568 EXQUISITE philosophers seldom fit for PUBLIC BUSINESS.

manner of handling, and you will be in doubt to which of the two the design does tend. And the extremity of laughter does at last bring tears. "Nullum sine auctora mente malum est.”—Senec. Ep. 70. “No evil is without its compensation." When I the most strictly and religiously confess my self, I find that the best vertue I have has in it some tincture of vice and am afraid that Plato, in his purest vertue (I who am as sincere and perfect a lover of vertue of that stamp, as any other whatever) if he had listen'd, and laid his ear close to himself (and he did so) he would have heard some jarring sound of human n.ixture, but faint and remote, and only to be perceiv'd by himself. Man is wholly and throughout but patcht and motly. Even the laws of justice themselves cannot subsist without mixture of injustice: insomuch that Plato says, "they undertake to cut off the Hydra's head, who pretend to clear the law of all inconvenience." "Omne magnum exemplum habet aliquid ex iniquo, quod contra singulos utilitate publica rependitur."-Tacit. Annal. lib. 14. “Every great example has in it some mixture of injustice, which recompences the wrong done to particular men by the publick utility." It is likewise true, that for the usage of life, and the service of publick commerce, there may be some excesses in the purity and perspicacity of our minds; that penetrating light has in it too much of subtilty and curiosity: we must a little stupifie and blunt and abate them, to render them more obedient to example and practice; and a little veil and obscure them, the better to proportion them to this dark and earthy life. And yet common, and less speculative souls are found to be more proper, and more successful in the management of affairs; and the elevated and exquisite opinions of philosophy more unfit for business. This sharp vivacity of soul, and the supple and restless volubility attending it, disturb our negotiations. We are to manage human enterprizes more superficially and rudely, and leave a great part to fortune. It is not necessary to examine affairs with so much subtilty, and so deep: a man loses himself in the consideration of so many contrary lustres, and so many various forms. "Voluntatibus res inter se pugnantes, obturbaverant animi."-Livy. Whilst they consider'd of things so indifferent in themselves, they were astonish'd, and knew not what to do." "Tis what the ancients say of Simonides, that by reason his imagination suggested to him, upon the question king Hiero had put to him (to answer which he had had many days to medidate in) several witty and subtile considerations, whilst he doubted which was the most likely, he totally despair'd of the truth. Who dives into, and in his inquisition comprehends all circumstances and consequences, hinders his election: a little engine well handled, is sufficient for executions of less or greater weight and moment. The best husbands are those who can worst give account how they are so; and the greatest talkers for the most part do nothing to purpose. I know one of this sort of men, and the most excellent director in all

sorts of good husbandry, who has miserably let an hundred thousand livres yearly revenue slip through his hands. I know another, who says, that he is able to give better advice than any of his counsel; and there is not in the world a fairer show of a soul, and of greater understanding, than he has; nevertheless, when he comes to the test, his servants find him quite another thing.

CHAP. LXXVIII.-AGAINST IDLENESS.

THE emperour Vespasian, being sick of the disease whereof he died, did not for all that neglect to enquire after the estate of the empire; and even in bed continually dispatcht very many affairs of great consequence; for which, being reprov'd by his physician, as a thing prejudicial to his health, “An Emperor," said he, "must die standing." A fine saying in my opinion, and worthy a great prince. The emperour Adrian since made use of the same words; and kings should be often put in mind of it, to make them know, that the great office confer'd upon them of the command of so many men, is not an employment of ease; and that there is nothing can so justly disgust a subject, and make him unwilling to expose himself to labour and danger for the service of his prince, than to see him in the mean time devoted to his ease and unmanly delights: and to be sollicitous of his preservation, who so much neglects that of his people. Whoever will take upon him to maintain, that 'tis better for a prince to carry on his wars by others, than in his own person; fortune will furnish him with examples enough of those whose Lieutenants have brought great enterprizes to a happy issue, and of those also whose presence has done more hurt than good. But no vertuous and valiant prince, can with patience endure so dishonourable councils, under colour of saving his head, like the statue of a saint, for the happiness of his kingdom; they degrade him from, and declare him incapable of, his office, which is military throughout. I know one who had much rather be beaten, than to sleep whilst another fights for him; and who never without jealousie heard of any brave thing done even by his own officers in his absence. And Selimus said, with very good reason, in my opinion, "That victories obtain'd without the masters, were never compleat." Much more would he have said, that that master ought to blush for shame, to pretend to any share in the honour, having contributed nothing to the work, but his voice and thought; nor even so much as those, considering that in such works as that, the direction and command that deserve honour are only such as are given upon the place, and in the heat of the business. No pilot performs his office by standing still. The princes of the Ottoman

