comes upon this great Theatre of the World to act the part of a Prince and that he having his discharge another shall succeed to those Robes which he shall leave and that of both of them only this will remain that they once were Lastly Let him know that these Robes wherewith he is cloathed are not his own but the States which that only lends him that he may be a while its Head and may consult for the Preservation Increase and Prosperity thereof as we have said before When therefore a Prince has once begun to run the Race of this Life furnished with the lighted Torch of his State let it not be his only business to prolong his Race for the Goal is already fixt beyond which he can't go and who knows but that he may be now very near it the Flame being exposed to every blast of Wind. One single Gale wrenched it from the Hands of King Henry the First er'e he was fourteen Years old Also a fall from a Horse prevented Prince Iohn Son of their most Catholick Majesties from taking hold on 't Let a Prince consider also the fitness of his hand the occasion and right that he mayn't rashly grasp at more of these Torches than either Succession or lawful Election shall grant him Had Frederick Count Palatine considered this he had never lost his Electoral Dignity his Places and Titles so unfortunately for being ambitious of the Kingdom of Bohemia And truly Charles King of Naples had ended his Race more successfully had he been contented with the Torch of his own Kingdom and not attempted to grasp at that of Hungary where he was therefore poisoned Let not a Prince too readily trust his Torch to another nor suffer any one to touch it with so great Authority For Empire admits of no Companion The Infant Sancho attempted to snatch this Torch from his Father King Alphonso the Wise by the same Power and Authority which he receiv'd from him Nor were there wanting Pretences for the Infant of Portugal to attempt the same against his Father Dionysius These Torches of Kingdoms lighted by ill Methods are commonly soon extinguish'd for no Power acquired by wickedness is lasting King Garcias forc'd his Father Alphonso to quit his Kingdom but could not enjoy the Crown so gotten above three Years Fruela the Third possess'd but fourteen Months the Kingdom which he had attain'd rather by Force than Election Violent Counsels h'an't always their desired Success Ramon hop'd certainly to inherit the Throne of Navarre if he could make away with his Brother Sancho but the People abhorr'd him who had conceiv'd such a horrid Villainy and so offer'd it to Sancho King of Arragon his Uncle Let not a Prince unadvisedly trust his Torch out of his own Hands in his Life-time least if he should afterwards repent it should befal him as it did King Alphonso the Fourth who having once resign'd his Kingdom to his Brother Ramiro could never afterwards retrieve it though he desir'd it Ambition while in Possession regards not Justice having always Arguments and Pretences at hand to defend it self And who will not be mov'd by the difference between commanding and obeying Though these Torches do pass from Father to Son yet let Kings remember that they receive them from God and that when he pleases they are to Surrender them to him that they may know to whose Gift they ought to ascribe them and how strict an Account they are to give of them This King Ferdinand the Great did who with his last Breath pronounc'd these Words Thine O Lord is Power Empire is thine Thou art Supream King of Kings all things are under thy Providence The Kingdom which from thy Hand I receiv'd unto thee I resign The same Words did King Ferdinand the Holy use at the point of Death 'T is a glorious though laborious Race which Heaven has design'd for your Royal Highness which must be run not with one but with several Torches of shining Diadems which like the Sun but without ever leaving us in the dark will diffuse their extended Light from East to West Furious Winds rising from each part of the Horizon will perhaps threaten them but since God has lighted them to preceed the Standard of the Cross and to give light upon the Holy Altars of the Church it may well be hop'd that these may shine like that 2 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou maist be my Salvation to the end of the Earth Isaiah 49. 6. especially if your Highness's Faith and Holy Zeal would by holding them upright make their Flame burn more clear and bright its natural tendency being towards Heaven and he who holds them obliquely will make the Flame its self feed upon and wast them but he who turns 'em directly downwards opposite to Heaven will immediately extinguish them for the Matter which would else nourish them will then extinguish them Let your Highness therefore take care with these Lights to finish your Course with Glory and Surrender them bright and flaming to your Successor not meerly such as you receiv'd them but illustrated and augmented with new Rays For God weighs both Kingdoms and Kings when they begin to Reign that he may afterwards require a just Account from them thus he did with King Balthazar 3 Thou art weigh'd in the balance and found wanting Dan. 5. 27. And if Otho thoguht himself oblig'd to deliver up the Empire to Posterity such as he had receiv'd it from his Ancestors 4 Vrbi nostrae institutum à Regibus usque ad Principes continuum immortalem sicut à Majoribus accepimus sic posteris tradamus Tac. 1. Hist. your Highness must acknowledge no less an Obligation deriv'd to you from your glorious Predecessors So the Emperor Charles the Fifth resign'd his while he was yet living to his Son Philip the Second And though the wickedness of some can't attend the end of their Career for fear of adverse Winds already rais'd as was the Case of Alphonso King of Naples who seeing he could not resist Charles the Eighth of France surrendred the Crown to his Son Ferdinand Duke of Calabria yet certain 't is that his design was to make a timely Restitution of his Crown to God and prepare himself for another not Temporal but Eternal one which once obtain'd may be securely enjoy'd without fear of ever being lost EMBLEM XX. AMONG the Ceremonies of the Athenians at their Marriages a certain little Boy with a Basket of Bread in his Hand and a Crown of Thorns upon his Head went before the Bridegroom by which I believe they intimated that Matrimony was not instituted for Pleasure only but also for Cares and Labours By the same if Emblems will admit Human Figures might also be meant a Prince For what thorny Cares does not he feel who endeavours to maintain his State in Justice Peace and Plenty What Difficulties does he experience What Dangers is he
more influenc'd by Ambition than Clemency so that he deprived him of his Kingdom and Title Thus Dangers deceive us and we find that to be the greater which we chose as the lesser There can be no assurance in Counsel grounded on Principles that depend on anothers pleasure We deceive our selves in supposing others will act nothing but what is agreeable to Religion Justice Relation or Friendship or but what is consistent with their Honour and Interest Not considering that Men are not always guided by their Advantage or Duty but rather by their private Passions and Sentiments and consequently their Actions are not only to be examined by the Rule of Reason but also by that of Malice and the Experience of the ordinary Injustices and Tyrannies of the World Dangers are a Prince's best Masters The past teach 〈◊〉 to remedy the present and prevent the future Those of others are 't is true instructing but they are easily forgot Our own leave in the Soul some Marks and Scars of the losses sustain'd as that which has once wounded the Imagination does fear Let not then contempt or forgetfulness ever erase them especially when having escapâ—d a Danger we fancy the same will never return or if it does will not annoy us for though some one Circumstance which is very unlikely to happen a second time may remove Dangers yet other succeeding new ones make them unavoidable EMBLEM XXXVIII FROM Nature this universal Commonwealth of things and Empire of mixt Bodies derive their Original the supreme Government of which she lays claim to and for the more firm establishment and more secure maintaining of it has made her self so loved by them that the Elements even in the midst of their contrariety with an admirable consent conspire to preserve it All things would be soon dissolv'd did they hate Nature their Princess and Sovereign who with mutual ties of Love and Benevolence as with the fastest knot unites them It is this Love which holds the Earth in Aequilibrio and makes the Orbs of Heaven whirl round it Let this Monarchy of things created founded in their first Being be a Lesson to defend their Persons and Subjects by affection the most faithfull guard they can have about them 1 Corporis custodiam tutissimam esse putatam in virtute amicorum tum in benevolentia civium esse collocatam Isocr ad Nic. Claud. Not Guards nor Groves of Pikes defend like Love This is the only impregnable Fort 2 Salvum Principem in aperto clementia praestabit vivum erit inexpugnabile monument â—n amor civium Sen. de Clem. lib. 1 ca. 19. For which reason the Bees elect a King without a Sting for he has no need of Arms who is beloved by his Subjects Nature would by no means have it in his power to hurt whose duty 't is to govern least he become odious and promote his own ruin The greatest and most absolute power a Prince can have says K. Alphonso is when he loves his People and they reciprocally love him The body defends the Head upon account of the Love it bears it in consideration that this directs and preserves it else would it not hold up its arm toward the threatning blow Who would expose himself to Hazards except he had a Love for his Prince Who protect and defend his Crown The whole Kingdom of Castile sided with the Infant Henry against K. Peter the Cruel because the one was beloved by all the other as universally hated The first Principle of the ruin of Kingdoms and all the Revolutions in States is Hatred The Kings Ordonno and Fruela the Second were so abominated by their Subjects that the very name of King became odious Castile was reduc'd into a Commonwealth and the Government divided between two Judges one of which administred affairs of Peace the other those of War †Mar. hist. Hisp. Portugal never took up Arms against its Kings nor revolted from its obedience the reason is it bears a sincere affection towards them and if at any time it has excluded one and admitted another 't was because one was belov'd the other for Male-administration hated It was the advice of Iames the First of Arragon to Alphonso the Wise to seek rather the Love than Fear of his Subjects and to ingratiate himself with the Clergy and Commons that he might be the better able to grapple with the Nobility which Counsel if he had follow'd he had never lost the Crown Nero no sooner ceas'd to be lov'd than Conspiracies were form'd against him a thing which Subrius Flavius upbraided him with to his face 3 Nec quisquam tibi fidelior militum â—uit dum amari meruisti odisse â—aepi postquam parricida Matris Uxoâ—is auriga histrio incendiarâ—us extitisti Tac. 15. ann A King's Power and Majesty consist not in his own Person but in the Affection and good Will of his Subjects If they be disaffected who will oppose his Enemies 'T is Preservation makes the people want a King but that can never be expected from one who makes himself hated The Arragonians prudently foresaw this when having call'd to the Crown Peter Altharez Lord of Borgia from whom the most ancient and illustrious Family of the Dukes of Gandia is descended they afterwards repented and would not have him for their King because they saw he us'd them with Austerity and Rigour even before his Election Contrary to what Ferdinand the First King of Arragon did who by Love and Benevolence engag'd the hearts of all in that Kingdom as also in Castile during his Reign there We have seen many Princes ruin'd by Fear none ever by Love If therefore a Prince would be formidable let it be to his Enemies but let him endeavour to be belov'd by his Subjects without which though he come victorious over them he will at last fall by the hands of these As it befell Bardanus King of Persia 4 Claritâ—â—ine paucos inter senatum Regum siperinde amorem inter populares quam metum apud hostes quaesivisset Tac. 11. ann Love and Respect may be joyned but not Love and servile Fear He who is fear'd is hated and he who is hated is by no means secure Quem metuunt oderunt Quem quisque odit periisse expedit Enn. He who is fear'd by many also fears many And what greater misfortune is there than to command those who obey through Fear and govern Bodies rather than Minds The difference between the just Prince and the Tyrant is That one uses Arms to maintain his Subjects in Peace the other to protect himself against them If the strength and power of a Prince hated be small he is much exposed to danger from his Subjects if great yet much more For the greater their fear is the more sollicitous are they to provide for their Security as apprehending his cruelty will encrease with his Grandeur as in Bardanus King of Persia whose Glory made him more severe and insupportable
