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ALL men, who desire to excell other liuing creatures, ought to striue with their chiefest inde∣iour, that they passe nor ouer this life in obscuritie: like beasts, whom nature hath framed prone, and slaues to their bellies. But all our sufficiency resides both in the soule and body▪ we vse the sway of the soule, the seruice more o•• the body: the one of them makes vs to communicate
with the gods, that other with beasts. From whence it seemes to me the dire∣ctest course to pursue glo∣ry, rather with the abilities of wit, then those of strength, and since the life it selfe, which we enioy, is short, to extend our memo∣ries to the greatest length. For the renowne of riches and beautie is fleeting and fraile; vertue is accounted illustrious and eternall.
Yet hath it beene for a long time, a great con∣trouersie amongst mortals whether Militarie Affaires were more managed by the strength of the body, then the vertue of the mind. For first of all, counsell before you begin, and after consultation
had, mature execution is most needfull. Thus both of them being incompleat by them∣selues, they stand in need of each others helpe.
Therefore the Kings of the first times, (for that title of command was the first on earth) differing in their wayes, some of them exerci∣sed the mind, others the bo∣dy: Yea, then the life of man was not troubled with coue∣tuous desires: euery mans owne pleased sufficiently.
But after that Cyrus in Asia, the Lacedemonians, and Athenians in Greece surprised Citties, & conquered Nations, then the desire of rule became the ground of warre, the largest Empire being reputed the greatest
glory: then at length it was found by danger & experi∣ments, that wisedome in war was of most preualēce.
But if the vertue of mind in Kings and Emperours, were as powerfull in peace, as it is in warre; humane af∣faires would be more Ieuell & constant: neither should you see this transferred thi∣ther, nor all things chan∣ged and confounded toge∣ther. For rule is easily preser∣ued by those Arts, by which it was gotten at first. But where∣as for industrie, sloth, for moderation and equity, lust and pride haue entred themselues: Fortune toge∣ther with manners suffers alteration. Thus dominion is generally translated from
him that is least good, to him who excels in goodnes. Whether men plant, saile, or build, all successe depends vpon vertue.
Yet many mortals giuen ouer to sloth and gluttony, being vnlearned and vncul∣tiued, haue passed ouer this life like Pilgrims, to whom, euen against nature, the soule was a burden. Their life & death I esteeme alike, because both of them are silenced.
But truely, he at length to me seemes to liue, and to enioy his soule, who be∣ing bent vpon some imploi∣ment, seekes the reputa∣tion of any greate exploit, or ingenuous science. But in the great variety of
things, nature to diuers shewes different wayes. It is glorious to doe well for the Republicke, neither is it improper to speake well for it; you may be renow∣ned either by peace or war; and of those who haue done, and of those who haue wrote other mens doings many are praised. And in my iudgement, al∣though a proportionable glory doth not attend the doer and writer of things; yet it is very difficult to re∣late actions forepast: first, because the deedes ought to carry proportiō with the words: Secondly, because most men, what faults, you reprehend, thinke you speake out of maleuolence
and enuy. When you dis∣course of the large vertue and glory of good men, what any man thinkes easie to be atchieued by himselfe, he receiues with good ap∣probation: if it bee aboue that, he esteemes their re∣ports fained for counter∣feites.
But I being a young man at first, was (as many men are) thrust from my study into publicke affaires, and there I suffered many cala∣mities, for in steed of ho∣nestie, abstinence, and ver∣tue, boldnesse, bribery, and auarice flourished, which vices, although my soule detested, being a stranger to euill courses, yet amongst such a conflu∣ence
of them, my tender age being corrupted, was inthralled by ambition: and me, although I kept distance from other crimes, the same desire of glory, like others troubled, toge∣ther with infamy and enuy.
Thereupon, as soone as my minde, after many mi∣series and dangers, tooke some repose, and that I had resolued to spend the remainder of my time farre from the Commonwealth: it was not my determina∣tion to waste this commo∣dious vacancy in sloth and idlenesse, neither to weare out my yeeres, being bent vpon tillage, hunting, and seruile imployments: but from what purpose and stu∣die
wicked ambition had detained me, thither retur∣ning, I decreed to write the exploits of the Romane people, succinctly, and as they seemed worthy of re∣membrance: the sooner, for that my mind was free from hope, feare, and State-fa∣ctions.
Therefore of Catilines conspiracie, as truely as I can, in few words, I meane to treate; for that action I esteeme most memorable, for the noueltie of the crime and danger. Of which mans conditions, some particu∣lars are first to be vnfolded, before I begin the Dis∣course it selfe.