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Of Emulation, the Sister of Envy, and the Remedies of it.
THe same Remedies that are good against Envy, prevail also against Emulation, which hath Less Malignity in it truly, than Envy hath; but more of Ambition, and the Treachery of Self-concernments. But these Competitors of ours, are to be Stroked with a
a certain Specious Respect, and Ceremonious Veneration, which will Powerfully divert these kind of humors; especially, if we Feed their Hopes with Higher Things than those We aim at, and seem to Contribute our Votes and Assistance to them; on the other side, Vilifying that which we seek for, as Below them to stoop unto, and fitter for Our selves; whose Merits as they are Less, so our Pretences ought not to be so High. If we fear that they will smell our Drift, we are to hold them in Suspence, and seem to Discourse the Case with Argu∣ments on both sides; yet giving the Grea∣test Weight to those which we intend should Divert their Ambitions. But the surest and best course of all, is to Conceal, if it be possible, what we Aim after, till it be out of the power of our Enemies, or Competitors to hinder us.
A Too Great Eagerness in our Pretences, is sometimes odious, even to those that would if it were more modest, Contribute their Assistance to us; pulling with it besides, other Greater inconveniences upon us, as if we succeed, More Envy, and if we fail, a Greater Disgrace: It is much more safe, as I said even now, to Hide our Designs, and as Rowers do, turn our Backs upon the place we are going unto. Those that look, after the greatest Commands, have taken This way; nothing hath been more usual unto them, than after
the example of Agamemnon in Euripides, to express a greater desire of Rest and Re∣tirement, than of Honor or Imployment. And many have found this a singular Remedy, to divert the Wiles of those that would Oppose them, and to escape the Disgrace which attends those Fierce Pretenders; nay they have had hereby the Glory, to have often thought, That this Honor or Imploy∣ment was cast upon them, meerly for their Merits, and not obtained by Begging or Bying of Voices, as it too often falls out.
Last of all, in our Pretences we must take heed, that we Clash with no Rival, that is greater or more powerful in Friends and Dependants, than our selves. In this case we must imitate Marcus Lepidus, a man in Tacitus his opinion, of Great Wis∣dom; who being Drawn, as it were, in∣to the Senate by Tiberius, to stand with Junius Blaesus, Sejanus his Uncle, whether of them should be chosen Proconsul of Africk, pretended presently against him∣self, Want of Health, the Tender years of most of his Children, and the Marriage of a Daughter, that he was to take care of; fearing doubtlesly to make Sejanus his Enemy, if he carried away the Province from Blaesus. Neither must we obstinately contend with him, whom some great man is about to Advance, although the Law favour us against him; for without doubt, Favour
weighs down the Law, as Tacitus instances in Germanicus and Drusus, creating Haterius Agrippa Praetor, notwithstanding the Ex∣press contradiction of a Law; But let the Historian speak himself. There arose a dispute of substituting a Praetor in the place of Vipsa∣nius Gallus lately dead; Germanicus and Drusus favoured Hateriut Agrippa Germani∣cus his Kinsman; others on the contrary side did contend, That the number of Children should carry it, according to the Law. Tiberius was glad to see his Sons, and the Laws of the Senate, clash together; without doubt the Law was o∣vercome, but yet not easily, nor by many voices: By which means, when they were in their great∣est vigor, they were wont to be overborn.