             
               Pliny
               ,
               Ep.
               12.
               l.
               3.
               
            
             Thus
             Gundamore
             ,
             the
             Spanish
             Ambassadour
             in
             England
             ,
             perceiving
             that
             James
             I.
             particularly
             valu'd
             himself
             for
             his
             Scholastic
             Learning
             ,
             very
             facetiously
             told
             him
             one
             day
             ,
             that
             his
             Majesty
             spoke
             Latin
             ,
             as
             it
             became
             Gundamore
             to
             speak
             it
             :
             Whereas
             Count
             Gundamore
             spoke
             it
             ,
             as
             it
             rather
             became
             his
             Majesty
             to
             do
             ;
             insinuating
             that
             Pedantic
             Learning
             was
             beneath
             a
             Prince
             ,
             from
             whose
             Lips
             there
             is
             always
             expected
             something
             more
             Weighty
             and
             Sublime
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LIX
             .
          
           
             THereupon
             the
             Senate
             enacted
             Public
             Processions
             ,
             and
             Days
             of
             Thanksgiving
             ;
             Statues
             also
             ,
             Triumphal
             Arches
             ,
             and
             continual
             Consulships
             were
             decreed
             the
             Prince
             :
             And
             that
             the
             Days
             upon
             which
             the
             Victory
             was
             won
             ,
             when
             the
             Tidings
             
             were
             brought
             ,
             and
             the
             Relation
             of
             it
             made
             ,
             should
             be
             number'd
             among
             the
             Solemn
             Festivals
             ;
             with
             several
             other
             Additions
             altogether
             so
             Exorbitaut
             ,
             that
             
               Caius
               Cassius
            
             readily
             consenting
             to
             the
             former
             Honours
             ,
             farther
             declar'd
             ,
             That
             if
             the
             Solemn
             Thanks
             to
             be
             repay'd
             the
             Gods
             were
             to
             be
             measur'd
             according
             to
             the
             merit
             of
             their
             Benignity
             ,
             the
             whole
             Year
             would
             be
             too
             small
             a
             time
             for
             Public
             Supplications
             ;
             and
             therefore
             that
             the
             Holy-days
             and
             Worky-days
             ,
             ought
             only
             so
             to
             be
             divided
             ,
             as
             that
             the
             Worship
             of
             the
             Gods
             might
             not
             be
             a
             hinderance
             to
             secular
             Business
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Senate
             ordain'd
             Public
             Processions
             ,
             Triumphal
             Arches
             and
             Statues
             ,
             together
             with
             a
             new
             Consulship
             in
             Honour
             of
             the
             Prince
             ;
             and
             farther
             that
             the
             Day
             wherein
             the
             City
             was
             taken
             ,
             when
             the
             News
             was
             brought
             ,
             as
             likewise
             when
             the
             Decrees
             were
             made
             ,
             should
             be
             solemnly
             observ'd
             as
             Public
             Anniversaries
             ,
             with
             several
             other
             Flatteries
             so
             excessive
             ,
             that
             
               Caius
               Cassius
            
             
             who
             consented
             to
             all
             the
             rest
             ,
             was
             constrain'd
             to
             add
             ,
             That
             if
             they
             were
             to
             render
             Thanks
             to
             the
             Gods
             proportionable
             to
             their
             Favours
             ,
             the
             whole
             Year
             would
             not
             suffice
             ;
             only
             some
             days
             were
             to
             be
             set
             a
             part
             and
             excepted
             ,
             that
             the
             Worship
             of
             the
             Gods
             might
             not
             hinder
             Human
             Commerce
             .
          
           
             This
             Article
             has
             no
             need
             of
             any
             Commentary
             .
             Only
             I
             will
             observe
             this
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             That
             what
             Cassius
             spoke
             of
             
             Nero's
             Reign
             ,
             might
             be
             well
             said
             of
             
               Lewis
               the
               Great
            
             ,
             which
             has
             been
             a
             compleat
             Kalender
             of
             nothing
             else
             but
             Combats
             ,
             Victories
             ,
             and
             Triumphs
             .
             So
             that
             if
             Paterculus
             observ'd
             of
             Caesar
             ,
             That
             his
             Atchievements
             were
             so
             great
             ,
             that
             he
             who
             durst
             attempt
             and
             bring
             to
             pass
             such
             wondrous
             Enterprises
             ,
             could
             hardly
             be
             other
             then
             some
             Deity
             :
             What
             would
             he
             have
             said
             of
             a
             Prince
             ,
             that
             in
             a
             few
             days
             won
             those
             Cities
             ,
             which
             Caesar
             could
             not
             take
             in
             many
             Months
             ?
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LX.
             
          
           
             IN
             this
             same
             Consternation
             ,
             the
             Flattery
             of
             the
             Centurions
             and
             Tribunes
             first
             erected
             his
             drooping
             hopes
             ,
             crowding
             to
             kiss
             his
             Hands
             ,
             and
             congratulate
             his
             Escape
             from
             the
             unsuspected
             and
             horrid
             Contrivances
             of
             his
             Mother
             .
             Then
             the
             Courtiers
             resorted
             thick
             and
             three-fold
             to
             the
             Temples
             ;
             and
             thus
             the
             Example
             being
             set
             ,
             the
             Neighbouring
             Municipal
             Towns
             of
             Campania
             testify'd
             their
             joy
             by
             Sacrifices
             ,
             and
             public
             Addresses
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Burrhus
            
             was
             the
             first
             who
             rais'd
             his
             Hopes
             ,
             persuading
             the
             Officers
             of
             the
             Guard
             to
             Complement
             him
             upon
             the
             Danger
             he
             had
             escap'd
             ,
             and
             testifie
             their
             Joy
             to
             see
             him
             deliver'd
             from
             the
             Ambushes
             of
             his
             Mother
             .
             After
             that
             ,
             the
             Courtiers
             frequented
             the
             Temples
             ,
             and
             Addresses
             came
             from
             all
             the
             Neighbouring
             Cities
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
           
             Flattery
             is
             a
             Contagion
             that
             spreads
             it self
             from
             Man
             to
             Man.
             When
             ever
             any
             one
             has
             led
             the
             way
             ,
             all
             the
             rest
             are
             presently
             at
             strife
             who
             shall
             out
             do
             him
             .
             Nero
             had
             but
             just
             embru'd
             his
             Hands
             in
             a
             most
             inhuman
             Parricide
             ,
             and
             the
             People
             stood
             gazing
             one
             upon
             another
             with
             Fear
             and
             Astonishment
             .
             Nero
             himself
             was
             almost
             at
             his
             Wits
             end
             .
             But
             no
             sooner
             had
             the
             Pretorian
             Officers
             kiss'd
             his
             Hands
             ,
             and
             assur'd
             him
             of
             their
             Fidelity
             ,
             but
             the
             Courtiers
             ,
             a
             sort
             of
             People
             always
             ready
             to
             unmask
             ,
             were
             not
             asham'd
             to
             kneel
             before
             the
             Gods
             ;
             nor
             the
             Neighbouring
             Cities
             to
             offer
             Sacrifices
             for
             joy
             of
             such
             a
             perpetrated
             Crime
             ,
             which
             cry'd
             aloud
             for
             Vengeance
             on
             the
             Detestable
             Murderer
             .
             Horrid
             Thanksgivings
             ,
             more
             Impious
             then
             the
             Parricide
             it self
             .
             But
             the
             Senate
             acted
             higher
             yet
             ,
             and
             worse
             :
             They
             decreed
             Public
             Intercessions
             for
             the
             Welfare
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             and
             put
             the
             day
             of
             his
             Mothers
             Nativity
             among
             the
             Unfortunate
             Days
             ;
             and
             that
             upon
             which
             her
             pretended
             Conspiracy
             was
             discover'd
             ,
             among
             the
             most
             Solemn
             Festivals
             of
             the
             Year
             .
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             never
             greater
             Honours
             are
             decreed
             to
             Princes
             ,
             then
             when
             they
             are
             extreamly
             hated
             .
             For
             Dissimulation
             is
             more
             ingenious
             then
             
             Truth
             ,
             says
             the
             younger
             Pliny
             ;
             Servitude
             then
             Freedom
             ;
             and
             Fear
             then
             Love.
             
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXI
             .
          
           
             WHile
             he
             was
             hesitating
             in
             the
             Cities
             of
             Campania
             ,
             how
             he
             might
             return
             to
             the
             City
             ,
             and
             no
             less
             anxious
             whether
             to
             expect
             either
             the
             Addresses
             of
             the
             Obsequious
             Senate
             ,
             or
             the
             Favour
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             all
             the
             most
             infamous
             of
             his
             Adherents
             argu'd
             against
             his
             vain
             fears
             ,
             that
             
             Agrippina's
             name
             was
             become
             odious
             ,
             and
             that
             by
             her
             Death
             he
             had
             inflam'd
             the
             affection
             of
             the
             People
             toward
             him
             ;
             and
             therefore
             that
             he
             should
             go
             with
             an
             undaunted
             Courage
             ,
             and
             try
             the
             effects
             of
             their
             veneration
             upon
             the
             Place
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             While
             the
             Emperour
             staid
             in
             the
             Cities
             of
             Campania
             ,
             uncertain
             whether
             he
             should
             return
             to
             Rome
             ,
             or
             seek
             the
             Applauses
             of
             the
             Senate
             and
             the
             
             People
             first
             :
             
               (
               Tacitus
            
             does
             not
             say
             whether
             he
             should
             seek
             ,
             but
             
               wait
               for
            
             ,
             considering
             the
             Enormity
             of
             his
             Crime
             .
             )
             His
             Courtiers
             advis'd
             him
             to
             go
             on
             ,
             and
             fear
             nothing
             ;
             for
             that
             they
             should
             find
             the
             Affections
             of
             the
             People
             redoubl'd
             by
             the
             death
             of
             Agrippina
             ,
             whose
             very
             memory
             they
             Execrated
             ;
             and
             therefore
             that
             he
             should
             go
             Couragiously
             to
             reap
             the
             fruit
             of
             his
             Renown
             and
             Glory
             .
          
           
             Tho'
             Princes
             are
             made
             believe
             that
             they
             have
             an
             absolute
             Liberty
             to
             do
             what
             er'e
             they
             please
             ,
             yet
             are
             they
             touch'd
             with
             an
             inward
             Remorce
             ,
             when
             they
             either
             do
             or
             have
             committed
             any
             Act
             which
             is
             in
             it self
             unlawful
             .
             After
             Nero
             had
             caus'd
             his
             Mother
             to
             be
             murder'd
             ,
             he
             durst
             not
             shew
             his
             Face
             ,
             he
             wander'd
             from
             City
             to
             City
             ,
             thinking
             to
             dissipate
             those
             Fears
             and
             Jealousies
             with
             which
             the
             apparition
             of
             his
             Crime
             that
             haunted
             him
             where
             er'e
             he
             went
             ,
             continually
             tormented
             his
             mind
             .
             But
             his
             Flatterers
             ,
             accustom'd
             to
             extoll
             the
             most
             hainous
             miscarriages
             of
             great
             Personages
             ,
             soon
             Cur'd
             him
             of
             his
             Shame
             and
             his
             Fear
             ;
             persuading
             him
             that
             all
             the
             People
             of
             Rome
             rejoyc'd
             at
             
             Agrippina's
             death
             ,
             and
             thought
             themselves
             beholding
             to
             him
             for
             having
             rid
             her
             out
             of
             the
             way
             ,
             tho'
             every
             Body
             
             in
             secret
             detested
             the
             Action
             ,
             and
             had
             a
             bad
             opinion
             of
             Seneca
             ,
             for
             the
             Letters
             which
             he
             wrote
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             in
             Justification
             of
             Nero.
             Ill
             done
             in
             Seneca
             ,
             tho'
             seasonably
             perhaps
             ,
             who
             after
             he
             had
             been
             beholding
             to
             Agrippina
             for
             all
             his
             Fortune
             ,
             had
             the
             grace
             to
             lay
             to
             her
             charge
             all
             the
             Mischiefs
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             acts
             of
             Injustice
             ,
             that
             had
             been
             committed
             in
             
             Claudius's
             Reign
             .
             He
             whom
             she
             had
             recall'd
             from
             Exile
             ,
             and
             advanc'd
             to
             be
             Tutor
             to
             her
             Son
             ,
             where
             he
             had
             rammass'd
             together
             above
             seven
             Millions
             of
             Gold
             in
             four
             Years
             .
             A
             fair
             Proof
             ,
             that
             he
             knew
             how
             better
             to
             discourse
             of
             Benefits
             and
             Kindnesses
             then
             to
             acknowledge
             'em
             ;
             and
             that
             it
             is
             but
             too
             true
             ,
             that
             how
             deeply
             soever
             Men
             are
             oblig'd
             to
             those
             who
             fall
             into
             Misfortue
             ,
             they
             then
             believe
             the
             Engagement
             fully
             satisfy'd
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXII
             .
          
           
             HEnce
             resuming
             his
             wonted
             Pride
             ,
             and
             victor
             over
             Public
             Servitude
             ,
             he
             enters
             the
             Capital
             ,
             pays
             his
             Thanks
             ,
             and
             abandons
             himself
             to
             all
             manner
             of
             Luxury
             and
             Lasciviousness
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             He
             ascended
             into
             the
             Capital
             ,
             triumphing
             over
             Public
             Servitude
             ,
             and
             having
             paid
             his
             Thanks
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             gave
             himself
             over
             to
             all
             manner
             of
             Voluptuousness
             .
          
           
             Behold
             the
             Effects
             of
             Flattery
             .
             Nero
             ,
             who
             fear'd
             to
             return
             to
             Rome
             ,
             observing
             that
             the
             Senate
             and
             the
             People
             paid
             him
             greater
             Honours
             ,
             then
             his
             Flatterers
             had
             promis'd
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             City
             had
             set
             up
             Scaffolds
             to
             behold
             him
             make
             his
             Entry
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             had
             led
             all
             the
             Barbarian
             Kings
             in
             Triumph
             ,
             began
             to
             believe
             ,
             that
             his
             Parricide
             was
             lookt
             upon
             as
             a
             noble
             Exploit
             ;
             and
             that
             by
             consequence
             ,
             there
             was
             not
             any
             thing
             which
             he
             might
             not
             
             boldly
             undertake
             for
             the
             future
             .
             Thus
             when
             Princes
             once
             have
             laid
             aside
             all
             Fear
             and
             Bashfulness
             ,
             small
             are
             the
             hopes
             of
             any
             farther
             good
             from
             Them.
             And
             here
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             Burrhus
             and
             Seneca
             ,
             both
             Men
             of
             great
             Prudence
             and
             Policy
             ,
             were
             much
             deceiv'd
             ,
             while
             they
             thought
             ,
             that
             their
             condescension
             to
             any
             single
             Ridiculous
             Pleasure
             of
             their
             Pupil
             ,
             would
             in
             a
             short
             time
             make
             him
             weary
             of
             that
             Vice.
             For
             after
             he
             had
             spent
             his
             time
             one
             while
             in
             playing
             the
             Charioteer
             in
             an
             enclos'd
             piece
             of
             Ground
             ,
             where
             no
             body
             had
             liberty
             to
             enter
             ;
             he
             would
             needs
             have
             Spectators
             afterwards
             ,
             whose
             Applauses
             did
             but
             serve
             to
             encourage
             him
             in
             the
             continuance
             of
             that
             Exercise
             ,
             which
             his
             Governours
             were
             in
             hopes
             would
             soon
             have
             tir'd
             him
             .
             In
             short
             ,
             after
             he
             had
             been
             a
             Charioteer
             ,
             and
             had
             engag'd
             the
             Principal
             of
             the
             Nobility
             to
             ascend
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             he
             took
             his
             place
             himself
             there
             also
             ,
             to
             sing
             to
             the
             Harp
             before
             his
             Courtiers
             ,
             and
             the
             Soldiers
             of
             his
             Guard
             :
             Well
             pleas'd
             with
             the
             Applauses
             of
             a
             company
             of
             young
             Roman
             Knights
             ,
             who
             immediately
             admir'd
             his
             Beauty
             and
             his
             Voice
             ,
             for
             Divine
             Perfections
             .
             Whence
             Tacitus
             concludes
             ,
             that
             if
             Modesty
             and
             Bashfulness
             ,
             be
             so
             difficultly
             
             preserv'd
             by
             Vertuous
             Education
             ,
             how
             are
             they
             possibly
             to
             be
             preserv'd
             in
             a
             Court
             ,
             where
             Vices
             contend
             and
             only
             emulate
             each
             other
             ;
             and
             where
             men
             are
             only
             esteem'd
             for
             being
             double
             Hearted
             ,
             and
             they
             accounted
             Best
             ,
             who
             are
             the
             Worst
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XLIII
             .
          
           
             NO
             Man
             carry'd
             away
             the
             Prize
             for
             Eloquence
             ,
             but
             Caesar
             was
             pronounc'd
             the
             Victor
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             No
             Man
             carry'd
             away
             the
             Prize
             of
             Eloquence
             ,
             but
             they
             gave
             the
             Victory
             unanimously
             to
             the
             Emperour
             .
          
           
             Tacitus
             relates
             ,
             That
             the
             Funeral
             Oration
             which
             Nero
             pronounc'd
             at
             the
             Obsequies
             of
             the
             Emperour
             Claudius
             ,
             seem'd
             to
             savour
             of
             
             Seneca's
             Stile
             ;
             which
             gave
             an
             Occasion
             for
             some
             to
             observe
             ,
             that
             Nero
             was
             the
             first
             Emperour
             that
             ever
             stood
             in
             need
             of
             another
             mans
             Eloquence
             ,
             for
             that
             he
             employ'd
             his
             Parts
             quite
             another
             way
             ;
             as
             in
             Painting
             ,
             Sculpture
             ,
             Musick
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             in
             Poetry
             ,
             to
             
             which
             he
             had
             a
             great
             Inclination
             .
             Therefore
             it
             could
             be
             no
             other
             then
             pure
             Flattery
             ,
             which
             adjudg'd
             him
             the
             Prize
             of
             Eloquence
             ;
             as
             it
             is
             the
             custom
             to
             ascribe
             to
             Princes
             all
             those
             Qualities
             ,
             which
             add
             to
             the
             Lustre
             of
             Majesty
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             LXIV
             .
          
           
             THE
             Temple
             also
             erected
             to
             Deifie
             Claudius
             ,
             was
             look'd
             upon
             as
             the
             Tower
             ,
             
               as
               Others
               will
               have
               it
            
             ,
             the
             Pledge
             of
             Perpetual
             Domination
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             People
             also
             look'd
             upon
             the
             Temple
             dedicated
             to
             Claudius
             ,
             as
             a
             Gage
             of
             Perpetual
             Servitude
             .
          
           
             These
             People
             ,
             meaning
             the
             Britains
             ,
             who
             were
             not
             yet
             accustom'd
             to
             Servitude
             ,
             finding
             themselves
             tyranniz'd
             over
             by
             the
             Romans
             ,
             without
             any
             hopes
             of
             being
             better
             dealt
             with
             for
             the
             future
             ,
             revolted
             from
             their
             forc'd
             Obedience
             ,
             cut
             their
             Soldiers
             in
             pieces
             ,
             and
             in
             two
             days
             made
             themselves
             Masters
             of
             this
             Temple
             ,
             which
             seem'd
             to
             have
             been
             built
             for
             no
             
             other
             purpose
             but
             to
             let
             'em
             understand
             ,
             that
             their
             Liberty
             was
             exterminated
             for
             ever
             .
             When
             Princes
             subdue
             great
             Cities
             ,
             their
             Flatterers
             are
             the
             most
             diligent
             Persons
             in
             the
             World
             to
             erect
             Magnificent
             Trophies
             in
             their
             Honour
             ,
             which
             rather
             serve
             to
             exasperate
             the
             Vanquish'd
             ,
             then
             to
             instruct
             the
             Victor
             what
             is
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             the
             preservation
             of
             his
             Conquest
             .
             Thus
             the
             Brazen
             Statue
             of
             the
             Duke
             of
             Alva
             trampling
             under
             feet
             two
             other
             lesser
             Figures
             ,
             representing
             the
             People
             and
             Nobility
             of
             the
             Low
             Countries
             ,
             cost
             the
             King
             of
             Spain
             the
             Revolt
             of
             Antwerp
             ,
             and
             several
             other
             fortify'd
             Cities
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXV
             .
          
           
             NERO
             then
             not
             well
             in
             health
             ,
             when
             his
             Flatterers
             told
             him
             ,
             The
             Empire
             would
             be
             at
             an
             end
             ,
             should
             it
             be
             his
             Fate
             to
             die
             ,
             made
             answer
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             One
             day
             that
             he
             was
             ill
             ,
             his
             Courtiers
             ,
             in
             Flattery
             ,
             told
             him
             that
             the
             Empire
             would
             expire
             with
             him
             .
          
           
           
             This
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             is
             a
             certain
             proof
             of
             the
             Impertinency
             of
             Flatterers
             .
             For
             ,
             for
             a
             Man
             to
             tell
             such
             a
             Prince
             as
             Nero
             ,
             who
             made
             it
             his
             chiefest
             Glory
             ,
             to
             be
             an
             excellent
             Charioteer
             ,
             a
             good
             Musician
             ,
             and
             an
             elegant
             Poet
             ,
             as
             much
             as
             to
             say
             ,
             Eminent
             in
             every
             thing
             that
             was
             beneath
             a
             Prince
             ,
             that
             the
             Welfare
             of
             the
             Empire
             depended
             wholly
             upon
             him
             ,
             and
             that
             expiring
             with
             his
             Life
             ,
             it
             was
             never
             to
             rise
             again
             ,
             was
             either
             to
             laugh
             at
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             or
             make
             himself
             ridiculous
             .
             Nevertheless
             we
             meet
             with
             Compliments
             every
             day
             altogether
             as
             vain
             and
             impertinent
             ,
             which
             however
             are
             kindly
             accepted
             .
             So
             true
             is
             that
             Remark
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             That
             Assiduous
             Adulation
             corrupts
             and
             blinds
             the
             understanding
             of
             Great
             Personages
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXVI
             .
          
           
             NERO
             inclin'd
             to
             the
             more
             Vicious
             .
             They
             assail
             Seneca
             with
             various
             Accusations
             .
             They
             objected
             his
             assuming
             to
             himself
             alone
             the
             Pre-eminence
             in
             Eloquence
             ,
             and
             his
             making
             Verses
             more
             frequently
             ,
             since
             
             Nero
             had
             addicted
             himself
             to
             the
             study
             of
             Poetry
             :
             That
             he
             openly
             exclaim'd
             against
             the
             Prince's
             Pleasures
             :
             That
             he
             contemned
             his
             Agility
             in
             the
             management
             of
             Horses
             ;
             and
             derided
             his
             Voice
             when
             he
             sang
             .
          
           
             The
             Prince
             
               (
               says
            
             D'Ablancourt
             )
             was
             naturally
             enclin'd
             to
             follow
             the
             worst
             Counsels
             .
             Thereupon
             it
             was
             laid
             to
             
             Seneca's
             Charge
             ,
             That
             he
             ascrib'd
             to
             himself
             the
             Glory
             of
             being
             the
             only
             Eloquent
             Person
             in
             the
             City
             ;
             and
             had
             made
             Verses
             more
             frequently
             ,
             since
             Nero
             began
             to
             esteem
             Poetry
             .
             That
             he
             forbore
             not
             in
             public
             to
             find
             fault
             with
             his
             Divertisements
             ,
             and
             to
             laugh
             at
             his
             Activities
             in
             driving
             Chariots
             ;
             and
             derided
             his
             Excellency
             in
             Music
             .
          
           
             When
             once
             a
             Prince
             begins
             to
             lend
             his
             Ears
             to
             Flatterers
             ,
             Calumny
             forthwith
             makes
             open
             War
             with
             Men
             of
             Vertue
             .
             They
             that
             accus'd
             Seneca
             ,
             were
             certain
             of
             over-ruling
             Nero
             ,
             to
             his
             Destruction
             :
             For
             that
             Burrhus
             and
             He
             were
             always
             averse
             to
             his
             Pleasures
             .
             For
             the
             Court
             is
             always
             full
             of
             certain
             People
             ,
             who
             make
             it
             all
             their
             business
             to
             sound
             the
             Disgusts
             and
             Discontentments
             of
             Princes
             ,
             &
             incense
             'em
             against
             them
             who
             are
             both
             
             the
             Object
             &
             the
             Cause
             of
             them
             .
             And
             thus
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             Sejanus
             exasperated
             Tiberius
             against
             
               Asinius
               Gallus
            
             ,
             and
             that
             
               Cossurianus
               Capito
            
             and
             
               Eprius
               Marcellus
            
             perswaded
             Nero
             to
             rid
             himself
             of
             Thrasea
             .
             As
             to
             what
             the
             Courtiers
             laid
             to
             
             Seneca's
             Charge
             ,
             that
             he
             ascrib'd
             to
             himself
             the
             sole
             Glory
             of
             surpassing
             all
             others
             in
             Eloquence
             ,
             that
             was
             only
             an
             Artifice
             ,
             by
             which
             they
             render'd
             him
             so
             much
             the
             more
             odious
             to
             Nero
             ,
             in
             regard
             that
             he
             ,
             continually
             making
             use
             of
             him
             for
             the
             composing
             those
             Orations
             and
             Speeches
             which
             he
             had
             to
             make
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             should
             thereby
             take
             notice
             ,
             that
             Seneca
             made
             Merchandize
             of
             this
             Eloquence
             ;
             while
             't
             was
             the
             general
             saying
             ,
             that
             whatever
             he
             spoke
             or
             did
             ,
             either
             Handsom
             and
             Noble
             ,
             still
             Seneca
             reap'd
             all
             the
             Honour
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             first
             Composer
             .
             However
             ,
             that
             Nero
             was
             past
             a
             Child
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             needed
             no
             more
             Tutors
             ,
             the
             Examples
             of
             his
             Ancestors
             being
             sufficient
             to
             instruct
             and
             advise
             him
             in
             the
             management
             of
             his
             Government
             .
             By
             the
             way
             observe
             ,
             that
             Tacitus
             seems
             obliquely
             to
             reprove
             the
             Vanity
             ,
             or
             rather
             Vain-glory
             of
             Senca
             ,
             in
             saying
             ,
             That
             he
             caus'd
             Nero
             to
             pronounce
             several
             Popular
             Harangues
             ,
             to
             shew
             the
             good
             Education
             
             which
             he
             had
             given
             his
             Pupil
             ,
             or
             else
             in
             Ostentation
             of
             his
             own
             Wit.
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             the
             wisest
             of
             Men
             are
             subject
             to
             an
             ardent
             love
             and
             desire
             of
             Glory
             :
             And
             according
             to
             the
             Greek
             Proverb
             ,
             
               'T
               is
               the
               last
               Shirt
               they
               put
               off
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXVII
             .
          
