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 XCIX.

VItellius enquiring the cause of so much Light in a certain Tower, word was brought him that several Persons Supp'd with Laecina Tuscus, among whom the most considerable for Honour, was Junius Blesus; at what time they that brought the News aggravated much more then it was, the Splendor of the Feast, and the dissolute Riot of the Guests: Nor were there want∣ing some that accus'd Tuscus himself and others, but Blesus more hainous∣ly, for Debauching so publickly when the Prince was Sick.

Says D'Ablancourt, Vitellius lay very ill in Servilius's Garden; at what time he observ'd a great Company of Lights in a House adjoyning, and demanding the reason, he was told that Tuscus Cecina made a great Entertainment for Junius Blesus, and seve∣ral others of meaner Condition. Nor did they fail to give him an Account of the Mag∣nificence of the Banquet, and the Excess of their Debauchery, and to blame the Master of the Feast, but more especially Junius Blesus, for Debauching so scandalously when the Emperour lay Sick.

There can be nothing said more per∣haps to this Subject, then what Tacitus himself repeats concerning the Death of Blesus.

So soon, says he, as certain of the Cour∣tiers who make it their Business to dive into the secret Jealousies and Disgusts of Princes, perceiv'd that Vitellius was Exasperated, and that Blesus might be made the victime to his Indignation and their Envy, they made their Addresses to Vitellius's Brother, who out of a deprav'd Emulation hated Blesus, whose high Reputation was an Eyesoar to a person sully'd with all manner of Infamy, and engag'd him to undertake the Accusation of his Rival. L. Vitellius thereupon entring

the Emperour's Chamber, took his little Son in his Arms, and throwing himself at his brothers Feet, told him that the Trouble he was in, and the Supplications he made him with Tears in his Eyes, proceeded from no other cause, but his real good Wishes for the Welfare of the Emperour and his Children. That his most dange••ous Enemy was not Vespasian, whom so many faithful and couragious Le∣gions, and so many Loyal Provinces prevent∣ed from approaching Italy; but a Person that Rome fomented in her Bosom, who boasted his Descent from the Family of the Caesars, and a Branch of the Junius's and Antonius's, and who daily corrupted the Ale∣giance of the Soldery, by his Trayterous Li∣berality and Caresses. That all the World lookt upon him as already Emperour, to the contempt of Vitellius, who slighting equally both his Friends and his Enemies, suffer'd the Fortune of a Rival to grow great, who rejoyc'd to behold in the midst of a Luxuri∣ous Feast, his Soveraign languishing upon the Bed of Sickness. And therefore it be∣hov'd him to let him taste the sorrows of a sad and dismal Night for his unseasonable Jollity, that he might both understand and feel Vitellius was alive and Emperour, and had a Son too to succeed him.

And thus we see how Sycophants enve∣nome the most Innocent Actions of Men, of whom the Prince has once a Jealousie, and spur their Soveraigns on to Cruelty and Tyranny. And this Example of Blesus may serve to serve to admonish great Personages, how much it behoves 'em to be careful of themselves, and to 'em understand the Dangers to which their Birth and Fortune expose 'em.