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THE next day he made a long Harangue in Commendation of Himself, wherein he extoll'd his Industry and his Temperance with high Encomiums, tho' all that were present had been Eye-witnesses of his Debaucheries, and all Italy, through which he had march'd, had seen himnotorious for his drousie Luxury and Gluttony. Ne∣vertheless the Vulgar, unable to distinguish between Truth and Falshood, made a hideous noise
with their Acclamations and Ap∣plauses, and clamour'd to him to accept the Title of Augustus, which he refus'd.
The next day, says D'Ablancourt, he made a Harange to the People and Senate, wherein he commended his Industry and his Temperance, as if he had spoken to Stran∣gers, and that all Italy had not been able to testifie the contrary. The People however, who are accustom'd to Flattery, void of all Sentiments of Honour, applauded his Im∣pertinences, and forc'd him to assume the Ti∣tle of Augustus, which he had refus'd.
When Princes applaud themselves, 'tis a sign they expect to be Extoll'd and Ad∣mir'd by those that hear 'em. And Sy∣cophants when they Flatter out of Cu∣stome, they never fail to magnifie a bad Prince, who is so vain as to commend himself. Some there are therefore who have stil'd Sycophants the Eccho of Princes, and indeed it is a Definition that pro∣perly befits 'em; for they always speak whatever the Princes say, and always re∣peat the Princes own words. Tacitus re∣ports that Caligula affected as much as in
him lay, all the Expressions of Tiberius; and then when Nero sang upon the Thea∣tre, all the Company, but more especi∣ally, the Senators and Roman Ladies ex∣toll'd his Voice, observing the same Time and Measure in their Acclamations that he kept in Singing.