           
             TIgellinus
             growing
             daily
             more
             powerful
             ,
             and
             believing
             his
             wicked
             Artifices
             ,
             wherein
             his
             chiefest
             Excellencies
             lay
             ,
             would
             prove
             more
             acceptable
             ,
             could
             he
             but
             engage
             the
             Prince
             to
             be
             an
             Accomplice
             with
             him
             in
             his
             Crimes
             ,
             he
             dives
             into
             his
             Fears
             ,
             and
             found
             that
             Plantius
             and
             Sylla
             were
             the
             objects
             of
             his
             Terror
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ;
               Tigellinus
            
             grew
             more
             and
             more
             in
             Credit
             every
             day
             ;
             and
             to
             render
             himself
             yet
             more
             considerable
             ,
             he
             resolv'd
             to
             plunge
             Nero
             deeper
             &
             deeper
             in
             Vice
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             only
             Craft
             of
             which
             he
             was
             the
             absolute
             Master
             .
             Seeing
             therefore
             that
             the
             Persons
             whom
             the
             Prince
             most
             fear'd
             ,
             were
             
             Sylla
             and
             Rubellius
             ,
             he
             endeavour'd
             to
             render
             their
             Exile
             suspected
             .
          
           
             
               Rubellius
               Plautus
            
             and
             
               Cornelius
               Sylla
            
             ,
             were
             Persons
             suspected
             and
             dreaded
             by
             Nero
             -
             The
             first
             ,
             because
             he
             was
             descended
             from
             Augustus
             by
             the
             Mothers
             side
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             same
             degree
             next
             of
             Kin
             to
             Nero
             ;
             besides
             that
             ,
             he
             was
             vastly
             Rich.
             The
             second
             ,
             for
             that
             having
             espous'd
             Antonia
             the
             Daughter
             of
             Claudius
             ,
             and
             Sister
             to
             Octavia
             ,
             Nero's
             Wife
             ,
             he
             seem'd
             to
             have
             some
             Right
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             some
             Pretension
             to
             the
             Empire
             .
             For
             which
             reason
             he
             had
             procur'd
             their
             Exilement
             ,
             the
             one
             being
             Banish'd
             into
             Asia
             ,
             and
             the
             other
             into
             Gallia
             .
             But
             Nero
             (
             as
             it
             is
             the
             custome
             of
             bad
             Princes
             to
             be
             prone
             to
             Fears
             and
             Jealousies
             )
             had
             still
             the
             same
             suspitions
             of
             these
             two
             Men
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             distance
             of
             their
             Consinement
             :
             Wherefore
             Tigellinus
             ,
             who
             was
             not
             ignorant
             of
             the
             innate
             Cruelty
             of
             his
             Master
             ,
             and
             understanding
             from
             whence
             his
             Jealousies
             arose
             ,
             infuses
             into
             his
             mind
             ,
             That
             two
             Persons
             of
             such
             Illustrious
             Extraction
             ,
             had
             the
             ready
             opportunity
             to
             revenge
             themselves
             in
             their
             Exile
             ,
             where
             they
             were
             at
             hand
             to
             debauch
             both
             the
             Eastern
             and
             German
             Armies
             .
             That
             Nero
             might
             
             secure
             himself
             from
             the
             Contrivances
             of
             his
             Enemies
             at
             Rome
             ,
             where
             his
             presence
             was
             sufficient
             to
             curb
             the
             growing
             Insolencies
             of
             Mutiny
             and
             Disorder
             ,
             but
             that
             it
             would
             be
             a
             difficult
             thing
             for
             him
             to
             put
             a
             stop
             to
             Designs
             well
             laid
             in
             distant
             Provinces
             .
             That
             the
             Gaules
             already
             cast
             their
             Eyes
             upon
             Sylla
             ,
             as
             a
             Noble
             Branch
             of
             the
             Dictators
             Family
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             hopes
             of
             Asia
             were
             no
             less
             in
             the
             Grandchild
             of
             Drusus
             .
             That
             
             Sylla's
             Poverty
             was
             a
             sufficient
             incitement
             to
             push
             him
             forward
             in
             the
             prosecution
             of
             bold
             and
             daring
             Attempts
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             only
             affected
             a
             counterfeit
             Supidity
             ,
             till
             he
             met
             with
             an
             opportunity
             to
             shew
             his
             Courage
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             that
             Plautus
             was
             a
             Person
             of
             prodigious
             Wealth
             ,
             and
             so
             far
             from
             seemiog
             to
             love
             Repose
             and
             Quiet
             ,
             that
             he
             took
             a
             pride
             in
             imitating
             the
             Ancient
             Romans
             ,
             and
             in
             practising
             the
             Maxims
             of
             the
             Stoicks
             ,
             a
             Sect
             that
             teaches
             Men
             to
             be
             arrogant
             ,
             turbulent
             ,
             and
             daring
             .
             These
             are
             the
             dangers
             that
             attend
             Great
             Personages
             :
             The
             Flatterers
             tell
             the
             Prince
             ,
             that
             the
             excessive
             Wealth
             of
             a
             Subject
             ,
             is
             fatal
             to
             Domination
             ;
             that
             they
             are
             too
             High
             for
             the
             Condition
             of
             a
             Private
             Person
             ,
             and
             over-shadow
             the
             Grandeur
             of
             a
             Prince
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             Prince
             of
             Conde
             made
             Answer
             to
             a
             Proposal
             that
             was
             made
             him
             ,
             only
             to
             beg
             and
             have
             such
             a
             Government
             as
             he
             should
             himself
             desire
             ,
             
               That
               he
               had
               Wealth
               and
               Estate
               sufficient
               ,
               to
               preserve
               himself
               by
               his
               good
               Services
               and
               Loyalty
               ;
               that
               if
               he
               had
               more
               ,
               it
               would
               but
               render
               him
               justly
               suspected
               to
               the
               King
               ,
               who
               could
               have
               no
               other
               reason
               to
               Ruine
               him
               ,
               but
               only
               because
               he
               was
               too
               Great
               .
            
          
           
             If
             they
             are
             Poor
             ,
             then
             they
             are
             represented
             to
             the
             Prince
             as
             Malecontents
             ,
             who
             study
             all
             opportunities
             to
             meliorate
             their
             Fortunes
             at
             the
             Expence
             of
             the
             Public
             Tranquillity
             ;
             that
             if
             they
             are
             not
             prevented
             ,
             their
             Misery
             will
             hurry
             'em
             to
             Despair
             ;
             and
             their
             Despair
             to
             Revolt
             ;
             and
             that
             therefore
             there
             is
             a
             necessity
             to
             hast'n
             their
             Destruction
             .
             If
             they
             are
             Persons
             of
             mean
             Parts
             or
             little
             Courage
             ,
             those
             Feeblenesses
             are
             interpreted
             to
             be
             refin'd
             Policy
             and
             Dissimulation
             .
             But
             if
             they
             are
             Persons
             of
             Courage
             and
             Merit
             ,
             then
             they
             are
             branded
             for
             Dangerous
             Persons
             ,
             that
             will
             soon
             be
             their
             Sovereign's
             Masters
             ,
             if
             once
             admitted
             to
             the
             Helm
             of
             State.
             Or
             if
             excluded
             ,
             that
             they
             will
             meditate
             Revenge
             ,
             unless
             cropt
             in
             the
             budd
             of
             their
             Resentment
             .
             Tacitus
             tells
             us
             ,
             That
             Plautus
             led
             a
             retir'd
             
             Life
             ,
             went
             mean
             and
             plain
             ,
             and
             kept
             his
             Family
             in
             good
             order
             :
             But
             the
             more
             he
             conceal'd
             himself
             in
             privacy
             from
             the
             stratagems
             of
             Envy
             ,
             the
             more
             his
             Reputation
             expos'd
             him
             .
             Therefore
             that
             Philosopher
             was
             in
             the
             right
             ,
             who
             said
             ,
             
               That
               Great
               Men
               were
               born
               to
               afford
               Subjects
               for
               Tragedies
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             LXVIII
             .
          
           
             AFter
             he
             found
             that
             all
             his
             Crimes
             were
             applauded
             as
             Egregious
             Acts
             ,
             he
             turns
             Octavia
             out
             of
             doors
             ,
             pretending
             Sterility
             ,
             and
             Marries
             Poppaea
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             Emperour
             finding
             that
             all
             his
             Crimes
             were
             consecrated
             by
             the
             Senate
             ,
             Divorc'd
             Octavia
             ,
             as
             being
             Barren
             ,
             and
             Espouses
             Poppaea
             .
          
           
             Tacitus
             
               tells
               us
               ,
               That
               when
               the
               Head
               of
            
             Plautus
             
               was
               brought
               to
            
             Nero
             ,
             
               he
               thus
               discours'd
               to
               himself
            
             !
             What
             fear'st
             thou
             Nero
             ,
             now
             that
             Plautus
             and
             Sylla
             are
             dead
             ?
             Why
             dost
             thou
             not
             forthwith
             Espouse
             Poppaea
             ,
             and
             send
             Octavia
             home
             again
             ,
             tho'
             she
             be
             
             truly
             Complaisant
             and
             Modest
             ,
             but
             yet
             a
             burthen
             to
             thee
             ,
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             her
             Father's
             Memory
             ,
             and
             the
             affection
             of
             the
             People
             ?
          
           
             Nero
             dur'st
             not
             repudiate
             her
             while
             Sylla
             her
             Father-in-Law
             was
             alive
             ,
             and
             Plautus
             her
             near
             Kinsman
             ,
             who
             might
             have
             reveng'd
             her
             Quarrel
             .
             But
             so
             soon
             as
             these
             Obstacles
             were
             remov'd
             ,
             he
             never
             scrupl'd
             to
             dissolve
             a
             Marriage
             that
             had
             advanc'd
             him
             to
             the
             Empire
             .
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             bad
             Princes
             cannot
             endure
             the
             sight
             of
             those
             to
             whom
             they
             are
             too
             deeply
             oblig'd
             .
             Now
             Nero
             could
             not
             see
             Octavia
             ,
             without
             recalling
             to
             mind
             those
             Obligations
             which
             he
             had
             receiv'd
             from
             her
             Father
             ,
             who
             had
             preferr'd
             him
             before
             Britannicus
             his
             only
             Son
             ;
             and
             therefore
             it
             was
             that
             the
             Memory
             of
             Claudius
             was
             offensive
             to
             his
             Mind
             .
             Moreover
             the
             Marriage
             of
             Nero
             with
             Poppaea
             ,
             is
             a
             clear
             demonstration
             ,
             that
             when
             once
             a
             bad
             Prince
             is
             rid
             of
             his
             Fears
             ,
             he
             lays
             aside
             his
             Shame
             as
             soon
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXIX
             .
          
           
             OCTAVIA
             is
             commanded
             to
             die
             —
             And
             to
             this
             ,
             a
             Scorn
             more
             hainous
             then
             the
             Cruelty
             was
             added
             ,
             that
             Poppaea
             saw
             her
             Head
             cut
             off
             ,
             and
             brought
             into
             the
             City
             .
             For
             this
             ,
             Gifts
             were
             decreed
             to
             be
             offer'd
             to
             the
             Temples
             of
             the
             Gods
             :
             Which
             I
             have
             on
             purpose
             deliver'd
             to
             Posterity
             ,
             that
             whoever
             shall
             read
             the
             Story
             of
             those
             Times
             ,
             whether
             written
             by
             our selves
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Author
             ,
             may
             understand
             ,
             that
             so
             often
             as
             any
             Murther
             was
             commanded
             by
             the
             Prince
             ,
             Thanks
             were
             return'd
             to
             the
             Gods
             ;
             and
             those
             things
             which
             were
             formerly
             the
             Signals
             of
             prosperous
             Success
             and
             Triumph
             ,
             were
             now
             the
             Concomitants
             of
             Public
             Desolation
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             He
             commanded
             Octavia
             to
             die
             —
             And
             for
             an
             addition
             of
             Cruelty
             ,
             they
             cut
             off
             her
             Head
             ,
             to
             glut
             
             the
             greedy
             eyes
             of
             her
             Rival
             .
             The
             Senate
             for
             this
             ordain'd
             ,
             that
             Offerings
             should
             be
             made
             in
             the
             Temples
             :
             Which
             I
             mention'd
             to
             this
             end
             ,
             that
             They
             who
             shall
             hereafter
             read
             this
             History
             ,
             may
             understand
             ,
             that
             as
             often
             as
             the
             Prince
             had
             perpetrated
             any
             Crime
             ,
             so
             often
             Thanks
             were
             return'd
             to
             the
             Gods
             ;
             and
             that
             that
             which
             was
             formerly
             a
             Mark
             of
             our
             Triumphs
             ,
             was
             become
             the
             Witness
             of
             our
             Miseries
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXX
             .
          
           
             BUT
             the
             Child
             dying
             within
             fourth
             Months
             ,
             new
             Flatteries
             repay'd
             that
             Loss
             ,
             while
             the
             Senate
             decreed
             the
             Infant
             the
             Honour
             of
             a
             Goddess
             ,
             a
             Cushion
             of
             State
             ,
             a
             Temple
             ,
             and
             a
             Preistess
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             Child
             dy'd
             four
             Months
             after
             ,
             which
             made
             'em
             have
             recourse
             to
             new
             Flatteries
             ;
             so
             that
             they
             decreed
             her
             a
             Temple
             ,
             with
             Divine
             Honours
             ,
             and
             all
             things
             thereto
             belonging
             .
          
           
             Nero
             having
             honour'd
             the
             Infant
             with
             the
             Title
             of
             Augusta
             ,
             upon
             the
             day
             of
             
             her
             Birth
             ,
             which
             was
             a
             thing
             for
             which
             there
             was
             no
             President
             before
             ,
             the
             Senate
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             custome
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             which
             always
             strives
             to
             exceed
             ,
             would
             also
             needs
             decree
             her
             Divine
             Honour
             ,
             that
             had
             never
             yet
             been
             given
             to
             any
             Infant
             .
             For
             when
             the
             Prince
             himself
             opens
             the
             way
             to
             Flattery
             ,
             the
             Contention
             then
             runs
             high
             among
             the
             Croud
             of
             Flatterers
             ,
             who
             shall
             bear
             away
             the
             Prize
             ,
             especially
             when
             he
             is
             under
             the
             pangs
             of
             Affliction
             :
             For
             that
             being
             the
             time
             ,
             when
             Tenderness
             and
             Compassion
             softens
             the
             haughty
             humours
             of
             Men
             ,
             it
             affords
             the
             most
             proper
             opportunities
             to
             conquer
             their
             Affections
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXI
             .
          
           
             
               CErealis
               Anicius
            
             ,
             the
             Consul
             Elect
             ,
             pronounc'd
             as
             his
             peculiar
             Sentence
             ,
             that
             a
             Temple
             should
             be
             erected
             with
             all
             the
             speed
             imaginable
             ,
             at
             the
             Public
             Charge
             ,
             to
             
               Divine
               NERO.
            
             Which
             he
             decreed
             him
             ,
             as
             having
             surmounted
             Human
             Grandeur
             ,
             and
             deserving
             now
             the
             Adoration
             
             of
             Men.
             Which
             was
             afterwards
             number'd
             among
             inauspicious
             Omens
             of
             his
             Death
             ;
             for
             the
             Honours
             due
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             were
             never
             attributed
             to
             the
             Prince
             ,
             till
             he
             ceas'd
             to
             live
             among
             Men.
             
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ;
               Anicius
               Cerealis
            
             propounded
             the
             building
             him
             a
             Temple
             at
             the
             Publick
             Charge
             ,
             and
             in
             his
             Proposal
             gave
             him
             the
             Title
             of
             a
             God
             ,
             meaning
             thereby
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             exalted
             above
             Human
             Frailty
             ,
             and
             deserv'd
             to
             be
             ador'd
             by
             Men.
             But
             that
             was
             afterwards
             taken
             as
             an
             ill
             Omen
             of
             his
             Death
             ,
             for
             that
             the
             Emperors
             were
             never
             honour'd
             with
             that
             Title
             ,
             till
             they
             were
             departed
             out
             of
             this
             World.
             
          
           
             Nero
             having
             escap'd
             a
             Conspiracy
             ,
             wherein
             were
             engag'd
             almost
             all
             the
             chief
             Nobility
             of
             Rome
             ,
             and
             with
             them
             ,
             Persons
             of
             all
             sorts
             and
             conditions
             ,
             and
             many
             Women
             among
             the
             rest
             ,
             the
             Senate
             decreed
             Thanksgivings
             and
             Offerings
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             particular
             Honours
             to
             the
             Sun
             ,
             who
             had
             discover'd
             the
             Enterprize
             ,
             just
             as
             it
             was
             ready
             to
             have
             been
             put
             in
             execution
             ;
             and
             to
             Salus
             or
             Safety
             ,
             out
             of
             whose
             Temple
             the
             Senator
             Sevinus
             
             had
             taken
             the
             Dagger
             ,
             with
             which
             he
             was
             to
             have
             given
             the
             first
             stroke
             :
             All
             this
             was
             done
             in
             Honour
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             had
             been
             highly
             commendable
             ,
             had
             not
             Nero
             been
             so
             wicked
             a
             Prince
             .
             But
             that
             there
             might
             be
             nothing
             wanting
             of
             addition
             to
             the
             Public
             Misfortune
             ,
             (
             for
             to
             use
             the
             words
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             the
             Gods
             ,
             in
             preserving
             Nero
             ,
             plainly
             shew'd
             ,
             that
             they
             design'd
             their
             Vengeance
             ,
             not
             their
             Saving
             Favour
             to
             the
             Roman
             People
             )
             one
             of
             the
             Consuls
             propos'd
             the
             Consecrating
             of
             a
             Temple
             to
             
               NERO
               THE
               GOD
            
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             meant
             the
             World
             should
             understand
             ,
             that
             the
             Emperor
             was
             beholden
             for
             his
             Deliverance
             to
             his
             Deify'd
             condition
             ,
             which
             exalted
             him
             above
             all
             Accidents
             of
             Fortune
             ,
             and
             render'd
             him
             Immortal
             .
             Certainly
             this
             was
             the
             utmost
             extent
             of
             human
             Adulation
             ,
             above
             which
             it
             was
             impossible
             for
             human
             Wit
             to
             soar
             a
             Higher
             strain
             .
             And
             if
             't
             were
             Fear
             which
             made
             the
             Gods
             ,
             a
             Pagan
             might
             have
             been
             excus'd
             to
             Deifie
             a
             Prince
             ,
             who
             after
             he
             had
             murther'd
             his
             Brother
             Britannicus
             ,
             his
             Mother
             ,
             his
             Wife
             ,
             his
             Tutor
             ,
             seem'd
             only
             born
             to
             exterminate
             the
             Race
             of
             Human
             kind
             .
             But
             how
             shall
             we
             excuse
             those
             Christians
             ,
             who
             make
             profession
             of
             Vertue
             in
             its
             purity
             ,
             and
             particularly
             of
             
             Evangelic
             Simplicity
             ,
             who
             abandon
             themselves
             to
             that
             degree
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             as
             to
             compare
             a
             Temporal
             Prince
             to
             the
             True
             God
             ,
             ascribing
             to
             him
             those
             Attributes
             which
             the
             Sacred
             Scripture
             only
             gives
             to
             the
             Majesty
             of
             Heaven
             .
             As
             if
             among
             so
             many
             Famous
             and
             Renowned
             Actions
             with
             which
             the
             Universe
             rings
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             have
             found
             Matter
             for
             the
             most
             Noble
             Panegyric
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             without
             robbing
             God
             of
             that
             which
             incommunicably
             belongs
             to
             Him
             ,
             to
             give
             it
             to
             Caesar
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXII
             .
          
           
             HEnce
             the
             Orators
             took
             occasion
             to
             spend
             all
             their
             Studies
             upon
             Panegyrics
             and
             Encomiums
             in
             honour
             of
             the
             Prince
             .
             The
             Earth
             (
             cry'd
             they
             )
             produces
             not
             only
             her
             usual
             Fruits
             ,
             and
             Gold
             confus'd
             with
             other
             Metals
             ,
             but
             as
             if
             infertiliz'd
             by
             Thy
             Rays
             with
             a
             new
             access
             of
             Plenty
             ,
             teems
             with
             unaccustom'd
             Productions
             ,
             while
             the
             Gods
             throw
             down
             their
             obvious
             
             Riches
             to
             encrease
             her
             Store
             .
             With
             several
             other
             servile
             Raptures
             ,
             compos'd
             with
             no
             less
             Eloquence
             then
             Adulation
             ,
             as
             being
             secure
             of
             the
             Credulity
             of
             their
             Hearers
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             Orators
             made
             choice
             of
             no
             other
             Themes
             for
             their
             Panegyrics
             ,
             crying
             out
             ,
             that
             the
             Earth
             produc'd
             not
             only
             Fruits
             and
             Flowers
             ,
             or
             Metals
             within
             its
             bowels
             ,
             but
             from
             her
             bosome
             discover'd
             new
             Treasures
             ,
             to
             augment
             the
             felicity
             of
             so
             flourishing
             a
             Reign
             .
             With
             many
             other
             things
             of
             the
             same
             nature
             ,
             which
             their
             own
             servile
             Inclinations
             ,
             and
             the
             Prince's
             Credulity
             ,
             produc'd
             with
             as
             much
             Eloquence
             as
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             Princes
             are
             the
             more
             easily
             induc'd
             to
             flatter
             themselves
             with
             the
             enjoyment
             of
             those
             successes
             with
             which
             Adulation
             sooths
             their
             Fancies
             ,
             as
             being
             made
             believe
             that
             all
             things
             must
             be
             obedient
             to
             their
             Fortune
             ;
             and
             that
             there
             is
             no
             contending
             with
             their
             Fate
             .
             Nero
             therefore
             ,
             who
             naturally
             coveted
             things
             the
             most
             incredible
             ,
             with
             ease
             gave
             credit
             to
             his
             own
             Wishes
             ;
             and
             his
             Courtiers
             were
             no
             less
             careful
             how
             they
             undeceiv'd
             him
             ,
             seeing
             how
             lavish
             and
             profuse
             he
             was
             in
             his
             
             Expences
             ,
             in
             hopes
             of
             
             Dido's
             pretended
             Treasures
             .
          
           
             Thus
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             unwary
             Princes
             are
             frequently
             abus'd
             and
             gull'd
             by
             their
             Flatterers
             ,
             impoverishing
             their
             Treasures
             by
             immense
             Profusions
             ,
             while
             they
             feed
             'em
             with
             vain
             Expectations
             .
             For
             his
             expectancy
             of
             promis'd
             Wealth
             ,
             was
             one
             of
             the
             causes
             of
             publick
             Poverty
             .
             'T
             is
             the
             course
             of
             Flatterers
             still
             to
             be
             buzzing
             in
             the
             Sovereign's
             Ears
             ,
             that
             Princes
             should
             never
             mind
             good
             Husbandry
             ;
             whereas
             they
             should
             have
             told
             'em
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             be
             well
             too
             thrifty
             ,
             considering
             there
             is
             no
             end
             of
             their
             Expences
             .
          
           
             The
             Favourites
             of
             
               Hen.
               3.
            
             (
             says
             Mezeray
             in
             his
             Life
             )
             had
             instill'd
             into
             his
             mind
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Estates
             of
             his
             Subjects
             were
             absolutely
             at
             his
             disposal
             ;
             and
             that
             France
             was
             such
             an
             inexhaustible
             Fountain
             of
             Wealth
             ,
             that
             no
             Prodigality
             whatever
             could
             draw
             it
             dry
             .
             But
             this
             ill
             Advice
             ,
             and
             worse
             bad
             Husbandry
             (
             says
             he
             )
             caus'd
             such
             scarcity
             of
             Money
             ,
             that
             many
             times
             there
             was
             not
             sufficient
             to
             defray
             the
             Expences
             of
             the
             King's
             Kitchin.
             
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXIII
             .
          
           
             SOme
             there
             were
             who
             admonish'd
             him
             to
             make
             Caesar
             his
             Heir
             of
             the
             greatest
             part
             of
             his
             Estate
             ,
             which
             would
             be
             the
             way
             to
             preserve
             the
             rest
             for
             his
             Grand-children
             .
             Which
             he
             refus'd
             to
             do
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             not
             tarnish
             with
             servile
             condiscension
             a
             Life
             that
             he
             had
             lead
             ,
             the
             nearest
             that
             might
             be
             to
             Liberty
             —
             And
             (
             speaking
             of
             Petronius
             )
             neither
             would
             he
             Flatter
             in
             his
             Will
             either
             Caesar
             ,
             or
             Tigellinus
             ,
             or
             any
             of
             the
             Great
             Men
             then
             in
             Favour
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancorut
            
             ;
             Some
             advis'd
             him
             to
             leave
             the
             best
             part
             of
             his
             Estate
             to
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             to
             save
             the
             rest
             ;
             but
             he
             reply'd
             ,
             That
             after
             he
             had
             liv'd
             so
             long
             in
             Honour
             ,
             he
             would
             not
             fully
             the
             end
             of
             his
             Life
             with
             a
             servile
             Act
             —
             Nor
             would
             Petronius
             Flatter
             in
             his
             Will
             ,
             either
             Nero
             ,
             or
             Tigellinus
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             of
             the
             Favourites
             ,
             as
             most
             of
             those
             there
             that
             suffer'd
             had
             done
             .
          
