daughters in law feasting and rioting but amidst her women dividing out their work they grant her the victory and here being by her husband invited a base lust ariseth in Sextus Tarquin occasioned as well by the chastity as by the beauty of Lucretia the looke of a lascivious man is like the looke of a Basiliske it kils Chastitie by beholding it MEN lustfully given cause all their senses yea the understanding it selfe to minister provocations for the satisfying of that sense beauty birth sweet odours harmony all which have nothing to doe with feeling and which is worse Vertue her selfe and amongst vertues very Chastitie the very opposite to Lust doe more incite thereunto Vertue is so lovely that she makes her selfe be beloved yea even by Vice those who have written that dishonest women desire that their lovers should bee endowed with all good things except the understanding understood it not well or else I am deceived they desire their understandings should also be good in generall only defective in one particular A small matter would satisfie the necessitie of Nature if men made it not necessary to satisfie what is not necessary what imports it to be clad in rich array to live in stately Palaces to feed on dainty cates if all cloathes cover us all houses shelter and all meats satisfie us we make necessitie become lust to delight our selves yea in the imperfections of Nature We thinke not the desire of one sense satisfied if the other senses stand iâ—…le wee cannot taste any one pleasure if therein likewise our ambiâ—…ion be not delighted no vice is bounded within it selfe in such things Nature is not to be blamed because they are not seene in those who worke onely according to Nature Many dayes past not ere Sextus Tarquin returned to Collatia with one only companion not making any mention thereof to the rest he was fairely welcomed by her who apprehended no deceit he supt withdrew himselfe to his lodging and when he thought that all were fast asleep he came with a naked dagger in his hand to where Lucretia lay hee laid his hand upon her brest hee hath recourse to the instruments of hatred for his assistance in love and hee who was wont by sword to vent his angrie passions knowes not how to lay it aside in tendrest affections he threatens her he speakes her faire and seeing her ready rather to imbrace death than him ready rather to lose her life than honour he sayes hee will kill some servant close by her to make her bee beleeved a foule adulteresse See how this wicked one threatens to bereave her of her honour that he may bereave her of it Lucretia thus assaulted with the same weapons wherewith shee defended her Chastitie yeelded to Tarquins prevailing lust I For my part beleeve that Lucretia yeelded for fear of death which certainly is much more fearfull when expected from another than when acted by ones selfe and if this my opinion were not true I should have much more cause to marvell at those who under the rule of Tyrants either despairing of life or weary of that kinde of life have slaine themselves If thâ—…se could not or would not live wherefore did they not endevour to kill the Tyrant The danger they should have run would have beene the same they could not shun or desired to meet withall the reward which profered it selfe unto them was hope of living honourably or assurednesse not to die without glory to say they were with-held by feare of torments is idle there is no torment more terrible than death who feares not death ought not beleeve any thing of feare to be in the world and when he finds such a thing to be he may alwayes have recourse to the other Nature hath not bin so niggardly towards us as not permitting us to live as long as we would shee hath not at least allowed us a power of dying when we please if hee lives not who breathes not and if not to breathe bee in our choice who will may die Let it then be lawfull for men to say that death is more horrid in the hands of an incensed man than in our owne and moreover that it requires more courage though there bee lesse danger to kill another than to kill ones selfe the one proceeds from animosity the other oft-times either from the weaknesse of the braine or poorenesse of courage for a generous heart seldome findes the way so shut as that hee cannot make his death glorious It is a yeelding to Fortune against which the couragious till their last gaspe fight undauntedly How many silly women are there who have slain themselves when they durst not have looked upon much lesse have abided the lookes of an incensed man And how many are there who to shun the enemies sword have throwne themselves downe from rockes buried themselves in bogs and drowned themselves in water without any hope of life Tarquin overjoyd departs triumphant saddest Lucretia remaines overwhelmed with griefe shee sends for her father and her husband Spurius Lucretius comes and brings with him Publius Valerius Lutius Junius Brutus accompanieth Collatine shee acquainteth them with what is past which said sorrowfull as shee was I perswade my selfe shee added these like words AND what could unfortunate Lucretia doe if shee had died that shee might have lived chaste you would have thought her slaine for having been unchaste O most cruell Law of Honour which savest not the innocent A law never descended from Heaven but come from the deepest Abysse of Hell I who