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 LXXIV. ADVERTISEMENT.

The Grand-child to the Prince of the Laconicks asks coun∣sel of Apollo, what course he should take to live with reputation in Laconia.

THat Grand-child of the Prince of Laconia, who (as you heard by the last Post) through the froward stubbornness of his mind, be∣took himself to the general scandal of his Government, to lead a privat life, being much afflicted and troubled in mind, is this morning return∣ed to Pernassus; and presenting himself before his Majesty, told him, that much to his sorrow and trouble, he had at last found that to be true, which had been often told him by his best and dearest friends; That most men were so full of ingratitude, as they loved Fortune only, and not the persons of their beneficent Princes; a fault which occasion∣ed that which good men were sorry to see, that they were as sure to fail their friends when their fortunes failed them, as Tacitus had reason to say, That Intuta erant adversa. Tacit. lib. 12. Annal. for much to his grief, he found the Chain of Munificence whereby he had endea∣voured to fasten unto him the affection of an infinite number of friends, in his Uncles Kingdom, from whom he expected a return of much gra∣titude, to be but very weak: And that if it were true which many E∣lective Princes had together with himself experienced to be true, That a stroke of ingratitude gave the deadliest wound which could be recei∣ved by a Noble mind, and that to sow benefits, and reap neglects, was the saddest and most sorrowful exercise which could be practised by a Prince, he deserved not only to be pittied by his Majesty, and by all good men, but to be assisted by advice: And that in this his horrid change of fortune, to see himself not only little respected by those whom he knew not, but wounded by the speeches of those his dearest friends, whom he had endeavoured to oblige, and scorn'd by the actions of those which had formerly adored him, was an affliction which did so in∣wardly grieve him, as he was not able to support to strange a Metamor∣phosis. That therefore since he was forced to pass from Principality to a privat life, from commanding to obeying; he greatly desired to know from his Majesty, what course he should take to live with reputation in Laconia. To this Apollo briefly answered, That he should first inform himself in the Court of Rome, where all the examples of the most he∣roick vertues did abound, and then imitate the great splendor of Edward Cardinal Fernese, who by a Princely generosity, and profuse liberality used towards all men, had made the Court, and the whole Nobility of Rome so in love with him, as he was now more honoured and observed in anothers Popedom, then the great Alexander Cardinal Fernese was formerly in the Popedom of his Uncle, Paul the third.

To this the Prince reply'd, That he knew the counsel which his Ma∣jesty gave him, to be very true, but that the receit being very costly, he

thought it to be too dear; That therefore he humbly beseeched him to teach him a cheaper remedy. Apollo laughed, and freely told this Prince, that to pretend to be beloved and honoured by the people, to be attend∣ed and followed like a great Prince, and yet to keep his purse close ty'd, his Cellar-dore shut, his Granaries lockt up and close bar'd, was a greater vanity than to pretend to open the gates of heaven by impious blasphemy; for the face of a sordid covetous man was much more dreadful to the people, than the face of Lucifer himself; whereas li∣berality used towards friends, to keep men in perpetual protection, and to be continually ready to patronize them, defend, help, and assist them in their oppressions, was the true Magick, and pious inchantment by which men were fascinated, and that they did strangely hate such avari∣tious people, who being unwilling to bait their hooks with little Pilch∣ards, dare not venture at catching a great Sturgeon.