not wise, can never be well advised, unlesse he should light upon one
alone, wholly to direct and govern him, who himself were a very wise
man. In this case it is possible he may be well governd: but this would
last but little: for that governor in a short time would deprive him of
his State; but a Prince not having any parts of nature, being advised of
more then one, shall never be able to unite these counsels: of himself
shall he never know how to unite them; and each one of the Counsellers,
probably will follow that which is most properly his owne; and he shall
never find the meanes to amend or discerne these things; nor can they
fall out otherwise, because men alwayes prove mischievous, unlesse upon
some necessity they be forc'd to become good: we conclude therefore,
that counsells from whencesoever they proceed, must needs take their
beginning from the Princes wisdome, and not the wisdome of the Prince
from good counsells.
In this Chapter our Authour prescribes some rules how to avoyd
flattery, and not to fall into contempt. The extent of these two
extreames is so large on both sides, that there is left but a
very narrow path for the right temper to walke between them
both: and happy were that Prince, who could light on so good a
Pilote as to bring him to Port between those rocks and those
quicksands. Where Majesty becomes familiar, unlesse endued with
a super-eminent vertue, it loses all awfull regards: as the
light of the Sunne, because so ordinary, because so common, we
should little value, were it not that all Creatures feele
themselves quickned by the rayes thereof. On the other side,
_Omnis insipiens arrogantiâ et plausibus capitur_, Every foole
is taken with his owne pride and others flatteryes: and this
foole keeps company so much with all great wise men, that hardly
with a candle and lantern can they be discernd betwixt. The
greatest men are more subject to grosse and palpable flatteries;
and especially the greatest of men, who are Kings and Princes:
for many seek the Rulers favour. _Prov._ 28. 26. For there are
divers meanes whereby private men are instructed; Princes have
not that good hap: but they whose instruction is of most
importance, so soone as they have taken the government upon
them, no longer suffer any reproovers: for but few have accesse
unto them, and they who familiary converse with them, doe and
say all for favour. Isocrat, to Nicocles, All are afraid to give
him occasion of displeasure, though by telling him truth. To
this purpose therefore sayes one; a Prince excells in learning
to ride the great horse, rather than in any other exercise,
because his horse being no flatterer, will shew him he makes no
difference between him and another man, and unlesse he keepe his
seate well, will lay him on the ground. This is plaine dealing.
Men are more subtile, more double-hearted, they have a heart and