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Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
cause_n good_a great_a king_n 5,512 5 3.6764 3 true
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A38620 The falshood of human virtue a moral essay / done out of French.; Fausseté des vertus humaines. English Esprit, Mr. (Jacques), 1611-1678. 1691 (1691) Wing E3277; ESTC R3094 107,156 314

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to_o be_v the_o visible_a cause_n of_o all_o the_o happy_a event_n of_o human_a life_n it_o be_v our_o ignorance_n say_v a_o certain_a poet_n which_o make_v we_o imagine_v that_o blind_a chance_n govern_v all_o human_a affair_n it_o be_v our_o mistake_n o_o fortune_n that_o have_v place_v thou_o in_o heaven_n which_o have_v make_v we_o believe_v that_o thy_o capricious_a decree_n regulate_v our_o action_n wh●re_v prudence_n reign_v no_o deity_n from_o that_o same_o breast_n can_v absent_v be_v prudence_n deprive_v thou_o of_o thy_o power_n and_o destroy_v thou_o of_o thy_o divinity_n it_o be_v she_o alone_o that_o have_v the_o power_n to_o make_v we_o happy_a and_o her_o law_n alone_o observe_v or_o violate_v be_v the_o cause_n of_o our_o good_a or_o evil_a destiny_n nothing_o so_o clear_o show_v we_o the_o ridiculous_a vanity_n of_o man_n as_o that_o same_o pleasure_n which_o they_o take_v to_o be_v undeceive_v from_o popular_a opinion_n and_o yet_o at_o the_o same_o time_n they_o be_v undeceive_v to_o deceive_v themselves_o after_o another_o manner_n for_o certain_o it_o be_v a_o great_a absurdity_n to_o refer_v all_o event_n to_o a_o cause_n so_o irregular_a and_o blind_a as_o fortune_n but_o on_o the_o other_o side_n it_o be_v as_o great_a a_o error_n to_o look_v upon_o prudence_n as_o the_o insallible_a source_n of_o our_o happiness_n and_o the_o prosperity_n of_o family_n commonwealth_n and_o empire_n as_o we_o shall_v show_v in_o due_a place_n to_o make_v it_o therefore_o evident_a that_o the_o good_a opinion_n which_o man_n have_v of_o prudence_n be_v ill_o ground_v we_o need_v no_o more_o then_o to_o examine_v the_o nature_n of_o man_n without_o prejudice_n and_o consider_v that_o it_o be_v always_o full_a of_o distrust_n timorousness_n and_o uncertainty_n which_o proceed_v from_o the_o obscurity_n and_o inconstancy_n of_o the_o matter_n for_o she_o have_v to_o do_v with_o man_n who_o heart_n be_v impenetrable_a and_o who_o be_v continual_o subject_a 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and_o handsomeness_n imaginable_a must_v not_o also_o he_o be_v a_o great_a master_n of_o his_o resentment_n who_o favour_v those_o that_o have_v cause_v he_o to_o waste_v the_o best_a part_n of_o his_o estate_n through_o their_o quarrelsome_a and_o litigious_a vexation_n when_o after_o the_o loss_n of_o their_o suit_n so_o unjust_o commence_v it_o lie_v in_o his_o power_n to_o ruin_v '_o they_o last_o we_o must_v acknowledge_v that_o we_o have_v need_n of_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o good_a nature_n to_o pardon_v a_o person_n that_o have_v offer_v we_o a_o bloody_a affront_n when_o his_o misfortune_n deliver_v he_o into_o our_o power_n and_o that_o we_o have_v a_o easy_a opportunity_n to_o revenge_v ourselves_o and_o that_o which_o advance_v the_o power_n of_o generosity_n upon_o all_o occasion_n be_v this_o that_o beside_o that_o the_o power_n of_o revenge_n be_v so_o sweet_a that_o it_o be_v a_o difficult_a thing_n for_o a_o man_n to_o surmount_v its_o temptation_n and_o general_o 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himself_o in_o the_o person_n of_o darius_n see_v himself_o abandon_v by_o his_o own_o people_n assassinate_v by_o his_o best_a friend_n and_o overwhelmed_a with_o those_o dire_a misfortune_n that_o usual_o attend_v great_a prosperity_n among_o these_o sort_n of_o people_n who_o esteem_v as_o generous_a all_o those_o sentiment_n wherein_o there_o appear_v something_o of_o grandeur_n of_o mind_n as_o the_o contempt_n of_o money_n and_o vain_a honour_n some_o there_o be_v that_o vilify_v this_o sort_n of_o generosity_n foreseeing_a that_o almost_o all_o the_o world_n run_v after_o the_o favour_n of_o great_a personage_n and_o court_v their_o kindness_n not_o only_o with_o a_o restless_a credulity_n but_o after_o a_o sordid_a and_o misbeseem_v manner_n they_o steer_v a_o quite_o con-contrary_a course_n they_o refuse_v all_o attendance_n upon_o those_o great_a man_n to_o desire_v any_o kindness_n at_o their_o
