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Tiberioque etiam in rebus quas non oc∣culeret, seu Natura, sive adsuetudine, suspensa sem∣per & obscura verba, and a little after: At Patres quibus unus metus si intelligere viderentur, in questus, lachrymas vota, effundi.
That a Prince should be both loved and Feared. The eight and thirtieth Discourse.
FRom the obscure speaking which Tiberius used, the senatours conceived no little feare, and wish∣ed, the Prince would speake in such a manner, that he might be understood.
I cannot in truth blame Princes, for speaking obscure∣ly: seeing vulgar and too open speech abase th them, and make them vilified: the rather because I see our Lord Christ, (as Saint Matthew, and Saint Marke 〈◊〉〈◊〉) solitus erat loqui in parabolis, and Salomon, for the most part, used to speake Riddles; whereupon, it may justly be said of Princes, who lay themselves open to all mens view, that which Salomon saith, in the Can∣ticles: Oculi tui Columbarum, absque eo quod intrinsecus latet, that is, the eyes being beautifull of themselves, appeare more beautifull, when they are shaddowed & covered with some Feathers; and so the Discourses of Princes, will be so much the fairer, as they are in some part, covered with a little obscurity; and there∣fore Salomon in his Proverbs, commends much this kind of speaking, where he saith; Mala aurea in lectis Argen∣teis, qui loquitur verbum in tempore suo.
But because the obscure speaking of Tiberius was not to this end, but onely ut intro spiceret Procerum mentes: it neither ought, nor can be praised; being in truth, the