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 XCIV.

VEspasian in the Infancy of his Empire, not being so obsti∣nate in Licencing Injustice, till his Indulgent Fortune, and the Flat∣teries of his Tutors taught him to dare more boldly.

Says D'Ablancourt; There were nothing but Accusations of the Rich, and Confisca∣tions of Estates; Violences insupportable to the People, but excus'd through the ne∣cessity of the War. Nevertheless Vespasian corupted by his good Fortune, and instructed by his evil Tutors, practic'd the same Oppres∣sion in Peace toward the end of his Reign,

notwithstanding his Reserv'dness at the be∣ginning.

Avarice was a Vice predominant in Ves∣pasian, Equal but only for that (says Ta∣citus) to the Ancient Roman Captains. His Flatterers fomented and cherish'd this same failing of his, which he had some thoughts of reforming at the beginning of his Reign, at which time he carry'd himself with so much Moderation, that it was said of him, That he was the only Private Person advanc'd to Sovereignty, who ever chang'd for the Better. But they that are always at the Elbows of Princes, make it their study to corrupt and enervate their vertuous Intentions by the force of Pleasure, which they strive no less to make habitual to 'em, that so they may have neither leisure, nor any de∣sire to look after the Publick Affairs. If Pri∣vate Men (says the Younger Pliny) change their Manners and their Conduct in so short a time, Princes are more easily al∣lur'd to the same Effects of Human Frailty, how excellent soever their Natural Incli∣nations may be; because there are so few that study to cultivate and improve those blooming Excellencies, while all Men rather labour on the other side, out of

servile Complaisance, to encourage and augment whatever they discover amiss or irregular in his Disposition. Francis I. (says Mazeray) had been a most Renowned Prince in all particulars, had he not suffer'd himself sometimes to be led astray by the evil Counsels of his Ministers▪ who to advance their own Authority, screw'd up his Prerogative be∣yond the Anncient Laws of the Kingdom, to irregular Domination. And that Henry II. who was greatly enclin'd to acts of Ju∣stice, Was the cause of all the Mischief which they who Govern'd him committed, in regard he never was the absolute Master of himself.