grown it will be difficult to judge whether they were the product of Nature or Art Let them incourage Vertue with Honour brand Vice with Infamy and Disgrace excite Emulation by Example these things have a great Effect upon all Tempers tho' more on some than others Those who are of a Generous disposition Glory influences most the Melancholy Ignominy the Cholerick Emulation the Inconstant Fear the Prudent Example which is generally of most efficacy with all especially that of Ancestors for often what the Blood could not Emulation does perform 'T is with Children as young trees on which you must Graff a branch as I may say of the same Father to bring them to perfection These Grafts are the famous examples which infuse into Posterity the Vertues of their Ancestors and bear excellent fruit That therefore it may be conveighed as it were thro' all the Senses into the mind and take deep Root there should be the particular industry of his Instructors and consequently they are not to be proposed to the Prince in ordinary Exhortations only or Reproofs but also in sensible objects Sometime let History put him in mind of the great Atchievements of his Ancestors the glory of which eternized in print may excite him to imitate them Sometimes Musick that sweet and wonderfull Governess of the passions playing their Trophies and Triumphs will be proper to Raise his Spirits Sometimes let him hear Panegyricks recited upon their Life to encourage and animate him to an Emulation of their Vertues now and then reciting them himself or with his young Companions Act over their Exploits as upon a stage thereby to inflame his mind for the force and efficacy of the action is by degrees so imprinted on him that he appears the very same whose person he represents Lastly let him play the part of a King amongst them receive petitions give audience ordain punish reward command or marshal an Army besiege Cities and give Battel In experiments of this nature Cyrus was educated from a little Boy and became afterwards an eminent General But if there be any inclinations unbecoming a Prince discernible in his Infancy he should have the Company of such as are eminent for the opposite Vertues to correct the Vices of his Nature as we see a straight Pole does the Crookedness of a tender Tree tyed to it Thus if the Prince be covetous let one naturally liberal be always at his Elbow if a Coward one bold and daring if timorous one resolute and active if Idle and Lazy one diligent and industrious for those of that Age as they imitate what they see or hear so they also easily copy their Companions Customs To Conclude in Education of Princes too rough Reprehension and Chastisement is to be avoided as a kind of Contempt Too much Rigour makes men mean spirited nor is it fit that he should be servilely subject to One Man who ought to Command all It was well said of King Alphonsus Generous Spirits are sooner corrected by words than blows and â—ove and respect those most who use them so Youth is like a young horse that the Barnacle â—urts but is easily governed by the gentler Bit. Besides that men of generous Spirits usually conceive a secret horrour of those things they learnt thro' fear on the contrary have an inclination and desire to try those Vices which in their Childhood were prohibited them Affections too much confined especially such as nature endows a Prince withall break out at last into Despair as Exhalations hard bound within the Clouds into Lightning He that imprudently shuts the gates upon natural inclinations is the occasion of their attempting to get thro' the Windows Some allowance is to be made to humane infirmity which is by some innocent diversions to be raised to Vertue this method they took who had the Care of Nero's Education 14 Quo facilius lubricam Principis aetatem si verâ—tutem asper nareâ—ur voluptatibus concessus retineret Tac. 13. ann The Tutor ought to chide the Prince in private not before Company least he rather grow obstinate when he sees his Vices are publick In these two Verses of Homer is very aptly contained how a Prince ought to be instructed how to obey Advise Command him and what 's good suggest He will obey when for himself 't is best Hom. 2. Il. EMBLEM III. BY the industry of some ingenious and carefull hand one while watering another time defending it from the injuries of Wind and ill Weather the Rose grows and as the Bud opens unâ—olds its little leaves into a circular form A flower strangely pretty but which flatters only the Eyes and is subject to so many casualties that in this its infinite delicacy 't is by no means secure The very same Sun which saw it bloom sees it also whither and that without any other benefit than just shewing the World its beauty it brings so many months Labour to nothing nay oftentimes wounds the very hand that planted it nor could it be otherwise than that such rank tillage should produce thorns Of Coral a Sea shrub there 's quite another account to be given for that growing under Water and continually tossed by the Violence of Waves and Tempestuous Winds becomes so much the harder and more beautiful nay then first is it more illustriously useful when it has underwent the rage of so many Elements Such contrary Effects arise from the different manner of growing of this Shrub and that Flower in respect of softness and hardness The same happens in the Education of Princes for they who are brought up so tenderly and closely that neither the Sun Wind or other Air can come to them but that of perfumes prove too delicate and little fit for Government they on the contrary are strong and able who inure their Bodies to laborious Exercises It 's also convenient to use ones self to Cold from our infancy as a thing of great advantage to health and that will enable us to undergo Military duties 1 Est etiam utile sâ—atim ab ineunte aetate frigoribus assuescere hoc 〈◊〉 tum ad vâ—letudinem tum ad munera militaâ—ia commodâ—ssimum est Arist. Pol. 7. cap 17. By these Exercises Life is prolonged by Voluptuousness and Luxury shortned a Vessel of Glass formed with a blast of the Mouth is with a blast broken Whereas one of Gold wrought with a hammer resists a hammer 'T is no matter if he that lives a private and retired Life be delicate but one who is to support a Kingdom as Atlas the Heavens upon his shoulders had need be strong and robust A Common-wealth has not occasion for a Prince only for a shew but in the Field also and in time of War and in Scripture we find an effeminate King mentioned as a kind of divine punishment 2 I will give Children to be their Princes and Bâ—bâ—s to rule over them Isaâ— 3. 4. The advantage or disadvantage of this different Education was visible in