yet_o can_v forbear_v their_o juvenile_a gallantry_n in_o a_o word_n it_o be_v my_o opinion_n that_o neither_o age_n nor_o exhortation_n nor_o promise_n nor_o punishment_n that_o can_v correct_v our_o wicked_a inclination_n when_o they_o be_v natural_a for_o then_o the●_n withstand_v all_o thing_n except_o the_o god_n of_o nature_n that_o which_o persuade_v people_n to_o the_o con●●ary_n be_v this_o because_o they_o believe_v that_o when_o the_o inclination_n be_v weary_v or_o repulse_v for_o a_o time_n they_o be_v quite_o destroy_v which_o be_v the_o reason_n that_o some_o erroneous_o mistake_v cruelty_n tire_v for_o true_a clemency_n augustus_n say_v seneca_n who_o after_o so_o many_o murder_n and_o proscription_n give_v cinna_n his_o life_n do_v that_o act_n of_o clemency_n that_o people_n may_v believe_v he_o merciful_a for_o my_o part_n i_o know_v not_o how_o to_o call_v that_o person_n merciful_a who_o be_v weary_a of_o be_v cruel_a other_o imagine_v that_o person_n who_o leave_v the_o court_n be_v cure_v of_o ambition_n when_o it_o may_v be_v only_o the_o discontent_n of_o repulse_n and_o disappointment_n other_o applaud_v for_o his_o liberality_n a_o man_n that_o be_v profuse_a in_o his_o expense_n not_o know_v that_o his_o vanity_n restrain_v and_o curb_v his_o avarice_n moreover_o many_o people_n be_v deceive_v when_o they_o persuade_v themselves_o that_o a_o man_n have_v not_o the_o same_o inclination_n when_o they_o see_v his_o inclination_n do_v not_o tend_v to_o the_o same_o object_n not_o consider_v for_o example_n that_o avarice_n be_v the_o reason_n that_o we_o addict_v ourselves_o to_o game_n and_o that_o we_o leave_v it_o off_o beside_o these_o reason_n to_o prove_v the_o error_n of_o that_o opinion_n that_o man_n change_v their_o inclination_n and_o of_o mild_a become_v cruel_a there_o be_v one_o much_o more_o considerable_a that_o be_v that_o most_o people_n acknowledge_v nothing_o to_o be_v cruelty_n but_o that_o natural_a cruelty_n which_o produce_v those_o monster_n of_o man_n every_o day_n drink_v with_o human_a blood_n such_o as_o herod_n nero_n and_o domitian_n and_o for_o that_o they_o do_v not_o perceive_v that_o ambition_n be_v furious_a and_o cruel_a and_o that_o man_n possess_v with_o that_o fury_n be_v always_o ready_a to_o commit_v all_o manner_n of_o excess_n and_o violence_n upon_o all_o those_o they_o believe_v to_o be_v obstacle_n to_o their_o design_n so_o that_o let_v a_o ambitious_a man_n be_v never_o so_o mild_a so_o soon_o as_o he_o have_v conceive_v a_o design_n to_o make_v his_o name_n famous_a to_o eternity_n though_o it_o cost_v he_o that_o immortal_a glory_n which_o he_o propose_v to_o himself_o and_o to_o obtain_v it_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n of_o extirpate_v whole_a nation_n he_o make_v no_o scruple_n of_o such_o inhumanities_n and_o this_o be_v the_o reason_n that_o great_a conqueror_n such_o as_o alexander_n and_o julius_n caesar_n never_o make_v it_o a_o matter_n of_o conscience_n to_o use_v sword_n or_o poison_n for_o the_o destruction_n of_o whatever_o person_n stand_v in_o their_o way_n nevertheless_o it_o do_v not_o behoove_v the_o historian_n to_o say_v as_o they_o do_v that_o if_o alexander_n and_o caesar_n be_v guilty_a of_o action_n so_o cruel_a and_o contrary_a to_o their_o natural_a goodness_n it_o be_v a_o argument_n that_o their_o manner_n and_o inclination_n be_v change_v because_o at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o they_o show_v themselves_o most_o cruel_a they_o also_o show_v several_a act_n of_o clemency_n but_o if_o we_o will_v judge_v rational_o of_o those_o person_n and_o understand_v to_o what_o principle_n we_o ought_v to_o refer_v their_o different_a conduct_n we_o must_v make_v a_o recollection_n of_o all_o the_o action_n of_o their_o life_n for_o than_o we_o shall_v see_v that_o they_o be_v person_n that_o burn_v with_o a_o eager_a ambition_n to_o acquire_v a_o more_o than_o ordinary_a renown_n or_o to_o obtain_v the_o sovereign_a power_n and_o be_v so_o master_v by_o the_o interest_n of_o their_o ambition_n that_o they_o do_v whatever_o their_o ambition_n require_v so_o that_o when_o their_o ambition_n think_v it_o proper_a to_o pardon_v their_o great_a enemy_n how_o cruel_a soever_o they_o natural_o be_v they_o pardon_v without_o any_o trouble_n if_o their_o interest_n or_o ambition_n require_v they_o to_o cut_v the_o throat_n of_o their_o best_a friend_n they_o condescend_v with_o the_o same_o ease_n so_o that_o they_o be_v cruel_a at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o