Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	world_n	write_v	wrong_n	20	3	8.4092	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60010	Cæsarion, or, Historical, political, and moral discourses in four days entertainment between two gentlemen, very pleasant and useful for all orders of men whatsoever / English'd by Jos. Walker.; Cesarion ou Entretiens divers. English	Saint-Réal, M. l'abbé de (César Vichard), 1639-1692.; Walker, Joseph.	1685 (1685)	Wing S351; ESTC R41078	62,745	185

so If you are displeas'd with me for my good will I am sorry to have troubled you yet I would fain divert you from the course you take Being moved with these two contrary passions I hope you will either grant what I desire if you can or that you will pardon my importunity if you cannot Farewel LVCCEIVS CICERONI SI vales bene est ego valeo sicut soleo paululo tamen etiam deterius quam soleo Te requisivi saepius ut viderem Romae quia postea non fuisti quam a me discesseras miratus sum quod item nunc miror Non habeo certum quae te res hinc maxime retrahat Si solitudine delectere cum scribas aliquid agas eorum quorum consuesti gaudeo neque reprehendo consilium tuum Nam nihil isto potest esse jucundius non modo miseris his temporibus luctuosis sed etiam tranquillis optatis praesertim vel animo defatigato tuo qui nunc requietem quaerat ex magnis occupationibus vel erudito qui semper aliquid ex se promat quod alios delectet teipsum laudibus illustret Sin autem sicut hic dum eras lacrymis tristitiae te tradidisti doleo quia doles angere nec possum te si concedis quod sentimus ut liberius dicamus non accusare Quid enim tu solus aperta non videbis qui propter acumen occultissima perspicis Tu non intelliges to querelis quotidianis nihil proficere non intelliges duplicari sollicitudines quas elevare tua te prudentia postulat Quod si non possumus aliquid proficere suadendo gratia contendimus rogando si quid nostra causa vis ut istis te molestiis laxes ad convictum nostrum redeas ad consuetudinem vel nostram communem vel tuam solius ac propriam Cupio non obtundere te si non delectere nostro studio cupio deterrere ne permaneas in incaepto Quum dua res istae contrariae me conturbent ex quibus aut in altera mihi velim si potes obtemperes aut in altera non offendas Vale. L. 5. Ad famil Ep. 14. See here said I having done reading a very obliging advice and I cannot tell how a person of such singular merit could be refus'd being in the right Yet there 's nothing more frequently seen reply'd Caesarion The greatest merits were not most esteem'd in corrupt ages as was the last of that of the Roman Commonwealth There shin'd so many virtues amongst that glorious people for the space of six hundred years that it could not be but some footsteps of them remained in the age we speak of But in like manner as craft and vice which necessarily attend the greatness of Worldly Empire had attained unto their highest pitch Art had in most things subverted Nature and the little but pretious remainder of ancient simplicity and integrity of former ages being mixt with much deceit and seeming virtue became so much the more odious as that it put on the resemblance of truth it self In all ages Truth has been called a Chimaera by those that are not able to understand it and those which do comprehend it not puting it in practise through malice speak slightly of it and give it the worst character they can It were well if it were quit for not pleasing them but as they cannot but admire it in their soul they continue not in an indifferency but go on to hate it because naturally men hate what they Esteem very much but cannot Love How is' t possible say they to live with persons that never will be reconcil'd with those they have once differ'd that forgive not their friends that have no regard for their counsels nor for their intreaties that expect such care and observance that good Masters would not require from their Slaves that do not regard their own concerns and that will not suffer their friends to take the care which they ought to take their ownselves Cicero might have said all this against Lucceius upon his obstinacy in not agreeing with Atticus but he knew very well that 't is only those which easily differ that are soon reconciled again That offences which deserve but little notice to be taken of them being received from indifferent persons are mortal injuries when they proceed from a person that one loves or of those by whom we think we deserve to be loved no body is a better judge of advice than him to whom it is given that there are requests which be injurious as well as just That one may expect from their friends the same care and kindness as one hath for them And to conclude it is for the most part a kind of reproof rather than sign of friendship to concern one self in others affairs whether they will or not These are the Rules whereby Cicero governed himself with his friends But there were but very few that were so virtuous as he was as the friendship of Atticus was artificial crafty and suted and adapted