Morall discourses and essayes, upon severall select subjects written by T.C., Esquire.

III. Of Fame.

THough the Stoicks are to be much commended for their excellent I∣deas of Vertue, their generous contempt of the body, and indifference in outward things, yet they seem with too much

ostentation to undervalue Fame, even de∣crying vanity with a kind of vain-glory. Certainly there is no reason why Vertue should altogether sleigth its own eccho, or such as professe the study of Immor∣tality, despise that, which in surviving its subject, and outrunning time, hath at least some feature of Immortality.

It seems rather an heroical device of that noble Brederode, who lived at the be∣ginning of the Low-Country warre, and worthy to be added to the dignity and antiquity of his coat of Arms, God pre∣serve my soul and my honour; it expres∣sed a lively endearment of his renown, since he thought it only worthy to bee mentioned with eternal happinesse; it proved, that he had Vertue in the high∣est veneration, since he stooped even to kisse the hem of her garment.

I confesse, where Fame and Vertue are inconsistent, we are obliged, as it were, to save the V••ss••l from shipwrack, by lightning the fraught; But this is he severest touch-stone of Philosophy, neither hath conscience a worthier servant than he, who is content to

espouse her, even with Infamy.

The Scriptures are so elegant in de∣scribing the infamy of the wicked, as if they meant to aggravate it beyond any earthly misery, so establishing it, as a kind of unfeigned Purgatory between this world and hell, by these and the like Characters, the memory of sinners shall rot; And again, in the next gene∣ration, let his name be extinct; from the latter of which places it is observa∣ble, that they then immediatly proceed to blot that name out of the Book of life which they have first raced out of the Register of Fame.

And yet methinks, though Fame may bee desired as a concomitant of more important blessings, surely of it self, as Fame, it seems neither odious nor ami∣able, but the most indifferent of out∣ward things: When I read the last scene and final exit of Anthony of Ven∣dosme, King of Navarre, who being mortally wounded at the assault of Rouen, by him, with infinite fury and bloud∣shed, then taken & sacked, refused the ease and decency of a horse-litter to view his

lamentable Conquest in a posture of tri∣umph, and with this silly, or rather barbarous satisfaction, immediately breathed out his benummed and incon∣siderate soul. I would fain imagine him already senslesse, and so not guilty of such sinful Pageantry: But, alas, how many are there, who in the midst of guilt and reproach, to gratifie their childish consciences, can listen to th•• rattle of applause? nay, how many are they, that to purchase popularity, have sold their peace both outward and in∣ward, like that other French-man, who freely hazarded and lost his life, to reco∣ver his feather. Vertuous fame, I con∣fesse, may be honestly wished, but to gape for it, is a beggarly and sottish am∣bition: For as it is no more than worth finding, so it is utterly lost with over∣seeking. Both Vertue therefore, and Prudence, require that our pursute of it be moderate and carelesse, like his that rides a hunting to take the air; if h•• spring and catch a Partridge, it is well, but though he misse of Game, hee hath ye•• obtained his end, whi••h was th••

exercise of his body, and preservation of his health.

Truly we shall finde the lesse encou∣ragement to court this seeming beauty, when we consider how light and pro∣stitute ••he is, and with how little choice she admits her Gallants; All person•• and actions that are good or great, are promiscuously entertained, yet the great much rather than the good: Vertues she registers indeed in Quarto, but splen∣did crimes are recorded in Folio; Nay, if we remember how corrupt and inju∣rious ••he often proves (as being prom∣pted by successe) in loading oppressed Justice with Invectives, and dawbing prosperous Vices with Panegyricks, we may perhaps be rather tempted to dis∣dain than bare neglect.

Wherefore the motives which encline wise men to value their fame, are not those shadows and dreams of an earthly immortality, nor yet the transportati∣ons of affected honour, (for Vertue is no sensual or ticklish quality) but the real advantage it yields of improving their generous designs to publick benefit.

They finde that the Infamous are to some like infected persons and lepers, whom common Providence command•• us to shun, to others like light women, whose company the aw of censure obli∣ges us not to frequent, and to all, like such as disgracefully stammer or squint, whom we hear with impatience, and see with as much aversation, as we doe an Eclipse, which by tradition we believe to hurt the eye-sight; that there is nei∣ther vigour in their precepts, nor vertue in their examples; since the merit of their vertues being swallowed up in th•• scandal of their evil manners, they seem to put on the odious vizard of hypocri∣sie, and to do well, in them, at best, is im∣puted but to an escape of Custom. They see that even obscure persons where they might perhaps speak with advantge, yield rather to the modesty of secure and harmlesse silence. Again they ob∣serve, that such as have once purchased an undoubted fame, are afterwards heard like Oratours, and obeyed like Magistrates; so that the only danger i••, lest their Errours should get the reputa∣tion

of an axiome, and their Imperfe∣ctions passe for current Vertue; As King Alphonsus of Arragon, being naturally wry-necked, soon begat in his Courtiers a general affectation of the Princes po∣sture; That their discourses seem A∣pothegmes, and their manners are ci∣ted like the purity of Primitive practice; Finally, that upon their reproofs, not only private amendments, but publick reformations ensue. Great reason therefore they conceive to endear and vindicate their fame, the aid whereof doth so much further, and the want ob∣struct the design of Vertue.

And yet perhaps those that are perfect in Philosophy, may seem so much al∣ready to have surmounted fame, that they no longer need it, having cimen∣ted and incorporated it with their man∣ners: However, to Novices it is a ne∣cessary incentive and guide; these like coals, not yet sufficiently kindled, must be blown with bellows, and like young swimmers upheld, though with a blad∣der; To such it is like the Drum or Trumpet to raw souldiers, or the Re∣veille

to lazy Centinels. They use it as marks-men do their Aims; nay, they swallow it as hungry Fishes doe fresh worms. Neither ought we to discou∣rage or despise the hopes of such au∣spicious, though tender plants; Fo•• albeit the Learned indeed determine that Vertue can have no worthy End without her self, yet surely these are Cacumina Philosophiae, rather to be wish∣ed than expected; Lik•• imaginary lines, described to fignifie the fantastick mo∣tions of heavenly Orbs; or the Element of fire, imagined to subsist without fuel.

Should we confine our Vertue to these narrow limits, we must at once dash out the names of all those Worthies, whomglory hath enflamed, or emula∣tion provoked, and then let us consi∣der how thin the Register of fame would be; It would be hard to name any splendid action, especially amongs•• Heathens, wherein Honour did not give the Biasse. To conclude, though Vertue cannot be too much exalted▪ yet being thus abstracted, it is in

danger to resolve into meer Metaphy∣sicks.