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 XXXI. ADVERTISEMENT.

Marcus Cato having to the infinite dislike of Princes, writ the word Libera underneath the Motto, Pugna pro Patria, which was set upon his gate, is commanded by Apollo to put is out.

SInce the first day that Marcus Cato, one of the Lavii Grandi of this Court built his house in Parnassus, he made these words Pugna pro Patria, be ingraven, and written in gold Letters upon his Portal, to the which some few days ago he added Libera: which the Princes of this State observing, they made great complaints to Apollo, protesting that unless that seditious word, which might set all the world on fire, were rased from off the Portal, great mischiefs were likely to arrive in Parnassus. And did further very much desire, that Cato, being the first in∣stituter of that wicked generation of men, who that they may appear to the base Plebeians to be lovers of Truth, do practice an impertinent Liberty, and superstitious pride over men, might for the correction and dread of others, be severely punisht. Cato was immediately sent for by Apollo, whom his Majesty blamed for having given just occasion of complaint and rumor to Princes, by the addition of that word. Cato boldly answered, that good men ought not to forbear to do or say any thing that became them, and what their Consciences bad them do, for the threats of whatsoever Princes; that it was a cruel thing, and which onely became ignorant and malicious men to cozen others with, senten∣ces which were onely specious in words: and that he thought it was great impiety to make the common people understand, that they were bound to defend that, even with their lives and faculties, as a thing pro∣perly belonging to them, wherein they had not the least interest: that therefore the word Libera was necessary, to declare the full signification of the sentence: for as it would be a great folly in one to take upon him to defend the title of a House, which he had onely hired, so that Country deserved to be defended by teeth, and hands, even to the effu∣sion of the last drop of blood, wherein a man commanded like a Master, not that wherein he obeyed like a slave. Apollo answered Cato, that he was in a great error; for it was not onely gross ignorance, but tending to sedition, to affirm that Princes had not Authority to compel their peo∣ple to take up Arms, and to defend their common Country, when they were assaulted by their enemies. Cato replyed, that he did not deny but that Princes had such Authority, but confest he said that there was nei∣ther any power or violence, which could inforce a man who took up Arms against his will, to shoot right forward, but that he might let his first shot flye rather towards his friends then towards his enemies. To this Apollo answered, that Princes had likewise Authority to force their souldiers to shoot justly, and to behave themselves couragiously, but

that they must be good Princes who have this Authority, such as by their Liberality, and great love, shown in their excellent Government, did force their subjects to defend their Princes Dominions, with the same gallantry and undanted valor, as they did their own private Patri∣mony: and that onely avaritious Princes, and such as thirsted after their subjects blood were too far from reaping any good by those soldi∣ers, whom they forst to go to the wars; as that they found them to be cruel enemies. That therefore he commanded him, to take the word that was added to the Sentence, immediately from off his gate, which was not onely superfluous for the Reasons which he had given, but for that when it was otherwise, gallant men understood it to be there, though it were not written; it not being fitting that the baser sort of people should be acquainted with the great secret, that that is onely the freemans Country where he is born; the slaves, that where he is best ac∣commodated.