which he ufed for his own fecurity, may the more clearly appear. The means that ordinarily men choose in fuch unquiet ftates, are for the most part fuch as thefe:

1. They commonly ftrike in with that party or faction that is in prefent power, and join with it, and commit their fortunes into the fame veffel with it; the imprudence whereof is apparent in this, that they venture all in the conftancy of the fuccefs of that parry or faction which they espouse.

And confequently, if they prevail not, or happen to receive at any time a fhock, they are ruined with them, or at least efcape that ruin with infinite difficulties. And herein is apparent their want of due confideration of the state of things of this nature. They judge according to the prefent face, and fhow, and appearance, and do not confider that truth which reafon and experience makes evident and common; namely, that factions in a ftate never long hold their ground; but if they are not fuppreffed by the natural power of the ftate wherein they arise, yet by the fame or like means, whereby at any time they obtain, they are commonly broken and diffolved; and by the fame artifices whereby they gain the faddle, they are commonly unhorfed, either by the adverfe party, or by fome diftemper rifing in their own party, which is equally mifchievous to them. The game being ordinarily thus managed, that when one faction hath fuppreffed another, the victorious party fall into divifions among themfelves; fome thinking they have too fmall a fhare in the acqueft, and others too much, and fo weaken their party, and render it lefs and narrower; and then commonly one of the fubdivided party, that finds itself wcakeft, falls in with the remainders and reliques of the firft party, and fo opprefs that fubdivided party that last obtained; whereby it comes to pafs, that if the perfon that fell in at firft with the prevailing party, takes that fubdivided party that feems prevalent, he fuffers ruin with them; and if it be his lot to fall in again with the weaker fubdivided party, and fo join with the old fuppreffed party, yet his former oppreffion is remembered, and he is never trufted; and commonly as the old party gets advantage and power, he is expofed to infamy, contempt, or lofs. But be the fuccefs what it will be, he is ever in an uncertain, unstable and tumultuous condition, and ftill put upon neceffities of new. devices, fhifts, and contrivances to fave his ftake; whereby Je never can enjoy true tranquillity either of life or mind.

2. Another expedient that men ufe to fave themselves, is ever to be of the prevailing faction by all methods and arti

fices imaginable; and as the parties change in their fucceffes, fo to fall to them or from them; and herein they have a difficult and troublefome game to play, and they had need be their crafts-mafter, if at the firft change they are not at a lofs; but if they keep their ground upon the first change, they never can weather the fecond; for they irrecoverably lofe their credit; their tricks, and fhuffling, and difpofition will be known, and then they will be like ftratagems in war, that can never be practifed twice with any fuccefs, at least, by and between the fame parties. And now thefe artifices wherein men thus fave themselves, are commonly flattery and diffimulation, pretenfions of their being formerly milled; and now their eyes are opened; profeffions of great fatisfaction with the proceedings of the party prevailing, and extreme indignation against that party which they formerly took; fuing for opportunities to manifeft their indignation against them, and hatred of them; and to gain credit with their new mafters, and give a teftimony of their thorough converfion to them, offering their fervice, and employing it in the bittereft perfecutions, treacheries, and cruelties againfi thofe that they formerly ferved. It is obferved in the life of Atticus, that when Antonius was declared an enemy, and Brutus and Caffius obtained in Rome, there were none more bitter perfecutors of Antony's family, than thofe in his profperity had been his friends: but the folly of these fycophants and followers of fortune, appears in this:

1. That though poffibly they may fave their fkins by fuch tricks, yet they never gain credit enough with their new friends to be either loved or trufted: they may ufe them for their end, but always fecretly hate and deteft them, as men of bafe difpofitions and principles, and ever fufpect them, as fuch as would do the like with their new friends upon any turn of fortune.

2

2. Their new friends, if they employ them at all, employ them in the bafeft offices, and fuch as are commonly, though perchance ufeful to their occafions, yet hateful and deteftable to human nature, as to be affaffinates, fpies, betrayers of those that were of the former party, and fuch fordid employments; and they dare not boggle or fcruple at fuch 'employments, nor perform them perfunctorily or ineffectually for then they are rendered obnoxious to their new mafters, and commonly fuffer worfe than if they had never complied. And if they go through with thefe bafe emplo ments, they are rendered odious to all good men; and

ev

ever the adverse party gain ground again, they are fure to be ruined: thus they purchase their peace with their new mafters at the deareft price, and become everlasting flaves to fave their fkins and eftates.

3. The third mischief that they are involved in, is this: that if ever the former faction prevail again, they are fure to be dealt with worse than the worst of enemies, and can never fave themselves by new flatteries and tergiversations: nay, if it fall out (as commonly it doth) that this last prevailing faction breaks and fubdivides into factions, and one part falls in with the old faction, to ftrengthen themselves, and carry this fycophant along with them; yet the remains of the old faction will never forget this man's revolt; but, one time or other, will work his ruin, unless his fortune be better than his wifdom or defert.

