laid aside when time serves What is 't you expect perhaps the old Kings death perhaps yee hope better in a new succession A good Prince is seldome followed by a better a bad one often by a worse Nature proceeds thus in humane things evill of it selfe alwayes increaseth good alwayes diminisheth Who will make the sonnes better than the father Their temperature is composed of the blood of two wicked ones they are educated by a Tyrant borne in a commanding Family more proud than Tarquin for they are likely to bee more insupportable who brought up in good fortune have no reason to remember or feare bad To say that good Princes ought to be begg'd of the gods and to be borne withall be they what they please is an instruction how to live but not how to live well it belongs to slaves not free men it hath respect rather to the retchlesnesse of subjects than honour When a Prince cannot be made good he ought to bee driven out bad as he is he is not to bee suffered who by sufferance becomes worse The world is growne so corrupt that a good Prince is not so much as to be hoped for Wisedome makes him not bee the more esteemed but craft the names of things are changed goodnesse is tearmed simplicity Tyranny policie and a Prince is thought so much the greater by how much more hee hath inlarged his Empire or Authoritie nor are the meanes examined how hee inlarged them he is praised onely because hee hath inlarged them Tarquins lust is not extinguished by Lucretias death 't will bee more raging if it remaine unpunished The calamities of others may be a lesson to you 't is true the good which is learned by what befalls ones selfe is counterpoysed by disasters he knowes much to whom much hath befalne but who can learne by another mans harme say hee be lesse wise hee is for certaine more fortunate To conclude bee a Prince never so good hee ought alwayes be feared because he is powerfull and 't is better to die soone than to live long in feare Let your bosomes be no more exposed to the losse of blood for the increase of that city which belongs to another by the gaines whereof you reape nothing but blood and wounds are you not aware that you c◅nquer Nations to Tarquins tyranny that by bringing others into bondage you make your owne slavery the greater and that like wood you augment that flame which doth consume you No longer suffer that your hands accustomed by deeds of fame to bring home glorious triumphs wherewithall to adorne the Capitoll be practised in sordid labour and emptying vaults of foule uncleannesse Goe to Citizens deceive your selves no longer through ignorance of your selves hence forward know your owne strength loyter no longer in an enterprise which can by nothing bee made difficult but by loytering Now that you have one to lead you you will not want followers First motions against a Tyrant are difficult to move is to overcome 't is hard to finde a leader every one will follow a leader being found All mens wills are alike opposite to Tyrants they are not alike shewne because all are not alike daring I le be your head to drive out your king your companion in forming of a common wealth the first in danger the last in happinesse Brutus his words make a sudden impression in the people he who would have them follow him needs no other bait than the name of liberty For ought I know 't is a word of inchantment which hath not its force within but without its selfe for I know not what it is If by liberty bee intended a power of doing what one will 't will turne to licentiousnesse and that government which hath most thereof will be worst If thereby be meant a power of doing what is convenient it needed not bee parted from Principality under which what is convenient hath no lesse place than under a Common-wealth and if therby be understood a power of commanding others 't is so much lesse for the Common people which obey by how much their servitude is extended to a number of masters but 't is but a Chimera which men faine unto themselves to bring their wils to passe and oftentimes to sweeten the beginning of a bitter servitude Barbarous people come sometimes to that height of ignorance that though their feet bee shackled they thinke their liberty confists in the tongue The opinion which was held of Brutus his foolishnesse stood him in good stead they thinke it forebodes something to heare one speake so well who they hardly did beleeve could speake his speech was then of so much more force by how much it was formerly thoughtfull of weaknesse they looke for no cunning in a man whom they judge in his p◅ris naturalibus Men who are accounted very wise are by their wisedome greatly injured men either hearken not to what they say or weigh not what they hearken to Every word breeds doubts they thinke demonstrations to be the deceits of knowledge and not the efficacy of truth as if knowledge were a kind of leger de maine which cozeneth the eye sight By reason of this fatality of not beleeving the advice of the wise so many men families common wealths and kingdomes run to ruine Brutus departs and at the same time but by another way when he goes to the army where he is with applause received Tarquin comes to Rome where as an exilde man he is repulst 'T Is easie to shut the doore against one that is abroad but 't is hard to drive one out that is within 'T was observed as a maxime by a wary Tyrant and 't was written by a discreet writer that the Metropolis of the Empire is never to be abandoned for whatsoever cause He who is upon the place sees the originall of tumults and because beginnings are usually weak he easily hinders their proceedings who with courage without delay maks head against them Many things in the world resemble smoake their beginning is but smal their end great and many resemble the winde whose beginning is boysterous and end weake He saves himselfe from the former who suffers them not to increase from the later he who suffers them to blow over progresse of time may be expected in the one where the other ought to be smotherd in the cradle Melancholy men are apt to overcome such difficulties as are strongest in the beginning cholericke mē such as gather their force by peecemeale Tarquin retires towards the Tuscans and is followed by two of his sons His youngest son Sextus flies to the Gabins where in stead of being received he was slaine A Tyrant either stands on the top of the wheele or fals to the bottome his fortune findes no meane where to take footing the wheele no sooner turns but he fals headlong downe The Gabins who formerly did receive him when clad like a Lambe which flies from the Wolfe now knowing him better opened
the most hardy follow him they drive Metius into a moorish ground where both parties meet with all their forces the one to succour their Captain the other to oppresse the enemie THe death of valiant Leaders is the losse of battels the danger of death is the cause of Victory all run to the battell as well out of hopes of reward by freeing of him as feare of losse in losing of him all dangers ought to be shunned when the State is in safetie The businesse was doubtfull when amidst bloud and dead bodies the Sabin women came running forth treading underfoot their own feare with the feare they had of others with haires about their eares their garments rent and turned towards their brethren towards their parents TOo late said they is Rape revenged now when Violence is turned to Love Rape to Matrimony and by that Matrimony children are had we are mothers we are wives who is it you will revenge if there be none that suffer offence but in being revenged You cannot redresse our losses and you take from us our recompense you revenge our long agoe lost virginitie by bereaving us of the fruits we have thereby received you revenge your sisters Rape with the slaughter of your brethren in law if you desire revenge pardon the innocent let them only suffer death who are the occasions of so great evils Though we be without fault it may in some sort bee termed a fault to have beene the occasion of great mischiefe Wherefore endevour you with your weapons to pierce our husbands bowels they love your sisters but we your enemies Cut off these armes which have so oft served for chaines about their neckes pierce these breasts which give suc◅e unto your enemies let the injuries of kisses and embraces be cancelled by wounds and bloud O how much more unhappie are we in being revenged than in being ravished deare husbands cast away your weapons suffer your selves to bee slaine in a warre where it is more glorious to lose than to overcome where victory is parricide Such like and more ardent passions proceeded from the mouths eyes of the grieved Sabine women when both sides made a stand either inchanted by their laments or induced thereunto by danger which being equall they stood more in need of interposal than perswasion THere hath alwayes beene a scarcitie of men who love to interpose themselves in businesse the shame of yeelding hath ruinated more Princes than the coveting to overcome how many are there that have cast away themselves for want of some that would disswade them Heat and cold meet together in luke-warme for contraries often joyne if they have a meane But those who want a meame never unite but consume one another In the already wearied affaires and dangerous to all sides wise men doe willingly intercede and are rather the occasion than the cause of accommodation for hee easily suffers himselfe to bee perswaded by another who was already perswaded by himselfe contrary Elements when they are weary of fighting appease themselves in mixture FOrc'd mariages amongst Strāgers begin with warre and end in peace because they have those women alwayes as mediatours for peace who first caused the warre Voluntary marriages amongst friends are worse they serve for ballance to some present accōmodatiō they begin in laughter and end in teares but they are worst of all when they are violent inforst betweene enemies for such matches having not any one good moment the tyes of love serve for incitements of hatred The uprore being ceased the one and the other Captaine meet in the midst to become friends and as not hatred alone but rather desire of rule had share in the warre so had it also place in the peace OH the deceitfulnesse of man which makes the desire rule seeme necessitie of revenge there is too great a difference betweene the true and pretended cause the formers thoughts are wholly bent upon the State the latters upon particular persons the one after a little vent having anger for its ground vanisheth the other keeps still its station beco◅es hereditary in our posterity by acquiring what it desires it increaseth the end serves for a beginning and sometime serves for the occasionall meanes and for such a covetous desire the world is too narrow wee doe destroy our owne desires wee hinder our end whilst we doe endevour it and as most inhumane in the most humane affection we kill those out of a desire of rule which being dead cannot be ruled What other passion is there in man by seeking to satisfie the