Charles by the grace of God Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwell, etc.  G: G:  portrait of Charles, Prince of Wales   

PLINY'S Panegyricke: A Speech in Senate: Wherein public thanks are presented to the EMPEROR TRAIAN, By C. Plinius Caecilius Secundus Consul of ROME.  
Translated out of the Original Latin, illustrated with Annotations, and dedicated to the PRINCE, By Sr ROB. STAPYLTON Knight, Gent. in Ordinary of the Privy Chamber to His Highness.  
OXFORD, Printed in the year 1644.   

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAIN, DUKE OF CORNWALL AND ALBANY, etc.  
SIR,  
MY duty (that moves always to your presence, as the flame to heaven) is now more emboldened, because in the present eruption of Licentious Pamphlets, I conceive it seasonable to publish a modest work, and necessary to entitle it to inviolable protection. Humbly therefore I consecrate to your Highness Pliny's Panegyricke, which hath lived many Ages with constant approbation in his Dialect, and even in my rude expressions (being cherished with your gracious smile) may have the honour to outlive all those abortives of the Press, that (like their compeers the vipers) are cursed into fruitfulness.  
Such as his Book, such was the Author, universally approved of; for what merit, appears by his advancement in those times when merit only was preferred, his prudence, erudition, and integrity of life advancing him to the Consulship of Rome, and yet higher, to the impartial estimation of his Prince, for whose favours grateful Pliny to this day pays tribute: For now when Trajan's Annals lie in fragments, when those imperial Statues and Triumphal Arches, that should have immortalised him, have confessed their own mortality; behold (in this Panegyricke) that best of Caesar's from his Ashes reascends his Throne, where he still governs the world, as an example.  
But, Sir, you have (and long may you have) a living example, the absolute pattern of all virtues, His Sacred Majesty, whose Heroical and Divine Principles we know are written in your heart, because we read them in your actions. From hence flows your particular regard to the deserving, from hence your general affability, and (which in your Spring of years we behold with greatest admiration) your love to justice equals your love to Men; and both these Affections are steered by judgement, great as your Birth and Spirit.  
What fit wish can I make to so much goodness, then that of the Roman Senate to their Emperors? May you be 
* Eutropius. Vsque ad nostram aetatem non aliter in Senatu Principibus acclametur, nisi foelicior Augusto, melior Trajano.  happier than Augustus, better than Trajan: to whom you are now so just a Parallel, that I present his Character as a mark of your own height in honour; whereon if your Highness please sometimes to cast your eye, you may discern how you out-grow him in those perfections, which render you the Model of your Excellent Parents, and the joy of all their Loyal Subjects; among the faithfullest whereof, as my study, so my hope is ever to be numbered:  
SIR, Your Highness' most obedient and most faithful servant ROBERT STAPYLTON.   

The Preface to the READER.  
THat the Book may present less distraction from the margin when you carry the subject in your memory, give me leave to prepare you with a short view as well of Trajan's private condition, and the public state of the Empire when he was elected, as of his Conquest of the King of Dacia justly occasioned by this Panegyricke, Vespasian Caesar had now declared the Jews Rebels, and accordingly denounced war against them, when he sent L. Trajan (father to Trajan the Emperor) than Tribune of the tenth Legion, with two thousand Foot and a thousand Horse against Aphaca in Galilee, a City naturally strong, and fortified with a double wall: The Galilaeans draw into the field, the Tribune gives them battle, beats them within their first wall, and falls in pellmell with them. The City, fearing he would do the like at the second wall, lock out their own men, who were, by the Romans, all put to the sword to the number of twelve thousand. Trajan hearing no more of the Garrison, and presently apprehending, that either none remained, or such as durst make no resistance, reserves the honour of taking Aphaca for the Emperor himself. Titus is sent, who commanding the right wing, and Trajan the left, the Town is Stormed; and the Tribune afterwards honoured with Triumphal ornaments, and made Consul of Rome. This was the first eminent Rise of Trajan's Family. Nor did the Father's happy Star finish its course in him, but came to a higher elevation in his son, whom he trained under his command, as the Eagle breeds his Eaglet, first to look up at heaven, and then to govern as Viceroy to the Deity. Spain was young Trajan's Country, war his cradle: when he was yet a youth he commanded in chief against the Parthians▪ nor did Vespasian employ the father with a truer intention to remunerate his service, than Domitian employed the son only to speed his death upon the bed of honour, which was made for him in several and fare distant climates, Trajan being still sent away, where new danger threatened Domitian, who was careful to pay the last hazard of his general's life with a fresh occasion of a more desperate engagement; but in vain he laboured it, for a higher power both preserved and retributed Trajan, not (like his father) with a Consulship, but with that very Empire under which he so long and so injuriously had suffered. For Nerva succeeding Domitian, and M. Trajan (now General of the Germane Legions) being at Colein, there happened, in the Praetorian Camp near Rome, a dangerous mutiny; which shaking the Imperial Crown on Nerva's head, made him settle it upon Trajan. The cause of the insurrection was this. The Pretorians (the Emperor's Lifeguard) which were at first quartered scatteringly in Rome, had been drawn out into a standing Camp, when Sejanus was their Perfect: who possessed the Emperor Tiberius, that living in Town debauched the Soldiers, whereas fixed in a body they would better observe discipline, and be readier for any present service. What this cunning allegation meant, subtler Tiberius soon found out, & Sejanus as soon felt in his own destruction. Yet still the Pretorians continued in a Camp, and howsoever the design failed in the Individual, yet it took in the general; for though they made not Sejanus Emperor, yet they made Emperors afterward at their pleasure. At this very time they were sensible of the greatness of their power, and therefore expected answerable Donatives from Princes, which Domitian poured into their hands. But Nerva was more provident for the public, then to empty the Treasury to fill private purses, and the loyalty of the Pretorians more weak, then to stand firm without a golden buttress. The ill humour, now stirred in them by their aged Emperor's frugality, was fomented by their Perfect Aelianus Casperius (made their Captain by Domitian, and not removed by Nerva) who likewise missing his own covetous hopes, quickened their inclination to rebellion, giving them for a pious pretext the specious colour of doing justice upon the conspirators against Domitian, not including Nerva in the number (for they knew him innocent) but only requiring the lives of all that were actors in their master's death; to whom Nerva had given a Prince's word for the indemnity of their persons, which surely is a sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; yet to take away all Scruple (which might breed jealousies, and consequently cause disturbances of the public peace) he had likewise past his oath to an Act of Oblivion in Senate. But the Prince's Act shall not bind them against their Captain's Protestation, Casperius is their Legislator, and according to his Fundamentals, they oppose the known Law, and clamour to have Domitian's murderers brought to condign punishment, that is, they declare themselves judges of the matter of fact, and in the same moment appear as executioners, and were a great deal fit for this office. Nerva withstands them, and when he sees no persuasion can prevail, offers his own bosom naked to their fury, that death might free him of his promise. But this was no part of their instructions, by which they punctually proceed, and execute all the men their Perfect had marked out for slaughter. Nerva now finding that old-age rendered him contemptible to the soldier, not having an heir of his own, considers only that which Electours ought only to consider, merit, and having pitched upon the man that already ruled in all men's hearts, he went to the Temple of Jupiter Capitolin, and in the presence of a great multitude that followed him, uttered these words Bona fortuna Senatûs Populique Romani & mei ipsius, Marcum Ulpium Trajanum Nervam adopto. May it be happy to the Senate and People of Rome and to myself, I adopt Marcus Ulpius Trajan Nerva. Thus giving Trajan his name and adopting him for his son in the Capitol, he immediately transferred his Sovereignty and declared him Emperor in Senate: Nothing now wanted to perfect the reestablishment of the late endangered Empire, but only to provide that an example of rebellion so destructive to government might not with impunity be passed over, by his sons calmer temper. I should wrong Nerva to conceive that his revenge could have any end but the public good; for had he been vindicative, he had not suffered Crassus with the other Conspirators against his own life to escape unpunished; whom be was so fare from hindering in their intentions towards him, that as they sat with him beholding the shows presented in the Circus, he made swords be brought them, and said, Inspicite si acuti sint, Look if they be sharp, plainly signifying (as Dion observes) that he cared not how soon they would dispatch him. Without controversy therefore it was the Empire, not himself he sought revenge for, writing with his own hand to Trajan these words of Chrysis Apollo's priest (In Homer) praying to his God against the barbarous Greeks', that denied him his daughter's freedom upon ransom tendered.  
Iliad. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Let thy shafts make the Greeks' repent my tears. Every line in Homer was then by the Romans accounted sacred; I am sure this proved prophetical for Trajan, after his Father Nerva's decease, sent for Aelianus and his Praetorians, who came expecting great employment which they deserved not, and found the ignominious death which they deserved. Nor did the Emperor Trajan only do exemplary justice upon rebellious Subjects, but likewise punished a revolted Prince, Decebalus Kings of Dacia, who had formerly by his Ambassadors sued for Peace, and himself in Person prostrate at Trajan's feet accepted such conditions as he pleased to give, viz. to lay down arms, to yield up his Engines and Engineeres, to deliver Fugitives, to slight all works, to demolish all Fortifications, to departed from the lands he had entrenched upon, & to esteem those friends or Enemies that were so accounted by the Romans. In pursuance hereof, after Trajan's return to Italy the Dacian Ambassadors come to Rome, and are admitted into the Senate, where yielding up their arms and joining their hands after the manner of servants they supplicate in few words and so the peace being confirmed, their arms are returned them, this done Trajan triumphs for his conquest over the Dacians, and is styled Dacicus. But Decebalus cannot sit quiet, nature (custode potentior omni) struggles to shake off the Roman fetters, to which he lately had submitted; for he being (as Dion delivers him) ingenious, and of great experience in the war, nimble to invade, or to retreat if need required, one that knew excellently how to lay ambushes, and to give battle, to use a victory to his best advantage, and moderately to bear an overthrow, and having so often fought with the Romans, and evaded even their victories by his stratagems, relying upon his own abilities (and conceiving that Trajan, whose person he more feared than his armies, being now warm in the pleasures of Rome, would hardly venture bacl into the Dacian frost and snow) he breaks all the articles of peace, takes up arms, entertains fugitives, fortifies, by his Ambassadors solicits his neighbours to revolt, and already had possessed himself of some of the country of the Jaziges [now the territory of Sibenburghen.] This news the Senate had, when the Consul Pliny made this Oration to Trajan, whose spirits he so inflamed against that King for his contempt of the Empire, that he would not substitute any General, but undertook the war against Decebalus in person, and to accelerate the work caused a stupendious bridge to be built over Danubius, in such a part of the river where the torrent was so strong, that there was no turning of the water; the Bridge consisted of 20 piles or pillars of squared stone, every pillar (not reckoning the foundations) being 150 foot long, 60 foot broad, distant from one another 170 foot, and arched above. Passing his army at this bridge he fought securely with incredible celerity, and at last with much difficulty conquered. Decebalus, seeing his palaces and Kingdom possessed by the enemy, and fearing his own turn would be next, slew himself, and though he had (according to his usual subtlety) turned a river to hid his wealth and drawn bacl the stream again; for more security, causing the servants he had employed in it to be put to death, yet all that vast treasure came to Trajan's hands, being confessed by Bicilis after the fate of his great friend Decebalus, whose head was brought to Rome, and Dacia by Trajan made a Roman Colony.  
Secondly, Because Pliny, through the whole frame of his Panegyric illustrates Trajan's virtues, by comparing them with Domitian's vices, lest you suspect him to be a flatterer for praising a good Prince eloquently, or think him a detractor for no less eloquently dispraising a bad, I shall give you the characters of both those Emperors, as I find them in the most authentic Histories; and first of the first in priority of time. Domitian was a bold and furious man, very full of tricks, and vain, so that he was rash on the one part, and crafty on the other, for much he laid waste breaking in like thunder, and again he destroyed much upon plot and and premeditation. He never truly & with his heart loved any but a few women, yet he always made as if he affected him whose blood he thirsted for. So diffident he was in those that gratified or flattered him in greatest matters. that who presented him most money, or accused most men, them he was sure to ruin, especially servants that informed against their Masters. But though this was his carriage in his Empire, yet he exceeded himself in casting aspersions on his father and brother, whom he hated because they preceded him in honour: to avoid which infamy (as he esteemed it) be bragged, that they left not, but restored the Empire to him, which he had bestowed upon them. He would mention his brother Titus with tears, as if he had been acting his part upon the Stage, and lament his greatest share in the loss of that delight of mankind; but notwithstanding he did all things contrary to his determination, and took away the Circensian games, merely because they were celebrated upon his birthday; loving nothing of his brother's but his daughter Julia, whom he forced to marry him, and his Eunuch Earinus; yet because Titus had loved Eunuches, in scorn of him he forbade that any more should be made within the limits of the Roman Empire. Now and then he made great entertainments, and his wine flowed in the nighttime, which as it was sure to please the people, so sure were some of the Nobility to die for it, that he might recover his expenses with a confiscation: Men knew not, safely, either how to condole, or congratulate with him, lest they should or be a trouble to him, or seem to take notice of his dissimulation. Such his impatience of labour, and his timorousness, that when he lead his Army against the Dacians he himself never saw the face of an enemy, yet such his pride and vainglory, that after the foul loss of almost all his men, he writ letters of his conquest to the Senate, and by their decree the world was filled with his silver and golden statues: But what in him was worst of all, though he writ himself Lord and God, and coveted infinitely to be flattered, yet both they that did, and they that did not adore him were equally displeasing, for in those he held it to be flattery, and in these neglect.  
Trajan had a spirit so well tempered, that youth made him not rash, nor old age slow. He envied none, ruined no man, graced all good men with honours and dignities. He gave no credit to detractours, had no furious passion, and was as fare from taking another's propriety, as another's life. His expenses were vast, both in times of war and peace, wherein he finished many necessary Works, as Highways, Havens, and Public buildings, yet never shed any one's blood to defray the charges. He was by nature magnificent and magnanimous, and therefore when he had enlarged, and beautified the great show-place, he set up an inscription, that he had perfected the Circus, that it might contain the people of Rome; from whom he more coveted love, than honour; carrying himself with civility to the people, with nobleness to the Senate. He was dear to his Subjects, terrible to his enemies. He hunted and feasted with the Romans, was present at their serious and merry meetings, where he often sat down the fourth guest, nay, many times, came without his guard to private houses, and lay there all night. And though he affected war, yet he commanded so, that he broke his enemies, and increased his friends; for it never happened so to him (as commonly it falls out in Armies) that his Soldiers shown themselves insolent, so well and rationally he managed his affairs: nor was he so intentive to the War, that he omitted what belongs to Peace, but sat in person in the Courts of Justice, and in the Forum of Augustus, Livia's Gallery, and divers other places heard and determined causes. To sum up all in his own words attested by his actions, he was to private men such an Emperor, as being himself a private man, he wished an Emperor should be to him.  
Thus having endeavoured to vindicate my author's work from obscurity and his fame from censure, I shall have an eye in the last place to myself to prevent the nicer Critics, that will (I know) be busy with my very first words, especially when so strong an objection lies against them, as that those very Senators whom I call Lords, could not endure the title. I answer, the Romans understood the word (Lord) in a twofold notion, first as it had slave for the Correlative, and consequently signified Tyrant; and then as it related to Subject or inferior, and was the stile of one in Sovereign, or subordinate authority. So that Pliny himself, who in the former sense abhors the stile of Lord in his Panegyricke, in the second acception styles Trajan Lord in his Epistles: and I by the same rule intitling the Senators Lords of the Senate, shall (I doubt not) acquit myself to the Learned, whereas the Consul would have spoken like a Roman newly landed, scarce intelligible, if I had used Conscript Fathers in the Concrete; and when I had come to the Abstract Fatherhood or reverence, I should have made a College of the Senate. As in this part so in the whole take notice, I beseech you, that I as industriously decline Latinismes, as Politian in his Translation of Herodian professes to shun Graecismes. 
* A. Politianus in Praefat. ad Innocentium viij. Ne inepta peregrinitas, ne Graculae usquam figurae, nisi si quae jam pro receptis habentur, Latinam quasi polluerent c●stitatem.  Lest foolish foreign words, should as it were stain the chastity of our Language.  
To conclude, I must desire this favour, that if the Latin of your Pliny differ from my English, you will believe, that you and I have several Editions. So leaving you to entertain yourselves a while with Pliny's Life (his perfect Picture in the Antecamera) that being perused, you may be pleased to open the Senate house, and hear him speaking.   

THE LIFE OF C. PLINIUS COECILIUS SECUNDUS.  
THe Learning of the Romans and their Empire flourished together, for about the time of Augustus and Trajan lived their most illustrious Writers, and among them the two Plinyes, whereof the younger (Author of this Panegyricke) was son to L. Caecilius by the sister of that other Pliny the natural Historian; who having no child, and finding that his nephew would be heir to his knowledge made him (by adoption) heir likewise to his name and fortunes. His Tutors were Niceas the Priest, and Quintilian the Orator. When he was military Tribune in Syria Euphrates the Philosopher read to him. He was much delighted in translating Greek authors into Latin, and Latin into Greek, which made him master of both the Languages. When he was very young he writ a Greek Comedy, and divers Poems which the Grecians themselves applauded. At one and twenty years of age he pleaded in the Roman Courts of Justice in the Forum, and afterward in Senate defended Causes of high concernment. He was patron to the Spanish in their accusation of Bebius Massa, & Caecilius Classicus, & delivered the charge against the Proconsul of Africa, Marius Priscus, whom his Province impeached of bribery and extortion. Being Praetour, according to the duty of his place, he set forth the usual Plays and Shows, but with more than usual magnificence; that he might appear to Domitian only to intent his pleasures, wherein he disguised himself with better fortune, than poor Domitius Glabrio, who fought naked with the Lions in the same Emperor's presence, for Pliny (though with much difficulty) escaped the jealous and inquisitive eye of that cruel Prince, who made it his masterpiece, what mask soever was put on; first, to discover, and then to cut off Virtue. With great integrity and equal reputation, he discharged the Offices of the Emperor's Questour, Tribune of the People, Praefect of the Treasury, and high Commissioner for the reparations of the Aemilian Way, and the Bay and Banks of Tiber. The Colleague of his military Tribuneship was Calestrius Tyro, of his Praefectship and Consulship Cornutus Tertullus. In the Augur's dignity he succeeded julius Frontinus. He was sent with Proconsular power to govern the Provinces of Pontus & Bythinia, from whence he returned to Rome: no less honoured for his prudence, then for his industry and moderation. An instance whereof, to his eternal honour, is that noble testimony of the behaviour of the Christians living under him, which he certified to Trajan, writing to this effect; that he perceived their number to increase, and lest so many should suffer death without the guilt of some enormous offence, he had tried all means and ways to discover the intent of their private assemblies, and found upon examination, That they met before day, only to sing hymns to Christ as God, binding themselves by Sacrament, not against the Roman Laws, or to commit any crime; but to renounce theft, robbery, faith breaking, and denial of Depositums entrusted to them, eating together at those meetings, promiscuously, but innocently. To his demand, what course he should take with these men? Trajan answers. Conquirendi non sunt. His pleasure was they should not be inquired after. Which gave a stop to that violent Persecution, the only spot in that clear sky of Trajan's fame; so prevalent with him were Pliny's words, who obtained of his Prince many favours and honours for his friends, and for himself whatsoever he would make his suit. The great estate that came to him by inheritance, and was increased by his own prudent industry, his noble nature munificently bestowed. Witness his bounty to his Tutor Quintilian, to whom he sent five hundred thousand Sestercii, taking the occasion of his daughter's marriage, that he might buy her wedding clothes, and set her forth according to the quality of her husband; forcing the sum upon him, with this further compliment, that he knew his mind was great, but his fortunes small: that is, if compared to those of Pliny: but that Quintilian (as some from that Epistle do infer) wanted in his old age, I can hardly credit, when I remember how another of his scholars admires his wealth.  Juv. Sat. 7. 
Vnde igitur tot  
Quintilianus habet Salius?  
How got Quintilian so much land then? Where juvenal makes him, for his fortunes, the miracle, the white crow of Rhetorick-masters. I rather believe therefore, and the magnificence of the gift itself declares, that this was no supply of wants to Quintilian, but the expression of gratitude in Pliny. Many great bounties he conferred, as upon Comus and Firmus, whose estates he made up 3125 sterling, being the Census Equestris, and enabling them to claim all the Privileges of Gentlemen of Rome. He was likewise munificent to his nurse and to divers other particulars, not forgetting the public, for at Novo-Comum, the town where he was borne, he founded a Free-school, which he liberally endowed, assigning a third part of the revenues to the Schoolmaster, and building and furnishing a Library for the benefit of the students. Briefly his Wealth was so fare from needing addition, that when Cornelia offered him two hundred thousand Sestercijs, for a piece of ground, he conceived it a great indignity that she should think any sum (how vast soever) could purchase the least part of his inheritance. And as he scorned to sell ignobly, so he did to gain unworthily, for in patronising Causes he not only forbore presents and ordinary gifts, but refused New-year's gifts. His house in Rome stood (where the chief of the Patricians lived) in the Esquilian Mount, of all his Country houses his favourite Villas was that seated in the plain, which he named the Comedy: and that standing upon the rising of a bill, which he styled the Tragedy. He much delighted (like the old Romans, Numa Pompilius, the Pisos, and the Fabiuses) in gardning and tillage, which was the reason (as I conceive) that made him give for the impress of his Seal, a Wain. He had two wives, the first Calphurnia, the second Pompeia Celerina, with whom he lived very contentedly, though without issue. The most learned of his friends were the Poets, Virginius Romanus, Silius Italicus, and Valerius Martialis; the Historians, Suetonius Tranquillus, and Cornelius Tucitus; the Civil Lawyers, Pomponius Saturninus, Tious Aristo, and Cornelius Mutianus; Among which Tacitus was his Counsellor, Suetonius his companion, and Martial his Pensioner. Of all his Freedmen he especially affected Zosimus, who hath his master's testimony for an honest, serviceable, and very learned man. His name is immortalised as well in the History of Tacitus, as in his own works both Latin and Greek, though (to the great prejudice of learning) of all their number now no more are extant, but only this Panegyricke, his Epistles, and a little Treatise of men famous for Military and Civil government. His constant course when he writ any thing, was, first to censure himself, then to hear others read it to him, after that to desire his friend's opinion, if he were not then satisfied, to consult two or three more; lastly he would read his works in a full Audience of the learned, which they now challenge by prescription.   

