I ragguagli di Parnasso, or, Advertisements from Parnassus in two centuries : with the politick touch-stone / written originally in Italian by that famous Roman Trajano Bocalini ; and now put into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Monmouth.

The LXXXIV. ADVERTISEMENT.

The chiefest Litterati of Parnassus desire Apollo that Taci∣tus may re-compose those Books of his Annals, and Histo∣ries which are lost.

YEsterday the chiefest Litterati of Parnassus met together in the pub∣lick Schools, and after having discoursed long together, they all of them presented themselves unanimously before Apollo, to whom the learned Florentine Pietro Vittorio, in the name of all the rest, said, That those Vertuosi whom his Majesty saw there, did most humbly desire a fa∣vour of him, which would be the greatest and most acceptable that he could ever grant to his Litterati; who bitterly bewailing the infinite loss which Learning hath had of the greatest part of the Annals and Histories of that Father of human wisdom, and true inventer of modern Policy; Cor∣nelius Tacitus did humbly beseech his Majesty to command that so ex∣cellent Personage, that he would amend the wrong which the injury of time had done to his honour, and to the publick profit of the Vertuosi, by re-making whatsoever is now found wanting of those his most excellent labours. Apollo, contrary to expectation, startled at this request which appeared so reasonable, and with an appearance of dislike, answered, O my ignorant Litterati! do not you think that the Princes of the world are sufficiently known in State-affairs, that you would have them more learn∣ed in that Science, in which, to your misery be it spoken, they already know too much? Since tis clearly seen that some of them by practising a devilish and infernal reason of State, have brought both sacred and pro∣fane things to utmost confusion. Hath not the common miseries and scandals occasioned by the severe and wretched Government of some Princes, made you see, that modern Policy, wholly framed by your so be∣loved Tacitus, hath like a contagious disease, infected the world? Do not you already sufficiently know that the now practised reason of State, by which the people are rather flead then shoarn, rather suckt dry then milkt, rather opprest then govern'd, is now grown so exorbitant, as it is great folly to desire it should rage yet more? Think you not that some mode∣rate Princes have learnt precepts enough to pill and poll their people from Tiberius his cruel Government, and Nero's ravenous life, so exactly writ∣ten by your Tacitus, that you would have them see whether they could pick out some conceal'd precept to imbitter the fifth Act of your sor∣rowful

servitude, in the lives of Caligula and Domitian, which God out of his great goodness to you, hath raced out of the world, only that the obscenity and cruelty used by those monsters of Nature, might be for e∣ver forgotten? The loss of the greatest part of Tacitus his labours, O my Vertuosi, hath been a happy gain unto the world: How happy would men be, if the unfortunate remainders of them, preserved for the utmost calamity of mankind, were no waies to be found; and that the world were governed according to the modesty and integrity of ancient Mo∣narchs, who thought men to be rational creatures, not beasts with two legs (as many modern Princes by their usages seem to think them) creat∣ed so by God for their good, as if he had made mice only to fatten cats. But you, Monsieur Vittorio, whom I find to be one of those that desire that •…•…acitus should be rendred intire; give me leave to have a word or two in privat with you, who have spoken in the name of the rest; Do not you think that your Princes are become learned Physitians to cure cancar of the Florentines seditian, by reading the very first page of Taci∣tus his Annals, which they have so well studied and put in practice? Hap∣py had the world been, if Tacitus had been alwaies tacit: Therefore fare you well, you and your posterity, I am sorry to see that men are no wiser then Thrushes, whose excrement proves their own ruine; •…•…urdus Malum sibi Cacat.