which part of that is lost which is able to satisfie This affection was placed in all men to tender the rule over al difficult to one alone nor would this peradventure suffice did not every one hinder it in himselfe facilitating his being overcome by overcomming our very body it selfe whilst we endevour that it may live wee bring it nearer death so as we cannot so much as therein overcome our enemies without losse of our friends The victory which by Physicke we obtaine over our diseases weakens us more and more and at the last we lose at once with as much facilitie as at another time wee were with violence victorious we have need of as much force to keepe a State as to win it People which are overcome by bloud in being subjected make the Conquerour subject to service by their losse they hinder his rule they put a period to his victory things sublunary are not eternall because all who are actors by winning lose and suffer by working Those Princes may be called fortunate who inherit their States those wise who finding them full of malecontents winde themselves smoothly into them those most happy who wi◅hout losse of bloud by reputation only or some such like meeanes make themselves masters of them these like Rivers the further they goe the greater they become whereas they who have need to use force in conquering lose it by using it and like Bees whilest they hurt another lose their sting These end the warre joyning together with their minds their Cities a more profitable agreement for Rome because she thereby grew greater than would have beene the victory which would have lessened her The Sabins would free their Country of one infirmitie and drawing from out of her her best bloud they expose her to death by every little accident they would extinguish Rome and they make her greater they bring stones to stone withall and they use them for building the chiefe Sabins become Senators Titus Tatius partner with the King HE might well enough have knowne by the example of Rhemus that it was safer to be Romulus his enemie than his companion Examples if they be of actions which have had good successe they make us more fervent in them and though of such as have had bad events they make us notwithstanding cease to goe on because men have greater hope of good fortune than feare of bad they feigne a likelihood
and buried his death not being knowne A like case from a differing cause and differing end because it was effected by different agents God because hee saw the Israelites addicted to idolatry that they might not adore Moses as God would not suffer them to see his bones buried Gods adversary out of a desire to keepe and continue the Romans Idolaters to the end that Romulus may bee adored as a God procures that his death bee not knowne nor his bones seene the one because hee is not found is not worshipped the other is worshipped because he is not found Romulus his morall faults were the rape of the Sabine women the death of his brother and of his collegue his politicall error was onely his indowing the Senate with so much power and then his bereaving them of it The government of a State is but a slippery path one onely bad action is sufficient to ruinate a Prince who hath beene raised up by a thousand good ones I doe not remember that ever any Ruler sped amisse for having left authority to the Senate but oft for having taken it from them If men commit errors men ought to bee punished and not the calling and if the calling be feared wherefore was it ordained but it is not feare which causeth such wickednesse it is the violent thirst after rule otherwise they would not leave the condition when they take away the authority being no lesse subject to their possibility of reuniting than of command the institution and permission of Senators in the original of commands is not only done that subjects may be content with their servitude but because Princes are really satisfied with what they ordaine It is the nature of beginnings not the art of ruling Who prepares for a great leap is content to arrive at the side of the ditch but afterwards stayes not there mans understanding because it hath not in this world any adequate end coveteth as an end any thing that seems desirable unto it and it hath no sooner compast that end but it makes use thereof as a medium to arrive at some other end which was first hidden from it by the former and continues to be the desired end till it be obtained a little master-hood seemes enough where there is none at all but where there is but a little enough seemes nothing if all be not had Romulus in his beginning was followed by the noblest sort because he won upon them by conferring on them authority in his end he was hated by them for that hee incensed them by bereaving them of it Hee cannot suffer the Senate which he himselfe did institute and because they would have him as a companion whom they accepted for their Prince hee would make them slaves whom he tooke for assistant Officers both exceed their bounds they in obeying he in commanding The Senate which is made to assist the Prince thinkes onely how they may lessen him the Prince who ought governe the Senate seekes to destroy it that Magistracy in States is of duration which is content to execute as a Minister not to command as a Lord. I have nothing of misfortune to recount of Romulus save what was the occasion of his death and yet therein he was fortunate because it was sudden If there bee nothing else of evill in death but the troublesome cogitations of the minde and the painfull torments of the body both which doe precede it that death which is sudden preventing torments that which happens soone preventing the troubles of the mind should be esteemed best There is nothing better in generall than what is worst in the individuall the foundation whereon the Colossus of the world doth erect it selfe to manifest its beauty is death it is the most solid part of consort on which all descants doe depend What would there be after the losse of originall righteousnesse if men did not die the feare thereof holds in fortunate men the hope thereof withholds unfortunate men from wickednesse Who should take away death should take away the Corner stone from the worlds Fabrique should take away all Harmony all order and should leave nothing but dissonance and confusion the order of the universall is contrary to that of individualls The heavens which of their owne particular nature doe turne from West to East are by the universall nature carried every day from East to West Death can neither bee bad nor painfull if to die be naturall for naturall things are good I am of opinion that to end ones dayes in decrepit age is to fall asleepe not to die and say to die were to bee accounted amongst the worst of things yet to bee dead were certainly to be numbred amongst the best One must live as considering he must live alwayes not that hee must once die the Soule which is that which understands ought not to thinke of death for shee never dies and if the Soule doe not the Body cannot feare it because it knowes it not as that which by meanes of contemplation is a dead carkas before it be dead Wherefore should the Soule rather feare than desire the death of the Body which is burthensome unto her and why should not the body also be desirous to bee bereft of its imperfections it leaveth frailty to put on immortality it dyes base and may rise glorious death is alwayes good but appeares sometimes to bee bad because they are sometimes bad who dye let a man live innocent for he shall bee joyd at the remembrance of death not terrified and were not natures frailty subject to lapse I should be sory shee should bee provoked to do good out of the feare of death or allured by the love of reward the very foule ill favorednesse of doing ill ought to be a sufficient feare and the comelinesse of having done well a sufficicent reward and if a man would consider that rewards are received he might consider what reward he hath already received when of nothing hee was created to immortality nor am I any whit the more satisfied with well doing out of gratitude but much when good is done out of love due to the infinitely lovely Nature of GOD. Let us then say I doe not only love thee Lord because thou hast created me but I will returne againe to nothing for thee I doe not love thee because thou hast promised mee the beatificall vision of thy divine Essence but I will goe even into hell for thee I doe not love thee my God for feare of evill for if it bee thy Will I covet it as the greatest good I love thee because thou art altogether lovely because thou art all Love it selfe Lord if I love thee not as I instruct others to love thee assist the weaknesse of my nature with the efficacy of thy helps Stir up my understanding direct my will whilest to the Glory and Honour of thy great Name in the which I desire to end my life I put an end to this my Booke Where the
through pitie or policie If he be compassionate he knowes not how to be cruell if politick he thinkes the present times will not last long his thoughts are busied on times to come he hath one eye upon the Tyrant another upon him that shall succeed him and hee endevours more to save himselfe than to secure his Prince He exposed them therefore to the standing waters of Tybur in the midst of a spatious shelfe where when the river eb'd they were left upon the drie sands TO have the command of people and to float upon the waters have such a proportion betweene them as many Princes have in their tendrest yeares beene exposed to the fortune of this element or in their riper yeares have beene summoned to passe over it Waters have somewhat of sympathie with the common people they sustaine light things suffer what is heavie to sinke they are tumultuous and inconstant easie to be withstood when calme not so when troubled their force increaseth when it meets with an obstacle but who goes with the streame goe the waters never so high reapes profit by them The little ones lament and to their whinings comes in a Wolfe or woman in manner or name conformable to such a beast which gave them sucke there the shepherd Faustulus found them and fashioning unto himself reall beauties in the majestie of their countenances as if the Stars did foretel to them some great good event being smiled on by the one and allured by the other he resolves to save them PRinces have somewhat more than other men in the majestie of their countenance in their tutelary Angels and in the influences of the Starres Some call a Prince an Heroe Truth it selfe cals him a god nor had the Gentiles beene much out had they not by equivocating from the similitude to the essence added to the Name of God adoration the common people because they thinke him more than man wonder if he be but equall to other men are offended if hee be inferiour Princes ought not suffer themselves bee measured who suffers competition not sure to win is sure to lose somewhat of more than from others is required from him that hath somewhat of more than others This Shepherd gladded carried the Children