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 LXXXIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

Marcus Portius Cato whilst he reprehends Salustius Crispus for flattering the Emperour Tiberius, is severely taxt by him for being too obstinate.

ALL that come to this Court do infinitely wonder, why Marcus Portius Cato, a personage so famous as he is celebrated and exalted even to the skyes by all writers for his austere manners, integrity of life, wisdom, and for his excessive love, which he hath always shewed to his Country, is not held in so high esteem by his Majesty, as so cryed up a subject seems to deserve: for though from the first day that he entred Pernassus he hath ever aymed at honorable imployments, yet could he never obtain any: nay the best Literati of this Court, who do ex∣ceedingly favor him, have cleerly found a resolution in his Majesty, by no means to make use of such a man. The reason of this Apollo's a∣version, forasmuch as is said by them who are quickest sighted, is, for that Apollo having well examined Cato's minde and Genius, his Majesty holds him to be but an impetuous, proud, impertinent fellow, a ca∣pricious wit of the first head, one that means well, but judges ill, and one who is all zeal, crusted up in imprudency; which qualities are very hateful to Apollo, who thinks it very ill done to bestow publike im∣ployments upon such companions, as ought onely to be conferred up∣on men civilly behaved, and upon such as are so far from giving distaste to any who have business, as they know it chiefly becomes them to give at least satisfactory words to all men. This Cato hapned to be present two days ago, when Salustius Crispus, one of Tiberius his inti∣mate servants, did not onely openly flatter his master, but to the end that he might obtain some very chief place, had humbled himself to some of the most abject Courtiers, but such as were well esteemed by the Emperor: at which base action Cato seemed to be so scandallized, as mightily reprehending Salust; he told him, that men ought to obtain places from their Princes by deserts; and that preferments obtained by the means of unworthy people, did not become men of worth; and that his praising of Tiberius, a man who was known to all the world to be so vitious, had purchast him as much blame, as he might have won praise by putting him in minde of his faults. To this reprehension Salust without any the least alteration of minde, answered; To be free spoken

doth not always help, nor do men always win reputation thereby, as you believe; and as it is folly to sow good seed in the sands, so all counsel is cast away when it is given to obstinate people, and where there is no hope of doing any good thereby. For Suadere principi quod oporteat, multi Laboris. Assentatio ergo Principem quemcumque sine affectu &c. Tacit. lib. 1. Hist.

But upon such occasions as these, goodness, or honesty must be ac∣companyed with wisdom; and who hath not wit enough to fit the Sayles of his interest to every favourable wind that blows, is a fool if he sayle in the tempestuous Sea of the Court, wherein those obstinate men who cannot accommodate their wits to place, time, and persons, do either perish in their first voyage, or run hazard of danger∣ous tempests all their life time, without ever gaining the Haven of their coveted desires. Know Cato, that they are pointed at by all men as great fools, who standing in need of other mens assistance, mar their bu∣siness, onely because they will stand upon the punctilio of what is meet, and on the scruples of reputation. The greatest wisdom of a perfect Courtier, consists in knowing how to fit himself to all humors; without which it is impossible to come to any good in Court: and he who attains to his desired greatness of obtaining a principal digni∣ty or a great Office, is much more admired by every one for the digni∣ty whi•…•…h he possesseth, then undervalued for the means he used to come by it. Every stain of honor which is committed for the bettering of a mans condition, is excellently well washt away, if he can make vertu∣ous use of his new obtained Honor. And to preach chastity (as you do) in Bawdy-houses, or fasting in time of Carnevale, is no better then to make musick to them that are deafe, or to light the blinde with Torches. And of this which I say, I will crave no other Testi∣mony then your own, when in the Roman Commonwealth where you made publike profession of being chief Corrector of the Press, you did but badly govern your own private condition, without ever being able to better the publike affairs.