to the Commerce of the World so that of Lucceius was pure and sincere and altogether unfit for the World It is not strange therefore that Atticus his humour was more taking and oftentimes procur'd him an applause that he did not really deserve For the World do's usually judge of affairs by the persons instead of judging by the things themselves for it requires some pains to examine a business and 't is a trouble which men do not willingly undergo whereas there 's no pains in judging of affairs thereafter as one is affected more or less with the person it concerns Moreover when once one is setled in a fancy one naturally shuns knowing what might change our opinion because men don't care to know that they have been deceived There is therefore no cause to wonder why Cicero said That whoever it was that was in the right either Atticus or Lucceius their contest would only prove prejudicial to Lucceius in the Worlds esteem Although Cicero wrote so plainly to Atticus himself in supposing he might be in the wrong to Atticus I say who always boasted to be in the right I make no doubt but knowing him as I do this supposition toucht him to the quick though perhaps he was glad at the heart that Cicero own'd as he did by this Discourse that his reputation was setled to such a degree that it might be supported even without reason against a man of that worth Lucceius was of and in all likelihood it was to give him this secret pleasure that Cicero who understood him very well wrote to him after this manner Yet I have one request more to make to you reply'd I seeing Caesarion silent It is to know if this grudge lasted always it is not known said he how they were reconciled But it appears by Cicero's Letters that they visited each other familiarly twelve years after That 's a thing often seen when one has to do

with a man of Atticus his temper How much soever one is perswaded of their perfidiousness they 'l make themselves no strangers and wanting no excuses of one sort or other they employ so many friends to compose matters that at last one is forc't to comply for commonly persons are more inclinable to the Offendor than to the Offended the malignity of nature being delighted at the seeing and suffering of ill never fails in these Occasions to incline to him that gave the offence to the prejudice of him that received it under the specious pretence of making Peace Nevertheless I cannot tell but the open Enmity of Atticus had been less hurtful to Lucceius than their reconciliation for Atticus never acted but through respect of his own private interest and would never have been so desirous of reconciliation had he not believ'd that Lucceius his Enmity would have been to his disadvantage not but that his also might have been hurtful to Lucceius but there was this difference to be made that their accommodation did absolutely remove the disadvantage which Atticus might receive by this Enmity because Lucceius could not be reconcil'd but with a truly good intent whereas there was great cause to think that Atticus would not be any truer to him after reconciliation than he was before their rupture especially being netl'd by the long refusal Lucceius made of being accommodated and by the secret reproaches of his own Conscience wherewith the most vitious persons do they what they can to suppress them are as often tormented as the most ignorant sort of men By what I had ever heard of Atticus formerly the description Caesarion now gave me of him could not choose but surprise me I had always heard him represented as the true model of an honest man having read his Life in Latine French and English I was fully confirm'd in this opinion and I freely confess I fear'd there might be some affectation of singularity in your friends sentiment he judg'd of my thoughts by my countenance and having freely own'd it to him he continu'd his Discourse as follows It is very true said he most intelligent Persons and that are best skill'd in these matters are of a very different judgement from me touching the man we speak of and do not wonder at it He deceiv'd wiser than they and those that had opportunity of knowing him better I speak of the learned age wherein he liv'd wherein I told you already that his Reputation was as great as I believe it was undeserved You must not imagine that he was the only person of this kind I 'le instance in others both Ancient and Modern when you please and 't is very probable his Historian took the voice of the People for it which is not always the voice of God But his error is no authority and the character of his Hero is of that importance to be clear'd up that it deserves to be examin'd a little narrower than he has done it You may guess how easily Fame is acquir'd by having great Riches when one knows ever so little how to use them to judge aright of a man he should be consider'd by the qualities which are least seen and there is no degree of Reputation but may be attain'd without virtue by riches wit and a great deal of vanity there can nothing more necessary be taught