to his owne house and delivered them to his wife Laurenza that shee might bring them up The waters beare them up a wilde beast gives them sucke a shepherd takes them up and joyes to bee joyned a minister with the waters and wilde beasts in these adventures which might alreadie bee discerned in these miraculous events THe Heavens never send forth any great signes which have not a particular relation to some great personages for they are the univeâ—…sall cause of all things and whilst they produce effects which seeme to have relation to one only if hee be a Prince it hath an universall operation for the people are partakers with their Princes in his gaines losses vertues and vice They were not much advanced in yeares when exercising their strength and valour amongst the woods in the day-breake of their youth might bee discerned the bright Sunne-shine of riper yeares HUnting is a kind of warfare and is more seemely than any other hostility in as much as the dominion over beasts is more na turall than over men The pursuit of timorous beasts doth not become a Prince it may peradventure advantage him in the knowledge of situations but for ought else it only teaches how basely to runne away from those of greater power or else to pursue with poore reputation such as doe not defend themselves These young youths did exercise themselves in the chase of fierce beasts thereby inuring their bodies to hardnesse and their minde not to feare danger where the spoiles of the slaughtered prey serve for trophies erected to the valour of the hunter in a short space they left preying upon wild beasts and fell to pursue such men who barbarously preyed upon other men where guided by valour having wonne reputation and being followed by a number of countrey people they freed those parts from robbers and made themselves chiefe head of all the neighbouring Shepherds MEn cannot live happy where they live not safe therforâ—… is it that Cities are built thâ—… Princes are accepted of and impositions tolerated The ancient Idolaters amongst the rest of their gods placed him for one who made safe unto them their leasure times These doe all honour due to a Prince to those who did discharge the dutie of a Prince VAlour is a dumbe eloquence which drawes all men unto it either for that they admire it feare it or doe thereby receive benefit selfe-interest begins at the high concave superficies of the Moone and penetrates even to the poorest shepherds cottage it had its beginning with the world that it might first maintaine and then destroy the world it is the morall Philosophie of the world which penetrates even into the most solide parts man would not onely predominate over man but Element over Element and when the one shall have compassed his intent the other will have done so also for the world will end with the selfe respect wherewith it did begin Such as did live by rapine did not well brooke the actions of these brothers and being desirous of revenge whilst Romulus and Remus did assist at the celebration of some sports dedicated to the honour of god Pan with more confidence than becomes any who thinkes it lawfull to offend others they set upon them taking Remus prisoner brought him before Amulius notwithstanding his enmitie to theeves as one that committed outrage in his Majesties grounds TO take from others the means whereby they were wont to live would goe hand in hand with taking away their lives but that it is worse in that it leaves way for revenge which continuall losse causes continually be desired an injury in honour is of no force in basely minded people it is of power enough in generous hearts yet oft it vanishes away with time as that which hath no other foundation than opinion in the death of friends and allyes those who are farre off leave the revenge to those whom it most concernes those who are nearer at hand comfort themselves in the good they thereby purchase content themselves therewithall and whilst their minde is set upon peaceable enjoying they forget revenge To be wrong'd in a mans livelihood is the onely injury which admits not of oblivion for present povertie is intolerable to him that hath not beene thereunto accustomed it cals to minde the former more plentifull condition and losse which is not the least in aggravating offences is the greatest in provoking revenge The Shepherd Faustulus by the calculation of times was not ignorant of their birth being to the beleefe thereof the more incited by their magnanimous acts which did farre surpasse the soules of shepherds nor had he for all this intention of making their descent known till he were thereunto constrained by lawlesse necessitie or
they had driven away deny to send them women and some giving way to anger seeme to slight them with words I know not whether fuller of ignorance or weaknesse THey are little to bee feared whose tongues serve them for swords greater is the danger which is threatned by silence than the offence given by over much talke Anger which shewes it selfe is kindled in the spirits not in the humours and like powder it raises fire but doth retaine it it carries it out keepes it not within choler which vents it selfe by the mouth doth not vent it selfe by hands a mine which findes a vent vapors away makes no breach to offend with deeds is hostilitie with words malignitie the one is profitable to the Enemie the other fruitlesse and damage is more supportable than evill speaking because it is more reasonable The answer which together with dammage was accompanied with disrespect caused no small indignation amongst the Romans to make use of revenge they betake themselves to dissimulation Romulus faines himselfe sick they dedicate sports to his recovery and prepare for them with magnificence The neighbouring people together with their women flocke to see the sight thinking belike with safetie to present meat to the famished GReat was the errour certainly which was the cause thereof since that too much weaknesse sprung from too great confidence or too great rashnes frō too little valuation to deny the Romans women yet bring them to Rome to trust to them who they had despised not to feare the violence of necessity was one of those follies occasioned by curiositie Curiositie if devoted to the delight of sense is not praise-worthy if to the delight of the understanding it may admit excuse it is never free from blame if accompanied with danger too much and too little thereof argue equall weaknesse Women are made to stay at home not to wander abroad their delights ought to bee what delights their husbands by participation not propriety to bring them abroad to Festivals moves them that looke upon them to undervalue them if they be ill-favoured if handsome to lust after them look◅ how many friend◅ they get unto themselves so many enemies procure they unto their husbands within doores they may helpe without doores they cannot but be a trouble their conversation if it be pleasing to them who there they finde is for the most part displeasing to them that brought them thither Though they suffer not in coveting they suffer in being coveted if their company be shun'd who wishes your misfortune why is theirs pursued who wish your dishonour The vanity of men herein is more than it is of women they thinke to make themselves be envied and are caught in a noose when at last in stead of envie remaines compassion It is true that many value not what they possesse if others know it not but it is of lesse value if by making it knowne they lose it Reputation is a choice colour which feares the ◅ire it is a transparent Chrystall which is dim'd being looked upon by such as are lasciviously given All occasions of dangers ought alwayes to bee shunned where the danger trenches upon Honour The spectators were intent upon the sports when the signe being given the young men of Rome laid hold upon the strangerwomen their friends flie complaine of violated faith they call for vengeance to their gods at whose pastimes they were abused They ought rather to blame themselves than others more for being cause of their being taken away than for their being taken away IT is by so much more insufferable to lose by deceit than by force by how much it is better to be overcome by the body than by the understanding In force we have no shame because it is altogether without us but cosenage is by the policie of others built upon the foundations of our owne inconsideratenesse Wounds occasioned by force are asswaged by their occasion Fortune tho◅ which are caused by deceit are aggravated by complaining of th◅ occasion Improvidencie Nor were the Virgins lesse incenst than were thei◅ fathers Romulus perswades them with arguments drawne from the efficacy of necessity their husbands appease them with faire words drawne from the power of Love which coupled with admiration force was now no more complained of being accompanied with the praise of beauty the which being numbred amongst the happinesses of women left them no cause to complaine of being unfortunate Matrimony had already mitigated the Rape and the mariage-bed quieted the mindes of the Sabine dames when their friends clad all in mourning joyning anger to calamity did incite their neighbours and incensing the whole body of the people they assembled themselves before Titus Tatius a Sabine King where the Councell being met wee may suppose that one of them who was abused at the aforesaid sports spoke in this manner THe Romans demanded women and you denied them it was not s◅re an effect of chance if you all agreed in the deniall are then the reasons of their deniall now ceased because they are violently taken from you ought that be granted to force which was denied to love we that were deafe to their intreaties shall wee bee blinde to their violence wee refused to beare their supplications with patience shall wee endure their outrages with stupiditie shewing them that with us whilst to take by violence is safe there is nothing dangerous but to demand They make necessitie a cloake for their outrage that necessity which had wont heretofore to be the shield of the unfortunate and the cheering or encourageing of the fearfull is now become the cloake of these who are fortunate and the incitement of the rash they tooke from us our Citizens under title of safety they forst from us our women under colour of marriage they will likewise seize our Cities by claime of dowrie as they have had need of our daughters to increase their numbers so will they have need of our Countries to increase their estate And say the desire of reigne should cease amongst the Romans their once having offended us will serve for provocation to them to offend us at all times Favours conferd on any one are renewed thereby to continue the memory of the former Injuries are multiplied to secure ones selfe for those already done He who hath done wrong can hardly become a friend because he thinks the wrong'd party can never become his friend where friendship is not hoped for and injury hath beene received nothing but revenge is to be had the which retarded prolongs but makes the danger greater by taking away the advantage of prevention Whatsoever is suffered by force though sometime good effects ensue is alwayes harmefull because either it proceeds from envie or contempt neither doth patience serve the partie injured for ought else but to make them more insolent who account it weaknesse and to encourage them to offend yet more haynously those who easily beare injuries alreadie done if the suffering of injuries would cause