firm and lasting Empire if they were good if wicked but of short continuance King Ferdinand who from his great Virtues was sirnamed the Great did by these wonderfully increase the Glory of his Kingdom and establisht it to Posterity His Piety was so great that when the Body of St. Isidore was carried by Sevil he and his Sons barefoot carried these Holy Relicks from the River Durio quite to St. Iohn's Church in the City For 't is God by whom Kings Reign and upon whom all their Power and Felicity depends they could never err if they would make him their only Object The Rays of the Sun never forsake the Moon she as if she knew she received all her Light from the Sun looks on him continually that she may be enlightned by him which Princes must so imitate that they may always have their Eyes fixt upon that Eternal Light which affords Light and Motion to the World and from which Empires take their encrease and decrease as is intimated in the present Emblem by the Scepter on the top of which is the Moon looking towards the Sun the true Emblem of God as well because no other thing comes nearer his Omnipotency as also because that alone gives Light and Being to all Which 'cause it solely all Surveys Is properly call'd Sol. Boet. For there is no Power but from God 10 Rom. 13. 1. Kings are crowned in his Eternal Mind before they are here on Earth He who gave the Orbs Coelestial first motion gives it also to Empires and Republicks He who has appointed a King over Bees has not left meerly to Chance or Humane Choice these Second Causes of Princes who are his Vice-Roys upon Earth and as like him as may be 11 Principes quidem instar deorum esse Tac. 3. Ann. being represented in the Revelations by those Seven Planets which God held in his Hand 12 And he had in his right hand seven Stars Revel 1. 16. upon them he darts his Divine Rays the Reflection of which gives them the utmost Power and Authority over their Subjects Without that Splendor all Power how great soever is in a manner dark the Prince who slighting this Light shall follow another an appearance may be of some good which his own convenience not right reason offers will soon see the Orb of his Power eclips'd and darken'd What e'er avoids the Sun must necessarily be in darkness The Moon although it finds its self oft'times quite dark does not therefore turn away from the Sun but looks on 't with so much the more eagerness till at last 't is again enlightned by it Let a Prince hold his Scepter fixt and steady having always a regard to Virtue as well in Prosperity as Adversity For the same Divine Sun which either for Punishment or Exercise of his Virtues permitted his decrease as a recompence of his Constancy will again promote and encrease his greatness Thus 't was with the Emperor Ferdinand the II. who was often reduced to that extremity of Fortune that his Empire and Life too seem'd desperate Yet he was resolved never wholly to despair nor to turn his Eyes from that Eternal Sun the Maker and Governor of all things whose Divine Providence freed him from all Perils and advanced him far above all his Enemies Moses's Rod which was the Emblem of a Scepter did Wonders whilst he held itâ— in his Hand upright t'wards Heaven but as soon as he cast it upon the Ground 't was turn'd into a venomous Serpent dreadful even to Moses himself 13 And he cast it on the ground and it became a Serpent and Moses â—led from before it Exod. 4. 3. Whilst the Scepter like Iacob's Ladder touches Heaven God himself supports it and Angels descend to its assistance 14 And he dreamed and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached to Heaven and behold the Angelâ— of God ascending and descending on it Gen. 18. 13. This the Egyptians knew who on the top of their Scepters were used to engrave the Head of a Stork a Religious Bird and Pious t'wards its Parents but on the bottom the Foot of a Sea-Horse an impious and ungrateful Animal which Plots to kill his Father that he may the more freely enjoy his Mother By which Hieroglyphick they meant nothing but that Princes ought always to prefer Piety to Impiety Machiavel would have his Prince to learn this Hieroglyphick but in quite another Sence for he would have Piety and Impiety placed at each end that he might turn it as he pleased and hold that upwards which tended most to his Preservation and Advantage For which reason he thinks 't is not necessary for a Prince to be Virtuous 't is enough if he pretends to be so for to be really so and to act according to the Dictates of Virtue would he says be pernicious but that 't is most advantageous to be thought so for by this means he will be so disposed as to know how to shift upon occasion and so to act in all things as advantage or opportunity shall require And this he says is principally necessary for Princes newâ—â— come to the Crown who ought to be quick and ready to spread their Sails to every breath of Fortune and as necessity requires Impious and foolish Counsel that would insinuate that Virtues need not be real and genuine but only counterfeit and imaginary for how can the Shadow be as effective as the Substance What Art or Pains can bring Chrystal to that perfection as it shall equal the Diamond in lustre and brightness Won't any one at first sight discover and laugh at the Cheat. A true Glory takes root and flourishes thaâ— which is not falls like Blossoms nor can any thing be lasting that is counterfeit 15 Vera gloria radices agit atque etiam propagatur ficta 〈◊〉 celeriter tanquam flosculi decidunt neque fimulatum quidquam potest 〈◊〉 diuturnum Cic. lib. 2. de Off. cap. 32. There 's no Art or Cunning so great as to make a vicious Inclination appear truly good and virtuous For if we so easily fail in real Virtues so agreeable to our Nature and Inclination what shall we do in false and imaginary ones How will the Subjects when they discover the Cheat be able to endure the Stench of this Sepulchrâ— of abominable Vices without any ornament of Goodness How can they turn their Eyes from that inward Wound when the Patch under which it lurk'd being drawn off 't is openly exposed to the sight of all 16 And all our righteâ—â—â—nesses are as filthy rags Isaiah 64. 6. Whence a Prince will be contemptible and ridiculous to his own People at home and suspected by Foreigneâ— abroad He will be surely odious to both for neither can live securely under him Nothing renders Tyraâ—ny more grievous than when the Prince dissembles Virtue For from thence oft-times greater Vices spring for this Reason many were afraid of Otho
Roman Senate on his side whose Authority could never be wholly Darkned though it might be sometimes Eclipsed 4 Nunquam obscura nomina etsi aliquando obumbrentur Tac. 2. Hist. This also made many Countries submit to it and seek its Protection 5 Erat grande momentum in nomine Vrbis praetextu senatus Tac. 1. Hist. in the Differences that were between those Great Generals Caesar and Pompey each his principal Aim was to Conquer rather the Reputation than Arms of his Rival well knowing that Minds and Forces follow more the noise of Fame than that of the Drum King Philip the Second was eminently skilful in this Art of preserving Reputation having by it from his Cabinet so managed the Reigns of both Worlds that he always had them at Command Nay even when the Ruin of States is apparent 't is better 〈◊〉 suffer them than ones Credit to be destroy'd for without this 't is impossible to re-establish them For which Reason though the Republick of Venice saw it self lost in that violent Storm of the League of Cambray yet that most Prudent and Valiant Senate thought it better to shew their Constancy on that Occasion than to betray any Cowardice by using dishonourable Means Desire of Dominion makes Princes mean For want of this Consideration Otho with stretch'd out Hands seem'd to adore the People he embraced every one and shewed all the servileness imaginable to gain them to his Party and so procur'd the Empire by those means which declared him unworthy of it 6 Nec dâ—erat Otho protendens manus adorare vulgum jacere oscula omnia serviliter pro dominatione Tac. 1. Hist. Even in Indigence and Necessity it is not fit to use means violent and inglorious or seek the Assistance of Foreigners for both are dangerous and neither seek to relieve want nay Reputation is the better Remedy for it One Man is as rich in Opinion as another in the abundance of hid Treasures The Old Romans were undoubtedly perswaded so when in several occasions of Adversity the Provinces offering them Money and Corn they return'd Thanks but would not accept them Two Legions having been cast away at Sea to recruit the Loss Gaul Spain and Italy sent Money Horses and Arms Germanicus commended their Affection and accepted only of the Horses and Arms but not the Money 7 Caeterum ad supplenda exercitus damna certavere Gallia Hispania Italia quod cuique prompâ—um arma equos auâ—um â—fferentes quorum laudâ—to studio Germanicus armis modo equis ad bellum sumptis propria pecunia militem juvit Tac. 1. Ann. In two other Presents made the Roman Senate of Golden Cups of great Value in time of extraordinary Necessity the first time thanks were given the Ambassadors for their Care and Magnificence and the Cup of least value accepted 8 Legatis gratiae actae pro magnificentia cuâ—aque Patera quae minimi ponderis fuit accepta Liv. l. 22. The other Thanks were return'd but the Presents rejected 9 Gratiae actae â—â—rum non acceptum Liv. 22. The Authority and Reputation of a Prince proceeds from several Causes some of which respect his Person others his State The former sort are either of Body or Mind Of the Body as if it be of a suitable Frame and a Disposition capable of maintaiÌ„ning Majesty though the natural Defects of Body are often supplied by Virtues of Mind Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy had no small Imperfections of Body yet his great and generous Soul his lively Wit his Complaisance and other Courtly Accomplishments made him admired by all A grave and austere Carriage make him pass for a Prince who without that would be but very contemptible yet this Air ought to be temper'd with Courtesy and good Humour that Authority may be supported without incurring Hatred or the Character of Arrogant a thing Tacitus commends in Germanicus 10 Visuque auditu juxta venerabilis cum magnitudinem graviâ—atem summae fortunae reâ—ineret invidiam aâ—â—ogantiam eâ—â—ugeret Tac. 2. Ann. The Riches and Splendor of Apparel is another thing procures Admiration and Authority for the Vulgar are taken with these Outsides and Mankind admits the Eyes no less than the Understanding into its Counsel Whence Alphonso the Wise very well said That Cloaths contribute much to make Mâ—n known for either Noble or Base and the Ancient Sages oblig'd their Princes to Cloths of Gold and Silk and beset with Iewels that they might be known at sight without inquiry When King Ahasuerus gave Audience he wore Royal Apparel and shone in Gold and precious Stones 11 Hest. 15. 