The essays, or councils, civil and moral, of Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban with a table of the colours of good and evil, and a discourse of The wisdom of the ancients : to this edition is added The character of Queen Elizabeth, never before printed in English.

LX. A Civil Character of Julius Caesar. (Book 60)

JULIUS CAESAR was partaker at first of an exercised Fortune; which turned to his benefit▪ For it abated the haughtiness of his spirit, and whet∣ted his Industry. He had a Mind, turbulent in his De∣sires and Affections; but in his judgment and under∣standing very serene and placid: And this appears by his easie deliverances of himself, both in his Transacti∣ons and in his Speech. For no Man ever resolved more swiftly, or spake more perspicuously and plainly. There was nothing forced or difficult in his expressions. But in his will and appetite, he was of that Conditi∣on, that he never rested in those things he had got∣ten; but still thirsted and pursued after new; yet so, that he would not rush into new Affairs rashly, but settle and make an end of the former, before he at∣tempted fresh Actions. So that he would put a sea∣sonable period to all his Undertakings. And there∣fore, though he won many Battles in Spain, and weakned their Forces by degrees; yet he would not give over, nor despise the Relicks of the Civil War there, till he had seen all things composed: But then assoon as that was done, and the State setled, instant∣ly he advanced in his Expedition against the Parthi∣ans.

He was, no doubt, of a very noble Mind; but yet such as aimed more at his particular Advancement, than at any Merits for the Common Good. For he re∣ferred all things to Himself; and was the true and per∣fect Centre of all his Actions. By which means, be∣ing so fast tied to his Ends, he was still prosperous, and prevailed in his Purposes; Insomuch, that neither Country, nor Religion, nor good Turns done him, nor

Kindred, nor Friendship diverted his Appetite, nor brid∣led him from pursuing his own Ends. Neither was he much inclined to works of Perpetuity: For he establish∣ed nothing for the future; He founded no sumptuous Buildings; He procured to be enacted no wholsome Laws, but still minded himself: And so his thoughts were confined within the Circle of his own Life. He sought indeed after Fame and Reputation, because he thought they might be profitable to his Designs: Other∣wise, in his inward thoughts be propounded to himself rather Absoluteness of Power, than Honour and Fame. For as for Honour and Fame, he pursued not after them for themselves; but because they were the Instruments of Power and Greatness. And therefore he was carri∣ed on through a Natural Inclination, not by any Rules that he had learned, to effect the sole Regiment▪ and rather to enjoy the same than to seem worthy of it. And by this means he won much Reputation amongst the People, who are no valuers of true Worth: But a∣mongst the Nobility and great Men, who were tender of their own Honours, it procured him no more than this, that he incurred the Brand of an Ambitious and Daring Man.

Neither did they much err from the Truth who thought him so; for he was by Nature exceeding bold; and never did put on any shew of Modesty, except it were for some purposes. Yet notwithstanding, he so attempted his Boldness, that it neither impeached him of Rashness; nor was burthensome to Men; nor rendred his Nature suspected, but was conceived to flow out of an Innate Sincerity and freeness of Beha∣viour, and the Nobility of his Birth: And in all other things he passed, not for a Crafty and Deceitful Person, but for an open hearted and plain-dealing Man. And whereas he was indeed an Arch-Politician, that could counterfeit and dissemble sufficiently well; and was wholly compounded of Frauds and Deceits, so that there was nothing sincere in him, but all artificial; yet he

covered, and disguised himself so, that no such Vices, appeared to the Eyes of the World; but he was gene∣rally reputed to proceed plainly and uprightly with all Men. Howbeit, he did not stoop to any petty and mean Artifices, as they do, which are ignorant in State Employments; and depend not so much upon the strength of their own Wits, as upon the Counsels and Brains of others, to support their Authority; for he was skilled in the Turnings of all Humane Affairs; and transacted all Matters, especially those of high Consequence by himself, and not by others.

He was singularly skilful to avoid Envy; and found it not impertinent to his Ends, to decline that, though it were with some diminution of his Dignity. For aiming at a Real Power, he was content to pass by all vain Pomp and outward shews of Power throughout his whole Life; Till at the last, whether high-flown with the continual Exercise of Power, or corrupted with Flatteries, he affected the Ensigns of Power, (the Stile and Diad••m of a King,) which was the Bait that wrought his Overthrow.

This is true, that he harboured the thoughts of a Kingdom from his very youth: And hereunto the Ex∣ample of Sylla, and the Kindred of Marius, and his E∣mulation of Pompey, and the Corruption and Ambition of the Times, did prick him forward: But then he paved his way to a Kingdom, after a wonderful and strange manner. As first, by a Popular and Seditious Power; afterwards by a Military Power, and that of a General in War. For there was required to effect his Ends; First, That he should break the Power and Authority of the Senate; which, as long as it stood firm, was ad∣verse, and an hindrance, that no Man could climb to Soveraignty and Imperial Command. Then the Power of Crassus and Pompey was to be subdued and quelled, which could not be done otherwise, than by Arms. And therefore (as the most Cunning Contriver of his own Fortune) he laid his first Foundation by Bribes;

By corrupting the Courts of Justice, by renewing the memory of Caius Marius, and his party; For most of the Senators and Nobility were of Sylla's Faction: by the Law of distributing the Fields amongst the Common People: by the Sedition of the Tribunes, where he was the Author: by the madness and fury of Catiline, and the Conspirators, unto which Action he secretly blew the Goals! By the Banishment of Cicero, which was the greatest Blow, to the Authority of the Senate, as might be; and several other the like Arts: But most of all by the Conjunction of Crassus and Pompey, both betwixt themselves, and with him; which was the thing that fi∣nished the work.

