almost comprehends every thing But if any one should ask me what it is I should find my self much to seek I do not wonder at it said the Chevalier for a thing of so large an extent looks too many ways and hath too many appearances and shadows to be expressed in two or three words Those who say that honesty consists in living and dying well only vary the terms without clearing the question Besides if one should not dye he might notwithstanding by living be an honest man nay he might by that means make a greater progress therein To have a more distinct knowledge of it we may look upon it in it self separated from all other things that are not of it or foreign to it and consider it by all sorts of lights Tell me what you believe of it said the Mareshal I should be glad to see whether we have the same thoughts in a thing of this consequence I know said the Chevalier that you must needs understand it rightly because you make use of it always as your guide and if that Idaea which I have of it be good it must without doubt be conformable to yours For perfect honesty is always the same in what subjects soever it is found although the difference of Time and Fortune makes it appear very differently But under whatever form it shews it self it always pleaseth and by that it may principally be known for the true Agreements come not from a simple superficial or a slight appearance but from a great stock of Wit or Merit which mingles and shews it self in all that one says and in all the actions of ones life It seems to me that it affects not to make a mystery of any thing that as it avoids all extreams it endeavours not to hide nor to shew it self Its first appearance hath not so much lustre as either to dazle or to surprise people but when we come to consider her we find that it hath so much Grace in every thing that is offered of good or ill of serious or pleasant that one would think that all things are alike to it and agreeable And if there be any parts so disadvantagious that it would be impossible for the Graces themselves to act them well it knows well how to refuse them I find that it is not cruel but willing to excuse and pardon and it is so far from raising it self upon the misery of another that it is always ready to help those that are so It makes all those who depend upon it happy so far as Fortune permits and if it be not in its power to do that at least it makes no body sad it is careful to avoid that even in the smallest things If it jests sometimes its mirth and gayety tends only to the delight even of those whom it makes sport with It is never so much satisfied with it self but that it is sensible that there is still something beyond what it can pretend to it seeks no false advantages but on the contrary if occasion offers not it self we must many times guess at that which is best in it It s own interest deludes it not and if it so happens that an honest man be accused although his life be aimed at he makes not use of all sorts of Arguments and Reasons to defend himself but that little he says makes every body regret that they offended him Represent to your self Socrates Scipio or some others of that rank for I observe that those people are as it were above Fortune at least they are not transported with prosperity and what misfortune soever attacqueth them although they are never heard to say that their vertue doth not forsake them yet we may find that they have more than enough to support them I find that honesty always judges well although it be very cautious in deciding it prefers Choice before Abundance and hath more care of being neat and cleanly than richly drest and values those things that are least in sight more than those that are soon discovered Do you not take notice likewise that it hath more regard to Merit than to Fortune that it is not subject to be prejudiced against any body that which disorders narrow Souls surpriseth it very little and the opinion of the World hinders it not from understanding the true value of things I believe it depends but little either upon time or place and that he who can attain so far as to be an honest worthy man in his Cottage would be the same in all the the Courts of the World But there are many things necessary to the being a worthy honest man And although some may pass for such at the Courts of great Princes we must not therefore conclude that there is nothing wanting in them unless they can be so every where and amongst all sorts of people Many observations might be made if any one would enlarge upon this Subject But to conclude 't is observed that honesty hath this in it it leaves a kind and tender remembrance always of it self in those who have once known it and carries it self so that every body is very glad to have obliged it But now after all this a Lady who was perfectly handsom and of so pleasing a wit and humour that even the handsomest Ladies could not chuse but love her asked me what an honest man was and an honest Woman for the expression is proper to both and when I told her my opinion of it and that she her self had discoursed very rationally of it she confessed that she thought all that which I told her was very necessary for the being that which she had asked But yet there was somthing more which was unexplainable and was better known by practice than by expression which as she imagined consisted in I knew not what of Nobleness that heightens all the good Qualities and which proceeds only from the heart and from the mind the rest is only the Train and Equipage of it This Lady said the Mareshal was very hard to be pleased for there was enough before for the making an honest man and I approve without exception of all that you have observed concerning it unless it be that which you said of pleasing and that it was an infallible proof of honesty It seems to me that people very often succeed in that as well by ill ways as by good nay and with more choice and splendour To that said the Chevalier one may answer in two words that there are some persons who understand true Merit and that it is a good sign when one pleaseth them But there are many more who judge not well and for those we have no great cause to rejoyce when we are so agreeable to them Howsoever it be said the Mareshal to examine honesty well whether we consider it in it self or in those things that it says and that it doth it still appears to be above every thing else and there is nothing so worthy of