PLINY'S 
a A Panegyric is a public Speech made in praise of any one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying praise and convention.  Panegyricke.  
My Lords,  
WEll and wisely our forefathers instituted, that as our 
b The Romans began their Actions with consulting the gods by an ancient Institute. Val. Max l. 1. That they so prefaced their Speeches, appears by those in Livy most of them beginning Quod foelix faustumque sit SPQR.  actions so our speeches should begin with prayer; because nothing can be rightly or providently begun by men, without the assistance, counsel, and honour of the Gods. Which custom who is more concerned to practise, than the 
c Pliny.  Consul? or when should it rather be received and observed, then now, when by command of Senate, and authority of the Republic we are enjoined to present our thanks to the 
d Trajan.  best of Princes. For what more excellent or greater bounty of the gods, than a chaste, religious, and a godlike Prince. And were there yet a doubt whether fortune or providence gave Rulers to the earth, it would be clear howsoever, that the Deity 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Princes are of Jupiter. Homer. Iliad. β. The Caesars are of God Vegetius.  bestowed our Prince upon us; for not by the secret power of Fate, but publicly and openly he was pointed out by Jupiter himself, being elected between the 
f The places for the 3 degrees of Roman Sacrifices were, to the Infernal Denies Scrobieuli little furrows, to the Terrestrial, Arae the sacred pavement or floor, to the Celestial Altaria named Altars from their exaltation.  sacred pavement and the Altar, in the very 
g The Temple of Jupiter in the Capitol, which had on each hand (within the same walls) the Temples of Juno and Minerva, and over all three one artificial Eagle spread his wings.  place where that God is as present and resident, as in the heaven and stars: And therefore as common Religion, and this more particular Providence obliges us, we pray thee, Jupiter the 
h Jupiter was styled Best for his favours to Rome. Greatest for his own power. Cicero pro domo sua.  Best and Greatest, formerly the 
i Founder of the Empire so, as they esteemed him fountain of the Deity, and primary Cause of all things.  founder, now the preserver of our Empire, that I may speak things worthy the Consul, the Senate, and the Prince; that in all I say there may appear freedom, integrity, and truth; and that the thanks I give may be as far from show or colour, as they are from the necessity of flattery. Indeed not the Consul only, but the whole State should (as I conceive) endeavour to say nothing of our Prince that may be appliable to another. Away therefore with those expressions which our fear extorted, let us not speak as formerly, because we suffer not as formerly: nor let our public addresses to the Prince be such as once they were, because our private whispers are not such: let the diversity of times be discerned in our Orations, and let the form and manner of our thanks make it appear to whom. For hitherto they have been directed as to a 
k In the second Consulship of Vlpius Trajan, and Glabr●o (saith) A Cassi ador●●, the stile Dominus et Deus, Lord and God, was assumed by Domitian.  God, now no place is guilty of that servile blasphemy. For we are not now to speak of a Tyrant, but of a Patriot, not of a 
l Such a Lord as Domitian, a Lord of slaves.  Lord but a Father; he esteems himself one of us, and therefore transcends and excels us more, because he esteems himself but one of us, no less remembering that he is a man, then that he is to govern men. Let us therefore understand our good, and prove ourselves worthy such a governor, often revolving in our hearts, whether we should tender more ready obedience to Princes that delight in the servitude, or in the liberty of the Subject. And accordingly with loud shouts the people of Rome applaud the election of this Prince; with as perfect a consent, as before they called 
m Domitian, who under a fair outside disguised a tyrannous Monster.  another handsome, they pronounce this valiant; and with the same acclamations wherewith they cried up the voice and gesture of 
n Nero, who sung and acted on the common Stage, both in Italy & Greece.  another, they admire in this, his piety, continence, and mildness. What shall we ourselves, (my Lords) shall we likewise celebrate (as love and joy transported us) our Prince's divinity or humanity, temperance and facility of access? Now, what so civil, what so 
o The Senate's decree for this surname of Best, the People's shouts, and Trajan's tears, in this place but lightly touched are fully handled near the close of the Panegyricke.  Senatory, as that surname we give him of the best, which is made peculiar and proper to him, by the arrogance of former Princes. For how just it is, that we proclaim ourselves happy and him happy, thus let him do, this he must hear, as if we would not say it unless he would do it, so reciprocal are our votes, whereat his tears and frequent blushes spring; for he is sensible, that 'tis spoken to himself, not to the Prince; the measure therefore that we together kept in these shouts, the sudden heat of piety, let us severally observe in our premeditated speeches. For we must know there is no kind of thanks more sincere and acceptable, then to emulate those acclamations which have not time to be dissembled. For my own part, I will labour to submit my discourse to the modesty and moderation of the Prince, and will no less consider what his ears can suffer, than what is due unto his virtue. A great and unusual glory of a Prince, to whom being to present our thanks, I do not so much fear that he should think me too sparing, as too prodigal in his praises; this care, this difficulty only interposeth. For, my Lords, 'tis easy to give thanks to a deserving man; because there is no danger that when I mention his humanity, he should suspect I tax his pride; when I name his frugality that I mean his luxury; when his bounty, his avarice; when his goodness, his malice; when his continence, his lust; when his labour, his sloth; when his valour, his cowardice. Nay, I do not so much as fear that I shall say too much or too little, for I observe, the Gods themselves are not so much delighted with the accurate prayers of their adorers, as with their innocence and sanctity, and do better accept of him that to their Temples brings a pure and chaste mind, than a studied verse. But we must obey the Senate, which have pleased to decree for the public good, that by the mouth of the Consul under the title of Thanks, good Princes may know what they are to do, bad what they ought to do. And this is now more solemn and necessary, because our parent hath forbidden our private, and would likewise have discharged our public thanks, if he could have taken to himself a liberty of prohibiting what the Senate hath commanded. In either (
p The Roman Emperors had the stile of Caesar from Julius, from Octavius of Augustus or Sacred, which the Senate decreed him, placing in his person the veneration and privilege of consecrated places, called l●ca augusta.  Augustus Caesar) you have shown your moderation, both that elsewhere you would not suffer thanks, and that here you would. For this honour is not your ambition, but the action of your honourers, you give way to our desires: nor are we compelled to speak your deserts, but you to hear. My Lords, I have often in my silent meditations thought of what composition he ought to be, who at his pleasure should dispose of the Sea and Land, peace and war; but when I form and fancied to myself a Prince, I never, no not in my wishes, could conceive the like to him we now behold. Some one hath shined in war, but gathered rust in peace; another wore his gown with honour, but not his sword; another enforced the people to a reverence by terror, another courted them with humility; that lost abroad the glory he had got at home; this at home what he had won abroad; to conclude, there hath as yet been none whose virtues were not soiled by confining upon some vice. But in our Prince how great a concord, how great a harmony of praises meets, insomuch as his severity takes off nothing from his affability, his gravity nothing from his candour, his Majesty nothing from his humanity. Now his strength and height of body, the honour of his head, the noble features of his face, add to these the 
q Pliny follows their account that make only three divisions of the Ages of Man, to wit, Childhood, Youth, & old Age, for Trajan was 41, or (according to Dion) 42 when he began his Reign.  prime of his years, nor without the special bounty of the gods, the 
r These grey hairs to his young face, almost cost Trajan his life, for the Agarenes kn●w him in the battle by those marks, & shot so well, as they killed the horseman next him, Dion.  ensigns of age thus early spread upon his hairs to increase his Majesty; do not all these limne out a Prince in fairest colours? such he ought to be whom not civil war, not the Commonwealth oppressed with arms, but whom peace, and adoption, and appeased heaven would bestow upon the earth. Was it not fit there should be a difference betwixt an Emperor, chosen by men, and one created by the Gods? whose choice of and favour to you Caesar, even when you were to go General to the army, appeared shining, and that in a strange manner. For other Princes had their happy presages, consulting either the overflowing blood of sacrifices, or the 
s Here Sinister signify happy, for the right hand was held fortunate only in humane things, but in Divine, the left.  sinister flight of birds; but you going to your 
t Trajan (than a private man) before he went to the Army being at his customary devotions in the Capitol, a sudden impulsion of spirit took the people without the Temple who cried the Best, the Best, meaning Jupiter, but designing Trajan afterward chosen in the same place, and honoured with the same title.  accustomed devotions in the Capitol, the people though not intending it, even than saluted you their Prince, for the whole multitude that sat at the Temple-gate, being shut when you were entered, as it was then supposed, saluted the God; but, as the event taught us, you their Emperor; so all understood the Omen, except yourself, for you did refuse the Empire, and it was well for us you did refuse one that would not be denied; you therefore were to be compelled, but compelled you could not be, save only in the threatened change of the Commonwealth, for you were obstinate not to accept of the Empire upon any other terms, but to preserve it. And to that end I verily believe that fury and 
u By the Praetorian mutineers; See the occasion and carriage of that tumult in the Preface.  commotion happened in the Camp, because a great violence, and a great terror was to be used to overpower your modesty. But as whirlwinds and tempests commend the calmer temper of the sky, so to augment the graces of the peace, you brought, I do suppose that tumult to have ushered it. The condition of man hath these ebbs and flows, that adversity may be 
* If it be good (saith Seneca) to know, than we must have both Prosperity and Adversity, because we cannot know the one without the other.  known by prosperity, and prosperity by adversity; the seeds of both God so conceals, that commonly the causes of good and evil lie hidden under the contrary appearences. It was a great affront to the age, a great wound to the State, that an Emperor the parent of mankind should be assaulted, laid hands on, and kept prisoner, the power taken from the good old man even of giving 
x Of this in the Preface.  pardons; the Prince deprived of that which makes it happiness to be a Prince, to be 
(y) For Princes are liable to no earthly power.  compelled to nothing. But yet if this alone was the reason that brought you to the public preservation, I could almost cry out, 'twas worth it. The discipline of war was corrupted that you might be the reformer, the worst example was brought in, that the best might be opposed to it. Lastly, the Prince was enforced to condemn those he would have saved, that he might give us a Prince that could not be enforced. You ought long since to have been adopted, but we had not known how much the Empire is obliged to you, if you had been adopted sooner. Opportunity waited for you, till it might be manifest that you had not so much received, as bestowed a benefit. The trembling State fled for sanctuary to your bosom, the shaken Empire ready to fall upon the Emperor, was by the Emperor's vote conferred on you; you were implored and sent for to your adoption, as of old, great Generals when they were called home from a foreign war to assist their Country; so the son and the father in one and the same instant shown their highest mutual gallantry: he gave the Empire to you, you returned it to him. You being as yet the only man, that by receiving so great a favour hath requited it, and obliged the giver; for you joining with Caesar, as his Imperial Adjutant, you became more troubled, he more secure. O new and unheard of way unto a throne! not your own ends, not your own fear, but another's ends, another's fear made you a Prince. And howsoever you appeared to have attained the highest point of humane felicity, you did relinquish a fare happier condition, ceasing to be a private man under a good Prince, being assumed to the participation of his pains and cares; nor did the cheerful and prosperous, but the sharp and hard times of the Empire compel you to accept it; you did receive it, when another repent him that he had received it. No tye of alliance or of friendship betwixt the Adoptour and the Adopted, but only that both were best; the one worthy to choose, the other to be chosen. You therefore were adopted not as such, or such a one for his wife's sake, not a 
z As Augustus, who adopted his stepsonne Tiberius  stepfather, but a Prince adopted you into his family; the same mind made divine Nerva to become your father, that made him father of us all: nor ought a son to be otherwise assumed, that is assumed by a Prince. Were you to transfer the Armies, Provinces, and Confederates of Rome, would you choose a successor out of your wife's bosom? and only look for an adoptive heir to the supreme power on earth, within the walls of your own house? would you not cast your eyes upon the City, & esteem him your nearest Kinsman, him your dearest friend, whom you found best, and likest to the Gods? He that must be chosen to command all, aught to be chosen out of all. For you are not then to give your servants a master, that you must leave them to your 
a There are in the Imperial Law three sorts of heirs. The extraneus et voluntarius, who being a stranger may accept or refuse to be heir. The Servant who is necessarius et involuntarius, for he hath not the liberty of refusing. And the son in potestate patris, who is necessarius et suus, bound to be Heir by Law, but if he appeal to the Praetour may free himself in Equity.  necessary Heir. But you an Emperor are to bequeath a Prince to Rome. It were Pride and Tyranny to adopt any but one who you know must govern, if you had not adopted him. This Nerva did, conceiving no difference betwixt generation and election, if children should be chosen with no more judgement, than they are begotten; save only that the people with more patience suffer the unhappy issue, than the ill choice of Princes. He therefore, carefully declined this error, nor men only, but even the Gods likewise, were of counsel with him; not therefore in the 
b Where Livia and Agrippina had wrought their second husband's Augustus and Claudius, to adopt their first husband's sons, Tiberius and Nero.  bedchamber, but in the Temple, not before the Genial pillow, but before the cushion of Jupiter the Best & Greatest was the Election past, whereon at length, not our servitude, but our liberty, and preservation, and security is founded. For the Gods challenge to themselves this glory, it was their work, it was their command: Nerva was but their Minister, both, as well he that elected, as you that were elected showed your obedience. A 
c Letters of Trajan's victory over the Pannonians or Hungarians, it being the Roman custom to stick Laurel in Pacquets containing news of conquest, and feathers in such as mentioned overthrows, as I have noted in the end of the 4. Sat. of juven.  Laurel was brought out of Pannonia, the Gods intending to honour the Inauguration of our invincible Emperor with a mark of his own victory. This the Emperor Nerva stuck in Jupiter's bosom, when on the sudden, there being a greater and more reverend assembly, then usual both of men and Gods, he assumed you for his son, that is, for the support of his ruinous Empire. From thenceforth with what security, with what glory did he enjoy himself, having laid down his Sovereignty? For what difference whether Sovereignty be laid down, or divided, only this is the more difficult. Then leaning as it were upon you, with your shoulders he supported himself and Rome; with your youth, with your strength, he recovered his; immediately the tumult ceased, which was not the work of the adoption, but of the adopted; and therefore Nerva had done rashly had he pitched on any other. Do we forget, that lately after an adoption, the sedition ended not, but begun? It had been a provocation to their fury, a firebrand to the tumult, unless it had fallen on you. Who knows not, that Emperor cannot give away his Empire, that hath lost his reverence. This was effected by your authority, upon whom it was bestowed. You were made a Son, Caesar, Emperor and Colleague of the Tribunitian power, all these together, which not long since a real 
d Vespasian, who is here called real, to distinguish him from an adoptive father.  father conferred by parcels, only upon 
e Titus, who only was admitted by his father Vesp. (and that at several times) to triumph with him, to be his Colleague in seven Consulships, his fellow Censor and Tribune, and to sign letters and edicts with his name, yet Vespasian had another son, such as he was, Domitian.  one of his own sons. A mighty argument it was of your moderation, that you did not only please when you were a successor, but when you were a sharer & companion in the Empire, for you must have been his successor whether you would or not, but his companion not unless you pleased. Will posterity believe, that one who had a Patrician, Consular, and Triumphal 
f How Trajan's father merited his Triumph & Consulship, see the Preface.  father, being himself General of a strong, mighty, & affectionate Army, was not by that Army created Emperor? To whom when he commanded in chief our Germane Legions, the name of 
g Conqueror of the Germans. This Inscription in Trajan's coin, juvenal commemorates Sat. 6. (in the Bride's first night's present) when shining in rich plate she must behold Dacian and Germane Caesar cut in gold. How the other stile of Dacicus was decreed him, see the preface.  Germanicus was sent from hence? he doing nothing to make himself Emperor, but only that he deserved and obeyed: for (Caesar) you obeyed, and came to your Sovereignty by duty, you never did any thing more with the mind of a Subject, then when you became a Prince. Now you are made Caesar, now Emperor, now Germanicus in your absence without your knowledge; and after all these titles in what concerns yourself a private man: It would seem strange if I should say, you knew not you should be an Emperor, you were an Emperor and knew it not. When the Messenger of your Fortune came, you had rather have continued what you were; but it was not in your power; ought not a Subject to obey his Prince, a Lieutenant his General, a son his father? or else where were discipline, where the precedents shown us by our Progenitors of undergoing contentedly whatsoever their Generals enjoined? What if he had commanded you from Province to Province, from war to war? Do you think he cannot use the same authority to recall you to the Empire, that he used when he sent you to the Armies? no difference, whether he command you to go forth the Emperor's Lieutenant General, or to return Emperor; save only that the glory of his obedience is the more, who does a thing against his will. It increased the authority of the Commander, that his authority had been so dangerously disputed, and it made you more 
h Good subjects the more they see others fail in their obedience, the more do they their duty.  inclinable to obedience; because you saw others so averse. Besides, you heard the consent of the Senate, and the People: That election was not only Nerva's Judgement, for, wheresoever there are men their votes concurred; he only by the right of Princes preceded, and did that first which all were about to do; questionless it could not universally have pleased when it was done, if it had not pleased before. But, good Heaven! with what temper did you moderate your power and fortune? an Emperor in stile, effigies, and statue, but in modesty, labour, and vigilancy, a General, a 
i In every Province the Romans had a Praetour or chief justice to hear and determine causes, and a Consul or General for the war, who if he stayed the second year was called Proconsul.  Proconsul, a common Soldier; while even then, you lead on your colours and Eagles by a long space the foremost man. Nor out of that adoption did you assume any thing more to yourself, than the piety and obedience of a son, you wishing to that name a long life, a long glory. The providence of God had raised you to the first place, yet still you were contented with the second, and your prayer was that you might therein grow old: nor did you ever think yourself Emperor while the other lived. Your prayers were heard, but so fare as was consistent with the benefit of that best and Saintlike old man; whom the Gods called to Heaven, lest after that divine and immortal act, he should do any mortal business: for this veneration is due unto the greatest work, that it should be the last, and the Author immediately Deified, that hereafter posterity might inquire if he were not a God when he did it. Thus he having no better right to the title of our common Parent, then by being yours, now great in glory, great in fame, when by clear experience he had found how well the Empire sat upon your shoulders, he left the earth to you, and left you unto the earth; for that very reason dear & wished for by all men, because he had provided that he might 
k Which undoubtedly that good old Prince had been, unless he had chosen an excellent successor.  not be wished for. Whom as a son you first honoured with your tears, then with a 
l The deified Caesar's had Temples dedicated to them, and Colleges of Priests named after them, of Quirinus, Quirinales, of Augustus, Augustales, of Nerva, Nervales. The other rites of Deification read in Blondius his 2 book of Rome Triumphant.  temple, not imitating those that did the same, but with a different intention. Tiberius' 
m All that Tiberius did, was (it seems) thought to be done for ends, when his religious offices escaped not just and probable censures.  Deified Augustus, but to entail the Majesty of godhead upon the Crown. Nero Deified Claudius, but to 
n Witness Seneca's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, [Claudius' his ridiculous Deification or purging to Heaven by a poisoned Mushroom] written no doubt to please his Pupil Nero.  laugh at him; Titus 
o Who expected it, his words (when he thought he should die) being these,  puto Deus fio. I think I am turning God, Suetonius.  Vespasian, Domitian Titus, but that to appear the son, and 
p Domitian who after h●s brother's death deified him that he himself might in his life-time be worshipped as a Deity.  this the brother to a God. You have inserted your father among the stars, not to beget fear in men, not to put an affront upon the Gods, not to honour yourself; but because you believed him to be a Deity. It takes off from such an act, when it is done by those that think themselves are Gods. But although you have consecrated to him Altars, Cushions, Carpets, and a 
q A Priest, named Flamen of his Mitre or Tiara, which in old Latin was called Flama.  Flamen, you have not made or proved him a God in any thing so much, as that you yourself are like him; for in a Prince that dies when he hath chosen one to succeed him, the only and assured faith of his Divinity is a good successor. But hath this immortality in your father bred any arrogance in you? do you imitate the late slothful and proud kinsmen to Divinity? or do you emulate the Ancients that founded this Empire, which our foes have lately invaded and scorned? of whose overthrow and flight, we have had no other proofs, but merely the 
r Domitian, under the name of conquered enemies, triumphed for his own army lost in Daeia. Orosius.  sight of triumphs: therefore they have got spirit and shaken off their yoke; nor did they now contend with us for their own liberty, but for our servitude; not so much as admitting of a truce, but upon equal terms, and gave whereas they should receive the law. But now all return to their fear and terror, and desire of obeying; for they now behold a Roman 
s Trajan.  General of the old strain, one of those that gained the 
t Imperator anciently signified a General, or one that commanded in Chief.  Imperial title by fields covered with slaughter, and seas stained with victories; therefore we receive hostages, we do not buy them; nor with infinite loss and excessive presents do we make our peace. As if we had already conquered them, they petition they supplicate, we grant, we deny; both proceeding from the Majesty of the Empire; they give thanks if their suits be granted, nor dare they if denied complain: for how should they dare, that know you have kerbed a hardy 
u The Germans.  people in a season most favourable to them, most insufferable to us, when the river of 
* Known likewise by the name of Ister, and in old time called Mato●s.  Danubius made a bridge betwixt his banks, and being frozen over bore upon his back a mighty war: when that fierce Nation was not more armed with their darts, then with their air and climate. But at our approaches as if the season had been changed, they kept within their holes and caves, and our parties marched along the banks, and would you have permitted us to make use of their advantages, we had with joy turned upon the Barbarians their own winter. You were in this veneration with your enemies, what with your Soldiers? what admiration did you gain, and how? when with you they were a hungry; with you they suffered thirst; when in the very excercising of your Troops you mingled the General's dust and sweat with theirs, differing from the rest in nothing, but in excellency of strength and spirit, freely charging, and receiving the charge: now shaking your pile in a close encounter; now standing while another darted his, encouraging the valour of your men, and rejoicing when they struck the heaviest blows upon your shield or helmet. For yourself commended the bold charger, and praised him into farther boldness; and what did they not dare, when they had you for a spectator and judge of their first skirmishes; you viewing if their arms were fixed, weighing their darts, & if any thought his pile too heavy, throwing it yourself? What! when you comforted the weary, and releived the hurt? it was never your fashion to enter your own pavilion till you had visited your fellow-soldiers tents, nor to take repose, but last of all. Nor should I so admire our General, if he had been such among the 
x These families (the Fabricij, Scipio's & Camilli) were not more famed for valour, than formoderation, being in all their conquests only enriched with honour.  Fabricij, the Scipio's, or Camilli, for than it had been the heat of imitation, and happily some one better than himself might have inflamed him. But after the profession of arms was fallen from the hand to the eye, from labour to pleasure; when we had to 
y The Romans were first taught to use their arms by P. Rutilius the Consul.  train and exercise us no Veteran, [no old Roman Soldier] that had won the 
z The Moral Crown was bestowed on him that first scaled the walls, and therefore resembled battlements.  Mural or the 
a The Civicke or Oaken Crown, was given by the General to him that rescued a Citizen of Rome, so it's here understood; but in process of time it was likewise given by the Soldiers to the General, if he spared a Citizen's life when it was forfeited by Martial Law.  Civic honour, but a pretty fine 
b The Greeks' ('tis Plutarch's note) studied the arts of fencing and wrestling so long, till they lost their Country. And now those wits live upon the little Gambers, that ruin'd them. Read the Character of a hungry Greek, Juvenal. Sat. 3.  Greeke-Master, how strange it is now, to see one of all delighting in the manners of his Country, and without a rival or example, striving and contending with himself; and as he reigns alone, so he alone to deserve to reign! Were not you (Caesar) bred up to these glories from your infancy? while yet a youth, adding your Parthian laurel to your father's honours, you even then merited the title of Germanicus? when the borderers informing you of the Parthian in roads, you quenched their pride & cruelty with a mighty terror, joining in admiration of you the rivers of 
c A river that runs through Cappadocia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and the midst of Babylon. Tigris, this, and Ganges are the noblest rivers of Asia.  Euphrates, & the 
d The famous river that parts Germany from Belgia, and after a course of 300 miles, falls into the Mose and the Germane Ocean.  Rhine; yet then, you never marched so fare in Person, as in fame, appearing still greater, and more glorious in your last quarters. Yet hitherto you were not Emperor, hitherto not son unto a God: and though Germany is guarded with a multitude of different people, made defensible by nature with infinite spaces of desert earth, bulwarked with the 
e The Alps divide Germany and France from Italy; the Pyrenaan mountains, Spain from France.  Alps, and Pyrenaean mountains, and divers other mighty hills, if not compared to these. Yet when through all this tract you lead your Army or rather (such was your swiftness) transported it, you never so much as called for your Coach or Horse, which was a hunting nag and followed after, not for use, but ornament; for you had no service for him, unless upon a Stative day [when you had pitched your battle] you made it your recreation to gallop over the adjacent fields. Shall I wonder at the beginning of your industry, or the end? 'tis much you should persevere, but more that you never feared, you were not able to persevere. Nor do I doubt but that 
f Domitian.  he (who commanded you his best protection) then as fare off as Spain, to undertake the Germane war, he being a slothful General, and envying others virtues, which himself had use of, conceived as great an admiration of you, not without some fear; as once that 
g Hercules, son to Jupiter and Alcmene, whom the tyrant Erystheus enjoined those 12 labours that instead of destroying him (as they were intended) immortalised his name, now given as a title of honour to the indefatigable Conqueror.  son of Jupiter having performed his labours struck into his Prince, when after all his hard commands he still returned victorious, and unwearyed: while you being put upon one expedition after another were still found worthy of new employment, When you were a Tribune in your tender years, you marched through many several Countries, with the vigour of a man, fortune even then inspiring you to know by degrees, what you should command at once. You not contenting yourself to view the Camp at distance, as with a prospective-glass, and to slubber over a short war, but performing the office of 
