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
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
grow hot as if to terme them fortunate were a badge of infamie Wherefore ought daring bee praised in a man and not fortune he hath no greater share in being â—…old than in being fortunat belike men beleeve her to be without man because we see her not within him but shee is borne with us as are other qualities and if shee be not an operation of the understanding shee is at least somewhat that moves the understanding to worke in due season she is a kind of Enthusiasme shee makes him speake well that knowes not why he speakes she makes him worke to purpose who knowes not why he workes a might and power of the last individuation of a temper which workes not only in the subject but transmit her qualities forth thereof whence are caused operations in us useful to others caused by somewhat which what it is wee doe not know and it is that mans fortune she is an incantaâ—…ion of that temper as Rhetoricke is of the tongue and makes her selfe be waited upon by all the other parts of man shee is called fickle not because she ceases to be good but because shee gives way to a better The Veientanians slept in quiet whilst their neighbours were together by the eares not unlike men oppressed with a Lythargie who sometimes waken at the houre of death THe splendour of that fire which burnes our neighbors deceives the eye it seemes faire because it shines it seemes good because it gives light the harme thereof is not felt till losse bee thereby occasioned They begin to ransacke the Country they tarry not the comming of the enemie and returne home The Romans when they found them not in their Territories goe to the Citie Veia the enemie comes forth to meet them and to their losse give battell the Romans forrage their Countrey and finally at the Veientanians request grant them peace for an hundred yeares Whilst Romulus to call the Armie to a Rendevous made an Oration in the sield next to the Caprean fenne a great and sudden storme of wind and thunder arising hee was no more seene but being covered with a thicke obscuritie vanisht from the sight of those who heard him The people did suspect that the Senatours whom he had deprived of their authority had slaine him TOuching the ends of men of might Fame is alwayes sinister as if death her selfe did feare to affront them if not inforced or because they have offended many that is beleeved to be mans revenge which is caused by Natures selfe it may be likewise they beleeve that art may have powerfull remedies against death and that Princes being thereby taught cannot dye naturally but by excesse of old age The people make a tumult their choler boyles apace but leapes not out of the vessell they shew themselves readie to follow any who wil revenge him some Senator who at that time had made himselfe the peoples Leader might doubtlessely have made himselfe Master of the Citie Julius Proculus came in affirming that he saw Romulus ascend up into heaven and that his will was to be called the god Quirinus the people beleeve him appease the tumult and in stead of revenging him prepare to offer sacrifice unto him THey detract from the merit of Romulus his actions whilst they augment his nature they lessen the wonder and increase the reverence they abase Divinitie if they thinke it of so small esteeme they vilifie humanity if they think it not of so much worth the common people doe easily deifie Princes him whom they see greater than many men they thinke him greater than Humanity they apprehend their Genus to be above that of other individuals they beleeve Infinity to bee there where they cannot reach unto with their eye and from the superiority of power argue the superiority of Nature These are the actions which were by Romulus done in warre and in peace who wanted not spirit to recover a Kingdome for his Grand-father not counsell to build one to himselfe nor wisdom to strengthen himselfe in Peace which facilitated by his so many Victories might be long injoyed by his posteritie Romulus lived glorious by reason of his great atchievements and failing in the midst of them before he had made triall of adverse fortune he dyed fortunate Fortune is not sufficient to raise a man to greatnesse if shee be not accompanied with worth and worth is vaine where fortune wanteth they are perhaps more unfortunate than others that are more fortunate they are accustomed to see good events ensue yea even upon bad advice and counsel and because they can give no reason of their good effects they alwayes addresse themselves unto them without reason as if their past good fortune were a cleare demonstration of future felicitie and not rather an argument of approaching miseries in a world where the star which in the morning is the Zenith to our head is at night found to be the Nadir to our feet Vertue when unaccompanied is not discerned counsell is only approved by the event and if vertue unaccompanied be discerned it is either despised as unusefull or pitied as unhappie If God should make the effects of all things succeed contrary to our wisdomes reason men might perhaps beleeve the world were governed by chance and if all things did succeed according to wisdome I am afraid such is humane weaknesse as it would deifie her whereas now through the only light of Nature it is forced to beleeve that there is somewhat without or forth of us in which all things are Those who have Vertue coupled with Fortune ascribe all actions to their wisdome nor will they acknowledge Fortune to have any share therein and indeed it behoves them to know that she hath a great share in affaires which makes them feare that instability which cannot be apprehended from else-where Romulus was made great by Vertue guarded by Fortune till hee became great Vertue though faire useth to be accused of fruitlesâ—…esse Fortune though fruitfull of instabilitie the ones labours usually faile of fruit the others gifts of beleefe Romulus may well be termed happy whose vertue was fruitfull and whose fortune permanent To compare him with any of the Ancients the resemblance betwixt him and Moses is not to bee let slip the one and the other in their births exposed to the waâ—…ers Moses for Pharaos feare Romulus for that of Amulius both of them fortunately saved Moses past his youths under sheepherds attire Romulus was educated amongst shepheards Moses is the cause of Pharaos death Romulus killeth Amulius The one and the other were Leaders of People the Introducers of Senats Law-givers and as they were alike in the beginning of their lives so were they in their ends The Lord takes Moses from the sight of the Israelites hee leads him into a Mountaine where hee ends his dayes he buries him his death not being knowne Romulus was taken from the eyes of the people was led into some solitary place was slaine by the Senators
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
name of ungratefull hardly wiped off those benefits which are received from a Superiour are willingly acknowledged for acknowledgment is all he expects â—…he which witnessing the receivall of them obliges to an addition of more These respects the motives of ambition and incitements of glory caused the generously minded young men keepe aloofe off from their grandfathers subjection TO expect a Kingdome after anothers death hinders or retards glory mens spirits with yeares grow cold and during the fathers life that a man may live secure he often-times must live idle Princes doe sometimes envie yea even the egregious deeds of their sonnes because they feare them private men rejoyce because they share therein amongst the good fortunes of valiant men their parents speedie death ought to be accounted one who after having brought them up cannot doe better for them than die a kingdome is not to be desired if it bring not glory along with it glory belongs to them who have wonne it with the sweat of their brow not to those who receive it calmely from another valiant men who are borne fortunate are unfortunate for the inheritance of Monarchies takes away the glory of acquiring them They goe about to build a new Citie or rather to build the walls of that which their generous actions brought along with them to this purpose they chuse that place where they were exposed to waters as I beleeve either out of memory of their fortune or out of gratitude The places choyce shewes the builders wisedome the first stone they laid is a Touch-stone by by which the worth of their metall is tryed HE is not to be praised who to withdraw himselfe from the downey bed of idlenesse hath recourse to the brutishnesse of sterilitie one ought seeke helpe from education not situation that it may appeare vertue not necessity the way of Merchandize makes men industrious but withall tiâ—…orous and that Citie is in no good condition the riches whereof consists amongst some particulars not in the publike where the riches is lockt up in 〈◊〉 not in the Common-wealth when danger comes men know not how to defend it but study how they may quit it and such estates as are portable set their owner at libertie for they make them but inhabitants not subjects Nor can it be affirmed that the barrennesse of a place takes from its neighbours the desire of dominion which is the childe of glory not of avarice He that builds in strong places erects fortresses for tyrants at least nests for vices and they that live in securitie want that feare of losing their owne which oft-times serves for just occasion to usurpe anothers right and on the contrary side to build open Cities without walls was a melancholy humour of some ancient Philosopher which neither deserves discourse nor imitation Romes situation was full of health-inspiring hils not too far distant from the sea that they might receive commodities not too neere that they might shun the inundations of barbarous people watered with a continually running River placed in the midst of Italy They were readie to raise the walls of the Citie when neither of them would yeeld in the naming thereof unto the other nor in the making of laws Equality the producer of envy had much more force in them for that beyond the common equalitie amongst brethren they did particularise in being equally conceived and equally at the same time borne WHen any excuse is to bee found seniority is allow'd of many would yeeld if they could finde pretence to doe so and many times men contend more out of shame than pride The mixture of greater and lesse is good but that of equals starke naught either in the varietie of nature it is not found requisite or else it lasts not in the world because it is founded upon the perpetuity of motion and inequalitie doth by so much the more differ from tolerable by how much it comes neare to equality therefore is an Unison displeasing in musicke which though it were exquisite is unfruitfull it makes no action produces no harmonie the greater and lesse answer to the sharpe and flat from those the world receives its forme from these musicke her sweetnesse and each are damnified by the contrary if it be dissonant profited if it be harmonious Since they could not find on earth how to decide precedencie they seeke to Heaven by auguries Rhemus on the Auventine hill Romulus on the Palatine and whilst it is reported that six Vulturs appeared to Rhemus Romulus shews that number doubled to them that stood about him some are of opinion that from hence a contention rising betwixt them Rhemus was slaine by Romulus TO have an equall prefer'd by man is a sufficient anxiety but therein may be deceit to have the like prefer'd by Heaven makes the anxietie greater because it is alwayes truth This accident was the first canker that introduced man-slaughter and the first man-slaughter was betweene brethren The more common opinion notwithstanding is that hee lost his life in leaping by way of derision over the walls his Brother built Rhemus by this action either declared himselfe to be Prince by pretending not to be subject to any Lawes or else intended to take the principalitie from others by making a mockery of the Lawes MIsobservancie differs from contempt the one reflects upon the Institution the other upon the Institutor he who covertly transgresseth the Lawes leaves the reputation of him that made them untoucht hee who openly offends against them aimes more to weaken the Prince than the Laws Errors which are occasioned by whatsoever other affecti-on may be great or little those who are occasioned by contempt are alwayes giant-like somâ—… of them reflect upon the profit of the subject and it is good to punish them others upon the Majestie of the Superiour and it is necessary to chastise them Respect is the soule of government a Prince fallen to neglect is a dead carkas Giving to the begun Citie the beginning of his own name he called it Rome and instituted pastimes in the honour of Hercules Lawes were yet wanting to a Citie which full fraught with divers Nations and of divers manners could not without them receive unity LAwes are of divers sorts some aime at the preservation of mankind others at the maintenance of the State the former belong to ministers of law as Judiciall the latter to the Prince as Poliâ—…call the first requires stability because they are judiciously considered before they be made but once being made they ought not to be judged since by them judgement is made The other sort to be good ought not to be perpetuall for that if they continue still in force they ruinate the State and if they be transgressed as time necessitates an ill example without profit is introduced It sufficeth not not to observe the old ones when there is no way given to make new ones The Prince is Superintendent over the Lawes not in that hee may not observe them
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
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
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