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 LXXXVI. ADVERTISEMENT.

Justus Lipsius, to make amends for his fault in having accu∣sed Tacitus, is so intent thereupon, as he is accused before Apollo to have Idolatrized him; for which after a feigned punishment, he is at last praised, and admired by his Ma∣jestie.

THe most observing Litterati of this State, have often noted, That when any Vertuosi hath through human frailty committed an error, he doth, for the hatred he beats to vitious actions, amend it by falling in∣to the other extream: And divers affirm that Democrit•…•…s did not put out his eyes for the benefit of contemplation, but to make amends for a fault which he had commited in having looked upon a handsom young woman with a more wanton eye then became a Philosopher. And it is also re∣ported that Harpecretes, to correct an error which he had committed in having been too loquacious at a Feast, for which he was greatly blamed, fell into the other extream of never speaking again. Nor ought the Po∣ets Sentence to be held true; Dum vitant stulti vitia, in contr•…•…ia currunt: Since the dogg which hath been scalded with boyling water, is esteemed wise for staying within dores when it rains: As also it is the councel of a wise man, to hate Eels after a man hath been bitten with a Snake. This

is said, because Iustus Lipsius was so heartily sorry for, and did so repent his having so unfortunately accused Tacitus, as to amend a fault for which he was much blamed by all the Vertuosi of this State, he soon after went to Tacitus, and humbly asked him pardon for the injury he had done him: Who knowing what honour a man wins by being ready to forgive, which magnanimity becoming a Roman Senator, did not only freely forgive Lipsius, but did heartily thank him for having afforded him an occasion of doin•…•… so glorious an act, as sincerely to forgive an injury received. The wonder of so great indulgency, and the easiness in obtaining his so much desired pardon, being added to the ancient great devotion which Lipsius (who was alwaies very partial to Tacitus) bore to so sublime an Historian, did so much encrease his love and veneration, as he frequented Tacitus his house more then his own, delighted to discourse with him more then with any other of the Litterati, was not better pleased with any other conver∣sation, did not celebrate any Historian more, and did all this with such par∣tiality of inward affection, as he strove to imitate him in his quaintness of speaking more by conceits then words, in his brevity of succinct speaking, full of gravity, matter, sententiousness, and so as was only perspicuous to good understanders, procuring thereby the envy and hatred of all the Vertuosi depending upon Cicero, and the Cesarian Faction, who did not approve thereof, and presumed by an Antonomasia, to call him his Au∣thor, and not caring for what others said of him, he affected nothing more then to appear a second Tacitus. This unusual affection amongst friends, not used to Masters, and which did exceed all love born to consanguinity, begot such jealousie in Mercerus, Beatus Rhenenus, Fulvius Orsinus, Marcus Antonius Muretas, and in other of Tacitus his followers, as for meer envie, though under the colour of revenging the injury which Lip∣sius had formerly done their friend Tacitus, they accused Lipsius before Apollo of the same impiety, which he had accused Tacitus of: Saying to his Majesty, that he did not love Tacitus as a friend, did not honor him as a Master and Patron, but did adore him as his Apollo, as his God. This accusation, which as it fares in faults of high Treason, seems through the atrocity thereof, to be sufficiently proved by bare allegation, did much trouble Apollo; who esteeming himself offended by Lipsius, he made be forthwith brought bound unto him by a Pretorian Cohort of Lyrick Poets; and with an angry countenance, and threatning way, asked him what he thought of one Cornelius Tacitus, an Oylmans son of Ternio? To this •…•…ipsius answered, That he held Tacitus to be the chief of all In∣telligent Historians; the Father of human wisdom, the Oracle of the true Reason of State, the Master of Polititians, the Coryfeus of all such Writers as had arived at the glory of using more conceits then words in their Writings, the true rule whereby to learn to write the actions of great Princes, with the learned light of their true occasion; a great piece of art, and which was only known by the noblest sort of Historians, as that which rendred them very glorious, who knew how to make use of it, and him learned, who had the judgement to consider it, the Idea of Histori∣cal truth, the true Teacher of Princes, Schoolmaster of all Courtiers, the true touchstone whereby the world might try the genius of Princes, the Standard whereby men might exactly weigh the real worth of privat men, the Book which Princes who would learn how to command Subjects wel; who desired to know how to obey wel, ought to have continually in their