Gentlemen of your age than to distinguish counterfeit vertues from real and not to be deceived by common report in the merit of particular persons You cannot imagine the trouble one has all their life for admiring persons in their youth which deserve not to be admired And when I speak of merit pray observe that I thereby mean true integrity and honesty without which I know not any and it is that merit which I deny to Atticus for this excepted it was hard to have more wit and prudence than he had or to understand the Times Men and Business better than he did If what you say be true reply'd I to this Discourse his Historian is the greatest flatterer that ever was Say rather that he was his Panegyrist said Caesarion Nepos is in most things a down right Lyar and appears to be but of a mean capacity as may be judg'd by what we have remaining of his he took for currant all that his Hero said to make himself be cry'd up and relates as undoubted truth all that he had heard spoken in favour of Atticus by Atticus himself One cannot be justly more suspected than Nepos is he boasts to have lived so familiarly with this Gallant that he was privy to his Journal of Expences he interven'd in his actions and at his request registr'd some of them It do's not appear that this Historian made any great Figure in the World as most of his time did so that there 's just cause to suspect that Atticus his friendship being the highest of his preferment his own private interest moved him to advance the glory of Atticus to the highest pitch he could But you shall find afterwards that he was so unfortunate or indiscreet that the most glorious actions related by him are either convinc'd of falshood by other Writers of greater credit than him or related in such a manner by himself that unawares he destroyes all their Merit in discoursing of their true Original You promise me things that are very curious reply'd I to Caesarion I very much question if any besides your self could perform your promise and you will do me a singular pleasure if you discharge it faithfully There 's no need of being a very able man reply'd he to satisfie you therein and I 'le not defer your desire any longer To render the Oeconomy and Liberality of Atticus the more admirable and to shew that he had not increas'd his wealth but by honest ways Nepos boldly affirms Nullius rei neque praes neque manceps Tu aliquid publicanus pendis l. 2. ep 15. that he was never concern'd in business neither directly nor indirectly as other Knights of Rome usually were Nevertheless the quite contrary appears by Cicero's Letters which Nepos himself testifies to have seen in which this Orator calls Atticus Publican in express terms and gives him an account of a Decree of the Senate against the Creditors of the Free People wherein Atticus himself was concern'd because he had advanc'd great Sums of mony for those of Sicionia which were of that quality And it would be very strange to conceive how he should acquire such extraordinary great Riches distributing so Liberally and living so Honourably as he did having never born any Office nor Command if he had not gained Wealth some other way and there 's no doubt but it was the cause that made a learn'd French Critick in some obscure words which he wrote to Cicero discover that he held a Bank at Rome in his own House under the Name of Oppius's which were at his Devotion and made publick profession of it But

to give the Figures motion upon the Cloth it cannot represent but very imperfectly those Objects which consist in motion as Combats bodily Exercises Tempests Incendiaries and most of those things which they most of all delight in I know not if any body else has felt the displeasure that I have done in considering this kind of Painting for methinks the Figures ought to have Motion and the Moving Posture wherein they be represented though in effect they are immovable doth imply a kind of contradiction wherewith my mind is somewhat dissatisfi'd At this rate said I you had need of Comedians or Stage-players to represent things and you would deprive Painters of the greatest and pleasantest part of their Profession That is not my design reply'd he and if it were I would not venture to divulge it But I say to judge naturally of things it were better to Paint Histories whose essential part consisted in a fix'd posture which the Pensil may very well perform whereof there has been some instances wherein the persons concern'd have been in all liklyhood immovable As for Example the action of Saevola immovably constant holding his hand in the Flames whil'st Porsenna and the rest that beheld him were immovable through admiration Such also was the judgment of Soloman where the true Mother held the Arm of him that went to Divide her Child whilst the pretended Mother stood immovable in her Obstinacy And such to conclude is the Picture that you see Imagin then what sense you would give the Action it represents if you see it in the Original seeing it would be but the same that 't is in the Coppy If passing through