To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
COntra opinionem enim militum, famamque omnium, videri praelio diffugisse, magnum detrimentum afferebat, Having made a shew of unwillingnesse to buckle with the enemy, against the will of the souldier, and the opinion of all men, he found himself subject to much inconveni∣ence, saith the history. Whence we may observe
two points. First, that a Commander in striking a field, must partly be directed by his Army: for he may neither fight against the liking of the soul∣dier, nor withhold them from fighting when they are willing to embrace it, if other circum∣stances do indifferently concurre therewithall.* 1.1 For when men are commanded to do what they would do, the matter is throughly undertaken, and the issue is commonly answerable to the readinesse of their desires: but being restrained in their affe∣ctions, and put besides their aptnesse of their vo∣luntary disposition, there groweth such a contra∣riety between the Generalls order and the souldi∣ers o••edience, as will hardly sympathize to beget good fortune.
And if a Leader of that same and opinion, and so well known to his Army, as Caesar was, grew into distaste with his souldiers, upon so good causes which he had to shun a battel; what ha∣zard that Commander runneth into, who sel∣dome or never gave argument of his resolution in this kind, may be conceived by this pas∣sage. The second thing which I note, is, that a Generall must learn especially to disguise his in∣tendments, by making shew of that which he meaneth not. For albeit the more judicious sort of men are not so well satisfied with pretences as with deeds: yet forasmuch as the* 1.2 condition of Princes, contrary to the manner of Private per∣sons, requireth such a direction of businesse, as may rather suit with fame and opinion, then with particular ends; it behoveth them to use such glos∣ses, as may take away all petulant and sinister in∣terpretations, howsoever their courses may aim at other purposes. And certainly,* 1.3 the generality of people are better paid with appearances then with truth; according as Machiavill hath obser∣ved. But concerning Caesar, that which Ephicra∣tes said of himself, having imbattelled his army to fight, That he feared nothing more, then that his enemy knew not his valour; may more properly be said here. For there was nothing abused the E∣nemy more, or made them take up so many Bra∣vadoes, or use so much delay before they came to composition, but that they knew not Caesar. For as the Eagle is able to mount aloft in all seasons and temperatures of the air; so was his sword steeled to make way through all resi∣stance.
It is hard catching ha••es with unwilling hounds.
Caeteris mortalibus in co••stant consilia quid sibi conducere putent; Principum diversa sors est, quibas praecipua rerum ad famam di∣rigenda. Tacit.
L' univer∣sale de gli huomini si pasc••, cosi di quello che paie, come di quello che è anzi ••molte volte si muovono piu per ••e cose c••e paiono, che per quell•• che sono. Lib. 1. Sop. Tit. Liv. cap. 25. Omnis a••r Aquilae pe∣netrabilis.