           
           
             They
             who
             never
             committed
             any
             degenerate
             Act
             in
             their
             life-time
             ,
             are
             careful
             to
             preserve
             their
             Reputation
             to
             the
             last
             gasp
             .
             Nor
             can
             there
             be
             a
             smarter
             incentive
             to
             die
             like
             a
             Man
             of
             Honour
             ,
             then
             to
             have
             always
             been
             so
             .
             Therefore
             
               Cocceius
               Nerva
            
             ,
             the
             best
             Friend
             Tiberius
             had
             ,
             seeing
             that
             the
             Emperor
             grew
             more
             vicious
             every
             day
             then
             other
             ,
             while
             his
             Health
             &
             Estate
             were
             yet
             in
             a
             good
             condition
             ,
             and
             his
             Reputation
             unblemish'd
             ,
             chose
             to
             die
             .
             And
             Thrasea
             ,
             whom
             Tacitus
             calls
             the
             Patern
             of
             true
             Honour
             ,
             made
             answer
             to
             those
             who
             advis'd
             him
             to
             delay
             his
             Death
             ,
             That
             he
             had
             nothing
             more
             to
             do
             but
             to
             die
             as
             he
             had
             liv'd
             ;
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             untainted
             ,
             unpolluted
             ,
             and
             imitating
             the
             glorious
             Exit
             of
             those
             whom
             he
             had
             emulated
             in
             his
             life-time
             .
             For
             it
             is
             not
             enough
             for
             Great
             Personages
             to
             be
             distinguish'd
             from
             Others
             by
             the
             Magnificence
             of
             their
             Funerals
             ,
             unless
             at
             their
             Deaths
             they
             likewise
             leave
             a
             distinct
             remembrance
             to
             Posterity
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXIV
             .
          
           
             TRuth
             was
             several
             ways
             ecclips'd
             and
             interrupted
             ;
             first
             through
             ignorance
             of
             Public
             Affairs
             ,
             now
             mannag'd
             by
             a
             few
             ;
             then
             by
             the
             contagious
             lust
             of
             Adulation
             ,
             or
             else
             by
             the
             general
             hatred
             of
             those
             that
             were
             in
             Power
             .
             So
             that
             what
             between
             those
             that
             were
             Disgusted
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             were
             Obnoxious
             ,
             there
             was
             no
             care
             taken
             of
             Posterity
             .
             But
             't
             is
             easie
             for
             thee
             to
             discry
             and
             ward
             off
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             a
             Historian
             ;
             tho'
             Detraction
             and
             Envy
             are
             heard
             with
             willing
             Ears
             .
             For
             there
             is
             a
             kind
             of
             resemblance
             between
             the
             foul
             Crime
             of
             Servility
             and
             Adulation
             ,
             but
             in
             Malignity
             ,
             there
             seems
             to
             be
             some
             similitude
             of
             Liberty
             .
             We
             cannot
             deny
             our
             Preferment
             begun
             by
             Vespasian
             ,
             augmented
             by
             Tiberius
             ,
             and
             farther
             advanc'd
             by
             Domitian
             ;
             but
             they
             that
             pretend
             
             to
             an
             inviolate
             Fidelity
             ,
             must
             never
             be
             sway'd
             by
             the
             Affections
             either
             of
             Love
             or
             Hatred
             .
          
           
             Truth
             ,
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             was
             clouded
             and
             obscur'd
             through
             ignorance
             of
             Public
             Affairs
             ,
             wherein
             few
             were
             concern'd
             ;
             and
             sophisticated
             either
             by
             Flattery
             or
             Hatred
             .
             The
             Historians
             took
             no
             care
             of
             Posterity
             ,
             minding
             only
             their
             Revenge
             or
             their
             Preferment
             .
             But
             tho'
             Flattery
             and
             Obloquie
             both
             equally
             disguise
             the
             Truth
             ,
             it
             is
             more
             easie
             for
             a
             Man
             to
             secure
             himself
             from
             the
             one
             which
             is
             odious
             to
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             then
             from
             the
             other
             ,
             which
             deceives
             us
             under
             the
             false
             shew
             of
             Liberty
             .
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             I
             owe
             the
             first
             rise
             of
             my
             Fortune
             to
             Vespasian
             ,
             and
             the
             progress
             of
             my
             Advancement
             to
             his
             Children
             .
             But
             when
             a
             Man
             once
             goes
             about
             to
             write
             a
             History
             ,
             he
             must
             forget
             Favours
             as
             well
             as
             Injuries
             .
             Wherein
             D'Ablancourt
             mistakes
             the
             words
             of
             Tacitus
             ,
             who
             says
             no
             such
             thing
             ,
             but
             only
             that
             no
             Historian
             should
             suffer
             himself
             to
             be
             byass'd
             ,
             either
             by
             his
             Love
             or
             by
             his
             Hatred
             .
          
           
             Were
             it
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             a
             Historian
             to
             understand
             not
             only
             the
             Events
             of
             things
             ,
             but
             also
             the
             Reason
             and
             
             Causes
             which
             produc'd
             those
             Events
             ;
             it
             would
             be
             impossible
             for
             any
             Man
             to
             be
             a
             good
             Historian
             ,
             that
             never
             had
             any
             share
             in
             the
             mannagement
             of
             Public
             Affairs
             .
             For
             the
             Success
             and
             Events
             of
             things
             are
             known
             to
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             but
             the
             Motives
             ,
             the
             Interests
             ,
             the
             Accidents
             ,
             the
             Springs
             ,
             that
             enliven'd
             ,
             mov'd
             ,
             and
             ma●nag'd
             those
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             were
             the
             Causes
             of
             their
             prosperous
             accomplishments
             or
             miscarriage
             ,
             are
             only
             known
             to
             the
             Contrivers
             and
             Artificers
             themselves
             .
             And
             for
             that
             Reason
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Historians
             of
             Republics
             have
             more
             advantage
             to
             write
             the
             Truth
             of
             things
             ,
             then
             the
             Subjects
             of
             Soveraign
             Monarchs
             :
             Where
             the
             Secret
             lies
             lockt
             up
             in
             the
             Breast
             or
             Cabinet
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             so
             that
             they
             may
             be
             well
             call'd
             strangers
             to
             the
             Government
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             thing
             which
             disguises
             and
             disfigures
             History
             is
             Flattery
             ,
             which
             in
             Republics
             is
             but
             little
             practiz'd
             ,
             where
             Servility
             is
             incompatible
             with
             Equality
             :
             But
             is
             of
             absolute
             use
             in
             Monarchies
             ,
             where
             it
             is
             hard
             to
             attain
             to
             Honours
             and
             Imployments
             ,
             or
             long
             to
             enjoy
             'em
             ,
             but
             by
             gaining
             the
             favour
             of
             the
             Ruling
             Soveraign
             ,
             by
             the
             customary
             and
             usual
             ways
             of
             Assentation
             and
             Obsequiousness
             .
          
           
           
             The
             third
             Rock
             that
             Shipwracs
             Truth
             ,
             is
             Hatred
             ;
             which
             takes
             place
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             after
             the
             Decease
             of
             the
             Prince
             .
             So
             long
             as
             
               Tiberius
               ,
               Caligula
               ,
               Claudius
            
             ,
             and
             Nero
             Reign'd
             ,
             says
             Tacitus
             ,
             Fear
             disguis'd
             and
             ecclips'd
             the
             Truth
             ,
             but
             so
             soon
             as
             they
             were
             Dead
             ,
             Hatred
             publish'd
             with
             aggravations
             ,
             what
             Fears
             suppress'd
             before
             .
             Whence
             we
             may
             infer
             ,
             that
             the
             Histories
             of
             bad
             Princes
             ,
             are
             never
             faithfully
             Written
             ,
             neither
             when
             they
             are
             Alive
             ,
             as
             being
             dreaded
             then
             ;
             nor
             after
             their
             Decease
             ,
             when
             Calumny
             takes
             her
             full
             swinge
             to
             disgrace
             their
             Memories
             .
             When
             Princes
             are
             hated
             ,
             men
             are
             willing
             to
             believe
             whatever
             is
             reported
             of
             'em
             ,
             tho'
             never
             so
             hainous
             and
             horrid
             ;
             nay
             ,
             many
             things
             too
             ,
             which
             are
             altogether
             impossible
             .
             And
             for
             this
             Reason
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Tacitus
             desires
             of
             those
             that
             shall
             read
             his
             Works
             ,
             never
             to
             prefer
             vulgar
             Reports
             and
             Tales
             Incredible
             ,
             tho'
             greedily
             swallow'd
             ,
             before
             plain
             and
             downright
             Truths
             ,
             not
             yet
             corrupted
             into
             miracle
             .
             There
             are
             some
             Historians
             that
             seem
             to
             have
             no
             other
             design
             ,
             then
             to
             abuse
             Posterity
             ,
             transmitting
             to
             future
             Ages
             ,
             Things
             not
             to
             be
             believ'd
             .
             And
             some
             Persons
             there
             are
             ,
             so
             unjust
             and
             empty
             in
             their
             Judgements
             ,
             
             that
             no
             Histories
             will
             please
             their
             Appetite
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             are
             stuff'd
             with
             Scandals
             and
             Absurdities
             .
             And
             this
             proneness
             of
             the
             one
             to
             Credulity
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             other
             to
             Falshood
             it
             is
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             occasion
             that
             all
             Affairs
             of
             Importance
             are
             communicated
             to
             our
             understandings
             ,
             quite
             otherwise
             then
             as
             they
             were
             really
             transacted
             .
             Add
             to
             this
             ,
             that
             many
             times
             they
             who
             have
             been
             the
             mannagers
             of
             these
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             encourage
             the
             Author
             of
             the
             Story
             ,
             having
             sometimes
             acted
             by
             the
             sway
             of
             bad
             Principles
             ,
             furnish
             the
             Writer
             with
             Memorials
             ,
             so
             far
             from
             discovering
             the
             real
             Truth
             ,
             that
             they
             rather
             stifle
             it
             in
             those
             politic
             Ambiguities
             ,
             from
             whence
             it
             is
             impossible
             to
             Disinvelop
             it
             .
             Whence
             it
             comes
             to
             pass
             ,
             that
             the
             Historians
             themselves
             being
             first
             deceiv'd
             ,
             the
             Reputation
             of
             their
             Fidelity
             serves
             only
             to
             delude
             others
             .
             Moreover
             the
             severity
             of
             History
             is
             such
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             suffer
             that
             her
             Authors
             should
             discover
             the
             least
             resentment
             of
             Injuries
             or
             Favours
             ;
             She
             would
             be
             shown
             to
             the
             World
             without
             Hatred
             or
             Flattery
             ;
             without
             Fear
             or
             Hope
             ;
             without
             refin'd
             Subtlety
             or
             Affectation
             ;
             not
             to
             Criticise
             ,
             but
             to
             Instruct
             ;
             nor
             to
             kindle
             
             any
             hatred
             against
             the
             men
             themselves
             ,
             but
             a
             detestation
             of
             their
             Vices
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             LXXV
             .
          
           
             AFelicity
             of
             the
             Times
             but
             rarely
             known
             ,
             when
             it
             was
             lawful
             to
             think
             what
             ever
             thou
             wouldst
             ;
             and
             what
             thy
             Thoughts
             were
             ,
             those
             to
             utter
             freely
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             A
             Subject
             more
             Ample
             and
             less
             Thornie
             ,
             upon
             which
             a
             Man
             might
             fearless
             utter
             whatsoe're
             he
             thought
             ,
             which
             was
             no
             small
             Happiness
             .
          
           
             Court
             Flatterers
             observe
             this
             for
             a
             certain
             Maxime
             ,
             Never
             to
             speak
             what
             they
             think
             ,
             but
             always
             to
             speak
             what
             they
             never
             think
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             never
             intend
             .
             And
             thence
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             Princes
             being
             accustom'd
             to
             understand
             'em
             ,
             those
             Persons
             that
             are
             Sincere
             and
             Real-hearted
             ,
             are
             at
             a
             Nonplus
             how
             to
             please
             their
             Humours
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             to
             make
             their
             Fortunes
             .
             Besides
             ,
             't
             is
             no
             such
             Errour
             in
             Princes
             ,
             as
             generally
             the
             Common
             sort
             
             believe
             ,
             not
             always
             to
             favour
             and
             esteem
             those
             Persons
             ,
             who
             freely
             and
             frankly
             speak
             their
             own
             Thoughts
             .
             For
             besides
             ,
             that
             freedom
             of
             Speech
             approaches
             too
             near
             forbidden
             Licence
             ,
             it
             is
             also
             no
             less
             subject
             to
             heighten
             into
             Imprudent
             Zeal
             ,
             which
             frequently
             leaves
             behind
             most
             mortal
             stings
             in
             the
             nice
             Breasts
             of
             Princes
             .
             The
             simplicity
             of
             the
             Dove
             at
             Court
             signifies
             nothing
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             not
             manag'd
             by
             the
             wisdom
             of
             the
             Serpent
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXVI
          
           
             PRosperity
             and
             Success
             ,
             with
             sharper
             Probes
             ,
             explore
             the
             Minds
             of
             Men
             ;
             for
             Miseries
             are
             endur'd
             ,
             but
             we
             are
             corrupted
             by
             Felicity
             .
             Thou
             perhaps
             wilt
             retain
             thy
             Fidelity
             ,
             thy
             Liberty
             ,
             thy
             Friendship
             ,
             the
             chiefest
             blessings
             and
             perfections
             of
             the
             Mind
             ;
             but
             others
             will
             endeavour
             to
             vitiate
             thy
             good
             Nature
             by
             their
             Flatteries
             .
             Adulation
             ,
             and
             glozing
             Sycophantries
             ,
             the
             most
             pernicious
             poyson
             of
             a
             vertuous
             
             Inclination
             ,
             while
             every
             one
             seeks
             his
             own
             Profit
             and
             Interest
             ,
             will
             break
             in
             upon
             thee
             .
             Thou
             and
             I
             discourse
             this
             day
             together
             with
             Sincerity
             and
             Cordial
             Integrity
             ,
             others
             more
             willingly
             address
             themselves
             to
             our
             Fortune
             then
             to
             us
             .
             For
             to
             persuade
             a
             Prince
             to
             what
             it
             behoves
             him
             to
             do
             ,
             is
             a
             task
             of
             great
             difficulty
             .
             But
             to
             Flatter
             any
             Prince
             ,
             there
             's
             no
             Affection
             requir'd
             .
             To
             be
             Begotten
             or
             Descend
             from
             Princes
             is
             meerly
             Fictitious
             ,
             nor
             is
             valu'd
             any
             farther
             .
             Nero
             will
             be
             also
             always
             wish'd
             for
             by
             the
             worst
             of
             Men
             ;
             however
             it
             must
             be
             both
             Our
             Cares
             ,
             that
             he
             be
             not
             wish'd
             for
             by
             the
             Good
             and
             Vertuous
             .
             But
             this
             is
             not
             a
             time
             to
             insist
             longer
             upon
             Admonitions
             .
             The
             most
             profitable
             and
             the
             shortest
             Method
             in
             the
             regulation
             of
             thy
             Actions
             ,
             is
             to
             consider
             what
             thou
             wouldst
             require
             ,
             and
             what
             not
             ,
             from
             another
             Prince
             .
             For
             thou
             art
             now
             to
             Govern
             a
             People
             that
             will
             not
             brook
             
             an
             Absolute
             Servitude
             ,
             add
             will
             be
             as
             impatient
             of
             Absolute
             Liberty
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Prosperity
             has
             more
             powerful
             Incentives
             then
             Adversity
             ,
             for
             we
             give
             way
             to
             the
             one
             and
             resist
             the
             other
             .
             
               (
               Which
               words
               are
               more
               obscure
               then
               the
            
             Text
             
               it self
               .
            
             )
             Tho'
             thy
             Inclinations
             prompt
             thee
             to
             preserve
             thy
             Vertue
             ,
             they
             that
             have
             access
             to
             thee
             ,
             will
             have
             lost
             their
             own
             .
             
               (
               Which
               is
               quite
               contrary
               to
               the
               sense
               of
            
             Tacitus
             .
             )
             There
             is
             nothing
             so
             easie
             as
             Complaisance
             ,
             and
             therefore
             all
             Men
             are
             ready
             to
             make
             use
             of
             it
             .
             But
             there
             are
             few
             Persons
             that
             advise
             Princes
             what
             they
             ought
             to
             do
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             a
             Task
             of
             too
             great
             difficulty
             .
             
               (
               Here
               also
               is
               the
               sense
               of
            
             Tacitus
             
               again
               mistaken
               .
            
             )
             'T
             is
             by
             Fortune
             that
             Men
             are
             born
             Sovereign
             Princes
             .
             
               (
               Here
               again
            
             Tacitus
             
               expresses
               himself
               more
               at
               large
               .
               )
            
             Only
             ,
             Do
             thou
             learn
             that
             the
             shortest
             way
             to
             Govern
             well
             ,
             is
             to
             consider
             what
             is
             to
             be
             Approv'd
             ,
             and
             what
             Condemn'd
             in
             other
             Princes
             ;
             to
             avoid
             the
             one
             ,
             and
             follow
             the
             example
             of
             the
             other
             .
             
               (
               Which
               latter
               words
               are
               superfluous
               .
               )
            
             Never
             were
             more
             Noble
             ,
             nor
             more
             Vniversal
             Admonitions
             given
             to
             Princes
             ,
             to
             guard
             them-themselves
             from
             the
             contagion
             of
             Flattery
             .
             Here
             they
             are
             warn'd
             ,
             that
             Prosperity
             runs
             'em
             headlong
             into
             more
             Impieties
             then
             Adver
             -
             
             for
             that
             it
             usually
             plunges
             'em
             into
             all
             manner
             of
             Luxury
             ,
             and
             all
             that
             Tacitus
             calls
             the
             Licence
             of
             Regality
             .
             Which
             was
             the
             Reason
             of
             that
             Saying
             of
             Tiberius
             himself
             ,
             That
             the
             more
             Puissant
             he
             was
             ,
             the
             more
             in
             danger
             he
             was
             of
             Falling
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             could
             not
             have
             his
             Authority
             ,
             without
             Diminishing
             the
             Law.
             
          
           
             
               Thus
               what
            
             Galba
             
               says
               to
            
             Piso
             ,
             
               that
               the
               obsequious
               Respect
               which
               all
               men
               would
               pay
               to
               his
               Person
               would
               corrupt
               his
               Vertue
               ,
               is
               a
               wholesom
               Admonition
               which
               he
               gives
               to
               all
               Princes
               ,
               not
               to
               confide
               in
               the
               constancy
               of
               their
               own
               Resolutions
               ,
               nor
               in
               their
               natural
               inclination
               to
               Justice
               ,
               in
               regard
               that
               if
               they
               bow
               their
               Ears
               to
               their
               Flatterers
               ,
               Adulation
               by
               vertue
               of
               her
               alluring
               Blandishments
               ,
               will
               glide
               at
               length
               through
               the
               Ears
               into
               the
               Heart
               ,
               and
               tear
               from
               thence
               all
               Shame
               ,
               all
               Moderation
               ,
               Docility
               ,
               Gratitude
               ,
               Clemency
               ,
               and
               all
               other
               Vertues
               whatever
               that
               harbours
               there
               .
            
             Mezeray
             
               gives
               us
               a
               remarkable
               Example
               of
               this
               ,
               in
               the
               Person
               of
            
             Henry
             III.
             His
             Reign
             ,
             
               saith
               he
               in
               his
               Life
            
             ,
             might
             be
             call'd
             the
             Reign
             of
             Favorites
             
               (
               and
               consequently
               of
               Flatterers
            
             )
             they
             brought
             to
             perfection
             their
             Design
             ,
             and
             absolutely
             Enervated
             whatever
             he
             had
             of
             constant
             
             Resolution
             ,
             and
             at
             length
             dissolv'd
             him
             into
             all
             Voluptuousness
             .
             And
             that
             they
             might
             possess
             him
             wholly
             to
             themselves
             ,
             they
             persuaded
             him
             not
             to
             shew
             himself
             so
             frequently
             and
             so
             publicly
             to
             his
             Subjects
             as
             his
             Predecessors
             had
             done
             ,
             but
             to
             keep
             himself
             reserv'd
             and
             close
             like
             the
             Eastern
             Monarchs
             ;
             or
             if
             he
             did
             at
             any
             time
             appear
             among
             'em
             ,
             that
             it
             should
             be
             with
             all
             the
             dazling
             Pomp
             and
             Magnificence
             imaginable
             ,
             or
             else
             to
             let
             'em
             know
             him
             by
             the
             Absoluteness
             of
             his
             Commands
             ;
             but
             above
             all
             ,
             to
             break
             the
             Neck
             of
             that
             Custom
             among
             the
             French
             of
             making
             Remonstrances
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             'em
             understand
             that
             there
             was
             no
             other
             Justice
             but
             his
             Will.
             
               (
               For
               according
               to
               the
               Dictates
               of
               Flattery
               ,
               't
               is
               but
               a
               precarious
               Reign
               ,
               and
               an
               Acquiescence
               in
               single
               Authority
               ,
               which
               extends
               it self
               no
               farther
               ,
               then
               only
               Things
               permitted
               .
               )
            
             With
             these
             Flatteries
             they
             rais'd
             him
             to
             a
             high
             Opinion
             of
             himself
             ,
             and
             fill'd
             him
             with
             a
             Conceit
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             the
             Greatest
             Prince
             in
             the
             World
             :
             That
             all
             the
             Politics
             of
             his
             very
             Youth
             ,
             were
             Master
             pieces
             ;
             and
             that
             all
             the
             Prudence
             of
             the
             most
             Cunning
             Artists
             in
             that
             Profession
             ,
             was
             but
             meer
             Ignorance
             in
             comparison
             of
             his
             .
          
           
             Nor
             is
             there
             any
             Prince
             whatever
             ,
             to
             whom
             at
             least
             some
             of
             their
             Flatterers
             do
             not
             say
             as
             much
             :
             A
             sufficient
             demonstration
             
             that
             they
             speak
             not
             to
             the
             Person
             ,
             but
             the
             Fortune
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             sole
             object
             of
             their
             Adorations
             .
             As
             for
             the
             advantage
             of
             being
             born
             a
             Prince
             ,
             Galba
             tells
             Piso
             't
             was
             only
             an
             accident
             of
             Fortune
             ,
             to
             let
             him
             understand
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             not
             an
             Honour
             to
             be
             so
             highly
             glory'd
             in
             by
             Princes
             ,
             as
             being
             that
             which
             they
             receiv'd
             from
             another
             ,
             and
             was
             no
             Honour
             to
             'em
             farther
             ,
             then
             they
             gave
             it
             lustre
             by
             the
             brightness
             of
             their
             own
             Vertue
             .
             They
             that
             told
             Nero
             he
             needed
             no
             other
             Rule
             whereby
             to
             govern
             himself
             then
             the
             Examples
             of
             his
             Ancestors
             ,
             while
             they
             Flatter'd
             him
             with
             the
             greatness
             of
             his
             Birth
             ,
             did
             but
             give
             him
             an
             oblique
             hint
             ,
             that
             having
             Augustus
             for
             his
             Great
             Grand-father
             ,
             and
             Germanicus
             for
             his
             Grand-father
             ,
             it
             best
             became
             him
             to
             derive
             his
             Glory
             from
             the
             Imitation
             of
             those
             two
             Persons
             :
             For
             it
             is
             not
             Nobility
             of
             Extraction
             that
             makes
             a
             Prince
             .
             
               Caligula
               ,
               Claudius
            
             ,
             and
             Nero
             ,
             were
             all
             Illustrious
             by
             Descent
             ,
             but
             Scandals
             to
             the
             Empire
             and
             the
             Family
             of
             the
             Caesars
             .
             Neither
             is
             it
             the
             vast
             extent
             of
             Dominion
             that
             makes
             an
             Emperour
             ;
             but
             on
             the
             contrary
             't
             is
             rather
             a
             Burthen
             ,
             which
             only
             serves
             to
             display
             the
             Weakness
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             to
             render
             
             him
             Contemptible
             ,
             when
             he
             is
             found
             to
             be
             incapable
             of
             Government
             .
             Witness
             Galba
             ,
             who
             when
             he
             came
             to
             the
             Empire
             ,
             through
             his
             want
             of
             Parts
             ,
             lost
             all
             the
             Reputation
             which
             he
             had
             acquir'd
             ,
             while
             he
             was
             only
             Governour
             of
             a
             Province
             ;
             whom
             all
             Men
             would
             have
             judg'd
             most
             fit
             for
             the
             Imperial
             Dignity
             ,
             unless
             he
             had
             Reign'd
             .
          