570 'TIS A GENEROUS DESIRE TO WISH TO DIE USEFULLY.

family, the chiefest in the world in military fortune, have warmly embrac'd this opinion, and Bajazet the second, with his son that swerv'd from it, spending their time in sciences and other retir'd employments, gave great blows to their empire: and Amurath the third, now reigning, following their example, begins to find the same. Was it not Edw. the Third king of England, who said this of our Charles the Fifth?"There never was king who so seldom put on his arms, and yet never king who cut me out so much work." He had reason to think it strange, as an effect of chance more than of reason. And let those seek out some other to joyn with them than me, who will reckon the kings of Castile and Portugal amongst the warlike and magnanimous conquerors, because at the distance of twelve hundred leagues from their lazie abode, by the conduct of their Captains, they made themselves masters of both Indies; of whom it would be known, if they have but the courage to go, and in person enjoy them. The emperour Julian said yet further, "That a philosopher, and a brave man, ought not so much as to breath;" that is to say, not to allow any more to bodily necessities, than what we cannot refuse; keeping the soul and body still intent and busie about honourable, great and vertuous things: he was asham'd if any one in publick saw him spit, or sweat (which is said by some also of the Lacedæmonian young men, and that Xenophon says of the Persian) forasmuch as he conceiv'd that exercise, continual labour and sobriety, ought to have dried up all those superfluities. What Seneca says, will not be unfit for this place; which is, "That the ancient Romans kept their youth always standing, and taught them nothing that they were to learn sitting." "Tis a generous desire to wish to die usefully, and like a man, but the effect lies not so much in our resolution as good fortune. A thousand have propos'd to themselves in battel, either to overcome or die, who have fail'd both in the one and the other: wounds and imprisonment crossing their design, and compelling them to live against their wills. There are diseases that overthrow so much as our desires and our knowledge. Fortune ought not to second the vanity of the Roman legions, who bound themselves by oath, either to overcome, or die. "Victor, Marce Fabi, revertar ex acie: Si fallo, Jovem patrem Gradivumque Martem, aliosque iratos invoco Deos."-Livy, Bk. 2. "I will return (Marcus Fabius) a conqueror from the army: and if I fail, I wish the indignation of Jove, Mars, and the other offended Gods, may light upon me." The Portuguese say, that in a certain place of their conquest of the Indies, they met with souldiers who had damn'd themselves with horrible execrations, to enter into no other composition, but either to cause themselves to be slain, or to remain victorious; and had their heads and beards shav'd in token of this vow. 'Tis to much purpose for us to hazard our selves, and to be obstinate. It seems as if blows avoided those that present themselves too briskly to danger; and do not willingly fall

