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 XXVII.

THE chief Priests also when they made their Vows for the Welfare of the Prince, recommend∣ed likewise Nero and Drusus to the Gods, not so much for love of the young Men, as out of Flattery, the

Omission of which as equally begets Suspition, as the Excess.

The High Priest, says D'Ablancourt, when they made their Vows for the Emperour, recommended to the Protection of the same Gods, Nero and Drusus, not so much through any Affection as out of Flattery, the Excess or Omission of which are equally dangerous.

We have already asserted, that Flat∣terie is void of Love, and that by strain∣ing at Flattery, Men often loose them∣selves in the Mazes of Folly and Impru∣dence. And certainly it was a great piece of Imprudence to equal to the Person of the Emperour, two young Striplings that were but just coming into the World. Majesty endures no Companion or Part∣nership in Honours. When others mount, she must descend. Flattery's mer∣cinary; and is always for him that bids most. Tiberius was now in his declining years, and Nero and Drusus in the prime of their Youth. The High Priests look'd upon the Reign of Tiberius, as a Reign that would be soon at an end; and the Fortune of Nero, as a Sovereignty that was shortly to Commence. Therefore

it was not through Affection but Inte∣rest, that they made so little a distin∣ction between the two Brothers and Ti∣berius, who having lost his Son, seem'd to have no more then a precarious and languishing Authority. And this was the meaning of Tiberius, when he told the Pontiffs, That he was glad to see Chil∣dren equall'd to his Hoary Age; which was a wipe by the by, to let 'em under∣stand they had been too hasty to appoint him a Successor. And thus you see what an ill reception Flattery finds, when once it knows no bounds. But the Omission of Flattery is no less displeasing to Princes, as ascribing the cause of that neglect to Haughtiness, to Contumacy, or Contempt. And therefore it was that Tiberius so often complain'd of the Arro∣gance, and Indocibility of Agrippina, Germanicus's Wife; and that under Nero, it was objected against Thrasea, for no less then High Treason, that he had ne∣ver either applauded, or countenanc'd the Flatteries of others, and that he al∣ways absented himself on purpose, when the Magistrates were to take their Oaths of Allegiance, or made any Vows for the Prosperity of the Prince: That he had never Sacrific'd in return of Thanks for

his Charming and Celestial Voice, that he would never acknowledg Poppea for a Goodess; that he had forboru coming to the Senate for three Years together, because he would not consent to his De∣crees; to shew that none of his Majesties Actions pleas'd him, though he would not declare his mind by any open Contra∣diction or Opposition. That he left the Senate one day, when they were making Speeches against the Memory of Agrip∣pina, the Mother of Nero. And thus you see in one Man, almost all the sins of Omission, which a Courtier could com∣mit in the concerns of Flattery. More∣over, there are some Occasions where the Subject cannot dispence with Flattery as others do. Such are those which we call Congratulation, or Condolement. Tho' had Thrasea been present when the Ma∣gistrates took their Oaths, had he made his Vows for the Prince, or appear'd at the Funeral of Poppea, it could have been no stain to his Reputation. And there∣fore it does not become a Subject to be too stiff neither; but on the other side to comply with the Times and Humours of the Prince, as much as it is possible, more especially so far as the Rules of good Breeding and Civility extend.

Thus the younger Pliny being design'd Consul, refus'd to decree new honours to Trajan, as the Consuls Elect had wont to do to other Princes. But, said he, I did not abstain from this same outward Appearance of Flattery, through any motive of Liberty infring'd, or of Constancy, but because I was assur'd of the Moderation of my Prince, therefore believing it would be much more to his Honour, for me to refuse the making any such Decree; altho' so just a Duty could not be tax'd of Flattery. Those Grandees and other Persons who are ob∣lig'd to live at Court, can never learn a better 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then this, to preserve them∣selves in their several Stations. 'Twere well, there were no Flatterers at all; but there is no need of such remarkable Demonstrations to prove Men are not so; in regard it shews like a piece of Contu∣macy and Mutinous Insurrection against the Majesty of a Prince. So that Seneca spoke rather like a Philosopher that con∣temn'd death, then a Courtier when he answer'd the Tribune whom Nero sent, to bring back his Justification, that he was not of a humour to Flatter, as no body better knew then Nero himself, who had had more frequent Experience of Se∣neca's freedom then his Complaisance.