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YEt to do these things successfully, it doth much conduce, that we know the inclinations of our Princes, which de∣pend upon the natural temperature of their Bodies. The difference and variety of
which is common to them with other men; except, that as they are more powerful then others, so they are less masters of their affecti∣ons and inclinations; which are for the most part, more violent and more unreasonable in them, then in meaner persons.
He, in whom Choler rules, is, Hasty, Proud, and prone to Anger; a lover of Ceremony, and Respect; a sore enemy to those that are but in the least sort refractory; impatient in execution, and rash in resolution; a con∣temner of all mens opinions, that differ from his own; very apt to commit injuries, yet soon friends with those he hath wrong∣ed, if they renew not the memory of passed enmities; but a hater of those that rip up old offences, and to the end, he may prevent such as he is afraid of, watching all occasi∣ons of doing them a greater mischief.
Whoever hath to do with such a Prince, must always have his eyes and ears open, that he may readily understand and obey the first beck, without making any reply or delay, least by contradiction the Prince come to suspect him of arrogance, as one that would seem to think himself wiser then he; let him not stick to submit himself to the low∣est kinde of imployments, if need be, though they suit not with his condition. He must be patient of injuries, and no ways mindful of them; but after a wrong, so much the more
officious: He must not brag of his merits, least he should seem to reproach the Prince with them; but rather heap services upon services, least the memory of those that are past should wear out, and to the end, the pleasure and gratefulness of fresh ones, may revive the remembrance of the old. When the Prince is angry, let him not come near him, for all things displease him then; nèi∣ther are those that are dearest unto him, grateful in any thing they can devise, to say or do. Familiarity with such humors as these, turns into contempt; which for that reason, although the Prince invite us to it, is to be avoided: Let all things rather tend to modesty and respect. For these Lyons, though sometimes they be meek and gentle, are at other times enraged against those they love best, and who are in most authority with them.
They that are of a Sanguine Constitution, are for the most part of a pleasant humor, lovers of mirth, and recreation; flying sad∣ness, the seriousness of business, and trouble of debates, lovers of peace, leaving the ad∣ministration of their affairs to others, in whom they suffer nothing more unwilling∣ly, then complaints. They are courteous, gentle, and free, if not from all, at least, from any grievous injuries; more mindful of benefits received from others, then done by
themselves▪ complacent, willing to help, and for the most part liberal.
He that lives with such as these, must omit no circumstances of veneration and re∣spect, but very seldom must they treat of business, or serious affairs. Those that are im∣ployed in the greatest, and most important Offices, and concernments of the Kingdom, ought not to come near these Princes, be∣fore they be either called, or certain that the Prince is not engaged in any recreation; least otherwise, they should interrupt him in his greatest delights, and make him blush to be surprised by those, who, he may appre∣hend, are secretly angry, to see him no better entertained. For so when Philip of Mace∣don, was once at play, it was told him, That Antipater was at the door, who pre∣sently troubled, and conscious of his trans∣gression, hid his dice under his Pillow; blushing, that Antipater should catch him at that sport. Therefore with such a Prince, as those that manage the greatest affairs of the Kingdom, in serious and weighty trusts do exceed others; so also are they out-gone by others, in a familiar and free access to the Princes person; who naturally avoids these kinde of serious men, as much as may be. Those men that are of a jovial and well tempered disposition, and capable as well of pleasure, as of business, are chie••ly
acceptable to these kinde of Princes. Pro∣vided, That whilst they are out of the Princes sight, they do not with too much facility and complacence, loose their authority with others; but they must preserve the ho∣nor of their rank intire, for without that (as the Proverh says) Familiarity breeds con∣tempt, and contempt gives encouragement to quarrels, upon the first appearance of an injury: Which the Prince being an enemy to trouble and strife, to free himself of, will endeavor to remove him that shall appear most faulty.