9. It was on this account God commanded Moses to make Holy Garments for Aaron his Brother for Glory and for Beauty 12 Exod. 28. 2. And he accordingly made them of Purple embroidered with Gold and adorned with other things of great value 13 Ibid. which his Successors wore after him and at this day the Popes do though with greater Prudence and less Expence And indeed if his Holiness be an Arm of God upon the Earth if the Voice of his Censures be like that of the Almighty's Thunder 14 Job 40. 4. 't is but just whatever Impiety cavils that as God covers himself with Light 15 Psalm 103. 2. the Garment of Heaven so she should be deckâ—d with Earthly Pomp and carried upon Mens Shoulders 16 Job 40. 5. The same has place in Princes who are God's Vicegerents in Temporals 17 Psalm 81. 6. Large and sumptuous Palaces magnificently furnish'd 18 Eccl. 2. 4. a Noble and Eminent Family 19 Prov. 22. 29. Guards of Nations of approved Fidelity 20 Job 25. 2. the Splendor and Grandeur of a Court and other Publick Ostentations do also set out a Prince's Power to the best advantage and give an additional Majesty Illustrious Titles of States Conquered or Hereditary which are attributed to him are also Manifestations of his Eminency Thus Isaiah by divers Names and Titles declares the Majesty of the Supream Creator and Prince of all things 21 Isaiah 9. 6. By these therefore your Highness is to study to enhance the Lustre of your Royal Person provided however they be not ascrib'd out of Levity or Flattery but from an universal Applause founded upon Virtue and true Valour such as were those of your Highness's Ancestors Ferdinand the Holy Alphonso the Great Sancho the Brave Iames the Warlike Alphonso the Noble and many others The Excellency of Virtues and in general all natural Perfections requisite in a good Governor procure a Prince Esteem and Authority One alone that shall shine in him whether it respect Peace or War abundantly supplies the defect of all others as if he apply himself to Business though not with absolute sufficiency for to leave all to the Care of Ministers infinitely diminishes the Force of Majesty This was Sallust's Counsel to Livia 22 Neve Tiberius vim
Minister is to be furnished with his Prince's Maxims so also should he be with his Majesty Valour and Magnanimity EMBLEM XXXIV WHoever looks on the Thorns and Prickles of the Roseâ— Tree will hardly be perswaded a Daughter so beautiful as the Rose could proceed from so deform'd a Mother One had need be indued with a great Measure of Faith to water it and wait till it be cloathed with Verdure and blossom into that wonderful pomp of Flowers of so delicate a Smell Yet by Patience and long Expectation we at length find the labour not lost nor that Care ill imployed which has produced such Beauty and Fragrancy The first Branches of Virtue are harsh and thorny to our depraved Nature but after some time its Flower of all other the most beautiful begins to Bloom Let not the first sight of things discourage a Prince for the outside of very few in Government are pleasant they all seem full of Thorns and Difficulties but Experience has found many easy which appeared much otherwise to Sloth The Prince therefore should not be disheartned for in lightly yielding to them he will be overcome by his own Apprehension rather than any thing real Let him endure with Courage and Hope with Patience and Perseverance still keeping the means in his Hand He that hopes has a good and faithful Companion on his side I mean Time Whence Philip the Second used to say I and Time against any two Precipitation is the effect of Madness and generally the occasion of great Perils Theobald Earl of Champagne put his Succession to the Crown of Navarre very much in Question by not having patience to wait for his Uncle King Sancho's Death but underhand conspiring with the Nobles to possess himself of the Kingdom in his Life-time for this put Sancho upon adopting Iames the First of Arragâ—n his Heir Patience obtains many Trophies This was Scipio's Excellency who though he had infinite occasions of Displeasure was yet so patient as never to let â— passionate Word fall from him 1 Vt nullum ferox verbum excideret Tit. liv which thing gave sucess to all his Designs He that suffers with Expectation vanquishes the slights of Fortune and obliges her to take his Part that Confidence among all her Vicissiâ—â—des like Flattery winning upon her Columbus not without great hazard exposes himself to the Ocean 's incertain Waves in quest of new Countries Neither Hâ—rcule's Ne plus ultra at Caspe and Abyla nor the Mountains of Waters that seem to oppose his Enterprize deter him from it he by Sailing tells the Sun's Steps and steals from the Year its Days from the Days their Hours his Needle wants the Pole his Charts the lines his Companions patience all things conspire against him but his Hope and Patience rub through all Difficulties till at length a new World recompences his invincible Constancy Ferendum Sperandum was a saying of Empedocles and afterwards the Emperor Macrinus's Motto whence that of this Emblem is borrowed Some Dangers are more easy to surmount than avoid As Agathocles well knew when being beaten and besieged in Syracuse he did not basely Surrender to the Enemy but leaving a sufficient Body of Men for the Defence of the City marched with the rest of his Army against Carthage and he who could not be victorious in one War by this means obtain'd a double Triumph Rashness frequently overcomes a Danger and despising it often confounds an Enemy When Hannibal saw the Romans after the Battel of Cannae send Succours into Spain he began to fear their Power and Strength No one ought to trust Prosperity too much or despair in Adversity Fortune lies between both as ready to advance as depress Let the Prince therefore keep in the one and the other a Constancy and Strength of Mind prepared to encounter any Accident and not suffer the Threats of the greatest Tempest to disturb him For sometimes the Waves have cast a Man out of one Ship that is to be wreck'd into another that is to be saved A great and generous Soul Heaven it self favours Let not the Prince rashly despair for anothers Dangers or those which Chance brings with it He that observeth the Wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the Clouds shall not reap 2 Eccl. 11. 4. Let him not imagine he obliges any one by his Afflictions Tears are Womanish nor is Fortune appeased with such Sacrifices A great Soul endeavours to give it self Satisfaction or Comfort by some heroick and generous Action Thus Agricola when he heard of his Son's Death took not the Accident as generally Men do ambitiously nor in Tears like Women but by War diverted his Grief 3 Quem casum neque ut plerique fortium virorum ambitiosè neque per lamenta rursus ac terrorem multebrem tuliâ— in lustu bellum inter remedia erat Tac. in Vit. Agr. To be wholly insensible is either Vain-glory or Excess of Consternation In suing for Offices and Honours the Design of this Emblem is very useful He that can bear and hope knows how to get the better of his Fortune Whereas one that impatient of delay thinks it base to be beholding and submit shall be despised and abandon'd by the whole World To look on it as a point of Honour not to obey any is the way to command none The means are to be measured by the end if in obtaining this there be more Honour got than is lost by them certainly they ought to be used Impatience of Sufferings we take for Generosity of Mind when it is imprudent Haughtiness Honour once attain'd the Tracks made in ascending them presently wear out To endure much in order to Advancement is not base Degeneracy but extraordinary Strength of a Mind elevated and aspiring Some Tempers there are which can't abide to wait that would have all things ended in a Moment desiring now to exceed their Equals by and by their Superiors and in a little while even their own Hopes These hurried by this Violence of Ambition despise the most secure means as slow and choose to employ the shortest though most hazardous But it usually fares with them as with Buildings raised in haste before the Materials have had time to dry and settle which immediately fall down again The Master-piece of Government consists in hoping and enduring in that these are the only means to do things in time without which nothing can possibly come to maturity Trees that at the Springs first warmth bear Flowers soon lose them for not waiting till the Winters cold was quite gone He who would ripen Affairs with the Hand cannot have the Satisfaction of tasting the Fruit of them Impatience is the cause of Miscarriages and Dangers 4 Prov. 14. 17. it creates Periâ—s which by being uneasy under and too hasty to escape we augment Therefore for those Evils as well Internal as External which have by our negligence been increas'd in the Commonwealth 't is better to let them