we find but too many that are skilled in that way of discourse but for some other things which are less clear and not easie to be conceived one is many times puzled to express them as one has a mind to do 'T is true that a person may be said to be eloquent who first had the conception of them in what manner soever he makes others understand them Those who think well are never too long nor tedious for they seek words only to express their thoughts whereas others study more how to speak finely than how to express themselves As to exactness in speaking I find two sorts which have always good effects the one consists in discerning things as they are and without confounding them for if we fail never so little either in speaking or acting it is presently perceived and taken notice of this depends upon the Wit and Understanding The other justness or exactness of speaking appears in being able to judge of the decency of our expressions and in having true measures how far we ought to go and when to stop This which proceeds chiefly from the relish and judgment we have of things seems to me more doubtful and difficult The exactness of words pleases when it is without affectation and words are not played and gingled withal But I can assure you that one cannot have too much of that kind of justness of Speech which consists in the knowing how to make use of the aptest and most proper words and the best forms of speaking to infuse our thoughts into the minds of others in the same manner we desire neither more nor less These exactnesses are always approved of provided we be not too severe and rigorous in expecting them from others and that we remember that Roman Lady before whom one might not so much as trip for as she was one day pressing and playing upon an excellent man who was something intangled and out of order he told her she was in the right but that she was a little to blame to take away the pleasure of freedom and negligence We are much more civil to Ladies now a-days said the Mareshal than they were in those times and whatever they say now does not discompose any body that understands the World They may venture at any thing especially when they are handsom But an accomplisht person though of never so much merit ought not to be too confident of himself yea the more he excels others the more care he ought to take not to prescribe to the Company but to be complying For naturally every one is afraid of a Master-wit I love those persons who always shew some Wit without offending any one and I perfectly hate those who make use of it only to the displeasing of others It is good to avoid the converse of such as much as one can for this humour proceeds from the pride and maliciousness of their nature which mingles it self in all their actions There are others of them who are more rash than malicious who to vent a Jest will make sport with and play upon every body without considering the consequences What advantage is it to have Wit if one cannot make use of it for the gaining of the good opinion and love of the World One may withdraw and absent ones self if things go not to ones mind but when we come into Company we should carry our selves so that we may be acceptable to those persons with whom we are although we have no great kindness for them For those who think to revenge themselves by a cross Carriage do to themselves more injury than they do to others I know some also who are froward and disagreeable out of a principle of envy This is a fault which disgusts me most of all which discovers a mean Spirit and a narrow Wit For if one well understood what Life and Fortune is it would incline one rather to pity than envy those whom the World thinks happy I have seen some obscure persons and of very ordinary capacities who would equal themselves with the chief men of the World and who by no means would consent to nor allow of their reputations There are others who would gladly please and gain love but neither honour truth nor the benefit of those who hear them can make them say any thing unless it tends directly to their own proper advantage 'T is an ill way they take for the World thinks not well of those who are only for themselves but it always approves of those who endeavour to advance the reputations of those that deserve it Sir said the Chevalier your Art is marvellous For the thing that was in question was only concerning the exactness of Language or something like it yet by degrees and almost insensibly you are fallen upon the discourse of the Commerce of the World and you have described those persons who make ill use of their Wit and who only speak for their own interest which shews that you have observed the Court and that you are not well pleased with the Principles and Manners of it I shall only add to that which you said just now That when any one speaks whatsoever design he may have that of pleasing should always be one but that ought not to be the sole or principal end Nature tends only to things necessary There is nothing in the fairest body of the World which is not necessary for life or motion Good chear is founded upon the necessity of eating and drinking Lodging must be had and that is the cause we love fine houses for at first we only seek those things we cannot want and afterwards we proceed and desire the pleasure into the bargain if we may be allowed to speak so as an accidental thing which rejoyces us though we did not expect it I allow said the Mareshal that a man take the liberty to express himself let it be in what way he pleases and I understand you very well I believe the best way to improve ones self and become knowing is not to study over-much but to entertain our selves often and discourse of those things that open the Understanding And it would be good if I mistake not to accustom our young Prince to this and to place people about him who might instruct him in that manner As for such Ladies as are placed about him I do not see that there need be such care in the choice of them I confess I should only have a regard to those of the pleasantest humour to keep him always chearful For excepting a very few the wisest of them appear to me to have little sense though otherwise they may please You judge well that from some certain agreeableness in the face or shape we can conclude nothing concerning the Understanding And those who are able to discern one from the other are seldom deceived The World will not allow Women to be wise said the Chevalier but I know not why unless it be perhaps because
