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Excellencia del primero.
Excellencie of primacie.
THere are some that had been the Phoenix in their employments, if others had not stept before them: It is a great advantage to get be∣fore others, and if it be in a way of eminencie the me∣rit growes double. He that winns by the hand, may win upon equal termes.
Those that come after
are counted but Imitators of them that went before, and whatsoever they do they can hardly cleer themselves from a pre∣sumption of imitation.
The first raise them∣selves to fame by a right of eldership, while the second like younger brothers must be content with mea∣ger portions.
The curiosity of the Gentiles gave not only honor but veneration to the inventors of arts. They chang'd honor into wor∣ship. An ordinary Error, but a true expression of the merits of primacy. But the galantry is not in benig the
first in time, but the first in Eminencie.
Plurality is a discredit to it self, in things which are of high esteeme, and on the contrary, rarity en∣haunses the price of indif∣ferent perfections.
This is then no comon dexteritie to find out a new way to become famous, to discover an unknown trace to celebrity.
The wayes to fame are multiplyd, but they are not all chalkt out, and the newest being hard to find, have often been an obsta∣cle to greatnes.
Salomon, did wisely in choosing the title of paci∣ficall,
letting his father enjoy that of a warriour: He chang'd the path and, arriv'd with so much lesser difficulty at the predica∣ment of Heros.
Tiberius strayn'd him∣self to wear that title by Policie, which Augustus had got by Magnanimi∣tie.
And our great Philip, from the throne of his pru∣dence governd the world, with an admiration to all ages. And if Charles V. his invincible father were a prodigie of courage, He was so of prudence.
The radiant Suns of the of the Church have by
this policy ascended up to the Zenith of celebrity: Some by an eminent ho∣linesse; Others by rare∣nesse of learning; Some by their magnificence in buildings; and some other by knowing how to main∣tain his dignitie by the strength of his wit.
By this diversitie of de∣signes the wisest have got themselves places and been Matriculated in greatnes.
Wit knows how to de∣gage it self from ordinarie tracks without a desection of Art, and how to find in an old profession a new passage to Eminency. Ho∣race gave place to Virgil
in an Heroick strain, Mar∣tial to Horace in the Lyrick, Terence addicted himself to the Comick, and Per∣sius to writing of Satyres, each aspiring to a glory of being first in his kind. A generous fancy never be∣came a slave to easie imita∣tion.
A gallant painter ob∣serving that Titian Rafael and some others had won themselves an Honor of primacy, and that every day their fames got advan∣tage of their deaths, used an invincible invention, and fell to work in a gros∣ser way: Some demanded of him why he did not
paint after the manner of Titian and others: He sa∣tisfied gallantly with this answer, that he had rather be the first in that gross way, than second in a way of more delicacie.
Let this example extend it self unto all kind of em∣ployments, and every rare man understand this kind of addresse, that in a no∣veltie of Eminencie, it suf∣fiseth to find out some ex∣travagant way to great∣nes.