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 15, 2024.
Pages
ESSAY. LXXV.
AFelicity of the Times but rare∣ly
known, when it was law∣ful
to think what ever thou wouldst;
and what thy Thoughts were, those
to utter freely.
Says D'Ablancourt, A Subject more Am∣ple
and less Thornie, upon which a Man might
fearless utter whatsoe're he thought, which
was no small Happiness.
Court Flatterers observe this for a cer∣tain
Maxime, Never to speak what they
think, but always to speak what they ne∣ver
think, or at least never intend. And
thence it is, that Princes being accu∣stom'd
to understand 'em, those Persons
that are Sincere and Real-hearted, are
at a Nonplus how to please their Hu∣mours,
and by consequence to make their
Fortunes. Besides, 'tis no such Errour
in Princes, as generally the Common sort
descriptionPage 149
believe, not always to favour and esteem
those Persons, who freely and frankly
speak their own Thoughts. For besides,
that freedom of Speech approaches too
near forbidden Licence, it is also no less
subject to heighten into Imprudent Zeal,
which frequently leaves behind most mor∣tal
stings in the nice Breasts of Princes.
The simplicity of the Dove at Court sig∣nifies
nothing, if it be not manag'd by
the wisdom of the Serpent.
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