smartness and frowardness will at length tire them I find that those Women who have the most wit like much better a little more reservedness and commonly those people are unfortunately disappointed of their aims that do not know that they are gained by the same ways that we are gained and likewise lost after the same manner They throw as it were their hearts at their heads and at first dash tell them more of their Love than can in any probability be true and many times more than they desire to hear They give them not time so much as to wish that they were loved and to taste of a certain sweetness which is only found in the progress of Love That pleasure must be long enjoyed to make Love last for ever there is but little pleasure in obtaining that which we have not very much desired and when we have it so easily we accustom our selves to neglect it and commonly come there no more But troubel not your self about Ladies for our young Prince there will enough offer themselves when the time comes As they were speaking one came to tell them that there was something in dispute amongst the Ladies who were as I told you at play in another Room and they desired them to come and give their opinion It could not have happened more opportunely said the Mareshal just when we were so seasonably upon the Theme of Ladies For if we would not displease any of them we had need to summon all our wits to judge between them Let us do the House right and we will conclude for this day To morrow I will expect you and give order that we may not be disturbed THE SECOND CONVERSATION THose who are at the Court make more Friends and Acquaintance than those who live retired But of that number of Friends few of them are really so and for the most part they are as little understood by any of the Court as they themselves perfectly understand the Court Not that it is so as 't is generally said That Courtiers love nothing and that they study their own interest more than how to discern and esteem true merit For peoples hearts and minds are much the same there as in other places and Interest sways through all the World But in that place we are divided amongst so many people that every one has but a little of us and that superficially according as every one desires and commonly we fix not upon any one either to love or perfectly to understand The Chevalier who had seen the Mareshal so much abroad in the World and who knew well enough that he was a very gallant man yet had not so great an opinion of him then when he seldom saw him as now and having frequented him seven or eight days in retirement he knew not how to be absent from him He therefore failed not to come the next day as they had appointed and being with him betimes he engaged him to pass the morning at play and before they left off he ordered it so that they should be obliged to set to it again after dinner though it was a great delight to him to hear him discourse yet he always found some invention or other to hinder him from speaking much For the Mareshal to whom any great agitation was hurtful was easily moved and contrary to the custom of other persons that are much in the World and who dive but little into things is excessively thoughtful and speaks often with much eagerness and with as much action as if he were in perfect health They plaid only to pass the time as one ought always with true friends for if high play destroy not friendship yet it may lessen it After they had played a long time the Mareshal spake of going into a Meadow by the side of a little River which runneth at the foot of the Town but the heat of the day being not yet past he began to walk in the Chamber and told the Chevalier he was thinking of that Queen of Egypt As I was rising this morning said he I was laughing at that man that you represented to me I fancied that I saw him with her entertaining her with such fine things as martial men use to say to Ladies That which pleased you said the Chevalier was that you have no cause to fear if you should meet with any persons that are so nice and delicate Not too much of that said the Mareshal for I should be apt enough to shew something of my Profession if I had not a care And some persons have done me the favour to give me an Item of it and to say the truth I have but little Learning and you cannot imagine how I am vexed at it but I hope my Children will be more knowing than their Masters themselves Do not regret so much said the Chevalier that having studied so little you have only lost a little Latine by it which they would have taught you That is very much replied the Mareshal if there were nothing else but besides would they not have instructed me in those Sciences which my Friend X. esteems so much As he was enlarging himself upon the discourse which he had had with that Friend You speak not like a man without Learning said the Chevalier that which I have now heard from you would make you be admired and in truth you know very much for a Souldier and a great Courtier The Mareshal began to laugh and told him that he knew nothing of the Science but their names The Masters themselves replied the Chevalier know but very little more They would have taught you all that which they ordinarily teach others with much expence of time and great pains and you should not have understood the more nor been more learned unless perhaps by that means you might have been undeceived as to the value you set upon them What you say answered the Mareshal after a little consideration in probabilty may be true and you make me call to mind how I have spent whole days with this man to hear him discourse of the Sciences I confess freely to you that it always happened that I could not apprehend him the more he took pains to explain himself the less he made himself understood For to judge of Philosophy by the Idaea that he gave me of it I represented it to my self like the night and I asked him whether it were essential to it to be dark and obscure This said he is a very fair beginning I have known those who have been longer at it who could not have said so much But to disguise nothing to you all this is never well understood but when it is learned in our Youth One understands it not the better said the Chevalier for being exercised in it in our youth but we are less surprised with the obscurity of it These people are accustomed from their youth to speak of all things without discerning any thing distinctly That which they say
