BVT I haue gotten the Vpperhande.

Beware lest anger, pride, crueltie, rage, and madnesse, get the vpper hand ouer thee. These are the companions of victorie, and the inuisible and horrible enimies of the victours, of whom oftentimes the most famous conquerours haue been most shame∣fully vanquished. Fortune doth not yet call thee to accompt, there is betweene you a long and intricate reckoning, she is an hard and wilful creditour, with whom now thou hast great dealinges, and it is her maner to require that which shee hath lent, with great in∣terest.

I haue gotten the vpper hand in a great battayle.

He that hath gotten the vpper hand in a battayle, hath often been vanquished in continuance of warre.

But I haue won.

How often haue the Garthagiens, how often the Frenchmen, how often other nations had the better, and how often haue the Romans been put to the woorst? But the Page  129euentes of thinges are to be considered, specially of suche as alter, and can not stand styl.

Verily, I haue gotten the victorie.

Although the end of warre were certayne, yet the euent is doubtful, and sorowe followeth myrth, and myrth followeth so∣rowe.

I haue gotten a great victorie.

There is nothing so great, but may be distinguished from that which is too much: find it hath so fallen out, that the winning side hath ben 〈◊〉 t• shewe most woundes, and most dead carkases. It thou wilt no• beleeue me, aske Xerxes, and Thermopilae.

It was my chaunce to gayne a great victorie.

A great vic∣torie can not be gotten for a final price. Concerning the greatest warre that euer was, whereof the greatest Historician that euer was entreateth, Fortune, sayth he, was so wariable, and the conflict was so doubtful, that they were most in daunger, that had the victorie.

I haue fully conquered.

There is no complet victorie, where there remaineth an armed enimie? howbeit if thou suppresse one, other wyl rise vp, and there be certayne conquestes, that may be tearmed the seede of warre: so hatred cut downe with a weapon, ryseth vp more thicke then before, and souldiours returne with more courage into the fielde: not in suche sort per∣haps as somtime a stronge imagination brought vnto Cassius the representation of an enimie which he had slayne, euen the very same day that he dyed, with so hideous a countenaunce, that the very resemblaunce of the dead man, put to flight that most vali∣ant Captayne, that was not afearde of hym while he was alyue: but rather so, that many beyng restored for one, with assured handes, doo beare assured weapons, agaynst those that seemed to haue had the victorie.

I haue gotten the victorie, and now am I carelesse without an enimie.

Thou foole, as long as there shalbe men, so long there shalbe enimies. Thou rea∣dest how that after so many triumphes, & conquering of the whole world, the citie of Rome wanted not enimies: & hopest thou then to be without? Perhaps if thou be quiet, thou mayest want foes, but neuer if thou fight.

I am a conquerour.

Take heede thou be not so in vayne: victorie is profitable for them that knowe how to vse it, to vse it, I say, not as Maharbal gaue counsayle to Hanibal, but as Hanno that was a better Page  [unnumbered]〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  129〈1 page duplicate〉 Page  [unnumbered]man gaue counsayle to his Common wealth. For truely Peace is the best vse and fruite of victorie, neyther are iust warres taken in hande for any other ende, then for peace.

Victorie is on my syde.

Beware she flee not away, for she hath winges.