they_o dispense_v their_o favour_n because_o they_o be_v as_o ready_a to_o put_v to_o death_n those_o they_o have_v pardon_v if_o ●●e_v condition_n of_o their_o affair_n require_v it_o whence_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o conclude_v that_o the_o clemency_n of_o alexander_n augustus_n and_o caesar_n so_o high_o applaud_v be_v only_o policy_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o far_a question_n to_o be_v make_v of_o this_o when_o we_o consider_v that_o alexander_n first_o behaviour_n in_o asia_n be_v courteous_a and_o generous_a as_o be_v then_o requisite_a to_o make_v himself_o belove_v by_o the_o principal_a officer_n of_o his_o army_n and_o the_o person_n of_o quality_n that_o follow_v he_o beside_o that_o it_o be_v also_o a_o snare_n which_o he_o lay_v for_o the_o people_n which_o he_o design_v to_o subdue_v on_o the_o contrary_a his_o behaviour_n towards_o his_o latter_a end_n be_v rigorous_a and_o inhuman_a through_o his_o mistrust_n and_o jealousy_n of_o his_o most_o faithful_a servant_n and_o best_a friend_n who_o he_o put_v to_o death_n with_o so_o much_o ingratitude_n and_o cruelty_n the_o same_o may_v be_v say_v of_o caesar_n and_o augustus_n for_o augustus_n in_o his_o latter_a year_n show_v himself_o merciful_a to_o try_v whether_o his_o clemency_n will_v succeed_v better_a than_o his_o cruelty_n and_o be_v a_o mean_n to_o qualify_v the_o hatred_n which_o the_o people_n have_v of_o his_o tyranny_n as_o for_o caesar_n every_o one_o know_v that_o at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o he_o receive_v cicero_n and_o several_a other_o considerable_a person_n that_o give_v a_o lustre_n to_o his_o party_n with_o so_o much_o lenity_n and_o mildness_n he_o banish_v and_o put_v to_o death_n all_o that_o will_v not_o bend_v their_o knee_n before_o he_o and_o implore_v his_o mercy_n with_o submission_n altogether_o adject_a and_o unseemly_a plutareh_n relate_v that_o sylla_n take_v the_o same_o course_n and_o that_o when_o he_o massacre_v seven_o thousand_o of_o the_o roman_a citizen_n he_o careful_o preserve_v those_o that_o be_v his_o devote_a slave_n the_o same_o author_n add_v that_o the_o same_o person_n have_v no_o respect_n to_o the_o quality_n of_o the_o crime_n but_o that_o he_o pardon_v all_o that_o favour_v his_o proceed_n or_o who_o he_o hope_v to_o gain_v to_o his_o party_n and_o punish_v with_o death_n the_o slight_a offence_n of_o those_o that_o be_v not_o biased_a by_o his_o interest_n such_o be_v the_o disposition_n of_o these_o victor_n and_o emperor_n sometime_o mild_a sometime_o cruel_a and_o sometime_o both_o together_o employ_v both_o their_o virtue_n and_o their_o vice_n and_o make_v use_n of_o whatever_o may_v be_v serviceable_a to_o increase_v their_o empire_n the_o clemency_n of_o nero_n at_o his_o first_o advancement_n to_o the_o empire_n be_v the_o effect_n of_o a_o refine_a and_o singular_a policy_n for_o he_o know_v so_o exact_o how_o to_o restrain_v and_o conceal_v the_o savage_a barbarity_n of_o his_o natural_a disposition_n and_o to_o appear_v soft_a and_o good_a nature_a that_o during_o the_o first_o five_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n his_o subject_n can_v not_o but_o applaud_v his_o lenity_n and_o indulgence_n while_o he_o deserve_o glory_v that_o in_o all_o that_o time_n he_o have_v not_o shed_v one_o drop_n of_o blood_n through_o the_o whole_a extent_n of_o his_o empire_n domitian_n imitate_v he_o in_o his_o clemency_n to_o the_o end_n that_o like_o he_o he_o may_v afterward_o fly_v out_o into_o all_o manner_n of_o cruelty_n in_o a_o word_n the_o clemency_n of_o these_o two_o tyrant_n be_v feign_v and_o concert_v artificial_a and_o deceitful_a and_o we_o say_v that_o it_o be_v a_o sly_a trick_n like_o that_o of_o some_o beast_n that_o suffer_v people_n to_o come_v near_o and_o handle_v they_o that_o they_o may_v the_o more_o easy_o devour_v the_o people_n so_o delude_v within_o their_o reach_n the_o good_a humour_n of_o prince_n be_v frequent_o the_o cause_n of_o their_o clemency_n whether_o that_o good_a humour_n proceed_v from_o the_o disposition_n of_o their_o body_n or_o from_o some_o secret_a satisfaction_n of_o their_o desire_n and_o passion_n for_o as_o often_o as_o we_o be_v please_v ourselves_o we_o have_v a_o inclination_n to_o please_v other_o and_o to_o grant_v they_o what_o they_o desire_v and_o what_o they_o earnest_o request_v when_o clemency_n be_v too_o frequent_a and_o customary_a with_o a_o prince_n it_o be_v so_o