a great Prince It is true said the Chevalier that it is amiable and that it inspires respect although it be forced to be silent and unactive but you have hit upon the two things which give lustre the speaking and the actions all depend upon that and it was that says Homer which the Learned Chiron taught to young Achilles That Master said the Mareshal without doubt had great skill he made a Scholar that the World hath talked of and if that we see so few of so high and extraordinary a Worth it must needs be the fault of the Governors As he ended these words he saw Gamesters come in who came to divert him and that put an end to the Conversation THE SIXTH CONVERSATION THE Chevalier came to the Mareshals house who had passed the Afternoon at play He came just as the Game was ended and the Gamesters were retiring The Mareshal who had a mind to go abroad was glad to see him come so opportunely to have him with him I will not ask you said he whether you are for walking for I know very well you love to look upon the different colours which are in the Sky when the Sun sets and that it is a pleasure to you to breathe the fresh Air in the Evening I am only in doubt of which side we should go That Wood where we were the other day would please me much but we must cross the Town to go to it and the way is very rough I doubt besides whether we shall have time enough I suppose said the Chevalier that it will be best to go the lower way along by the Water-side which advice was followed and they went on that side as far as to the end of the Meadow where they stopt because they could not go further with the Coach and alighted to walk by the River side The Mareshal loved not to be long silent and it happened luckily for him and for those who frequent him who were always glad to hear him He had been so imployed at play that he had scarce said any thing all the day He began at the first to speak of some things which he had most a mind to and after some discourse upon that Subject We must not said he look upon Kings with the same eyes as we do upon private persons the most part whereof have little other aim than to live contentedly and at ease though a man of ability doth always study most how to purchase love and esteem I know very well what false glory is a worthy honest man regards it not and the wisest despise it but it seems to me that the more Courage and Wit a man hath the more he loves true Honour and if there where any one who could not acquire that although he hath all other things to be wished he would nevertheless be much to be pitied at least if he were of a generous noble Nature and if you observe it people are less willing to pardon those injuries which touch upon their Honour than any other And when they find themselves touched on that side they think they cannot enough resent it Also to say the truth that which makes people so much desire great Imployments and high Commands is not for the conveniencies of life for our lives are made by them the more troublesom but it is the hopes of having an opportunity to make it appear that they have Merit in them But this nevertheless for a private person cannot extend it self far nor be but of short continuance But Kings are looked upon by all the Earth and Posterity which never flatters any body will be Judge of their Merit Glory is their greatest and their chiefest Interest All the Heroes and all the great Men have devoted and given themselves up to it One had need be able faithful and zealous to give them good counsel in this particular and principally they ought well to understand in what true Glory consists and by what means it may be acquired It is said that Parmenio that great Captain whose only aim was to vanquish counselled his Master to surprize the Enemy because of their great number and to assault them by the favour of the night But this Prince who made it not so much his aim to gain the Battel as to make his Valour be admired would fight them in the day time being resolved to lose all both his Life and Fortune rather than to run the hazard of having cause to blush at his Victory The same man counselled him also to divide Asia with the Persians and to receive great Treasures which they proposed to him This advice he received no better than the other he had a heart too Imperious to suffer any one to be equal with him and too high to love Gold and Riches His desire tended only to glory and if he did not always know what was the best and most solid it was because he was yery young and that he saw himself at the top of Fortune Besides he grasped at so many things that he could not well have a due regard to every thing that he undertook and he was also easily transported The smallest errours that Princes commit are sometimes of great consequence to their reputation and I should advise them if they would trust my Judgment to consider often in what manner the greatest Men would carry themselves if they had their parts to act It is no ill way to advise a Prince to do that which is most honest and likewise most heroick We have seen already that it is that which befits him best and if we look further into things concerning this World we still find in all manner of respects that this at last is the best Both Heaven and Fortune seem to have a particular care of these great hearts who are negligent and resign up themselves The bravest for the most part prevail and an high resolution hath been the saving of many more people than it hath lost The more this Prince whom I was speaking of sought after death the further it was from him and if he were wounded as it is almost impossible for any one to throw himself continually into danger and never to be so it was at least without being ever killed or overcome However it is not to be wished that a Prince should hazard himself so much or that he should only know that way to glory for besides that it would put us in continual Alarms for so precious a life it appears to me below a great Prince to expose himself on all occasions and if you well consider it it is not that which most shews the greatness of ones Soul and the contempt of death I think it much better to march towards death with a steddy pace like Socrates than to precipitate ones self upon it like Alexander for this is to effect a very difficult thing very easily which shews a heart to be more firm and resolute There are some Soveraigns who we can