           
             A
             Prince
             therefore
             is
             never
             to
             be
             accompted
             a
             Great
             Prince
             ,
             unless
             the
             glory
             of
             his
             Merit
             be
             equal
             to
             those
             of
             his
             Fortune
             .
             Historians
             ,
             says
             Matchiavel
             ,
             gave
             greater
             Applauses
             to
             Hiero
             of
             Syracuse
             ,
             while
             he
             was
             but
             as
             yet
             a
             private
             Person
             ,
             then
             to
             Perseus
             ,
             when
             he
             was
             King
             of
             Macedon
             ;
             for
             that
             Hiero
             wanted
             nothing
             but
             a
             Kingdom
             to
             be
             a
             Prince
             ,
             whereas
             the
             other
             had
             nothing
             in
             him
             of
             a
             King
             ,
             but
             his
             Kingdom
             .
             An
             Argument
             ,
             that
             Posterity
             considers
             neither
             Royal
             Birth
             ,
             nor
             Royalty
             it self
             ,
             as
             not
             deserving
             its
             Esteem
             ,
             but
             how
             the
             Prince
             manag'd
             his
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             carry'd
             himself
             in
             so
             high
             and
             difficult
             an
             Employment
             ▪
             And
             in
             this
             sense
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             Tiberius
             pray'd
             the
             Gods
             to
             grant
             him
             a
             quiet
             Mind
             to
             the
             end
             of
             his
             Life
             ,
             and
             all
             necessary
             Understanding
             of
             the
             Law
             of
             God
             and
             Man
             ,
             that
             after
             his
             Decease
             ,
             his
             
             Name
             and
             his
             Actions
             might
             be
             Honour'd
             with
             the
             remembrance
             and
             approbation
             of
             all
             his
             Subjects
             .
             Observe
             by
             the
             way
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             same
             place
             he
             tells
             the
             Senate
             ,
             how
             highly
             Honour'd
             should
             he
             deem
             himself
             ,
             if
             Posterity
             do
             him
             but
             that
             Justice
             to
             acknowledge
             him
             for
             a
             Prince
             worthy
             his
             Ancestors
             ,
             Vigilant
             ,
             Resolute
             in
             Dangers
             ,
             and
             Zealous
             for
             the
             Public
             Welfare
             ,
             fearless
             of
             Envy
             or
             Hatred
             .
             To
             inform
             those
             who
             are
             Born
             Princes
             ,
             that
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             their
             chiefest
             Ambition
             to
             shew
             themselves
             worthy
             of
             their
             Illustrious
             Extraction
             ,
             in
             performing
             glorious
             Actions
             ,
             deserving
             the
             Remembrance
             of
             all
             succeeding
             Ages
             .
             And
             this
             was
             that
             which
             Octavius
             himself
             confirm'd
             ,
             when
             his
             Mother
             and
             his
             Father
             in
             Law
             dissuading
             him
             ,
             to
             acknowledge
             himself
             Heir
             to
             
               Julius
               Caesar
            
             ,
             he
             rejected
             their
             Counsel
             ,
             affirming
             ,
             't
             would
             be
             a
             shame
             for
             him
             to
             think
             himself
             above
             a
             Fortune
             that
             Caesar
             thought
             him
             worthy
             of
             :
             To
             whose
             Opinion
             he
             would
             rather
             stand
             then
             theirs
             ,
             who
             understood
             not
             his
             Worth.
             But
             to
             return
             to
             Galba
             .
          
           
             Nero
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             will
             be
             always
             lamented
             and
             wish'd
             for
             by
             the
             Wicked
             ;
             but
             it
             must
             be
             our
             Duty
             so
             to
             behave
             our selves
             that
             good
             Men
             too
             ,
             may
             have
             no
             reason
             
             to
             lament
             his
             loss
             ;
             
               which
               certainly
               they
               will
               do
               ,
               if
               we
               prove
               no
               better
               then
               He.
            
             This
             is
             an
             Admonition
             so
             much
             the
             more
             necessary
             for
             Princes
             ,
             in
             regard
             that
             Flatterers
             ,
             by
             applauding
             their
             Actions
             whether
             good
             or
             bad
             ,
             and
             by
             infusing
             a
             Conceit
             into
             their
             minds
             ,
             that
             they
             surpass
             all
             their
             Predecessors
             ,
             make
             'em
             sometimes
             worse
             then
             they
             ,
             whose
             memories
             are
             become
             most
             odious
             .
             'T
             is
             a
             burdensom
             thing
             to
             succeed
             a
             Vertuous
             Prince
             ,
             says
             Pliny
             in
             his
             Panegyric
             ,
             in
             regard
             it
             is
             a
             difficult
             labour
             to
             gain
             that
             Affection
             which
             he
             had
             done
             .
             Which
             was
             the
             Reason
             that
             the
             younger
             Pliny
             told
             Trajan
             ,
             that
             no
             Body
             would
             covet
             to
             Succeed
             him
             ,
             because
             no
             Body
             could
             presume
             to
             equal
             him
             .
             But
             it
             is
             no
             less
             dangerous
             to
             succeed
             a
             bad
             Prince
             ;
             for
             instead
             of
             this
             happy
             Effect
             ,
             that
             the
             vertue
             of
             a
             Predecessor
             should
             serve
             to
             enflame
             the
             Emulation
             of
             him
             that
             succeeds
             ,
             it
             happens
             that
             while
             he
             fears
             to
             be
             despis'd
             or
             hated
             upon
             the
             neglect
             of
             his
             Duty
             ,
             the
             Vices
             of
             the
             Predecessor
             seem
             to
             authorise
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             excuse
             the
             the
             miscarriages
             of
             the
             succeeding
             Prince
             .
             Whence
             it
             happens
             that
             the
             latter
             ,
             not
             having
             any
             recent
             Example
             of
             moderation
             to
             upbraid
             his
             Liberties
             ,
             and
             check
             
             his
             Irregularities
             ,
             he
             throws
             of
             his
             Mask
             ,
             and
             abandons
             himself
             to
             all
             manner
             of
             Luxury
             and
             Impiety
             ,
             insomuch
             that
             his
             Predecessor
             ,
             though
             he
             had
             been
             very
             inordinate
             ,
             is
             many
             times
             recall'd
             again
             in
             wishes
             for
             a
             good
             Prince
             .
             Thus
             the
             loss
             of
             Tiberius
             was
             bewail'd
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             
               Caligula
               ,
               Caligula
            
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Nero
             ,
             and
             Nero
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Domitius
             :
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             wickedness
             finds
             out
             new
             Rivals
             every
             day
             ,
             especially
             among
             bad
             Princes
             ,
             that
             suffer
             themselves
             to
             be
             guided
             by
             their
             Flatterers
             ;
             that
             bad
             Examples
             can
             never
             stop
             their
             career
             ,
             when
             once
             they
             have
             begun
             ;
             but
             that
             when
             once
             they
             are
             stray'd
             out
             of
             the
             high
             Road
             ,
             they
             never
             stop
             till
             they
             precipitate
             themselves
             into
             an
             Abyss
             of
             all
             Disorders
             .
          
           
             
               Lastly
               ,
               says
            
             Galba
             ,
             
               if
               thou
               wouldst
               know
               in
               short
               ,
               what
               method
               is
               most
               proper
               to
               gain
               the
               Esteem
               and
               Love
               of
               the
               People
               over
               which
               thou
               art
               to
               Rule
               ,
               call
               to
               thy
               remembrance
               whatever
               has
               been
               applauded
               or
               condemn'd
               in
               the
               Princes
               that
               have
               Reign'd
               in
               thy
               time
               ,
               and
               then
               do
               thou
               of
               thy
               own
               accord
               ,
               as
               formerly
            
             Mecaenas
             advis'd
             Augustus
             ,
             
               so
               manage
               the
               conduct
               of
               thy
               Rule
               ,
               as
               thou
               wouldst
               expect
               another
               Prince
               should
               do
               ,
               wert
               thou
               a
               Subject
               to
               the
               same
               Person
               .
               
               The
               Younger
            
             Pliny
             commends
             Trajan
             
               for
               his
               observance
               of
               this
               Precept
               .
            
             Long
             hast
             thou
             liv'd
             among
             us
             
               (
               said
               he
            
             )
             and
             ventur'd
             with
             us
             through
             the
             same
             danger
             ,
             and
             thereby
             thou
             giv'st
             us
             an
             apparent
             demonstration
             ,
             that
             thou
             art
             not
             forgetful
             of
             the
             Wishes
             and
             Complaints
             which
             thou
             weret
             wont
             to
             make
             among
             us
             ,
             for
             in
             thy
             Sovereignty
             dost
             thou
             fulfil
             ,
             whatever
             thou
             didst
             once
             desire
             so
             ardently
             ,
             when
             a
             private
             Subject
             ;
             only
             with
             this
             difference
             ,
             that
             thou
             art
             more
             benign
             and
             clement
             toward
             us
             ,
             then
             thou
             didst
             then
             desire
             the
             Prince
             should
             be
             moderate
             toward
             thy Self
             .
             And
             thence
             ,
             whereas
             before
             we
             wisht
             for
             no
             other
             happiness
             ,
             then
             to
             have
             a
             Prince
             but
             somewhat
             better
             then
             the
             worst
             of
             all
             that
             ever
             we
             had
             
               (
               speaking
               of
            
             Domitian
             )
             we
             are
             now
             ,
             by
             thy
             means
             ,
             become
             so
             nice
             and
             difficult
             ,
             that
             we
             cannot
             endure
             any
             other
             then
             the
             Best
             of
             Emperors
             .
          
           
             
               And
               in
               several
               other
               parts
               of
               the
               same
               Panegyric
               ,
            
             Thou
             mak'st
             the
             choice
             of
             thy
             Friends
             ,
             among
             the
             most
             Vertuous
             ;
             and
             truly
             it
             is
             but
             just
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             be
             belov'd
             hy
             a
             good
             ,
             who
             have
             been
             hated
             by
             a
             wicked
             Prince
             .
             Thou
             know'st
             the
             difference
             between
             Domination
             &
             Supreme
             Rule
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             reason
             that
             they
             who
             are
             now
             most
             acceptable
             to
             the
             Prince
             ,
             have
             the
             greatest
             Antipathy
             to
             a
             Tyrannical
             Master
             .
             Thou
             know'st
             ,
             that
             there
             
             can
             be
             no
             Power
             so
             great
             conferr'd
             on
             any
             single
             Person
             ,
             but
             that
             Liberty
             still
             is
             more
             desirable
             then
             Masterless
             Superiority
             .
             And
             yet
             so
             far
             art
             thou
             from
             triumphing
             over
             our
             Patience
             ,
             that
             thy
             Triumphs
             are
             only
             o'er
             the
             pride
             of
             wicked
             Princes
             .
             Thou
             liv'st
             among
             us
             like
             a
             Father
             with
             his
             Children
             .
             'T
             is
             lawfull
             to
             approach
             thy
             presence
             ,
             to
             accompany
             ,
             and
             speak
             to
             thee
             .
             Nor
             is
             it
             thy
             Pride
             that
             puts
             a
             conclusion
             to
             the
             Discourse
             ,
             but
             a
             modest
             shame
             and
             fear
             of
             being
             too
             importunate
             .
             Thou
             Govern'st
             us
             ,
             and
             we
             Obey
             ,
             but
             yet
             no
             othewise
             then
             we
             Obey
             the
             Laws
             .
             Thou
             hast
             barr'd
             up
             the
             passage
             to
             thy
             Ears
             against
             greedy
             Sycophants
             ,
             who
             excited
             thy
             Predecessors
             to
             nothing
             but
             Rapine
             and
             Violence
             .
             And
             now
             there
             being
             no
             such
             Prince
             that
             will
             afford
             a
             ready
             Ear
             to
             pernicious
             Counsels
             ,
             there
             are
             none
             that
             now
             will
             undertake
             to
             give
             it
             .
             Insomuch
             that
             being
             highly
             oblig'd
             to
             Thee
             ,
             for
             the
             Integrity
             of
             thy
             Manners
             ,
             we
             are
             yet
             more
             engag'd
             to
             thy
             Vertues
             ,
             for
             the
             amendment
             of
             our
             own
             ,
             which
             the
             Servility
             of
             former
             Times
             had
             so
             horribly
             perverted
             .
             
               So
               powerful
               is
               the
               Example
               of
               a
               Vertuous
               Prince
               ,
               whether
               out
               of
               that
               veneration
               which
               all
               Men
               pay
               him
               ,
               or
               the
               desire
               which
               we
               have
               to
               please
               him
               in
               our
               Imitation
               .
            
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXVII
             .
          
           
             
             PIso's
             Oration
             was
             modest
             and
             civil
             ;
             nor
             did
             he
             want
             the
             Favour
             of
             the
             
             Father's
             ;
             many
             out
             of
             pure
             good
             will
             and
             affection
             ;
             more
             vehemently
             they
             that
             least
             desired
             it
             ;
             the
             Middle
             sort
             ,
             and
             the
             Moderate
             party
             were
             the
             most
             ,
             all
             meditating
             private
             Interest
             ,
             while
             obviously
             obsequious
             without
             Care
             of
             the
             Public
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             Piso's
             Oration
             was
             very
             modest
             ,
             and
             receiv'd
             with
             applause
             by
             the
             Flattery
             of
             some
             ,
             and
             the
             Affection
             of
             others
             .
             They
             who
             had
             the
             least
             desire
             ,
             testify'd
             the
             most
             ,
             and
             every
             one
             suffer'd
             himself
             to
             be
             busy'd
             by
             his
             particular
             Interest
             ,
             without
             any
             Care
             of
             the
             Republic
             .
          
           
             A
             new
             Prince
             always
             occasions
             the
             growth
             of
             new
             Interests
             ,
             new
             Expectations
             ,
             and
             new
             Sycophants
             .
             And
             Flattery
             was
             the
             more
             excessive
             toward
             Piso
             ,
             while
             every
             one
             believ'd
             that
             Sycophantry
             could
             not
             choose
             but
             be
             acceptable
             to
             
             a
             Person
             who
             had
             always
             been
             the
             Mark
             of
             Adverse
             Fortune
             .
             For
             there
             is
             nothing
             so
             lulling
             to
             the
             Sences
             ,
             as
             to
             be
             Flatter'd
             ,
             Caress'd
             and
             Honour'd
             ,
             after
             a
             Man
             has
             been
             a
             long
             time
             Unfortunate
             .
             And
             for
             that
             reason
             it
             was
             that
             Galba
             ,
             putting
             him
             in
             mind
             of
             his
             former
             condition
             ,
             Hitherto
             (
             said
             he
             )
             
               thou
               hast
               only
               experimented
               the
               Cruelties
               of
               Fortune
               ;
               now
               she
               begins
               to
               look
               upon
               thee
               with
               a
               favourable
               Eye
               :
               However
               be
               sure
               to
               stand
               upon
               thy
               Guard
               ,
               for
               it
               is
               more
               easie
               constantly
               to
               undergo
               Adversity
               ,
               as
               thou
               hast
               done
               ,
               then
               to
               resist
               Allurements
               of
               Prosperity
               ,
               so
               ingenious
               in
               depraving
               our
               Inclinations
               .
               'T
               is
               not
               to
               be
               question'd
               but
               that
               thou
               art
               a
               Person
               of
               great
               Vertue
               ,
               but
               if
               once
               thou
               giv'st
               admision
               to
               Flattery
               ,
               she
               will
               soon
               impair
               thy
               Vertue
               .
            
             These
             and
             such
             like
             were
             
             Galba's
             Expressions
             (
             says
             Tacitus
             )
             to
             Piso
             ,
             as
             to
             a
             Private
             Person
             ,
             whom
             he
             was
             about
             to
             make
             an
             Absolute
             Prince
             ,
             but
             all
             the
             rest
             he
             spoke
             as
             to
             a
             Prince
             already
             Enthron'd
             .
             To
             let
             us
             understand
             that
             Galba
             spoke
             to
             the
             Person
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             whereas
             Sycophants
             make
             their
             Addresses
             only
             to
             his
             Fortune
             :
             That
             the
             first
             Admonish'd
             him
             ,
             as
             a
             Father
             and
             a
             Prince
             ;
             but
             that
             others
             Flatter'd
             him
             ,
             as
             the
             Person
             that
             already
             was
             their
             Lord
             and
             Master
             :
             That
             Subjects
             are
             only
             capable
             of
             
             Flattery
             ,
             because
             they
             only
             seek
             to
             please
             ;
             whereas
             the
             Prince
             who
             makes
             his
             Choice
             of
             a
             Successor
             ,
             bespeaks
             him
             cordially
             and
             sincerely
             ,
             and
             gives
             him
             no
             other
             then
             only
             the
             best
             of
             Counsel
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LVXXIII
             .
          
           
             THE
             most
             Favour'd
             of
             his
             enfranchiz'd
             Slaves
             ,
             and
             other
             Servants
             ,
             laid
             before
             him
             the
             Pomp
             of
             
             Nero's
             Court
             ,
             his
             Luxury
             ,
             his
             Adulteries
             ,
             his
             Divorces
             ,
             and
             incestuous
             Wedlocks
             ,
             and
             all
             those
             other
             Pleasures
             of
             Imperial
             Reign
             ,
             all
             which
             he
             thirst'd
             after
             ,
             and
             which
             if
             he
             had
             the
             Courage
             ,
             were
             his
             own
             ;
             but
             if
             he
             trifled
             away
             his
             Opportunity
             ,
             would
             be
             another's
             .
          
           
             His
             principal
             Domestics
             ,
             
               (
               says
            
             D'Ablancourt
             )
             ceas'd
             not
             to
             lay
             before
             him
             the
             Luxury
             and
             Licence
             of
             Princes
             ,
             and
             to
             upbraid
             him
             secretly
             ,
             for
             abandoning
             to
             another
             ,
             that
             which
             was
             in
             his
             power
             to
             seize
             as
             his
             own
             .
          
           
           
             Thus
             we
             see
             the
             gay
             Allurements
             that
             Sycophants
             make
             use
             of
             to
             provoke
             the
             Appetites
             of
             Princes
             ,
             and
             incense
             'em
             to
             Luxury
             .
             This
             is
             that
             which
             they
             call
             ,
             
               Releasing
               Kings
               from
               the
               Subjection
               of
               Wardship
            
             ;
             but
             indeed
             (
             says
             
               Mezeray
               )
               Is
               the
               putting
               them
               beside
               their
               Sences
               and
               their
               Reason
               .
               Otho
            
             had
             spent
             his
             Youth
             in
             Debauchery
             ,
             and
             had
             insinuated
             himself
             into
             
             Nero's
             Favour
             and
             Confidence
             ,
             by
             the
             imitation
             of
             his
             Voluptuousness
             and
             Vices
             .
             Piso
             ,
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             had
             always
             liv'd
             a
             sober
             Life
             ,
             and
             without
             Scandal
             ,
             but
             the
             severity
             of
             his
             Manners
             ,
             which
             pleas'd
             Galba
             ,
             displeas'd
             the
             old
             Court
             ,
             which
             Nero
             had
             accustom'd
             to
             honour
             a
             Voluptuous
             Prince
             ,
             no
             less
             then
             formerly
             they
             were
             wont
             to
             reverence
             a
             Prudent
             and
             Moderate
             Sovereign
             .
             Therefore
             it
             was
             that
             Otho
             ,
             who
             was
             of
             the
             same
             temper
             with
             Nero
             ,
             and
             as
             such
             a
             one
             ,
             desir'd
             by
             all
             the
             Courtiers
             ,
             was
             so
             highly
             encourag'd
             by
             his
             Domestics
             ,
             and
             his
             Friends
             ,
             to
             take
             Possession
             of
             the
             Empire
             .
             For
             the
             looser
             and
             more
             extravagant
             sort
             of
             Courtiers
             are
             afraid
             of
             nothing
             more
             then
             a
             Vertuous
             and
             Vigilant
             Prince
             ,
             because
             their
             Interest
             is
             incompatible
             with
             his
             Duty
             .
             
               The
               young
               King
            
             (
             says
             Mezeray
             ,
             speaking
             of
             Charles
             VIII
             .
             )
             
               was
               naturally
               
               enclin'd
               to
               the
               study
               of
               Vertue
               ,
               addicting
               himself
               ,
               as
               much
               as
               his
               leisure
               would
               permit
               him
               ,
               to
               the
               reading
               of
               good
               Authors
               ,
               and
               to
               converse
               with
               learned
               Men.
               But
               the
               Sycophant
               ,
               to
               whose
               humour
               ,
               a
               serious
               and
               prudent
               Prince
               is
               a
               burthensom
               Master
               ,
               before
               the
               Year
               was
               out
               ,
               plung'd
               him
               again
               into
               the
               love
               of
               Toys
               and
               Women
               .
            
          
           
             I
             find
             moreover
             two
             or
             three
             things
             more
             to
             be
             observ'd
             upon
             the
             Choice
             which
             Galba
             made
             of
             Piso
             to
             succeed
             him
             ,
             rather
             then
             Otho
             ,
             who
             being
             the
             first
             who
             had
             declar'd
             himself
             for
             Galba
             ,
             was
             in
             hopes
             to
             have
             been
             adopted
             for
             his
             Son.
             The
             first
             is
             ,
             that
             Galba
             rather
             chose
             to
             expose
             himself
             to
             
             Otho's
             Resentment
             ,
             to
             whom
             he
             was
             so
             highly
             oblig'd
             ,
             then
             to
             advance
             to
             the
             Empire
             a
             Person
             ,
             who
             was
             guilty
             of
             all
             
             Nero's
             Vices
             ;
             considering
             ,
             that
             would
             be
             of
             little
             benefit
             to
             the
             Publick-weal
             to
             have
             escap'd
             
             Nero's
             Violencies
             ,
             should
             it
             relapse
             under
             the
             power
             of
             his
             Companion
             in
             Debauchery
             .
             The
             second
             thing
             is
             ,
             that
             Vertuous
             Princes
             make
             it
             their
             chiefest
             Glory
             to
             choose
             a
             good
             Successor
             ;
             whereas
             a
             bad
             Prince
             en
             deavours
             to
             find
             a
             worse
             then
             himself
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             he
             may
             be
             miss'd
             ,
             when
             gone
             .
             Augustus
             (
             said
             Galba
             to
             
               Piso
               )
               made
               Choice
               of
               a
               Successor
               out
               of
               his
               own
               Family
               ,
               but
               I
               
               choose
               mine
               out
               of
               the
               Commonwealth
               :
               Not
               that
               I
               am
               destitute
               either
               of
               Kindred
               or
               Friends
               ,
               but
               because
               of
               all
               my
               own
               and
               thine
               ,
               thou
               seem'st
               to
               me
               most
               worthy
               to
               be
               the
               Heir
               of
               my
               Fortune
               .
               My
               Age
               permits
               me
               not
               to
               do
               the
            
             Roman
             
               People
               any
               other
               kindness
               ,
               but
               only
               to
               leave
               them
               a
               Vertuous
               Successor
               .
               But
               thou
               who
               art
               in
               the
               flower
               of
               thy
               Youth
               ,
               hast
               it
               within
               thy
               power
               to
               bless
               'em
               with
               a
               Vertuous
               Prince
               and
               long
               Tranquility
               .
            
             The
             Younger
             Pliny
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             Nerva
             was
             belov'd
             and
             lamented
             by
             all
             good
             Men
             ,
             for
             that
             he
             had
             made
             such
             Provision
             ,
             that
             no
             body
             should
             have
             cause
             to
             miss
             him
             ,
             and
             being
             a
             most
             worthy
             Prince
             himself
             ,
             he
             was
             not
             afraid
             to
             make
             Choice
             of
             one
             that
             might
             exceed
             him
             .
             And
             in
             another
             Place
             he
             says
             ,
             That
             a
             good
             Successor
             is
             a
             most
             evident
             Mark
             of
             the
             Divinity
             of
             the
             Prince
             that
             makes
             the
             Election
             .
          
           
             The
             last
             thing
             is
             ,
             the
             difference
             between
             the
             Advice
             which
             Princes
             give
             to
             their
             Successors
             ,
             and
             that
             which
             Sycophants
             give
             to
             Princes
             .
             When
             a
             Prince
             admonishes
             another
             ,
             't
             is
             his
             usual
             custom
             to
             tell
             him
             ,
             that
             Sovereignty
             is
             a
             weighty
             Burthen
             ,
             and
             a
             Condition
             above
             all
             others
             most
             subject
             to
             the
             Capriccio's
             of
             Fortune
             :
             That
             the
             Higher
             a
             man
             is
             exalted
             ,
             the
             more
             in
             danger
             he
             stands
             of
             the
             Precipice
             :
             
             That
             Power
             is
             never
             truly
             secure
             ,
             when
             excessive
             ,
             and
             rarely
             longer
             permanent
             then
             the
             Life
             of
             him
             that
             exercises
             it
             :
             That
             there
             is
             nothing
             in
             the
             World
             so
             unstable
             ,
             or
             so
             difficult
             to
             preserve
             ,
             as
             the
             Fame
             of
             Power
             that
             rests
             not
             on
             its
             proper
             foundation
             ,
             of
             Justice
             and
             Reason
             :
             That
             it
             is
             impossible
             for
             a
             Prince
             to
             know
             or
             act
             all
             things
             himself
             ,
             and
             therefore
             had
             need
             of
             good
             Counsel
             and
             Assistance
             :
             That
             his
             Ministers
             and
             He
             ,
             transacting
             unanimously
             together
             ,
             the
             Public
             Affairs
             will
             be
             better
             manag'd
             :
             That
             he
             ought
             not
             to
             study
             Dominion
             over
             Slaves
             ,
             but
             equal
             Government
             over
             Children
             and
             Subjects
             accustom'd
             to
             rational
             and
             not
             to
             blind
             Obedience
             :
             That
             Loyal
             Subjects
             never
             grudge
             to
             pay
             Taxes
             or
             Impositions
             ,
             but
             ill
             brook
             the
             Violence
             ,
             the
             Cruelty
             and
             Avarice
             of
             the
             Officers
             :
             That
             a
             Government
             cannot
             long
             subsist
             between
             unjust
             Command
             and
             forc'd
             Obedience
             .
             I
             do
             not
             Interest
             my self
             ,
             said
             Tiberius
             ,
             in
             in
             the
             Choice
             of
             Edils
             ,
             Pretors
             or
             Consuls
             ;
             something
             greater
             and
             more
             sublime
             is
             expected
             from
             a
             Prince
             ;
             nor
             do
             I
             make
             use
             of
             Power
             ,
             where
             I
             can
             act
             by
             Law.
             Then
             he
             goes
             on
             ,
             that
             Liberality
             ,
             when
             excessive
             ,
             proves
             pernicious
             ,
             as
             forcing
             to
             repair
             by
             Injustice
             ,
             what
             Extravagancy
             
             has
             dissipated
             ;
             That
             Clemency
             advances
             the
             Reputation
             of
             Princes
             ;
             and
             that
             having
             all
             things
             at
             their
             Command
             ,
             there
             remains
             nothing
             for
             them
             to
             desire
             more
             ,
             then
             only
             to
             Eternize
             their
             Happy
             Memories
             .
             These
             are
             the
             Temples
             ,
             those
             the
             Noble
             Statues
             ,
             said
             Tiberius
             ,
             that
             I
             desire
             to
             be
             erected
             in
             your
             minds
             ;
             for
             as
             for
             those
             that
             are
             built
             of
             Stone
             ,
             should
             I
             deserve
             the
             hatred
             of
             succeeding
             Ages
             ,
             they
             would
             be
             scorn'd
             ,
             and
             soon
             defac'd
             .
          