were better for him to be ignorant of than to know and the best way to banish all Defamation in general yet when Accusations proceed not from Malice but a kind of Zeal to serve the Prince 't is by all means requisite to hear and well examine them looking on them as Informations absolutely necessary not only for good Government but his own Security also Hence the Emperor Constantine in a Law for that purpose assigns a Reward to those who would accuse his Ministers and Domesticks of any real Crime 21 Si quis est cujuscunque loci ardinis dignitatis qui se in quemcunque Iudicum Comitium Amicorum Palatinorum meorum aliquid veraciâ—er manifeste probare posse confidit quod non integre atque juste gessisse videatur intrepidus atque securus 〈◊〉 interpellet me ipse audiam omnia ipse cognoscam si fuerit comprobatum ipse me vindicabo L. 4. C. de Accus This is absolutely necessary that the Prince may know all that passes in his Palace at his Council-Board and in the Courts of Judicature where Fear stops the Mouth and the Favours of the Prince conferred by his Ministers make the Persons gratified dumb and not dare to discover their Faults as if forsooth this were to acknowledge the good Office and to shew their Gratitude which is rather to be esteemed Disloyalty and Treason For that Obligation they lie under to undeceive their Prince and if they observe his Ministers to be faulty to inform him is a natural Obligation of Fidelity and more binding than any other 'T is an infinite prejudice for a Prince to distribute his Favours by the Hands of his Favourites for these buy as it were others aâ— the price of them who are assisting to the neglect of their Duty at least approve and defend it and thus deluding the Prince are the reason he continues his Affection to them The Ancient Republicks very sensible how conducive Satyrs were to restrain Vice by the fear of Infamy allowed them upon Publick Theatres but these from a general Censure of Mens Morals insensibly degenerated into particular Reflections not without considerable Injury to the Honour of some hence proceeded Factions and from them popular Insurrections For as the Holy Spirit says a backbiting Tongue disturbs the Peace and is the Ruin of whole Families and Cities 22 Curse the whisperer and double tongued for such have destroyed many that were at Peace Eccles. 28. 13. So least the Correction of Manners should depend on the Malice of the Tongue or Pen there were instituted Censors who by Publick Authority took cognizance of every one's Behaviour and corrected their Vices That Office was in those times of great use and continued long in Vogue because its Jurisdiction was upheld by Modesty however in ours 't is impossible to be executed For Pride and Libertinism would presently make all the Opposition to it imaginable as they now resist the Magistracy however armed with the best Laws in the World and Publick Authority and consequently Censors would be ridiculous not without great danger to the State there being nothing more hurtful nothing that makes Vice more arrogant and insulting than for such Remedies to be applied to it as Delinquents turn into Contempt and Ridicule But as the Office of Censor was introduced for the Reformation of Manners so was it also to Register the Goods and Estates of every Citizen and to take the number of them and although that Custom prevailed a long time both among the Greeks and Latins with great Advantage to the Commonwealth yet at this day 't would be very odious and subject to vast Inconveniencies for to know so accurately the Number and Effects of Subjects is of no use but to burthen them with more Taxes and Impositions That numbring of the People of Israel under King David God punished as a most heinous Crime 23 2 Sam. 24. 10. For what is so hard and inhuman as by publishing and proclaiming every ones Estate at once to discover the advantages of Poverty and expose Riches to Envy Avarice and Rapine But if in those States the Office of Censor could heretofore be executed without these Inconveniencies 't was because its being newly instituted made it generally received and approved or else because People were then less proud and assuming less Rebels to Reason than in these our Times 24 Quid enim tam duâ—um tamque inhumanum est quam publicatione pompâque rerum famiâ—iarâ—um 〈◊〉 detegi utisitatem invidiae exponere aivitiaâ— L. 2. C. 〈◊〉 â— quiâ— quam pars EMBLEM XV. HOW I wish I could read on all Princes Breasts the Symbol of the present Emblem and that as Balls of Fire flying in the Air imitate the Splendor of the Stars and shine immediately from their being thrown out of the Hand till they turn to Ashes so in them also for the Holy Spirit compares them to â— bright Fire 1 Eccles. 50. 