h A Military Tribune, whose office was answerable to that of our Sergeant Major General.  a Tribune, that you might immediately deserve to be a General; and that you might have nothing to learn at the time wherein you should be called to teach. By ten [annual] 
i This Pay called stipends, the Soldiers had either half-yearly, or (as in this place) yearly.  stipends you known the manners of people, situations of Countries, opportunities of places; and by your patience made the divers tempers of their water and air as familiar to your body, as your own Country springs, as your own Country climate. How often [as public presents to your merit] have you changed your victorious horse and arms? the time shall come therefore that posterity shall go themselves, and take their sons along with them, to see what field hath drunk your sweat, what tree hath canopyed your meat, what caves have been your bedchamber; lastly, what house hath entertained so great a guest, as then in many places you yourself were showed the sacred steps of mighty Generals. But this was long ago, now, he is accounted an old Soldier, that hath been your fellow Soldier. For where is he, whose fellow Soldier you were not, before you were his General? This is the reason why you call almost all your Army by their names: that you yourself are the Chronicle of every private Soldiers valiant acts; no one can show you a wound received for his Country, to which you were not a witness, and a praiser when 'twas made. But your moderation is rather to be insisted on, that you being bred to wars, do yet love peace. Nor do you (because you had a triumphal father, or because your own laurel was consecrated to Jupiter Capitoline on the day of your adoption) on all occasions therefore seek for triumphs; you fear not the war, nor provoke it. 'Tis a mighty matter, (most dread Emperor) a mighty matter to stand upon the bank of Danubius, if you pass, certain of triumph, yet not ambitious to force them to battle that decline it; the one whereof is the act of valour, the other of moderation; for your moderation was the cause that you would not fight; your valour that the 
k Decebalus King of Dacia, of whom in the Preface.  enemy would not: neither did any thing but the contempt of the Empire ever make us conquerors. The Capitol therefore shall receive no counterfeit Chariots, no false 
l As those Statues (in the Preface) which for a false-named Victory over Decebalus were decreed to Domitian, who made show of triumph after his return to Rome, but (as Dion notes) the people said he celebrated the funerals of his Army lost in Dacia.  pictures of victory, but shall be filled (our Emperor bringing home true and solid glory) with peace, and the acknowledged homage of our foes, so, as there will be no one to be conquered: this is beyond all triumphs. But if some 
m Meaning Decebalus.  Barbarous Prince shall grow to that insolence and madness as to merit your indignation. Let him be sure whether he be defenced with vast rivers, or mountainous precipices; he shall find all these as submiss, and yielding to your virtues, as if the rivers were 
n This may seem high Hyperbole and mere speculation at first sight, but it was gloriously reduced into act by Trajan's miraculous bridge over Danubius, as in the Preface.  drained, the mountains leveled, the sea itself swallowed up, and our fleet not landed, but our land itself brought over to him. Methinks I now behold a triumph not heavy laden with the spoils of Provinces, or gold extorted from our Confederates, and allies; but with hostile arms, and chains of captive Princes. Methinks I hear our men running over aloud the high and mighty names of Generals, and pointing to the body's suitable to those names. Methinks while with their hands bound they pass on foot, you follow in your chariot, as treading on the necks of conquered nations, and before you the shields, which you yourself have pierced. Nor shall you want the spoils 
o The Spolia Opima [the Conquered General's Arms] were still by the Conqueror dedicated to Jupiter Feretrius. Jove the striker, because it was believed that without Jupiter's special assistance, one General could not hit another.  Opime, [such as one General wins that takes another] if there be a Prince that dares contend. Nor shall the casting of your darts alone, but of your eyes and frowns, make all the field, and the enemies whole Army tremble. You have deserved by your late moderation, that whensoever the dignity of the Empire forceth you either to invade or to repel an enemy, that it should not be thought you conquer, that you might triumph, but that you triumph because you have conquered. One thing minds me of another; how noble a work it is that you have revived the decayed and extinguished discipline of war, curing the Evil of the former age, sloth and contumacy, and the scorn of obeying. 'Tis safe to merit reverence; 'tis safe to merit love: nor is he a General that fears not to be beloved, or that fears to be beloved; and so alike secure of hate and love they view the works, are present when the Soldier's exercise, they fix the arms, the walls and men. For he is no Prince that thinks those stratagems designed against himself, that are prepared against his enemies; which was a persuasion of theirs, that doing of hostile acts, feared the like measure. In that time, therefore not only the military profession and men's spirits languished, but their bodies too, swords were dulled, their edge taken off with neglect; while our Generals feared not so much the stratagems of foreign Kings, as of their own Princes; nor their enemy's hands and swords so much, as their own fellow Soldiers. It is the nature of the Stars, that the small and meaner are obscure when the great ones rise; so by an Emperor's presence, the honour of his Lieutenants is eclipsed; but you were indeed greater than all, but without diminution to any: every one retained the same authority when you were present, as when you were absent; nay, many respected them more, because you did respect them. Thus therefore you endeared yourself to the highest, and the lowest, thus you made yourself a mixed person, a General, and a common Soldier: so as you both took an account of their exercises, and labours, as a Commander, and a Censor; & as a fellow and companion releived them. Happy are they whose fidelity and industry is known not by messengers, and interpreters, but by yourself; nor with your ears, but with your eyes: and that have gained this further favour, that when you are absent, you will believe no censure of an absent Soldier sooner than your own. Now the desires of Rome recalled you, and your love unto your Soldiers was vanquished with the love you bore your Country. Your journey from the war was calm and modest, as if you had returned from a well settled peace. Nor indeed will I insert among your praises, that no father, no husband feared your coming: others have affected chastity, in you it was inbred and natural, and so to be numbered with those virtues you cannot style your own. No tumult in exacting for your carriages; no nicety in taking up your lodgings, such yours as others diet; to this, your march was so quick, and so free a progress, as one would think it to be some great General (and especially yourself) going to the army. Such little or no difference was betwixt our Emperor before, and after his creation. How unlike to this was lately the march of 
p Domitian.  another Prince (if it was a march, not a design of spoil and desolation) when he dispossessed the owners of their houses, burned down, and laid waste all on the right hand, and on the left, as if some enemy had fallen upon us; or those very 
q The Germans, Dacians, or Sarmatians, who had all foiled Domitian.  Barbarians from whom he fled? the Provinces ought to have been persuaded that that was Domitian's, not the Prince's Journey. And therefore not for your own glory, but for the public benefit you commanded that your edict should exactly particularise the expenses both of his and your own Germane expedition. Let an Emperor accustom himself to reckon with his Empire, so let him go forth, and so return, as if he were to give in his accounts, let him cast up what he hath spent; so he shall never spend what he may be ashamed to speak of. Besides, thereby succeeding Princes whether they will or no shall understand, thus much it will cost them: and two examples being proposed, they shall remember that men will accordingly conjecture of their disposition, as they shall choose this, or that. For these, so many and so great merits did you deserve no new honours, no new titles? nay, you refused the name of Father of your Country; what a long combat had we with your modesty? how slowly did we overcome? that name which others instantly upon their Coronation day, received as they did that of Emperor and Caesar, you put off so long, till you yourself, the severest judge of your own merit, could not but confess that you deserved it. And therefore of all, it was your only fortune, to be the Father of your Country, before you were so declared. For, you were so in our hearts, in our judgements: nor would the public piety have stood upon the name, unless to ourselves we should have appeared ingrateful, to call you rather Emperor and Caesar, when we had by experience found you to be a Father. Which appellation, with what bounty, with what favour do you exercise! That you live with your people as a Father with his Children! That returning our Emperor, you carry yourself towards us, we behave ourselves towards you, as if you were that private person you went forth! you still think both yourself and us the same; you being such as we are all, only by so much greater than others, by how much better. And in the first place, what a day it was, how long wished for, and expected, when you made your entrance to the City! Nay, the very manner of your entrance, how rare and pleasing! For, whereas former Princes used to be brought and carried in, I do not say in their Chariots, drawn with four milk-white steeds, but which is more arrogant, on men's shoulders; You only more conspicuous, and more exalted than others by your height of body, did not make your triumph over our patience, but over the pride of Princes. Therefore no age, no infirmity, no sex retarded any from feasting their eyes with so unusual a sight. The little Children were brought forth to see you, the young men gloried in you, the old men admired you; even the sick neglecting the commands of their Physicians crept into your sight. as if that were their health. Some said they had lived long enough now they had beheld you and waited upon you; others said, that now was the best time of living. The very women than took the greatest joy in being Mothers, when they saw to what a Prince they had bred Subjects, to what a General they had brought forth Soldiers. One might see roofs of houses loaded, and labouring with the weight of people; not so much as that place vacant, where the adventurous slander seemed to fall; the streets all overcrowded, only a narrow passage left for you: the multitudes of both sides cheerful, every where like joy, like acclamations. The rejoicing at your coming (being in all men as equal, as your carriage towards all) grew still more as you came on, and increased almost at every step. It pleased all Rome that you returned that kiss unto the Senate, which they gave to you at parting; it pleased, that the Roman Knights received a greater honour than their order, while you saluted them by their names without a remembrancer. It pleased, that you would not only take notice of your 
r Retainers to Trajan as a private man; for Clients were dependent on the Nobility their Patrons, who were bound in honour to protect them, as Clients were in duty and on pain of death to be faithful to their Patrons.  Clients, but added certain marks of familiarity. But it pleased most, that the people likewise were suffered to come near, nay even to come close to you, that the very first day you trusted your person to us all: you were not enclosed with your guard, but free and open for the whole town to flow about you; now the Senate, now the order of Knights, according as either made the frequency of their addresses. Your Lictours followed silent and quiet; as for your Soldiers, they differed not at all from the people in habit, civility, or modesty. But when you came to ascend the Capitol, how comfortable to all was the remembrance of your adoption, and what a particular joy to them who in that place had first saluted you Emperor. Nay, I believe, the very God himself took an especial pleasure in beholding his own work, but when you stood in the same place where your father did when he published that great secret of the Gods, how the assembly exulted through all the temple! how were the old acclamations revived? how like was that day unto the day that did beget it? how like were the Altars to themselves exalted with Sacrifices for him upon whose health and safety ours depends, all knowing they pray for themselves and their children, when they pray for you! Thence you went indeed to your Palace; but with that look, but with that moderation, as if you had retired into your private house, the rest to their dwellings, every one there iterating the truest testimony of his joy, by rejoicing without witnesses. Some Prince had been undone by such an entrance, but you daily grew more admirable, more worthy. Such, in a word, you are, as other Princes only promise they will be; you therefore are the only Emperor whom length of time commends and adds unto you, joining & incorporating too formerly inconsistent things, the security of a Governor, and the modesty of a beginner; you do not cast down the embraces of your subjects to your feet, nor suffer them to kiss your hand; our Emperor hath the same Civility he had; he did use to go on foot, he goes so still: he did rejoice in labour, so he doth. Fortune hath changed all about you, but hath not changed yourself. 'tis free for every man when the Prince walks abroad, to stand, to meet, to wait upon him, to pass by him; you come not by chance among us, and make yourself familiar with us to upbraid us with it. Every one hath access unto your person; and his own modesty, not your pride, puts an end to his discourse. We are indeed governed by you, and subject to you, but as we are unto the Laws, for they regulate our wills and inordinate desires, yet they converse with us, and remain among us. You are eminent and do excel, as honour and authority, which are indeed above men, yet to men they appertain. Formerly Princes in scorn of us, and out of a certain fear of equality had lost the use of their legs, these therefore their servants necks and shoulders carried over our heads: but you fame, glory, and the piety of your subjects raiseth above those Princes; the earth lifts up you to heaven, so intermingled are our Prince's steps with ours. Nor do I fear (my Lords) that you will think I speak too long, since it is chiefly to be desired that the things for which thanks are given to a Prince should be many, which I might with more reverence leave untouched and entire to your memories, then pass them over slightly and abruptly; because it often happens, that only what we conceal is thought to appear in its just proportions. Unless you please to give me leave to touch briefly his enriching of the Tribes, giving the people their 
s Congiary (a word derived from the measure Congius that held about a gallon and a Pint) was properly the bounty of the Roman Emperors to the people, as Donative was their Imperial munifience to the Soldier.  Congiary, and that whole, when the Soldiers received but part of their Donative. Is it an argument of a common spirit to prefer them in his bounty, whom he might safer have denied? yet even in the making of this difference, the rule of proportion was observed, for the Soldiers were equalled to the people by receiving a part, but first; the people to the Soldiers by coming in the second place, but receiving all at once. Nay, how bountifully was it distributed? how careful were you that none should go without your bounty? It was given to those it was not promised to, they being put in since your Edict in the place of names crossed out. Some were detained with business, others with sickness, he was at Sea, this upon the river, it was laid up for them, and provided, that no one should be sick, no one employed, no one absent, let every one come when he would, come when he could. Caesar, it was magnificent and your own, as it were to bring together fare distant Countries with a miracle of bounty, to contract vast spaces with your munificence, to prevent chance, to waylay fortune, & by your power to make it so, that none of the Commons, when you gave your Congiary, should be more sensible of his being a man, then of his being a denizon of Rome. Upon the Congiary day it was formerly the custom for swarms of Infants, the future people, to attend the Prince coming abroad, the Parents took great pains to show him their little ones, to set them upon their shoulders, and to teach them words of soft and flattering Courtship, the children spoke as they were prompted, and many times gabled to the deaf ears of the Prince with fruitless prayers; neither knowing what they begged, nor what they had not obtained, till they grew so old as to understand their wants. You did not so much as stay to be petitioned, and though it was a most delightful object to have the Roman offspring in your eye, yet before they saw you, or came into your presence, you commanded they should all be taken notice of, and their names enroled, that from their very infancy they might have experience of your being their public parent by their education: you would have them bred at your own charges, that were bred for your own service, and so brought by your pension to your pay: and that they might all owe as much to you, as every one doth to his particular parent. You do wisely. Caesar, to beat the charges of perpetuating the Roman name, for there is no kind of expense more worthy a Prince, and that will more eternise his memory, than what is laid out upon posterity. To breed up their children the rich are encouraged by 
t Tacitus l. 15. Father's [in the Nobility and Gentry] had right to stand for Magistracies, to cast lo●s for Provinces, to be heirs by Will, being (says Juvenal Sat. 9) capable of all, whether pure Legacies, or conditional. These privileges Bachelors wanted, and withal were fined for their contempt of Marriage. The Law de maritandis ordinibus was preferred by Q. Metellus, revived by Aug. Caesar.  great rewards and equal punishments, but the poor to take care for theirs have only one reason, a good Prince. Now children borne for his service, unless with a munificent hand he cherish, feed, and embrace them, he hastens the sunset of the Empire, the sunset of the State; in vain a Prince neglecting the Communality, like a head to a defective body, maintains a bulk staggering with an unballanced weight. 'Tis easy to suppose what joy you took, when the shouts of parents and children, old men and infants entertained you. The first words that were ever spoken by your little subjects saluted your ear, on whom, when you bestowed their education, you made your bounty greater, by not suffering them to ask. But 'tis beyond all your goodnesses, that you yourself are such, that to breed up their children under you they delight, nay they hold it necessary; no parents now fear their children, unless they fear nature, and the accidents of humane frailty; nor among incurable diseases is the Prince's displeasure numbered. It is indeed a great encouragement to educate children in hope of alimony, in hope of Congiary, but 'tis a greater to breed them in hope of liberty, in hope of security. And therefore let the Prince give nothing, so he take away nothing; let him not maintain, so he will not destroy, yet we shall not want those that will covet to have issue. Contrarily, let him give and 
u As Domitian. whose very feast (as in his Character in the Preface) were defrayed with bloody confiscations.  take away, maintain and destroy, truly in a short time he will cause all to repent not only their children's but their own being and their parents. Therefore in all your Bounty I commend nothing more, then that you bestow the congiary out of your own, the alimony out of your own, not feeding your Subjects (as wild beasts their young ones) with blood and slaughter, and which is most welcome to the receivers, they know what is given to them, is not forced from any, and for the enriching of so many, no one is made poorer, but the Prince alone; yet not he neither, for he who hath what all have, he himself hath as much as all. Your numerous glory calleth me another way. another way? as how? Have I then sufficiently admired and honoured your bestowing so much money, not that conscious of a crime you might stop the mouth of fame from following it against you, nor to divert men's black and sad discourses by offering them more comfortable matter; you redeemed no offence with your Congiary, no 
* As Nero (after poisoning Germanicus & the murdering of his mother Agrippina) who distributed money, set forth shows, & gave rich presents to particular men. Tacitus. Dion.  cruelty with your Alimony; neither was it the cause of your well doing, that what you had done ill might pass uncensured; with all these sums it was love, not favour that you purchased, and the people of Rome departed from your Tribunal, obliged not appensed; You offered your Congiary, joyful to the joyful, secure to the secure, and what other Princes cast before the people's swelling spirits, to take off their odium, you gave the people with as innocent a heart as they received it. My Lords, little less than five thousand freeborn Romans were those whom the bounty of our Prince sought out, found, and enroled. These, the strength of war, the ornament of peace, are educated at his public charge, and learn to love their Country, not as their Country, but their Nurse. Out of these our armies are recruited, our tribes replenished, out of these in time will spring such as shall have no need of Alimony. The Gods give you Caesar the long life you merit, and keep you in that mind, which they have given you, and the greater you see the bead role of the Infants grown ever when you read it (for it swells and increases daily, not because children are dearer to parents, but Subjects to the Prince) give them Congiaries if you please, howsoever they are borne to serve you. As a perpetual congiary I esteem the affluence of corn, the care whereof long since added no less glory to 
x Who to furnish Rome in a dearth, sailed to Sicily, Sardinia and Africa, & returning with plenty, when the Pilot durst not put to Sea the storm was so terrible, Pompey himself went first aboard, commanded them to weigh Anchor, & cried. 'tis necessary to sail, not necessary to live Plut. in vita Pompeij.  Pompey, than his banishing ambition from the 
y Campus Martiu● the Fields wherein Election of Magistrates was made where Pompey would not suffer the sale of Offices.  fields, beating the enemy from the Sea, and purging the 
z Where he finished the war, subduing Domitius Jarbus and all Africa in 40 days, for which Sylla surnamed him the Great: And for the West, he conquered Herennius Perpenna and Sertorius in Spain.  East and West by Triumphs. Nor indeed did he more civilly and humanely, than our parent by his authority, counsel and trust, open the ways, clear the ports, restore the traveller to the high way, the Sea to the shore, and shore unto the Sea, so intermingling nations by commerce, as what sprung any where, seemed to spring every where. Do we not evidently see that without injury to any, every year plentifully contributes to our uses; because we rob not our friends, as if they were the enemy, of their green and perishing harvest, they bring to our granaries what their soil bears, what their star ripens, what the year affords; nor pressed with new taxes do they fail in their old tribute. The public Treasury buys what it seems to buy, from hence plenty, from hence provisions of corn, the buyer and seller agreeing upon a price, from hence satiety here, famine no where. Egypt so gloried in cherishing and multiplying seed, as if it were not at all indebted to the rain or heaven, being always watered with her own 
a Nilus ●h● River that waters Egypt like a garden, and is worshipped as a God by the Egyptians.  river nor fattened with any other kind of water, but what was poured forth by the earth itself, yet was it clothed with so much corn that it might (and as it were eternally) vie harvests with the fruitfullest soils of the whole world. This very Country with unexpected drought withered even to barrenness, because dull Nilus risen slowly and languishingly from his channel, he himself being then to be compared with other mighty rivers, so that a great part of the land accustomed to lie cool and overflowed, was parched into deep sands. In vain then Egypt wished for floods, & lifted up their eyes to heaven, when the author of their fecundity, Nilus, being lessened and contracted, had brought their plenty into as narrow a compass, as his own abundance. Nor did that vast overflowing river so much as keep within his constantly usurped bounds, but from his level and detaining border stole away like a fugitive with a soft and gentle ebb, not moistening so much ground as would maintain the scorched land. The people therefore being defrauded of their inundation, that is, of their fertility, so implored Caesar's help, and invocated him, as they use to do their river, nor were they longer oppressed with their misfortunes, then till such time as they could signify them. So swift, Caesar, is your power, and your goodness upon all occasions so intent and ready, that if your times have any sadder accident, for the recovery and cure, it is enough to let you know it. Truly to all nations I wish plenteous years, and grateful earth, yet I must believe, that fortune by putting Egypt into this condition, did it only that she might see a proof of your power and vigilance: For though you deserve to be fortunate every where, yet is't not manifest, that each sadder chance doth but offer new matter and field-roome to your virtues? since prosperity declares man happy, adversity great. It was (time out of mind) a generally received opinion, that Rome without the wealth of Egypt could not eat and subsist, which made that windy and insolent nation boast, that yet they fed the conquerors of the World, and that in their hands lay our abundance, or our want. We have poured back upon Nile it's own provisions, it hath received the corn it sent, and exported the harvests it brought in. Let Egypt therefore learn and experimentally believe that she affords us not sustenance, but tribute, and know that she is to the people of Rome not necessary, yet a servant. Hereafter let Nilus if he please love his channel and keep within his banks, 'tis nothing to Rome, scarce to Egypt; only that from thence their ships will launch out empty and unladed, as if they were returning, and go from hence with their full freight and burden, as they use to come. And the Sea having changed the copy of both our wishes, they may now pray for speedy winds and a short voyage hence. Caesar, it had been a miracle should not the sloth of Egypt, and the sullenness of Nile have had their influence upon the provisions of this City, which by your help and your care, hath abounded in that measure, as proved at once, we could want Egypt, Egypt could not want us. There had been an end of that most fruitful nation, if it had been unconquered; they were ashamed of their unaccustomed dearth, nor less ashamed of hunger that tormented them, when you together stopped both their necessity and blushes. Their husbandmen, that saw the barns full of corn without their inning, wondered from what ground that harvest came, and in what part of Egypt there was another Nile. Thus your bounty took away the malignity of their soil, and Nile that formerly was serviceable to Egypt, never flowed higher to our glory. How happy it is now for all Provinces, that they are come into our subjection and allegiance, since the world hath got a Prince, that now hither, now thither (as time and necessity requires) can pass and return plenty! that could feed and maintain a nation severed from us by the Ocean, as if it had been part of the people of Rome. And while heaven is never so benign, to cherish and make fruitful in one year all soils, but if not barrenness itself, at least the evil of barrenness aflicts them, he importeth, if not plenty itself, at least the good of plenty; he with eternal intercourse ties the East unto the West, that what grows any where, and is elsewhere desired, all nations together may enjoy, learning thereby, how much one Master is to be preferred before discordant liberty. For whereas in Countries where the good is severed, the evils are their own, being mixed and associated, particular evils belong to no particular, but all good to all. But whether there be a certain divinity in their earth, or a Genius in their water, I hope that both their soil and river contented with this bounty of our Prince, will hid our seeds in a soft bosom, and restore them multiplied; not that we demand interest, yet let them think themselves bound to pay it; and let the defrauded expectation of one year, for all future years and ages excuse itself, so much the more because we exact it not. The necessity of your subjects and allies being provided for, you make us spectators of no weak, no idle 
b Trajan set forth shows that continued 123 days, wherein sometimes were slain 1000 beasts wild & tame, sometimes ten thousand; likewise ten thousand Gladiators fought together Dion.  Show, that may effeminate men's minds; but such as may beget a love of handsome wounds, and a contempt of death, when they behold a desire of praise and ambition of victory, even in the bodies of slaves and men condemned to die. In setting forth this Show, how great your bounty, and your justice, either untouched, or above the power of passion! We obtained what we asked, nay that was offered us we asked not, and he himself was earnest with us to prefer our desires, but so likewise we had many sudden and unexpected sights. Then how free was the beholder's liking! how secure their favour! no impiety, as formerly objected unto any that he hated a swordplayer, no spectator made a 
c Made a Bestiarius, so they called them that fought with wild beasts; or forced to be a Gladiator, as Proculus, whom they say, because he was very handsome, C. Caligula commanded him to be taken from the sword-play which he sat beholding, and compelled him ' th' lists, first to fight with a Thracian, then with one armed at all pieces, and Proculus having conquered both, Domitian made him be stripped, bound, put into rags, showed to the Ladies and then executed.  spectacle, paid for his miserable pleasure, dragged by the hook unto the fire. 