           
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             Sycophants
             infuse
             into
             the
             ears
             of
             Princes
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             not
             only
             an
             Absolute
             Power
             ,
             but
             a
             Universal
             Understanding
             ,
             and
             that
             their
             Subjects
             can
             pretend
             to
             nothing
             but
             only
             the
             Honour
             of
             a
             blind
             Obedience
             :
             That
             the
             Will
             and
             Pleasure
             of
             a
             Prince
             ,
             is
             the
             Rule
             of
             Justice
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Actions
             of
             Kings
             are
             Infallibly
             Just
             :
             That
             a
             Prince
             who
             Governs
             according
             to
             Laws
             ,
             is
             only
             a
             Precarious
             Prince
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             who
             listens
             to
             the
             Advice
             of
             his
             Counsel
             ,
             is
             a
             Pupil
             :
             That
             all
             ways
             and
             means
             whatever
             which
             conduce
             to
             the
             preservation
             of
             Authority
             ,
             are
             honest
             and
             lawful
             ,
             provided
             they
             be
             successful
             :
             That
             the
             Impov'rishing
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             and
             keeping
             the
             Nobility
             Low
             ,
             are
             the
             main
             Pillars
             of
             Imperial
             Power
             .
             That
             
             Privileges
             ,
             Exemptions
             and
             Moderate
             Taxes
             serve
             only
             to
             render
             the
             People
             untractable
             and
             mutinous
             ;
             whereas
             they
             are
             supple
             ,
             submiss
             and
             yielding
             ,
             when
             they
             have
             nothing
             to
             lose
             :
             That
             Luxury
             ,
             Adulteries
             ,
             Revelling
             and
             choice
             of
             Women
             ,
             are
             the
             Rewards
             of
             Principality
             :
             That
             it
             is
             of
             little
             importance
             to
             be
             belov'd
             ,
             but
             of
             great
             moment
             to
             be
             fear'd
             ;
             for
             that
             Fear
             is
             supported
             by
             the
             dread
             of
             Punishment
             ,
             which
             never
             ceases
             ;
             but
             that
             Love
             is
             preserv'd
             only
             by
             a
             certain
             tie
             of
             Complaisance
             ,
             which
             Men
             as
             often
             break
             ,
             as
             fancy
             and
             humour
             inspire
             'em
             :
             That
             Clemency
             is
             a
             dangerous
             Vertue
             ,
             and
             Modesty
             fitting
             only
             for
             a
             Citizens
             Wife
             .
             And
             lastly
             ,
             That
             Princes
             never
             need
             take
             any
             care
             what
             Posterity
             says
             of
             'em
             ,
             as
             being
             no
             competent
             Judge
             of
             the
             Truth
             or
             Falshood
             of
             those
             that
             applaud
             or
             discommend
             ,
             since
             't
             is
             the
             Fate
             of
             Historians
             ,
             to
             be
             always
             suspected
             either
             of
             Flattery
             or
             Malice
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXIX
             .
          
           
             THen
             from
             all
             Parts
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             as
             Othonians
             met
             Othonians
             ,
             some
             augmented
             the
             general
             Fears
             ,
             others
             minc'd
             the
             Truth
             ,
             not
             then
             refraining
             from
             their
             wonted
             Adulation
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             People
             crouded
             together
             from
             all
             Parts
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             some
             augmenting
             the
             danger
             ,
             others
             lessening
             it
             as
             much
             ,
             not
             forgetting
             their
             usual
             Flattery
             even
             in
             that
             extremity
             .
          
           
             Otho
             was
             Proclaim'd
             Emperor
             ,
             and
             Galba
             now
             no
             longer
             in
             Possession
             of
             the
             Sovereignty
             ;
             nevertheless
             there
             were
             some
             People
             that
             Flatter'd
             the
             Unfortunate
             Prince
             ,
             as
             if
             after
             he
             had
             lost
             the
             Empire
             ,
             he
             had
             something
             of
             higher
             Advantage
             to
             lose
             .
             An
             evident
             proof
             ,
             that
             Sycophants
             never
             can
             find
             in
             their
             hearts
             to
             speak
             sincerely
             to
             Princes
             ;
             and
             that
             Princes
             are
             Flatter'd
             ,
             because
             't
             is
             the
             Mode
             ,
             without
             the
             least
             anxiety
             for
             their
             
             good
             or
             ill
             success
             .
             Sycophants
             never
             tell
             'em
             any
             thing
             but
             what
             is
             grateful
             ,
             tho'
             it
             be
             ne'er
             so
             prejudicial
             .
             They
             who
             sooth'd
             up
             Galba
             at
             such
             a
             Conjuncture
             ,
             when
             the
             preservation
             of
             the
             Imperial
             Dignity
             ,
             and
             his
             Life
             lay
             at
             stake
             ,
             were
             so
             much
             the
             more
             to
             blame
             ,
             in
             regard
             they
             knew
             that
             Galba
             was
             always
             desirous
             that
             the
             Truth
             should
             be
             told
             him
             ,
             as
             one
             that
             detested
             Flattery
             ;
             and
             that
             his
             Safety
             then
             depended
             upon
             true
             Intelligence
             of
             the
             imminent
             danger
             .
             But
             in
             short
             ,
             it
             is
             the
             Fate
             of
             Princes
             to
             be
             deluded
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             last
             minute
             of
             their
             Lives
             .
             Mezeray
             tells
             us
             ,
             That
             after
             the
             French
             had
             lost
             the
             Castle
             of
             St.
             Angelo
             ,
             between
             Padua
             and
             Milaine
             the
             most
             prudent
             Captains
             (
             and
             particularly
             
               Lewis
               de
               la
               Tremouille
            
             )
             were
             of
             opinion
             ,
             that
             Francis
             the
             First
             should
             raise
             his
             Siege
             ,
             laying
             before
             him
             ,
             
               That
               his
               Army
               was
               wasted
               a
               third
               part
               more
               then
               he
               was
               made
               believe
               it
               was
               ;
               that
               five
               thousand
            
             Grisons
             
               had
               deserted
               him
               ,
               under
               pretence
               of
               going
               to
               defend
               their
               own
               Country
               against
               the
            
             Milaneses
             ,
             
               who
               perhaps
               with
               their
               connivance
               ,
               had
               taken
            
             Clavenna
             
               from
               them
               ;
               and
               that
               the
               Enemies
               Army
               ,
               for
               want
               of
               Pay
               ,
               would
               certainly
               Disband
               within
               fifteen
               days
               at
               farthest
               .
               But
               those
               Reasons
               were
               not
               of
               force
               
               sufficient
               to
               alter
               his
               Resolutions
               .
               The
               Sycophantries
               of
               his
               Favourites
               ,
               over-rul'd
               the
               Counsels
               of
               his
               Experienc'd
               Captains
               .
               And
               that
               was
               the
               reason
               that
               his
               Enemies
               ,
               not
               able
               any
               longer
               to
               keep
               their
               Forces
               in
               a
               Body
               resolv'd
               to
               give
               the
               King
               Battel
               ;
               who
               was
               there
               taken
               Prisoner
               ,
               together
               with
               the
               Chief
               Nobility
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               .
            
             So
             that
             it
             was
             held
             for
             Prophetical
             ,
             what
             a
             Jester
             told
             the
             King
             ,
             when
             he
             had
             concluded
             upon
             the
             War
             of
             
               Italy
               :
               Sir
            
             (
             said
             he
             )
             
               your
               Counsellors
               seem
               to
               me
               ,
               to
               be
               a
               company
               of
               Fools
               .
               They
               say
               very
               true
               ,
               that
               your
               Majesty
               shall
               enter
            
             Italy
             ;
             
               but
               they
               do
               not
               tell
               you
               how
               you
               shall
               get
               out
               again
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXX
             .
          
           
             I
             Shall
             not
             boast
             of
             my
             Nobility
             or
             Moderation
             (
             said
             Piso
             to
             the
             Pretorians
             ,
             )
             nor
             is
             there
             any
             necesity
             for
             me
             to
             dispute
             my
             Vertues
             in
             competition
             with
             Otho
             .
             His
             Vices
             ,
             in
             which
             he
             only
             glories
             ,
             ruin'd
             the
             Empire
             ,
             even
             then
             ,
             when
             he
             acted
             
             Nero's
             Friend
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             There
             was
             no
             need
             
             for
             him
             to
             urge
             his
             Vertues
             there
             ,
             nor
             those
             of
             his
             Ancestors
             ,
             in
             comparison
             with
             
             Otho's
             vices
             ,
             which
             had
             ruin'd
             the
             Empire
             ,
             when
             he
             was
             no
             more
             then
             a
             private
             Person
             .
             But
             this
             does
             not
             express
             the
             sense
             of
             
               Tacitus
               (
               Cum
               amicum
               Imperatinis
               Agecet
               )
            
             by
             which
             he
             plainly
             gives
             us
             to
             understand
             ,
             that
             Otho
             was
             
             Nero's
             Confident
             ,
             and
             the
             Pandar
             to
             his
             Pleasures
             ,
             and
             consequently
             the
             cause
             of
             the
             Disorders
             of
             his
             Reign
             .
          
           
             To
             be
             a
             good
             Prince
             ,
             't
             is
             not
             sufficient
             for
             him
             to
             be
             only
             better
             then
             one
             that
             has
             been
             very
             vicious
             .
             Otho
             had
             liv'd
             a
             life
             so
             licentious
             ,
             while
             he
             was
             one
             of
             
             Nero's
             Courtiers
             ,
             that
             Piso
             ,
             whose
             Manners
             were
             without
             reproach
             ,
             would
             have
             thought
             himself
             dishonour'd
             to
             have
             made
             a
             Parallel
             between
             his
             Deserts
             ,
             and
             
             Otho's
             Vices
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             Sycophants
             observe
             this
             method
             ,
             that
             when
             a
             Prince
             is
             guilty
             of
             those
             Miscarriages
             which
             are
             abhorr'd
             by
             all
             the
             World
             ,
             they
             still
             amuse
             'em
             with
             stories
             of
             the
             Vices
             of
             his
             Predecessors
             ,
             or
             of
             such
             and
             such
             Princes
             living
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ;
             which
             they
             aggravate
             to
             that
             degree
             ,
             that
             his
             own
             seem
             Peccadillo's
             and
             Trifles
             in
             respect
             of
             their
             Enormities
             .
             Whence
             it
             comes
             to
             pass
             ,
             that
             instead
             of
             Amendment
             ,
             he
             grows
             Worse
             .
             And
             
             therefore
             if
             it
             were
             true
             that
             Comines
             spoke
             those
             words
             to
             Lewis
             XI
             .
             whose
             Favourite
             he
             was
             ,
             which
             he
             repeats
             in
             his
             Memoire
             ,
             we
             may
             suspect
             him
             to
             have
             been
             as
             much
             a
             Sycophant
             as
             any
             of
             the
             Rest
             .
          
           
             Comines
             ,
             says
             Mezeray
             ,
             represents
             him
             extremely
             prudent
             in
             Adversity
             ,
             on
             that
             penetrated
             to
             a
             Miracle
             into
             the
             Interests
             and
             Thoughts
             of
             Men
             ,
             and
             then
             made
             a
             dextrous
             use
             of
             'em
             to
             his
             own
             ends
             ,
             ragingly
             suspitious
             and
             jealous
             of
             his
             Power
             ;
             absolute
             in
             his
             Will
             ;
             Inexorable
             ;
             a
             terrible
             Oppressor
             of
             his
             Subjects
             ,
             and
             yet
             one
             of
             the
             best
             Princes
             of
             his
             Time.
             
          
           
             Certainly
             the
             rest
             were
             then
             most
             hainous
             Criminals
             ,
             or
             else
             Comines
             was
             a
             great
             Sycophant
             .
             As
             for
             what
             Piso
             said
             ,
             that
             Otho
             had
             a
             mind
             to
             the
             Empire
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Nero
             ,
             whose
             chiefest
             Confident
             he
             had
             been
             ,
             for
             three
             or
             four
             Years
             together
             ,
             thereby
             we
             are
             instructed
             that
             Sycophants
             (
             for
             Otho
             ,
             while
             a
             private
             Person
             ,
             was
             his
             Crafts-master
             in
             that
             goodly
             Calling
             )
             are
             the
             common
             Pests
             of
             Kingdoms
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             pernicious
             Counsels
             which
             they
             infuse
             into
             the
             Ears
             of
             Princes
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             reason
             that
             Tacitus
             calls
             'em
             the
             Corrupters
             of
             Government
             ,
             and
             Pedagogues
             of
             Tyranny
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXI
             .
          
           
             NOR
             was
             it
             Judgment
             or
             Truth
             that
             sway'd
             their
             Affections
             ,
             but
             according
             to
             Custom
             ,
             licence
             of
             Acclamation
             ,
             and
             a
             habit
             of
             Flattering
             any
             Person
             whatsoever
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             'T
             is
             neither
             Affection
             nor
             Judgment
             ,
             but
             Custom
             and
             Flattery
             .
             
               Far
               short
               of
               the
               Author's
               sense
               .
            
          
           
             There
             are
             very
             few
             Princes
             that
             are
             belov'd
             ,
             or
             indeed
             that
             can
             escape
             Irrational
             and
             Bruitish
             Hate
             :
             But
             they
             are
             all
             Flatter'd
             without
             exception
             .
             For
             that
             Flattery
             never
             makes
             its
             Addresses
             to
             the
             Person
             ,
             generally
             the
             Objects
             of
             it
             will
             ,
             but
             to
             their
             Fortune
             which
             is
             always
             ador'd
             ;
             Galba
             was
             despis'd
             because
             of
             his
             Old
             Age
             ,
             and
             hated
             for
             his
             Severity
             ,
             and
             his
             Covetousness
             :
             Nevertheless
             ,
             both
             People
             and
             Grandees
             could
             not
             forbear
             to
             Flatter
             him
             ,
             while
             they
             demanded
             
             Otho's
             Life
             ,
             and
             the
             Banishment
             of
             all
             his
             Accomplices
             ,
             so
             long
             as
             they
             thought
             the
             
             Conspiracy
             would
             be
             crush'd
             before
             it
             got
             to
             a
             head
             .
             And
             when
             the
             Report
             was
             spread
             abroad
             that
             Otho
             was
             kill'd
             ,
             they
             not
             only
             express'd
             their
             Joy
             by
             public
             Acclamations
             and
             Congratulations
             ,
             but
             a
             great
             number
             of
             the
             Knights
             and
             Senators
             who
             thought
             Otho
             dead
             ,
             crouded
             to
             the
             Palace
             to
             Congratulate
             him
             ,
             bemoaning
             their
             hard
             Fortune
             ,
             that
             had
             rescu'd
             Otho
             from
             their
             Revenge
             .
             An
             evident
             Example
             to
             teach
             us
             how
             little
             trust
             or
             heed
             there
             is
             to
             be
             given
             to
             the
             fair
             words
             or
             services
             of
             Sycophants
             ,
             and
             how
             unwary
             those
             Princes
             are
             that
             put
             their
             Confidence
             on
             such
             weak
             and
             failing
             Support
             :
             They
             were
             therefore
             in
             the
             Right
             ,
             who
             to
             encourage
             
               Flavius
               Salinus
            
             to
             take
             up
             Arms
             for
             his
             Brother
             Vespatian
             against
             Vitellius
             ,
             told
             him
             ,
             that
             the
             People
             ,
             who
             seem'd
             to
             love
             Vitellius
             ,
             would
             change
             both
             their
             Opinions
             and
             their
             Notes
             ,
             so
             soon
             as
             he
             should
             declare
             himself
             ;
             and
             that
             all
             the
             Flatteries
             ,
             and
             Acclamations
             ,
             which
             the
             Multitude
             hollow'd
             forth
             to
             Vitellius
             ,
             would
             as
             loudly
             fill
             the
             Fire
             and
             Honour
             of
             Vespatian
             ,
             so
             soon
             as
             they
             found
             the
             strength
             of
             his
             Party
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXII
             .
          
           
             OF
             Menaces
             an
             undaunted
             Contemner
             ;
             impenetrable
             to
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Invincible
             both
             to
             Flattery
             and
             Fear
             .
          
           
             The
             greatest
             part
             of
             Princes
             make
             a
             much
             stouter
             Resistance
             against
             Fear
             then
             Flattery
             .
             For
             Menaces
             provoke
             their
             Courage
             ;
             but
             Adulation
             poysons
             the
             very
             Mind
             ,
             and
             depraves
             their
             Inclinations
             ▪
             Menaces
             waken
             'em
             ,
             soft
             and
             soothing
             Sycophantry
             lulls
             'em
             asleep
             .
             And
             they
             lend
             an
             ear
             the
             more
             willingly
             to
             their
             Sycophants
             ,
             in
             regard
             that
             Complaisance
             being
             one
             of
             the
             Properties
             of
             Love
             ,
             they
             believe
             themselves
             to
             be
             belov'd
             by
             those
             that
             please
             their
             Humour
             .
             Cabrera
             tells
             us
             ,
             that
             Philip
             the
             Second
             ,
             King
             of
             Spain
             ,
             had
             a
             custom
             to
             interrupt
             his
             Sycophants
             ▪
             with
             this
             Expression
             ,
             
               Dex
               ad
               esso
               ,
               y
               de
               zid
               lo
               que
               importa
               :
            
             Let
             this
             alone
             ,
             and
             talk
             something
             to
             the
             purpose
             .
             Words
             that
             become
             the
             Lips
             of
             all
             Princes
             ,
             to
             whom
             
             their
             Sycophants
             never
             prattle
             other
             then
             what
             is
             either
             Prejudicial
             or
             Unprofitable
             .
             Besides
             ,
             that
             if
             Princes
             would
             not
             listen
             to
             their
             Stories
             ,
             but
             only
             to
             matters
             of
             Importance
             ,
             Flatterers
             would
             have
             little
             or
             nothing
             then
             to
             say
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXIII
             .
          
           
             ALL
             throng'd
             in
             heaps
             to
             the
             Camp
             ,
             got
             before
             the
             next
             ,
             strove
             to
             out-run
             the
             formost
             ,
             upbraided
             Galba
             ,
             extoll'd
             the
             Soldiers
             Judgment
             ,
             kiss'd
             
             Otho's
             Hand
             ;
             and
             the
             greater
             their
             Dissimulation
             was
             ,
             the
             more
             was
             the
             Bustle
             and
             the
             Ceremony
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Every
             one
             made
             haste
             before
             his
             Companion
             to
             get
             to
             the
             Camp
             ,
             where
             the
             Curs'd
             Galba
             ,
             applauded
             the
             Soldiers
             ,
             and
             kiss'd
             
             Otho's
             Hand
             ,
             redoubling
             their
             Caresses
             ,
             the
             more
             feign'd
             they
             were
             .
          
           
             What
             I
             have
             already
             observ'd
             in
             the
             IV.
             and
             LXXXI
             .
             Articles
             may
             serve
             for
             an
             Explanation
             of
             this
             ,
             and
             therefore
             
             I
             shall
             add
             no
             more
             then
             one
             single
             Reflection
             of
             Particulars
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
             That
             Flattery
             is
             for
             the
             most
             part
             attended
             by
             Treachery
             .
             For
             in
             regard
             that
             Sycophants
             adore
             the
             Fortune
             only
             ,
             not
             the
             Person
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             they
             soon
             exchange
             their
             Person
             ,
             when
             the
             Person
             exchanges
             once
             his
             Fortune
             .
             Witness
             their
             Invectives
             against
             Galba
             ,
             meerly
             to
             reconcile
             themselves
             to
             Otho
             ,
             whose
             Life
             they
             had
             demanded
             but
             some
             few
             Hours
             before
             ,
             for
             a
             Sacrifice
             to
             their
             fury
             .
             So
             that
             Tacitus
             might
             well
             say
             ,
             that
             whoever
             had
             beheld
             those
             Hurries
             ,
             would
             never
             have
             believ'd
             but
             that
             they
             had
             been
             another
             Gang
             of
             People
             ,
             and
             quite
             another
             Senate
             .
             Which
             brings
             to
             my
             remembrance
             what
             a
             Roman
             Senator
             said
             to
             Plancus
             ,
             who
             was
             Secretary
             to
             Antonius
             ,
             who
             accus'd
             his
             Master
             and
             his
             Benefactor
             of
             several
             Crimes
             ,
             after
             he
             had
             been
             one
             of
             his
             most
             obsequious
             Flatterers
             .
             Certainly
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             Antonius
             
               must
               have
               committed
               a
               world
               of
               wicked
               Actions
               ,
               the
               day
               before
               thou
               left'st
               him
               .
            
             Thus
             it
             is
             with
             Sycophants
             ,
             while
             the
             Prince's
             Liberality
             and
             Favours
             last
             ,
             they
             Deifie
             him
             ;
             but
             when
             he
             either
             grows
             weary
             of
             their
             Company
             ,
             or
             by
             any
             Misfortune
             to
             be
             depriv'd
             of
             his
             Grandeur
             ,
             they
             are
             the
             first
             
             to
             render
             and
             leave
             his
             Reputation
             .
             So
             true
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             all
             sorts
             of
             Friends
             never
             believe
             themselves
             to
             be
             any
             way
             concern'd
             in
             Gratitude
             to
             those
             who
             are
             in
             Adversity
             ;
             or
             that
             the
             Fidelity
             of
             those
             that
             have
             receiv'd
             the
             greatest
             Favours
             ,
             is
             of
             any
             longer
             permanency
             then
             the
             good
             Fortune
             of
             their
             Benefactor
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXIV
             .
          
           
             THE
             Magistrates
             contend
             to
             outvie
             each
             other
             in
             Adulation
             :
             The
             Fathers
             flock
             in
             haste
             to
             the
             Senate
             :
             The
             Tribunitial
             Power
             :
             The
             Title
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Imperial
             Dignities
             ,
             are
             decreed
             Otho
             ;
             every
             one
             striving
             to
             bury
             in
             Oblivion
             the
             scurrilous
             Invectives
             and
             opprobrious
             Language
             that
             had
             been
             promiscuosly
             bestowed
             upon
             his
             Reputation
             before
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             Pretor
             assembl'd
             the
             Senate
             ,
             where
             the
             principal
             Men
             strive
             to
             outvie
             each
             other
             in
             Submission
             and
             Flattery
             .
             They
             bequeath
             Otho
             the
             Tribunitial
             
             Authority
             ,
             the
             Title
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Imperial
             Honours
             ,
             in
             hopes
             he
             might
             forget
             the
             Affront
             and
             Injuries
             he
             had
             receiv'd
             .
          
           
             Injuries
             done
             to
             Princes
             ,
             are
             always
             repair'd
             by
             excess
             of
             Flatteries
             ;
             and
             that
             so
             much
             the
             rather
             ,
             because
             that
             sort
             of
             Reparation
             costs
             the
             Sycophants
             nothing
             ,
             who
             have
             neither
             Honour
             nor
             Shame
             to
             expend
             .
             And
             then
             again
             ,
             the
             Dread
             which
             terrifie
             the
             Roman
             Grandees
             ,
             lest
             Otho
             should
             revenge
             their
             former
             Obloquies
             ,
             and
             abusive
             Scurrility
             ,
             serves
             as
             a
             Document
             to
             Great
             Personages
             to
             keep
             within
             the
             bounds
             of
             Decency
             in
             season
             of
             Turbulency
             and
             Disorder
             ,
             when
             the
             Common
             People
             let
             loose
             the
             reigns
             of
             Vulgar
             Malice
             and
             Contempt
             .
             The
             People
             are
             always
             exempted
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             their
             number
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             the
             Nobility
             are
             always
             expos'd
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             their
             Wealth
             ,
             which
             causes
             all
             their
             Words
             and
             Actions
             to
             be
             narrowly
             scann'd
             and
             pry'd
             into
             .
             The
             People
             however
             are
             over-joy'd
             when
             such
             Ring-leaders
             once
             abet
             ,
             encourage
             and
             accompany
             their
             Insolence
             :
             Tho'
             indeed
             ,
             it
             should
             be
             the
             consideration
             of
             Great
             Personages
             ,
             that
             the
             Favour
             of
             the
             Mobile
             ,
             
             are
             no
             shelter
             against
             a
             Prince's
             Resentment
             .
             
               For
               to
               lay
               a
               Foundation
               upon
               the
               Multitudes
            
             (
             says
             
               Machiavil
               )
               is
               to
               build
               upon
               the
               Mud.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXV
             .
          