the Caemariqae amongst the Statues of the Demy Gods of Greece Plutar. of Shame you should see Diogenes prostrate before one of those Images holding out his hand asking an Alms what would you think of it I should be much startl'd at it said I to see so careless a Man begging and so wise a Man to begg of a Statue that is the very reason riply'd Caesarion which should make you guess the meaning of his posture It don't seem strange to you to begg of a Statue but because it cannot give any thing If then any body asks of it 't is not because they think to receive any thing this demand therefore is not out of Intrest it is not therefore incompatable with the great indifferency of Diogenes there only remaines to inquire why he amus'd himself about so frivolous not to say so foolish an Action To understand the true Reason you need only consider him with attension in this posture I should soon be try'd said I and could not long hold out without growing impatient Admire then reply'd Caesarion the patience of this Phil●sopher in so unpleasant an exercise that you cannot behold him a moment without displeasure If your Patience cannot resist so little a thing what would you do at Court where you would find a Thousand greater occasions to try it It would be in vain to flatter ones self with Success If one did not practise this important Virtue as you see Diogenes here doth If one do's not beg as he doth without hope of being heard and of being refus'd too without being discourag'd Importunity perseverance boldness these be the qualities necessary to make our servise acceptable to those Idols to whom our ambition and covetousness do's sacrifice the best of our daies whoever has these qualities shall be heard sooner or later without them wisdom valour goodness and virtue are but frivolous ornaments You are surpris'd at this Discourse reply'd Caesarion seeing me silent you thought till now that Merit alone had been sufficient to advance a man in the World The several Masters and Tutours you have been under have only labour'd in a manner to no other end than to imprint this in your mind That a perfectness in corporal exercises and virtuous qualities were a necessary and infallible means of making a fortune in the World This is true in one sense this perswasion was necessary for you at that time and age doubtless it contributed very much towards your accomplishment and it was not very requisite you should know any more at that time But when you left those Masters to enter into the commerce of the world had they fully discharg'd themselves of their duty they ought to have told you quite another thing they ought to have told you what you dream't not of that the best qualities both acquir'd and natural are things difficult to be us'd that they must be conceal'd almost as often as shewn that oftentimes they make those conceited that enjoy them make them silly and hated and sometimes render them ridiculous and therefore for the most part do more hurt than good That at best they only procure a forc't and unprofitable esteem that they have very little contributed unto the greatest fortunes that have been made and that if any that are endow'd with these qualities and know best to use them arrive at any extraordinary promotion they serv'd only for shew he owes the true cause of it to some other quality of more value in the main and which lyes more hid Caesarion stoping at these words I confess said I you surprize me I believ'd indeed there was ill ways of advancement but I also concluded that there were good ways no less certain and that a man of good merit might attain good fortune without doing any thing unworthy of himself You are very much deceiv'd reply'd Caesarion a man of this stamp is a kind of publick Enemy which all the world has reason to hate he tyranizes over men by a kind of necessity he imposes upon them to esteem him he is the cause that all other things are not admir'd as much as himself he engrosses a great many applauses which would serve to gratifie a great many others how then can he but be envy'd This perswasion is as firmly rooted in the minds of men as the love of glory it self and it never appear'd more than amongst the people that were most of all enflam'd with a love of this glory You know against what sort of men the Ostracism was set up at Athens and doubtless you have heard of that Country Fellow that gave his voice for banishing Aristides he could give no other reason for it but that it displeas'd him to hear him always be call'd the Just Nemo de nobis unus excellat sed siquis extiterit alio in loco apud alios sit Sic. Tusc quaest l. 5. So those of Ephesus expell'd the most virtuous of their Citizens without any other reason but for these memorable words That none amongst them should excel above his fellows and if there be any here that would let them go excel elsewhere So the Ephori condemn'd Agesilaus into a Mulct because he alone possessed the hearts of the Lacedemonians And he that conquer'd Hanibal thought he ought to banish himself from Rome that so he