where there is none and where it is they make diversitie appeare either to incourage or not dishearten themselves Titus Tatius suffers himselfe to be blinded by being made companion in the Kingdome he quits his ancient Scepter where hee ruled alone to share in anothers he drinkes the poyson because the cups brim is sweetned hee perceives not how Rome growes because himselfe is the causer of it There is nothing so pleasing to man as this no cosenage that equals it it is the overthrow of the wisest the ruine of them that are most powerfull wee doe not in a straight line see in our selves things which are within us but by reflection in others ones owne beauty is not knowne without a glasse and he whom we have raised to greatnesse is the glasse wherein wee see our owne greatnesse his greatnesse is with contentment beheld and greater hee would be seene not for that it is he but that wee thinke it is our selves he is not suspected because ingratitude is not expected from him he is not feared because his is not valued to throw downe seemes to bee more easie than to build up it is true that Towers which are raised on high may at ones pleasure be throwne downe but not men Greatnesse is not wholly to bee attributed to any one who was not the sole causer thereof when the subject concurs not onely passively by receiving but actively by cooperating we call it an helping hand not an entire Fabrick hence it proceeds that when we thinke we have reared a greatnesse lesser than our owne wee finde that they themselves have reared unto themselves a greater These two Kings reigned a long time together with concord and agreement I wonder at Romulus who not being able for a few dayes to beare with the company of an associate given him by nature did for many years beare with it in a Competitour given him by Fortune but he perchance desired the death of his fellow King might proceed from fate or els expected what occasion time would afford him that he might not discover his brothers murther did proceed from desire of rule but zeale to Iustice. PResent faults make past excuses of no validitie for once a man may bee wicked and yet bee thought good the reiterating of vicious acts causes them be beleeved to proceed from mans depraved nature not from the necessitie of the occasion wary and vigilant men make shew alwayes to be good that they may be once bad to purpose and this is a greater vice than others because it borders neere upon vertue what better could bee expected from him who had no religion but selfe-respect no desire but glory no thought but how to rule alone who could nor suffer his brothers company the Senates assistance who for that hee would have no cause to feare God would be beleeved the son of a god The King loves no companion hee entertaines one because hee would have none a Kingdome should have two Masters if a King could suffer a companion the government of two is not displeasing to subjects because the number of the bad exceeding the number of the good they desire what is bad rather than what is good so if they erre they may have a place of refuge if they offend they shall be backt the losse of one Masters favour is a sure way to purchase the others good will all things are lawfull save what is lawfull and were it not that a Citie is first divided and then destroyed such a servitude would be more favourable than libertie at least it would be conformable to custome which cals living licentiously living at libertie a Kingdome is the government of one a Common-wealth of many the latter is lost by lessening the other by extension two good Masters doe oftentimes turne bad but two bad ones are seldome seene to turne good it were better they were three for so they might the more easily be reduced Titus Tatius was now in the fifth yeare of his reigne when some of his neighbours slew some of the Laurentinian Embassadours Romulus who till then had concealed any desire of discord with his Colleague now suffers it to breake forth cloaked by Religion and that hee himselfe might bee thought to bee pious and his Companion impious hee publikely sayes that the authour of so great a wickednesse ought be delivered up to the Laurentinians but he could not compasse his desire nor perhaps did he desire to compasse it Titus Tatius doth not consent that they shall bee punished shewing himselfe to bee an obstinate defender of those who were his though in things unjust The Laurentinians incouraged by this dissention or were it Romulus that did incourage them slew Titus Tatius as he was busied about some sacred action THe Subject commits a fault and the Master is slaine there would be no wicked men if there were no protectours of wicked men permission is protection The first faults are theirs who doe them the second theirs who permit them and the Prince shares in all if he punish not all The Sabins suspect that Romulus had a hand in their Kings death but hee as seeming to reverence Iustice and not to feare violence neither made shew of too much joy that hee might not seeme impious nor of over-much griefe that he might not seeme fearefull an affected semblance of griefe where the griefe may make appeare innocent where the fault is dangerous and the danger is of insurrection in my opinion is rather a harmefull than profitable advice IT is an argument of feare feare an argument of possibilitie of being offended and the act suddenly succeeds such possibility either knowne or beleeved who makes his people feare is made feare by his people their tumults are easilyer allaid by undaunted men than by wise men for they more esteeme the brest than the braine and are sooner compeld than perswaded A Prince can commit no greater errour than to seeme capable of offence What is possible is the onely object of the will nor doe men covet that which they thinke impossible to obtaine feare ought alwayes to bee had but never to be shewne Romulus renewes Truce with the Lavinians and whilest hee makes himselfe sure of these warre is brought home to his owne doore by the Fedenations but he assisted by artificiall cunning suddenly overcomes them TO say the truth fortune favoured the Romans all things concurred to their increase many might and none knew how to ruinate them at first when it was easie to oppresse them no one stird against them when they were increased in the common danger every particular will of himselfe undertake the warre and whereas all joyned together had overcome them each particular by them was overcome When they could not by weapons beat their enemies their women worke upon them by teares the last and fat all bulwarkes of the walls of Rome I Am not of their opinion who labour to prove that nothing but vertue had share in the Romans actions and therein
Author names Princes in wicked actions he means Tyrants and where hee writes of Fortune he understands her to bee a cause unknowne to us which as all others depend upon God the cause of all causes The end of Romulus TARQVIN THE PROUD BEHOLD a Serpent Tarquin the Proud hee is not alive so hee might kill hee is dead and consequently may heale he is not painted out only for delight he is described also for instruction you shall see him made to bow by his owne proper fruit who watered with the bloud of so many innocents like to the Cedar erects his head higher than all others You Princes or you who ere you bee that reade this Treatise decline this Serpent tend not this Cedar which in the beginning may seeme to contest with Heaven passe forwards turne backe againe and yee shall see him throwne head-long into Hell that eare tha◅◅hall take offence at the progresse of this acromaticall harmony of so many harsh Notes let it expect to see it set to such a cadence so harmoniously as may serve to salve all dissonances his Principalitie hath passed through It is never safer to write the actions of Tyrants than under the government of good Princes the dissimilitude of their manners will not permit them to beleeve that their actions are blamed whilest the faults of others are related My booke which otherwise is a Satyre of Tyrants is a Panagericke of Princes and if therein I sometimes praise Liberty I compare it with Tarquin I hold a good Principalitie as free as a bad Common-wealth tyranous all formes not corrupted are good I only know that for best which is possest for all change is very bad Wherein could I better serve the now present Princes than by putting their subjects in minde of the calamities of such as have preceded them People who now live know not their owne good fortune because they are borne in it I doe not desire they should be unhappy but that they should know they are happy I like not that they make triall of Tyrants but that they reade their lives then will a good Prince be reverenced when it shall be knowne that God sometimes permits bad ones And wherein could I d◅e better service to subjects than in writing of a Tyrant of Tarquin If those who write Tragedies have thought not onely to cause pleasure but likewise profit to Princes they have been deceived they make them most unprofitable when most pleasing then is the Tragicall person approved of when hee marches in the middle betweene vertue and vice then is the alteration of the Scene delightfull when the change is made unlooked for but such a person instructs not them because he only teacheth the like or else the contrary but so unlooked for an alteration of Scene instructeth not it terrifieth since as the worst of Princes are subject to dangers grounded upon reason so cannot the best withdraw themselves from events caused by Fortune They who write the Lives of such Tyrants as haply arrive in the Haven delight but ruine Princes they are well liked because some would follow their owne sensuality and be secure as if they thence might draw precepts how to live well and governe ill I write a usefull Tragedy the life of a Tyrant Prince who reigning without reason did with reason to a wicked beginning and worser progresse joyne an end worst of all To prescribe precepts unto Princes how to governe well hath in it somewhat of delightfull but it is a laborious I had almost said a proud undertaking they are for the most part Idea's their being lyes in the Intellect out of which they have no subsistance they are coveted formes and because impossible not obtained A point which in the abstract is individible is divided into many parts in the concrete may suffer infinit divisions I thinke examples fitter for the managing of such an affaire than precepts they tend both to the same end yet run not the like danger and in examples Princes are more pleased when compared with