Tully's three books of offices, in English with notes explaining the method and meaning of the author.

CHAP. XXV.

Two Rules of Plato's to be observ'd by those who Go∣vern the State. The Good of the Govern'd ought to be their sole Aim. An excellent Description of a good Minister of State. Ambition very destructive in a Government. A good Saying of Plato's to that purpose. Men should carry themselves civilly towards those, who are of an opposite Party in the State; and not count 'em their Enemies. The Example of Sci∣pio and Metellus. Anger towards an Adversary no part of Courage. Affability, &c. requisite in a Statesman. Severity and Chastisements sometimes necessary; and Rules to be observ'd about 'em. No∣thing can be well done, that's done in a Passion, Ru∣lers should be like the Laws themselves.

THose who design to be Partakers in the Govern∣ment should be sure to remember these two Precepts of Plato: First, To make the Safety and Interest of their Citizens, the great Aim and Design of all their Thoughts and Endeavours; without e∣ver considering their own personal Advantage. And, Secondly, so to take care of the whole collective Body of the Republick, as not to serve the Interest of any one Party, to the Prejudice or Neglecting of all the rest. For the Government of a State is much like the Office of a Guardian or Trustee; which should always be manag'd for the good of the Pu∣pil, and not of the Persons to whom he is entrusted. And those Men, who, whilst they take care of one, neglect or disregard another part of the Citizens, do but occasion Sedition and Discord, the most destructive things in the World to a State: From whence it comes to pass, that, while some take part with the Popular Faction, and others make their Court to every Great One, there's but very

few left, who are concern'd for the Benefit and Good of the whole. From this Root have sprung many grievous Dissentions amongst the Athe∣nians; and not only Tumults, but even deadly Civil Wars in our own Republick: things which a worthy and truly brave Citizen, and one who deserves to hold the Reins of the Govenment, will shun and detest; and will give himself so to the Service of the Publick, as to aim at no Riches or Power for himself; and will so take care of the whole Community, as not to pass over any one part of it: Such a one will scorn, by the mean Arts of Calumny and a false Accusation, to bring others into Hatred and Disrepute with the People; but will always adhere to what is Just and Honest, and ne'r be drawn from it, whatever Offence may be taken by others; nay, will rather part with his Life it self, than do any thing that is contrary to the Virtues I have mention'd. Eager Ambition, and contending for Honours, is, of all things, most rui∣nous and destructive to a State; concerning which, Plato has said admirably well,

That for Men to contend and fall out with one another, about which should be Chief in the Management of the State, is just as if the Ship's Crew should go to∣ther by the ears, about who should be Master or Pilot of the Vessel.

And the same Philosopher has given us this for a Rule,

That only those Men should be reckon'd as Enemies, who have taken up Arms in opposition to the Republick; not those who would govern it after their own Schemes.

a 1.1 Such was the Dissention between

b 1.2 P. Africanus and Q. Metellus, without any great Bitterness or Animosities between 'em. Some Peo∣ple think it the part of a brave and heroick Spirit, to shew heat of Anger and Passion against an Ad∣versary; but what they say is by no means to be regarded: for it's certain on the other hand, no∣thing's more laudable, nothing more worthy of a great and brave Person, than Clemency, Meekness and Gentleness of Spirit. In Cities that are Free, and where all Men in common enjoy the same Privileges, Courtesie and Affability, and that which they call altitudo animi, a calm and undisturbed Temper of Mind, are peculiarly requisite: For to fret upon every unseasonable Visit, or at every im∣pertinent and troublesom Petitioner, makes a Man sowre and morose in his Humour; which as it brings no kind of Good to himself, so it gets him the Hatred and Ill-will of others. But tho' Meek∣ness and Clemency be laudable Virtues, yet no fur∣ther, than as they leave room for a just Severity, whenever the Occasions of the Publick require it; without which a City can never be well govern'd. Now c 1.3 every Reproof and Chastisement, in the first place, should be always free from contumelious Language, and not inflicted for the sake of the Per∣son chastizing or reproving another, but the good and advantage of the whole Republick. Diligent care should be taken, in the next place, that the

Penalty be proportion'd to the nature of the Crime, and that some don't pass without ever being que∣stion'd, while others are punish'd for the same Misdemeanours. But of all things, Anger should be excluded in Punishing; for whoever comes to this Work in a Passion, will never observe that due Mediocrity, which equally abstains from too much and too little, so strictly requir'd by the d 1.4 Peripatetick Schools: And they have very good reason indeed to require it; but then I can't but wonder they should commend Anger, and say, Na∣ture has giv'n it us to good Ends and Purposes: For that in truth ought in no case to be allow'd of; and 'twere heartily to be wish'd that the Gover∣nours of a State, would, in this particular, be like the Laws themselves, which punish Offenders ac∣cording to Justice, without being any ways guided by Passion.

Notes

• a 1.1

  The Quarels between Citizens are of two sorts, 1. Civil, when each desires the Good of the Publick, but take several ways of arriving at it; such was this here mention'd. The other Hostile, when one endeavours to Ruine, the other to Uphold the State; such was that between Cicero and Cati∣line.
• b 1.2

  P. Africanus the Younger, and that Metellus who was sirnam'd Macedonicus, from his Conquest of Macedonia. They always rivall'd and oppos'd one another in the Affairs of the Publick, but never so, as to become inveterate Enemies.
• c 1.3

  He had been saying, a Governour should be Meek and Courteous, but not so as to exclude Severity, when occasion requires it: This naturally brought him to discourse, How Criminals should be punish'd; which he does by laying down several Rules; as, First, That no ill Language be given 'em, &c.
• d 1.4

  The Peripateticks hold, That the Passions, viz. Anger, &c. are in 'emselves neither Good nor Bad, but accordingly as they are made either good, or ill Use of; and that they are given us by Nature for very good Ends and Purposes, if we don't let 'em get the upper-hand of our Reason, but re∣duce 'em to a certain Mediocrity and Temperament. But the Stoicks, whom Cicero follows in this Book, said the Pas∣sions were absolutely in themselves evil, call'd 'em Diseases and Infirmities of the Mind; and commanded their Wise Man, not to moderate, but wholly to root out all Anger, Joy, Compassion, &c.