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.
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Title
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.
Author
Tacitus, Cornelius.
Publication
London: Printed, and are to be sold by E. Rumball, at the Post-house in Russel-street in Covent-Garden,
1700.
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Subject terms
Etiquette -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62449.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62449.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2024.
THey that dwelt by the River,
brought news that Euphrates,
in a season free from Rain, or any
immoderate Showres, was swell'd
to an unusual and prodigious height;
and carry'd a Foam that curl'd upon
the Water in white Circles like so
many Diadems; from whence they
gather'd a prosperous Omen, to en∣courage
his crossing the Stream with
his Army.
They brought News, says D'Ablancourt,
that the River Euphrates was swell'd, and
yet no Showres had fallen, and seem'd to
curle its Waters in the shape of a Diadem.
Some took this for a happy Omen, &c.
Flattery interprets all things to the
Advantage of Princes, and particularly
at the beginning of their Reigns. For
then it is, that she feeds their Humours
with vain hopes; and that all People who
make their approaches to the New Sove∣reign,
are equally contending to excel
each other in quaintness of Addresses.
Nor is it enough for Princes to be delu∣ded
by their Flatterers, Astrologie, the
ancient Companion of Falshood, intrudes
for a share, and then chiefly succeeds in
her Designs, when she meets with an
easiness in the Prince, to believe the
greatest Uucertainties in the World.
There is not any Prince, to whom, at
his first coming to the Crown, she does
not pretend, but that he shall be more
happy then Augustus, and that he shall
Live till he is grown weary of his Gran∣deur.
But the most numerous part of
Princes are deceiv'd by these vain Calcu∣lations,
and reap no other Fruit of their
Credulity, then the Misfortunes of their
unwary Confidence.
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