4. Another, and the moft ordinary help is upon the prevalence of the adverfe party, men that are obnoxious to them, purchase their peace, if they be rich and able: but this is not without danger too, for fuch a man fhall rarely fit quiet under the party with whom he fo compounded; but they will ever find fome device to be always draining of money from him; partly because their neceffities will be ftill calling; and partly that they may disable him from giving new fupplies to the adverfe party, if ever they fhould appear again. And if ever fuch a turn happen, he fhall be fure his old friends will expect a greater contribution from him; and make him pay a double ranfom (if he be able) to expiate his former compofition with their enemies, who will pretend it a piece of juftice to fet the higher mul& upon him.

Thefe are fome of thofe ordinary helps whereby men ufe to fecure themfelves ander the viciffitudes of factions; but thefe were not fuch as were used by Atticus; they were quite of another kind, and fuch as were more noble, prudent, and fafe; as fhall be feen when we come to confider them.

CHAP.

CHAP. IV.

TOUCHING THE MEANS WHEREBY THE SAFETY OF

ATTICUS WAS PROCURED UNDER THESE VARIOUS VICISSITUDES IN THE ROMAN STATE.

THE hiftory of this man's life gives us the relation of these

things:

1. It gives us a short and obscure account of those storms and civil wars of Rome, whereof I have given an account fomewhat more particularly in the firft and fecond chapters.

2. It gives us an account how, that notwithstanding all thefe ftorms, this man enjoyed a quiet and ferene life, and a peaceable death, after he had lived 77 years.

3. It fhews alfo the means which he used for the attaining of this tranquillity of eftate, among all thofe troublefome

contefts and difficulties.

4. It alfo tells us of the excellent learning, virtue, goodnefs, liberality, frugality, conftancy, and other excellencies of this excellent man.

Touching the first of these, I have faid enough before; touching the fecond, I fhall fay but little; becaufe the history of his life fully relates it. He always in thefe times lived in great peace, quietnefs, and tranquillity. 2. In great wealth and plenty. 3. In great efteem and reverence with the nobility and common people of Rome. 4. In great value , and efteem with all parties; no faction, though never fo prevalent or violent, did him any hurt; but ftudied and endeavoured all ways imaginable to oblige him; infomuch that in his old age, his daughter was married into the family of Auguftus Cæfar. 5. Which is yet more, he kept a fair and open visible correfpondence with all contefting parties, even in the times when their differences and animotities were highest, and yet without any diftaste or jealoufy, by either party; all parties courting, and honouring, and efteeming him in their greatest heats, and contefts, and civil wars one against another. Indeed, upon the return of Antony to Rome, this good man began to be fomewhat afraid of profcription: this fear attacked him by reafon partly of his old age, which naturally is more obnoxious to fear, than younger age; and partly by reafon of that extremity and violence ufed against Cicero his intimate friend. But it foon appear

ed

ed that he was niore afraid than he had caufe; for Antonius did not only give him an affurance of his own fafety, but at his interceffion, fpared many more, that had otherwife been obnoxious to the danger of this revolution. In short, he lived as happy and as honourable a life as could poffibly be expected in the moft ferene and quiet times.

Touching the fourth of thefe, namely, the virtues of this excellent man, I have occafion to mention them in the next chapter. And the bufinefs of all the following difcourfe fhall be principally employed in the third general; namely, the means and methods whereby this excellent man was preferved in the midst of thefe civil flames and ftorms. And next under the Divine Providence (which fecretly and powerfully ordereth and governeth all things and events in the world) I think the prefervation of this excellent mau, may be attributed, in the firft place, to the virtue and prudence of Atticus himfelf; and fecondly, to the temper and conftitution of the affairs of Rome at this time, and of the nobility and citizens thereof.

And because my great defign in all this difcourfe is to trace out thofe excellencies, and that prudent conduct of Atticus herein, I referve the firft of thefe to the full enquiry of the enfuing chapters, and fhall take up the fecond confideration, which as it was the leaft of the conducibles to his preservation, fo it fhall be but briefly handled.

There feems to be in the condition of affairs and citizens of Rome, thefe two expedients; that though to an ordinary perfon, they might be of little ufe in thefe calamities, yet to a man of that eminent worth and goodnets, and defert that was in this man, might be fome affiftance to his own prudent conduct of affairs in relation to his fafety and prefervation.

First, the experience that the Roman ftate had gained of the mutability of things before fuch time as Atticus returned to Rome from Athens; for he went to Athens about the time of Sylla's firft return to Rome against Marius, he returned not till after Sylla's death, as it feems, and though that after his return, the factions and viciffitudes thereof in Rome were great, yet I think fcarce any hiftory gives an account of fo great troubles and viciffitudes and changes in fo fhort a time, and between two fingle heads of factions, as happened between Marius and Sylla. And this inftability and viciffitude of things gave a leffon to enfuing factions, of fome more moderation than appeared between thofe two parties of Marius and Sylla; and therefore