Tyrants raysing themselves by a seeming compliance with the People. [ 1809]
A Thenaeus tells a pretty story of one Athenion, born obscurely, who as long as he was private and poor,* 1.1 excel'd in a soft and tractable disposition; but when by jugling he had obtained the Athenian government, there was none more odious for a cruell,* 1.2 barbarous, covetous Tyrant: Nero's quinquennium will never be forgotten, not that which is reported of Caligula, that there was never a better servant and a worse Master: Thus it is by wofull experience made out,* 1.3 that Tyrannically-minded Men personate goodnesse till they have accomplish∣ed their ends, make a shew of all goodnesse, till they have wrought themselves into the good liking of all those whom they intend to deceive; And then off goes the Vizard of dissimulation, and they appear in their native colours what indeed they are, bloudy, barbarous, inhumane.