           
             VItellius
             ,
             among
             the
             more
             prudent
             and
             ridgid
             sort
             ,
             was
             thought
             to
             be
             a
             Man
             of
             a
             poor
             and
             pitiful
             Spirit
             ;
             which
             his
             Favourers
             call'd
             his
             Affability
             and
             Mildness
             ,
             as
             being
             a
             Person
             that
             squander'd
             away
             his
             own
             ,
             and
             was
             no
             less
             profuse
             of
             other
             Mens
             ,
             without
             either
             Moderation
             or
             Judgment
             :
             And
             thus
             they
             interpreted
             for
             Vertues
             ,
             most
             Egregious
             Vices
             ,
             in
             greedy
             hopes
             to
             Command
             their
             Master
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             His
             readiness
             to
             give
             away
             both
             his
             own
             and
             the
             Estates
             of
             other
             Men
             ,
             without
             rule
             or
             measure
             ,
             was
             look'd
             upon
             as
             Liberality
             and
             Genorosity
             ,
             tho'
             they
             that
             censur'd
             more
             severely
             ,
             call'd
             it
             his
             Weakness
             and
             Prodigality
             .
             But
             the
             eager
             
             desire
             of
             Dominion
             ,
             made
             'em
             disguise
             his
             Vices
             under
             Vertuous
             Appellations
             .
          
           
             Sycophants
             extol
             the
             Vices
             of
             Great
             Men
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             their
             Interest
             to
             foment
             and
             cherish
             '
             em
             .
             So
             that
             if
             Princes
             had
             not
             their
             Vices
             ,
             at
             what
             a
             loss
             would
             Flatterers
             be
             ,
             who
             have
             only
             that
             Sally-Port
             open
             to
             creep
             into
             their
             Favour
             ,
             and
             only
             that
             same
             ignominious
             means
             to
             preserve
             what
             they
             have
             once
             attain'd
             ?
             The
             Younger
             Pliny
             says
             ,
             that
             Princes
             have
             no
             need
             of
             Masters
             to
             instruct
             'em
             to
             be
             wicked
             ;
             yet
             let
             'em
             be
             ne'er
             so
             bad
             ,
             yet
             they
             learn
             many
             things
             which
             else
             they
             never
             would
             have
             thought
             of
             ,
             had
             not
             Sycophants
             been
             their
             Tutors
             .
             Nor
             is
             there
             any
             Vice
             to
             which
             a
             Prince
             may
             be
             prone
             ,
             which
             they
             more
             seduliously
             labour
             to
             foster
             and
             cherish
             ,
             then
             his
             Luxury
             and
             his
             Prodigality
             ,
             in
             regard
             they
             are
             Persons
             that
             get
             the
             largest
             share
             of
             his
             Profusions
             .
             Henry
             III.
             of
             France
             ,
             was
             one
             of
             the
             best
             Princes
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             but
             
               Francis
               D'O
            
             ,
             one
             of
             his
             principal
             Sycophants
             ,
             and
             as
             an
             addition
             to
             the
             King's
             Misfortune
             ,
             Super-intendent
             of
             his
             Exchequer
             ,
             made
             swift
             haste
             to
             corrupt
             and
             vitiate
             his
             good
             Nature
             .
             
               He
               was
               a
               Person
            
             (
             says
             
               Dlozeray
               )
               entirely
               devoted
               to
               
               Luxury
               ,
               who
               every
               day
               persuaded
               the
               King
               to
               make
               new
               Edicts
               ,
               which
               were
               called
            
             Bursal
             ,
             
               and
               to
               go
               to
               the
               Parliament
               ,
               by
               his
               Presence
               to
               force
               their
               Confirmation
               .
               And
               this
               was
               one
               of
               the
               chief
               Causes
               of
               the
               ruine
               of
               that
               Prince
               ,
               by
               his
               losing
               insensibly
               that
               Respect
               and
               Affection
               which
               the
               People
               had
               for
               him
               :
               Nor
               did
               the
               Heads
               of
               the
               LEAGVE
               fail
               to
               make
               their
               advantage
               of
               it
               ,
               by
               augmenting
               their
               Contempt
               and
               Aversion
               to
               his
               Person
               .
               To
               which
               the
               Insolency
               of
               his
               Favourites
               did
               not
               a
               little
               contribute
               ,
               who
               acted
               the
               parts
               of
               more
               then
               Sovereign
               Princes
               ,
               and
               dispos'd
               of
               all
               things
               with
               an
               absolute
               Will
               and
               Pleasure
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXVI
             .
          
           
             A
             Loud
             shout
             ensu'd
             and
             the
             Acclamations
             of
             the
             People
             no
             less
             immoderate
             then
             dissembl'd
             :
             As
             if
             they
             had
             been
             pouring
             forth
             their
             Wishes
             for
             the
             Prosperity
             of
             Caesar
             the
             Dictator
             ,
             or
             the
             Emperor
             Augustus
             ;
             with
             equal
             strife
             did
             they
             implore
             the
             Gods
             for
             the
             Prosperity
             of
             his
             Expedition
             ;
             not
             out
             of
             Fear
             or
             Love
             ,
             but
             an
             inflam'd
             desire
             of
             Servitude
             .
          
           
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             The
             Oration
             was
             receiv'd
             with
             great
             applause
             ,
             and
             attended
             by
             the
             feign'd
             and
             excessive
             Praises
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             had
             been
             to
             honour
             the
             Departure
             of
             
               Caesar
               Augustus
            
             ;
             and
             this
             not
             for
             Fear
             or
             Affection
             ,
             but
             by
             the
             instinct
             of
             Custom
             and
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             I
             have
             observ'd
             in
             several
             places
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             and
             Love
             are
             incompatible
             ,
             and
             never
             makes
             its
             Addresses
             but
             only
             to
             the
             Fortune
             of
             Princes
             .
             So
             that
             altho'
             Otho
             fell
             short
             of
             
             Caesar's
             Worth
             ,
             or
             the
             Merits
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             nevertheless
             the
             People
             pay'd
             him
             the
             same
             Honours
             which
             they
             would
             have
             render'd
             to
             either
             of
             Them
             ,
             because
             he
             was
             exalted
             to
             the
             same
             Dignity
             .
             For
             the
             People
             measure
             their
             Reputation
             by
             the
             present
             Grandeur
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             and
             not
             by
             his
             Credit
             and
             Reputation
             ,
             of
             which
             they
             are
             not
             capable
             to
             judge
             .
             They
             despis'd
             Galba
             ,
             for
             that
             being
             Old
             ,
             his
             Reign
             could
             be
             of
             no
             long
             endurance
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             Otho
             ,
             far
             inferior
             to
             Galba
             for
             his
             Parts
             and
             Integrity
             ,
             was
             reverenc'd
             because
             his
             Youth
             promis'd
             a
             long
             Reign
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             .
             LXXXVII
             .
          
           
             OTHO
             was
             desirous
             of
             Battel
             :
             And
             his
             Brother
             Titianus
             ,
             and
             Proculus
             the
             Captain
             of
             his
             Guards
             ,
             as
             being
             Persons
             of
             little
             Experience
             in
             War
             urg'd
             him
             on
             ;
             assuring
             him
             that
             as
             Fortune
             ,
             the
             Gods
             and
             
             Otho's
             Genius
             were
             present
             at
             his
             Councils
             ,
             so
             would
             they
             also
             assist
             his
             Enterprises
             :
             A
             piece
             of
             Flattery
             which
             they
             made
             use
             of
             ,
             lest
             any
             one
             should
             oppose
             their
             Advice
             .
          
           
             Otho
             
               (
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             )
             was
             willing
             to
             give
             Battel
             ,
             seconded
             by
             his
             Brother
             ,
             and
             the
             chief
             of
             the
             Pretoriun
             Countiers
             ,
             who
             spunr'd
             him
             on
             for
             want
             of
             Experience
             ,
             and
             cry'd
             out
             ,
             That
             the
             Gods
             who
             had
             assisted
             Otho
             in
             managing
             the
             Design
             ,
             would
             never
             abandon
             him
             in
             the
             execution
             of
             it
             ;
             adding
             Flattery
             to
             Impatience
             ,
             lest
             any
             one
             should
             presume
             to
             oppose
             '
             em
             .
          
           
             There
             is
             no
             sort
             of
             Flattery
             so
             bad
             ,
             as
             that
             which
             precipitates
             a
             Prince
             to
             the
             
             rash
             and
             over-hasty
             execution
             of
             a
             Design
             ,
             where
             there
             can
             be
             no
             miscarriage
             twice
             committed
             .
             In
             the
             most
             Important
             Affairs
             of
             Private
             Persons
             ,
             there
             is
             always
             some
             hope
             ,
             or
             something
             of
             last
             remedy
             ,
             to
             which
             he
             may
             have
             recourse
             ;
             so
             that
             a
             Man
             with
             the
             absolute
             ruine
             of
             himself
             ,
             may
             try
             a
             second
             Fortune
             .
             But
             the
             Affairs
             of
             Princes
             ,
             especially
             such
             as
             are
             advanc'd
             of
             a
             sudden
             from
             a
             Private
             Condition
             to
             Absolute
             Dominion
             ,
             and
             whose
             unstable
             Fortune
             is
             still
             upon
             the
             Totter
             ,
             are
             subject
             to
             so
             many
             Accidents
             ,
             and
             depend
             upon
             so
             many
             Circumstances
             ,
             that
             the
             smallest
             Error
             is
             enough
             to
             unhinge
             the
             whole
             Frame
             of
             their
             Designs
             for
             ever
             .
             History
             furnishes
             us
             with
             a
             remarkable
             Example
             of
             the
             Fatality
             of
             Sycophant
             Advice
             in
             the
             Person
             of
             Francis
             Duke
             of
             Anjou
             ,
             Brother
             to
             Henry
             III.
             of
             France
             ,
             who
             lost
             Flanders
             and
             Brabant
             by
             miscarrying
             in
             his
             Design
             upon
             
               Antwerp
               .
               They
               ,
               by
               whom
               he
               was
               more
               particularly
               govern'd
            
             (
             says
             
               Mezeray
               ▪
               )
               were
               Persons
               without
               Honour
               or
               Fidelity
               ,
               among
               the
               rest
            
             Quinsay
             
               his
               Secretary
            
             ,
             Fervaques
             ,
             and
             Aurilly
             
               his
               Son
               ▪
               in-Law
               ,
               the
               Son
               of
               a
               Serjeant
               of
            
             La
             Terte
             near
             Blois
             ,
             
               with
               his
               Playing
               upon
               the
               Lute
               ,
               his
               Voice
               ,
               his
               Dancing
               ,
               and
               such
               other
               Effeminate
               Qualities
               ,
               more
               proper
               
               for
               the
               Affection
               of
               a
               Young
               Lady
               ,
               then
               a
               Great
               Prince
               ,
               had
               rais'd
               to
               the
               highest
               degree
               of
               his
               Master's
               Favour
               .
               These
               People
               keeping
               him
               still
               at
               defiance
               with
               the
               Duke
               of
            
             Montpensier
             ,
             
               and
               other
               Men
               of
               Honour
               ,
               spurr'd
               him
               on
               continually
               to
               make
               himself
               Master
               of
               those
               Towns
               and
               Places
               of
               which
               he
               promis'd
               them
               the
               Government
               .
            
             For
             the
             Counsels
             of
             Sycophants
             are
             always
             byass'd
             .
             And
             for
             that
             reason
             it
             is
             that
             all
             Princes
             ,
             who
             lay
             the
             Foundations
             of
             great
             Designs
             ,
             ought
             seriously
             to
             deliberate
             ,
             whether
             their
             intended
             Enterprises
             will
             turn
             to
             their
             Honour
             ,
             and
             the
             Benefit
             of
             the
             Public
             ;
             whether
             the
             Execution
             will
             be
             easie
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             ,
             whether
             it
             be
             not
             beyond
             their
             Strength
             and
             their
             Industry
             ;
             and
             ,
             whether
             they
             that
             advize
             'em
             ,
             have
             Courage
             and
             Fidelity
             enough
             to
             venture
             equal
             Dangers
             with
             'em
             and
             for
             'em
             :
             For
             many
             times
             they
             happen
             to
             Engage
             themselves
             in
             a
             War
             ,
             of
             which
             they
             know
             not
             how
             to
             make
             an
             Honourable
             end
             when
             they
             have
             begun
             it
             :
             In
             regard
             that
             if
             they
             repent
             ,
             their
             coming
             fairly
             off
             is
             in
             the
             power
             of
             another
             .
             Besides
             that
             ,
             their
             own
             Authority
             lessens
             ,
             as
             the
             Reputation
             of
             their
             Generals
             encreases
             .
             Therefore
             Tiberius
             rather
             chose
             to
             terminate
             his
             Differences
             by
             Treaty
             ,
             then
             by
             
             Arms
             ;
             and
             always
             conceal'd
             his
             Losses
             upon
             the
             Frontiers
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             because
             he
             would
             not
             be
             oblig'd
             to
             give
             the
             Command
             of
             his
             Armies
             to
             Persons
             that
             might
             find
             him
             work
             at
             home
             .
             
               There
               is
               not
               the
               same
               equality
               of
               Prosperity
               and
               Adversity
            
             (
             said
             Mucienus
             to
             
               Vespatian
               )
               between
               Thee
               and
               Me
               :
               For
               if
               we
               Vanquish
               ,
               I
               shall
               enjoy
               no
               more
               Honour
               ,
               then
               what
               thou
               wilt
               be
               willing
               to
               confer
               upon
               me
               .
               But
               if
               we
               fail
               in
               our
               Enterprize
               ,
               we
               shall
               share
               alike
               in
               our
               Misfortune
               .
            
             All
             Generals
             speak
             the
             same
             words
             ;
             but
             when
             once
             they
             become
             Victors
             ,
             they
             change
             their
             Language
             ,
             and
             many
             times
             their
             pretensions
             are
             too
             excessive
             ,
             that
             their
             Victory
             would
             prove
             a
             Burthen
             to
             the
             Prince
             and
             State
             ,
             should
             they
             be
             gratify'd
             to
             the
             utmost
             of
             their
             demands
             .
             For
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             saying
             of
             
               M.
               de
               la
               Rochefoucauld
               ,
               'T
               is
               a
               difficult
               thing
               for
               a
               Man
               to
               contain
               himself
               within
               the
               limits
               of
               Moderation
               ,
               after
               the
               performance
               of
               great
               Services
               ,
               which
               inspire
               sublimer
               Thoughts
               of
               Rule
               and
               Dominion
               into
               those
               that
               never
               think
               their
               Merits
               rewarded
               to
               the
               full
               .
               Then
               as
               to
               the
               point
               of
               giving
               Battel
            
             (
             says
             
               Comines
               )
               whoever
               he
               be
               ,
               it
               is
               expedient
               for
               him
               to
               consider
               ,
               before
               he
               hazards
               his
               Kingdom
               upon
               a
               Battel
               ;
               for
               the
               loss
               of
               a
               small
               number
               of
               Men
               ,
               dismays
               the
               
               Courages
               of
               all
               the
               rest
               beyond
               belief
               ;
               and
               instead
               of
               terrifying
               the
               Enemy
               ,
               begets
               a
               Contempt
               of
               the
               Loser
               .
            
             And
             some
             few
             lines
             after
             ,
             
               Let
               it
               be
               how
               it
               will
               ,
               a
               Battel
               lost
               ,
               draws
               a
               large
               Train
               behind
               it
               ,
               to
               the
               prejudice
               of
               whoever
               is
               vanquish'd
               .
            
             And
             in
             another
             place
             (
             speaking
             of
             Lewis
             XI
             .
             )
             
               The
               King
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               whatever
               could
               be
               said
               or
               argu'd
               to
               the
               contrary
               ,
               was
               resolv'd
               he
               would
               not
               Fight
               ,
               as
               being
               resolv'd
               not
               to
               venture
               the
               Fortune
               of
               a
               Battel
               .
            
             And
             in
             my
             Opinion
             ,
             he
             took
             the
             most
             prudent
             course
             .
             To
             conclude
             ,
             I
             shall
             only
             add
             one
             single
             Reflexion
             more
             ,
             and
             more
             remarkable
             then
             the
             former
             ,
             out
             of
             the
             same
             Comines
             ,
             upon
             another
             usual
             piece
             of
             Adulation
             which
             Flatterers
             daily
             insinuate
             into
             the
             ears
             of
             Princes
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             rely
             upon
             their
             own
             good
             Fortune
             ,
             and
             despise
             their
             Enemies
             .
             
               A
               notable
               Example
            
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             (
             speaking
             of
             Edward
             IV.
             King
             of
             England
             ,
             who
             was
             driven
             out
             of
             his
             Kingdom
             in
             fifteen
             days
             ,
             )
             
               for
               Princes
               to
               take
               notice
               of
               ,
               who
               pretend
               to
               be
               always
               fearless
               of
               their
               Enemies
               ,
               and
               to
               disdain
               and
               scorn
               an
               Armed
               Foe
               .
               'T
               is
               true
               ,
               the
               chiefest
               part
               of
               their
               Courtiers
               ,
               uphold
               'em
               in
               their
               vain
               Conceits
               ,
               to
               please
               their
               Humours
               :
               And
               they
               think
               they
               are
               to
               be
               esteem'd
               and
               valu'd
               for
               it
               ;
               and
               that
               People
               will
               applaud
               'em
               for
               their
               couragious
               advice
               .
               
               But
               the
               wiser
               sort
               look
               upon
               those
               Rodomontadoes
               as
               meer
               Folly
               ;
               since
               it
               is
               a
               vertue
               to
               fear
               with
               Prudence
               ,
               and
               provide
               against
               it
               .
            
             'T
             is
             a
             great
             Treasure
             for
             a
             Prince
             to
             have
             a
             Wise
             Man
             at
             his
             Elbow
             ,
             provided
             he
             believe
             him
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             have
             
               permission
               to
               tell
               him
               the
               Truth
               .
            
             For
             no
             Person
             is
             more
             likely
             to
             Ruine
             himself
             ,
             then
             he
             that
             lays
             aside
             all
             Fear
             ,
             his
             Security
             and
             Confidence
             being
             generally
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Destruction
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXVIII
             .
          
           
             TItianus
             and
             Proculus
             being
             over-rul'd
             in
             their
             Counsels
             ,
             betook
             themselves
             to
             the
             Prerogative
             of
             their
             Generalship
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             They
             seeing
             that
             they
             were
             vanquish'd
             by
             Reason
             ,
             fled
             to
             the
             Authority
             and
             Commands
             of
             the
             Emperour
             .
          
           
             Otho
             had
             in
             his
             Army
             three
             ,
             the
             most
             Prudent
             and
             most
             Experienc'd
             Captains
             of
             that
             Age
             ,
             
               Suetonius
               Paulinus
               ,
               Annius
               Gallus
            
             ,
             and
             
               Marius
               Celsus
            
             ,
             who
             were
             all
             three
             of
             a
             contrary
             opinion
             to
             Titian
             
             and
             Proculus
             ,
             That
             it
             was
             not
             the
             safest
             course
             to
             give
             Vitellius
             Battel
             ;
             alledging
             that
             Vitellius
             had
             all
             the
             reason
             in
             the
             world
             to
             be
             desirous
             of
             Combat
             ,
             and
             Otho
             to
             spin
             out
             the
             time
             in
             delay
             ;
             for
             that
             the
             Enemy
             had
             all
             the
             Force
             he
             could
             make
             ,
             as
             not
             being
             out
             of
             hopes
             of
             any
             Succour
             from
             Gallia
             ,
             that
             began
             already
             to
             totter
             ;
             nor
             could
             they
             expect
             any
             Recruits
             from
             the
             Rhine
             ,
             which
             would
             be
             then
             expos'd
             to
             the
             Incursions
             of
             the
             Barbarians
             ;
             that
             his
             supplies
             out
             of
             England
             had
             the
             Seas
             to
             cross
             ,
             and
             an
             Enemy
             to
             oppose
             'em
             already
             ;
             that
             Spain
             had
             but
             few
             Soldiers
             .
             That
             
               Gallia
               Narbonensis
            
             was
             sufficiently
             Infested
             by
             
             Otho's
             Navy
             ,
             and
             had
             not
             yet
             forgot
             the
             misfortune
             of
             their
             last
             Engagement
             :
             That
             the
             Army
             of
             Vitellius
             lay
             enclos'd
             between
             the
             Po
             ,
             and
             the
             Alpes
             ,
             without
             any
             hopes
             of
             Relief
             by
             Sea
             ,
             and
             could
             not
             subsist
             long
             in
             a
             Country
             harrass'd
             as
             that
             had
             been
             ,
             by
             the
             continual
             March
             of
             so
             many
             Legions
             ;
             that
             if
             they
             could
             but
             spin
             out
             the
             War
             till
             Summer
             ,
             the
             very
             change
             of
             the
             Climate
             would
             bring
             Diseases
             among
             the
             Germans
             ,
             who
             were
             the
             most
             hardy
             Soldiers
             among
             all
             the
             Vitellians
             ;
             and
             that
             many
             Armies
             who
             have
             driven
             all
             before
             'em
             at
             first
             ,
             had
             been
             forc'd
             to
             dissipate
             
             for
             want
             of
             meeting
             an
             Enemy
             to
             fight
             with
             .
             On
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             that
             Otho
             had
             plenty
             of
             all
             things
             ;
             that
             
               Pannonia
               ,
               Moesia
               ,
               Dalmatia
            
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             East
             were
             at
             his
             Devotion
             ,
             with
             numerous
             Succours
             ;
             and
             more
             then
             all
             this
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             Rome
             at
             his
             back
             ,
             the
             Seat
             and
             Rudder
             of
             the
             whole
             Empire
             ;
             together
             with
             the
             favour
             of
             the
             Senate
             ,
             whose
             Majesty
             had
             been
             always
             held
             in
             Veneration
             ,
             tho'
             it
             might
             be
             for
             a
             time
             Ecclips'd
             ;
             that
             the
             Immense
             Treasures
             which
             he
             had
             in
             his
             Possession
             ,
             would
             soon
             render
             him
             Master
             of
             the
             whole
             ;
             in
             regard
             that
             Money
             was
             far
             more
             prevalent
             in
             a
             Civil
             War
             ,
             then
             the
             edge
             of
             the
             Sword
             ;
             that
             the
             Soldiers
             were
             accustom'd
             to
             the
             heats
             of
             Italy
             :
             That
             the
             River
             Po
             was
             a
             sufficient
             stop
             to
             impead
             the
             farther
             march
             of
             the
             Enemy
             ,
             upon
             which
             he
             had
             several
             Cities
             well
             Fortifi'd
             and
             Garrisons
             ,
             which
             as
             he
             found
             already
             by
             the
             Resistance
             that
             Placentia
             had
             made
             ,
             would
             with
             no
             less
             Vigour
             and
             Fidelity
             oppose
             the
             Enemy
             :
             That
             therefore
             his
             business
             was
             to
             spin
             out
             the
             War
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             to
             stay
             for
             the
             fourteenth
             Legion
             ,
             so
             highly
             esteem'd
             for
             their
             Valour
             ,
             together
             with
             the
             Forces
             out
             of
             Moesia
             ,
             which
             were
             all
             expected
             within
             a
             few
             days
             :
             That
             then
             Otho
             
             might
             again
             deliberate
             what
             he
             had
             to
             do
             ,
             and
             if
             he
             thought
             it
             his
             wisest
             course
             then
             to
             give
             Battel
             ,
             he
             might
             do
             it
             much
             more
             to
             his
             Advantage
             ,
             with
             the
             Assistance
             of
             that
             new
             Reinforcement
             .
          
           
             These
             Reasons
             were
             so
             Convincing
             ,
             that
             neither
             Titianus
             nor
             Proculus
             had
             any
             thing
             to
             reply
             .
             But
             in
             regard
             that
             Otho
             was
             so
             extreamly
             desirous
             of
             Battel
             ,
             as
             one
             that
             was
             impatient
             of
             Languishing
             so
             long
             between
             Hope
             and
             Fear
             ,
             both
             Titianus
             and
             Proculus
             Flatter'd
             him
             to
             his
             Destruction
             ,
             by
             telling
             him
             ,
             that
             all
             things
             would
             give
             way
             to
             his
             Fortune
             .
             A
             piece
             of
             Sycophantism
             ,
             that
             was
             one
             of
             the
             principal
             Causes
             of
             his
             Ruine
             ;
             whereas
             if
             they
             had
             listen'd
             to
             the
             wholesome
             Advice
             of
             Paulinus
             and
             his
             Collegues
             ,
             Otho
             might
             have
             been
             persuaded
             to
             have
             chang'd
             his
             Resolution
             .
             But
             that
             which
             is
             here
             most
             observable
             is
             this
             ,
             that
             Proculus
             (
             as
             it
             is
             the
             custome
             of
             Favourites
             ,
             and
             Sycophants
             )
             had
             not
             only
             a
             particular
             Antipathy
             against
             those
             three
             Generals
             ,
             to
             whom
             he
             was
             inferiour
             both
             in
             Probity
             and
             Understanding
             ,
             but
             made
             it
             his
             business
             to
             Calumniate
             ,
             the
             high
             Reputation
             of
             Paulinus
             ,
             Celsus's
             vigour
             ,
             and
             the
             accomplish'd
             Experience
             of
             Gallus
             ;
             so
             that
             being
             now
             mistrusted
             
             and
             suspected
             by
             their
             Soveraign
             ,
             they
             were
             only
             Nominal
             Generals
             ,
             whose
             unhappiness
             and
             chief
             perplexity
             it
             was
             ,
             to
             see
             their
             Prudence
             made
             a
             Cloak
             to
             cover
             the
             Miscarriages
             and
             Ignorance
             of
             others
             .
             A
             misfortune
             that
             happens
             too
             often
             in
             the
             Courts
             of
             Princes
             ,
             that
             suffer
             themselves
             to
             be
             made
             a
             Prey
             to
             the
             passions
             of
             their
             Favourites
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             LXXXIX
             .
          
