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.
About this Item
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 16, 2024.
Pages
ESSAY. IV.
COnsuls, Fathers, Knights, all
ran headlong into Slavery; and
by how much the more Illustrious
they were, by so much the more De∣ceitful,
and speedy in their Motion:
And with a Compos'd Gravity, that
they might not seem to be too much o∣verjoy'd
at the Death of the deceas'd
Emperour, nor sad at such a Con∣jecture
as the Advancement of the
Succeeding Prince, they intermix'd
their Tears with Joy, and their La∣mentations
with Adulation.
At Rome, says D'Ablancourt, all De∣grees
of Men, Knights, Senators, and
Consuls, ran headlong into Slavery, and the
most Illustrious and Eminent first of all;
composing so their Looks and Countenances,
that they might not seem joyful for the Death
of Augustus, nor sad that Tiberius was
come to the Throne. Nevertheless their Tears,
their Condolements and Congratulations, were
all but cunning Dissimulation.
Flattery is always Excessive at the be∣ginning
of a new Reign: For every one
strives to be Complaisant and to advance
his Fortune, by Ingratiating himself.
Even they themselves, who are not ad∣dicted
to Flattery, become Flatterers
then, spurr'd on by Envy and Jealousie,
not enduring that their Competitors
should gain a greater ascendant over the
Affections of their Prince then themselves,
and fearing least Favours should advance
their Equals to be their Superiours. The
Grandees are oblig'd to Flatter, in re∣gard
there is an absolute Necessity for
them to please, that so they may be able
to preserve their Grandeur. Every Prince
at the beginning of his Reign is subject to
mistrust, not knowing whither the Great
Ones are well pleas'd or disgusted at his
Advancement. Therefore it is, that he
makes it his business to sound the Affecti∣ons
of his Nobility; and that he studies
to observe their Countenances and their
Discourses. Which is the Rea••on that we
we find all Men in all Companies, striving
to outvie one another in Adulation and
Servitude.
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