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. LXXXVII.

OTHO was desirous of Battel: And his Brother Titianus, and Proculus the Captain of his Guards, as being Persons of little Experience in War urg'd him on; assuring him that as Fortune, the Gods and Otho's Genius were present at his Councils, so would they also assist his Enter∣prises: A piece of Flattery which they made use of, lest any one should oppose their Advice.

Otho (says D'Ablancourt) was willing to give Battel, seconded by his Brother, and the chief of the Pretoriun Countiers, who spunr'd him on for want of Experience, and cry'd out, That the Gods who had assisted Otho in managing the Design, would never abandon him in the execution of it; adding Flattery to Impatience, lest any one should pre∣sume to oppose 'em.

There is no sort of Flattery so bad, as that which precipitates a Prince to the

rash and over-hasty execution of a De∣sign, where there can be no miscarriage twice committed. In the most Impor∣tant Affairs of Private Persons, there is always some hope, or something of last remedy, to which he may have recourse; so that a Man with the absolute ruine of himself, may try a second Fortune. But the Affairs of Princes, especially such as are advanc'd of a sudden from a Private Condition to Absolute Dominion, and whose unstable Fortune is still upon the Totter, are subject to so many Accidents, and depend upon so many Circumstances, that the smallest Error is enough to un∣hinge the whole Frame of their Designs for ever. History furnishes us with a re∣markable Example of the Fatality of Sy∣cophant Advice in the Person of Francis Duke of Anjou, Brother to Henry III. of France, who lost Flanders and Brabant by miscarrying in his Design upon Antwerp. They, by whom he was more particularly govern'd (says Mezeray▪) were Persons without Honour or Fidelity, among the rest Quinsay his Secretary, Fervaques, and Aurilly his Son▪ in-Law, the Son of a Serjeant of La Terte near Blois, with his Playing upon the Lute, his Voice, his Dancing, and such other Effeminate Qualities, more proper

for the Affection of a Young Lady, then a Great Prince, had rais'd to the highest degree of his Master's Favour. These People keeping him still at defiance with the Duke of Mont∣pensier, and other Men of Honour, spurr'd him on continually to make himself Master of those Towns and Places of which he promis'd them the Government. For the Counsels of Sycophants are always byass'd. And for that reason it is that all Princes, who lay the Foundations of great Designs, ought seriously to deliberate, whether their intended Enterprises will turn to their Honour, and the Benefit of the Public; whether the Execution will be easie; or at least, whether it be not be∣yond their Strength and their Industry; and, whether they that advize 'em, have Courage and Fidelity enough to venture equal Dangers with 'em and for 'em: For many times they happen to Engage themselves in a War, of which they know not how to make an Honourable end when they have begun it: In regard that if they repent, their coming fairly off is in the power of another. Besides that, their own Authority lessens, as the Re∣putation of their Generals encreases. Therefore Tiberius rather chose to termi∣nate his Differences by Treaty, then by

Arms; and always conceal'd his Losses upon the Frontiers of the Empire, because he would not be oblig'd to give the Command of his Armies to Persons that might find him work at home. There is not the same equality of Prosperity and Adver∣sity (said Mucienus to Vespatian) between Thee and Me: For if we Vanquish, I shall enjoy no more Honour, then what thou wilt be willing to confer upon me. But if we fail in our Enterprize, we shall share alike in our Misfortune. All Generals speak the same words; but when once they become Victors, they change their Language, and many times their pretensions are too excessive, that their Victory would prove a Burthen to the Prince and State, should they be gratify'd to the utmost of their demands. For, according to the saying of M. de la Rochefoucauld, 'Tis a difficult thing for a Man to contain himself within the limits of Moderation, after the perfor∣mance of great Services, which inspire subli∣mer Thoughts of Rule and Dominion into those that never think their Merits rewarded to the full. Then as to the point of giving Battel (says Comines) whoever he be, it is expedient for him to consider, before he ha∣zards his Kingdom upon a Battel; for the loss of a small number of Men, dismays the

Courages of all the rest beyond belief; and instead of terrifying the Enemy, begets a Con∣tempt of the Loser. And some few lines after, Let it be how it will, a Battel lost, draws a large Train behind it, to the prejudice of whoever is vanquish'd. And in another place (speaking of Lewis XI.) The King, said he, whatever could be said or argu'd to the contrary, was resolv'd he would not Fight, as being resolv'd not to venture the Fortune of a Battel. And in my Opinion, he took the most prudent course. To conclude, I shall only add one single Reflexion more, and more remarkable then the former, out of the same Comines, upon another usual piece of Adulation which Flatterers daily insinuate into the ears of Princes, that they should rely upon their own good Fortune, and despise their Enemies. A notable Example, says he, (speaking of Ed∣ward IV. King of England, who was driven out of his Kingdom in fifteen days,) for Princes to take notice of, who pretend to be always fearless of their Enemies, and to dis∣dain and scorn an Armed Foe. 'Tis true, the chiefest part of their Courtiers, uphold 'em in their vain Conceits, to please their Humours: And they think they are to be esteem'd and valu'd for it; and that People will applaud 'em for their couragious advice.

But the wiser sort look upon those Rodomon∣tadoes as meer Folly; since it is a vertue to fear with Prudence, and provide against it. 'Tis a great Treasure for a Prince to have a Wise Man at his Elbow, provided he believe him, and that he have permis∣sion to tell him the Truth. For no Person is more likely to Ruine himself, then he that lays aside all Fear, his Security and Confidence being generally the beginning of his Destruction.