take their Course and be sensibly cured by Time than precipitate a Remedy wherein there is more Danger If before we could not foresee and prevent at least let us learn to bear them after They are increas'd by Opposition A Danger conceal'd or not taken notice of thereby becomes publick and lays greater Impediments in his way who thought to stop it Fear imprudently arm'd against a Superior Power does but find it Exercise and render it more powerful by the Addition of its own Spoils This Method Cerealis took to compose the Minds of those of Treves least they should take up Arms against the Romans saying A Fabrick as that was which had been the Product of Eight hundred years Success and Industry could not be pull'd down but its Ruin must of necessity bury the Authors of it 5 Octogentorum annorum fortuna disciplinaque compages haec coalâ—â— quae convelli sine excidio convellentium non potest Tac. 4. Hist. Many things would not succeed so ill did not our Fear and Imagination act with too much Precipitation Apprehension and Jealousy of Tyranny when once discovered make it begin to be really though it were not before Whence in such like Cases 't is a piece of no less Courage to know how to dissemble than to be too rash in remedying The former is the genuine Effect of Prudence this generally the Result of Fear EMBLEM XXXV THE closer the Breath is pressed in a Trumpet with the greater Harmony and Variety it goes out of it thus 't is with Virtue which is never more clear and harmonious than when suppressed by Malice 1 Multorum improbitate depressa veritas emergit innocentiae desensâ— interclusa respirat Cicero The Flame of Valour is apt to die if the Wind of Adversity don't revive it that awakens the Mind and makes it look about for means to amend it Happiness like the Rose grows out of Thorns and Miseries Alphonso the Fifth King of Arragon was vanquishâ—d and taken in a Sea-fight with the Genoeze and that which in all probability was like to retard his Expedition against the Kingdom of Naples was the very thing that furthered it with greater Happiness and Power for by making a League with Philip Duke of Milan who retain'd him Prisoner he obtain'd both his Liberty and Forces for the Conquest of that Kingdom Necessity compell'd him to get his Host of his side for in Prosperity indeed every one lives to himself alone but in Adversity for himself and others Those disclose the Passions of the Mind otherwise forgetful of it self Whereas by this it learns Caution and arms it self with Virtues as means to attain real and lasting Happiness 2 Secundae res acrioribus flimulis animum exploravit quia miseriâ— toler antur felicitate corrumpimur Tac. 1. Hist. Whence it is not a little easier to escape bad than be continued in good Fortune In Prison first appeared Alphonso's extraordinary Endowments and Ornaments of Mind which till then had lain hid and the Duke of Milan charm'd with them was ambitious of his Friendship and laid these Obligations upon him He obtain'd more by losing the Victory than he could have expected had he been Victor Fortune sports between Extreams and takes delight in shewing her Power in skipping from one to another There is no Virtue but will shine in Adversity as no Star but sparkles with greatest Lustre in the darkest Night Then the weight shews the Palm's Strength when this is raised higher under it The Rose preserves its Leaves longer fresh among Nettles than Flowers Did not Virtue exert it self in Adversity too it would not deserve Victories or Truimphs 'T is its Property to Conquer by suffering Whence it evidently appears how impious the Error confuted by us in another place of those is who advise the Prince not to be bigotted to Virtue but to comply with Vice when necessity shall require a time in which he ought more particularly to approve himself constant in it with greater hopes of Success As it usually happned to the Emperor Ferdinand the Second of Blessed Memory who in his greatest Dangers would resolutely affirm He 'd rather lose the Empire and all he had and with his whole Family beg from Door to Door than to commit an unjust thing to maintain his Grandeur Words truly worthy so Pious a Prince whose exemplary Piety and Faith were so acceptable to God Almighty that he vouchsafed to take the Imperial Scepter and perform his Office here on Earth giving him several signal and miraculous Victories In the greatest Dangers and Distresses when all hope fail'd and humane Prudence and Valour were destitute of means he always came off with most Success and greatest Triumph The Roman Emperors of old lived in Affluence of Peace and all manner of Delights yet were tyrannized over by their own Passions and rack'd by a thousand Fears But this Pious Hero found Repose and Tranquility of Mind amidst the raging Tempests which the Fury of Rebels raised against his Empire and most August House The just sings amidst Misfortunes and the wicked Man weeps in his Impiety Thus the fiery Furnace was as a Choire to the three Children 3 Dan. 3. 50. Miseries and Hardships are attended with great Advantages they correct the Prince's Pride and reduce him to Reason with what fury does the Wind sometimes storm How arrogantly does the Sea swell and rage its foaming Billows like Mountains threatning Heaven and Earth And yet a small Shower composes and calms it Thus Misfortunes raining from Heaven allay the Prince's Pride and Presumption They make a just Governor of a Tyrant of a Prince careless and negligent of his Affairs one careful and circumspect For then even Necessity obliges him to take Care of his People to esteem Nobility honour Valour do Justice and respect Religion Power is never in greater Danger than when all things flow prosperously For Cares being then laid aside too much Security is apt to stifle Counsel and Prudence Ease and Idleness has been the Ruin of more Princes than Labour 'T is with them as with Bodies which are kept in Vigor by Motion without which they languish and decay Whence it appears farther how erroneous we are in our Judgments of Good and Evil scarce ever knowing what is most for our Advantage Adversity we look on as Rigour and Chaâ—fisement when it is really Warning and Instruction The Present of Ear-rings and a Sheep which Iob's Friends and Relations made him seems to intimate that he should endure all things with a patient even Temper 4 Job 42. 12. and that those Afflictions were precious Admonitions of God whisper'd in his Ear. God's afflicting us sometimes is wonderful Mercy and on the contrary his Recompences are Punishments for by these he clears as it were the Bill of our Debts and by paying for some of our Merits remains Creditor to our Offences whereas by afflicting us he at once pays himself and excites us to Amendment EMBLEM
the Catholick was for if he be not lov'd 't will suffice that he is esteem'd and fear'd EMBLEM XXXIX THere is an ancient Medal to be seen upon the Reverse of which is engraven a flash of Lightning upon an Altar to signifie that a Prince's severity ought to yield to Prayers an Emblem offensive to the Eyes the Lightning of Punishment being represented so lively and so near to Pardon that fear may be apt to dash all hope in the goodness of the Altar And though it be fit sometimes that the looks of the Prince before whom the criminal bends should at once represent the Terror of Justice and Mildness of Mercy yet this is not always proper for that were contrary to the advice of the H. Spirit who would have Life and Clemency shine in a King's Countenance 1 Prov. 16. 15. In this Emblem therefore instead of the Lightning I have plac'd upon the Altar the Golden Fleece introduc'd by Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy not to signifie as many imagin the fabulous Fleece of Colchos but that of Gideon which for a token of Victory was moistned with the Dew of Heaven when all the Country about it was dry 2 Jud. 6. 37. A Symbol whereby Meekness and Humility is express'd as the same is signified by that immaculate Lamb the Son of God offer'd for the World's Salvation The Prince is a Victim devoted to Fatigues and Dangers for the common good of his Subjects A precious Fleece rich in Dew and other Blessings of Heaven Here they ought at all times to find wherewithal to quench their Thirst to redress their Grievances let him be always affable always sincere and benign towards them which will be more effectual than severity Upon the sight of Alexander's pleasing Looks the Conspirators immediately threw down their Arms. The serenity of Augustus tied the hands of the Gaul who went to throw him down a Precipice in the Alps. The modest and sweet Temper of King Ordonno the first strangely won the Hearts of his Subjects Sancho the Third was called the Desired not so much for the shortness of his Life as for his Affability And the Arragonians received Ferdinand the Infant King Martin's Nephew to the Crown upoâ— a liking they took to his obliging Demeanour Modesty and good Humour all must love Obedience is sufficiently heavy and odious of it self let not the Prince add Rigour to it for that is a File wherewith natural Liberty generally cuts the chains of Slavery If Princes in Adversity think Complaisance and Humanity to be used for a remedy why should it not as well in Prosperity for a Preservative The benign Aspect of the Prince gains a pleasing Empire over mens minds 't is a dissimulation of Sovereignty By Complacency I do not here mean that which is so vulgar that it begets Contempt but which has so agreeable a mixture of Gravity and Authority as leaves room for Love but a Love attended with respect for where this is wanting that is apt to turn too familiar and aspire to an Equality And if the august part of Majesty be not maintain'd there will be no difference between the Prince and Subject 3 Comitas facile faustum omne atterit in familiari consuetudine agrè custodias illud opinionis augustum Herod lib. 1. Some ornament of the Person as has been before hinted and a well temper'd Gravity is requisite to support the Royal Dignity for I can by no means approve of a Prince's making himself so familiar with every one that it may be said of him as it was of Agricola who was so plain in his dress so condescending and familiar that many sought his Fame in his person but few found it 4 Cultu modiâ—us seâ—mone facilis adeo ut plerique quibus magnos viros per ambitionem astimare mos est viso aspectoque Agricola quaererent famam pauci interpretarentur Tac. in vit Agr. For what is common no one admires and respect is the genuine effect of admiration Some grave severity must appear in the Prince's face and something extraordinary in his Carriage and Royal Port to shew supreme power but this severity should be so qualified by Sweetness that jointly they may beget Love and Reverence in the Subject not Fear 5 Et videri velle non asperum sed cum gravitate honestum talem ut eum non timeant obvii sed magis revereantur Arist. Pol. lib. 5. c. 11. The Sword has been often drawn in France against the Regal Majesty for being too familiar Affability must not diminish Authority nor Severity Love a thing Tacitus admir'd in Agricola 6 Nec illi quod rarissimum est aut facilitas authoritatem aut severitas amorem diminuit Tac. in vit Agr. and commended in the Emperor Titus who appear'd affable to his Soldiers without derogating from his Authority as General 7 Atque ipse ut super fortunam crederetur decorum se promptumque armis ostentabat comitate alloquiis officia provocans ac plerumque iâ— opere in agmine in gregario militi mixtus incorrupto ducis honore Tac. 5. hist. Let the Prince compose his Looks that they may at once assert Authority and invite Love let him appear grave not austere animate not drive into Despair looking always with a gracefull agreeable Smile using words complaisant and gravely courteous Some think themselves no Princes except they shew something irregular in their Expressions Looks and Port contrary to the common way of other men so ignorant Statuaries think the art and perfection of a Coloss consists in having bloated Cheeks blubber Lips lowring Brows and squint Eyes True Greatness doth not consist in mighty State †Claud. In lofty Mein and Words or haughty Gate King Aâ—asuerus was of so terrible an Aspect that Queen Hester coming into his presence fell into a Swoon 9 Hâ—sther 15. 11. and had not recovered but that the King his Spirit being changed by a divine Impression 10 Ibid. held out the Scepter 11 Ibid. to shew her it was but a piece of gilded Wood and himself a Man not a Vision as she imagined 12 Ibid. If Majesty too severe and disorderly could produce this Effect in a Queen what will it in a private person oppressed with Poverty and Affliction The Holy Scriptures call a Prince Physician 13 Isai. 3. 7. and Father 14 Eccl. 4. 10. and neither this cures nor that governs with Inhumanity But if upon occasion the Prince frowns upon a Subject let his Reprimands begin with an Encomium on his Virtues afterwards laying before him the Deformity of his Crime and thus strike him with a generous Fear in as much as the shadow of Vice is most conspicuous when oppos'd to the light of Vertue care also should be taken that the reproof be not so harsh and publick that the Subject losing his Reputation shall withal lose all hopes of retrieving it and
