This is a flourish: There follow excellent Pa rables; as that the gathereth ftrength in going that the goeth upon the ground, and yet hideth her head in the Clouds. That in the day-time fhe fitteth in a Watch-Tower, and flicth moft by night: That the mingleth things done, with things not done: And that the is a terror to great Cities: But that which paffeth all the reft is: they do recount that the Earth, Mother of the Gyants, that made War against Jupiter, and were by him deftroyed, thereupon, in anger, brought forth Fame: For certain it is, that Rebels figured by the Gyants and Seditious Fames, and Libels, are but Brothers and Sifters; Mafculine and Feminine. But now if a man can tame this Monster, and bring her to feed at the hand, and govern her, and with her flye other ravening Fowl, and kill them, it is fomewhat worth. But we are infected with the ftile of the Poets. To fpeak now in a fad and serious manner: There is not in all the politicks, a Place lefs handled, and more worthy to be handled, than this of Fame. We will therefore fpeak of thefe points: What are falfe Fames; and what are true Fames's and how they may be beft discerned; how Fames may be fown and raised; how they may be fpread and multiplied, and how they may be checked and laid dead: And other things concerning the Nature of Fame. Fame is of that force, as there is fcarcely any great Action wherein it hath not a great part, especially in the War: Mucianus undid Vitellius by a Fame that he fcatP 2 tered;

tered; that Vitellius had in purpose to remove the Legions of Syria into Germany: and the Legions of Germany into Syria: whereupon the Legions of Syria were infinitely inflamed. Julius Cafar took Pompey unprovided, and layed asleep his industry and preparations, by a Fame that he cunningly gave out; how Cafars own Soldiers loved him not, and being wearied with theWars, and laden with the spoils of Gaul, would forsake him as foon as he came into Italy. Livia fetled all things for the Succeffion of her Son Tiberius, by continual giving out, that her Husband Auguftus was upon recovery and amendment. And it is an ufual thing with the Bashaws, to conceal the Death of the great Turk from the Janizaries and men of War, to fave the Sacking of Conftantinople, and other Towns, as their manner is. Themistocles made Xerxes, King of Perfia poft apace out of Grecia, by giving out that the Gre cians had a purpose to break his Bridg of Ships, which he had made athwart Hellefpont. There be a thousand fuch like Examples; and the more they are, the less they need to be repeated; because a man meeteth with them every where: Therefore, let all wife Governours have as great a watch and care over Fames, as they have of the Actions and Deligns themselves.

The rest was not finished.

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LX.

A Civil Character of Julius Cæfar.

ULIUS CESAR was partaker at first

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his benefit: For it abated the haughtiness of his fpirit, and whetted his Induftry. He had a Mind,turbulent in his Defires and Affections; but in his judgment and understanding very ferene and placid: And this appears by his eafie deliverances of himself, both in his Tranfactions and in his Speech. For no man ever refolved more fwiftly, or fpake more perfpicuously and plainly. There was nothing forced or difficult in his expreffions. But in his will and appetite, he was of that Condition, that he never rested in those things he had gotten; but ftill thirfted and purfued after new; yet fo, that he would not ruth into new Affairs rafhly, but fettle and make an end of the former, before he attempted fresh Actions. So that he would put a feasonable period to all his Undertakings. And therefore, though he won many Battels in Spain, and weakned their Forces by degrees; yet he would not give over, nor defpife the Reliques of the Civil War there, till he had feen all things compofed: But then affoon as that was done, and the State fetled, inftantly he advanced in his Expedition againft the Parthians.

He was, no doubt, of a very noble Mind; but yet fuch as aimed more at his particular Advancement, than at any Merits for the Common Good. For he referred all things to Himfelf; and was the true and perfect Center of all his Actions. By which means, being so fast tyed to his Ends, he was ftill profperous, and prevailed in his Purpofes; Infomuch, that neither Country, nor Religion, nor good Turns done him, nor Kindred, nor Friendship diverted his Appetite, nor bridled him from pursuing his own Ends. Neither was he much inclined to works of Perpetuity; For he established nothing for the future, he founded no fumptuous Buildings; He procured to be enacted no wholfom Laws, but ftil minded himself: and fo his thoughts were confined within the Circle of his own Life. He fought indeed after Fame and Repu tation, because he thought they might be profitable to his Defigns: Otherwife, in his inward thoughts he propounded to himfelf rather Abfoluteness of Power, than Honour and Fame. For as for Honour and Fame, he pursued not after them for themselves; but because they were the Inftruments of Pomer and Greatness. And therefore he was carried on through a Natural Inclination, not by any Rules that he had learned, to affect the fole Regiments and rather to enjoy the fame, than to feem worthy of it. And by this means he won much Reputation amongst the People, who are no valuers of true: Worth: But amongst the Nobility and great Men, who

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were

were tender of their own Honours, it procured him no more than this, that he incurred the Brand of an Ambitious and Daring Man.

Neither did they much err from the Truth who thought him fo; for he was by Nature ex ceeding bold; and never did put on any fhew of Modefty, except it were for fome purposes, Yet notwithstanding, he fo attempered his Boldnefs, that it neither impeached him of Rashnefs; nor was burthenfome to men; nor rendred his Nature fufpected, but was conceived to flow out of an Innate Sincerity and freeness of Behaviour; and the Nobility of his Birth: And in all other things he paffed, not for a Crafty and Deceitful Perfon, but for an open-hearted and plain-dealing man. And whereas he was indeed an Arch-Politician, that could counterfeit and diffemble fufficiently well; and was wholly compounded of Frauds and Deceits; so that there was nothing fincere in him, but all Artificial; yet he covered, and disguised himself so, that no fuch Vices appeared to the Eyes of the World; but he was generally reputed to proceed plainly and uprightly with all men. Howbeit, he did not stoop to any petty and mean Artifices, as they do, which are ignorant in State-Employments; and depend not fo much upon the strength of their own Wits, as upon the Counfels and Brains of others, to fupport their Authority; for he was skilled in the Turnings of all Human Affairs; and tranfacted all Matters,efpecially thofe of high Confequence by himself, and not by others.