A Melancholly Prince is slow in his Coun∣sels, anxious, thoughtful, diffident, jealous, witty, and for the most part peevish; given to silence, and when he speaks, involving himself in ambiguous words, a dissembler, apt rather to sound other mens opinions, then deliver his own; an enemy of jests, and free∣dom; a lover of solitude, difficult of access, a friend to few, and to those but coldly; prone to hatred, out of diffi••ence, an insepa∣rable companion unto him; covetuous and fearful, even to absurdity; one that hates equally those that he hath offended, with those that have offended him; implacably greedy of revenge, and whom, though re∣conciled unto you, you ought to be jea∣lous of.
With these kinde of dispositions, we
cannot deal with too much wariness and circumspection; principally we must take care of our Tongues, and call, as it were, a counsel upon every thing we say; to the end, we may speak nothing strange or offen∣sive, nor indeed, scarce at all, unless we be called upon: In our respect, we must ra∣ther exceed, then fall short, and altogether abstain from contradiction, without pressing him, when he demurs in his Counsels, least his melancholly once kindled in choler, never quench till it convert to hatred. In our demands, we must not be importunate, when we see him deny us readily; for it is not convenient to accustom the Prince, to give us repulses, especially such a Prince, who being by his nature prone to ill suspi∣cions, will think that man his enemy, that he hath given a refusal unto; neither will you easily afterward, by any skill, take this apprehension out of him; for with such, the memory of an in••ury endures long; and measuring others by themselves, they believe all men as malicious, and as obstinate in their hatred, as they. In short, these kinde of men are the worst, and most difficult of all others; and whose temper, by reason of the variety of cloudy thoughts, that hover in their dark imaginations, is most unequal; which makes their conversation exceeding troublesome.
The Phlegmatick Prince participates of the heaviness and slowness of the melan∣cholly; but as in understanding, so in peevish∣ness and disturst, is inferior to him; for his heart is, as it were, congealed with cold; and hence it comes to pass, that he is diffident of none so much, as of himself; fearing to un∣dertake great matters, because he despairs of the success, and knows not how to go about it. He is doubtful in his Counsels, fearful in Execution, not of a quick capacity; and as his hate is not great, so his love is not vehement.
To supply the heaviness of these Princes, an active and ready Minister is necessary. When the Prince hath once found him cap∣able to effect those things, that himself thought desperate, discovering the weak∣ness of his own wit; he loves, admires, and cherishes this man, as necessary unto him. And that kinde of favor, which leans upon the opinion of such a necessity, is of all others most durable. Which our Courtier once ob∣serving, let him make it his business to bring to a prosperous issue, those businesses that seemed most difficult, and from which, the Prince expected little or no success; as it was the constant practise of that great Minister of France, Cardinal Richeleiu, who always kept the King intangled in such dangerous undertakings, That if he would,
he knew not how to be without him.
Let our Courtier also, if it can be so con∣trived, compass these things, and execute the most material part of his business him∣self alone, taking heed, however he do, that he take not to his assistance, a helper or companion, more habile and dexterous, then himself: Withal, let him beware he be not too long absent from Court, least he chance to loose the Prince, who if he shall once finde one more able or useful then him, he will be either less valued, or at least be held less necessary; and so being laid aside once or twice, in imployments that shall succeed in other hands, will at last fall into contempt.
Wherefore it is an old art of Courtiers, not to take unto themselves any Companions, but such as in Vertue and Prudence they shall much excel, to the end, that in comparison of these, their own lustre may so much the more appear, and that the Prince being sur∣rounded with such as these, may not easily know where to finde one, whom he may either prefer or oppose unto the introducer of these. Moreover, these grosser souls, as often as he hath need of them, to whom they do now their present, and may ow their juture advancement, are easie and ob∣noxious to be debau••hed by him, and ready for corruption, which he cannot easily ex∣pect
from one that is his equal in condition, or in parts, and who stands upon his own legs. These are the several kindes of humane inclinations, whereunto Princes are no less subject then other men, inclining now to this, and then to that side, according to the prevalence of this or that temperature in them.