so obstinately persist in his fault Let Anger therefore and Mildness Punishment and Rewards be so intermixed as in the Golden Fleece the Steels and Flints are knit together and between them Flames of Fire to signifie that the Prince's Heart should resemble the Fire-stone or Flint which keeps the sparks of its Anger shut up least they should hurt any one rashly yet in such a manner that if it happen to be struck by Injury or Contempt it immediately breaks out into fire of Revenge and Justice yet those not so quick in execution but it has the Dew of the Fleece at hand to extinguish at least to moderate them God said to Ezekiel as Adamant and Flint have I made thy fore-head 15 Ezek. 3. 9. signifying by that the constancy of Justice and by this the fire of Piety But if the Prince cannot break his rough and savage Nature let him at least keep an obliging Family to supply his place giving a courteous reception to all Business and Petitions A Prince is often beloved or hated upon account of his Servants they very much cloak their Master's roughness if they have the skill to moderate it or to excuse it by their Affability and Discretion Some Nations hide the Royal Majesty behind Veils and Curtains when he gives Audience without exposing him to the people A Custom inhumane to the Prince severe and cruel to the Subjects who usually find comfort in their Prince's presence if not in his hands This Retreat may make the Prince more fear'd but never more beloved 'T is through the Eyes and Ears that Love strikes the Heart What we neither see nor hear we can't love A Prince who refuses the sight and speech of his Subjects refuses to hear their Necessities and to remedy them the Tongue is an easie instrument that ought to reconcile the Minds of all let not the Prince make it harsh and dis-agreeable King Iohn the First because he was short and had an impediment in his Speech lost the Portuguese in his Pretension to that Crown upon the death of King Peter 'T is not sufficient for the Prince to dispatch business by Memorials and Petitions for by them the Sentiments are not so well express'd They not being attended with Sighs and other moving Actions they are but dry Tears and have not that force upon the Prince The doors of Temples are always open so also should be those of Palaces for Princes are God's Vicegerents and the Altars as we have said which the people fly to in their Afflictions and Calamities 'T would be a scandalous thing for a Soldier to find it more easie to charge through a Squadron of Pikes than to come to the presence through the midst of Swiss and Dutch Guards who like armed Hedg-hogs are neither gain'd by Prayers nor Civility Let people come to me says the Emperor Rodolphus for I am not Emperor to be shut up in a box This retirement makes the mind savage 16 Etiam fera animalia si clausa teneas virtutis obliviscuntur Tac. 4. Hist. Attention to Government and Communication soften the temper and render it easie Princes like Hawks are tam'd by the assiduity of Affairs and by familiarity with Men. The Kingdom of Leon rebell'd against King Ramirez the Third for his difficulty of Access King Ferdinand the Holy was deny'd to none and every one had admittance even to his most private Apartment The Kings Alphonso the Twelfth and Henry the Third gave publick Audience three times a Week as did also their Catholick Majesties Ferdinand and Isabella †Mar. hist. Hisp. Nature has put doors to the Eyes and Tongue but has left the Ears open that they may be ready to hear at all times Let not a Prince then stop 'em but hearken favourably to those that would speak to him Let him comfort either by Reward or Hope for that is one kind of satisfaction which supports Merit Let him not always use set Forms and general Answers for those which are given to all satisfie none nor is it a small trouble to the Petitioner to receive an answer that he knew before Let him not always hear let him ask sometimes 17 Eccl. 23. 12. for he who does not enquire will never be well inform'd Let him throughly know the state of affairs and let his Audiences be instructive not merely ceremonial as were those of Ferdinand the Holy Alphonso King 〈◊〉 Arragon King Ferdinand the Catholick and the Empeâ—â—â— Charles the Fifth by which they were beloved and reâ—â—ected by their Subjects and esteem'd by Strangers As â—â—e Audience should be easie so it ought also to be speedy â—â—r the delay of a benefit diminishes the Obligation Tho' there are some affairs of that Nature that 't is better to let time undeceive them than either the Prince or his Miniâ—â—â—rs For all had rather be entertain'd with Hope than be dispatch'd with Despair which in prudent Courts is â—ound not given I don't approve of the Prince's exposing himself in the Streets and publick Places for the People 't is true admire him the first time observe him the second and slight him the third 18 Continuus aspectus minus verendos magnos homines ipsa societate fâ—it Liv. That which is not seen is respected most 19 Arcebantur conspectu quo venerationis plus inesset Tac. 4. hist. â—nd the Eyes often despise what the opinion esteem'd 'T is not convenient the people should know whether the chain of their Slavery be of Iron or of Gold passing judgment upon the parts and qualifications of the Prince We respect that most which is farthest distant 20 Cui major è lâ—nginquo reverentiâ— Tac. â— ann Some Nations take the Prince's Affability and Complaisance for a Vice Others dislike his reservedness and would have him mild and courteous as the Portuguese and the French The Extreams in one and t'other are always dangerous and he will be best able to moderate them who in his Actions and Government remembers that he is both Prince and Man EMBLEM XL. THE Scriptures call Princes Mountains and the rest of Mankind Hills and Valleys 1 Ye Mountains of Israel hear the word of the Lord God 〈◊〉 saith the Lord God to the Mountains and to the Hills to the Rivers and to the Valleys Ezek. 6. 3. This compâ—rison comprehends the great Affinity between them for Mountains are Princes of the Earth as being nearâ—â— Heaven and superiour to the other works of Nature as also for their Liberality by which from their own generouâ— Bowels they supply with continual Streams the droughty Plains and Vallies beneath cloathing them with Flowers and Verdure this being the true property of Princes By this vertue more than any is a Prince ally'd to God who 〈◊〉 ever giving to all plentifully 2 â—ames 1. 5. 't is this renders obedience more prompt for a Present from him who could command forces Obligation Subjection is agreeable when 't is beneficial King
But this Doctrine of Ministers being continued in Offices but for a time must not be understood of those supream Offices of the Princes Counsel or of Justice But on the contrary they ought to be fixt and continued because of the advantage of their Experience and Knowledge of Affairs depending These kinds of Offices are in Governments like the Poles in the Heavens about which the lesser Orbs move so that if they should be chang'd or removed the whole Universe would be endanger'd by the disorder of its natural Motions Solon knew this Inconveniency in the four hundred Senatours which were yearly Elected by Lot at Athens and therefore he established a Senate of Sixty worthy Men who were called Areopagites and while this continu'd the Republick flourished 'T is moreover very dangerous to commit the Government of Kingdoms during the Minority to persons who have any Pretentioâ—s thereto though never so unjust so it fell out in Arragon by the Imprudence of those who committed the Government to Sancho Duke of Roussillon until King Iames I. came to age Those Persons who have no manner of Pretention to the Crown either by Birth or any other Cause often thirst after it how much more then those who in Pictures and Images see their Ancestours brows incircled with it This Age as well as the pass'd gives us many deplorable Examples of Relations who have treacherously usurped Kingdoms which they were entrusted with Those of the Royal Blood are more prone to Tyranny in that they never want means to accomplish their Designs Few can be perswad'd of the Justice of that Law which prefers Birth to Vertue and every one thinks he better deserves a Crown than another and if this Reason should be of force in any one he is in danger from his Favourites who hoping to participate of his Grandeur strive to procure it by violent means and to raise Jealousies amongst his Relations If King Philip had any Jealousie of Don John of Austria they flow'd from this Spring A glorious Example of this Policy we find in the Infant Ferdinand refusing the Crown which was the Right of his Nephew Don John II. by which generous Recusance of that Crown on Earth he merited many more in Heaven The generous Loyalty which the Infants of that Name have paid the Kings of their Race is of an ancient Date Nor do we find less in this present Infant towards the present King whose Respect and Obedience is more like that of a Subject than of a Brother The heavenly Spheres pay not a more ready Obedience to the first mover than his Highness does to his Majestys Will. O truly Noble Prince whose glorious Birth though the greatest in the World is yet the least of his Excellencies the Effect of Divine Providence that in a time of such troublesome and tedious Wars which strain'd the very Axle-tree and Poles of the Government to raise us up an Atlas to support it by his Valour Conduct and Prudence EMBLEM LV. ARISTOTLE the better to instruct Alexander the Great in the Qualities of Counsellours compared them to Eyes which comparison Don Alonso the Wise makes use of in his Books of Laws Nor is this thought new for the Kings of Persia and Babylon call'd 'em their Eyes their Ears and their Hands according to the Offices in which they officiated The seven Spirits God's Ministers sent all over the Earth were the Eyes of a Lamb without spot or blemish 1 Apoc. 5. 6. A Prince who ought to see and comprehend so many Affairs should be all Eyes and all Ears 2 Superior debet esse totus mens c totus oculus S. Antioc Hom. 5. and because he can't be so he must make use of the Eyes and Ears of other Whence there is no Prince though never so prudent and intelligent but haâ— occasion for Ministers and to make use of them as his Eyes Ears and Hands 3 Nam Principes ac Reges nunc quoque multos sibi oculos multas aâ—res multas item manus atque pedes faciunt Arist. Pol. 5. c. 12 This is not of small advantage to him if he knows how to make a right use on 't for by thiâ— means he sees with every Body's eyes hears with their Ears and takes advise from them all 4 Hâ—â— enim ratione omnium oculis cernet omnium auribus audiet omnium denique consiliis in unum tendentibus consultabit Sines ad Arcad The Aegyptians meanâ— this by the Eye which they placed upon their Scepter for Counsels are the Eyes by which we inspect Futurity 5 Consilium oculus futurorum Arist. lib. 6. de Regim This Ieremiah seem'd to allude to when he said Virgaâ— vigilantem ego video 6 â—erem 1 11. Vid. Version Vulgar For this Reason in this present Emblem you see a Scepter full of Eyes to give the Prince to understand that he ought to inspect all Affairs of the Government by his Ministers nor is it to be wonder'd at that we place the Ministers in the Scepter for formerly their Names were engrave on the Crowns of the Emperours and Kings of Spain nor without Reason for they shine brighter than the Diadems themselves This Emblem of Eyes sufficiently shews the Qualifications that a Minister ought to be endued with For as the Sight extends to all things far and near so should the active Spirit of the Counsellour inspect all things present past and future that he may make a right Judgment of things and give a true Opinion of all Affairs which can't be done without much Reading great Experience and a continual Commerce with foreign Countries For if the Counsellours ben't perfectly versed in the Princes Nature and the Manners and Genius of the people they 'll ruine both themselves and the Government 7 Morum animorâ—mque Provincie nisi sâ—â—gneri qui de ea consulant perdant se Râ—mpub Cicero And to know this requires use for the Eyes don't know things which they have never seen he who has had Experience and Knowledge of things will readily find Expedients and Remedies 8 Eccles 3. 