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Que el Heroe hu de te∣ner tanteada su fortuna al empenarse.
The Heroe must found his fortune to the bottome before he engage himself.
FOrtune, which is as much renown'd as she is little understood, is no∣thing else (to speak with reason and like a Catho∣lick) but that great mo∣ther of events, and gran∣child of supreme provi∣dence, which hath alwayes assisted at causes, somtimes with willingnes, and at o∣ther
times by permission.
This is that so soveraign, so inscrutable, so inexora∣ble a Queen, smiling up∣on some, and severe to o∣thers, sometime like a Mother, then a stepmo∣ther, not so much out of passion as an arcanesse of inaccessible judgements.
It is a rule among the greatest politicks, to have a narrow observance upon fortune and her favorites. He that hath found her * 1.1 like a Mother, let him make use of her favour, and throw himself freely into great actions, for where shee is in love with a man shee gives her self leave to
be flatter'd with his con∣fidence.
Caesar had taken the true pulse of his fortune, when he was fain to encourage his faint-hearted water∣man in a storm, by saying, Be not afraid, for so thou wrong'st the fortunes of Caesar: He found no An∣chor so sure as 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor did he apprehend any contrarietie of winds while he had in poop the sweet gale of the breath of his fortune.
What danger is it if the Air be troubled, while the Heavens are cleer? If the Sea roar, while the starrs smile?
Such a boldness in ano∣ther had been judged rash∣nes, but in Caesar it was a dextrousness, that had so truly consider'd the favour of his fortune. Others have lost brave oportunities to celebrate themselves by not comprehending their fortune: Even as low as the blind gamester, there is scarce a man that con∣sults not his fortune before he set up his rest.
It is a great talent to be fortunate, and in the opi∣nion of most, the fortunate man must wear the gar∣land: Some make more account of an ounce of for∣tune than of quintalls of
valour, or a Magazine of wisedome. Others, of a more Melancholick tem∣per, say it is more honora∣ble to be unfortunate; and that fortune is th'inheri∣tance of fooles, and the re∣ward of those that have no other merit.
The wise father re∣deemes the defect of beau∣ty in his daughter with gold, and good success for the most part gilds o∣ver the deformities of the spirit.
Galen desir'd that his Physician, Vegerius that his Captain, and Aristotle that his Monark might be fortunate. True it is that
valour and fortune (the 2 godfathers of every Heroe) are also the axletrees of greatnes.
But he that hath had of∣ten experience of fortune for a stepdame; let him strick sayl at great em∣ployments, and not over∣ween of her affection: for where shee disaffects gene∣rally, her Armes are lea∣den.
Excuse me for stealing once more a saying from the poet of sentences, for I am oblig'd to restore it again, by way of counsell. Tu nihil invita; &c. Thou shalt neither say nor do a∣ny thing where thou hast
fortune in opposition.
The Benjamin of our felicitie, is at this day by the evidence of his splen∣dor that Heroick, uncon∣quer'd, most ••erene Cardi∣nal Infant of Spain Don Fer∣nando, A name that passes for blason, the nominal Crown of so many Heroes as have worn it.
The whole world being in some suspense, lookt af∣ter his fortunes, being as∣sur'd of his courage. And that great princess declar'd him for her gaiant, upon the first occasion; I say up∣on that occasion, which was as immortall for him and his, as it was mortall
to his enemies, the battel of Norlinguen, beside o∣ther progressions of Stra∣tagemes in France and Flanders, and the remain∣der of his honor from Je∣rusalem.
It is a considerable part of the Politicks to be able to discern betwixt for∣tunate men and such as are unsuccessfull, that when they are met together in competition, they may be resolv'd whether it be bet∣ter stand to the shock, or yield.
Solyman shew'd himself a wise man in diverting the felicity of our Catholick Mars, the fift of Charleses,
by using all meanes possi∣ble that his valour might be confin'd within his own sphere of Europe, He feard that alone more than all the Regiments of the west together: Let this be a sub∣ject of contemplation for others whom it may con∣cern.
Charles himself strook sayl, in a time when it * 1.2 serv'd his turn (not for his reputation) for in that he had resign'd his part, but for his crown.
The first Francis of France did not so: He was in love with the ignorance of his fortune, and desired not to understand that of
Caesar his adversary: but as a delinquent in prudence he was unfortunate to be * 1.3 taken prisoner.
Good and ill success, adhere alike to those that are of a side: let a wise man take heed, which side he takes and at this game of triumph or (as we call it) trump, let him so take and discard his cards that he may be sure or win.
Successus 〈…〉〈…〉rgere suos, 〈…〉〈…〉nstare fa∣vori Numi∣us: Et so∣〈…〉〈…〉itus in 〈…〉〈…〉aeceps mit∣〈…〉〈…〉ere Caesar Fortunam. 〈…〉〈…〉ucan.
See St••••∣daes first book of Decades neatly Eng lisht.
At the bat∣tel of Pavy