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 LXVI.

NERO inclin'd to the more Vi∣cious. They assail Seneca with various Accusations. They objected his assuming to himself alone the Pre-eminence in Eloquence, and his making Verses more frequently, since

Nero had addicted himself to the study of Poetry: That he openly ex∣claim'd against the Prince's Plea∣sures: That he contemned his Agi∣lity in the management of Horses; and derided his Voice when he sang.

The Prince (says D'Ablancourt) was na∣turally enclin'd to follow the worst Counsels. Thereupon it was laid to Seneca's Charge, That he ascrib'd to himself the Glory of being the only Eloquent Person in the City; and had made Verses more frequently, since Nero began to esteem Poetry. That he forbore not in public to find fault with his Divertisements, and to laugh at his Activities in driving Cha∣riots; and derided his Excellency in Music.

When once a Prince begins to lend his Ears to Flatterers, Calumny forthwith makes open War with Men of Vertue. They that accus'd Seneca, were certain of over-ruling Nero, to his Destruction: For that Burrhus and He were always averse to his Pleasures. For the Court is always full of certain People, who make it all their business to sound the Disgusts and Discontentments of Princes, & incense 'em against them who are both

the Object & the Cause of them. And thus it was, that Sejanus exasperated Tiberius against Asinius Gallus, and that Cossuria∣nus Capito and Eprius Marcellus perswaded Nero to rid himself of Thrasea. As to what the Courtiers laid to Seneca's Charge, that he ascrib'd to himself the sole Glory of surpassing all others in Elo∣quence, that was only an Artifice, by which they render'd him so much the more odious to Nero, in regard that he, continually making use of him for the composing those Orations and Speeches which he had to make to the Senate, should thereby take notice, that Seneca made Merchandize of this Eloquence; while 'twas the general saying, that whatever he spoke or did, either Handsom and Noble, still Seneca reap'd all the Ho∣nour of it, as being the first Composer. However, that Nero was past a Child, and by consequence needed no more Tu∣tors, the Examples of his Ancestors being sufficient to instruct and advise him in the management of his Government. By the way observe, that Tacitus seems obliquely to reprove the Vanity, or rather Vain∣glory of Senca, in saying, That he caus'd Nero to pronounce several Popular Ha∣rangues, to shew the good Education

which he had given his Pupil, or else in Ostentation of his own Wit. So true it is, that the wisest of Men are subject to an ardent love and desire of Glory: And according to the Greek Proverb, 'Tis the last Shirt they put off.