4. There is such a correspondence between the Eyes and Heart that the Affections of the one immediately strikes the other when this is sad they weep when this glad they smile if the Counsellour has not a particular Esteem for his Prince he will take but little care of his Affairs and is therefore very little to be trusted so said King Alphonso the Wise * L. 5. tit 9. p. 2. That Councellours ought to be the Princes true Friends otherwise he would be in great Danger for those who hate a Person will never advise him cordially The Eye won't suffer the Finger to touch its inside but upon its approach immediately sculks within the Lids how wise and learn'd soever the Minister is in his Counsels if he is easie and free of his Secerts if he suffers his Finger to probe his Heart he
as St. Augustine explains it * St. August lib. 5. de Civ Dei cap. 12. stray'd from their first Institution in which private Persons were Poor but the Publick Rich. Of which Horace complains †Lib. 2. Ode 15. Non it a Romuli Praescriptum intonsi Catonis Auspiciis c. Great Princes relying too much upon their own Power lay aside all Care of laying up Treasure or of preserving what they already have not considering that if the Necessity of their Affairs should require Money they must be oblig'd to oppress their Subjects with Taxes to the great hazard of their Fidelity and the greater the Kingdom is there will be need of greater Expence and Charge Princes are Briareus's who what they receive with fifty Hands spend with a hundred nor is any Kingdom rich enough to supply the Extravagance of one Clouds in one Hour spend all the Vapours which they have been many Days in collecting Those Riches which Nature had for many Ages hoarded up in the close Treasury of the Earth were not sufficient for the extravagant Prodigality of some of the Roman Emperors And this Extravagance is usual to Successors who find the Treasury filled to their Hands For they spend that carelesly and lavishly which they never knew the trouble of acquiring they soon pull down the Banks of the Treasury and drown their State in Pleasure and Luxury In less than three Years time Caligula squander'd away Sixty Six Millions of Gold though then One Crown was as much as Two now Power is self-will'd and foolish and should therefore be corrected by Prudence for without that Empires would soon fall to Ruine that of Rome seem'd to decline from the Time that the Emperors began to squander away its Treasures The World is wholly ruled by Arms and Riches Which is represented in the present Emblem by a Sword and Golden Bough which a Hand holds over a Globe to intimate that by both these the World is govern'd alluding to Virgil's Story of Aeneas who by the help of both these conquer'd even Hell it self and subdued its Monsters and Furies The Sword wounds most whose edge is Gold and Valour without Conduct and Magazines without Treasuries are insignificant A Prince ought therefore to consider before he declares War whether he is sufficiently furnish'd with these Means to prosecute it For which Reason 't will be convenient that the President of the Treasury should be one of the Council that he may give an Account of the State of the Revenue and what Grounds they have to proceed upon Power ought to be cautious and circumspect and diligently consider of what it undertakes Prudence does the same in the Mind as the Eyes do in the Head without that Kingdoms and States would be blind And Polyphemus who having once lost his Eye by the Cunning of Vlysses in vain threw Stones about and storm'd for Revenge so will they vainly squander and throw away their Treasure and Riches What prodigious Summs have we seen spent in our Times upon some vain Fear in countermining Enemies Designs in raising Armies and making War which might have been avoided by a Friendly Composition or by Dissimulation How much in Subsidies and Taxes ill apply'd and in other Necessary Expences by which Princes thinking to make themselves Powerful have found the contrary The Ostentations and Menaces of Gold extravagantly and unseasonably squander'd away render themselves ineffectual and the second are less than the first for one weakens the other Strength lost is soon recruited but Riches once spent are hard to be recover'd They ought not to be us'd but upon absolute Necessity Aeneas did not first shew the Golden Bough but offer'd to force his Passage with his Sword The Chief unsheath'd his shinning Steel prepar'd Though seiz'd with sudden Fear to force the Guard But when he found that neither Force nor Fair Means could oblige Charon to waft him over the Golden Bough was produc'd which had been hitherto conceal'd 8 Prov. 21. 14. At the sight of which the angry God was pacified * Dryden ' s Virgil. If neither Piety nor Heaven's Command Can gain his Passage to the Stygian Strand This fatal Present shall prevail at least Then shew'd the Golden Bough conceal'd within her Vest. No more was needful for the Gloomy God Stood mute with Awe to see the Golden Rod c. Let Princes therefore take Care to keep those Eyes of Prudence upon their Scepters clear and quick-sighted not disdaining Oeconomy which is the Safety and Preservation thereof Princes being as 't were the Fathers of their People The Great Augustus condescended as we have said before for the Good of the Publick to take the Accompts of the Empire with his own Hand Spain had had long since the Universal Empire of the World if it had been less Extravagant in War and more Regular and Methodical in Peace but through a certain Negligence the usual Effect of Grandeur it has suffer'd those Riches which should have render'd it Invincible to be made use of by other Nations We purchase them of the simple Indians for Toys and Baubles and afterwards we our selves as silly as they permit other Nations to Export them leaving us Brass Lead or some such worthless Commodities in their stead 'T was the Kingdom of Castile which by its Valour and Prowess erected our Monarchy yet others triumph and that suffers not knowing how to make good Use of the vast Treasures which are brought to them So Divine Providence in a manner levels and equals States giving to the Great Ones Strength without Industry and to the Little Industry to acquire Strength But lest I should seem only to discover Wounds and not heal them I will prescribe some Remedies not drawn from the Quintessence and Nicety of Speculation which are approv'd at first when new but afterwards rejected by Experience but such as Natural Reason shall suggest and such as Ignorance slights as vulgar The chief Wealth and Riches of Nations are the Fruits of the Earth no Mines in the World being richer than Agriculture This the Aegyptians knew who made the lower End of their Scepters like a Plow-share to intimate that its Power and Grandeur was founded upon that The fertile Sides of Vesuviâ—s are richer than Potosus with all its Gold 'T is not by Chance that Nature has so liberally imparted the Fruits of the Earth to All and hid Gold and Silver in the very Bowels of the Earth It made those common and expos'd them upon the Superficies of the Earth on purpose for Man's Nourishment 9 Maxima pars hominum è terra vivit fructibus Aristor Polit. lib. 1. c. 5. and hid these in the Bowels thereof that they might not easily be dug out and refined knowing they would prove the Bane and Ruine of Mankind Spain was in former times so rich almost only from the Fruits of the Earth that Lewis King of France coming to Toledo in the time of
Princes and States the pernicious Medea's of the World sow Discord among Princes and reap Wars and Confusion the Fruit thereof in their own States 1 For they have sown the Wind and reap'd the Whirlwind Hâ—sea 8. 7. They think to enjoy themselves that Repose which they molest in others and the Event proves contrary Cosmographers say about the Aequilibrium of the World that it is so Equidistant from the Center that the least Weight moves the Earth 'T is the same in War there is none so distant but it changes the Center of Rest of other Kingdoms War is a raging Fire which kindled in one Place runs on to others and very often to its own Home according as the Wind drives it The prudent Farmer dreads the Storm he sees gathering upon the Mountain's top though at never so great a distance Much greater need has he to fear who raises it by supplying it with Vapours Those who foment the Dutch Power and Grandeur may in time repent it when subject to the Yoke of their Slavery as it befell those who favour'd the Rise of the Roman Grandeur The Venetians jealous of the Portuguese for that by their Voyages they depriv'd 'em of the Traffick of the Persian Sea and the East-Indies sent an Embassador against them to Cairo and Engineers and Carpenters to arm the King of Calâ—cut against them persuading the Dutch to oppose their Passage by the Cape of Good Hope But they having comply'd with their Desires and establish'd their own Factories and Commerce quite disappointed the Republick who had better have left the Portuguese Trade free since so they might have made use of their Ships to Import the Eastern Commodities which when they had brought to their Ports the Inhabitants might with more Industry and Profit disperse over Europe Thus we see the Means which humane Prudence makes use of for its own Safety turn to the Ruine of the Author The Dukes of Savoy and Parma thought to maintain the War in the State of Milan and the one utterly ruin'd his own and the other made his the Seat of War Ill Advice impos'd upon the Goodness of the French King made him fearful of himself diffident of his Mother and Brother and of the whole Kingdom being persuaded that without War he could not subsist and that his Preservation depended upon the Ruine of the House of Austria and for that end he rais'd with the Blood of the Nobility of that Kingdom engag'd in Civil Broils Clouds which created a general Tempest against all Christendom the Rhine Moselle Danube and Elbe being summoned to his Assistance He foments the Clouds in England Holland and Denmark He breaks the Ice of Sweden that he might pass the Baltick Sea by those Northern Streights to the Ruine of Empire 3 Isai. 23. 11. He thaws the Snows of the Switzers and Grisons and scatters them through Germany and Italy He turns the River Po upon the State of Milan summoning the Tyber and Adriatick to his Assistance 4 Ezek. 32. 