would have mine honestie knowne to all have more studied glory than chastity and whilst I sought after the name of Chaste I am with infamie become unchaste I thought death the worst of all evils I thought it the cure of all misfortunes I feared nothing since I feared not to die yet now I was inforst to chuse life so not to lose mine honour and by my living have lost it I am resolved to die if not for what hath alreadie befalne mee at least for what may hereafter happen unto mee But what then If I dye I shall seeme to acknowledge I have done amisse they will say my guilty conscience kild me If I live you will beleeve I have done amisse you will say I consented out of too much desire of life O of all others most unfortunate Lucretia whose innocencie neither life nor death can justifie This Soule O Collatine whose delight was chastity abhors now that body which is polluted and as being wholly thine cannot endure that that part of mee should have any longer being which can no more be only thine The wicked wretch did never prostrate mee it was not Lucretia it was a Carkasse for the Soule is not where it consents not sinne is the off-spring of the will not of the body where consent is not there is no sin but I should think my selfe worthie of death if he had only desired mee and blame my selfe though without fault
quiet it would argue great wisdome to passe by them but without any other profit it makes the injured parties be esteemed or foolish or cowards as if they either wanted wit to know them or courage to revenge them whence men lose both compassion and feare affections onely able to refraine affections in worldly men Rome had her beginning in the midst of us and wee despise her shee augmenteth and wee nourish her we give her life she threatens our death those who saw her in her beginning foreseeing the danger that might ensue to their posterity left the care thereof to their posteritie and as a thing which thâ—…ned all every one fâ—…ll to bâ—… her none to hinder her in common evils private men feare not and in future events men looke for helpe from Time and Fortune The eye which beholds noveltie leaves no space for the understanding to judge the danger till it be so farre advanced as there is no remedie for it the errours of slothfulnesse are then discerned when all diligence is bootlesse It is a false opinion held by melancholy men to give the title of Wisdome to delay most businesses suffer shipwrack because occasions are hasty and men slow men talke of the present time when 't is already past moments ought not to be neglected when upon these moments an eternitie depends In things which are arrived at full perfection if not their finall end at least their decaying â—…ge may in time be expected but in things which but begin to increase to expect is as much as to give time that they may increase If a traveller meet with a River at its head when it is yet but a small brooke he should doe ill to travell further along it till he must ferry it over where it is become a large streame Rome is a little Rivelet our people like torrâ—…nts flocke thither wee must fight not discourse and fight with Romans before that Romans become a Race of Sabins before our enemies be our kinsfolke haste is the best remedie where time is the greatest enemie This man having ended his discourse wee may beleeve that Titus Tatius answered in this manner YOU ought either to have granted women to the Romans or else have fought against their Citie and gone unto their sports with troopes of armed men not of young girles I expected they should have come within our walls to take them from us by force had not you gone within their walls to offer them to their rapine hee who denyes another what of necessity he must have having gain-said intreaties ought prepare for violence To endevour Romes ruine by force was a wise consideration but dangerous for your owne more safeties sake you resolved to deny them women Good resolutions are seldome taken all together in all things dangers doe appeare and to secure our selves from evill good is done by halfes and the halfe of that good is not good which consisting in the whole admits of no division To renew things now irreparable and which cannot bee diverted is to beleeve ones selfe greater than the gods and a labour without profit or rather accompanied with losse since thereby wee call to minde those things the chiefest happinesse whereof consists in forgetfulnesse Rome may be said to have its rise and its increase from us and it is fatall that fathers should lose in the having of children drawing neerer to death by giving life to others if it be true that the generation of one be the corruption of another 'T is true there ought a remedy be had for the appearing danger but I not commend the repairing of past errours caused by delay with new and greater caused by impatiencie Injuries received tend to the ruine of men who with the zeale of honour doe not accompany wisedome they run upon revenge for past wrongs and throw themselves headlong upon new miseries they would amend one errour and produce a thousand Too much haste is as much before time as too much delay is out of time Errours of impatience are worse than errors of delay for it is better to shâ—…n precipices than to run upon them if they be not hindred they are retarded Justice is not beleeved to be there where violence is