The compleat courtier: or, The morals of the famous historian Cornelius Tacitus concerning flattery, &c. In above one hundred essays. Paraphras'd and illustrated with useful observations by the Sieur Amelo de la Houssaie and M. D'Ablancourt. Done out of French.

ESSAY XXVI.

THE same Honors were De∣creed to the Memory of Dru∣sus, as to that of Germanicus, tho' with several Additions, as the latter Adulation will be always contriving to do.

Says D'Ablancourt, They Decreed the same Honours to Drusus, as were decreed to the Memory of his Brother: But some new Ceremonies were added, as the latter Flattery is always the moct Ingenious.

By the means of this same Novelty it is, that Flatterers always support them∣selves in the Favour of their Princes. They would be weary of her Flatteries, had Adulation but one string to the tune∣ful Harp of their Encomiums. They

only value those Honours that are pecu∣liarly invented for themselves. For eve∣ry Prince new Incense and Perfumes. Hence it comes to pass, that he who sits at present in the Throne, is more ap∣plauded, then all those that Reign'd be∣fore him. As Ridiculous and Stupid as the Emperor Claudius was, the slave to his own enfranchiz'd Bondmen, yet he fail'd not to find one Consul, who was not asham'd to propose the giving him the Title of Father of the Senate, alled∣ging that Father of his Country was too Common; and that a Prince who blest the Empire every day with new Accumu∣lations of his Favour, deserv'd at least to be Honour'd with a Sirname that never had been given to any of his Prede∣cessors.