2. He raises the Fogs of Africk Persia Turkey Tartary and Moscovia that they might in Clouds of Arrows and Lightning invade Europe He forces through the secret Crannies of the Earth Earthquakes which shook Brazil and the East-Indies He sends through all Parts furious Hurricanes which made one continual Tempest and he disturbed the Heavens with such Diligence and Art that it darted Fire hail'd Shot and rain'd Blood upon the Earth 5 Ier. 4. 13. He reaches from Pole to Pole with the Shot of his Artillery 6 Ier. 8. 16. and with his Dragoons more swift by the Negligence or Malice of some than the Imperial Eagles 7 4. 13. Their Neighings are heard in all Parts and Mars triumphs in Blood and Dust 8 Ier. 8. 16. The Author of so many Wars verifying what Isaiah said of Lucifer That he disturbs the Earth ruines Kingdoms dispeoples the World and destroys its Cities 9 Isai. 14. 16. For when God makes use of one as a Scourge to the rest he gives him his Power by which he succeeds in whatever he undertakes while his Divine Anger continues 10 Isai. 10. 5. He told Moses That he had made him God over Pharaoh 11 Exod. 7. 1. and so as God he wrought Miracles to punish him and his Kingdom 12 Data est Moysi authoritas potestâ—◠〈◊〉 velâ—t Deus Pharaontem â—erreret puniret Hil. l. 7. de Trin. But I am not so bold to say that in Pharaoh's Person and his Kingdom is represented that of France and the Punishment that Divine Sun of Justice threatens it and that we must hope for other miraculous Actions for the Preservation and Grandeur of the House of Austria 13 2 Mac. 15. 8. That his Displeasure being appeased will by little and little dispell the Clouds which obscure its Pinnacles discovering thereupon the Triumphant Imperial Eagle which having sharpned its Talons and its Beak and refresh'd its Feathers in the Waters of its Trouble shall join that Divine Lightning which shall be Light to it and Fire to France causing to fall upon them the whole Tempest which they had raised against other Kingdoms The Spirit of so many Tempests shall waste it self their Counsels being rash and violent 14 Isai. 19. 3. French shall War with French Friend with Friend Brother with Brother City with City and the Kingdom with the Kingdom 15 Ibid. by which it shall become the Bloody Scene of that War which it has so industriously procured other Nations 16 Ezek. 29. 10. Such Counsels are like Spiders Webs drawn from their own Bowels their due Punishment is to fall into the same Nets which they have spread for others 17 Proâ— 26. 27. Perillus invented a Brazen Bull for the Exercise of his Tyranny and was himself the first that made it Bellow No Possession is secure which is founded upon the Destruction of others A certain French Embassador advised the League of Cambray against the Republick of Venice insinuating That she should sow Dissentions among the Princes and build her own Fortune upon their Ruine And several of them uniting disarmed her and took from her all the Lands she possess'd upon the Continent It may be that those Times required such Artifices or that the Prudent Noblemen of which that Illustrious Senate always consists knew those Inconveniencies but could not prevent 'em either through the furious Torrent of the Multitude or through fear of rendring themselves suspected by Opposition This is the Misfortune of Republicks that Malice Tyranny fomenting Hatred and Self-Interest without respect to Justice pass for Zeal and Love to their Country hindring Persons of Integrity from appearing That the Prudent endeavour to procure the Peace of the State while giddy Fellows who have no Prospect of the Time to come molest it by their vain and dangerous Enterprizes 18 Sapientibus quietis Reip. curae levissimus quisque futuri
end to the Intestine Commotions in Spain That Theater of War or rather that School of Mars where so many Military Arts have been taught and exercised has been very much to the Advantage of this Monarchy Though 't is true this Military Exercise and Discipline has been common to its Enemies and Rivals almost all the Princes of Europe having learn'd the Use of Arms there although it is a prodigious Charge to make War in Countries so disturb'd and remote with so much Bloodshed and Extortion so much Advantage on the Enemies side and so little on ours that it may reasonably be question'd whether it were better to conquer or be conquered or if it would not be more expedient to apply some Remedy whereby to quench or at least damp for a time that ardent Thirst after Blood and Riches to the end that what is thrown away there might be laid out upon a a Fleet for the Establishment of the Empire of the Ocean and Mediterranean and the carrying on a War in Africa the successful Progress of which by reason of the nearness of Spain and Italy would the more unite this Monarchy However Love of those so Ancient and Loyal Subjects join'd with a Desire to see them redeemed from that vile Slavery they are under the Notion of Liberty miserably oppress'd with and to reduce them to the true Worship of God have more Influence on us than State-Interest Now as the Encouragement of Valour and Military Glory in a Monarchy is the Security thereof so is it not without Danger when the Supreme Power is lodg'd in many as in Commonwealths their greatest Hazard being in their own Arms while they intrust the Power of the Army to one that very Hand which they first arm'd usually laying the Yoke on them those Forces themselves gave oppressing their Liberty Thus it was with the Roman Republick and from thence Tyranny pass'd to almost all other Nations However requisite therefore it be to keep Armies always ready and in Exercise yet the Arts of Peace are still more secure especially if the People be corrupted and separated in distant Places For the Fierceness of War does but render them more Insolent and it is better to keep them in view of Danger than secure from it if you expect they should unite for their Conservation The Liberty of the Republick of Genoua was not less safe when its Mountains were not regularly fortified than now that through singular Industry and Labour they are made as Impregnable Walls to the State For too much Security breeds ill Humours divides the People into Factions begets Presumptuous Spirits and despises External Means In a word In Commonwealths harrass'd with Intestine Broils Wars are more dangerous than useful and consequently then only will be of advantage to Genoua when that prudent Senate shall act as if they had never built them EMBLEM LXXXIV IT has been the Opinion of some That Nature was rather a Step-Mother to Man than his own and that she had shewed her self more liberal to other Creatures in giving them a clearer Instinct and Notice of the Means necessary for their Defence and Conservation But these Persons did not sufficiently consider their own Excellency their Power and Dominion over Sublunary Things Nature having bestowed on them a swift Understanding in a Moment penetrating both the Earth and Heavens a Memory wherein without the least confusion or disorder are reposited the Idea's of Things so various a Reason which Distinguisheth Collects and Concludes a Judgment that Comprehends Weighs and Determines Gifts whereby Man is intitled to the Sovereignty of all Created Beings and a Liberty to dispose of them according to his Pleasure having Hands framed with such Skill and Wisdom that they are Tools fit for all Arts so that although he comes into the World naked and without Arms yet he forges them according to his Fancy either to defend himself or assault others The Earth to that end furnishes him with Iron and Steel the Water as you see in this Device turns the Mill that strikes them Thus all the Elements obey his Will With any slight Plank Boat he tames the Sea's Pride and gathers the Winds into a small piece of Canvas to make them serve him for Wings to fly from one Place to another confines all the Fire's Violence within Brazen Pipes call'd Guns and thence shoots Thunderbolts no less terrible than those of Iupiter himself By Wit and Art he facilitates many Things impossible to Nature By these he improves Nature 1 Multa quae natura impedita erant câ—nsiâ—io expediebat Livy Dec. 2. he tempers Breast-Plates and sharpens Iron into Lances It behoves the Prince to use Industry more than Force Wisdom than Arms 2 Wisd. 6. 1. the Pen rather than the Sword 3 Eccl. 9 18. For to attempt every thing with one's utmost Power is the Folly of the Gyants who heaped Mountains upon Mountains It is not the greatest Strength that always Triumphs the little Remora stops the Course of a Ship That one City Numantia fatigu'd the whole Roman Empire for fourteen Years Nor did the Conquest of those vast Countries of Asia cost it so much Pains as the Taking of Saguntum * A City of Spain now call'd Morvedre Strength decays by degrees and is consumed but Wisdom and Ingenuity endures for ever and except War be managed by this Victory is never obtained by that A War carry'd on by Policy is secure that which relies wholly upon Strength hazardous and uncertain One Wise Head is worth Twenty Hands †Eurip. Tiberius writing to Germanicus boasts that in the nine times he was sent by Augustus into Germany he had done more by Stratagem than by Force 4 Se novies à Divo Augusto in Germaniam missum pluâ—a consilio quâ—â— vi perfeâ—isse Tacit. l. 6. Annal. Nor did he use to take any other Measures when Emperor especially to maintain the remote Provinces and would frequently say That Foreign Affairs should be managed by Wisdom and Policy and Armies kept as far off as possible 5 Consiliis astu exterâ—as res â—â—liendâ—s arma procul habenda All things are not surmounted by Strength and Expedition but many by Policy and Deliberation 6 Non omnia viribus superantur non velacitate non celeritate sed corilio sententia Câ—cero Mar. Hist. Hisp. The Low-Countries were ruin'd amidst their continual Victories because they confided in Strength more than Prudence Let Force submit to Policy for that will conquer where the other cannot When the Moorish Armies annoyed Spain in the time of King Roderick the Governor of Murcia was defeated in a Battel where all the Nobility of this City lost their Lives and the Women having Intelligence of it placed themselves along the Walls in Mens Habit and all in Armour Upon which the Conquerors thinking by this they were still very Numerous consented to Honourable Terms Edward IV. King of England used to say