a worser than themselves than when with a better if the party spoken of surpasse them they listen to it with shame with emulation if hee equall them but if hee come short of them with glory Bad actions related of former Princes redound to the praise of the present if they be not found in them and say they be they make them yet bee borne withall Detraction is applauded and praise is not beleeved in the latter Truth purchaseth the name of flattery in the former malice the name of free spoken whence it proceeds that the lives of worser than our selves are both more willingly written and read than the lives of such as are better If I were fit to prescribe rules to Princes I could not choose a better meanes than by propounding the life of Tyrants it is much easier to say a Prince ought not to be thus than to say thus he ought to be the negative than the affirmative those who too severely restraine thē within certain narrow limits dishearten not instruct them whence it oftentimes ensues that having broken those narrow bounds and thereby thinking they have transgressed the Lawes of a good Prince they become head-long as bad as who is worst The goodnesse of Soveraignty doth not consist in one individuall point it hath its latitude and so depraved is humane nature that he is to be esteemed vertuous who is without vice hee exceeding good who is not bad All men have not the worth of Cyrus and though some have it they want the meanes of shewing it to propound his life for imitation to one who hath not his endowments is as much as to go about to erect the like building where are not the like foundations Al may easily abstain from Tarquins vices but all cannot imitate Cyrus his vertues he who hath not wings cannot mount towards the skies and who hath not the eyes of an Eagle cannot looke upon the Sunne All things of this world are so knit together that one depends upon another and upon that another who so takes one linke from this chaine breakes it In a Prince who hath won reputation courtesie begets good-will in another who is foolish it begets scorne because the linke of reputation is wāting many lines meet in one point many wayes lead to one place he that cannot goe the troublesome way let him goe the easie for if he arive not at his journeys end with so much praise he will yet get thither without blame To give instructions to Princes it behoves to looke into their nature and sometimes to be contented to allow him good when hee cannot bee better Servius was the last birth of regall power in Rome after him shee brought forth nothing but a monster Tarquin makes his entrance into the Kingdom by force hee may pursue therein with courtesie but he will make use of cruelty in the death of his wives Father hee shewes himselfe to be revengefull in leaving him unburied
proud in comparing him with Romulus irreverent A Princes death though violent if his whole Race cease in him is no impediment to the good government of him that succeeds if he be not a cause thereof himselfe through his bad government where there is none of the bloud there is no head where there is no head people doe but murmur they take no resolution the greatest provocations to revenge are either necessitie or profit friendship is maintained with men seldome with dead carkasses and if it remaine after death it is onely for compassion not revenge Princes ought then to assaile their subjects with good turnes not with weapons the present moveth more forcibly than what is past and though ancient friendship may hinder some one from applauding new benefits will retaine him from plots and machinations one who hath received a good turne either doth not budge against his Prince or if he doe is followed by none his past ingratitude teacheth others how dangerous it is to oblige him But what will you more wicked men for a punishment of their mis-doings are confident where danger is diffident where securitie Those cruelties which tend not to dominion are furious not discreet he who useth them is a cruel beast not a cruell man It seemes Tarquin did better love revenge than rule rather to have his hands blouded than his head crowned Princes are sometimes borne withall if necessity of government cause them be cruell but if they be so by instinct of nature they are alwayes hated Hee who feares hee hath taught others how to enter the Kingdome thorow that breach which he hath made by violence kils all such Senators as were friends to Servius If it be a hard matter to maintaine tyranny where a Tyrant is driven out it seemes impossible to maintaine it where a good Prince is expeld in such a case the Government cannot bee preserved from being lost for hee that will kil all the friends of a good Prince must kill all his subjects In the putting to death of one alone through cruelty a Prince obligeth himselfe to commit many the like facts the one springs from the other and the last is alwayes most fruitfull hee doubts the tye of Allyes he feares the hatred of their friends and to free himselfe from danger worketh new cruelties which never render him secure but put a necessity upon him to commit greater He who hath won a Kingdome by the sword if he lay not downe the sword the sword will lay downe him he is too great a foole who will use the same food to continue health which he did to acquire it and the Tyrant is not wise who maketh use of the same meanes to governe a State which he did to possesse himselfe thereof This is not written that it ought to be done but because it usually is done it is rather the nature than doctrine of men they thinke that good alwayes which they have found once good It is a precept convenient for Princes not becomming Tyrants goodnesse preserves it selfe with its like naughtinesse is reduced by its contrary and so great is the power of good and the weaknesse of evill that men have often a necessity of being often good bee it but to continue themselves the longer bad Far be the sword from the hands of Princes pardon not cruelty enforceth mens hearts the latter used against one alone begets the hatred of a thousand the former is not used without the addition of new friends The Tyrants feare increaseth with his power and looke how many he commands so many he stands in awe of hee is not worthy to bee obeyed who useth not the meanes to bee beloved I blame not Princes because they make themselves bee feared but because they know not how to make themselves bee feared It is not likely that this desire of being feared should take so firme root in the greater number of Princes who begin to rule if it were not usefull for government it makes us like unto God but men in causing it suffer themselves oft times to be deceived through ignorance or miss-led through difficulty and whilest they endevor to reach unto what is Divine they fall into what is bestiall Man in his nature is free borne to command at least not to serve man is unbridled uncurbed in his passions he is first a creature before a reasonable creature the chiefest bridle he hath is feare because it is the chiefest affection if it grow not to so great a height as it cause it selfe be driven away by the desperation which it selfe is cause of he who despaires of life cannot feare death for hee esteems himselfe as dead already and future things are onely capable of feare Love is a silken thred which holds in the horse whilest he feels not himselfe spurd by any other passion which then or breakes or overcomes it and runs to the destruction of his ruler because the incitemâ—…nts of anger and desire of glory are more powerfull than the affections of love 'T is good to cause men feare but not to cause ones selfe be feared by men 't is good that they feare their owne actions not the actions of their Princes unlesse by reason of their Princeâ—… actions feare would be the childe of Majestie not of cruelty the one causeth reverence the other is accompanied by hatred the former is the of-spring of worthy actions the latter of bad That master is safe whose vertue is feared and he is but in a bad condition whose folly causeth awe A Prince partakes of Divinity when he causeth himselfe be feared because he desireth that wee should doe well and he sides with the Devill when he causeth himselfe be feared because he himselfe would doe ill Tarquin keepes alwayes about him a guard of armed men that he might by force maintaine that Scepter which hee had wonne by force A Princes Guard if it fiâ—…de him not a Tyrant doth oft times make him one If feare bee the greatest obstacle to wickednesse security is the greatest occasioner It is certainly a strange thing that a Prince should keepe a guard to secure himselfâ—… from those of whom he himselfe is the guard That Common-wealth neighbours upon corruption which stands in need of a guard and that principality is already corrupt which hath need thereof Naturall operations proceed from forme If a State maintaine it selfe by ought else than forme it is violent if violent of little durance An army will not suffice to guard that Prince whom a few will not serve to guard because few are enough where is the love of many and many are but few where is the hatred of all The same sword that may defend him may kill him if the covetousnesse of a Mercenary man meet with the liberality of a Common-wealths man How unhappy is the life of a Tyrant it behooves hee guard himselfe from those that guard him And what is it that can render him safe Affections no for wicked men are hatefull