d Domitian.  He was a mad man and ignorant of true honour that gathered up high treason from the sand within the lists, interpreting that his Deity was despised and contemned, unless we adored his gladiators, and that malignants in them blasphemed his power and divinity; accounting himself the same with the Gods, and his gladiators the same with himself. But you, Caesar, how fair a show have you made us in stead of that execrable one? We see judgement passed upon informers, such as upon outlaws, such as upon thiefs. They lately were scattered, not in 
e As in Juv. Sat. 4. For such a Turbot who durst sell or buy, So many Inquisitors and Informers nigh. These Seaweeds scattered on the shore.  unfrequented places, but in the 
f The Temple of Saturn, thought the fittest place for the public Treasury, says Alex. Neop. because Saturn first invented brazen money, but with relation to the in egrity of the Golden Age when Saturn reigned▪ saith Plutarch.  Temple and the Courts of justice, than no Testament would stand good, no condition be secure, neither the childless nor the parent. The avarice of Princes added to this evil, you took notice of it, and as before to the Fields, so you now restored peace to the 
g The Forum Romanum containing the Temple of Saturn with the Comitium or Justice-hall, the Rostra or pulpits for Oration, etc.  Forum; you cut off this civil gangrene, and by provident severity took order that the City established by law, should not by Law be ruined. Notwithstanding therefore that aswell your fortune as your bounty hath bestowed, and still bestows upon us, now mighty bodies of men with equal spirits, now the hugeness of wild beasts, now their tameness never known before, now those 
h Hoarded by Domitian, bestowed on the public and upon the Gods, by Trajan. Martial. l. 12. What in th' Atcadian Palace shined, is to our eyes and Gods assigned. And now with Jove we all are blest, But late, alas when 'tis confessed, Into our cheeks 'twill blushes call. We with poor Jove were beggars all.  hidden and secret treasures, first under you made public, yet nothing is more pleasing to us, nothing more worthy of the age, than what is added to these shows, the sight of Informers dragged through the streets with supine faces, and necks wried about, we saw and joyed, when (as Sacrifices to expiate the solitude they had caused) they were drawn along with slow and grievous tortures: They were crowded aboard ships, pressed upon the sudden and delivered over to the Tempests, that should send them away and toss them from the continent, wasted and made desolate by their informations; and if the storms and billows should reserve any for the rocks, he should inhabit the naked stones, and the inhospitable shore, and live hardly and painfully, tormented with the remembrance of his being put out of the common protection of mankind. A memorable sight, the Informers fleet, exposed to all winds, constrained to spread their sails to embrace Tempests, and to go along with the angry waves till they dashed them on a Rock. Oh 'twas a gallant prospect, from the Port, to see that navy scattered, and in the very Sea thanking the Prince, that preserving his clemency, had commended the revenge of the earth & men unto the sea-gods. How much diversity of times could do, is now especially known, when to the same 
i In the Islands of the Cycladeses, to which the Roman Emperors banished many noble persons, Juv. Sat. 13. Or to the Aegaean rocks that entertain great exiles.  Rocks where formerly every innocent person, now only the guilty are confined, and all those desert Islands which late were filled with Senators are now planted with Informers, which you have not only taken away for the present, but suppressed for ever, making them liable to a thousand penalties. Do any go about to cheat others of their money? they must lose their own. would they out us from our houses? they must from theirs be outed. Nor (as formerly) do they hold forth that bloodless and brazen forehead to be marked with a cold 
k Pointing to the act of Domitian, who grievously puished the Informers of the Chequer, but encouraged them notwithstanding.  iron, laughing, and never hurt when they are stigmatised; but they see damages paid answerable to the gain that was expected, so, as they cannot have greater hopes than terrors, nor be feared more than they fear. With a noble soul did the divine Titus look upon our security and revenge; and we therefore deified him, but how much more (a long time hence) will you be worthy heaven, that have added so many things to those for which we have made him a God? and it was so much the harder, because the Emperor 
l Who banished Informers from the City. Dion.  Nerva (most worthy to have you for his son, you for his successor) by making so many superstructures to Titus his Edict against Informers, seemed to leave nothing for you to do, who have so much enlarged it, as if nothing had been done before. The dispensation of each particular whereof, how gracious would it have showed you! but you poured them forth all together, as the Sun and Day, whose light appears not in part, but in whole, nor to one or two, but to all the world in common. What a blessing is it to behold the treasury silent and quiet, and such as it was before there were Informers! Now the God is truly there; now it is a Temple, not the spoliarie of the Citizens, and receptacle of cruel and bloody plunder: In the whole orb of the earth, there is yet one place where under a good Prince the good are too hard for the wicked. Yet still the honour of the Law remains, nothing is taken off from the public benefit, nor the penalty remitted to any one, but our revenge is added; and herein the change consists, that now, not the Informers, but the Laws are feared. But peradventure you restrain not your Exchequer with the same severity as you do our Treasury, yes so much the more, as you believe you may take a farther liberty in what concerns yourself, than in what concerns the public. 'Tis said to your 
m Actor and procurator were Officers of the Exchequer (as this place imports) and the Procurator the greater, who was the Advocate, or Judge fiscal, and the Actor as I suppose the Emperor's Attorney general.  Actor and likewise to your Procurator, come into the Court, appear at the Tribunal; for a Tribunal is now set up, that vexeth them equal with others, more, if you measure their torments by the greatness of their qualities. The lot and 
n Lot's inscribed with names were put into an Urn for the choice of Roman Magistrates, in imitation whereof at this day the Venetians have balls.  urn assign a judge to the Chequer-chamber, 'tis lawful to reject him, 'tis lawful to cry I will have none of this, he is a timorous man, and understands not well the goodness of the times; I will have none of him, because he too passionately loves Caesar; principality and liberty use the same Law. And which is your chief glory, the Exchequer is often foiled, whose cause is never ill but under a good Prince. A mighty merit this, but that fare greater, that you have those Procurators, as commonly your Subjects desire no other Judges, though it be free for any that disputes his title, to say, I will have another Judge: for you annex no necessity to your gifts, as knowing the highest grace of Prince's favours is, if we likewise may not use them. The burdens of government compel decrees of divers Taxes, which as they are a benefit to the generality, so they are an injury to particulars. Among these the 
o When Augustus had taken an account of the multitude of Roman Armies, finding much money requisite for the maintenance of all those foot and horse, he ordained that all inheritances or Legacies left by will to any (save to the nearest of blood & to the poor) should pay the twentieth part, as if he had found this tribute written in Caesar's Commentaries. Dion  twentieth part was pitched upon, a tribute only tolerable and easy to 
p Strangers that had no relation of blood.  extraneous heirs, but a grievance to domestic. Upon them it is therefore 
q Ausonius' mentions some of the twentieth part to be retained by Trajan, and tells us tha● Gratian remitted the whole.  imposed, unto those remitted. For as much as it was manifest with how much grief men would suffer (or rather men would not suffer) any thing to be pared and shaved off from those goods, which by descent and sacred affinity they had deserved, and which they never accounted as other men's estates, and as fortunes to be hoped for, but as their own, as things ever possessed and still to be transmitted to the next of blood. This courtesy of the Law was reserved only for the old denizens of Rome, but the new ones, whether they came in by the right of 
r jus Latij, the right of Latium privileged those [Aliens] that obtained it from taxes, Paulus de censibus F. l. and likewise put them into a capacity of being Magistrates.  Latium, or by the favour of the Prince, unless they had therewith granted to them the right of kindred, the Law looked upon them as greatest strangers, where they were most near of kin. Thus the greatest right was turned into the greatest injury, and the City of Rome was like to hatred, discord and privation of children, since by it the nearest alliances (notwithstanding their piety) were disjoined; yet some were found to bear so great affection to our name, that they held the twentith part, & the loss of their affinities, fully recompensed with the title of Citizens of Rome, but it ought freeliest to have been conferred upon those, by whom it was so highly valued. It was therefore Decreed by your Father, that what out of the mother's goods came to the children, out of the children's to the mother (though they had not received the right of 
s It appears plainly that the stranger, notwithstanding his Indenization was not freed from Augustus his Edict for the twentieth part, unless he had sued forth the right of kindred, till Nerva dispensed with it.  cognation when they were made Citizens of Rome) should not be liable to pay the twentieth part; the same immunity he granted to the son in the goods of his Father (in case he were reduced into his father's 
t A son was reduced into his father's power two ways, eith erif (being freed & emancipated by his Father) he did return of his own accord, or jure postliminij if (being taken prisoner by the enemy) he came back to his Country, for that set him instatuquo and his father might be his heir as before his emancipation.  power) thinking it unhonest and insolent & almost impious to put taxes upon these relations, nor that without a kind of sacrilege these holy ties could be cut in sunder by the interposition of the twentith part. And that no necessary tax ought to be so pressed, as to make Fathers and Children strangers. Thus far he, perhaps more sparingly then became the best Prince, but not more sparingly then became the best Father, that being to adopt the Best, in this likewise as a most indulgent parent, was content to begin, or rather but to show the way, reservinge for his son a large and almost untouched matter of well-doing. Immediately therefore to his bounty your liberality added, that as the son in the fathers, so the father should be privileged in the son's inheritance, nor in the same monent that he ceased to be a Father, should he lose his having been one. You have done excellently, Caesar, not to suffer the father's tears to be tributary. The father possesses his son's goods without diminution, nor hath he a partner in his inheritance, that hath no partner in his sorrow. None calls to account the fresh bleeding and astonishing loss of Children, compelling the Father to set forth what the son left. Our Prince's gift appears greater, when I show this reason for his bounty. For it may be accounted ambition, vain glory and profuseness, and any thing rather than liberality, that is not consonant to reason. It was worthy therefore your compassion, Caesar, to lessen the affliction of parents now grown childless, nor to suffer any that hath lost his son to be stricken with another grief; because 'tis misery enough, for a father to be sole heir to his son; what if he have a Coheyre not of his sons naming? Besides, when divine Nerva had decreed, that for their father's estates the children should be free from payment of the twentith part, it was congruous and fit, that the same freedom should be granted to parents in their son's estates: for why should children receive more honour, than progenitors? and why should not the same equity ascend? You, Caesar, have taken away that exception, in case the son be in his father's power, having an eye (as I conceive) to the force and law of nature that ordereth children to be for ever in the power of parents, nor giveth, among men, as among beasts, the power and command to the stronger. Neither was our Prince content to privilege the first degree of blood from the twentith part, he likewise exempts the second; with a proviso that the brother in his sister's goods, and the sister in her brothers, that the uncle and aunt in their nephews and neices estates, and contrarily, should remain untaxable. And to those that by the Right of Latium were free of Rome, he granted the same privilege, and rejoined the rights of kindreds according to the course of nature. For which favours former Princes put particular persons to petition, not so much with intention to grant, as to deny them. Whence we may understand, how great an act of bounty, and nobleness it was, to collect and bind up our scattered and (as I may call them) dilacerated families; to regraft, and bid them, as it were to spring a fresh; freely to offer, what had been denied, and give to all at once, what often severally they could not obtain. Lastly to bar himself of so many occasions of doing favour, and such a copious subject for obligation to the thankful, and imputation to the ingrateful: I conceive he thought it unfitting for men to ask, what the Gods had given. You are sisters and brothers, grandfathers and grandchilds, why should you, [because you are so] be impoverished with a tax? your relations are your privileges. The Emperor according to the rest of his princely moderation, thinks it a matter of no less envy, to grant vpon petition your own inheritances to you, then to take them from you. With alacrity therefore stand for honour, sue for office, let this block of lopt-off kindred lie in no man's way, all shall enjoy the same proximity of blood they did before, but in a better manner. The remotest degree of late-ceasing affinity, shall not be compelled to pay in the least quantity of the twentith part. For our common 
v Trajan, the father of his Country.  parent hath set down a sum that is able to bear a tax. The twentith part shall not lie heavy upon a small and weak estate, nay if the grateful heir so please, he may reserve it all for the sepulchre, all for the funerals; no assistant, no superintendent to oversee him. For whatsoever consideration his legacy was left him, he may securely enjoy and quietly 
* For that purpose, to bestow it upon the Funerals of the bequeather.  possess the money. The law of the twentith part is now so penned, that there is no coming within compass of it but by a great estate; injustice is turned into joy, and an injury into a longing, the heir wishes the honour of paying the twentith part. It is likewise enacted by the same Edict that they who own and have not paid the twentith part, should not bring it in. Truly the time past the Gods themselves cannot help, yet you have helped it, and provided that now they should cease to owe, what they should not owe hereafter. You have done that puts us into such a Condition, as if we never had suffered under evil Princes, and how willingly (if it were possible) would the same goodness of your nature, to so many ruined and murdered men restore their blood and fortunes. You have forbid the exaction of what begun not to be due in your own reign. Another to show his fury against the contumacious would have punished slowness of payment with a double, nay, a quadruple fine. You esteem it equal injustice, either to exact what is unjust, or to decree it. You take upon you (Caesar) the Consul's care and solicitude; for when I consider, that you alone have remitted our asseissments, given the donative, offered the Congiary, banished Informers, mitigated our taxes, methinks I should put the question to you, have you sufficiently cast up the revenues of the Empire? or is there such virtue in the frugality of a Prince, as that alone can be sufficient for so much expense, so much munificence? for what can be the reason, why other Princes when they catched at all we had, and having caught, retained it as if they had got nothing, wanted all things; you, when you bestow so much, and take away nothing, yet have all things in abundance? Prince's yet never wanted those, that with sour looks, and supercilious gravity, were peremptory for the profits of the Exchequer; Even Princes themselves of their own inclinations were sufficiently Covetous & rapacious, & needed no instructours; Yet still they learned many things of us against ourselves. But your ears, as they are obstructed to all insinuations, so chiefly avaricious flattery can have no access. Therefore Informers are silent and quiet, and after, there is none to be persuaded, there is none that offers to persuade. Thus are we infinitely obliged to you, both for your goodness and our own. The 
x The Voconian Law forbade a woman (though an only daughter as S. Aug. 3. de Civ. Det.) to be heir to an estate; that julian Law which he meant (for there were many) forbade adultery upon pain of death and w s revived by Domitian that lived in Incest. see juu. Sat. 2.  Voconian and julian laws, did not so much enrich the Treasury and Exchequer, as that one and only crime of high treason in the 
y Domitian to enrich his coffers found many (upon strange Impeachments) guilty of high treason, some merely because they had gathered excessive wealth, which begot disdain, made them hold their heads high and be disobedient to the Laws, one because in his public prayers for Domitian he did not style him Son to Pallas, another because he went into an Island as if he had killed his Father. Philostratus l. 7.  innocent. The fright whereof you have absolutely taken away, not being jealous of your greatness, which none hath wanted more, than they that made majesty a terror. Fidelity is returned to friends, piety to children, duty to servants; they fear and obey, and once again have masters, for now not our servants but we ourselves are the Prince's friends. Nor doth the Father of his Country more endear himself to, and put more confidence in others slaves, than his own subjects. You have freed us all from our domestic accusers, and giving the word (as I may say) of public safety, you have put an end unto this 
z He compares the private bandying of servants informing against their masters to the public war of slaves against Rome, begun in Sicily by Ennus the Syrian,  serville war: whereby you have not more obliged the masters, than the servants; for you have made those secure, these honest. Will you not be yet commended? well, put the case these were not commendable, sure they are pleasing, to them who remember a 
a Domitian who encouraged servants to swear against their Lords and then (the just remarkable reward of Traitors) from those hands that should pay them for their service, they (like Tarpeia) received their fatal blow.  Prince that encouraged servants to swear away their master's lives, and pointed them out the crime whereof they should inform, that he might punish it; a great, inevitable, and still experienced Evil, as oft as any had servants like the Prince. 'Tis to be placed in the same rank that our last Wills and Testaments are now 
b Which had been invaded by former Emperors; Tiberius broke the heart of the rich Augur Lentulus, because he durst not leave his estate to any but the Emp. The Primipilarij or chief Centurions that died in the reign of Tiberius and made not him heir Caius called ungrateful, and Nero ordained that the Testaments of the ungrateful should be confiscated.  secure, nor do you carry away all, because you were once nominated an heir. You are entitled to no false, no unjust Will; no one's anger, no one's impiety, no one's fury flies to you for refuge, nor are you named because another hath offended, but because you have merited. Your friends put you in, strangers leave you out, no difference betwixt your being a private person and a Prince, but that now you are beloved of many more, because you love many more. This course, Caesar, you hold, and experience shows, whether it be not more beneficial to a Prince, not only in praise but profit, that to make him their heir men should be rather desirous, then compelled. Many donations in this kind your 
