第51章

["Whenthereisleastfear，thereisforthemostpartleastdanger。"——Livy，xxii。5。]

Ourpeoplearetoblamewhosaythatsuchanoneisafraidofdeath，whentheywouldexpressthathethinksofitandforeseesit:foresightisequallyconvenientinwhatconcernsus，whethergoodorill。Toconsiderandjudgeofdangeris，insomesort，thereversetobeingastounded。

Idonotfindmyselfstrongenoughtosustaintheforceandimpetuosityofthispassionoffear，norofanyothervehementpassionwhatever:ifI

wasonceconqueredandbeatendownbyit，Ishouldneverriseagainverysound。Whoevershouldoncemakemysoulloseherfooting，wouldneversetheruprightagain:sheretastesandresearchesherselftooprofoundly，andtoomuchtothequick，andthereforewouldneverletthewoundshehadreceivedhealandcicatrise。Ithasbeenwellformethatnosicknesshasyetdiscomposedher:ateverychargemadeuponme，I

preservemyutmostoppositionanddefence;bywhichmeansthefirstthatshouldroutmewouldkeepmefromeverrallyingagain。Ihavenoafter—

gametoplay:onwhichsidesoevertheinundationbreaksmybanks，Ilieopen，andamdrownedwithoutremedy。Epicurussays，thatawisemancanneverbecomeafool;Ihaveanopinionreversetothissentence，whichis，thathewhohasoncebeenaveryfool，willneverafterbeverywise。

Godgrantsmecoldaccordingtomycloth，andpassionsproportionabletothemeansIhavetowithstandthem:naturehavinglaidmeopenontheoneside，hascoveredmeontheother;havingdisarmedmeofstrength，shehasarmedmewithinsensibilityandanapprehensionthatisregular，or，ifyouwill，dull。

Icannotnowlongendure（andwhenIwasyoungcouldmuchless）eithercoach，litter，orboat，andhateallotherridingbutonhorseback，bothintownandcountry。ButIcanbearalitterworsethanacoach;and，bythesamereason，aroughagitationuponthewater，whencefearisproduced，betterthanthemotionsofacalm。Atthelittlejerksofoars，stealingthevesselfromunderus，Ifind，Iknownothow，bothmyheadandmystomachdisordered;neither—canIenduretosituponatotteringchair。Whenthesailorthecurrentcarriesusequally，orthatwearetowed，theequalagitationdoesnotdisturbmeatall;’tisaninterruptedmotionthatoffendsme，andmostofallwhenmostslow:I

cannototherwiseexpressit。Thephysicianshaveorderedmetosqueezeandgirdmyselfaboutthebottomofthebellywithanapkintoremedythisevil;whichhoweverIhavenottried，beingaccustomedtowrestlewithmyowndefects，andovercomethemmyself。

Wouldmymemoryserveme，Ishouldnotthinkmytimeillspentinsettingdownheretheinfinitevarietythathistorypresentsusoftheuseofchariotsintheserviceofwar:various，accordingtothenationsandaccordingtotheage;inmyopinion，ofgreatnecessityandeffect;sothatitisawonderthatwehavelostallknowledgeofthem。Iwillonlysaythis，thatverylately，inourfathers’time，theHungariansmadeveryadvantageoususeofthemagainsttheTurks;havingineveryoneofthematargetterandamusketeer，andanumberofharquebusespiledreadyandloaded，andallcoveredwithapavesadelikeagalliot——[Canvasspreadalongthesideofashipofwar，inactiontoscreenthemovementsofthoseonboard。]——Theyformedthefrontoftheirbattlewiththreethousandsuchcoaches，andafterthecannonhadplayed，madethemallpourintheirshotupontheenemy，whohadtoswallowthatvolleybeforetheytastedoftherest，whichwasnolittleadvance;andthatdone，thesechariotschargedintotheirsquadronstobreakthemandopenawayfortherest;besidestheusetheymightmakeofthemtoflankthesoldiersinaplaceofdangerwhenmarchingtothefield，ortocoverapost，andfortifyitinhaste。Inmytime，agentlemanononeofourfrontiers，unwieldyofbody，andfindingnohorseabletocarryhisweight，havingaquarrel，rodethroughthecountryinachariotofthisfashion，andfoundgreatconvenienceinit。Butletusleavethesechariotsofwar。