upon those who too willingly seek them, and so defeat them of their design. Such there have been, after having try'd all ways, not having been able with all their endeavour to obtain the favour of dying by the hand of the enemy, have been constrained to make good their resolution of bringing home the honour of victory, or of losing their lives, to kill themselves even in the heat of battel. Of which there are other examples, but this is one. Philistus, general of the naval army of Dionysius the younger against those of Syracusa, presented them battel, which was sharply disputed, their forces being equal. In which engagement he had the better at the first, through his own valour: but the Syracusans drawing about his Admiral Gally to environ him; after having done great things in his own person to disengage himself, hoping for no relief, with his own hand took away that life he had so liberally, and in vain, expos'd to the fury of the enemy. Muley Moluck king of Fez, who won the battel against Sebastian king of Portugal, so famous for the death of three kings, and by the transmission of that great kingdom to the crown of Castile; was extreamly sick when the Portuguese enter'd in an hostile manner into his dominions; and from that day forward grew worse and worse, still drawing neare to, and foreseeing his end: yet never did man better imploy his own sufficiency more vigorously and bravely than he did upon this occasion. He found himself too weak to undergo the pomp and ceremony of entring into his camp, which after their manner is very magnificent, and therefore resign'd that honour to his brother; but that was also all of the office of a General that he resign'd, all the rest of greatest utility and necessity he most exactly and gloriously performed in his own person; his body lying upon a couch, but his judgment and courage upright and firm to his last gasp, and in some sort beyond it. He might have defeated his enemy, indiscreetly advanc'd into his dominions, without striking a blow; and it was a very unhappy occurrence, that for want of a little life, or some body to substitute in the conduct of this war, and the affairs of a troubled state, he was compell'd to seek a doubtful and bloody victory, having another by a better and surer way already in his hands. Notwithstanding, he wonderfully manag'd the continuance of his sickness in consuming the enemy, and in drawing them far from the assistance of the naval army they had in the ports of Africk, even till the last day of his life, which he designedly reserv'd for this furious battel. He order'd his battel in a circular form, environing the Portugal army on every side, which round coming to close in the wings, and to draw up close together, did not only hinder them in the conflict (which was very sharp through the valour of the young invading king) considering they were every way to make a front, but prevented their flight after the defeat, so that finding all passages possest and shut up by the enemy, they were constrain'd to close up together again; "coacervanturque non solum cæde, sed etiam fuga,”

572 LOOK UPON DEATH WITHOUT ASTONISHMENT AND CARF.

and there they were slain in heaps upon one another, leaving to the conqueror a very bloody and entire victory. Dying, he caused himself to be carried and hurried from place to place where most need was, and passing through the files, encouraged the captains and soldiers one after another. But a corner of his battel being broken, he was not to be held from mounting on horseback with his sword in his hand. He did his utmost to break from those about him, and to rush into the thickest of the battel, they all the while withholding him, some by the bridle, some by his robe, and others by his stirrups. This last effort totally overwhelm'd the little life he had left; they again lay him upon his bed; but coming to himself again, and starting out of his swoon, all other faculties failing, to give his people notice that they were to conceal his death (the most necessary command he had then to give, that his soldiers might not be discourag'd with the news) he expos'd with his fingers upon his mouth the ordinary sign of keeping silence. Who ever liv'd so long and so far in death? who ever died more like a man? The most extream degree of entertaining death, and the most natural, is to look upon it not only without astonishment but without care, continuing the wonted course of life even into it, as Cato did, who entertained himself in study, and went to sleep, having a violent and bloody one in his heart, and the weapon in his hand, with which he was resolved to dispatch himself.

CHAP. LXXIX.-OF POSTS.

I HAVE been none of the least able in this exercise, which is proper for men of my pitch, short and well knit; but I give it over, it shakes us too much to continue long. I was just now reading that king Cyrus, the better to have news brought him from all parts of the empire, which was of a vast extent, caus'd it to be try'd how far a horse could go in a day without baiting, and at that distance appointed stages and men whose business it was to have horses always in readiness, to mount those who were dispatch'd away to him. And some say, that this swift way of posting, is equal to that of the flight of cranes. Cæsar says, "that Lucius Vibilus Rufus, being in great haste to carry intelligence to Pompey, rid day and night, still taking fresh horses for the greater diligence and speed;" and himself, as Suetonius, reports, travelled a hundred miles a day in a hired coach; but he was a furious courier, for where the rivers stopt his way, he always past them by swimming, without turning out of his way to look for either bridge or ford. Tiberius Nero, going to see his brother Drusus, who was sick in Germany, travell'd two hundred miles in four and twenty hours, having three