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 LXXIII.

SOme there were who admonish'd him to make Caesar his Heir of the greatest part of his Estate, which would be the way to preserve the rest for his Grand-children. Which he refus'd to do, that he might not tarnish with servile condiscension a Life that he had lead, the nearest that might be to Liberty—And (speaking of Petronius) neither would he Flatter in his Will either Caesar, or Tigellinus, or any of the Great Men then in Favour.

Says D'Ablancorut; Some advis'd him to leave the best part of his Estate to the Em∣peror, and to save the rest; but he reply'd, That after he had liv'd so long in Honour, he would not fully the end of his Life with a servile Act—Nor would Petronius Flatter in his Will, either Nero, or Tigel∣linus, or any other of the Favourites, as most of those there that suffer'd had done.

They who never committed any dege∣nerate Act in their life-time, are careful to preserve their Reputation to the last gasp. Nor can there be a smarter incen∣tive to die like a Man of Honour, then to have always been so. Therefore Cocceius Nerva, the best Friend Tiberius had, see∣ing that the Emperor grew more vicious every day then other, while his Health & Estate were yet in a good condition, and his Reputation unblemish'd, chose to die. And Thrasea, whom Tacitus calls the Patern of true Honour, made answer to those who advis'd him to delay his Death, That he had nothing more to do but to die as he had liv'd; that is to say, untain∣ted, unpolluted, and imitating the glo∣rious Exit of those whom he had emula∣ted in his life-time. For it is not enough for Great Personages to be distinguish'd from Others by the Magnificence of their Funerals, unless at their Deaths they like∣wise leave a distinct remembrance to Po∣sterity.