even unto such as reape benefit by their wickednesse Reward no for the rewards which other men promise for the death of a Tyrant are alwayes greater than those which hee himselfe giveth for the preservation of his life An Oath no for an Oath which is a good thing partakes not of any thing that is evill and ◅othing can bee worse than to defend a Tyrant Shame no for it is no shame to foule ones hands in his blood whose death would make paricide be commendable Good God! If Princes did but consider how easie and safe a thing it is to governe well how difficult and dangerous it is to governe ill Souldiers might well serve to adorne their Majesty not to defend it A good ◅rince may distaste but not offend hee may purchase ill willers but not enemies and hee needs but a slender guard because he distastes but a few and those out of necessity If malecontents issued onely from the tribunall of Justice and not elsewhere Officers would bee a better defence than Souldiers But a Prince is in worse condition in bestowing his favours than in administring Justice in the one necessity defends him in the other liberality makes him odious If Justice goe amisse it acquires equall number as well of friends as enemies whereas reward be it never so well bestowed pleaseth but one and causeth the hatred of all others that are unrewarded which is so much the greater because it proceeds not onely from losse but from a disregard the Prince seemes to put upon those that share not equally of his favour declaring them to bee inferiour to him hee hath made choyce to bestow it on A Prince cannot then be termed a Tyrant whilest hee requires a small guard that hee himselfe may guard many hee rather deserves that name when he indevours to secure himselfe from the hatred occasioned by his wickednesse but howsoever it bee a Princes guard is not pleasing to the Senat they imagine it to be invented to offend them not to defend the Prince wi◅h whom they alwayes are at variance for that liberty which is already servitude when it falls into the hands of such as may safely use violence To make his power greater and himselfe more terrible Tarquin himselfe alone takes cognizance of all causes yea criminall whence hee hath opportunity afforded him to condemne such from whom hee may either hope for profit or feare dammage He hates the vertues of other men hee covets their riches which at such a time is an enemy to the possessor nor can there be a greater happinesse under a Tyrant than to bee unfortunate IT is held as a necessary Maxime amongst Princes that all things may have their dependancy upon one alone 't was strengthned by the testimony of an approved Counseller who is thought to have put it amongst his first instructions for the preservation of an Empire But either I am deceived or he did not intend such private affaires as properly belong to justice whose errors can cause but small harme to the Prince He surely intended such as belonging to government are apprehended under that point of determination upon which depends the being or not being of a Principalitie It behoves a Prince as well to abstaine from all things which not become him as to doe those things which belong unto him Hee who either too much slackneth or too much inhaunceth his power abandoning the degree of a Prince doth either too poorely serve the Common people or doth too arrogantly command the Nobles the one of which errors springs from too much familiaritie the other from too much pride All men though never so wise or of never so meane understanding when they heare the lives of past Princes recounted bee they good or bad praise the goodnesse of the one and blame the wickednesse of the other Yet are there some who afterwards arriving a supreme authoritie leaving tho◅ things which they though◅ praise worthy betake themselves to those which in former times they had blamed Wherefore many thinking this to happen out of meere election cease not to wonder that when Princes may live with safety and honour they chuse to live in feare and diff◅mation whereas if they had considered how that men doe seldome imbarque themselves in evill actions but are led thereunto not of their owne will nor yet against their will but of somewhat beside their will they would have had more occasion to inquire into the reason than to continue wondring I verily beleeve that all Princes would be good but that many are hindred by their Subjects some miss-led by the times Fortune hath likewise a great share if not in making a Prince good at least in making him appeare so C◅sar might happily have beene exceeding good if he had met with Cyrus his Subjects or Trajans times It behoves not to meet with great resistance where any great worke is to bee well brought in the comparisons of the worst are sometimes necessary to make the best knowne all Princes may bee good but not all seeme good The subjects complaints are of power enough to dazle the writers eyes so as he see not cleerely those actions which he writes the Prince is left alone to speake against all whereas all speake against him and injustice is beleeved to be alwayes on the more powerfull side Subjects are so desirous of liberty as he that would governe them well must not governe them at all He is not accounted a good Prince amongst them who doth not la◅ downe his principality Cities where the more powerfull trample upon the Plebeians can never be well governed but through ill government If he defile his hands in the blood of the Nobility they cal him Tyrant they hate him as a Tyrant and oft times make him become one If he suffer the common people to be trod under foot he is no Prince that dignity is conferd upon him that he may defend them most that are least able to defend themselves I had almost said it is as hard to know who hath beene a good Prince as it is to be a good Prince Had it fallen to the common people of Romes share to give their vote they would have proclaimed some one for an excellent Ruler who by the Senate was declared a Tyrant I deny not but acknowledge that Princes sometimes run voluntarily into evill wayes being deceived either by a false good or false glory they finde it more troublesome to make good a Tyranny than a principality they thinke it likewise more glorious they betake themselves unto it as if that were more praise worthy which is more difficult than that which is more convenient Tarquin reduceth the Senators to a small number that they may bee lesse esteemed of by others and more observant of him THe sinewes are taken from the authority of a Senate when it is reduced to a few the authority of one Senator is hinderd by the extēding of it to many particular men grow lesse esteemed of
because that one man is not so much esteemed of for arriving at that degree whereunto so many come and the reverence of the common people by how much it is extended by so much it is lessened one man in a small assembly either by his worth or fortune may easily make himselfe umpire and inequality preserves a Prince if it be of many but if it be of one alone it ruines him That Prince which is not a Tyrant ought augment his Senate because great men are more dangerous than great Magistrates A Prince who is a Tyrant hath good fortune if hee finde it lesned whether his intention bee to curbe it or quite extinguish it Those who augment the number of Senators if they doe it with an intention of weakning the Senate by how much more they increase it the more they strengthen it how great soever it be 't is alwayes in a possibility of becomming little and the authority of a great many may be managed by the brains of a few If they doe it with an intention of introducing their well willers whilest they thinke to make Senators partiall in their behalfe they lose those subjects which were formerly partiall unto them Such things are not reall but rationall they are not found in realities but onely in the understanding The same path which mounts from the foot of the hill descends from the top hee who from the Tyrants palace lookes upon the Senate miss-likes the Senate but if from the Senate house hee looke upon the Tyrant he miss-likes the Tyrant Hence it proceeds that many Magistrates of a refin'd judgement have sometimes brought into the Senate factious people to make them change their mindes Hee is the selfe same which was in the market place and which is in the Senate-house but the prospect is not the same from the Senate to the market place as from the market place to the Senate Who changeth the prospect of necessity changeth likewise the point That which noâ—… possest appeared evill producing envie and malice being possest and so those removed is acknowledged for very good the greatest and most wonderfull metamorphosis that is is that which presents it selfe to the eye of any one when hee layeth aside envy and malice Tarquin marrieth his daughter to the Latines hee thinkes to shun the danger hee might have run in marrying her amongst his owne friends to augment his forces that hee might tyrannise over the Romanes and to prepare meanes that hee might in time subdue the Latines 'T Is true a neighbour friend was more usefull to him than a thousand friends or kindred a farre off Who sees not the Tyrant cannot aid him his defence is of no further extent than his voyce the chances which befall him are conspiracies and conspiracies are sudden If hee have friends a farre off he may bee said to have a place whereunto to fly when he is driven out not a stay to keepe him from being driven out But Tarquin did rather aspire to the winning of the Latines kingdome than feare the losse of the Romane besides in so hard a businesse he reapes profit enough who receives no dammage and he is sufficiently defended who is not offended He was a good example to himselfe of the bad examples which marriages into the blood Royall doe produce the first thing they conceive withall is the desire of government the first birth which they would bring unto their husbands is a kingdome Matrimony requires equality which if it finde not it causeth Principality in its owne essence covets inequality A Princes kindred are they who first shew dislike unto the government as they who are likeliest to desire it aptest to compasse it Kindred in a private estate are not alwayes friends they pretend equality grow to emulate and what they cannot compasse by emulation they endevour by malice which mischiefe it is impossible to allay either by benefits or wisedome or goodnesse or any thing whatsoever death excepted The world would bee much obliged to an Author who would shew the means how a man might shun envy and malice when the subject is capable thereof Tarquin had already won great power amongst the Latins and perhaps that hee might make it greater was the cause why he desired them to assemble themselves together in the Ferentine wood to treat of publique affaires They came as appointed hee delaied his comming and Turnus who together with a great deale of libertie had but small store of understanding not able to suffer so long delay we may imagine spoke in this manner in the midst of them TARQVIN O you Latins is not to be ranked amongst the unwary nor numbred amongst the unadvised This action proceeds not from pride and if from pride 't is done that bee may governe not through neglect He who is wont to make his companions become his servants will have his friends become his subjects hee trieâ—… our patience by the same meanes by which â—…ee once won the kingdome to assemble a Councell is the authoritie of a Prince not to appeare there the pride of a Tyrant to indure it the patience of subjects Tarquin is too great to be any other member of our body than the â—…ead the harmony of many good voyces is marred by one though better if it bee too great and loud If you bring in a Lion into your Common-wealth prepare likewise to obey his will humane power is as the winde which though it stands faire for whither we are bound yet if it bee too great it drownes us Those who are by much greater than wee ought to bee kept as farre off as may bee or at least where they are Wee ought endevour to have them not our enemies but not desire to have them our friends their conversation is not company it is servitude if it become not enmity Hee who would see a large figure at the best advantage must not see it neere to his eye the sight thereof requires a great distance Princes become Tyrants because they are never satiated with governement they will bee Lords of our honour goods and persons They hold all which they possesse not their enemy they thinke all lost which they get not no man is content with what he possesseth our felicity which is never found consists more in getting than in having got for in the one men take delight out of a beleefe of attaining to it whereas in the other they are vext finding they have not attained ther unto I pâ—…de mâ—… sâ—…lfe that if ere were Lord of the whole world and had what ever he could desire yet cloyd with worldly delights hee would despaire seeing hee had not found out felicity nor knew no other place to looke her in There is nothing so averse to a Tyrant as liberty nor is there any worse liberty to him than what is nearest him his people learne by example when they are not fomented by force If a stranger take upon him the authority to assemble a Councell hee will