9. would continually burn the desire of Fame 2 Fax mentis honestae gloria nor should they much care for that Flames wanting Matter to feed on or that what burns most fiercely is withal soonest consumed For though length of Life be the common desire of Man and Beast yet have these no other end than meer living but Man of living uprightly 'T is no happiness to live but to know how to live nor does he live most who lives longest but who lives best for Life is not measured by time but the use that 's made on 't He whose Life like a Star in the midst of a Cloud or like the Full Moon shines upon others with Rays of Bounty and Munificence in its Season does undoubtedly live long 3 He was as the Morning Star in the midst of a Cloud and as the Moon at the Full. Eccles. 50. 6. As on the contrary he who lives only to himself though he lives to a great Age lives but little The Benefits and Improvements which flow from a Prince upon the State number the Days of his Life 4 Eccles. 41. 16. those who live without them Oblivion deducts from the Sum 5 The number of years is hidden to oppressors Iob 15. 20. Titus Vespasian the Emperor calling to mind once at Supper that he had done nothing for any one that Day pronounced that remarkable and justly admired Sentence Friend I have lost a Day And 't is reported of Peter King of Portugal that he was wont to say That he deserves not to be a King who does not each day bestow some Favour or Benefit upon the State No Man's Liâ—â—'s so short but it affords time enough to execute some glorious Exploit A brave Spirit in one Moment resolves and in few more executes its Resolutions What matter 's it if he falls in the attempt if the Memory he left behind raises him to Life Eternal It only can be called Life which is bounded by Fame not that which consists in Body and
reconciling Enemies fitter to be Informers than Mediators Affairs require Persons of very different Qualities to Administer them That Man is above all the most proper who in his Air and Words discovers a Soul of Candor and Veracity whose private Person procures him Love and Esteem in whom Jealousy and Cunning are from Art not Nature who can keep them in the most secret Place of his Breast when they require Concealment who proposes with Sweetness hears with Patience replies with Force dissembles with Discretion urges with Attention who obliges by Liberality persuades by Reason and convinces by Experience who in a word designs prudently and executes effectually It was with these Ministers King Ferdinand the Catholick was able to succeed in all his Enterprizes The good Choice of these is of no leâ—s Consequence than the Conservation and Enlargement of any State for as much as all depends upon their Administration more Kingdoms having been destroyed by their Ignorance than by that of Princes Let this therefore be your Highness's chiefest Care to examine diligently all the Qualities of your Subjects and after having given them any Place look now and then into their Actions and not be presently taken with and deluded by the Draught of their Memoirs There being very few Ministers who in them draw themselves to the Life In Effect who will be so candid so much a Stranger to self-love as to confess what good he has neglected to do what Evil to prevent It will be much if he with Sincerity relate what he has actually done some using to write to the Prince not what they have done or said but what they ought to do or say They have thought of and designed every thing â—â—fore-hand they foresaw nay and executed all-Affairs enter their Closets like mishapen Logs but immediately come out again as from some Statuaries Shop exquisite Figures 't is there they are varnished giâ—â—ed and painted to beautify them and enhance their Value There Judgments are form'd and abundance of Preventions devis'd ever after the Success there they are more powerful than God himself make the past Time present and the present past by changing the Date of their Actions as they see convenient They are Ministers who transact Affairs in Imagination only Men that court Applause and steal Rewards by their false Letters Whence proceed the greatest Inconveniences in the World in that the Prince's Privy Counsellors being directed by those Intelligences and Advices if they are false the Orders and Resolutions founded upon them will necessarily be so too The Holy Scripture teaches us how Ministers and particularly Ambassadors are oblig'd punctually to execute their Commissions for we see in that Hazael had from Benhadad King of Syria to consult the Prophet Elisha about his Disease he chang'd not one word nor dared so much as to speak in the Third Person 8 2 Kings 8. 9. Ministers of extraordinary Experience are sometimes dangerous either for that the Prince puts too much Confidence in them or because biassed by Self-love or presuming upon their own Abilities they seldom think thoroughly of Affairs and born as 't were to overcome the most violent Tempests despise the small Storms of Inconveniences and Difficulties whereby they evidently expose themselves to Danger Those are in some Cases much safer who 〈◊〉 yet Novices in Navigation keep close to the Shore Though both together compose the best Counsels in that the Experience of those is qualified by the Timorousness and Caution of these in Debates between the Flegmatick and Cholerick the Bold and Circumspect the Quick and Slow there results a wholsome Composition of Opinions as there does in Bodies from the contrariety of Humours EMBLEM XXXI A Pillar supports it self balanced by its own weight If it once leans on either side it presently falls and that the sooner the heavier it is Thus Empires stand and are preserv'd by their own Authority and Repute when they begin to lose that they begin to fall nor is any Earthly Power sufficient to strengthen and prop them 1 Nihil rerum mortalium tam instabile ac flâ—xum est quam famae potentiae non sua vi niâ—a Tac. 13. Ann. Let no one trust too much to a streight Pillar when it inclines never so little the