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 XXXII.

NEither is it such a Mysterie to understand, when the Acti∣ons of Princes are truly and really Congratulated, and when with a Fictitious Joy.

'Tis no great Difficulty, says D'Ablan∣court, for great Personages to discover, when the Praises which are given 'em proceed from Flattery, and when from a real sentiment of Affection.

Politic Princes are not easily to be de∣luded by Flattery, for they consult not their Ears, but their Hearts, which are sufficiently Conscious, whether or no they merit those Praises that are bestow'd upon 'em. They understand by what their Flatterers say, the undisclos'd con∣ceptions of their Hearts; well knowing, that when such People make their Ad∣dresses to their Persons, 'tis their For∣tunes that they Court; a Truth that ne∣ver deceives 'em, when ever they put it to the Tryal. Real Encomiums are most

delightful to their Ears, because they are apt to believe they Merit what is gi∣ven 'em; but false Applauses are distast∣ful, because they look upon 'em as By-reproaches of their Defaults. The youn∣ger Pliny reports, that Trajan wept for joy, and blush'd to hear himself call'd, The Truly Vertuous, because he knew it was to Trajan that they spoke, and not the Em∣perour. And afterwards he adds, That he was not afraid least Trajan should think, that while he discours'd of the Mildness, the Frugality, the Munificence, the Clemency, and Vigilancy of a Prince, he had any design to upbraid those Vices, which were their Opposites.