Asiftheireffeminacy——[WhichCottontranslates:"asiftheinsignificancyofcoaches。"]——hadnotbeensufficientlyknownbybetterproofs，thelastkingsofourfirstracetravelledinachariotdrawnbyfouroxen。MarcAntonywasthefirstatRomewhocausedhimselftobedrawninacoachbylions，andasingingwenchwithhim。

[Cytheris，theRomancourtezan。——Plutarch’sLifeofAntony，c。3。

This，wasthesamepersonwhoisintroducedbyGallusunderthenameofLycoris。Gallusdoubtlessknewherpersonally。]

Heliogabalusdidsinceasmuch，callinghimselfCybele，themotherofthegods;andalsodrawnbytigers，takinguponhimthepersonofthegodBacchus;healsosometimesharnessedtwostagstohiscoach，anothertimefourdogs，andanotherfournakedwenches，causinghimselftobedrawnbytheminpomp，starknakedtoo。TheEmperorFirmuscausedhischariottobedrawnbyostrichesofaprodigioussize，sothatitseemedrathertoflythanroll。

Thestrangenessoftheseinventionsputsthisotherfancyinmyhead:

thatitisakindofpusillanimityinmonarchs，andatestimonythattheydonotsufficientlyunderstandthemselveswhattheyare，whentheystudytomakethemselveshonouredandtoappeargreatbyexcessiveexpense:itwereindeedexcusableinaforeigncountry，butamongsttheirownsubjects，wheretheyareinsovereigncommand，andmaydowhattheyplease，itderogatesfromtheirdignitythemostsupremedegreeofhonourtowhichtheycanarrive:justas，methinks，itissuperfluousinaprivategentlemantogofinelydressedathome;hishouse，hisattendants，andhiskitchensufficientlyanswerforhim。TheadvicethatIsocratesgiveshiskingseemstobegroundeduponreason:thatheshouldbesplendidinplateandfurniture;forasmuchasitisanexpenseofdurationthatdevolvesonhissuccessors;andthatheshouldavoidallmagnificencesthatwillinashorttimebeforgotten。IlovedtogofinewhenIwasayoungerbrother，forwantofotherornament;anditbecamemewell:therearesomeuponwhomtheirrichclothesweep:Wehavestrangestoriesofthefrugalityofourkingsabouttheirownpersonsandintheirgifts:kingswhoweregreatinreputation，valour，andfortune。

Demosthenesvehementlyopposesthelawofhiscitythatassignedthepublicmoneyforthepompoftheirpublicplaysandfestivals:hewouldthattheirgreatnessshouldbeseeninnumbersofshipswellequipped，andgoodarmieswellprovidedfor;andthereisgoodreasontocondemnTheophrastus，who，inhisBookonRiches，establishesacontraryopinion，andmaintainsthatsortofexpensetobethetruefruitofabundance。

Theyaredelights，saysAristotle，thataonlypleasethebasersortofthepeople，andthatvanishfromthememoryassoonasthepeoplearesatedwiththem，andforwhichnoseriousandjudiciousmancanhaveanyesteem。Thismoneywould，inmyopinion，bemuchmoreroyally，asmoreprofitably，justly，anddurably，laidoutinports，havens，walls，andfortifications;insumptuousbuildings，churches，hospitals，colleges，thereformingofstreetsandhighways:whereinPopeGregoryXIII。willleavealaudablememorytofuturetimes:andwhereinourQueenCatherinewouldtolongposteritymanifesthernaturalliberalityandmunificence，didhermeanssupplyheraffection。FortunehasdonemeagreatdespiteininterruptingthenoblestructureofthePont—Neufofourgreatcity，anddeprivingmeofthehopeofseeingitfinishedbeforeIdie。

