that in their nature The lighter sort of

natural malignity. For there be do not affect the good of others. malignity turneth but to a crossness, or frowardness, or aptness to oppose, or difficilness, or the like; but the deeper sort to envy and mere mischief. Such men in other men's calamities are, as it were, in season, and are ever on the loading part: 2 not so good as the dogs that licked Lazarus' sores; but like flies that are still buzzing upon any thing that is raw; misanthropi,3 that make it their practice to bring men to the bough, and yet have never a tree for the purpose in their gardens,4 as Timon had. Such dispositions are the very errours of human nature; and yet they are the fittest timber to make great politiques of; like to knee timber, that is good for ships, that are ordained to be tossed; but not for building houses, that shall stand firm. The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shews he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them. If he be compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shews that his heart is like the noble tree that is wounded itself when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons and remits offences, it shews that his mind is planted above injuries; so that he cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shews that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash. But above

1 qui ingenii proprii instinctu aversentur aliorum bonum.

2 easque semper aggravant.

3 Non paucos reperias misanthropos; quibus volupe est, &c.

4 That is, I suppose, without openly professing it. The Italian translation introduces the word palesemente: "et con tutto ciò non hanno palese mente nei loro giardini à tal proposito l'albero di Timone."

& non injuriâ vocare licet humanæ naturæ vomicas et carcinomata.

all, if he have St. Paul's perfection, that he would wish to be an anathema from Christ for the salvation of his brethren, it shews much of a divine nature, and a kind of conformity with Christ himself.

XIV. OF NOBILITY.

WE will speak of Nobility first as a portion of an estate; then as a condition of particular persons. A monarchy where there is no nobility at all, is ever a pure and absolute tyranny; as that of the Turks. For nobility attempers sovereignty, and draws the eyes of the people somewhat aside from the line royal. But for democracies, they need it not; and they are commonly more quiet and less subject to sedition, than where there are stirps of nobles. For men's eyes are upon the business, and not upon the persons; or if upon the persons, it is for the business sake, as fittest, and not for flags and pedigree.1 We see the Switzers last well, notwithstanding their diversity of religion and of cantons. For utility is their bond, and not respects.2 The united provinces of the Low Countries in their government excel; for where there is an equality, the consultations are more indifferent, and the payments and tributes more cheerful. A great and potent nobility addeth majesty to a monarch, but diminisheth power; and putteth life and spirit into the people, but presseth their fortune. It is well when nobles are not too great for sovereignty nor for justice; and yet

1 vel si omnino in personas, id fit tanquam in maxime idoneas rebus gerendis, minime vero ut ratio habeatur insignium aut imaginum.

maintained in that height, as the insolency of inferiors may be broken upon them1 before it come on too fast upon the majesty of kings. A numerous nobility causeth poverty and inconvenience in a state; 2 for it is a surcharge of expense; and besides, it being of necessity that many of the nobility fall in time to be weak in fortune, it maketh a kind of disproportion between honour and means.

As for nobility in particular persons; it is a reverend thing to see an ancient castle or building not in decay ; or to see a fair timber tree sound and perfect. How much more to behold an ancient noble family, which hath stood against the waves and weathers of time. For new nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of time. Those that are first raised to nobility are commonly more virtuous, but less innocent, than their descendants; for there is rarely any rising but by a commixture of good and evil arts. But it is reason the memory of their virtues remain to their posterity, and their faults die with themselves. Nobility of birth commonly abateth industry; and he that is not industrious, envieth him that is. Besides, noble persons cannot go much higher: and he that standeth at a stay when others rise, can hardly avoid motions of envy. On the other side, nobility extinguisheth the passive envy from others towards them; because they are in possession of honour.4 Certainly, kings that have able men of their

1 illorum reverentiâ, tanquam obice, retundatur.

2 Rursus numerosa nobilitas, quæ plerumque minus potens est, statum prorsus depauperat.

8 virtutum claritudine plerumque posteris eminent, sed innocentiâ minime. 4 That is, born in possession. Eo quod nobiles in honorum possessione nati cidentur.

1

nobility shall find ease in employing them, and a better slide into their business; for people naturally bend to them, as born in some sort to command.

XV. OF SEDITIONS AND TROUBLES.

SHEPHERDS of people had need know the calendars 2 of tempests in state; which are commonly greatest when things grow to equality; as natural tempests are greatest about the Equinoctia. And as there are certain hollow blasts of wind and secret swellings of seas before a tempest, so are there in states:

Ille etiam cæcos instare tumultus

Sæpe monet, fraudesque et operta tumescere bella.

[Of troubles imminent and treasons dark

Thence warning comes, and wars in secret gathering.]

Libels and licentious discourses against the state, when they are frequent and open; and in like sort, false news often running up and down to the disadvantage of the state, and hastily embraced; are amongst the signs of troubles. Virgil giving the pedigree of Fame, saith she was sister to the Giants:

Illam Terra parens, irâ irritata Deorum,

Extremam (ut perhibent) Coo Enceladoque sororem

Progenuit.

As if fames were the relics of seditions past; but they are no less indeed the preludes of seditions to come. Howsoever he noteth it right, that seditious tumults. and seditious fames differ no more but as brother and

1 negotia sua mollius fluere sentient, si eos potissimum adhibeant.
2 Prognostica.

8 cavos, et veluti a longinquo.

sister, masculine and feminine; especially if it come to that, that the best actions of a state, and the most plausible, and which ought to give greatest contentment, are taken in ill sense, and traduced: for that shews the envy great, as Tacitus saith, conflata magna invidia, seu bene seu male gesta premunt: [when dislike prevails against the government, good actions and bad. offend alike.] Neither doth it follow, that because these fames are a sign of troubles, that1 the suppressing of them with too much severity should be a remedy of troubles. For the despising of them many times. checks them best; and the going about to stop them doth but make a wonder long-lived.2 Also that kind of obedience which Tacitus speaketh of, is to be held suspected: Erant in officio, sed tamen qui mallent mandata imperantium interpretari quam exequi; [ready to serve, and yet more disposed to construe commands than execute them ;] disputing, excusing, cavilling upon mandates and directions, is a kind of shaking off the yoke, and assay of disobedience; especially if in those disputings they which are for the direction speak fearfully and tenderly, and those that are against it audaciously.

Also, as Machiavel3 noteth well, when princes, that ought to be common parents, make themselves as a party, and lean to side, it is as a boat that is overthrown by uneven vight on the one side; as was well seen in the time of Henry the Third of France; for first himself entered league for the extirpation of the Protestants; and presently after the same league was

1 So in original. One of the thats should of course be omitted.

2 nihil aliud fere efficit quam ut durent magis.

8 The Italian translation omits the name of Machiavel, and says only un scrittore.