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Coracon de Rey.
Heart of a King.
A Great head belongs to Philosophers, a great tongue to Orators, a great breast for Champi∣ons, Armes for Souldiers, Feet for runners, Shoul∣ders for them that carry burthens, but a great Heart only for Kings: It is one of Plato's Divinities, and a text, in favour of which many make the heart to contest with the under∣standing for a prehemi∣nence.
What avayles it that the Understanding go before, if the Heart stay behind? Invention easily conceives that which costs the heart full dear to execute with Honour.
Great effects proceed from great causes, and wonders of action from a Prodigy of heart: The is∣sues of a Giants heart are Giants: It presumes all∣waies upon Enterprises worthy of its own great∣nes, aspiring alwaies to the most eminent Employ∣ments.
〈…〉〈…〉 was the heart of Alexander, it was an arch∣〈…〉〈…〉, since in one corner
of it, the 〈…〉〈…〉 contain〈…〉〈…〉, leaving 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for ••ix 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Caesars heart was likewise * 1.1 va••••, which could find no difference betwixt all and nothing.
The heart is Fortunes stomach, which with equal heat digests the two ex∣tremes: A great belly is not cloyed with a great morsell; it is not put out of its way by affectation, nor made sour by ingratitude: That which would starve a Gyant for hunger, will prove a surfet for a Dwarf.
That miracle of valour, the then Dauphine of
France, and after Charles the seventh, when they told him of that sentence which was extorted from the Parlament of Paris, by the two Kings, one of France, his father, the o∣ther of England and his Adversary, whereby he was declared uncapable of succeeding to the crown of Lillies: He said undaun∣tedly, that he appeal'd; his friends wondring at his speech, askt him whither, he answered again, to the greatness of my Heart, and the point of my Sword: And his words were followed with answerable effects.
The Diamant that con∣tests
with Eternity, spar∣cles not more among de∣vouring Carbuncles, than a Majestick heart in the middest of the violences of danger.
The Achilles of our time, Charles Emanuel D. of Savoy, made his way with only 4 of his own thorough the midst of four hundred of the Enemies Curiassiers, & satisfyed the admiration of the world by saying, There was no better company in the greatest danger, than that of a great Heart.
Excess of Heart supplies the defect of every thing else (that being ever) the
first that arrives at difficul∣ties and makes the Con∣quest.
They presented on a time to the King of Arabia a Damask Cimitar, A ra∣rity to please a warrier. The Grandees that were about him fell to cōmend it, not for ceremonie but with reason. Some for the workmanship, others for the temper: Only some of them thought it was a lit∣tle with the shortest. The K. presently sends for the Prince his son, the famous Jacob Almancor, to have his opinion. He came and considerd it, and said, that it was worth a Kingdome.
(A prizing worthy of a Prince) The King urgd him to know whether he could find no fault with it. He reply'd that there was nothing in it that was not excellent: why but Prince, said the king, these Cava∣liers have censured it to be too short. Then Almanzor laying hand upon his own for Cimitar said, that there was no weapon too short a valiant man, because by moving but one stepp for∣ward his sword would be long enough: and what it wanted of iron and steel, would be supplyd in the generositie of his heart.
Magnanimity in injuries
serves fitly to crown this subject with laurel. It is the large crest and Character of great Hearts: and Adri∣an shew'd us an excellent way to triumph over ene∣mies, when he said to the most cruel of his, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou escap'd mee?
There is nothing can hold compare with that saying of Lewis of France, Let not the king of France revenge the injuries done to the Duke of Orleans: These are the miracles of the Courage of an Heroe.
••ut Caesar 〈◊〉〈◊〉.