c Nerva, who restored the rapines of Domitian, was bount full to the poor even out of his own Estate, and so free to his friends that Philostratus says when Atticus (father to Herod the rhetorician) writ to Nerva that he had digged up a great Treasure and desired to know how he pleased it should be disposed of, he writ back Use it. Atticus answered his letter, that 'twas too great for a private condition, Nerva replied, then abuse it.  Father and you have granted: died he out of favour? yet dying so he leaves them that enjoy his estate and you have nothing out of it, but glory. For a grateful debtor makes bounty sweeter, an ingrateful, more conspicuous. But who, until your time, preferred this praise before that profit? What Prince but thought so much of our patrimony his own, as had been gotten under him? as our Tyrants, so likewise our Prince's bounties were they not like hooks baited with food, like nets covered over with prey, till being swallowed & laden with private men's fortunes, they drew bacl with the whatsoever touched them. How beneficial it is to come to prosperity through adversity! You have lived with us, been in danger with us, & in fear, (which was the life of the innocent.) You know, & have experience, how much Princes detest evil men, though they themselves do make them such. You remember your old wishes with us, & your old greivances, for in the bosom of a Prince you bear the judgement of a private man. Nay you are better than you wished another Prince should be. You have so accustomed us, that whereas before our highest ambition was a Prince better then the worst, now none will content us but the best. No man therefore is so ignorant of you, or of himself, as to desire that place after you. It is easier for one to be your successor, then to 
This was no prophecy of Adrian, for he wished it, and by the favour of Plotina, wife to Trajan, Adrian succeeded him in the Empire.  wish it; for who willingly would undergo your weight of care? who will not fear to be compared to you? even you yourself found how burdensome it is to succeed a good Prince, and therefore would have been excused from your adoption. Is it an ordinary Patterne easy to be matched, that no man redeems his safety with turpitude? all are secured both of life, and the dignity of life. Nor is he now considerate and wise, that obscures himself and lives in darkness, for virtue hath the same encouragements under our Prince, which it had in our liberty; nor is well doing only rewarded by the Conscience, but farther recompensed. You love the constancy of your Subjects; and their lively and erected spirits you do not (like others) deject and depress, but cherish and raise. Honesty prefers men that think it enough and more, if it hurt them not. To these you offer Honours, Preisthoods, Provinces; these flourish by your friendship, by your esteem and Judgement. They are quickened by the price that is set upon Integrity and industry. The like and the unlike are attracted, for it is the reward of good and evil that makes men good or bad. There are naturally few by whom foul or fair ends are not proposed or avoided, as they make for or against their benefit. The rest, when they see the wages of labour paid to sloth, of vigilance to drowsiness, of frugality to luxury, they aim at the same rewards by the same 
e Tacitus. l. 16. saith that C. Petronius spent the day in sleep, the night in waiting and wanton offices, and as industry raised others, so sloth advanced him, who applying himself to vices, or the imitation of vices, got to be one of that small Juncto that were in Nero's favour.  arts, wherewith they perceive others have attained them; such as those are such these desire to appear, & what they would only seem, they do really become. And our former Princes, (your Father excepted) and one or 
f He means Augustus and Titus, whowere good, but Dion says, the Romans would scarce have thought them so, if Augustus had died sooner, or Titus lived longer. For the troublesone beginning of his Reign made Augustus more cruel, who when things were settled proved gracious and noble; But Titus, at first styled the delight of mankind, afterward did some barbarous acts; as when he caused Aulus Caecinna (whom he invited to supper) to be murdered in his Dining room.  two (I fear I have over numbered them) rather delighted in the vices, than the virtues of their Subjects. First because every one loves to see his own nature in another, than those whom they found more patiented of bondage, those whom it would not have become to be any thing but 
g Such was the Egyptian slave Crispinus, only beloved by Domitian for the sympathy of his vices, you have his graphike Character. Juv. Sat. 4.  servants, in their bosoms they heaped all their bounties; but the good, that in a long vacation of employment were hidden, and, as it were, buried, them they never brought forth to the light and day, unless by informations, and with danger. You choose your friends out of the best, and truly it is just they should be most in favour with a good Prince, that were most frowned upon by a bad. You know that as tyranny and Sovereignty are of different natures, so none love a Prince better, than they that most disaffect a Tyrant. These therefore you advance, and give us proof and example, what course of life, what kind of men you are best pleased withal. Therefore you have not as yet accepted of the Censourship or Superintendency of manners, because you like better to work upon our dispositions by benefits, then by remedies; besides I know not if a Prince contribute more to manners, that suffers men to be good, or that 
h This touches the perpetual Censourships of Domitian, who being himself most vicious compelled others to do well; thus as Censor he put Caecilius Rufinus from his place in Senate, because he used to dance; and though Claudius Pacatus was the facto, a Centurion, yet proof being brought that he was de jure a Slave, Domitian by his Censour's power restored him to his Lord Dion.  compels them. We are all flexible and ductile where the Prince draws us, and follow him where he leads, for we are ambitious to be endeared to, and approved of him, which those that are not like him have hoped for in vain; and by continuation of obsequiousness we are come to that pass, that almost all live according to the precedent of one man's manners. Besides we are not so ill natured, that we which can be imitators of a bad Prince, cannot imitate a good. Do you, Caesar, but go forwards, and your designs and actions shall have the force and effect of a Censourship. For the life of a Prince is a Censourship, and that perpetual, by that we are directed, upon that our eyes are fixed, nor have we so much need of precept, as example: because fear is an unfaithful guide to virtue; men are better instructed by examples, which primarily have in them this good, that they show what is commanded may be done. And what terror could effect that, which respect to you hath brought about? some one got the people to suffer the spectacle of 
i The Pantomimes were such as our fools in plays, or the Italian Pantalounes, Imitators of all garbs, postures and tones how wanton soever.  Pantomimes to be taken away, but yet he got it not as he desired; you entreated what another enforced, and that became a favour which had been necessity. Nor were you less unanimously petitioned to take them away, than your Father was to restore them. And both your acts were well, for they ought to be restored that were taken away by an evil Prince, and when they were restored, to be taken away again. For in what ill men do well, this course is to be held, that it may appear the author is displeasing, not the action. The same people therefore that were sometimes spectators and applauders of a mimic Caesar, now dislike the Pantomimes, and condemn effeminate arts and studies misbecoming the Times. From which premises we may conclude the discipline of Princes takes with the very vulgar, since if he alone do a severe act, they all will do the like. Increase this glory, Caesar, won by your gravity. And what formerly was called compulsion and command, shall be now styled manners. Their own vices are corrected by them that ought themselves to be corrected, and those very men are the reformers that should have been reform. None therefore complains of your severity, yet all have freedom to complain. But notwithstanding that men do not less complain of any Prince, then of him that allows them greatest freedom: yet [so fare we are from cause of complaint, that] there is nothing in your times that causeth not a general rejoicing. The good are advanced, the evil (which is the calmest condition of an Empire) neither 
k For they know the good will not be Informers, and they themselves dare not.  fear, nor are feared. You cure our errors, but we ourselves beseech you; those whom you make good, you do it with this honour to yourself, that it appeareth you have not compelled them. What the life? what the manners of our youth? how princelike do you form them? what honour do you to 
l Such as Pliny's tutor Quintilian, who publicly taught Rhetoric in Trajan's reign.  Rhetoric Masters, what advancement do you give 
m As that noble Philosopher Plutarch Trajan's Tutor.  Philosophyers'! insomuch as under you our studies have found 
n Domitian condemning Rusticus Arulinus merely because he was a philosopher & writ the life of Thraseas, Herennius Senecio for writing the life of Helvidius Priscus, and Pompusian for hanging up a Map of the world in his chamber, and reading the King's speeches in Livy, and other learned Professors he banished from Rome. Dion.  life, spirit, and their native Country, which the barbarity of former Ages punished with exile; when the Prince, conscious of a world of his own vices, banished vice-persecuting arts, not so much for hate, as fear; but you have those very arts in your 
o juu. 7. Sat. Caesar is both our studies cause and end, For he alone is the sad Muse's friend.  embraces, in your eye, and in your ear. For you do whatsoever they enjoin, and 
p juvenal Sat. Youths study, Caesar's bounty spurs you on, That seeks but matter it may work upon.  love them as much as you are approved of by them. Doth not every professor in humanity admiring all things in you, especially extol your facility in giving of access? With a great soul your father over the Palace gates set up the title of public buildings, but vainly, unless he had adopted one that might live as in public. How well do your manners suit with that inscription, although indeed it looks as if no other had engraven the title. For what Court of justice, what temple is so open? not the Capitol, the very place of your adoption is more public, more every bodies, no bolts, no degrees of contumely, and having passed a thousand doors, yet to meet with an affront and be locked out. A great stillness is before and behind you, but the greatest is about your person, and every where such silence such Civility, that the Prince's Court may be a pattern of modesty and tranquillity to narrow Lar, and private dwellings. But you yourself how you receive us all, how you stay among us! so that in so many cares of government you spend a great part of the day as if you had no business. we therefore come not running to Court, as formerly, 
q See the Carriage of the Senators, when Domitian sent for them to advise him how the great Turbot should be dressed. juu. Sat. 4. For which in such haste and astonishment, For them our mighty General had sent etc.  astonished; nor as if we should lose our head if we mended not our paces; but secure and cheerful, at our own convenient leisure; and when the Prince vouschafes his presence, many times there is something as more necessary that detaineth us at home. Yet to you we are always to be excused, never to be accused. for you know it is every one's joy to see you, to attend you frequently, and therefore you do us this honour the freer and the longer. Nor doth 
r Retirement, as when Tiberius Withdrew with the Asstrologers to Caprae. juu. Sat. 10. where he sits, Throned on a rock with his Chaldaean Wits.  retirement and 
s Solitude such as this of Domitian's which he proceeds to describe.  solitude follow your admissions; we make you tarry for us, and stay with you; as if the Court were a house common to us all, which lately that most cruel monster had fortified with multiplicity of terror, when lurking as it were in a kind of den, now he licked up his kinsman's blood, now sallied forth to worry and devour the noblest Romans. Horror and threatening waited at his gates, and the same fear seized the admitted, and those that were 
t Which were the noblest persons, this juu. observes Sat. 4. The presence hinges nimbly turn about. The Fish goes in, the Senate waite without.  kept out. Then he himself was terrible to meet or to behold, pride in his forehead, fury in his eyes, a feminine paleness in his body, impudence in his face floating upon much 
v Tacitus l. XII. notes this Colour in Domitian, and says; by those that knew him not, his frequent blushes were taken for modesty.  sanguine colour, none durst make approaches, none durst speak to him, still keeping himself retired and in the dark, never coming abroad out of his solitude, unless it were to make a solitude. Yet within those walls and works he 
* Maintaining in his house the Conspirators against him, to wit, Stephanus freedman to his sister Domitilla (whom his tyranny had then made a widow) Parthenius, Saturius Entellus, Claudius Cornicularius, and Maximus Parthenus, his domestikes.  harboured plots and stratagems against his own life, and enclosed the revenger of his mischiefs, God. His punishment broke through the guards, through the narrow and obstructed passages as easy as if the doors had been opened, and they invited over the thresholds, than he had no 
x His stile of Dominus & Deus noster could not then protect him; Pliny might very well have added, 'twas that Lord and God whose titles he usurped that destroyed him by the hands of those wicked Instruments.  Divinity, no inaccessible and bloody withdrawing rooms where he retired for fear, and pride, and hatred of mankind. How much safer, how much securer now is the same house, since it came to be defended not with solitude and trenches, nor the guards of cruelty, but of love. Do we not therefore learn this by experience, that the surest guard is the Princ'es innocence. This is the inexpugnable fort, this is the impregnable bulwark, not to need a bulwark. In vain he incompasseth himself with terror that is not encompassed with love; for by arms, arms are provoked. But do you only spend the serious part of the day in our eyes and assemblies? In your recreations is there not present the same frequency, the same society? do you not always eat in public? is not your table common? is there not a mutual pleasure when you feast us? do you not invite and answer our discourse? your very meal time when your temperance contracts it for yourself, doth not your humanity lengthen it out for us? for you do not fill yourself alone at 
y For the ninth hour (being our three in the afternoon) was the Romans meal i'm.  noon day, and then stand over as supervisour and Censurer of your guests, nor being 
z Suetonius T. says. Domition used so to overeate himself at dinner ●hat he durst venture upon nothing at supper unless it were an apple or some little running collation.  full and flatuous yourself, do you not so much bid your friends to your table, as affront them with the meats you scorn to touch, nor, hardly disguising that proud hypocrisy of entertainment, do you hasten away again to clandestine gluttony, and secret rarities? We therefore admire not your gold and silver plate, nor the exquisite wit and invention of your dishes, but the sincerity and sweetness of your entertainment; in which is no satiety, all your professions being sincere and true, and adorned with gravity. For neither the mysteries of foreign 
a Such as the Mathematicians instilled into Tiberius.  superstition, nor obscene 
b Like to that which Juvenal excludes from his own Table. Sa●. 11. perhaps thou dost expect that I should bring the Spanish Courtesans to dance and sing. ex paulo inferius. The poor house is not taken with their joys. Their obscene Songs and Castinetta's noise.  petulancy waits at our Prince's table, but a gracious welcome, free mirth, and the honour of learning. Thus, your sleeps are sparing and short, and your love to us makes you think no time more tedious, then that which you spend out of our sight, but we that enjoy what's yours as freely as what we have ourselves, how absolute is our own propriety? For you turn not out the old Lords to enclose every 
c Like Nero, who designed a Fishpond in Campana from that Promontory now called Monte Meseno, to Lago di Tripergola, than Avernus or Pluto's Lake, to be covered over head, and galleried about that should comprehend all the warm water of Baiae, and likewise began a Lake, like a sea shoared with a City, enclosing groves, vineyards, pastures, and woods, replenished with all kinds of beasts, tame and wild. These disseisures kept by Nero's successors, Traian restored to the right owners.  pond, every lake, nay every forest, making your title boundless. Nor do the floods, the fountains, and the sea, serve now for one man's prospect. Yet what doth Caesar see that is not his? and now at last the Empire of the Prince is greater than his Patrimony: For he bestows upon his Empire many things that were his Patrimony, which former Princes kept in their possessions, not that they might enjoy them, but lest another should. Therefore into the mansions and seats of Noblemen, their noble Lords return; nor are the houses of great persons possessed by a servant, rather spoiled then inhabited, nor fall they to the ground in sordid ruins. We may see fair houses, their situations brushed up, rebeautified, enlarged, and flourishing: You merit highly Caesar, not only of men, but even of houses, to arrest ruin, to expel solitude, and vindicate great works from destruction with the same gallant soul wherewith they first were built. Even those mute and senseless creatures seem to have a sense of joy, that they are neat, that they are frequented, that at last they belong to a Lord, not to a servant. 
d Traian.  Caesar authorises a vast Inventory of those goods to be exposed to sale that were the detested avarice of him 
e Domit●an.  that coveted so much when he had so much superfluous. Then it was 
f Rich men, as I have formerly noted, being sentenced only for being rich and consequently dangerous to the S●ate.  death to have a larger house, a fairer Villa. Now the Prince himself seeks out, and brings Lords into the self same houses. Those sometimes 
g N ro's Gardens.  gardens of a mighty Emperor, that no bodies but Caesar's 
h He understands not the very Suburbs of Rome, but the Town of Alba, distant from the City 140 furlongs, where Domitan usually kept his Court.  suburbs, we bargain for, buy, and people it. So great is the Prince's goodness, so great the security of the times, that he thinks us worthy of imperial possessions, and we fear not to be thought so. Nor do you only grant your Subjects leave to purchase, but you give & bestow upon them many handsome and beneficial things, those very things, I mean, to which you were chosen, to which you were adopted; you transfer what was judiciously made over to you, and you believe nothing to be more your own, than what you enjoy by the proxy of your friends. You yourself are as thrifty in building, as careful in preserving. Therefore the City is not with the carriages 
i 
Juv. paints out these carriages exactly, Sta. 3. Now meets he car●s where the tall firre-trees quake; Now some that pinetrees at the people shake.  
Suppose the axletree should break that bears Ligurian stones, if poured about his ears.  
