EXCELLENCIE VIII.
Que el Heroe prefiera los empenos plausibles.
That a Heroe made choyce of the most plausible em∣ployments.
TWo cities gave birth to two He∣roe's; Hercules was born at Thebes, and Cato at Rome: Hercules was applauded by all nati∣ous, and Cato was the di∣state of Rome. All cun∣tries admir'd the one, and the Romans shund and ha∣ted the other.
The advantage which Page 64 Cato had of Hercules, ad∣mits no controversie be∣cause he exceeded him in prudence: But Hercules went as far beyond him in fame.
Catoes work was more arduous and Honorable, for he engag'd himself to subdue Monsters of passi∣ons, as Hercules did of na∣ture, yet the Thebans at∣tempts had more of fa∣mousnes.
The difference was in this, that the enterprises of Hercules were more plau∣sible, and those of Cato, more odious.
The plausibilitie the of im∣ploymēt carried the fame Page 65 of Alcides as far as the Confines of the habitable * world, and had gone fur∣ther, if it had been more spatious: the severitie of Cato shut up his renown within the walls of Rome.
And yet there are some, and not of the least judge∣ment, that prefer a diffi∣cult employment before a plausible, and with such, the approbation of a few select persons is more ac∣cepted, than applause from the vulgar: plausible em∣ployments are called the miracles of the ignorant.
Those that comprehend the excellency of an high employment are but few: Page 66 yet they are persons of Eminencie, and so their re∣putation comes but from a few. The facility of that which is plausible is dis∣cern'd by all, and growes common, and so applause is ordinarily more univer∣sall.
The approbation of a few Honor'd people, is better than the acclamati∣ons of the numerous vul∣gar.
Beside it is a peece of dexterity to be alwayes encountred with plausible employments, and a point of good discretion to sub∣orn common attention, by the splendor of brave Page 67 undertakings the Eminen∣cie thereof appeares to all, and the reputation is set∣led by every mans vote.
Pluralitie of opinions is alwayes to be prefer'd: In such kind of employments Excellencie is ever palpa∣ble; and although the other (which being of a higher strain) partakes more of supernaturall and Meta∣physicall, and with a plau∣sible evidence please them∣selves, yet I leave the dif∣ference to every mans o∣pinion; I call that a plau∣sible employment which is executed in the view and to the satisfaction of all, provided that reputation Page 68 be at the bottome, and ex∣cluding those employ∣ments which are as empty of Honor, as full of Osten∣tation. A stage player lives rich in applause: but dyes poore in reputation.
To be eminent, in a gen∣tleman, is an undertaking that's set upon the theater, and must consequently be attended with a large ap∣plause.
What princes are those that make up the Cata∣logues of fame but warri∣ors? To them is properly due the renown of great∣nes. They fill the world with applause, the chroni∣cles with fame: because the Page 69 exploits of war have some∣thing more of splendor in them than those of peace.
Among judges we as∣signe the strictest to im∣mortality, because justice without Crueltie, was ever of more acceptance with the vulgar, than remissness of mercy.
In matter of wit, plausi∣bilitie hath alwayes tri∣umph. The sweetnes of a polish'd discourse hath had a power to charm the soul, and flatter the ears, while the driness of a Metaphy∣sical conception puts us upon the rack.