weakest Hand promotes its Ruin that very leaning I know not how inviting to push it but when falling the strongest is unable to uphold it One single Action sometimes overthrows the best establish'd Reputation which a great many can't erect again For scarce any Stain can so thoroughly be washed out but some sign of it will remain nor any Opinion in Mens Minds that can be entirely effaced Dress the Infamy as carefully as possible it will still leave some Scars Wherefore if the Crown stand not fixed and firm upon this perpendicular Pillar of Reputation it will soon fall to the Ground Alphonso the Fifth King of Arragon by his Credit not only preserved his own Kingdom but conquered that of Naples At the same time Iohn the Second King of Castile for his mean Spirit was so far the Contempt of his Subjects that he admitted what Laws they thought fit to impose The Provinces which under Iulius Caesar and Augustus Princes of great Esteem were Firm and Loyal rebell'd in the Reign of Galba a Man slothful and universally despised 2 Melius Divo Iulio Divoque Augusto notos eorum animos Galbam infracta tributa hostiles Spiritus induisse Tac. 4. Hist. Royal Blood and Large Dominions are insufficient to maintain Reputation where private Virtue and Magnanimity are wanting as it is not the Frame of a Glass but its Intrinsick Excellency makes it valuable Regal Majesty has not more Force than Respect which usually arises from Admiration and Fear and from these Obedience and Subjection without which the Princes Dignity cannot long maintain it self being founded upon the Opinion of others and the Royal Purple will be rather a Mark of Derision than Eminence and Majesty as was visible in Henry the Fourth It is the Spirits and Native Heat that keep the Body upright the Legs alone would not be a sufficient Basis. And what is Reputation but a kind of fine Spirit kindled in all Mens Opinions which raises and supports the Scepter Let the Prince therefore take all possible care that his Actions may be such as will nourish and foment these Spirits The Parthians grounded their Petition upon Reputation when they asked Tiberius to send as of his own accord one of Phraates's Sons to Rome 3 Nomine tantum auctore opus ut sponte Caesaris ut genus Arsacis ripam apud Euphratis cerneretur Tac. 6. Ann. This Repute and Authority has yet greater Influence in War where Fear is of more Efficacy than the Sword and Opinion than Strength whether of Mind or Body and therefore to be taken no less Notice of than Force of Arms. This made Suetonius Paulinus very prudently advise Otho to endeavour always to keep the
to his Subjects 5 Iâ—geus gloria atque eo fâ—rocior subjectis intolerantior Tac. 11. ann If not for fear of danger at least in gratitude a Prince should avoid being terrible to those by whom he reigns Whence that was a very unworthy saying of Caligula Let them hate me so they fear me as if the security of Empire consisted in Fear Whereas no power can be lasting where fear bears the sway And though Seneca said He knows not how to govern who is too fearfull of Hatred Fear defends Kingdoms 'T is a Tyrannick Maxim or is to be understood of that vain Fear which sometimes Princes are in of offending others even when their Commands are just which doubtless is dangerous and not a little derogatory from their Authority He can never reign who wants Constancy and Courage to despise the Hatred of ill men to preserve the good Nor is Caligula's Sentence justifi'd by that of the Emperor Tiberius Let them hate me so they approve me For no action of a person hated is ever approv'd Hatred blames all and puts the worst Construction on every thing When once a Prince is hated his good actions as well as bad are interpreted against him It seems necessary for a Tyrant to keep his Subjects in awe in as much as his Empire being violent must be supported by violent means there wanting those two Obligations of Nature and voluntary Subjection which as Alphonso the Wise says are the greatest Debts a man can owe his Lord. And the Tyrant sensible that without these bands 't is impossible there should be real Love between him and his Subjects endeavours by force to make Fear effect what ought to proceed from natural Affection and as his disturbed Conscience fears Cruelty against it self it exercises it upon others 6 Wisd. 17. 11. But the lamentable examples of all Tyrants abundantly shew how short-liv'd this method is For though we see the Empires of the Turks Muscovites and Tartars have been continued for many Ages by Fear alone yet these barbarous Nations ought not to be made a Precedent Their Manners are so savage that they seem to have more of the Brute than the Man being commonly led more by Punishment than reason and consequently by that only can be kept in subjection as Brutes are not tamed but by Force and Fear Yet generous Spirits suffer not themselves to be compell'd or cheated into Obedience but are induc'd thereto by sincerity and reason For says King Alphonso our people being loyal and couragious their Loyalty ought to be maintain'd by truth and their Courage by right and justice There is usually 'twixt the Prince and his Subjects such a kind of inclination and natural Sympathy as renders him amiable without any more care for a Prince who deserv'd Hatred is sometimes lov'd and on the contrary one hated who merited Love And though eminent Vertues and Accomplishments of Mind and Body are wont of themselves to challenge Love yet they have not always this effect unless accompained with an agreeable kind of Humour a sweet obliging Air which through the Eyes as Windows of the Mind shews the inward Goodness and engages mens Affections Besides that accidents which could not be prevented or some sinister apprehension may so break this Love and good Will between the Prince and Subject that it