observed to be nor can it be accounted wisdome where there is no argumentation Argumentation is not had in an instant Time is not measured by instants Wisedome is the daughter of Cold Violence of Heat things which have not beene done in times past may well be effected in times to come but things alreadie done cannot be undone againe occasions are never wanting to men but men are wanting to occasions they may bee expected they ought not be prevented He who fights egged on by Fury begins his warre for having lost he satisfies his affection not his dutie and is sooner beaten by his owne weaknesse than by anothers valour Our forbearance is to be feared not despised the world is his who hath patience when it proceeds from sagacitie not timiditie Generous spirits addresse themselves to endure present injuries out of hope of future revenge they reserve their anger to vindicate offences not to evaporate passion Dissimulation is not to be blamed when by the injury of Time it is not transformed into oblivion dissimulation is never worse than when it becomes forgetfulnesse never better than when it resembles it It is more safe to hinder the increase of Rome than her subsistancie for it is easier to let her wax old than cause her dye increase is not there had where there is no motion nor can Cities in peace increase and receive nourishment new Plantations are augmented by the ruine of old ones and tender plants which are hindered by the shade and roots of neighbouring trees want force to grow up Rome cannot grow greater without the ruine of our Cities nor can they ruine our Cities without warre to wage armes to destroy her may afford matter for her increase All fires are not supprest by ruines nor quencht by bloud that fire which wanteth nourishment wanteth life and where of it selfe it must needs goe out it needs not the ruine of others All industry ought to be used to have peace with a people who can never have a worser war than peace faire pretences are not wanting to cloake our received injuries Necessity commits no offence kindred are not enemies matrimony is no rape let injuries done unto the gods be left unto the gods 't is they were injured not man and if men not Cities and though Cities recourse ought not therefore be had to armes to revenge injuries to reward good turnes love and hatred are the affections of private men Common-wealths and States have selfe interest for the spheare of their actions beyond the which they neither see nor heare it is the object of their senses the mover of their affections the ruler of their passions The discord caused between Titus Tatius his slacknesse and the peoples impatiencie was good harmony for Romes increase
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
already revenged it is neither wisdome nor fore-sight for a Citizen so to embroile himselfe the stranger is gone the Citizen remains If the businesse succeed not the former hath the glory to have attempted the other remaines in danger because he hath attempted and suffers scorne for that it hath not succeeded such kind of people would not bee found in Cities were there not many in all Cities who wanting experience and discourse abound in nothing but ignorance and malice The next morning Tarquin assembles together many of the chiefe of the Latins in the midst of which we may imagine he spoke thus MY yesterdayes delay oh yee Latins hath delayd all our deaths Turnus was grieved at it because his hopes were thereby prolonged hee that day thought to make himselfe Master over you he deferd his thought because be on whom his thoughts were chiefly bent deferd his comming I know this to bee true and such is his untamed pride as might make you know it also but it will appeare plaine unto you when searching into the most secret places of his house you shall finde them filled with weapons A fierce and proud Citizen is the Lion of the Citie if he tarry there hee will be King fiercenesse makes him rashly seeke for that which pride makes him covetously desire such a one 's greatest enemy is he who is the Cities chiefest friend Your owne eares filled with so many opprobrious lyes utterd against me may be a witnesse of this he never sought for glory but by detracting from others he is one of those who terme themselves free and are so indeed in as much as they are not subject to reason a people who see nothing but faults because they seeke after nothing else they blame the Sunne because it offends their eyes and know not that the fault is in their eyes not in the Sunne a wicked generation whose fame lies onely in diffamation their praise in blaming their greatnesse in detraction They say whatsoever comes next to mouth so it bee bad enough they are proud envious arregant and malicious they seeke for applause through evill speaking and because they meet with it in the weaker sort they make the better Citizens grow desperate and under a false shew of libertie they first confound the true one then oppresse it they have no meanes to raise themselves but by taking from others that they may rise they put him under-foot whom they detract and so 〈◊〉 they may appeare great like women they care not whether it be by flesh or a chopine this kinde of people most pernitious to the whole world sow confusion make Princes become Tyrants raise discords in Senats fill Cities with calumnies and finally with dead men Turnus