That mountain should thy shivered slave entomb. What thinkest thou of his carcase would become. Where any limb lies who can find the hole? His body sure would vanish like h s soul.   of monstrous stones, as formerly, put into an earthquake, our houses now stand safe, nor are our temples feverish. It seems you think that which you received as successor to a most frugal Prince, to be enough, and too much for you that you can part with some of that he left as necessary. Besides your Father when he debarred himself of what the fortune of the Empire gave him, did it safely because he was 
k Yours that would have provided for your father Nerva, if he had given away all, as he did a great part of his possessions.  your Father. But how magnificent are you towards the public! Here Ports, there Temples, are dispatched with that secret speed, as one would think them not built, but repaired only: here those vast flankers of the 
l In their great Show-place, the Circus, the Romans beheld horse-matches, coach-races, sword-play, with all kinds of presentments. It was at first flanked with penthouses for the Spectators, then galleried about with 30 distinct Fori by Tarqvinius Priscus, and now beautified and enlarged with five thousand benches by Traian, with this Inscription. ut populo Romano sufficeret. Dion.  Circus that compare in beauty with the temples: It is now a show-place worthy the conquerors of the world, itself being a sight no less rare than what from thence is seen. But to behold the Architecture shows not fairer, then to behold the Princes and people's benches of the self same model, since there is now in the whole fabric but one face, all even and equal. Nor is Caesar's seat more his own, than the spectators seats are theirs. You therefore and your Subjects freely view one another. They have not the honour now to see the Prince's private box; but to see the Prince himself sitting among his people: his people, on whom he hath bestowed the addition of five thousand benches, for you have here increased their number as you did in the Congiary; and have thus likewise encouraged them to multiply themselves hereafter, confident of your Magnificence. If one of these Princely gifts had been vouchsafed by another, he had long since worn a glory on his head circled about with sun beams, his throne of gold or Ivory had been set among the Gods, and invocation made unto him on higher altars and with greater sacrifices. You come not into the Temple but to pray, the honours you let your Statues have is to wait without the Temple, to stand centrie for the Gods, and to be preferred before the marble pillars. So the Gods with greatest reverence are adored by men, since you have not aspired to be a God. Therefore in the porch of Jupiter the best and greatest, we see one or two of your Statues, and those brass, but not long ago every door, every step the whole pavement of the Temple shined, or rather was polluted with gold and silver, when the Images of the Gods were grown sordid by mixing with the statues of an 
m Domitian who (as I have noted) lived in incest with his Niece Julia.  incestuous Prince. Therefore your brazen ones, and those but few, remain and shall remain, so long as the Temple itself continues, but their golden ones, and those innumerable are ruined, and died Sacrifices to the public joy. 'Twas gallant sport to knock the ground and those proud heads together, to pick holes in them with swords, to hue them with hatchets, as if at every stroke blood and pain had been to follow. None, at the too late arrival of his comforts, was so modest in his joy, but he thought it a kind of revenge to see their torn limbs, their dismembered joints; Lastly their cruel and horrid Images cast into the flame and 
n This melting of Statues for use, Juv. describes Sat. 10. Their Chariot-wheels groan under th'Axes stroke, And even their Innocent horses legs are broke, The fire to crackling flames the bellows turns. The head adored by the people burns; The great Sejanus melts, and of the face, Which of the whole world had the second place, Basins and Ewres, Pots, Frying-pans are made—  melted, their terror and threatening changed, and fitted for man's use and pleasure: With like reverence to the Deity; you, Caesar, will not suffer us to give thanks for your goodness to your Genius in your 
o As Domitian commanded, who caused a woman to be put to death for undressing herself before his Statues Dion. who says he filled the world with his silver and golden statues, but concludes (as Pliny here) that they were broke, and sold, and a vast sum of money raised out of their conflation.  statues, but to the divinity of Jupiter, the best and greatest; what we are indebted to you we pay to him, and acknowledge your well doing to be his gift that gave us you. Whereas formerly mighty flocks of Sacrifices so crowded the high way to the Capitol, that a great part of them was enforced to turn back and and seek out blind Lanes to get thither, when our 
p Domitian's whose Deity was so entitled.  Lord's fierce Images were worshipped with as much blood of beasts, as he shed blood of men. My Lords, all I have or shall speak of former Princes, tends only so fare as to show what customary and long corrupted manners our parent hath corrected and reform. Moreover, those praises want their beauty that are not shadowed with comparison. Besides, it is the general duty of pious Subjects towards their best Emperor to tax those that were unlike him, for they cannot sufficiently love good Princes, that disrelish not the evil. Add, that no merit of our Emperor is more great and glorious, then that 'tis safe under him to speak against ill Princes. Hath our grief forgotten the late 
q Epaphroditus Nero's freedman, whom Domitian had once acquitted, he then executed, charging him as accessary to Nero's death, that punishing him, it might beforehand be a premonition of terror to his own freedmen not to assist him if he should entreat them. Dion.  revenge for Nero? Can I conceive he would permit Nero's fame and life to be censured that did revenge his death? and would not interpret that to be spoken of himself, which was spoken of one so like him. Therefore (Caesar) you have equalled, nay exceeded the most of your bounties, that you permit us daily, both to vindicate ourselves of our evil Emperors for the time past, and to admonish future Princes, by their example, that there is no place, no time, wherein the spirits of Tyrants can rest quiet from the execrations of posterity: Therefore, My Lords, since we may as boldly utter our grief, as our joy, let us likewise mourn for what we have suffered. We may do both together under a good Prince; This let our secret discourses do, this our public speeches, this our thanksgivings, and let us remember the living Emperor is then highest praised when his ill-deserving predecessors are reprehended; for, when succession says nothing of an evil Prince, 'tis manifest he that succeeds him is the like. And what place, then, was left for miserable 
r Flattery was come to an incredible height in Domitian's time, as you may see by the Fisher man that speaks to him in Juv. Sat. 4. With speed thy stomach clear of common meat, And this until thy time kept Turbut eat, 'Twould needs be caught, could any Rascal gloze More plainly? yet this Peacocks-feathers rose. Nothing so gross but will belief incline, When that powers praised equals the powers Divine.  flattery, when the praises of Emperors were celebrated in plays, at banquets, and in jigs, with all kind of broken and effeminate voices, garbs and fashions. But what shame, that at the same time they should be praised in the Scene and in the Senate; by the Player and by the Consul? Fare from your praises you have removed all those mock-Arts; serious verses therefore, and the eternal honour of our Annals, not a short and lascivious speech pays veneration to your name; nay the stages themselves rise up to do you honour, since the scenes were silent. But why do I make this a wonder? When those very honours which we offer you, either you take them very sparingly, or not at all. Of old, nothing so vulgar or trivial was agitated in Senate, but the proceed were hindered with the praise of Princes, a necessity lying upon every Senator, first to pass his vote for them. We consulted about increasing the number of Gladiators, about instituting a college of Smiths; and as if the bounds of the Empire had been enlarged, we dedicated to the names of Caesar's now mighty Arches with inscriptions which Temples scarce could hold now the 
s Because Domitian was born in October he named that month Domitian. Dion. He likewise named September Germanicus, from the stile which he had assumed.  months of the year, two or three at once; all which they suffered, and as if they had deserved it, rejoiced: But now, which of us, forgetting the cause in agitation, passeth his vote in honour of the Prince? This is the praise of your moderation, and our constancy, that we obey you by assembling in Senate, not to flatter you, but for the use and offices of Justice; and that being to do our duties to you, we own this to your candour and truth, that we may believe that you accept 
t Contrary to the practice of Tiberius & Domitian, whose Letters & speeches were no remonstrances of their intentions.  what is pleasing, and refuse what you dislike. We begin and end our consultations so, as we neither might begin nor end them under another Prince. For true it is, there have been others that received not divers honours decreed by us, none before you was of so great a Soul, that we believe he wished them undecreed. And truly should we compare with the necessity of former times, we should be much exceeded. For dissimulation is more ingenious, than truth, servitude then liberty, fear then love; Besides, all invention being long since spent in flattery, no other new honour remains for us to give you, but only to take the boldness sometimes to say nothing. Notwithstanding if at any time our piety break silence, it prevails upon your modesty; Whatsoever we decree, you refuse not, that it may appear, you have not, out of pride and disdain, waved the highest honours, that do not scorn the lowest. This, Caesar, is more honour to you, then if you refused all; for to refuse all argues ambition, but it is moderation to choose the smallest; which temper of yours is both a benefit to us and to the Treasury; you thereby limiting the expense thereof, not draining it, to be replenished with the fortunes of the innocent. Your effigies therefore stand, as those of old that were dedicated to private persons for their glorious merits towards the public. We see the Statues of our Caesar made of the same matter with the 
u L. Brutus (that expelled the Tarquins) had a brazen Statue set up in the Capitol. M. Brutus, that conspired against Caesar) his Statue was at Milan. Plutarch Furtus Camillus that preserved Rome from the victorious Galls, his Statue stood in the place for Orations, Pliny lib. 24.  Brutuses, with the Camilli; nor doth the cause differ, for they expelled the tyrants, & beat the victorius enemy from our walls; you have banished and removed tyranny itself and all the other fruits of our captivity, and taken the place of a Prince, lest there should be room left for a Tyrant. And when I look into your wisdom I less wonder at your shunning or moderating those mortal and frail titles, for you know wherein the true and eternal glory of a Prince consists, and where those honours are, over which no flames, no time, no successors have power. For triumphal Arches and Statues; nay even Altars and Temples oblivion ruins and obscures, posterity neglects and censures. Contrarily the contemner of ambition, the conqueror and brideler of unlimited power the mind flourisheth in age, nor is by any more extolled, then by those whom it cannot advantage, the succeeding times. A Prince therefore should not covet fame which is eternal, for that he needs must have, but which is good; and that is perpetuated, not by Images and Statues, but by virtue and merit. But these trifles, the form and figure of a Prince, are not expressed so lively and venerably in gold or silver, as in the hearts of men, wherein you are engraven to the life, your amiable looks and cheerful aspect being printed in the tongues, eyes and souls of all men. I conceive your Lordships have already taken notice that I make no choice of my discourse, for my design is to praise the Prince, not the Prince's actions; for the evil do many things praiseworthy, but the man himself cannot be praised, unless he be excellently good. Therefore, dread Sovereign, you have no glory greater, then that in the presentation of our thanks we need to conceal nothing, to omit nothing. For what is there in your reign that any speaker should disguise or pass it over? For what moment, nay what point of time hath been fruitless in benefits, or void of glory? Are not all of such a nature, that he appears to praise you best, that speaks truth most sincerely. Which is the reason that my Oration grows almost boundless, and yet I have not gone through your second year. How much have I spoken of your moderation, and yet how much more remains! as that of receiving your second Consulship, because the Prince your 
* In Trajan's first Consulship (under Domitian) his Colleague was Glabrio, in his second Consulship the Emp● Nerva his adopted Father Vitruvius.  Father conferred it. But after the Gods had transferred the Sovereign power to you, and with all other things the free disposal of yourself, you refused a third Consulship, when you knew so well how to discharge the office. It is a great act to wave honour, a greater to put off glory. Should I admire your Consulship executed, or refused. Executed not upon idle Couches, and in the private bosom of peace here in town, but upon the borders of 
x Germany.  barbarous Nations, as 
y That were both Consuls and Generals.  those were wont to do that used to change the long purple Robe, for the short purple Cassock, and to discover unknown lands by victories. It was honourable for the Empire, glorious for yourself, when our confederates made their addresses to you, in their own Country, in their own habitations. How comely shown the Consul's face, when for a long time his tribunal was erected upon the living turf, nor attended with our 
z The Axe in the midst of the bundle of rods, still borne by the Lectors, before the Consul, signifying the different punishment of capital and petty offenders.  fasces only, but with the honour of our 
a Javelins headed with a triangular iron of nine ounces, a weapon peculiar to the Roman Foot.  Piles and Ensigns. The Majesty of the Judge, was increased by the various habits of Petitioners; and diversity of language, scarce any speaking but by his interpreter. 'Tis magnificent to give the law to your Subjects, what to the enemy! It shows gloriously to hear causes in the settled peace of the Forum, what then to set the 
b An Ivory Chair, which because when the Consul or praetor went abroad, it was carried along in a Chariot, was called Sella Curulis, the Curule or Chariot-chaire.  Curule chair in wild Campanias, on the ground which you had conquered? and to overlook the threatening banks of Danubius' safe and quiet? what to despise the fury of Barbarians, and to check their hostile terror, not more with the show of arms, then of gowns. Nor did our legions reverence you only in your 
c The first Cohort ever bore in their shields the Emperor's Image. Vegetius.  images, but saluted the General himself, that saw and heard them; and that name which others deserved for conquering, you merited for despising of the enemy. That is the praise of your executed; and this of your adjourned Consulship, that it was the beginning of your reign, so as now full of, and therefore excused from honour, you were enforced to refuse the Consulship, which our new Emperors, when others have been elected, took unto themselves. There was one, that in the end of his reign, had such a longing to the place, as when the 
d I suppose he means the Consulship of Traian's first Colleague, M. Acilius Glabrio, whom Domitian banished, and himself supplied his place.  Consulship was almost ended he wrested the remainder into his own hands. This honour therefore, which both at their beginning and ending Princes so covet, that they snatch it away, you (when the place was void) left to 
e Making Consuls C. Socius Senecio 11. and A. Cornelius Palma. Vitruvius.  private men. Was it that you envied Trajan the third Consulship, or the Prince the first? For the second, 'tis true, that when you had it you were an Emperor, but yet under an Emperor, and therein you can attribute to yourself nothing, either of honour or example, but in your obedience. So then in this City, which hath seen the same men the fifth and sixth time Consuls, not such as were in our expiring liberty, created by force and tumult, but such, as retired and 
f Such as L. Quintius Cincinnatus (who Pliny presently names) whom being at work in his grounds beyond Tiber was by messengers from the people of Rome saluted Dictator.  absent, had the Consulship brought into the Country to them; In this very City, have you, being Prince of mankind, refused a third consulship. Was 
g L Papyrius for his unparallelled strength & agility of body surnamed Cursor, was yet the most moderate man that lived, most  to the weaknesses of others. This is the Papyrius whom L●vy endeavours to prove able to have encountered Alexander, ●f he had attempted the conquest of the W●st.  Papirius himself, or Quintius more moderate? Augustus and Caesar, and Father of your Country. But the Republic called them, what you? did not the same Republic? did not the Senate, did not the very Consulship, that conceives itself advanced and made greater by your acceptation. I do not set 
h Dion, In Domitian, says, he was so foolishly proud that he made himself Consul [which Office ought but to continue for one year] ten years together.  him for your pattern, who by his continued Consulship, made a kind of long and undistinguishable year, but I compare you to those who (we are sure) as oft as they were Consuls, were not so with relation to themselves. There was in the Senate 
i Virginius Rufus, who was Consul the third time with N●rva, and being designed for his fourth Consulship by Trajan died before he was declared.  one that had thrice been Consul, when you refused your third Consulship. A heavy task our votes would have imposed upon your modesty, that you the Prince should be as often Consul, as your Senator; The refusal whereof would have argued too much bashfulness, even when you were a private man, the son of a Consular and a triumphant Father: when he a third time is created Consul, doth he ascend? is it not his due? yea though he could plead no other merit, but the nobility of his birth. Private persons therefore had the honour to open the 
k The Romans dated their Records and Deeds from Consulships, as we do from king's Reigns, and the Consuls began with the year, in January.  year, and to unlock the 
l The Roman Calendar began with the Consul's names, proceeded with the Festivals, & Court days, which properly were the Fasti.  Calendar, and this likewise was an instance of liberty restored, that another was Consul, and not Caesar. Thus the Tyrants being expelled, the free year began, thus heretofore, servitude shaken off, our Calendar was inscribed with the names of private men. Miserable they were in their ambition that continued their Consulshippes like their Principality, yet seems it not to be more their ambition, than their envy and malignity, to engross to themselves all years, and not to put off that supreme ornament of the purple, but when it was worn and soiled like their old robes. But in you, which shall I first admire, magnanimity, or modesty, or bounty, It was magnanimity to abstain from an honour so much affected by Princes, modesty to wave it, bounty to enjoy it by others. But now it is time that you do a favour to the Consulship itself, that by undertaking to manage it, you may make it greater; for still to refuse, would bear an ambiguous interpretation, and rather signify, that you thought it too mean. It is true, you refused it as the greatest, but none will be so persuaded, unless sometimes you will likewise not refuse it. When you excuse yourself from triumphal Arches, from Trophies, from statues we may pardon your modesty, for indeed those are dedicated to yourself: But we now make it our suit, that you will teach future Princes to renounce idleness, a while to adjourn their pleasures, awhile, at least for a little while, to awake out of their slumber of felicity, to put on our pretexted purple, (which when they should have bestowed they have invaded) and to ascend the Sella Curulis, [the Chariot tribunal] which 'tis fit they should possess; lastly, to be indeed what they have coveted to seem, not to desire the name of Consul only for the name. You have discharged a second consulship, I know it, but that you may allege, as a favour to our Armies, to our Provinces, to foreign nations, not to us. We have heard indeed, you have done all that concerns the office of a Consul, but we have heard; It is reported you were most just, most gracious, most patiented, but it is reported. 'Tis fit, that sometimes we should credit our own judgement, our own eyes, not always fame and rumour. How long absent from one another shall we joy in you, give us leave to make trial, whether that second consulship have put no pride into you. Half a year hath much influence upon the manners of men, much more of Princes. Indeed, we say he that hath one virtue hath all, yet we desire a proof, whether once again a good Consul and a good Prince be one and the same thing. For besides the difficulty of mannageing two, and both of them sovereign powers, there is likewise diversity in the powers themselves, for that may become a Prince, which a Consul must not do. But I see the chiefest reason that moved you, next year, to refuse the consulship, was, that you could not discharge it in your absence; but now being restored to the City and our public wishes, wherein can you clearlyer show us, what and how great the blessing was, that we desired? It were little favour to Come into the Senate, unless you please to assemble it, to be present, unless precedent, to hear us pass our votes, unless you would give sentence. Would you as our Consul, in time restore to its majesty, that dread Tribunal? ascend. Would you have awfulness in the Magistrate, authority in the Laws and modesty in the Petulant? sit in person in the Senate. For so much as it would have concerned our Republic if you were a private man, not to have you only our Consul unless you likewise were a Senator, so much it concerns yourself not to be only our Prince, unless you likewise be our Consul. With these so many and prevalent reasons though our Prince's modesty long struggled, yet at last it yielded; but how? not to equal himself with private men, but to make private men his equals. For he a third time received the Consulship, that he might a third time give it; for he knew men's moderation, he knew their bashfulness that would not endure a third time to be Consuls, unless a third time he were Consul with them. Anciently this honour was bestowed and that sparingly upon adjutants to Generals, and partners in their dangers, 
* Vide sis (m)  which you have given to two particular men, that indeed have served you faithfully and valiantly, but in the gown. Both their cares both their industryes have laid an obligation Caesar upon you; but in a Prince 'tis rare and seldom heard of, to think himself obliged, or thinking so to love. You therefore, Caesar, own and pay, but when a third time you make Consuls, you think not in so doing, that you are a great Prince, but that you are not an ingrateful friend. Nay even the low deservings of your subjects you raise higher by the supremacy of your fortune, for you make every one thought to have done you service according to the greatness of your retribution. What prayers shall I make for such benignity? but that you may ever oblige, ever be obliged, and leave it doubtful whether it were more expedient for your subjects to be your debtors, or to have you theirs. Truly methought I saw that ancient Senate, when one thrice Consul sitting, one a third time designed Consul stood to desire suffrages. As great as they were then, so great are you. It happens indeed that bodies though vast and high, approaching higher bodies than themselves, decrease, in like manner the greatest subjects dignities compared with your greatness, lose their height, and the nearer they ascend to your elevation, the more they seem to descend from their own. Yet those, which though you would you could not raise to your own height, you have yet placed so conspicuously, as they appear as much above others, as below you: If a third time you had made one Consul in the same year with yourself, it had argued a great soul. For as it is a declaration of felicity to have as much power as will, so it is of greatness to have as much will, as power. Even he is to be praised I must confess, that merited a third consulship, but he more under whom 'twas merited; he must be great and worthy of a history that received so great a retribution, but he much greater that bestowed it. What shall I say that in the year of your third consulship you honoured 
m M. Corneliu Fronto was Consul the third time when Traian entered upon his own third Consulship; but who the other was, appears not to my reading.  two by making them Colleagues to your Sacred Majesty. That none can doubt, but it was your only reason for proroguing of your consulship, that it might contain the consulship of both, and make you awhole year Colleague to one of them. Both received their second Consulshipps from your father, that is, how much was that honour less, than what you give! Their but now resigned fasces wandered yet before both their eyes, that solemn cry of their late ushering Lictours rung yet in both their ears, when the chariot chair, when the purple came again. As of old at the enemies approach, when the Republic brought to extremity, required a known man of honour, we restored not the men to their Consulshipps, but restored the very Consulshipps unto the men. Such is the power of your goodness, that necessity and your bounty are excused from the orders of the house. They have just now put off their pretexted purples, they must on with them again, the Lictours were but now dismissed, they must be called bacl. Is this the nature of a man? the power of a man? to renew our joys, to revive our jubily, and to give no rest to our gratulations, nor to suffer a further interval of reattaining the Consulshipps, than the very instant time of resignation. This may you ever do, nor may your mind or fortune ever be wearied in this action. May you give third Consulships to many, and when you have given them to many, may there remain still more that deserve them at your hands. In all the benefits that are bestowed upon deservers the joy is not more their own, then theirs that are of like deserts; but from the Consulships of these two not to any particulars, but to all the Senate flowed so great joy as they conceived the same honour bestowed upon and received by themselves. For indeed these were they that the Senate first elected, when they chose men to bring down the public expenses. This is it therefore, this is it that so much endeared them to Caesar. Have we not lately made too many trials, that the Senate's judgement could with the Prince do neither good nor harm. A little while a go was any thing more fatal, then if the Prince had that way a suspicion? This man the Senate approves of, this is in favour with the Senate, he hated our favourites, and we his. Now the Prince and Senate contend which should most love worthy persons, and endear each other we make mutual remonstrances, we give mutual evidence, and which is the greatest argument of our mutual affection we both love the same. Therefore, my Lords, publish your affections, and affect with constancy. You need not dissemble your good opinion now for fear it hurt yourselves, nor conceal your dislike lest it profit others. For Caesar liketh and disliketh with the Senate. When you are present, when you are absent, he adviseth with you, he made those thrice Consuls whom you had elected, and made them so, as they were elected by you. Both his favours appear great, whether he love those best whom he knows dearest to us, or prefers none before them, though he may love some better. Rewards are proposed to old men, examples to young men: they may at length freely go and give visits at their friends secure and open houses, every one welcomes the men that are in esteem with the Senate; such a one most deserves the Prince, for he thinks the honour that is done to any good man, done unto himself, nor placeth he any glory in being greater than all, unless they also be great that must confess him greater. Caesar, continue in the reason of that resolution, and esteem us such as every one's fame is; To that vouchsafe your ear and eye, regard not clandestine estimations and whispers, that do entrap none sooner, than such as listen to them. 'Tis better confiding in generals than particulars. For particulars may cozen and be Cozened; none hath deceived all, all have deceived none. I now return to your Consulship, though many things there be appertaining, yet antecedent to it. First that you were present at your Election, not only as 
n The Candidati (so named from their white or chalked gowns which they wore in the Election time) were thos●●hat stood in comp●●ior for Offices. from h●re Quin●i●an draws his Metaphor when he calls a Scholar a Candidate of Eloquence; but his Scholar Pliny goes higher here, and calls Trajan a Candidate of Immortality, and Glory, and Example.  Candidate of the Consulship, but of immortality, and glory, and example; which good Princes cannot but imitate, nor evil but admire. The people of Rome behold you in that 
o The Justice-hall wherein stood the Tribun all erected on high like our Pulpits, and within that was set the curule or chariot chair of Ivory.  place of their ancient power, where you patiently endured those tedious 
p Doubtless he means the prayers or Hymns at Election, which were (by Institute) to be read by the precedent of the Assemblies; this appears clearly towards the end of the Panegyric, where he says, You vouchsafed to be Precedent at our Election, and to read unto us those most sacred Verses.  verses read before Election, and that now not feigned nor ridiculous demur, & you were made Consul after the same manner as you make one of us. Where was a Prince among your Predecessors that either did that honour to the consulship, or to the people? Did not others dull with sleep and 
q As Nero, who (says Suet Tranquillus) spun out his dinner from noonday to midnight; this fat Montanus remembered Juv. Sat. 4. Who th'old court-riot knew And Nero's midnights and a hunger new When Falerne wine inflamed the lights—  over-cloyed with their last night's supper, make the messengers of their Election wait? 
