It may without Scandal be made of stretching Leather, but it must be drawn by a steady Hand. A King that lets Intercession prevail, will not be long worshipped. A Prince used to War getteth a military Logick that is not very well suited to the Civil Administration. If he maketh War successfully, he groweth into a Demi-God; if without Success, the World throweth him as much below Humanity as they had before set him above it. A Hero must be sometimes allowed to make bold Strokes, without being fettered by strict Reason. He is to have some generous Irregularities in his Reasoning, or else he will not be a good Thing of his Kind. PRINCES (_their Rewards of Servants_). When a Prince giveth any Man a very extravagant Reward, it looketh as if it was rather for an ill thing than a good one. Both the Giver and Receiver are out of countenance where they are ill suited, and ill applyed. Serving Princes will make Men proud at first, and humble at last. Resolving to serve well, and at the same time resolving to please, is generally resolving to do what is not to be done. A Man that will serve well must often rule the Master so hard that it will hurt him. It is thought an unsociable Quality in a Court to do ones Duty better than other Men. Nothing is less forgiven than setting Patterns Men have no mind to follow. Men are so unwilling to displease a Prince, that it is as dangerous to inform him right, as to serve him wrong. Where Men get by pleasing, and lose by serving, the choice is so easy that no body can miss it. PRINCES, _their Secrets_. Men are so proud of Princes Secrets, that they will not see the danger of them. When a Prince trusteth a Man with a dangerous Secret, he would not be sorry to hear the Bell toll for him. _Love of the Subjects to a_ PRINCE. The Heart of the Subjects yieldeth but a lean Crop where it is not cultivated by a wise Prince. The Good-will of the Governed will be starved, if it is not fed by the good Conduct of the Governors. _Suffering for_ PRINCES. Those who merit because they suffered, are so very angry with those that made them suffer, that though their Services may deserve Employment, their Temper rendereth them unfit for it. _Of_ MINISTERS. The World dealeth with Ministers of State as they do with ill Fidlers, ready to kick them down Stairs for playing ill, though few of the Fault-finders understand their Musick enough to be good Judges. A Minister who undertaketh to make his Master very great, if he faileth, is ruin'd for his folly; if he succeedeth, he is feared for his Skill. A good Statesman may sometimes mistake as much by being too humble as by being too proud: He must take upon him in order to do his Duty, and not in order to the setting himself out. A Minister is not to plead the King's Command for such things as he may in justice be supposed to have directed. It is dangerous to serve where the Master hath the Privilege not to be blamed.