           
             THE
             Death
             of
             Otho
             being
             known
             ,
             the
             Senate
             presently
             decreed
             him
             all
             those
             Honours
             that
             had
             been
             study'd
             in
             the
             longest
             Reigns
             of
             Preceding
             Princes
             .
             A
             return
             of
             Thanks
             was
             also
             order'd
             to
             the
             German
             Armies
             ,
             and
             Commissioners
             were
             sent
             likewise
             to
             Officiate
             their
             Obsequious
             Congratulations
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Senate
             heap'd
             upon
             the
             new
             Emperour
             all
             the
             Honours
             ,
             which
             others
             had
             obtain'd
             during
             a
             long
             Reign
             ,
             and
             order'd
             Thanks
             to
             the
             German
             Legions
             ,
             with
             
             a
             Deputation
             to
             the
             Prince
             ,
             to
             Congratulate
             his
             coming
             to
             the
             Imperial
             Crown
             .
          
           
             Here
             are
             three
             Things
             to
             be
             observ'd
             .
             First
             ,
             That
             upon
             the
             first
             intelligence
             of
             
             Otho's
             death
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Soldiers
             had
             sworn
             Allegiance
             to
             Vitellius
             ,
             at
             the
             Instigation
             of
             the
             Governour
             of
             the
             City
             ,
             the
             People
             Crown'd
             with
             Flowers
             and
             Lawrel
             Garlands
             ,
             carry'd
             the
             Images
             of
             Galba
             round
             the
             Temples
             as
             it
             were
             in
             Procession
             ;
             and
             passing
             by
             the
             place
             where
             he
             had
             spilt
             his
             Blood
             ,
             they
             cover'd
             it
             with
             a
             Pyramid
             of
             Garlands
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             to
             Erect
             him
             a
             Monument
             .
             Which
             was
             done
             to
             blacken
             
             Otho's
             Memory
             ,
             who
             had
             wrested
             from
             him
             both
             the
             Empire
             and
             his
             Life
             ;
             and
             in
             Honour
             to
             Vitellius
             ,
             who
             seem'd
             to
             be
             the
             Avenger
             of
             his
             Death
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             Thing
             is
             ,
             That
             when
             Tidings
             were
             brought
             to
             Rome
             of
             the
             Revolt
             of
             the
             German
             Legions
             ,
             and
             the
             Election
             of
             Vitellius
             to
             the
             Empire
             ,
             the
             Senate
             and
             People
             of
             Rome
             openly
             declar'd
             the
             Calamity
             of
             the
             Commonwealth
             ,
             which
             was
             fallen
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             two
             ,
             the
             Vilest
             and
             most
             Infamous
             Persons
             in
             the
             World.
             Shall
             we
             repair
             to
             the
             Temples
             cry'd
             they
             ,
             to
             offer
             up
             our
             
             Prayers
             for
             Otho
             or
             Vitellius
             ?
             Certainly
             ,
             most
             Impious
             and
             Detestable
             will
             be
             our
             Devotions
             ,
             either
             for
             the
             one
             or
             the
             other
             of
             those
             two
             Rivals
             ,
             of
             which
             two
             whoever
             proves
             the
             Victor
             ,
             will
             be
             still
             the
             worser
             Nevertheless
             the
             same
             Senate
             and
             People
             that
             Curs'd
             Otho
             and
             Vitellius
             ,
             as
             two
             Subjects
             fatally
             elected
             the
             Ruine
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             now
             decreed
             to
             Vitellius
             those
             Honours
             which
             were
             never
             given
             to
             Augustus
             himself
             .
             So
             strangely
             do
             Sycophants
             and
             Flatterers
             differ
             from
             themselves
             ,
             and
             so
             subject
             are
             they
             like
             Bulrushes
             ,
             to
             bend
             with
             every
             wind
             of
             the
             Court.
             
          
           
             A
             third
             Remark
             is
             this
             ,
             That
             when
             the
             two
             Armies
             that
             had
             Proclaim'd
             these
             two
             Emperours
             ,
             came
             to
             understand
             how
             unfit
             they
             were
             to
             manage
             so
             high
             an
             Employment
             ,
             and
             consequently
             began
             to
             repent
             of
             the
             bad
             Choice
             they
             had
             made
             so
             much
             to
             their
             Dishonour
             ,
             presently
             some
             time
             before
             
             Otho's
             death
             ,
             they
             fell
             to
             deliberate
             Considerations
             about
             a
             Reconciliation
             one
             among
             another
             ,
             for
             the
             Election
             of
             an
             Emperour
             to
             the
             general
             Satisfaction
             ,
             and
             to
             restore
             Peace
             and
             Concord
             to
             the
             Empire
             .
             For
             the
             Senate
             therefore
             to
             give
             the
             German
             Legions
             thanks
             for
             the
             Choice
             which
             they
             had
             
             made
             of
             Vitellius
             ,
             the
             Scorn
             and
             Contempt
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             was
             one
             of
             the
             poorest
             and
             meanest
             Condescensions
             imaginable
             .
             And
             thus
             you
             see
             there
             is
             nothing
             so
             vile
             and
             abject
             ,
             which
             Flattery
             will
             not
             stoop
             to
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XC
             .
          
           
             BUT
             when
             the
             Army
             importun'd
             him
             to
             honour
             with
             the
             Dignity
             of
             Knighthood
             his
             Enfranchiz'd
             Vassal
             Asiaticus
             ,
             he
             reprov'd
             their
             Immodest
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             But
             upon
             the
             request
             of
             the
             Army
             ,
             to
             make
             his
             Enfranchiz'd
             Slave
             a
             Knight
             of
             Rome
             ,
             he
             put
             a
             stop
             to
             their
             Flattery
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             one
             of
             the
             meanest
             and
             the
             lowest
             condescensions
             of
             Flatterers
             ,
             to
             seek
             to
             ingratiate
             themselves
             with
             the
             Prince
             ,
             by
             soliciting
             the
             Interests
             and
             Aggrandizement
             of
             such
             as
             they
             know
             to
             be
             their
             Favourites
             ,
             tho'
             Persons
             of
             never
             so
             base
             an
             Extraction
             ,
             without
             Merit
             or
             Honour
             .
             In
             the
             Fifty
             fourth
             and
             Fifty
             fifth
             Principal
             
             Heads
             ,
             we
             have
             discours'd
             at
             large
             of
             all
             the
             servile
             Flatteries
             ,
             to
             which
             the
             Senate
             stoop'd
             ,
             while
             they
             labor'd
             to
             heap
             up
             Honours
             upon
             the
             Enfranchiz'd
             Vassal
             of
             
               Claudius
               .
               We
               Courted
            
             Satrius
             and
             Pomponius
             (
             said
             a
             Roman
             Knight
             to
             
               Tiberius
               )
               and
               we
               held
               it
               for
               an
               inestimable
               Honour
               to
               be
               accounted
               then
               Enfranchiz'd
               Slaves
               and
               Porters
               to
            
             Sejanus
             .
             Mezeray
             reports
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Cardinal
               Chancellor
            
             de
             Birague
             ,
             
               had
               a
               greater
               esteem
               for
               one
               of
               his
               Lacquies
               that
               was
               his
               Favourite
               ,
               then
               for
               all
               the
               Laws
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               :
            
             For
             it
             was
             his
             saying
             ,
             
               That
               he
               was
               not
               the
               Kingdoms
               ,
               but
               the
               King's
               Chancellor
               .
            
             An
             Expression
             becoming
             an
             Italian
             Sycophant
             .
             As
             for
             Vitellius
             ,
             we
             are
             to
             observe
             ,
             that
             after
             he
             he
             had
             refus'd
             to
             grant
             this
             favour
             at
             the
             request
             of
             his
             whole
             Army
             ,
             which
             was
             to
             bestow
             Gold
             Rings
             upon
             Asiaticus
             ,
             and
             thereby
             to
             dignifie
             him
             with
             the
             Order
             of
             Roman
             Knighthood
             ,
             yet
             he
             conferr'd
             the
             Honour
             upon
             him
             afterwards
             at
             a
             great
             Banquet
             .
             So
             difficult
             a
             thing
             it
             is
             for
             Luxurious
             Princes
             to
             withstand
             the
             force
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             and
             to
             guard
             themselves
             from
             the
             insinuating
             Artifices
             of
             certain
             small
             Officers
             that
             creep
             into
             their
             favour
             by
             unwarrantable
             means
             ,
             as
             Asiaticus
             did
             .
             Therefore
             it
             was
             the
             saying
             of
             the
             Younger
             
             Pliny
             ,
             That
             a
             Prince
             who
             preferrs
             mean
             and
             abject
             People
             ,
             can
             be
             no
             great
             Prince
             himself
             .
             And
             in
             another
             place
             he
             thus
             addresses
             himsel
             to
             
               Trajan
               .
               Tho'
               thou
               bestow'st
               the
               marks
               of
               thy
               favour
               upon
               thy
               Enfranchiz'd
               Vassals
               ,
               yet
               they
               are
               no
               other
               then
               such
               as
               are
               only
               convenient
               for
               their
               Quality
               .
               Thou
               form'st
               'em
               so
               ,
               and
               hast
               such
               an
               eye
               over
               'em
               ,
               that
               they
               dare
               not
               presume
               to
               measure
               themselves
               by
               thine
               ,
               but
               by
               their
               own
               Fortune
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCI
             .
          
           
             BEing
             heard
             ,
             they
             made
             use
             of
             Justifications
             rather
             useful
             then
             seemly
             :
             For
             they
             acknowledg'd
             themselves
             guilty
             of
             Treachery
             to
             Otho
             ,
             of
             their
             own
             accords
             ;
             as
             if
             they
             had
             design'd
             the
             long
             march
             of
             the
             Army
             before
             the
             Battel
             ,
             the
             Tiring
             of
             the
             Othonians
             ,
             and
             the
             Pestering
             the
             Battalions
             with
             Carriages
             on
             purpose
             ,
             and
             attributed
             to
             their
             own
             perfidiousness
             several
             fortuitous
             Events
             ,
             which
             only
             Chance
             produc'd
             .
             
             Thereupon
             Vitellius
             seem'd
             to
             believe
             their
             Perfidie
             ,
             and
             absolv'd
             'em
             from
             the
             Crime
             of
             forfeited
             Fidelity
             to
             Otho
             .
          
           
             Paulinus
             and
             Proculus
             
               (
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             )
             had
             Audience
             ,
             and
             defended
             themselves
             by
             Excuses
             not
             so
             honest
             as
             necessary
             :
             For
             they
             ascrib'd
             to
             their
             own
             Cunning
             the
             long
             march
             of
             the
             Army
             before
             the
             Battel
             ,
             and
             the
             encumbrances
             of
             the
             Baggage
             ,
             with
             several
             other
             accidents
             of
             Fortune
             ,
             to
             make
             out
             their
             Fidelity
             to
             Vitellius
             by
             a
             suppos'd
             Betraying
             of
             Otho
             .
          
           
             Behold
             an
             Example
             of
             what
             I
             have
             in
             other
             places
             alledg'd
             ,
             that
             Flattery
             is
             always
             byass'd
             by
             Interest
             .
             Paulinus
             and
             Proculus
             rather
             chose
             to
             be
             accounted
             Traytors
             ,
             then
             Persons
             of
             Honour
             .
             Because
             their
             Treason
             was
             a
             meritorious
             act
             ,
             and
             advautagious
             to
             Vitellius
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             secur'd
             'em
             from
             his
             Indignation
             .
             Another
             Prince
             then
             Vitellius
             ,
             who
             had
             no
             sentiments
             of
             Generosity
             ,
             would
             have
             despis'd
             their
             Submissions
             .
             For
             if
             Traytors
             are
             odious
             to
             themselves
             ,
             whose
             Party
             they
             embrace
             ,
             the
             suppos'd
             Traytors
             ,
             that
             is
             to
             say
             ,
             they
             who
             to
             ingratiate
             
             themselves
             with
             the
             new
             Prince
             ,
             falsly
             accuse
             themselves
             to
             have
             betray'd
             his
             Rival
             ,
             are
             no
             less
             Treacherous
             and
             Criminal
             then
             others
             .
             And
             for
             that
             reason
             Tacitus
             tells
             us
             ,
             That
             the
             Justifications
             of
             Paulinus
             and
             Proculus
             ,
             were
             rather
             such
             as
             necessity
             requir'd
             ,
             then
             honesty
             .
             For
             ,
             for
             a
             Man
             to
             boast
             himself
             a
             Traytor
             ,
             to
             the
             Person
             to
             whom
             he
             had
             been
             Faithful
             in
             his
             Life-time
             ,
             was
             an
             open
             acknowledgment
             ,
             that
             he
             ne'er
             was
             faithful
             ,
             but
             for
             his
             own
             Interest
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             only
             study'd
             to
             enrich
             himself
             by
             opportunities
             of
             Treachery
             .
             For
             that
             reason
             it
             was
             ,
             that
             the
             Consul
             
               Marius
               Celsus
            
             ,
             who
             never
             stirr'd
             from
             
             Galba's
             Interest
             ,
             frankly
             confessd
             before
             Otho
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             always
             adheard
             to
             
             Galba's
             Fortune
             ;
             and
             that
             if
             he
             liv'd
             longer
             ,
             he
             would
             have
             serv'd
             him
             with
             an
             inviolable
             Fidelity
             .
             And
             that
             with
             the
             same
             integrity
             he
             stuck
             to
             Otho
             against
             Vitellius
             ,
             who
             nevertheless
             continu'd
             him
             in
             his
             Consulship
             ,
             for
             which
             another
             had
             offerr'd
             Money
             .
             So
             highly
             is
             fidelity
             esteem'd
             by
             them
             ,
             that
             have
             us'd
             all
             their
             endeavours
             themselves
             to
             vitiate
             it
             in
             another
             .
             And
             therefore
             Tiberius
             not
             only
             acquitted
             a
             person
             that
             had
             the
             courage
             to
             acknowledge
             himself
             one
             of
             
             Sejanus's
             Friends
             ,
             and
             caus'd
             his
             
             Accusers
             to
             be
             punish'dd
             with
             either
             Death
             or
             Exilement
             .
             Augustus
             had
             always
             a
             high
             esteem
             for
             
               Asinius
               Pollio
            
             ,
             tho'
             he
             ne'er
             would
             attend
             him
             to
             the
             War
             of
             Actium
             ;
             in
             excuse
             of
             which
             he
             gave
             him
             such
             a
             reason
             ,
             as
             ever
             after
             afterwards
             excus'd
             him
             to
             his
             favour
             .
             
               The
               good
               Services
            
             (
             said
             he
             )
             
               which
               I
               have
               done
               for
            
             Anthony
             ,
             
               are
               greater
               then
               the
               Benefits
               which
               I
               have
               receiv'd
               from
               Him
               ;
               but
               what
               he
               has
               done
               for
               me
               ,
               is
               better
               known
               to
               the
               World
               ,
               then
               what
               I
               did
               for
               him
               :
               And
               therefore
               I
               leave
               him
               to
               determin
               your
               Differences
               ,
               without
               declaring
               for
               the
               one
               or
               the
               other
               ,
               resolving
               to
               be
               a
               prey
               to
               the
               Victor
               .
            
          
           
             Thus
             Men
             of
             Courage
             always
             abominate
             whatever
             has
             the
             least
             Tincture
             of
             Treason
             ;
             whereas
             Flatterers
             ,
             who
             are
             only
             the
             Friends
             of
             Fortune
             ,
             believe
             themselves
             disingag'd
             from
             all
             Obligations
             of
             Loyalty
             or
             Fidelity
             ,
             to
             those
             whom
             She
             abandons
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XCII
             .
          
           
             Vitellius
             upon
             the
             coming
             of
             his
             Brother
             ,
             and
             Preceptors
             of
             Tyranny
             creeping
             into
             favour
             ,
             became
             more
             lofty
             and
             more
             cruel
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ;
               Vitellius
            
             became
             more
             lofty
             and
             more
             cruel
             upon
             the
             coming
             of
             his
             Brother
             ,
             and
             the
             Courtiers
             from
             Rome
             ,
             who
             taught
             him
             to
             act
             the
             the
             Tyrant
             .
             Not
             to
             act
             the
             Prince
             ,
             as
             the
             Translator
             erroneously
             renders
             it
             ;
             for
             Tacitus
             and
             the
             Younger
             Pliny
             always
             oppose
             Domination
             to
             Principality
             .
          
           
             I
             have
             already
             told
             you
             in
             several
             of
             the
             preceding
             principal
             Heads
             ,
             that
             Sycophants
             are
             always
             of
             a
             cruel
             humor
             .
             Which
             is
             the
             reason
             that
             Princes
             who
             listen
             to
             their
             Charms
             ,
             cannot
             choose
             but
             be
             very
             sanguinary
             .
             Nor
             need
             we
             crouds
             of
             Examples
             in
             this
             place
             ,
             to
             clear
             what
             has
             been
             sufficiently
             made
             out
             already
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             XCIII
             .
          
           
             AS
             Vespasian
             came
             out
             of
             the
             Bed-Chamber
             ,
             some
             few
             Soldiers
             that
             waited
             in
             the
             next
             Room
             ,
             instead
             of
             saluting
             him
             ,
             as
             the
             Emperor's
             Lieutenant
             ,
             bid
             him
             
               All
               hail
            
             ,
             by
             the
             Title
             of
             Emperor
             .
             Then
             crouds
             of
             others
             press'd
             in
             ,
             and
             heap'd
             upon
             him
             the
             Titles
             of
             Caesar
             and
             Augustus
             ,
             with
             all
             those
             Appellations
             belonging
             to
             Imperial
             Sovereinty
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             As
             he
             came
             out
             of
             his
             Chamber
             ,
             the
             Soldiers
             that
             were
             upon
             the
             Guard
             ,
             saluted
             him
             Emperor
             ;
             whose
             Examples
             others
             follow'd
             ,
             that
             came
             running
             in
             shoals
             ,
             and
             gave
             him
             the
             Names
             of
             Caesar
             and
             Augustus
             ,
             with
             all
             those
             other
             Titles
             that
             are
             usually
             given
             to
             Emperors
             themselves
             .
          
           
             What
             has
             been
             said
             already
             in
             the
             4.
             26.
             44.
             77.
             14.
             
             &
             89.
             
             Articles
             ,
             may
             
             serve
             as
             a
             Commentary
             sufficient
             for
             Explanation
             of
             this
             .
             I
             shall
             here
             add
             but
             only
             one
             Reflexion
             of
             Tacitus
             himself
             ,
             That
             the
             first
             Attempts
             of
             Men
             aspiring
             to
             Sovereign
             Dominion
             ,
             are
             full
             of
             dubious
             Thoughts
             ,
             and
             tottering
             Resolutions
             ;
             but
             when
             they
             have
             once
             laid
             violent
             Hands
             upon
             the
             Throne
             ,
             they
             shall
             not
             want
             for
             Encouragement
             ,
             Counsel
             and
             Assistance
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCIV
             .
          
           
             VEspasian
             in
             the
             Infancy
             of
             his
             Empire
             ,
             not
             being
             so
             obstinate
             in
             Licencing
             Injustice
             ,
             till
             his
             Indulgent
             Fortune
             ,
             and
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             his
             Tutors
             taught
             him
             to
             dare
             more
             boldly
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ;
             There
             were
             nothing
             but
             Accusations
             of
             the
             Rich
             ,
             and
             Confiscations
             of
             Estates
             ;
             Violences
             insupportable
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             but
             excus'd
             through
             the
             necessity
             of
             the
             War.
             Nevertheless
             Vespasian
             corupted
             by
             his
             good
             Fortune
             ,
             and
             instructed
             by
             his
             evil
             Tutors
             ,
             practic'd
             the
             same
             Oppression
             in
             Peace
             toward
             the
             end
             of
             his
             Reign
             ,
             
             notwithstanding
             his
             Reserv'dness
             at
             the
             beginning
             .
          
           
             Avarice
             was
             a
             Vice
             predominant
             in
             Vespasian
             ,
             Equal
             but
             only
             for
             that
             (
             says
             Tacitus
             )
             to
             the
             Ancient
             Roman
             Captains
             .
             His
             Flatterers
             fomented
             and
             cherish'd
             this
             same
             failing
             of
             his
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             some
             thoughts
             of
             reforming
             at
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Reign
             ,
             at
             which
             time
             he
             carry'd
             himself
             with
             so
             much
             Moderation
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             said
             of
             him
             ,
             That
             he
             was
             the
             only
             Private
             Person
             advanc'd
             to
             Sovereignty
             ,
             who
             ever
             chang'd
             for
             the
             Better
             .
             But
             they
             that
             are
             always
             at
             the
             Elbows
             of
             Princes
             ,
             make
             it
             their
             study
             to
             corrupt
             and
             enervate
             their
             vertuous
             Intentions
             by
             the
             force
             of
             Pleasure
             ,
             which
             they
             strive
             no
             less
             to
             make
             habitual
             to
             'em
             ,
             that
             so
             they
             may
             have
             neither
             leisure
             ,
             nor
             any
             desire
             to
             look
             after
             the
             Publick
             Affairs
             .
             If
             Private
             Men
             (
             says
             the
             Younger
             Pliny
             )
             change
             their
             Manners
             and
             their
             Conduct
             in
             so
             short
             a
             time
             ,
             Princes
             are
             more
             easily
             allur'd
             to
             the
             same
             Effects
             of
             Human
             Frailty
             ,
             how
             excellent
             soever
             their
             Natural
             Inclinations
             may
             be
             ;
             because
             there
             are
             so
             few
             that
             study
             to
             cultivate
             and
             improve
             those
             blooming
             Excellencies
             ,
             while
             all
             Men
             rather
             labour
             on
             the
             other
             side
             ,
             out
             of
             
             servile
             Complaisance
             ,
             to
             encourage
             and
             augment
             whatever
             they
             discover
             amiss
             or
             irregular
             in
             his
             Disposition
             .
             Francis
             I.
             (
             says
             
               Mazeray
               )
               had
               been
               a
               most
               Renowned
               Prince
               in
               all
               particulars
               ,
               had
               he
               not
               suffer'd
               himself
               sometimes
               to
               be
               led
               astray
               by
               the
               evil
               Counsels
               of
               his
               Ministers
               ▪
               who
               to
               advance
               their
               own
               Authority
               ,
               screw'd
               up
               his
               Prerogative
               beyond
               the
               Anncient
               Laws
               of
               the
               Kingdom
               ,
               to
               irregular
               Domination
               .
            
             And
             that
             Henry
             II.
             who
             was
             greatly
             enclin'd
             to
             acts
             of
             Justice
             ,
             
               Was
               the
               cause
               of
               all
               the
               Mischief
               which
               they
               who
               Govern'd
               him
               committed
               ,
            
             in
             regard
             he
             never
             was
             the
             absolute
             Master
             of
             himself
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCV
             .
          
           
             THE
             Multitude
             grew
             burthensom
             through
             the
             vast
             number
             of
             Senators
             and
             Knights
             that
             throng'd
             out
             of
             the
             City
             to
             meet
             him
             ,
             some
             through
             Fear
             ,
             many
             out
             of
             Adulation
             ,
             the
             rest
             ,
             and
             all
             by
             degrees
             ,
             lest
             others
             going
             ,
             they
             should
             remain
             behind
             .
          
           
           
             Add
             to
             this
             
               (
               says
            
             D'Ablancourt
             )
             the
             numerous
             Train
             of
             the
             Court
             ,
             always
             Proud
             and
             Insolent
             ev'n
             under
             the
             best
             of
             Princes
             ,
             all
             the
             Senators
             and
             Knights
             ,
             went
             out
             to
             meet
             him
             ,
             some
             in
             Honour
             to
             his
             Person
             ,
             others
             out
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             or
             for
             Fear
             ,
             and
             all
             at
             length
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             not
             be
             seen
             to
             remain
             alone
             behind
             .
          
           
             The
             Fourth
             Article
             may
             serve
             as
             a
             sufficient
             Commentary
             for
             this
             ,
             to
             which
             I
             refer
             the
             Reader
             ,
             to
             avoid
             Repetition
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCVI
             .
          
           
             THE
             next
             day
             he
             made
             a
             long
             Harangue
             in
             Commendation
             of
             Himself
             ,
             wherein
             he
             extoll'd
             his
             Industry
             and
             his
             Temperance
             with
             high
             Encomiums
             ,
             tho'
             all
             that
             were
             present
             had
             been
             Eye-witnesses
             of
             his
             Debaucheries
             ,
             and
             all
             Italy
             ,
             through
             which
             he
             had
             march'd
             ,
             had
             seen
             himnotorious
             for
             his
             drousie
             Luxury
             and
             Gluttony
             .
             Nevertheless
             the
             Vulgar
             ,
             unable
             to
             distinguish
             between
             Truth
             and
             Falshood
             ,
             made
             a
             hideous
             noise
             
             with
             their
             Acclamations
             and
             Applauses
             ,
             and
             clamour'd
             to
             him
             to
             accept
             the
             Title
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             which
             he
             refus'd
             .
          
           
             The
             next
             day
             ,
             
               says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             he
             made
             a
             Harange
             to
             the
             People
             and
             Senate
             ,
             wherein
             he
             commended
             his
             Industry
             and
             his
             Temperance
             ,
             as
             if
             he
             had
             spoken
             to
             Strangers
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             Italy
             had
             not
             been
             able
             to
             testifie
             the
             contrary
             .
             The
             People
             however
             ,
             who
             are
             accustom'd
             to
             Flattery
             ,
             void
             of
             all
             Sentiments
             of
             Honour
             ,
             applauded
             his
             Impertinences
             ,
             and
             forc'd
             him
             to
             assume
             the
             Title
             of
             Augustus
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             refus'd
             .
          