r As Caligula who stepped not above; hours a night, and Domitian, who walked much in the night time, whom all that follows here concerns, as you may see by naming of Danubius and the Rheyne, incestuous nights etc.  Others waking indeed, and sleepless, but within the walls of their bedchambers ploting the banishment, and murder of those very Consuls that declared them Consuls. O depraved ambition and ignorant of true Majesty! to covet the honour thou so disdaignest, to disdaigne the honour thou so covetest; and when out of thy gardens thou seest the fields and the Election, yet to be so absent from them, as if thou wert to pass a ford in Danubius, or the Rhine! Dost thou hate the suffrages of thy desired honour? and being contented to have news brought of thy consulship wilt thou not permit a free City to dissemble bondage? lastly, dost thou conceal and hid thyself from the Election, as if they were not to give thee a consulship, but to deprive thee of thy Empire? Our proudest Lords had this persuasion, that they ceased to be Princes, if they did any thing like a Senator Yet many kept away not so much out of pride, as out of fear, whether (being guilty of adulterous and incestuous nights,) they might presume to pollute the auguryes and with their wicked feet to contaminate the sacred 
s Campus Martius, the Election place consecrated to the God Mars.  Fields. They had not heaven and earth in such contempt, as in that spacious plain they durst stand the darted eyes of men and Gods. On the contrary your moderation persuades you to be present, both when religion is to be exercised towards the Gods and sentence passed by men. Others before they received, but you merited the consulship in your very manner of receiving it; the solemn form was needless if you had considered you self as a Prince, and now the assembly was dissolving, when you (to the amazement of us all) came up to the Consul's Chair, offering yourself to take the 
t The matter of the oath taken by the Consul is expressed in the the words following, viz. that he devoted his head and his house to the wrath of heaven, if (during the year of his Consulship) he did any thing contrary to Law.  oath in words unknown to Princes, but when they enforced others to swear. You see how necessary it was, not to refuse, for we should never have imagined you would have done it, if you had refused the consulship. My Lords, I am astonished, nor can yet sufficiently credit my own eyes or ears, but now and then I question myself if I have truly heard and seen it. Our 
u The Roman Emperors were invested in the Titles of Caesar Augustus Pontifex Maximus, and had Tribunician and Proconsular power annexed to their crowns.  Emperor, and Caesar, and Augustus, and Pontifex Maximus risen up, and the Consul sat while the Prince stood before him, and sat untroubled unmoved, and as if he had been accustomed so to do. Nay sitting he administered the Oath, and the Prince took it, and clearly uttered words wherein he devoted his head & his house to the God's wrath, if his Oath were violated. Your glory, Caesar, is mighty and the same whether future Princes shall or shall not do it, what words are worthy to express, that you would do the same the third time, as when you first were Consul! the same when a Prince as when a private man, the same when an Emperor as when a Subject to an Emperor. Now I confess I know not what was most be coming, that you should do it without or with a 
* The ear of antiquity in things sacred, was so great that they ordained a prompter or one that should read it softly to those that were to pronounce it clearly, as you may perceive by the great Lady that made her offering for the fiddler. Juv. Sa●. 6. She stood at th' Altar, as the manner is. And spoke the prompted words of Sacrifice.  prompter. In the Forum likewise you subjected yourself to the Laws which no Legislator ever made for Princes. But you will have your privilege no greater than a Subjects, therefore we will have it greater than an Emperors. This is the first time I ever heard, the first I ever knew; we have no 
x For he hath descended to be a Consul.  Prince, we have Laws, but Laws 
y Because as Consul he had subjected himself by Oath unto the Laws  above the Prince; Caesar the Consul may not do what others may, he swears to observe the Laws in presence of the Gods (for where are they more present than with Caesar?) he swears in presence of the men that are to swear the same, nor is he ignorant that none ought more religiously to keep his oath, than he that is most concerned not to break it. And therefore when you were to resign your Consulship, you made oath you had done nothing contrary to Law. It was a great act to make such a promise, but a greater to perform it, Then to go so often to our Courts of Justice, in the Forum, and make a new path to that place unascended by the pride of Princes, there to receive, there to lay down your Magistracy, how worthy yourself, how different was it from their customs, by whom their for a few days exercised (nay unexercised) Consulship was disclaimed by Edict! The like they did for the convention of Senate, for the Tribunal, for the Oath, that so the last might be agreeable to the first, and they only known to have been Consuls, because others were not. My Lords, I have not passed over our Prince's Consulship, but I have brought together unto this one place all that concerned his Oath. For we must not as in a barren subject, spin out and scatter the same species of praise, and handle one thing twice. In the glorious dawning of the first day of your third consulship, when you came unto the Senate, now severally, now universally you encouraged us all to resume our liberty, to take upon us, as it were, the care of the common Empire, to be vigilant and intent the public benefit. All before you said the very self same things, but none before you was believed. There was yet floating in our eyes the shipwrecks of many Senators, whom (flattered with such promised Calmes) a sudden storm had sunk. For what Sea so faithless as the 
z You read in Domitian's Character (the words are Dion's) he ever seemed to love him most, whose blood he most desired.  smiles of those Princes, that had so much seeming lenity, so much real cunning, as it was easier to have them angry then propitious! But secure and cheerful we execute whatsoever you command. You bid us use our freedom, we take it; you bid us speak our thoughts, we do it; nor have we omitted it out of any habitual sloth or natural dulness; It was terror, and fear, and that miserable wisdom taught by dangers, that from the Commonwealth (but it was indeed no Commonwealth) made us turn our eyes, our ears, and hearts. But now strengthened by your hand, and relying on your promises, we open our lips so long locked up in servitude, and let lose our tongues bridled in with so many dangers. For you would have us such as you bid us be; in your encouragements nothing is dissembled, or betraying; in short, nothing contrived to undo the credulous, not without danger to the contriver, for never yet was Prince deceived, but he himself had first deceived others. In this sense I understood our public parent, when I observed his Hortatives, and the energy of his pronunciation. For what imported that weight of sentences! How inaffected was the truth of his words! What asseveration in his accent! What affirmation in his look! What confirmation in his eyes, habit, meene, last in his whole body! He therefore will be always mindful of what he hath encouraged us unto, and will remember that as often as we use the liberty he gave us, we do but his commands. Nor will he hold them to be unwise that confide in the freedom of these times, when he knew them to have done otherwise under a bad Prince. We used to pray for preservation of the Empire, and the subject, nay for preservation of Emperors, and for their sakes of the Empire. We yet pray for the Empire in the same words, with these (worthy to be noted) added to them, if you govern the Republic well and for the benefit of all. Vows for ever to be owed, for ever to be paid. The Republic, Caesar, hath made a Covenant with the Gods of your own drawing, that their deities should keep you in peace and safety, if you kept others so. If otherwise, that they should draw away their eyes from the guard of your person, and leave you to such prayers as are not made in public. Other Princes wished and endeavoured to survive the Republic, to you your own health and safety is unpleasing, if it go not along with the common health and safety. You suffer no prayer to be made for you, unless expedient for those that pray it, and solemnly every year you call a court of Gods (your Electours) to give sentence against you, if you cease to be such as you were when they elected you. Thus with a great and immaculate soul you article with the Gods to give you the protection you deserve, knowing the Gods are the best Judges of your merit. Do you think, my Lords, that day and night he considers not these, his own words, Truly if the general good should so require, I have armed against myself the very hand of the 
a L. Licinius Sura from a Centurion, made Praefect of Praetorians by Traian, to whom, when he put the sword in his hand, Traian said, Take this, and if I govern well use it for me, if all, against me. And truly I do not wonder at this personal confidence in one he so dear loved (as you will see before the end of the Panegyricke) when I consider Traian's nature, & how fa re he trusted the very servants of Sura even when Sura himself was calumniated by some other of the Emperor's friends; for even then Traian dismissing his guard, went to Sura's house, to supper, and calling first for Sura's Physician made him wash his eyes, then sent for his barber and he shaved his beard, and next day told those friends that suspected Sura, that if he had meant to kill him he would undoubtedly have done it yesterday. Dion.  Captain of my Guard, nor do I either deprecate the anger of the Gods, or pray for their connivance, nay I pray that I may command him nothing prejudicial to the Empire, or if I do, that he may not obey it; Therefore you, Caesar, reap the glorious fruit of safety by the God's consent, for when you condition the Gods should preserve you so long as you govern well, you are sure you govern well so long as they preserve you. To you therefore shall the day be joyful and secure, that distracted other Princes with cares and fears, when in suspense and astonishment, not confident of our patience, from this and that place they expected messengers of the public servitude; and if by chance the waters, winds, or snow, had hindered them, presently they suspected what they had deserved. Nor did their fear make any difference of persons; for when by an evil Prince every worthy man is feared as a successor, there being none but worthier, all must needs be feared. Your security no slowness of messengers, no stop of letters can suspend; you know that every where men are sworn and bound to serve you, because you have sworn & bound yourself to protect them. No one but respects his own good. Indeed we love you for your deserts, yet still we love you not for your sake, but our own. Nor ever, Caesar, shall we see the day wherein our loyalty more than our benefit shall engage our prayers. Protection for their own interest would derogate from Princes. Let us now put the question why no Princes look into these secret thoughts of ours, but only those we love not; for if the good observed us as attentively as the bad, what joy, what exultation, what admiration of yourself would you find every where! what discourses of you even among women and children in their private houses, sitting by their fires! you would know we spare your tender ears, and that love and hate being contraries yet in this agree that we love good Princes more intemperately, after we have more freely hated bad ones. Yet you have had experience both of our affection and opinion, as much as could be expressed in your presence, that day when you so prevented the trouble and blushes of the Candidates, that no man's joy was encountered with another's sorrow; some went off the field with pleasure, others with hope, many were to be gratulated, none to be comforted. Nor did you therefore slowlier encourage our youth to stand for the Confulship, to supplicate the Senate, and so to hope for honours from the Prince by their addresses to the Senate. And if any want an example you have proposed yourself to his imitation. A hard example, Caesar, no more imitable by Candidates, then by Princes. For what Candidate is more observant of the Senate for a day, than you are for your life time, and then especially when you are to judge of Candidates? Hath any thing but that reverence you bear the Senate, moved you to offer honours to our youth, due to their noble families, but paid before the day? At length therefore Nobility is not obscured, but illustrated, by the Prince. At length, Caesar nor terrifies, nor fears those nephews of great men, those Descendants of Liberty, but amplifies and heightens them with early honours, and restores them to their Ancestors. If there be any branch of an ancient stock, he cherishes and brings it forth for the use of the Republic. Great names are now in honour with men, and fame recovered out of the darkness of oblivion by Caesar's goodness, which hath a property to preserve and make Nobility. There was a 
b Treasurer of a Province.  Questour of a Province among the Candidates, by whose care and industry a great City had established their revenues by an excellent constitution, this you yourself in his behalf thought fit to allege unto the Senate. For in the reign of our Prince whose virtue excels the greatness of his birth, why should they be in a worse condition that deserve a noble Posterity, than they that have had noble Ancestors? O you most worthy for ever thus to encourage our Magistrates, nor do you make men good by the punishment of vice, but by the reward of virtue. Our youth is inflamed and spirited to emulate what they see you praise. Nor could any one be otherwise, when he knew whatsoever was done abroad in the Provinces came entirely to your knowledge. 'Tis advantageous (Caesar) for the Governors of Provinces to be confident there is prepared for their piety and industry the greatest reward, their Prince's love and suffrage. But heretofore sincere and just natures were, though not depraved, yet extremely dulled and cast down, with a miserable but true reputation. For what difference, whether Caesar know not my good actions, or know but will not take notice of them. This very negligence or malignity of Princes, when it gave impunity to the evil, and promised no advancement to the good, deterred not those from vice, yet deterred these from honour. But now if any one govern his Province well, the dignity won by his merit is offered him; for to all li●●●●en a field of honour and glory, out of which every man may reap his wishes, and having reaped possess them. You have likewise, for the future, freed our Provinces from the fear of injury, and necessity of accusations; for they that give thanks to their Governors cannot possibly complain against them, and then the Candidate knows, nothing can sooner advance him for the future, than the good discharge of his past Magistracy. Magistracy by Magistracy, honour is won by honour. I would not have Governors of Provinces to bring us the hands of their friends, or flattering Petitions signed by courted persons, but to show the Decrees of Colonies, the Decrees of Cities; That Cities, Countries and Nations may not come to mix their suffrages with ours. The most efficacious way of petitioning for a Candidate will be to give him thanks. Now with what unanimous joy it affected the Senate, that still as you named a Candidate, you met and kissed him, coming down into the fields as one that joyed them. Shall I more admire you, or despise them who have made this favour seem so great? When nailed as it were to their Curule chairs, they only vouchsafed their hand, and that slow and stately, as if it were a never to be deserved honour. A strange sight therefore was presented to our eyes, a Prince and a Candidate standing on even ground, no difference between the receiver of honour and the giver. Which act of yours with what unfeigned acclamations was it celebrated by the whole Senate! You were so much more great, so much more sacred still; For he that is supreme hath only one way of rising higher, if he submit himself, secure of his own greatness. Nor is there any thing that less endangers a Prince's fortunes, than humility. To me, I must confess, your humanity seemed not so rare as the way wherein you expressed it. Because when your eyes, your voice, your hand were taken up with your Oration, yet as if you had commanded another to speak it for you, you omitted not the least circumstance of civility. Nay, when the names of the voted were to be approved of, you were one of the approvers, and out of the Prince's mouth passed the suffrage of a Senator. And we that formerly rejoiced if the Prince would take our testimony, the Prince's testimony was now given to us. Therefore while you affirmed the men to be deserving, you made them so. Nor did you only approve of their virtues, but of their election by the Senate, whose joy, even theirs, which you had praised, exceeded not. Your very prayer, that the ordination of Magistrates might well and happily succeed, was it not a prayer for yourself? aught we not to pay back those wishes? and lastly to beseech the Gods, that all you do, or shall do, may be prosperous to you, the Commonwealth, and us, or (to abbreviate the wish) to you alone, in whom both the Commonwealth and we subsist? There was a time (and too long a time) when the Princes and our felicity and infelicity were contraries, with you we now communicate both joy and grief; nor could we any more be happy without you, than you could without us, and if you could, you had not (in the close of your prayers) added, that the Gods would be so propitious to your vows, as you persevered to merit our opinions. So primarily sacred is your Subjects love in your esteem, that we are in the first place, than the Gods; and you only desire the Gods may love you, in case you be beloved by us. And truly former Princes ends have taught us, that the Gods love them not, unless men love them. 'Twas hard to equal this love of yours with praises, yet we have equalled it. What heat of love, what fire, what flame raised in us those acclamations? It was not (Caesar) the voice of our affection, but the voice of your merits, of your virtues, such as no flattery e'er invented, no terror ever yet expressed. Whom have we so loved thus to counterfeit? Whom have we so loved thus declare ourselves? You know the necessity of servitude, when did you hear any thing of this kind? When did you speak any thing like unto it? fear hath a great and quick invention, but such as appears done unwillinglie. Fear hath one kind of wit, security another; the invention of the dejected differs from that of the cheerful, and that of the dissembler from them both: the miserable have their dialect, the happy theirs, all proper and peculiar to themselves. Witness yourself, what joy in each man's countenance! neither the habit of the body, nor the habit of the mind the same it was. Hence it was that all our houses were made vocal, no place so secret so barricadoed, that kept out the clamour. Who then leapt not over his threshold? who was sensible that he did so? many things we did voluntarily, many things by instinct and compulsion (for even joy itself hath a compulsory power.) Was your modesty able to limit our exultation? No; for the more you strove to quench it, the more it flamed, not out of contumacy, but as it is in your power whether we shall rejoice, so it is not in our powers how much. You yourself testified the faith of our acclamations, with the truth of your tears. We saw your eyes moistened, We saw you blushing for joy, with so much blood in your cheeks, as you had modesty in your heart, and this more inflamed our zeal to pray, that you might never want the same cause of tears, never be less out of countenance. Let us to these benches, as if they could answer, put the question; have they ever seen a Prince's tears? the Senate's tears they have seen often; you have burdened future Princes, and undone our posterity, for they likewise will expect that Princes should deserve like acclamations, and Princes will be offended that they do not hear them. The world can speak nothing more proper to your merit, than what was spoken by the whole Senate. O happy you, which we said not in admiration of your fortune, but of your mind. For it is true felicity to appear worthy of felicity. But, that day many things were spoken wisely and gravely, this especially, Credit us, Credit yourself. We spoke this with a mighty confidence in ourselves, but more in you; for one may deceive another, but no one themselves, let him but look into his life and ask himself what he deserves. Besides, these very expressions gave us credit with the best Prince which discredited us with the bad, for though we behaved ourselves affectionately towards them, yet they believed themselves they could not be beloved. Again we prayed the Gods might so love you as you love us: Who would pray thus upon a moderate affection either to themselves, or to their Prince? We desired no greater good, but that the Gods would love us, as you do. Is't not true, that with these acclamations we intermixed, O happy We! for what can be happier than we are, that have now no need to wish our Prince may love us, but the Gods equal with our Prince. This religiously devoted City, always piously dependent on heaven's providence, conceives her happiness cannot be increased, unless the Gods please to imitate Caesar. But why do I follow or collect particulars, as if either my speech could contain, or my memory comprehend them. Which, lest they should be intercepted by oblivion, your Lordships have commanded they should be put into our public Records, and likewise graven in brass. Heretofore Princes Orations only had such monuments, but our acclamations were still enclosed within the walls of the Senate-house, for they were such as neither Senate nor Prince could glory in. But that these acclamations should come to the cares of all men living, and be transmitted to posterity, will suit both the public benefit and dignity. First, that the whole world may know and be witness to our piety, then that it may appear we dare censure both good and evil Princes in their life time; Lastly, that we may experimentally demonstrate, that we have formerly been grateful but unfortunate, not being suffered to express our gratitude. But with what contention, what earnestness, what clamour did we move you, that you would not let our affections nor your merits be suppressed? Briefly that they might be left as an example to the future, that Princes might learn to distinguish true acclamations from false, and be obliged to you for the discovery. Prince's now are not to begin the way to good fame, but not to deviate from it, not to remove flattery, but not to reduce it. They have a certain rule what they shall do, and what they shall hear when 'tis done. Besides these prayers wherein the Senate have joined with me, what shall I now pray for the Senate? May that joy ever be inherent in your Soul, which then floated in your eyes. May you love that day, but be the cause of one more joyful; may you deserve again, and hear again (for the same words cannot be uttered but for the same actions.) Then how like old Rome it was, how Consular; that the Senate by your example sat three days together, and all that time you only executed the office of a Consul? Every one might put to the question what he pleased, it was free for any to descent, to retract his judgement, to bestow his advice upon the Commonwealth, we were all consulted, all numbered; not the first votes carried it, but the best. But heretofore who durst speak, who durst open his lips; save only those wretches that were first required to speak? the rest dejected and astonished, did they not suffer a sedentary necessity of assenting with grief of Soul and horror of the flesh? One alone passed Sentence, all complied with what they hated as unjust, and especially he that did pronounce it; nothing so much displeasing a generality, as that which is done (against their wills) as if it were generally approved of. Some Emperor, haply for respect to the Senate bridled himself in this house, but no sooner out of it, but he resumed the Prince's power, scorning and disclaiming all offices of a Consul. But our Prince was Consul, as if he had been nothing else, and thought nothing below himself, unless it were below the Consul, and so appeared in public as that he brought no show of State, no 
c Domitian was ushered with 24 Lictors  ushering tumult crowded up his way, he only stayed at door to consult the 
d The observation of the flight & chirping of Birds was one part of the duty of the Augur, who sat with his face to the East in his Laena (a gown lined with furs, and bordered with purple & crimson) and having quartered the heavens into regions, observed from whence the Birds appeared, and pronounced not good fortune without two lucky signs, but evil fortune with one unlucky token of all the Roman Priests he only could not lose his office during life.  birds, and take admonitions from the Gods; none was disturbed, none thrust aside; the passenger had so much freedom, the Lictours were so modest, that oftentimes a crowd of strangers stopped both Prince and Consul: nay he himself was so moderate in his office, so well tempered as we thought we saw the comportment of some ancient and great Consul under the shape of a good Prince. He went often to the Forum, but frequently to Mars' fields, for he himself discharged the Consul's office at the election of Consuls, and took as much pleasure to declare them, as formerly he had done to be created. The Candidates stood before the Curule chair of the Prince, as he had stood before the Consuls, and the oath was given to them which had been lately taken by the Prince, who knows the tye of that oath to be so great that he requires it of others. The remainder of the day he spent in the Tribunal, and there, how great a Religion of equity! how great a reverence of the Laws! some made addresses to the Prince, he answered that he was the Consul. The right of no Office, no one's authority was by him lessened, increased it was, for he referred many to the 
e Judges of Rome in the nature of our Lords chief Justices.  Praetours by the name of his Colleagues, not because it would be popular and pleasing to the hearers, but because he so accounted them: he acknowledged so much honour in that place, that he esteemed it no more for one to be styled the Prince's Colleague, than Praetour. Besides he sat so frequently in the Tribunal, that he seemed to be new spirited and refreshed with labour. Which of us hath taken the same care, the same pains? such longed-for honours who either attends or merits. And truly 'tis fit he should thus exceed all Consuls, that makes Consuls, for otherwise he should be unworthy of his fortune, if he could give honours, and could not manage them. When he makes Consuls he instructs them, and when they are made teaches them to know that he understands what he gives, that they may likewise know what they receive. Therefore, with more justice the Senate beseeches and commands you to accept of the fourth consulship, 'tis the suit of the Empire, not of flattery; credit your former obedience, that a greater favour the Senate neither can desire, nor you bestow. For as in others, so in Princes (that are Gods) life is short and frail, therefore it behoves every excellent man to endeavour and strive to serve the Republic after death, by leaving behind him the monuments of justice and moderation, which a Consul may best erect. This indeed is your intention, to repeal and reduce liberty. What honour therefore should you more affect, or what title oftener assume, then that, which by recovered 
f After the expulsion of the Tarquins, the Romans agreed upon two yearly Officers, first called Praetors, than Judges, lastly Consuls. Rosinus Ant. Rom. l. 7. c. 9  liberty was first invented. 'Tis not more noble to be both Prince and Consul, than Consul only. You likewise have regard to the modesty of your Colleagues (your Colleagues I say, for so you yourself do entitle them, and it is your pleasure that we do so too) the memory of their own third Consulship would have oppressed them until they had seen your fourth; for it cannot be but too much for a private man, which a Prince thinks enough. You, Caesar, condescend, and according to the greatness of your power, you still grant us our prayers, as the Gods grant yours. Perhaps with your third consulship you could rest contented, but we so much the less, it makes us repeat and redouble our requests that you will again be Consul. We should be more cold in our suit, if we knew not how you would prove. It had been better to have denied us the experience of you, than the use. Shall we once more be so happy as to see him Consul! Shall he again hear and speak the same, and give as much joy, as he receives? Shall he command in chief the Public Jubily, whereof he is the cause and end? Shall he, as formerly, endeavour to restrain our affections, nor have power to do it! Betwixt the Senate's piety, and the Prince's modesty, the combat is glorious which so ever conquers or is conquered. Truly, I conceive, there will be yet an unknown joy; for who hath so weak a fancy but he must imagine him by how much the oftener, by so much the better Consul? Another, if he had not given himself over to sloth and pleasure, would yet have refreshed his labours with rest and idleness: This, when he was respited from his Consular, resumed his Princely cares, so regardful of just temper that neither the Consul's Office enterfeired with the Princes, nor this checked the Consul's. We see how he satisfies the desires of the Provinces with recruiting their Garrisons, and securing every particular City. No difficulty in giving audience, no delay in returning answers. They are immediately admitted, immediately dismissed, and at length the Prince's doors are not besieged with crowds of waiting Petitioners. What his whole comportment! how gentle his severity! how judicious his mercy! You sat not to enrich the Exchequer, nor had your sentence any end but Justice. Those that dispute their rights and titles stand before you, not so careful to preserve their fortunes, as your estimation, nor so much fearing your censure of their cause, as of their manners. How like a Prince it is; how like a Consul! to reconcile emulous Cities, and to calm swelling nations, not so much by command as reason! To cure the iniquity of Magistrates, and to undo things that ought not to have been done. In short, like the swiftest of the Planets, to see all things, hear all things, and wheresoever invocated, instantly, like a God to be present and assistant. Such Orders, I believe, are given by the creator of the world, when he pleaseth to cast his eyes upon the earth and to number among his divine works the actions of mortal creatures; a care you now discharge, while he disposes the heaven, having to the race of men appointed you for his Vicegerent. And you are such a Vicegerent as best pleases your great master, since every day ends with our greatest benefit and your praise. But, when at any time you make even with influent businesses, you esteem the change of Labour a kind of recreation. For what is your recreation but to ride abroad, to rouse wild beasts out of their dens, to climb up mighty mountains, and to set foot on horrid rocks without the help either of the hand or tract of man; and as occasion presents itself religiously to visit the 
g Woods were accounted sacred places by the Romans who had scarce any Temple without an adjoining grove, where they believed the Deities would give meetings to their favourites, as Aegeria had done to their King Numa.  woods, and there to reverence the deities? This was of old the experience of our youth, this was their pleasure, in these 
h Of hunting, Xenophon says, that by unting health is preserved, & men's bodies excellently trained for the wars, and that hence they come to be both good Soldiers and Generals. The most famous Huntsmen were Shafalus, Aesculapius, Melanion, Nestor, Theseus, Hippolytus, Palamed, Ulysses, Mnestheus Diomedes, Castor, Pollux, Adonis Machaon, Podalirius, Antilo●hus, Achilles Aeneas.  exercises were our future Generals trained up, to contend in speed with the swiftest beast, in strength with the fiercest, in stratagem with the subtlest. Nor was it accounted a mean ornament of peace, to clear the fields from the eruptions of wild beasts, and to relieve the Husbandman's besieged labours. This glory likewise was usurped by those Princes that could not attain it, and so usurped, that the beasts were dislodged to their hands as artificially as if they had forced them from their trenches, being turned lose to the triumph of a feigned victory. Our Prince sweats as much in hunting, as in killing them, and takes great but pleasing pains to find them out. And if sometimes he hath pleased to carry the same strength on Shipboard, he follows not the streaming sails with his eyes or hands, but now sits at the helm now contends with the ablest of his mates to break the waves, to tame the struggling winds and to cut through the opposition of the sea. How different was 
i Domitian.  he, that could not brook the stillness of the Alban 
k It was no marvel he intimated formerly that Domitian feared to pass a ford in Danubius or the Rhine with his Army, when it seems he durst not trust himself in a boat to the smoothest of his own country waters.  Lake, nor the tranquillity and silence of the Port at Baiae, not being able to endure the least shake or sound of oars, but at every stroke they made, trembling with sordid fear? therefore all noise removed, with sails furled, and sleeping oars, himself not so much as moving, he was carried like some 
l Something that had the pestilence or was so foul or unholy that none durst touch it.  contaminated thing. A shameful spectacle to behold the Roman Emperor following the course and steerage of another ship, as if his own had been taken by the enemy. Nor did even floods and rivers scape this deformed sight. Danubius and the Rhine rejoiced to carry so much of our shame. Nor was it less dishonour to the Empire, that this goodly prospect should be shown to armies, colours, and banks of the Romans, then to the armies colours and banks of the enemy, the enemy, whose custom is to slide along those waters when they frieze, & when they fall into their channel, to wade, row, or swim over them. Nor should I for itself so much commend your strength, unless your strong body was governed by a fare stronger soul, which neither the indulgence of fortune softens, nor abundance seduces into sloth and luxury, so that whether his recreation carry him to the mountains, or to the Ocean, I shall admire his body kept in health with exercise, and his limbs strengthened with labour. For I find, that anciently the Goddesses 
m As Peleus who for his valour and skill in Navigation deserved to have the Goddess of the Sea Thetis for his wife, of whom he begot Achilles; and Shafalus, and Hippolytus, who for their Huntsmanship were beloved by the Goddesses Aurora & Diana.  husbands and the God's children were not more honoured by their marriages, then for these arts of hunting and navigation. Withal, I consider when these are our Prince's sports and pastimes, what (those from which he retires himself to these) his serious and intended pleasures are. For there are pleasures that clearly show every one's gravity, sanctity, and temperance. Now who so dissolute in whose recreations there is not some resemblance of severity? Idleness betrays us. Have not divers Princes spent this very time in dicing, courting of mistresses, or riotous feast, while their serious cares were relieved with a supply of opposite Vices? The very first article of a great fortune is, that nothing shall be hidden, nothing secret. But the fortune of Princes not only opens their Palaces, but even their bedchambers, and Cabinets, and proposes and explains to fame all their mysterious counsels. But you Caesar, have no nearer way to glory then to be throughly looked into. Those things indeed are excellent which you do abroad, nor those less excellent which are done within your Court. 'Tis glorious, Caesar, that you keep yourself from any infection of vice, but more glorious, that you restrain all about you: by how much it is harder to make others good, then ones self, by so much it is more admirable that you being the best have made all like yourself that have relation to you. Many have dishonoured themselves either with a wife inconsiderately taken, or with too tame a patience suffered; So that men famous abroad were lost in domestic infamy, and this only hindered them from being esteemed the greatest Romans, that they were 
n Sylla surnamed the happy had yet this spot in his felicity, that he was an unhappier husband to the wanton Metella:  unhappier husbands. 