hands. Apollo knew by this so affected encomium, and by so exaggerat∣ed praises, that Lipsius did openly, and with a bare face adore Ta•…•…itus: Wherefore being highly incenst, he said, What think you then of me, Lipsius, who am the Father of Learning, the supreme Master of all Sci∣ences, absolute Prince of the Liberal Arts, and the Monarch of Vertue, if with such impiety and impudence you Idolatrize a Writer who is so hateful to all good men, and so much detested by the professers of the Latin Tongue, for the newness of his phrase, the obscurity of his speech, his vitious brevity, and for his so cruel Political Doctrine, by which he rather forms severe Tyrants then; just Princes, vitious subjects, then such as are indued with that naked goodness which makes Government so easie to Princes; it being clearly seen, that he by his impious precepts con∣verts lawful Princes into Tyrants, transforms natural subjects, who ought to be mild and obedient sheep into, wily foxes, and creatures which Nature hath wisely ordained without or teeth or horns, into ravenous wolves and head-strong buls; a great Doctor of Fallacies, the only Artificer of Ty∣ranny, a new Zenofon of a cruel and execrable Tiberipedia; the true forger of cunning cheating, of saying things which he intends not, of per∣swading that to others, which he himself believes not; of seeming fer∣vently to covet that which he desires not, and of appearing to hate what he loves; an excellent Master to teach men the wicked Doctrine of con∣cealing what they think, and of speaking falshoods; the Architecture of Fallacies, and the only and so excellent Author of rash Judgements, as most commonly he interprets mens wicked actions for sanctified ones, and their good ones for diabolical? And wilt thou alone, amongst so many of my faithful Vertuosi, even to my very face adore one for thy God, who by his Writings shews he does not know that there is a God? who being composed of nothing but impiety, hath divulged that cruel and de∣sperate Policy, which doth so shame Princes that practice it, and so much afflict people that make trial of it? Who hath taught Princes as well as privat men, the wicked art of double dealing, the fraudulency to do what they do not say, and to say what they mean not to do; which is practised by some, only that they may learn the wicked doctrine to paint out that for black, which is white, how to wind people about by fair speeches, and foul deeds; of deceiving all men by laughing when a man is angry, and weeping when well pleased; and of measuring love, hatred, and all hu∣man vertue, only by the wicked compass of self-interest; one vvho is read by good men, only that they may knovv the nevv and deep fetches, by vvhich unhappy mankind in this present age, so miserably, and vvith such publick calamity vvhirld about, and to discover the execrable hypo∣crisie vvhich many Disciples of such a Master have practised, that they may be esteemed by the simpler sort of people, to live the lives of Saints, though by obeying Tacitus his precepts, they doe things vvhich even the devils of hell vvould blush to doe: Are not you, Lipsius, avvare, hovv since your Tacitus is so frequently read, many Princes svverve from the wonted fashion of governing their people with meekness and clemency, & many privat men have forsaken their former purity of life: many of •…•…acitus his Writings were not lost (as divers ignorant people affirm) by the de∣luge of Barbarians, which came to conquer Italy: they were missing be∣fore then, not by the ignorance of people, who in those troublesom times were busied in War; but for that those ancient people in whom the sin∣cerity

of soul, and purity of the new Christian Religion did reign, did detest that Writer which is now so much beloved; and set up by many (as I see he is by you) to be adored for their golden Calf. Tacitus is in all his parts unworthy to be read by honest men; for there be more im∣pieties in him, then leaves, lines, words, sillables, nay then letters: But it must be confest that the life which he hath written of Tiberius (a fit Prince for the pen of such an Historian) is altogether unsufferable; which to the great benefit of mankind, was for many ages hidden in some secret parts of Germany, till by the pestiferous curiosity of a German, which proved more fatal to the world then his compatriot, the inventer of guns, it was brought to light at the same time when that Noble Province be∣gan to be infected by the modern heresie; only that Tacitus might by so great a prodigie subvert profane things, when Luther molested the sacred ones: Writings integrally wicked, and lost for a while, because the anci∣ents liked them not: And now (to the great shame of the present age) only admired by those Polititians, who being followers of so great im∣piety, have learnt from the Master of fallacies, the doctrine of entertain∣ing men with words as long as they live, of feeding them with smoak; of filling them with wind, and of bringing them by vain hopes to utter beg∣gery. Certainly an infernal doctrin; which being sowed by the husbandman, Tacitus, only for the benefit of Princes, is now so greedily imbraced by eve∣ry privat man, as Tacitus, who was formerly esteemed an Author only fit for Princes, is now so frequently handled by all men, as Shop-keepers and Porters, seem to understand nothing better then reason of State; and to the great derision of an art so highly esteemed by gallant men, the world is full of base teachers of Policy.

Lipsius was half dead to hear Apollo speak thus bitterly: Yet taking courage at his very last gasp, he beg'd pardon of his Majesty for any other fault that he had committed; and then freely said, That his obligations to Tacitus were such, so great the honor, which by means of this his beloved Author, he had won amongst the Flemmish, Germans, English, French, Spaniards, and Italians, as though he should love and honour him as his earthly God, he thought he should not do enough to discharge his duty to the full, and exactly shew his gratitude: For having left ordinary wri∣tings behind him in the world, they were only his labours upon Tacitus, which had made him merit an admittance into Parnassus, and immortal renown amongst men: And that if he who drove a great Trade with an∣other mans money, was to be born withall, if he did even adore him, who at his pleasure might make him turn bankrupt; how much more did he deserve at least to be excused, if not commended by his Majesty, if he were extravagant, and did exceed the bounds of duty, in his loving and honoring of Tacitus, since his whole stock of credit with the Vertuosi was founded only in him? And that since his entrance into Parnassus, he had been so beloved and respected by the Litterati, as his house had been as much frequented as those of the most famous Writers; but that since he committed the gross fault of offending Tacitus, Statim relictum illius limen, nemo adire, nemo s•…•…lari: Tacit. lib: 3. Annal. That there∣fore he would rather hate himself, and die, then lessen the reverence he bore to that his Author: for he thought it a lesser loss to lose his life, then the height of honor which by Tacitus his means he was arived at. Apollo was scandalized to hear Lipsius speak thus; and growing still more angry,