come out distorted and of short continuance as that was which he laid down as a Model of the rest The Design of these Emblems has been to set off that Purple whose Scarlet Dye soon turns to Ashes they began at the Cradle and end at the Tomb. They are the Parenthesis of Man's Life which the least clause of Time includes nor is it easie to determine which Hour is the most happy that wherein the Eyes are open to the Day of Life or that in which they are closed to the Night of Death 1 And the day of death than the day of birth Eccles. 7. 1. since the one is the beginning the other the end of our Labours and however great the difference may be betwixt being and not being yet the Material Part of Man only feels that not the Form which is Immortal and improved by Death The Dread we have of the Grave is natural but had Reason more influence on us than Desire of Living we should rejoyce at the fight of it as those do who looking for Treasures find urns being sure to meet with Riches there 2 And dig for it more than for rich treasure which rejoyce exceedingly and are glad when they can find the grave Iob 3. 21 22. for it is in the Grave that the Soul finds the real Treasure of Eternal Rest. This Simon Maccahaeus signified by that Hieroglyphick of Ships carved upon the Pillars he set about the Mausâ—laeum of his Father and Brothers 3 And set great pillars round about them and set arms upon the pillars for a perpetual memory and carved ships beâ—ides the arms 1 Maâ—cab 13. 29. intimating that the Ship of our Life floating upon the Billows of the World is never quiet till landed at the Shore of Death In effect what is Life but a perpetual Fear of Death without any thing to assure us of its continuance Many Signs portend the Approach of Death not one exactly marks out the Bounds of Life The most flourishing Age and strongest Constitution are not sufficient Sureties for one Hour of Health The Heart which performs the part of a Balance in this clock of the Body points indeed to the presentâ— Hours but never to the future Nor ought this â—ncertainty to be termed Disdain but rather a Favour of Nature for were the precise Time determined for Death as it is for Birth for the Dissolution as for the Formation of the Body Man would become Insolent to Reason and therefore she has not only given him one sure Minute to breath in but on the contrary hath in all things imaginable laid before him Evidences of the Shortness of Life The Earth represents it to him in the Youth of its Flowers and Gray-Hairs of its Harvests the Water in the Rapidness of its Current the Air in the Fires it kindles and extinguishes again in a moment and the Heavens in the Prince of Light which the same Day sees rise in the golden Cradle of the East and set in the dark Tomb of the West But if Death be the last of all Evils that it comes not too late is to be esteem'd a Happiness The shorter the Interval is between the Cradle and the Tomb the shorter is the Course of our Labours and therefore Iob wished he had been immediately carried from the Womb of his Mother to that of the Earth 4 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb O that I had given up the Ghost and no eye had seen me I should have been as though I had not been I should have been carried from the womb to the grave Iob 10. 18 19. We are bound as soon as born and all our Life-time after involved in Careâ— 5 I was nourished in swadling cloaths and with careâ— Wisd. 7. 4. nor have Kings in this any Privilege above the rest of Mankind * For there is no king that hath any oâ—â—er â—eginning of birth Wisd. 7. 5. Did Humane Felicity consist in long Life Man would undoubtedly out-live the Stag for it were absurd that any Creature should be happier than him for whose Service they were all created 6 lâ—sas 〈…〉 factâ—s naâ—â—ra fuisse necesse est Arist. Pol. l. 1. c. 5. That Natural Desire we have of seeing Hours pass swiftly away is an Argument that it is not Time which makes our Happiness for then would the Mind find its Rest in that whatever it desires out of Time it always wants In Princes more than in others as they are exposed to greater Accidents Experience shews that in a long Life Fortune is endanger'd she being tired as much with being propitions as with being adverse Lewis XI had been a happy Prince had he ended his Days before the Calamities of his last Years Sovereignty is a kind of tempestuous Sea not to be kept calm by a long Course of Life he who lives longest suffers most Storms and Dangers But if we consider the End and Perfection of Nature a long Life is happy when according to the Testimony of Iob it comes into the Grave in its Maturity as Corn into the Barn 7 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season Iob 5. 26. secund Septuagint before Decrepidness makes it wither for with the Shadow of Death the Vital Spirits congeal and the Body remains useless The Trembling Hand can no longer steer the Helm of the State the Eye perceive the Clouds of Heaven the Course of the Winds and the Rocks of the Sea nor the Ear hear the Barkings of Scylla and Carybdis Amidst so many Miseries of Nature Constancy fails the Prince and being reduced by the Moisture of the Senses to a second Infancy he believes every thing and suffers himself to be govern'd by Malice which is then most awake in those about him who at such a time offend with equal Profit and Impunity 8 Cum â—pud infirmum credulum minore metu majore praeâ—io peccaretur Tac. Hist. l. 1. Women get Possession of his Will as Livia did of Augustus's when she made him banish his Nephew Agrippa 9 Nam senem Augustum deviâ—xerat adeo uti Nepotem unicum Agrippam Posthumuâ— in insulam Planasiam projicâ—ret Tac. Annal. l. 1. bringing him to such a pass that he who before knew how to maintain the whole World in Peace became incapable of ruling his own Family 10 Nulla in praesens formidine dum Augustus aetate validus seque domum pacem sustentavit postquam profecta jam senectus agro corpore fatigabatur aderatque finis spei novae pauci bonâ— liberâ—atis incâ—ssum disserere Ibid. By this means Majesty is made the Derision of all Men of which Galba was an Instance 11 Ipsa aetas Galbâ—e irrisuâ— fastidâ—o erat Tac. Hist. l. 1. Other Nations despise him and are not afraid to rise up against him as Arbanus did against Tiberius
12 Senectutem Tiberii ut inermem despicient Tac. Hist. l. 6. The Authority of a decrepid Prince is lost and his Orders 〈…〉 not taken for his own as it was 〈◊〉 of those of 〈◊〉 13 〈◊〉 Principe iâ—â—â—to exitium dâ—mui ejus iâ—tendi 〈◊〉 〈…〉 l. 5. He is hated by the 〈◊〉 who look upon him as an unprofitable Instrument the Source of all the Evils the Government suffers And as Love is in a manner bred by interest and brought up by Hope all make slight of him inasmuch as he is not â—ble to give much who hath but a little while to live His Empire is accounted precarious and short lived as that of Galba was 14 Precarium sibi imperium brevi transiâ—â—â—â—â— Tac. Hist. l. 1. and the Ministers like the Goss-Hawks of Norway that they may get the day lay their Pounces upon the Publick Treaâ—ures selling Places and Favours as the Servants of the same Emperor did 15 〈◊〉 afferebant veâ—alia câ—nctâ— prapâ—â—â—mses libeâ—◠〈…〉 Tac. Hist. l. 1. When therefore the Age is come to this pass the Prince has more need of Instructions to make him sensible of his inability and resign the weight of the Government to his Successor than of Precepts to continue it to himself Let not Ambition delude him by the Representation of his post Character and Applause for Men consider not the Prince as he was but as he now is Nor is it enough to have once made himself feared if he cannot do it now nor to have governed well heretofore if he neither is able nor knows how to govern well still Dominion is like the Sea which immediately casts on Shore all unprofitable Carkasses The Prince is esteemed for the Form of the Soul with which he Ordains Commands Rewards and Punishes so that when Age comes to discompose that Form the Esteem vanishes aâ—d therefore it will be prudent to acknowledge the Injuries and Contempts of Age in time and so slip from them before they arrive If the Prince and Business must part it is better that he bid the first adieu 'T is a glorious Action to submit to own one's Frailty and voluntarily divest one's self of Grandeur before Death takes it away by Force lest it should be said that he died unknown by himself who lived known by all Men. He should consider that his Royal Scepter is like the Herb of the same Name which in a little time turns to Worms 16 Theophr l. de Plant. and that if the whole Globe of the Earth be no more than a Point in comparison of the Heavens What will one Monarchy one Kingdom be And though this were never so large yet he can have no more of it than a Place to bury him in 17 My breath is corrupt my days are extiâ—â—â— the graves are ready for me Ioâ— 17. 1. or as Saladin said a Shrowd without carrying away with him any other Glory The Prince is not to live always for the Commonwealth he should reserve some Time to himself and endeavour that at the setting of his Life the Horizon of Death may be cleared from the Vapours of Ambition and the Clouds of Passion and Interest as is expressed by the Sun in this Emblem taken from the Sepulchre of Ioshua upon which a Representation of that Planet was raised with this difference only that there it was put in memory of its standing still at the Voice of this Great Captain 18 And the sun stood still and the moon stayed Iosâ— 10. 13. here to signifie that as a Clear and Fair Evening is an infallible Sign of the Serenity of the next Morning so a Reign ended in Sanctity and Happiness portends that he who is a to succeed will be also happy for a Reward to the Vertue and by the irresistible Efficacy of this last Example The Art of Living and Dying well that glorious Retirement of the Emperor Charles Va. May teach who so far laid aside all Publick Cares that he never so much as enquired after the State of his Monarchy but brought his great Soul otherwise made for brave Atchievements to the dressing of a Garden or to divert the Hours after his Spiritual Exercise performed at some Ingenious Art or other But if there are any Disputes or Revolutions to be apprehended upon account of the Succession it will be Prudence in the Persons present at the King's Death to keep it secret and make that and the Possession of the Successor publick at one time For in such Cases the People are like a Colt not broke which suffers not the Saddle unless it 〈…〉 sees it Thâ—â— Liviâ— concealed the 〈◊〉 untill 〈◊〉 was setled in his 〈◊〉 19 Simâ—l exceâ—â—iâ—â—e Augustum rerâ—m potâ—ri Neronem â—ama eâ—dem â—â—lit Tac. Annal. l. 1. as Agrippinâ— did that of Claudius with so much Diâ—â—imulation that even after his Decease a Senate was convened in his Name and Prayers offered for his Health till Time was gained to contrive Nero's Succession 20 Dum res firmando Neroâ—â—â— iâ—pâ—rio 〈◊〉 Tac. Annal. l. 12. The Death of the Prince being made known neither Piety nor Prudence dissuade from Tears and Demonstrations of Sorrow The Holy Ghost far from forbidding recommends thâ—em 21 My son pour forth tears over the dead Eâ—clus 38. 16. All the People of Israel lamented the Death of Abner and David followed his Corps to the Grave 22 Mourn before Abner and king David himself followd the bier 2 Sâ—m 3. 31. For though there want not Christian Considerations to comfort us and though there hath been heretofore a Nation which less enlightned with the Rays of Immortality received those with Tears who came into the World and took leave of them that went out of it with Rejoycings yet these Reasons stand good only on their side who are gone to a better Life but are not for those who are left alone and deprived of their Services and Conversation Even our Saviour Christ going to raise Lazarus wept over his Sepulchre 23 Jesus wept Ioâ— 11. 35. These last Expressions of Grief must not be denied the Tenderness and Resentments of Nature They are the Scales wherein the Merit of the deceas'd Prince is weighed and whereby may be known what Value his Subjects had for him in a word the Touch-stone on which their Love and Obedience is tried which strengthens the Links of Subjection and gives Heart to the Successor Yet for all this the People must not be obliged to an expensive Mourning for fear their Prince's Death should turn to a burthensom Tax Not however that Funeral Pomp and magnificent Tombs adorned with Statues and costly Imbossed Works are to be look'd on as a meer Vanity of Princes they are rather a generous piece of Piety which marks out the last Bounds of Humane Greatness and shews in the Magnificence wherewith their Ashes are honoured what Respect is owing to Majesty Sepulchres being no other than a kind of