can never after be re-united yet much may be done in that case by skill and address in knowing how to govern to the satisfaction of the Nobles and Commons avoiding giving them any occasion of displeasure and behaving himself in all particulars so as to create a good opinion of his Government But since the means whereby the Affections of Subjects may be procur'd are every where scatter'd through this Book I shall only say here in general that nothing contributes more to the obtaining it than Religion Justice and Liberality But because without some Species of Fear Love would be soon turn'd to Contempt and the edge of Regal Authority blunted 7 Timore Princeps â—ciem authoritatis suae non patitur hebescere Cic. 1. Caâ— it is highly requisite that Subjects entertain such an awe as arises from Respect and Veneration not thaâ— which is the result of danger from Injustice and Tyranny So necessary it is for a Prince to make himself feared by not suffering Indignities maintaining Justice and abhorring Vice that without such an awe in Subjects 't would be impossible to be long secure For all naturally desire Liberty and the inferior part of man rebells against Reason and is incorrigible but by Fear The Prince must therefore tame his Subjects as the Horse-courser breaks his Colt the figure of the present Emblem who with the same hand strokes and curries him and threatens him with the Whip Both the Rod and the Manna were kept in the Ark of the Tabernacle to intimate as I imagin that Rigour and Clemency should be joyn'd in the Prince's person God's Rod and Staff comforted David for if that wounded this supported him 8 Ps. 22. 4. Exod. 19. When God gave the Law of the Decalogue to the Israelites on Mount Sinai he at once terrified them with Thunder and Lightning and pleasing allur'd them with Heavenly Musick both the one and the other is necessary to preserve a Love and Veneration in Subjects Let this therefore be the Prince's Study to make himself at once lov'd and fear'd lov'd as the Protector of his People fear'd as the Soul of the Law upon which all their Lives and Estates depend lov'd for his Rewards fear'd for his Punishments lov'd for his Goodness fear'd for his Authority lov'd as a Promoter of Peace fear'd as Arbiter of War So that the good in loving him may find cause to fear the Bad in fearing him may find something to love in him This Fear is as necessary to the preservation of the Sceptre as that which proceeds from the Pride Injustice and Tyranny of the Prince is prejudicial and dangerous to it in leading to Despair 9 Ita agere in subjectis ut magiâ— vereantur severitatem quam ut saevitiam ejus detestentur Colum. The one procures his Liberty with the Prince's Ruin God breaking the Staff of the wicked and the Sceptre of such as rule with too much severity 10 Isa. 14. 5 6. Whereas the other by conforming himself to Reason studies to avoid his Anger and Punishment This Fear is of the same brood with Love For there can be no Love without fear of losing the Object lov'd and care to continue in its favour But since 't is not so much in the Prince's power to beget Love as Fear 't is better for him to ground his security on this than that alone which as the product of the Will is various and inconstant nor is any artificial Flattery any forc'd Complaisance sufficient to gain the Hearts of all That Prince I take for a great Governour who alive is fear'd and dead lov'd by his Subjects as Ferdinand
upon Innocence they are as Grains of Salt that preserve Favour and Admonitions not to err or to amend Let him ascribe successful Actions to the Prince but tâ—ke miscarriages upon himself Let him always think his ruin sure and certain waiting for it with Constancy and a free and disinteress'd mind without being over sollicitous to establish his Favour for he falls soonest from a Precipice who fears it most The reflection of the danger disturbs the Brain and we grow giddy with looking from an height Whatever Favourites have been thus giddy have certainly fell when those who have not been so sollicitous have pass'd secure 64 Prov. 10. 9. Among the Ministers of State let him behave himself rather as a Companion than a Master rather as a Defender than Accuser 65 Eccles. 32. 1. Let him encourage the Good and endeavour to reform the Bad. Let him not interpose his Authority in their Preferments or Removals and leave to them their own business Let him not alter the Course of Counsels in Consultations nor deny any access to the Prince If the Prince would have him confer with him let him declare his Sentiments frankly without any other Design than to consult for the best The Court is the most dangerous Rock of Favour and yet all use it to establish and confirm it there is not a stone in it but would strive to fall if in falling it might crush the Statue of the Favourite which is as brittle as that of Nebuchadnezar by reason of the diversity of Metals that compos'd it Not one Courtier is a true Friend to the Favourite if he chooses some he incurs the Hatred and Envy of the rest If he introduces them he is in danger of being supplanted if he does not he makes them his Enemies 'T is thereâ—ore the safest way to walk with indifference to all and not to intermeddle in the Affairs of any one but endeavour to satisfie all and if possible rather to promote than hinder them in their Pretensions and Interest If any one shall have insinuated himself into the Prince's Favour 't will be the best way to keep him there for he who wrestles with another to throw him down usually falls with him and opposition confirms Favour More Favorites have been ruined by striving to displace others than by advancing them Let him slight Accusations or Commendations to the Prince and leave them to Fortune Favour is very subject to the People for if they disapprove the Favourite the Prince can never support him against the common Cry or if he Attempts it the People usually turn his Judges and Executioners we having seen a great many fall by their hands If the People love him to excess he is in danger from thence for that creates Jealousie and Envy in others nay in the Prince himself whence the Peoples Loves are generally short and unlucky 66 Breves infaustos populi Romani amores Tac. 2. ann And so that the Favourite may walk safe between these two Extreams he must avoid all occasions of publick Applause and Acclamations Let him only endeavour to procure to himself a good Esteem by Piety Liberality Complaisance and Affability making it his Care to see Justice duely administred that there may be plenty of all things that the publick Peace be not disturb'd in his time that Privileges be not violated nor Novelties introduced into the Government but above all that there be no Disputes in matters of Religion nor difference among the Clergy For he will soon feel the Peoples Rage if he once incur the name of impious Foreigners who want this natural Love for the Prince depend more upon the Favourite than him whence they pay him most Respect that they may by his means accomplish their Designs to the great dishonour of the Prince and prejudice of his States Nay they often prove the ruin of the Favourite unless he abundantly satisfie them in their Desires and Requests wherefore he ought to beware of their Respect and refuse the incense and worth of Foreigners letting them who would pay him those Honours know that he is only the Curtain before the Image and that 't is the Prince that works the Miracles Ambassadors usually affect the Friendship of the Favourite as the most effectual means to accomplish their Affairs and judging that the disorders which result from Favour will be of Service to them they endeavour to foment it being often introduc'd thereto by the Favourite himself and as they take occasion to commend them in Audiences and seem at first sight free from Interest and Emulation it has often very good Effect yet for all this they are dangerous Friends for the Favourite can't preserve their Friendship without great Detriment to the Prince and State And if in consideration of his Duty he does not abundantly satisfie them they are utter Enemies and leave no stone unturn'd to ruin him 'T is therefore safest not to be more engag'd to them than the Princes Service will permit Endeavouring only to gain the Reputation abroad of a sincere and affable Person and one who would rather preserve the good Correspondences and Alliances of his Prince than break ' em A timely Application of these Preservatives may perhaps prevent a Favourites fall but when he has once incurr'd the Odium and Envy of the people these are look'd upon as Tricks and Artifices and more endanger him As it happened to Seneca who took no method to prevent his Death but endeavouring to moderate his Favour when he found himself persecuted 67 Instituta prioris potentiae commutat proâ—ibet coetus salutantium vâ—tat comitantes rarus per Urbem quasi valetudine infeâ—sa aut sapientiae studiis doâ—◠〈◊〉 Tâ—c 14. ann If notwithstanding the Observation of all these Cautions the Favourite shall fall into Disgrace his fall will be Glorious he having liv'd without the little Fears and the shameful Care of preserving his Favour by methods below a generous Spirit a torment much worse than the disgrace it self If there be any thing valuable in a Princes Favour 't is only the Glory of having merited his Esteem the Continuation of which is full of Cares and Dangers And he is happiest who soonest and with most Reputation quits it I have describ'd Royal Sir the Practices of Favourites but not how a Prince ought to comport himself towards them not supposing that he ought to have any for though he must be allow'd to have more inclination to one than another yet not so as to devolve all his Authority upon one person from whom the people must expect Orders Rewards and Punishments for such Favour is properly an Alienation from the Crown and dangerous to the Government even when Favour succeeds in the Election of the Subject for neither will the people so readily obey nor so awfully respect the Favourite as the Prince nor is he so much concern'd for the welfare of the State nor is he so immediately under the care of
Peace Now Caesar 's Grandeur Caesar 's Glories reign His Conqu'ring Arm sheathing his Sword again * Propert. Nothing in the World is more an Enemy to Possession than War It is a wicked as well as foolish Doctrine which teaches that Seeds of Hatred should be nourished that Matter for War may be furnished whenever it shall be thought fit 12 Semina odiorum jacienda omne scelus externum habendum cum laetitia Tac. Annal. l. 12. He always lives in War who has it always in his Thoughts The Advice of the Holy Spirit is much more wholsom Seek Peace and pursue it 13 Psal. 34. 14. When a Peace is once Concluded the Laws of God and Man oblige to a faithful Observance of it even although transacted with one's Predecessors without any Distinction between the Government of One and Many both the Kingdom and Commonwealth for the Benefit and upon the Faith of which the Contract was made being always the same and never dying Time and Common Consent have Passed what was once Agreed upon into a Law Nor is Force or Necessity a sufficient Excuse for making War For if the Publick Faith might be violated for these things there would be no Capitulation no Treaty of Peace but might be broken under the same colour Francis I. was blamed for declaring War against Charles V. contrary to the Agreement made during his Imprisonment under pretence of Constraint By such Artifices and Equivocal Negotiations it comes to pass that none at all are firm so that to establish them it is necessary