blamed him, for that in his presence he had by so impudent an asseverati∣on, rather shewed his stif-neckt stubbornness of persevering in so wicked obstinacy, then repent and ask pardon for his fa ult: And chiefly his Ma∣jesty could not indure that he should term idolatry, gratitude, and obstina∣cy, constancy. Wherefore he commanded the same Cohort of Lyrick Poets to drag him out of dores, who was not worthy to look upon his Lord and Master, whom he had so highly offended; and that having first stript him of all his Learning, they should declare him to be shamefully ignorant, and then burn him as a wicked Idolater. Lipsius was already brought to the place of execution, when his dearest friends advised him to bethink himself better, and save both his life and reputation, by cra∣ving his Majesties pardon. Lipsius, whilst in this very desperate conditi∣on, did so increase in constancy and boldness, as he bad Apollo use his pleasure, he could not make him die ignorant, who was possest with gra∣titude, the Queen of all Human Vertues; that therefore the flames which should consume his body, would give a greater splendor of glory, then of fire; and that he protested at that very last minute of his life, he was so far from acknowledging the fault which was laid to his charge, of having loved and honored his Tacitus too much, that in commemoration of the infinite obligations which he ought him, it grieved him more then death, to think he should die ungrateful; and that the present agony which they might all perceive him to be in, arose not from the terror of death, but from his immense sorrow to have heard his Tacitus termed by his Maje∣sty, a wicked Atheist; an injury, which if it had been done to that most wise Writer by any other then his Majesty, he would not, though in that his last moment of life, have left it unrevenged, at least by words, and that with the liberty which most properly belonged to him who desired not to live, he witnessed to all the world, that Tacitus did so far know God, as being he alone, who of all the Writers of the Gentiles, had by his great wisdom arived at the knowledg, How much the faith of things unseen, avails in matters of Religion, or which cannot be proved by reason, he had said, Sanctiusque, ac reverentius visum, de actis Deorum credere quam scire. Tacit. de Morb. Germ. Most holy words, and worthy to be considered by those Divines, who in their Writings were at a loss through too sophistical subtilties. Apollo being full of wonder, and infi∣nitely astonished at the things he had heard, caused Lipsius immediately to be set at liberty, and straitly imbracing him, said, O my dear Vertuoso! with how much consolation to my self, and how much to your advantage have I tried your patience and constancy, and by the injurious speeches which I have uttered against Tacitus, which are the very same which they accuse him with, who neither study him nor understand him, have I made proof of your devotion towards that excellent Historian, who even de∣serves my wonder. And by what I have heard you say, I find that you have been delighted in reading him, and long studied him to your pro∣fit: For I know that the defence, which so much to your glory you have made, is your own, but taken out of my and your dearly beloved Taci∣tus.

Apollo then turned towards the Vertuosi, who out of a curiosity to hear that Judgement, were flockt in great numbers to the Hall; and said, O my beloved Litterati! admire, and ever imitate the honored constancy of this my glorious Vertuoso, and let the infinite love, and everlasting

veneration of that Prince be ingraven in your hearts, who keeps up your reputation; and forget not that his power precipitates more easily, who loseth his Princes good will, then houses doe whose foundations fail. Therefore you who follow the Court, learn to know, that Nihil rerum mortalium tam instabile ac fluxum est, quam fama potentiae, non sua vi nixae. Tacit. lib. 13. Annal. A most certain rule which teacheth every one to imitate Lipsius in loving, honoring, and in ever faithfully serving their Prince: For as it is great impiety in holy things, to have any other God save him who created man, the heavens and earth, so ought you ne∣ver to have any devotion for any Prince, not expect or desire any good from any other Lord, save from him who out of confidence in your loyalty, and out of the extraordinary affection which he bears you, owns you to all the world, not for his servants, but for his dear friends, and by the Supreme Authority which he suffers you to exercise in his State, makes you appear unto his Vassals no less Princes then himself: And be∣cause the wisdom of Princes out of their jealousies of those that rule, is usually accompanied with suspition, and Court-favorits being alwaies en∣vied, alwaies narrowly observed by their rivals, and alwaies persecuted by such as malign them. That you may overcome so many difficulties, and still preserve your selves in the favors which you have won, love your Princes with all your heart, observe them with all your soul, and serve them with all possible loyalty: And like my Lipsius, chuse rather to die, then to think, much less to do any thing which may indanger the least loss of their favours. And believe for certain, that then your ruine begins, when you suffer your selves to be perswaded that you may better your condition, by using simulation and falshood with your Princes, who both know, see, and understand more then is possible to be exprest: For those who think to live securely by dissembling with Princes, who though they should know nothing themselves, have so many who can put them in mind, and who want not a thousand Malignant spirits to wake them when they are asleep, are like those fools who think to confine Gypsies, and hope to cheat Mountebanks.