Moreover，itseemstosubjects，whoarespectatorsofthesetriumphs，thattheirownrichesareexposedbeforethem，andthattheyareentertainedattheirownexpense:forthepeopleareapttopresumeofkings，aswedoofourservants，thattheyaretotakecaretoprovideusallthingsnecessaryinabundance，butnottouchitthemselves;andthereforetheEmperorGalba，beingpleasedwithamusicianwhoplayedtohimatsupper，calledforhismoney—box，andgavehimahandfulofcrownsthathetookoutofit，withthesewords:"Thisisnotthepublicmoney，butmyown。"Yetitsofallsoutthatthepeople，forthemostpart，havereasonontheirside，andthattheprincesfeedtheireyeswithwhattheyhaveneedoftofilltheirbellies。

Liberalityitselfisnotinitstruelustreinasovereignhand:privatemenhavethereinthemostright;for，totakeitexactly，akinghasnothingproperlyhisown;heoweshimselftoothers:authorityisnotgiveninfavourofthemagistrate，butofthepeople;asuperiorisnevermadesoforhisownprofit，butfortheprofitoftheinferior，andaphysicianforthesickperson，andnotforhimself:allmagistracy，aswellasallart，hasitsendoutofitselfwhereforethetutorsofyoungprinces，whomakeittheirbusinesstoimprintinthemthisvirtueofliberality，andpreachtothemtodenynothingandtothinknothingsowellspentaswhattheygive（adoctrinethatIhaveknowningreatcreditinmytime），eitherhavemoreparticularregardtotheirownprofitthantothatoftheirmaster，orillunderstandtowhomtheyspeak。Itistooeasyathingtoinculcateliberalityonhimwhohasasmuchashewilltopractiseitwithattheexpenseofothers;and，theestimatenotbeingproportionedtothemeasureofthegiftbuttothemeasureofthemeansofhimwhogivesit，itcomestonothinginsomightyhands;theyfindthemselvesprodigalbeforetheycanbereputedliberal。Anditisbutalittlerecommendation，incomparisonwithotherroyalvirtues:andtheonlyone，asthetyrantDionysiussaid，thatsuitswellwithtyrannyitself。Ishouldratherteachhimthisverseoftheancientlabourer:

["Thatwhoeverwillhaveagoodcropmustsowwithhishand，andnotpouroutofthesack。"——Plutarch，Apothegms，WhethertheAncientsweremoreexcellentinArmsthaninLearning。]

hemustscatteritabroad，andnotlayitonaheapinoneplace:andthat，seeingheistogive，or，tosaybetter，topayandrestoretosomanypeopleaccordingastheyhavedeserved，heoughttobealoyalanddiscreetdisposer。Iftheliberalityofaprincebewithoutmeasureordiscretion，Ihadratherhewerecovetous。

Royalvirtueseemsmosttoconsistinjustice;andofallthepartsofjusticethatbestdenotesakingwhichaccompaniesliberality，forthistheyhaveparticularlyreservedtobeperformedbythemselves，whereasallothersortsofjusticetheyremittotheadministrationofothers。

Animmoderatebountyisaveryweakmeanstoacquireforthemgoodwill;

itchecksmorepeoplethanitallures:

"Quoinpluresusussis，minusinmultosutipossis……

Quidautemeststultius，quam，quodlibenterfacias，curareutiddiutiusfacerenonpossis;"