befall them The Temple being built wherein he had imployed the people he fell to the causing of certaine common Shores be cleansed TO set people accustomed to warre about sorâ—…id businesses doth irritate them against the â—…etter on and imbaseth them in the eyes of their enemies The first and principall secret of Tyranny is to keepe friendship with the people which the oppression of great folkes hinders not but augments 't is the nature of all things that one part rise as another falls if it bee not raised 't is eased the people covet quietnesse plenty safety to live and suffer others live That which is hardest to a Prince is easiest to a Tyrant whilest the latter practiseth upon the Nobility the other is by the Nobility hindred which oft times doth tyrannize when not tyrannized I hold it ever a difficult thing to maintaine a Principalâ—…y in a City where the people and great men doe both agree in the desire of liberty unlesse it bee done without weapons 'T is evidently seene that Tarquin was no Tyrant by Art but Nature not for his safety but delight the people like better of a Tyrant than of liberty when liberty is not popular and the Tyrant wise A Tyrant hath none on whom more to trust nor whom more to feare hee hath no better friend no worser enemy he was therefore wise as I beleeve who thought the government of a bad Prince and an uncorrupted people profitable for a Citie the one is a curb to the Tyrant the other to the Nobility A Prince kept within bounds a people not corrupted and an humbled Nobitity makes an excellent composition Whilest the Romanes were intent upon their affaires a great prodigie appeares A Serpent is seene to come out of a Columne of wood which frightens and puts to flight all the Court. PRodegles which are fore-runners of things to come are seldome regarded before the things bee come to passe and if they be sometimes regarded yet are they not understood Many have beleeved that in man also there are certaine seeds of Divination of future things not knowne till they be past I grant it and should beleeve them to bee the motives of our tutelary Angels were it not that they are unusefull either for provision or prevision I feare me the Devill is the framer of prodigies it seemes to bee the aime of one proud and envious He shewes us things to come that hee himselfe might reape honour hee suffers us not to know them that wee may not thereby reape profit or shall we say that those Starres which threaten or promise good or bad influences whilest they dispose the matter endevour to introduce the forme and whilest they doe introduce it doe produce in such a place such a thing such a man many things which precede which accompany and which follow which though they be not alwaies the same things yet come they alwayes from the same things That constellation which moveth the Serpent to enter the Court is the same which moveth Brutus to drive out Tarquin from thence Great alterations require great influences which when they cause great diversity in their working happen not because the influences are divers but because they are divers who receive them Actions are not done by their agents in an instant dispositions precede them the truth of whose effects we doe not know because the vertue of causes is unknowne to us Moreover men of themselves understand not things to come because while they seeke the helpe of Reason they lose the assistance of the Starres they with their disputes confound the motives of Nature it is perhaps to punish our rashnesse which willing to make use of the understanding to arrive at that where the understanding cannot sometimes arrive goes not thither whither Nature would lead it its motive is on the sudden whilest there is neither thought nor dispute about it it is not minded because not disputed and therefore good because not disputed Hence it is that women advise well on the sudden and that children and fooles prophesie they say what heaven not reason dictates to them Tarquin sends his two sons Titus and Arons to the Oracle who take along with them Junius Brutus their sisters son whom he had not onely suffered to live after having slaine his brother but for his fate permitted him to keepe company with his sonnes WIcked men doe often ruine themselves through Gods not permitting them to be wholly wicked otherwise the world would be destroyed It seldome happens that together with the feare of God they lose the shame of infamie all wickednesse would succeed wel to them were they not many times hindred by a desire of honesting them and so whilst they will be wicked and appeare good they either undertake no greater wickednesse or else it succeeds not but be it as you please let the Tyrant have strayed from reason in whatsoever manner he hath not lost the desire of glory it is true though that he who erres in â—…e generall as he perswades himselfe that what is bad is good so knowing no other difference in the atchiving of renowne than the greatnesse or poorenesse of the undertaking he indevours sometimes a great fame though purchased by never so great anâ—… inâ—…mie This Brutus who knew no greater safety under the Tyrant than scorne and neglect where a greatly good and greatly bad fame are equally dangerous where Iustice is not regarded where knowledge is pernicious betakes himselfe to madnesse and assisted by his being naturally given to melancholy by counterfeiting secures himselfe leaving nothing for the Tyrant either to desire or feare MElancholy men doe so resemble mad-men that wheâ—… they are not busied about any thing but idle I cannot distinguish them from mad men I had almost said from beasts but when they doe any thing I know them to be very wise I had almost said they contend with the intelligences No other cloud save Brutus his melancholy humour could have shaded the Sun-beames of a great understanding all other humours would either not have long deferd revenge or for ever forgotten it Long use of meats may change the habit of the body long counterfeiting may shape a new habit in the understanding for custome hath power to make that become naturall which is not so Melancholy which is not the dregs but purest part of the bloud which is no cole but pretious â—…ewell is that which produceth Heroes since bounding upon madnesse it brings men to a sublimity out of which one cannot passe and within which all our wisedomes â—…atitude extends it selfe He is greatly wise who under a Tyrant can counterfeit a fooles part it is a good peece of cunning if the cunning be not discovered for it is harder to play the foole than to be wise and I should hold it to be a very safe way were not one onely action sufficient to take off the disguise having no meanes of ever resuming it againe Brutus who was Master of this Art with
but it doth almost secure him from the ambition of such as seeke after Principality But bee the effects of Senates good or bad to Princes it is apparant that Princes cannot endure them and that they endevour to destroy them Some of which leaving the Titles to Magistrates have taken away from them the substance and these have augmented authority but not secured dominion others have assayd to extinguish the Senate by suffering the old Senatours to dye by course of nature and not substituting new ones in their places but this being too tedious a way requiring the life of more than one Prince it hath seldome succeeded well because seldome doe two Princes succeed of the same minde Tarquin had likewise this intent and to free himselfe from the difficultie caused by the length of time hee put them to death nor yet did this cause good successe unto him A long cruelty is by the speech of men too long remembred and the Prince sooner ends his life than his cruelty Moreover by reducing the Senatours to a small number where the forme of a Senate is corrupted the forme of a conspiracie is initiated There was one who on the contrary part did in his first entrance into government at one clap put downe a whole magistracie and he had good successe in living quietly amongst his citizens and likewise in subduing of strangers till such time as he met with greater forces than his owne this mans case because it succeeded well hath beene by some wicked men in their writings commended and his example by some lewd Princes imitated it was neither well written nor well imitated the one hath reaped little honour by teaching it the other little profit by following it This did not damnifie Cleomenes for he did not extinguish that Magistracie to tyrannize but to reforme the Citie and shewing that the Ephori would have hindred his right end being of themselves wicked that act bore rather the face of Justice than cruelty it is not cruelty when a good Prince puts wicked men to death because they may not hinder his goodnesse and if it bee cruelty it is not mis-becomming but then it is crueltie when a bad Prince puts good men to death that they may not hinder his wicked proceedings He left no desire of revenge because it was calmly executed nor did hee afterwards give any occasion of revenge for that to a severe beginning hee added a pleasing progresse and as small present occasions have no great operation if they be not preceded by weighty past causes so weighty past causes have no operation at all if they want a present occasion Tarquin did not onely exasperate the Senate but made the common people value him but a little by his imploying them about buildings which in my opinion was a great cause of his ruine A Prince who hath the people for his friends let him take heed of treachery for he may almost secure himselfe from insurrections hee may be slaine never driven out I know that people though never so much bound unto their Prince will sometimes be provoked by a sudden scorne or perswaded by a man of worth But let him take heed of tumults caused by hatred for such are not to be withstood whereas those that are occasioned by a flash of anger or fitly applied eloquence may be remedied by discretion In such a case the people doe nought at all if not in an instant he who hath beene assisted by them in the act let him feare them when 't is done for the act is no sooner done than by them repented and often times they turne thēselves against him that did perswade them either because they will revenge their Prince or else cancell their owne shame Water which contrary to its nature is heated no sooner parts from what did heat it but it returnes to it first condition the