p Chief Bishop, a title (as I have noted) inherent in the Roman Emperors, declaring their supremacy in divine matters.  Your 
o Plotina, who when she went up the steps to the Palace, turning to the multitude said Such I go in hither as I hope to come forth, and so carried herself all his reign as she deserved no kind of reprehension. Dion.  wife is your ornament and glory, for what more holy, what more sacred than she is? If our Pontifex Maximus were to choose a wife he would choose her, or her equal, but where is her equal? In all your fortune how she claims her share in nothing, but the joy! How constantly she loves not your power, but yourself! you are both to one another still the same you were, equal in your affections. Felicity adds nothing to you, but that now you know how well each of you can digest felicity. How modest she is in her apparel, how frugal in her train, how civil in her Garb! This honour is the husbands, that gives these principles and instructions, for a wife comprehends all glories in the glory of obedience. When she sees you go abroad with no terror, with no pomp, must not she needs learn to pass without noise, and even your going on foot, (as fare as her weak sex permits) she imitates, which would become her though you should do otherwise; but where a husband is so exemplare, what modesty ought a wife to show for his honour, a woman for her own? Your 
q Martiana whom for her virtues the Senate entitled Augusta, & after her decease deified her.  sister likewise, how she remembers that she is your sister! how is your integrity, your truth, your candour visible in her! so that if one should compare her with your wife, he might doubt whether to a good life were more efficacious to be nobly bred, or nobly borne. Nothing is so apt to quarrel as Emulation, especially in women, nay it is begot by proximity of alliance, cherished by equality, inflamed by envy, and terminates in hatred. Therefore it must needs be thought more admirable, that two women, in the same house, of like fortune, should have no difference, no contention; they love each other, strive which should give place, and while both most passionately love you, they think neither is concerned which of them you love best. They both propose to themselves the same end, the same course of life, there is nothing whereby you can distinguish them to be two, for with one soul they imitate and study you. Both therefore have the same virtues, because both have yours. Nor can they ever come in danger to be private persons, that will not be other. The Senate presented them the titles of 
r This stile of Augustae was given to the wives & sisters of the Roman Emperors by decree of the Senate, whereas that of Augustus descended upon Emperors.  Augustae, but they earnestly excused themselves, so long as you refused the appellation of father of your Country, perhaps conceiving it more honour to be styled your Wife and Sister, then Augustae. But what reason soever persuaded them to so much modesty, they are by so much more worthy to be, and in our souls to be esteemed Augustae, because not so entitled. For what in women is more noble, then to believe true honour consists not in the splendour of titles, but the judgements of men, and to make themselves parallel with great names, even by refusing them? Now, in the hearts of private persons, that old felicity of mortals, friendship, was antiquated [grown out of date] in place whereof there was sprung up flattery, compliment, and (what is worse than hatred,) dissembled love; especially in Prince's Courts there remained only the empty and laught-at name of Friendship. For what articles of friendship could be drawn between Lords on the one part, and Vassals on the other? You Sir, have repealed this banished virtue. You have friends, because you are one. Nor can love (like other commands) be enjoined to subjects, for there is no affection more free, more noble, more impatient of dominion, and that more requires equality. Perhaps a Prince may be unjustly hated, nay hated by some although he hate not them, but beloved he cannot be unless he love, we therefore know you love because you are beloved, and which is in both most princely, the whole glory is your own, who being superior in dignity notwithstanding do descend to all offices of friendship, and from an Emperor stoop to be a friend, and then are most an Emperor when you lay aside this Title for the other. And since a Prince's fortune stands in need of many friends, it is a Prince's chiefest business to provide himself store of friends. May this opinion ever please you, and as to your other virtues, so to this be constant, nor let any thing persuade you, that a Prince can fall below himself, unless he hate. To be beloved is the sweetest of all humane blessings, nor is it less sweet to love; both which you so enjoy, that whereas you most passionately love, yet you are more passionately beloved. First, for that 'tis easier to love one, than many; then, because you have so great a power and faculty of obliging, that none but an ingrateful man can choose but love you best. 'Tis worth our industry, to relate what torments you put yourself unto, that you might deny nothing to your friend. You parted with a most excellent 
s L. Licinius Sura the aforementioned Captain of the Guards, to whom Trajan's affection is here at large described.  man, most dear in your esteem, unwillingly and sadly, and as if you could not tell how much you loved him you tried it by absence, with much pain and distraction yielding to be separated. A thing never till this present heard of, the Prince and the Prince's friend desire contradictories, and the friend's desire carries it. O memorable friendship, worthy an immortal History, to choose the praefect of the Praetorians not out of those that sought places, but that declined them, and to restore the same man to that Rest which he so passionately 
t How Sura doted on a retired life appears by parting w th' so great, so affectionate and so unalterable a friend, as Trajan was to him, but it's especially manifest by that inscription which after his 7. years private life he caused to be graven on his monument. Here lies one aged many years, that lived but seven of them.  dotes upon; and when you yourself are overburdened with the cares of Empire, not to envy another the glory of his quiet! We understand how much we own you, Caesar, for your own laborious and restless stations, since you granted this petitioner a writ of Ease as the highest favour. What confusion did they tell me you were in, when you brought him on his way, for you could not forbear going with him to the Sea side, where at his very taking boat you embraced and kissed him on the shore. Upon that vantage ground of friendship Caesar stood, wishing him a safe voyage, and (if he so pleased) a quick return: Nor could he leave him thus, but many leagues followed him with his prayers and tears. I say nothing of his munificence, because no bounty can equal this care and patience of a Prince; whereby you have deserved that he should condemn himself as too pertinacious, too hardhearted. And doubtless he repent and was ready to bid the Pilot tack about, had he not conceived, there might be almost as much happiness as in the Prince's society, to desire the Prince. And truly as he enjoys that greatest good he aimed at, so he attains a greater glory in the resignation of his place, to which when you consented, you declared that you would tie no man to your service longer than he pleases. This was Princely, and well became our public Parent to compel nothing, but always to remember that so great a power [or place] cannot be given to any, but he may before that power [or place] prefer his freedom. Caesar, you are worthy to confer offices on such as shall wish to resign them, and when they make it a suit, against your will indeed, but yet to grant it; you are worthy not to conceive yourself abandoned by your friends that beg leave to retire themselves, but still to find those you may call from, and those you may restore to Rest. You likewise, my Lords, on whom our Parent daignes to cast a gracious and familiar eye, improve his opinion of you, this is now your business, for the Prince having given us proof that he can love, is to be excused if he love others in a less degree. But who can observe a moderation in loving him, for as much as his love must not receive but give the Law? This man would be affected present, and that absent, either shall have his own desire: None by presence shall grow cheap, none by absence be forgotten; every one holds the place he merits, and he may easier blot the face of the absent out of his memory, then cancel from his heart the affection which he beareth him. Many Princes when they were Tyrants over their Subjects, were yet their freed-men's 
u As Domitian was to Crispinus and to the player Paris, of whom Juv. Sat. 7. Many to honour in the wars he brings, With summer annulets and winter rings He binds the Poet's fingers; what there lives No Lord that will bestow, a Player gives.  bondmen, governed by their counsels, by their wills and pleasures. Through these they saw, through these they spoke, through these men's hands went Praetorshippes, Priesthoods, Consulshippes, Nay unto them were made all addresses of that nature. Your freedmen are indeed much honoured by you, but still as freedmen, and you believe, it may abundantly suffice them if they be accounted honest and careful servants. For you know 'tis a demonstrative argument of no great Prince, to have great freedmen. And in the first place, you admit none of them to be near your person, unless you yourself do, or your father, or some good Prince did affect him. And these very men you daily so mould and form, as that they measure themselves, not according to your condition, but their own. So much more cause we have to respect them, because we are not tied to do it. Have not the Senate and People of Rome upon just ground conferred on you the Surname of the Best? It is true, it was a title 
* Ready indeed, for Suetonius says that Caius took the Title of Best & Greatest, but Pliny here implies that Caeius only arrogated that stile of Best, whereas Trajan won it by his merit.  ready for you, wherewith our tongues were formerly acquainted, yet a new title; we may be sure no other Prince deserved it, for else it had been 
x Not taken,  given him, as it was to you, without praemeditation. Was 
y The Style of Sylla.  Happy a stile comparable to it, which was bestowed upon the fortune, not the virtue. Or 
z The Surname of Pompey.  Great, which had in it more of envy then of glory. An excellent Prince adopted you into his own name, the Senate into the name of Best, and 'tis as proper to you as your paternal Surname, nor doth he more distinguish you that calls you Trajan, than he that calls you Best. So, anciently frugality denominated the 
a Piso was Surnamed the frugal, not because he was a good husband only for himself, but because he was frugal that he might be beneficial to others.  Piso's, wisdom the 
b C. Lalius, Serpio's friend, who intending to reform the Lex Agraria (the Law for division of Lands proportionable to the qualities and conditions of men) finding himself opposed by a strong faction of the richer sort, he desisted and was therefore surnamed the Wise. Plutarch.  Laelij, piety the 
c Metellus was surnamed the Pious for rescuing the Palladium, or wooden Image of Pallas, when her Temple was on fire, in which service the well-meaning man lost his eyes.  Metelli; all which Names are comprehended in this one. Nor can he be Best that excels not every person in a peculiar way of merit. deservedly therefore after all your other apellations this was added, as most great. For, 'tis less to be Emperor, Caesar, and Augustus, then of all Emperors, Caesar's and Augustuse's the Best. Therefore that parent both of Gods and men, is first adored by the name of Best, and then of Greatest. The more glorious still your praise, that are known to be no less Best, than Greatest; you have obtained a name that never can descend or be transferred to another, for in a good Prince it will appear borrowed, in a bad Prince usurped; which should all your successors assume, it must ever be acknowledged yours. For as the title of Augustus, minds us of him to whom it was first consecrated, so this of Best, man's memory never shall reflect upon without remembering you. As often as posterity shall be compelled to style another best, so oft they shall remember him that merited that title. Divine Nerva, how much is now thy joy in heaven! to see that he is Best, and so entitled, whom thou didst elect as Best! how it rejoiceth thee, that, compared with thy son, thou art transcended, for in nothing more didst thou declare the greatness of thy soul, then that, being excellent thyself, thou didst not fear to choose a better. And thou likewise, 
d L. Trajan of whom in the preface,  Trajan the father (for though not among the stars, yet thou hast attained the next place to them) what pleasure takest thou to behold this thy Tribune, this thy Soldier, so great a General, so great a Prince! nay thou hast a friendly contention with the spirit of his adoptive father, whether be more noble to have begot or elected such a son. Both of you have infinitely merited of the Commonwealth, on which you have conferred so great a good, who though his filial piety can but give triumphal ornaments to the one, yet to the other he gives heaven. Nor is your praise the less that you deserve them by your son, then if the merit were your own. My Lords, I know all Romans, but especially the Consuls ought to be so affected, as to esteem themselves rather publicly then privately obliged. For, as it is better and more noble to distaste ill Princes, for common then particular injuries, so the good are more generously beloved for their favours done to mankind, then to men. But forasmuch as 'tis grown into a custom, that the Consuls having presented the public thanks, should likewise acknowledge in their own names the greatness of their private obligations, give me leave to discharge this part of my duty, not with more respect to myself, then to Cornutus Tertullus my Colleague and formerly a Consular person. For why should I not likewise give thanks for him, that am equally obliged on his behalf, especially since our most gracious Sovereign hath done that for both, which if one of us only had received yet both had been obliged: that pillager & 
e Domitian.  murderer of every virtuous man had blasted both of us by the slaughter of friends; so near us fell the thunderbolt: for we gloried in the same friends, and for the same lost men we mourned; as now our joy and hope, so than our grief & fear was common. This honour to our sufferings divine Nerva did, that he would 
f Nerva making Pliny & Cornutus Tertullus Praefects of the Treasury.  advance us, though peradventure less worthy, to let the World see them flourish that before his reign only wished they might slide out of the Prince's memory. We had not been two years complete in that most painful and great Office, when you (best of Princes, valiantest of Generals) offered us the Consulship, that to the highest honour the glory of celerity might be added. So much you differ from those Princes, who conceived that difficulty set a value on their favours, and that honours would be more welcome to men, if first despair and dancing of attendance, and a delay resembling a denial, had affronted and set a mark of disgrace upon them. Modesty forbids me to repeat the testimony wherewith you honoured us both, making us (both in our love of truth, and love of the Republic) equal to those ancient Consuls; whether deservedly, or no, I dare not determine; for it would be unseemly to contradict what you affirm, and insolent to own the character you gave us being so magnific. But you are worthy to create such Consuls of whom you may report such Miracles. Pardon it, Sir, that among your favours we acknowledge this the highest, that you have pleased to make us once again Colleagues, 'twas the ambition of our mutual love, of the agreeable method of our life, of one and the same end of our endeavours; the power whereof is so great, that our similitude of disposition takes from us the glory of our friendship, and it were no less a wonder, should one of us descent from his Colleague, then from himself. Therefore 'tis no new or temporary thing, that each of us as much rejoices in the consulship of his Colleague, as if his own were again to be renewed, only they who are twice made Consuls have a obligations, but at several times: we have each of us received two Consulships together, we discharge them together, jointly in the union of our souls, yet severally and by Collegueshippe. But how rare it was, that while we were Praefects of the Treasury, you gave us the consulship, before you named our Successors! One dignity grew into another, nor was the honour continued, but doubled, and (as if it had been a mean favour to give us another office when this was ended) you would not suffer it to expire. So great was the confidence you had in our integrity, that you doubted not but to give a good account to your reason, if you did not suffer us (after so great a place in the Republic) to become private men. What? that you were pleased to make us Consuls in the current year of your own consulship! we therefore shall be in the same Roll that records you Consul, and our names shall be added to the Acts you signed. You vouchsafed to be Precedent at our Election, and to read unto us those most sacred verses. We were made Consuls by your judgement, that we might have the honour both of your vote in Court, and declaration in the fields. But how were we graced that particularly you would assign over to us the month which is made glorious by your birthday! So that we had the happiness by our Edicts and by our public shows to celebrate that 
g Which being the same day with that of Domitian's death, must be the 18 of Sept. for Suetonius records him obtruncatum ad decimun quartum Kalendas Octobris. ij Nerva being crowned upon the 18 of Sept.  day, blest with a three fold joy, that rid us of the worst Prince, gave us the best, and brought forth a better than the best. The chariot-Chayre, with more than usual reverence carried us in your sight, and being in the midst of those fortunate Omens and contentions of good wishes that thronged into your presence, we were so overjoyed that we knew not whether the sound came to our ears from the right hand or the left. Beyond all, it appears your greatest nobleness, that you suffer those you have created to be Consuls, for no danger no terror from the Prince debilitates or shakes the Consular power or spirits, nothing is spoken against our wills, nothing decreed against our judgements. The veneration is now and shall be inherent in the Honour, nor shall we by our authority cancel our security. If the dignity of the consulship lose any thing, it must be our fault, not the times, for 'tis free on the Prince's part, 'tis free for Consuls to be such, as they were before we had Princes. Can we return you any thanks answerable to these favours, but only, ever to remember we have been Consuls, & your Consuls? So let us think, so judge as Consuls ought, and so serve the weal public, as believing there is now a Commonweal. Let us not withdraw our counsels or endeavours, nor conceive ourselves to be freed and severed, but tied and bound unto the consulship; keeping the same eminence in care and industry, that we do in reverence and dignity. To shut up my discourse. I humbly beseech the governor's and guardians of the Empire, the Gods, our heavenly Consuls; in particular I pray thee, Capitolin Jupiter, that thou wilt cherish what thou hast bestowed upon us, and to so great a bounty add eternity. Thou heardst our imprecations made against the Worst of Princes, hear now our prayers for the Best. We do not weary thee with Supplications, we pray not for peace, not for concord, not for safety, not for riches, not for honours, all these are comprehended in one single wish, the preservation of the Prince; nor do we ask new favours, for thou didst then receive him into thy protection, when thou didst snatch him out of the talons of a vulturous 
h Domitian, of whose subtle hatred to Trajan in the Preface.  Tyrant; for not without thy special assistance, when every noble height was battered down, could this of all the noblest have remained unshaken; being passed over by the worst Prince, that the best might find him. Thou gavest us evident testimonies of thy approbation when thou didst entitle him (then going towards the Army) to thy own name, to thy own honour; thou speaking by the Emperor's mouth didst adopt to him a Son, to us a Parent, to thyself a Pontifex Maximus. Wherefore in the very words, wherein he prayed for himself, I pray, if he govern the Republic well and for the benefit of all, first that thou wilt preserve him for our grandchildren and great grandchildren, then that at length thou wilt give him a Successor whom he hath begotten, as happily as he himself hath been adopted; or if fate deny him this, be of counsel with him in his choice, and show him such a one as it may become him to elect in the Capitoline Temple.  
How much I am indebted to your Lordships is likewise recorded in our public monuments. You have given me an authentic testimony of peaceableness in my Tribuneshippe, modesty in my Praetourshippe, and constancy in those offices you enjoined me, in defending the causes of our Associates; & you approved of my following consulship with so many joyful expressions, that I conceive myself engaged to my utmost power to cherish, confirm, and daily to improve the reasons of your approbation. For I know 'tis then best judged whether one doth or doth not merit honour, when he hath attained it. Do you but favour this my intention, and believe it, if I was once put into a way of advancement by that subtle 
i Domitian, who at first so dissembled, that he forbade the sacrificing of Beasts, where as afterward be himself set up a shambles for Men.  Prince, before he professed his hatred to good men, if after he professed it I retired myself; when I saw the compendious way to honour, I chose to go a longer journey; if in bad times I be numbered with the sad and endangered, in good times with the joyful and secure; to conclude, if I as much love the best Prince, as I was hated by the worst, I shall ever serve your Lordships not as Consul or a Consular person, but as a Candidate of the Consulship.  
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
PReface Pag. 1. Lin. 5. for, Conquest of the king of Dacia. read Conquest of Dacia. Panegyric pag. 3 lin. 5. for say too much, read please or displease as I shall say too much. p. 4. l. 17. for that end. r. this end. p. 30. b. l. 33. for succession. r. posterity. p. 27. b. for ex. r. et. marg.  
Some such other small faults there are, which the Reader may with ease discover and correct.