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 LXXXV.

VItellius, among the more pru∣dent and ridgid sort, was thought to be a Man of a poor and pitiful Spirit; which his Favourers call'd his Affability and Mildness, as being a Person that squander'd away his own, and was no less pro∣fuse of other Mens, without either Moderation or Judgment: And thus they interpreted for Vertues, most Egregious Vices, in greedy hopes to Command their Master.

Says D'Ablancourt; His readiness to give away both his own and the Estates of other Men, without rule or measure, was look'd upon as Liberality and Genorosity, tho' they that censur'd more severely, call'd it his Weakness and Prodigality. But the eager

desire of Dominion, made 'em disguise his Vices under Vertuous Appellations.

Sycophants extol the Vices of Great Men, because it is their Interest to foment and cherish 'em. So that if Princes had not their Vices, at what a loss would Flatterers be, who have only that Sally-Port open to creep into their Favour, and only that same ignominious means to pre∣serve what they have once attain'd? The Younger Pliny says, that Princes have no need of Masters to instruct 'em to be wicked; yet let 'em be ne'er so bad, yet they learn many things which else they never would have thought of, had not Sycophants been their Tutors. Nor is there any Vice to which a Prince may be prone, which they more seduliously labour to foster and cherish, then his Lux∣ury and his Prodigality, in regard they are Persons that get the largest share of his Profusions. Henry III. of France, was one of the best Princes in the World, but Francis D'O, one of his principal Syco∣phants, and as an addition to the King's Misfortune, Super-intendent of his Exche∣quer, made swift haste to corrupt and vitiate his good Nature. He was a Per∣son (says Dlozeray) entirely devoted to

Luxury, who every day persuaded the King to make new Edicts, which were called Bursal, and to go to the Parliament, by his Presence to force their Confirmation. And this was one of the chief Causes of the ruine of that Prince, by his losing insensibly that Respect and Affection which the People had for him: Nor did the Heads of the LEAGVE fail to make their advantage of it, by augmenting their Contempt and Aversion to his Person. To which the Insolency of his Favourites did not a little contribute, who acted the parts of more then Sovereign Princes, and dispos'd of all things with an absolute Will and Pleasure.