Having accomplisht this part, he betook himself to the other; which was to make use of, and to enjoy his power. For being made Proconsul of France for five years; and afterwards continuing it for five years more; he furnished himself with Arms and Legions, and the power of a Warlike and Opulent Province; as was formidable to Italy.

Neither was he ignorant, that after he had strength∣ned himself with Arms and a Military Power, neither Crassus nor Pompey could ever be able to bear up against him; whereof the one trusted to his great Riches, the other to his Fame and Reputation; the one decayed through Age, the other in Power and Authority: And neither of them were grounded upon true and lasting Foundations. And the rather, for that he had obliged all the Senators and Magistrates: And in a word, all those that had any power in the Common-wealth, so firmly to himself, with private benefits, that he was fearless of any Combination or Opposition against his Designs, till he had openly invaded the Imperial Power.

Which things, though he always bare in his Mind, and at the last acted it, yet he did not lay down his former person; but coloured things so, that what with the reasonableness of his Demands, what with

his pretences of Peace, and what with the moderate use of his Successes, he turned all the Envy of the Ad∣verse Party, and seemed to take up Arms upon necessity for his own preservation and safety. But the falseness of this pretence manifestly appeared; inasmuch as soon after having obtained the Regal Power, all Civil War being appeased, and all his Rivals and Opposites, which might put him to any fear, being removed out of the way by the stroke of Death; notwithstanding he ne∣ver thought of resigning the Republick; no, nor ever made any shew or offer of resigning the same. Which shewed plainly, that his ambition of being a King was setled in him, and remained with him unto his last breath. For he did not lay hold upon occasions, as they hapned, but moulded and formed the occasions, as him∣self pleased.

His chief Abilities consisted in Martial Knowledge; in which he so excelled, that he could not only lead an Army, but mould an Army to his own liking. For he was not more skilful in managing Affairs, than in winning of Hearts. Neither did he affect this by any ordinary Discipline, as by inuring them to fulfil all his commands; or by striking a shame into them to disobey, or by carrying a severe Hand over them: But by such a way as did wonderfully stir up an ala∣crity and chearfulness in them: and did in a sort assure him of the Victory aforehand, and which did oblige the Soldier to him, more than was fit for a Free Estate. Now whereas he was versed in all kinds of Martial Knowledge, and joyned Civil Arts with the Arts of War; nothing came so suddenly, or so un∣lookt for upon him, for which he had not a remedy at hand: And nothing was so averse, but that he could pick something for his Turn and Benefit out of it.

He stood sufficiently upon his State and Greatness. For in great Battels, he would sit at home in the Head Quarter, and manage all Things by Messages, which wrought him a double benefit. First, that it secured

his Person more, and exposed him the less to Danger. Secondly, that if at any time his Army was worsted, he could put new spirit into them with his own pre∣sence, and the Addition of fresh Forces, and turn the Fortune of the Day. In the conducting of his Wars, he would not only follow former Precedents, but he was able to devise and pursue new Stratagems, according as the accidents and occasions required.

He was constant, and singularly kind, and indul∣gent in his Friendships contracted. Notwithstanding, he made choise of such Friends, as a Man might easi∣ly see, that he chose them rather to be Instruments to his Ends, than for any Good will towards them. And whereas, by Nature, and out of a firm Resolution, he adhered to this Principle; not to be eminent amongst Great and deserving Men; but to be chief amongst Inferiours and Vassals: he chose only mean and active Men, and such as to whom himself might be all in all. And hereupon grew that saying; So let Caesar live, though I die; and other Speeches of that kind. As for the Nobility, and those that were his Peers, he contracted Friendship, with such of them as might be useful to him; and admitted none to his Cabinet Council, but those that had their Fortunes wholly depending up∣on him.

He was moderately furnished with good Literature, and the Arts; But in such sort as he applied his skill therein to Civil Policy. For he was well read in Histo∣ry: and was expert in Rhetorick, and the Art of speak∣ing. And because he attributed much to his good Stars, he would pretend more than an ordinary Know∣ledge in Astronomy. As for Eloquence, and a prompt Elo∣cution, that was Natural to him, and pure.

He was dissolute, and propense to Voluptuousness and Pleasures; which served well at first for a Cover to his Ambition. For no Man would imagine, that a Man so loosely given could harbour any Ambitious and Vast Thoughts in his Heart. Notwithstanding, he so go∣verned

his Pleasures, that they were no hindrance, either to his profit, or to his business: And they did rather whet, than dull the vigour of his Mind. He was Tem∣perate at his Meals; free from Niceness and Curiosity in his Lusts; pleasant and Magnificent at publick Interludes.

Thus being accomplished, the same thing was the Means of his down-fall at last; which in his Beginnings was a step to his Rise, I mean his Affectation of Popula∣rity: For nothing is more popular, than to forgive our Enemies. Through which, either Vertue or Cunning, he lost his Life.