to demand Hostages or detain some considerable Place things which embarrass a Peace and fatigue the World with perpetual Wars The Prince then being free from the Toils and Dangers of War should apply himself wholly to the Arts of Peace according to Tasso Learning and Arts promote throughout your Realm Divert your Subjects Minds with Plays and Balls With equal Iustice punish and reward And out of Danger stand upon your Guard Yet not without reflecting how soon War may possibly disturb his Rest. Let not his Eye quit the Arms his Hand has laid down nor those old Medals influence him upon the Reverse of which Peace was described burning Shields with a Torch This was far from being a prudent Emblem for there is nothing so necessary after War as the preserving of Arms to keep Violence from making any attempt against Peace None but God alone could when he gave it to his People break the Bow as the Psalmist expresseth it cut the Spear in sunder and 〈◊〉 the Chariots in the fire 14 Psal. 46. 9. forasmuch as he being the Arbiter of War needs not Arms to maintain Peace withal But among Men there can be no Peace where Ambition is not restrained by Fear or Force This gave Occasion to the Invention of Arms which Defence found out before Offence The Plough marked out the Walls before the Streets were disposed and almost at the same time Tents were pitched and Houses built The Publick Repose would never be secure did not Care armed guard its Sleep A State unprovided with Arms awakens the Enemy and invites War Never had the Alps heard the Echo's of so many Trumpets had the Cities of the Milanese been better fortify'd This State is as it were an Outwork to all the Kingdoms of the Spanish Monarchy and each ought for its own Security to contribute to its Strength which joined with the Power of the Sea would render the Monarchy firm and unshaken Mens Hearts were they of Adamant could not supply the Defect of Walls King Witiza by demolishing these made the Moors so bold as to invade Spain when those Banks were gone which till then had stopt their Inundations 15 Mar. Hist. Hisp. Augustus was not guilty of this Negligence in that long Peace he enjoyed but appointed a Publick Treasury as a Provision against a War Except Forces be Exercised in Time of Peace and the Mind disciplin'd in the Arts of War it will not easily be done when Danger of Invasion shall have put all Men in a Consternation and they be more intent on flying and saving what they have than on their Defence There is no greater Stratagem than to leave a Kingdom to its own Idleness When Military Exercise fails Valour does the same Nature produces in all Parts great Souls which either Occasion discovers or want of Business burieth Past Ages have not furnish'd braver Men in Greece and Rome than are at this day born but they then appeared so Heroical because Desire of Rule made them use themselves to Arms. Let not a Prince be discouraged at the Sluggishness of his Subjects Discipline will fit them either to preserve Peace or to maintain War Let him keep them always employed in the Exercise of Arms for he that desires Peace must prevent War EMBLEM C. IT is a short breathing between the Cradle and the Tomb short I say yet 〈◊〉 of occasioning considerable Evils if ill employed Often does a Commonwealth lament whole Ages the Errour of one Moment On this Point turns the Fall or Rise of Empires One bad Counsel in a Minute throws down what has cost Valour and Prudence many Years to build 1 〈…〉 Taâ— Annal. l. 5. And therefore it is not enough in this Amphitheater of Life to have run well if the Course be not equal to the End He only receives the Crown who has lawfully touch'd the last Goal of Death The Foundation of Houses consists in the first Stones that of Renown in the last except they be Glorious it soon falls and is buried in Oblivion The Cradle does not flourish until the Tomb has first and then even the Briars of past Vices turn to Flowers for Fame is the last Spirit of our Actions which thence receive their Beauty and Lustre a thing never seen in an infamous Old Age that rather effacing the Glory of Youth as it happened to 2 Cesserunt que primâ— postremis boâ—aâ— juventae senectus flagitiosâ—â—â—â—teravit Tac. Annal. 1. 6. Vitellius The most perfect Stroaks of the Pencil or Chizel are not esteemed if the whole Work remain imperfect And if ever Fragments were regarded it was for being the Reliques of a once perfect Statue Envy or Flattery while Life lasts give different Forms to Actions but Fame unbyass'd by those Passions pronounces after Death true and just Sentences which the Tribunal of Posterity confirms 3 Sâ—â—m â—uique decus posteritas rependit Tac. Annal. 1. 4. Some Princes are sensible enough of how great Consequence it is to Crown their Life with Vertues but they are mistaken in thinking to supply that by leaving them described in Epitaphs and represented in Statues not considering that they blush to accompany him in Death whom they had not accompanied while alive and that the Marbles are as it were in Indignation to see the Counterfeit-Glory of a Tyrant inscribed on them but seem to soften to facilitate the engraving of that
l. 2. every one already knowing that a new Phoenix must arise out of the Ashes of the old one and that even now this Successor has taken Root and got Strength by making himself beloved and feared as an old Tree shoots out of its Stump a young Sprig which in time comes to grow in its place 30 Ex â—rbore 〈…〉 trunco novam producit quâ—â— anteqâ—am antiqua decidat jam radices vires accepit Tol. de Rep. l. 7. c. 4. â— 1. Nevertheless if it lie in the Prince's Breast to appoint the Successor he is not to make such use of this Advantage as to preferr the Interest of his Kindred to that of the Publick Moses distrusting the Abilities of his own Sons left to God the Choice of a new Captain of his People 31 Let the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh set a man over the congregation Numb 27. 16. And Galba gloried in having had more Regard to the Publick Good than to his Family and having chosen a Person out of the Commonwealth to succeed him 32 Sed Augustus in dâ—mo successorem quaesâ—vit ego in Republica Tac. Hist. l. 1. This is the last and greatest Benefit the Prince is capable of doing his States as the same Galba told Piso 33 Nunc â—o â—ecessitatis jampridem ventum est ut nec mea senectus conferre plus populo Romano possit quâ—m bonum successoreâ— nec tua plus jâ—venta quà m bonum Principeâ— Tac. Hist. l. 1. when he Adopted him 'T is a Noble Instance of the Prince's Generosity to strive to make his successor better than himself He has but a mean Opinion of his Merit who seeks a Name only by the Vices of him that comes after and by the Comparison of one Reign with another Herein Augustus himself was faulty in chusing Tiberius upon the same motive 34 Ne Tiâ—erium quidem caritate aut Reipublicae cura successorâ—m â—dscitum sed quoniam arroganâ—iam saevitiamque introspexerit comparâ—tione deterrima â—ibi gloriam quaefiâ—isse Tac. Annal. l. 1. without considering that the glorious or infamous Actions of a Successor are charged upon the Predecessor who was concerned in his Election This Care to provide a good Heir is a Natural Duty in Parents and they ought to attend it with utmost Application since in their Sons they in a manner live for ever And indeed it were against Natural Reason to envy the Excellency of their own Image or leave it unpolish'd And though the Institution of a Great Person be generally the Occasion of Domestick Dangers inasmuch as Mens Ambition is proportion'd to the Capacity of their Souls 35 Optimos quippe mortâ—lirum altissima cupere Tac. Annal. l. 4. and though oftentimes by the subversion of the Ties of Reason and Nature Children grow weary of expecting the Crown so long and seeing the Time of their Pleasure and Glory waste as it was with Rhadamistus in the long Reign of his Father Pharasman King of Iberia 36 Is modiâ—um Hyberiae regnum senecta patris detineri ferocius crebriusque jactabat Tac. Annal. l. 12. although too it was the Counsel of the Holy Spirit 37 Give him no liberty in his youth and wink not at his folly Ecclus. 30. 11. to Fathers not to give their Sons Liberty in their Youth nor wink at their Follies yet for all this I say a Father ought to spare no Pains that may contribute to the good Education of his Son which is the second Obligation of Nature nor let fall his Hopes and Confidence for a few particular Cases No Prince was ever more jealous of his Children than Tiberius yet he absented himself from Rome to leave Drusus in his Place 38 Vt amoto Pâ—tre Drusus munia consulatuâ— solus impleret Tac. Annal. lib. 3. But if the Prince would prevent these Suspicions by Politick Methods let him allow his Son a part in the Administration of Affairs both Civil and Military but never in the Dispensation of his Favours for by the former the Applause of the People is not so much got who are apt to be taken with the Liberal and Obliging Temper of the Son a thing not very pleasing to the Fathers who sit on the Throne 39 Displicere regnaâ—ntibus civilia filiorum ingeniâ— Tac. Annal. l. 2. In a word he may be admitted into the Secrets of State not into the Hearts of the Subjects Augustus who well understood this when he desired to have Tiberius made Tribune commended him with so much Artifice that he discovered his Faults in excusing them 40 Quâ—nquam â—onorâ—â—â—atione quâ—dam de habitu â—â—ltuqâ—e institutis ejâ—s jecerat quâ— velâ—t excuâ—ando exprobraret Tac. Annal. l. 1. And it was believed that Tiberius to render Drusus odious and make him pass for one of a cruel Temper gave him leave to frequent the Sword-Plays 41 Ad oâ—teâ—tandâ—â— saevitiam inâ—vendâ—sque pâ—pull offâ—nsioâ—â—â— concessâ—m fâ—lio materiam Tac. Annal. l. 1. as he was glad when any Contest arose between his Sons and the Senate 42 Lâ—tabatur Tiberiâ—â— quum inter filios leges Senâ—tus disâ—eptâ—ret Tac. Annal. l. 2. But these Artifices are more hurtful and treacherous than becomes the Sincerity of a Father it is more prudent to join with the young Prince some Confident in whose Power the Direction and Management of Affairs may be as Vespasian did when her gave the Praetorship to his Son Domitian and assigned Mutian for his Assistant 43 Caesar Dâ—mitianus Prâ—â—turam capit Ejus 〈◊〉 epistoliâ— edictisque proponebatur vis penes Mutianum erat Tac. Hist. l. 4. But if the Son shall seem to harbour great and enterprising Thoughts such as may give just Apprehension of some ambitious Design against the Respect due to a Father out of impatience of his long life the best way will be to employ him in some Undertaking that may wholly engage those Thoughts and cool the warmth and vigour of his Mind It was this made Pharasman King of Iberia put his Son Rhadamistus upon the Conquest of Armenia 44 â—gitur Pharasmanes juvenem potentiae promptae studio popâ—darium accinctum vergentibus jam armis suis metuens aliaâ— ad spem traâ—ere Armeniam oftentare Tac. Annal. 1. 12. But as this Caution of Honouring the Son and employing him in Places of Difficulty is absolutely necessary so also must care be taken to put the Command of the Armies in the Hand of another for whoever is Master of them rules the whole State To this end Otho gave his Brother Titianus the Name and Reputation of the Supreme Command yet left all the Authority and real Power lodged in Proculus 45 â—rofecto Brixellum Othone honor imperii penes Titianum fratrem â—is ac potestas penes Proculum Praefectum Tac. Hist. l. 2. And Tiberius when the Senate had decreed Germanicus all the Provinces beyond the Seas made Piso Lieutenant of