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

CHAP. XII.

What made Men at first choose Kings, and make Laws. The justest Men usually made Kings; and why. How to make use of the Glory he hath been discour∣sing of. An excellent Rule of Socrates's. Glory must be founded upon solid Virtue. Whatever is Counterfeit will sometime be discover'd.

a 1.1 'TWas for the sake of enjoying the Benefits of this Justice (the great Use of which we have now been discoursing of) that the Medes heretofore, as we are told by b 1.2 Herodotus, and I am apt to imagin our own Ancestors too, chose always the honestest

Persons for their Kings. For the poorer sort of People, being oppress'd by the richer, had recourse to some one of remakable Virtue, to save and protect 'em from Violence and Injuries: who constituting Measures of Equity and Justice, bound the great∣est to observe 'em as well as the meanest. And that which was the reason for their choosing Kings, in like manner put them upon enacting Laws: For Men have always desired to enjoy such a Right, as all sorts of 'em might have an equal Share in (for otherwise indeed 'twould be no Right at all) which when they could get by the Justice and Honesty of some one Person, they were contented with him, and never look'd any further; but when they could not, they were put upon a necessity of inventing Laws, which could never be partial, but use the same Language to all Ranks and Conditi∣ons. 'Tis very plain therefore, that those Men were usually chosen to be Kings, who were count∣ed by the People Men of Honesty and Integrity: but if they were held Prudent and Wise withal, the People thought there was nothing they might not obtain by their Conduct and Management. By all means therefore let us constantly follow, and stick close to Justice; as for its own sake, (for o∣therwise indeed 'twill not be properly Justice) so for the increase of our Honour and Reputation. c 1.3 Now as 'tis not sufficient for a Man to get Rich∣es, unless he has the Wisdom to dispose of 'em so,

as thereby to furnish out all his Expences; not on∣ly those of his bare Necessities, but those of his Bounty and Liberality too: So neither is it enough for a Man to get d 1.4 Glory, unless he knows how to make Use of it with discretion: Tho' what Socrates says is very excellent to this purpose, That the rea∣diest Way, and, as it were, shortest Cut, to arrive at e 1.5 Glory, is really to be, what one desires to be account∣ed. Those People therefore are highly mistaken, who think of obtaining a solid Reputation, by vain Shews and hypocritical Pretences; by compos'd Countenances and studied Forms of Words: for true Glory takes deep rooting, and grows and flou∣rishes more and more; but that which is only in Shew and meer Outside, quickly decays and withers like Flowers; nor can any thing be lasting that is only Counterfeit. I might bring a great many preg∣nant Examples for the proof of these Assertions; but, for brevity sake, I shall content my self with those of but one single Family. f 1.6 Tiberius Gracchus, the Son of Publius, will always be Prais'd and had in Admiration, as long as there shall any Memori∣als

remain of the Roman Atchievements: But his g 1.7 Sons, on the contrary, were not in their Lives-time approv'd of by good Men; and since their Decease have been number'd among those, who were justly Slain.

Notes

• a 1.1

  He still goes on in his Commendation of Justice, and tells us, That Kings heretofore were chosen according to their Characters for Justice and Integrity.
• b 1.2

  The first of any great note among the Greek Historians, very well known by his Works, which are still extant in nine Books; which for their Sweetness and Elegance are deserved∣ly call'd by the names of the Nine Muses.
• c 1.3

  He has shewn what these Virtues are, which make the People Love, &c. But as 'tis not enough for a Man to get Riches, unless he knows how to make use of 'em too: So, after we have gotten the Virtues he has mention'd, the next thing that comes to be consider'd is, How we should use 'em, so as to be remarkable in the World; and let People see, by our Pactice and Exercise in some sort of Life, that we are such Persons, as deserve their Love, Confidence and Admiration. For these Virtues themselves are only the Ground-work or Foundations, as it were, of perfect Glory; and we know Foundations are laid in the Earth, and require something else to be Built upon 'em, before they are taken notice of in the Eye of the World. Here he puts in, by way of Caution, a Saying of Socrates, That we make sure in the first place, that we really are such, &c.
• d 1.4

  By Glory here he understands the Virtues of Justice, &c. which he has just been discoursing of, as the Foundations of true Glory.
• e 1.5

  Outward Glory, not the Virtues themselves.
• f 1.6

  A Noble, Wise and Valiant Roman, who was twice Cof. and as often triumph'd; and at last was made Censor, in which Office by his Wisdom and Prudence he sav'd the Re∣publick. [See Cic. de Orat. 1. 9.] He marry'd Cornelia, the Daughter of the Elder Africanus, by whom he had the two Gracchi.
• g 1.7

  Tib. and Caius Gracchus, two eloquent and ingenious young Men: but for attempting to make Laws pernicious to the State, about equally dividing Lands, &c. they were both Slain; the former by Scipio Nasica, and the latter by Opimi∣us the Cos. See Paterc. Book 2. ch. 2, 3, 6, 7. and their Lives in Plut.