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HEnce the Orators took occa∣sion to spend all their Stu∣dies upon Panegyrics and Enco∣miums in honour of the Prince. The Earth (cry'd they) produces not only her usual Fruits, and Gold con∣fus'd with other Metals, but as if infertiliz'd by Thy Rays with a new access of Plenty, teems with unac∣custom'd Productions, while the Gods throw down their obvious
Riches to encrease her Store. With several other servile Raptures, com∣pos'd with no less Eloquence then Adulation, as being secure of the Credulity of their Hearers.
Says D'Ablancourt; The Orators made choice of no other Themes for their Panegyrics, crying out, that the Earth produc'd not only Fruits and Flowers, or Metals within its bowels, but from her bosome discover'd new Treasures, to augment the felicity of so flourishing a Reign. With many other things of the same nature, which their own servile Inclinations, and the Prince's Credulity, pro∣duc'd with as much Eloquence as Flattery.
Princes are the more easily induc'd to flatter themselves with the enjoyment of those successes with which Adulation sooths their Fancies, as being made be∣lieve that all things must be obedient to their Fortune; and that there is no con∣tending with their Fate. Nero therefore, who naturally coveted things the most in∣credible, with ease gave credit to his own Wishes; and his Courtiers were no less careful how they undeceiv'd him, seeing how lavish and profuse he was in his
Expences, in hopes of Dido's pretended Treasures.
Thus it is, that unwary Princes are frequently abus'd and gull'd by their Flat∣terers, impoverishing their Treasures by immense Profusions, while they feed 'em with vain Expectations. For his expe∣ctancy of promis'd Wealth, was one of the causes of publick Poverty. 'Tis the course of Flatterers still to be buzzing in the Sovereign's Ears, that Princes should never mind good Husbandry; whereas they should have told 'em, they could not be well too thrifty, considering there is no end of their Expences.
The Favourites of Hen. 3. (says Meze∣ray in his Life) had instill'd into his mind, that all the Estates of his Subjects were absolutely at his disposal; and that France was such an inexhaustible Fountain of Wealth, that no Prodigality whatever could draw it dry. But this ill Advice, and worse bad Husbandry (says he) caus'd such scarcity of Money, that many times there was not sufficient to defray the Ex∣pences of the King's Kitchin.