witchcraft of Rhetorique being ended which is not long a doing or the fire of anger being over which suddenly vanisheth nothing remaines in the common people but shame for having appeared against a benefactor He who writ of so many things and writ so masterlike in all for the maintaining of Tyranny praises the imploying of the people about building and yet this was perhaps the cause why Tarquin lost his nor was this only caused by their being rather sordid than magnificent but likewise by the difference betweene taking people from a chargeable idlenesse imploying them in a usefull labor and the taking of them from the molestations of warre imploying them in the labors of the mattock Nothing makes the troubles of war more supportable than the rest and quiet which is hoped for at home nor is there any thing encourageth more to fight against enemies than hope of acquiring glory amongst friends 't is strange then that rest after war should bee greater labour and the glory thereof turned to shame The examples alledged by that author are either of barbarous people their Princes slaves and who know no other glory than their belly or els of Tyrants who having usurped the liberty wherin the people had a large share had reason rather to feare the peoples leasure times than the hatred of the great ones But the Romanes were civilized subjects not slaves accustomed to war wonted to victory lovers of repose when it did not repugne their glorie but Tarquin had not usurped the peoples liberty but had rather freed them from the oppression of great ones over whom till then he was onely Tyrant Pride likewise had her share in Tarquins losse by pride Princes thinke to shun contempt and they meet with hatred they thinke thereby to become majesticall and they become detested majestie requires mildnesse not pride which is signified by them who did assigne both these as inseparable qualities to the Easterne beames of Iupiter But this is a vice almost not to bee seperated from great ones there is nothing makes us more beleeve that the sin of the cheefest angel in heaven was pride than because he was cheefest Astrologers suppose their art be vaine have notwithstanding united pride to greatnesse whilest they make the Sunne in regard of manners the infuser of pride which in regard of dignity they make the dispenser of principalities But to what end doe I continue numbring up his errors if his whole life was one compact error He could not maintaine Tyranny by goodnesse accosting it to monarchy nor yet by craft keeping it farre distant from monarchie he was more rash than politique more wicked than warie he lived ill himselfe hee brought up worse sons and being himselfe a wicked king he left no hopes of a good successour I deny not but that he was a valiant Captaine but to what purpose If war be to a Tyrant pernicious either hee commits the trust thereof to others and incurs danger of him who commands the army or else hee goes himselfe in person and runs in danger of those who stay behinde He who praiseth a warlike Tyrant would it may be understand it of one that had beene so or at least of one that did not only wage war with city armes but likwise with those of strangers wherewithall hee might bridle a tumultuating Army or oppresse a City that should rebell I cannot conclude this my discourse better than by calling to minde to all those that read it the thankes due to Almighty God for having caused us be borne in times abounding with good Princes when Christianity lives happy void of Tyrants The most holy most wise and most loving head whereof exalted above others like to the brasen Serpent is of power and force to free us from the bitings of such Serpents if they should arise and because God doth sometimes permit Tyrants for the chastisement of mankinde to see that all his people are this day governed by excellent Princes makes me beleeve that the world whatsoever others thinke is not now worse than it hath beene and that if there be some wicked men that irritate his Justice there be likewise some good that excite his mercy The which mercy I pray and humbly turne to pray againe that it will please his divine goodnesse to make us partakers of now and in the houre of death FINIS Ministers to execute corporall punishment amongst the Romans
be assembled where I may suppose hee spake in this manner TO conquer people and not to know how to make the victory beneficiall to win subjects and not be able to keepe them in subjection is a losse both of men and time Providence is necessary and 't is laborious Meanes are not wanting but those meanes are full of difficulties were there any infallible rule found whereby to secure ones selfe from the rebellions of such as are under him I beleeve the world ere long would belong to one onely man but in politike affaires there is no rule but fortune To captivate mens mindes with rewards is impossible servitude cannot be rewarded with any other recompence than being set at liberty to tye them by an oath is no way safe they are not subjects whose power is only subject to will Liberty is naturall servitude violent what is violent needes somewhat which from without may withstand it if its beginning be not occasioned from some internall cause To raze the walls of strong Cities when subdued encourageth strangers to make themselves masters of them to leave them standing facilitates the insurrection of Citizens and say it were a good advice for places that are within the body of the State it is undoubtedly bad for frontier places where it is hard so to doe as that they may be of defence against the enemie and not subject to the rebellion of friends hee leaves mens mindes apt to commotions who takes not from them all meanes of defence Those who send Garrisons thither or build Castles there endevour to maintaine them by force and often-times lose them voluntarily they secure themselves from strangers and put themselves into the hands of their owne people over whom they lose the authoritie of command because they lose the power of punishment they free themselves from the danger of citizens they submit themselves to the fidelitie of a Captaine and he though he may thinke it ignominious to deliver up the Citie to an enemie may thinke it may bee borne withall if hee keepe it for himselfe He who builds Fortresses in weake Cities depends also too much upon the too mutable faith of the Captaine nor can they much hinder him that is master of the field as being only usefull to curbe unarmed Citizens of no use against armed enemies To send Colonies to worke this effect more incenses the ancient inhabitants and protests the nâ—…w ones but for a small time they are plants transplanted they soone accommodate themselves to the Country from whence their roots receive nourishment They forget their originall in all things save in their desire to be no more subjects but companions Men who goe from their own homes to plant themselves in new places goe not thither to be servants to them who send them thither but companions and equals to those who remaine behind To keepe Armies stil on foot to suffocat sullevations in their cradle is the greatest and would be the best remedy if then it were not in the Generals choyce to make a Common-wealth a Monarchie and himselfe Lord thereof He that were alwayes sure to returne victorious needed no other meanes to secure himselfe if enemies be vanquished friends are tardie because their feare is greater and their shame lesse but the successe of war is uncertaine and it is almost certaine that rebellions succeed overthrowes I should thinke the best course for the present is to send abroad Colonies by so doing the Citie will be free from beggars nor will any couragiously minded man leave Rome while shee is bent upon glorious actions and the people round about our walls being subjected unto us by keeping an Armie alwayes on foot we shall secure them from their enemies our selves from rebellions According to Romulus his opinion Colonies were appointed for such places as were won This meane while the Sabins waged war against the Romans a war the more to be feared by how much the later it was undertaken being governed by reason deprived of its first cholerike violence nor sooner taken notice of than in the field The Sabins seeke rather to secure their State than to vent their anger they assault the Citie not the Citizens that they may bring it in subjection without intention of revenge The feare of Romes greatnesse causes them to move their rage for the committed violence the originall thereof STates that enjoy rest and quiet because they are in league and friendship with all their Neighbours have great good fortune if they meet with any occasion of offence and wise men in such like occasions seeke after them for the common people will not be perswaded to more than what they see they judge by the eye not the understanding nor is there any argument with them of force enough to gain-say appearance To keepe friendship with neighbours is exceeding good but hereupon to build the securitie of a State is passing bad they are well held for friends if they bee considered as enemies that so they may bee bound to love and not able to hurt the height of that building which is delightfull and pleasing when one thinkes to enjoy it for an habitation is displeasing if he looke it shall fall upon his head The Sabins by deceit get into the Citadel of Rome having by gold corrupted the daughter of Spurius Tarpeius Captaine thereof not without the death of the treacherous young woman whether it were out of hatred of the treason or did they feare mischiefe by the example or were it for that they did expect great glory by making men beleeve they had wonne it by force and not by fraud THE obligation which remaines sowres the sweet of a benefit which either is rewarded and then as good a turne is done to the benefactor or else the badge of ingratitude remaines which is equall shame to the benefit received those benefits seeme sweet which are received by treason which is a thing so hatefull as it takes all merit from whatsoever action A traytour cannot finde fault without accusing himselfe ingratiâ—…de becomes praise reward blame and thus depriving men of hope a new benefit is received from being ingratefull The Capitoll being possest the next day they give battell in the plaine betweene the hill of the Capitoll and the Palatine hill where by the death of Hostilius who opposed himselfe to Mutius the upholder of the Sabine squadrons the Romans began to give backe Romulus borne along by them that fled made a stand upon the Palatine hill he vowes a Temple to Jupiter and prayes to him for victory wherein he is not wanting in his owne endevours IN vaine doe men call to Heaven for helpe when they withstand the helpes of Heaven many doe invoke it and yet doe hinder it they require help from others and doe abandon themselves and by their deeds contrarying their words they shew not to desire what they have intreated and to have intreated that they might not be heard Romulus gives on where the danger is greatest