           
             When
             Princes
             applaud
             themselves
             ,
             't
             is
             a
             sign
             they
             expect
             to
             be
             Extoll'd
             and
             Admir'd
             by
             those
             that
             hear
             '
             em
             .
             And
             Sycophants
             when
             they
             Flatter
             out
             of
             Custome
             ,
             they
             never
             fail
             to
             magnifie
             a
             bad
             Prince
             ,
             who
             is
             so
             vain
             as
             to
             commend
             himself
             .
             Some
             there
             are
             therefore
             who
             have
             stil'd
             Sycophants
             the
             
               Eccho
               of
               Princes
            
             ,
             and
             indeed
             it
             is
             a
             Definition
             that
             properly
             befits
             'em
             ;
             for
             they
             always
             speak
             whatever
             the
             Princes
             say
             ,
             and
             always
             repeat
             the
             Princes
             own
             words
             .
             Tacitus
             reports
             that
             Caligula
             affected
             as
             much
             as
             in
             
             him
             lay
             ,
             all
             the
             Expressions
             of
             Tiberius
             ;
             and
             then
             when
             Nero
             sang
             upon
             the
             Theatre
             ,
             all
             the
             Company
             ,
             but
             more
             especially
             ,
             the
             Senators
             and
             Roman
             Ladies
             extoll'd
             his
             Voice
             ,
             observing
             the
             same
             Time
             and
             Measure
             in
             their
             Acclamations
             that
             he
             kept
             in
             Singing
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCVII
             .
          
           
             BUT
             neither
             had
             Aponius
             written
             to
             him
             the
             whole
             Truth
             ,
             and
             his
             Flattering
             Sycophants
             made
             a
             more
             slight
             Interpretation
             of
             his
             Intelligence
             ,
             as
             being
             only
             the
             Mutiny
             of
             one
             Legion
             ,
             while
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Armies
             continued
             in
             their
             Obedience
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             first
             Intelligence
             that
             Vitellius
             receiv'd
             of
             Vespasians
             Revolt
             ,
             was
             from
             
               Aponius
               Saturninus
            
             ,
             who
             sent
             him
             word
             that
             the
             first
             Legion
             had
             dedeclar'd
             for
             his
             Enemy
             .
             But
             as
             one
             that
             was
             himself
             astonish'd
             at
             the
             Action
             ,
             he
             had
             not
             given
             him
             an
             account
             of
             all
             the
             particulars
             ;
             so
             that
             the
             Emperour's
             Favorites
             made
             
             slight
             of
             the
             News
             ,
             assuring
             him
             that
             it
             was
             only
             thi
             Revolt
             of
             a
             single
             Legion
             ,
             but
             that
             all
             the
             rest
             continu'd
             their
             Fidelity
             to
             Himself
             .
          
           
             This
             Article
             is
             explain'd
             by
             the
             79.
             
             Article
             ,
             where
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             That
             Princes
             are
             Flatter'd
             ,
             even
             in
             the
             most
             Perillous
             Conjunctures
             of
             their
             Affairs
             .
             So
             far
             Vitellius
             was
             well
             inform'd
             ,
             that
             one
             Legion
             was
             already
             Revolted
             ,
             but
             that
             other
             piece
             of
             Intelligence
             ,
             so
             absolutely
             necessary
             for
             him
             to
             have
             known
             ,
             was
             suppress'd
             ,
             that
             the
             Legions
             of
             
               Egypt
               ,
               Syria
            
             ,
             and
             Judea
             ,
             had
             already
             Elected
             and
             Proclaim'd
             another
             Emperour
             .
             They
             made
             him
             believe
             ,
             and
             he
             himself
             had
             divulg'd
             It
             among
             his
             Soldiers
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             no
             fear
             of
             a
             Civil
             War
             ,
             and
             yet
             at
             the
             same
             time
             there
             was
             one
             already
             begun
             ,
             while
             the
             Empire
             was
             shar'd
             between
             two
             Emperours
             .
             Then
             he
             demanded
             Succours
             from
             the
             Germans
             ,
             the
             English
             and
             the
             Spaniards
             ,
             and
             yet
             not
             one
             of
             those
             Provinces
             made
             haste
             to
             send
             him
             any
             ,
             in
             regard
             that
             through
             the
             pernicious
             Councels
             of
             his
             Flatterers
             ,
             he
             dissembl'd
             the
             present
             necessity
             of
             his
             Affairs
             .
             A
             piece
             of
             Dissimulation
             which
             Tacitus
             calls
             Impertinent
             ,
             while
             it
             delays
             
             the
             Remedy
             instead
             of
             putting
             a
             stop
             to
             the
             Distemper
             :
             'T
             is
             very
             probable
             ,
             that
             Portugal
             had
             still
             been
             subject
             to
             the
             Crown
             of
             
               Spain
               ▪
            
             if
             the
             
               Conde
               D'Olivares
            
             ,
             Chief
             Minister
             to
             
               Philip
               the
               Fourth
            
             ,
             had
             had
             a
             better
             Opinion
             of
             the
             Courage
             of
             the
             Portugueses
             ;
             and
             had
             put
             a
             higher
             Value
             upon
             the
             Prudence
             of
             the
             
               Vice-Queen
               Margaret
            
             of
             Savoy
             ,
             Dutches
             Dowager
             of
             Montoua
             ,
             who
             adviss'd
             him
             several
             times
             to
             dispel
             the
             Tempest
             ,
             which
             she
             else
             foresaw
             would
             fall
             upon
             the
             Spanish
             Monarchy
             .
             But
             the
             Duke
             was
             born
             to
             be
             an
             Example
             ,
             that
             the
             too
             great
             Confidence
             which
             the
             Grand
             Ministers
             of
             State
             have
             of
             their
             Abilities
             and
             their
             Fortunes
             ,
             is
             most
             commonly
             the
             foundation
             of
             their
             Destruction
             ;
             and
             that
             God
             infatuates
             the
             Counsels
             of
             Princes
             ,
             whom
             He
             designs
             to
             punish
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCVIII
             .
          
           
             VItellius
             having
             made
             an
             Oration
             to
             the
             Senate
             full
             of
             Pomp
             and
             Ostentation
             ,
             was
             applauded
             with
             all
             the
             most
             exquisite
             Flatteries
             which
             the
             Fathers
             could
             devise
             .
          
           
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             He
             made
             a
             most
             Maguificent
             Oration
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             which
             was
             receiv'd
             with
             no
             less
             Pompous
             Adulation
             .
          
           
             There
             needs
             no
             other
             Explanation
             of
             this
             Text
             ,
             then
             what
             has
             been
             already
             said
             in
             the
             96.
             
             Article
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             XCIX
             .
          
           
             VItellius
             enquiring
             the
             cause
             of
             so
             much
             Light
             in
             a
             certain
             Tower
             ,
             word
             was
             brought
             him
             that
             several
             Persons
             Supp'd
             with
             
               Laecina
               Tuscus
            
             ,
             among
             whom
             the
             most
             considerable
             for
             Honour
             ,
             was
             
               Junius
               Blesus
            
             ;
             at
             what
             time
             they
             that
             brought
             the
             News
             aggravated
             much
             more
             then
             it
             was
             ,
             the
             Splendor
             of
             the
             Feast
             ,
             and
             the
             dissolute
             Riot
             of
             the
             Guests
             :
             Nor
             were
             there
             wanting
             some
             that
             accus'd
             Tuscus
             himself
             and
             others
             ,
             but
             Blesus
             more
             hainously
             ,
             for
             Debauching
             so
             publickly
             when
             the
             Prince
             was
             Sick.
             
          
           
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
               ,
               Vitellius
            
             lay
             very
             ill
             in
             
             Servilius's
             Garden
             ;
             at
             what
             time
             he
             observ'd
             a
             great
             Company
             of
             Lights
             in
             a
             House
             adjoyning
             ,
             and
             demanding
             the
             reason
             ,
             he
             was
             told
             that
             
               Tuscus
               Cecina
            
             made
             a
             great
             Entertainment
             for
             
               Junius
               Blesus
            
             ,
             and
             several
             others
             of
             meaner
             Condition
             .
             Nor
             did
             they
             fail
             to
             give
             him
             an
             Account
             of
             the
             Magnificence
             of
             the
             Banquet
             ,
             and
             the
             Excess
             of
             their
             Debauchery
             ,
             and
             to
             blame
             the
             Master
             of
             the
             Feast
             ,
             but
             more
             especially
             
               Junius
               Blesus
            
             ,
             for
             Debauching
             so
             scandalously
             when
             the
             Emperour
             lay
             Sick.
             
          
           
             There
             can
             be
             nothing
             said
             more
             perhaps
             to
             this
             Subject
             ,
             then
             what
             Tacitus
             himself
             repeats
             concerning
             the
             Death
             of
             Blesus
             .
          
           
             So
             soon
             ,
             
               says
               he
            
             ,
             as
             certain
             of
             the
             Courtiers
             who
             make
             it
             their
             Business
             to
             dive
             into
             the
             secret
             Jealousies
             and
             Disgusts
             of
             Princes
             ,
             perceiv'd
             that
             Vitellius
             was
             Exasperated
             ,
             and
             that
             Blesus
             might
             be
             made
             the
             victime
             to
             his
             Indignation
             and
             their
             Envy
             ,
             they
             made
             their
             Addresses
             to
             
             Vitellius's
             Brother
             ,
             who
             out
             of
             a
             deprav'd
             Emulation
             hated
             Blesus
             ,
             whose
             high
             Reputation
             was
             an
             Eyesoar
             to
             a
             person
             sully'd
             with
             all
             manner
             of
             Infamy
             ,
             and
             engag'd
             him
             to
             undertake
             the
             Accusation
             of
             his
             Rival
             .
             
               L.
               Vitellius
            
             thereupon
             entring
             
             the
             Emperour's
             Chamber
             ,
             took
             his
             little
             Son
             in
             his
             Arms
             ,
             and
             throwing
             himself
             at
             his
             brothers
             Feet
             ,
             told
             him
             that
             the
             Trouble
             he
             was
             in
             ,
             and
             the
             Supplications
             he
             made
             him
             with
             Tears
             in
             his
             Eyes
             ,
             proceeded
             from
             no
             other
             cause
             ,
             but
             his
             real
             good
             Wishes
             for
             the
             Welfare
             of
             the
             Emperour
             and
             his
             Children
             .
             That
             his
             most
             dange●ous
             Enemy
             was
             not
             Vespasian
             ,
             whom
             so
             many
             faithful
             and
             couragious
             Legions
             ,
             and
             so
             many
             Loyal
             Provinces
             prevented
             from
             approaching
             Italy
             ;
             but
             a
             Person
             that
             Rome
             fomented
             in
             her
             Bosom
             ,
             who
             boasted
             his
             Descent
             from
             the
             Family
             of
             the
             Caesars
             ,
             and
             a
             Branch
             of
             the
             
             Junius's
             and
             
             Antonius's
             ,
             and
             who
             daily
             corrupted
             the
             Alegiance
             of
             the
             Soldery
             ,
             by
             his
             Trayterous
             Liberality
             and
             Caresses
             .
             That
             all
             the
             World
             lookt
             upon
             him
             as
             already
             Emperour
             ,
             to
             the
             contempt
             of
             Vitellius
             ,
             who
             slighting
             equally
             both
             his
             Friends
             and
             his
             Enemies
             ,
             suffer'd
             the
             Fortune
             of
             a
             Rival
             to
             grow
             great
             ,
             who
             rejoyc'd
             to
             behold
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             a
             Luxurious
             Feast
             ,
             his
             Soveraign
             languishing
             upon
             the
             Bed
             of
             Sickness
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             behov'd
             him
             to
             let
             him
             taste
             the
             sorrows
             of
             a
             sad
             and
             dismal
             Night
             for
             his
             unseasonable
             Jollity
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             both
             understand
             and
             feel
             Vitellius
             was
             alive
             and
             Emperour
             ,
             and
             had
             a
             Son
             too
             to
             succeed
             him
             .
          
           
           
             And
             thus
             we
             see
             how
             Sycophants
             envenome
             the
             most
             Innocent
             Actions
             of
             Men
             ,
             of
             whom
             the
             Prince
             has
             once
             a
             Jealousie
             ,
             and
             spur
             their
             Soveraigns
             on
             to
             Cruelty
             and
             Tyranny
             .
             And
             this
             Example
             of
             Blesus
             may
             serve
             to
             serve
             to
             admonish
             great
             Personages
             ,
             how
             much
             it
             behoves
             'em
             to
             be
             careful
             of
             themselves
             ,
             and
             to
             'em
             understand
             the
             Dangers
             to
             which
             their
             Birth
             and
             Fortune
             expose
             '
             em
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             C.
             
          
           
             COntrary
             to
             the
             Opinions
             of
             the
             most
             experienc'd
             of
             the
             Centurions
             who
             would
             have
             frankly
             given
             him
             their
             Advice
             ,
             might
             they
             have
             been
             Consulted
             .
             But
             the
             Favourites
             of
             Vitellius
             would
             not
             permit
             'em
             to
             come
             near
             him
             ,
             besides
             that
             the
             Ears
             of
             the
             Prince
             were
             so
             possess'd
             ,
             that
             all
             things
             profitable
             sounded
             harsh
             ,
             and
             nothing
             would
             be
             admitted
             but
             what
             was
             Grateful
             and
             Destructive
             .
          
           
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             Against
             the
             Opinion
             of
             his
             most
             Experienc'd
             Captains
             who
             would
             have
             given
             him
             their
             Advice
             ,
             if
             he
             would
             have
             requir'd
             it
             :
             But
             he
             had
             been
             accustom'd
             for
             a
             long
             time
             to
             hear
             nothing
             but
             what
             was
             pleasing
             and
             prejudicial
             .
          
           
             Sycophants
             understand
             so
             well
             to
             possess
             the
             Ears
             of
             the
             most
             part
             of
             unwary
             Princes
             ,
             that
             in
             time
             they
             render
             'em
             not
             much
             unlike
             Vitellius
             ;
             there
             being
             very
             few
             that
             will
             endure
             to
             hear
             Truth
             spoken
             without
             Offence
             .
             Therefore
             it
             was
             that
             one
             of
             the
             Ancients
             resembl'd
             Sycophants
             to
             Thieves
             ,
             who
             when
             they
             go
             about
             to
             break
             open
             a
             House
             in
             the
             Night
             time
             ,
             put
             out
             their
             Candles
             for
             fear
             of
             being
             discover'd
             .
             For
             the
             first
             thing
             that
             Flatterers
             do
             in
             the
             Courts
             of
             Princes
             ,
             is
             to
             remove
             from
             about
             their
             Persons
             all
             Men
             of
             sharp
             and
             penetrating
             Apprehensions
             ,
             though
             bold
             and
             able
             to
             give
             wholesome
             Advice
             to
             their
             Soveraigns
             ,
             and
             discover
             the
             Artifices
             which
             they
             make
             use
             of
             ,
             to
             the
             prejudice
             of
             the
             deluded
             Prince
             .
             Thus
             Nero
             became
             a
             Prey
             to
             his
             Flatterers
             ,
             when
             once
             they
             remov'd
             Burrhus
             and
             Seneca
             out
             of
             their
             way
             ,
             who
             labour'd
             by
             consent
             ,
             and
             made
             it
             their
             Business
             to
             infuse
             into
             him
             Sentiments
             
             becomming
             a
             Vertuous
             and
             
               Magnanimous
               Governour
            
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             .
             CI.
             
          
           
             BUT
             Envy
             lay
             conceal'd
             ,
             and
             Adulation
             practiz'd
             openly
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             The
             Senate
             conceal'd
             their
             Sentiments
             ,
             as
             well
             of
             Hatred
             as
             Envy
             ,
             only
             their
             Flattery
             shew'p
             it self
             openly
             .
          
           
             Observe
             here
             in
             two
             words
             ,
             the
             Portraiture
             of
             the
             Court
             ,
             where
             Hatred
             lurks
             in
             the
             Heart
             ,
             while
             the
             Lips
             of
             Men
             are
             full
             of
             Adulation
             .
             The
             Chief
             Ministers
             who
             ever
             they
             be
             ,
             are
             still
             Flatter'd
             by
             reason
             of
             their
             high
             Advancement
             ,
             but
             Envy'd
             always
             by
             reason
             of
             their
             Power
             .
             It
             being
             the
             Custom
             of
             Men
             to
             behold
             with
             murmuring
             and
             repining
             ,
             Superiour
             Authority
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             those
             that
             have
             been
             their
             Equals
             .
             Mucianus
             having
             written
             to
             the
             Senate
             ,
             the
             Senate
             murmur'd
             in
             their
             Private
             Cabals
             .
             If
             Mucianus
             
               be
               a
               private
               Person
            
             ,
             cry'd
             they
             ,
             
               why
               does
               he
               Write
               like
               a
               public
               Minister
               ?
               Had
               he
               had
               any
               thing
               to
               say
               to
               
               us
               ,
               he
               might
               as
               well
               have
               stay'd
               till
               his
               Return
               to
            
             Rome
             ,
             
               at
               what
               time
               he
               might
               have
               propos'd
               it
               himself
               in
               the
               Senate
               .
            
             But
             when
             they
             were
             met
             in
             a
             Body
             ,
             then
             they
             strove
             who
             should
             most
             applaud
             what
             they
             had
             condemn'd
             in
             private
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             decreeing
             Triumphal
             Ornaments
             to
             Mucianus
             for
             a
             Civil
             War
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             kindl'd
             by
             inciting
             Vespasian
             to
             Revolt
             against
             Vitellius
             .
             And
             this
             that
             the
             Senate
             acted
             at
             Rome
             in
             respect
             of
             Mucianus
             ,
             is
             no
             more
             then
             what
             is
             daily
             Practiz'd
             in
             all
             the
             Courts
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             where
             the
             Chief
             Ministers
             and
             Favourites
             hear
             nothing
             but
             Encomiums
             of
             themselves
             ,
             because
             all
             People
             fawn
             upon
             their
             present
             Fortune
             .
             But
             they
             are
             much
             deceiv'd
             who
             judge
             by
             their
             own
             Ears
             ,
             of
             the
             inward
             Sentiments
             of
             their
             outward
             Adorers
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             ESSAY
             CII
             .
          
           
             A
             Certain
             Person
             known
             to
             have
             been
             long
             Blind
             ,
             imploring
             with
             Tears
             the
             Cure
             of
             his
             Blindness
             ,
             besought
             the
             Prince
             to
             rub
             his
             Cheeks
             and
             the
             Balls
             of
             his
             Eyes
             with
             the
             Excrement
             of
             his
             Mouth
             .
             Another
             lame
             of
             his
             Hand
             ,
             begg'd
             the
             favour
             that
             Caesar
             would
             vouchsafe
             to
             Tread
             upon
             him
             with
             his
             Feet
             .
             Vespasian
             at
             first
             refus'd
             and
             laugh'd
             at
             the
             Petitions
             of
             both
             ,
             as
             fearing
             the
             vain
             Issue
             of
             such
             an
             attempt
             ;
             till
             tyr'd
             with
             the
             Supplications
             of
             the
             Afflicted
             People
             ,
             and
             the
             Encouragements
             of
             his
             Adulators
             ,
             he
             was
             induc'd
             to
             have
             a
             better
             Conceit
             of
             himself
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             One
             that
             was
             Blind
             and
             well
             known
             by
             the
             People
             ,
             besought
             him
             to
             rub
             his
             Eyes
             with
             his
             Spittle
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             only
             means
             to
             recover
             his
             Sight
             ;
             and
             another
             that
             was
             lame
             of
             one
             Hand
             ,
             implor'd
             him
             
             likewise
             but
             only
             to
             touch
             the
             part
             Affected
             with
             the
             sole
             of
             his
             Foot.
             The
             Emperour
             rejected
             both
             their
             Sollicitations
             at
             first
             with
             Scorn
             and
             Laughter
             ,
             till
             press'd
             by
             their
             continual
             Importunities
             ,
             he
             enquir'd
             of
             the
             Physitians
             whither
             such
             a
             thing
             were
             possible
             to
             be
             done
             ,
             waving
             between
             the
             Flatteries
             of
             his
             Courtiers
             ,
             and
             the
             fear
             of
             rendring
             himself
             Ridiculous
             .
          
           
             Tacitus
             
               makes
               the
               Commentary
               upon
               this
               place
               himself
               .
               Vespasian
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
            
             Commanded
             the
             Physitians
             to
             consult
             among
             themselves
             ,
             whether
             Humane
             Remedies
             could
             surmount
             the
             Nature
             of
             those
             two
             Infirmities
             .
             The
             Physitians
             after
             they
             had
             argu'd
             the
             Point
             ,
             concluded
             ,
             that
             the
             Blind
             Man
             not
             having
             as
             yet
             quite
             lost
             his
             visual
             Faculty
             ,
             the
             sight
             of
             his
             Eye
             not
             being
             utterly
             Corroded
             away
             ,
             his
             sight
             might
             be
             restor'd
             ,
             provided
             the
             Impediments
             were
             remov'd
             :
             And
             that
             the
             other's
             Hand
             might
             be
             recover'd
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             Nerves
             that
             were
             shrunk
             ,
             could
             be
             mollifi'd
             and
             stretch'd
             out
             to
             ther
             natural
             use
             :
             That
             the
             Gods
             perhaps
             made
             choice
             of
             him
             to
             effect
             this
             great
             Miracle
             :
             Moreover
             ,
             that
             the
             Glory
             of
             the
             Cure
             would
             redound
             to
             his
             Immortal
             Honour
             ,
             whereas
             if
             it
             did
             not
             succeed
             ,
             all
             the
             Laughter
             and
             Derision
             of
             the
             Cure
             in
             vain
             attempted
             ,
             would
             fall
             upon
             the
             
             Credulity
             of
             those
             unfortunate
             Persons
             .
             Vespasian
             therefore
             believing
             all
             things
             would
             submit
             to
             his
             Fortune
             ,
             with
             a
             chearful
             Air
             went
             on
             ,
             and
             condescended
             to
             their
             Supplications
             .
          
           
             Thus
             Princes
             at
             first
             withstand
             the
             Corruptions
             of
             Flattery
             ,
             but
             sooner
             or
             later
             suffer
             themselves
             to
             be
             Vanquish'd
             by
             its
             Temptations
             .
             They
             may
             be
             Modest
             ,
             Prudent
             ,
             Constant
             ,
             Resolute
             ,
             Politic
             ,
             and
             Judicious
             ,
             yet
             Flattery
             always
             finds
             a
             way
             to
             steal
             into
             their
             Affections
             ,
             and
             supplant
             those
             Vertues
             which
             she
             meets
             with
             in
             their
             Inclinations
             .
          
        
         
           
             ESSAY
             CIII
             .
          
           
             WHen
             Domitian
             read
             
             Agricola'r
             Will
             ,
             wherein
             he
             left
             him
             Coheir
             with
             the
             best
             of
             Wives
             ,
             and
             a
             most
             Pious
             Daughter
             ,
             he
             rejoyc'd
             at
             it
             were
             to
             find
             so
             great
             an
             Honour
             done
             his
             Brother
             by
             so
             judicious
             a
             Person
             .
             So
             blinded
             and
             corrupted
             was
             his
             Judgment
             by
             continual
             Adulations
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             discern
             that
             a
             Vertuous
             Father
             never
             left
             a
             
             Prince
             his
             Heir
             ,
             unless
             he
             were
             a
             bad
             one
             .
          
           
             
               Says
               D'Ablancourt
            
             ,
             When
             Domitian
             read
             
             Agricola's
             last
             Will
             and
             Testament
             ,
             and
             saw
             that
             he
             had
             left
             him
             his
             Heir
             together
             with
             his
             Wife
             and
             Daughter
             ,
             he
             took
             it
             for
             an
             Honour
             ;
             being
             so
             Infatuated
             by
             Flattery
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             apprehend
             that
             a
             bad
             Prince
             was
             never
             the
             Heir
             to
             one
             that
             was
             Vertuous
             .
          
           
             Princes
             that
             have
             a
             Kindness
             for
             Sycophants
             ,
             are
             soon
             mistaken
             in
             their
             Judgments
             ,
             while
             the
             t'other
             make
             use
             of
             all
             their
             Art
             and
             Cunning
             ,
             to
             disguise
             the
             Truth
             of
             things
             .
             Self-love
             it
             is
             indeed
             that
             blinds
             the
             greatest
             part
             of
             Men.
             But
             they
             have
             a
             Remedy
             which
             Princes
             want
             ,
             in
             regard
             that
             either
             their
             Superiours
             or
             their
             Equals
             ,
             are
             not
             afraid
             to
             tell
             'em
             Truth
             ,
             which
             is
             an
             easie
             step
             to
             Reformation
             ;
             whereas
             Princes
             having
             neither
             Superiours
             nor
             Companions
             ,
             unless
             they
             please
             themselves
             ;
             all
             the
             World
             studies
             to
             please
             or
             rather
             to
             misguide
             '
             em
             .
             Whence
             it
             comes
             to
             pass
             that
             they
             delight
             in
             many
             things
             ,
             which
             they
             would
             shun
             as
             the
             
             Rocks
             of
             their
             Reputation
             ,
             and
             as
             eternal
             Stains
             upon
             their
             Memories
             ,
             had
             they
             but
             Faithful
             and
             Uninterrested
             Friends
             ,
             who
             had
             the
             Courage
             to
             discover
             what
             their
             Sycophants
             conceal
             from
             their
             Knowledge
             .
             I
             wish
             to
             Heaven
             this
             little
             Treatise
             may
             prove
             acceptable
             to
             others
             as
             perhaps
             it
             may
             be
             unpleasing
             to
             them
             ,
             who
             raise
             their
             Fortunes
             by
             Adulation
             .
          
           
             FINIS
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A62449-e320
           
             *
             Gracian
             in
             his
             3d.
             Dialogue
             of
             his
             3d.
             Part
             of
             his
             Critioon
             .
          
           
             †
             In
             his
             Ferdinand
             .
          
        
      
    
  