["Byhowmuchmoreyouuseittomany，bysomuchlesswillyoubeinacapacitytouseittomanymore。Andwhatgreaterfollycantherebethantoorderitsothatwhatyouwouldwillinglydo，youcannotdolonger。"——Cicero，DeOffic。，ii。15。]

andifitbeconferredwithoutduerespectofmerit，itputshimoutofcountenancewhoreceivesit，andisreceivedungraciously。Tyrantshavebeensacrificedtothehatredofthepeoplebythehandsofthoseverymentheyhaveunjustlyadvanced;suchkindofmenasbuffoons，panders，fiddlers，andsuchragamuffins，thinkingtoassuretothemselvesthepossessionofbenefitsundulyreceived，iftheymanifesttohavehiminhatredanddisdainofwhomtheyholdthem，andinthisassociatethemselvestothecommonjudgmentandopinion。

Thesubjectsofaprinceexcessiveingiftsgrowexcessiveinasking，andregulatetheirdemands，notbyreason，butbyexample。Wehave，seriously，veryoftenreasontoblushatourownimpudence:weareover—

paid，accordingtojustice，whentherecompenseequalsourservice;fordoweowenothingofnaturalobligationtoourprinces？Ifhebearourcharges，hedoestoomuch;’tisenoughthathecontributetothem:theoverplusiscalledbenefit，whichcannotbeexacted:fortheverynameLiberalitysoundsofLiberty。

Inourfashionitisneverdone;weneverreckonwhatwehavereceived;

weareonlyforthefutureliberality;wherefore，themoreaprinceexhaustshimselfingiving，thepoorerhegrowsinfriends。Howshouldhesatisfyimmoderatedesires，thatstillincreaseastheyarefulfilled？

Hewhohashisthoughtsupontaking，neverthinksofwhathehastaken;

covetousnesshasnothingsoproperlyandsomuchitsownasingratitude。

TheexampleofCyruswillnotdoamissinthisplace，toservethekingsofthesetimesforatouchstonetoknowwhethertheirgiftsarewellorillbestowed，andtoseehowmuchbetterthatemperorconferredthemthantheydo，bywhichmeanstheyarereducedtoborrowofunknownsubjects，andratherofthemwhomtheyhavewrongedthanofthemonwhomtheyhaveconferredtheirbenefits，andsoreceiveaidswhereinthereisnothingofgratuitousbutthename。Croesusreproachedhimwithhisbounty，andcastuptohowmuchhistreasurewouldamountifhehadbeenalittlecloser—handed。Hehadamindtojustifyhisliberality，andthereforesentdespatchesintoallpartstothegrandeesofhisdominionswhomhehadparticularlyadvanced，entreatingeveryoneofthemtosupplyhimwithasmuchmoneyastheycould，forapressingoccasion，andtosendhimparticularsofwhateachcouldadvance。Whenalltheseanswerswerebroughttohim，everyoneofhisfriends，notthinkingitenoughbarelytoofferhimsomuchashehadreceivedfromhisbounty，andaddingtoitagreatdealofhisown，itappearedthatthesumamountedtoagreatdealmorethanCroesus’reckoning。WhereuponCyrus:"Iamnot，"saidhe，"lessinlovewithrichesthanotherprinces，butratherabetterhusband;youseewithhowsmallaventureIhaveacquiredtheinestimabletreasureofsomanyfriends，andhowmuchmorefaithfultreasurerstheyaretomethanmercenarymenwithoutobligation，withoutaffection;andmymoneybetterlaidupthaninchests，bringinguponmethehatred，envy，andcontemptofotherprinces。"

Theemperorsexcusedthesuperfluityoftheirplaysandpublicspectaclesbyreasonthattheirauthorityinsomesort（atleastinoutwardappearance）dependeduponthewillofthepeopleofRome，who，timeoutofmind，hadbeenaccustomedtobeentertainedandcaressedwithsuchshowsandexcesses。Buttheywereprivatecitizens，whohadnourishedthiscustomtogratifytheirfellow—citizensandcompanions（andchieflyoutoftheirownpurses）bysuchprofusionandmagnificenceithadquiteanothertastewhenthemasterscametoimitateit: