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
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
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
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
shortly have enough to command it Formes are not changed in an instant accidents which have no bodies are those which cause change in bodies Doe you beleeve that hee who is not content to be Prince amongst his owne people will content himselfe to bee a private man amongst the Latines doe you beleeve he will abase himselfe to the brother-hood of a City who leaves no wickednesse unattempted to raise himselfe to Monarchies You have for example before your eyes the Romans examples are no more beleeved they admit of interpretation such as had wont to serve for instruction before a deed be done finde no beleefe till after it be done They are become pernicious in humane actions they are not considered as they are every one fits them according to his owne desire either to beleeve too much in them or not beleeve in them at all What will you have to doe with him from whom you can expect no helpe unlesse it be to rule you nor expect counsell unlesse it bee how to grow cruell And say his customes hurt not you because they are in him they will endammage you because they will passe into you mischiefe of its owne nature is taking and 't is likely that Tyranny hath somewhat of sweetnesse in it since that many laying aside the securitie of Principality betake themsâ—…lves to Tyranny not without danger Wee have too much forgot our selves in suffering his allyance matches with Princes become not a Common-wealth strangers have got one foot in to take possessiot citizens have a leaning stocke without whereby to make themselves Masters thereof Tyrants ought to be hated not reverenced by the people it is not safe to mention him much lesse to introduce him into a Common-wealth hee who speakes of him should make him be beleeved to be a Tygre a Sphinx not a man I cannot beleeve you have a desire of Lords to become servants I know not whether yee suffer your selves to perish through ignorance or weaknesse or through both for my part my vote shall cease together with my life and not before in this Common-wealth whilst Turnus lives silence shall not be the overthrow thereof hee who will follow my steps shall not be commanded by Tarquin Here Turnus made an end when each one turned about to salute Tarquin who arrived at that very instant and being admonished to make his excuse said that the occasion of his so long stay was his having stickled in a difference betweene a father and a sonne Turnus who by fiercenesse and freedome of speech had wonne reputation amongst the Latins following his accustomed wont answered Such differences require not much time to end them the sonne is bound to obey his father if he be good if he be bad to beare with him howsoever to reverence him and he hath then least reason on his side when he pretends to have most IT would be a great good fortune to be borne in times fitted to ones proper Genius if those times were permanent or if one were to die therein but since that alterations happen almost alwaies and death but seldome it is a great misfortune to live in a happie time and dye in an unhappie one it is not without wonder to bee considered that wee who with times change our externall habits will not beleeve with time our internall habits ought also to bee changed the ignorant as well as the learned are subject to this weaknesse either for that they â—…ow not how to change that nature whereunto they are accustomed or that they beleeve they ought not to change that which hath beene successefull to them but Fortune often varies with man because shee changeth the times and they change not their manners That Lion-like fiercenesse which was was serviceable to Turnus in private factions amongst his equals ought to have beene dissembled with his superiours winning behaviour advisednesse and fiercenesse mingled together season any affaire excellently well when the winning behaviour appeares sufficiently the advisednesse not at all and the fiercenesse but a little As it is weaknesse to dissemble with ones equall so not to dissemble with ones superiour is rashnes it is not at all times good to say all what the heart thinketh though all what the heart thinketh bee good freedome of speech ought sometimes to bee forborne when freedome of life is corrupted who useth it not in a befitting time hinders not but hastens power Tarquin who wrought himselfe in by little and little ought by little and little to be wrought out to oblige him to doe some great act by which he may either become or learne how to become Prince it is not good to passe by the least errors in an entire Common-wealth and it is worse to withstand all in a Common-wealth corrupted at such times to appear too much a good Common-wealths man is the next way to produce a Tyrant the weight which preserves in safetie an upright pillar causethit fall if the pillar leane to one side Difficulties ought not alwayes to be thrust at in desperate cases it is better to commit them into the hands of Fortune than to seeke to remedy them where wee cannot helpe our selves to be busie can worke no other effect than hinder the effects of a cause superiour to our selves and whilst that comes by by unknowne wayes impatiencie in seeking of it out may easily not afford it leasure to come or disturbe it by causing it take some other way How many hath Nature helpt whom Art hath abandoned and how many hath Art slaine whom Nature would have restored to health Tarquin sayes no more he is not wont to defend himselfe with words who is used to heare nothing but flattery these speeches take him unprovided because they are free to answer all pertaines to private men to punish all to Tyrants Princes ought not contend in words left they the more incense others or become themselves too passionate and bring their Majestie in question more place is reserved for craft when lesse is afforded to choler A Tyrant sometimes is well pleased when he heares himselfe provoked by great men hee seekes out offences that hee might commit them he is glad to receive them out of a desire to revenge them if he meet with none he faines them either for his better excuse or that he may be the more incenst Tarquin that hee might plot the death of Turnus hath recourse to some of the contrary faction by whose meanes a servant of his is suborned to receive great store of armes and weapons into his house STrangers have fitting meanes for revenge in a factious Citie if there be none there obliged to doe ill there are alwayes enough contented to see ill done if there be none that have the act of anger there bee enough that have the habit of hatred a stranger in such places meets seldome with any provocations to bloud save hatred and malice because offences are for the most part either old and alreadie forgotten or new and
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