sayes I aspire to the government of you he brings for example that I am hatefull to mine owne people an enemie a Tyrant to them O miserable condition of Princes when as necessitie inforces them to oppose themselves to the ambition and hatred of great ones they call them Tyrants They cannot make good the reasons they have of putting them to death unlesse the Princes will suffer themselves to be stâ—…ine conspiâ—…acies â—…e 〈◊〉 trickes and inventions when they end it not in a Tragedie with the death of the Prince they are held impossible though their truth â—…e seene eâ—…ery dâ—…y it is lawfull to beat backe force by force if private men doe so they are borne withal if not commended in Princes it is blamed necessity is termed cruelty the weakest seemes alwayes to have the justest cause though true justice consists only in such as are powerfull who have it in their choice to doe what the others are inforst to doe And who is it that hates me unlesse it be the Senate which cannot brooke Princes nor be brooked by Princes it was a friend to Servius because it took not from him that Authority it tooke from the Kingdome though it belonged not unto him but it hath taken both the one and the other from me to whom of right they did belong Right is not by them weighed but numbred and is there beleeved to be where it is cryed up by the major partie A Senate is ordained for free Cities where such freedome is not it corrupteth Government and makes Monarchie turne Tyrannie Doe not beleeve O Latins that the faults which they object unto mee proceed from any vice of mine they 〈◊〉 caused through the necessity of government they who desire a mediocrity in liberty desire it not as meaning to rest there but that they may the easier compasse what yet remaines behind if a rider put a rough bit in a horses mouth which will not bee governed no man blames him for severity they blame the horse because he will not be ruled and yet they cal the Prince cruell who would câ—…rb the Senate and call not the Senate head-strong which will not obey the Prince where there iâ—… such a magistracie the Prince must either heare himselfe called Tyrant or suffer his Principality be taken from him or give it up himselfe this name of Tyrant which is so frequent in every mans mouth what is it but his command who forceth himselfe to be obeyed which if it be true every one that commands is a Tyrant since there are very few or indeed none at all who all other impediments taken away doe naturally affect servitude for my part I will rather reâ—…ounce than prejudice government quit the Principality rather than lessen it But allow it though voyd of all truth that I be hatefull an enemie and a Tyrant to my people who knowes not that if I have enemies it behoves mee seeke for friends that hee who is hated of his subjects cannot subsist without the love of forrenners that he cannot by violence hold in the Romans who hath not the Latins for his faithfull confederates In briefe Truth is a precious liquor it will not be kept under by the waters of falshood but will float above and falshood is a viper which wounds with her teeth and beares the cure in her belly You see now the words which Turnus made use of to falsifie truth are the selfe-same by the which I prove the truth you shall see the same man who hath offended mee stand up in my defence I will then shew you what Tarquin is when you shall know what Turnus is Truth hath no such enemie as likelihood and oft-times one truth is an utter enemie to another More beleefe ought to be given to things which appeare impossible than to those which admit of likelihood who would make a lye bee beleeved delineates forth a seeming truth and not the impossibilitie I was about to say and am almost of the opinion that he is in a worse condition in the worlds respect who is loaded with calumnies than hee who is infested with accusations There is no lye so dangerous as that which most resembles the truth many likly propositioÌ„s seeme to conclude a necessary truth and many
for that I pleased him O Beauty pernitiously coveted by our unsound mindes you onely serve those that possesse you that you may be desired by who possesseth you not Fraile and fading vanitie of the body whereby the eternall beauty of the Soule is sullied who is indowed with you or sinneth with you or causeth sin through you But what was it in mee that encouraged that wicked one to so great mischiefe perhaps my honesty which hee thought greater than that of others Most sacred honesty art thou then become an inciter to lust and in stead of defending offendest Dost thou in stead of bridling desires egge on to fury and violence His heart where crueltie is harboured which can kill none but the innocent is likewise a receptacle of lust which can covet none but the chaste to have what they desire is not that the Tarquins doe desire they find no pleasure where they use no force and like Lightning rend most where they finde most resistance And whither can unfortunate Lucretia goe for revenge to the Kings family who hath injured me to mine own friends whom I have injured You gods of Hospitality it is you I call upon but to what purpose call I on you since you have permitted it Revenge me you infernal powers but why invoke I you who were his assistants I my selfe will revenge my selfe and will by death take greater revenge on this mine enemie than by living I will dye not to lessen my faults but to aggravate his not for that I have sinned but to shew that shee did not subject her selfe to sense who voluntarily deprives her selfe of sense I will die that I may not live in so wretched times which make life a shame and to bee borne a mis-fortune My fall shall ease your thoughts make my revenge happy and I who will not live an example of dishonour to women will dye an example of fortitude to men This said shee plunged a knife into her heart and fell downe dead thereon The Father and Husband stood shedding unprofitable tears over the body of Lucretia they compassionated that chance which not being naturall ought rather to have moved anger in them and animated them to revenge than have incited them to pittie and bedewed them with their teares But Brutus the punisher of teares drawing the knife from forth the wound wills them they to take an oath to drive out the Tarquins he speakes not of killing them Herein his revenge is not of large enough extent it reacheth not to life hee will have them sweare not to suffer any more in Rome any regall power herein it extends it selfe too farre it reacheth to that forme which is not in fault But Brutus who hated more the Regall power than the Kings faults moves rather against his State than life more to vindicate Romes liberty than to revenge Lucretia HE who is endowed with valour and wisdome makes his passions serve him in all his achivements he useth vēgeance as long as he knowes it usefull and thinkes it folly to hazard both life and goods in killing of one by whose death nothing but the name of revengefull can be purchased Lucreti◅ chance is the occasion not the cause of the commotion against Tarquin Some writers say that Brutus caused her dead body bee carried into the market place I beleeve he first recounted the case with as powerfull exaggerations as hee could and in the heat of his discourse shewed Lucretias body for certaine if hee did not use this manner of proceeding he should have used it Sight moves more than hearing and gradation should begin with the meanest It is almost incredible to beleeve what great effects the representation of somewhat to the eye doth worke when mens hearts are formerly by speech prepared in any Tragicall case Few can forbeare from teares it moves compassion in all anger suddenly gets in and oftentimes fury States have no greater enemy than Rhetoricke such writings should bee burnt and the teachers banisht were not Nature her Mistresse A wise man who is bold and eloquent is an ill instrument for a Common wealth All the Citizens of Collatia take armes and leaving the Gates well guarded that the newes may not be brought to the King they goe to Rome where having assembled the people Brutus having related the adultery committed by Sextus Tarquin I beleeve hee might breake forth into some such like exclamation WIll you still suffer this ravenous cruell lustfull Tyrant To what end doe you bring up your sonnes To what end give you education to your daughters To what end doe you heape up riches for a cruelty which will kill them for a lust which will strumpet them for an avarice which will take them from you If you beare with him in hopes that hee may change 't is vanity if because you feare him 't is madnesse who shuns death encounters with it and who encounters shuns it A Tyrant is a monster hee is by nature intended onely for a scourge to men hee workes not well to the end hee was ordained to if hee worke not ill nor best nor worst can be safe under him Hee equally feares and hates the good of good men and the bad of wicked and where hee findes nothing neither to bee feared nor hated he despiseth lukwarmnes Mongst barbarous people where bodies governe the mind where rationality is in habit not in act where to command is slavery to obey liberty let there be regall power they are people which thinke themselves free when they are freed from the burthen of commanding To desire liberty and shun servitude is naturall to very beasts and man seeming to be of worse condition than brute beasts which as rationall passe by the greater delights of sense to shun subjection hee as irrationall passing by the better reasons of the understanding precipitates himselfe into servitude as if slavery were the greatest sensuality The Gods have made all soules equall all bodies of the same materialls and if they endowe one species with more noblenesse than another they doe not so in individuals Wherefore shall wee then make him greater than all whom nature hath not made greater than any one What take you him to be he is a man and one who hath no more braines than other men unlesse when hee makes use of other mens braines who hath no more power than you but onely in that you obey him shall then your owne power subject you to a braine which is not that which governes you If a Common wealth be liberty a Kingdome is servitude nor is it the more to be praysed if it be voluntary rather he is more to bee blamed who serves out of weaknesse than hee who serves enforst by necessity When time requires recourse to daring there ought no recourse bee had to patience patience doth well in generous breasts to asswage necessity and there it becomes fortitude In all other places 't is basenesse of minde unlesse it bee assumed when time serves to bee
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